Edwards had gone over the reports. He had dismissed the Kalu numbers, the majority of people under arms hadn't served in an Earth military. No most of them are already in the Free fleet.
He put the reports down to inexperienced people that didn't know their jobs. In his eyes they were traitors to Earth. He didn't understand why anyone might leave the Free Fleet alone. America was the rightful military machine, the Free Fleet were pretenders that needed to be cleared away.
Once Earth had its own military then they would show the other systems how a true military fought. There would be none of this losing battles. They would come through and crush these Kalu wholesale.
They're nothing but damned barbaric Wolves. We won our fight against wolves long ago. Edwards thought with disgust.
“Very well, does your source have an updated timeline for when Felix is expected to come through Sol?” Davidson interjected.
“Next week, I do hope that your people are as ready as you say. We will only get one chance at this.”
“My people have orders to take the carrier, or to destroy it with their own nukes,” Davidson said with something close to pride.
“Good,” Edwards said, unable to hide his own smile. He would show the Free Fleet what a real government was capable of.
***
“Silly, I have found something...odd,” LaRe said as Silly was looking over the information that Min Hae had given him. It was no quick read. He was trying to understand how the Star-Destroyers worked, which inevitably led to him looking at how to make them better and refit them for the Free Fleet's use. Then he was looking at how the yards were built, where the factories were placed and how the individual slips fit together.
Seeing as the yard had been built over generations there were also variations from slip to the next. Then there was the fact that the Kalu had never used factories to make their parts and ships. Every part was hand made by a group, then another group took these parts and put them into the star-destroyer which was made by multiple groups.
Every damned Star-Destroyer was different, every beam that made up the slips was different and the ship more of a growth than it was any kind of planned out structure.
All of that was making Silly have one hell of a time trying to figure out how he was going to get the Star-destroyers into some kind of uniformity, with systems that could be replaced by the standardized units of the Free Fleet.
“What is it?” Silly asked, unable to keep all the irritation of being interrupted out of his manipulators
“We've lost two freighters full of HAPA's.”
“WHAT?” Silly demanded. “How and where?”
“Well it’s not official yet, but I was browsing through the systems traffic to make sure that the shipments coming to us and leaving us were on time when I realized I lost two ship codes between here and Chaleel. Specifically, two freighter's seemed to have disappeared before getting to Chaleel. I back checked where they were supposed to be, they weren't in jump and then looked for the two freighters in any other location, just in case the traders had decided to make a run along one of the unplotted routes. Two freighters without Identification were recorded coming into Sol and headed to Earth.” LaRe answered.
“So they sold the HAPA's to Earth? Send the information to the Fleet and they'll sort this out.”
“It looks like there were no traders to make the trade, instead I have these images,” the images of the Star-destroyer yard were replaced by shuttles that met up with five ships, three were private freighters with decent armaments, the other two were Free Fleet freighters.
The shuttles hooked up to the two freighters and moved down to Earth, to an empty part of the Nevada desert in the United States. They went into a mountain complex so Silly couldn't see who was onboard the Free Fleet Freighter or in the mountain.
“Who the hell is that?”
“It’s a coalition of nations I think. I started looking at who has gone to that mountain base. Min Hae's intelligence department have been keeping an eye on the facility after a few too many dignitaries were going there while they were supposed to be somewhere else.”
“Send Min Hae your findings. I don't like this at all. Also alert the intelligence department's commander in-system,” Silly said, thoughts of star-destroyers and shipyards fading away. He did not like what he was hearing, or the feeling in his gut.
***
Evelyn Sparks was one of the most known reporters on The Free Fleet and possibly the most well-known reporter in known space. She had broken stories on the Free Fleet time and time again, she regularly hosted debates on the state of trading and her network produced informative videos on the people that were under the Free Fleet's protection, and the systems that weren't. She had more contacts within the governments of the various systems that resided on the Free Fleet's side of the line. Heck she even had some sources behind the line. Though those sources weren't saying much right now just in case the Kalu had another Ashota in their ranks.
Though none of that was on her mind as she watched the delegates from thirteen systems filed into an auditorium. HAPA's and commandos stopped anyone else from entering.
Evelyn knew what was going on, her contact within the Kuruvians Empire had told her about Elisati of Worshun's talk with Rick as well as Min Hae's own suggestions to create a new Union to bind the systems together with trade, medical aid, schooling and mutual military support.
She checked her appearance in her mirror before looking to Tuvio, her Chaleelian camera creature.
“Ready?” She asked but she hardly had to, Tuvio had been her personal camera man since she’d made Parnmal her headquarters.
“Just waiting on you,” He said with a smile.
She rolled her eyes before settling into her professional mask.
“This is Evelyn Sparks with an exclusive report on the events happening behind me in one of the Free Fleet's auditorium,” she paused letting that sink into her viewers before she continued.
“The Union seems to be breathing new life today as the Free Fleet are discussing bringing back the old institution. Behind these doors nine systems including the Kuruvian Empire are debating how they are going to bring back the Union. Even in these times of turmoil the Free Fleet are pushing to restart the Union,” she disliked that last sentence. She had issues with the Free Fleet, they weren’t perfect and someone needed tyo make sure that they didn’t overstep their bounds. She recognized their power and also how they tried to make the best decision for the majority. At the end of the day it was a limited military dictatorship. A fact that mattered little with war on their doorstep.
While others bitched and moaned about budgets and testing, making half-assed efforts to build something to stop the Kalu, the Free Fleet were pouring everything they had into the defense of those that stood with them.
She wondered what the Free Fleet might look like after all of the conflict was done.
First we have to survive, and our best bet is the Free Fleet, not the politicians that complain and hide behind masks and colorful words.
***
Elisati looked around the room, wondering if these people around her would be the ones to bring the Union back into creation. It was a terrifying moment and it was exhilarating. It was as if she had somehow taken the seed that Min Hae had reminded her of and she had given it life. She had started a process that could end in the Union coming back, something that she hadn’t thought possible even months ago.
It could turn into a monster of a creation that made the old Union, or even the chaos that ensued when the Syndicate were in control—look better by comparision.
Now it was out in the open there was no way that she could stop it from growing.
Not with the support that Salchar is giving from behind the scenes. Though I don’t understand why he doesn’t want the Free Fleet to be the military force of the Union. With it being the protective force of the Merchant fleet it gives them the ability to act autonomously. That might be a reason. If the new PDF
becomes restive then the Free Fleet can be there to take up the contract and do what the PDF won't. It would make them our contracting forces to operate outside of Union's sphere of influence. The PDF could police them and the rest of the Union while they look to advancing their trade routes, expanding the Union instead of letting it grow stagnant. She wondered if she was giving Salchar and his people too much credit. They kept to themselves for the most part and they were used to juggling more than one ball at any given time. She only needed to look at the current situation for that to be clear.
They were hitting the almighty hell out of the Kalu in a way that the PDF had never even thought of, while they grew their trained personnel, both for the front lines and in reserve capacities.
Those numbers are only going to rise when someone finds out just what these meetings are for. Or some might hold out to start creating the PDF again.
There were so many possibilities, all of them created from the decisions of the people in this room, she looked down from her seat in the Semi-circle configuration of the lecture hall. Each delegation had their own seat, placard and were arranged so that they could see one another as well as the Free Fleet delegation that sat at the front of the auditorium.
Silence fell as Salchar stood from his position at that forward table, Rick remained seated on Salchar’s left, the commander of planetary relations and a woman by the name of Dalia Wasseur sat on either side on the right of Salchar. Rick and Salchar’s protection details sat behind them, looking omnious in their powered armor. They looked as if they were going to walk out the doors into a warzone.
Even though Elisati couldn’t see their eyes she knew they were watching the delegates, constantly ready.
Elisati didn't think that she had ever seen Salchar out of his powered armor, it looked more natural on him than the battle suit he wore. He, like every other human that had undergone Syndicate or Free Fleet training was a large specimen of muscle mass.
His eyes locked with hers for a moment, she felt herself being assessed before he moved on. He was quick with his look around the room, she didn't doubt that he had classified them based on his own system of how much they were a threat to him.
“Rick and I are largely here for decoration and to act as referees in this talk. Dalia will be dealing with all of our points. I suggest that she begin and we go from there, talking over the points raised and deciding how we're going to get the Union back on its feet,” With that he took his seat and reclined.
Dalia leaned forward in her seat.
“Okay, first of all we will look at the military organization of the Union.” Dalia began as Elisati sat forward in her chair.
The future waited for no one, and she wasn't about to have this Union come into creation without being as thoroughly vetted as damned possible.
***
Felix looked at the station on his sensors. It was too far to be seen with a naked eye, or even with the telescopic abilities of the visual sensors. The station had been put into standby mode and its reactors shut down. All of the Research and Development people were coming with him to the Star-destroyer yard. They had all been pining over the issues with the Star-destroyer's and leaving them out here would be doing them a disservice. A tug had already come to collect the various factories and other equipment that had been resting at the station. That tug would be jumping between systems all the way to the Star-destroyer yard. The factory ship in-system would be doing the same to Parnmal, resupplying, joining up with the relief column and then Elshurvum as it came through.
“Ready for jump,” Elshurvum's Helmsperson said as Felix turned towards the blast doors, the noises of confirmation were background noise to him as he turned back to pondering just how in the hell they were going to be able to get those Star-Destroyers in fighting trim, without taking months, and giving out totally crap ships.
He heard the noises of the capacitors discharging to make the wormhole into Sol. It was a test of the carrier’s new systems; it was supposed to be able to use its multiple capacitors much like the jump-fighters to create multiple wormholes in quick succession.
For right now his people were checking that having one discharge didn't create bleed through or damage the new system. They'd simulated it multiple times, and done it with models, but this was the first real test.
There was no feeling of entering the wormhole, only an announcement overhead by the ships communications commander.
He found his bunk, pulled out his data pad and joined the forum being run by his people. He went straight to the conversation happening about the Star-Destroyer station, he didn't even hear the announcement that they had arrived in Sol as he was deep into discussing whether it would be more feasible to just melt down the Star-destroyer's than keeping them active.
***
General Davidson had to give it to Edward's source, whoever they were, they knew their damned stuff. The carrier arrived only an hour late. Dealing with things like wormholes and FTL relays, that kind of timing was damned near impossible.
“Send the message to the other ships, and to Edwards,” he said the freighter's command staff, they had begun moving on intercept course for the ship as soon as it had arrived. They were all grim faced and hard lines as they carried out his orders.
He turned and walked back to the storage pods which had been converted to hold the powered armor and HAPA wearing participants of his plan.
He pulled his visor down, it would be thirty minutes until they reached Elshurvum. He gritted his teeth and accepted that fact, no matter what, he was taking that carrier. About time someone showed Salchar what a real military with a real leader can do.
Chapter Beware the wrath of the patient
I was sitting in a meeting between all of the planets that wanted to bring the Union back into creation when I got the message.
It was our third meeting and everyone now knew what was happening in this auditorium. Groups of excited creatures whooped and cheered as we entered and exited, it reminded me of the times I had exited a tournament to crowds of gaming fans.
I was a lot more bored than I tried to make out. Which meant I was looking around when Yasu entered the room and headed straight towards me.
I didn't know what was wrong, but seeing as the session was supposed to end in a few hours, and I knew enough about Yasu that she clearly wasn't pleased, I sat up.
I heard Wruck, Shreesht and Krom do the same behind me.
Yasu walked straight towards me, her eyes hard and her strides purposeful. I felt my teeth press together in anticipation, my own eyes darkening. I could tell from her body language that she knew I wasn't going to like what she was about to say.
She bent down to my ear, I looked past her, seeing the people of the assembly. Talking quickly died as she had walked towards me. They understood that something was wrong.
“Earth has attacked Elshurvum on its way through Sol, Hachiro, Mars and Nancy are engaged in battles. Some of the enemy combatants are from within our own ranks. Elshurvum fell, they have freighters, powered armor and HAPA's,” she said, her tone capable of melting armor plate.
I looked to my right and to Rick who wore the same hard expression as me. We both knew what we had to do. That didn't mean we weren't going to like it.
“Get the intelligence department pulling all personnel that could be linked to this,” I said, pulling my data pad, using a hotkey to connect me to Monk.
“Put Parnmal on lock-down we have a possible mutiny,” I said, talking over his greeting.
“Understood,” he said, going from dealing with the day-to-day of Parnmal to possible internal war in a moment.
I stood, my eyes finding the delegation from Earth.
“The Free Fleet will be withdrawing from further talks.” This sent a series of gasps and shocked expressions back from the delegates.
“We will not be part of the Union unless Earth are left out of it. They attacked a carrier moving through Sol that was intended to gather supplies for the Kalu offensive. Us
ing tech that they stole from us. Earth units have also attacked the instillations on Mars, Hachiro and Nancy.” Shock was quickly turning to anger, people from every system represented here were training or working in those facilities. The hope of the people in this room depended on those facilities.
The Free Fleet was the only force capable of keeping the Kalu at bay, and Earth had attacked that bulwark.
More than one delegate would probably see this as not only an attack on the Free Fleet, but on their own planets which would be under attack if the Kalu got past our lines of defense.
Dalia and Rick stood, even Dalia's smiling face was dark with anger. I led the way out of the auditorium, pulling out my data pad and connecting to Vort.
“I want all Merchants to clear Sol, put all reserves on alert. I want every Free Fleet person at their stations.”
“Yes sir.”
I clicked off the channel and joined a new one with Eddie as I marched, there were no salutes from the Free Fleet personnel as they moved with purpose, announcements were already coming through the station and telling people to go to their homes or ships and wait while Parnmal went into lockdown.
Stores closed down and people raced home as prisoners were secured in their cells and every person in the Free Fleet was screened for coded communications from Earth before being given their powered armor or being allowed back onto their ships.
The intelligence department was an efficient machine as not only humans but creatures from multiple races were held in isolation until the situation could be resolved.
“Salchar?” Eddie asked, breaking my concentration from the reports that were flooding in.
“Eddie, will Resilient make one more journey?” I asked, flipping through reports as Eddie took a few moments.
“She will,” Eddie's voice was like starlight, pure and irrefutable. “What are we dealing with?”
From Furies Forged (Free Fleet Book 5) Page 7
