Janeski lifted an eyebrow in genuine surprise.
“As I was saying, we’re offering 10% GPP but if that’s not enough I could probably go a couple points higher without wrecking our economy. The Financial Ministry has been working out the rough calculations, but the simple fact is that our social services programs will be overwhelmed and thrown into chaos if you continue with your invasion. Between that and projected infrastructure losses, the financial damages of an invasion will exceed our current budget proposals for the entire year,” the woman fretted.
On the main screen a dozen SDF warships simultaneously exploded—in several cases, before all of the escape pods had time to clear the blast radius.
“Ah, there it is,” the Foreign Minister said with satisfaction, “the Defense Ministry screamed bloody murder when it was first proposed, but any clear-thinking individual can see that a quick unilateral disarmament was the only reasonable response when dealing with a vastly superior force such as your own.”
“I notice that many of the crews didn’t make it away from their ships in time,” the Rear Admiral said neutrally.
“It is the job of the military to die for their nation,” the Foreign Minister shrugged it off as if unworthy of her concern. “It’s in their contracts, and is a risk that comes with the territory. In this case, a few died to ensure the rest of us survive—just like they promised to do when they signed up.”
“That seems a harsh outlook toward the very people who put themselves between you and danger,” Janeski said, his eyes hardening reflexively.
“My concerns aren’t for a bunch of crazy women who think that violence can solve a problem like this. You’d have thought we got rid of that kind of testosterone-driven thinking when we curtailed the male population on our planet down to less than 1%,” she said, shaking her head contemptuously.
“That seems a rather apolitical expression for a foreign minister speaking to the leader of a foreign military,” Janeski said dryly.
“It’s the orphans I worry about if we are unable to stave off this invasion of yours. I’ve looked at the projections and they’re enough to give anyone heartburn—social services might even face a complete collapse! Forget paying for grief counseling and new homes, it’s the warm bodies and standing structures that would be the problem. Frankly, we’re willing to do what it takes to get you in and out of our system as quickly as possible,” the Foreign Minister said, drawing herself up. “Just imagine it: order and social justice overturned by violence with rampant looting and rioting, resulting in a new paradigm of every woman being out for herself.”
“I think you are continuing to labor under a mistaken understanding—one which I no longer see the profit in maintaining,” Janeski said flatly.
“Don’t worry; I’m sending you an electronic copy of our proposed treaty, along with the tribute amounts and time schedule on the payment plan,” the Foreign Minister said quickly, sending over a copy of New Pacifica’s planned proposal as she spoke.
Janeski glanced at the document and then deleted it. “Unacceptable,” he said harshly.
“Just tell me the part and we can amend—” the Foreign Minister said before being cut off.
“Madam, when I request and demand a planet’s unconditional surrender, it is because I require its unconditional surrender,” the Rear Admiral barked.
“But we already destroyed our Fleet! What more can we do to portray our peaceful intent?” the Foreign Minister protested. “Do you want us to destroy our ships in mothballs as well?”
“A more foolish bit of insanity I have yet to see in these space ways—blowing up your own ships before the battle is even joined?” the Imperial Admiral scoffed. “It’s not so much that you had a chance of victory, but that your planet might have actually earned a fraction of my respect if you’d at least gone down fighting. As it is, I require those warships which are presently laid up in ordinary to remain untouched until after Reclamation Fleet engineers have had the chance to inspect them,” he said flatly.
“What possible use could our planet be to you if we’ve already disarmed and promised to pay you everything we can afford?” the Foreign Minister looked stunned and alarmed.
Janeski shook his head and sighed. “They actually let you help drive your world’s foreign policy,” he shook his head piteously.
“I’ll have you know that I have several doctorates in foreign studies, humanities, and related fields!” said the Foreign Minister, her face turning red.
“Madam Secretary, you may have adequately displayed your world’s peaceful intent—or, rather, its craven cowardice in the face of superior forces, alongside a complete and utter lack of consideration for the well-being of those in your own armed forces—but you have failed to consider a particularly urgent data point,” he paused, his eyes boring into the screen, “which is that this fleet invaded your system without regard for its intent, peaceful or otherwise. We are here to unify the Spine under one rule and you, madam, will not bribe us away from our course or chosen duty.”
“This is completely beyond the bounds of reasoned thought! Please, I beg you to reconsider, Admiral,” protested the Foreign Secretary, “I can forward you several Gaia proposals which, if you would but take the time to read, I am sure would change your current opinion on—”
“This can go one of two ways,” the Admiral cut in, his face turning deadly serious, “you can immediately begin preparations to turn over any current and former military assets on your planet to Reclamation Fleet forces—as well as arrange for barracks and bivouacs for my ground invasion forces in every major and minor city on your planet—or you can resist and we can do this the hard way. Of course, seeing as how you’ve already adequately demonstrated your provincial world’s spinelessness—and considering that I don’t like the thought of even one of my men dying needlessly—I hope you’ll agree to the former. In any case, I’ll be appointing a Governor before I leave this system and he will complete this time of transition as your current government hands over control of all administrative processes. After he is installed and your world has adequately demonstrated its submission, I will continue on toward the next world.”
“A male Governor! And men stationed in mass numbers on our planet? This is entirely against our planetary founding charter! You must be joking, Sir,” exclaimed the Foreign Minister. “I hope you realize that this is a fully-feminized planet with a less than one percent male population. If you must send troopers to look after your interests, at least send proper female ones. And as for appointing a governor to replace our current government, that is simply completely unacceptable! New Pacifica is a Core World. We aren’t some random, bush league, marginal fringe world like the members of that Border Alliance that’s been in the news. We are not to be treated in such a fashion!”
“You choose the hard way, then,” Janeski said turning to the Tactical Station. “Charge the main cannon and prepare to destroy their main orbital battle station and defensive platforms.”
“Yes, Sir!” said the Tactical Officer eagerly.
“What?” the Foreign Minister looked dumbfounded and then flushed a fiery shade of red. “You can’t do this! Moreover, you can expect mass protests and civil disobedience to sweep the nation if you land your forces! Our population will not bow down to foreign rule—we’re a Core World and expect to be treated accordingly.”
“Gathering in groups larger than twelve will be considered insurrection and banned until further notice: all insurrectionists will be shot on sight. That will be all, foreign minister. You may now take my words back to your government,” Janeski instructed.
“The Grand Assembly won’t sit still for this. When the Confederation Assembly hears what you’ve done, you’ll be burnt in effigy in hundreds of worlds across the galaxy. A Fleet such as has never been assembled will—” declared the Foreign Minister.
“If the Grand Assembly was going to do anything they would have done it when we pulled out of seven Confederation Sectors,” Janesk
i said, and then mockingly added, “Madam Secretary, New Pacifica may be what passes for a Core World out here on the border of known space but I assure you compared to New Terra or Homefall...” he trailed off.
“Main cannon ready and charged,” interrupted the Fleet Tactical Officer with a status update.
The Admiral took one last look at the robust space industry in orbit of the planet along with the more than twenty defensive platforms and moon base that protected this particular world. He then cut the channel to the Foreign Minister—the time for talking was over and done with.
Sadly, this system—like so many out on the edge of known space—was lost in the insanity laid down by their founders. It was sad because while they may not have kept their navy in good repair, they truly hadn’t stinted on their orbital defenses, turning what could have been a bloodless takeover into one in which his fleet might actually take minor damage. Not to mention the needless waste incurred at the loss of those defensive facilities.
That said, it would only be a matter of time until his fleet reduced those very defenses and began the integration of New Pacifica into the new order.
“Fire when ready; begin with targeting their largest most powerful orbital battlestation,” he instructed. “Try not to damage the orbital factories, Tactical. We may be able to make use of them after we pacify this Sector.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral,” the Fleet Tactical Officer said eagerly and moments later the main cannon fired ripping through the shields and into the incredibly tough battle armor of the station.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Rear Admiral Janeski watched as the Reclamation Fleet stood off and pounded the fixed defenses outside of the range of the local force’s return fire.
It was a slower process using just the Invictus Rising, the only ship with a weapon that could fire from such an extreme range and still damage the massive, outdated battle stations. But the benefit of such a laborious effort was clear: the rest of the fleet took no casualties. Even though this Sector should have been conquered at least a year earlier, Admiral Janeski took pleasure in the proper execution of this particularly important siege.
This is the final turning point, he silently reflected watching as the first and then the second and third battle-stations, one by one, broke up and began to fall into New Pacifica.
New Pacific world would have its precious peace, but the price would be total subjugation. This Sector was the tipping point in his reclamation, and after this world’s subjugation he would tolerate nothing that might impede his Fleet en route to his inevitable victory. And if the response of the Sector in general was anything similar to the actions of this world there was nothing left to stop him.
In a desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable, a swarm of boats, shuttles and missiles erupted from the remaining orbital space stations orbiting New Pacifica. To his irritation, a squadron of destroyers shifted far enough out of position, in response to the action, to take unnecessary damage.
Aside from that particular lapse, it was looking to be a clean sweep from top to bottom. When the last fixed defense fell, he ordered the remaining civilian industry in orbit secured and the ground forces deployed.
The tedious but necessary work of planetary conquest was now about to begin.
In time, the rest of this Sector would fall just like New Pacifica and he would be one step closer to returning home in triumph and taking his well-earned place among the Senate.
“Communications: prepare the long-range array. I’ll be in my day cabin if anyone needs me,” the former and hopefully soon to be again Imperial Rear Admiral, if things continued to go as they had, said. It was time to send a report to his Patron back home.
No man climbed to the lofty ranks of the Imperial Senate without victory and meritorious achievement, but that alone wasn’t enough. In order to secure a position in the Senate, one needed powerful allies within that body—which he had. But with such allies came the tiresome obligation to keep them updated. Fortunately, he had much better news to report now than he had immediately after the Reclamation Operation kicked off.
What had been planned as a task requiring less than a year to complete was now nearing its third year, and the delay had taken its toll on Janeski’s sanity. The humiliation he had suffered in that delay would soon be paid with interest.
No one made a fool of him, certainly not an up-jumped Governor with delusions of grandeur.
Sitting down at his desk in the day cabin, Arnold Janeski began to fill out a report to be relayed via the hidden Com-Stat network. It would say that his organization of fifth column forces had remained on task since the official Imperial Withdrawal from this Sector.
It was sent and carbon-copied to his Patron: Senator Cornwallis.
In the report, he informed the Senator of his intention to split the Reclamation Fleet into four parts, as originally planned, to more quickly secure the Sector before significant resistance could take root.
The last thing this fleet needed was another Sector 27, with his assets chasing all over the Sector pursuing ghosts and squadrons of resistance forces because they didn’t have sufficient firepower to crush them all in one deft blow.
What was needed now was a decisive victory that would crush the old Confederation’s spirit before a serious defensive effort could be mounted.
And Janeski had the perfect plan to achieve that victory—one that would slake a previously unquenchable thirst for vengeance against an old acquaintance.
Chapter Two: An Urgent Communiqué
In the Star System of Harmony, located along the border of Sectors 23 and 24, the local ComStat buoy received and relayed an urgent communiqué to its intended destination.
Shortly after receiving and decoding the message, a middle-aged man of Asian descent boarded a fast air skimmer and jetted over to the primary offices of the Mutual Defense League.
Kong Pao strode through the giant, wooden doors guarding the inner sanctum of the MDL main office.
“What is the meaning of this interruption, Judge?” the head of the steering committee said with a frown.
“I have received an urgent message from our allies in the Multi-Sector Patrol: Sector 25 has come under threat from an outside force originating in Sector 26 or beyond,” Kong Pao said, bowing respectfully.
“This is highly irregular, Ambassador Kong,” the Vice Chair of the Steering Committee said in a scolding tone as her brows furrowed thunderously.
“If I could request a moment of the esteemed committee’s time, I believe this body will judge my interruption worthy of its attention,” Kong said with a deep bow.
The Chair and the Vice-Chair exchanged a glance before turning back to the Sector Judge.
“In recognition of your dedicated and determined contributions toward our Sectors, we will allow it. You may proceed,” said the Chairman with a gesture toward Kong Pao before leaning back in his chair.
“Please present your findings, Representative Kong,” said the Vice Chair picking up where the chairman left off.
“Thank you Chair, and Vice Chair,” the Judge said with a deep bow first to the Chairman and then to the Vice Chairman. He then loaded information sent to him by the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet into the committee’s local data system.
There was a stir as the various committee members reviewed the status update from the surviving Confederation splinter fleet based out of Sector 25.
“Preposterous!” exclaimed a thin as rails committee member from the devastated regions of Sector 23. “You can’t honestly expect us to help these machine-loving cretins! Simply outrageous,” he finished with a huff.
“Calm yourself, Member Von Straubergen,” said the Vice-Chair with censure in her voice. “Such words are hardly appropriate when addressed toward representatives of the Confederal government.”
“The same government which abandoned us?!” shouted Von Straubergen. “We formed the Mutual Defense League specifically because we had been abandoned by the Rim Fleet.�
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“’Abandoned’ is a strong word,” Kong Pao interjected smoothly.
“Strong, but accurate,” scoffed Von Straubergen.
“If you like, you could come with me and tell that to the Vice Admiral whose Confederation Fleet came at my urging to assist in the defense of our great two Sectors, and was present during the Battle for Elysium. During the pivotal battle for that star system, the tide turned from defeat into victory. And many would say that it wouldn’t have been possible if not for Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet forces,” Kong Pao continued, his face blank to the point of almost being offensive in its lack of expression.
“Many might say that, but not I! Besides, not having the size or power of a ‘real’ Confederation Fleet, they were fighting under the banner of the Tracto-an Defense Force,” Von-Straubergen scorned angrily.
“They seemed real enough when the MDL sent me to beg Vice Admiral Montagne to take command of our united defense forces,” Kong Pao said, his voice gaining a real edge for the first time since his arrival. “And I did so at the urging—some would say pleading—of this very committee including yourself, Von Straubergen.”
“That’s entirely beside the point! This committee will have no truck with the sort of droid lovers who almost destroyed humanity not one year past,” roared Von Straubergen.
“Don’t you mean the sort that saved humanity in Elysium and our two Sectors, if not quite all of humanity as yourself suggest?” Kong said, his voice as sharp as a scalpel.
Von Straubergen purpled.
“Enough posturing; this is the steering committee of the Mutual Defense League, a dignified body charged with the defense of two entire Sectors of the Spine. Both parties present will control themselves or they will be removed,” the Chairman said, reaching over for and then pounding his gavel loudly.
“Outrageous,” muttered Von Straubergen, but then settled back down in his chair.
“I have the greatest respect for this body…otherwise I would not have undertaken such a hazardous mission for it in the past,” Kong said, cupping his hands and taking a step back.
Admiral's War Part One Page 3
