The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10

by Hudson, G. P.

  “Jumpspace disturbance detected,” said the computer. “Launching jump bombs.”

  “Juttari ships are on top of us!” said Henderson. “They’re firing missiles. Nuclear warheads detected.”

  The missiles detonated just above the UHSF fleet, hitting the Freedom’s shields with significant force.

  “Shields are holding,” said Henderson. “Shield integrity is down to sixty-two percent.”

  “AI,” said Jon. “Reconfigure jumpspace system only to launch nuclear jump bombs until further notice.”

  “Modifications complete,” said AI.

  “Juttari fleet has jumped again,” said Henderson.

  “AI, is the jumpspace detection system hitting them? Said Jon.

  “Negative, Admiral,” said AI. “Juttari fleet is out of jump bomb range.”

  “They’re playing with us,” Jon said to himself. He turned back to Tallos on his comm. “Tallos, I know you want to stay, but I think we should return to allied space. We don’t know how many systems have fallen to the Juttari. We need to regroup and assess how much damage they’ve caused. Then we can launch a counterattack and regain any systems we’ve lost.”

  “Regrettably, I am forced to agree with you, Admiral. The Juttari are trying to prevent our return, and deplete our resources.”

  “Agreed,” said Jon. “Commander, jump all ships to the gate and cross through immediately. Prepare to jump to the next gate once we've crossed.”

  “Yes, Sir,” said Henderson. “Initiating jump.”

  The fleet crossed through the jump gate and immediately came under attack from automated weapon systems waiting on the other side.

  “Initiate jump,” ordered Jon, knowing that if they stopped to destroy the weapon systems, that the Juttari would come through the gate and hit them from behind.

  The fleet landed at the other end of the system and came under fire again. This time the weapon systems were backed up by Juttari battleships.

  “Target battleships and return fire,” ordered Jon. “But do it while crossing through the jump gate.”

  As they left the system, the grim details of what the Juttari had done appeared on his console. Like the system before, the Juttari had devastated this one, flattening cities in what could only be genocidal attacks.

  But how? How were the Juttari capable of such a feat? The Diakans were an incredibly powerful race. Even with shields, the Juttari shouldn’t have inflicted this much damage in such a short amount of time. Jon felt like he was in a nightmare. None of this could have possibly happened.

  But after crossing through several Diakan systems, the sobering truth was that it had. Somehow, the Juttari had defeated the Diakans, Earth’s most powerful ally. The only question left was what had happened to Earth, and the colonies.

  Crossing through the final Diakan gate, Jon braced himself for what awaited him on the other side. When they emerged, his tactical screen lit up with contacts. This system was armed to the teeth. To Jon’s relief, none of them fired. The icons on his display belonged to the UHSF.

  “Sir, we are being hailed,” said Henderson.

  “Send to my console,” said Jon.

  A middle-aged human male in a UHSF uniform appeared. “Admiral Pike,” said the man in surprise. “Welcome back. I am Captain Pietersma.”

  “Thank you, Captain. I see a lot has changed since I left.”

  “Yes, Sir. That is an understatement.”

  “Is the Sol System still ours?”

  “Yes, Sir. Sol and the colonies were untouched.”

  Relief washed over Jon. “So, the Juttari only hit the Diakans?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Pietersma said with a frown. “But it wasn’t the Juttari that hit them. It was the Erinyie.”

  Chapter 47

  Jon was happy to see his old friend, Rear Admiral Kevin St. Clair. He only wished it had been under better circumstances. Having accomplished his mission against seemingly impossible odds, he had returned to Earth with a new fleet, new technology, new allies, and a promise from the Antikitheri that they would return and help them against the Erinyie. Now it appeared that return would come too late, if at all.

  “I still can’t believe it,” said Jon, standing in the mountain complex’s operations room on Earth, with General Tallos, First Colonel Brock, leader of the Chaanisar, and Colonel Bast. The four men stood in front of a holographic display of the galaxy. The Diakan systems were now colored red to indicate that they were in enemy hands.

  “They hit Diakus first,” Kevin said grimly. “It happened shortly after you left. Once they laid waste to the planet, they moved on to the other worlds. Diakan refugees have flooded the Sol system and the colonies. We’re doing everything we can for them, but it’s been difficult to absorb such a spike in the population.”

  “What kind of numbers are we talking about?” said Jon, trying to wrap his mind around the immensity of the disaster.

  “They easily run into the hundreds of millions,” said Kevin.

  “The Diakan race numbers in the hundreds of billions,” said Tallos.

  “I know,” said Kevin. “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you, Rear Admiral St. Clair,” said Tallos. “Can you tell me if any military units survived?”

  “As you know, the fourth and fifth fleets were stationed in human space. They survived. Many Diakan warships escorted the refugees to human space. Those ships remained intact as well. To my knowledge, no other ship survived the attack.”

  “It will have to do,” said Tallos, staring intently at the holographic map. “I will have the new technology installed on all Diakan ships immediately. Once that is done, my ships will begin operations against the Juttari.”

  “General,” said Jon. “I understand your desire for revenge, but don’t you think it will be better for all of us to work together?”

  “You are suggesting an invasion, are you not?”

  “Yes. We need to drive the Juttari out of those systems.”

  “I agree with you, General. However, an invasion will take time to prepare. I do not intend to wait that long.”

  “With all due respect, General. You have enough ships to take a system, maybe two. Isn’t it better to invade with a combined force and take back all Diakan systems?”

  “My intent is not to invade but to conduct guerrilla warfare operations. With the cloaking technology, my ships can inflict a tremendous amount of pain on the enemy.”

  “You can also lose a lot of ships in the process.”

  “I understand the risks. All Diakans do. But we cannot sit around while the vile Juttari contaminate our systems.”

  Having grown up in the resistance on Juttari occupied Earth, Jon knew there was no point in trying to stop the Diakans. “Okay, Tallos. I won’t stand in your way.”

  If you’ll excuse me, Admiral Pike. I have much to do.”

  “Of course, General,” said Jon. Tallos left the room, and Jon wondered how the Diakans would bounce back from this. The irony didn’t escape him either. The Diakans liberated humanity from the Juttari, and now they had returned to human space as refugees. It was the last thing he ever expected.

  “I have absorbed the information of your voyage through my connection to AI and the other Chaanisar,” said First Colonel Brock. “Am I correct in understanding that the Antikitheri were ambivalent about the timing of their return?”

  “That’s right,” said Jon. “Although I’m hoping they will do so before the Erinyie wipe us all out.”

  “Do you believe that they can free the rest of the Chaanisar?”

  “They have the power to make it happen,” said Jon. “Whether they do so is another matter.”

  “They will not free my brothers?”

  “I honestly don’t know. But I will definitely ask them to whenever they show up.”

  “Thank you, Admiral,” said Brock.

  “Have you had a chance to look at the Cenobi upgrades?” said Jon.

  “Yes, but the technology is beyond our capabiliti
es.”

  “AI, how about you? Can you figure out the Cenobi upgrades?”

  “No, Admiral,” said AI. “I have had ample time to study the modifications, but they are beyond my understanding as well.”

  “I see. Let me know if anything changes.”

  “Yes, Admiral,” said AI.

  “So, what do we do in the meantime?” said Kevin. “Just sit around and wait?”

  “No. We start drawing up plans to retake the Diakan systems. The Freen will finish building the jump gate connecting us with the Empire. When that is done, we will ask the Dvorkans to help us defeat the Juttari. With any luck, the Erinyie will keep their noses out of it.”

  “Can the Dvorkan Empire compensate for the loss of Diakus?” said Kevin.

  “Potentially. They have a massive military that hasn’t been doing much. They all want to return to their Age of Glory, and the Juttari are the perfect way for them to do it. I’ve given them jump and shield technology. Once they upgrade their ships, the Empire will be a force to be reckoned with.”

  “Can we trust them?”

  “We can trust the Emperor. He’s solid. The Dvorkans had a problem with a group of traitors. It was a conspiracy, like the Diakan Faction. Emperor Kriss did a good job of purging them from the military. Whether he found all of them, I don’t know. There were several attempts on his life before the purge. There might be more. If they kill the Emperor, there’s no telling what will happen.”

  “The gate could turn into a problem if the Dvorkans turn on us. You think it’s wise to finish it?” said Kevin.

  “The benefits of having them as allies far outweigh the risks. So, yes, I think it’s wise to finish it.”

  “You’re the boss,” said Kevin.

  The shrill sound of a klaxon interrupted the discussion, and red light flooded the control center. Kevin turned to a console and began tapping furiously at it.

  “What is it?” said Jon. “What’s happened?”

  “We’re under attack,” said Kevin. He looked up with dread-filled eyes. “It’s the Erinyie.”

  Chapter 48

  General Tallos hurried through the corridors of the mountain complex. The repeated wail of the klaxon drove him faster. He had to get to his ship. His crew needed him. All Diakans needed him.

  With the destruction of Diakus and the bulk of its military, Tallos had become the highest-ranking Diakan alive. That put the fourth and fifth fleets, and all remaining Diakan warships directly under his command. He would have reveled in his newfound status, had it not come at such a high cost.

  He pushed himself harder. The Erinyie had shown themselves to be genocidal monsters. But why had they targeted Diakans? This conflict had been going on for centuries, and the Erinyie had never shown themselves, let alone move to wipe out an entire race. What had changed?

  Did you think you could escape judgment? said the booming voice in Tallos’s mind.

  Tallos froze. Who had said that? He looked around but found no one.

  Did you think you could hide from us? The voice continued. You fooled only yourself. We are all-seeing. All-knowing.

  Tallos realized that it was the Erinyie who spoke to him. How? “I don’t understand. Why are you so interested in me?”

  Do you dare deny your crimes? The Erinyie bellowed.

  “What crimes?” said Tallos. He pressed his hands against his temples, trying to stop the piercing pain. What were they doing to him? How had they entered his mind?

  You defiled holy ground. You slaughtered billions of the faithful.

  A vision played in his mind. He saw a teeming city, with billions of Juttari. There were men, women, and children. They had come from across the Empire. The metropolis was unique somehow. A religious beacon. A place of pilgrimage. A city all Juttari traveled to in worship of the Erinyie. “The Juttari city,” said Tallos, understanding what he saw. “The one I destroyed.” He had used nuclear weapons on that very city, in an attempt at getting the leaders to surrender. That was when the Erinyie first appeared. They came because of him. He had provoked them.

  It all made sense now. The leaders had warned him that the city was holy. He ignored them. Used nuclear weapons anyway. Obliterated their sacred site, and massacred the inhabitants.

  You were warned. Now you pay the price for your arrogance. Your actions have doomed your race. We will erase all trace of Diakan DNA in the universe.

  “But, the mistake was mine. Mine alone. You cannot punish all Diakans for my decision.”

  We are the Erinyie. Rulers of galaxies. We do as we wish. We will turn your civilization into dust. Nothing will survive our wrath. Not your population. Not your culture. Not your art. None will remember your race.

  “You can’t,” Tallos whispered, barely able to get the words out.

  You assume much. Your race is not the first infestation we have eradicated. Nor will it be the last. We will cleanse your galaxy.

  A wave of grief washed over Tallos, the feeling so powerful his symbiont could not quell it. The Diakan general dropped to his knees, struggling to breathe. He had lived hundreds of years and had spent all of them in the service of Diakus, and the Great See’er. To think that he was responsible for the annihilation of the Diakan race was too much to bear.

  His hand unholstered his sidearm. He couldn’t go on knowing what he had done. Refused to take another breath. He wondered if there was an afterlife and if the Great See’er would forgive him. Raising his weapon, he pressed it against the side of his head.

  Pain surged through his hand as his sidearm discharged, sending an energy bolt into the wall. He tried to point the weapon back at himself, but an iron grip prevented it.

  “Tallos, what the hell are you doing?” said Admiral Pike, simultaneously disarming him.

  In the past, he would have lashed out against the Admiral. But all strength and will fled from his body, and he collapsed. The Admiral prevented him from hitting the floor, and Tallos was aware of the powerful arms hoisting him up off the floor. The Admiral stared at him, saying something, but Tallos didn’t know what it was, nor did he care.

  Tears filled his eyes for the first time in his life, and he repeatedly blinked in response. His mind vaguely registered the presence of Rear Admiral Kevin St. Clair, saying something to Admiral Pike. He didn’t bother to make it out. All he heard was the majestic waves of Diakus and wished they would take him.

  Admiral Pike shook him. Holding him upright, with his feet off the floor, he continued to jostle him. Why couldn’t he just let him die? He was yelling something at him. It occurred to Tallos that if he acknowledged his words, Pike might leave him alone. All he wanted was to be left alone. To end his life and meet the Great See’er once again. With great effort, he focused on the Admiral and what he was saying.

  “Tallos,” said Admiral Pike. “They’re here! They’ve come!”

  “I know,” said Tallos, another tear welling up in his eye. “The Erinyie have come for me. I must pay for my crimes.”

  “No. The Erinyie are gone. The Antikitheri chased them off. They’re here, Tallos. The Antikitheri are here.”

  Chapter 49

  The three Antikitheri hovered in front of Jon in the operations room. They glistened and swirled in amorphous shapes of blue, green, and red. Three sets of eyes scrutinized Jon, as Kevin, First Colonel Brock, and Colonel Bast looked on. Jon had sent Tallos to medical to see if Doctor Ellerbeck could do anything for him. He ordered two guards to accompany the Diakan, in case he had more suicidal thoughts.

  “Thank you for coming to our aid,” said Jon.

  “The Erinyie overstepped,” said the red form. “We have corrected them.”

  “I see. Well, we appreciate it. We were worried that they were about to overstep right onto our home planet.”

  “They no longer have rights to this system,” the red form continued.

  “No longer? You’re saying they once did?”

  “Your system once belonged to the Juttari, which meant it belonged to the
Erinyie. That has passed. We have asserted our ownership rights to this system,” said the blue form.

  “Ownership rights?” said Jon, his blood beginning to boil. “What ownership rights?”

  “As per your request, you are now under our protection,” said the blue form.

  “Yes, thank you for that. But I don’t remember anyone saying anything about ownership.”

  “It is the way. Protection demands submission. While we have accepted your petition, you still have much to learn. The Freen will teach you the appropriate behavior.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Jon exclaimed, unable to hold back his anger any longer. “You think we’re going to bow down and worship you as the Freen do?”

  “Silence!” roared the green form, sparks cracking all around it. “This arrogant creature cannot be the Foreseen.”

  “It has the code,” said the more thoughtful red form.

  “Irrelevant!” the green form continued, electrical arcs shooting out of it. “It is unworthy. Unclean.”

  “Does the Foreseen refuse our protection?” said the blue form.

  “I didn’t say that,” said Jon. “I asked you to return to this galaxy and drive out the Erinyie. I never offered this system, or humanity to you in return.”

  “It did not understand the price,” said the red form.

  “The price? Nobody told me about any goddamn price.”

  “Hubris!” the green form boomed. “Irreverence!”

  “This galaxy has forgotten our benevolence,” said the blue form. “We have been absent far too long.”

  “Yes, it has become shrouded in darkness,” said the red form. “It may already be too late.”

  “What are you saying?” said Jon. “It’s never too late.”

  “The darkness is entrenched,” said the green form, its sparks dying down. “They have positioned themselves skillfully.”

  “The cost is great. The returns trivial,” said the blue form.