The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) (56 page)

“Ah,” Mason said.  “I think perhaps we should discuss how I might survive the news that I've killed Admiral Collae's dearly departed nephew.  Then we can get on to the pant-tearing.”  He didn't have to entirely feign a slight note of panic in his voice.

She gave him a level look.  “I've been informed by my crew that some two hundred of the contract workers, almost all of them, want to take you up on your offer of transportation.  That should go a long way to making you a favored son of Halcyon colony... which is good.  For one thing, they'll protect you from Admiral Collae.  For another, I
want
them to think you're a loyal servant to them... when we both know that there are far bigger stakes here.”

“Empire, yes Admiral,” Mason nodded.  “So I get their trust, then what?”

“Leave that to me,” Admiral Mannetti said.  “I've got some additional business to attend to after this raid is complete.  So I won't have to be around to resist temptation... but you better believe we'll find the time when I get back.” 

Mason gave her a leer in his guise of Stavros, but inwardly he shivered at the animal way that his body reacted to her.  His head felt muddled and his breathing unsteady.  Some part of him responded to her with absolute desire while the rest felt nauseated and disgusted.  His animal side, the wolf that Lan had spoken of, recognized the predator in her and responded to it... yet there was nothing else in the woman.  To her, the universe was made up of predator and prey, hunter and food.

“Well, you better run along now,” Admiral Mannetti said with a sly smile, “We wouldn't want anyone to start to wonder what we're doing here... or to get the wrong ideas.”

***

Chapter XI

Melcer System

United Colonies

October 30, 2403

“...so you can see, Baron, the enemy is busy constructing a defense in depth of both the Tehran and Danar systems to oppose our assault on Nova Roma.”  Captain Wu said.   “The intent seems to be not only to slow us down but also attrition of our forces before what they see as the primary battle at Nova Roma.”

“Yes,” Lucius nodded.  It matched what he had expected, in many ways, though it showed an unfortunately acute determination of strategy on the part of the Chxor commander.  He looked at Admiral Dreyfus who gave him a nod.  “Thank you, Captain Wu.  Before Captain Franks begins his initial briefing, I want to explain why we're bumping up our operations.”

He stood and brought up an image of Shadow Lord Invictus's flagship, the
Baramis.
  “I'm told that some of you would recognize this ship.”  From the mutters around the room, more than a few did.  “Admiral Dreyfus informed me that it was an alien ship, recovered by Amalgamated Worlds, and heavily researched.  Apparently, Shadow Lord Invictus took it when the Shadow Lords sacked Earth.  This is one trophy to them... and at this moment, all five of their fleets are poised to do the same thing at Faraday.”

The mutters stilled.  Even the men and women who Lucius suspected were part of the conspiracy to seize the fleet were still.  “They are held at bay only because of a very delicate balance,” Lucius said.  “And the longer we give them to wait, the more likely they are to pounce.  Therefore, we need to finish our business with the Chxor and be back in position to guard our own base of operations before they find a way to break their stalemate.”  It wasn't the whole truth, but Lucius didn't want the sordid tale of how the Shadow Lords had manipulated his grandmother's love life to suit their own goals to become common knowledge.

“As Captain Franks is about to brief, we don't have time to marshal our forces, attack Tehran and then do the same at Danar, to then do the same at Nova Roma.”  Lucius looked around the attentive faces and tried not to worry about how many of them were part of the plot against the United Colonies... or how many of them believed the rumors about him, anyway.  “So instead, we're launching a simultaneous assault, on both Tehran and Danar.  Admiral Dreyfus will command the assault on Tehran and I will command it against Danar.”  It had been a long and frustrating argument to convince the Admiral of that necessity.  Admiral Dreyfus still seemed to think it was some sort of honor-bound Nova Roma nobility thing that made Lucius want to lead that attack.  Lucius just felt that it would be a harder fight and that he knew the Chxor tactics far better than the Admiral as well as knowing the system and having fought there before. 
And then there's the Admiral's lack of flexibility as far as fighter stratagems and tactics,
Lucius mentally added.

Tehran, according to their scouts, had fewer forces and looked to be the easier target, especially with a smaller assault force to engage it.  Danar, on the other hand, was going to be one hell of a fight, Lucius knew.  They had spent the past two days in constant discussion and planning.  Even so, Lucius still felt like they needed far more planning to carry the complex operation out.

“Now,” Lucius said.  “Absent any comments, Captain Franks will begin to brief the operation.”

***

Captain Daniel Beeson paused at the entrance to Baron Giovanni's quarters.  The two Marines outside gave him a nod and he returned it, even as he ran their names past the growing list in his head of people he knew couldn't be trusted.  They weren't on it, but that didn't mean that they shouldn't be thoroughly vetted.  He would have to put Forrest Perkins on that, the ensign, despite his youthful, outgoing, and cheerful appearance had a very twisted mind and had proven very good thus far, at ferreting out people they could and couldn't trust.

“Sir, just here with the reports,” Daniel said.

The Baron looked up from his desk and he gave Daniel a nod.  “Of course, thank you, Daniel, I appreciate it.”  He didn't ask whether the reports were about the coming attack or about the conspiracy.  Daniel figured it was because he didn't trust his quarters not to be bugged.  Which said bad things about their internal security.  Daniel mentally added a personal security detail to the list of things he needed to work.  That, at least, he felt he could consult with either Alicia Nix of the FIB or Colonel William Proscia.  The retired Marine officer was, officially, just in charge of the new Faraday Military Academy, but he also knew over a thousand Marines personally and had trained well over ninety percent of them.

The Baron looked over the offered datapad and his eyebrows went up at the highlighted names.  “You're certain about these?” He reached into his desk as he spoke and pulled out a small, black, box and turned it on.  A moment later, a green light began to flash.

Daniel looked at him curiously, and the Baron gave a slight smile, “Something my sister gave me, actually.  It's manufactured on Tannis, designed to jam and override any bugs.  She's modified it a bit.”

Daniel wanted to wince at that.  While he was sure the Baron had confidence in his sister's abilities, the people they were trying to uncover had killed before and would not hesitate to do so if they feared they would be revealed.  Evidently he didn't hide his expression well enough and the Baron chuckled a bit, “Captain, let me assure you, I ran it past everything that Alicia Nix's people could put it through, it passed every test, even better than the factory specifications.”

“Oh,” Daniel said.  He shook his head, “My apologies, sir, I think the work is making me a bit paranoid.”

“The work and the work load, I'd imagine,” the Baron responded.  “I can't imagine acting as my chief of staff is easy, particularly when I'm still assembling a staff.”

“Well, I'm managing,” Daniel said somewhat defensively.  In truth, his assignment was exhausting... but it also gave him the perfect position to evaluate not just Admiral Dreyfus's staff, but also many of the senior commanders who interacted with them.  What he had seen, thus far, was far from encouraging, he could privately acknowledge.  Which brought him back to his report, “But yes, sir, I am certain about those names.”  He grimaced as he said it, because of how bad of news that was.

The Baron nodded, though his dark eyes showed he understood the dire situation well enough.  “This reads like most of the logistical staff, short of Captain Magnani.”

“I know, sir,” Daniel said.  “And, honestly, I'm not sure how this could get by under her nose without her noticing
something.
  There are massive discrepancies here, they've made entire cargoes of weapons, supplies, even
fighters
disappear.  I would say it is ridiculous except I've gone over it all myself... twice.”

“How did you get the real numbers?” Baron Giovanni asked as he examined the notes, which included page after page of discrepancies.

“Forrest Perkins recruited a communications officer that he knew from the Melcer raid.  She's
very
skilled with computers and she already had access.  We're going to try to bring her over into your staff.  Needless to say, she's also very loyal.”  Michele Konetsky had somehow survived over five years aboard the Chxor mining craft, in conditions which killed most people off in a few months.  She hated the Chxor with a passion... and especially hated any humans who opposed 'her' Baron, as she put it.

“Excellent, I need a new communications officer,” Lucius said.  Some edge of pain in his voice kept Daniel from asking what had happened to Commander Reese Leone-Giovanni.  The rumors about that had become almost more viral than anything else and the addition of a wanted poster for the man in their archives suggested that the rumors were at least partially correct. 
Though,
Daniel thought,
I'm certain that his sister didn't draw a gun on him, that's a bit far fetched for a wife and husband.

“What about personnel?” Baron Giovanni asked.

“I'm certain they're fully invested,” Daniel said with a grimace.  “I think that started when Captain Chu died of a heart attack, not long after the Fleet set out.  Since then, the conspirators have fully invested that section, I think it's both to hide transfers of personnel and also to manipulate promotions and commands.”  That they had used that power to block his own command was now a distant anger, dwarfed by how they had wormed their way through the system to put their people into key positions... and either suborned or killed the people they couldn't otherwise replace.  Daniel hesitated a moment and then finally spoke, “Sir, one more thing.  I've managed to identify the man killed by Anthony Doko and his wife.”

“What?” the Baron demanded.

“He
was
Private First Class Song Tran, late of the Amalgamated Worlds Fleet Marines.  He shipped out with the Dreyfus Fleet and then vanished from the personnel files, officially transferred to one ship but never reported... and they never reported him missing.”  Daniel grimaced, “He was one of the ghosts in their system.”

“So these bastards tried to kill or kidnap Anthony Doko?” Lucius demanded.

“Or his wife,” Daniel said quickly.  “That's my own personal opinion, they wanted to shatter our alliance with Nova Roma, cause a rift, probably plant evidence of a murder suicide and then let Admiral Balventia... that is your political opponents within the Nova Roma contingent to turn the Emperor against you.”  Daniel could easily see how that might work, particularly if they placed some kind of incriminating evidence to implicate Captain Doko.

“Very well,” the Baron said.  He met Daniel's eyes, and his gaze was angry.  “These bastards are confident enough to try to kill our people.  We have to stop them and soon.  Having this information puts us in position to counter them.  We need to step up our operations against them and we need to form teams to arrest them, as well.”

“It may not be that easy, sir,” Daniel said uncertainly.  “At this point, I'd estimate they have somewhere around a battalion's strength of Marines who they have 'disappeared' just like Private Song Tran.  We don't have visibility on them, but I know for a fact that they've set aside weapons and equipment for those personnel, to include fighters and power armor.”

Baron Giovanni sat back and his face went thoughtful, “You're saying this might come to open fighting.”

“I'm almost certain that it will,” Daniel said.  “Which means we need to recruit elements of our own and plan accordingly.”  He was no stranger to fighting, he had gone with Lauren Kelly and other volunteers to infiltrate Faraday and seize the planetary defenses ahead of the Second Battle of Faraday.  He'd seen plenty of blood and death at close range in that fight.  The mess that power armor and serious weapons would do to any soft target was one that made him feel extremely uncertain.

“Very well,” the Baron almost seemed to sag in on himself.  His gaze went distant and when he spoke, his voice was more so, “I wonder, sometimes, if this is something that I caused.”  Daniel could see that the attempt on Anthony Doko, in particular, sat heavy on the man.  He no doubt blamed himself for making his friend a target.

“Sir,” Daniel said, “You can't blame yourself.  These bastards have had this planned for decades, hell, some of them probably from before the Dreyfus Fleet even shipped out.”

The Baron gave him a tired smile, “I know that, but still, I wonder if I could have reached them... somehow.”  He shook his head, “Sorry, back to the subject at hand.  I'll authorize you start standing up our own insurance policy in case this does come to open conflict.  In the meantime, I want you to put together a full brief, one that is ironclad, for me to take to Admiral Dreyfus.”

“You want to bring him in?” Daniel asked uncertainly.

“Yes,” Baron Giovanni said.  “He deserves to know and we can use his expertise.”

Daniel nodded slowly, “Very well, sir.  I'll put it together and work that.  I assume you want to bring this up after the attack?”  When the Baron nodded in response, Daniel pursed his lips.  “I can have that done by then, no problem sir.”

“Everything else in hand?” The Baron asked.

“Yes, sir,” Daniel said.  “It looks like we'll be right on time to jump to shadow.  We are resupplied and the ships commanders are preparing to run through your scenario.”

“Excellent,” the Baron rose.  “Keep me informed of any issues.”  He glanced back down at his desk, “I've got to finish these responses to some of the government issues.”  He shook his head, “It makes me long for a nice boring logistical report to read through.”

“Good luck, Baron,” Daniel said.  As he headed for the door, he thought, once again, about how lucky
he
was to serve under Baron Giovanni... and how essential the other man was to their war effort. 
And I'm going to make
damned
certain that none of these conspirator bastards get the chance to bring him down.

***

Halcyon, Garris Major System

Contested

November 2, 2403

“I've already heard Admiral Mannetti's briefing on your actions at the Ottokar system,” Counselor Penwaithe said, her face pinched.  “Frankly, you could have handled things better.”  Her tone made it very clear that there were other words she would have liked to use... such as 'disaster' or 'catastrophic failure.'