Even as Idris watched, the destroyers launched waves of fighters that spread out into a defensive screen of their own, the Morla’syn preferring automated drones to manned fighter spacecraft. Idris watched the world of Oassia as he sought to understand why the Morla’syn had brought them so close to the galactic centre’s capital world, when their greatest fear surely was exposure to infection?
‘We’re too far away from Oassia to infect it directly,’ he thought out loud. ‘But close enough to be blasted into oblivion.’
‘Maybe they are willing to talk after all?’ Lael suggested.
As if in response the Morla’syn destroyers and the sister ships began breaking away from the two frigates, increasing their distance as the fighter screens also spread apart.
‘We’re being isolated,’ Idris guessed, looking at how close Arcadia had been positioned alongside Atlantia. ‘As long as we’re in close formation we could be taken down from any angle and both ships hit at the same time.’
Andaim stood from his chair and joined the captain at the command rail. ‘What’s the plan?’
Idris shook his head as he attempted to fathom what was going to happen next.
‘I want all Raythons on full scramble alert,’ he replied finally. ‘All Marines ready to propel borders. If this thing goes down badly, I’m not going out without fight.’
Idris thought he saw a brief smile cross Andaim’s face as the CAG turned and began relying orders to the launch crews and fighter pilots assembled on the flight deck far below them. The captain returned his attention to the screens and moments later one of them flickered into life.
‘Incoming signal,’ Lael warned the captain, and Idris straightened his uniform just in time before the image of the Morla’syn commander, Veer, appeared once more on the screen.
‘General Veer,’ Idris greeted the captain. ‘I see we have arrived. What happens next?’
‘A mission from the Galactic Council is already on its way. You will be held here. You will be allowed to launch four Raython fighters as escorts for the incoming council mission. All other weapon systems will be powered down. Any deviation from these orders will be considered an act of aggression and will be met with lethal force. Do you understand?’
Idris nodded. ‘I understand. Thank you for bringing us this far and allowing us the chance to state our case.’
Idris’s gratitude was genuine, but at the same time he couldn’t help needling the Morla’syn captain just a little with his tone.
‘Your fate will be decided by the Council in just a few short hours,’ the Morla’syn captain replied, and then added in an identical tone: ‘Good luck.’
The screen flickered to blackness and Idris felt the eyes of the bridge crew upon him.
‘What makes me think he was less than sincere?’ Andaim asked from his command chair.
‘I don’t care about the sincerity of a race like the Morla’syn,’ Idris replied as he turned and marched back to his own seat. ‘All I care about is that the council hears our case. We have too many innocent lives aboard and nowhere else to go – anything other than asylum for them would be genocide and the council must know it. All we can hope is the Morla’syn have not painted us in a bad light.’
Governor Gredan stared at the captain. ‘We severely damaged one of their vessels and left it adrift in deep space,’ he pointed out. ‘I don’t suppose they’re going to sing our praises.’
‘I don’t suppose they’ll elaborate on why we damaged their ship so heavily either,’ Idris countered. ‘The Morla’syn are as guilty as anybody else in that engagement, and right now that’s our only leverage over them. Let’s wait for the council to get here before we make any further judgements on how this is going to play out.’
Idris turned to Andaim. ‘Launch the Raythons, weapons cold, and have them intercept the council mission as soon as it appears on their scopes.’
Andaim relayed the command, and moments later on the main viewing screen Idris saw four Raythons rocketing away from Atlantia, their ion engines in full afterburner.
‘Who have we got out there?’
Andaim glanced at the roster. ‘Aryon and Miller, plus Teera and Evelyn.’
‘Good,’ Idris replied. ‘We might need Evelyn’s cool head if this goes bad.’
‘New contacts, visual sensors, multiple craft inbound from Oassia!’ Lael called.
Idris saw the four Raythons splitting into two pairs, tiny specks against the vastness of space as they swept out to the left and right. He could remember from his own combat training in the Phantoms to know that the two pairs of fighters were spreading out in order to sweep back in and move alongside incoming craft. His old eyes could see nothing against the bright flare of Oassia’s pearly blue disc, so he simply stood and waited with his hands behind his back until finally he began to see a number of small specks moving against the planet’s backdrop, gradually growing larger.
‘Atlantia this is Reaper One, diplomatic mission inbound, weapons cold.’
Lael’s reply was as calm and cool as Evelyn’s.
‘Reaper One cleared to approach, maintain weapons cold.’
‘Weapons cold, Reaper one.’
Andaim peered at Idris. ‘They’re coming aboard?’
Idris was about to reply when Lael spoke once more. ‘They’re drones,’ she said as she scanned her instruments. ‘Passive sensors show no lifeforms aboard. They’re not coming here – they want us to go there.’
‘I’ll be damned,’ Idris said as he realized what the council intended. ‘They’re going to try to split our command structure, keep us weak and as far away from the frigates as they possibly can.’
‘Divide and conquer,’ Andaim agreed. ‘If they fracture our command structure and keep blocking our signals, there’s no way we can coordinate either defence or attack. We’re sitting ducks here.’
As Idris watched the half a dozen ships flying towards the frigates from the planet below split into two, each formation approaching Arcadia and Atlantia respectively.
Idris gripped the command rail more tightly. ‘Mikhain will be brought down on the other formation. It’s quite likely they will interview us separately in an attempt to prevent us from working together. I didn’t anticipate this.’
‘If Mikhain is under arrest,’ Andaim asked, ‘then general Bra’hiv won’t be able to release him. He’ll be under the impression Mikhain will run if he gets the chance.’
Idris took a deep breath and stood up as he straightened his uniform once more and turned to Andaim.
‘You have the bridge, commander,’ he ordered. ‘If there’s a need for close combat with the Raythons I have no doubt you will make for your own cockpit, in which case Lael will take the bridge.’
Idris saw Lael grasp, her eyes wide although she did not look up from her displays. She had never commanded a vessel before her in a life, much less a gigantic frigate like Atlantia in a potentially life–threatening situation like the one they faced now, yet Idris had no choice but to leave her in command should Andaim be needed with his squadron.
‘We’ll take the lead once we get down to the planet,’ Governor Gredan reminded the captain.
‘Yes,’ Idris replied, ‘once the initial negotiations with the council have been conducted.’
‘That wasn’t part of our agreement!’
‘That’s correct,’ the captain replied briskly. ‘But the council is not asking for you, they’re asking for myself and Captain Mikhain to speak.’
‘A man who has murdered and is guilty of treason?!’ Gredan protested.
‘Accused of both,’ Idris corrected the governor.
Governor Ayek raised her voice. ‘Perhaps the captain is right, Gredan. We could be arrested on the surface if this doesn’t work out, even imprisoned.’
Idris smiled at the prim little woman.
‘You insisted on your right to be heard and claim to speak for the people: now’s your chance to speak for their lives. You repeatedly insisted to have your say
in the command and control of this fleet, and now I’m giving you that chance. You will accompany me to the surface and we’ll state our case together to the Galactic Council. If we fail it may be the end of us, but our place as a unified front is down there on Oassia on behalf of every single soul aboard the ships.’ Idris looked at her for a moment to let his words sink in. ‘I do take it that you will not back down from this challenge, or shirk your duties in any way, after working so very hard to attain them?’
Governor Ayek stared back at the captain in horror, but she was aware of the bridge crew watching her expectantly.
‘Of course, captain,’ she uttered finally. ‘I merely wish to respect the council’s wishes and avoid upsetting them. Our future counts upon it.’
‘Agreed,’ Idris said as he looked at Gredan. ‘Which is why I shall do the talking.’
Idris strode off the command platform and approached Governor Morle.
‘Ishira, can I ask you to remain here aboard Atlantia? If things don’t go well we may be in need of experienced starship captains to help Andaim and Lael run the ship in battle, as well as maintain at least one spokesperson for the people aboard. You’re the only Governor with suitable experience in both fields – can I count on you?’
Ishira nodded without hesitation. ‘I’ll be here,’ she assured him. ‘Just make sure you get back aboard in one piece, all of you.’
Idris nodded and with one hand briefly gripped her shoulder in gratitude as he glanced briefly at a display screen to see the council mission’s elegant diplomatic vessels cruising in a wide arc around Atlantia as they lined up for landing in the aft bays.
‘Our ride awaits,’ Idris informed the governors. ‘Shall we?’
***
XVII
General Bra’hiv led the way back toward the bridge, Mikhain striding behind him with his hands manacled behind his back and the Marines split into two groups, half in front of their general and half behind the captive captain.
‘What the hell are we going to do if Mikhain is imprisoned on Oassia?’ Qayin asked the General as they walked. ‘Arcadia will have no captain, and Lieutenant Scott is not experienced enough to take the command.’
‘Be thankful that’s not a problem that you’ll have to deal with,’ Bra’hiv replied. ‘You’re just a lowly private now and that’s the way it’s going to stay.’
Qayin allowed a grin to creep onto his features. ‘You say it like you think I care?’
The general did not look at the towering convict as he replied.
‘I know damned well that you care. It’s all about power with you, and right now you’ve got none.’
Emma walked up alongside the General. ‘This could go down badly. We have no idea what the Morla’syn are doing, or even where we are.’
The bridge doors appeared ahead, two Marine guards still standing either side of them. They looked at the approaching group of Marines and their eyes flew wide as they saw Mikhain manacled between them. Both soldiers however said nothing, parting to allow their general through. The doors opened and Bra’hiv led the way onto the bridge.
Arcadia’s bridge was a hive of activity and the General could see from the display screens that they had arrived in the Oassia system, the beautiful blue marble of the planet displayed amid a galaxy of stars and glowing in the distant flare of its red dwarf parent star.
The bridge crew came to a halt at their stations as they observed Mikhain in chains behind the General, and the hustle and whisper of conversation faded away as the General approached Lieutenant Scott. Scott stood from the captain’s chair and stared down at Mikhain in disbelief.
‘What the hell is going on?’
‘Captain Mikhain is under arrest for treason,’ Bra’hiv replied without preamble. ‘In the absence of any better qualified officers you are now in command of Arcadia.’
Scott stared at Bra’hiv as though he’d gone mad. ‘General, I do not have sufficient authority to take command of this frigate without first obtaining the confirmation of Captain Idris Sansin and the Board of…’
‘Shut up and take the captaincy,’ the General snapped, cutting the lieutenant off in mid–flow. ‘I don’t have the time for bureaucratic considerations right now. You’re in command, start acting like it.’
Scott glanced at Mikhain, who simply nodded in his direction.
‘You’re in command, XO,’ Mikhain said. ‘It’s the right thing to do.’
‘Pity you weren’t thinking like that back on Chiron IV,’ the General snapped over his shoulder at Mikhain before looking at the communications officer, Shah. ‘Do we have any contact with Atlantia or the Morla’syn destroyers?’
‘Nothing general,’ Shah replied. ‘We’re under full jamming, all sensors except passive are disabled and all weapon systems are deactivated. Whatever they’re planning, it’s going to happen soon and there’s nothing much we can do about it.’
‘There’s always something that can be done,’ the General growled back. ‘Activate the LANTERN system and start signalling them as soon as you can.’
The Lantern system was merely a series of lights that could be used manually to send subtle information back and forth between two vessels that were otherwise unable to communicate. The merchant version was well known, but the military used a different and well–guarded signals alphabet that the Morla’syn may not have encountered before.
‘They may be looking for that,’ Mikhain pointed out. ‘It’s why neither Idris nor I attempted to use the system to communicate.’
‘Well, things have changed,’ the General replied before he looked at the tactical officer. ‘Ensign, did you detect any debris on the passive sensors leaving Arcadia when we dropped out of super luminal cruise?’
The tactical officer glanced at his displays and shook his head. ‘Nothing, as far as I can tell.’
The general nodded in satisfaction. ‘Good, with a bit of luck that means the Morla’syn also did not detect the Hunters ejected from the flight deck. As long as we’re sure that Arcadia is clear of infection, both the Legion and Kordaz are now something we don’t have to worry about.’
Bra’hiv briefly closed his eyes and hung his head as he realized how quickly he’d dismissed the Veng’en warrior’s sacrifice. He spoke up so that every member of the bridge crew could hear him.
‘Kordaz, a Veng’en, was probably one of the bravest warriors I’ve ever met. He was about to be tried for murder but in my opinion he should have been commended for bravery, because he acted with greater humanity throughout his time with us than many of us did ourselves.’
The general could not resist looking directly at Mikhain as he spoke his last, then he spoke to Shah once more.
‘Use the lantern system, send a signal to Atlantia that says we are clean and that Captain Mikhain has been apprehended. That’s all they need to know for now.’
Shah was about to send the signal when an insistent beeping noise was omitted from the panel and they looked up sharply.
‘The Morla’syn are contacting us, they’ll be on screen within seconds!’
The general grabbed Mikhain, turned him and pushed him off the command platform as he pointed sharply at Scott.
‘You’re up, Lieutenant. Make it sound good.’
Scott faced the display screen as the General and the Marines hustled themselves out of sight. Moments later the face of the Morla’syn General, Veer, appeared on the screen and he looked down at Scott.
‘Your frigates have been brought out of super luminal cruise and a diplomatic mission is inbound from Oassia. Your captain is to board the mission and will be taken down to the surface along with Captain Idris Sansin of Atlantia. There, you will be able to state your case to the Galactic Council, and your fate will be decided.’
Scott took a moment to digest this new information.
‘Our captain is unwell and I am currently in command of Arcadia.’
‘Unwell?’ Veer echoed suspiciously. ‘Captain Mikhain seemed in fine mettle when he assist
ed in the near destruction of one of our destroyers only weeks ago. What illness has befallen him?’
‘Fatigue,’ Scott replied on a stroke of inspiration. ‘The stress of commanding a frigate and being on the run for almost two years, under constant combat stress with no opportunity for rest and respite can sap the will of even the strongest men. I feel certain that he will recover soon, but for now he will be unable to accompany the mission to the surface.’
Veer turned his head and communicated off screen with some of his crew, his translator momentarily disengaged in order to conceal what he was discussing. Moments later, he returned his gaze to Scott.
‘The Galactic Council will not recognise you as a leader and representative of the human race. If Mikhain is unable to join the diplomatic mission, then Captain Sansin will be forced to confront the council alone. The mission is inbound, ensure that it passes through your defences without incident and that your captain be brought aboard.’
The screen went blank and Scott let out a deep breath of air that he felt he had taken an hour before. He turned and looked at Bra’hiv.
‘They’re not going for it.’
The general cursed under his breath and began pacing up and down the bridge. Mikhain spoke softly from where he stood in his manacles.
‘There’s too much at stake for me not to go,’ he insisted. ‘This arrest is the work of the Board of Governors and I can face them at any time at trial. Right now, you and Captain Sansin need me down there on the surface.’
‘So you can betray us again?’ the General challenged.
‘I betrayed a Veng’en and with good reason,’ Mikhain shot back. ‘At the time it was the right thing to do. Get over it.’
‘Kordaz is more deserving of a place here than you,’ Qayin growled nearby.
‘Says the convicted murderer,’ Mikhain replied.
‘Silence!’ Bra’hiv snapped. He stood for a moment on the bridge and gathered his thoughts. ‘Lieutenant C’rairn, released the captain.’
C’rairn moved to the General’s side and spoke softly. ‘Are you sure about this?’
Defiance (Atlantia Series Book 5) Page 12
