A klaxon suddenly blared throughout the bridge, making everyone scramble for their helmets as the ship shook violently.
"Proximity alert, Captain!" Santiago blurted. "Christ and Mother Mary! We have a Concord battle cruiser one kilometer off the starboard bow! Her weapons are hot!"
"How the hell did they get that close to us?" Singh demanded. His voice was muffled slightly as he struggled into his helmet.
"They just appeared there, Captain," Santiago exclaimed. "We detected no gravitic wave from hyperspace reentry, although our mass sensors are going haywire. The shockwave that hit us was the hydrogen wake. They must have jumped in."
"Power to the weapons, Captain?" McCray asked.
"No."
"Sir?"
"Do not power those weapons, mister. Don't even think about it! It's not as if they would do us any good, anyway," Singh said. A battle cruiser could have taken his ship apart under any circumstances. At one kilometer, he didn't even have chance of running, which was probably the idea. He personally thought that the captain of the Concord ship was showing off his technology to intimidate the captain and crew of the Centaur.
If so, it had worked. "Communications?"
"Yes, Captain?'
"Open a channel to that ship."
"Opening now, sir."
"Sentient Concord ship," Captain Singh said in a voice that sounded much calmer than he felt, "this is Captain Hiran Singh of the FSS Centaur, under diplomatic orders from Admiral Kasimira Meleeka of the Earth Federation. We seek to speak with Admiral Mandor Shadovsky. We have information that is urgent."
The reply came almost instantly. "Centaur, this is Captain Raoko Torenth of the CSS Arcadia. You will proceed to the third planet, Dawn, under our escort. A flight plan will be forwarded to you. You will not deviate from that path for any reason. Deviation from the path or aggressive behavior will result in the destruction of your ship. Is that understood?"
"Understood, Arcadia. You may notice that we have made no aggressive moves. Our weapons are powered down. We are under a diplomatic flag. We wish to speak with Admiral Shadovsky. Will you notify him of our arrival?"
"The admiral has already been notified, Captain. Proceed to Dawn under full normal power along designated course. Arcadia, out."
"Helm, has the course been transmitted?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good," Singh said. "Then come about and lay in the course for Dawn, full normal power."
"Ahead full, acknowledged, Captain."
Captain Singh turned to the man standing next to his acceleration couch. "I hope your admiral knows what she is doing."
"So do I, Captain," Tebrey answered. "So do I."
Ana waited anxiously at the terminal for the orbital shuttle to land.
Loxley Field was the largest starport on Dawn, situated just outside the provincial capital city of Sherwood. The starport covered the sixty square kilometers between the towering city and ragged mountains to the south. Shuttles were landing and taking off every few minutes, day and night. It was noisy, and Ana was glad she didn't live near it.
She'd been anxious since Admiral Shadovsky called that morning with the news that the Federation Destroyer FSS Centaur had just arrived in the system. He didn't know why they were there, but it was the ship that her husband had last been assigned to. She had hoped and prayed that Hrothgar was still on the ship. When the admiral called back an hour later, she had almost been afraid to answer, but he quickly soothed her fears. Her husband was on the ship, and it would be in orbit within the hour.
Admiral Shadovsky had even granted him special clearance to visit the planet, since he was married to a citizen of the Concord.
Ana had thanked Shadovsky profusely. She knew that with the recent events along the border, it would have been next to impossible for Hrothgar to have been granted clearance to visit the planet, and she wouldn't have been allowed on the Federation warship. Without the admiral's help, it would not have happened at all.
Ana felt Tebrey's presence before she saw him, and then suddenly he was there, walking out of the gate with a small duffel bag over his shoulder. He'd left his armor and weapons on the Centaur, of course; not even Mandor could have granted that boon to him. He looked tired, but his face lit up when he saw her.
He dropped his bag, and Ana suddenly found herself swept up in his crushing embrace. His lips met hers with almost bruising force, taking her breath away.
"Ana, my love," he whispered, holding her close.
She felt tears of joy running down her face, and wiped them away as he placed her carefully back on her feet.
Hunter was sitting just beyond them, his face split with a large cat grin.
"Come here, you," she said to Hunter. She wrapped her arms around him and held him fiercely. She had been so scared for both of them.
We missed you, too, Hunter thought to her. His thoughts were tinged with deep emotion. She picked up the edges of thoughts from him about her husband having been badly injured, but she didn't press him. She knew Hunter well enough to know that he'd tell her when it was appropriate, if Hrothgar didn't first. She could tell that they had both been through a trying ordeal.
Ana turned and wrapped her arms back around Tebrey. She closed her eyes and just held him. She loved him so much, and it had hurt so badly when he went away. What he did was terribly dangerous. She'd been very afraid she that she would never see him again.
"Ana, love," Tebrey said gently, "you have to let me go."
"I'm never letting you go."
His large hands pulled her easily away from him and held her at arm’s length. "I meant that you needed to let go just then." He gave her that lopsided grin that melted her heart every time she saw it. "I'd very much like to go home."
She caught the edges of his raw emotions and blushed. She could certainly think of a few things she wanted that were going to need more privacy than standing in the middle of the spaceport.
She took his hand and led him to the waiting aircar. Hunter followed along, happy.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Admiral. I wish it were under better circumstances," said Captain Singh. There were no marine honor guards present for this admiral; it was just the captain and his top officers present. In fact, very few of the crew knew the Concord admiral was aboard at all, something for which Singh was grateful. He trusted his crew, but there were limits to what he would ask of them.
Singh wished that the admiral hadn't brought bodyguards with him, but he suspected it had been inevitable. The power-armored figures were impressive. Both the specific type of armor and their weapons were unfamiliar to Singh, one more sign of the advanced technology of the Concord.
It is probably another statement of some kind, Singh reflected.
"I, too, wish the circumstances were better," replied Mandor Shadovsky. "It is good to know that not everyone in the Federation has gone mad."
Captain Singh smiled diplomatically. Given what he had heard about the losses at Sabine, he thought there was more than a little madness present on both sides of the issue, but he didn't say so. Instead, he introduced his officers as he led them all to the secure conference room near the bridge.
"Now," Shadovsky said, "what was it that was so urgent that you would risk bringing your ship into Concord space?"
"I'm here on the behest of Admiral Kasimira Meleeka; you may be familiar with her."
"I know the admiral. She's my counterpart in the Federation," said Shadovsky. "We've spoken a few times. I wouldn't presume to say that I was familiar with her. What was so important that she couldn't simply send me a message?"
"This," Singh said. He pushed a data-crystal across the conference table to the admiral. "It is a list of all the ships, captains, officers, and other personnel who are loyal enough to the Federation to consider following Admiral Meleeka's plan to save it, by whatever means necessary."
Shadovsky's pale eyebrows had been climbing as he listened; at that last part, he sat suddenly upright in his chair. "Are
you suggesting to me that the admiral is considering a military coup?"
"She feels that we are headed for a civil war, now. She would do anything to avoid that. She also fears that these Theta entities have infiltrated the Federation at the highest levels. Only direct military intervention can stop what she believes is coming."
"And what do you think of it all?" Shadovsky asked.
"My name is on that list, sir," Singh said stiffly. "My officers and I agree that we don't like what the admiral proposes, but we also don't see any alternatives."
"I see." Shadovsky was silent for a moment. "Why is she telling me this?"
"She feels that certain forces are aware of her activities," Singh said delicately. "She isn't sure that they will let her live much longer. This list is being entrusted to you in the hope that you can assist us if she should die, in all of our best interests."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
"Ambassador Georges, let me welcome you to Cedeforthy," the Concord ambassador said with more warmth than she felt. The Federation hadn't given any word that they were sending an ambassador, which was irregular even during normal times, and times were anything but normal. There had not been an official declaration of war yet, but when the shooting starts, it's understood.
The Federation ambassador studied her for a moment before replying. Ambassador Nu'Falla could tell from his expression that he'd been warned the Sentient Concord had alien members, but hadn't ever met any of them. She could also see that he wasn't sure what to make of the good looking, petite, sharp-featured alien woman who was extending her hand.
"Thank you, Ambassador Nu'Falla," he replied, returning the handshake. From his wince, her grip was far stronger than he'd expected. She'd served in the Concord marines during the early days of the Nurgg War and was somewhat amused by this soft man.
"What can I do for you, Ambassador?" she asked, leading him across her office to comfortable chairs overlooking the city.
"I have with me an official dispatch from the President and the Federation Council, the gist of which is that we are protesting this illegal conquest and exploitation of an Earth Federation Protectorate world. In other times, this could have been seen as an act of war. We understand that it is most likely a misunderstanding and wish to solve the problem diplomatically. Given the current circumstances, I'm sure you'll agree."
Ambassador Edana Nu'Falla narrowed her eyes and really looked at the Federation Ambassador for the first time. He was uncomfortable. She didn't need her empathic sense to tell her that; she could see it with her eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the climate-controlled air of the office. She smiled, showing her fangs.
"It has been almost a year since we liberated this system from the Nurgg. The Earth Federation had declared at that time they were no longer defending their protectorate worlds. Why the sudden interest?"
"We are certainly grateful for your assistance in freeing GL 661 of Nurgg forces and the return of most of the scientists who had been stranded on Cedeforthy. However, this world has always been of interest to our scientists. They wish to continue their research. We are concerned about the degree to which the population of the planet is being exploited. The chance of cultural contamination is also a great concern."
"Scientists are always welcome here, from any government. As for the other, in plain words, the planet now has strategic importance, and now that we've kicked the Nurgg out, you want it back."
Ambassador Miguel Georges was sweating more. She could sense that he was ever so slightly xenophobic, and didn't like speaking plainly, either. He was a man used to covering his own ass too well for that.
His xenophobia probably wasn't a problem for him most of the time. There were not that many alien species for him to encounter. She could tell that an alien woman – who was so like, and unlike, a human – was more frightening to him. He probably had a problem with women of his own species.
"Do you deny that you are culturally contaminating the planet?"
She snorted derisively. "We are certainly building up the infrastructure, if that is what you mean by contaminating. We've begun educational programs and opened modern medical facilities. The two species here, human and Taelantae, are both quite happy to have us here."
"I'm sure they are, Ambassador. Like all primitives, they will trade away land and priceless artifacts for trinkets. We have always tried to protect human societies so that they develop into unique cultures of their own."
"And the Taelantae?"
"Our scientists are not convinced that they are a separate species."
"Our scientists are," said Nu'Falla. "I might add that I think I have a better perspective on that, not being human myself."
"We will not allow a human culture to be exploited and subjugated by aliens," Georges said firmly.
"It seems to me, Ambassador, that that is exactly what you allowed when you withdrew from the system in the face of the Nurgg invasion. And, as I pointed out, there is another species here aside from humans. The Taelantae were being subjugated here by the humans before we came. I guess you were fine with that?"
"I don't know anything about that."
"And you don't care to," Nu'Falla replied dryly.
"You will pass on our protest and demand?'
"Of course, Ambassador. Although, considering our relative positions, I'd say that you know exactly what the answer will be."
"What do you mean?"
"They say possession is nine tenths of the law, do they not? We have adopted Cedeforthy into the Sentient Concord. We have extended our law and education to the populace. They have joined us willingly. We will not break our word to them, and we will not give up the planet in the face of empty threats."
"We haven't made any threats," said Georges.
"It's understood," Nu'Falla replied. "And you should understand that the Concord will protect all of its interests, aggressively."
"I don't want you to go," Ana said again.
Tebrey had been so preoccupied thinking about his upcoming mission that he hadn't thought about how his wife was going to feel about it. "Ana, I have to go. You know that. I don't have any choice. This is my last mission," Tebrey said. "After this, I'm free from my oath and any legal contracts. Just another couple of months, and we are free to live the rest of our lives in peace."
"I have a bad feeling about this one," she said stubbornly. Her back was turned to him, but he knew he'd find tears in her eyes.
Tebrey sighed. "Listen." He stopped packing and turned her to face him. "I promise you, I'll be back. Nothing can stop me from that. I'm not going to die. I promise you."
"You promise?"
There were times when Tebrey forgot just how young Ana was, only twenty-one, not that he was that much older. She meant so much to him. It tore at his heart to have to leave, but he could not have lived with himself if he walked away from the admiral and this last mission. It was too important. For the first time, Tebrey felt like he might actually be able to make a difference. He might be able to stop the situation with the Federation and the Concord from deteriorating even more than it already had. That was worth the pain. That was worth fighting to save.
Fine, you go fight, Hunter thought, I'll stay home and lay in the sun.
Lazy wretch, Tebrey thought affectionately. If you were a proper companion, you'd offer to go in my stead.
We're both government property at the moment, Hunter replied. We both have to go.
Well, that puts things in perspective.
"I bet he doesn't want to go, either," said Ana.
"Would you really love me if I was the kind of man who could turn his back on this problem? Would it do us any good if I could?"
"Probably not," Ana replied, "to both questions. If there is one thing that I learned while I was reviewing all of that data with Pierre and Amber, it is that you have already encountered more of those things than anyone else recorded. They are after you for some reason, my love. Please be careful."
Tebrey was so us
ed to calling them Bauval and Mason that it took a second for him to realize whom Ana was talking about. "If the Thetas are after me, then I have to try to end this. If it can be ended, and if the Empire is prompting the attacks, then they need to be taught the error of their ways. Besides," and his voice turned cold, "I have an old debt to repay them."
"I just don't want you to be blinded by revenge and do something stupid."
Tebrey smiled. "I promise I'll be careful, and Hunter wouldn't let me do anything too stupid. He'll keep me out of trouble." He turned back to his packing.
Ana reached around him and pushed it away.
"Ana –"
When he turned, she was close and pushed him back onto the bed, climbing on top of him, kissing him furiously.
"Ana, I have to –" She silenced him with her mouth. After that, he stopped worrying about anything for a while.
"Lt. Commander Tebrey? If I could have a moment of your time?"
Tebrey turned and regarded the man in the pristine white of a Concord admiral's uniform with wary displeasure. The man was shorter than Tebrey by at least fifteen centimeters and had shockingly white hair for such a youthful face. Having just said goodbye to Ana, for what might indeed be his last mission – for better or for worse – earlier in the day, he really wasn't in the mood for whatever it was the man wanted.
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage, sir." Tebrey had a fairly good idea who the man was, but he wasn't going to make it easy on him.
"Yes, sorry. I'm Admiral Mandor Shadovsky, Concord Internal Security."
"Great, more security types," Tebrey muttered. Louder, he said, "What can I do for you, Admiral?"
"Could I speak to you privately for a moment?"
Tebrey tensed and eyed the two armored guards with the man. "Is this a request or a demand?"
Shadovsky had the grace to look embarrassed. "I'm afraid the guards are a necessary precaution, Commander. You see, I'm deeply involved in keeping the Theta threat from gaining a foothold here in the Concord."
The Fallen Page 15
