“Of course not, Admiral Montagne,” Laurent said evenly.
I winced at the more formal tone in his voice.
“Although I suppose it doesn’t hurt to sit down with the Judge,” I said, not liking this at all, “and find out how big the threat really is. Who knows, it might even come up here at some point; intelligence gathering isn’t to be spurned, after all.”
“As you say,” Laurent nodded.
I felt sick. I didn’t mind lying to my enemies; in fact, I wouldn’t give it a second thought except to make sure my stories stayed consistent. Lying to protect my life from an undeserved death sentence was another no-brainer. Telling a tale to my friends and supporters—or future, would-be supporters—I had more difficulty with, especially if I was promising to save them and only planned to offer token assistance. Isn’t that what politicians did?
“Set it up,” I told him, the words like ashes in my mouth. It sounded like I could definitely use the cover of supporting a war against the machines, but was far less certain that I could successfully sell a bill of goods to the representative.
Worse, could I live with myself if I let dozens, or scores, of planets in each of those sectors be conquered and their populations of millions killed while I did nothing to try and stop it except score political points?
Man against the Machine, indeed.
I was so screwed.
Chapter 2: Meeting in Earnest
“Admiral Montagne, it’s so good of you to meet us,” the red-skinned representative and Sector Judge from Sector 23 said, with real feeling in his voice that seemed at odds with his smooth, politician’s smile.
I wanted to say something like ‘The pleasure is all yours, Ambassador,’ but bit my tongue and refrained.
“Of course, Ambassador,” I said as smoothly as I was able, “I always have time for our brothers and sisters in the other Sectors of the Confederated Spine.” I quirked a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, “Now that the war against the Bugs and pirates seems to be dying down, it would appear that the Battle for Tracto has finally been won.”
“The Confederated Spine,” the Representative said, his mouth working, “an interesting choice of words.
“It seems apt, Ambassador,” I replied, and then allowed a frown to sully my up till-then pleasantly, noncommittal features, “although…if you are not here to speak with the Admiral tasked by the Confederation with the defense of the Spine…” I deliberately trailed off. I knew that the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet had originally been tasked with the defense of Sectors 24, 25 and 26, with operations outside of those Sectors to be initiated only at the formal request of those other Sectors, or at the discretion of the MSP’s Admiral.
That was the former, Imperial, Admiral of course, as I doubt they had planned for their original figurehead to actually be giving any orders. It would be interesting what he made of my little verbal power grab.
The red-skinned Sector Judge, Kong Pao, frowned. “Representative, please, Admiral Montagne,” he said instead, of the comment on my status as a Confederation Admiral, “I have not presented the credentials of an Ambassador, nor would it be appropriate for an Ambassador to present himself as an Ambassador to the Confederation Military. I am merely representing a pair of beleaguered Sectors which desperately need all the help they can get.”
“I see,” I said sourly.
“Admiral,” Representative Kong Pao said urgently, “I beseech you. My home world in Sector 23 holds out for now, but worlds all along Sectors 23 and 24 are under fierce assault by the machine menace that calls itself the ‘Droid Tribes’.”
Clearly, the man was more focused on saving his people, planet, and sectors than he was on petty power games and semantics. This left a sour taste in my mouth which hadn’t really been caused by the Representative. Had I really fallen so low?
Shame filled me and I bowed my head. The old me wouldn’t have hesitated for an instant, except to ask if there was anything we could really hope to do before charging forward, even if it was only a long shot. Who had I become, that I could sit here and be irritated by a man who just wanted my help? My shoulders hunched inward rebelliously.
“Tell me,” I said quietly, feeling repulsed by myself.
“Admiral Montagne?” Representative Kong asked with concern, “Is something wrong?”
“Ambassad—” I corrected myself, “Representative Kong,” I said seriously, “if this is some kind of trick or, failing that, if, after I help you and/or whatever cabal, alliance of interests, or group of Sector and Planetary Leaders—or even simply whatever mass of concerned citizens you represent—turn around and betray me…” I stopped myself briefly, considering my words before continuing. “If you get my help and then when I’m done, stick a knife in my back—either literal or figurative, just like the politicians here in 25 have already done to us—then rest assured that my vengeance, while it may not be swift and it may not be sure, will be so terrible you will all weep at the thunder of my passage. I will hunt you down to the end of the galaxy and you will all reap what you have sown,” I could feel my vision going red as I spoke, and deliberately calmed myself with a few deep, even breaths.
The Representative’s features were stoic and placid, just as one would expect from a trained politician.
I cleared my voice as best I could before continuing, “However, assuming your plight is real and your cause is just—which it sounds like it is—then I will listen to your troubles with the Droids, and yes,” I felt like hurling up the contents of my stomach, “the MSP will help your planetary populations if it can.”
The Representative looked at first concerned, then slightly fearful, before dismay finally showed on his face. “Admiral,” he started and then stopped, swallowing visibly. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and then he thrust out his hand. “Look, Sir,” he said, meeting eyes and holding my stare, “and I mean that, despite your young age; it’s a matter of respect for what you have accomplished taking control and rebuilding your organization. Admiral Montagne, I don’t know what has happened here in 25 or the troubles you’ve had to deal with since you sent Captain Middleton out on patrol—at least, those troubles which we haven’t been able to observe personally.”
“Thanks,” I said flatly. Meaningless, empty words, however pretty, were still just that: words. I continued to ignore his outstretched hand in the hopes that he would just take it away. I was in the mood to promise nothing until I’d seen and heard a whole lot more.
“In the name of the Confederation, and in the name of Humanity, you must listen to me: the Droids are real, the threat to our two Sectors is real,” the Representative said, still holding out his hand. “This is not a threat to our way of life, our civil liberties, or some meaningless political divide; this is a threat to all of Humanity. These Droids have to be stopped before we are overrun and they have the chance to consolidate their gains, setting up automated factories on all the worlds and star systems they have already conquered in order to produce enough Droids to replace our populations with mechanicals, and new warships to conquer new territories. Please help us, Admiral, else our problems soon become yours when the Droids finish defeating what remain of our fleets and rebuild their own forces to the point they turn their eye to this Sector!’’
“You speak with passion,” I finally said, “enough that I believe you felt there is a major threat. You do understand what will happen if you are lying? I have no time for games; there are serious threats here in this Sector which you are asking me to put aside, or put on hold indefinitely.”
“I’m not lying; I have proof! And any deal we make is bound not only by the leaders of every participating world in Sectors 23 and 24, but also by me personally,” Representative Kong said firmly. “I know we’ve just met, but surely you realize that as a Sector Judge I have considerable powers of my own, regardless of anyone else. If you promise to help us, then we will help you in any way we can in order to facilitate cooperation.”
I stared into his eyes f
or over a minute in silence, and then I reached out and grasped his still extended hand. I wasn’t some broken piece of the man I used to be, I decided savagely. Wiser perhaps—less naïve, certainly—but I refused to turn into a man like my Uncle, who proved he was in it only for himself. If these people really needed me then I would be there.
At least, I would be there if I could do anything to actually make a difference, as this sounded more and more like a very big problem—and in case I hadn’t already mentioned it, my Fleet had just been hammered. But if, on the other hand, they took my help and then turned around and went after me like the Rump had done…then I would unleash on them the heartless dastard my uncle and the Assembly had almost created when they tried to break me!
“Comfort and aid to our friends, damnation and destruction on our enemies, Mr. Representative,” I said seriously. “So why don’t you show me those facts and figures, Judge. Then we’ll talk about what I can do for you.” Through sheer force of will I reached deep down inside and pulled forth the last shreds of the idealistic young man who had started out on this journey. He had been a man determined to go out there and do some good, whatever the cost to himself, and I knew that I would always need him if I was to avoid falling down the Demon’s pit as my uncle-cum-father had. “You see, I’m from the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet, and we’re here to help.”
It seemed my wife Akantha had been right when she accused me—I was getting ready to start another war.
“Thank the beloved Saint Murphy and all of his Space Gods,” Kong Pao said, still shaking my hand as if he were afraid to let it go, “we can sure use the help!”
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Tallying Resources and Counting Costs
Chapter 2: It’s Time to Move On
Chapter 3: Signing Up
Chapter 4: Laying down The Law, Taking Stock
Chapter 5: Pried from Reluctant Fingers
Chapter 6: It’s a Spalding
Chapter 7: Dealing with Brence
Chapter 8: Druid Sets Out
Chapter 9: The Commodore’s Riposte
Chapter 10: Leaving the Friendly Confines
Chapter 11: To Tracto!
Chapter 12: Round Two, Harvester Style
Chapter 13: Expecting Guests?
Chapter 14: Upgrades Can Be Annoying
Chapter 15: Brence reaches Omicron
Chapter 16: Tis But A Scratch
Chapter 17: Fix’ing the Game
Chapter 18: Nervous Jitters
Chapter 19: A Meeting To Remember
Chapter 20: The Scouts
Chapter 21: The Scouts Report
Chapter 22: An Oath—and a Rebuke
Chapter 23: Recruiting Issues
Chapter 24: More Bug Scouts
Chapter 25: Recruiting: The Drop-off
Chapter 26: McCruising to the Rescue
Chapter 27: Tough Decisions
Chapter 28: Jean Luc vs. The Envoy
Chapter 29: Recruiting: Some Real Issues
Chapter 30: The Commodore Gets Swatted
Chapter 31: Workplace Distractions
Chapter 32: Cutters do the Cutting, McCruise does the McCruising
Chapter 33: To the Armory
Chapter 34:Agitation at the Armory
Chapter 35: Nikomedes:The Building of a Legend
Chapter 36: In Yagar, WeTrust!
Chapter 37: Thanks for the tribute!
Chapter 38: The Furball
Chapter 39: McCruising through the Bumps
Chapter 40: The Silent Strike!
Chapter 41: Conflict Resolution 101
Chapter 42: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
Chapter 43: Not Quite Fix’ed
Chapter 44: Spalding Reminisces on the Prince
Chapter 45: Spalding Takes Over
Chapter 46: Harbinger, Thy Name is Middleton
Chapter 47: More Bugs and Mutinous Murmurs
Chapter 48: Spalding tries to sneak away…
Chapter 49: Spalding Comes for Brence
Chapter 50: Tracking the Mother-ship
Chapter 51: A Hero’s Welcome…or not
Chapter 52: The Gathering Storm
Chapter 53: An Impassioned Plea, part two
Chapter 54: Planning to Offend
Chapter 55: Reaping the Whirlwind
Chapter 56: The Furious Phoenix
Chapter 57: It really was the perfect plan, honest!
Chapter 58: Fleet Maneuvers
Chapter 59: On the Hunt
Chapter 60: The Supplicant Seeks a Boon
Chapter 61: Rumble in the Jungle
Chapter 62: Going In
Chapter 63: Under His Mercy
Chapter 64: A Message in a Bottle? Could it be?
Chapter 65: The Phoenix feels her fury
Chapter 66: Always in Control
Chapter 67: Seeing Red
Chapter 68: The Phoenix In Flames
Chapter 69: Helplessness
Chapter 70: Riding to the Rescue
Chapter 71: Clash of the Titans
Chapter 72: It is, it is, a glorious thing…
Chapter 73: Spalding Abandons Ship?!
Chapter 74: Head to Head
Chapter 75: Thunder and Fury
Chapter 76: Rocket Man
Chapter 77: The Final Approach
Chapter 78: Hanging Tough
Chapter 79: Rising from the Ashes
Chapter 80: Complications
Chapter 81: To the Locker, lad!
Chapter 82: Staying in the Fight
Chapter 83: The Davy Jones
Chapter 84: Unexpected Difficulties
Chapter 85: The Opening
Chapter 86: The Worm Turns
Chapter 87: Akantha On The Run
Chapter 88: Snatching Victory
Chapter 89: The Heart Stops…or does it?
Chapter 90: On the Flag Bridge
Chapter 91: The Perfect Opportunity
Chapter 92: A little Marital Support
Chapter 93: The Privilege of Rank
Chapter 94: Deathly Determined
Chapter 95: ‘Jason, I’m your _____’
The Following is a sneak peak of Admiral Invincible, Book Six in the Spineward Sectors Novels.
Chapter 1: Sweety…it’s time to wake up.
Chapter 2: Meeting in Earnest
Admiral's Revenge (A Spineward Sectors Novel:) Page 56
