When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (75 page)

             
Alexander smiled, but without any joy. It made him miss his old life, down in the dirt with the rest of the miners. So much simpler then
.“
It must be past time those turned to railroad tracks
.”
He clapped the young ma
n’
s arm
.“
Captain Davis just sounds right
.”
He looked around suddenly
.“
Wher
e’
s Arthur
?
”

             
“Back on the shuttle
,”
Jerry said
.“
Complained his stomach was acting up again
.
”

             
The High Chancellor scowled
.“
H
e’
d better not be getting sick. I ca
n’
t lose the only allies
I’
ve got in this damned room
.
”

             
Jerry shook his head, downing what little he had remaining of his drink
.“
Just nerves. H
e’
s been a bit jumpy this whole week
.
”

             
Cameron looked between the two men, shifting from one foot to the other. Politicians always confused him. They talked about allies and enemies as though the room might erupt into a fistfight at any moment. He sipped at his glass of water, trying to inconspicuously shuffle backwards. Jerry stopped him with a withering look.

             
“Do
n’
t mind them
,”
Adeline said, as though reading his thoughts
.“
Boys always have to put things in such dramatic tones. Honestly, yo
u’
d think the world was ending every time an Attac
hé
lost public support
.
”

             
Cameron leaned in and spoke softly
.“I’
m starting to wonder why I agreed to this
.
”

             
“Oh really
?
”

             
“
I’
ve never been good around politicians. I prefer that they do
n’
t know my name in case I get on their bad side
.
”

             
Adeline smiled sweetly
.“
Then how do you ever expect to build a successful military career? At some point, that next rank will depend on an ally from my world
.
”

             
“Sector was never going to be a career
,”
Cameron said
.“
I mean, it
was
n’
t
going to be
.
”

             
“Then why are you still in uniform
?”
Adeline asked
.“
What changed
?
”

             
Cameron did
n’
t answer for a moment. He stared across the room in the direction of the Nangolani entourage
.“
Everything
.”
He caught a drink off a passing waite
r’
s tray and took a long swig
.“
Is it weird that
I’
ve never spoken to one of them
?
”

             
“The Nangolani
?”
Adeline looked over her shoulder at the alien politicians. A small group chatted with part of the Cabinet, though from the way the huma
n’
s gestured it was becoming a rather heated debate
.“
The
y’
re not so scary once you get over the complexion. Most of them just want what we all want: peace and quiet and maybe a little sex
.
”

             
Cameron nearly spat out his drink. He coughed into his hand, attracting a few scathing looks from the Chief of Staff
.“
You have
n’
t...I mean, you could
n’
t have. Have you
?
”

             
Adeline shot a knowing look, then broke in a giggling fit
.“
Oh my god, you should see your face
.”
She covered her mouth and wiped away a stray tear
.“
Of course not. But I have talked with a few of the Empero
r’
s aides at length. What can I say, it seems girls of all species enjoy a little bedroom gossip
.
”

             
Camero
n’
s mouthed opened and closed, but no sound came out. After a moment he shrugged, downed his drink and waived over the waiter for another. A pretty brunette approached, holding out a glass of champagne. Jerry intercepted the flute and threw it back, dropping the empty glass back onto the tray. He stared at Cameron with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion.

             
“W
e’
ll have you stand next to the High Chancellor while the Emperor gives his speech, which means you need to be able to stand
.”
He turned to Adeline
.“
No more for you, either. This is an extremely important evening, and I wo
n’
t have you two giggling like schoolgirls around the leaders of the free worlds
.
”

             
“Yes, sir
,”
Adeline said soberly.

             
Cameron nodded
.“
OK, sir
.
”

             
“And stop looking so sour. This is supposed to be a party
.
”

-                           
VI                            -

              Hiro walked down the corridors of
Midway
as fast as his legs would carry him. H
e’
d been called to the bridge only minutes before, roused from sleep at some ungodly hour. Not that it mattered; h
e’
d barely been able to manage any rest since the siege began. A message had blared over the intercom in his room demanding his presence for the Fleet Commander. After throwing on his combat uniform, Hiro sped toward the bridge.

             
When the Commodore arrived, h
e’
d found Admiral Walker waiting. The FleetCom seemed energized by this new conflict, but even he seemed loathe to rise for the emergency call. A skeleton crew manned the various stations of the supercarrier, monitoring the repairs that had dragged on in the last few weeks.

             
Hiro made a point to stop by his Engineering officer, stifling a yawn with his fist
.“
Wha
t’
s the update on our status
?
”

             
Unlike the two older men, the Engineering leader seemed bright and chipper for his shift
.“
Hull is back up to eighty percent. Kinetic barrier wo
n’
t hold a charge, though. W
e’
re completely rearmed and double stocked on flak ammunition
.
”

             
Hiro nodded. Munitions were
n’
t the junior office
r’
s responsibility, but
Midwa
y
’
s Armorer had died during the first attack. His curiosity satisfied, Hiro walked over to greet the Admiral. He rendered a quick salute, accepting a steaming cup of coffee from a smiling aide
.“
What did you need to see me about, sir
?
”

             
Walke
r’
s face was drawn and pale. Huge bags hung under his heavy-lidded eyes
.“
Hanweh Shodon is on the line. I wanted you here to listen to this
.”
He gestured for the communications officer to connect the transmission. Within seconds, the alien commande
r’
s face appeared on the nearby monitor.

             
“Fah rosha lanen
,”
Hanweh began. The Nangolani wore a neatly pressed uniform with a simple design and muted green colors. Like all Nangolani clothing, the material seemed to shimmer like a metal
.“
It is good to see you both alive. I know
Midway
was lucky to survive the attack
.
”

             
Hiro smiled and bowed his head
.“
Appreciated, Domin. Likewise, I saw the damage
Barennon
took. We have angels on our shoulders
.”
He shared a look with Admiral Walker
.“
What is the meaning of this call
?
”

             
“I will be brief
,”
Hanweh said
.“
There is a situation developing with our leaders in the Magistrate. I must attend to it at once
.”
He looked off to the side, seeming pensive
.“
I know the situation is bleak, and to have our vessels leave would cast a shadow over your pilots. I promise, if we can return to aid you in this fight, the
Barennon
will be there
.
”

             
Hiro was about to speak when the Admiral cut in
.“
Goddamnit, Hanweh. We have a fucking alien armada attacking our planet. We have an alliance. Does that mean nothing to you? To your leaders
?
”

             
The Domin reacted to the question with a sneer, but composed himself quickly
.“
I cannot speak for the Magistrate
.
”

             
“Domin Shodon
,”
Hiro said
.“
Most of our vessels are under repair. We are still establishing a functional supply line that avoids Boxti airspace. Without the Nangolani ships, I do
n’
t know how w
e’
ll handle another attack. You came to us for help once, we need your help now
.
”

             
“I am sorry
.”
Hanwe
h’
s voice trembled
.“
I must protect my people as well
.”
He seemed ready to leave, but held on a moment longer
.“
We will return as soon as we can. I promise you, the Domin do not abandon allies
.”
The line cut out before any more could be said.

             
Hiro turned to his crew
.“
Show me the Nangolani fleet. Now
!
”

             
One of the walls dissolved into an image of the blockade. On the right flank, silver ships began to veer off and fly away. Even at this distance, Hiro could see the small motes of blue light wink into existence as every alien craft fled New Ede
n’
s orbit. In a few minutes, nothing remained but a slowly fading blue glow.

             
Admiral Walker was livid
.“
Son of a fucking whore
.”
He slammed a fist down onto the communication desk
.“
Cowards just left. Flew off to hide and lick their wounds
.
”

             
“Something is wrong
,”
Hiro said
.“
Hanweh was troubled. He said he had to save his people. What does that mean
?
”             

             
Walker paced the bridge
.“
It means w
e’
re down a much needed cruiser and a dozen frigates. It means that this treaty was
n’
t worth the paper it was written on
.”
He wiped his face with both hands
.“
It means we need to come up with a new battle strategy.
I’
m calling the other Admirals. W
e’
ll get them up to speed and start working up a tactical assessment
.
”