by Ron Francis
“I don’t think the Coalition can afford to keep up that level of sustained military production,” The Economic Secretary began.
“We cannot afford not to, unless you wish to be either eradicated by aliens or subjugated by warmongers.” The Secretary of Defense replied.
“Is the threat even legitimate, or has Admiral Bliney been out in space so long that he’s seeing monsters behind every doorway?” The Vice President mocked.
“I assure you, the threat is quite real,” Bliney responded as he began to play some vid. An hour later, the Vice President was convinced.
“Our best bet is to have SSE up its production,” The Economic secretary began. “We won’t need as many ships if they are all Leviathans and War Hawks. That will save us money in the long run.”
“Well, how much did the Romanovs pay you to say that?” Natora scoffed.
“Why you, smug….”
“Alright,” the president called into Nina’s response before she could say something she regretted. “That’s not helpful, Admiral. We can carry on this meeting without you if you cannot be civil.”
“Oh, so that’s how we’re gonna play it? “Kiss up to the Romanovs, we need the Romanovs.” If this situation doesn’t open your eyes to the fact that we need to be in control of SSE, not them, then I don’t know what will.” He finished his retort, standing unaware that his voice had risen and that his face had turned a deep shade of red. He was not used to not getting his way and could still not understand how the Marcos and Romanov families had not been brought to heel.
“That’s always your angle, isn’t it? Well, I have news for you. You don’t have what it takes to operate our company, you’re not diligent enough, you’re not honest enough, and you’re not smart enough. If we turned our company over to you, you’d run it into the ground in months. Then no one would have OUR ships. Mark my words, Natora, fate of the Coalition or not, you will never control our company. If you don’t like it, go develop your own ships.” Nina was practically shaking she was so angry and her voice had risen to match the decibel level of her antagonist.
“Can we move on now?” Admiral Bliney interjected as if scolding children. “Now that the two of you have had your words, let us start thinking of ways we can not only get the most powerful ships ready to fight, but the most ships ready. If we have a large enough fleet, we may give them pause from coming here at all. The bottom line is both of our potential enemies are used to taking on one or two planets at a time, and are not used to long conflicts. If we can put enough pieces on the board, quickly enough, we may never need to use them, and that is the goal.” Bliney hoped that by laying the cold, hard facts on the table quickly enough he could keep Nina and Admiral Natora from going at each other. He noticed from Nina’s glare that she had not liked his chastisement. He didn’t care, she was going to need to get over whatever Natora had done to her and her family if the Coalition was going to produce a force large enough to dissuade these threats.
“Well, to that end, we have a dozen we can finish very quickly,” Serge began. “Not to mention, almost thirty decommissioned ships ready to be scrapped for parts that we could patch up. If we give new weapons and shields, we can put them into planetary defense. New light drives might be too expensive, but if they are strictly for in-system defense, we can put them all out fairly quickly without a large expenditure.”
“Now that is helpful,” President Sandoval agreed to a smile of relief from Admiral Bliney. “How long are we looking at to have all forty-two ships in theatre, Serge?”
“Not long, depending on how elaborately you want the older ships repaired, one to two months. The SSE ships are about a month away from being finished.”
“Tell us again why you have so many ships close to completion, just lying around?” Natora inquired with a smug grin, not willing to let his vendetta drop.
“As the Admiral is well aware, we are in the process of deciding whether or not to keep our production facilities on Earth or move them to Polisia, we do not wish to have a dip in production if we decide to move.” Serge diplomatically replied, not rising to take the bait while Nina sat tight-lipped next to him.
“Why the move at all?” The Secretary of Defense asked.
“Because our family has been targeted for assassination and we don’t feel safe on Earth.” Nina replied angrily while staring directly at Admiral Natora.
“A bit dramatic, aren’t we,” the Vice President chided.
“Maybe, why don’t you go to the hospital and ask Ariel.” Nina shot back.
“No, the threat to the Romanov’s and the Marcos’ is real,” the President added in a tone that told them to drop it. “Unfortunately, if we are going to need as many ships as I think we are, we may not be able to let you leave Earth just yet. We can, however, make it as safe as possible for you to stay. We’ll discuss that later. So, Serge can have forty-two ships ready for us in four to six weeks. Your ships generally take three months, so I’m assuming since you have the near complete ships in storage, that there would be another twelve off the SSE assembly lines six or so weeks after that.” Serge nodded his agreement and the President continued. “What about our other source for military production?”
“We can have twenty new ships ready in the next three months,” The Secretary of Defense replied.
“Good, that will give us seventy-four more pieces on the board in three months with another thirty-two or so following three months after that. Do you think that will be enough new ships to give them pause, Admiral?”
Admiral Bliney looked thoughtful as he answered slowly. “If they come in the next six months, it will have to be. We should really try to ratchet up the production even further. We have to keep the ships coming. This seems like the type of threat that is a couple years away. Admiral Thomas will have to keep his eye on it. Is there any way to get more ships built at a time?”
“Defense can double production in a year if we finish the space dock we’ve been working on.” The Secretary of Defense proudly replied.
“And SSE can greatly increase its production if we build the facility at Polisia we were planning to build if we decided to move. Both of those suggestions will be very expensive for the people of the Coalition.” Serge replied.
“Our Secretary of the Economy will just have to make it work.” The President replied, letting him know there was no debate. “I hate to militarize, but apparently we will need to, if we wish to survive.”
______
“The Enclave is the single biggest threat to non-human life in this galaxy.” Dobar informed while the other emissaries nodded in agreement.
Thansar, the leader of the Jarlevian High Council could not believe his ears. A more powerful group of humans than Earth? If this was true, it was unacceptable. “I’m having a hard time believing that, Dobar. Have you seen the power Earth’s Leviathans or their War Hawks possess? They are almost unbeatable, and they are producing more every day. They have cunning leaders and heroic soldiers. They will never back down from a fight.”
“All of that may be true, Thansar, but they only inhabit thirty-two worlds, and a few scattered settlements on their resource worlds. That may seem like a lot, but they have always chosen uninhabited planets. They have never displaced a native population. They thought they were alone in the universe until the Pack tried to stop their expansion. They do not yet have an appetite for conquering other planets. The Enclave, however, rules over one hundred fifty worlds. They conquer planets, both human and alien at will. If a planet puts up too much of a fight, they commit unspeakable atrocities. They are aware of us, and are marshalling their power to take a run at this side of the galaxy. We need to put a stop to them.”
“That is worrisome, Dobar, but we are in no condition to make another trek across the galaxy for war. After our defeat at the hands of Earth, we may be able to send one hundred ships at most. If this Enclave is as powerful as you say, I don’t see what diff
erence it will make. “
“We need to act soon, because intelligence says they are going after Earth very soon.”
“Well, that is very good news, Dobar, let them fight it out and then we can more easily pick off the winner. It sounds like our problems just might kill each other off.”
“Well, that certainly is the optimistic way of looking at it. What worries me is what if the Enclave changes tactics? What if they come to Earth in peace and become allies? Can you imagine those ships you described earlier in the hands of soulless conquerors waiting to commit their next atrocity? What chance will we have then?”
______
Carmine was even angrier, after seeing the vid-news report of the second attempt on Captain Ariel Marcos life. He called together his guys and angrily began. “Ariel Marcos has been a good friend to me and this organization. Jesse has saved my life twice and kept me out of prison. We will not rest until we find out who is trying to kill this woman. Is that clear?”
“Carmine, I think I have some news, but you’re not gonna like it.” Sal slowly began.
“Spit it out, Sal, who are we gonna kill?”
“That’s the thing; this may be too big, even for us. My source tells me the hit was ordered from someone pretty high up in the Coalition government.”
“What, like a senator? We’ve taken some of them down before.”
“No, closer to the president, or even the leader of our military, maybe both. My source wasn’t sure.” Sal admitted.
“So you’re saying that President Sandoval wants to kill Ariel?”
“Not the president, Carmine, he’s actually quite close with the Marcos family. It’s someone close to him, though.”
“We can’t move on this until your source is sure. How much do you trust this guy?”
“I trust her info more than any other source I’ve ever worked with, Carmine, it’s legit. And if it’s either one of those guys, it’s too big for us. We can’t go up against the whole government.”
“Maybe not, but Nina Romanov might want to try. Let’s get as much info together as we can and then I’m gonna give it to Hacker. We might all be in for a bumpy ride if our government is after Captain Marcos. We may also have to start thinking about ways to get a new regime in power.”
Carmine stalked out of the meeting to clear his head. Ariel was the closest thing he had to a daughter or niece. He had first met her as a thirteen or fourteen year old girl, shortly after Jesse had saved his life. A few months later, Jesse came in with his fiancé and his younger cousin to introduce them to the best Italian food in the western hemisphere. Ariel was instantly taken with the burley host and hugged him before they left. Throughout the years, every time she had come in, she left with a hug. She knew he wasn’t completely legit but she always looked for the best in him. He knew Jesse had never told her what his business really was, and he was surprised he had let her develop a friendship with him. Maybe he thought it would be good for me, he was probably right. Getting to know Ariel over the years had been good for him. It was as if her goodness was rubbing off on him. Now powerful people wanted her dead and he couldn’t let that happen.
______
In orbit around Polisia, Ariel finally woke up again almost two days later. This time, she knew she was in Vanguard’s med-bay as soon as she opened her eyes. She also now remembered everything about the attack. She shuddered as every detail of what had happened flooded back into her consciousness, and she found herself beginning to sweat. She wanted to cry out of images of the Dragon’s confident swagger while he was stalking her filled her mind. Images of all of the people he had killed to get to her made her want to scream. She remembered bleeding all over the hotel. She remembered being slashed, stabbed and beaten. She also remembered putting up a pretty good fight. The only thing she didn’t remember was how she had lived through the ordeal. Confusion began to set in when she looked to her left and saw Kimi’s younger sister Sun sitting in the chair next to her bed.
“Sun?” she asked in a tired scratchy voice. “What are you doing here?”
“My mom brought me here to help you get better.” She pulled out a communicator and spoke into it while she looked at Ariel. “She’s awake; you should come see her now.”
Ariel could tell she was talking to Manny when she heard the reply, “Thank you, Sunshine, I’m on my way.” The little girl smiled at Manny’s nickname for her, and then said, “Manny will be here in a minute, he can let you know what’s happening. All I know is that you’re hurt and I get to skip school until you feel better.”
She figured it was Nina that brought everyone aboard to keep them safe and that it was likely Sun didn’t even know she might be in danger. A moment later, Manny walked in with a smile. He messed Sun’s hair as he entered and said, “Hey, Sunshine, can you give us a few minutes to talk?”
“It’s classified stuff, isn’t it?” She said with a frown. “I can keep a secret, I promise.” She pleaded with her eyes but knew her attempt to get in on the secret had failed when Manny smiled and pointed towards the door.
“Your mom is waiting for you for lunch anyway, maybe next time, ok?”
“Alright,” she replied a little sadly, but then cheered up and waved to Ariel. “I’ll be back right after lunch, Ariel.”
“Thank you, Sun, I look forward to it.” Ariel painfully replied as Sun ran out of med-bay. She then turned to Manny and said, “I remember everything now, everything except how I lived. The last thing I remember is the Dragon standing above me telling me Nina was next as he was bringing his knife down to finish me. What happened after that?”
Manny looked shocked as he replied, “It was the Dragon? We didn’t know that. This is more serious than I thought. Nina will not be happy.
“Wait, you didn’t know it was the Dragon; wasn’t his identity revealed by whoever killed him?” Ariel asked confusion evident on her lovely face.
“No, I got there just as he was about to finish you and I shot him. He went over the rail and fell off the breezeway. By the time I looked over the edge, he was up on his feet and fighting with Jason. Jason killed him, but we never knew who he was until now.
“At least he’s dead!” Ariel looked frightened as she subconsciously rubbed at the stitches in her cheek.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you sooner. He nearly killed you.”
“It was you that saved me? Thanks, Manny.” She flashed him a tired smile as she flexed her arm, trying to work out the soreness. “Apparently you got to me just in time. I didn’t know I was on the Enclave’s hit list.”
“Yeah, they found out that you knew about their plans for Nina and the President and wanted to make sure they took you out of the equation. Ladyhawk warned me just in time, but I couldn’t get through to you.”
“The Dragon was jamming transmissions.”
“Ariel, are you sure he was the Dragon, I mean did he say he was the Dragon?”
“Not exactly, sort of…” She looked contemplative as she continued. “When I asked who he was, he asked me what year it was.”
“I don’t understand, Ariel…”
“According to the ancient Chinese calendar, this is the year of the dragon. He confirmed it after my guess with a smile and the words: very good. It was so scary, Manny.”
“So, that’s what you’re basing your Identification on; it seems a little thin.”
“Manny, I know it was him.”
“Alright, alright,” he relented with a smile as he put his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just glad you were able to hold him off as long as you did.”
“I don’t know if I held him off as much as I got lucky. He definitely underestimated me, but he still would have easily finished the job.” Her mind drifted back to him slowly pulling the dagger out of her shoulder as he taunted her. He was enjoying it. He was pure evil and I’m glad he’s dead. I need to buy Jason and Manny a drink when I’m back on my feet. She
shook her head clear of the trauma and continued. “How did the Enclave find out, Manny, the only people that knew I had that information besides Ladyhawk and myself were Nina and President Sandoval. That’s a pretty tight loop.”
“Maybe Ladyhawk set you up?”
“No, that doesn’t make any sense, why even give me the info, I never would have known anything at all about them if not for her. And why warn you if the goal is to kill me. No, plus she’s trusted by Jesse, and I know it wasn’t Nina which means, the leak came from the President.”
“I just don’t see him doing that though, Ariel. Are you sure you’re not missing anything?”
