by Kal Spriggs
“But we can’t be certain,” Admiral Mund said, “Not until we arrive in the system, and hopefully avoid emergence on top of a minefield.”
“Sir, the plan right now is that we will begin the attack down the Melcer corridor. Once we kick that off, the Chxor will know where we plan to attack and we can begin scouting operations,” Captain Doko said.
“So... we'll assault a prepared force, in a system that’s defeated three significant attempts by the Nova Roma Fleet,” Admiral Mund’s voice dropped by habit into his lecture mode, a tone that Lucius remembered too well. “This doesn’t seem to be… well conceived.”
“Sir, the fact remains that the Chxor have far more naval production than any other power and massive reserves of capital ships.” Anthony Doko stood straight. “If we give them time, they can overwhelm even Admiral Dreyfus’s ships with numbers, just as they did to the Nova Roma Imperial Fleet. But… that’s only if we allow them the time and strategic initiative to do so.”
He typed in a command in the arm of his chair and the hologram shifted to show the distorted map of shadow space. “Danar and Nova Roma are the keys to that. If we hold both systems, we can threaten a vast region of recently conquered worlds. From Danar, we can, in fact, threaten their core worlds. If we can put them on the defensive, we gain time and, most importantly, prevent them from taking the offensive with their numbers. The key to taking Nova Roma is Danar... the key to turning this war around is Danar. We have no other option as we see it.”
Admiral Mund cocked his head. He rubbed a hand across his bald head and rested his chin on his hand. “Very well, I accept your point.” He pursed his lips, “I really don’t like this, but despite my objections, I agree with you. We do, indeed, have very little choice, we must take Danar to liberate Nova Roma.”
Captain Doko cleared his throat. “Thank you, sir. Now, the best way that we’ve found to do this is the seizure of Melcer, with a follow-on attack on Tehran and then Danar.” Captain Doko turned to face down the table at Captain Franks, “Captain Franks will now brief the breakdown of forces.”
The hologram shifted again to show the two pronged attack. “Now, then ladies and gentlemen, I'll show you the initial breakdown of our forces and how we intend to coordinate our forces. As you can see, the balance of our current forces allows us…”
***
Shadow Space
Second Chance
July 13, 2403
Lauren Kelly looked up from cleaning her weapons as Mason stepped into the galley. He glanced at the galley table and frowned, “I didn't think you'd packed that much of an arsenal.”
Lauren looked down at the disparate parts, laid out neatly in orderly rows across the oil-stained towel. “I like being prepared.”
Mason sat down across from her and watched as she meticulously cleaned each part. He rubbed his stubbled jaw in a thoughtful manner before he spoke. “You know, for someone who hates the Chxor as much as you do, I would almost figure that you'd be less organized, maybe as a result. You know, rebellious nature and all.”
Lauren shook her head, “I'm very orderly, especially about killing Chxor.” She was obsessive about it, she would admit. She had only fired the pistol, but she still broke down and cleaned all of her weapons. The stubby-barreled submachine gun especially. She loved that weapon, in particular. The suppressed weapon had been a last minute purchase as they left Faraday, but the soft chatter it made when she fired it gave her a rush... especially when she thought about what the large bullets would do to a Chxor.
“I might have noticed that,” Mason said, his voice droll. “So, we need to talk about what happens when we reach Anvil.”
Lauren looked at him suspiciously. He raised his hands, “Look, I know I said we're partners and all that... but this isn't something you really want to be involved with.”
“You're right,” Lauren said. “This is something I need to be involved with.” She saw him open his mouth to respond and she stabbed one finger at him, “Shut up and listen, Mason.” She took a deep breath and let it out while she focused her thoughts. “The way I see it, I need to be with you for three reasons.”
Lauren held up her hand with one finger raised, “One, you need someone to watch your back. There's no way a snake like Collae doesn't have plans for you that don't involve your survival... there's too much benefit to reap from taking down Tommy King.” She raised her middle finger, “Two: I need to be there to watch out for the Baron's interests. Even if, and this is a big if, Admiral Collae doesn't have a goal of bringing him down, there's still the chance, a big one, that what he is after will harm the United Colonies.” She looked down at her weapons and started assembling them, her fingers moved rapidly from practice and she let the easy task sooth the emotions that threatened to spill over.
“What's number three?” Mason asked.
Lauren sighed, “That's the one that I didn't want to have to say.” She looked up and didn't wipe away the tears in her eyes. “If you become Tommy King, if you look to become the scourge you were before or worse, then I need to be there to stop you, one way or the other.”
***
Faraday System
United Colonies
July 15, 2403
Kate Bueller stood as the shuttle for the latest envoy to the new United Colonies arrived. Like the others, this was a complex ballet of order and precedence. The United Colonies was an independent nation, unlike most of the Colonial Republic factions which had thus far sent their emissaries. They officially were a unified nation, but in reality, most systems functioned on their own, directed by whatever tinpot dictator, oligarchy, or corrupt leadership dominated it. Sometimes those systems controlled others, either as satraps or even occasionally as equal partners.
This envoy was, as far as she knew, representative of one of the largest such factions within the Colonial Republic. Since he represented such an important government, she was here to greet him. It wouldn't do to have the Baron present, even if he'd had the time, because this wasn't a head of state. A head of state greeting a functionary of a splinter faction of a nation would establish a poor precedent and would also make the United Colonies seem equal or even less legitimate than the people they met. Such subtle political machinations were beyond the Baron, she knew, thus he wouldn't complain when she told him she'd handle all of the various emissaries, diplomats, and envoys which had begun to arrive almost as soon as the ink dried on their new constitution.
Her legality in such a position was slightly unclear. She was officially a representative for the fifteenth district of Faraday. With the position came a certain level of authority and responsibility. She was also the head of Parliament’s Foreign Relations Panel which, by the structure of the Constitution, made her the Foreign Minister. Of course, the Parliament had yet to officially ratify her position. Some of the less scrupulous members were holding up such appointments, mostly as a way of trying to scrape together their own power.
As a result though, she had limited authority to discuss much of anything with most of the various distinguished men and women who had so far visited. That didn't bother them. They were here to appraise themselves of the new power out here on the edge of human space... and to meet the men and women who had defeated not just the Chxor, but also the Balor.
The shuttle door opened and the band nearby began to play. Kate was no stranger to theatrics and the band flawlessly began to play the anthem of the envoy's faction as he began to walk down the steps. She noticed him pause, mid-step and look over at the band. Yet nothing showed on his face as he walked down the steps to halt across from her. As with the other initial meetings, the Faraday press were present. Though she doubted that this latest meeting would make the news after the constant parade of distinguished people over the past few weeks.
“Madame Foreign Minister,” the envoy said. He was shorter than her, with black hair streaked with gray. He was unmistakably Asian and, from what little that Kate had been able to find on him, of entirely Japanese ances
try, as well. His voice was rough, but without the slight accent that most people from the Shogunate had.
“Mister Noguchi, thank you for coming,” Kate said. They did the mandatory handshake and smile in front of the cameras. Kate turned and led him down the carpet to the waiting car. One of her assistants scurried to open the door. “How was your trip?”
“Uneventful,” he said, a smile on his face for the cameras. “I'm glad to have finally arrived here at Faraday.” They ducked into the waiting limo and he took a seat. He quirked an eyebrow at her as she flipped on the privacy screens. Kate smiled more genuinely, “We value our privacy here, on Faraday. And while I've got you alone, away from all the press for a moment, I thought I might ask some genuine questions.”
“Well,” his eyes narrowed. “That's refreshingly honest.” His tone suggested that he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
Kate leaned back in her seat and stared at him. His flawless suit couldn't hide the muscles on his body... or the faint scars on the side of his face. “I had some questions for you, Mister Noguchi, more about why the Shogun appointed you as his envoy to the United Colonies.”
He leaned back, “I'm one of his trusted envoys, Miss Bueller. Why wouldn't he?”
“Your past is a bit more checkered than some of his other diplomats,” Kate said. She kept her voice level. “Then there's the fact that your diplomatic credentials have been revoked in the Loire, Centauri, and Wodanaz systems.” She paused. “Or also that Mike Noguchi is a pseudonym, and that under a different name, Mike Smith, you once carried a Letter of Marque for Nova Roma. As far as I can determine, you've actually met Baron Giovanni, while you acted as a raider against the Chxor. Under that name you were arrested in the Upsalla system for murder, where you apparently served a year of hard labor before you escaped.”
The envoy's fake smile died. “Very well. You've clearly done your homework.” He cocked his head and his brown eyes glittered dangerously, “So why am I here?”
“I'm trying to figure that one out,” Kate said. “The Shogun is one of the shrewdest of the rulers in the Colonial Republic. Honestly, there are days I wonder why he doesn't just declare his little nation independent.” She smiled, “It's nice to finally be playing with the big boys, I was getting tired of the second cousins of Glorious Leader of Whogivesafuckistan.”
Mike Noguchi gave a snort at that.
“There's a number of reasons to pick you,” Kate said as she poured herself some champagne and offered him a glass. “There's your military experience, your personal experience with the Baron, and then there's the fact that he obviously trusts you. You're the Shogun's troubleshooter... his dairi, as you might say.” He politely declined the glass and Kate sipped at her own. “So, as I see it, there's three reasons you're here: you're here to evaluate our military strength as an ally or partner, you're here to set us up as a target and to establish some assets, and you're probably here to make us an offer of some kind.”
“So calculating?” Mike Noguchi asked.
“Yes,” Kate said. “Your military experience would be most useful for evaluating our strengths, your position will allow you to meet a number of political figures and identify the corrupt ones, and since you've met the Baron before, he might be more amenable to your offer... whatever it is.”
Mike sat back and gave her a smile, “Well, as you said, it's nice to be playing with the big boys. I take it this isn't you feeling me out for possible bribes?”
Kate smiled, “Mister Noguchi, I worked very hard to build this nation... I'm not going to help anyone tear it apart.”
“You might have been better suited to tell me the opposite and see what you could find as a result,” Mike answered.
“Honesty,” Kate said, “it cuts both ways.” She leaned back, “Care to tell me what offer you're here to make to the Baron?”
Mike nodded, “Actually, yes. I don't mind the chance to feel you out before I try to talk to him about it.” He sighed, “I understand that your Baron ran afoul of Admiral Collae?”
Kate frowned, but she nodded. “Yes, the rogue officer tried to betray us over the Dreyfus Fleet.”
“Your Baron got the upper hand on him, something that rarely happens,” Mike Noguchi frowned. “The Shogun has his own rivalry with Admiral Collae. In particular, we understand that Collae made his escape with several Chxor dreadnoughts. From what we've learned, he has begun to refit them, with the goal of attacking a number of Republic systems.”
“I don't see how this is our problem,” Kate said levelly.
“It isn't,” Mike said in response. “It is a Colonial Republic matter, one that they should resolve... but Admiral Collae has powerful friends. The Shogun has made some enemies as well, so the various factions resist movement against him. Part of this comes back to the Shogunate's membership to the Colonial Republic. If the Shogun makes a move to leave, the other factions would attack to prevent their dissolution.”
“Interesting,” Kate said.
“In some ways, your victory here has made them more fractious. They've seen the Balor set back and the pressure on that side has dropped off. Alliances have fallen apart overnight, old rivalries have been restored,” Mike smiled slightly. His eyes went distant, “The Shogun has tired of it. He views your Baron as an excellent example... but he lacks the iron gauntlet hidden in your silk glove.”
“The Dreyfus Fleet?” Kate asked.
“Indeed. Your news broadcasts have made much about the fact that you are constructing shipyards. More than that, you have technology from Nova Roma and Amalgamated Worlds, both more advanced than anything we can manage. The Shogun wants to buy ships. Charter a fleet so that he can protect his people in the coming chaos.”
“Coming chaos?” Kate asked with narrow eyes.
“I'm not delusional enough to believe that the Chxor have been stopped, much less the Balor. Soon enough they'll attack again. For that matter, the Shogun has angered the Shadow Lords. We've suffered a number of attacks from our neighbors within the Colonial Republic as well. So, yes. I think, as you do, that the Colonial Republic's days are numbered... humanity's days are numbered, unless strong leaders stand against the threats out there. So the Shogun wishes to charter ships and training, so that my people have a chance. In return, he offers to pay for the ships construction and to forge a military alliance.” The last was something that Kate mentally discarded. The Shogunate lay on the other side of human space. In all likelihood, any alliance between them would be more formality than anything else for the foreseeable future.
“And your Emperor?” Kate asked. The Divine Emperor of Haichiman-Gu was a figurehead, but one whose commands carried a tremendous weight. She'd heard that they viewed him with a religious reverence. The idea seemed silly to her, particularly because his was a power of right of birth. Yet, from what she understood, he rarely used that power... whether that was by design of his advisers and the Shogun or his own preference she didn't know.
Mike Noguchi didn't miss a breath, “The Emperor has asked the Shogun to look after his people, in the darkness and uncertainty of the future.” His answer was interesting to her, in that it contained not the slightest trace of irony or sarcasm. It could have been a rote response, yet, in a way, his tone suggested it held levels of importance and meaning. A very odd people, she thought.
Kate took another sip of her champagne. She didn't speak for a long moment. “That's an interesting offer. I can honestly say that is something that the Baron will have to think about. It is, however, something that I don't think he'll discount off-hand.” They would need ships of their own in the war against the Chxor. Yet, it seemed likely that they would soon liberate Nova Roma and Danar, both of which held large shipyards. At that point, they may well have more building capacity. Those discussions were ones that would have to happen at the highest levels, between her, the Baron, and Admiral Dreyfus, probably with some of his other advisers. Matthew Nogita still held a nebulous role, not quite military and not quite civilian, in he
lping to organize their industry. She felt certain he would step in. For that matter, she felt that Alicia Nix, as the head of the new Federal Investigation Bureau, would have a role.
“Well,” Mike said. “In the meantime, I'd love to get a chance to see what I can of your military... and to get to know some of your more corruptible politicians.”
***
Halcyon, Garris Major System
Contested
July 16, 2403
Garret paused as he stepped out of the taxi. The neat, tidy house seemed unchanged from a decade ago when he had last seen it. The colorful flowers and decorative shrubs still showed the attentive detail of Jessica's mother, while the carefully maintained vehicle in the driveway showed that her father was still just as stubborn about keeping the battered machine going.
He turned and leaned over. “Wait here,” Garret said and passed the driver a few of the new local scrip. The driver grimaced at the payment, but he didn't argue. There wasn't much trust for paper money, Garret knew, but he wasn't about to spend anything else here, not when half the War Dogs' pay was in the local currency. The other half went to an off-world account at Port Klast in escrow, backed by precious metals.
Garret stepped forward and opened the whitewashed wooden gate. He was halfway to the porch before he hesitated. Do I really want to do this, he wondered, do I really want to drag Jessica into this mess? He couldn't answer the question and part of him didn't even know if he was reluctant about bringing her in because of the risk to her... or the risk to himself.
He turned around and looked back at the cab. The driver sat, bored, in his seat. The sun on Garret's dark skin and the familiar scent of pines in the air both unnerved Garret and made him feel at home. I never wanted this, Garret thought. He had forsworn it all, the planet, his father, even Jessica. He never wanted to return, but what choice did he have? Admiral Mannetti put the entire planet at risk and they seemed oblivious to it. Their ignorance put the War Dogs at risk as their employees. He had to know why... and all it cost him was opening up a part of his life that he should have come to terms with long ago.
