Kirby halted his marines near the control vehicle. Nyx tagged each officer in Steg’s heads-up display. She also tagged the vehicle where their missing marines were being held, and he forwarded that detail to Kirby. The Alliance major was an overweight man and of unprepossessing appearance. His uniform was ill-fitting and in need of a thorough cleaning. He was obviously a careless eater, thought Steg.
Steg said to the officer, “Major Derse. What is the meaning of this?”
“Who the hell are you? How do you know my name? Were you responsible for destroying my mortars?” The officer looked beyond Steg at the Ebony Company marines and paled.
“Major, I am Admiral Steg de Coeur, Homeworld Ambassador to the Alliance.” He didn’t mention his appointment was temporary. “I’m looking for two of my marines. I understand you took them prisoner?”
“Admiral? Ambassador? What nonsense. You are a mercenary group in illegal occupation of premises belonging to Homeworld.”
“Who informed you of that?”
“We’ve received reliable information.”
Steg suspected the source was ImpSec. He said, “Surrender my men, now. I won’t ask again.”
“Good, because I won’t listen to you.” The officer’s expression was smug.
Steg increased the volume of the speaker unit built into his armor. “Listen, everyone. You can see what happened to your mortar units. In five minutes we’ll destroy this command unit unless my marines are released. I recommend you stand at least two hundred meters away, preferably sheltered in case of flying shrapnel. The countdown is commencing—now.”
The Alliance officer looked shocked. “You—you can’t—this is my command van. You can’t go around destroying property that doesn’t belong to you.”
Steg ignored him. He said via comlink, “Kirby, take your marines over to the vehicle where they’re holding your missing men. Retrieve them. Stay there. You should be far enough away when the next shell hits. Use minimal force. Nyx, create a hologram of a time counter and display the countdown. Let me know when Dreamer’s at the Kerra spaceport.”
Kirby and his marines headed to the vehicle tagged by Nyx. The AI formed a life-sized hologram beside the command unit; she was wearing a spotless white uniform and held up a time display. She commenced calling off each five seconds as the time remaining reduced.
Steg regarded the major and said, “Move or you’ll be one of the fatal casualties. No second chances.” He took his own advice and moved quickly away from the military vehicle. Most of the Alliance force copied him, some running.
Steg looked back, “Major, you have less than a minute.”
Nyx continued the countdown. Steg hunkered down on the far side of an armored troop carrier where he was belatedly joined by the now out of breath Alliance major.
“Are all your men sheltered?” Steg asked.
The man looked bewildered. “I—I suppose so.”
Nyx was calling out the seconds. When she reached thirty, her voice was replaced by a shrieking siren. Steg suspected her eyes were flashing red. He braced himself against the expected shockwave. The rail gun shell hit the center of the command unit, and it disappeared in an explosive hail of small pieces of wood and metal. The heavy troop carrier where he was sheltering shook for a few moments, and he heard cries of alarm.
“Major, consider yourself my prisoner. Likewise your men. Refuse, and I’ll show you what we can do when we’re angered. Tell your men to leave their weapons here. They—and you—are to assemble in the Embassy grounds. Now, man. Move!”
oOo
CHAPTER 27
THE MAJOR SPLUTTERED his objections until he was lifted by two heavyworlders and carried to the Homeworld Embassy. The Alliance soldiers were too confused by events to try to protest or escape. Steg left the Alliance home guard and their major standing in the grounds, guarded by ten Ebony marines. He was surprised neither police nor a military force had arrived to explore the noise and activity. He suspected some collusion had taken place, generated by ImpSec misinformation.
He was briefed by Finch and Jessie when he entered the embassy building. Neither had been successful at contacting their targets.
He said, “Let’s take this further. There’s a minister—a politician—responsible for Intersystem Affairs. Nyx can provide contact details. Jessie, pursue him—use every possible private and public number available. Finch, same for you and D’Luze. Nyx has all his contact details. Track them down. I’m going to try for the Alliance president. The Emperor gave me some additional letters of introduction.”
Finch was the first to make contact with someone. She said, “I’ve found your agent.”
“Put him on speaker,” Steg said.
“D’Luze here. Who are you?”
“I’m an aide for Steg de Coeur. We’ve been trying to contact you for the last twelve hours.”
“That’s not possible. He’s not arriving for another tenday.”
Steg spoke up, “Henri, you’ve been misinformed. We arrived yesterday. The building was unprepared. It was not protected against the weather or the wild animals, and we’ve been attacked this morning by an Alliance military unit. What the hell’s happening?”
“Earl de Coeur—impossible—we received an authenticated communication—I have no idea why the building was not protected. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Please accept my apologies—”
“Sooner. We’ve captured forty or more Alliance soldiers and need to do something with them.”
“I—I’ll try. I’m leaving now.” The comlink disconnected.
“ImpSec has been at work,” Jessie said.
“I agree. What’s the situation with the Minister for Intersystem Affairs?”
‘Everyone says he’s away, off-planet,” Jessie replied
“Same story when I try for the president. Likewise the head of department. It seems no one wants to speak to us.”
“Sir, I have a General Kuzman trying to contact you. His aide advised me he is the senior member of the Alliance military command,” Finch said.
“Interesting. Link me to him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“General Kuzman?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
“I am Steg de Coeur, Admiral and Homeworld Ambassador.”
“Not according to my reports. I have you listed as an imposter.”
“The Imperial Embassy provided those details, I assume?”
“Yes, they did.”
“ImpSec are there in force.”
“Aah.”
“I have a letter of introduction from Emperor Quinton plus letters of appointment from Homeworld. These are all verifiable. Quinton gave me a personal message for you, which I’ll deliver in a face to face meeting.”
“Will you?” There was a pause. “I daresay that’s acceptable. Have you met with anyone from Intersystem Affairs yet?”
“Currently everyone is avoiding our attempts to establish communications.”
“Well, meet with me, and I’ll sort out the rest of it. Now, what about my soldiers?”
“You mean Major Derse and his unit?”
“Yes, that’s the man.”
“Are you sure you want him back?”
The general laughed. “I plan to hold a hearing and I’ll demote him, at least. He was not authorized to take any action against you or your embassy.”
“He and his men are safe. Uninjured. Shocked, probably.”
“I’ve had a report. Now, about this meeting—can I send a vehicle now?”
“General, I’m uncomfortable heading off to an unknown military destination given the events of this morning.”
“Yes, understandable. I’ll instruct one of my senior officers to attend your embassy and remain there until you return. A diplomatic hostage, if you will.”
“That sounds workable. Agreed.”
“I’ll send a vehicle. You and one of your aides, yes?”
“We’ll be ready.” Steg cut the link and turned to Jessie. “I�
�d like you to accompany me. Wear your long gloves. No, Finch, I want you to stay here and deal with D’Luze. You can scalp him, if necessary. He needs to explain why the building was exposed and why we weren’t advised of the animal parade.”
The military vehicle with its driver, guard, and escort, plus two supporting vehicles, halted at a checkpoint immediately outside the military complex. The main building was more than twenty floors high, and Steg assumed it reached down as many floors below the surface. Secondary buildings, some nearly as tall, filled about a square kilometer. Guards examined the vehicle and the pass produced by their escort and raised a barrier to permit the vehicles to enter. They were stopped again and then a third time. When Steg eventually exited the vehicle at the fourth checkpoint, he and Jessie were both questioned. Steg said, “General Kuzman authorized our visit. Check with him.”
One of the guards objected, “Sir, I asked you who you are. Please answer.”
Steg made to return to the vehicle, motioning Jessie to join him. He said to the guard as he opened the door, “I have no patience with this nonsense. Your general invited me—you have the details—you can explain to him why I wasn’t able to meet with him.”
The guard, a young lieutenant, was nonplussed. “But—but sir, I’m following procedure.”
The escort who had accompanied Steg and Jessie was arguing with the guard. “The visitor is correct, you oaf. He’s been invited. You have the general’s authorization documents. Now contact General Kuzman and explain to him why his visitor has returned to his embassy.”
A major, noting the argument, rushed out of his guard office. “What’s going on here?” he demanded of Steg’s escort.
“Ask your lieutenant. I trust he has a good retirement plan.”
The major and the lieutenant conferred briefly. The lieutenant, at the end of their short conversation, came over to the waiting vehicle. “Sir, Ambassador—Admiral de Coeur. I apologize. Please exit your vehicle. I understand the general is waiting for you in reception.”
Steg nodded and said, “Thank you. Come on Jessie, let’s go to our meeting.”
Their escort accompanied them through wide doors into a large foyer. She led Steg and Jessie across the decorated floor to a group of officers standing near a statue of an ancient warrior. The lieutenant saluted the senior officer.
“Sir, General Kuzman, may I introduce Ambassador Steg de Coeur and his aide, Tac Commander Jessie Brent.”
“Thank you, Bronwyn. Ambassador, Commander. Welcome.”
“Thank you, General,” Steg said. Jessie echoed his reply.
Kuzman continued, “My officers wanted to also meet with you. I’ll introduce them all when we’re in our conference room. Come with me.” He turned and headed off a brisk walk towards a bank of elevators. An aide rushed ahead and, using a key, opened the door to a waiting car.
“An advantage of rank,” Kuzman explained, “is that I don’t have to wait for these darn things.”
Nyx quietly informed Steg, “There are hidden cameras and weapons everywhere. None necessarily aimed at you. All these officers are armed.”
“Keep me informed.”
“Yes, sir.”
The exchange with Nyx was on a direct link to Dreamer. As the lift ascended, the general turned to Steg. “Your communications are efficient. We detected the link; however, no one on my team was able to decrypt it.”
“My people like to know where I am and that I’m safe,” Steg said.
“I understand. Here, we exit on this floor. Come along,” Kuzman said to his fellow officers. “Don’t hold up progress.”
Minutes later Steg and Jessie were seated at an oval table with eight Alliance officers: the table was an antique, Steg judged. Why high-level officials invested in antique meeting tables, he couldn’t say. He repressed his smile and kept quiet while refreshments were served.
“Again, welcome, Admiral,” Kuzman said again. “Please accept my apologies for Major Derse’s misstep earlier today. My Special Branch is investigating the background and their initial assessment—apart from describing the man as an idiot—is that he was issued with false orders. We’re concerned how that could happen.”
“I admit, I was irritated, General,” said Steg. He opened a document wallet and extracted a folder. “Sir, these are copies of originals—my accreditation, a letter of introduction from Emperor Quinton—by the way, he asked how your knee is coping with cold winters—and a note from General Mendoza. They’re both sealed. I believe he’s the reason for the question about your knee?”
The general roared with laughter. “Merciless is living up to his name. We had—in our younger days—a duel. He cheated, and that’s all I’m going to say. I think we can accept you are who you are supposed to be.” He casually leafed through the documents and stopped to unseal and read the two letters. “Hmm. Both Quinton and Mendoza hold you in high regard. Doubly welcome, Admiral.”
“Steg, please. Thank you.”
Steg was about to add a comment when Nyx appeared; her life-size hologram formed on the empty chair beside Steg.
She said, “Pardon my interruption, Admiral.”
Conversations in the room ceased. Kuzman raised his hand and indicated to Steg to proceed.
“Yes, Nyx?”
“I’ve identified an ImpSec plant amongst the general’s officers. Major Derwent. He is an impostor. He acquired the real Major Derwent’s identity seven years ago when, I believe, the real Derwent was killed and the impostor substituted. I have a complete dossier that I can deliver.”
There was an immediate uproar in the room. One officer was shouting and protesting his innocence, and when General Kuzman ordered his removal from the room, he drew a hand weapon and aimed it at Steg. Jessie’s reaction was impressive. The diamond nanowire wrapped around the imposter’s arm before he could fire. This time she didn’t hesitate and pulled savagely on the wire, severing the man’s arm a fraction above his wrist. The severed hand and the weapon it was holding fell to the floor in a spray of blood and with an agonizing scream from the disarmed officer. Other officers froze with shock as blood pumped across the table and they scattered to avoid the spray. The injured man dropped to the floor, clasping his arm as he tried to stop the bleeding. An officer applied a strap as a tourniquet while another was calling for a medic. General Kuzman shook his head; Steg was unsure whether it was in denial or disappointment.
“Mendoza mentioned the effectiveness of your aides. I now understand what he meant.”
“He was treated in a similar manner,” acknowledged Steg. “Except he didn’t lose his hand.”
“I was thinking more of your AI’s intelligence gathering skills although your aide’s reaction here was impressive. Let’s adjourn. We’ll find another meeting room while my people clean this one.” The general led the way out of the room, ignoring the mess and the moans from the injured officer.
Jessie rewound the molecular-thin wire and hurried to catch up. Nyx disappeared; she was following Steg electronically. The general entered a room a few doors further down the corridor. It was identical to the first meeting room. Junior aides rushed to bring refreshments. Kuzman ignored them and indicated two chairs for Steg and Jessie.
“Now let’s continue. Are you here to destroy my military forces or do you have a valid reason for meeting with me? Talk.”
oOo
CHAPTER 28
THE DISCUSSION TOOK HOURS, far longer than Steg had planned. Both Jessie and Nyx provided supplementary details. Jessie, without disclosing her Alliance Navy background, described the assault on the freighter by two Xesset starships and the subsequent destruction of the alien dreadnought. Steg, with additional videos and data files provided by Nyx, described the battles involving Zhu, Amber, and Echo against a range of Xesset warships, without disclosing that the destroyers had been uncrewed. He finally added details of the formation of the task force initiated by Homeworld and Djiis. He described the earlier occupation of Djii and the system’s intention to never
be again invaded by aliens. The details were convincing.
“Your requests for assistance from the Alliance are substantial, I gather?”
“I suggest the Alliance matches the contribution of the Western Star Empire. That’s thirty destroyers with a comparable number of fighters and frigates. I’d like to have double the manpower—there’s another twenty or so destroyers that we’ve captured from ImpSec.”
The general looked startled. “What? When did you do that?”
“While we’ve been here, in the Arkadie system. We have some electronic techniques that enable us to immobilize ImpSec starships.” He was trying to avoid describing the full abilities of the AIs. “ImpSec have warships here.”
Steg turned to Nyx and said, “Instruct Echo and Amber to block out all bridge and engineering controls on the ImpSec warships and release shields—just the destroyers. They can simply freeze controls on the other starships. We’ll deal with their disposal later. I expect Alliance defenses will raise alarms when the warships show on their screens. Make announcements on each ImpSec starship that we are now in control and arrange for each to do the usual—head into the Arkadie sun—until all ships are abandoned. Once that’s complete, form them up in convoy so that they’re ready to head to Djii.”
Nyx said, “Yes, sir. The girls will enjoy this.” She disappeared.
Kuzman looked bemused. He said, “If you’re attempting to trick me in some manner—”
“General, how long will it take for your System Defense Force to detect the presence of unauthorized warships? Unshielded, in close orbits?”
“I’d expect to be advised in less than five minutes. I’ll have heads roll if it takes longer.”
“We can discuss our manning needs in more detail while we wait. First, are you prepared to—”
He was interrupted by the raucous sound of alarms. Nyx returned; there was a satisfied expression on the hologram’s face.
Kuzman sat up straight. He watched messages scroll on his compad. He said, “Five unidentified destroyers in orbit near our moon. Another five, close to the way station. Reports of more—including some frigates—are coming in every five to ten seconds. My people are doing a grand job. They’re seeking instructions.” He sat back and looked long and hard at Steg. “Admiral de Coeur, I’ll arrange for the crews and resources you need for these ships. Quinton and Mendoza are going to be livid.” He smiled. “At last—revenge for my knee—he should never have cheated. Now excuse me while I call a meeting and get this under control.”
Diamond Cut: Book Three in The Glass Complex Trilogy Page 17
