Showdown: Rise Of Mankind Book 10

by John Walker

  “I’ve seen nations force a hand before,” Gray said. “It isn’t pretty but it can be overcome. Eventually.”

  “I suppose we’ll find out.” Kale patted his shoulder. “I think we should eat food. I don’t know about you but I’m ready.”

  “Can I join you?” Clea’s voice drew Gray’s attention behind him. She stood smiling at him. “I hope the briefing went okay.”

  “It’s not quite over but we’re on a break,” Gray said. “And you’re more than welcome to join us. I’m surprised you escaped.”

  “I’ve been done for a while.” Clea gestured back toward the auditorium. “Looks like you guys were the problem. Come on, I’ve got us a table at Alda Vis.”

  Kale’s eyes widened. “How?”

  “Top secret.” Clea winked. “Follow me.”

  “I trust this place is fancy?” Gray asked.

  “Quite,” Kale replied. “They tend to have a four month waiting list.”

  “And we have a standing table it turns out,” Clea said. “So I took advantage of it. After sitting through what I can only imagine was one of the most intense meetings either of you have attended, I thought you might want a little luxury. I think you’ve earned it, huh?”

  “Clea,” Gray began, “having lived on Earth for quite a while, you know where my question is coming from. How…different is fancy kielan food compared to what you saw when we went out?”

  “Oh, I’ll help you through it,” Clea replied. “But it can be a little strange. They seem to take it as a personal challenge to ensure they are exploring new cuisine options with ingredients that the average cook ignores. Don’t worry though, they’ll have something which won’t turn your stomach.”

  They arrived to a place where their dress uniforms might’ve barely met the minimum standard for attendance. Shown off to the back, near a window, they received a table meant for four and were immediately served water and some kind of bread. Gray turned to look outside, marveling at the sprawling capital.

  The waiter took their orders a few minutes later and when he left, Clea placed a device in the center of the table and cranked it on. It emitted a high pitch whine for a moment then fell silent. Gray exchanged a glance with Kale as their companion took out her tablet and tapped away for a few moments.

  “Tested. We can now speak freely. This devices masks our voices beyond this table. We can talk about your briefing…and mine.”

  “Clever.” Gray reached to touch the device.

  “Oh, you don’t want to touch it,” Clea warned. “It should be very cold right now as it operates. We’ve got about a half hour before it would need to recharge.”

  “Understood.” Gray leaned back and sipped his water. “Our meeting was fairly predictable. Fleet placement, jump sequences, schedules and time tables…typical military fare.”

  Kale nodded. “Yes, this will be the largest fleet action every attempted in history. In fact, it is so large, experts are worrying about shockwave from the massive jump signatures. So much so that some of our allies are heading out now so we can be more spread out. Simulations are showing the potential for damaged border sensors.”

  “Incredible,” Clea said. “I hadn’t thought about that part but it makes sense. What about the Behemoth? Have they given you an assignment?”

  Gray shook his head. “Consequently, we were the only vessel to not have a designated launch point or group to join.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m guessing you’re about to change that.”

  Clea’s cheeks darkened. “I…did have a meeting with Siva about us and we do have a specific assignment.” She laid out the enemy’s reliance on the transmission center and explained what it would do to blind them during the operation. She let him know that their task would be to take that out while the others handled the main fleet.

  Gray sighed, feeling his appetite lessen. “You realize that if it’s as important as you say, when they realize we’re attacking it, they’ll break off from the main attack and come for us.”

  “In which case, the main fleet will destroy them as they try to run,” Clea countered. “Am I right, Kale?”

  “Hm?” Kale nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. If they turn their backs to us, it won’t go well for them. You know that, Captain.”

  Gray pressed on. “It depends on if they do something insane like microjump…or just charge us. You know that these guys are willing to sacrifice their people for this type of thing. It won’t be pretty if we’re out there alone attacking some kind of complex. This is almost guaranteed to be a suicide mission.”

  “We’ll have backup,” Clea said. “I’ll ensure we have our own small group.”

  “The Crystal Font would volunteer,” Kale said. “We can help with that.”

  “There you go, that’s two already,” Clea said. “Also, Trellan will be with us. He will be going in with the marines and helping to take down the facility.”

  “What can he do?” Gray asked. “And how did he score this opportunity?”

  “He wants in on the final mission,” Clea said. “He wants us to have two plans. One, the marines attempt to do what they do best: blow the place up. Meanwhile, he will attempt to make his way to the control room and shut the place down through the computer network. He thinks if he can do that, it will be faster and certain to work.”

  “He’s a brave fool,” Kale said. “Especially since that sounds like he’d be doing it alone.”

  “Yes, he intends to do that part alone,” Clea replied.

  “What a final mission.” Gray leaned back and turned to peer out the window again. Their food arrived as he came to terms with the idea. Attacking the facility sounded like a solid plan, especially if it worked the way they expected it to. However, any such place should be guarded better than a bank full of military secrets.

  Of course, this culture supposedly doesn’t know we’re on our way. They think they’re safe. This facility is currently used to process communication from those bigger ships all around the galaxy. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll hit them unprepared.

  But hoping for that was irresponsible and frankly, stupid. Gray needed to approach the situation as if they were hitting a hardened position, prepared to repel boarders and attackers of all sorts. If they were as dangerously ready as he anticipated, then this would be a real slug fest. The Behemoth might be up to the task but he wasn’t entirely sure.

  I’ll need to see all the intelligence they have on the situation and figure out how we’re going to do this.

  His people were going to be under some serious strain to pull this off and if they didn’t like it, he wouldn’t blame them. Of course, a massive fleet action war didn’t sound all that great either. It may be straightforward but it certainly didn’t contain any safety. His crew was ready for combat but maybe they’d be pleased to have a focus.

  “When will we get all the information you’ve gathered?” Gray asked. “Can you send it over soon?”

  “After lunch,” Clea replied. She hesitated, eyes narrow again. “It…contains the authorization of the Earth council and your representative here. Siva…well…she made sure she had the orders before asking me to give you the briefing.”

  “I see she couldn’t be bothered to show up this time,” Kale said. “Too busy messing with other people’s lives?”

  “I honestly am not sure what she’s up to,” Clea replied. “However, I think she’s worrying about internal problems right now. Those things which might bite us after the conflict.”

  “You mean what you have to look forward to,” Kale said.

  Clea nodded. “Precisely.”

  “Your new boss thinks of everything,” Gray added. “Do you think she’s considered the losses her plan might incur?”

  “Yes, I believe she has.” Clea sat up straighter. “And I believe she’s calculated the potential losses if we don’t try this as well.”

  Gray sighed. “I don’t mean to sound critical…this is just going to be tough.”

  “I understand,” Clea said. �
�But I believe you once told me, sometimes we just have to do what is necessary in our line of work. I’ve read the file and I thoroughly believe this is necessary. Absolutely essential in fact. Taking down that facility will give them the advantage they need to put themselves in position to finish the war once and for all.”

  Kale clapped Gray’s shoulder. “And with us having your back, it will be simple. They can’t possibly stand against the two ships that took down the Orion’s Light all alone.”

  Gray was not swayed by his levity. “These are not disorganized goons following a mad man. You know better than I do how good they are at what they do…and what they’re willing to sacrifice. Think about it. They’ll throw away a capital ship for a minor victor. Imagine what they’re going to be willing to do to protect their home?”

  The question sobered the meal and they fell silent for some time. No one brought up this concern at the briefing but Gray believed it lived in the backs of every commander’s mind. Any of them who faced these foes knew what they were capable of. Their tactics had to have bitten every captain there at least once.

  I knew I had my work cut out for me but this…well, judge a man by the reputation of his enemies. Maybe we’ve worked hard to deserve the Devarans. Maybe humanity’s own lust for war has driven us to this point. The attack on us seems like a perfect culmination of our conflicts. Every war escalates and now…we’ve taken it to the distant stars.

  Gray turned to his meal and tried to appreciate it but his mind was too far adrift. He had a whole new problem to solve beyond surviving a fleet action he had never done in the new way of fighting. Perhaps Siva sent them a gift, playing to their strengths. He chose to look at it in the positive light and prepared to sell it to his people.

  I hope it doesn’t take much but in this current environment, who knows?

  ***

  Siva’s intelligence proved to be thorough, pulled straight from what high command compiled. Gray shared it with his senior staff, wondering how much clearance the woman really had. Was there any limit to her power? The kielan people were lucky she proved benevolent. If not, she could’ve caused great harm for personal gain.

  No wonder she picked Clea to succeed her. If a selfish person took that role, the alliance would be in serious trouble.

  The senior staff proved both for and against the mission as assigned, primarily for the same reasons Gray voiced to Clea. There was glory to be found in the situation but Gray was very careful to not bring it up. The last thing he wanted was a rumor to float about the ship that he was looking to indulge a Prima-donna need for exposure and alliance gratitude.

  Pilots and marines would have it the worst. They needed to screen for the shuttles as they made their approach on the facility. Once there, the soldiers would need to battle an enemy far tougher than they’d faced recently. At least they’d be prepared this time. They’d learned a great deal since three of the enemy got aboard the Behemoth.

  Gray sent his people to work out the specifics of their plans but also asked that they organize opportunities for the crew to use the FTL communications array to speak to friends and family. Considering what they were about to dive into, they needed a slice of home. He hoped they would all see Earth again, and soon.

  Much as he showed outward belief in their inevitable success, a tinge of doubt gripped his heart. He assumed the other commanders had to be harboring similar thoughts. If they weren’t, they were insane or brainwashed by the rhetoric of their leaders. Without acknowledging the potential of defeat, one could not adequately defy it.

  Gray took a com from the Earth ambassador and later from the council itself via the FTL array. They endorsed the actions of the Alliance and informed him that two fully functional ships were christened into their fleet. A kielan vessel remained as well, providing them as much protection as many other cultures enjoyed, especially on the eve of the battle.

  One universal concept was accepted by all. Even if the battle was lost, so much damage would be delivered to the devarans that they would be unable to strike back easily or quickly. Still, if even a couple ships escaped, every home world of the representative races needed some moderate amount of protection.

  Luckily, they had plenty of ships to provide such cover.

  Gray kept it to himself but he was grateful that he and his ship were going into the battle and not waiting at home for word of their success or failure. Considering everything that was on the line and all they’d done, he couldn’t imagine sitting on the sidelines, not this time. Fortunately, the Earth didn’t want to either.

  They knew that participating in this final action would help establish their foothold in galactic politics. The mission kielan intelligence suggested further cemented their chances for involvement. No one argued the benefits they’d gain from a Behemoth victory and it was made quite clear that all of the Earth’s military was one hundred percent behind them.

  At least we’ve got some support. That’s a nice change for the military.

  Everyone saw the impact from the enemy when they brought their ships against the first Earth fleet to fall. The lives lost didn’t necessarily convert everyone on the spot but the second attack helped a lot. Still, separatists threatened the unity of the alliance but that movement would eventually fail.

  As the galaxy opened up, as people saw how small the Earth was in comparison to all that was out there, they would unify. At least, Gray hoped so. He couldn’t imagine close mindedness succeeding after seeing what he had. The history books would have a great deal to add after the campaign about to conclude.

  Our children will learn about why unity is important, even if my peers don’t see it in time to matter.

  ***

  Trellan sat in a hotel room staring outside at the city sprawling off into the distance. Shuttles occasionally marred the sky and airbuses made their way to different points throughout the urban area, ferrying people from their jobs to home and vice versa. The organized chaos of a civilization roared around him.

  That’s what I left home for. I killed people to protect it.

  Many of the lives he ended happened at such a distance that he couldn’t remember what they looked like. The up close ones though, those stuck in his mind. He didn’t feel guilty so much as a need to remember. He refused to let them go for fear he might become something he didn’t like.

  Shrugging off death seemed far worse than committing the act.

  And yet, I’m off to do so one more time.

  Previously, he’d killed races within the alliance. Novalats, humans, other kielans…those who joined the pirates or criminals through various channels. The enemy he faced on the next mission proved far more faceless than any other he faced in recent months. Yes, he fought them when he was in the military but this would be different.

  This time, I’ll be in their backyard and they won’t be nearly as nice as they were back then.

  Clea put a meeting on his calendar to get aboard the Behemoth and meet the marines. He’d be heading out the next day and wouldn’t return until the mission was over. He didn’t mind. His family was long gone, most of his friends didn’t even know where he’d gone and frankly, he found himself entirely alone.

  Maybe I shouldn’t retire. I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself.

  One idea involved moving out to one of the colonies, become something of a hermit but it didn’t feel right. This was his home, he’d grown up there and heading out to die in some backwater didn’t suit him. Intelligence work though, heading out into the field, that was out of the question. He’d done enough for his country in that regard.

  Perhaps I can teach the next poor bastard who wants to do this.

  Trellan did have a great deal of wisdom he could impart to potential agents. His own skill and experience might come in handy for someone. He’d talk to Siva about it when he got back. She had to have a place to put him, even if it involved a desk. I don’t think I’m old enough to fade away entirely.

  But then, he forced himself t
o look at the danger he was willingly taking on. Attacking the enemy facility, going off on his own when they arrived, that had the potential to flat out end his life. All the time hunting Orion’s Light gave him plenty of outs. Even the missions given to him by the pirates tended to be in places he could easily escape if need be.

  Going into this place was a one way road and at the end, a wall he needed to be able to blow up. This, unlike any other assignment he’d taken on, required all his skill. If he screwed up even once, he might not make it. He couldn’t afford the situation on Krilan’s ship. Barely managing to get into an escape pod would be his grave this time around.

  I love the lack of pressure I’m putting on this. It’s a good time to be a secret agent.

  Downtime, genuine and safe felt strange to him. The entire Orion’s Light mission had him twitchy in every room he stayed in and every establishment he frequented. Only when he found himself on a ship entirely alone well beyond the reach of anyone at all did he relax and lower his guard.

  There were too many people in the hotel for him to let go of his paranoia completely. He rearranged the furniture when he first arrived, creating obstacles for anyone who might try to burst in and cause trouble. Several firearms were scattered about the space as well, all within easy reach no matter where he found himself if an attack came.

  I really might need to see a therapist about this.

  Thinking back to his time in the military, he never worried about his safety when off duty. Back then, separation of action and leave was well defined. When he adopted the mantel of intelligence agent, he left that behind. The mission became his entire life. There was nothing else. The very nature of undercover required a certain commitment.

  One that’s not so easy to throttle back on. Cutting my hair, getting a decent place to live, spending time with Siva…none of it quickly put my nerves to rest. When this next mission is over, I’ll have the time to focus on myself. I’ll make sure I get the help I need and enter normal society again. I’m sure I can make this work. I know it.