Kris Longknife Stalwart

by Mike Shepherd

  Again, Kris assigned a Human battlecruiser, this time the Audacious to round them up and shepherd them back to try the jump again. This time, however, it took them a lot more time to shed 250,000 klicks per hour, get back around to the front of the jump, build up its velocity to 250,000 klicks again, and hit the jump just right.

  The Audacious was the flagship of one of the Human flotillas. Her admiral had one of Nelly's kids. She slaved all five of the groups to her helm and went through last.

  They were very late to the party, but at least they were in the right system.

  While the Audacious was playing sheepdog to a bunch of Iteeche, Kris was using the next system to slow down. She intended to take the next jump at 250,000 klicks an hour. That would put her fleet just one jump out from the target system of Balan.

  Despite Kris's wish to get there as fast as possible, she slowed the acceleration and deceleration in this system to a mere 1.25 gees for Humans and closer to 1.5 gees for the Iteeche.

  There was less complaining, but there were still admissions to sickbay. With sickbay overflowing, Kris detached a few pinnaces from her Human battlecruisers and sent them around the fleet picking up those too sick or who just wanted off their ship. Some found it hard to face their shipmates from beds where sprains and broken bones had made them unfit for duty.

  The Battleships of State took on some more passengers. Kris's fleet, however, increased in combat effectiveness.

  Her ships went back to drilling. They zoomed over an asteroid belt; it made for a lot of target practice. Admittedly, asteroids didn't make for rambunctious targets. Still, it started as an asteroid belt and finished, as they drew out of range, as a gravel belt.

  Her gunners had a lot to be proud of.

  The Audacious and her strays were just rejoining the fleet as they drew to the jump out of the system. Again, they'd be going at it at 250,000 klicks an hour. Hopefully, by now, the skippers knew to trust their computers.

  As Kris tallied up her ships after that jump; they were all present.

  There was a single jump between them and Balan. The system they were in was worthless. Traffic through it was so rare that the Iteeche didn't bother to keep a jump buoy system in place at the jump Kris aimed her fleet toward. She ordered them back to drill.

  Halfway through the drill, Kris gave them a few hours for maintenance, then once more tossed out the target drones. This time, each flotilla had a target. The gunnery practice was short.

  There wasn't a target drone in operational order after the first minute was up.

  "Well Done. Admiral Longknife sends."

  Her fleet was as ready for battle as she could make it in the time allowed.

  23

  The Balan system was a busy one. Freighters came and left from three main jumps. The system had a productive asteroid belt as well as mining concerns on the hot third planet. Balan 4 was where most of the population and industry was. It had four space stations in stationary orbit and two space elevators. There were also factories on the large moon.

  The forty billion Iteeche on this planet were all gainfully employed in serious industry. They produced at least a hundred battlecruisers every month.

  As soon as the planet had time to discover that a hostile force had entered the system, the radio net shut down, with emergency communications only.

  Whatever faced Kris, the rebels were giving her no hints.

  "Sensors, what kind of ships do we have in the system?" Kris asked.

  "The usual freighter traffic, shipping colonists off-planet. There are a few of the poop freighters lugging sewage over to the third planet."

  "I thought that planet was too hot to do much on," Kris commented to Admiral Tong.

  "I know nothing of this, My Most Eminent Admiral."

  "I may have an answer," Sensors offered.

  "Run with it."

  "There seems to be a huge shade, or something, being constructed in orbit around the third planet. Could they be trying to cool the planet to make it more habitable?"

  "Nelly? Has anyone tried anything like that?"

  "Not that I am aware of, Kris. Venus, the second planet from old Sol was converted from a runaway hot house to a livable planet, but they seeded its atmosphere and slowly used biologicals to take the carbon out of the atmosphere and clean it up."

  "Oh, that's lovely," Sensors observed.

  "What?"

  "A comet just impacted on the third planet. No, actually, it grazed the planet so that all of it evaporated into the atmosphere. Good shooting."

  Kris checked the system map. The nearest ice giant was well out from the star. If someone was lobbing ice at the third planet, they were tossing it from quite a distance.

  Kris found herself liking this planet's management. They were investing in their system. They'd managed to hold their population at forty billion rather than the usual Iteeche tendency to push it up to fifty billion before leveling out.

  "I've got to make sure the new kids on the Battleships of State that we'll be turning this planet over to understand that I want it given back to the present management after this rebellion is over in the same shape it is now. No messing with what isn't broke."

  "Do you think those jumped up junior clans will listen to you?" Jack asked from her elbow.

  Kris shook her head. "No. More likely as not they'll act like juvenile delinquents turned loose in the liquor store with a prepaid charge chit."

  "You think it will be that bad, huh?" Jack said with a raised eyebrow

  "I can't say that I really doubt it." Kris paused. Quickly, she reviewed all her options and found them wanting. She expanded the list from usual to different through wild and crazy. After a moment's thought, she picked the most outlandish of the bunch which, just possibly might have a chance.

  "Comm, get me a channel to Balan."

  "You've got it, ma'am."

  "Greetings to the Planetary Overlord of Balan 4 from Admiral Kris Longknife, commanding the fleet that has just entered your system. If you are like all the other planets I have conquered in my effort to put an end to this unhelpful and inharmonious war, you are packing your bags and getting ready to flee. That is the usual reaction of the planetary leadership when a large force threatens their planet and a stronger force is not at hand.

  "However, I would like to offer you a second alternative.

  "I see that you are investing in increasing the productivity of your system. You have active industry in your asteroid belt. You are terraforming the third planet from the sun. I see that you're constructing a shade to reduce the extreme sunlight baking that planet. My sensors just recently observed a ball of ice boil off in the planet's atmosphere.

  "I imagine you would hate to see your efforts taken over by a less interested party. Therefore, I would like to offer you the chance to stay. Under supervision, you would still run the planet with your management team. You could continue to work on developing the third planet. In return, I would require you not to destroy the battlecruisers now under construction in your yards.

  "What does that amount to, three hundred warships? As soon as I have control over your planet, I will have construction resume, and in two months, your yards will again be turning out ships for my fleet. This strikes me as a small price to pay to save your investment in infrastructure.

  "I will, of course, require supplies for my ships and soldiers while we are in your orbit. The sooner you submit to the Emperor, the sooner I will be on my way. Admiral Longknife sends."

  Kris knew she'd have a long wait to get an answer. However, a base in the asteroid belt must have gotten her message first. Someone there very quickly fired off a request for clarification.

  "Are you the Longknife that slaughtered our soldiers in the Human Wars nearly a hundred years ago?"

  "Oops," Jack said.

  "Yeah. Oops," Kris said.

  "Well, what do you have to say to that fellow?" Jack asked.

  Kris sighed. There was no way to get out of this but go straig
ht through.

  "Comm send to whoever sent that last inquiry. 'I am Grand Admiral, Her Royal Highness, Princess Kristine of Wardhaven, Imperial Admiral of the First Order of Steel and Commanding Admiral, Imperial Combined Fleets. I hold my commission direct from the Emperor's hand and he has commanded me in his name to restore tranquility to the Empire and bring justice and peace to those in rebellion. I also have the honor of being the daughter of William Longknife, Prime Minister of Wardhaven, granddaughter of Alexander Longknife, a man of industry and resources in Human Space, and great-granddaughter of His Royal Majesty, Raymond the First, King of the United Society, who entered into the Treaty of the Orange Nebula that brought peace between Human Space and the Iteeche Empire.

  Kris paused for a moment to organize her final thoughts. “I have entered the Balan system to bring peace. Hopefully I can do that without putting planets to the sword. I prefer negotiations over destruction. By now, you must have heard of my victory against the superior rebel forces arrayed against me at the Battle of Arteccia. You will also have heard of the peaceful return of the Glorious Golden Eel System to its allegiances to the Emperor. I would encourage you to follow the Glorious Golden Eel System in a peaceful and tranquil return to the serene lordship of your Emperor."

  Kris halted. She was starting to ramble. She'd made her point.

  "Admiral Longknife sends." She turned back to Jack. "So now it is out of the bag. Let's hope that does the trick."

  "And now we wait," Jack said. "Are you hungry?"

  "Yes. Lunch would save us from gnawing at our livers, as the ancients put it."

  So, Kris and Jack shared a meal. As they talked the situation over, it became clear that she was overdue for a talk with Admiral Tong.

  "I need some advice," Kris said. "You know more about the Iteeche Empire than anyone I know. Did you follow my message to the Planetary Overlord by any chance?"

  "Yes, My Most Eminent Admiral. My communications watch did provide me with a copy of that rather interesting message. I know of similar bids for reconciliation, but none have been made in at least a thousand years."

  Kris raised her eyebrows at that. "Do you think anyone on that planet will know what to do with an offer that comes from such ancient times?"

  "That is always the risk when you attempt to step outside the norm. However, you have presented them with a very reasonable and honorable proposal that can stand on its own four feet. I agree with you that any leadership team that is so invested in this system might prefer turning their coats to seeing all their hard work turned over to a leadership that no doubt will care less about the future of this system. We will just have to wait and see."

  "If they do offer to change allegiance back to their Emperor," Kris asked, "what can we expect of them? They've got an army of over a million men. What do I do with them?"

  "After you accept their newly sworn loyalty they are yours to command."

  "They will accept my commands?" Kris repeated, incredulously.

  "Yes. If you give them orders, they will obey them instantly."

  "You mean if I landed four hundred thousand men and took off four hundred thousand of these former rebels, they will follow my orders to invade the next planet and not take the opportunity to stab me in the back?"

  The Iteeche admiral on the screen paused for a moment. When he continued, Kris could hear the teacher that he'd been before he was sent off to die in battle.

  "I've been studying your art of war through your history. One situation I found interesting was one fought by your legendary Julius Caesar. He was also fighting a civil war just like we have here. He fought a campaign in Spain against another rebel."

  "Spain was called Hispania in those days," Nelly provided.

  "Thank you," the Iteeche admiral said. "He fought for a month or so, outnumbered, still he managed to maneuver his enemy into one bad position after another. Each time, he allowed them to walk away from a battle that would have meant many dead soldiers. I think he finally got them in a position where his army was between the rebels and water. Faced with this situation, the leaders of the rebel legions fled, leaving the men to fend for themselves. Do you know what your war commander did?"

  "I imagine you are about to tell me," Kris said.

  Admiral Tong met Kris's response with a laugh that, like all Iteeche humor, sounding like he was coughing up a hairball. "Yes, I will. He sent his recruiters among the soldiers of the abandoned army. Men and officers, they came over to him, more than doubling the force under his command. They followed him to the ends of the Earth obeying his orders and fighting his battles. You can expect the same from these soldiers."

  "I have a hard time understanding this Iteeche Way," Kris said.

  "But this is how you must wage your battle against the rebels."

  Kris was still not persuaded. "When I captured ships, I had to remove the admirals and ship captains. Will I have to purge these troops of their higher ranks, and if I do, where do I get my new officers?"

  "Just like in your Caesar's day, the political leaders will likely have to be reassigned to other duties, assuming they do not flee. However, the officers from the generals down to the most lowly recruits will, once they give you their oath of allegiance, fight by your side and follow your orders to the death."

  Kris shook her head. Everything about this situation was crazy. Could she really trust that the Iteeche would behave just as Admiral Tong believed? It would certainly simplify her choices if they did so.

  "Kris, there is a call coming through from Sam. He sounds very agitated."

  "Thank you, Nelly, and thank you, Admiral Tong. Once again, you have given me more knowledge about this Empire I serve and the Iteeche Way. No doubt, I will get back to you again."

  "From the sound of it, you will enjoy our next call much more than the call you will be taking in a moment."

  "No doubt, Admiral, no doubt."

  A very angry Iteeche came on the main screen a moment after Kris ended the call.

  "What do you mean offering the rebels my planet!"

  So much for the Iteeche long history of beating around the bush and avoiding confrontation.

  "Sam," Kris said, "It is so good to see you."

  "Yes, yes, it is good to see you," he rattled off, "but what about my planet?"

  "I have not done anything about your future Planetary Overlordship," Kris said smoothly. Butter would have melted in her mouth.

  "Do not think me a fool. My communication watch on this Battleship of State intercepted your message to those rebel traitors. You are offering to let them continue to rule this planet. This planet that was offered to me and my clan."

  "Your Overlordship, I think there is some minor confusion on this matter. You will surely be the Overlord of a planet before this war cruise is finished. You will lord over the first planet that I capture. That still may be this system, but I have chosen a different approach and am negotiating for this system even as I prepare to capture it. If they lay down their arms and return their allegiance to their proper Emperor, yes, I will allow them to continue to manage this system. Someone may be appointed Supreme Planetary Overseer. Still, is it not better to have planets peacefully and serenely returned to their Emperor rather than fought over and returned to the Emperor a burned-out husk of what they were?"

  "You have created new Planetary Overlords before," Sam spat. "You allowed for the peaceful return of a system like the Glorious Golden Eel to the Emperor after handing it over to new lords for exploitation. Do you do that only for the major clans. Why isn't this my planet?"

  "May I point out that the leadership of the Eel system fled before me as my ships arrived. I found shipyards with nearly complete battlecruisers melted down into huge masses of goo. It is to my advantage to have this planetary Overlord surrender his nearly complete battlecruisers to the Combined Fleet. If that means leaving his lordlings in their positions, I will do that. We have other planets to conquer. Don't worry. I’m sure there is a planet for you to rule."


  Kris's hope that her small attempt at soothing the upset small clan lordling would resolve his concern. It did not. She ended stuck on the line for the next half hour as the two of them rehashed the same points over and over before Kris finally managed to end the call.

  24

  Exasperated with the politician and the phone call, Kris turned to Jack. "And to think, Father wanted me to be an assistant to my Member of Parliament brother. I would have had to do that all day, every day, for all sorts of fools and jerks."

  "At least Sam wasn't shooting at you," Jack said, offering the only benefit he could find for the half hour wasted.

  "I'd rather be in a battle than talk to him again," Kris countered.

  The fleet continued to accelerate toward Balan 4. Just before they flipped over to begin deceleration, a message arrived.

  "I am the Planetary Overlord for the Balan system," an Iteeche announced by way of preamble. There was no one else visible on the main screen. "I recognize that you have overwhelming force and that my planetary defenses are quite outnumbered. I also understand that you are asking me to surrender to you and swear my allegiance to the Emperor who now sits on the throne."

  The Iteeche paused to glance off the screen at someone.

  "It is also my understanding that if I surrender my planet and all forces in this system to you, that you will allow us to continue our present policies and plans to improve the resources of this system without outside efforts by other Clan lords and lordlings. Do I understand your offer correctly, and can I trust that you will do as you say?"

  Again, the Iteeche looked at someone off camera. This time he shook his head, curtly, which for an Iteeche began at the hips and twisted his entire body.

  "May I offer an additional proposal to your suggestion that you might appoint a Supreme Planetary Overseer? You command the Imperial Combined Fleet and want our system to add ships to your force in much the same way the rebellion has used us to build ships for them. Would you consider appointing one of your senior admirals to oversee our system and assure that we remain loyal to the Emperor and provide you with new ships and naval supplies?"