Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2) (6 page)

“So you were explaining what a snake was Kalinsky?” Henry prompted. The kid sighed, eventually someone showing mercy on him and explaining what a snake was as Henry watched, grinning and popping a piece of gum in his mouth. The gum that the gun deck was pumping out was better than any cigarette he'd had, and it didn't give him the added issue of having to get his system cleaned by medical on a regular basis.

It was the small things Henry reflected as he looked around the shuttle, quite a few of them would die far from home, some just before they could set foot on it.

Chapter Changes

Ursht followed Tik, one of the two Kuruvian’s Salchar had left behind to look after things in his stead. Tak his partner was back on AIH; Ursht had even come to call his planet and his system by it's acronym, Avar Interim Hermanti was too long of a name.

“These will be the new mines of your people. Right now there are a group of miners that are already getting stuck into your dense planetary asteroid field. They have a contract to create a base for your people once they're trained to start.

Ursht nodded. Salchar and Yasu had pressed a lot of things on him, one was to listen to everyone before making a decision, and to also learn.

He had got a sleep training implant and was on multiple courses to try to make himself as good at his job as possible. It was still hard to learn everything Salchar and his people knew.

The other tribal leaders said that Salchar was a dictator and, while that was true in some ways, he was only that way because of Avarian traditions.

He has given me and the others under his banner the opportunity to better ourselves and our people, something that no dictator would want.
Ursht studied the sky. It was not his first time seeing the asteroid field that orbited his planet. On any given night the sun reflected off of the asteroids, creating a sparkling sky intertwined with the stars of other solar systems.

“Will we be permitted to create Planetary Rail Cannons?” Ursht asked as Tik studied him closer.

“A planet is allowed to add anything that they desire to their own defenses. They will be under the control of the Free Fleet, unless AIH annuls their contract with the Free Fleet.” Ursht pulled out a data pad and gave it to Tik. “I think that AIH can be a supplier of weapon systems and power systems.” He said as Tik looked over the information.

“These are all very technical things.”

“Yes, which is why we need teaching and some assistance. We will be willing to pay for it. Our resource stockpile is rather extensive.” Ursht lifted his upper lip, a sign of challenge if it quivered, but it remained still, meaning a grin.

“This is all rather thought out,” Tik said as he went over the data pads information.

“We have one major resource on this planet numbers. We are strong and brave fighters, but that alone will not look after our children in this new multi-world society we have become a part of. We have already made bargains with the Chaleelians for Baroui, their highest yielding crop. We will be dependent on them for a long time until we get some growing towers, which Yasu and other people from Earth have talked about. Resources are a good thing to have, but every solar system is abundant in them. We need something that will make us relevant. Earth has many thinkers and makers. Making power and weapon systems is hard, however. If AIH gets a foot hold there, then we will have a 'one up' on them as Commander Salchar said.”Ursht said.

“There are plans here for engines.” Tik said, his hands moving excitedly as Ursht grinned.

“Well, we can't just be using the same old crappy haulers as before. Chaleel is also moving to be able to produce merchant ships.” Ursht said.

Tik looked to Ursht, Ursht reading his hands as excited trepidation.

“Well, me and Tak will be happy to do anything we can to help.” Tik said.

“The terms are set,” Ursht said as he put his forearm forward. Tik, now knowing the Avarian physical method of agreement touched his forearm to Ursht's, both of them lowering their heads till they touched.

They pulled their arms away and raised their heads as Tik gave Ursht his data pad.

Ursht knew Tik had been studying AIH culture and interactions, so he knew that neither of them was now able to break their word, on punishment of death.

Everything's by punishment of death, I should really get to changing that too,
Ursht made a note, glancing at Tik who had his data pad out and was pulling up information while talking to Tak.

***

General Carsickle walked through the halls of Matro, or Hall of Leaders in the ancient tongue. His arm was starting to hurt as he walked through the hall, the Chaleelian salute was simply the pulling of forearm up against the bicep.

He got to the office of the planetary governor without issue. He was checked over by a couple of scanners before he was finally allowed to meet with the governor.

“Ah, General Sarsickle, Sarchen?” She asked, indicating the rare fruit that lay on her table and stopped him from saluting.

It was rude to not take food in Chaleelian society. There had been a time when Baroui had not covered the majority of the planet and many had been starving.

Even now, with plenty of food wastage, refusing food was not socially polite. Over eating was similarly looked down upon.

“Thank you, Governor.” Carsickle took a fruit, taking off its peeling and eating the sticky and spicy fruit; he nibbled on the peeling, which gave a sour taste. Spice and sour were as sweet and salty were to humans it was thought among Chaleelian's.

The governor wrote something down before lying chest first on the upward tilted bed-looking constructs. She indicated for Carsickle to join her; he promptly lay on an opposite Chaleelian version of a chair.

Carsickle never understood why humans sat in such an uncomfortable, rigid position.

“So, I hear you have quite the request to make of me,” The governor said as Carsickle cleared his throat.

“I wish to join the Free Fleet,” Carsickle said. The governor rolled her head in quiet contemplation.

“I had the feeling that you might want to. Commander Salchar made quite the impression on you.” Carsickle was about to retort when the governor lowered her snout, the equivalent of a human waving off the subject.

“It is not a bad thing. Many were impressed by them, myself included. I do think that our deal with the Free Fleet is the best spending of resources we have possibly ever had.”

Carsickle's brow rose. He didn't know the governor felt that way about the Free Fleet. At every meeting she'd kept to her Chaleelian roots and hammered out the best possible deal for the Chaleelian's. The governor was one hell of a negotiator.

“I didn't know you felt that way.”

Her ears moved as a sign of amusement.

“Well, I can't very well give the game away to them, can I? That Salchar is a wily one. I had the feeling he knew I'd pay him twenty percent more than we agreed to the entire time.”

Carsickle's ears similarly moved.

“He is quite the creature.”

“Why now though?”

Carsickle looked over the governor who looked to be genuinely interested. He tightened his jaw, a shrug. “We have agreements with the Free Fleet and AIH for food in order for protection materials and possibly technology in the near future. We also have an agreement with AIH to build ships in concert. There are a number of Chaleelian's being trained by the Free Fleet, as well as Avarians. We have two newly refurbished corvette's under our divided command. The Free Fleet has shown their reliability. I don't think I'm needed here.”

“You want to be out there defending your people, instead of sitting back here and twiddling your thumbs and going to meetings.” She pursed her lips in acceptance of that fact. “I am not going to stop you, General,” She finished, her ears moving.

“What is so interesting?”

“Wondering what Salchar has planned for you.”

“I doubt anything.” Carsickle tightened his jaw as her ears went faster, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“That man has a lot of plans. He had a plan for you the minute he met you, I saw it. He probably has a plan for me too. It will be interesting to find out,” she said as it was Carsickle’s turn to move his head from side to side in contemplation.

“Before you go you must try my husbands Baroui etre Calvun,” she said, turning her head to show her stubbornness.

“Very well, Governor, it would be my pleasure,” he said. Being invited to the governors house was not something to be denied, especially for food.

“Good, then you can sign up and go and see the galaxy with mine and Chaleel's blessing.”

Carsickle raised his head in thanks.

I wonder if she's right about Salchar having a plan for me. His plans are infamous.
A shiver of excitement ran up his spine at the thought that in a few days he would sign up to join the Free Fleet.

Chapter Taking Back What is Ours

We were still a few million kilometres away from the station and the Syndicate fleet that was milling around it, but soon, with low emissions or not, they would see us.

“We've got movement within the Syndicate fleet,” Sensors said after we passed an invisible threshold.

“Sound battle stations and distribute Wake Up for those that need it,” I said, the comms officer relaying it to tight beam and to the rest of the fleet.

A few minutes later Rick turned to me. “Everyone is up and ready.”

I nodded to myself. “Comms, put me on with the fleet.”

“You’re on, Commander.”

“Initiate phase three. Bring all fusion power plants to full power, all weapons online and readied! Begin blasting information on all frequencies as well as surrender terms. Remember that the Kuruvians and Sarenmenti here are not our enemy, their masters are.”

Ships came alive as the sketch pattern from passive sensors and input simulations initiated and hard objects as sensors went to full power. Resilient came alive. Power surged through the bridge and lights came up green as different sections reported their readiness.

“Syndicate forces have seen us and are moving to intercept,” Sensors replied, much more relaxed than they had been when we entered the system.

“Good. Tactical, execute fire plan Alpha. Let's give them something to worry about besides our Commandos.”

Missiles were spat out from my ships, speeding across the relatively small distance between the station, it's scrambling forces, and my fleet.

After a few minutes the missiles split into multi-warhead payloads, following paths between shuttles that were converging on the station, or would attack ships with their shields down if possible.

The Syndicates forces PD was good, but because of  the lack of resources the Kuruvians had that didn't mean much. Most of them were down, and a lot of the systems had been sold by ship captains wanting to make more money. The ships and the station fired wildly and without any sort of pattern in response to our concentrated barrage. The Pirates were still probably arguing over who was in charge.

I didn't care what damage they did. I just wanted to distract them from my much more vulnerable shuttles heading towards their ships and stations.

“Incoming missiles,” the sensor commander said in the same calm way they had gone through the initial emergence phase.
Now just to see if that professionalism filters
down
,
I thought to myself as the sensor commander kept up his report. “We have confirmed hits on the station. Two corvettes dead, destroyer limping and a battle cruiser with engine problems.” Something disappeared from the screen.

“Battle cruiser destroyed.”

“Thank you, Sensors. Comms, get me the shuttles and Commander Heston of the Eclipse freighters.”

The comms commander opened a channel with our hidden forces.

“Lone Riders and company, this is Battle Wagon, time to join the fight.”

“Thank you, Commander!” I heard Heston say as someone whooped in the background.

“Well, this is going to be a ride,” Henry said as I smirked.

Shuttles came online with their accompanying fighters around the station, their engines firing on full burn as they braked, jinked, or whatever they felt they needed to do as their PDS went to work on the missiles between them and the station. Shuttles and fighters diverted power as they changed courses for the ships, spotting our non-existent shields.

Fighters let lose with their close ranged missiles, which had less fuel and three times as many warheads as a normal missile. They could take out a cruisers shield in one go and could crack a ship without shields like an egg up to a battle cruiser.

The fighters opened up the ships, their losses thankfully light as the shuttles descended and they peeled away to assist opening up other ships shields.

The remaining fighters were clearing the station of weapons but holding back their missiles. There were possibly innocent people in the station, people that were like us. Thankfully everyone kept their head as waves of shuttles landed, or crashed, into the station.