The Lost Swarm

by Vaughn Heppner

  “I’m sorry, too,” Keith said. “I’ll keep my hands off you, and we’ll leave the professor in cold storage for the captain. I’m with you now. We need to get back to Victory as fast as possible.”

  “Good idea,” she said. “Let’s get started by making our next jump.”

  PART IV

  PREPARATION

  -1-

  Maddox sat in a wheelchair, staring at the stasis tube containing Ludendorff. He was aboard the landed darter in Hangar Bay 1, Lieutenant Noonan even now telling her tale. She kept staring at him strangely, and he knew the reason, naturally. She could not believe him in a wheelchair.

  Maddox could hardly believe it himself. Ever since coming out of the coma, he found it difficult to concentrate and impossible to stay on his feet for long. It was driving him crazy, and he wondered how long the crew would stand for a tired starship captain. Only his native stubbornness had kept him from giving command over to—well, that was one of the problems. Whom would he place in charge? Lieutenant Noonan was the obvious choice, and she had been gone. Now, she was back with startling data regarding Thrax, Drakos and the once again untrustworthy Ludendorff.

  “I hope I haven’t induced permanent brain damage,” Valerie said.

  Maddox looked up. “Forget about that. You did the best you could under the circumstances. In fact, you made the correct choices all down the line.”

  Valerie stood taller and held her head a bit higher.

  “Ludendorff,” Maddox said, and he felt the tiredness swoop upon him. He wanted to close his eyes and just go to sleep. It was painful keeping his eyes open.

  “What’s next, sir?” Valerie asked.

  “Eh? What?” asked Maddox.

  She frowned. “Sir, is there anything I can do for you?”

  Maddox forced himself to regard Valerie. “As a matter of fact, you’re going to run the starship. I’ve…it’s good you’re back. Andros has almost completed the repairs. He says another two days and we can limp to this planet Galyan has been talking about.”

  Valerie shook her head, probably having no idea what planet that could be.

  “Galyan can inform you,” Maddox said. “Ludendorff… I want you to oversee his transfer to medical, keeping him in the stasis tube.”

  “Shouldn’t we take him out now that he’s back on Victory?”

  “No.”

  “But sir—”

  “Lieutenant,” Maddox said, interrupting. “I’m tired, dead tired. I’m not going to deal with Ludendorff until Galyan’s sculpture restores my energy or I resign my post.”

  “Captain!”

  Maddox nodded. He understood now. He could no longer run a starship. He wasn’t going to relinquish command, because there might be a cure for him. If he relinquished command too early, the Lord High Admiral might order the new captain—Valerie—to head directly toward the approaching fleet. It wasn’t strictly his own command he was worried about, but capturing Drakos so he could restore the Iron Lady to Intelligence. She’d looked after him when he’d been helpless. He was going to repay the favor, or he was going to die trying. Then, he was going to demand the Iron Lady to tell him who his father was. He was going to use the rest of his life finding his father and making him pay for what had happened to his mother.

  “Sir?” Valerie asked tentatively. “Captain Maddox?”

  Maddox raised his head, his eyes bleary. Had he just fallen asleep? He couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t wanted Valerie knowing how out of it he was.

  “I heard you snoring, sir,” Valerie said.

  “Never mind that,” Maddox said slowly. “Do as I order, and tell me the moment we’re heading for Galyan’s planet.”

  “Are—are you sure that’s wise at a time like this?”

  “You wish to debate me, Lieutenant?”

  Valerie shook her head.

  “Good,” he said. “Tell Meta to come here. Then—” He almost gave Valerie new orders. He couldn’t remember what he’d told her to do, but it would be what he would have thought important. Right now, he needed to hide his weakness from everyone but his wife.

  Once he brimmed with soul energy again, he would deal with Ludendorff. He certainly didn’t trust the weasel-like Methuselah Man enough to have to trust him now. What in the world had Ludendorff been up to this time? More androids? When would he be done with androids for good?

  “Maddox,” Meta said, shaking his shoulder.

  Maddox opened his eyes. Had he fallen asleep again? He looked up. “Where’s Valerie?”

  “Gone,” she said. “She looks worried, husband. What did you tell her?”

  Maddox scowled. He felt a little weak, and everyone started questioning him. The thing was not to become querulous. He’d have Meta contact the Lord High Admiral and pass along the data concerning the Mira Binary System. Was Thrax’s new colony world there? He’d put money on it.

  Maddox frowned, looking around, surprised to see the corridors leading to his bedchamber. He wished he could stay awake.

  -2-

  Far away on the Throne World, Golden Ural headed to a conference chamber in the Emperor’s Palace.

  The palace was magnificent, full of fantastic Baroque architecture with equally stunning artwork hanging on the walls. He heard the tinkle of feminine laughter and noticed down a corridor several of the Emperor’s beauties in sumptuous flowing gowns. They had fans, putting them before their lovely features.

  Golden Ural smiled. He was tall even for a superior, what the subhumans called New Men. He was also deeply golden and considered the most handsome of superiors by those with discriminating taste. He’d led the invasion armada many years ago into the Commonwealth. He would have led the armada against the invasion of the Imperium the first time, but the Emperor had led the fleet himself. Golden Ural wore a tight-fitting silver-colored uniform with a Sunburst Star, a gold medal set with precious diamonds, on his right pectoral.

  The medal wasn’t for courage in battle. All superiors were expected to show courage. The Sunburst Star was for exceptional cleverness in battle. He’d won the star at the end of the Commonwealth Invasion because he’d kidnapped great numbers of women from the submen, and had made the theft permanent without further war.

  Naturally, like the Emperor, he had his own harems and had already sired many sons from them. The Emperor and he were cousins, and they both subscribed to the so-called softliner view regarding the Commonwealth. They desired peace, believing that in time, their superior qualities would deliver faster, better and larger growth compared to the subhumans.

  Yet, Ural disagreed in one particular with his cousin the Emperor. Ural believed they should kill Methuselah Man Strand, not keep him as a special prisoner. But he hadn’t opposed his cousin concerning that.

  A duo of dominant guards rapped the ends of their ceremonial halberds on the marble floor. They wore baroque red and silver colored uniforms, including outrageously tall fur hats. They also had blasters at their hips if the halberds proved ineffectual.

  Ural halted before the double doors of the Audience Chamber.

  One of the guards opened one of the big doors, peering in. A moment later, the guard beckoned Ural.

  The cousin to the Emperor of the Throne World entered the huge chamber. The marble floors reflected like mirrors. There were many statues, all showing warriors of the past. At the far end of the chamber was a marble dais. Upon the dais was a large golden throne, and upon it sat the Emperor.

  Ural strode across the red carpet, halting at the edge of the dais. He dipped his head and waited.

  “Cousin,” the Emperor said, holding aloft a diamond-toped scepter.

  “Your Majesty,” Ural said, bowing at the waist and throwing out his right arm in a grand sweep.

  “Rise, please.”

  The one open door closed. The guards remained on the other side. No one else was in the Audience Chamber.

  “Please,” the Emperor said, “sit.”

  Ural sat on the edge of the dais, sitting in such a
way that he could regard the Emperor. They did this in case someone had slipped spy devices into the chamber. In no way did Ural want to slight his cousin’s royal dignity.

  “I’ve spoken again with the Lord High Admiral,” the Emperor said, speaking the last three words sardonically.

  “They allow themselves grand titles.”

  “Indeed, and perhaps with the old man that one is deserved. We mustn’t let their genetic inferiority blind us to the fact that Star Watch is still dangerous.”

  Ural inclined his head, silently agreeing.

  “I’ve debated with myself,” the Emperor said. “I do not like this fighting amongst ourselves. That weakens us compared to the subhumans.”

  “You refer to Lord Drakos?”

  “According to the submen, Drakos has found Thrax’s new colony hive and is busy attempting to convince the bugs to throw their attack saucers into the fray.”

  “The last part surely is conjecture.”

  “Surely,” the Emperor said. He related to Ural all that the Lord High Admiral had told him. Much of the information, apparently, came from a darter crew. The stealth-darter crew witnessed an attack saucer, three Swarm missiles and six star cruisers attempting to capture them. This was in the Mira Binary System.

  Ural made a quick calculation as to its distance from the Throne World. “The bugs were presumptuous to create a hive so near our territory.”

  “I’m sure Commander Thrax would differ with you.”

  Once more, Ural inclined his head.

  “Admiral Cook urges speed,” the Emperor said. “He hopes our united force can sweep the star system and annihilate our joined enemies.”

  “Six star cruisers did you say earlier, Excellency?”

  “That was all the darter crew witnessed.”

  “Lord Drakos took at least fourteen star cruisers into the Greater Beyond, possibly as many as nineteen. May I ask how many warships Cook is sending?”

  “He says one hundred: sixty-five of cruiser class and above, the rest will be ancillary and supply vessels.”

  “I would have expected more. Yet, according to our sources, Star Watch is stretched thin. Maybe they cannot collect more on such short notice. Do you believe he spoke truthfully?”

  “I’m unsure,” the Emperor said. “Would Cook send any fewer on such a critical mission?”

  Ural considered the question. “The key would be to send enough to destroy the enemy with a minimum of loss to oneself. The admiral is wise enough to know that the more he sends, the fewer ships and personnel he will likely lose. I suspect he is sending more, as one hundred is simply too few to crush Thrax and Drakos.”

  “I’m inclined to agree. I suspect he’s sending almost every battleship at Star Watch’s command. I wouldn’t be surprised to find he’s sending twice the number he told me.”

  Ural pondered that.

  “You don’t agree, do you?”

  “I’m afraid not, Your Majesty. The more I consider it—the difficulties gathering warships quickly—the more I’m inclined to think Cook is sending even fewer, hoping to strike hard and quick with a few will get the task completed.”

  “Fewer than one hundred warships?” asked the Emperor. “That seems preposterous. Explain your reasoning, particularly given your earlier statement about the size of the fleet equaling fewer casualties.”

  “The submen think of Cook as a cunning old war dog. He may believe his own propaganda. He will probably reason as you and I did, Majesty. He will therefore do the opposite in order to trick us—the reason being protection of the Commonwealth against a possible sneak attack. One thing we know beyond a doubt concerning Cook. He lives to protect the submen. In this instance, I wonder if he distrusts us as a political entity, believing we’re trying to lure the protective fleet away from the Commonwealth.”

  The Emperor nodded slowly.

  “I suggest Cook will send approximately seventy warships and supply vessels altogether. Some of those will be newer Conqueror-class battleships. One of those would be worth three attack saucers. Victory will also be there. Star Watch has an unreasonable belief that Victory and Captain Maddox can produce miracles. Since Star Watch no longer owns any Destroyers, Victory is likely the most dangerous warship in Human Space.”

  “Seventy, you say? That’s much fewer than Commander Thrax’s one hundred and sixty attack saucers.”

  “We should allow for wastage, Majesty. Thrax is far from any Swarm supply bases, having to create his own. Surely, the bugs will have had to cannibalize parts from some saucers to keep the rest functional. And there is this missile base. Where did the missiles come from? Has Thrax an industrial base? Surely, he must be building one, but it’s likely the missiles came from the saucers. So, given the wastage and cannibalization, how many operational attack saucers does the bug warlord possess?”

  Ural frowned as his superior mind computed possibilities. Finally, he looked up. “I suspect the Swarm splinter group will have one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty attack saucers. That may even be too high an assessment. Consider, Majesty. They had taken war damage. They fled an exploding star. They lived a nomadic life for several years. I am more inclined to think one hundred and twenty attack cruisers. The warships may not all be in the best condition, either. And we must take into account that Thrax will keep some saucers back to guard the new colony world.”

  “That is well reasoned, cousin.”

  Ural inclined his head at the royal compliment.

  “Still,” the Emperor said, “let us say one hundred and thirty attack saucers to be on the safe side.”

  “Granted, Sire,” Ural said.

  “Add nineteen possible star cruisers in Lord Drakos’s flotilla, and we will face one hundred and fifty warships, more or less. Well, no, you think Thrax will keep some behind to guard his colony world. Let us eliminate twenty attack saucers, therefore. That would make one hundred and thirty vessels. If Star Watch sends the one hundred Cook said, and some of the battleships are worth two or three enemy ships, they will likely have similar tonnage and fighting capability. Perhaps the better strategy would be to let the two sides hammer against each other, bloodying themselves into nothing.”

  “Sound strategy indeed, Majesty.”

  The Emperor peered at Ural, finally shaking his head. “I cannot tell if you approve or disapprove. Which is it, cousin?”

  “Alas, I am of two minds on this. I like the idea of the submen losing more of their warships in a slugfest against the Swarm remnant. Hopefully, Star Watch could destroy Lord Drakos for us as well, and you could persuade the others in his flotilla into a more reasonable mindset.”

  “But…?” asked the Emperor.

  “Is all our information accurate concerning Star Watch? Maybe they’re not as weak as they appear. They have grown more cunning over the years. They have also collected some interesting alien technology.”

  “This is odd. First, you say Star Watch is too weak. Now, you say they may be too strong. Which is it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come now,” the Emperor said. “Are you not granting the subhumans too much cleverness, cousin? Are they really so devious to fool us?”

  “As long as Maddox and Ludendorff are on the other side—and the Iron Lady and the Lord High Admiral also bear careful consideration—we must act prudently. Remember, we miscalculated their strength the first time and were forced to retreat.”

  “Firstly,” the Emperor said, “the Iron Lady is out of favor. Drakos saw to that with his Bosks.”

  “Perhaps, perhaps, but I have heard rumors. She escaped her imprisonment. Then she mysteriously died. Now, I have one agent telling me she is with the Lord High Admiral. There is a mystery concerning her, and there are agents, new ones, who know how to keep in the dark.”

  “What is this?”

  “A development I don’t understand,” Ural said. “Perhaps they are agents of new aliens hiding in the wings.”

  “And what bearing does that have
on us now?”

  “Maybe Star Watch and thus the Commonwealth are acting as a bulwark for us against foes we don’t even know yet.”

  “Suppose I grant you your conjectures,” the Emperor said, frowning. “Why does that cause you hesitation regarding the bloodying of Swarm and submen against each other while we conserve our strength?”

  “Frankly, even if everything went our way, I don’t think it’s time to reinvade the Commonwealth. There are too many unknowns at present. Let me describe one particular. We know Star Watch has begun using heavy metals to rearm and re-shield their newest battleships. How much do these heavy metals augment the warships? Perhaps it has brought about an advance in combat effectiveness. It would be good to know either way before we commit ourselves.”

  “If you’re right, why would Cook ask for our aid? Oh,” the Emperor said. Before Ural could speak, he answered his own question. “In order to complete the illusion of weakness.”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  “You truly think the submen are that clever?”

  “I give it a thirty percent probability,” Ural said.

  “Which is rather low, cousin.”

  “Granted. But what if this is part of a larger trap to lure our star cruisers into an inferior position.”

  “You mean in the Mira Binary System?”

  “No, Majesty, I mean if Star Watch takes too great a bloodying and the Throne World superiors clamor for another invasion of the Commonwealth. Then, as we invade deep into the Commonwealth, a trap springs shut and the vast majority of our star cruisers are annihilated. Then, the submen’s Grand Fleet heads for the Throne World.”

  The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Do you fear these submen to that extent?”

  “Does a man fear a scorpion? Yes, enough to crush it so it doesn’t sting him.”

  “Or a swarm of scorpions…” The Emperor stroked his cheek with a long finger. “Do you want to aid Star Watch in this?”