The Fallen

by Paul B Spence

  "I understand that," said Ana. "My parents sold me into slavery when they couldn't marry me off, remember? I understand about hate. I also know that it does no good at all. Your father wants to make up for lost time now that he knows you're alive. Why squander that? I'd give a lot to see my parents alive again, and not to berate them. I loved them. They did what they thought was best for me."

  Tebrey scooped her up in his arms and held her tight. "Ana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up bad memories."

  Ana shrugged in his tight embrace. "All I'm saying is that I'd give him a chance if I were you."

  Hunter came over and shoved his head against them both. I know he's weird,

  Hunter thought. But who do we know that isn't? And we need all the allies we can get.

  "Do you miss Bellejor, Ana?"

  "I miss the city sometimes, yes. I miss the shops and the bright skies. I'd don't miss the people much. I missed my sister, but I missed her for long before I left Cedeforthy. She still didn't want anything to do with me."

  "I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you."

  "Tonya and Ghost went with me. They kept me safe."

  "Hmm."

  "You don't like her, do you?"

  Tebrey smiled at her. "It isn't so much that I don't like as I don't know her. I don't think she likes me very much, though."

  She doesn't, Hunter added. Ghost told me.

  "There you go," said Tebrey.

  "Give her a chance to warm to you. She's been hurt; she's still healing."

  "Have you two…?" he asked hesitantly. He'd known his wife liked women since they'd met on Cedeforthy, but he hadn't expected her to act on it.

  Ana blushed. "I'm not going to lie and say I haven't thought about it, but no. We haven't had sex, or even kissed. She's been very ladylike."

  Hunter snorted.

  "What?"

  I'm not sure I'd call her a lady – not to her face anyway, Hunter thought to them. Ghost says she is pretty wild.

  You two seem to be getting along well. Something we should know? Tebrey asked.

  I think we are close to reaching an agreement.

  "Agreement?" Ana asked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  "He's horny all the time," said Tebrey. "All he ever thinks about is a hot piece of tail."

  "Like his brother, huh?"

  "Hey! I'm not like that!"

  "No? Your body says otherwise."

  "Hmm."

  Bauval lay awake and thought about the last two years. The sheets rustled next to him as Mason turned over, muttering. Neither of them had gotten much rest since they had first learned of the Andhakaara. Mason hadn't said anything, but he knew that battle at Dawn bothered her. They had just gotten used to living there when the war came, and she'd had so much turmoil in her life already.

  There wasn't a lot they could do about it. They were scientists, not soldiers. Last year, they'd been worried about the Nurgg attacking, and hoping the Federation would rescue them on Cedeforthy. Now they were worried about the Federation attacking them.

  At least life hasn't been dull, Bauval thought tiredly.

  Chapter Seventy-Seven

  The sudden scream of the intruder alert cut through the thoughts of the watch officer, Lt. Commander Martin Percival, like a knife against raw nerves. He'd been reviewing the reports from Environmental Engineering. The techs there were concerned about the load on the ship's systems from the extra personnel aboard.

  The ravaged Concord Fleet had come trickling into orbit around Steinway over the last two days. The most seriously wounded personnel who had survived the week-long trip from Dawn had been transferred down to the planet's hospitals. Unfortunately, there were too many wounded to be cared for on the surface. Ships that were relatively intact, like the Halberd, were being used as temporary hospital ships.

  Percival snapped out orders and checked the sensor readouts, then knew that the worst fears of Fleet Command had been realized.

  "What have we got, XO?" asked Captain Fredrick Thomas as he entered the bridge.

  "From the entropic field levels, I'd say it's a Theta entity, Captain," Percival replied, sweating. "Forward berthing compartments. Marines are en route."

  Captain Thomas paled; those forward compartments were filled to overflowing with wounded. A Theta entity in there would be like a wild beast in a feeding frenzy. They wouldn't have a chance.

  "Get me Admiral Shadovsky!" he ordered.

  "Respectfully, sirs, I'm not sure I agree that we need to attack Federation worlds in retaliation," Captain Viknorov said to the admirals and senior officials gathered on her ship. "It seems the wrong path for us to take."

  "I have to agree with the captain," added Admiral Shadovsky. "She raises a very valid point about our path. We're fighting a war against more than just the Federation here. The Earth Federation isn't really our enemy."

  "Forgive me if I disagree, Admiral," Minister of Defense Gregory Merchant said, his voice laden with sarcasm. The minister was the senior surviving Concord government official. "It seems to me that with the attack at Dawn by the Federation, they have quite clearly made themselves our enemy."

  "I understand how you might have made that mistake, Minister. However, I believe that the Federation is no more to blame for what has happened than we are. They are being manipulated. Strikes against civilian populations at this time will only further increase the misunderstanding."

  "Misunderstanding?" Merchant snapped, slapping the table for emphasis. "They blew away more than half our Fleet and smashed our homeworld. I'd call that a bit more than a misunderstanding. We need to be sorting through the survivors and having war crimes tribunals."

  "They attacked us in retaliation for our supposed bombing of Prism," Mandor pointed out. "There is a further consideration. The Rhyrhans have very definite rules of conduct concerning civilians in war. The Federation has broken those rules. So far, we have not. If we begin indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations, the Rhyrhans would, at best, withdraw from the Concord. That will weaken us far more than the attack on Dawn has."

  There were nods around the table. The Rhyrhans were well known to have a strong distaste for anyone who killed civilians. They were still hunting the Nurgg because of it. No one wanted to know how they would react to humans doing the same. There had been speculation that the Rhyrhans might consider humanity too sick to live if they continued down the path they were headed.

  "I concede both points of view," said Admiral Macklin. "There aren't going to be any war tribunals. That is a slippery slope, and we don't need or want witch hunts. I think a general pardon would do far more to secure our position. However, we need to do something. Can you suggest anything better, Admiral Shadovsky?"

  "I think so," Mandor replied. "We should target every military and government installation we know about, all across the Federation. Demonstrate our technological superiority, starting with the base on Luna. That will be a statement. Hit the capitol, destroy all ability for the Federation to govern itself. Take out Fleet shipyards and supply depots. Destroy refueling stations. Board and confiscate every ship we find that has a jump drive. The Federation is hovering on the edge of civil war and governmental collapse. Let's speed it along."

  "What you are suggesting will require a lot of personnel and ships, Admiral," Captain Viknorov said, nodding. "We're going to need all of them if we are to defend against further attack."

  "Forget about defense," said Mandor.

  Several people around the table gasped.

  "It would be extremely unethical for us to leave our people open to further attacks like the last one," said Merchant.

  "More unethical than bombing civilian populations?" Mandor countered. He didn't like the defense minister, never had, and his demands for war crimes tribunals furthered that dislike.

  "This is something that needs to be considered at length," said Macklin, cutting through the babble of conversation that had sprung up. "Admiral Shadovsky's recommendation has the merit of disru
pting our enemy's ability to wage war against us. We owe it to the rest of the Concord to provide defense. We must protect them against aggression. Perhaps we can balance the two."

  "Exactly. I feel that we have to –" A chime interrupted him. "A moment, if you please," Mandor said. It was his personal channel to his aide Bruce, still aboard the Arcadia. Mandor knew that Bruce would never interrupt unless it was important. He listened to his aide's message and then paled.

  "We have a problem," he announced.

  "What is it?" asked Macklin.

  "We have reports coming in of Theta attacks on the Halberd, the Talisman, and the Janissary. Reports are sketchy, but it looks like the marines aboard will not be able to contain the entities."

  "Dear lord," Merchant said. "What can we do?"

  "Order the Fleet to fall back and prepare to destroy those ships," Mandor replied.

  "That seems a bit extreme, Admiral," said Macklin. "Those ships are filled to capacity with wounded. Surely we could send in some marines..."

  "Admiral, you're not going to be able to get more marines on to those ships in time to do any good. If the Thetas take control of those ships, they'll open fire on the rest of the Fleet or even on Steinway. This is the real enemy I was warning you all about."

  Macklin nodded. "I defer to your greater knowledge about these things. I know you've been tracking the attacks for years. I'll order the Fleet to fall back from those ships and prepare for offensive action."

  "Good," Mandor said, standing.

  "How did they get aboard?"

  "They have their ways," said Mandor. "If you'll excuse me."

  "Where are you going?" asked Merchant, his eyes wide.

  "I'm going to see if I can find a way to save those ships," Mandor replied. Then he apported away from the startled council.

  Torenth watched as the neat, ordered ranks of Concord starships dissolved into chaos. Ships scattered away from the three beleaguered vessels – from which reports of horrible carnage were coming in – trying to get away from the horror of an enemy that could strike anywhere, at any time.

  As if distance would help them, Torenth thought bitterly.

  Admiral Macklin's orders were to prepare to destroy the three ships if it looked like the enemy was gaining control of them. The captains of the ships had been notified, but they had been ordered not to launch shuttles. The rest of the Fleet couldn't trust that the enemy wouldn't be aboard them.

  Admiral Shadovsky is now aboard, the ship's MI notified Torenth via datalink.

  Torenth blinked in confusion and studied his displays. No shuttles had docked with the Arcadia. He knew that the admiral was capable of apportation, but he'd only seen him do it once. Apportation was extremely dangerous to try even when the reference points were fairly fixed, like on a planet; jumping from ship to ship was as dangerous as it got.

  Someone gasped on the bridge as a destroyer barely missed a collision with the Arcturus.

  This is getting out of control, thought Torenth.

  "Admiral!" Bruce cried out as Mandor appeared in his office aboard the Arcadia.

  "No time," Mandor gasped, falling to his knees. "Get me Tebrey, Harris, Lyra, and Drake. Tell them to meet me in the armory."

  "Sir!" Bruce darted out the door, and Mandor forced himself up.

  Apporting across sixty thousand kilometers without a clear frame of reference had been the scariest thing he had ever done in his life, barring fighting the Theta. It was as much shock as fatigue that had forced him to his knees when he arrived.

  Mandor snatched the psi-conductor blade from the rack behind his desk and headed down to the armory, two decks below. Time was of the essence. He knew from personal experience that a Theta entity could gain control of a ship in minutes if motivated. As harsh as it sounded, he hoped the suffering from the wounded would distract it, and he hoped that the marines aboard the three ships would be able to slow the enemies down long enough for help to arrive.

  He tried not to think about what would happen if he failed what he was about to attempt. As far as he knew, no one had ever tried a rescue as daring as what he was planning.

  No one has ever been crazy enough to try it, he thought. I really need to talk to Macklin about a special response unit.

  Chapter Seventy-Eight

  "What's going on?" Tebrey demanded as Bruce burst into his cabin.

  "Thetas are attacking the Fleet! Admiral Shadovsky wants you and Ms. Lyra to meet him in the armory," Bruce said. "Do you know where your father is?"

  "No. You might try Medical. I think that guy he brought in is getting implants today."

  "Right." Bruce dashed off.

  Tebrey swept Ana up in his arms and kissed her soundly, then headed out the door. No words were necessary; she knew that he had to do what he could. Lyra and Hunter followed close on his heels as he ran for the lift.

  "I can only assume the admiral is going to ask for our assistance in retaking the ships," Tebrey said to Lyra as the doors closed. "Will you help?"

  "Of course," Lyra answered. "I'm always ready to fight the enemy." Green fire rolled up her arms from her clenched fists. She smiled grimly. "You know, Tebrey, you might be just what the Circle needs. I haven't fought this much in years. You've kept us on our toes."

  "I seem to be good at that," Tebrey replied as they trotted down the corridor to the armory.

  Bruce was talking animatedly to Mandor as they arrived. Tebrey wondered briefly how the aide had managed to beat them down there.

  "We can't find Drake," said Mandor without preamble.

  "I'm not his keeper," Tebrey replied.

  Mandor nodded curtly. "Can I count on you two?" he asked. Mandor was stripped naked and donning his powered armor.

  Tebrey started prepping his own battered suit. "You've got Hunter and me," he said.

  "I'll fight," said Lyra. "I don't suppose that you have an extra suit of that armor, do you? It looks like it could be handy."

  "It takes hours to prep and adjust a new suit to fit someone," Mandor answered. "And you need to be trained to wear it so you don't kill yourself." Bruce handed Mandor his sword and a bulky, lethal looking pistol.

  "What's that?" Tebrey asked as he stripped. His own suit was cycling open behind him.

  "Quantum annihilation pistol, dangerous to use on a ship," Bruce said. "Or anywhere else, for that matter."

  "Is that like what the Nurgg used?" asked Tebrey. He stepped back into his armor and let it seal itself around him.

  "Yes. It flat-lines matter and energy probability waves in the path of the beam effect. It's absolutely lethal, with a maximum tunable range of fifty meters," said Mandor. "The psionic backwash is a bitch "

  "I remember," Tebrey said. He'd fought against the Nurgg. The annihilation effect of the weapon was frightening, but the psionic effect was worse. "Better give me a pair anyway. It's got to be more effective than antimatter pistols." He bent and helped Hunter into his armored spacesuit.

  "Okay, Bruce will get them for you," said Mandor. "I'd set it as low as it will go, about four meters. Don't aim it at an exterior bulkhead."

  "Yeah, I figured that," Tebrey replied.

  "Tebrey, are you ready for this?" asked Lyra.

  "No. I'll muddle through, though."

  Tonya and Ghost came running down the corridor, armed and armored. "Admiral, where are the enemy?"

  "They're attack some of the ships closer to Steinway."

  "We taking a shuttle?"

  "Not exactly."

  "I'd like you to work with Tebrey and Ghost, if you have no objections."

  Tonya shook her head. "No, Admiral, I have no objections."

  "Good. Lyra, will you be able to get Harris, Ghost, Tebrey, and Hunter over to one of the ships?" Mandor said.

  "I can do that."

  "I'll take the Halberd," Mandor said. He brought up the positions of the ships in his mind so Lyra would know which ones he meant. "If one of you could take the Talisman, and the other the Janissary, I think we ca
n beat them. I wish we had time to work together, but I'm afraid we don't."

  "Are you going to be okay alone?" Lyra asked Mandor.

  "It won't be the first time."

  Bruce handed the bulky quantum pistols to Tebrey and nodded. "Good luck."

  "Ready?" Mandor asked.

  "No," Tebrey replied as he straightened from helping Hunter into his armored spacesuit. He glanced at Tonya, but her helmet was on, and she wasn't giving anything away. "Let's go. Do your people know we're coming?"

  "No," said Mandor. "Try not to get shot."

  Tebrey laughed. "Easy for you to say. We're ready."

  Lyra nodded, and then the disorientation of an apport swept over Tebrey.

  The five of them arrived near the bridge of the Talisman. Tebrey immediately opened a communications channel and announced himself as Lyra disappeared.

  "Who did you say you are?" the voice on the line asked. "How did you get aboard?"

  "Hrothgar Tebrey," he answered. "Formerly of the Federation. I'm working with Admiral Shadovsky."

  "Bridge, this is Lt. Commander Tonya Harris with Special Operations. You asked for help; we're here. Stop fucking around. Now, where is the Theta?"

  "Forward compartments, C-deck. Our marines are falling back. They can't hold it. You're not going up there, are you?"

  "Why the hell do you think we're here? Tell them we're coming up. Lt. Commander Tebrey is in Federation battle armor, with a suited neo-panther. I'm in Concord armor, also with a suited neo-panther. Tell them not to shoot us or I'm going to get angry."

  Tebrey couldn't help but admire her audacity.

  This is crazy, Hunter thought to him. It's bad enough that we run into the damn things all the time. Do we really have to go looking for them?

  You didn't have to come.

  Right, Hunter thought. You know that Ana would skin me if I let anything happen to you. Besides, I have to look good in front of Ghost.