“It does sound great, but it will have to wait.”
“Why? What’s more important than your family’s happiness?”
“Earth,” said Jon.
“Earth? What’s Earth got to do with anything? This is your home now. You said so yourself.”
“I know I did,” said Jon, wondering how much he should tell Seiben. “What the hell, you’ll find out soon enough.”
“Find out what?” said Seiben, looking concerned now.
“We believe Earth has fallen.”
“Fallen? To who?”
“The Juttari Empire.”
“The Juttari Em- aren’t they the same ones from the stories? The ones who conquered Earth centuries ago?”
“That’s right. They’ve returned. And it’s not just Earth they’ve attacked. They’ve hit multiple star systems. We’re talking about the beginning of a galactic war.”
Seiben looked back at Jon with his mouth agape.
“We can’t just sit here while this is happening,” said Jon. “There is no hiding from something like this.”
“Do you think this war will reach the colonies?” said Seiben, looking back inside the house at Darla and his daughters.
“I don’t know, but the Juttari have the jump system this time. Centuries ago the colonies shut down the jump gate and saved themselves. The Juttari no longer need the jump gate to reach you.”
“I see,” said Seiben. He reached for his bottle of ale, taking a long swig from it. He looked past Jon to the ocean, then back to his grill. He used his tongs to flip a few of the crustaceans, and took another long swig from his bottle. “Screw it. I’m not going to worry about something that might happen. We’ve got good friends, good food, and good drink. That’s all that matters.”
“I’ll drink to that,” said Jon.
“So will I,” said Kevin.
The three men clinked their bottles, and each downed their drinks.
Chapter 59
“What about the Kemmar?” said Sallas, upset by the news that Jon planned to return to the Sol System.
“I believe you have some time before the Kemmar go on the offensive,” said Jon. “We won’t be gone for very long, anyway. If Earth has fallen, there won’t be much my six ships will be able to do to change things.”
“Two of those ships were given to you by New Byzantium in exchange for your loyalty. Or did you forget that?” Sallas glared at Jon. Jon didn’t expect him to buy his quick trip story, but it was worth a try.
“I did not forget about the ships, or my promise. But I need to know if Earth has been conquered. Most of my crew is from Earth. They have families there. When I made the promise to you, Earth was at peace. Now the Sol System could be the front line of a galactic war. We helped you defeat the corporate fleet. You have some breathing room now. But Earth doesn’t, and I can’t just idly sit here while it burns.”
Sallas exhaled sharply. “I understand, Jon. I really do. But I have a planet to think about.”
“I know, Sir. But believe me when I tell you that this is bigger than New Byzantium, the colonies, or the Kemmar Empire. You were spared the horrors of the last great war. You won’t be spared this time.”
“Because of the jump system?”
“That’s right. You saw those Juttari ships, didn’t you? Before they were liberated, they had sent communications back to the Juttari Empire telling them of the new gate, and of the Kemmar. What do you think will happen when the Juttari come for the Kemmar? How long do you think it will take them to find the colonies? Trust me when I tell you that this directly affects New Byzantium.”
Jon could see that his words were starting to sink in. Sallas had a more thoughtful look about him. “How long until you leave?”
“We won’t be leaving until repairs are completed. Several of our ships suffered extensive damage.”
“What if Earth hasn’t fallen to the Juttari? Part of our agreement is that I offer you political asylum. If you go to Earth, however, I cannot protect you.”
“I know. It’s a chance I have to take, but I’m not going to be foolish about it. We’ll enter the outskirts of the Sol System and run scans from there. If Earth has fallen, I fully expect to find a fleet of Juttari warships in the system. If not, we’ll find Space Force and likely a large Diakan contingent protecting the system. Each scenario has its own dangers. If it is the second, the Juttari have been repelled, and we can return to New Byzantium.”
Sallas nodded. “Very well. I suppose you’re right. This is greater than all of us. Good luck and Godspeed.”
Chapter 60
The repairs took longer than expected, requiring several weeks to complete. Doctor Ellerbeck’s biobots had time to do their work and heal Chief Engineer Singh. Even before he’d fully healed, Singh had insisted that he return to duty. The thought of the destroyed jump system nagged at him, and kept him from resting. In the end, Ellerbeck relented, figuring it would be better to simply let Singh go to work, than have him pacing in sick bay.
Singh worked tirelessly on the jump system replacement, and allowed only his best engineers to watch and learn. Redundancy would be best if something happened to him again. It wasn’t that he had to build the jump system by hand, that was what the fabricators were for. Singh needed to make sure the design and specifications were correct. The equations were complex, taking into account the ship’s mass, as well as the configuration of its engines. In the end, the Freedom’s jump system was replaced before all the other repairs were completed, and before Singh was himself one hundred percent. Even Kevin came around, and let go of his suspicions toward Singh.
Singh poured himself into his work and moved on to completely outfit each of the Freedom’s fighters with its own jump system. Jon was certain that made her the very first carrier with jump enabled fighters.
Commander Konos wasted no time, and had all his pilots working overtime, learning how to use their new jump ships. While the jump system was still a new technology, the number of battles fought by the fleet, and all the ships separately, including the Hermes, created a treasure trove of tactical and strategic knowledge. Konos made sure that his pilots had as much of that knowledge as he could cram into their heads.
With the repairs almost completed, Jon called a meeting of the fleet’s commanders. Each man traveled from their ship to the Freedom, and they all now sat at the board room table in the Freedom’s briefing room.
“We will have to travel through Kemmar space,” said Jon. “I want to avoid conflict with the Kemmar on this mission. If we run into any warships, we continue jumping. Our goal is to get to Sol in one piece.”
“We can reach the jump gate with two jumps,” said Colonel Steeg. “That ensures we are still jump ready when we cross through the gate.”
“Yes, the Kemmar will have warships stationed on the other side,” said Jon. He remembered the battleship he fought with the Hermes when he tried to save the Reiver colony.
“They had a warship stationed there, but my ships destroyed it before we crossed. I am sure they have sent reinforcements by now.”
“Agreed,” said Jon. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Our jump systems will have enough capacity for another jump. We won’t have enough to reach Sol, but we will have enough to avoid the Kemmar.”
“What happens if we reach Sol and find a Juttari armada stationed there?” said Kevin.
“That is where our AI comes in,” said Jon. “AI, at what range can you infiltrate a Juttari ship?”
“If we are in range of their broadcast, I can travel across it as a data stream, gain access to their ships, and the Chaanisar on board.”
Steeg nodded. “Then our brothers will be liberated, as we have been.” Sounds of approval came from the Chaanisar in the room.
“Yes. If my presence remains undetected, I will be able to free the Chaanisar on board those ships.”
“The Juttari are too powerful to be defeated by an external force,” said Steeg. “Which is why we will destroy them from within.”
Jon listened quietly to Colonel Steeg. He understood the man’s emotions, and he felt them too. If there was a way to destroy the Juttari once and for all, he would be first in line. He worried that the Chaanisar might be overly optimistic. Still, he chose not to say anything. He wanted everyone motivated for this mission, and if this motivated the Chaanisar to succeed then he would not speak out against it.
“Commander Konos,” said Jon. “How are your pilots adapting to their new jump systems?
“They are coming along, Sir. I have drilled them extensively on jump tactics. They’ll be ready,” said Konos.
“Good. Then we wait to finish repairs, which should be complete within the next two days. We leave as soon as they’re done. Any questions?”
Silence.
“In that case, let’s get back to work. Dismissed.
Chapter 61
“Advise all ships to sync their jump systems with the Freedom’s,” said Jon, standing on the bridge by his console.
“Fleet jump systems are synced,” said Kevin, standing a few feet away at his own command console.
“Very well. Let’s get started. Helm, initiate jump.”
“Initiating,” said Ensign Richards at the helm.
On the viewscreen New Byzantium hung in space like a glistening blue Christmas ornament. A split second later it was gone. Replaced by the empty void and the distant stars.
“Report,” said Jon.
“All ships have successfully made the jump,” said Petrovic. “We are now in Kemmar space. Reading no contacts.”
“Well that’s good,” Jon said to Kevin. “I fully expected a Kemmar fleet to be waiting for us.”
“This might turn out to be a boring mission for a change,” said Kevin.
Jon chuckled. “That would be a change, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Are all ships still synced to our jump drive?”
“All ships are reporting that they remain synced, Sir,” said Kevin.
“Helm, initiate the second jump. Let’s see what’s waiting for us at the jump gate.”
The ships jumped and landed at the location of the jump gate.
“Contacts!” said Petrovic. “Reading ten warships dead ahead.”
“The Kemmar?” said Jon.
“Yes, Sir. All ships have Kemmar signatures except one.” Petrovic looked up at Jon. “Sir, I’m reading a Space Force signature.”
“What? Where?”
“It’s a battleship, Sir. Definitely Space Force.”
Jon tapped his console and Steeg’s face appeared. “Colonel, is that the Space Force battleship you engaged when attacking Sol?”
“Yes, Admiral. That is the jump battleship.”
“Sir, the ships are moving to intercept,” said Petrovic. “Even the battleship.”
“Sound General Quarters,” said Jon. “Launch fighters. Advise them to adopt a defensive posture. Engage point defense systems. And hail that damn battleship.”
“Sir, the battleship is ignoring our hails.”
“Tell them it is Captain Pike, from the Hermes.”
“They’re acknowledging our hail now, Sir.”
“Feed it through to my console.”
A man in a Space Force Captain’s uniform appeared on Jon’s screen. He had graying blond hair, and pale blue eyes. He had a no nonsense look about him that gave the impression of strength. “This is Captain Pierce, of the Space Force Battleship Vanguard. Who am I speaking to?”
“I’m Captain Pike, of the Hermes.”
Pierce frowned. “That is no Space Force uniform, and your ship is not the Hermes. Moreover, you are traveling with Juttari warships. The same ones that attacked the Sol System.” Pierce leaned in, the hatred now clearly visible in his eyes. “If you think I will fall prey to Juttari deception, you are sadly mistaken, Chaanisar.”
“What? I am not Chaanisar. Look at my ship. It is not Juttari design. I assure you I am Jon Pike. I found the colonies. This ship is from the colonies.”
“Where is the Hermes?” barked Pierce.
“It was destroyed. By the Kemmar.”
“More lies. The Kemmar are our allies. Why would they destroy a Space Force ship? And how do you explain your Chaanisar companions?”
“These Chaanisar have revolted against the Juttari. They have slaughtered their Juttari Masters, and are free of their mind control. They fight for us now.”
“And who is ‘us’? Your uniform is not Space Force, nor is it Juttari.”
“It is from the colonies. Half my crew is from the colonies. They’re real, Pierce. The colonies exist. I found them, and the Kemmar are threatening to invade them.”
“Clever lies, Chaanisar.”
“Goddamnit, I am not Chaanisar. What do I need to do to prove it to you?”
“Stand down and let us board your ships?”
“Surrender to the Kemmar? That’s not going to happen.”
“Because you know we will discover that you are Chaanisar?”
“No. Because the Kemmar will slaughter us, or turn us into slaves, like they tried to do to my Marines.”
“I have read Captain Pike’s file. If you are Captain Pike, then you’ll be able to answer some questions.”
“Of course.”
“What happened to your wife and children?”
Jon took a step back, as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. “My wife and children were killed,” he answered in a quiet voice.
“How?”
Jon’s chest tightened as he recalled the memory. The grief returned, as if it had all happened yesterday. His beautiful wife, and his sweet daughters. Gone. Forever. He looked back at Pierce, wanting to reach through the screen and throttle him. He held back his feelings, and calmly recounted the tragedy. “A Chaanisar hit squad. They came to kill me, but I was away on a mission. They killed my family instead.”
Pierce nodded. “And you expect me to believe that a man who experienced this is now on the same side as the Chaanisar?”
“I told you, they are no longer Chaanisar. The Chaanisar are Juttari slaves. They were forced to do what they did. As free men, the first thing they did was kill their Juttari oppressors. These are not the same men who committed those atrocities.”
Pierce shook his head. “I don’t know what’s worse. You being a Chaanisar, or you being Captain Pike and having turned into an apologist for the Juttari.”
Jon glared back at Pierce, barely able to control his temper. “Watch your words, Pierce. Do not provoke me.”
“Or what? You will open fire on my ship and prove you are Chaanisar? If you are Jon Pike, then tell me what happened on the other side of this gate. Why did you attack the Kemmar?”
“I was protecting a human colony. These Kemmar, who you call allies, are an Empire of slavers. I could not stand by and allow humans to be enslaved by aliens.”
Pierce turned his head to speak to someone. Jon saw him nod to whatever was said to him, and turn back to the screen. “There were Diakans on board the Hermes. What was the name of their leader?”
“Tallos.”
“I would like to speak to him.”
“He is not on board. He is back on the colonies.”
“How convenient. Why wouldn’t you bring him with you?”
“Tallos and I disagree on how things should be done. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Pierce turned his head again. Someone was feeding him questions. “What do you have inside you?”
Jon smiled. “A Diakan symbiont. I thought I was answering your questions, Pierce?”
“You are.”
“No, I’m not. These are Diakan questions. Why don’t you let me speak to the Diakan?”
“There is no-” Pierce turned his head again and nodded. He gave Jon an angry look, and moved aside. Pierce’s face was replaced by a Diakan’s.
“I am Major Ilthos,” said the Diakan.
“I am Jon Pike,” said Jon.
“Perhaps. We still need to confirm tha
t information.”
“I don’t know what else you want me to do?”
“A genetic sample,” said Ilthos.
“What?”
“The Diakan symbiont inside Jon Pike will have altered his DNA. It is not something that can be faked.”
“Fine. I will give you your sample, but first you call off your attack.”
“Agreed. Stand by while we send word to the Kemmar.”
Jon waited, wondering how it must look. Four Juttari warships, and two unidentified warships. How would he have responded?
“Sir, the Kemmar are firing on the Vanguard,” Petrovic said urgently.
“Damn it. Ilthos!”
The Diakan returned to the screen. “It does not appear that the Kemmar want to listen to our request.”
“We are coming to your aid. We can debate my identity later. Do not fire on us!”
“Understood,” said Ilthos.
Jon turned to Kevin. “Advise our ships that we are protecting the Vanguard. They can unsync their jump systems from the Freedom’s, and use tactical jumps to fight the enemy.”
“Yes, Sir,” said Kevin.
Jon tapped his screen and Commander Konos’s face appeared. “Commander, are your bombers armed?”
“Yes, Sir,” said Konos. “Bombers are ready to engage.”
“Good, you are free to engage the Kemmar. Let’s see some of those jump tactics you’ve been working on.”
“With pleasure, Sir,” said Konos with a smile, as his face blinked off Pike’s screen.
Jon watched on the tactical display as the bombers disappeared from their position near the Freedom, and reappeared in multiple locations, each bomber near a different Kemmar warship. They remained long enough to launch torpedoes, and reappeared alongside the Freedom.
Nine bombers, and nine warships, thought Jon. What are the chances it’ll be that simple?
“Multiple direct hits on all enemy contacts,” announced Petrovic. “Reading hull breaches on all ships.”
“That’s a start,” said Jon. He hailed Captain Pierce who’s face appeared on screen.
“What is it?” said Pierce.
The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10 Page 92
