He glanced up at the flag-adorned wall. There were more empty spaces than the four banners that hung there now. These Reaver’s flags are placed to remember the fallen. He knew whose flags would be placed there next.
Kason clenched his fist.
He brought to mind the person who should have a flag draped along this wall instead of his men.
He continued out the causeway exit and towards the bridge.
Data Cell 29
The three commanders stood around the main bridge holo-projector.
Commander Parejas was in deep thought with his hand to his chin.
Commander Bossarios was looking down, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, as Droe Temin stood with arms behind her back.
Kason approached and stood next to Droe. He did not look at Parejas or Nevlen.
The fore deck of the bridge was hushed and darkened except for the bright white saturation of hyper-space behind them through the windows.
The last person to join the group on the platform was the new Keeper, previously under Alon’s tutelage, Tanus Rowmar.
Commander Parejas watched the Keeper approach his side.
Parejas knew each command ship carried two Keepers for historical recordings for the Annals. Alon wanted Tanus, even though he had not yet graduated from the Keeper Adytum, to be his co-worker.
The young Tanus would now replace Alon onboard the Orion’s Rage as the lead Keeper, Parejas thought.
A beep sounded over coms. “Incoming transmission from Mydian. Assemblyman Tallis waiting.”
Commander Parejas looked over his officers before acknowledging the system’s announcement. “System. . . display incoming transmission.”
The holo-projector came to life and the image of Mordon Tallis appeared.
Tallis did not hesitate, bypassing formal greetings and going straight for his question. “Commander Parejas. Are the reports coming from the conference true?”
“It depends on what reports you are referring to, Assemblyman,” Parejas said.
“Do not play games with me, Commander. I asked you a question and I expect a direct answer,” Tallis seethed.
“Specifically?” Parejas asked.
“The report stating that Captain Bender killed a Kryth soldier, causing chaos at the conference, which concluded in the deaths of four under your command, to include the Keeper, Alon Renske.”
“The events, in general, are correct, Assemblyman.”
“In general nothing! Do you know what position this puts us in? You should, since you’re in the position you are in.” Tallis continued his tirade. “What type of reckless operation are you running here, Parejas? What kinds of soldiers react without thinking? I knew the Reavers were an abomination.”
Parejas’ posture began to change, as he took the verbal beatings coming from the Assemblyman personally.
“What kind of officer holds himself above all else instead of the exact people he is there to protect?” Tallis added.
Commander Parejas ended his rant. “Enough from you, Tallis!”
Each of his officers jumped back at Parejas’ shout.
The commander continued before Tallis could utter another word.
“No political figure head will preach to me military doctrine or how I command my operations. You can save your lectures for the Assembly and boot-licking bureaucrats, Tallis. There is no time to discuss fault or pass judgments until the context of facts are in order.”
Tallis attempted to interrupt the commander but to no avail. “And you will not speak to my men under my command in any manner. Do I make myself clear, Assemblyman?”
The exacerbated expression on Tallis’ face said it all.
The Assemblyman was obviously flustered and had trouble getting his response out, “It is. . . I. . . It is time to pass judgment. The Assembly has decided.”
“Another decision or Precept without my vote, Assemblyman?” Parejas asked.
“Captain Bender will be placed under arrest for misconduct and disobeying orders regarding Precept number four-four-two. When he returns, he will be placed on trial before the Assembly and tried for the crimes mentioned,” Tallis recited.
Kason jumped into the conversation. “You don’t have all the facts. If Commander Nevlen didn’t. . .”
Parejas grabbed Kason’s arm and stopped him.
Parejas looked Kason in the eye and shook his head, as to acknowledge that this was not the time or place for disorder.
Tallis’ eyes narrowed at the disobedient Reaver, “Well, Commander. What will it be?”
“What is the Assembly’s decision?” Parejas asked.
“Being under your command, I will place Captain Bender’s arrest in a neutral party’s possession, until your return to Janus.” Tallis paused, looking over everyone present. “Commander Bossarios, take charge of Captain Bender’s arrest.”
Nevlen stood stunned at the order.
Nevlen spoke. “Assemblyman, I don’t believe his arrest is warranted at this time. I see no reason to lock him up while on the Orion’s Rage. He is no threat to any of us.”
Tallis couldn’t wait to interject. “You will follow the orders I have given you by the Assembly, Commander. Take the prisoner and place him in confinement. I’ll be tracking your progress. Take Captain Bender into custody now, Commander!”
Nevlen looked over at Commander Parejas.
Parejas nodded to Nevlen, granting the order.
Nevlen sighed as he approached Kason’s side, “I regret with a heavy heart, I do not want to do this, Captain.”
“Do what you must,” Kason replied.
Kason looked over to Droe before turning and walking off the bridge with Nevlen.
Droe Temin spoke up. “Father, you don’t need to do this. Can’t this wait until our return home and the justice that due process affords him before the Assembly?” she pleaded.
“The Assembly has decided.” Tallis continued his cold tone, even to his own daughter.
Droe began to get angry, but, before she could say anything, Commander Parejas stepped forward and spoke for her. “Is there anything else, Assemblyman?” Parejas asked.
“That will be all, Commander, until your return to Mydian. I am sure you will be able to explain the actions of your crew to the Assembly, Commander?” Tallis questioned.
“I look forward to it.”
“As do I, Commander. There is one last item I would like to discuss. . .”
Tallis’ voice and image ended as the holo-monitor blinked out.
Parejas cut Tallis off, not wanting to hear another word until he was face to face with the man.
Parejas knew hollow words when he heard them. The security of distance would give any man a sense of bravado. He would see how much boldness Tallis had when Parejas was in the same Assembly room with him. Not much, he thought.
Droe asked to be dismissed, she exited the bridge.
Commander Parejas was now all alone with his thoughts. Besides the Keeper, Tanus, who stood next to him.
“Keeper, why don’t you give me a few minutes? I will call you back to the bridge when I am ready to update the Annals,” Parejas said.
The Keeper nodded, turning, he walked off the platform.
Parejas moved over to the front window to stare out into space. His mind was on Kason and the two missing Reavers.
Placing his arms behind his back, as he often did, Parejas thought over the events leading up to this fiasco.
He was responsible for his men’s actions and inactions alike, but he knew that political intervention could have grave consequences in military affairs.
Parejas could handle Tallis. It was Kason he was concerned about, as this would be on his mind until their return home.
Data Cell 30
Nevlen guided Kason through the detention cells. He stopped and opened a lockup door.
Kason entered and sat on a bed against the wall, not returning Nevlen’s gaze.
Nevlen was about to close the door but stopped
short. “I’m sorry for this situation, Kason. I should be the one in confinement, not you.”
“There’s plenty of room in here, Nevlen. Have a seat.”
Nevlen knew any words of his would only add to the tension between the two.
He knew he should try though. “Is there anything I could do for you?”
“How about getting my men off that planet you left them on to start?” Kason stated.
Nevlen just nodded, understanding Kason’s request; but, without a response, he turned and noticed a figure approaching him.
He looked at Kason one last time before leaving the doorway, heading down the corridor.
Kason waited for the person that had garnered Nevlen’s attention.
Droe Temin rounded the door. “Hello, Kason. May I come in?”
“The door’s open.”
Droe smiled as Kason’s relaxed humor lifted her from her somber mood. She entered and took a seat next to him.
There was a moment’s pause before she moved her head up to meet Kason’s eyes.
She sighed and her eyes began to water. “I’m so sorry, Kason. I can’t believe Alon is gone. I miss him already.”
“Thank you, Droe. My mind right now is on my missing team members. I have no time for the lost.”
Droe reached her hand out to rest on his.
Kason glanced down, then back up to Droe.
She froze for a second, not sure of his reaction, but was welcomed with a smile from Kason. She returned his, her face warmly lighting up. She went to speak at the same time he did. They both stopped before interrupting one another.
“Please, Captain, you were going to say?” she asked.
“I wanted to thank you for the visit and to query a favor if I may?”
“I’m here for anything.”
Kason locked eyes with her before he spoke. “I would like you to make sure Nevlen is watched if he is going to take part in any rescue mission of my men. The man cannot be trusted.”
“I will keep an eye on him and make sure I am involved in any mission planning. This, I promise.”
“Thank you, Droe. It means a lot to me.”
“As it does me, Kason.” She grinned. Standing, she moved towards the door. “I will keep you up to date as we return to Janus. And Kason,” she turned and looked back at him, “my name is different than my father’s because of the difference of opinion my father and I have regarding our service to humanity.”
Kason stood and approached her.
She continued. “My father wanted me to enter politics just as he did. He called it the highest service to the people one could undertake; by giving oneself to the processes the people looked up to, but I believe it to be just the opposite. It’s about giving of one’s life to defend the ideals and principles of mankind. I don’t believe you lead from behind a desk but rather out in front, so for this, my father changed my last name as I was against his beliefs and he couldn’t have that. My father wanted me to be a governor of ideals and the Precept laws. I wanted to be a soldier and lead those who trust me with their lives against our enemies. For this, he disowned me. A form of punishment, I guess.”
Kason placed his hand on her shoulder for support.
Their eyes locked and each moved closer to the other.
Kason spoke before their lips met. “Thank you for telling me, Droe. I understand now.”
He backed away, leaving her disappointed eyes.
“You’re welcome, Kason. I. . . I need to be going. I will update you on any rescue mission.”
Droe turned and left the cell as the door slid shut behind her.
Kason walked back and sat on the edge of the bunk. He stared at the door in front of him. The image of Droe faded and the events leading up to this moment washed over him.
I’ve failed, he thought.
His mentor and friend, Alon was dead. Ramek and Jens were left-for-dead on a planet by an incompetent man he hated more than ever. The Ordinance Commander was left to deal with the mess Nevlen had created and Kason was a prisoner to be tried by a government he swore to protect.
How quickly things can change.
Data Cell 31
The Keeper, Tanus returned to the bridge and approached the forward deck where Parejas was standing.
“Commander, you called my presence,” the Keeper said.
Parejas stood looking out the platform window, arms still behind his back.
“Step forward, Keeper Tanus.” Parejas looked over the swirling white mass of light that was hyper-space. He continued. “I brought you here as it pertains to the Annal Precepts... to have a Keeper present to record and archive historical events. You will replace Alon as the Keeper for the Orion’s Rage.”
“I do so by your command and by the Precept which binds it. But, only knowing I could never replace Alon.”
Parejas turned to face the Keeper.
“Throughout our history, we have learned to survive. The ideals we hold onto as humans have become our guides within this new universe. At times, we lose sight of those ideals and wonder if they are still there. What was to be a great event today for mankind has now turned into misfortune. The Annals will record this time as another turning point and struggle for humankind. Will it not, Keeper?”
Tanus nodded. “Yes.”
“Then have it recorded that my revenge will not be sated until the Kryth Mahr Domain lies in ruin,” Parejas said.
The commander turned from the Keeper and resumed his look out into space.
The Keeper left the Commander to his thoughts.
Commander Shenta Parejas’ image reflected back at him from the crystal glass partition. His stare seemed to go far beyond the hyperspace’s void ahead of the great ship.
He knew what lay ahead for mankind, first, the jubilant reception from the people of Janus and the Assembly he was at odds with. Then, the continued campaign against the Kryth Mahr and this new Gashnee mystery that had been hidden from him for so long.
Shenta was pensive as he looked at his own image against the glass. A confident nod and slight smile seeded his face.
He knew the Ordinance forces were there to make sure humankind’s existence continued alongside an unkind, unjust, and unforgiving galactic history that had an eternal forward march.
There was plenty of history yet to be written. He would be sure he was there to read its outcome.
Data Cell 32
The Orion’s Rage came out of hyperspace, entering the Mydian system. The ship approached the inner-most planet, and home to mankind, Janus.
Commander Parejas could see the planet’s moons appear first, on her port and starboard side, as the Orion’s Rage slowed to cruising speed.
The usual activity found around moons and planets of any civilized space-faring race did not materialize as the ship moved closer.
Parejas knew the system appeared empty and lifeless, void of any advanced technology that would give away intelligent beings of any kind. This was the point, if any eyes viewed what his did now.
The ship headed between the moons of Veriton and Tyr with the planet Janus straight ahead.
Then, without warning, the front of the ship vanished, as if entering an invisible curtain. The abyss continued along the length of the great ship as it moved forward, consuming it, as a black hole would devour light, until the whole ship disappeared.
The Rage emerged from the other side of this invisible shroud as she passed between two large constellation camouflage projector satellite arrays.
Parejas watched as these camouflage screens cloaked the interior of the Mydian system from prying eyes and enemy sensors by giving false sensory and celestial data, as if nothing were there.
Following the great ship as it entered were two large Suppressor gun platforms, each tracking the Rage as she passed. Just another surprise any wandering ship would find as they crossed the threshold of this imperceptible sphere, Parejas thought as he looked beyond the bridge.
The closest moon to the command ship, T
yr, came alive as she passed by.
The Tyr Shipyards, the primary construction site for ship-building and weapon construction for the Ordinance forces, orbited high above the moon’s surface.
Activity sparked as robot constructors came alive with a wide variety of ship hulls being laid within the orbiting docks around the dynamic moon.
The Rage continued towards Janus and to a large station where many of the main fleet, which participated in the attack on Sol, had docked.
Each ship’s crew were readying for the victory ceremonies planned after the Retribution mission.
The great ship moved into her spot as a docking arm came to meet the hull right next to her insignia: Orion’s Rage CCR-1
Commander Parejas turned from the window and exited the bridge.
∞∞∞
The lift descended down towards the main hangar bay onboard the Orion’s Rage.
Commander Parejas and Lt. Commander Temin stood ready in their formal dress uniforms to inspect the formation of officers awaiting them before they departed to the planet’s surface.
Droe tugged down on her jacket to adjust it with slight discomfort. “I’m not one for formal settings,” she said, agitated at the fit of her uniform.
The formal uniforms worn by the command staff were opposite in color of their active dress uniform. The black of the jacket and pants was now replaced by the silver that lined the collar and wrists. Just as the previously silver rank emblems, collar, and cuffs were now black.
Shenta Parejas smiled. “Good to see I have company in that regard.”
“It’s just the longer jacket that comes below the waist here. Feels like I’m being swaddled.” She adjusted again.
“This show will be over soon,” Parejas stated.
“I’ve heard they plan to have hours of celebrations and speeches.”
Parejas scoffed. “Not if I have anything to do with it they won’t.”
“Then I’m glad I’m in good company as well.” Droe smiled back her commander.
The lift came to a stop.
The hangar bay opened up to a cavernous room. Dozens of fighters, shuttles, and assault craft lined the outsides and loading bays, stacked several high from floor to ceiling. An obvious indication of the ship’s importance as a command cruiser.
Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) Page 17