by G. P. Hudson
“Yes, Captain Keer. Have you discovered anything?”
“We followed the aliens, as you ordered, your worship” said Keer. “We were cloaked the entire time, and they did not detect us. They traveled at sub light speeds first, and then established low FTL speeds. We stayed with them and matched their velocity. When they got around to the other side of our star, where they couldn’t be seen, they vanished.”
“So? They activated their cloaking technology. What of it?”
“That is what we thought, your worship, but when we scanned to determine their location, we found nothing.”
“I understand that scanning for cloaked vessels is no easy matter,” said Kang.
“My scanner operator is very skilled, your worship. If they were cloaked, he would have found something. There would be an echo. There always is. The challenge is not in knowing there is a cloaked ship in the vicinity, it is in finding its precise location. But in this case, there was no cloaked ship.”
“What about the transponders we gave them? Surely you were able to detect their signal.”
“We tried, but again found nothing.”
“Perhaps their cloaking technology is more advanced than ours.”
“That’s what I thought, but I also suspected something else might be going on. So I checked the transit point they were traveling to, and received word that their transponder had been picked up, meaning they had already reached the transit point.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It is. But clearly it isn’t.
Kang couldn’t believe her luck. She was right. Jon Pike did have a secret. One that would raise her status tenfold. “We know their ultimate destination. Have one of your ships pick up their trail, and continue following, but remain hidden. I want to know everything they do.”
“Yes, your worship. It will be done.”
Chapter 18
“How far are we from our previous coordinates?” said Jon, after travelling through the first Dvorkan transit point without incident.
“Nine-hundred-and-eighty-seven light years,” said Commander Henderson.
“Just like the jump gates in our region of space. How long until we reach the next transit point?”
“Six Earth standard hours, Sir. We have to travel through this star system first.”
“Alright, you have the bridge, Commander. Contact me if anything out of the ordinary happens.”
“Understood.”
Jon left the bridge heading toward his quarters. He needed to get some rest, but also to see Breeah and Anki. He hadn’t seen very much of them since entering Dvorkan space, and looked forward to a little downtime. When he arrived at his quarters, he found both Breeah and Anki glued to one of the displays.
“Jon!” said Anki, jumping up and running to him as he stepped through the door. When she neared, she leaped into the air, flying straight at him.
“Hey!” said Jon, catching her in midflight. “You’re starting to get a little big for that stuff. One day soon you’ll be knocking me down.”
Anki wrapped her slender arms around his neck and giggled. “I’ll never be able to knock you down, Jon.”
“Don’t be so sure, little one. You’re becoming quite a warrior.”
“I’m still a kid.”
“Yeah, and a feisty one at that.” Jon set Anki down and she ran back to her mother. “What are you two looking at?” Jon said, joining them.
“The star system,” Anki said excitedly. “This place is incredible. Did you know that four of the planets are populated, as well as several of their moons? Plus, there are space stations, and a gazillion ships traveling between them all.”
“Yes, these Dvorkans have built an impressive Empire.” Jon kissed Breeah, and sat down beside them.
“Do we know if this is a Dvorkan system?” said Breeah.
“Good question. I’m not sure. The Consul said that there are a lot of aliens in the Empire. This may be one of the alien systems.”
“We should go down to one of the planets and find out,” said Anki, jumping out of her seat again.
“I’m afraid we can’t. We’re just passing through on our way to the next jump gate.”
“But we should explore while we’re here.”
“We’ll get the chance when we reach our destination. We’ll have to go down to the surface to find this scholar. We’ll get a chance to look around then. Hopefully that planet will be friendlier than the last.”
“Do you think this scholar will help us?” said Breeah.
“I’m not sure, but I’m hopeful. The Consul said she was the leading expert on the Builders in the Empire. I’m thinking she’ll jump at the chance to help us once we tell her we’re looking for them.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“She will. And if she doesn’t, we’ll just continue with the original plan.”
Breeah glanced back at the display. Anki had selected one of the planets, and zoomed in to get a closer look at the great cities on the surface. “I was thinking, this Empire seems quite powerful. It might be worthwhile to create an alliance with them,” said Breeah.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I just need to learn a bit more about them first. From what the Consul told me, they have an extremely aggressive history. That seems to be behind them now, but who knows? The problem is, the only way they could help us is if they had the jump system, and I’m not comfortable with that. Who’s to say they wouldn’t just try and invade us instead?”
“Do you think they can?”
“I don’t know enough about them to know the answer. I’d like to think that between the UHSF and the Diakans, that we are strong enough to defeat them, but can’t make that conclusion without more data.”
“Perhaps when we return from our mission, you can try and arrange a meeting with their Emperor. Plant some seeds for future cultivation.
“That would be wise. Hopefully we’ll have time to do so.”
“I wonder what is happening back home. Perhaps the Erinyie have been satiated for now?”
“We can hope. As intriguing as this is,” said Jon, waving a hand at the display. “We can’t forget what’s at stake.”
“No, we cannot,” said Breeah. “But for now, we can relax and enjoy a meal together.”
Jon smiled. “My thoughts exactly.”
Chapter 19
“New request for orbital support, Sir,” said the tactical officer on General Calledonius’s flagship. “The Triumph is moving into position to target the surface.”
“Very well,” said Calledonius. “Keep monitoring the situation.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Requests for orbital support are increasing daily,” said Captain Madox. “The insurrection is growing.”
“So it seems,” said Calledonius.
“I don’t understand it,” said Madox. “We have complete orbital control. A rebellion has no hope of success.”
“And yet, it continues to grow,” said Calledonius. “It was an error in my judgment.”
“Sir?”
“The Kemmar are not the most rational of species at the best of times, and this is their home world. I should have foreseen this. It was wishful thinking to assume that the population would accept human rule without a fight.”
“A fight is one things, Sir. But this is something else entirely. They are choosing death.”
“Yes. They prefer it to occupation. I can see the logic. If the roles were reversed, as old as I am, I’m not sure I would behave any different. Would you?”
“No, Sir. I don’t think I would.”
“Unfortunately for the Kemmar, the roles are not reversed, and this rebellion will be crushed. It is only a question of how much suffering the Kemmar are prepared to endure.”
“Unidentified jumpspace disturbance detected,” said the computer. “Launching jump bombs.”
“On screen,” said Calledonius.
The viewscreen switched orientation to show a fleet of enormous black, tubular ships appear
ing all around the UHSF armada positioned around the Kemmar home planet.
“The Erinyie,” Calledonius muttered.
The jump bombs began to detonate as the ships appeared, although each one blew up outside the great Erinyie hulls, leaving the sinister ships undamaged.
The Erinyie response was swift and merciless. Silver beams burst forth from the black vessels, ripping through the hulls of their outclassed foes.
Calledonius looked on in horror as dozens of tiny suns formed, where UHSF ships blew apart. “Emergency jump,” he said finally. “All ships.”
“But what about our troops on the surface?” said Madox.
“There’s nothing we can do for them,” said Calledonius. “They’re on their own.”
***
“They’re everywhere!” said Private Santos, scrambling for cover from the Kemmar insurgents targeting him.
“Valkyrie, Valkyrie, we are pinned down. I repeat, we are pinned down. Requesting immediate orbital support,” said Sergeant Gilmour, over his comm.
“What’s happening, Sarge?” said Corporal Blake, returning fire at the concealed insurgents in the buildings around him.
“I don’t know,” said Gilmour. “There’s no response.”
“Is your comm down?”
“Maybe. Try yours.”
“Valkyrie, this is Corporal Blake, Strike Team Alpha. Do you copy?”
Silence.
“Shit. I can’t get them either.”
A flash of light above them indicated that another drone had been shot down. Their drone swarm was the only thing keeping them alive at this point. The lethal machines were equipped with powerful weapons, and were fully autonomous. Yet even they were vulnerable to the seemingly endless number of armed Kemmar assailing them.
Sergeant Gilmour opened a comm with his base, hoping to get some help, or at least find out what was going on.
“”Valkyrie is down, Sergeant,” said the voice on the other end of his comm. “And we have our hands full here as well. All units are ordered to return to base.”
“Understood. Gilmour out.”
“What did they say?” said Blake.
“We’re on our own. The fleet is gone.”
“Gone? How?”
“They didn’t say. But if I had to guess, I’d say the Juttari showed up with some of those black ships we’ve been hearing about.”
“Damn.”
“Damn is right. The cavalry’s not coming boys. We’ve got to try and make it back to base,” said Gilmour, as an armed Kemmar appeared no more than three meters away from him. The Kemmar fired, hitting Gilmour square in the chest. The force of the impact knocked him backward, but not before he squeezed off a few rounds of his own. The Kemmar didn’t have the protection of a combat suit, and the energy bolts opened a gaping hole in its stomach.
No sooner did the Kemmar hit the ground than two more appeared, firing in tandem. More bolts crashed into Gilmour’s combat suit, and red numbers flashed at him from his visor, telling him that his suit’s integrity was down to fifteen percent.
Gilmour sprayed both Kemmar with energy bolts as he fell backward, dropping them. As he scrambled for a better position, a notification flashed on his visor indicating that Private Santos’s life signs had ceased.
Gilmour broke into a run, trying to reach a more defensible position. Energy bolts rained down all around him from the surrounding buildings. The same buildings the orbital strike was supposed to flatten.
Unfortunately, there would be no orbital strike today. Nor would there be any escape for him and his men. He knew this. As energy bolts hammered him in the back, driving him to the ground, he knew.
They would die here today. On the streets of the planet Kem, in the heart of the former Kemmar Empire.
Chapter 20
“Contact!” said Ensign Petrovic. “An extremely large warship has just appeared directly in front of us.”
“All stop,” said Jon, watching the main viewscreen. “Magnify.”
It zoomed in to reveal a tremendously powerful looking warship, blocking their path. Its dimensions were immense, easily dwarfing the mammoth Diakan battleships. It was armed to the teeth, with more gun batteries jutting out of its hull than Jon thought was possible. He realized then, that he’d not considered Empire’s weapons capabilities. Were their weapons more advanced, or did the UHSF have them outclassed?
“Advise battle group not to take any provocative actions. We’re just passing through and want no trouble.”
“Yes, Sir. Relaying orders,” said Commander Henderson.
“AI, did our scans pick up anything that would indicate the presence of a cloaked ship?” said Jon.
“Negative,” said AI.
“There’s got to be a way to spot them,” Jon said to himself.
“We are being hailed,” said Henderson.
“Route to my console.”
Jon’s comm display came to life and a Dvorkan dressed in an all black, military style uniform appeared. The Dvorkan seemed surprised to see Jon’s face.
“What are you?” the Dvorkan said. “What is your business in this system?”
“I’m a human. My name is Admiral Jon Pike. Our ships are just traveling through this system heading to the next transit point in our journey.”
“I do not know your race. Your ships are armed, yet are not broadcasting the required permits to bring them through this system.”
“We thought we had all the permits we needed. They were issued to us by the Consul in the previous system.”
“You only have a transit point access permit. You need a weapons permit to fly armed vessels through an Empire system.” The Dvorkan looked way for a moment. “The word human is not in our database. What is the name of your planet?”
“Earth.”
“There is no planet called Earth in our database either.” The Dvorkan’s eyes narrowed. “You are attempting to deceive me.”
Jon didn’t like where this was going. “I’m telling you the truth. We are not from the Empire, that is why you don’t know our planet.”
“Not from the Empire? There is only the Empire. Nothing more.” The Dvorkan leaned in. “I don’t like you, and I don’t believe your story. Stand down and prepare to be boarded.”
“Boarded? Why?”
“I just told you why. I don’t like you. That is reason enough. Be informed that our guns are trained on you, as are the guns of several cloaked warships. Any aggressive response will be met with lethal force, as will any attempt to cloak your ships.”
Jon muted his comm link. “Sound General Quarters throughout battle group.”
“Yes, Sir. Sounding General Quarters.”
“Don’t launch our birds yet, but I want them ready to go at a moment’s notice. Target the battleship with jump bombs, and make sure Tallos holds back on his nukes.”
“Yes, Sir. Birds and jump bombs are ready for launch.”
Jon couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had no intention of letting these Dvorkans board his ships. But he couldn’t get into a firefight. He had no idea how many ships he was dealing with, or where they were located. He could see only one option. Jumping away.
But in doing so, he would reveal his secret, and the Empire would become aware of the jump system technology. He was also almost a thousand light years from the previous Dvorkan system. He could try to get to the previous transit point, but what if the Dvorkans prevented that? It would take another five days just to get back to the previous system.
And what about the scholar? Did he just give up on her? He would have to. The Dvorkans would be on the lookout for Jon’s ships. It would be unsafe for him to remain in the Empire. There were no good options open to him.
In the end, he decided to fight. The jump bombs would hit that big Dvorkan ship with a heavy punch. It might just be enough to get them to back off.
“Our sensors are detecting the activation of weapon systems on several of your ships. Stand down immediately, or you will be-
” The Dvorkan turned to someone off screen. A lively conversation ensued. Jon tried, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. He was certain that much of it involved swearing. Finally, the Dvorkan commander turned to face Jon again. “It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Your ships are free to go, though you will need to purchase the necessary permits.”
Jon was flabbergasted. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“There was a mistake,” said the Dvorkan, raising his voice. “That is all. Now, you will either transfer the necessary credits for your weapons permit, or you will go back the way you came. What is your decision?”
The muscles in Jon’s shoulders relaxed. He felt relieved that he didn’t need to fight another battle. “I’ll purchase the permits. How much will they cost?”
“One-hundred-and-fifty-thousand credits,” said the Dvorkan with the kind of half smile that indicated a large chunk of the payment would go into his personal account.
“I’ll pay,” said Jon. He had no interest in provoking the Dvorkan further. It was not the first time he’d encountered corruption, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
“Excellent,” said the Dvorkan, his smile significantly broader. “Do you authorize the credits to be transferred from your account?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“It is done. You are now permitted to continue to your destination. Safe journeys.” The Dvorkan terminated the communication, and his face blinked off Jon’s screen.
“What the hell was that about?” said Jon, baffled by the encounter.
“Maybe they were bluffing about boarding our ships. It could’ve been just a tactic to get us to cough up the credits,” said Henderson.
“I don’t know. He didn’t look like the bluffing type. You could be right. It was probably a shakedown from the start.”
“He could’ve been telling the truth. The Consul might have given us all the permits we needed. Maybe this guy just made a mistake.”
“I don’t know. Something fishy is going on. I just haven’t figured out what it is yet. But I will. Resume course. Let’s hurry up and get to our destination before the next Imperial officer tries to get their hands on our credits.”
