by G. P. Hudson
“You’re welcome, General,” said Sallas. “I felt it was an important first step in establishing diplomatic relations between our two cultures.”
“It will help. Although I’m not sure it will be enough.”
“How so?” said Sallas. This Diakan doesn’t waste any time, he thought.
“You are harboring fugitives, Prime Minister. More specifically, Captain Pike and the crew of the Hermes.”
“I see. May I ask why you consider them fugitives?”
“They have violated Space Force orders, and in doing so, murdered members of my team. Diakus does not tolerate the murder of any Diakan, regardless of the circumstances. When Diakus catches up to them, especially Captain Pike, they will be sentenced to death. I cannot change this outcome.”
“I see. Well, then it’s a good thing I can.”
“Preposterous. You have no power over Diakus.”
“No, you’re right. I don’t have any power over Diakus, but I do have power on New Byzantium. As Prime Minister of New Byzantium I have seen fit to grant political asylum to Jon Pike, and his crew.”
“You dare defy Diakus? I advise you to think carefully on this matter, Prime Minister, lest you unwittingly condemn yourself as well.”
“Forgive me, General, but I don’t see Diakus here. I only see you. I am, however, open to establishing friendly relations with Diakus through you. The reality of the situation is that New Byzantium needs Admiral Pike and his crew. Did I mention he is an Admiral now?”
“Nonsense,” said Tallos with a hiss. “Space Force would never make that man an Admiral.”
“That’s the other thing. I have given Admiral Pike, and his entire group asylum in return for their protection. They have created an independent military force with Admiral Pike as its leader, and have sworn to protect New Byzantium from its enemies, which are many. Sadly, Diakus is not here to offer us assistance, so I cannot ask your people for their aid instead. But as leader of this world, my first priority is its continued survival, and the jump system offers the greatest hope.”
“Pike has given you the jump system?”
“Not exactly. We have given Admiral Pike warships, and he has fitted them with jump systems. Admiral Pike has not shared the secret of the jump system with us.”
“At least he didn’t violate his oath in that regard. Nonetheless, this action puts you at risk when Diakus finds the colonies.”
“When exactly is that going to happen, General?”
“I cannot answer that question.”
“You can’t answer it because you don’t know. I don’t know either. What I do know is that at this very moment a massive fleet is being assembled to attack New Byzantium. And that is a human fleet. Even if we survive that confrontation, we still have the Kemmar Empire to worry about.”
“Then why free me and my people? I fail to see how that helps your cause.”
“I believe we will get through this. I also believe that Space Force and Diakus will eventually find us. It is only a matter of time.”
“You think freeing us will give you leverage when it is time to negotiate with Diakus. You may be correct. It remains to be seen. It certainly cannot damage your efforts, whereas our captivity would.”
Sallas smiled. “Yes, that is how I was looking at things.”
“I’m curious, Prime Minister. What do you know of Diakus?”
“I am no expert. I do know that Diakans liberated Earth from Juttari occupation. Since then, Diakus has helped rebuild the Sol System.”
“That is true. I would add that the Sol System is one system of many that Diakus has built up. In relation to the other systems, Sol is quite small and insignificant.”
“Strange that Diakus would show so much interest in such an insignificant place,” said Sallas.
“My thoughts as well, Prime Minister. Tell me, do you know of the Galactic Accord.”
“Very little. From what I understand it is an alliance led by the Diakans.”
“The Galactic Accord spans the galaxy, Prime Minister. It is rivaled only by the Juttari Empire. But while the Juttari Empire has been built through conquest, the Galactic Accord has been built through alliances. You would do well to remember this.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, General.”
“I’m afraid you don’t understand, Prime Minister. Your planet’s problems, as desperate as they may seem, are really quite trivial. When the Juttari Empire finds you, your only hope for salvation will be the Galactic Accord. Accord membership is not something you bargain for. Membership is something you pray for.”
I should’ve left you in that jail cell, Sallas thought. “It sounds like quite the club, General. I’m sure we will have many more opportunities to discuss these matters. Sadly, I have another meeting to attend.” Sallas nodded to the Guardsman standing at the door, who took the cue and approached. “Please see to it that General Tallos is escorted back to his residence.”
“Yes, Sir,” said the Guardsman.
“Thank you again for your time, General.”
“Thank you for freeing us, and please remember my words. Don’t let Jon Pike ruin your prospects for Galactic Accord membership.”
“Right this way, Sir,” said the Guardsman. Tallos turned and followed the Guardsman out the door.
Sallas rolled his head around, trying to loosen the tension in his neck and shoulders. He thought about what Tallos said and wondered if this arrangement with Pike would end up hurting him in the long run. He would have to wait and see. In the end, his first duty was to the people of New Byzantium. He would act based on that obligation alone.
Chapter 29
Admiral Jon Pike settled into his command chair. An intricate array of controls and displays spread out before him. Jonas and Colonel Bast looked back at him from one of the displays. Both the Freedom and the Reiver had been successfully fitted with their jump systems. Their respective crews had been trained as best as could be expected under the circumstances. Now it was time to act.
The intelligence received about the corporate fleet stated that the different contingents would join together in Amboss Corporation space. Rather than tangle with the combined fleet, it was better to intercept and inflict as much damage as possible to the smaller contingents as they were making their voyage to Amboss space. The Meisser Corporation ships would be targeted first.
Kevin manned his own station beside Jon. “All departments reporting ready for jump, Sir.”
“Sound General Quarters, Commander,” said Jon.
“Yes, Sir,” said Kevin. The bridge lights dimmed and Kevin’s voice bellowed over the ship’s speaker systems warning the crew to prepare for impending combat.
“Is the Ronin ready for jump, Colonel?”
“Yes, Admiral. We are jump ready,” said Bast.
“How about the Reiver?”
“We are jump ready as well,” said Jonas.
“Very well. Let’s get started.” The screen blinked and Bast and Jonas were gone, replaced by a tactical display of the surrounding space. “Initiate jump,” ordered Jon. He looked up at the main viewscreen and watched the stars shift as they jumped into Meisser space. Within seconds the Ronin and the Reiver appeared alongside the Freedom, the three ships like a pack of wolves stalking prey.
“Report,” said Jon.
“Scanning for contacts. Results negative,” said Ensign Petrovic, the tactical officer. Petrovic had been the tactical officer on the Hermes. Jon had filled the bridge positions with Hermes crewmembers, which included Ensign Richards at helm, and Ensign Yao at navigation.
“Load secondary coordinates. Notify the Ronin and the Reiver that we will be jumping to the secondary location.”
“Ronin and Reiver acknowledge that coordinates have been loaded,” said the navigation officer.
They planned to leapfrog along the Meisser fleet’s flight path, until they found them. Ensign Yao had pre-calculated the logical direction the Meisser fleet needed to take to get to their rendezvous point in Amboss space.
“Initiate jump.”
The stars on the viewscreen shifted only slightly now as they jumped a much shorter distance. As before, the Ronin and the Reiver appeared alongside the Freedom seconds later.
“Contacts,” announced the tactical officer.
“How many?” barked Kevin.
“Reading twenty, no, twenty-five ships dead ahead.”
“Have they spotted us?” said Jon.
“It doesn’t appear so, Sir.”
Major Karlin Vogel looked anxiously from the viewscreen to Jon. “We are outnumbered eight to one, Admiral,” said Vogel.
“Thank you, Major,” said Jon. “I’m aware of that.”
“Look at how spread out they are,” said Kevin. “They don’t seem too worried about an attack.”
“No, that’s probably why they haven’t noticed us. They’re not running any long range scans,” said Jon. “Are those supply ships trailing the fleet?”
“Yes, Sir,” said Petrovic. “There are three supply ships in total coming up the rear.”
“Armaments?”
“None, Sir.”
“No armaments and no escorts,” said Kevin. “They really don’t feel threatened.”
“Why would they?” said Jon. “They’re still deep in Meisser space. There are no threats here, and even if there were, who would be crazy enough to attack a twenty-five ship military convoy?”
Kevin chuckled. “They’d expect to have ample warning of any approaching threat. Plenty of time to get into formation. Look at how much space they’ve left between ships.”
“Yeah, they’re more worried about an accidental collision than they are of a surprise attack.”
“They might not know about the jump system yet.”
“If they did, they would only know about one ship. Even with a jump system, one ship wouldn’t seem like much of a threat.”
“No, it wouldn’t. Are those frigates just in front of the supply ships?” said Kevin.
“Yes, Sir,” said Petrovic. “Reading five frigates in total. All lightly armed.”
Jon opened a comm with the other two ships and Bast and Jonas appeared on his console again. “Gentlemen, I assume you’ve scanned the convoy.”
“Yes,” said Bast.
“They’re a bunch of fools,” said Jonas.
“Yes, the universe seems to be full of them,” said Jon, glancing over at Vogel. “The Meisser rear flank is clearly vulnerable.” Bast and Jonas nodded in agreement. “The Freedom will jump in and dispatch fighters to disable the supply ships. Simultaneously, the Ronin and Reiver will jump in ahead of the supply ships and open fire on the frigates. Once the supply ships have all been disabled, the Freedom and her fighters will join in the attack on the frigates. I anticipate that we can destroy all five frigates before any of the heavier ships can join the battle. Any questions?”
“No,” said Bast.
“It is a reasonable plan,” said Jonas.
“Good,” said Jon. “We’ll use this location as a jump rallying point. Good hunting.”
Bast and Jonas disappeared from Jon’s console.
Jon turned to Kevin. “Are the fighters ready to launch?”
“Yes, Sir,” said Kevin. “Pilots are in their cockpits and fighters are in launch tubes.”
“Good. Launch fighters the second we have landed. I want those supply ships disabled, not destroyed.”
“Understood,” said Kevin.
This might even be fun, thought Jon. He felt the creature’s excitement at the impending battle. Much to his dismay, he realized that he shared that excitement. He craved combat. I’m becoming like you, he thought to himself, in reality speaking to his symbiont.
The symbiont responded with a thought of its own. It didn’t exactly speak to Jon. It was more that Jon just knew its thoughts. Nonetheless, the message was clear. We are one, it said.
Jon cringed. Jesus, he thought. Am I even human anymore?”
No, said the symbiont.
Jon’s skin crawled at the suggestion. He shook the feeling away, and focused on the task at hand.
“Initiate jump,” ordered Jon.
The Freedom landed a few kilometers above the second of the three supply ships. At the same time clusters of fighters raced out of the Freedom’s launch tubes, and sped toward the prone vessels. The fighters broke off into three formations, each one going after a different ship. Jon watched their progress on one screen, while monitoring the Ronin and Reiver on another. The two warships had landed successfully behind the trailing frigates and opened fire. The frigates were smaller and not as well armed as the Chaanisar heavy cruiser, or the Reiver destroyer. This, along with the surprise attack from behind, made for a very lopsided encounter. They were dealing with over twenty warships, otherwise it might have seemed unfair.
The opening salvos from the Ronin and the Reiver crashed into the trailing, smaller warship unopposed. The two ships worked together, like wolves picking off the slow member of a herd, combining their fire against one of the frigates. Blue bolts of energy ripped into the frigate from both sides, pulverizing the hull as missiles followed. The Meisser Corporation frigate had not expected the attack, and couldn’t mount a defense. The missiles detonated against its hull, resulting in it cracking open like a walnut.
Jon cringed as he thought of the loss of life on board the frigate. Such a waste, and entirely unnecessary.
Your hands are clean, suggested the symbiont. Their blood is on the hands of their masters.
You’re right, thought Jon. But humans should not kill fellow humans.
They always have, said the symbiont. They always will.
Nice to see you haven’t lost your cheerful disposition, thought Jon.
The Ronin and the Reiver moved away as the fractured frigate drifted lifelessly in the emptiness of space. The two warships were already firing on the second frigate, which managed to launch some countermeasures and return fire. It tried to come around and face its attackers, which proved difficult, even for the smaller, more maneuverable vessel. With the Ronin and Reiver on its flanks, the frigate had little room to maneuver.
“The heavier warships are beginning to change course,” said Petrovic.
“I expect word of our surprise attack has spread through the fleet,” said Jon.
“They’re going to have a hell of a time trying to get into formation,” said Kevin.
“What choice do they have?” said Jon. “If they come at us one by one they’ll be slaughtered.”
“Supply ships have been disabled, Sir,” said Petrovic.
“Fighters are breaking off their attack,” said Kevin. “They’re moving to help the Ronin and Reiver.”
“Move the Freedom closer,” said Jon. “We’ll add her guns to the fight.” Jon was thinking of the fighters. If he needed to jump he would have to wait for the fighters to get back on board, or at the very least be close enough for the jump field to envelop them. The closer the fighters were to the Freedom, the quicker they could jump.
As the fighters neared the action, violent explosions ripped through the second frigate. The smaller warship blew apart, reduced to tiny fragments of debris floating in space.”
“Picking up incoming fighters,” said Petrovic.
“They have a carrier?”
“Yes, Sir. It is up at the front of the fleet.”
So, we’re not the only ones with a carrier, thought Jon. “Tell our fighters to break off their attack on the frigates and engage the enemy fighters.”
Chapter 30
“Enemy fighters incoming,” said Peter Konos, the Freedom’s CAG. “Engage fighters. Repeat, engage fighters. Let the big guns deal with the frigates. I don’t want to see any of those bogeys get anywhere near our warships.”
“No problem, Sir,” said James Mani, Konos’s wingman. “I don’t think these Meisser kids have ever had to face New Byzantium fighters before.”
“Not that I recall,” said Konos.
“Then they don’t know yet
.”
“Don’t know what?”
“That we’re the best!”
Konos chuckled. He had fought together with Mani in several battles against the corporations, and was glad that Mani had volunteered with him to serve on the Freedom. “Alright, let’s focus people. Here they come.”
The void had turned into a celestial light show, as the heavy energy weapons from the Ronin and Reiver lanced out across the black sky at the enemy. The Meisser ships were aglow with orange halos as their point defense systems established protective fields around them. The frigates fired back, but lacked the firepower to inflict any real damage on the larger, heavily armored warships. Konos knew that was about to change. Not only were dozens of enemy fighters racing into the fray, but the Meisser cruisers and destroyers were maneuvering to come about and join the battle.
As he closed the gap with the fighters he saw that they had now split into two groups, one heading for the Ronin, the other for the Reiver. “Squadrons one, two and three, we’ve got the Ronin. Four, five, and six, you protect the Reiver.”
Konos and his group raced toward the attacking fighters, who up until now had not paid much attention to them. But as they drew closer, the enemy fighters altered course and came around to face them. Konos gripped his stick tighter as the HUD on his visor warned of an impending collision course. An enemy fighter flew straight for him, and his computer lined up their trajectories, projecting the imminent collision. Rather than changing vectors, Konos pulled the trigger and lit up the space in front of him with blue. He couldn’t see the enemy with his naked eye, the distances far too great for that, and at their combined speeds, they would crash into each other long before their eyes caught a glimpse of the other ship. It didn’t matter. At the last second the other pilot changed vectors. Konos smirked as he altered course as well, the first battle of nerves won.
“Nice to see that sanity hasn’t clouded your judgment,” said Mani, his own fighter flying behind and above Konos’s, protecting him from any surprise attacks.
“Sanity is overrated,” said Konos.
“So it seems,” said Mani. “This is chaos.”
