The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10

by Hudson, G. P.

  Jon could see he wasn’t getting anywhere with the old man. “Look, it was just a thought. In the end it’s up to you. I’m not trying to break up your crew. If you think it’s a bad idea, then forget it.”

  “You’re damn right it’s a bad idea. Didn’t I just explain that to you?”

  “You mentioned you will be going down to the surface?” said Breeah, changing the subject.

  “Yes. I’m going to see Prime Minister Sallas, and I need to have a little chat with Tallos.”

  “Tallos?” Breeah said with revulsion. She obviously hadn’t forgiven the Diakan attack on her on board the Hermes. “What do you want to see him for?”

  “I have some questions that only he can answer.”

  “I see. That’s unfortunate. Anyway, since you are going down to the planet, why don’t you take me and Anki along? We can visit the Seibens while you have your meetings. It would be good for Anki to play with Otka and Alina.”

  Jon hadn’t considered taking anyone with him, but he couldn’t say no. Anki didn’t have other children to play with on board the Freedom, and he didn’t know how long it would be until they could visit the planet again. “Okay. We leave in the morning.”

  “Great,” said Breeah. “I’ll message Darla and let her know we’re coming.”

  Chapter 45

  Tallos tended to the various flowers planted in his yard. While it could not compare to his gardens back home on Diakus, it still gave him pleasure. As far as planets went, New Byzantium was better than most. It had large oceans, even though they were trivial compared to the ones on Diakus. Still, water covered most of this planet, and while some would find that a problem, to a Diakan it was a blessing. Tallos loved the water, as did every Diakan, and for this world, the fact that four fifths of the planet surface lay underwater saved it from the over-colonization typically found on other expansion worlds. That meant a clean atmosphere, and a smaller population. Yet it was no Diakus.

  How long will I stay here? Tallos wondered. Prime Minister Sallas had given him this house, thankfully located in a remote location, away from curious human eyes. Sallas wanted to court favor with Diakus, which was wise, although his association with Jon Pike would hurt that aspiration. Nonetheless, Sallas seemed convinced that Diakus, or Space Force, would eventually find New Byzantium. The only question was how long it would take. It could be many years before then. Would this planet survive that long?

  New Byzantium had many enemies. Tallos had learned of the threat the other worlds posed, and that they planned to attack. Foolish humans. They squabbled amongst themselves while greater dangers lurked in the darkness. The Kemmar threatened too. Where an invasion from that Kemmar Empire could not be far off, these humans prefer civil war, instead of united defense. How could the Great See’er believe such creatures would rise to power?

  So this world stood alone. If contact had been made with Diakus, New Byzantium could be given Galactic Accord membership. They would be protected by Diakan might. Alas, it seemed that it would not survive long enough to enjoy that privilege. Sadly, that meant that he too would perish here, far from his gardens on the home world. He did not fear death. He simply wanted to see the home world one last time.

  A sound broke his train of thought. It came from the bushes outlining the perimeter of the property. He had noticed that there were a few scavenger species on this planet, and some of those animals had gotten into his garden as of late. They came and dug up his new plants almost daily. Apparently they liked chewing on the bulbs. Tallos figured it was time to teach the pests a lesson. He quietly walked toward the bushes, ready to dispense quick justice on whatever he found hiding there, when he realized someone stood behind him. He wheeled around to find Jon Pike standing no more than a foot away, smiling.

  “Hello, Tallos,” said Pike, then everything went black.

  Chapter 46

  Jon stared long and hard at the unconscious Diakan he had tied up to a chair. General Tallos. The cause of much trouble. Jon knew that there was a reason why Tallos was put on the Hermes, but up until now he didn’t know what it was. Jon was certain that the role of adviser was a ruse. But why? Why pick a Diakan General to masquerade as an adviser? Oddly he felt the creature’s contempt for Tallos.

  I thought you were a Diakan symbiont, thought Jon.

  Not anymore, it replied.

  Communication with the symbiont had improved over the last few weeks. Jon wondered whether it had the ability to communicate before, and merely ignored it, preferring to use pain instead. Now that it had no more power over Jon, it was forced to communicate. Somehow this made it easier to get along with. Was this the harmony Doctor Ellerbeck referred to? Jon felt its rising excitement, and knew it eagerly awaited what was about to happen.

  Jon reached out and slapped Tallos in the face. No reaction. He slapped him again, harder this time. “Wake up, Tallos. We have important matters to discuss.”

  “What… what is happening?” said Tallos, slowly coming back to consciousness. He shook his head from side to side, tried to move his hands, looking down at them when he realized they were tied to the chair. Raising his head, he focused on Jon. “You. You assaulted me. Why?”

  “Relax, Tallos. I didn’t touch you. I just used a neural agent to knock you out.”

  “Why? Why did you need to do all of this?” said Tallos, gesturing to the energy restraints binding him to the chair.

  “Let’s see. I knocked you out because I didn’t want you to call for help, and I tied you to the chair because I might need to torture you.”

  “What? You’re crazy.”

  “I’m not crazy, Tallos. You know that. You Diakans made me what I am. Remember?”

  “So this is about revenge?”

  “No, not revenge. I’m not emotional like that. I may not like you, but this is about information. Information that you probably won’t want to share.”

  “What information?”

  “We’ll get to that. First, tell me, how do you like New Byzantium?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ve got a nice house here,” said Jon, looking around the room. “Looks very comfortable. And the yard looks great. Are you a gardener?”

  “You’ve lost your mind, Jon Pike. I cannot wait until the day Diakus catches up to you. I’ll be in the front row watching your execution.”

  “There he is. There’s the Tallos I know. And I thought all this domestic stuff had made you soft.” Jon had to admit he was having fun messing with the Diakan’s head, but playtime was over. “Now that the real Tallos has shown up, why don’t we get started?”

  “Did you know that Diakus has different types of executions, depending on the crime?” continued Tallos. “If you are deserving, they can make your death last for long, excruciating hours. Even days. Can you imagine something like that? You should get used to the idea, because that is what is going to happen to you, Jon Pike.”

  Jon pulled a small device out of his pocket, stretched out his arm, and pressed the end against Tallos’s neck. The Diakan instantly lit up with blue energy. Arching his back he let out a guttural groan, but to Jon’s surprise, he did not scream. “Impressive,” said Jon, pulling away the device. “I definitely had you pegged for a screamer. I guess I was wrong. Do you still want to tell me about Diakan executions?”

  Tallos took several shallow, gasping breaths, but didn’t respond.

  “Good. Now, tell me about what Diakus is doing with the jump system.”

  “The jump system? Why are you asking me that? You know the answer already. Diakus and Earth built the Hermes, and you commanded it.”

  “Fine. We can go down this route. It’s related anyway. Then explain to me why Diakus put one of their generals on board the Hermes?”

  “You know that answer as well. I was supposed to act as an adviser.”

  “That’s bullshit, Tallos, and you know it. If that’s all they wanted they could’ve easily assigned another starship Captain to assist me.”
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br />   “Regardless what you may think, I’m telling you the truth.”

  Jon reached in and pressed the device against Tallos’s neck, causing blue energy to arc through his body again. To Jon’s surprise Tallos still refused to scream. He’s tough, I’ll give him that much. Jon pulled the device away as Tallos gasped for air.

  “This is an interesting little device. The Chaanisar gave it to me. Can you imagine me using a Chaanisar torture device? I would’ve never dreamed it possible. Anyway, it has the ability to inflict pain without killing the subject. So, we can do this for as long as it takes. It’s up to you.”

  “I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Tallos.

  Jon reached in again and pressed the device against Tallos’s neck. This time he held it there much longer, and Tallos howled in pain. “There’s the scream. I have to admit, you did impress me. But someone of your rank should know that everybody breaks. It’s just a matter of time. And we have time, Tallos. Time for a lot of pain and screaming.”

  “I was assigned to the Hermes to ensure you stayed on your mission.”

  “I already know that.”

  “No, it is more than that. The Great See’er saw you.”

  “The Great See’er? Isn’t she some kind of religious figure for you Diakans?”

  “She is the light that guides us on our journey.”

  “Uh huh. Okay, whatever. What did she see.”

  “She saw that the humans would rise to power. And she saw you as the force behind that rise.”

  Jon sat back in his chair, stunned. “What are you saying? She’s made me out as some kind of prophet?”

  Tallos laughed. “You are no prophet, Jon Pike.”

  “Then what?”

  Tallos stopped laughing. “You are the eye of the coming storm.”

  “That makes no sense,” said Jon, baffled by what he heard.

  “Oh, I agree. It is considered blasphemy to question the Great See’er, but I look at you and cannot help but think she has made a mistake.”

  “So, they sent you to keep an eye on me?”

  “Yes, and to make sure you stayed away.”

  “Why?”

  “The Great See’er saw the human rise as inevitable. For Diakus, however, there were two paths. We had the option of terminating the humans before they gained power, thereby preventing the rise altogether. Or, managing it, and ensuring our place within the new order.”

  “Let me guess, you chose to terminate.”

  “I did not have the option of making a choice, but yes, to me it seemed the logical choice. The galaxy is vast, as is Diakus’s reach. In comparison, the Sol System is insignificant.”

  “Yeah, I get it. I take it Diakus didn’t agree with you?”

  “The Great See’er spoke of an unknown threat. One that the humans would contain, but that would otherwise eventually destroy Diakus.”

  “Better the devil you know, huh?”

  “Correct.”

  “So if I’m the linchpin in all this, why keep me away?”

  “Diakus believed it would give us time to prepare.”

  “You mean build a jump ship fleet.”

  Tallos didn’t respond at first, but then Jon reached forward with the device and Tallos answered. “Yes. You are correct. The human invention was seen as evidence of inevitable human ascension. Diakus believed that if we could slow human progress, while at the same time building up our own capabilities, that we would be better positioned.”

  “So you sent me and the first jump ship away on a mission to find a legend.”

  “Yes.”

  “That was why you had Space Force make me the Captain of the Hermes.”

  “Correct. Nobody in their right mind would give an assassin a starship to command. Surely you questioned the logic of the post yourself.”

  “Yeah, I did,” said Jon, flinching at the memory of the Hermes’s destruction. “What about the symbiont? Was that part of the plan to control me too?”

  “No, the symbiont was thought to be a lucky coincidence. You had volunteered for the procedure, if you remember. I don’t believe the Great See’er had foretold of your importance yet. But when she did, Diakus thought that the symbiont might be another way to control your actions.”

  Those bastards were pulling my strings all along. “That’s why I was never given the medication I needed to coexist with the symbiont.”

  “Yes. As I said, it was another way to control the situation.”

  Adrenalin coursed through Jon’s bloodstream as blind rage took hold. He thought of all the suffering he endured at the hands of the symbiont. All the pain it had inflicted on him, so that he would follow its will. All of it avoidable.

  Tallos seemed to notice. “None of this was my decision. It all predated my involvement. I knew nothing about the prophecy, you, or the Hermes until I was summoned to the Sol System.”

  Jon glared at Tallos, trying to decide whether he should believe him.

  He lies. Kill him and be done with it, the symbiont coaxed.

  The creature’s words reminded Jon of all those he had killed at its command. No. I will not kill him, Jon replied to the monster. He felt the symbiont’s disappointment, but for some reason he felt that Tallos was telling the truth.

  “How big a fleet has Diakus built?” said Jon.

  Tallos seemed to relax, somehow realizing that Jon had spared him. “I do not know. That information was not shared with me. But rest assured, they will have made significant progress.”

  “Good, because they’re going to need it.”

  “Why do you say that?” said Tallos.

  “Because the Juttari have launched a massive invasion spanning across multiple Galactic Accord systems, including Sol. They are building a jump ship fleet of their own.”

  “What? How do you know this?”

  “Four Juttari jump ships recently appeared in the New Byzantium system. Like Colonel Bast’s crew, the Chaanisar on board have killed their Juttari Masters and joined my fleet.”

  Tallos stared back at Jon, speechless, and Jon smiled as he saw the realization spread across Tallos’s face.

  Chapter 47

  Jon stood on the Freedom’s bridge. Several days had passed since his meeting with Tallos, but he had decided to keep the information to himself. He did not want to be seen as some kind of messiah. How could he even know if the prophecy would come true? He wasn’t a Diakan. Why should he believe anything the Great See’er said? Yet how did this Great See’er even know who he was to begin with? He knew it could all drive him nuts, so he focused on the work at hand instead.

  The repairs to his ship and the others had been completed, and Singh had managed to get a few of the smaller jump systems built and installed. Since they did not have enough time to outfit all the fighters and bombers, Jon chose to focus on the bombers first. Singh had built enough to make the entire bomber squadron jump capable, along with a few fighters. Jon now had a long range strike force that could be deployed for a surprise attack before the real fun began. Jon had also requested that Singh build some jump enabled comm drones.

  They had received word that the corporate fleet had grouped and was now en route to New Byzantium. General Calledonius had already begun deploying his fleet, along with a few orbital defense systems, to prepare for the inevitable attack. Jon knew that where his own fleet was concerned, the best defense would be a good offense.

  “All ships have reported in, Sir,” said Kevin. “All are jump ready.”

  “Have them synchronize their jump systems with ours,” said Jon. Singh had come up with a way to have the separate jump systems align themselves with one, rather than having to rely on each ship separately entering in its own coordinates. The group could jump together and maintain formation, thereby simplifying much of the process.

  “Jump systems synced,” said Ensign Petrovic, from his tactical station.

  Jon looked around the bridge. He didn’t sense any fear. They were a seasoned crew. T
rue veterans. He couldn’t ask for more. “Initiate jump.”

  The seven warships landed in a star system several light years away. “Report,” said Jon.

  “Conducting long range scans, Sir,” said the sensor operator. “No sign of enemy fleet.”

  Jon shrugged. He knew they likely wouldn’t have gotten this close to New Byzantium, but he needed a starting point. He didn’t want to overshoot through carelessness. “Very well, prepare to jump to secondary coordinates.”

  “Coordinates loaded,” said Ensign Richards at the helm.

  “Initiate.”

  The armada jumped again, covering several more light years, this time landing in an empty patch of space. They conducted scans, but found no sign of the enemy fleet. So they jumped a third time.

  “Contacts,” announced Ensign Petrovic. “Range, five hundred million kilometers and closing. Reading one hundred and fifty contacts in total.”

  Jon looked at Kevin. “There’s our fleet.”

  “That’s a lot of ships,” said Kevin, his face pensive.

  Jon looked down at his console, pulling up a tactical display of the enemy fleet. Dozens of red icons appeared on his screen, representing the enemy ships. “They’re in formation,” said Jon. “It seems they’ve learned from their mistakes.”

  “You didn’t expect for them to make it easy on us, did you?” said Kevin.

  “I guess they’re not in a generous mood,” said Jon. “Their supply ships aren’t exposed this time. They’re surrounded by warships now. Looks like they’ve got ten strike groups in total, each centered around a capital ship. They’re evenly split between carriers and battleships.”

  “There’s no way Calledonius can stand up to something like that. They’ll be slaughtered.”

  “We’ll just have to try and even up the odds for him then.”

  “Sir, enemy fleet is slowing down,” said Petrovic from the tactical station. “They’re coming to a stop.