by Ryan Krauter
Captain Elco had left Loren in charge of Avenger, with Captain Oberon Montari of the battleship Majestic in overall command of the three Confederation ships.
Loren paced Avenger's bridge, a familiar place to him. Not long ago, he'd have been nervous if asked to spend any amount of time up here on the top of the ship, but it was beginning to feel comforting. The slightly dim lighting, muted metals and gray colors, and backlighting of the holographic displays that once lent a mystical air to the bridge were now just part of the experience for him. True, he spent a lot of his time a deck lower in the Combat Control Center, which was his compartment to command, but the bridge was the seat of power, a place that had used to make him nervous. Now, he found himself sitting in the captain's chair, no longer fearful or embarrassed at taking a seat in the Important Chair, but simply striving to do everything he could to be worthy of the seat.
"Captain's on the surface," Lieutenant Caho reported crisply from the Sensors station, finishing her determined race to identify the occurrence before Captain Elco's transport radioed in the report on its own. Formerly an Ensign, the human female had been promoted after Avenger's last deployment as a result of her contributions and Captain Elco's glowing FitReps. She had a peculiar knack for interpreting the raw sensor data more intuitively than the computers, and she often raced herself to identify events before anyone else. In this case, she had followed Captain Elco's transport through the morass of traffic down to street level, using Avenger's sensors and dead reckoning and eschewing the use of the transport's transponder, which she would have considered to be cheating.
"Confirm that," the comms officer echoed, having just received the call from the transport's pilot. He gave Caho a knowing wink, which she returned. Loren wondered if there was more between the two, but simply let it go with a secret grin.
"Let's hope the captain's day is uneventful and productive in all the ways that count," Loren wished.
Governor Broadbent greeted Captain Elco personally at the foot of the Governor's Mansion steps. Situated a few blocks from the capital building itself, the mansion had two main wings; one was residential, for the Governor and his family. The other was administrative, holding offices for some of his staff and places to do business.
The government district was a small one, but by Drisk tradition was carefully laid out. Even though Lemuria was an independent world, they still held to the same basic ideals of Drisk society; the officials who served held short terms and had to be considered experts in their field, as agreed by top authorities in their sector. Direct administration made up two square blocks, with another ring of outer buildings dedicated to ancillary duties. After that was one last ring where the elected officials lived while in office, including the Governor's Mansion.
The building was constructed in an old fashioned style, with stone columns and concrete construction, though highly decorated with ornate carvings and stonework. The stone was all pearlescent white, a local variety of limestone that had subtle but elegant veins that shifted colors as they wound their way through the rock.
Captain Elco stepped out of the hoverlimo to have Governor Broadbent waiting for him, hand outstretched. He shook it and then turned to grab his small briefcase, which the driver had already retrieved and was holding out for him.
"Captain Elco," Broadbent began amicably, "I'm so glad you were able to come down as quickly as you did; we have some concrete answers to the questions you and I have been batting around for the last day."
"Dare I ask if it's good or bad?" asked Elco lightly as he fell in a half step behind the governor.
"That depends on your point of view and what you think the Primans are capable of," Governor Broadbent replied cryptically.
They walked together, followed by two security guards, through the residential section of the mansion. The place was decorated neutrally, with lots of stone and splashes of color where there were fabric details. They walked on deep red carpets and thick drapes covered the windows.
"You've noticed the decor on this side of the building, eh?" Broadbent commented. He pointed with his chin to indicate the red and gold drapes. "A bit gaudy for me, but I can't change it; that's the point. I just live here for a couple years and then I move on, so there's no point in having me redecorate." He looked at Elco to see if there was any understanding in his gaze, but the Confederation captain was a mask of neutrality. Governor Broadbent didn't speak any more as they walked the final few dozen steps to his study.
The room was huge, several thousand square feet, and paneled in old, native dark woods highly polished and streaked with age. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves took up two walls; huge transparent armor windows took up the other two. Governor Broadbent indicated a wooden chair with an overstuffed seat pad for Captain Elco to sit in, then slid into his own wheeled chair behind the immense desk made of wood that matched the walls. In a universal sign of how important one was, the Governor had only a data pad and his comm device sitting on the desktop; everything else was delegated away.
Governor Broadbent sat in the chair with a crunch of leather, then leaned back as the chair rolled slightly away from the desk.
"Captain Elco," the governor began, "I first want to thank you and the Confederation for the assistance you've already given us and for that which you've offered in addition."
That didn't seem like a great start to Elco, who sat there impassively and was determined to just let the statement come to him.
"My time in office grows short, you know," Broadbent began, "and we'll be having elections soon. Public sentiment has definitely leaned towards trying to strike some sort of peace with the Primans, and all four of the candidates that have been nominated to replace me have vowed to hold that ideal as well. So when I tell you this, I need you to know that it is not my own opinion, but that of the majority of the people of Lemuria." The governor took a deep breath to gather himself, then fidgeted with the data pad on the desktop, spinning it around with his index finger. "The Parliament and public opinion are agreed; we are asking you to remove Confederation forces from the system effective immediately, regardless of the transportation issue which you came here to discuss." The man seemed to deflate, and for what it was worth Elco could see he was unhappy with the resolution.
"We intend to offer whatever we can in order to remain independent, and in any case any resistance we put up will be met with a force we can't equal. Our only hope is cooperation." Broadbent stared at Elco for a few seconds while the Confed captain waited, then the governor continued. "That said, there are those who would like some sort of backup plan."
Now Elco perked up, sensing that it was about to get interesting.
"I can't go against the populace," Broadbent continued, "but I can put contingencies in place should things not go as planned. Late last night General Horle mentioned that said you might find yourself in the immediate vicinity even after you've left the system. We wouldn't mind at all if you chose to do so for a while, should things go, ahem, badly."
So now Elco and his ships were an insurance policy. He tried not to feel like he'd just won some sort of consolation prize. Thanks for playing. We know you didn't do well, but at least you were there. He simply nodded as he digested the request. "If the Primans show up in force, and mean you harm, we’ll be here for some time," Elco began slowly, "I still only have three ships. Granted, one of them is a Starshaker class battleship, but even if we engage an expeditionary force we can't protect you long term."
"I know," Broadbent acknowledged. "But if things take a turn and we have a chance to get just a few more people off planet, I'll take the heat from the citizens for having this backup plan in place." He gave a resigned smirk. "I know this must seem like we're not grateful for what you’ve offered, but it's all I can ask and stay within the limits of my office."
"I understand," Elco replied softly. He did, in a way, though he didn't have to like it. "Do you need to have our ships move out right away, then, or after my business is done here today?"
"I probably seem ungrateful for having to ask," the governor continued, "but the transport you arrived here in has a hyperdrive, correct?" Elco simply nodded. "If it's not too much of an imposition, could you have the two ships in orbit move out and return to them later today? I hear your cruiser is still farther out in the system on maneuvers, so is closer to a departure than the others." Elco simply nodded confirmation. "I'd like you here when I announce what I've told you, and I want to very publicly thank you for your time here and your offer of help."
"I wish we could do more," Elco offered. "What I did come here to tell you was that the Senate has approved the use of the Stalwart class transports for the entire timeframe you'll need them for. The offer is good whether we stay here or redeploy. I don't suppose they had quite this reaction from you in mind, but until they tell me otherwise, I'm going to order them to keep on evacuating your people as ordered."
"Thank you, Captain," Broadbent replied, a weight lifted from his shoulders. "I have a speech to polish up; would you care for some refreshments before we go?"
"He what?" Loren replied in disbelief. He was in his quarters, having run there for a few minutes after lunch to grab some quiet time to go over some paperwork. Commanding officers were encouraged to do their work on the bridge so they didn't appear too aloof from their crew, but sometimes peace and quiet was needed in order to get work done. The comm request had come in just as Loren was about to leave.
"It's a long and painful story, Loren," Elco continued, standing in some sort of well-appointed private communications suite, "but as it stands I'm going to have our ships stand off out-system as we've talked about. I'll head back later tonight and tell you all the grim details."
"Yes, Captain," Loren said, standing straighter. It was his job to offer input and, if needed, opposing viewpoints to the captain, but in the end obeying orders came first.
"That's all, then," Elco said. "Captain Montari on Majestic has overall command, so just follow his lead and I'll see you later."
"I'm sure you'll have great stories to tell me," Loren replied.
"Representative," called the communications officer from her console on the well-lit bridge of the Scythe. "We have the data from our scouts in the Lemurian system for your review.
Eager to confirm her growing hunch that this system would offer some sort of challenge, she walked over to the console and briefly scanned the data. There it was; telemetry of two Confed warships leaving the system. Her scouts were too far away to get a truly detailed reading, but they were of cruiser class or larger, and they'd gone to hyperspace and left. Had the Lemurians kicked them out? Had they left on their own, either abandoning the system or perhaps going to meet with reinforcements? Either way, the time to move was now. The scans showed a pitiful force of a half dozen small ships above the northern pole broadcasting military style IDs, but their deployment there seemed to indicate they weren't ready to fight.
Perhaps this was it; she hoped the Confed forces would return so she could finally prove to herself and her peers that she was ready for combat and command. While she didn't relish the idea of sacrificing her soldiers to accommodate her own ambitions, if she was to be Commander someday she'd need to earn her way through combat, and Captain Vol seemed only too eager to oblige.
"Call the captain," she commanded the officer. "I think we'll be moving out for Lemuria soon."
"You do realize," Captain Vol said noncommittally, "that you've laid out the exact argument I was going to use." They were in his quarters, spacious for a Priman warship, as he reviewed their options for the Lemuria system. "As you've admitted, it could be everything from them signing a treaty to the Confederation soldiers being evicted from the system."
"Yes, I do," Ravine admitted. "We need to visit and pacify the system regardless; we have twelve combat-hardened vessels, and they have six pathetic patrol vessels. Even if those Confederation ships return, we'd outnumber them. Either way, the system will be ours, it's just a matter of how many of them have to die along the way."
"I commend your bravado, Representative," Vol said carefully. While he was in charge of the ships here, it went without saying that he needed to tread lightly around the person who would one day command the entire Priman military. "I would still recommend a cautious approach and a very spread-out deployment. If we stay bunched up, our ships will be easier targets for a surprise attack."
"I defer to your judgment," Ravine allowed. "When do you think we will be there?"
"Approximately three hours."
"How long until the transports return?" Loren asked Lieutenant Commander Sarria Mastruk in the conference room behind C3. Even though the space was expected to host briefings possibly containing senior officers or dignitaries, Captain Elco didn't have the room as elaborately fitted out as some captains did. As a result, it was almost as austere as the rest of the combat vessel; light fixtures embedded in the ceiling and wall surfaces, components bolted into place wherever space and convenience allowed, with the same matte gray finish found everywhere else on the ship. Captain Elco had specced ornate brushed nickel-and-glass conference tables and comfortable chairs during the last drydock visit, but overall it seemed to strike a balance between form and function.
It was just Loren and Sarria as he briefed her on what her new responsibilities were with the captain off the ship until late in the evening, placing her in charge of C3 acting in Loren's stead.
"Looks like a little under three hours," she responded immediately, not even having to refer to the data pad in front of her on the conference table.
"Alright," Loren said as he tried to keep four different important items in the front of his mind all at the same time. "We're in our patrol position, correct?"
Mastruk nodded. "We're closest in of all our ships, ninety degrees off the elliptic plane of the system, mag-shield at full and running under stealth protocols. Majestic is off a ways, but with a straight shot to the midpoint between Lemuria and her moon. Cobalt is on the other side of Majestic, set up to run in beyond the moon to catch the rear of any opposing force and backstop them from a quick turn-around. I was going to give the order to launch Cory's Intruders on patrol in an hour or so."
Loren took it all in. He folded his hands on the smooth surface of the conference table and glanced out the big viewport on the aft bulkhead. He'd purposely left the room lighting low, relying on direct light from the sun and reflections off Lemuria's atmosphere to illuminate the space. Captain Elco liked the room bright, but Loren figured this was his one big chance to run a briefing and control everything right down to how bright the room was. "I wanted to work with you on a new drill that Weapons Research has been trying to get the fleet to use. It was designed with the Crusader class in mind, and I find it to be incredibly devious and nasty. You'll love it."
Captain Elco and Governor Broadbent were standing on the raised podium as the governor's press secretary finished up the closing remarks for the press conference they'd
just completed.
The governor had thanked Elco and the Confederation profusely, but had reiterated that it was the will of the people that they not join with the Confederation. Everyone still realized that they were in a hopeless position, and that allying themselves with the Confederation would simply guarantee an aggressive response instead of simply inviting one by their choosing to stand alone.
There had been polite applause, but Elco sensed the tension, a feeling of expectation from the people in the large press room. It was decorated in the same rich materials and colors that were found in the rest of the mansion, but now all the adornments seemed hollow; it felt more like they were putting on a play, and the elaborate surroundings served only to highlight the tenuous and artificial world they were living in.
Governor Broadbent had been quick to remind people that they were still running the evac transports and that Confed had pledged their use as long as was required. He'd pointed out that with the private and commercial lift that had turned up as available for use the
government's estimate was down to less than two and a half months for total evacuation instead of just over three, but that was a hollow victory because nobody believed the Primans would leave them alone for that long.
There are those that would stay, regardless of the situation. Some would want to fight for their homes, some wouldn't believe that this sort of thing was real and could actually happen, and others would think it was best to just stay put, offer no resistance, and hope nothing changed when it was all over.
"Thank you for your understanding, Captain," General Horle said to Elco as they walked through the basement level of the capitol building. Press conferences behind them, Elco was taking his time wrapping things up and had been invited to dine with the general at the Officer's Club on base. While it wasn't nearly as extravagant a venue as the Governor's Mansion, Elco would definitely feel more at home on the base. "I can't explain how grateful I am that you've agreed to stick around for a while. I suppose you never know when the Primans will come calling, but every batch of transports we can get away will help lower my blood pressure a little bit. For what it's worth, Governor Broadbent was incredibly grateful you offered that option."
"Let's just hope we don't need to show off at all," Elco said grimly. He knew as well as the general that any action in the Lemurian system would end badly for all involved.
The were entering the Officer's Club and were greeted with salutes and smiles as they passed, eventually taking a secluded booth near the back that seemed to be where the senior officers holed up. The building was a strange mix; plenty of memorabilia, nods to the past like pictures, moving holo images, and uniforms in various states of distress hung on the wall to signify heroism or sacrifice in some form. The room itself was very new and modern, though, with lots of glass that helped keep the place bright, something Elco wasn't used to.
