by John Walker
Mei’Gora took a deep breath and closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself to deliver the bad news. At least his offer would intrigue them. They may not take it or try to bargain for additional benefits but at least it would give them pause. Considering what they were promised for their trip to the research facility, he knew they’d be angry.
And rightly so. Time to turn a bad situation around…if that’s even possible.
***
Daniel Burke had a bad feeling about the emergency meeting. The Kielans rarely did anything without notice and when they did, it tended to be reactionary to a problem. Whatever this request was about, it didn’t bode well. Either the project was in jeopardy, they heard something about the Behemoth or another attack loomed ahead.
All three of those options gave Daniel heart burn.
Still, whatever the case might be, he forced himself to relax. They’d done pretty well so far with their defenses. The Kielan ship remained in orbit and the Tam’Dral was now crewed by a skilled military force. The refugees were on their way back to Alliance space where they would be provided a place to live while they plied their particular trades or received new training.
Maybe this problem will result in an opportunity for us. God, I hate the politics of it all.
Daniel spent the majority of his life as a leader of men, a soldier working through military tactics and strategy. With every promotion, his distance from the weeds increased until he found himself so far detached from day to day actions, he wouldn’t know what specifically was going on if someone put a gun to his head.
Even fleet actions were below him now. He dealt with politicians and diplomats, men and women with more power than attention. They didn’t want the details either but they required stories to tell their own people, positive ones to keep people happy or spins on the negative ones to bolster hope.
It started weighing on him not too long ago. Three years into his post, he struggled with what people expected of him and struggled against the types of requirements he worked under. Eventually, he came to terms with them because he saw the people waiting to take his role. They may not perform the job with the same amount of integrity so he clung to the position for the foreseeable future.
Daniel envied Gray Atwell. The captain of the Behemoth performed the exact job Daniel always wanted. Pioneering an experimental ship, defending the earth, leading people into battle…it quite possibly might be the most glorious post in the modern military. Sure, Gray didn’t get to decide his missions but once he was out there, every decision was his and they all mattered.
Yesterday, I had to approve the new banners for the mess hall and sign off on a massive order cleaning supplies. Yes, this is definitely glamorous.
Alliance presence turned out to be good though. Having a whole ship of kielans available to assist with their building project helped but the cultural exchange mattered the most. As Earth looked to join the Alliance, they needed ambassadors from the military and engineering classes, people who would speak well of their new colleagues to the common folk.
So far, the plan seemed to be working. Much of the distrust he witnessed during the initial battle when Clea was assigned to them seemed to lessen. Collaboration became easier. Daniel truly believed integration would work out and as a result, Earth would take its place amongst its new allies without internal conflict putting a damper on the process.
Unless of course Mei’Gora has some kind of news which would ruin that hope.
Daniel entered the council chamber and took his seat, waiting as the others took positions around him. They held their own opinions, some negative and others self serving. For the most part, they worked toward preserving human interests in the galaxy but they definitely could learn to be more compromising.
“What does this kielan need?” Jameson asked. “We’re very busy.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” Daniel replied. “Honestly, Jameson, I would’ve hoped that you’d lighten up toward our allies by now. They did come to our aid when we needed it the most. Why do you consistently maintain a prejudiced sense toward them? It’s ridiculous.”
“Oh, is it?” Jameson glared. “They could’ve stayed instead of leaving us a single person. I don’t feel they helped nearly as much as we needed.”
“They saved the day,” Daniel said. “What more did you want? They didn’t even have to do that. You and I both know there were plenty of problems out there that they could’ve been dealing with rather than ours. Why would you think it’s okay to give them grief over being kind? And believe me, they helped out of kindness.”
“Don’t be naive,” Jameson waved his hand at Daniel. “You know they wanted more bodies for the war grinder. They needed us and as a result, we were saved.”
“That makes no sense. Why would they help us on the hope we might have it in us to be of help? A better use of their resources would’ve been to stay out of it and clean up the mess…take what they want from our ashes. Instead, they let us preserve our way of life. I can’t believe you’d look at that as some sort of ulterior motive.”
“That’s because I see with my eyes open and you’re blinded by…whatever this is. Idealism…idiotic optimism.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Daniel started to get angry. “I can handle a debate but insubordination won’t be tolerated.”
“Sorry, sir.” Jameson seemed to realize he’d crossed the line. “This is just a passionate subject for me.”
“See that you govern that passion with some common sense.” Daniel paused as the doors opened and guards stepped in and to the sides. Mei’Gora and his aide entered, moving for the podium at the center of the room. “Good afternoon, Anthar. How can we help you?”
“First, thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Mei’Gora said. “I’ll get right to the point of my visit. Our project to finish your newest vessel is in jeopardy thanks to some vile criminals who have waylaid our nearest mining facility to the Earth.”
“What does that mean for us?” Jameson asked.
“It’s where I ordered the Ulem needed to ignite your new pulse drive,” Mei’Gora replied. “I’m afraid these…these pirates have taken the station. Nothing will be leaving there until we reclaim it.”
“And I suppose that means you need to leave, does it?” Jameson continued his attack. “As I suspected.”
Mei’Gora shook his head. “No, it does not. I have a proposition for you, one which I hope will be of benefit to all involved.”
“Explain.” Daniel clasped his hands on the table.
“We received word that the Behemoth will be back soon. When it arrives, I recommend you send them to quell the criminals and take back the station.” Mei’Gora lifted his hand to stave off questions before he finished. “In return, we will make all Ulem shipments to Earth a priority, allowing you to construct the rest of your fleet without being hampered by a lack of materials.”
“What’s the catch?” Marquel asked.
“I’m afraid the pirates have seized one of our warships,” Mei’Gora said. “And so you’ll have to contend with it when you get there. We’d rather you take it intact as well so we can put it back in the roster.”
“Is that all?” Jameson shook his head. “You want our one ship to travel to your station, battle one of your ships without destroying it and what…take prisoners? Who are these pirates anyway?”
“Intelligence suggests they are comprised of both kielans and humans,” Mei’Gora replied. “Meaning you have a stake in bringing them to justice as well. They’ve tried stealing shipments before but now, with the warship at their disposal, they’re able to take the whole facility. I trust you’ll appreciate the delicacy of the situation…and how my offer benefits your cause.”
“And we would have priority requests for the shipments?” Daniel asked. “What about payment?”
“We were going to deliver the Ulem to you for free anyway to assist with the construction of your fleet,” Mei’Gora said. “The better you are outfitted for wa
r, the more you can help us win this conflict. Believe me, this isn’t about profit. It’s about bolstering our allies so we might survive, as a unified group against overwhelming odds.”
“What intelligence can you offer on your station?” Elizabeth asked. “We’ll need anything and everything at your disposal if we hope to be of use.”
Mei’Gora nodded. “Of course. We will also stay on to help you with your third vessel. We truly want you to feel as if we’re partnering with you in all ways. My ship could take care of this problem but our time is better spent assisting you with your shipbuilding projects.”
Daniel stayed his people’s comments with a raised hand. He looked down at his desk for several long moments before making a decision. “Okay, Anthar. What we would like from you is all the intel you can provide. Send it to us ASAP and we’ll discuss amongst ourselves what we’re going to do. As the Behemoth is not back yet, we seem to have some time to think, right?”
Mei’Gora bowed his head. “As you say.”
“Thank you.” Daniel stood up. “Once we have the information, we’ll reconvene in my office, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your time. Good afternoon.”
The team broke up and went their separate ways but before Daniel even sat down in his office, he had a message from Mei’Gora. The file contained floor plans and personnel records for everyone on board the mining facility. Flight schedules and work orders were also included and they were thorough enough to include previously employed individuals as well.
Daniel called the council back together right away and they began to deliberate. As he anticipated, Jameson was against the whole operation. Elizabeth took the middle ground. Others fought both ways. Some swayed between both sides of help or not to help. Ultimately, the discussion promised to go on for some time.
After six hours of conversation and pouring over the data exhaustively, they finally came to a consensus. They would send the Behemoth to the station and secure it against the pirates. Even the stodgiest opponents agreed the priority rights to Ulem outweighed the risks. The value of this assignment even outweighed the research facility fiasco.
At least this time we know they’re going into a fight. That last one… Daniel shook his head. He contacted Mei’Gora himself to let him know their decision.
“Yes, Chief Burke?” Mei’Gora said. “I’m glad to hear from you…or at least, I hope I will be.”
“You will,” Daniel replied. “We’ve decided to take you up on your offer. When the Behemoth returns, we’ll rearm her, resupply and send her to this mining facility.”
“Excellent news, sir. Thank you.”
“I must admit something, which I hope we can keep off the record.”
Mei’Gora paused but replied, “certainly. What is it?”
“I have a concern. First, you research facility was compromised by the enemy. A traitor can’t be controlled and it seemed one off. But now, we’re talking about one of your big mining operations falling under the sway of pirates. I’m not feeling overly confident in your ability to defend yourselves.”
“Believe me,” Mei’Gora said, “we are fighting many battles. Our forces are stretched thin. I’m sure you know what that’s like and what it means. We’re not weak…but rather, overburdened. Your own history suggests you have cultures which know what that’s like.”
Daniel nodded. “Yes, true…I just hope that you’ll be able to keep your end of the bargain when we have our fleet. We want to be partners, after all.”
“Instead of saviors?” Mei’Gora asked. “I understand. Please remember what side of that we were on when we first met. But I don’t think any of this matters. We’re in a situation now. It is what it is and we can make it work together. We simply need to maintain mutual trust. If you can do so a little longer, I believe your patience will pay off.”
“Agreed.” Daniel leaned back in his chair. “Thank you for this candid conversation, Anthar. I appreciate it and I’ll be sure to do you the same courtesy should the need ever arise.”
“I’ll take you up on the offer then, Chief Burke. Good day.”
As the line went dead, Daniel studied his tablet. He needed to determine how he’d break the news to Gray, how to tell him they would be performing missions back to back. I’m sure they’re up to the task, he thought, but then again, he had no idea how trying the research facility situation turned out to be.
Depending on what they reported, he might have to find some replacement people, some fresh troops to help them along. He looked into the roster to see who might be available but got distracted by messages demanding his attention. So many recruits joined the military once the Behemoth was almost done and they kept signing up every day.
Which is good, considering we’ve got two more ships on the way which will need crews. He’d been trying to think of who to appoint as captain of the next vessels and he’d shortened the list down to ten candidates. They would all be required to undergo a rigorous bout of questions from the council, though perhaps not as rough as what Gray experienced.
When they decided to put him in charge of the Behemoth, he had an advantage at being involved in the first battle but they really needed to know if he was up to the task of being the flagship commander. His bureaucratic skills were certainly up to snuff and his tactics could not be ignored. One of the papers he’d written in the academy remained a required study material for people entering command track.
Plus Daniel simply liked Gray. He was an easy man to work with and he knew when to push back and when to go with the flow. He could see the big picture without too much coaxing and tended to err on the side of conservative strategies. It made him ideal for working with the volatile council and more importantly, it made it him trustworthy with a priceless weapon of war.
Daniel remembered back to his Naval officer days and being at war. They fought one battle for three days straight before it came to a standstill. Men could handle fatigue, especially soldiers but the shelling back then rattled more than a few of them. The Behemoth crew might well be the most well trained military force in history.
He’d supervised much of it himself and saw it through in the updated academy programs. As often as he could, Daniel found his way down to the classrooms, to interact with the young minds who would one day take his place and defend their people against outside threats. They inspired him and kept him young, something he genuinely appreciated.
He believed in the new breed of soldier and knew that they had what it took to work under heavy stress for days on end. Their endurance was constantly put to the test through exams and physical training. They were the best and brightest in mind and body, working hard to get through tough courses and even tougher role play scenarios.
The Behemoth crew provided them with something to aspire to. Many of them had graduated with flying colors and experienced the change from the old way of studying to the new. Right in the middle of many of their terms, the courses had to change to reflect the new technology and they thrived.
Newer recruits didn’t have to worry about such things. They dove right in without having to change gears in the middle of learning. As a result, they would come away with a brand new way of thinking, an entirely new breed of soldier and officer. Daniel lamented the loss of experience from the old way but he had to admit, it made sense.
This education gave the Behemoth crew a distinct advantage going into multiple conflicts and situations. Daniel believed in them wholeheartedly and still envied them, even if they didn’t get any rest before heading back out into space. At least they won’t be expected to approve the tableware for the banquet hall…or a request for the military band to go on a global tour.
Yeah, Gray…I think you might have it better than me. I hope you agree. I’m afraid you won’t have any choice either way.
Chapter 2
The Behemoth didn’t attempt another jump immediately but they did maneuver well away from their entry point and positioned themselves near a small planetoid, inhospitable to human l
ife. There, they performed some routine maintenance and really looked at the engines. A full day of repairs and analytics later, they got underway under normal engines.
They’d jump when they had a chance to lick their wounds and get the ship in better condition. Gray didn’t like the idea of throwing themselves into something unnecessary but he kept them on the verge of hyperspace at a moment’s notice, in case the enemy had a way of tracking them.
When no one showed up in the system, everyone relaxed as much as they could. Being in a strange sector didn’t do much for nerves but with no one shooting at them, they couldn’t complain too much. After some decent down time and normal duties, even two days did wonders. Doctor Brand even gave her blessing for a swifter trip home.
Gray finally gave the order at the first shift of the third day. They prepped and jumped back into Sol space near Neptune. Their trip back to Earth would take some time, additional relaxation for the crew. Once they arrived, they received a message which made the captain glad for his decision: a priority request from Daniel Burke.
Gray took the communication in his office, bringing the older man up on the screen.
“Gray,” Daniel greeted him with a smile, “welcome back! You look no worse the wear. Got a report for me?”
“How much do you already know, sir?”
“Quite a lot actually. The Alliance told us most of the situation…that you guys were ambushed when you arrived in the sector and had to fight your way through getting the research. Saved a lot of lives from what I hear.”
“Yeah, I’ve got some stowaways aboard,” Gray replied. “They’ll probably want to rejoin the Alliance ship as soon as we get there. As for us, our damage is minor. We’ve repaired most of it after holing up in an adjacent sector. Once the ship was jump worthy, we came home. I estimate we’ll be back to Earth in a couple days.”