Schism of Blood and Stone (The Starfield Theory Book 1) (22 page)

It took them a few moments before they recognized his uniform and the captain's rank sewn on it. They waved him forward. Chris passed them, ignoring apologies, and stepped into the battery. There were a few more dead bodies nearby. The Hronguards who had died in the fighting were lined by the hatch. The Lotus marines had been dumped in a pile after being stripped of weapons and gear.

Chris actually had to do a double take when he saw Nick shaking the hand of Lord Morlan Pershing. Several other survivors were talking quietly while the ranking Hronguard was taking stock of the remnants of his command.

“Nick!” He shouted, running across the battery and embracing his first officer.

“I didn't think you'd stay on that bridge forever,” Nick responded with a partial grin, “but you shouldn't have come here until the ship was secure.”

“I wasn't going to send my people into danger if I wasn't going too,” Chris said.

“It's safer here than anywhere else,” Pershing added. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder. If there was going to be an attempt to take the vessel, he would do it now with the ship's officers here and the Hronguards destroyed. Chris eyed the weapon.

Pershing noticed. “You're not stupid, young captain,” he said. “You have nothing to fear from us. You could have turned us over to the Lotus, but instead you decided to fight. Even though you are merely a lowborn civilian, you have some fortitude in there somewhere.”

Chris nodded. “But Claire...my sister. Her cabin, there was a man in there. I killed him.”

“She's fine, Chris. She's in the other battery working on one of the Dominion soldiers who was shot,” Nick said. “She's fine. I promise.”

Chris breathed and closed his eyes. “I couldn't let-”

“I know.”

“The doctor? She is your sister?” Pershing asked raising an eyebrow.

Chris nodded slowly.

“The one who ran into the line of fire to drag away one of my wounded men? Apparently courage is something that runs in the family,” Pershing said, barking a laugh.

“She did what?!” Chris shouted.

“Don't worry about it,” Nick said, dismissing the captain's concern. “What about the remainder of the Lotus troopers? They came back this way pretty quickly.”

“There's probably only a half dozen or so left,” Pershing said. “You might be better off venting the hangar and being rid of the bastards.”

“I don't think I can do that,” Chris said. “Not after all this.”

Pershing shrugged. “Understood. If you're insistent on keeping them alive the Dominion will be happy to take them off your hands.”

“What will happen to them?” He asked slowly.

“Why do you care?”

“They're human beings,” Chris said, crossing his arms.

“They are pirates and will be treated as such,” Pershing said, determination hardening his face.

“Are we not pirates as well? Sneaking through solar systems with illegal technology, smuggling a prisoner of war back to his territory?” Chris planted his feet, squaring off against the older noble. “We're violating every law I can possibly think of in Dominion, Commonwealth, and Azuren legal codes.”

Pershing was quiet, not finding an answer immediately. He was saved by a Hronguard who cleared his throat loudly. “We're approaching the Dominion base. We're also talking to the Lotus still in the hangar. There's only four of them now.”

Chris nodded. “Thank you, corporal.” He turned back to the small group and added, “We should return to the bridge.”

The bridge was quiet for the remainder of the flight. The Dominion officers had returned to their areas in the cargo hold, except for Pershing who joined them on the bridge. The surviving Hronguards and Claire cleaned up the ship and cared for the dead and wounded as best as they were able. She was trying to stabilize as many as she could now and relying on the medical station at the Dominion base to save them when they arrived. The
Cleod
was no hospital ship.

The Dominion base itself was hardly what Chris had been expecting. Military bases were supposed to be huge with ammunition bays, vehicle and destrier hangers and neat rows upon rows of barracks. What he’d seen from the
MacCleod’s
window caused his shoulders to sag with disappointment. LNK X was the furthest world from the Letterkenny star. It was a tiny ice ball with just one moon orbiting in a lazy ellipse. Because it had no atmosphere, there were no roads, street lights, or even uniformed soldiers patrolling. Pershing explained the base was located underground, protected by the thick surface. It served as a pirate hunting base, kept well away from the system's habitable worlds and stations.

What was I expecting? Some sort of hero’s welcome? We fended off a few rogue Black Lotus ships and delivered some escaped Dominion soldiers. All of that is hardly noteworthy in the daily goings-on of the Caeph Dominion,
he thought morosely.

The
MacCleod
was signaled to land on a small metal platform on the surface of the proto-planet. The ship touched down slowly with Chen at the controls and after a few bumps, the ship settled. Once secured, the platform descended and two massive doors closed over the hole, encasing the
MacCleod
and her crew in darkness.

“Into the belly of the beast,” Nick said quietly.

Chris ignored him, but Lord Morlan did not. “No worries, my young friend. No harm will come to you while you’re in our care.”

Nick appeared to shoot him a look from across the bridge, but made no additional comment. Any camaraderie they shared in the fighting had apparently cooled.

Finally, the massive elevator settled and another pair of massive doors slid open to reveal a moderately sized chamber which served as a hangar for small combat vessels, frigates and fighter craft. Combat ships were stacked along the walls in their berths. This base was barely a staging area, an early warning system. It was a backwater posting, Chris realized, feeling further dejection. It was for the rejects of the front line Dominion units and officers who'd screwed up, but were too politically powerful to discharge. It was a black hole for careers doomed to fighting honorless pirates.

There was not much of a welcome for Lord Morlan himself, but Chris began to suspect that was the point. As grateful as the Dominion might be, they couldn't trust mercenaries with military secrets. One ship emblazoned with House Pershing's heraldry was waiting on the floor of the hangar. Gathered around the elevator were two individuals who looked like officers and several armed guards. The officers were shuffling around either impatient that the ship was late or anxious that a Dominion lord would soon be on station.

“I’d prefer to avoid too many questions from the garrison. It would be better if word of this does not spread,” Pershing explained, almost in apology. “I’m sure the garrison commander would like to talk with you and I’m sure you want to get paid.”

“That sounds fine by me, my lord,” Chris responded dourly. “We'd like to avoid answering too many questions ourselves.”

“Understandable.”

“Chen, watch the bridge and get us ready for takeoff and tell Claire to step outside. Nick come with me,” Chris said. Then, as an afterthought, he added, “Keep the Hronguards on board.”

The fewer people out there with guns, the better, especially knowing the history of the Hronguards and the Dominion.

Chris led his officers and the Dominion group to the ship’s personnel access doors. The doors opened and the Dominion nobleman took the head of his troopers and led them from the ship towards the gathered Dominion greeting party.

Claire joined them as they stepped out. Her uniform was covered in blood and her eyes appeared tired and sad. Two of the Dominion soldiers carried their friend off the ship on a stretcher. He did not look alive.

Chris waited at the foot of the ramp as Lord Pershing exchanged salutes with the what appeared to be the ranking officer. They spoke quietly for a few moments before he gestured back at Chri
s and waved him forward and he approached alone. The hangar was cold, dark and smelled musty, much like Garda.

The garrison commander stood about Chris' height and kept her hair tied back behind her head in a neat ponytail. She had her arms crossed over her chest and regarded Chris with a glare as cold as the hangar. Her dark brown eyes did not seem to be much in the mood for dealing with the details of this little exchange. Her tapping foot indicated she'd rather be anywhere else. Chris read the small name tag: “D. Col. Moore.”

“This is Captain Kristoffer of the
MacCleod
. His crew brought us from Goteborg and fought off a Black Lotus raid. We have prisoners which will need to be processed and dealt with,” Pershing said by way of introduction.

“And a Commonwealth subject no less,” the demi-colonel said regarding Chris as if he were some sort of demented chainsaw murderer. “How'd they get you to smuggle Dominion soldiers?”

“What do you mean, Colonel?” Chris asked suddenly feeling brave.

Moore sighed as if explaining the concept to a child. “Your people are supposed to hate us and yet you willingly enter our space, cooperate with our people and protect them against marauders. Are all Commonwealth subjects motivated by money rather than morals?”

Chris bristled at being the insult, but did his best to ignore the demi-colonel's slight. “We expect only the favor be repaid. In return for the transport of your general, we want guarantees for the safety of innocents at Goteborg as a show of good faith. You must be familiar with the concept, no? We know that's your next target.”

Moore laughed, a sharp noise like two metal rods crashed together. “Our young captain here is trying some diplomacy on us.”

The comment drew smirks from several of the other Caephites present. Pershing narrowed his brow which silenced all but Moore.

“We will do what we can for the Goteborg civilians,” Pershing said authoritatively. “As long as they don't resist, I see no reason for them to be harmed.”

Moore seemed to snort quietly about the efficacy of her commander's statement and excused herself to handle the Lotus prisoners. They had been pulled from their shuttle by the surviving Hronguards after they tossed in an incapacitation grenade. The prisoners were still groggy, disoriented and dazed. Her staff followed her to the group of pirates under the watch of the Hronguards leaving Chris alone with Pershing.

“You know it's her type of personality that will ensure this war remain perpetually brutal,” Chris spat. “No offense intended, my lord.”

Pershing nodded. “Dame Moore is just bitter. It's a back world moon and her only task is pirate-hunting. She's been out here for months and has had little success. You crippled two Lotus frigates in a civilian craft and wiped out an entire marine unit with nothing but mercenaries. I think you can understand her frustration.”

Chris tried not to blush. “It doesn't look like she has many resources,” Chris said, gesturing at the empty racks.

Pershing grinned. “Nice try. Don't think we'd bring out the entire force just for this. Or maybe this is really all we have here and everything we have is ready to hit Goteborg.”

“'Deception is the foundation of all war.'”

“Hmm quoting Lord General Herad is a rarity these days. A student of war are you?”

“Only in its theory.”

“Not after today.”

Pershing waved to an aide. A smartly dressed man wearing a Dominion uniform and boots so polished Chris could see his reflection hurried forward and saluted in an over dramatic fashion.

“My Lord?”

“My data pad please,” Pershing ordered.

The aide produced a small tablet and handed it over to the general then retreated to a safe distance. He seemed fearful, even timid, hovering just out of earshot.

“My squire,” Pershing grunted in explanation as he tapped a few keys on the pad. “Your payment has been secured. You are welcome to stay here a few days to conduct repairs on your ship and see to your wounded. We will provide medical supplies and body bags where needed. As I'm sure you understand, I cannot reinforce your security detail. If you run into the Lotus again, you will be on your own.”

“Yes, thank you, my lord,” Chris said somberly.

Pershing arced a regal eyebrow. “Something bothering you, Captain?”

Chris hesitated, “I feel like this money is dirty. I don't know if I want-”

“Don't mind what Moore said. If you cared more about the money you'd have tried to ransom us off to the Lotus to save your own skins. Instead you placed yourself and your crew in danger to protect your cargo.”

Chris cast his eyes at the cold floor, unable to look at the nobleman. “I was sealed and secured on the bridge. I was never in any danger.”

Pershing placed a hand on his shoulder. “That is the curse of being in charge. You are more important alive and in control than fighting alongside your men. There are times when you will discover, probably to your chagrin, that your life is actually more valuable than those of others.”

“What of Goteborg then? Do I sit idly by as your troops crush my homeworld?”

Pershing paused. “I didn't realize you are a Goteborg native. A subject of House Evers then? You have family there?”