He maintained a steady pace as he made his way down the hallway so as to not give away his intentions. Each step towards her door was another step towards his overall goal.
To the collective's overall goal.
Alerted by others in the pack, three agents near the front turned when he got close. Soon, they were coming at him at a pace that matched his own.
"That's far enough," the front agent said. He held up one hand as a gesture to stop while his other went for his weapon. The other two followed his lead and went for their guns.
He raised his hands in the air and stopped. "Is there a problem?"
"This hallway is off limits. You need to find another way to get to where you’re going." The agent shifted his weight to his back foot as if preparing to take the shot.
He tilted his head to the side. "Another way? Surely this is the best way to President Alvarez's quarters."
The three agents looked at each other before pulling their weapons. "Hands in the air where we can see them."
He scoffed. "I'll have you know, I have an appointment with the president in ten minutes. Surely she has filled you in."
"Not likely," the agent said. "She isn't expecting anyone today."
He knew that wasn't quite the truth. In fact, she was expecting quite the crowd later, when the majority of the NEC leadership showed up for their meeting. It seemed an enemy fleet bearing down on the planet was reason enough to bring humanity's leadership together.
In an ideal world, he'd destroy the station and be done with it all. But the masters had grand plans for the station and its people.
"Check again, I'll bet you'll be surprised."
The door to the room opened as the agent closest to him stepped forward, and President Alvarez's slim form stepped through the doorway. Hearing the commotion, she turned her head towards the action playing out down the hall.
"Commander Bremerton?" she said. "You're early."
When the agents lowered their weapons, he allowed his shoulders to relax. "I see you've increased your security since we last talked."
President Alvarez cleared her throat. "A little too much, if you ask me. I can't walk down the hall without tripping over someone's feet."
He glanced at the three agents as if asking permission to walk to the president. Reluctantly, they backed against the wall, letting him pass. "I don't mean to intrude, but I figured we could discuss a few things before the meeting. Captain Wellard and I have gone over the information from the Battle of Entropa and determined a weakness in the Mythrar flagships we might be able to exploit."
"Then why bring it up to me? Admirals Flannigan and Austin are more suited to battle tactics."
"I have, Madam President. They thought it would be a good idea to run it by you first."
She glared at him skeptically. "Should I assume your tactics involve sacrificing some of our ships?"
He pursed his lips, then nodded. "That would be a safe assumption. If I hadn't sacrificed the Endeavor, we never would've beaten them in Entropa."
She studied him for a long moment, as if trying to pull the truth out of his mind. For a moment, he thought she might be on to him. That she might know what he had planned. But a few seconds later her mood seemed to soften as she allowed her shoulders to sag. "I was hoping you'd found a better way to destroy the flagships, but I suppose anything is better than what we have now." She turned and held out an arm towards her office door. "I have a few minutes before I have to leave."
He turned to the closest agent and shot him a mocking smile before strolling casually down the hall. President Alvarez waited for him to enter the room before following him inside. Once there, she turned and held up a hand, stopping the flow of agents from entering the room. "You can all wait outside."
"But, Madam President…"
"Don't ‘but’ me. Commander Bremerton is one of my most trusted advisers. I assure you, I'm safer with him than with any of you. Stay outside and make sure nobody comes in to bother us until we are done. Do you understand?"
The agent studied him for a moment before backing away. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good." She then reached back and shut the door. "Sorry about that, Commander. Both the House and Senate insisted that I stay under close guard. It seems with all the Landry nonsense, someone believes my life is at risk."
He nodded. "I agree. In fact, that's why I'm here." He reached to the small of his back and pulled out a blaster. With one fluid motion, he aimed the weapon at President Alvarez and fired. The weapon flared a single blast of light as the laser beam lanced out from the blaster. The round struck the president in her chest, opening a hole through her lung. Before she could scream out for help, he pulled the trigger again, silencing her for good.
Chapter Seven
Volgograd Sector
Bridge, Flagship Koniva
Captain Miller refused to look at the screen as the last of the Russian ships were destroyed. He'd long since given control of the flagship over to his XO for the rest of the battle, allowing her to get experience at the helm.
Experience.
He almost had to laugh at using the word. What he traditionally thought of as experience was now more akin to allowing another student to torment the little kids on the playground. As long as she didn't make any stupid decisions, like moving the ship into the firing lanes of one of the other flagships, there was little she could do to lose the encounter. In fact, he was sure half the refugees back on Earth couldn't have gotten things wrong.
Killing his people wasn't what he'd signed up for, not that he had been given the chance to sign up at all. The only reason he was here was to save the only family he had left. The ones he'd long since left behind. As long as he did what he was told, he might get them back. If not, at least he could live his life knowing they would be safe.
But with time, that was becoming more and more difficult. With each passing day, he fought to remember what they looked like. While he didn't regret giving himself up to let them escape, he wished he’d had enough sense to carry a few pictures with him before he did. If there was one thing he could change in his life, it would be just that.
"Firing on the last ship now," Robbins said.
The words were punctuated by a flash of green light from the viewscreen. Miller didn't have to look at the screen to know what came next. In his mind, he saw the beam lancing away from the flagship and into the hull of one of the Russian vessels. He imagined the ship to be one of the smaller ships, thus less of a priority to attack. That or the other flagships had given up prioritizing the more dangerous targets as fewer of them remained. Regardless of the ship, the result was the same. Once the beam had struck its mark, there was little more than an expanding debris field left to deal with.
The bridge burst into muted applause, apparently to congratulate themselves for a job well done. Miller allowed the commotion to play out for a few minutes before cutting the image to the screen. The crew grew silent as if they were expecting his next move.
"Order the fleet to focus on repair and recovery. If we have any assets alive in the system, they are to be brought onto one of the flagships until we can assign them a new ship."
"What of the surviving Russians?"
Miller stared at a point just below the main viewscreen, allowing his silence to punctuate his dislike for the question. Mostly, he didn't like what that question brought next. Either they'd spend the next few hours further destroying any potential havens for survivors, or double the same time bringing them aboard. As much as he preferred allowing his fellow people to survive, he wished the cost of that survival wasn't their freedom. So, he had to make a choice. Kill them now, and keep them from becoming a thrall like him, or bring them onboard so they could die later.
Rest assured they would die. The question was when.
"Bring them onboard. Have security teams prepare decks thirty-two to thirty-seven for our new guests."
"Sir," Robbins said before issuing the orders down the chain. He knew the orders
would get back to Koniva, but he didn't care. The Mythrar had given him free reign on how to deal with human survivors as long as he took care to assure his crew could handle the added pressure. Considering they hadn't brought any survivors onboard since leaving Sol, he figured the extra bodies couldn't hurt. Besides, the ones that acted up or tried to assert their dominance would be promptly airlocked, leaving only the obedient, or at least less hostile, ones on the ship.
Over the next few hours, he watched his console as the reports filtered in. Early estimates put the number of human and Klypton survivors from the Mythrar ships at nearly two thousand. This was in stark contrast to the four hundred or so Russians they happened to bring aboard. He took a few minutes to send a message down to his security teams, giving them a heads up about the incoming prisoners. And to let them know the extra floors he'd assigned wouldn't be necessary.
"The last shuttles have entered the bay. The rest of the fleet has already reported in and is ready to depart." Robbins completed her preliminary report and prepared to send it to Miller's console.
"What is the status of our fleet?"
"The flagships have all taken minimal damage. Out of the remaining ships, sixty were destroyed in the battle, leaving us with just over one hundred and fifty. It's not ideal, but we should have enough left to take New Earth."
Miller chuckled. Take New Earth. Like the Mythrar took Earth one hundred years ago. The difference now was that the Mythrar were no longer acting on their own.
In a way, what they were doing was worse. At least back then it was humanity against the Mythrar. Miller thought this was how the Romans felt when they’d conquered the barbarian hordes centuries before.
"It should be more than plenty. The Xandar nearly fell against half as many vessels and Flagship Dotack. New Earth won't stand a chance." Deep down, he wished they would find a way, but he knew the odds were slim.
Chapter Eight
New Earth Sector
Bremerton Residence, New Earth
With his newborn son in his arms, Jason Bremerton stared out the hospital window as he leaned back in the recliner. By a stroke of luck, Violet had avoided having the baby until he’d returned from Entropa. And just like that, witnessing his son's birth had turned from a long-shot into a foregone conclusion.
The baby was everything he could ever have asked for. He had his mother's eyes and Jason’s black hair. Thankfully, he had neither of their temperaments, especially since Jason'd gotten him to sleep.
As much as he enjoyed his time at home with his family, he couldn't keep his mind off work. He couldn't help thinking maybe he shouldn't be down here. That he should, instead, be back on the Reliant with the rest of the crew, planning their next move.
In truth, there wasn't much for them to plan. Multiple reports from Russian space told them everything they needed to know. That the Mythrar were moving on New Earth with a significant portion of their fleet. Early counts put the number of Mythrar vessels just over two hundred, and that wasn't counting the four flagships heading their way. If they packed even half the weaponry and armor like the one at the Battle of Entropa, there wasn't much the NEC could hope to do, except, perhaps, stall long enough to allow some of humanity to escape, much like they had all those years ago.
As he stared off into the distance, he couldn't help wondering if this was how his people had felt back then. Sitting back on Earth knowing an attack was imminent, yet gathering what forces they had to make a stand.
Knowing what he knew now, he wasn't sure they’d had any idea what was coming. If they had, they would've started the evacuation sooner. Humanity's technology had increased at least three-fold since then, and even now their chances were slim.
But somewhere deep inside, he held on to the hope that humanity would find a way. After all, he had captained the ship that had taken down the first flagship. With any luck, the rest of the fleet could handle four more. Sure, it had taken the sacrifice of the Endeavor, but the NEC had plenty more to throw around if it would get the job done.
To his right, he heard Violet rustling in her bed. Carefully, he shifted the weight of the baby to look at his wife. Given everything she'd been through, she was still beautiful. The last few months had been hard on them both, but through it all, they had remained strong. Admittedly, he'd placed a lot on her shoulders once he joined the NEC.
"Hey." Violet stretched into a full-on yawn before collapsing back into the bed.
"Hey," Jason said, smiling. "Sleep well?"
"I did." She stretched one last time before sitting up at the edge of the bed. "Thank you for watching David. It felt good to get some rest. I haven't been able to sleep much the last few weeks."
Jason opened his mouth to respond but promptly closed it. He supposed he was the reason she hadn't been getting much sleep. He considered, if their positions were reversed, he would've been the same way. Spending every waking moment wondering if he'd had his last conversation with her. Given their last conversation, there was no doubt they didn't want it to be their last.
"Oh don't," she said, as if reading his mind. "It wasn't because of you." She paused for a moment before continuing. "Well, some of it was. But the rest was getting things ready for the baby. Mom and I have been out shopping almost every day in the last month getting things. Just wait until you get home and see it all."
Jason smiled at hearing the excitement in her voice. It had been a few months since he'd seen her so happy. Seeing it now, he hoped it would never end. But he knew it would. One day his leave would be over, and he'd have to return to his ship. Maybe he would get back in time for the battle, or days before the next, but he knew his life would be in danger sooner rather than later. When that happened…
"How is your mother doing? It's been a while since I've talked to her."
"Mom is doing well." She eased herself onto her feet before taking a few tentative steps towards Jason. "Surprised she isn't here, honestly. She's hardly left my side the last few weeks."
Unlike me, he thought. Knowing what was coming, he lifted David up and kissed him on his forehead before handing him over to Violet. She took the child and cradled him in her arms.
"I've been thinking," Violet said as she walked across the room. She stopped at the nearest cabinet and pulled out a bottle. "I know things have been rocky between us the last few months. We've both said things we wish we could take back."
Jason nodded in agreement. He knew he'd said more than his fair share of hurtful things to her during that time. "My mind has been on my career. I just want to get my term over with, so I can be with you and David."
She smiled. "He'll almost be a teenager when that happens."
And I'll be in my thirties if I'm still alive. Thinking about it, he supposed he would have that answer sooner than later. If the Admiralty didn't cut his leave short for the impending battle, he'd spend the duration of the fight on the planet. Assuming the NEC pulled off a miracle and won, he might live long enough to help raise David.
The problems came into play if they lost. If that happened, they were nothing more than a sitting duck for any invading forces. He knew there wasn't much he was going to be able to do to protect them if the battle came down here. Against other humans or even the Xandar, he would fight with everything he had and hope he survived. Against the Klyptons, he wouldn't stand a chance. He might kill ten of them, maybe even twenty, but their larger stature and endless numbers would win out.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and defeat the Mythrar for good. They might throw me a bone and let me retire after five years." Jason sat up in the chair and stared into her eyes. "I'd have to find a normal job. Maybe working the factory with your father."
Violet finished making the bottle before turning to face Jason. "You know you couldn't do that. I'm surprised you can sit still long enough to be the commanding officer of a starship. I know it has to be killing you, being in one room most of the day. Whatever it takes in the name of duty."
"Oh, staying here and being a father is
still my duty. I'm sure I could make it work." He knew it would tear him up inside to leave the NEC, but it was something he was willing to do to save his relationship with his wife and to be a real father. But those were concerns for another day. Years after the battle that continued to loom ever closer.
Chapter Nine
New Earth Sector
NEC Conference Room, New Earth Station
Wellard pored over the information on his datapad about the upcoming attack on New Earth. Pages and pages of files and images of both the incoming Mythrar fleet and the human-controlled fleet set to defend New Earth.
Early scans put the total number of Mythrar vessels close to three hundred, with three being the larger Mythrar flagships. Compared to the two hundred vessels humanity had managed to muster, things were looking bleak.
Hell, they looked bleak without the flagships. With them, we don't stand a chance.
He chuckled at the thought, knowing half the people in the room felt the same. It had taken a miracle, and the sacrifice of the Endeavor, for them to destroy the flagship over Entropa. How the hell they hoped to destroy three more was beyond him.
Still, even through his doubts, he knew they had to try. Unlike the last attack on Earth, now they had nowhere to go. Back then, they’d escaped to the old outer colonies while destroying the gates on their way. Now that wasn't an option, as the Mythrar, and their allies had already taken root in their space. As far as Wellard knew, the Mythrar had spies in every organization and faction. It wouldn't have surprised him to find out they controlled half the corporations. Anything to keep a close watch on the race that got away.
"This is all well and good, Admiral. But we should focus our efforts on evacuating the system. If we act now, we can get a portion of our people out of here before the fleet arrives." Captain Nelson Reynolds stood and addressed the crowd of captains and admirals filling the room.
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