The Anvil of Dust and Stars (Dark Seas Series Book 1)

by Damon Alan

  “My apologies, sir,” Hanakki said. He clearly didn't mean it.

  The Captain gestured toward Sarah.

  Hanakki's eyes narrowed. Because the man appeared to be incapable of controlling himself, the Captain was publicly calling him to heel.

  “And my apologies to the Lieutenant.” The bile he put into her name mystified her as much as the hatred that burned in the man's eyes.

  What's his problem?

  Sheffaris let it go, turning his attention back to Sarah. “So you're saying you consider going home to be a strategically sound decision, Lieutenant?”

  Sarah answered the Captain, but sequentially looked several officers in the room in the eye. “Yes, sir. That's my opinion.”

  Captain Sheffaris moved on. “Thank you, Lieutenant Dayson. Ensign Sachelle, how many megatons of nuclear weaponry does this fleet wield?”

  Sachelle moved her lips as she counted the payloads of each ship. “Nearly one thousand megatons sir, maybe a bit more. I haven't had to think of it as a conglomerate before.”

  “That's a rough estimate, but it will do. The correct answer is one thousand and forty-eight,” Sheffaris said to the group. “A gigaton of combat power. We can use that now, or we can take it back to Korvand to use when the enemy comes there. Because the enemy will come. We won't hold off the Hive forever, we know that. But with each battle we manage to hold them off, as Lieutenant Dayson said, more of our people have a chance to escape to other star systems.”

  Sheffaris lowered his head and pushed away from the wall toward the door of the room. “Talk among yourselves. I'll give you ten minutes. Dayson, Sachelle, with me.”

  The captain cycled the hatch open, and pushed out into the gangway. Sarah and Sachelle followed behind. He turned to look at the two ladies.

  “Sorry for getting you into that, Lieutenant.”

  “Not a problem, sir. If they sever my contract I'll get my family out of the system. I don't really have much to lose if my government doesn't understand our sacrifice.”

  “Fair enough,” Sheffaris said. “I can't blame you either. So, what do you really think?”

  “I think exactly what I said, sir. I think you're making the right decision. A military decision to best protect our people.”

  “I thought you'd see it that way. It was a bit risky bringing you in without warning you.”

  Sarah nodded, and then Sachelle spoke.

  “I agree, sir. I don't have the Lieutenant's command experience. I don't have her experience with combat at the personal level of a grappler. But I was at Alberath with you, sir. Korvand lost over sixty ships there. I can only imagine what it would do for the defense of Korvand if we had them back.”

  “I wish we did. But Alberath is a different story than Srarach. Alberath was a more populous world, for one thing.”

  “It's an impossible decision, sir. One you'll be demonized for. I've seen it,” Sarah said.

  “That's my problem. If you're ever called to witness what happened here, I want you to tell the truth. Which is another reason you're both here. To make sure the truth is told. I doubt you have the political agendas of senior officers yet.”

  “No, sir, we don't,” Sachelle answered.

  A few more minutes of small talk then the captain pushed away to the other side of the gangway and tethered himself to the wall. He closed his eyes and seemed to ignore the world around him.

  Sarah couldn't help feeling she was watching a great man throw himself to the wolves. The media furor back at Korvand would be unbelievable. Speculation would turn to accusation which would in turn become lies printed by an unethical press. The Navy would probably court martial Sheffaris to maintain order. Just as the Navy would have court-martialed her for the Five Freighter Fiasco, but she had the defense of following orders. She never did find out who gave the order, someone protected by the system. But Sheffaris? He was acting on his own and not high enough in rank to find a scapegoat for.

  As if reading Sarah's mind, Sachelle locked arms and leaned close to Sarah's ear. “Brass is going to eat him alive.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. Do you have an idea to help?”

  Sachelle sputtered. “I was hoping you'd have an idea.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I don't see a thing, Sachelle. If I do I'll say so.”

  The two officers stayed locked together and tumbled slightly in the air currents as crew members occasionally passed by. Despite several minutes of brainstorming, they didn't see a way out for their captain. His eyes remained closed.

  The hatch opened and the XO poked his head out. “We're done, Captain.”

  The captain went back into the briefing room, and the women followed.

  Sheffaris took his place floating by the wall at the head of the table. “Well?”

  “We're not one hundred percent in agreement, Captain, but we're close. We'll support you in the decision to retreat to Korvand.”

  Sheffaris faced the viewscreen. “Captains, do any of you object?”

  None of the capital captains spoke for a minute, but then Captain Calib of the Edolphus broke the silence. “Whether it's to our shame or honor we don't know yet, but we approve, Captain. I hate it, but you're right. Korvand needs these ships.”

  “I appreciate the honesty,” Sheffaris said, before directing his comments to everyone. “This is not a democracy. This decision is mine. But I'm not blind. If I didn't have your support… well, men have mutinied for less. We're going back to Korvand. Make sure your people know why and that this isn't up for debate.”

  “Sir?” Sarah's voice was hesitant.

  “Yes Lieutenant?”

  “I think it would go easier on you, sir, if you had a tally of the enemy fleet before we retreated. A retreat in the face of proven overwhelming force won't look as… well… bad sir.”

  Sheffaris nodded at her. “Good idea. Captain Calib, outfit a grappler with long range sensors. If more flares appear, get the data on those fleets as well. Make sure the grappler has an entangler, and don't let them get so far out we can't recover them before the enemy gets to us.”

  “Right away, sir,” Calib replied.

  “Everyone is dismissed. XO, I will be in my quarters, logging my decision and…”

  The XO pushed toward the door. “I understand, sir. I'll be on the bridge until you say otherwise.”

  Sarah and Sachelle waited for the senior officers to leave. Sachelle looked at Sarah and whistled.

  “What happened here today is going to suck all of us into the abyss,” Sarah said.

  Sachelle smirked, her voice sarcastic as she spoke. “I'm from Srarach, Lieutenant. I've seen worse.”

  Sarah was incredulous. “You're from here?”

  “Yep. And Captain Sheffaris is right. This shithole isn't worth losing one ship. Best we get back to Korvand.”

  Sarah followed Sachelle out the door and back to the bridge. “Damn, Sachelle, you need to tell me about Srarach sometime.

  Sachelle shook her head. “No, actually… I don't. All you need to know is that Captain Sheffaris made the best choice.”

  They got to the bridge in time to see the grappler launch from the Edolphus. Sarah watched it on her holodisplay until it was a tiny dot in the distance.

  Life was easier flying in one of those…

  Chapter 17 - Paper Gauntlet

  04 NODER 15314

  The Chimera and her flotilla sat moored in the Royal Navy shipyard two hundred and fifty kilometers above. Sarah and the command crew of the Third Flotilla gathered their gear as they disembarked the personnel shuttle.

  Sarah waited her turn, several captains and commanders departed ahead of her. The senior officers gathered on the tarmac as Sarah stepped out into the sunlight and then down the mobile air ramp to the ground. Instinctively Sarah moved closer to Captain Sheffaris as several ground cars pulled up to the assembled crew.

  Several enlisted men and one officer, a Lieutenant Commander, exited the cars and walked forward. The enlisted men were
armed with combat rifles.

  The officer looked at a sheet of paper. “Captain Sheffaris?”

  “That's me,” Sheffaris answered, stepping forward.

  The Lieutenant Commander saluted, and Captain Sheffaris returned it. “Sir, it pains me to do this.” The officer paused and cleared his throat. “Captain Sheffaris, Commander Her Majesty's Third Flotilla, you are under arrest for treason and defiance of direct orders to defend Her Majesty's subjects. You are to be taken from this place and restrained until such time as you can be tried for your crimes. Do you understand the nature of my statement sir?”

  “I do,” Sheffaris answered.

  “You have the right to legal council, either of your own or provided by the Royal Navy. Do you understand this Captain?”

  Sarah studied her Captain. He seemed unfazed.

  “Certainly.”

  The Lieutenant Commander stepped to the side and gestured toward the closest car. “Please, sir. We are your transportation.”

  Captain Sheffaris held out his hands to be cuffed.

  The Lieutenant Commander looked down at Sheffaris's hands for a moment before responding. “That won't be necessary, sir. When I said it pained me to do this, I wasn't being polite. I trust your honor will ensure your cooperation.”

  The Captain shook the Lieutenant Commander's hand. “You do me the honor, sir. Thank you.”

  Sarah watched as her Captain walked proudly to the car, and sat inside as one of the armed men opened the door for him. She fought to keep tears from her eyes.

  The arresting officer turned back to the group. “You are all detained in the name of Her Majesty. Once we leave with the Captain, you will be taken to comfortable quarters pending military inquiry into this matter. You are not under arrest or charged, but are being sequestered as witnesses, both for the actions of Captain Sheffaris and yourselves. The inquiry will be quick, if you're found innocent of any wrongdoing you'll be back to duty soon.”

  “And if we're not found innocent?” someone asked from behind Sarah.

  “Then, sir, you'll be charged appropriately, and detained elsewhere,” the officer replied.

  “What will happen to the Captain?” Sachelle asked. Sarah noticed Sachelle's lack of formal address to a superior officer.

  The Lieutenant Commander looked at Sachelle. If he had a problem with Sachelle's demanding informality, it wasn't on his face. “If he's found guilty of treason, and the appellate court refuses to hear his case, he'll be sentenced appropriately. If he's innocent he will be assigned duties as the Navy sees fit.”

  Sachelle turned her back to the Lieutenant Commander. A symbolic gesture from Korvand's ancient past, where women turn their backs on male behavior they considered unfit for society. It was a gesture easily recognized for both the insult and finality it involved.

  The Lieutenant Commander frowned, but didn't press the issue. He returned to his vehicle and joined the Captain in the rear seat. The procession drove off.

  Shortly thereafter four buses arrived to take the command crew members to quarters. As promised, they were comfortable.

  A comfortable prison is still a prison.

  Sarah assumed there would be a show trial and the Captain would be mindwiped to pacify an outraged public stoked by an irresponsible media. That thought outraged her.

  As she rode the bus away from the shuttle she'd landed in, she wondered if Korvand was worth her sacrifice. She sacrificed family and safety. She needed to talk with Vonn and tell him to leave Korvand with Jac immediately.

  * * *

  07 NODER 15314

  Sarah raged at the sergeant in front of her. Sergeant… Sarah looked at her tag… Garista, carried a pistol, but Sarah didn't care. Sarah felt like taking it and beating the stubborn non-com to death with it. “ Why in the galaxy would I be prohibited from speaking to my husband?”

  “Orders, Lieutenant. Nobody enters or leaves the compound without clearance from the Command General of the SED. Nor are you allowed access to outside communications.”

  Sarah blew up, yelling even louder. She needed to talk to Vonn. The SED dealt with separatists and war criminals, neither of which applied to her. “Security Enforcement? Are we being labeled terrorists?”

  The sergeant's patience ran out. “Look, Lieutenant, get off my back. I think you guys did the right thing. Damn near everyone in the military does. I'm just following orders. If it were up to me you'd be fucking this stud of yours tonight. But it's not up to me, so I'm not going to say it again. Back off.”

  Sarah stared at the woman a moment, then smiled. “You're right. It's not you.”

  Sarah began to turn away until an idea struck her. “Can you get him a note?”

  “No sir, I can't.”

  “I just want to tell him to get our son and get off Korvand. The Hive are coming, and they're going to kill every living person on this planet. I do not want that to be the fate of my husband and son along with everyone else too foolish to see it coming.”

  The sergeant looked at her, horrified. “I'm pretty sure that's why you're not allowed to leave, see visitors or communicate with the outside. If word that military families are evacuating gets out, people will go crazy.”

  Angrily, Sarah turned away and walked down the hallway toward the common area near her quarters. Sachelle was there, watching a holovid of the news.

  “Sarah, check this out,” Sachelle said. She patted the cushion on the couch next to her.

  Sarah sat down next to Sachelle and watched the vid.

  “… no word on what happened at Srarach. The entire Third Flotilla can be seen here at the Navy docks in these telescope images captured by ground observers. Counts from the ground have the flotilla returning home with more ships than they took. Not a word has been released on the battle at Srarach, if such a battle even took place…”

  Sachelle turned down the volume. Sarah flushed as the adrenalin from talking to the sergeant left her body. “They're going to figure it out. No matter what the puppet masters want. A free press can be a rabid dog or your best friend.”

  “It's all just stupid. I wonder if the monarchy even knows what the Navy is doing?”

  Sarah stared at Sachelle, smiled, and opened her purse. She withdrew her datapad. It didn't have access to the datanet, but it still held Sarah's personal information. She checked her address book. When Sarah holoed a televised show with the Queen, back when Sarah was still the Navy's darling, the Queen gave her an email to reach an assistant as a gesture of kindness. The email was still there… now to find a way to get datanet access and use it.

  “Sachelle, we need a datapad that we can send an email on. If we can get one, we'll find out if the monarchy knows or not.”

  Sachelle smiled wryly. “Leave it to me. There's one of our attendants, a Lieutenant… she's cute and she keeps looking at me. I'll see what I can do.”

  * * *

  10 NODER 15314

  Three days later Sachelle opened the door to Sarah's quarters and walked in without knocking. She tossed a small black datapad onto Sarah's bed before taking a seat in the most comfortable chair.

  “Come on in,” Sarah said. “What's that?”

  “A datapad. Anonymous. Pay as you go plan. I owe my friend ten drenna.”

  “The cute one?”

  Sachelle nodded.

  “How'd you get her to do this? She might find herself in a cell in worse shape than we are.”

  Sarah smiled as Sachelle involuntarily rubbed her face. “I might have told her a story about a dying grandmother, said grandmother getting sicker if she thinks I'm a traitor, and of not wanting to live if I couldn't tell said grandmother I loved her before said grandmother died. I also banged the shit out of her.”

  “Sachelle!”

  “And we were naked when I asked for her help. Everything sounds more reasonable if you say it naked and sweaty.”

  “By the stars,” Sarah stared open mouthed. “you're—”

  “Scandalous? Unscrupulous? You're jus
t noticing this?”

  Sarah laughed. “Let's get started.” She grabbed the datapad and set up a mail account. She entered the email of the Queen's assistant then sent an email with details of the current situation. Finished, she hid the datapad in an air vent within her room.

  “Okay, that's done. Hopefully this person doesn't check their account twice a year.”

  Sachelle stood up. “We'll play the waiting game then. I think I'm going to go find that Lieutenant and show—”

  “I don't want to know,” Sarah interrupted. “Vonn isn't here, so keep your good fortune to yourself.”

  “Prude,” Sachelle called back as she closed Sarah's door.

  * * *

  12 NODER 15314

  Sarah checked the hidden datapad every six hours when she was awake. It was two days before a response came. She resisted the urge to email Vonn, wondering if the SED might be watching his account.

  Message received. I will look into it and pass it along to Her Majesty if warranted. -K

  Sarah stared at the return email.

  K? Not very official…

  Sachelle was both elated and nervous. If the monarchy was already aware of the events unfolding, then Sarah and Sachelle would be disciplined for breaking orders. Sachelle's friend would be imprisoned.

  “You can't tell anyone where you got that datapad, L-T” Sachelle paced the floor. “You can't.”

  “You like this girl, don't you?”

  “I mean, I'm not going to long term contract her or anything, but there's definitely some chemistry there. You know… where it matters.”

  “Good for you, Sachelle. We all need support in these times. Have you told her what it's really for?”

  “No, and it's bothering me. But I can't tell her yet.”

  “It's your call. We already got the message out. Not like it can be put back in the bag.”

  Sachelle fidgeted. “No. It can't.”

  Chapter 18 - From the Top

  05 FEBBED 15315

  The trials were underway. Sarah wasn't charged with anything yet, but she was sequestered in a room waiting. Any moment she'd be called to provide testimony about the meeting on the Chimera. The room she was isolated in was stifling. Stale air and high humidity. It smelled slightly of sweat and fear. Four meters by two meters, the room made her want to claw her way through the wall and run back to the beach she and Vonn were at a year earlier. A bench ran along the long wall, uncomfortable was describing it kindly. The door was on the opposite wall.