Last Measure of Devotion (TCOTU, Book 5) (This Corner of the Universe)

by Britt Ringel

  Wallace took an involuntary step back and nodded humbly. “Very well. Send the signal, Damien.”

  “Now,” Dunmore continued threateningly, “can you still achieve victory, Admiral?”

  “Of course,” Wallace answered immediately. He turned away from the archduke to face the holo-tank. After several moments of deliberation, he muttered less certainly, “I must.” Finally, Wallace ordered, “Prepare to record.”

  * * *

  The spellbound crew on the Seshafian battle bridge watched the transmission. The Red Admiral’s voice was purified hate. “This pass is over and you must call off your damnable shuttles, Captain Nguyen. I’ve ordered Courageux to strike, not because of your shamefully inappropriate tactics but due to my concern for the well-being of my fellow sailors. Call. Off. Your. Shuttles. Yon.”

  Heskan took refuge in the chair placed behind him. He had watched the combat pass while standing but after the two-minute old light from the fleet reached his command ship, he felt the energy drain out of him even as relief flooded in. Sitting down helped ease the spinning of the bridge and allowed him to concentrate better. The rising nausea promised that his respite would be short-lived. He gritted his teeth against the queasiness and said, “Commodore Cohen, order Covington to come about and adjust speed so the fleet passes near… here.” He highlighted a portion of space close to the C-3 ship in the holo-tank. He looked over to Lieutenant Da Haas. “Erika, record.”

  Heskan sat up as straight as he could. Random back spasms made the task difficult. “Greetings, Admiral Wallace. My apologies for not appearing sooner but I was busy down in the media room. However, I did make it up to the command bridge in time to see Courageux quit the fight.” He smiled congenially. “Please inform Admiral Lane and Commodore Montgomery that they’ll be joining him shortly. And, as far as my shameless tactics go, I’ve saved the best ones for last, Oliver. You can avoid them by offering me surrender terms that ensure Sade’s attempts of conquest will come to an end.” He waved his right arm stiffly toward his communications lieutenant. When he was sure the recording had stopped, Heskan groaned as he relaxed his posture. The pain radiating from his left shoulder was becoming unbearable. The clenching muscles in his back made his breath tumble from him in muted whimpers. He cursed the sound of weakness emanating from his body.

  Contrary to his message, Heskan was out of tricks. He knew now that victory today would only be obtained through the usual methods: perseverance and sacrifice. The vanguard had fared as well as Heskan had hoped. He had known all along that Clayton Covington’s section would not face the vastly superior Saden section alone, but he had been afraid to voice such assurances to his ship captains given the known security leak inside his fleet.

  What had begun as a nasty suspicion after the battle in Sade had turned into near certainty that an officer with access to the upper echelon of command was leaking information to the enemy. Archduke Covington and Heskan reluctantly accepted the reality and had quietly positioned AmyraCorp security agents to covertly monitor likely suspects. Heskan had taken an additional measure and transferred Andrew Brown from Ajax to the ship of his primary suspect.

  The surveillance measures had proven wise when a security team reported a thirty-minute private meeting between Joseph Tannault and two Saden naval officers on Nessus. The conference, unrecorded due to the counter-surveillance measures that permeated the corporate capital’s judicial district, was enough to validate the earlier placement of Chief Brown as a failsafe aboard Falcon. As Lieutenant Merriweather’s face now occupied Falcon’s square on his communications screen, Heskan assumed the chief had been forced to act.

  Both Ajax and Falcon had acquitted themselves keenly inside the main. Falcon had traded blows with Superb and both of the brigs, while damaged, were functional. Vernay’s vessel, on the other hand, had passed within 3.7ls of her quarry to raze Renown. Heskan felt a smile appear on his lips as he realized that Vernay had brutally, and emphatically, knocked the other Commander Tannault from battle. Ajax, in return, had sustained merely light damage during the pass.

  The only catastrophe was his rearguard. Truesworth’s section had endured the epic suffering Heskan had feared in his worst nightmares. The two pressed freighters, supposedly reinforced to ensure their survival, had both exploded midway through the combat pass. The auxiliary carrier had resisted destruction but decompressed in numerous areas along her beam and sustained crippling damage to her modified flight deck. Finally, Dash was a wreck. The little corvette trailed a line of destruction behind her and struggled mightily while making the course change to follow the main. Damage reports updating in Dash’s status window had scrolled past a second page.

  Yet Dash refused to strike her lights. The battered ship, limping pathetically behind the main with only an equally pitiable converted carrier, made Heskan’s heart ache. Jack will never quit, not when he knows I need to field a rearguard during our second pass. If I don’t, Wallace will load up those ships into the other two sections and crush us. Gooseflesh broke over him as he realized that he would be forced to order Dash into a second run. It won’t be around for a third.

  Determined not to let Truesworth’s sacrifice go unrecognized, Heskan opened up the command channel. “Seshafi defense fleet, hold at the coordinates I’m sending you now.” He glanced at the Saden fleet. They seemed content to reorganize as well. He cleared his throat before asking, “Captain Truesworth, how’s Dash?”

  The reply came after a twenty-second pause. “A lot like another corvette we served on, Admiral. But then, she carried us to victory, too. Nest and I can give you another pass, sir.” There was the slightest pause before Heskan heard, “Not sure after that.”

  Heskan swallowed the growing lump in his throat and began to reply but was stepped on by Nest’s captain.

  “Negative,” Soffe said adamantly. “I’m striking Nest’s lights, Admiral. She won’t take another pass and I didn’t come here to die for you people.”

  Damn, Heskan cursed while searching the space around Dash. I can’t send him in alone. There was nothing.

  “We’re with you, Jack.” The muffled voice was Denise Gables. “We can give you one more pass.”

  All my friends are going to die, Heskan thought miserably.

  “Negative, Gabes,” Truesworth responded over the net. “You’ve already done your job. Four fighters won’t make a difference and we’re facing brigs and snows now. You’ve got nowhere to hide.”

  “Listen to me, Jack,” Gables called out.

  “Shut up both of you!” Selvaggio interrupted. “Admiral, let my dive force at them. We’re in good shape.”

  “No, you’re not,” Truesworth responded angrily. “Ravana took fire from every ship in the van during your pass.”

  “Quiet, Jack,” Selvaggio admonished. “Everyone knows I outrank you. Admiral? Let me do it. Please.” There was a quiet desperation in her request.

  Heskan scrutinized Selvaggio’s squadron. Her three-ship dive force had passed safely by the Saden third-rate but had exchanged fire down the entire line of the remaining Saden vanguard. As the lead ship, Ravana suffered the worst of it but even Rindr and Anakim took considerable damage during the strafing. They’re still in better shape than Jack’s ship, Heskan weighed.

  The story unfolding in the holo-tank showed Wallace was closing the gaps in his sections but had yet to shuffle vessels among them. His van would be led by Triumph, remarkably still in the fight. The three snows behind the line ship were virtually untouched.

  They would face Hawk’s section, which remained four vessels strong despite the fact that Covington’s brig had taken moderate damage near her bow, including the loss of her primary quad laser turret. Behind Hawk, the ships of the Iron Brigade also refused to yield despite the train of debris behind them and the finger of flame jetting from Hobelar.

  Heskan’s heart sank as he shifted focus to his main. Sometime within the last minute, Dioscuri had silently struck her lights. An obscenity slipped past his li
ps as he examined the second-rate’s status display. While savagely punished during her brawl with Formidable, the loss of Seshafi’s flagship stung Heskan immensely. Dammit, Yon, you’re still too conservative. She was our strongest ship! I understand the corporate desire to minimize losses but don’t you understand what’s at stake? The deed was done, though. Once retired, a ship could not reenter combat or even communicate with active ships under any circumstance.

  “Commander Vernay,” Heskan announced without preamble, “you’re leading the main. You’re also the vice fleet commander.”

  “Great,” came the indifferent reply. After a beat, she added darkly, “Just means I get to kill Lane.”

  Heskan’s eyes swept down the two mains. Sade had an extra snow but it was still a very even match. He returned his attention to the gruesomely battered Dash, sailing alone. There’s nothing left but order Diane’s section to be the rearguard now. He glanced at the undamaged section of ships she would be facing. It’s still murder. How can I order this? Heskan hung his head and gave the command before he lost his nerve. “Captain Truesworth, strike Dash’s lights. That’s a direct order. Captain Selvaggio, take your snows to a position ahead of Dash. You are now our rearguard. Confirm receipt.”

  A relieved Selvaggio acknowledged, “Confirmed, Admiral.”

  Dash’s reply sounded bitter. “I… yes, sir.” The channel remained open for several seconds before Truesworth’s trembling voice became audible again. “Diane, all my heart.”

  Chapter 27

  De Haas pecked at her controls before facing Heskan. “Admiral, we have a response from Viscount Wallace. Putting it on screen now.”

  The bitter gleam in Wallace’s eyes betrayed his calculated tone. “I might have known that you were still in charge of Seshafi’s fleet. The dishonesty of tactics and inability to fight honorably are hallmarks of your Brevic Republic.”

  Wallace’s eyes flashed while delivering the anticipated knockout blow. He leaned forward into the camera as he gloated. “I’m well aware that you and your friends hail from the Republic and now that we’ve witnessed your savagery and insidious behavior, any denial from you would be pointless.” The Red Admiral lowered his head as if in contemplation before shaking it slowly. “That AmyraCorp has bedded itself with a barbaric ‘Vic cracks the very foundation of its integrity. I can understand the desperation but certainly not accept or forgive it. There will be a high price to pay for abandoning corporate honor.” Wallace lifted his head and smiled deviously before adding, “Unless, of course, you’ve hidden your craven origins from the very people you’ve sought shelter with.” He gestured triumphantly to someone off screen, ending the recording.

  The room around Heskan distorted wildly but he was unsure if the pressure building inside his head was from his body’s deteriorating condition or the verbal grenade thrown onto the bridge. A look to his right revealed De Haas staring unfathomably at him with mouth agape. In front of her, Commodore Cohen had taken an involuntary step away. Despite the looks of shock and horror from his bridge crew, Heskan simply thought, I’m just not that ashamed. His eyes wandered to the holo-tank. “Record, Erika.”

  Heskan rose stubbornly with a painful breath. I’m speaking to Seshafi, not Wallace. “That’s right, Oliver, we were Brevics. I haven’t lied to Seshafi and I’m not about to start now. You might curse what you consider Brevic barbarity and lack of honor but I want you to look at my battle sections and tell me who you see leading them.”

  Heskan swallowed against the bile threatening to rise from his stomach; he closed his eyes to keep from spinning into oblivion. “My archduke’s own son and two expat Brevics, Oliver,” Heskan explained to every soul in the star system. Pride coursed through his body, temporarily blotting out the pain. “Each of their ships is damaged and each of them will willingly face an opponent that out-masses them. They do this not because they’re bloodthirsty but to protect their homes and the people they love.” His voice caught and Heskan felt hot tears leak from the corners of his eyes. “I’m so proud of you all,” he choked out before taking a deep breath.

  He felt himself slumping over toward his left side but caught himself. “If you consider that dishonorable, Oliver, then I’d say that Saden honor has lost all meaning. You see, you Sadens practice honor in the ballrooms and on pieces of paper. We Brevics lived it on the murder fields of Skathi, Sponde and, now, Seshafi.” The room was losing its color; he gripped strenuously with his right hand to steady himself. Despite the nausea overtaking him, Heskan smiled roguishly. “But you’re right about one thing, Oliver. We are savages when it comes to war and I can promise you that the sailors on your line will find that out before this battle is over. Prepare for the next pass.”

  Heskan was afraid to move his supporting hand to signal the message’s end. Instead, he mumbled, “End transmission.” After a beat, he heard himself try to order the fleet’s next maneuver. What came out of his mouth was a garbled and slurred mess. A pair of hands grasped his waist.

  “Admiral, it’s time. We have to get you into the infirmary.” A cool disc was pressed to Heskan’s neck and beeped annoyingly. The same voice said, “Fifty over thirty-three. I want more hypertonic saline pumped into him while we move.”

  Heskan tried to resist but lacked the strength. Before he knew it, he was on his back. “Dennis…” Heskan called out feebly.

  “Here, Admiral.”

  Heskan looked toward the direction of the voice but the room was fading to black. “P-pass command to Stacy. Tell her that we have to end it with this battle… we can’t do this again in six months.”

  He heard his rank but not the words that followed.

  * * *

  “Understood,” Vernay acknowledged and gnashed her teeth. Seshafi’s fate had just changed hands. Vernay felt her stomach doing nervous flips and the distress over Heskan’s condition frayed her nerves past the breaking point, but more than anything; she was mad. No. She was furious. The companions she loved had prevailed against black-hearted pirates, Hollaran technological superiority and Parasite lethality. We haven’t come all this way to fall to someone like Wallace.

  She tugged at the front of her shocksuit before dialing down its internal temperature another five degrees. As intimidating as it was to lead the entire fleet, her wrath burned through any trepidation she may have felt. She mashed the command channel button on her chair arm console and spoke with a manic determination that scared even herself. “Seshafi defense force, this is Commander Vernay. Command has been passed to me.” She consulted the tactical plot and ordered, “Clayton, come starboard two more degrees and make your course one-one-seven, same plane and speed. We’re going straight at them and finishing this.” Her final words came out as an angry growl. “Expect a final course correction as we approach but we’re making this pass hurt.”

  Vernay released the transmit button and began calculating the final course she would order as she waited for acknowledgments from her section leaders. None came, other than Hawk’s subtle tack to starboard to match the course she had dictated. Heh, I guess my tone didn’t leave much open for discussion. She brushed off the thought and looked at the ships under her command. Simplicity is key. Wallace will pull his maneuvering tricks but he’s not going to avoid me if I go right at him. A crippling apprehension over Heskan tried to push itself back into her consciousness but she forced the concern aside. I’ve got to keep my focus on the entire formation though. A sly smile formed on her lips as she thought, Sam, get ready to have your world rocked.

  “Commander Ricot,” Vernay snapped irritably but kept her eyes fixed on the tactical plot. “You have command of Ajax. I need to concentrate on the fleet.”

  The lieutenant commander gulped. “Aye, ma’am.” His voice trembled with doubt.

  Those embers of doubt laced into her first officer’s reply tugged at Vernay. Almost seven months ago, her own captain had thrown her into the same fire and given her command of Elathra when he took control of Seshafi’s fleet. She remember
ed her own, initial doubt that her captain had quashed through encouragement and unyielding support. Vernay considered her present demeanor and worked to unclench her fists. No wonder everyone is afraid of me. She glanced at Ricot, he was speaking to Engineering, doing the best job that he could. The epiphany struck her like cold water to the face. They deserve more from me. All of them.

  “We have an incoming message from the command ship, Captain.” Ajax’s SENS officer jolted Vernay from her internal monologue. “Ma’am, they’ve forwarded Admiral Wallace’s message to us.”

  The main screen flickered and Vernay felt her hands begin to curl into fists again at the sight of the Red Admiral. This time, she stopped them. Her hatred for the Saden had turned intensely personal over the past months. Now, however, she found that even though she still loathed the pompous admiral, the unmitigated rage she felt for him no longer blinded her. She considered the man through a new lens and thought with a growing serenity, He’s just an obstacle, Stacy. Nothing more than an asteroid field to be navigated or a burned out power converter to be replaced.

  “You shall receive your pass, Garrett,” Wallace promised on the screen. “And I shall see to it, personally, that you face justice in front of The Courts on Nessus for your actions today.”

  “Send this on all channels, please,” Vernay replied calmly while brushing a stray lock of golden hair from her face. “Admiral Wallace, this is Commander Vernay. Our fleet commander is done with you, and frankly, so am I. Save your threats for the people who might be intimidated by them and may God have mercy on your sailors. All of them.” She began to motion to end the transmission but stopped. A victorious smile flared into existence and she looked exultantly toward the screen. “And, by the way, because you’ve refused even perfunctory negotiations before the battle, I’m keeping your ships. All of them.”