“You think the Juttari are following the same beacons?” said Hurley.
“Don’t you?” said Pierce.
“Makes sense to me, Sir.”
“Coordinates loaded, Sir,” said the navigator.
“Hold position. Let’s see if the Juttari crash the party again.”
They didn’t have to wait long. Within moments the tactician announced new contacts and the four Juttari warships appeared on the viewscreen.
“Initiate jump,” said Pierce.
Seconds later the warships were gone. They were now one hundred and fifty light years away from Earth, in an empty region of space. No nearby stars, or planets. The perfect location to lie low and nurse the Vanguard back to health.
“Hold position. I want new coordinates plotted and ready, just in case. Commander, dispatch repair crews immediately. Let’s get this ship back in fighting shape.
“Yes, Sir.”
Pierce turned around to find the Diakan gone. Scanning the bridge, he found Major Ilthos conversing with another Diakan, both of them standing over a station apparently going over data. At least he knows when to back off.
Pierce turned back to his console and brought up the crew manifest. It actually wasn’t as bad as he first thought, but not good either. They had close to three fifths of their crew on board, including most of the senior officers. They would prove their worth, he was sure. Plenty of double shifts waited for them. Engineering was fully staffed, which made sense. He was happy to see that he had a full contingent of Marines already on board. Two hundred battle ready leathernecks. You can never have too many Marines. Medical was understaffed. That would be a problem. It was likely already a problem after what they just went through. He figured he should head down there and lend a hand.
“Commander, you have the bridge,” said Pierce. “I’m going to pay a visit to the sick bay.”
“Yes, Sir,” said Hurley, his face as hard as ever. “You should probably get those injuries looked at.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Your shoulder wound, Sir. Energy weapon wounds can leave nasty infections if they’re not treated. I don’t know that there’s much to be done about your nose.”
“Yes, of course.” Pierce had completely forgotten about his injuries. Now, with Hurley’s reminder, he became keenly aware of the throbbing pain in his shoulder. He also had a pounding headache. I hope it’s not another concussion.
Pierce wondered about Earth as he left the bridge. Did the fleet hold off the attack? If there were no more Juttari jump ships, he figured they stood a good chance of defending the Sol System. The whole Space Force fleet was built with defense of the system in mind. Space Force was full of veterans. Everyone except the new recruits had served during the wars. He hoped it would be enough. Still he couldn’t shake the gnawing guilt he felt for leaving the battlefield.
I should’ve put a bullet in that Diakan’s skull. The anger festered inside him, and he struggled to contain it. What would happen if he returned to Earth? He could do it. The crew would probably back him. He couldn’t imagine anybody on board wanting to leave the battle. What could happen? Would he really be charged for coming to Earth’s defense? He commanded a battleship, for crying out loud. Something Space Force could use right now. Or was he being emotional? There was certainly some of that. His home was being attacked. His wife was alone and in danger. She didn’t even know what had happened to him. If it weren’t for the attack he would’ve had time to talk to her. To tell her about the mission and say goodbye. As it was, he just disappeared without an explanation. What if she thinks I’m dead?
Slow down, he thought. I’ve got to look at the bigger picture. I’m a Space Force officer, and I need to start acting like one. Think, damnit. The Juttari are hunting the Vanguard. Why? It must be the jump system. Shit. This isn’t just the opening round of a war, this is the opening round of an arms race, and the Juttari want to take the early lead. The Diakan, and the Admiral, were right. I need to protect the Vanguard. I need to find the Hermes. Then there would be two Space Force jump ships. But why only two? Why can’t they build more? Surely the Diakans have the schematics. Why can’t they build a fleet of jump ships to deal with the threat? It doesn’t make sense. There’s something else going on. Something the Diakans aren’t telling me.
Arriving at sick bay, Pierce was shocked at the number of people. The medical team had fallen behind, as there were many injured still standing, waiting for treatment. Scanning the room, he took inventory. Severe burns. Broken bones. Lacerations. Contusions. Thankfully, he didn’t see anything critical. That was good news. He approached a female officer performing triage.
“Where can I find the Chief Medical Officer, Ensign,” said Pierce.
She replied without looking up. “You’ll have to wait your turn like everybody else.”
“Excuse me?”
She looked up and her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t know who you were.”
“That’s okay, Ensign. We’re all under a lot of stress.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Just point me in the right direction and I’ll leave you to your duties.”
“Yes, Sir. He’s right over there.”
The Ensign pointed at a balding middle aged man who was working on a leg injury.
“Thank you, Ensign. Carry on.”
Captain Pierce weaved his way through the throngs of injured until he reached the man. He stopped at the foot of the bed. The man had a nasty cut running the length of his thigh, and the Doctor used a medical bot to apply some type of adhesive to it to close the wound.
The Doctor looked up at Pierce for a moment and returned to the leg. “Good day, Captain. I was hoping we would meet under less stressful circumstances.”
“You look like you could use a hand, Doctor. How can I help?”
The Doctor chuckled. “You can help by getting yourself treated, Captain.”
“I’m fine, Doctor. I can wait.”
“Actually, you’re not fine. Your shoulder has third degree energy weapon burns that need immediate attention, and from the looks of your head you may have suffered a concussion. Wouldn’t that be your fourth?”
Damn it. I shouldn’t have come down here. “You’ve obviously been looking at my medical file.”
“It’s my job.”
“Well you have me at a disadvantage. I haven’t had a chance to look at yours yet.”
“I’m Doctor Jameson. Chief Medical Officer.”
“Doctor Jameson, I assure you I don’t have a concussion. In fact I’m perfectly lucid.”
The Doctor finished sealing the leg injury. “There,” he said to his patient. “That will stop the bleeding. You’ll need a round of biobots to repair any damage to the muscle tissue.” The Doctor then turned his attention back to Pierce. With a scrutinizing expression, he rounded the bed and produced a tiny flashlight. “Let me see your eyes, Captain.” The Doctor flashed the light in his eyes, reminding him of his headache. He then turned the light off and made Pierce follow the small device as he waved it around.”
“Seriously, Doctor. You should be looking after the more serious injuries.”
“You are responsible for command decisions, Captain. I would say the possibility of you suffering a brain injury is very serious.”
Pierce sighed. It didn’t look like he was going to get out of this anytime soon. Doctor Jameson ran the Captain through several more tests before ruling out a concussion. “You’re lucky, Captain, you don’t have a concussion. I should point out that the likelihood of a repeat concussion increases dramatically after your third. You need to be more careful.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“If you sought medical attention immediately after your first three, they could’ve been treated properly. But you waited, and the damage was done.”
“I was a little busy fighting a war at the time.”
Jameson frowned. “Let’s patch up your shoulder. I’m assuming the battle is over?”
“Yes. We should be fine for a few days.”
“Good. That’ll give the rest of my team a chance get on board.”
Shit. He doesn’t know where we are. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Doctor, but the rest of your team isn’t going to be coming on board.”
“What do you mean? Why not?”
“Because we’re one hundred and fifty light years away from Earth.”
Chapter 4
“By the Will of the Great See’er, I call this meeting to order,” said Major Ilthos, scanning his team of Diakans. Each Diakan on the Vanguard possessed their own unique abilities, each one vital to the mission. In fact, he had been surprised at the talented individuals that Diakus had assigned to the Vanguard. He still had trouble understanding it all. During the wars he had actively contributed to the liberation of Earth, and what he saw of the humans was unimpressive. They were a feeble species then, and short of a military that had practically been built by Diakus, he saw no reason to think any different. He saw them as the same wretched people in dire need of Diakan help. But the Great See’er saw things differently, and who was he to argue?
The Diakans seated at the table around him bowed their heads in reverence and replied in unison, “By Her Will.”
“The Juttari have moved to intercept,” said Ilthos. “Does this alter the prophecy?”
“It is a variance,” said Imnos, the Diakan cleric. “A fraying of the string, not a severance.”
“But the Great See’er has not foretold of their actions?”
“The Juttari attempt to manipulate destiny, as do we.”
“Then the Juttari can alter the prophecy.”
“Of course.”
Ilthos didn’t like the cleric’s answer. He preferred to deal in facts. The clerics were all the same. You ask them a question, and they answer with a maybe. It wasn’t that he questioned the Great See’er. That would be heresy. And heresy was not tolerated by Diakus. The See’ers had guided their people through the ages. Their visions allowed Diakus to rise in the galaxy. But these new visions… they were increasingly unsettling. Was it possible? Could Diakus actually fall? And these humans. Of all the creatures in the galaxy, how could these meek humans rise to power? The idea was preposterous. Did I just call the Great See’er preposterous? I must control my thoughts. I must take care lest my thoughts become words, and my future dust.
Ilthos looked at the rest of the Diakans assembled. “Captain Pierce has accepted our authority. Although the crew may want to return to their home system to defend against the Juttari, I believe they are disciplined enough to follow their orders.”
“The ship is short staffed. This may work in our favor,” said Ketkos, Major Ilthos’s second in command. “Their extra duties will prevent them from pursuing rebellion.”
Ketkos had fought with Ilthos for years, and was the only other Diakan present to have served during the liberation of Earth. If he could trust anyone at this table, it was him. “Agreed. The extra duties we’ve been performing will encourage them to see us as part of the crew. For that reason we need to refrain from interfering with command decisions, unless the decision directly endangers our mission.”
The Diakans nodded their agreement. Major Ilthos turned back to the cleric. The Juttari action was troubling. The Juttari had always been devious, and their theft of the jump system technology was not surprising. Could they successfully intervene? The prophecy was as much of a threat to the Juttari as it was to Diakus. Perhaps even more. For Diakus there was hope, as one of the timelines ensured continued prosperity. For the Juttari, however, there was no hope once events took shape. Their only option was to terminate the threat. How can the fate of one man hold so much in the balance? “You are certain, the Juttari intervention has not yet altered the outcome?”
“No, Major. Not yet,” said the cleric.
“But that can change?”
“Yes, Major. It is imperative that we succeed.”
“We will succeed.”
“Can we be certain that he is still alive?” said Ketkos.
“He is alive. The Great See’er has seen as much,” replied the cleric.
“Then we proceed as planned,” said Ilthos. “By Her Will, we will locate Captain Jon Pike.”
“By Her Will,” the Diakans replied in unison.
Chapter 5
Jon peered at the city below as his shuttle coasted toward its destination. The battle for New Byzantium had left a lot of wreckage in its wake, so much so that the place began to remind him of Earth. The construction bots were out in force working on repairs, but it would be some time before everything returned normal. How much time did this planet have before it would have to fight for its survival again?
The city pulsed with activity nonetheless. Throngs of people filled the streets. Vehicles of all sizes zipped to and fro. The airspace around him had returned to its normal state of congestion. Ships buzzed by his shuttle from all sides, often coming perilously close to a collision. While each ship’s navigation computer ensured no mishaps took place, it still made him cringe. It only took one malfunction. One attack. With so much reliance on technology, it was no wonder that electronic warfare often preceded a planetary assault.
Nearing Government House, the shuttle began its descent. Thankfully the old building had been spared during the fighting, and maintained its magisterial stature. The ship began to vibrate as the landing thrusters fired underneath him, easing the small craft onto the landing pad. Once safely on the pad, the steady hum and vibration ceased as the engines cycled down. Jon rose from his seat, waited for the hatch to open, and stepped out. Wary sentries eyed him as he emerged. Security had been increased significantly since the attempted coup and the grounds now swarmed with armed guards.
An alert looking woman in civilian clothes approached. Jon instantly noticed the subtle bulge of a weapon hidden under her jacket. No doubt a member of the Prime Minister’s new close protection detail, known simply as The Guard. The Prime Minister used to rely on the military for protection, but that changed after the coup. The Guard was created to protect the Prime Minister and was answerable only to the Prime Minister. They would’ve been handy a few weeks ago, Jon mused.
“Captain Pike?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Lieutenant Yang. I’ll be escorting you to see Prime Minister Sallas.”
“Understood. Lead the way Lieutenant.”
Yang turned and strode toward the door. Jon spotted several more plainclothes Guardsmen keeping a close eye on him as he entered the building. A few more patrolled inside. The Guard had been hastily assembled after the failed coup. Its members were all handpicked from the special forces by General Calledonius himself. Each Guardsman’s loyalty was above reproach, and their bravery was second to none.
It was a good idea, albeit a controversial one. Some senators openly questioned the wisdom of such a move. In essence, the Prime Minister now had his own elite military unit, answerable only to him. But in the aftermath of the coup, these objections were easily dismissed. New Byzantium faced an existential threat, justifying extreme measures. In the end, it wasn’t just the Prime Minister who was at risk, but the entire parliament. Those outspoken senators were probably upset that they didn’t get their own elite unit. They continued to rely on military protection, just as before.
The military, however, was in much better shape now. Calledonius wasted no time rooting out and arresting coup supporters. In doing so, he produced a surprising amount of evidence. Jon wondered how long he had actually known about the coup. There was no doubt that it did wonders for his career. Calledonius was now the supreme commander of the New Byzantium armed forces, a position he might never have attained under normal circumstances.
They reached the Prime Minister’s office and Lieutenant Yang announced their arrival over her comm. Two Guardsmen stood stoically on either side of the entrance, their eyes fixed on Jon. The double doors swung open, indicating that Jon remained a welcome guest. Inside, Prime Minister
Sallas stood smiling, his hand extended toward Jon.
“Welcome Captain,” said Sallas. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise,” said Jon, shaking Sallas’s hand.
Sallas gestured to one of the over-sized couches. “Please, sit down.”
Jon nodded as he took the seat directly across from Sallas. Lieutenant Yang took her cue and closed the door as she left.
“I understand you’ve found more of your crew,” said Sallas.
“Yes, our recent searches have been surprisingly successful. Thanks again for letting us use New Byzantium as a base of operations.”
“No need to thank me, Captain. It is the least I can do.”
“Nonetheless, it’s been helpful. We have now rescued over ninety percent of the Hermes escape pods.”
“That’s great,” said Sallas, smiling. “It must be getting crowded up there.”
“That’s an understatement, but we’re managing.”
Sallas nodded, and became more serious. “How is Colonel Bast?”
Jon frowned. “Unfortunately there’s been no change in his condition.”
The Prime Minister shook his head. “That’s terrible. Is there any hope that he’ll pull out of it?”
“Doesn’t seem likely. A psychotic break was a known risk of removing his brain chip. We were hopeful that his condition would change. Doctor Ellerbeck has tried everything. Nothing has worked. The Doctor believes that the rest of the Juttari augmentation is working to counter her treatment. Sadly, it is becoming evident that there is only one option left, we’ll have to reinsert the brain chip.”
“Can Elizabeth do that?”
“Yes. Doctor Ellerbeck believes that once she implants the chip again, it will regulate the Colonel’s brain processes and eliminate the psychological side effects.”
“I still don’t understand it. Everything seemed to be going so well at first.”
“It was, until the nightmares started.”
The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10 Page 71