by Ryk Brown
“What the hell,” Nathan agreed, feeling brave.
“Nathan,” Robert greeted. He had hobbled in on crutches from the other room. “I thought I heard your voice out here.”
“How are you doing, Robert?”
“Not bad, all things considered,” he replied, gesturing toward the view outside.
“Yeah, not bad.”
“Almost a vacation.”
“Here you go,” Robert said, handing Nathan a bottle of piroda.
Nathan took a swig, his face contorting at the taste. “You’re right, that is weak.”
“Drink a few liters, and you’ll start to like it,” Gil said with a wink, taking a seat on the sofa.
“Both of you live here?” Nathan wondered, also sitting.
“I live a few doors down,” Gil explained. “I come here for the view. I guess a busted-up ship doesn’t rate as highly as a busted-up captain.”
“He’s just jealous because everyone likes me better,” Robert insisted, sitting in the armchair and dropping his crutches on the floor beside him. “What brings you?”
“I was over at Ranni, meeting with Abby and Deliza,” Nathan explained. “I just figured I’d check in and see how your recovery was going. Any idea when you’ll be back in action?”
“I trade the crutches in for a cane, in a few days,” Robert told him. “Doc says I’ll be fully healed in a couple weeks or so. Fat lot of good it will do me without a ship, though.”
“I told him he could ride second seat with me,” Gil interjected.
“That’s probably the real reason I wanted to talk to you,” Nathan told Robert. “I’ve got a new assignment for you…both of you, actually.”
“He’s the one without a ship,” Gil pointed out, “again.”
“One Cobra gunship isn’t much of a threat,” Nathan said.
“It is in the right hands,” Gil insisted.
“True, but those same hands could do a lot more damage to the Dusahn if they were on a ship with more firepower,” Nathan explained. “To be more precise, a group of ships.”
“I’m intrigued,” Gil admitted, taking another swig of his piroda.
“Orochi Fifteen and Sixteen will be coming out of their weapons upgrades in about a week,” Nathan told them. “Seventeen and Eighteen a couple weeks after.”
“I thought we were only able to get sixteen of them flying,” Robert remarked.
“By cannibalizing the last two for parts, and fabricating the rest, we think we can get two more in service. That will give us three groups of six.”
“You want us to fly Orochi’s?” Gil wondered, not terribly pleased at the idea. “Those things are ancient.”
“They’re still formidable ships,” Nathan insisted. “Especially with the upgrades we’re making. More guns, better shields, better sensors and targeting systems, and of course, forty-eight jump missiles…soon to be shield-penetrating.”
“I thought the Orochi carried fifty-six missiles?” Robert questioned.
“We’re removing the two outboard missile launchers on each side to make room for more gun turrets on their dorsal aspects,” Nathan explained. “As you know, they were originally designed as Gunyoki carriers, and orbital bombers. We figured if we’re going to make them gunships, we needed to give them more guns.”
“I’m not crazy about the idea of being stuck inside one of those things,” Gil insisted.
“You won’t be,” Nathan replied. “I’m forming three battle groups using Orochi, Gunyoki, and Nighthawks, commanded from medium cargo ships converted into escort carriers. I want to give each of you command of a battle group.”
“Who’s going to command the third group?” Gil wondered.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Nathan admitted. “This all depends on how things go with SilTek.”
Robert smiled. “Yeah, Jess told me about your little wager.”
“You have an odd way of negotiating, kid,” Gil added with a laugh.
“What’s the mission?” Robert wondered.
“What makes you think there’s a mission?” Nathan asked.
“I know that look,” Robert said, pointing at Nathan.
“I plan to liberate Corinair.”
“That’ll piss old Lord Dusahn off, won’t it!” Gil exclaimed.
“You really think you can pull this all together?” Robert wondered.
“With SilTek’s help, yes,” Nathan replied, somewhat confidently.
“You think you can beat their defenses?” Robert asked.
“That’s the other reason I came to talk to you guys,” Nathan replied.
* * *
“Good morning, Captain,” Naralena greeted, coming out of the command wardroom just as Nathan was passing.
“Good morning, Miss Avakian,” Nathan replied.
“We received a message from Council Member Garon of Casbon a few minutes ago,” she reported, falling in alongside him as he headed for the bridge to start his day.
“Good news, I hope,” he said, accepting the data pad from her.
“Well, it isn’t exactly bad news.”
Nathan paused just outside of the entry airlock to the bridge, reading the message. He sighed, handing the data pad back to Naralena. “Better than a no, I suppose,” he stated as he entered the airlock.
“Captain on the bridge!” the guard at the entrance barked.
“Status of our jump drive?” Nathan queried as he entered.
“Fully charged,” Loki replied.
“Location of the XO?”
“She’s in the intel shack, reviewing the latest signals intelligence with Lieutenant Commander Nash,” Naralena answered as she took her seat at the comms station.
“Let the XO know that we’re jumping back to Casbon,” Nathan instructed.
“Mister Sheehan,” Nathan continued, “plot a jump to the Casbon system.”
“Plotting a jump to Casbon,” Loki acknowledged.
“XO has been informed,” Naralena reported.
“Very well,” Nathan replied. “Update Rogen Command and let them know where they can reach us.”
“Aye, sir,” Naralena replied.
“Jump to Casbon is loaded and ready, Captain,” Loki announced.
“Take us out of orbit and make way for Casbon, Mister Hayes,” Nathan instructed.
“Breaking orbit,” Josh reported, as he brought the ship’s engines online and began accelerating. “We should be on course and speed for the jump in three minutes.”
“Very well.”
“I take it Council Member Garon replied,” Cameron stated, as she and Jessica entered the bridge.
Nathan lazily rotated his command chair around to the left, coming to face them as they approached the tactical station behind him. “Not exactly,” he responded. “Seems they have some reservations, and would like to discuss them.”
“You are asking them to loan you all of their fighters,” Cameron noted.
“To fight a battle that will probably have a high body count,” Jessica mumbled under her breath as she took her station at the tactical console.
“We don’t really have a choice,” Nathan insisted.
“We could wait until we’re better prepared,” Jessica retorted.
“And then they would be better prepared as well,” Nathan pointed out. “We need to strike while they’re still licking their wounds, while they’re still wondering if we actually can defeat them. That has to be what’s going through the minds of their officers, and their enlisted, after losing four battleships to a ship half their size.”
Cameron nodded to Jessica. “He’s got a point.”
“The Dusahn aren’t like us,” Jessica argued. “They’ll fight to the death, even if only to avoid being executed by their own leaders.”
“That naggin
g fear of failure still creeps in,” Nathan insisted. “It causes doubt, and doubt leads to hesitation and mistakes. Besides, if Lord Dusahn has any common sense, he’s going to protect his most valuable assets, and that’s the Takar system, and the handful of ships he’s got left to protect it. He won’t risk losing any of those ships in defending Corinair. So, we don’t have to actually win the battle, we just have to demonstrate that we’re going to win the battle.”
“Suppose you’re right?” Jessica asked. “Then what?”
“Then we chip away at his last few ships with random jump missile attacks.”
“That easy, huh?”
“I never said it would be easy,” Nathan replied.
Jessica sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
“On course and speed for jump,” Loki reported.
“Rogen command has been notified,” Naralena added.
“Very well,” Nathan replied, rotating his command chair back to face forward. “Let’s go see what the council member wants to talk about. Jump us to Casbon, Mister Sheehan.”
* * *
Nathan and Jessica followed their escort into the council chambers on Casbon. Before them sat nine men and women in black and purple robes, Council Member Garon at the center.
“Captain Scott, and Lieutenant Commander Nash, of the Karuzari Alliance!” the escort announced loudly.
Nathan and Jessica stood at attention for a moment, nodding respectfully toward Council Member Garon.
“Thank you for coming,” Council Member Garon greeted.
Nathan and Jessica eased their stance, feet slightly apart and hands behind their back, a posture that showed respect for the Council of Casbon.
“It is our honor to stand before you,” Nathan replied. “Your communiqué indicated that you had additional concerns you wished to discuss?”
“That is correct,” Council Member Garon confirmed. “The council has spent many hours debating whether or not Casbon should accept your offer to join the Karuzari Alliance, and several council members have voiced serious concerns.”
“With your permission, I would be more than happy to address them,” Nathan offered.
Council Member Garon turned to her right. “Council Member Wargen?”
“Thank you,” Council Member Wargen replied. He turned his attention to Nathan. “Captain Scott, I am quite certain that the Ahka, by themselves, are no threat to your alliance. However, should they follow our example, and ally themselves with another world, or an alliance with worlds of equal or greater strength than your alliance, can you guarantee that you are able to protect Casbon?”
“I cannot,” Nathan admitted without hesitation. “I can only promise that we would do everything within our power to do so.”
“Yet you ask us to place the lives of our people in your hands.”
“Once your people are fully trained, and our people leave, you will have fifty fighters with which to defend yourselves. That will suffice for a time, but being who they are, the Ahka will eventually find a way to defeat your defenses, and you will once again be vulnerable. Your only solution is to either give up your peaceful existence and build your defenses, or suffer at the hands of predators such as the Ahka. What we are offering is a way to keep your simple, peaceful lifestyle, without being vulnerable to attack.”
“The Ahka threat was once negligible,” Council Member Wargen stated, “until the jump drive came to our part of the galaxy. It is my understanding that it was you who made this technology available to all. Am I correct, Captain?”
“You are,” Nathan admitted. “However, such technology would have eventually found its way to you, one way or another.”
“Hardly a defense.”
“It wasn’t meant to be,” Nathan replied, “it was merely a statement of fact. One can choose to live without technology, and there are arguably many benefits to doing so, as you have proven with your pleasant, peaceful society. However, if one chooses to ignore the fact that such advancements exist, they risk falling victim to them at the hands of the unscrupulous.”
“I assume that you do not include yourself among their numbers,” Council Member Wargen stated in an accusatory tone. “Considering how much technology you have at your disposal, should we not consider you a potential predator as well?”
“It would be unwise not to,” Nathan admitted. “However, what I am proposing is an alliance to protect its members from not only those who mean to do us harm, but from those who do not, including ourselves.”
“A noble idea, to be sure,” the council member agreed. “However, you may find it more difficult to uphold than you might expect.”
“If I may?” another council member asked.
“Council Member Koroff now has the floor,” Council Member Garon announced.
“Captain, how do you choose the worlds to which you offer membership? Is this offer made only to worlds that offer something of value to your alliance, such as technology, resources, or strategic position?”
Nathan pondered the question for a moment, realizing that the council member had a valid point. “At the moment, memberships are only offered to those who can somehow contribute to our efforts to defeat the Dusahn Empire and liberate the Pentaurus sector. However, for our alliance to continue to exist beyond that immediate goal, membership will be offered to all worlds, regardless of their ability to contribute.”
“And if they do not wish to be part of your alliance?”
“No one will be forced to join,” Nathan assured him. “Neither by force nor coercion.”
“And if, after turning down an offer of membership, that same world should later come under attack?”
“Then our Alliance would respond, if able,” Nathan replied.
“Who leads this alliance?”
“At the moment, I do,” Nathan replied, “but once the Dusahn are defeated, there should be an elected leader.”
“Yet another topic which must be fully discussed before committing to a course of action,” Council Member Koroff stated, leaning back in his chair and looking at Nathan with distrust.
“I do not pretend to have all the answers,” Nathan said. “I am not asking you to give up control of your world, nor commit to a lifelong pact. I am only asking for the use of your fighters in exchange for the protection of your world. Membership in our alliance is not a requirement, it is only an offer; one that provides far more benefits to your world than simply protection from the Ahka.”
“Such as?” the council member asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Other markets for your aramenium,” Nathan replied. “It is my understanding that you are less than satisfied with your current exporter. I can connect you with a single customer, a member of our alliance, who would likely buy all the aramenium you care to sell, at prices better than what you’re currently getting.”
The dubious expressions on most of the council members’ faces suddenly changed.
“That got ’em,” Jessica whispered.
* * *
“How did it go?” Cameron asked, following Nathan and Jessica into the captain’s ready room.
“They suckered him,” Jessica replied, plopping down on the couch.
“They didn’t sucker me,” Nathan defended. “They had good points.”
“What kind of points?”
“They’ll join if we can convince the Ahka to join,” Jessica laughed.
“What?”
“It was actually a good idea,” Nathan insisted.
“They set you up with all that talk about who gets invited, and what happens if someone refuses to join,” Jessica said.
“They were all valid concerns,” Nathan told her.
“I’m almost afraid to ask how you replied,” Cameron admitted.
“He’s talking about getting everyone to join, not just worlds that can help us beat the D
usahn,” Jessica explained.
“I thought that was just talk,” Cameron said. “I didn’t think you were serious.”
“Neither did I,” Nathan admitted, “but the more I think about it, the better the idea sounds.”
“Nathan, we don’t have time to deal with negotiations and alliance-building,” Jessica reminded him.
“I know,” Nathan replied. “That’s basically what I told them,” he told Cameron.
“What did you tell them?”
“That for now, we were only offering membership to worlds that could help us defeat the Dusahn, but that later, we would be inviting all worlds. It’s really the only way.”
“The only way to what?” Cameron wondered.
“If we don’t accept everyone, then we’re just empire-building. That’s not how you build a lasting peace. It’s been tried countless times in the past, and it never works.”
“Then why even try it now?” Cameron wondered.
“I’m not,” Nathan replied, “at least not intentionally. Oh hell,” he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “I’m just trying to get rid of the Dusahn!”
“So,” Cameron began, “to get SilTek to give us a bunch of free tech, we need Casbon to supply them with low-cost aramenium, but to get Casbon to provide the aramenium, we need to convince the Ahka to join our alliance, so they’ll be forced to leave Casbon alone. Have I got that right?”
“So far, yes,” Nathan replied.
“What do you mean, so far?” Jessica wondered.
“Well who knows what the Ahka are going to want!” Nathan exclaimed, throwing his hands up again.
* * *
“Report?” Nathan inquired as he entered the Aurora’s bridge from his ready room.
“Jump to the Ahka system is plotted and ready,” Loki reported.
“All Eagles and their support crews are back aboard,” Naralena added.
“The ship is at general quarters,” Jessica informed him.
“Except for you,” Nathan said to Cameron, who was standing next to the tactical console.
“On my way to combat,” Cameron announced as she departed.
“Break orbit and take us to Ahka, Mister Hayes,” Nathan ordered, taking his seat in the command chair.