OMEGA Hostile

by Stephen Arseneault

  I nodded. "You get us the comm frequencies and I can use the Jess to tap into their conversations."

  Joni asked. "Tell me again why you didn't just park the Jess at sensor range instead of me dropping probes?"

  I replied, "Garrett knows the sensor workings of that ship. I know some. Just enough to be dangerous. With it sitting back here I can get Go's or Jack's assistance if needed."

  Joni sighed. "And why did we have to send Garrett off to Odenta?"

  I pursed my lips. "We needed one of us to go. I don't trust anyone else to do what we want or need at the moment. If Go was healthy I would have sent him. He could do his experiments on the way there just as well as he could here. He needs to be here with the surgeons and the med lab until he's fully healed. You are in the suit and we need the Garmon here for a sustainable base."

  Jack said, "OK, I have the feeds from your two tags. Signals are strong and... zoom takes the visual in close enough to read the comm channels. Good job."

  I zoomed in on the image of the nav display. "Nav looks good as well. Why don't you roam the ship for a bit. An internal mapping of their latest battleships might do us some good."

  Joni replied, "On it."

  As Joni moved off the bridge we listened in on the conversation the admirals were having.

  The admiral, identified as Konj Blekhart, said, "They should be showing within the hour."

  Admiral Bob Monger replied, "I would be happier if I knew who they were."

  Admiral Jean Casper pulled up a display above her arm. "It's the Talisans... as we requested."

  Admiral Monger asked, "How do you know this?"

  Jean Casper replied, "Intel got the communiqué about ten minutes ago."

  Admiral Monger scowled. "Why wasn't this information forwarded to my staff?"

  Admiral Casper laughed. "You have to have friends in the right places, Bob. I told you six months ago to start networking with the intel people. They are the first to know and they know the most. If you build trust with them, they will throw you the occasional bone."

  Konj Blekhart said, "My source says they fulfilled our request for all fifty million soldiers."

  Casper shook her head. "They did, but there's a catch. Half of them will be kept here in reserve. Command likes the way the Jorus campaign worked out with only sending in the reserves as needed."

  Bob Monger continued with his scowl. "Those were warships, these are ground troops. Why would you hold them in reserve?"

  Admiral Blekhart returned a stare. "It's not our job to ask questions at this stage, Bob. Those are the questions you can ask once we reach Bolitha."

  Admiral Monger huffed. "The intel they gave us says Bolitha has around two hundred million ground troops that are dug in and well defended. Tell me what we can do with twenty-five million?"

  Casper smiled. "After they scorch the surface from orbit, twenty-five million should be more than enough to mop up. Our goal is to occupy the planet so we can destroy its infrastructure, water supplies, and farming. Basically anything that makes it habitable. Then we move on to the next one."

  Blekhart nodded. "The Kergans, just like most multi-planet empires, have made themselves dependent on having all their planets fully functioning. Bolitha provides nearly 50 percent of the food for the Kergans. In three months, they will be begging to join with us—under our full direction of course."

  Monger crossed his arms. "Couldn't the same be achieved by annihilating their fleet? If we control the space between worlds, we control those worlds."

  "Command wants the remainder of their fleet intact," Blekhart replied. "We need those ships until our own people are put in place to govern. This policing is what half of the Talisans coming through will be doing on the Moddle worlds. They are reserves for Bolitha until Bolitha falls. Command hates the term Moddle, by the way. They have asked for a designation for that sector. I believe I heard Calico may be a frontrunner."

  Casper laughed. "It never ceases to amaze me how much energy is wasted on nonsensical items when we are trying to conduct a war. If they put a bit more thought into these campaigns, perhaps they would run more smoothly."

  Monger groused, "What are you talking about? The Jorus campaign came in within two hundred ships of projections. And it would have been an almost exact hit had there not been that initial delay by the Kergans."

  Casper lowered her voice. "I heard the delay may have been caused by Beutcher."

  Blekhart scowled. "Beutcher is dead! That was confirmed on Odenta!"

  Casper replied, "Confirmed? How? There were no bodies to be found. How do we know the Grotus didn't lie about the escaping ships they scanned?"

  Admiral Monger responded to the questions. "He's dead because we had diplomats on those Grotus ships. The Grotus would have no reason to lie. They didn't even know who he was."

  Jack leaned back in his chair. "Wow. You've become famous. Looks like the Salton's military staffers all know who you are."

  I frowned. "I can't say this is a good thing. I have to wonder if Getta will now be watched."

  Jack shook his head. "I don't think your popularity makes a difference there. She's on the Council, she'll be watched anyway."

  Joni said, "I can't believe how much Casper sounds like me. She must be from Alpha Prime as well."

  Jack laughed. "Well, at least you can be thankful you didn't inherit her bulldog looks."

  Joni replied, "There is that."

  A deck officer stepped up to the three admirals. "Ma'am, sirs. The arriving fleet is showing on the sensors. We expect a comm link any time."

  Admiral Casper smiled. "Thank you, Commander."

  Casper turned to face the others. "You want answers as to what we are doing next? We should have those momentarily. Rumor is that Commodore Kipsy will be joining us."

  Blekhart growled as he frowned. "Kipsy? Now I know this campaign is going nowhere fast. We should strike at Bolitha while they are reeling from their losses at Jorus. Kipsy will have us polishing their ships as an act of trust. I don't see this as a positive development."

  Monger replied, "Neither do I. Sometimes I wish Command would just tell us 'Go do what needs to be done,' and leave it at that."

  Casper snarked. "And why do you think you could do better? You have no experience at war. The entirety of your experience with leadership has come from your success in the simulations. I would say that Command has shown excellent judgment in their decision-making thus far. Doomlight is ours, the Moddle worlds are ours, we have Jorus secured for our raids on Bolitha. The only front that has not progressed as far as desired is against the Grumar and Grotus."

  Monger scowled. "We have twelve thousand warships at our disposal, and now over fifty million ground troops. We have weakened the Kergans. I would smash the Grumar first and then go after the weak Kergans."

  Blekhart placed his hand on Monger's shoulder. "I'm with Bob. Let us deal with the Grumar first. The Kergans would then fall in line without so much as an ion bolt being fired. Our force by then would be overwhelming to them."

  Casper shook her head. "Are you two so dense as to plot against the wishes of Command?"

  Both Monger and Blekhart grumbled in denial.

  A comm link broke their conversation. "This is Commodore Kipsy. Which of you would be the admiral in command?"

  Casper replied, "We are all in command here, sir. Each has a fleet that we oversee. I am Jean Casper. This is Konj Blekhart. And this is Robert Monger."

  The commodore returned an unimpressed look. "I detest management by committee. Of the three of you I have previously only heard the name of Blekhart."

  Konj Blekhart bowed. "At your service, Commodore."

  The commodore returned an uninterested stare. "Blekhart, you are now in charge of these other two. You will report directly to me and only to me. Any discussion the three of you have about any item or issue, you will immediately inform my staff."

  Blekhart again bowed, only this time with a grin on his face.

  The commodore
continued. "Before you get all happy with yourself and your new command, Mr. Blekhart, I would like to add this statement: I do not tolerate insubordination. I also do not tolerate failure of any kind. The four individuals who served as my fleet officers prior to this campaign have each been executed for one or the other of those transgressions. Do we have an understanding, Mr. Blekhart?"

  Blekhart's grin disappeared as he stood tall at attention. "Yes sir, Commodore. I will be your tool here in this galaxy."

  The Commodore returned an unconvinced stare. "Hmm... tool. Call it whatever you like, Mr. Blekhart. Precisely follow my orders and you will do well."

  Jack commented, "What a hard-ass. I would be thinking about desertion right about now."

  I replied, "Joni, when the commodore's vessel is within maneuvering distance, fly to it and get a tag on his bridge. All orders for this fleet will be originating from there."

  Jack zoomed in on the nav display as the new ships approached. "I don't see the twelve thousand warships the admirals were just talking about. That's only about two thousand. The ships coming in, except for a handful, are all transports."

  Joni replied, "The other ten thousand are at Jorus or are on their way there."

  Jack stood up. "What the... I count almost all the Odenta ships coming in! What are they doing?"

  Garrett came over the comm. "We have a problem!"

  Jack replied, "Garrett? What's going on?"

  Garrett continued, "I made the mistake of telling the Odentas that the New Alliance gave their information to the Grumar and Grotus. That intel is what got their world destroyed. Well, they weren't too happy about it."

  Jack remarked. "You couldn't just order them to stop?"

  Garrett shook his head. "I tried, they wouldn't. Our agreement with them all along has been that we would assist them in any way we could, not that they answer to us. I've been trying to talk them down since I let that slip out. They intend to attack and to demand a surrender."

  Jack sat back down in his chair. "Surrender? Why would they do that? We can knock out their shields and push them around a little, but that's about the extent of it."

  I said, "Joni, I need you to leave that command ship and head for the planet's surface. I think the Odentas plan on using their fermium missiles if they don't get a surrender."

  Joni replied, "The commodore's ship will be here in about two minutes. Let me hang out until I can get on there to tag it."

  I shook my head. "Just leave! The Odentas may release those missiles anyway if things begin to go bad."

  Joni shrugged. "I'm heading for the commodore's ship now. I'll head down as soon as I get a tag or two on there."

  Jack said, "The first of the Alliance ships are heading toward the Odentas. I count forty ships... and forty ships just lost their forward shields. This could get interesting."

  Garrett fired the cruiser's gravity weapon. "I'm staying with the Odentas as long as I can. If it gets too hot for me I'll break it off."

  I asked, "Where are my Talisans in the transports?"

  Garrett replied, "I sent them on ahead to get things set up. They have all the bots as well. The Odentas took the remaining cruisers and transports that only have their people on them. I have a Talisan crew here with me."

  Jack remarked, "So far they are successfully knocking down those shields. That's one hundred sixty ships now."

  Joni said, "OK, drifting aboard the commodore's ship. Deck five, four, three... and on the bridge. Tags are going up."

  A display of Commodore Kipsy's bridge popped up on the full wall display of the Garmon.

  The commodore yelled, "I don't care what they are doing! I want those ships stopped! Mr. Blekhart, if you can't accomplish that, there are two people standing behind you who can!"

  Blekhart bowed. "I apologize, Commodore. I will handle it."

  Garrett said, "Pass me the comm channel frequencies they are using!"

  Jack made the handover.

  "Give me just a second," Garrett said. "I think I can foul up their comms... got it! Odenta ships, I am forwarding the comm channels in use by the Alliance ships. Tap those channels and blast out whatever you can. That should at least temporarily take out their coordination."

  Blekhart yelled at his comm officer: "What do you mean they aren't responding? Send that order now!"

  The comm officer replied, "We can't, sir. The comms aren't locking to the other ships. Something is interfering with the channels!"

  Blekhart's face turned fiery red. "You find a channel that works, mister, or you'll find yourself getting shoved out an airlock!"

  Jack said, "I forwarded the tag feed of the comm console to you. If they switch channels, you can follow. Forward that on to the Odentas and we should be able to keep them in the dark for a while."

  The commodore yelled, "How is this possible? I want answers! Start patching those channels through as direct line-of-sight links!"

  Garrett frowned. "He just hit on the answer. If they switch to LOS they will have their comms back."

  Joni grinned. "I'll take care of it."

  I replied, "Joni? Where are you going?"

  Joni flew through half a dozen decks, stopping in the massive generator room of the commodore's command ship. "Scratch one generator!"

  Joni stepped into the main conduit leading out to the rest of the ship. With a quick blink in and out, the section of conduit that occupied her space vanished. A powerful ion stream began to flood the room with power as sparks flew from the nearby walls, ceiling, and floor.

  Joni grinned as she powered out the side of the vessel. "That should keep them offline for a while!"

  The New Alliance command ship ceased to move. All indications of external lighting went dark. Seconds later, a bright blue stream of ions broke through the outer hull. A coolant failure sent the sixty megajoule generator into overload. The ensuing explosion was violent, disintegrating the back third of the giant ship.

  Twenty seconds later, a similar occurrence happened on the command ship occupied by the admirals.

  "Buh-bye!" Joni yelled.

  I said, "Joni, don't take any more chances! That suit is too important to us!"

  As the second command ship shut down, Joni exited and was soon powering toward Doomlight's surface.

  Garrett half smiled. "This is utter chaos! Those ships have no clue as to what they are doing! We have almost half of them without shields now. Give us ten minutes and the whole fleet will be vulnerable!"

  I turned to Jack. Take us around until we are in comm range of those Talisan transports.

  Jack smiled as he added commands to his nav display. "I like it! Although, what are we going to do with fifty million Talisan troops?"

  I sat back in my chair. "We're going to move them safely out of here. I think our mission at Odenta just got bigger."

  Garrett said, "They aren't even coming out at us anymore! It's just total confusion! Some of them are turning for the portal area! I'll swing around and see if I can stop them!"

  Joni said, "I should hit the atmosphere in about ten minutes. I contacted the Odentas. They said to come on down."

  Garrett grinned. "I just stopped eight runners! Three other cruisers are with me! They may not even get a stray ship out of here!"

  The battle in the heavens continued until the last of the New Alliance ships had its shields knocked out, limiting them to sub-light speeds. The Talisan transports sat in their original position, twice again the distance from Doomlight to the chaotic fleet.

  Garrett cleared the Alliance comm channels. "Attention, New Alliance ships! You are now subjects of the Odenta Empire. Cease all activities and return your ships to their previous positions until a full evaluation can be done."

  Jack turned to me. "Full evaluation? What's he talking about?"

  I half laughed. "I don't really know, but let him run with it."

  Two ships continued to move toward the portal area. Garrett and a second Odenta cruiser powered up their gravity beams, first stopping, and
then pushing the two ships back toward the others.

  Garrett looked at the comm camera. "Guys... and Joni, I can't tell you how much of a headrush I have going right now! We just stopped two thousand warships with our little half-assed fleet!"

  The Odenta commander came on the open comm channel, speaking to the New Alliance ships. "Ships and crews of the New Alliance! I hereby convict you of the heinous conspiracy and murder of the Odenta people, and in the destruction of our planet. After consultation with my brethren, the ruling congress of the remaining Odenta people, it has been decided that the penalty for your transgressions will be the same manner of death as that of our people. Death by nuclear fission!"

  I attempted to open a direct channel to the Odenta commander. It was denied.

  Garrett split the channel he had open, sharing the comm feed with the Garmon.

  Garrett yelled, "Commander! I beg you to please wait before you take action!"

  I followed. "Yes, Commander, please! Just hear me out!"

  The Odenta commander stood in silent thought for several seconds. "Out of respect for all you have done for us, I give you one minute to state your case, Mr. Beutcher. That time starts now."

  I nodded. "Thank you, Commander. Let's take a moment and look at the big picture. We have defeated this fleet, of that there is no doubt. But the action we take here should not be a useless, although gratifying, execution. What we have is an opportunity. We have an opportunity to strengthen the Odenta position.

  "I propose that instead of destroying this fleet, we commandeer it. Take all of the New Alliance personnel from the ships and drop them on Doomlight. We then bring your people up and take this fleet back to where we were originally going.

  "By the time we arrive, the Talisans Garrett sent ahead should have a colony established. We will then have a fleet of more than two thousand warships there to protect it. That's a much better start than we had planned for. Imagine these ships when outfitted with those gravity beam weapons. We could hold off a fleet of attackers ten times that size!

  "Please, Commander, I beg you to consider the opportunity this gives us all. And all without the loss of any more lives. Most of these ship captains and crews are just conscripts, sent off to fight in a war they know nothing about. The real culprit is Harden Salton, and the Grumar and Grotus. Save your wrath for them. Save it for when you can inflict definitive and final damage, bringing their scourge to an end. Please, Commander. We may never have an opportunity like this again!"