A Show of Force (20 page)

Out of the corner of his eye, on one of the screens to his left, the general noticed something. He turned his attention to the left-most screen. “There,” he said, pointing to the screen. “Magnify that feed. Where is that?”

“Tower five, General.”

“Pan to the right, slowly,” the general ordered.

On the view screen he could see inhabitants of the neighborhood that surrounded the garrison evacuating the immediate area. “They’re evacuating the locals!” he realized. He turned back to the communications officer. “You say you get no response from our ships in orbit?”

“It’s as if they are not there,” the communications officer replied.

“That’s because they are not!” he realized.

“How is that possible?” the communications officer wondered, looking perplexed.

“Order all forces not currently engaged with the enemy to report to the underground bunkers, immediately!” the general ordered.

The communications officer did not waste time responding, but rather carried out the general’s orders without delay. “Attention! Attention! Orderly retreat to the bunkers! Take cover and prepare for bombardment!”

The ground started to vibrate beneath the general’s feet. “Oh, God,” he exclaimed as the intensity of the vibration increased. He looked at the view screens again, as a hailstorm of rail gun rounds began to pummel the garrison. Buildings exploded in clouds of dust and debris as the kinetic energy of the supersonic rounds blasted them wide open. Vehicles exploded. Bodies and body parts were strewn in all directions. Then the power went out and the command center was plunged into darkness. The general turned to head for the exit, but it was too late, as the ceiling came down on top of them in a deafening roar.

A vehicle full of Jung pilots screeched to a stop along the flight line at the air base outside of Galinda. Enemy fighters streaked overhead, appearing and disappearing behind blue-white flashes of light, remaining visible only long enough to deliver their weapons onto the hundreds of fighters on the tarmac. The pilots jumped from the vehicle even before it stopped, hitting the ground in a run toward their waiting ships.

Two flashes of light appeared low over the horizon at the far end of the line of fighters. Trails of smoke announced their weapons release, and seconds later, the fighters at the far end of the line exploded, one after another. The enemy attackers opened up with their nose turrets, strafing the row of fighters as they passed overhead, destroying even more of them before they too disappeared in flashes of light.

Three of the Jung fighters managed to pull away without damage and roll out onto the open tarmac. Once clear of the line, they fired their lift thrusters and began to rise off the ground.

Enemy combat shuttles appeared all about the base as their flashes of light faded. The falling shuttles quickly stabilized into hovers less than four to five meters above the ground, remaining just long enough for six-man teams of black-clad soldiers to jump from their open doorways to the tarmac below. The soldiers hit the ground, running and firing with great precision. Shoulder-mounted mini-lasers found their targets with ease, burning down Jung troops attempting to repel the invaders with their invisible beams of intense energy.

The enemy combat shuttles, their passengers now on the ground, were free to maneuver. Each one spun around in choreographed fashion, immediately bringing their guns onto points of interest. Defense ground emplacements were targeted first, followed by armed vehicles and any soldiers foolish enough to attempt to fire on the shuttles.

The three Jung fighters had already climbed and begun their turn to engage several of the combat shuttles that were now peppering their fellow Jung on the surface. Just as they brought their noses onto a group of shuttles, bolts of plasma energy tore through all three fighters, breaking them apart into fiery sections that tumbled to the ground and exploded, destroying more assets in the process. As the third fighter hit the ground and came apart, two of the enemy fighters streaked overhead, pitched up, and disappeared in flashes of light.

“Galinda has fallen,” the warden’s assistant reported. “It just came over the global command channel. Every major city reports contact with military forces wearing black armor. They say they are like none they have ever seen, rivaling our own Quintouri.”

The warden looked at his assistant. “And the garrison?”

“It has been completely obliterated,” his assistant replied. “From orbit, no less.”

“Then our space forces must have been overpowered as well,” the warden concluded.

“How can that be?” his assistant asked in disbelief.

“I do not know.”

The assistant looked about, feeling helpless. “What are we to do? The prisoners are already restless, the bombings, the alarms… they know something is happening, something big. If any of them should manage to get free…”

“That will not happen,” the warden insisted. “They are locked down tight, are they not?”

“Yes, but…”

“Then that is where they will stay,” the warden insisted.

“
Tower four is under attack!
” a voice cried over the communications panel.

“
Tower two is under attack!
”

A distant explosion shook the room. The warden stumbled for a moment, then ran to the windows. On the far wall, across the compound below, a cloud of dust and smoke wafted upward slowly in the still night air. Guards rushed toward the dust cloud, weapons at the ready.

Red-orange bolts of energy leapt out of the dust cloud by the dozens, striking the guards down. In only an instant, what had been ten defenders was now zero. Out of the smoke and dust came soldiers clad in flat-black combat armor, their faces covered by reflective face shields. The enemy troops charged confidently forward, firing only as needed. They moved with grace, speed, and precision, spreading out across the compound as they headed for the various entrances into the main buildings.

“They are here,” the warden gasped. He spun around to face his assistant. “Disable the system. Remove all power. Those prisoners must remain in custody!”

“Yes, sir!” his assistant replied. He repeated the warden’s instructions over his headset, just as the lights went dark.

“I meant the cell controls, not the entire complex!” the warden barked.

“It was not us,” his assistant replied. “They must have cut the power!”

“Call for an evac shuttle!” the warden demanded. “We have to get out of here!”

“How?” his assistant asked. “We have no power.”

“A portable then,” the warden insisted. “We will take a portable and go on the roof. A shuttle can pick us off the…”

“The portables do not have sufficient range,” his assistant told him. “Even if they did, I doubt there are any shuttles available.”

“Damn it! We have to try!”

Commander Telles stood in the mobile command post located on the recently captured air base outside of the Pylian city of Galinda, watching the various feeds from the dozens of Ghatazhak teams currently assaulting targets of concern all over the planet.

“Aurora flight ops reports they now control all Pylian airspace,” Master Sergeant Jahal reported.

Commander Telles pointed at one of the view screens on the wall. “Is that…”

“Kellen?” the master sergeant replied. “Why yes, I believe it is.”

“What is he doing?”

Master Sergeant Jahal cocked his head to one side as he examined the view screen. “I’m not sure,” he replied, glancing down at his data pad. “His team was tasked with taking control of the Jung prison outside of Laminar.”

“Audio,” the commander ordered.

“
There is no need,
” Lieutenant Kellen’s voice said over the speakers in the mobile command center. “
Open the cells… all of them.
”

The lieutenant’s master sergeant looked at him, unsure of the lieutenant’s decision. “
As you wish, sir.
”

The view from the lieutenant’s helmet camera shifted as the lieutenant moved out of the control cage and onto the landing that looked down over the cell block below. The cell block appeared to stretch into infinity from his perspective. An alarm squawked, and the sound of turning locks and sliding metal doors echoed through the massive, multi-tiered cell block. The lieutenant’s head swept back and forth as he scanned the men moving tentatively out of their cells to see what was going on. “
Prisoners of the Jung!
” the lieutenant called out in full volume. “
I am Lieutenant Kellen of the Alliance! We have come to give you a chance at freedom! Take this prison now, then take back your world!
”

Cheers erupted from the prisoners below, as they began to run toward the exits.

The lieutenant’s helmet camera again moved about as the lieutenant moved back into the control cage to face his master sergeant. “
Order our men to retreat to the roofs of the cell blocks for extraction. Best that we stay out of the prisoners’ way.
” The lieutenant then looked directly into his master sergeant’s helmet camera. “
Commander, I trust you’ll send us a couple of jump shuttles?
”

Commander Telles looked at the flight controller and nodded. A small smile crept into the corner of his mouth. “Interesting tactic,” he said to Master Sergeant Jahal. “We shall have to keep an eye on Lieutenant Kellen. He shows promise.”

“I’ll make a note of it, Commander,” the master sergeant replied.

“Comms, message to the Aurora. Tell them that we should have complete control over the surface by local sunrise.”

CHAPTER SIX

Casimir Ta’Akar sat quietly, watching the other nobles bicker. Such market conferences always descended into the same unproductive arguments, as nobles accused one another of trying to undercut them, and always in clear violation of whatever deals they had agreed upon behind closed doors. It had always amazed him how these men were never willing to commit the details of such arrangements to paper, yet were so quick to claim foul when someone failed to live up to their promises.

It was for this reason that he was not surprised that the nobles on the Security Council had so expertly avoided making any commitments to the support of Sol. He was quite certain, had he handed power to Parliament before signing the Alliance charter, the nobles would still be trying to find a way to sweeten that deal to their benefit as well. Although he did not agree with his dead brother’s tactics, he did understand his desire to take action.

However, he still believed that, given time, the people of Takara would force their leaders to take responsibility and actually govern. In the meantime, however, the nobles were more worried about securing and possibly increasing their holdings before new regulations and changes in the economic structure of the Pentaurus cluster took effect. It was a distasteful situation, but one that had to be waited out. Eventually, the dust would settle, and the way forward would be clear to all.

“That propellant is not usable in our engines,” Lord Markly argued.

The mention of propellant caught Casimir’s attention, pulling him out of his daydreaming.

“Not as delivered, no,” Lord Manglar agreed, “but it can be used by Volon and Palee, as well as many of the ships trading with the Haven group. Those ships will no longer be forced to buy our products, especially if the Tannan propellant is cheaper. And let us not forget, the conversion process is quick, and requires only a modest investment to make the propellant available in all formulas. If that happens…”

“You are worrying about something that has yet to, and may never become a reality,” Lord Arralo chimed in. “The volumes currently being shipped are barely enough to generate the financial support needed for Casimir’s escapades in the Sol sector… and let us not forget that it is nearly a thousand light years away. Regardless of the jump drive, it still takes time and resources to transport that propellant back to the Pentaurus sector. That is where our edge lies.”

Casimir looked at Lord Arralo with disdain. “Escapades in the Sol sector? Is that what you think it is? Some sort of a ‘pet project’, a diversion for a rich prince? There are millions of people dying over there…”

“This is not the appropriate forum for this discussion,” Lord Dahra interrupted.

“I think it is,” Casimir insisted. “Dahra, Tammer, Markly… only Sorat and Larkspur are missing. Perhaps we should call them in and settle this now. After all, the more I have to finance this ‘escapade’ on my own, the more reason I have to flood Pentaurus markets with Tannan propellant. Is that not one of the topics of this meeting?”

“Are you threatening to…” Lord Markly began.

“I threaten no one,” Casimir interrupted. “Unlike you people, I speak in facts, and I do not hide my intentions behind verbiage intended to distract.” Casimir paused, looking at the nobles.

“Since you have already taken the floor, you might as well tell us what is truly on your mind, my prince,” Lord Dahra said.

Casimir hated Dahra’s use of the term ‘my prince’, as his use of it was not a show of respect, but rather disdain. Lord Dahra, in fact, the entire House of Dahra, had always disputed House Ta’Akar’s position of leadership over that of their own. The condescending tone he used whenever he spoke to Casimir exhibited his continued feelings on the matter. At times, it was all Casimir could do to keep from slapping the old man across his unnaturally younger looking face.

“The propellant market is the least of your worries,” Casimir began. “You should be worried about the technological advantages that Corinair, and any other member of the Alliance will have over us once the contents of the Data Ark have been translated and distributed.”

“And why would that give others an advantage over Takara?” Lord Dahra wondered.

Casimir knew that Dahra was baiting him, but he did not care. “Because the Alliance is unlikely to share the contents with those who are not living up to their responsibilities under the charter.”

“I’m confused,” Lord Dahra replied. “Did we not repair their ship? Did we not supply them with additional crew? Did we not give them ample supplies to safely return to their part of the galaxy?”

“For which we received the jump drive technology.”

“Quite correct. However, according to the terms of the Alliance charter, we have violated nothing. We are simply taking a reasonable amount of time in order to make a responsible decision about how best to support the Alliance’s efforts in the Sol sector.”

“I suspect that the Alliance may not interpret your intentions the same way,” Casimir warned.

“You forget, my prince, that the data cores are here, on Takara.”

“How could I have forgotten,” Casimir retorted. “They are under my care, are they not?”

“Indeed they are,” Lord Dahra agreed.

“And as their caretaker, I am bound by honor to do with them as their owners dictate.”

Lord Dahra paused a moment, choosing his words carefully. “Prince Casimir, when you signed the Alliance charter, on whose behalf were you doing so?”

“Which time?” Casimir asked, his expression unchanged.

“Pardon?”

“My name is on the charter twice. Once for Takara, and once for the Karuzari Nation.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lord Dahra retorted. “The Karuzari Nation is nothing more than an asteroid base, wholly dependent upon outside support…”

“I beg to differ,” Casimir interrupted. “They are a sovereign nation, with legitimate exports that they sell to…”

“They no longer reside within the sector…” Lord Dahra argued, his impatience beginning to show.

“There is nothing in the Alliance charter that says a member cannot relocate their entire world,” Casimir said, purposefully interrupting Lord Dahra in return so as to further irritate him. “And, I suspect that as one who has signed on behalf of both entities, I am more than honor bound to act in the interests of all parties…”

“You are honor bound to serve the people of Takara!” Lord Dahra insisted, his patience nearing its limits.

“…Therefore,” Casimir continued, ignoring Dahra’s outburst, “if the Alliance concludes that Takara has not fulfilled its duties under the charter, and they decide to withhold the contents of the Data Ark from them, then I shall be required to obey their…”

“What you are describing could be considered an act of treason!” Lord Dahra exclaimed. “You call yourself a Takaran, yet you…”

“Did you not claim, at the last Security Council meeting, that the Data Ark could not possibly contain anything of technological significance to the people of Takara?” Casimir argued. “If that is the case, Lord Dahra, then your concerns are unjustified, are they not?”

“Have you no honor?” Lord Dahra exclaimed.

“You do not know the meaning of the word!” Casimir shouted. “Not one of you!” he added, his open hand pounding the table. “You sit and discuss your business arrangements. You count your money, you maximize your holdings, and you tabulate your influences. Yet none of you is willing to risk anything for the greater good of Takara, let alone humanity in general!” Casimir laughed. “And you still have the unmitigated gall to call yourselves ‘noblemen’?”

“You might want to choose your words more wisely, Casimir,” Lord Dahra warned. “For the leader of House Ta’Akar should not go about making idle threats.”

“I do not make threats, Lord Dahra,” Casimir replied, his temper barely controlled. “I make statements of fact, and the fact is, that the Alliance is asking me if and when Takara will be sending aid. At this point in time, I am forced to tell them that I have no answer, and I am not expecting one for several months at best. After which, I suspect the Alliance will insist that I hand the data cores over to the Corinairans, whom they rightfully trust a good deal more than the Takarans.” Casimir stood and straightened his jacket. “That, my dear Lord Dahra, is what an honorable man does.”

Casimir turned and headed out of the room.

“We have not finished this discussion, Casimir!” Lord Dahra exclaimed as Prince Casimir burst through the exit doors. “Do you hear me?”

The door closed behind Casimir as he marched out of the room and into the corridor, where his bodyguards waited. Behind him, the voices of the other lords could be heard as their own debates about his statements and intentions began.

“I take it the meeting went well?” Casimir’s principal bodyguard inquired, a smile on his face.

“It could have gone better,” Casimir admitted. “I suspect a timely departure from the building would be in order,” Casimir added as he continued down the corridor past his bodyguards.

“Of course, sire,” his principal bodyguard replied, falling into step behind his prince.

* * *

“Flight ops reports Commander Telles and the Pylian diplomats are on board, Captain,” Ensign Gambara reported from the Aurora’s comm station.

“Threat board, Lieutenant?” Nathan inquired from his command chair.

“Threat board is clear, sir,” Lieutenant Delaveaga replied.

“Mister Riley, take us back to Sol.”

“Aye, Captain,” Ensign Riley acknowledged. “Plotting jump back to Sol.”

“Lieutenant,” Nathan said as he rose from his chair and headed aft. “Take us back to Sol and make port in the Karuzara. They have a new plasma cannon turret to install on our topside.”

“Aye, sir,” Luis replied.

“Send Commander Telles to my ready room when he arrives,” Nathan instructed the guard as he entered his ready room. He moved around his desk and took his seat, then called up the latest reports from the surface of Pylius. They had liberated the system and removed all Jung forces with surprisingly little loss of life. The Ghatazhak losses had been minimal, as had the collateral damage to the Pylians themselves. Even better, neither the Aurora, nor either of the Scout ships had sustained any damage. The KKVs had done their job on the battle platform and battle ship, just as planned. If the Karuzara work teams could crank out the kinetic kill vehicles even faster, they would be attacking Jung resources more frequently. However, eventually, they were going to need the Celestia in order to ensure success, especially as they got further away from Sol.

Although it originally had been his idea, Nathan found himself wondering, at times, if the Alliance really needed to clear the Jung any further out than twenty light years. Were they creating a ‘safe zone’ around Sol, or were they simply guaranteeing an overwhelming response from the Jung, one that made all previous attacks pale in comparison.

One thing was sure. The Earth needed time to recover, and the Alliance needed time to build its forces. The one-year time buffer that the twenty light year ‘Jung-free-zone’ provided was more likely a two to five year buffer. It would take time for word of the liberation of these worlds to reach the Jung homeworld, wherever that world was. After that, it would take time for them to react, and to move ships and resources into position for another attack. And the more massive the attack, the greater time it would take to prepare.

This was precisely why the fast-attack ship production facility on Tanna needed to get under way as soon as possible. The various models envisioned would give them the ability to attack Jung assets anywhere within the Sol sector, and beyond, in short order. This was something that the Jung simply could not counter. Their only hope of survival, if faced with such a threat, would be to rally their ships around their home and create an impenetrable defensive zone. Of course, if they did so, they would undoubtedly concentrate their resources on countering the jump drive technology. The only way to do that was to get a jump drive of their own, and Nathan knew that it was only a matter of time before they did exactly that.

“Captain,” Commander Telles called from the open hatchway.

“Commander,” Nathan replied gesturing for the commander to enter.

Commander Telles entered the captain’s ready room. “You wished to see me?”

“Yes. The Pylian minister insisted that his people would be able to maintain order themselves within the week,” Nathan explained. “I was wondering if you agree with his assessment?”

“It is possible,” the commander replied. “Plenty of Jung small and medium arms were captured intact, and, unlike the Coporans, the Pylians appear eager to be free of Jung rule and in control of their own destiny.”

“And the Coporans did not,” Nathan said, remembering the meek nature of the people of the 61 Cygni system.

“The people of Copora were more like
bera
.”

“
Bera
?”

“I believe you call them ‘sheep’.”

Nathan nodded. “Yes, I got that impression as well.”

“Do not get me wrong, Captain,” Commander Telles explained. “I am not condemning the Coporans for their submissive nature. On the contrary, it takes a considerable amount of patience to allow yourself to be subjugated in exchange for peace and prosperity. I believe your Earth history is full of such examples. In many cases, your people were not even aware of their subjugation. After all, there are more ways to conquer a population than force. Military might is simply one of them.”

“Politics by other means,” Nathan mumbled.

“The most effective governments are the ones that manage to subjugate their populations without having to use such force. Often, those same populations are inviting such actions. I believe that the Coporans are such a population.”

“Then you don’t believe they will be a useful member of the Alliance?”

“As a contributor of resources? Perhaps,” Commander Telles said. “As warriors joining in the fight… doubtful. The Pylians, on the other hand… I expect they will be lining up for the opportunity to kill more Jung.”