The Enclave (The Verge)

by H. M. Clarke

  “Here,” he said throwing the bag to Katherine.

  As she snagged the bag Katherine caught a glimpse of the dark blue from a RAN uniform jacket through the opening.

  “A uniform?” Katherine asked the obvious question as she placed the bag on the ground and rummaged through it to find a pair of trousers that she then slipped on under the medical gown.

  Hillier gave a nonchalant shrug. “The Australia is in geo-stationary orbit above New Holland. We can take a shuttle down and still be in time for the arrival of the William Light.”

  “They aren’t back yet?” Katherine asked as she slipped her arms within the gown and then quickly shrugged into the crumpled white shirt that was in the bag. She tried not to smile as Hillier finally realized that she was trying to get dressed and quickly turned his back to her. Katherine finished securing the shirt and tossed the now useless medical gown to the floor.

  “No. They were …delayed. The William Light’s ETA with the Adelaide is still another thirty minutes away.”

  Katherine slipped her arms into the jacket and pulled on the boots over her bare feet. It was a standard midshipman’s uniform, a little on the big side, but beggars cannot be choosers.

  “How were they delayed?”

  “They discovered a suspicious vehicle and trailed it. Once it stopped, they notified the Australia and a team has been sent down to investigate.” Paul neglected to tell Katherine about the attack on the William Light and it’s near escape. It was something she did not need to worry about just now.

  Katherine only nodded, though she was surprised that Tom did not check out the vehicle himself. “So, we are just going to walk into the hanger and take a shuttle to the surface. As easy as that?”

  “Not quite. The Admiral would not approve of you leaving the Australia. Not without a through medical. He’s worried about you.” Hillier stuffed the medical gown into the now empty duffel bag and shoved the lot into one of the empty lockers.

  “But you’re helping me anyway. Why?” Katherine put it bluntly. She would take whatever help he offered but the motivations behind it were important.

  “I really can’t tell you as I don’t know myself. There is something going on here that does not ring true and I would like to ferret out the reason why. You are my best hope of doing it as it seems to be centered around you.”

  Katherine gave Paul a level stare as she assessed what he had said. Finally she just shrugged. “Fair enough. Either way, the more Federation Personnel we have down there the better.”

  “Now. How are you going to get me off of this ship without Baverstock finding out?”

  Chapter

  Thirty-Four

  The solution was easier than she thought. It also helped that a strange ship had just jumped through the Stargate into the Junter System thirty minutes ago, placing the Australia instantly on the alert.

  “…It has Alliance markings but it claims to be a Val Myra ship.”

  “Who is in command?” Hillier asked.

  Katherine glared through the cockpit window to the place in the Northern Hemisphere where the Braidon Hills Enclave was supposed to be.

  The storm that the William Light flew through that morning had now covered the area over the Enclave. If she craned her head a little further to the left, Katherine could see the Alliance Frigate that had just arrived in system. It was small compared to the Australia, but they were not looking for a fight. The ship was powered down and when she first sighted it, Katherine could see some extensive hull damage along its starboard side. The ship looked to have dodged through a whole lot of Hell to get here.

  Katherine’s attention was caught by Hillier’s very loud and very exasperated sigh.

  “…Course it’s a Val Myra ship. The AFV Australia has the situation under control… Unless you think a beaten up frigate can take out a fully equipped Federation Carrier?”

  “No Sir. I wasn’t suggesting that, we were just curious is all. Berth 198725 has been assigned to you. It is close to the AFV Adelaide.”

  “Roger that.”

  Hillier jabbed a finger and cut the connection. “Do I look like an Information Service Now?”

  “To New Holland you do,” Katherine replied as she turned her head to stare back out the cockpit window. “Some of the people down there need something to put the wind up them.”

  “Are they that bad?” Hillier asked, but Katherine gave him no reply. Her thoughts had turned again to the William Light with the hope that they had arrived safe and sound back at the Adelaide.

  “The New Hollanders remind me of cliques from high school, with the usual sniping and power plays that come with them.” Katherine turned away from the window as the shuttle hit Junter Three’s atmosphere; the friction of entry causing everything to flare orange and yellow.

  “The arrival of the Val Myrans has caused the local cliques to erupt in a panic, worried that they may lose power or prestige or whatever it is that cliques need. They are petty, sneaky, dirty rotten bastards.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what you really feel Katherine,” Paul said as he finessed the shuttle controls to limit the buffeting from the entry angle.

  “Can’t, the language would be too harsh for your sensitive ears.”

  Paul gave her a short bark of laughter before turning his attention back to communications with the New Holland Port Authority.

  Katherine tuned the conversation out as her thoughts turned back to the William Light and the Enclave.

  Where the hell is Nigel Hyde?

  Sure, Barkley and that bitch Ross knew him but that alone did not confirm that Hyde had been at the facility at all. And if Hyde had been there, he certainly was not there now. Katherine knew the bastard well enough to know that there was no way he would have stayed away from a fight. He loved dealing death to much to miss out on any chance he got to dish it out.

  Perhaps the slimy toe rag got off world to go and ruin someone else’s planet before the Adelaide had even arrived in system? Perhaps he was hiding out in some other part of the Northern Hemisphere laughing at their attempt to get him. Perhaps…

  Katherine mentally shook herself.

  Perhaps’s will get you nowhere, except to have you jumping around at every possibility that moves. That thought process could lead to the path of insanity.

  Katherine observed with detached silence as Paul bought the shuttle down and followed the instructions of the now obsequent Port Authority pilot to the berth assigned them next to the Adelaide.

  The Adelaide’s exterior showed no signs of the William Light’s return and even the crewmen patrolling the quay and guarding the Sally port looked as if everything was normal.

  Katherine made a mental note to congratulate her crew on their professionalism. It would never do to look panicked to these New Hollanders.

  After a quick flash of comms traffic from Paul to the Adelaide, Katherine saw the familiar form of Richard Coulthard appear at the entry lock.

  He stood still, waiting for them.

  “Commander, it is nice to see you mobile.”

  Katherine tried not to grin. “Contrary to popular rumor, I am still alive and kicking. And I will kick the butt of the first person who mentions anything about leg wounds or arrows to the knee. Understood?”

  “Perfectly Commander.” Richard’s white toothy grin glared brightly against the dark contrast of his skin.

  “Any news yet from the William Light?” Katherine asked her XO as the small group walked the corridors of the Adelaide.

  “They got back about thirty minutes ago. The prisoner has been secured in the brig waiting for the security team from the Australia to retrieve her, and the rest of your squad are waiting to be debriefed in the-”

  “The Australia is sending a team?”

  Katherine cut Richard’s telling mid-sentence.

  “Yes. It was thought more ‘prudent’ that Doctor Ross be taken into Federal custody above the planet, than be held planet side due to recent incidences.”

>   “Polly talk for we can’t trust New Holland as far as we can throw them and only an Alliance Ship could try and nab her from the Australia.”

  “Yes Captain”

  “Did you know this Paul?” Katherine shot the question to the aide before Richard had finished agreeing with her.

  “The Admiral was going to take any prisoners whether the local government agreed with it or not.” Paul glanced across to Richard. “They shouldn’t have even known about this mission.”

  “They did. We have been getting aggressive requests from them wanting access to any prisoners that were taken.”

  “We were followed out when we left. Mark had to lose the tail before we could head north.” Katherine said.

  “Mr. Prockter and your brother are currently sorting out that little issue. It seems that the First Counsellor was trying to get himself set up as a permanent leader.”

  “What a very naughty boy.”

  “Yes. Well. The fool did not realize that the help he had been getting to do this was supplied by Alliance plants.”

  Katherine could not believe what her ears were hearing. “The man is that gullible?”

  “Director Prockter had found some interesting information on some of Chandlers closest supporters. Several of them were being paid ‘under the table’ so to speak to help nudge our ‘hero of democracy’ into doing this takeover. It would have left New Holland open to be annexed by the Alliance as a threat on their border.”

  “Lucky he was caught in time before he ruined New Holland for good.”

  “I wouldn’t trust a politician as far as I can throw them.”

  “It’s lucky that our electoral process doesn’t require us to do that,” Paul said.

  “There would be a lot of strained back muscles if we did.” Richard could not keep the smirk from his face.

  The fact that the smirk was there at all told Katherine that she had nothing to worry about when it came to her people.

  When they stopped before the debriefing room door, Katherine hesitated. She could not rid herself of the niggling thought in the back of her mind that now Alpha Squad knew what had been done to her, knew now that she was the reason that Adveral colony was destroyed, would they still respect her and accept her as their Commander?

  She knew the thought was irrational, but still, it was there. Katherine mentally shook herself. Get it together woman! Deal with it if it happens.

  She glanced at the men on either side of her and turned back to the door. Taking a deep breath, Katherine motioned the door open. All talking within the room cease as the door revealed the trio to the people seated within.

  “Captain!”

  Katherine did not see who said it, but that one simple word bought everyone to their feet and they all stood staring at her as she stayed in the doorway. It was a sign of respect that unexpectedly touched Katherine emotionally in more ways than she cared to admit, even to herself.

  Raising a hand, Katherine gestured for them all to sit and the three moved into the room. Katherine and Richard, to their customary seats and Paul took a spare chair where he could at the table. The eyes around the table watched as the aide took his place.

  “It’s nice to see you all well and whole.”

  Tom could not hide the worry he must have felt for her. None of them could. After all, the last they saw of her, she had a gaping leg wound and was with 57.

  “Thank you. It’s nice to see that everyone managed to survive the trip back.”

  “I hope that’s not a slight against my flying.”

  Katherine flashed Mark a smile but gave no reply.

  “I’ve been told that Ross is now secure in the brig and that a security team from the Australia is arriving to transfer her into their custody.”

  The crew around the table nodded and Katherine saw how worn, tired and dirty they all were. They all were in need of food, a hot shower and sleep.

  “We had a run in with a Tiger on the way back. It was bought down and a team from the Australia was going to investigate it.”

  “A Tiger?”

  “Before you say it. I don’t think Hyde was on board that ship,” Tom said quickly raising his hand. “It was too slip shod on its attacks. No impingement on your piloting skills Hunter.”

  Mark shrugged. “No worries.”

  “If Hyde was on that ship we would not be back here. A shuttle craft against a well piloted Tiger stood no chance.”

  “If you hadn’t have used that device Tom, then we wouldn’t be here ourselves,” Steve spoke up from the back of the table.

  “You used the Ontolic Ring?” Katherine’s eyes widened at the news.

  “Yes. I used it to take out one of their generators, otherwise the Australia would be looking for us instead of them.”

  “Does this mean that Hyde wasn’t there at all?” Varden’s eyes stayed fixed on Paul as she spoke.

  “He had been there. Barkley as good as told me. That doesn’t mean that he was there at the time we hit the base.” Katherine glanced around all the faces at the table.

  “It does mean that he might be stuck planet side somewhere, or that he had an escape route off planet. Knowing Hyde, he would have had an escape route planned.”

  “The Australia is arranging search sweeps of the northern hemisphere to determine if there are any other facilities like the one you discovered.” Paul stared right back at Varden.

  “There won’t be. Not on this planet at any rate,” Katherine spat.

  “So we lost him. Again,” Mark muttered.

  “Don’t worry Mark, we’ll get him,” Steve replied. “And I’m sure the Val Myrans will be after him as well.”

  “Joshua said as much before his was whisked away by Pritchard’s people.”

  “The Governor General?” Katherine could not keep the disbelief from her voice.

  Richard just shrugged his shoulders.

  Katherine looked again around the table and could not help but smile at everyone.

  “Let’s not worry about that now. You all look like you need food, sleep and a shower, and not necessarily in that order. You are all dismissed. Senior officers will meet with me again once we’ve heard from the Australia.”

  Chapter

  Thirty-Five

  The brandy tasted good.

  Katherine took another taste from her glass, knowing that the ship’s doctor would be ‘spitting chips’ if she was here now.

  But she was not and Katherine preferred it that way. Adjusting her feet on the table, Katherine leaned further back in her chair. It was soft and comfortable and could easily put her to sleep at a moment’s notice.

  Katherine had a meeting tomorrow afternoon with Admiral Baverstock. The Adelaide will be getting new orders. He brother John, would be staying on to help Governor General Pritchard smooth over the political crisis that Chandler created and to help transition the Val Myrans into the Federation and to get them relocated back to their homeland. John, being an ‘ex’ ‘SID, was also tasked to help Director Prockter weed out the final elements of the Alliance plants still remaining within the New Holland Government.

  Admiral Baverstock is assigning a section of Battle Group Three to act as a deterrent for any Alliance aggression against Junter Three. Katherine hoped that the Admiral will give her orders to continue hunting Alliance Black Ops and Nigel Hyde.

  Katherine shifted her arm into a more comfortable position. It was still complaining about the battery of tests inflicted on it by the med staff. Samples, liquids and anything else they could think to scrape from her were taken for testing. Katherine dreaded to think what they might find.

  They found nothing different with her when she first came out of Yunga. Though then, they were not looking for any results from being a human guinea pig.

  Katherine took another sip of her brandy. The taste of the liquor bought her thoughts back to Joshua. He had not wanted to see her, not that she could blame him. After all, she was the cause of his brother’s death and for making him puff up to
three times his natural size.

  She swirled the drink in its glass, watching the deep burgundy of it catch and glitter against the light. Nothing could come from a relationship anyway. She would never put herself or anyone else through the pain of Adveral again.

  It was best that she stayed alone.

  She had her frigate, what else could a girl ever need?

  Chuckling to herself, Katherine quickly downed the rest of the cheap brandy and placed the glass carefully on the side table.

  Tomorrow is a new country, bringing with it new possibilities. You never know what luck the future holds and Katherine would drink again to that.

  ###

  Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

  Cheers!

  H.M. Clarke

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  In a former life, H M Clarke has been a Console Operator, Public Servant, Paper Shuffler, ICT Project Manager and an Accountant (the last being the most exciting.)

  She also has a degree in how to blow things up and then write about why it blew up. In her spare time, she likes to lay on the couch and watch TV, read and tell ALL her family what wonderful human beings they are.

  She keeps threatening to go out and get a real job (Chocolate Test Taster sounds good) and intends to retire somewhere warm and dry - like the middle of the Simpson Desert. For the time being however, she lives in Ohio and dreams about being warm...

  Discover other titles by H.M. Clarke

  The Way to Freedom Series

  1: The Kalarthri

  John McCall Mysteries

  1: Howling Vengeance

  Marion: An ‘Order’ Short Story.

  Connect with me

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  Or catch her on Twitter - @hmclarkeauthor