by R. A. Ender
She had not asked the Squalus’ to target the fighter as that would be detected and could escalate the situation. From the safety of below the surface using the planetary grid, she could target the fighter and it would never be aware.
As she waited for a response, she watched as that little fighter drew closer to the continent. Despite a feeling that it was not hostile, she knew that if it got too close to the continent, she would have to act.
But she shared the Tribunes feelings that it was not a threat. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something was telling her it was friendly. Even the way the fighter chose to fly was non-threatening. It was flying level and straight at a steady speed. Its course was clearly designed to travel equidistance between the two island states of the planet, Garouve and the Philipippius Islands, the least threatening flight path.
The only concern is that it is flying straight for this installation, the heart of our planetary defense. Heather thought. And that is a big threat!
With that thought, she pushed the button for the computer to repeat her message. At the same time, she flipped a switch to open the audio transmission the fighter was broadcasting at her station only.
She caught it just at the end. “… ease allow me to land,” and a loud click signaled the end of the transmission. Heather waited patiently as the automated system would rebroadcast in a short time the whole message again.
As she sat waiting, another thought snuck into her mind that added to the lack of threat. That voice sounded familiar, she thought to herself. It was only a couple of words, running out of breath at the end of a message, but the voice felt very familiar.
She was now excitedly waiting to hear the message. Maybe it is? She excitedly thought with her mind flipping quickly back to her bedroom and her last moments thought before rushing here. It just can’t be! That only happens in the plays!
And as she finished that thought, a voice she knew immediately and had known all her life came out of the console as clear as the last time they had spoken over a year before. Heather had tears rolling down her cheeks before he finished his name.
“This is Fleet Admiral Richard Hilbornus of the Confederated Union of Worlds Defense Force. I have remained hidden and protected but am fleeing certain capture and arrest. I am requesting asylum on New Earth, I repeat, asylum on New Earth. Please allow me to land.”
Unbelievable! Heather thought. And for the first time since the Siege of New Earth began, she was stunned and shocked into inaction. She just sat at her station.
I can’t believe he came for me. I just can’t believe he came to save me again! She said to herself over and over again. The tears were streaming down her face and showed a complete breakdown of emotional control. Her body heaved and she cried.
Her body and mind were out of her control as a year of unbelievable stress broke in an instant with the voice of love. It had been a year of fire, a year of destruction, a year of great sadness and a year of pain.
In a moment, that had all been swept away with the return of love and the return of joy. For what seemed to her forever, she just sat at her station weeping and shaking. No one in the command center said anything or approached her. As dutifully trained officers, they minded their station.
As the audio transmission played another time, Heather couldn’t remember how many times it had repeated, she finally sat up. She pushed the button to end the audio output and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform. She sat up straight in her chair. She pulled down on both sides of her uniform and took a deep breath. The professional soldier had returned. A year of absolute duty had only been broken for a few moments.
I am, but … human. She said to herself.
And with that, she began issuing orders on her console to the Turmae of Squalus Fighters to approach, gun ports closed, and escort the single fighter to the outdoor landing field at LaGuardius Seccus.
Standing, she turned to the Tribune who showed no signs that his respect for her had diminished in the slightest. In fact, on a close inspection, she could see that he had shed tears as well.
“Tribune,” she said, bowing her head for three seconds, as was custom for a senior officer delegating authority to any lower ranked officer. When she lifted her head, he bowed his for two seconds and raised his head while opening his arms.
As she passed by him to leave the command center, she placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him privately. “Make sure that fighter lands safely.”
And without waiting for a response, she quickly strode into the hall and continued down the long corridor which led out of the command center and to a single lift that would take her to the above ground installation. Stepping inside, she pressed the button to begin moving up.
The lift was incredibly fast, bringing Heather to ground level within minutes despite how incredibly deep the command center was. Once above ground, the lift changed direction and began to head on a path parallel to the canyon wall, heading in the direction of the launch bays.
Built into and on top of a large canyon that scarred the landscape of the surrounding area of Southern Roma, LaGuardius Seccus New Earth Defense Alliance Headquarters was an expansive facility, blending beautiful natural features and architectural design. The launch bays were large and voluminous to accommodate a wide variety of atmosphere capable fighters, freighters and transport ships. They had been built underground with large bay doors opening out from the very start of the canyon. One of the most spectacular arrivals possible to the base is to fly through the LaGuardius Canyon until it ends at a large gaping hole of an entrance.
As she approached the main hangar opening in the canyon, all she could think was that within minutes she would be in the arms of Richard. As the lift entered on the one side of the hangar bay, it began to climb up to where the flat top side landing pad was located. As she got closer, she could already see the mile wide upper doors had been slide open just enough for a small fighter to pass through and land. However, as she looked at the landing pad area, it was still empty.
Exiting the lift, she walked immediately over to the deck officer but decided not to speak with her. She was busy with the expected arrival and Heather would only be a distraction.
She did not have to wait long before she heard the sound of several approaching Squalus fighters, a sound she knew well and saw them pass overhead briefly as they crossed the open gap of the hangar doors. Then she heard an unfamiliar sound of fighter engines turned into a landing mode. They all had a similar repetitive droning sound, but each was unique and she had little experience with Nemesis bombers, not a particularly common craft. Within moments, though, the fighter appeared and then lowered itself very quickly to the landing pad. It paused for just a moment, a few pes from the ground, and then landed with a bit of a hard thud. At that moment, the view screens cleared from their black tint projection and became transparent.
Sitting at the pilot's station, looking directly at her with a big smile was Richard. He stayed seated smiling for a moment, seemingly unable to move. He didn’t wave, didn’t touch the controls, he just sat still as a rock, looking at her and smiling. He seemed to sit there forever! Heather wanted him to wave or do something. Suddenly, he rose and began to walk to the rear of the craft, and out of sight.
Heather, following him to the rear of the fighter despite not being able to see him from the outside, positioned herself at the rear door as the lights brightened around the door, and it slid aside. Standing in the doorway in his full uniform, looking as though he had just gotten dressed and was ready for the Officers Ball, was her Richard.
Without pausing, he jumped down and ran over to Heather. She so wanted to rush to him, but her legs couldn’t be trusted. She felt as though they would collapse out from under her if she lifted even one of them. In the end, it didn’t matter as he reached her in a second, hugged her so tight and sweep her off her feet and around in a circle.
With their faces only uncias apart, he whispered, “I missed you so much. I wanted t
o talk to you every day. I’ve waited and hoped every day to see you.” And with that, he kissed her.
His lips were soft and warm. At first, she did not respond, her mind and body both still shocked at the events of today. She began the day reading and reliving a memory of the first time she had fallen for Richard, the first time he had saved her. Now, less than an hour later, after not seeing him for over a year. After a year of siege warfare, of daily work and daily threat faced alone. After not knowing whether he was alive if she would ever speak to him again if she would ever be able to tell him how much she loved him. After all that, he was holding her. He was hugging her. And he was loving her.
And now, her body and mind accepted the truth. Richard had come back to love her again. And she kissed him and hugged him so tight. She would never let him go again.
CHAPTER 28
Admiral Longus was sitting in his command chair. He had been sitting there for hours, well past his duty shift. At this point, he couldn’t remember the last time he had gotten up to stand. And, now thinking about the idea, he became very concerned that his legs would not hold him if he had to stand up suddenly. With that in mind, he stopped the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the unresponsive section of his console and stood up slowly. Holding the side of his chair with his full strength, he stood, shook his legs a bit, and let go.
No problem, he thought, but better safe than sorry! Admiral Longus had not seen combat in a long time, but he had practiced on simulations for his whole career, along with his crew. He had become known for jumping up and remaining standing while the battle raged.
Some thought it odd, as a starship can take some heavy pounding while in battle which moves the ship violently. Longus was not concerned. It was a pretty rare hit that could instantly throw a full-size starship enough to have anyone inside feel more than a slight sway. These were not small delicate ships. It was hard to suddenly and violently move them.
Leave those fantasy images to the plays, he thought to himself while beginning a walking survey of his command center.
For over four days, Admiral Longus and the rest of the Defense Force fleet had remained in deep space, well off the space lanes and well outside of any place that would likely get scouted. When you look around, there is a lot of empty space in the universe. Odds were good they would never be detected even with a concerted effort by an enemy.
In a random location within one-hour hyperspace jump of New Earth, his ship, the rest of the Western Defense Force Fleet, and a large number of ships from the Royalist League were sitting on standby waiting to receive a signal from New Earth. They remained on high alert, ready for action.
But, after four days, the tension had entirely disappeared. All the ships were ready. All the crews had been prepped and trained during their long travel from the far side of the Confederacy. All they waited for was a signal to action.
And that was what Longus was craving. Throughout his career in the Defense Force, he had always been in the shadow of other great men who were thrust into combat and glory. When the Ka’Tak and the Lanwouk had gone to war several times during his career, he had always been assigned to the Old Colony region. When the Canua and the Royalist League had clashed over Veselyy, he had been a young officer on a commercial monitoring cruise. When the F’lwok Rebellion erupted, he was assigned to monitor the Canua border, far away from the line.
And now, during the most critical life and death struggle for the Confederated Union of Worlds since its inception, a birth born of an alliance between the Vev’Tev and the Old Colonies to combat piracy along the space lanes, he had risen to command the Western Fleet. One more step in a long career, the next step was to become an educator or a Commanding Admiral, a distinguished and august accomplishment, no doubt. But of all the fleets, he commanded the one in the West, the furthest reach of the Confederacy.
A region surrounded by the oldest species known in the universe. A marvel, to be sure, but only to a young man fresh from the academies of the Old Colony region. The reality is that the old races enjoy their privacy and rarely leave their own territory. They don’t fight, don’t talk and don’t interact with anyone anymore. Even the Bxtozil, a historic friend of the human race and the protector of our birth world, had long since ended their conservancy of our civilization.
Instead, the West was dominated by the powerful and independent Royalist League who enjoy the space lane protection of the Defense Force but shun their presence in near space. On the southern frontier lies the Canua, long since tamed by their experience in the siege of Veselyy. And even the Ka’Tak and Lanwouk are at peace, enforced rather successfully by a non-aggression pact signed and monitored by Defense Force which controls the no-go zone between their two territories.
Therefore, the Western Fleet flies about monitoring space lanes, capturing smugglers and arresting petty criminals for transfer to the nearest inhabited system. It is an oversized and generously armed police force, ready for more if ever required. But it has been a long time since anymore was required.
And for that, part of Longus was happy. As much as he relished his chance for glory, he was untested and very nervous. The liberation of New Earth, which he expected to lead this fleet into within the next couple of days, would be his test.
If I succeed, all my worry will be behind me. We will leave New Earth liberated and drive this spear into the heart of the Imperial invasion and free our people! Longus thought with a large smile coming across his face. I will be the hero of our time and will have victory after victory on my breast!
His thoughts were so filled with his forthcoming glory, that he did not hear his communications officer behind him, addressing him and seeking his attention. The first he noticed was when he turned from observing, or at least pretending to observe, a random station in the command center and ran into him full force.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the communications officer said, having neatly avoided been run into hard enough to cause him to lose his balance.
For his part, Longus never being one to apologize or lose face in front of another, just displayed an expression of extreme displeasure and irritation, and waited, silently, for his junior officer to give him the report. After a moment of silence and enough time for Longus to realize that the junior officer, who’s name escaped him entirely, was not going to speak until asked to do so, Longus spoke.
“Well, Officer? After rudely interrupting my tour, are you going to report or do I have to wait until you are relieved of duty and replaced?” Longus stated forcefully and without any sign of culpability for the accidental run-in, and loud enough to draw the attention of everyone on the command deck.
The officer appeared visibly shaken from the tongue lashing in such a public way. His eyes darted down and his hands shook slightly, visible due to the infopad he was holding with the report he intended to share with the Admiral.
Completely unsympathetic, Longus reached out, took the infopad and said even more loudly. “Dismissed, officer! Deck officer, please replace this station immediately!” And with that, he walked past the communications officer without another word or hesitation to sit in his command chair. He knew that that officer would be replaced immediately, his crew had been well trained how to deal with their commanding officer.
And so a crew should! I am the leader and they need to ensure they follow my lead perfectly. Any deviation could lead to a mistake which cannot be tolerated when at war. And so convinced that he was entirely correct, Longus looked down at the infopad to read the report.
It was brief, it stated that they had received a communication signal from the Nemesis bomber indicating that it had safely landed. This was an automated signal they had set up in advance. Admiral Hilbornus had decided that an automated signal would avoid anyone forgetting to communicate the success of the mission to the fleet. It would be an advance warning that more information would follow after a brief meeting with the New Earth Defense Alliance command. After that meeting, they should be much better prepared to provid
e a detailed communication and initiate the next phase of the mission.
When our fleet drops out of hyperspace and destroys that enemy fleet! Longus thought with more satisfaction than he even thought he would have when he dreamed of this moment for the past year.
Pushing a few buttons, he initiated a fleet-wide communication. It would be broadcast openly to every ship in a point to point signal, to avoid a stray signal being intercepted in deep space, even though a fast as light signal would likely go undetected for millennia. Once received, it had already been arranged that every comm panel on every ship would instantly broadcast the message. He knew his next words would be heard by every single soldier in the fleet.
“Attention everyone, attention!” Longus paused for a moment to allow everyone to quiet down. He was about to repeat the message but his mind thought of another idea of what to say and he ended up stuttering.
“uhh…well… attention everyone, attention!” JUPITER BE DAMNED TO HADES!!!!! Longus cursed to himself in his head. His big moment and he was stuttering and sounding like a fool!
“Now that I have everyone’s attention, I am Fleet Admiral Hanno Longus of the Confederated Defense Force Western Fleet. We have… I have just received a signal from New Earth that the mission was a success. I am now initiating the next phase of our mission. Prepare yourself, prepare your colleagues, prepare your ships, and obey your commanding officers!”