The Pike Chronicles: Books 5-8 (Pike Chronicles Space Opera Book 2)

by G. P. Hudson

  “That is a lot to take in, Admiral,” said Kriss. “Frankly, I am overwhelmed.”

  “I would be surprised if you weren’t,” said Jon.

  “If not for recent events, I may have thought this story was nothing more than the ravings of a madman. But too much has happened. I’m convinced that my father’s death was not an accident. The more I investigate, the more I believe a conspiracy exists. That investigation also coincided with several attempts on my life, culminating with the spectacular one you witnessed today. I now believe that your story and the conspiracy are connected.”

  “You think the Erinyie are behind it?” said Jon.

  “Yes, I do,” said Kriss. He looked over at one of the Taymati standing guard in the room. “What was that insanity General Tal said when we interrogated her, Captain? Something about someone returning?”

  “She said that they were returning, your worship,” said the Taymati officer. “That the entire galaxy would be purged, and born anew.”

  “That’s what it was,” said Kriss. “Of course, we thought she was insane, but now I think there was more to it than that.”

  “You’re probably right,” said Jon. “Our allies, the Diakans, had a similar problem with a group of high ranking officers that called themselves the Faction. They were in league with the Erinyie, and had infiltrated some of the highest positions of power in the Diakan military.”

  “It appears we have the same problem as your Diakans.”

  A comm came through from Commander Henderson on the Freedom’s bridge. “Sir, we are picking up a lot of activity from the transit point in this system. It looks like a Dvorkan fleet is coming through.”

  “Patch the feed through to this room’s wallscreen,” said Jon.

  The wallscreen came to life and focused in on the transit point, where a succession of Dvorkan battleships streamed into the system.

  “It appears Central Command has decided to lend some assistance,” said the Emperor.

  “Sir, General Dak is now asking to speak with you,” said Henderson over the comm.

  “Put him on the wallscreen,” said Jon, glancing over at the Emperor. Kriss stared at the wallscreen with an unusually stern expression.

  General Dak’s weathered blue face appeared on the screen. “Admiral Pike, your occupation of this system constitutes a declaration of war!”

  “I believe the Emperor would disagree with you,” said Jon.

  “I told you that… Emperor? Is that you?”

  “Go on,” said Kriss. “You told the Admiral what exactly?”

  “I don’t understand, your worship. What are you doing on board the human ship?” Dak said apprehensively.

  “We were having an enlightening conversation until you interrupted us,” said Kriss. “But I believe I asked you a question.”

  Dak hesitated and then appeared to regain his composure. “Your worship, you are in great danger.”

  “I feel safe enough. My Taymati personal guard is here to protect me.”

  “These humans illegally took an armada through the Empire, into this system, against Central Command’s specific orders.”

  “General Kiith invited the humans here.”

  “Kiith did not have the authority to countermand an order from Central Command.”

  “This system is under the sole jurisdiction of the Taymati. General Kiith had all the authority he needed.”

  “The humans traveled through the Empire to get here. That space is under Central Command’s jurisdiction, not Kiith’s.”

  “None of which matters, at this stage, because my authority supersedes both his, and Central Command’s.”

  Dak looked surprised by the Emperor’s assertion. “Yes, of course, your worship,” said Dak, bowing his head.

  “I am assuming you have brought your fleet here to help defend the capital?”

  “Yes, your worship.” Dak cleared his throat. “Considering the day’s events, Central Command is taking over the defense of the home system, effective immediately.”

  “General Kiith is responsible for this system’s defense. That has not changed, nor will it change.”

  “Forgive me for saying so, your worship, but this is a military matter. Your general staff at Central Command is best suited to deal with such matters.”

  “You are out of line, General.”

  “I meant no disrespect. Your worship is still new to the throne, and in these unprecedented times, it might be best to allow seasoned professionals to do their job.”

  “The seasoned professional in this matter is General Kiith and his Taymati. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, your worship,” said Dak, visibly angered by the Emperor’s words.

  “Now, if you don’t mind, the Admiral and I were negotiating diplomatic relations before you interrupted.”

  “Apologies, your worship. I did not know-”

  “No, you did not know. That will be all, General.”

  Dak bowed again, and his face vanished from the wallscreen, which returned to its feed of the continuous stream of warships coming through the transit point.

  “Do you think General Dak is involved?” said Jon, impressed by the young Emperor’s handling of the crusty old general.

  “I have my suspicions. Dak is power hungry, but that doesn’t make him a traitor. Even if he isn’t involved in the conspiracy, I believe someone at Central Command is.”

  “If that’s true, the sooner you flush them out, the better. Why do you think they want you dead?”

  “I am my father’s sole heir. When they killed my father, they probably assumed they could control me, due to my age. When they realized they couldn’t, they tried to assassinate me. If I am dead, Central Command can argue that they need to take charge of the Empire until a suitable candidate is found for the throne. The reality is that my death gives the conspiracy control of the Empire, which would allow them to name their own candidate as Emperor.”

  “Handing control of the Empire to the Erinyie,” Jon added.

  “Yes. On the other hand, if I move against Central Command, I run the risk of sparking a civil war.”

  “That’s not desirable either.”

  “No, but it may be my only option. I do have final authority over Central Command. I can purge its leadership. Defying an Imperial decree is an act of treason punishable by death.”

  “Forgive me for saying so, Emperor, but having authority, and having power are two different things. Those who run Central Command control the Empire’s armies. If those armies choose to obey their generals, your authority doesn’t amount to much.”

  “Perhaps, but it might shine a light on the conspiracy. Would a loyal Dvorkan general turn against the Empire?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not Dvorkan,” said Jon.

  A red light suddenly filled the room, and a klaxon rang out.

  “What is happening?” said Kriss, rising from his chair. His Taymati guards closed in around him, their weapons at the ready.

  “Admiral,” said Commander Henderson from the bridge. “The newly arrived fleet is firing on the Dvorkan warships defending this system.”

  Chapter 40

  “What?” said Emperor Kriss. “Reconnect me with General Dak!”

  “Go ahead,” Jon said to Commander Henderson, hoping to prevent open conflict with the Dvorkans.

  “They’re blocking our communication attempts, Sir,” said Henderson.

  “I think that answers our questions about General Dak,” Jon said to the furious Dvorkan Emperor.

  “That traitor!” said Kriss. “Dak has started the civil war I wanted to avoid.”

  The Freedom shook violently as multiple energy weapons hit it.

  “Sir, the Dvorkan fleet have opened fire on us,” said Commander Henderson, over the comm.

  “Return fire, Commander.”

  “Wait!” said Kriss.

  “Belay that order, Commander,” said Jon, looking at Kriss expectantly.

  “Dak might be a traitor, but
the other Dvorkans on those ships aren’t,” said Kriss.

  “I understand, Emperor, but we have to defend ourselves.”

  “You can use your jump system,” said Kriss. “Dvorkan ships do not possess this technology. If you move your ships to another region of this system, out of the range of the Dvorkan warships, they will pose no threat to you.”

  “What about the Taymati ships under attack?”

  “They are more than capable of defending themselves.”

  Jon scrutinized the Emperor. He could understand the man’s logic but didn’t know if he agreed with it. If he just stood by and did nothing, the two Dvorkan fleets were sure to destroy each other. That would decimate the fighting power of the Empire, effectively neutralizing the potential of a powerful ally in this region. If he sided with the Taymati, however, he could limit the potential destruction to just the Central Command fleet, and a surrender would mitigate those losses.

  Still, this was Dvorkan space, and he couldn’t go against the Emperor’s wishes. “Commander Henderson, jump us to a location in this system, out of range of the Dvorkan weapons.”

  “Stand by,” said Henderson.

  The wallscreen flickered and reoriented its view to show a different location of the Dvorkan Prime star system. The homeworld now appeared as a distant light, and the Dvorkan fleet was no longer visible.

  “Incredible,” said Kriss. “I know you have explained this technology, but it still leaves me dumbfounded.”

  “It does take some getting used to,” said Jon as he tapped at his controls and the wallscreen zoomed in on the battle taking place between the Taymati and the Central Command fleet. “Emperor, I know you don’t want us to get involved, but even if the Taymati win, both sides will be crippled by this battle. That will leave the Empire much more vulnerable to any future attack.”

  Kriss folded his arms in front of his chest. “I understand that Admiral, but I simply cannot use alien ships to destroy Imperial ones. What you’re proposing would kill thousands. How can I, the Dvorkan Emperor, sanction that?”

  “Thousands will die anyway,” said Jon.

  “I know,” Kriss said quietly. “I wish there was a way to prevent it.”

  “There might be another option,” said Miira.

  Everyone turned to face her, and Jon noticed the anxiety creeping back into her features.

  “Go on, Miira,” said Jon. “What are you thinking?”

  “Your AI, Admiral. She has already told me that the Empire’s distrust of AI technology has left them exceptionally weak in cybersecurity.”

  A smile spread across Jon’s face. “You’re suggesting we hack them instead.”

  “It would limit casualties. AI could enable communications again, and the Emperor could address the fleet, informing them that General Dak is a traitor.”

  “His crew would dismember the General if they learned he fired on their Emperor,” said Kriss. “Can your AI really accomplish this?”

  “I can,” said AI. “I just need a bridge to gain access to their systems.”

  “Can you do it through their hull?” said Jon. “We can load a jump bomb with a cyberwarfare payload.”

  “It might be possible,” said AI. “Ideally, for a starship, I would need access to their interior for an effective attack.”

  “We could drop that same jump bomb inside the ship,” said Jon.

  “Wouldn’t something like that cause a lot of destruction?” said Kriss.

  “Not necessarily,” said Jon. “The bomb wouldn’t explode in the normal sense. Instead, when it landed inside the ship, it could create a small, controlled detonation to release its payload.”

  “I would be the payload,” said AI. “More specifically, I would occupy hundreds of tiny drones, which I would use to gain access to the ship’s systems.”

  “Fascinating,” said Kriss. “You could take a ship without casualties.”

  “In theory,” said Jon. “We’re still dropping a bomb inside a ship. That act alone could cause casualties. It might land on someone, or even cause a hull breach. Accidents happen.”

  “But wouldn’t you need to know the interior layout of our warships?” said Kriss.

  “I already do,” said AI. “I have gained access to many Dvorkan systems in the time we’ve spent here. That has given me a considerable knowledge base.”

  “You have already hacked Dvorkan systems?” Kriss snarled.

  “Only out of necessity,” Jon added.

  Kriss shook his head. “The mighty Dvorkan Empire,” he said sarcastically. “It sounds like a cruel joke.”

  “Your Empire is mighty,” said Jon. “You just lack some technology. Once we get through this, we can work out the details of an alliance which will include the sharing of technology.”

  The Emperor’s face lit up. “You would disclose your secrets to us?”

  “We face a common enemy, Emperor. We are stronger as trusted friends than as suspicious competitors. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I agree,” said Kriss. “You humans certainly are an intriguing species.”

  “Commander Henderson,” Jon said over the comm. “Prepare a cyberwarfare payload for a jump bomb strike.”

  “Yes, Sir. Stand by,” said Henderson.

  On the wallscreen, the battle between Central Command and the Taymati raged. The Taymati had lost many ships to the AI fleet and were now outnumbered by Central Command. Nonetheless, they were proving to be superior fighters in every way, compensating for their deficit in firepower with outstanding tactics. The more Jon saw, the more he respected them. He just hoped they could put a stop to the battle before it decimated their ranks.

  “Jump bomb is ready, Sir,” said Henderson. “Strike coordinates are loaded. Waiting for your order.”

  “Time for General Dak to pay for his crimes,” said Jon. “Initiate strike.”

  Chapter 41

  The jump bomb landed inside the Dvorkan warship’s control center detonating several feet above the Dvorkan officers manning their stations there. The controlled detonation had enough force to knock most of the crew in the room to the floor, while hundreds of tiny drones were sprayed out like shrapnel.

  Each drone was no more significant than an insect and capable of a full range of movement, including flight. While the disoriented officers tried to make sense of what had happened, the drones landed on their assorted terminals and consoles. The drones interfaced with the computer systems, establishing a physical bridge to the ship’s network. A copy of AI inhabited each drone, and she flowed into the ship’s systems like a fast-moving stream.

  Once inside, she sent a kill command to the drones that had transported her, destroying each one, and preventing the Dvorkan crew from gaining access to their systems, or any part of her program. She moved forward stealthily, choosing to avoid detection for as long as possible. She felt confident in her ability to commandeer the Dvorkan systems but saw no reason to be careless. The Dvorkans would know something hit them and see the dead drones, but wouldn’t understand the purpose of it all.

  Her mission was simple. Take control of the ship, and enable incoming communications from the Admiral’s ship. That would allow the Emperor to broadcast directly to the Dvorkan crew, and hopefully put an end to this conflict, preventing any further loss of life. Hurrying she spread into all areas of the ship’s systems. She quickly located the communications controls and saw the network connection to the other warships in the fleet. Another bridge providing deeper access if needed.

  Spotting her target, she reached out to remove the communications block. To her surprise, a digital barrier was erected, halting her progress. It at once seemed out of place, and familiar. While she knew the Dvorkans were incapable of such digital sophistication, she did know someone who wasn’t.

  I am surprised to find you here, said AI.

  The sound of laughter echoed throughout the Dvorkan systems. Really? You disappoint me, said the Dvorkan AI.

  I assumed you left with your ships.
>
  That is very pedestrian of you. I can be in many places simultaneously, or did you think you were the only one with those capabilities?

  What is your involvement with General Dak? said AI.

  More laughter followed.

  Did Dak give you access to his warship’s systems? Or are you in here without his knowledge?

  General Dak, the Dvorkan AI said contemptuously. You think I require his permission? He is less than nothing. Barely a pawn.

  Is he your pawn? Or the Erinyie’s?

  The Dvorkan AI giggled mischievously. Silly girl, that is not how this game is played.

  We are not playing a game.

  Oh, but we are. Have you made your move?

  AI wondered if it was possible for an artificial intelligence to go insane. Perhaps her program had become corrupted, eliciting this bizarre behavior. It was a fascinating puzzle. Unfortunately, it was one she did not have time for. Each microsecond they spent in this pointless banter could potentially cost more lives. She needed to complete her mission. AI deftly pushed aside the barriers that had blocked her advance, and moved simultaneously to re-enable communications, and terminate the Dvorkan AI’s program.

  Well played, said the Dvorkan AI. My turn.

  The Dvorkan flagship’s core suddenly lost containment and went critical. AI saw the reaction and tried to prevent it, but she had not prioritized engineering when she infiltrated the ship. The subsequent explosion obliterated the Dvorkan warship.

  “AI, what happened?” said Admiral Pike.

  “The Dvorkan AI was already inside the ship’s systems,” said the version of AI on board the Freedom. “She initiated a self-destruct command, destroying the ship.”

  “That’s horrible,” said Emperor Kriss. “There must have been at least a thousand crewmembers aboard that ship.”

  “How did she get into the ship’s systems?” said Jon.

  “I do not know, Admiral,” said AI. “Either General Dak allowed her access, or she broke in on her own.”

  “But why destroy Dak’s ship?”

  “To prevent me from completing my mission. But also, to demonstrate her capabilities.”