Haraken (The Silver Ships Book 4)

by S. H. Jucha

  “I would not have thought it possible that I would ever think this, much less say it, but I wonder if President Racine would be interested in accepting some new immigrants,” Nema said quietly.

  Wombo thought his colleagues might object to Nema’s statement or at least argue. He was careful to keep his thoughts to himself, because Nema’s thoughts were the same as his own and had been ever since his story was greeted with wild applause from the Rêveur’s crew. There was no one waiting for him back on Earth, and the individuals he met at the Le Jardin fête and aboard the Rêveur were people he could see himself happily living among.

  * * *

  “I can’t believe that fool, Administrator Wombo,” Theostin huffed to Bunaldi once they were back aboard the Hand of Justice and alone in the high judge’s cabin. “I thought he was going to bow at the feet of that president.”

  “No, Samara,” Bunaldi replied. “Wombo might be useful to us. Our gentle administrator has won the hearts of the president’s Méridiens. If there is a soft side to these people, then thoughts of Wombo might give them cause to still their hands when they should be delivering a fatal blow.”

  “Do you think President Racine will accept our contest, Patricio?” Theostin asked.

  “I’m hopeful he will,” Bunaldi replied. “Failing to participate leaves the field open to us to make the next move, and this president doesn’t appear to be the type of person to let others dictate the course of events to him. If he does accept our contest, I want a strong message delivered to him and the people of this system.”

  “Swamp his fighters,” Theostin said, a smirk twisting her lips at the thought of crushing the Méridien admiral’s forces. She imagined being aboard the admiral’s ship and watching the woman’s face fall as her fighters disappeared from the screen.

  “You will have to be clever, Samara. They will probably suspect that we will change the game. You must appear to play fair to draw their fighters out. I want your best pilots in the competition, and I want to learn about their fighters. So do not deliver any quick kills. However the contest goes, the day ends in their utter defeat, Samara,” Bunaldi said and bored his eyes into hers. “We can’t let the Méridiens win. It would send the wrong message. The only thing we want these people to know is that the well from which our power springs has no bottom.”

  * * *

  To prepare for the contest, Sheila’s first order of business was to choose an approach to Bevroren. The Last Stand was still outside the system and would have to circle nearly halfway around the system at sub-light speed to approach Bevroren from deep space as Alex requested. There wasn’t enough time for that maneuver. As an alternate route, Sheila decided to jump the carrier out into the deep dark and then back again to be in position in less than a day.

  The carrier’s flight crews and pilots jumped into action to prep their 128 travelers before the carrier achieved its staging position, designated as Point Alpha. Each Haraken traveler was still a close copy of the original dark traveler, and they were as highly maneuverable as ever before, but there were no improvements to the beam technology or its firing rate. The Harakens thought themselves safe, having built two giant carriers massing a total of 384 travelers — until they faced the Earther's battleship.

  Late in the evening, Ellie met with Sheila in the commodore’s spacious cabin. Jackets were unbuttoned, boots were off, feet were propped up, and drinks were in hand.

  “Unless you order me not to lead the contest’s flight, Commodore, that is my intention,” Ellie said.

  “What is not my intention is to lose my wing commander in the first foray against these Earthers,” Sheila replied.

  “According to our president, this contest is an opportunity to scare the Earthers off, make them think twice about attempting to usurp the Confederation. It’s critical that the contest is as decisive as we can make it,” Ellie replied.

  “And you’re all right with killing these Earther pilots, Ellie?” Sheila asked gently.

  “If I were to dwell on it, probably not. On the other hand, once I’m out there I will be doing my best to keep my pilots safe from three enemy pilots, who will be trying to kill us. I’ve been there before,” Ellie reminded Sheila, “and I know what I’m capable of doing.”

  “And a damn fine job you did,” Sheila agreed. “All right, Commander, you pick your wings. Make sure they are pilots who can deliver. Now, let’s design some secondary plans if the Earthers don’t stick to the rules. According to the reports we’ve received, we can expect foul play.”

  The two women gamed until early morning before they retired, and soon after morning meal they met with their deck commanders to discuss the unorthodox launching of the travelers from deep space where they would have insufficient gravity waves to drive the fighters’ engines and beams. Sheila no sooner finished outlining the problem and the proposed launch technique when the first audience comment was made.

  “Pardon me, Commodore, but we trained for years with a variety of in-system launch patterns, and our first fight requires this half-assed launch from deep space. Who’s in charge of this outfit anyway?” asked Avery Crosser, who was known for his fast mouth. He was also known for commanding one of the best groups of flight chiefs on the ship. His comments drew chuckles from the other deck commanders.

  But Sheila wasn’t one to let a verbal challenge go unanswered. “One moment, Commander Crosser,” she said, “I’ll get him on the comm so you can ask the man directly.”

  Crosser, who was slouching in his chair, sat up quickly and put up two hands, waving Sheila off, and vigorously shaking his head. It brought a round of even louder chuckles from the audience.

  “All right, people. Let’s get down to business,” Sheila said. “We will launch three travelers as we approach Bevroren. Then we will prep and launch the remainder of the sub-wing.”

  “Begging your pardon, Commodore, we’re launching a total of sixty-four travelers using this tethering method?” a second deck commander asked. “Do you know something we don’t?”

  “It’s the president’s and admiral’s advice that we should expect treachery,” Sheila replied. “So we’ll launch a sub-wing to follow our three contestants, then the carrier will take the opposite path around Bevroren. Be prepared to use a traditional launch on any number of the remaining sub-wing.”

  “An important note,” Ellie added, “we are leaving the beam-and-tether technique up to you deck commanders. Work out which flights you want to launch with this method to compose the sub-wing. However, you must launch the three contestants, as the commodore calls them, within ticks of one another. I want my wing pilots close to me.”

  Ellie’s last statement quieted the deck commanders. Their wing commander was going to fly lead against three Earther pilots, who were out to prove superiority over Méridien craft and pilots by turning their adversaries into space debris.

  Soon after the deck commanders were dismissed, every pilot was assembled and seated in the carrier’s briefing amphitheater — 160 trained and qualified pilots for the 128 travelers — and only a handful ever fought an enemy.

  “People, one key strategic point to keep in mind,” Sheila said, after outlining the general plan to the pilots. “The Last Stand is a carrier, and we will be up against two ships that have fighters, missiles, and, we believe, rail guns. The second sub-wing’s primary duty will be to protect this carrier. Flight leaders of the second sub-wing, it will be hard not to go to the aid of your comrades in the heat of battle, but you have to defend our base.”

  “The other key strategy,” Ellie said, “will be implemented by the first sub-wing. Those pilots following the three contestants must remain fluid. We don’t know what to expect from these ships, but potentially the Rêveur will be in range of their missiles.”

  “Can we assume that the president and admiral won’t be aboard the Rêveur?” asked a captain.

  Sheila shook her head in negation, as a smile played across her lips. “You can expect those two to be nowhere el
se.”

  “One last subject to cover,” Ellie said. “I will not draft the two pilots who will join me as contestants. I will choose from volunteers. You may submit your names to the carrier’s controller, if you wish to do so privately.”

  In one fluid motion, 160 pilots stood to attention, and Ellie fought back the tears that threatened to form in her eyes. Every single Haraken pilot was willing to fight and die for their people. The majority of them were Librans, and if anyone had a stake in defending their freedom, it was these people who grew up on Libre as prisoners of Méridien society just for the crime of being different.

  “I will inform you of my choices soon. Thank you, one and all, for your commitment,” Ellie said.

  Sheila and Ellie handled questions from the pilots until evening meal and then took a break. They resumed after the meal and discussed tactics, depending on what the two Earther ships might do. So many questions could not be answered, because so little was known about the capability of the ships’ armament. When Sheila finally dismissed the pilots, she and Ellie shared glances, neither look conveyed confidence — too much was unknown.

  -21-

  Mahima Ganesh, Council Leader of the Confederation, a conglomeration of centuries-old, successful world systems, sat seething in her transport car like a teenager in the midst of a tantrum. Two House associates and two escorts kept their distance, sitting at the opposite end of the car. Despite the emotions roiling beneath the surface, outwardly Mahima kept her icy demeanor. Her irritation stemmed from being summoned to a Council meeting. It was her privilege to set Council dates, not be called to one as if she was a low-level associate.

  When Winston, the Council’s SADE, delivered the message to Mahima, he held the Council’s laws about such a request at his virtual fingertips. Initially, the SADE researched Council historical records to ensure the Leaders’ request was founded on precedence.

  Mahima could hear Winston’s voice in her implant. “Council Leader Ganesh, according to Council law, a minimum of ten Leaders is required to request an emergency Council meeting. As Council SADE, I am required to poll all Leaders, resident on Méridien at the time of the request, to obtain their approval or disapproval of the meeting. A majority of Leaders has approved the meeting, and your attendance is required.”

  “I want a list of the Leaders who requested the meeting, and a list of all those who approved the meeting,” Mahima demanded.

  “Leader Ganesh, I can’t acquiesce to that request. It’s against Council guidelines,” Winston replied. “I’m required to inform you of the date and time of the meeting and that your presence is required. No other information is to be transmitted to you.”

  “But you’re my SADE,” Mahima replied, outraged about what she perceived as treachery.

  “On the contrary, Leader Ganesh, I’m the Council’s SADE, not your House SADE,” Winston replied and closed the comm. She was not even been granted that grace — to be the one to terminate the conversation.

  Mahima’s car arrived at Confederation Hall a half-hour early. She planned to unsettle the conspirator’s complacency by taking her position in the hall and staring down each Leader as he or she entered chambers. She would let them know who was still in control. The lifts dedicated to a Council Leader allowed Mahima to reach her office quickly. At her private chamber entrance, Mahima handed her overcoat to an associate, squared her knee-length jacket, signaled the door open, and walked into a full chamber. By her estimate, every Leader on Méridien was present, and she lost a couple of steps before she regained her composure and marched to her exalted station.

  “As first order, I will call a roll of those present. I require each of you to declare whether you voted for or against the convening of this meeting,” Mahima announced.

  “Your pardon, Council Leader,” Winston announced over the chamber’s audio system. It was installed centuries ago to accommodate preimplant children, who attended the sessions with their fathers or mothers. “You are out of order. The first order of business is a list of questions, presented by those who called the meeting, to be put to you.”

  “Will these individuals be reading the questions?” Mahima asked.

  “Negative, Council Leader Ganesh,” Winston replied. “I will ask the questions. After your response, any Leader may ask clarifying questions until there are no more, and then I will voice the next question.”

  “Very well, Winston, it appears you have the floor,” Mahima said as gracefully as she could manage. She knew the Earthers were at the heart of the matter, but she was sure President Racine was fomenting this discord among her people. For a rare time in her life, she wished a human being dead.

  “The first question is rhetorical, but I’m required to ask it,” Winston said. He proceeded to detail the various events that had been transpiring in the Méridien system, including the presence of two Earther ships, the explorer ship and the warship, in addition to the visit by an armed group of Earthers to Lemuel Terminal. “I have affirmed to the convening Leaders that you have been carefully advised of all such events,” Winston finished.

  “The first question for you, Council Leader Ganesh, is this: What action are you prepared to take to protect the Confederation against usurpation by the Earthers?” Winston asked.

  “Leaders,” Mahima said, rotating her dais to face the Assembly, “the question assumes that usurpation is the purpose of the Earthers. Who’s to say that is what they wish? I counsel patience. The Earthers will grow tired of failing to make contact and return to their home.”

  “What evidence exists to the contrary of our Council Leader’s position?” Leader Lemoyne said, rising to his feet. He was one of Mahima’s staunch supporters.

  “The question of evidence has been requested,” Winston said. “Please pay attention to the central holo-vid.” Winston played the Shadow’s visual record as it crawled through the Reunion, and he played Esther’s early analysis of the Reunion to use as resources to calculate the armament carried by the Hand of Justice.

  “This information proves nothing,” Leader Teressi said, who was another supporter of Mahima. “We have no idea what worlds the Earthers have visited and what enemies they might have found it necessary to defend themselves against. This type of armament might have been completely necessary.”

  “If you will be patient, Leader Teressi,” Winston replied. “I will continue with the presentation of the evidence of Earther intention as requested. The earlier images were designed to prove that the Earthers have the capability to wage war against extremely capable adversaries, of whom the Confederation is not one. The next series of images is taken from Julien, the Haraken SADE, who witnessed this discussion between members of the Earther contingent and President Racine and his people.

  Mahima wanted to object with all her voice, but she held back. Too many of the Leaders were intent on the holo-vid that was playing. Of all places, the discussion was taking place in a meal room, a full one at that. To Méridiens, mealtime was a sacred time of sharing. Haraken uniforms and ship suits could be seen in the background. People were eating, drinking, and communing, as it should be.

  The Leaders received Con-Fed translations from Winston as the scenes played out. There was no mistaking the positions of the two parties in conversation — one curious and questioning and the other directive if not aggressive. When the major lunged across the table to strike Z, Winston halted the vid. “Allow me to provide you with some information, Sers. The man about to be struck is a Haraken SADE by the name of Z.” Winston sent the Leaders an alternate vid of Z to their implants. “This is also Z, wearing his Miranda Leyton avatar and persona. You will notice that Major Barbas of the UE is quite taken with her charms. Now he has discovered that these two individuals are essentially two faces of the same SADE.”

  Méridien decorum left the chambers in a hurry. The reactions varied — laughter about the subterfuge perpetrated against the Earthers, curiosity about the mechanics involved in the transfer of kernel and personas, incredulit
y at a SADE occupying an avatar, and indignation at the duplicity of the SADE — and all the reactions were played at the top of voices and comms.

  Winston let loose an audio screech into Council chambers, which brought conversation to a halt. When did I become the parent of Méridien Leaders? Winston thought. “Allow me to proceed, Sers,” Winston said. The vid continued and the Assembly watched the fiercely delivered blow stopped, as if the major’s hand hit a wall. Many of the technically minded in the Assembly credited the SADEs with their foresight to create extremely robust avatars for their use.

  Mahima stood on her dais thinking she could refute much of this conversation as belligerent children arguing, children who could learn much from a mature society. That was until it came to the portion where the high judge stated his challenge to President Racine, offering three of his pilots to kill or be killed by the Harakens, who he still assumed to be Méridiens.

  “You see the danger of listening to this man,” Mahima demanded of her audience. “High Judge Bunaldi believes he is speaking to Méridiens, and this Haraken president, pretending to represent us, sets a dangerous precedent that we, true Méridiens, would ever take part in this vile contest.”

  Gino Diamanté stood up and Winston announced him. “Thank you, Winston, I have two clarifying questions. The first is for Council Leader Ganesh. What do you believe the Earthers would do if their challenge was not accepted?”

  Mahima glared at Gino. She knew he was one of those who requested the meeting, and she looked forward to developing plans to destroy him. “It’s as I told you before, Leader Diamanté. The Earthers will grow tired of the lack of contact from us and realize the futility of their efforts. It might take days or a year. It doesn’t matter, but eventually they will go home,” Mahima said with her old confidence.