by Jay Allan
Cain looked back at Compton. “We have no choice. We must find a way.”
“Erik, I know how aggressive you can be, but I think you’re reaching too far on this one.” Holm’s tone was somber, fatigued.
Cain was about to answer, but Vance spoke first. “I think General Cain is correct. And I believe I might be able to assist.” Everyone stopped talking and looked at the Martian envoy. “It will be extremely difficult, but we may be able to sneak a small strike force into Washbalt. Our embassy is located close to Alliance Intelligence headquarters, and it is possible we could get a few of your people there under cover as diplomatic staff.” A slight smile crept across his face, the first time his expression had betrayed any emotion. “Indeed, the Alliance is behaving in an almost obsequious manner in diplomatic circles recently, which gives us added latitude in making changes to embassy staff without being questioned. No doubt they are trying to buy time to research the technology on Epsilon Eridani IV before they are forced to share access.”
“I will lead the strike team.” Cain hardly let Vance finish before he spoke up. “A small group from the old special action teams, if we can track them down quickly enough.”
Holm was considering the situation, and he was about to protest when Sarah beat him to it. “Erik, that’s a suicide mission.” Her face was blank, expressionless. She knew he’d go, that he’d have to go – or at least believe he had to – no matter what she or anyone else said. But still she had to try. “You can’t possibly be serious about trying to break into Alliance Intelligence headquarters.”
“Sarah, I know it is dangerous.” He was looking at her, but speaking to everyone present. “But there is no choice. If we don’t rescue Garret, Alliance Intelligence controls the navy…and if they control the navy, it’s over. Everything. Alliance Gov will control every colony world with an iron fist, and anyone who causes trouble will be nuked from space. The Corps will be done too, units trapped without supply on whatever world they are currently posted.”
She knew he was right, but she wanted to run away from the truth. To scream, why does it have to be him? But all she did was sit still and nod ever so slightly, fighting to retain her composure. She was sure she would never see him again if he went to Earth, and she just wasn’t ready to face the possibility.
“We also need to prop up the rebels.” Erik decided to move on to the next subject – he’d discuss details of the rescue operation later, when Sarah wasn’t there. It would be hard enough on her without getting into the specifics now. “It appears that Alliance Gov is using its control of the navy to ship huge numbers of troops and massive quantities of supply to the most problematic worlds. The local forces will be overwhelmed before we are able to free Garret. At least here on Columbia.”
“I agree. We need to reinforce the rebels.” Jax this time, his tone leaving no doubt where his sympathies were. “A covert force, elite troops inserted to provide close support.” He looked down at the table. “I’m not sure where we’d find them, though.”
“I think we can round up at least 500. Mostly former SAT or other elite troops.” Holm was thinking as he spoke, doing a mental tally on what forces he felt he could find. “All from systems within a 30-day range.” He looked at Compton. “Assuming the admiral can assist with communications and transport.”
Compton nodded. “For now I can. But we better hurry before I’m relieved of command.”
“I believe I can also be of some assistance.” Vance spoke slowly, deliberatively. “I am authorized to offer limited logistical support to the rebel forces, including transport and supply.”
Everyone in the room had the same stunned look. The Confederation had always been extremely hesitant to get involved in the battles of the other Superpowers, and now their representative was offering to intervene in an internal Alliance dispute. Compton spoke first. “That is unexpected, Mr. Vance. If I may ask directly without giving offense, what does the Confederation want in return?”
“There is one thing, admiral, but I assure you it is in the interest of all humanity.” He swallowed hard and continued, somewhat tentatively. “We would like your cooperation in establishing international control over Epsilon Eridani IV.” His normally impassive face showed genuine emotion. “I understand that your loyalties are complex right now, but surely you all know that Alliance Intelligence controls that planet. And you know just how they will utilize its technology if they are able to adapt it.”
He is sincere, Compton thought - If he is lying, he is the best liar I have ever seen. He looked over at Holm, who nodded his agreement. “Very well, Mister Vance. We will support your efforts. As long as it is international control and not Martian domination.”
“We are agreed.” Vance allowed himself a cautious smile. “I do not seek sole Martian control for the same reason the Alliance cannot be allowed to retain it. It would shatter the balance of power and start a war the likes of which none of us can imagine. We propose that the Treaty of Paris be expanded to include Epsilon Eridani IV. Control will be shared, just like on Earth’s moon or Terra Nova.”
Holm looked back at Jax. “You willing to take an extended leave, Colonel Jax? Any expeditionary force sent to Columbia is going to need a leader.”
Jax nodded. “Count me in.”
“Me too.” Every eye turned toward Sarah. She returned their stunned stares. “Do all of you see what is on those monitors?” She motioned toward the wall of screens. “There is a humanitarian catastrophe taking place down there, and it is only going to get worse. I can’t imagine what medical services they have, but I guarantee it is substandard.” She looked at Erik, knowing he’d want to object. “I’m as much a Marine as any of you. I can save lives down there.” She glanced at Compton. “If the admiral can get a message through to Armstrong, I can put together a volunteer med staff…and really make a difference.”
Erik opened his mouth, but no words came out. He wanted to argue, to insist that she forget this insane idea. But he couldn’t. If he had his way, he’d hide her someplace safe, where he knew no harm could come to her. But that wasn’t her way. Besides, if they lost this struggle there would be no place safe. Anywhere. Still, he couldn’t force the doubtful expression from his face.
“How many Columbians did we know when we were stationed there?” She pointed at the screens. “How many of our brothers and sisters retired to Columbia? How many are in those scenes we’re watching now?”
Cain wanted to tell her to go, that he understood - to give her the support she deserved - but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he nodded…slightly, grudgingly. It was the best he could give her. She looked at him and smiled warmly, her silent acknowledgement that, as always, she knew his thoughts.
The room was quiet for a time…a minute, perhaps two…then General Holm broke the silence. “There is one more thing that needs to be done. We must find out what is happening with General Samuels.” He looked up, his eyes moving from Cain to Jax and back. “I think this is my task. I will go to see the Commandant and find out what is going on.” He paused, looking sadly down at the table. “And I will do whatever must be done.”
Chapter 14
Fleet Command Control Center
AS Bunker Hill
Orbiting Columbia - Eta Cassiopeiae II
“Negative, Mr. Cooper.” Compton’s voice was firm, steady. He knew he was going down a road that was fraught with peril, but his decision made, he focused on what had to be done. He was relieved, actually, to have chosen a course, and he would follow it…wherever it might lead. “I regret that I must refuse your request.” There was a slight delay, as Compton’s message made its way from high orbit to the surface, and the reply covered the same distance back. It wasn’t a long hitch, perhaps a tenth of a second each way, but it was still noticeable.
“Admiral Compton, you have no right to refuse my ord… my request.” Arlen Cooper was angry. He was trying to control it, but only partially succeeding. “Your orders from Naval Comman
d are quite clear, admiral.” He tried to keep his voice steady and non-provocative. Cooper was a bully, but he was smart enough to know he couldn’t push around a man like Terrance Compton. “Consider the ramifications of your refusal. Are you really going to throw away your career over your squeamishness about bombing some rebels?”
Compton was angry too, though in an icy cold way an arrogant thug like Cooper could never understand. “Governor, allow me to be clear.” His tone was changing, becoming harder, more ominous. “What you have requested would constitute an atrocity and a war crime of epic proportions.” He was conscious of the bridge crew listening to what was said; in fact, he’d deliberately taken the communication on an open line. He was putting forth a moral argument, that such an order was unthinkable and could not be obeyed. He thought it was his best chance to maintain control of the fleet if things got tough.
“You are out of line, admiral.” Cooper’s anger was boiling over. After a lifetime of mid-level appointments, he was finally completely in charge someplace…and he didn’t like his commands being refused. “I am attempting to combat a planetwide insurrection, and I require you to follow your orders and assist me in defeating these traitors.”
The angrier and more off-balance Cooper got, the better, Compton thought. “Governor, that is not what you requested. You want me to carpet bomb an entire inhabited sector with nuclear weapons. Such an operation, were it to be carried out, would surely kill thousands of innocent civilians in addition to whatever rebel installations were destroyed.” He paused, taking a breath. His tone remained calm and professional. “If you provide me with a list of purely military targets, so we can execute a bombardment plan that at least minimizes civilian casualties, I will be happy to reconsider your request.” That was a lie, but one that might buy some time.
“But there are no purely military targets!” Cooper was seething, but he was also afraid of Compton, and that helped temper his rage. “These cowardly rebels hide in and among the population. The civilians aid and support them. They are not innocent.”
“Governor, if there are civilians engaged in illegal activity it is your job to arrest them and put them on trial.” He paused again and almost grinned; on one small level he was enjoying tormenting Cooper. “But don’t ask me to indiscriminately bomb populated areas because you believe there are rebel sympathizers there.”
He imagined Cooper in his office, nearly apoplectic with rage, and he finally let a momentary smile cross his lips. “Now Governor, with all due respect, I have many duties. When you have specific intelligence on rebel military targets, contact me again and we will discuss.”
“I will report your failure to obey orders to the Naval High Command, admiral.” Cooper was trying to sound threatening, but he was too intimidated by Compton to make it work.
“Governor, that is your prerogative, of course.” Compton’s voice remained calm and even. “Now, I am afraid I really do have work requiring my attention. Goodbye, governor.” He cut the transmission before Cooper could say anything else. Go ahead, Mr. Cooper, he thought. Send a message to Washbalt. For just an instant there was a self-satisfied smile on his otherwise impassive face.
“Commnet control, this is shuttle Beta-9. Conducting final docking approach.” Cain sat in the co-pilot’s seat speaking into the com unit.
“Shuttle Beta-9, you are cleared to dock.” The response was lackadaisical; service on the Commnet stations was boring at best, brain numbing at worst, and it didn’t exactly attract the best and brightest. “Report to the control room after you dock…directly down the main corridor from the access hatch.” They’re too lazy to send anyone down to meet us in the docking area, Cain thought. He was disgusted with the poor security, though grateful it would make his task easier.
Commnet was an interstellar communications network connecting the planets of the Alliance. Radio and laser signals cannot pass through a warp gate, only matter, and Commnet was developed to address the need for high speed interstellar communications. There was a control station positioned near each warp gate. Messages were sent within each system to the station, traveling at lightspeed from any transmission point. Once received, the communications were queued based on priority and downloaded into small drones. The vehicles launched on a regular schedule, but some senders – military and government, for example - had override authority, and a priority message could trigger the immediate launch of a drone. The drone would then transit the warp gate and transmit the communications to the matching station in the next system. From there it was then forwarded to a station at the desired exit gate, moving through each system at lightspeed. The network allowed communications to move far more quickly than any ship could travel.
Virtually the entire network was automated, and the crew was mostly a redundancy. Typically, there was a team of four assigned to each station, but recently several additional members had been added, censors who reviewed many of the messages before they were relayed.
The shuttle eased closer to the station, gently sliding into the small docking cradle. There were five of them on the tiny ship - the pilot, one of Compton’s most trusted officers, as well as Cain, Jax, and two Marines from Holm’s staff. Shuttle Beta-9 had requested permission to dock because of a complete life-support system failure. But that was a fiction; its real purpose was to gain access and capture the facility.
There was a loud thud as the ship connected firmly with the cradle. Cain got up from his seat and walked back to the hatch, joining Jax and the two Marines. They were all armed, but they hoped to avoid bloodshed. They were here to get the crew off the station…before they blew it to plasma.
“You ready, Jax?” Cain had a wicked grin on his face. “Back into action…such that it is.” The two had been in some very hot spots before; rounding up half a dozen communications specialists wasn’t likely to overtax their battle-tested reflexes. Still, if their training and experience had taught them anything, it was never to get careless about any operation, no matter how simple it seemed.
Jax nodded, gripping his assault rifle tightly. “Ready.”
Cain pressed the button and the hatch slid open. There was a short delay, maybe ten seconds, and the second hatch, the one leading into station, opened. They ran inside, Jax in the lead, Cain taking the rear, bound for the control room.
Most of the station’s volume consisted of storage compartments full of drones. The occupied area was small, just a control center and cramped living quarters. The station rotated on its axis, creating modest artificial gravity, but it was only one fifth Earth normal. Cain and Jax hadn’t fought in low gravity environments for years, and even then they’d been fully armored. They moved methodically, gripping the rails along to corridor to stabilize themselves.
Halfway down the corridor, Cain gave Jax a silent nod and split off, climbing through a large access panel. He had made his way about five meters down the crawlspace when he got to a large metal conduit – just where he’d been told it would be. He took the small power saw hanging from his belt and, switching it on, cut through the metal tubing to sever the cable inside. The conduit was plasti-steel, and it resisted for a few seconds, giving way only after he pushed against it as hard as he could. Once again, he missed his armor – the molecular blade would have sliced the conduit like a knife through butter.
As he cut through, an alarm sounded in the station. Jax should be bursting into the control room now, he thought. With the main communication trunk line cut, even if one of the crew managed to send a distress call, it was only going to get about 15 meters.
Cain tossed the saw aside and worked his way out of the crawlspace, backwards this time, which he found to be much more difficult. By the time he made it to the control room, Jax and the two Marines had all six crew members shackled and lined up against the wall.
“Good job, big man.” Cain was in good spirits as he walked into the control center. He motioned to the two Marines. “Get them back to the shuttle and keep an eye on them.”
The
two troopers, both sergeants replied in chorus. “Yes, sir!” Cain and Jax were both senior officers and heroes in the Corps, and working so closely with them was overwhelming, even to veteran non-coms. The Marines pushed the still-stunned station crew ahead of them. “Move along now.”
“Let’s set the warhead and get out of here.” Cain watched as Jax activated the timer on the 10 kiloton bomb they had brought. It was a small nuclear device, even by tactical nuke standards, but it was quite enough to vaporize the station.
“Done.” Jax was kneeling next to the device, and he looked up at Cain. “Detonation in one-five minutes.” He got up and walked over toward the hatch. “What do you say we get out of here?”
Cain smiled, almost a laugh and made a motion with his arm. “After you, my friend.” They scrambled down the hall and back into the shuttle. In five minutes they easing away from the station’s docking cradle; ten minutes later they were stopped 50 kilometers away, waiting for the explosion.
“Well, if the other two teams take out their targets, we’ll have bought Admiral Compton some time.” There were three warp gates in the system; if all the Commnet stations were destroyed, Eta Cassiopeiae would be cut off. Cain sounded energetic. The overall situation was bad, no question about that, but finally he felt they were doing something about it. He’d faced bleak prospects before, but as long as they were fighting, he felt they could prevail. He’d hated sitting around in meaningless postings, passively watching things deteriorate around him. Now his blood was up. “Let’s see Governor…” – he drew out the word governor in a mocking and sarcastic way – “…Cooper get a message through with no Commnet. He grinned malevolently.
Jax smiled but didn’t answer. Erik Cain was a fighter in every fiber of his being, and he’d face any challenge without hesitation - damn the consequences. Jax was more measured, more cautious by nature. But he also hoped that taking out the stations bought Compton some time, because they all knew what would happen if Cooper could get a message through to the Garret imposter.