by D. J. Holmes
“Given our analysis of the data the Mindus shared with us, there is no doubt that this alien race assaulting their worlds is the race that has ceded hostile species near our borders with advanced military technologies. We believe this is a tactic the species uses before it invades an area of space. They give advanced weapons technologies to genocidal races to cause mayhem and destruction prior to their arrival. Then they move in and take over whatever civilizations are left.”
“But that would mean that this species intends to conquer everything from the Mindus homeworld to Varanni Prime and Earth,” Ya’sia said, clearly thinking much further ahead than James. “Who could achieve conquests on such a scale?”
“These invaders clearly believe they can,” Dural answered. “They have not revealed their name or where they are from to the Mindus, so we are simply referring to them as the Invaders. Given their likely intention to conquer all of our species, the Varanni Senate has called for a meeting of all Alliance members. Their main battlefleets are also requested to assemble at Varanni Prime.”
“Your fleet High Command is planning to come to the aid of the Mindus?” Ya’sia asked.
“If the Alliance species agree, they are entertaining the possibility,” Dural answered.
“Fighting a war far from home rather than amongst your own inhabited worlds makes sense,” James said with a nod. “Do you think you can defeat these invaders?”
“We do not know,” Dural answered. “The Mindus do not appear to have invested as much research and development into their military technologies as we have. Nor did they have a large fleet when the Invaders launched their surprise attack. As I said, they have been able to slow down the Invaders’ advance as they have brought new ships and technologies into the war. However, the Invaders seem to have limitless numbers of ships. That fact, and our conclusion that they believe they can conquer what we view as our sector of space, suggests the Invaders rule over a very large space Empire. One much bigger than we imagined existing up until this point. We do not know if victory is possible. That is why the High Command is entertaining such a drastic course of action.”
James rubbed his forehead. He was struggling to take everything in. That wasn’t his immediate concern though. The Varanni were clearly advanced in ways beyond his comprehension. Yet if Dural thought his entire civilization was at risk from being conquered, what hope did Humanity have?
Chapter 25
One would think that over the centuries the translation and communication tech the Empire uses would have changed and developed with our increasing technological capabilities. I’m told however that we’re still basically using the technology the Kulreans shared with us a millennium ago. One wonders just how different our history would have been if they had shared more with us back then.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
Not knowing Human mannerisms well and just as unaware of James’ thoughts as Dural had been, Ya’sia continued the conversation. “I presume, my fleet is to be a part of this force that might be sent to help the Mindus? That is why you were sent to recall us?”
“You are correct Admiral,” Dural replied. “If your fleet is able, we will depart as soon as possible.”
“What about the Humans?” Ya’sia asked. “They cannot defend themselves against the Flex-aor on their own. And if the Flex-aor decide to attack the Monulans or even my species instead of the Humans, we will be leaving our southern borders unguarded.”
“The Humans were not a part of my orders. Nor was the Senate aware of the Flex-aor threat when they dispatched me. When we return to Varanni Prime you can deliver a report to the Senate and our military High Command. They will have to decide how to proceed. Given what you’ve already said, it sounds like the Flex-aor are not an immediate threat. If the Mindus civilization is conquered, our Alliance will be the next target of these Invaders.”
Ya’sia looked at James, but when she saw he seemed distracted she turned back to Dural. “In that case, I suggest we bring Vice Admiral Somerville and his fleet with us to Varanni Prime. If it is judged that we must go to war against these Invaders, his experience and his fleet may come in very useful. In addition, he can make the case for aiding his own species to defend themselves against the Flex-aor in person.”
“I don’t see how that is possible,” Dural responded. “If we travel at the speed of Vice Admiral Somerville’s ships, it will add days if not weeks to our travel time. My orders were to bring you back as soon as possible.”
“We can upgrade their shift drives,” Ya’sia suggested. “We’ve already analyzed their technologies reasonably well. I believe we can help them make minor adjustments that will see significant gains. They would not be able to match our warships, let alone yours, but the delay would be worth adding more than a hundred warships to our fleet. Especially given the Humans’ other capabilities. They may be less technologically advanced than us overall, but some of their military technologies and tactics are very impressive. They would be a great asset to us.”
James had his mouth open. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Ya’sia knew the threat the Flex-aor posed. Why was she suggesting they take both fleets away from X-32? That would be leaving Human space all but unprotected. When he went to say as much, Ya’sia covertly gestured for him to be silent. She spared him a quick glance. James didn’t know what she was doing, but he got her message.
“I’m not sure,” Dural responded. “You’re asking me to bring a battle fleet from a species the Senate has not even opened formal dialogue with to our homeworld.”
“I know the significance of what I’m asking,” Ya’sia replied. “Yet I’m still asking it. That is how important I think the Human’s assistance could be. Though, they need not come all the way to your homeworld. I can dispatch a frigate from my fleet now to bring advance warning of our approach. Your Senate can decide whether or not to allow the Human fleet into Varanni space before we get there. It will also save us some time. If word gets back to us that the Humans are not welcome, we can leave them behind and continue at our faster rates of travel. Though, with our way gates, the Human’s decreased shift space velocity won’t be that much of a hindrance.”
“Very well Admiral Ya’sia, I will take you at your word. These Humans have clearly made an impression upon you.”
“They have,” Ya’sia replied as she gave a slight bow towards James.
“How long until your fleet can depart Vice Admiral?” Dural asked as he turned back to James.
“Ah…” James said caught off guard. Realistically he knew his fleet could spend a month in orbit around X-32 resupplying and repairing damage. But he didn’t have a month, he didn’t even have a week. Lightfoot would stop any attempt to take the Outer Defense Fleet away from its assigned station within the day. “Half a day, perhaps a full day,” he answered. “Our fleet was out on maneuvers when we came across Ya’sia’s fleet. A resupply convoy has topped up much of our supply needs, however we need to return to X-32 to pick up a number of supplies.”
“We will depart in one day then, or sooner if you let me know. I will send technicians over to Handmaiden. Ya’sia, you can put together a team to work on the Human shift drives. We will see what improvements we can make before we depart.”
“Thank you Captain,” Ya’sia said as she gave Dural a deep bow. “You honor me with your trust. We will leave now, I’m sure Vice Admiral Somerville has much to do. I sent over a full report of our activities against the Flex-aor. It will make interesting reading for you.”
“I will send both of you a full report on what we know of the Mindus and these Invaders,” Dural responded. “We will speak more. Goodbye for now Admirals.”
James mimicked Ya’sia’s bow and then turned with her and followed her out of Quest’s bridge. He had a thousand questions he wanted to ask, but he thought it best to wait until they got back to her shuttle.
“I can’t believe that all just happened,” James said as soon as they were strapped in. “Dural sho
wed me a map of your space. He is sending technicians to work on our technology. He wants a fleet of Human warships to come to his homeworld. This is far beyond anything you suggested might be possible. I thought this would take decades not minutes.”
“I’m surprised he agreed so readily myself,” Ya’sia responded. “Given how frank he was being with you, I thought there was nothing to lose in asking. He clearly took my respect for you as a positive sign. Still, it worries me greatly that he said yes.”
“How so?” James asked.
“Think about it,” Ya’sia responded. “Even taking you on board Quest as a passenger and bringing you to the Varanni homeworld as an advisor would be unprecedented. For Dural to contemplate anything more indicates just how concerned he is about these Invaders. He didn’t even flinch when we told him about the size of the Flex-aor fleet. If these invaders didn’t exist, I would have expected the Varanni to send an entire battle fleet to deal with the Flex-aor. Now Dural is happy to take our fleets away from here. It is like the Flex-aor don’t even exist as a threat.”
“I guess this report on these Invaders isn’t going to make for pretty reading then,” James commented. “I have to be honest though, I’m not sure I can take my fleet away from here. I have my own species to think of. I cannot leave my borders undefended.”
“They would not be undefended,” Ya’sia argued. “You do not need to bring your whole fleet and as you have no doubt observed, many more ships are already in orbit around X-32. This opportunity may never come again for your species. It is not something I recommend you pass up. Not least because I have staked my reputation on bringing you. If these Invaders are the threat they appear, your species’ future may depend on your involvement.”
“I understand what you’re saying but protecting my species’ borders is not the only problem we face. I would have told you sooner, but I thought Quest’s appearance took precedence.” James explained what Lightfoot had shared with him and how there was no way he could lead even a frigate away from X-32, never mind a fleet. To do so would be treason. After he finished speaking, he waited for Ya’sia’s response.
She didn’t reply for a long time. The shuttle was landing on Handmaiden’s flight deck when she finally spoke again. “That is a great disappointment. I cannot vouch for anyone else. It must be you or no one. I do not think Dural would accept any other fleet commander, even if you vouched for this Lightfoot. This is serious Vice Admiral. Your species’ future may depend on making a successful first contact with the Varanni. I suggest you think of something.”
James went to ask Ya’sia what she meant, but she beat him to it. Standing, she fixed him with a hard look. “Return to your ship, there is no time to spare, you must decide what to do and get your fleet ready to depart.” She gestured for him to proceed her out of the shuttle, stopping him from asking anything more. James understood, she didn’t feel she could tell him what to do, but he knew what she wanted.
After descending the ramp James stopped and turned back to her. “Thank you for what you said about me to Dural. Whatever happens, I hope I don’t disappoint you. I hope we will see each other again.” He gave Ya’sia the same bow she had given Dural.
Ya’sia reached out her hand and shook James’. “Get going Vice Admiral. I expect to see you again before the day is out.”
James didn’t reply, he knew what Ya’sia was asking him to do, but he couldn’t do it. Keeping silent was the only way not to make any promises he couldn’t keep.
*
When the shuttle set down in Golden Hind’s hanger Bay, James found Scott, Miyamoto and several of his officers eagerly waiting for him. As he descended the shuttle’s ramp, he gave the group a nod.
Scott clearly couldn’t contain herself. “Well?” she asked excitedly. “How was it? What did you learn? Why are they here?”
“Not now,” James replied as he held up his hand to Scott. He then brought it up to rub his temple. “I need to think.”
“But…” Scott began to say.
She was unable to add any more, for James had already walked past her. “Send orders to our ships. We continue on towards X-32. Call ahead and make sure everything has been done to expedite our resupply.”
“Are we going somewhere?” Scott asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. But let’s get our ships restocked as quickly as possible anyway,” James answered.
“What about the COM blackout?” Miyamoto asked. “Are we to keep it in place?”
“No,” James answered with a shake of his head. “You can lift it. Inform Lightfoot that the large warship belongs to a race allied with the Crians. They came to speak with Ya’sia. Tell him we ordered the blackout until we could confirm that the new contact was friendly.”
“Is that all we should tell him?” Scott pushed.
“That’s all I’m prepared to say for now,” James explained. “I need to think. Now, see to my orders. I’ll be in my office. Dismissed.” Though his subordinates were behind him, he could easily picture the look on their faces. That didn’t matter at the moment. He had far more important things to deal with.
When he got to his office James sat down and placed both elbows on his desk. Then he rested his head in his hands. His temples were throbbing. A headache was very clearly coming on. There were just too many things bouncing around in his head. He was struggling to take in everything Dural had revealed. Never mind what Ya’sia had asked of Dural and now expected him to do. Those revelations were more than enough for him to deal with, yet Lightfoot’s news loomed over everything else.
Straightening up, he looked at his reflection in his viewing port. He was kitted out in his best dress uniform. His medals were all on display on his chest. How can I just walk away from all this? My duty is to defend Humanity. If this new threat is real, we could be facing an enemy the likes of which we have never even imagined. How can I just walk away? James hated it when people built him up bigger than he was. He knew he was just a cog in the intricate machine that was the UN Navy. However, in this instance, he couldn’t deny his importance. For better or worse, he was the one who had met Ya’sia. He was the one who had won her confidence. Those were all factors the UN Military Subcommittee back on Earth knew nothing about. If they did, they would reverse their decision and order me to go with Dural.
James knew that wasn’t true. The Military Subcommittee had removed him in the middle of a shooting conflict. They wanted rid of him, no matter the cost. They wouldn’t see this as changing anything. They won’t care about the Varanni or the Invaders. So… can I go against their orders? Immediately his mind went to Lightfoot. If he tried to take his fleet with Dural, would Lightfoot allow it? James had great respect for his fellow countryman. Yet Lightfoot was a stickler for orders. If he had been given responsibility for the Outer Defense Fleet, he wouldn’t stand by and allow that fleet to be taken away. Of that James was certain, if for no other reason than that he knew he would do the same if the circumstances were reversed.
Especially given how much of a threat we know the Flex-aor are, James thought. That was another factor bouncing around his head. If he took even one ship away from X-32, he would be weakening Humanity’s defenses. Given how massively the UN fleet was outnumbered, could he risk doing what Ya’sia wanted him to do? One thing was certain, if he did take any ships away, the Military Subcommittee would not look kindly on it. If they saw his mission into Flex-aor space as a dereliction of duty, how would they view what he was contemplating now?
“You’re thinking about mutiny,” James said to his reflection. “You’ll be throwing away everything you have served and fought for since joining the RNS. Your career, your reputation, it will all be destroyed. Is that a price you are willing to pay? Is Dural’s information that important?”
James didn’t know the answer. There was no right answer. If he tried to leave, Lightfoot might arrest and imprison him. Or, if he was successful, the Flex-aor could come and destroy X-32 and who knows how many other Human col
onies? Yet if he didn’t go, these Invaders might overwhelm this entire area of space. Winning a victory over the Flex-aor would be pointless then. How I am I supposed to decide? James asked himself again. The look of despair on his own face made him look away from his image. Instead he buried his head in his hands again.
For several minutes he struggled to think clearly. There were just too many factors to consider. Too many things that he was still coming to terms with. Through the haze one thing did emerge. He still hadn’t read the letter from Suzanna. Like a drowning man grasping for help, James’ arm shot over to his computer terminal. He needed something to steady his mind and he knew his wife’s letter would do just that. When he got to the messages Lightfoot had sent across, he saw there were two letters. One was much longer, but its date told him it was older. He chose to open the more recent one first.
