The Fallen

by Paul B Spence

  Where would we go?

  The Arcadia is still in orbit. I'm sure they'd give us sanctuary if the Federation were shooting at us.

  I hope you're right.

  Me too, Tebrey replied. Wish me luck.

  To hell with luck – be careful, Hunter said.

  We've been in worse situations.

  Sure, Hunter thought, unconvinced.

  Tebrey scratched Hunters ears before he moved away.

  A five-man squad of military police met him at the entrance to the base. They were armed with laser rifles and full riot gear. Tebrey didn't think that looked like a good sign.

  "Commander," the MP sergeant said with a nod, "please follow us."

  Stay out there, Hunter, Tebrey thought. Wait till I find out if it's okay.

  Be careful, Hunter repeated. If you need me, I'll come running.

  "Lead on, Sergeant." Tebrey fell into step between them. "Is all this excitement for me? Can you tell me what the problem is?"

  "No problem that I know of, sir. I don't know exactly why everyone has been rushing around. I was just asked by Commodore Watkins to bring you to see him and Mr. Greenwood as soon as you returned, sir."

  "Mr. Greenwood?"

  "I believe he is from Federation Security, sir. My CO handled the actual order."

  The MPs led Tebrey into the central control building on the base, far from the landing pads and barracks. Two black-uniformed guards with the twin-daggers patch of Federation Security stood outside the door to an interrogation room. It was unusual to see them on a military base, they weren't part of the Fleet. They were civilian.

  "I'm sorry, Commander, but I'll need your pistol." The guard looked as if he didn't expect Tebrey to hand it over without a fight.

  "No problem," Tebrey replied. He handed over the 10mm caseless pistol, still in its holster. The other guard opened the door. "I'll be fine, Sergeant." The MPs nodded to him and left. Tebrey had the impression that they didn't like handing him over to Federation Security; people handed over to them often disappeared.

  Tebrey actually wasn't very worried. He assumed Admiral Meleeka wanted to send him a private message, although he would have thought she'd have found a more discreet way to do it. Maybe she was ready make her move. He hoped she didn't expect him to be a part of that; he'd hate to disappoint her.

  The room was barren except for a table with three people behind it. The two guards entered and stood just inside the door behind him.

  "Come in, Commander," said the man sitting at the middle of the table. He appeared to be in his late forties, and his hair was starting to grey. With rejuvenation treatments, it was impossible to guess his real age, but Tebrey suspected he was close to the age he seemed to be.

  "Mr. Greenwood, I presume." Tebrey walked forward until he was a precise meter from the table and stood at parade rest. He saluted the man to the left of Greenwood, Commodore Watkins, Tebrey's immediate commanding officer. He didn't know the man to the right. He was dressed in civilian clothes and looked uncomfortable.

  Tebrey heard the door shut and lock behind him. It was then that he began to feel uneasy. Greenwood and the other man were concealing their thoughts well, but Watkins was angry about something. Tebrey didn't feel it was directed at him, though.

  "I'd like to start by thanking you for coming in," Greenwood said.

  Tebrey had trouble keeping from laughing. It was clear to him now that the guards in the room had orders to shoot him if he seemed dangerous. He could sense their unease, like the smell of sour sweat. They were afraid of him.

  "We just want to ask you a few questions. It would be best if you were honest with us. Mr. Landry –" Greenwood gestured to the little man to his right "– will be helping to ensure that."

  "Will he keep you honest as well?" Tebrey asked, acting on a hunch.

  "Commander!" Commodore Watkins said disapprovingly. "You will remain civil and cooperate with this inquiry. Then maybe we can get this distasteful thing over with and go about our business. I'm sure Mr. Greenwood will explain himself."

  "Yes, sir," Tebrey replied to the commodore with much more civility than he'd addressed the agent. "I have no reason to lie to you, Mr. Greenwood. What do you want to know?"

  "What exactly was your relationship with Fleet Admiral Kasimira Meleeka?" Greenwood asked.

  Tebrey frowned at the man. "I don't have any sort of relationship with her. I met the admiral while on Luna; she was part of the panel that questioned me about the events that transpired on Cedeforthy after we were marooned there in the aftermath of the Nurgg invasion. I believe she was investigating such incidents. Why?"

  "You've had no contact with her outside the normal chain of command?"

  "I fail to see the relevance of the question," Tebrey replied. "Surely any private conversations outside of military channels are confidential."

  Greenwood nodded smugly. "Under whose orders did you assault the Wolf Empire base on Vesuvius? The result of which, I might add, is that we are now at war with the Empire."

  "My orders were issued from the Office of the Admiralty, Mr. Greenwood. I understand that Fleet Intelligence had reason to suspect the Empire was responsible for the attack on Serendipity. The exact orders are highly classified. I'm afraid I would need permission from my superiors before discussing that with you or any other civilian."

  "I am your superior officer, Commander," said the commodore. "You will answer the question."

  "I'm sorry, sir, but my orders were specific concerning whom I answer to. Without being given permission by the Admiralty, I cannot answer the question."

  "Mr. Landry?"

  "He's too good, Greenwood. I can't even get surface traces from his mind." The small man's brow was furrowed by his effort to penetrate Tebrey's mental barriers. Landry had little hope of breaking through them with Hunter reinforcing Tebrey's will.

  "Is there something that you are trying to hide, Commander?" Greenwood asked. He had a gleam in his eyes that Tebrey didn't like. Tebrey had seen that sort of look before, in the eyes of men who enjoyed the pain and suffering they inflicted on others.

  "It is my understanding," Tebrey said slowly and evenly, "that mind probes are illegal without a court order. At the very least, I should have legal representation if I am being charged with a crime. Am I being charged with a crime, Mr. Greenwood?"

  "Admiral Meleeka detonated a small nuclear device on Luna on the ninth of August. We still aren't entirely sure why. She and everyone within five kilometers were killed in the blast. We lost the entire upper echelon of the Fleet. There is no Admiralty to give you permission to speak. Now, why do you think that she would do something like that?"

  "I'm sure I wouldn't know." Tebrey was reeling from the news. His hopes of support in the secret war against the Thetas had just evaporated. He could think of only one reason why the admiral would have done something like that. She must have been compromised by the enemy. He no longer had anyone he could trust in the Federation.

  "Why are you dissembling, Commander? What are you hiding?"

  "I am not hiding anything. I have reason to believe that the Fleet hasn't been forthright with me, however."

  "How do you come to that conclusion?"

  "What happened on the Kirov? Why is it that I was never told about the possibility of such things? Why were my memories altered? Why have there been no contingency plans put into effect regarding what happened there and on Cedeforthy?"

  "Ah," said Greenwood. "The Kirov." He paused and studied Tebrey. "How about we be completely honest with one another?"

  "That would be refreshing," Tebrey said in disgust.

  "Who are you? Really?" the man asked quietly.

  "What?" Tebrey said, confused. That had not been the question he expected.

  "We have evidence that suggests Lt. Commander Hrothgar Tebrey died aboard the Kirov. So the question remains, who are you?"

  "I did die." Tebrey could sense the guards tensing behind him. "I was clinically dead for over five minutes.
You should see the records of my commando training. I died quite a few times in the simulator tanks, too. It's not that unusual, you know. If you were Fleet, you'd know that."

  Greenwood ignored the insult. "I meant to suggest that you are not who you claim to be."

  "Are you mad?"

  "No. We know that you aren't human. Not entirely, anyway. What are you?"

  Tebrey could only stare at the man in horror.

  He knew he had felt different since what happened on the Kirov, and later on Cedeforthy. It was as if the encounters with the Thetas had awoken something within him. He had a newfound confidence that he couldn't easily explain. He was stronger, faster, maybe a bit better at reading people. But I'm still human, damn it to hell! No matter what the doctors say!

  Get out of there, Hunter thought urgently.

  "I am who I am, who I have always been. I don't understand your question." He could feel Landry probing at him; it felt a bit like a small, annoying insect buzzing around his head. Tebrey's rage was threatening to gain control of him. He resisted the temptation to swat the little man.

  "Mr. Greenwood," Watkins said, "this is most irregular. We've got medical confirmation that this man is who he says he is. My God, man, youcan't access half the areas on this base without a genetic scan. What game are you playing at?"

  "We're not sure what the problem is, but there are issues with his scans."

  "Genetic anomalies are not a crime, Mr. Greenwood."

  Tebrey transmitted his prepared letter to the commodore via datalink, and then he took a deep breath and flexed his shoulders to loosen up. Be ready, he thought to Hunter.

  Aloud he said, "Commodore Watkins, you'll find my resignation in your inbox. My term of service is over. I don't owe the Fleet anything else, and I certainly don't owe this man anything. I'd like to collect my things and go."

  "Commander," Greenwood began, "maybe we got off on the wrong foot. All we want is for you to agree to a few medical tests. Then, with the permission of your commanding officer, you will be free to go."

  Tebrey tensed again as he clearly read what the man intended. "Mr. Greenwood, you might want to consider something." Landry gasped and sat back in his chair, suddenly clawing at his eyes as Tebrey telepathically showed him images of the dark things he'd been fighting. "Never plan to kill a man when he can read your thoughts." With that, he kicked the table as hard as he could, sending it crashing into the three men.

  The guards reacted then, but Tebrey reacted faster, using all of his training and skill, and holding nothing back.

  Tebrey ducked low and snatched the rifle from the hands of the startled guard to his right. He jabbed the butt of the rifle into the man's face with all of his considerable strength, crunching through bone and cartilage, sending shards of bone into the man's brain. He then spun in place, catching the other guard in the throat hard enough to snap his neck. Both of the civilian guards dropped to the floor, convulsing but already dead. Tebrey hadn't wanted to kill them, but he'd had little choice.

  Greenwood was just then picking himself up off the floor. Tebrey raised the rifle in his hands, and calmly shot the man in the head.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Ana didn't feel like she had gotten much done while she was on Cedeforthy. None of her own people had wanted to talk to her. The people of Bellejor had been friendlier, especially people she had known in the market. The emperor had asked her to come back, when the new public education programs had a change to work some good, and try again. She agreed, but her heart hadn't been in it. She didn't believe anymore that she was the right woman for the job. Part of the problem was that she was a woman. Taelantae women had been doubly suppressed, as both Taelantae and women. It infuriated her; she had gotten used to the respect and equality of the Concord.

  She was just looking forward to getting home and talking to Amber and Bauval about it. Tonya and Ghost had turned into good friends in the week on the planet, but Ana was still shy around them both. She was attracted to Tonya, and afraid that if they spent too much time together, something would happen that she would regret.

  Tonya, for her part, had been quieter, less sarcastic. She had been a good companion on the surface, and Ana had always felt safe with Tonya at her side. Ghost had watched protectively over them both. Ana felt as if she had touched something deep inside the reserved woman; she hoped that maybe Tonya would be healed by the process.

  Moreover, she should be seeing Hrothgar soon. If Ana had calculated things correctly, he should be on his way back from the Federation. He was finished with his time in the military, and they could finally be together. As long as the war didn't get in the way, they could spend the rest of their lives together, and it would be good.

  Commodore Watkins slowly stood and looked around at the carnage in the room, horrified at what he saw. The marine commander stood there with the rifle held loosely in his very capable hands. He had disabled or killed the guards and Greenwood in seconds. Not that Watkins would have expected any less of an operative as skilled as Tebrey, but the sudden death was still shocking.

  "Commander?" he asked. He hoped that he wasn't next.

  "I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Greenwood intended to have me dissected and then killed. Please believe me when I say that I am who I say I am. I have no idea what he was talking about."

  "I do believe you, Commander. Why don't you hand me the gun?"

  "You know I can't do that, sir." Tebrey was torn as to what to do. He didn't want to kill the commodore, but he was hesitant to turn his back on him.

  "Are you going to kill me, Commander?"

  "I haven't decided, honestly."

  "I'd prefer that you didn't," Watkins said sincerely.

  Tebrey laughed. "Can you give me your word that you'll give me a few minutes to get away before you call out the marines?" He studied the man's face.

  Watkins sighed. "You know that I can't do that, Commander. You've killed civilian personnel on a military base. There has to be an inquiry. I'm sure you'll be exonerated, but…"

  "You'll understand, I'm sure, if I refuse to allow myself to be arrested again."

  "I do understand your position, Commander, but I give you my word that I had no idea what he was planning. You would be safe under military arrest."

  "I believe that you believe that, Commodore. That's why you're still alive. I think we both know that once I was in custody, they would do whatever they wanted to me despite your protests. You have my resignation. I'm leaving the Fleet and the Federation."

  "You'll never make it to orbit," said Watkins. "Even if you do, how are you going to evade the whole Fleet? You've murdered three, maybe four men. They'll come after you."

  Tebrey wasn't sure what had made the commodore change his wording from killed to murdered, but he didn't like it. "The less you know, the better, Commodore, for your sake."

  "So what now?"

  "I won't kill you, but I am sorry," Tebrey said.

  "For what?"

  "This." Tebrey stepped forward and carefully knocked the man out with the rifle butt. He made sure Watkins was alive but unconscious before turning to the door. By the time Tebrey left, everyone in the room was dead except the commodore.

  "Sir! Two of the Federation ships are powering up their weapons!"

  Torenth's attention snapped back from his gloomy thoughts about the death of the Federation admiral on whom the Concord's hopes had been riding. "Sound the alert! How long before they have a targeting solution on us?" he asked tensely.

  The weapons tech hesitated for a moment. "Umm, they aren't aiming at us, Captain. They just powered up their weapons. They are in lower orbits and have not powered up their engines."

  "That doesn't make any sense."

  "Captain! One of the destroyers just powered up its weapons and engines."

  "Is it coming toward us?"

  "No, sir. It seems to be heading toward the first two ships."

  "Is it the Manticore? Have they all gone mad?" Torenth asked no one in particu
lar. "Have our drive standing ready. We may need to get out of here fast."

  "Weapons, sir?"

  "No, not yet. Let's not call attention to ourselves."

  "What the hell do they think they are doing?" Captain Jin Rai exclaimed.

  "I don't know, sir. Both ships are refusing to answer hails."

  "Sir! I've got targeting solutions for their weapons. They are locked onto the surface."

  "Power our weapons and move us to intercept."

  Acceleration harnesses snapped down over the bridge crew as the ship surged forward. The klaxon was dampened out a little as Jin Rai put on his helmet.

  "Notify the other ships in orbit of what is happening and our intention to intervene by whatever means necessary."

  Lieutenant Jill Smith, the communications officer, swallowed nervously. "Sir," she acknowledged as she transmitted the message.

  "What is our time to intercept?" asked Jin Rai.

  "We're in weapons range now, sir."

  "I don't want to fire on them, Chief, goddammit," Jin Rai snapped. "I want us between them and the planet."

  "Yes, Captain. Three minutes till we reach that position under current speed. All of our defensive weapons are armed. ECM is going to be useless, though."

  "I'm well aware of that. Take us to full combat speed."

  "Sir, I should point out that there are civilian vessels that could be damaged by our gravitic wake."

  "Just do it, helm."

  "I have a message coming in, Captain. It is from the CSS Arcadia, sir."

  "Let me hear it."

  "Captain Jin Rai, we stand ready to assist you," said Captain Torenth.

  "Tell them to back off," Jin Rai replied. "We don't need an interstellar incident to complicate matters."

  "Captain, they're firing."

  "The Arcadia?"

  "No, Captain. The first cruiser – it's firing missiles at the planet!"