by Kal Spriggs
Most of those, he knew, were those of his old crewmen who had sought to take the fleet for their own. One or two might be the remains of some treasure hunters with less caution than they should have had. Tommy didn't mourn the former at all and felt only passing pity for the latter. There were warnings aplenty, he had seen to that.
An automated voice broadcast on all channels, right on cue. “Attention inbound craft. You have entered a restricted area. Withdraw or you will be fired upon.”
Tommy held down the transmit button and made certain his face was visible, “Furry Bunny Slippers.”
The voice seemed to hiccup, “I repeat you...” the voice trailed off... “withdraw or face immediate repercussions.”
“Fuzzy Navel,” Tommy said with a slight smile, “Kittens.”
“Access granted,” the voice said. “Welcome back, Captain.”
“What kind of password is that?” Kandergain said.
Tommy didn't answer. In truth, they weren't passwords. It wasn't what he had said, it was how he said them. The analysis software had cost him a fortune, but it was designed to read his emotional and mental status on top of identifying his biometrics, all from his broadcast.
If someone had somehow captured and coerced him, either through drugs or torture into showing the location of his fleet, then the ships would have opened fire as soon as he attempted to get them to stand down. It also would have fired on him if he had some kind of nervous breakdown and actually gone mad dog pirate.
“Tell everyone to come ahead,” Tommy said even as he adjusted his pistols in his holsters. He waggled his fingers a bit to loosen them up even as he monitored the progress of the other ships. It seemed that those who had come to his call were above board. Then again, they had little reason not to be. The return of Tommy King was the sort of thing that even the most depraved of them would want to be a part of. Only the Shadow Lords had engendered greater fear across human space... and then only because they rarely left any survivors.
Survivors are useful, Tommy thought, they eventually rebuild so that they can be robbed again.
They drew close to his flagship and Tommy began to whistle.
“Can you stop that?” Kandergain snapped. “You know that's the same tune you whistled while you killed a few of my friends back when you worked for ESPSec.”
Tommy winced at the reminder. That had been a darker bit of his past, when he had sought revenge for the deaths of his squad back when he was an Amalgamated Worlds Commando. “Sorry.”
She shook her head, “If you do anything like that again, you'll be far more than sorry.”
He just nodded at the reminder. Tommy had no intention of reverting to that man. He hadn't lied, he thought of himself as a new man. His years of scraping out a living as Mason McGann had changed him, as had the years at Lan's Monastery. More than that, the past months spent with Lauren had wrought a more profound change. He trusted his instincts now and he felt as if some of Lauren's ideology had imprinted itself upon him.
Kandergain brought the ship alongside. Tommy moved to the airlock and he nodded at the handful of crew who stood waiting. He could sense their eagerness, an animal tension, part pheromone and part body language. They reacted to his presence, as if they could sense the wolf behind his eyes... which they probably could, he thought.
Tommy took a moment to deactivate the traps on the airlock. This one had five, while most of the others on the ship had ten or more, several of which could kill the vessel. Kandergain followed him out a moment later. “You know,” she said, “I confess to a bit of curiosity about your ship.”
He held up a cautionary hand to forestall her. Tommy swept his gaze across the hand-picked crew. This dozen was the first to board his ship and he had already told them where he wanted them. They weren't disciplined military, but they were far from the rabble he had hired in the guise of Stavros. Most of them had served under him before, many had served as mercenaries or pirates in the years since, and all of them were men and women that he trusted to do as instructed... but that didn't mean he trusted them implicitly. “You know what I want done. Go do it.”
They moved out, their faces set and eager as they reacted to his tone. He didn't know how he did it, it wasn't a psychic ability, he knew, it was just that people reacted to his voice and attitude in a primal, animal way. It was something tied to the predator within him, he knew.
He turned back to Kandergain, “You were saying?”
“Your ship, the Revenge,” Kandergain said. “I've never seen it, its basic profile is similar to an Amalgamated Worlds National-class battlecruiser... but it is heavily modified. Given the timing of when you started pirating, I have to say I'm curious how you obtained it.”
Tommy shrugged, “It's a long story. Most of it doesn't apply to what we're doing, and some of the details are already known by some of your organization.”
Kandergain's eyes narrowed as she thought about who in her organization had associated with Tommy King. Clearly she didn't know who might know. Tommy felt a bit of amusement at that, it tickled him to tweak the all-knowing psychic. “Most of the modifications were done at Tanis. They were just getting started as an independent shipyard, so they didn't ask many questions about the work or where I got her.”
When he didn't say more about where he had picked up the ship, Kandergain glowered at him. “Modifications?”
“She still has her original armament,” Tommy said easily as they stepped aboard the ship. The corridors were cold, the environmental systems had brought the oxygen level up from the pure nitrogen atmosphere that had preserved the vessel, but the ship was barely above freezing. “She's got a full defense screen and has been retrofitted with what was a prototype stealth system but is now relatively available, with some upgrades over the years.”
“And the other ships?” Kandergain asked. “I saw a wide assortment.”
“Some are converted merchant ships,” Tommy shrugged. He stepped around the corner and paused at the lift. He'd ordered the crew to avoid the lifts, with good reason. It took him a few minutes to deactivate the security measures that he had tied into them. Not that he had thought that anyone would get this far, but paranoia ran deep in him at the best of times.
As the lift doors opened, he continued where he had left off, “Others are warships I picked up after the fall of Amalgamated Worlds. A few are captured Colonial Republic ships, though most of those are merely carriers for fighters or bombers.”
“How are you for munitions?” Kandergain asked.
“I dumped the antimatter warheads before I stashed the fleet here,” Tommy said. “The fission warheads weren't disassembled, so they'll probably have issues. The fusion warheads, though, should be fine. The bombers were fitted for the lighter fission warheads, but Thomas Kaid sent along a shipment to replace those. The rest of my ships can just use fusion warheads.”
“He's being awful generous,” Kandergain said.
“I offered him something he has wanted for a very long time,” Tommy said and his gaze went distant. “It wasn't something I ever thought I would give... but it turns out that sometimes your priorities change.”
They came out on the bridge and Tommy felt a tingle run down his spine as he stepped out of the lift. In many ways, it was like a homecoming. Most of his adult life had been spent on this bridge. His greatest triumphs had taken place in the command chair. Looking back, he realized that for all his anger and hunger as a pirate, it had all really come down to the challenge. Tommy had wanted to prove himself... and in only a few encounters had he ever met his match.
He remembered the Trinity system and the three weeks that he had maneuvered his fleet against Captain Lucius Giovanni's forces. At any one time the War Shrike could have destroyed much of his forces. The Baron, indeed, had destroyed several of his allies in that cat and mouse game. At the time Tommy had felt frustrated and stressed, he had hated his opponent and longed to destroy him.
Yet now as he looked back, it was one of his fondes
t memories. Giovanni had challenged him, had caught him when he was overconfident and made him pay for his errors. Though he hadn't realized it then, that had been the beginning of when Tommy King had started to look beyond himself.
That had been the first step in his redemption.
Now it was time to pay the good Baron back for what he had unknowingly done.
Tommy's left hand caressed the black leather acceleration seat and his right hand deactivated the last of the traps, this one tied to the command console. After that he took a seat and began to bring the ship's systems online.
“So Tommy King is back, then?” Kandergain asked.
“Tommy King is back and better than ever,” he answered with a wolf’s smile, “and it is time to make Admiral Mannetti aware of that.”
***
Chapter X
Faraday System
United Colonies
April 15, 2404
Lucius stood as Lord Admiral Valens Balventia stepped into his office, flanked by Sergeant Timorsky and Lance Corporal Namori. Their presence was less because of a lack of trust and more because they followed Lucius everywhere at this point, and they had the support of an entire platoon. Lucius hadn't had a chance to meet with the others, yet, but he would not be surprised to learn that the number of his bodyguards would grow even more in the near future.
For now they were Marines, but Lucius felt it best that they have their own chain of command, both to prevent the chance of their corruption by any remnants of the cabal and to allow them autonomy to conduct their duties. Their organization would likely include a senior officer as well as some shuttles, fighter support, and even possibly a couple of fast ships, so that he wouldn't have to pull Fleet assets to jaunt him around.
“Admiral,” Lucius nodded politely. He still felt more than a little shock as he contemplated Admiral Balventia’s actions during the coup attempt. Part of him wondered if the other man had simply been too stubborn to yield under Admiral Dreyfus's threats. He had seen the appointment earlier and he assumed this had something to do with the Emperor's preparations to leave for Nova Roma. “I want to thank you for what you did. You saved many of my people by forcing the cabal to stand down. I appreciate that more than I can properly express.”
To Lucius's surprise, Valens Balventia shook his head, “Baron... Lucius, you've no need to thank me.” Using Lucius's name almost seemed to cause him physical pain, but he straightened, “In fact, I have come here to apologize.”
“Apologize?” Lucius asked in shock.
Valens seemed to draw some strength from Lucius's surprise. “I have.” He sighed, “For decades now, we have both been rivals. I'm ashamed to admit that I've used my influence before to block your promotion and that of officers loyal to you. At the time, I told myself that surely you had motives tied to your ambitions, that despite your service record, you merely boded your time to strike, as your father had.”
Lucius took a step back and leaned on his desk. The last thing he would have ever imagined from Valens Balventia was an apology.
“When I first came here to Faraday, I thought that you had finally struck your blow. I thought that you had coerced my new Emperor into going along with your delusions. When I found out that you had recovered the Dreyfus Fleet, I felt certain that it was some sort of trick or trap, even when I met the man face to face, I could not admit that you were not the man I thought you were,” Valens said. He shook his head, “In truth, I clung to our rivalry because it was the only thing I had left.” He straightened, “When they kidnapped your daughter, it was the first time that I viewed you as a real person, the first time I considered the stresses you were under. To my shame, I realized that while you had concerned yourself with saving humanity... I had concerned myself with a feud whose roots bring as much shame to my family as my recent actions do today.”
Valens Balventia sighed, “Lucius, when I was faced with the possibility of supporting Admiral Dreyfus and protecting my Emperor against supporting you and putting him at risk, I chose the right decision, if not the one that my oath required of me. In that instant, I committed treason, even if Emperor Romulus IV has absolved me of it. I did so because for too long I have been your enemy. Had you my support from the beginning, perhaps we could have headed off this conspiracy. Perhaps the Fleet would be intact and we would have so much greater a chance at victory against the Chxor.”
Valens knelt, “Baron Lucius Giovanni, I express my deepest and most sincere apologies for the many wrongs that my family and I have done to you and yours over the past decades.”
Lucius stared at the man in shock for a long moment. Finally he spoke, “Admiral... Valens, get off the floor.” He helped his former rival to his feet. “There is nothing further to discuss.” Lucius couldn't quite put decades of hatred behind him, but he could at least respect the other man for the gesture. It was a fragile peace offer, one which could blow up in either of their faces, Lucius knew, but it was an honest one.
Valens cleared his throat, “Well, then. I wondered if we might discuss some of the tactics you have used to much success in your recent battles with the Chxor. In the lead up to our battle at Nova Roma, I thought that we might make good use of them.”
Lucius gave the other man a smile, “Valens, I think I like that idea.” He took a breath, “You see, Nova Roma military doctrine has many ties back to that of Amalgamated Worlds. Fighters in close escort of their capital ships, used to support rather than strike. I think those tactics work well enough against a numerically superior but technologically inferior opponent such as the Colonial Republic or the Wrethe. With the Chxor, however, I think a far more fluid approach is necessary, utilizing fighter squadrons in concert to flank the enemy...”
***
Captain Anthony stepped into the Baron's office and froze in shock. Baron Lucius Giovanni was caught up in fierce discussion with none other than Lord Admiral Valens Balventia. The two had the holographic display active and Tony watched as they pointed out maneuvers and vectors of ships in a paused simulation. He was certain that there might be a more impossible sight than the two rivals engaged in a friendly discussion over the merits of doctrine, but he couldn't think of one off hand.
“...so you see,” Baron Giovanni continued, “once you break apart the Chxor formation, you can strike for their core. The cruisers are immaterial.”
“I see,” Valens said. “I've managed the same thing with screening destroyers, but generally at a high cost, they're far easier targets for the enemy dreadnoughts.”
“Ah, Tony, welcome,” the Baron said. “Thank you for joining us on such short notice.”
Admiral Balventia's was much more reserved, “Captain,” he nodded. Tony didn't miss the respect in his voice, however, or the absence of the hate and spite that Admiral Balventia had showed in their last encounter. Something dramatic had changed and Tony had no idea just what.
“I called you here,” the Baron said, “because I wanted to tell you ahead of time... and because Admiral Balventia asked to be present for this as well, when he heard of it.” Baron Giovanni went to his desk and pulled out a small case. He gestured for Tony to come up and then set it in his hands. “It will be official within the next few hours and we'll have a formal ceremony, but congratulations.”
Tony felt the world spin a bit as he opened the case and saw a pair of stars. “Admiral?” Tony asked incredulously.
Baron Giovanni nodded. “You've earned it... and in case you haven't noticed, the United Colonies Fleet has some senior officer vacancies just now.”
Tony just shook his head. In the Nova Roma Imperial Fleet, he had never dreamed of rising higher than Commander. He didn't have the family connections from the start, but on top of that, he had bound his career to that of Lucius Giovanni, who had very senior enemies.
“It is well deserved,” Admiral Balventia said. “In truth, if the universe were more just, you would have received that promotion years ago. From what Lucius tells me, you have been the organizing i
nfluence behind many of his successes.” Tony shook his head, too shocked by the promotion to feel surprise at Admiral Balventia's statement. “Of course, I have good news of my own to deliver,” Admiral Balventia said. He pulled a small case out of his own pocket, “Emperor Romulus had already heard of your promotion. Since he knew I was coming here, he asked me to deliver this in person and to inform you that there will be a more formal ceremony later.”
Tony felt too disoriented to feel surprise as he opened the case and found another set of Admiral stars. “The Emperor felt that it was shameful that your official rank in the Nova Roma Imperial Fleet was lower than your rank in that of our allies whom you are on loan to. Therefore, he has officially promoted you to the rank which he, and I, feel you deserve.”
Tony just shook his head, too bewildered to speak.
“Now, then,” Admiral Balventia looked over at the Baron, “While I would like to continue our discussion, I'm afraid I'll have an early morning tomorrow. Thank you for the discussion, Lucius, and I plan to work some of your doctrine into our training as soon as we get underway. If all goes well, we'll have around a month to put it all into effect.”
“I appreciate that, Valens,” Baron Giovanni replied. “And I promise you that we'll be there come the final battle for our homeworld.”
“I quite look forward to it,” Admiral Balventia said with a smile that promised repayment in plenty for the Chxor who would face them.
***
“Well,” Lucius said as he took a seat. “Tell me what you've got for me.”
The Iodan representative, as always, was indistinguishable from others of his species. A mass of writhing tentacles, he looked like nothing so much as a thing from nightmare. His translator unit, as advanced as it was, still spoke in a monotone and not for the first time, Lucius wondered if that was by design or simply because the Iodans were too alien for something as human as emotion. He knew that the translator unit divined the motion of the Iodan's limbs to produce a verbal component, but he had no idea if that involved any nuances such as emotion or emphasis.
