by Ian Miller
"But I digress," he said, as he visibly pulled himself together. "Then came the opportunity of a lifetime for a soldier. Rome embarked on the invasion of Britain, and I was given the command of the twentieth, the Valeria, by the Princeps Tiberius Claudius Drusus."
"I thought it had the name Valeria victrix," Marisa queried. "I was reading about that once," she added, almost apologetically.
"Victrix came later," Marcellus added. He turned to Gaius and added, "There was a revolt of the Iceni, who did remarkably well, taking Camulodunum, but eventually they met the twentieth, who put the revolt down, and earned the name."
"That's good news," Gaius smiled, then shrugged, and added, "although a little irrelevant now. Anyway, after the initial victories and the taking of Camulodunum, there was a period of consolidation, then the Roman forces advanced again. The battles went well for us, for the Celts, although they fought very bravely, they were not as good at set piece strategy, and could not handle mobile formation tactics. Anyway, after a period of further advances and consolidation, my family arrived in Britain, and it was convenient for them first to travel through the southern lands captured by the Augusta, under Titus Flavius Vespasianus. I had to travel to discuss strategy with Titus, for we were to cooperate in the taking of the Dobunni, and my family decided that the southern region was sufficiently well pacified that they could travel there.
"I took a small squad and travelled quickly through the lands of the Belgae, but ran into a small scrap. You will be amused at this next part, Natasha. Effectively there were three parties: some Romans, who were outnumbered, some Celts who were heading for victory, and finally an alien who was playing at 'war correspondent', and who had fallen into a pit that had been camouflaged as a trap. So I rescued the Romans and the alien, and acquired an alien weapon.
"I found out the Celts had captured my family, so with the few resources I had I mounted a rescue, then fled before the main party of Celts could arrive. Fleeing wasn't entirely successful. We were caught on a hill with no obvious escape when the alien summoned rescue for himself. Rather generously," Gaius added, his voice laden with sarcasm, "he took us along with him in order to sell us on another planet as zoo exhibits. However the ship's android read my notes on my physics and the engine, and then charged my captor with interfering in planetary development and arrested him in his own ship. He was taken to the planet Ulse to stand trial.
"It was as we were accelerating I first met our mutual enemy. A small Ulsian ship was being pursued by two M'starn ships. One of the enemy ships was destroyed, and the pilot transferred to our ship. Unfortunately, three of the enemy decided to board as well, helped by the alien who had captured me. The Ulsian would have been overwhelmed, so I decided to help out. As you probably realize, the M'starn have reflective armour, but it doesn't work against slow moving objects like a gladius, so I managed to dispatch one while the Ulsian wounded another. The third surrendered, and we captured their ship, and took that to Ulse as well.
"When we arrived, however, nobody knew what to do with us. We were considered too primitive to be let loose on Ulse, but they could hardly return us to Earth. In the end, we became entertainers, making programs first based on my completion of the engine, as it might have happened had I remained on Earth, and second, based on Greek plays. I say 'based' because we were rather short on texts, although the Ulsians had actually acquired some of these too.
"Ulse is a planet that has had civilization for approximately twenty million years. Their scientists have made no discoveries for over seventeen million years at least. Their biggest problem but one was lack of purpose. Their biggest problem was the M'starn, who had invaded one of the edges of their domain. By the time I had arrived, a long war had been going on, and the Ulsians, despite their superior technology, were steadily losing. Since initially small fleets were caught by surprise, the enemy had a string of rapid victories, which left a problem peculiar to space wars. It could take several hundred years for Ulse to learn that a war was actually underway, at which time the demoralizing news of several hundred years of defeats arrived in decades. Yet while they were wallowing in perpetual despair, here was me telling stories of great battles, of how simple but effective strategies had allowed Alexander of Macedon to win victories with almost insurmountable odds against him.
"Eventually, I was invited to a debate on strategy, and I maintained that the enemy's actions suggested the current strike would end with a fleet attacking Ulse, with the express purpose of destroying something that would effectively give them victory in the long run. As it happened, someone else agreed, and gave me command of the fixed defences of one such likely spot. This command was rather easy: while very impressive defences were present, they had never been used. The defenders were slack, while discipline and morale was non-existent. All that was required was drills, and if the Roman army was good at anything, it was at drilling soldiers. The Ulsian soldiers had no idea what was hitting them, but they went from a rabble to an extremely proficient force, just in time to defend these installations. When the enemy finally turned up, we won the battle, just.
"Accordingly, I was invited to play war games by computer against Ulsians. Of course I had to do quite a bit of training, but I got plenty of coaching, and eventually I was invited into a contest. Anyway, the overall outcome was that I got to command an Ulsian fleet, I helped liberate a system, and eventually had half command at the battle of Plotk. This," Gaius said sadly, "was both my greatest triumph, and my greatest loss. Ulse sent two forces, one commanded by me, one by another hero, and at the same time my sister was imprisoned on Ulse for attempted murder of the other hero. My wife had also managed to earn the command of a squadron, and was assigned to the other hero.
"The enemy seemed to have divided, so my force took the closest force, the others the more distant. I had a pre-agreed plan, which I changed at the very last minute, and that change was the difference between victory and total defeat. Meanwhile the other Ulsian commander split his fleet, and sent part, including my wife, towards the enemy, and then provided no back-up.
"My wife was part of that initial attack. Her ship, the Livia went to the assistance of a damaged Ulsian ship, and let its crew board. That was further treachery, as they had already been boarded by M'starn, and, well, you can guess the rest. The M'starn captured the Livia intact and that was where they got their Krezell wands, which are useless without a special head implant or that headgear you're wearing, Natasha.
"As soon as I learned of the disaster, I ordered my fleet to their assistance as quickly as possible, but it was too late. The remains of the M'starn battle fleet fled, taking with them the Livia. This was not an entirely good idea, because the Ulsian ships are sentient. When the M'starn entered the Earth's system, the Livia flagged its presence by destroying an asteroid with the rather characteristic Ulsian dephasing device. It could have just as easily avoided it."
"And this ship, the Livia would be one of the two that attacked the space station Columbus?" Natasha asked.
"And very fortunate for you too," Gaius smiled. "The M'starn could have destroyed the space station out of spite. But it seems they used the Livia and it set up a defensive shield that appeared to attempt to dephase its attacker. What in fact it did was to send out messages, which is how I know what happened. One of the beams was directed towards Ulse, and I intercepted the message. It was not a pleasant message for it described the death of Vipsania; they tortured her into showing them the secrets of the Livia. At first she refused, but eventually she offered to show them the teleport. Actually, there is no teleport, but when she told them she was setting the coordinates for a nearby M'starn ship, she lied. Instead, she immolated before their eyes. It was a truly noble ending."
"How did you succeed in returning?" Marisa asked, as Gaius paused.
"When the Ulsians regrouped, I was a hero. In accord with the customs of my planet, I was awarded a triumph, and indeed I would be the last of the Romans to be so honoured. I was ceremoniously dressed,
including with some purple, and was awarded the corona graminea, and the title of Imperator over Ulsian fleets. The Ulsians gave me another strange honour, one which I just wish my mother and father could have seen . . ." Again, the Roman seemed to drift elsewhere.
"They gave you a further name?" Harry guessed quietly.
"Yes," the Roman nodded. "They knew my story, so they completed my task. They gave me the agnomen Plotkynnius. How did you guess that?"
"You don't forget your name," Harry shrugged, "and Tiberius' orders don't mean much now. Something else must have happened that meant so much to you."
"You are correct. And as a final honour, I was given the use of the Actium. An analysis of the path of the fleeing M'starn indicated the possibility of their reaching this planetary system. The choice of direction may not have been accidental, so I was permitted, subject to the Ulsian laws of non-interference towards developing cultures, to do what I could towards protecting you from the M'starn."
"And how many ships have you got?" Harry asked.
"We currently have one," Gaius said wearily, "although another will shortly turn up. It is currently requesting Ranhynn ships; that's another nearby civilization," Gaius added to Harry and Marisa, "and through my Ulsian title, they are required to fight under my command."
"And they have over thirty," Harry muttered to himself.
"How do you know that?" Gaius asked in surprise.
"I observed them. They appear to be based on Miranda."
"Miranda?"
"The innermost large moon of Uranus."
"You observed them? What did you make of them then?"
"I saw the destruction of the asteroid as well. To be perfectly honest, I was as frightened as hell. I thought we didn't have a hope. Our best ships went up to protect that robot ship, and you know what happened."
"Then perhaps you might enjoy revenge. Look ahead!"
Harry stared at what he knew was a wall, but saw nothing except stars, on a black background. His expression must have given away his feelings of disappointment, for Gaius called, "Highlight!" A small square flashed in and out of view. At the centre of this was a faint light which, Harry had to admit, seemed a little different from starlight.
"Not very spectacular, is it?"
"Since you mention it, no," Harry admitted.
"In this sort of warfare, you barely see your enemy," Gaius said softly, "but you will get a better view as we come closer."
Harry stared at the object, as it gradually became brighter, then, in front of the glow, the very faint silhouette of Slug could be seen.
"Craft defined as target . . . Now!" Gaius called, pointing the Krezell wand. A faint red light had appeared approximately four metres in front of Gaius, controlled by the wand. On the word 'now', the red light had set itself on the image of Slug. Gaius replaced the wand at his side. "Match target velocity. Marcellus! Engage hailing system! Offer them surrender. Inform them their lives will be spared if they surrender now. No other opportunity to surrender will be considered."
The glow behind Slug stopped, and the M'starn vessel swung around to face its adversary.
"Up six g, starboard 17 g!" Gaius ordered.
There was a sequence of flashes from the front of the M'starn vessel as they sent a sequence of shots at the position the Actium had been only a second before.
"Down eight g, port twenty g! " Gaius ordered. He took the wand in his hand again, and readjusted the red spot onto Slug. "Lock now! Down twenty g, starboard one g!"
As the Actium carried out this new change in direction, the red light held on the screen. Slug suddenly moved to port and up. "Resonance achieved . . . Lock lost!" came a voice. Slug moved further to port, but a part of its starboard section was glowing brightly, and a large glowing section severed itself from the ship and flew off on Slug's previous course. Slug twisted downwards and fired at where it thought the Actium might be.
"Port thirty-five g, forward seventy g, down fifteen g!" Gaius ordered. The flashes occurred again, and again Slug had fired at the place the Actium might have been. Slug suddenly became larger. "Rotate pi! Hold!" There was a pause. "Up two hundred g. Avoid on starboard side! Pulse cannon, fire!"
As slug became larger and larger, something was obviously tearing into it. Pieces of the ship became incandescent, and a stream of ship was peeling off into space. Just before collision seemed imminent, slug seemed to edge to their left, then its image began to diminish in size.
"Cease drive! " Gaius ordered, and placed the red spot on the image of the incandescent ship. "Lock now!"
"Lock achieved," came a reply. "Full resonance achieved!"
"Dephase!"
The glow around slug brightened, then two oppositely directed jets poured from Slug. The image held for about half a minute, then it faded. Nothing remained of the M'starn vessel.
"I can only hope you remain on our side," Harry gasped, staring into the void. "I don't suppose you'll tell me how that worked?"
"You are correct on both counts," Gaius laughed. "I shall not tell you how the phasing weapons work, although you may start to get a glimmer if you consider the effect of what you call Planck's constant of action being able to be altered very locally. As for the other, of course I shall do what I can to help Earth, but I warn you, this victory is not indicative of the nature of the problem. On a one to one battle, there was never any doubt, particularly since the Actium is the most advanced main-line Ulsian battleship ever built, and that was something like a badly wounded M'starn cruiser. Once it couldn't get out of the road, it was finished. They have now lost two ships, and that will make them cautious, but on the other hand, other than surrendering or trying to get a cease-fire, they have no alternative strategy to launching an all-out attack. At the current odds, we would have very little chance."
"Then their victory is inevitable?" Marisa asked in dismay.
"They may be able to defeat us," Natasha said calmly, "but if it's possible, they'll pay a price, and they'll have to exterminate us to stop paying."
"We have to change the current odds, and Earth is the key," Gaius replied. "With your greater manufacturing capacity, and your consequent ability to do more things at the same time, we can still win."
"But we got annihilated," Harry protested. "We couldn't do a thing!"
"That's because you weren't adopting a plausible strategy," Gaius countered. "Simply launching squadrons of those fighters and fighting head on is a waste of time and lives."
"We need more technology," Harry said. "We can't catch them."
"We have developed a new super drive," Natasha said calmly, "but it is too powerful to use. If . . ."
"I said I couldn't give you new technology," Gaius said flatly, "and for the time being that stands. The reason is, if I intervene in your development, I have to take full responsibility for what follows, and I can't do that –"
"That's all very well," Natasha spat, "but somebody else is intervening. If you just sit there and pontificate, we're going to lose. Are you going to take the responsibility for failing to assist, and if so, what does that mean?"
"Natasha, believe me, I'm aware of this problem and I'll try to do what is necessary," Gaius sighed, "but look at the other side of the problem. Hundreds of millions of sentient life forms have paid for the one previous misjudgement of giving the M'starn sufficient technology to avoid extinction, so first let's look at what Earth can do. It just may be that you can do enough without such an intervention. The other point to remember is that all we could do would be to give you knowledge. We can't give you factories because there aren't any here, and it may be that any knowledge we could give you would be useless because you can't use it in time. It may not even be available here. I mean," he added, when he noticed some questioning looks, "if you were dropped into an ancient culture, could you build one of your latest interceptors?"
"The short answer is no," Harry said quietly, "or at least, not in time to be useful." He turned to the other two, and shrugged as he added, "You mi
ght know all your electromagnetic theory, but how long do you think it would take you even to learn how to make wire, let alone an oscilloscope."
"Harry has hit the point precisely," Gaius nodded. "It's not what could eventually be made that counts. It's what actually takes to the field when the battle starts that hurts the enemy. Nevertheless, we may have to consider breaking this rule, because, as you so correctly observe, doing nothing may be a worse problem than direct intervention. Please realize the decision on this will not be mine anyway; there is a local Ulsian group in this system, and they will decide, not me. By the way, you two," and Gaius looked at Harry and Marisa, "are bound not to tell anyone what you have seen here. One last thing to remember, just because we can't give you technology doesn't mean you can't use it. There is limited manufacturing ability at the Ulsian base, and they may be able to make something you can use and then give back. Also, it doesn't mean the Ulsian computers can't be used to improve what you already know about. For example, your new drive. Left to your own devices it might take years of experimenting before you get it to work reliably. If no new principles were involved, we might be able to condense that down to a day, so don't get the idea you won't get assistance. Now, let me tell you all about my return to this system, but first, how about food?"
"I'm starving," Harry replied. "I didn't realize it until you mentioned it, but . . ."
"Good," Gaius nodded. "Come with me. We shall go to the triclinium where we shall eat. I shall order the Actium back towards Earth, but because our velocity is currently in the wrong direction, this will take about eight hours. I shall treat you to a Roman meal. You must realize, of course, the food is synthesized by the ship, but to the best of my memory, it is authentic. Except for the wine, that is. Your modern wine is much more preferable. Now, Marcellus! Set a course for Earth, allow nine hours to arrive. The rest of you, follow me."
Suddenly, walls and corridors appeared. They followed Gaius to a moderate-sized rectangular room with a table in the centre. On three sides there were lavish sloping couches, liberally supplied with luxurious cushions, and arranged so that the reclining body was just above the level of the table. Gaius immediately placed himself in the centre of the cushion opposite the vacant side.