Harmon looked over at Kyla and Vera. They just gave a tight-lipped smile, lipstick and all, and shrugged their shoulders.
“Jayneen,” Harmon asked, “can you connect me through on a call?”
“Certainly,” the AI answered. “Who would you like me to call?”
Harmon told her. She connected the call, and Harmon spoke for a while, answered a few questions, and received the confirmation he needed.
As they were leaving the conference room, Jayneen asked Clip if he could stay a moment. She had something she wanted to ask him about her programming. Nobody thought anything of it; it was a subject they discussed often.
“Sir,” The tactical officer informed him minutes later on the bridge, “we have multiple gate entries. They’re broadcasting the proper codes.”
“Great!” Harmon said, sitting up in his command chair. “Twenty-two of them?
“Yes, sir,” the Leethog lieutenant answered. “How did you know?”
“It’s the Kashkal, Adam,” Harmon said. “I hired them.”
“Jim, patch me through to the lead ship,” Harmon asked.
“Captain Tomeral,” the kashka said. He was sitting in his command chair and not wearing his suit. He was wearing a solid black outfit. It looked to be leather to Harmon, but he wasn’t sure. He looked much more comfortable out of his suit.
“Hey, Rick,” Harmon said. “Good to see you.”
“We’re contracted,” Rick said. “Contract is life.”
“I agree, one’s word is his bond.” Harmon answered.
“I was worried about your defensive platforms,” Rick said, looking off to one side. “It appears you have none, except for ship hulls you’ve converted. By my count, there are ten of those within an hour of the gate. My guess is they’d be closer if not for the gate effect.”
If a ship happened to lose power for some reason while in transit between gates, they would still emerge moving the same speed they entered the gate with. If the speed of the craft was too slow, the ship would still move away from the gate upon entry due to the gate effect. It was a gravitational push that moved objects below a certain thrust away from the gate. It helped keep debris and asteroids from striking the gate itself.
“You’d be right,” Harmon agreed. “How did you find them so quickly? They’re powered down until the wrong ship comes through.”
“We’ve been doing this, well…forever,” Rick said. “If you don’t find anything immediately, you look-k where it should be.”
“We’re orbiting the planet Joth,” Harmon said. “How soon can you be here?”
“About five days, and we will be there,” Rick answered.
“Great,” Harmon said. “It gives me time to take care of something before you arrive, then we can put some plans together to defend the system.”
* * *
After showing their identification, Harmon and those with him walked down the long hallway and into an auditorium. Most of the seats were filled with members of the military and newly-appointed government officials. Harmon noticed the system president was on one side of the stage speaking to both planet presidents. Their aides were standing on the other side of the same stage, looking lost, while the presidents conversed.
A section of the front row had been reserved for Captain Tomeral and his officers. With Harmon was Clip, Zerith, Hank, Stan, Kyla, Vera, Evelyn, and Marteen. Already seated were Captains Rogers and Cameron. Cameron kept whispering, while making swooping motions with his hands to Captain Rogers, and the Rincah warrior was trying not to laugh. Cameron made a motion with his hands as if he was describing a huge explosion, and this time, the veteran Rincah warrior did laugh out loud. Several heads turned to look at the horned being, unlike anything most of them had encountered before.
“Would you be minding your own, now?” the Rincah asked those closest to him.
The presidents took seats in the front row, and a lieutenant commander that Harmon didn’t recognize stepped to the podium and informed them the briefing was beginning. The lieutenant commander introduced Admiral Timerton, and the Fleet admiral stepped up to the podium.
“President Benter, Presidents Bentalt and Chazzig, members of the government, and officers of the Fleet,” he started. “We are here to go over the plans to defend the system one last time. Hopefully, with the addition of ships and a few mercenaries, we will be able to do just that. I have a plan I think will save the system.”
“Sir,” Harmon interrupted. He stood and stepped to the front of the room.
“Captain Tomeral,” Admiral Timerton said. “There’ll be a question and answer session after my briefing.”
“No, sir,” Harmon said. “This can’t wait. Sir, we succeeded in our mission to The Plateau.”
At this, some of the audience in attendance sat up a little. Very few knew there had been a mission, much less that it had occurred on Tretra at the installation on The Plateau. They were very interested in the direction this conversation was going.
“I’m aware, you briefed me yourself,” the admiral said, annoyance starting to creep into his voice. “The traitor was killed during the mission.”
“Yes, sir, several were,” Harmon agreed. “But not all of them.”
“Captain Tomeral,” the admiral said. “I’m afraid discovering the identities and determining each individual’s involvement is going to take years. Certainly nothing is going to be accomplished until the system is defended one last time, if it’s defended properly. Granted, the system is in your debt for the last defense, but you seem to be skirting disrespect pretty closely at the moment. Now, if you’ll take your seat.”
Harmon checked his personal comp. The time was right. He looked up at the admiral and then over to the system president. He then looked over at his officers one at a time. Turning back to the admiral, he said, “About that mission.”
Now he had the admiral’s attention, as well as everybody’s in the auditorium. “Yes?” Admiral Timerton asked.
“We were set up,” Harmon said, his tone serious. “Someone notified the installation. They were waiting for us. Their defense was set up to guarantee the mission would fail. To guarantee all involved in it…would die. Several troops did.”
“You told me of your suspicions. I have MI looking into it as we speak,” Admiral Timerton said dismissively.
“I don’t need Military Intelligence,” Harmon said. “I know who it was.”
“Do you?” the admiral asked.
Several of the attendees in the room were looking around to see if they could determine who the culprit was. Marteen was not one of them. His eyes were locked on Harmon. Suddenly the doors opened, and Marines entered and lined both walls, their rifles in their hands, not yet pointing at anyone.
“Yes, sir,” Harmon answered. “It took me a while to piece it together, but I have.”
Admiral Timerton started to speak, “I…”
Just then, System President Benter stood up and walked to the podium. Everyone but Harmon and the two planet presidents was confused. Admiral Timerton turned to ask the president a question, but stopped when President Benter shook his head.
“Admiral Timerton,” the president said. “You are relieved and under arrest for traitorous crimes too numerous to mention here.” He looked over to the master at arms that was now stepping on the stage. “Staff Sergeant, arrest this man and have your Marines hold everyone present who is on the list.”
Admiral Timerton reached into his coat with a sudden move. He never completed the act, as President Benter caught him with a right hook and dropped him on the spot. A small laser pistol fell out of the unconscious officer’s hand. The president looked at Harmon and shrugged, shaking out his hand.
The room erupted with shouts and demands for explanations. Several government officials and officers tried to make their way to the doors but were stopped from exiting the room. Harmon stepped up to the podium.
“Listen up!” his voice rang throughout the room. “Settle down. There’s no
use pleading your case. Lieutenant Commander Jayneen was able to access the Restore Movement’s files, something I neglected to include in my briefing to Timerton. Every member, every participant, and every sympathizer is now known.
“Your first mistake was having the senior officer in the system as the head of your movement, even if you thought it a secret. The military maintains order and discipline. Of course there was going to be a master roster. It’s the military thing to do. Face it. You’re busted, and so are all the other members, depending on their involvement.
“Major General Wilton, his Marines, and members of the Joth Militia have been busy the past ten minutes, wrapping up the whole movement across the planet.” Harmon started to step away from the microphone, thought better of it, and stepped back to it.
“And in case you’re wondering, my company’s ships and the crews operating them have performed a little mutiny. Though I’m not sure you can call it that, since they’re my ships. Anyway, they’re in good hands, or in one case, claws. Talons? Clip…help me out here.”
“Talons. Definitely talons,” Clip confirmed.
“I agree,” Zerith confirmed as well. “Captain Elscritch hass talonss.”
Thirty minutes later, Harmon and his officers were alone in the auditorium with the three presidents. Roughly fifteen percent of the room had been taken away by the Marines before the rest had been released, with the knowledge that Major General Wilton would be the highest-ranking officer in the fleet, and a battle plan was forthcoming.
“Once again, I and the entire system owe you,” President Benter told Harmon.
“Sir, I just did what had to be done,” Harmon answered. “They went too far.”
“How did you know it wass him?” asked Joth’s president, Chazzig.
“Well,” Harmon said, “his name wasn’t in the files, but he gave himself away.”
“How so?” the Tretra President asked.
“He knew Fritz was holed up at The Plateau before I said it,” Harmon answered. “He said it was supposed to be impossible to get to. That, and too many assets were used for this to be run by a mere commander, even if she were Intelligence.”
“I never caught that,” President Bentalt said, shaking his head, then he looked up. “How’s my boy?”
“Twiggy is fine, sir,” Harmon said. “I left him up in orbit in charge of a light battlecruiser I picked up. Jayneen has Salvage Title, JoJo has the carrier Windswept, and a Caldivar you haven’t met is minding a nice little frigate for the brothers.” He indicated Hank and Stan. They high-foured, grinning.
“Sir, I hate to rush this,” Harmon said to the system president, “but we have twenty-two ships due to enter orbit on Joth in the next twelve hours, and I would like to be there to meet with their commander and plan this upcoming battle. Major General Wilton has given me full authority for it.”
“I understand,” the president said. “We’ll talk after.”
On the flight back to Salvage Title, Marteen looked over at Harmon and said, “For a minute there, I thought I was going to have to defend myself for something I didn’t do.”
“Really?” Harmon asked. “I never once thought it was you. I don’t think anyone else thought that either. What would make them think that? You’re family.”
* * * * *
Chapter Twenty-Six
“So, the trials will start right away,” Harmon said to his officers.
All the representatives for the escort ships of Salvage Title were present for the arrival of the Kashkal on the flight deck of Salvage Title. They had been discussing the fate of the Restore Movement. The worst of the conspirators would go to trial quickly, with the two crew members Bahroot had subdued up first for attempted murder, mutiny, and a list of related crimes.
Bringing up Corporal Bahroot put everyone in a somber mood. The sacrifice he had made was something the entire system was grateful for, but it wouldn’t bring him back.
Jayneen had asked to speak to Harmon about it as soon as they came back on board, and, realizing he had a young officer that needed counseling, despite her actual age and the fact that she was an AI, he had spoken at length with her. Since Harmon himself was relatively young and new to command, he did the best he could, and treated her like he would any subordinate. It seemed to help, but Harmon asked Clip to talk to her later, as well.
“They all need to get what they desserve,” Zerith said.
“You know it, Zee,” Clip agreed as they watched the ramp lower on the shuttle that had just landed.
Harmon could tell it was Rick walking down the ramp, because he wore the same enclosed suit as the first time they had met. Following Rick were two more of his race, their suits similar but different colors. All three stopped at the edge of the ramp, and Rick asked, “Captain Tomeral, permission to inhabit your ship for a limited time?”
Clip whispered something to Harmon. Harmon replied to Rick, “Allies are welcome to inhabit all that is mine until a mutual time is agreed upon. Know that you are my ally, Rick Kashka.”
“Contract is life,” all three of the aliens answered together.
“It’s good to have allies,” Rick said, less formal now. “Let me introduce my task force commanders, Tock-k Ka and Saylonik-k Ka.”
The Kashkal officers stepped forward and shook Harmon’s hand. He noticed Saylonik was female, if he guessed right. She had more graceful facial features than Rick and Tock, and she spoke with a higher-pitched voice.
Harmon introduced Clip, Zerith, and the four original crew members first, then he introduced those commanding the other ships. He then suggested they move to the conference room to continue the planning. He had yet to introduce Jayneen.
Once everyone was in the crowded conference room and seated, Harmon looked around. “Big Jon, would you mind taking a seat as well? Between the brothers and Tock Ka? Thanks.”
Hank looked guilty, slipped the small screwdriver back into a pocket, and smiled, showing a mouthful of teeth. Kyla gave him a look that would have scared a Yalteen. Hank had been pretty sure he could adjust the rebreather for optimum output. He had never worked on one like that before and wanted to try.
“Ok, with that crisis diverted,” Harmon said, “let me introduce Lieutenant Commander Jayneen to you.”
Harmon explained who she was and the fact that she was an artificial intelligence, all the while avoiding using that exact phrase. He felt he did a pretty good job of it. Jayneen didn’t interrupt.
“Incredible. You must be a great asset during combat,” Saylonik Ka said.
“She is,” agreed Harmon.
“Thank you, Ka,” Jayneen said, deferring to her rank, because technically a ka was a captain commanding a task force in the Kashkal’s fleet and outranked her. The reference was noted and approved of by the three visiting officers. Harmon took a mental note himself.
“Here is what we now know,” Harmon began. “The Squilla now have fifty-one warships, and their ally, the Krift, have twenty. From what Jayneen has been able to decipher, they’ll depart the Squilla system in about one week.”
“Frost!” Clip exclaimed. “That gives us…what? Eleven days or so?”
“Yess,” Zerith confirmed around a mouthful of muffin. “Eleven dayss and five hourss,”
“Harmon,” Twiggy drawled. “We’re gonna need a plan, buddy. ’Cause the odds suck.”
“It is not the first time we have fought against a numerically greater foe,” Rick said, his officers nodding in agreement. “It will not be the last.”
“That’s what I’m talking about! Positive thinking.” Harmon said. “We can win this thing, and after we do, we’ll just pop into the Squilla system and take out their shipyards, too.”
“Harmon,” Evelyn asked, “what exactly is your plan?”
“Well, we have twenty-one fully crewed ships,” Harmon answered. “The Tretrayon Fleet has four ships repaired now, along with the four Squilla conversions. Tomeral and Associates has thirteen ships, including the ten we salvaged and the
ones just purchased. Cameron and Captain Rogers have their individual ships. The Kashkal have twenty warships. That gives us a total of forty-three. I was thinking about the old ‘Bait and Pounce.’”
“I am unfamiliar with this tacti-c,” Rick Kashka said. “And believe me when I say this, I have studied many battles fought by my ancestors.”
“I like it,” Clip said. “The old ‘sweet cake and surprise.’”
“Niccce,” Zerith agreed. “The best way to catch a skrittle.”
“You see, Big Jon,” Gunny Harper said, looking over at his friend. “That’s why we aren’t officers; apparently, you have to know all the military tactical terms and stuff. Because I have no idea what the squat they’re talking about.” The staff sergeant shrugged his shoulders; he had no clue, either.
“Ok, here’s the plan,” Harmon said. “We’ll be deep in system with the twenty-three ships in standard defensive formation, with the two carriers protected. We’ll be near Tretra. Rick Kashka will have his fleet moving toward, but behind Joth, ready to whip around and hit the incoming fleet in the side and rear when they come by, thinking twenty-three ships is all we have. They have no way of knowing we have an entire fleet allied with us.”
“That I understand,” Rick said with relief. “The Entrapment Tactic-c has been successful many times. It is a sound plan. The momentum of the enemy will not allow them to stop. They may be able to swing away, but it will not save them from the trap.” His officers nodded in agreement.
“Plus,” Clip said, rubbing his hands together, “they’ll take some damage from the defensive ship platforms as they come into the system, and the two minelayers will be a nasty surprise.”
“I wish we had time to train a crew for the four Nazrooth destroyers,” Harmon said. “I hate the fact that there are four ships just sitting there. I’d like to add them to our fleet.”
“You have four ships available?” Rick asked. “What type?”
“Four older Nazrooth destroyers,” Jayneen said for Harmon. “The Nazrooth are a bipedal race that have forsworn war. Over a hundred years ago, they sold off the majority of their fleet.”
Salvage Fleet Page 17