“Aye, aye, sir.”
The view changed out the window as the ship twisted. It seemed that the stars themselves were moving, until the planet came into view. It seemed roughly the size of a bottle cap from this distance, but even so small it glinted like a blue-white diamond.
“General order to all ships, and to our gunners, commence firing on Starbase Two. Fire upon it until it is similarly crippled, then cease fire.”
“Aye, sir, relaying message,” said Mr. Gates.
At that moment, the enemy warships charged away from the starbase, all of them apparently aimed at the Harbinger. Once they were close enough, they opened fire.
“Well, what have we here?” said Raidan, watching the tactical display. Then, to Mr. Demir, “Prioritize fire on those ships.”
“Try to cripple them?”
“No. Destroy them.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Mr. Gates, tell the battlegroup to help eliminate those ships, then resume fire on Starbase Two.”
“Aye, sir. Relaying order.”
Several ships in the battlegroup changed their positions, most of them moving closer so they could try to draw away some of the flak the Harbinger was taking. Raidan didn’t want that; he knew the Harbinger could take the punishment, much more so than any other ship in the battlegroup, and he wanted to protect them all. But since sentry ships and destroyers, even working in harmony, were no match for his battlegroup, the point quickly became irrelevant. Within minutes, the battlegroup was back to firing on Starbase Two, although Raidan had had to order the Harbinger to face the starbase head on, rather than broadside, in order to give his port and starboard shields a chance to recover.
Starbase Two put up more of a fight than Starbase One; it took another five minutes before its guns went offline, and another ten before the entire station went dark. At that point, true to Raidan’s orders, every ship in the Organization, his battlegroup, ceased fire.
“Stand down to condition two,” said Raidan. There remained some static defenses that would present pockets of resistance once he moved the battlegroup close to the planet; they may even have to intercept missiles fired at them from the surface, but whatever was coming, his battlegroup could handle it. So long as the Assembly’s fleet remained far afield, Capital System was entirely at his mercy.
“Mr. Gates, tell Starbases One and Two that they have thirty minutes to evacuate. If any souls remain aboard those stations, or if any repair attempts are made, they will be destroyed.”
“Aye, sir. Although I cannot say if they have the capacity to receive our messages anymore.”
“Be that as it may,” said Raidan, folding his arms.
The next thirty minutes were spent watching a horde of tiny craft, most of them landing shuttles, depart the starbases and defense stations and descend toward the surface of Capital World. Raidan didn’t know if his message had gotten through, or if they were simply evacuating because it was no longer safe to remain aboard those stations; either way, they were doing what he wanted.
As the minutes passed, Raidan relayed several instructions to the battlegroup, mostly forming them up into proper position for the maneuver into orbit around Capital System and briefing them on readiness in case any surface-to-space missiles were fired, which he believed to be likely.
Some of the commanders questioned his decision to let the shuttles escape the starbases, and wondered why he wanted to keep the starbases as intact as possible. The reason, of course, should have been obvious. He didn’t come here to slaughter military personnel, or civilians for that matter, and he knew the personnel and the starbases would be needed again soon, once the Empire was properly reunited under Queen Kalila’s banner. Continued war with the Rotham remained a distinct possibility, and largely depended on the outcome of the Battle of Thetican System, of which he had heard no word yet.
Another threat, though more rumored than immediate, was that the Dread Fleet was on the move. If it was, and the Polarian High Prelain had called for a Reckoning, it promised to be a bloody enterprise that would undoubtedly include a major attack on Capital World. Contrary to Raidan’s threats, he wished to keep Capital World as intact as possible, so it could be ready for those other dangers.
“Thirty minutes are up,” announced Commander Mason.
Raidan nodded. “Move us into orbit around the planet.”
“Aye, sir,” said Mr. Watson.
“Mr. Gates, relay that same order to the battlegroup. Then, once the battlegroup is in position, I want to broadcast a message to all of Capital World.”
“Aye, sir.”
Raidan watched the various 3D displays and, true to his expectations, several missiles were fired at the Harbinger from the surface of the planet as soon as they entered orbit. The gun crews had been on standby and it was a simple matter to eliminate and destroy each and every missile until the defenders on the ground stopped firing. Shortly after that, the rest of the battlegroup had maneuvered into orbit around Capital World.
“I am now ready to broadcast your message to the planet,” said Mr. Gates.
“Signal me once I’m live,” said Raidan. A few seconds later, Mr. Gates gave him a thumbs up. “Citizens of Capital World, this is Asari Raidan. Your planet is now defenseless and your fleets remain far away. No one is left who can protect you. I have entered orbit around your planet and I represent the firepower of forty-one vessels of war! We are now preparing to bomb you into oblivion, unless you deliver to me Caerwyn Martel. You have four hours. Use them wisely.” He motioned for Mr. Gates to end the transmission.
“Do you think they’ll do it?” asked Commander Mason, once he’d returned to Raidan’s side.
“They’d damn well better,” said Raidan. “Or else all of this was for naught.”
“What do we do if they don’t give in?” asked Mr. Mason.
Raidan considered it for a moment. “Then we show them what happens to those who defy us.” Equal parts anxious and irritated, Raidan swept away. On his way out, he ordered Mr. Gates to command the battlegroup to lock onto their predetermined targets, but to hold fire. For now.
***
“To all the citizens of this fair Empire, my people, my subjects, I come before you now to bring news of the darkest kind,” said Kalila.
It had taken some time and some effort for her to recapture her regal composure, after what had happened in Thetican System, but now she felt like herself again. Except angrier, and more motivated than ever before. This was someone’s fault and she would have that person named and brought to swift justice. Because if she didn’t, and if it wasn’t someone else’s fault, that meant it was her fault. Her fault for not being vigilant enough. Her fault for the deals she’d made. Deals that had been broken. And her fault because a monarch must defend her people and she failed.
“During the Battle of Thetican System, where I led a fleet against an invading Rotham fleet, the parent star of Thetican System was destroyed. The resulting shockwave from its super collapse led to the complete destruction of the planet. There are no survivors. Let us all now take a moment of silence to grieve,” she bowed her head. After a full minute, she lifted her head and continued speaking, “the destruction of an entire star by a super weapon is warfare unlike anything the galaxy has ever seen. That deed was the foulest, most evil, and vilest deed that has ever been done. I now apologize to you, my people, my subjects, my brothers and sisters, that I failed to protect Thetican System from its terrible fate.
But I swear to you, those of us who have lost loved ones because of this atrocity, we shall have our justice! Every measure will be taken to discover the perpetrator and bring them to swift justice and a merciless end.”
Kalila had thought to crucify the Rotham by pinning the blame upon them; after all, they had attacked and they had probably been behind it, but since she couldn’t be sure it was them, and the evidence available seemed to suggest that it wasn’t them, she didn’t want to jump to any conclusions. A crime this severe deserved
special retribution, and she would have it exacted upon the real perpetrator. Not some scapegoat. She wanted names.
“This profound tragedy only underscores our need to come together and make our Empire whole again. To reunite and save this family. For only together can we be strong enough to persevere. Only together, can we survive. We must unite, now, all of us, under my banner, and save not only our Empire; we must save ourselves.”
***
Hadriana managed to convince the others to meet her again so soon because of the imminent nature of Raidan’s threat. Now the warships encircled the planet, their weapons ready, teeth bare, and soon the bombs would fall, she knew it. They all knew it. Which meant, if they were bold enough to do something, they had to act soon, or it would be too late.
“When last we met,” she said, “you demanded from me one more good reason why we should do all we can to defy our king. Why we should give him up to Raidan. Well, since saving our people, and our own lives, was not enough, how about this?” she spoke forcefully. “Thetican System was entirely destroyed. You’ve all heard the reports by now.”
“Surely you aren’t saying that Caerwyn Martel was behind the attack that destroyed the star,” said Representative Ogden, “because that would be lunacy.”
“Is it so different a thing to be responsible by omission than commission?” asked Hadriana. As the others chewed on her words, wondering where she was going with this, she expounded. “Caerwyn did nothing to defend Thetican System. While Queen Kalila was personally there, fighting to save it, giving of her own blood and treasure in order to defend her people—a planet that had previously declared for Caerwyn for God’s sake—yet she was there, like an actual monarch, doing all she could, and giving of herself all she could to save that world. And while she did that, where was our beloved king?”
“The so-called queen may have tried to save Thetican System, sure,” admitted Representative Ogden. “But she obviously failed, didn’t she?”
“At least she tried,” said Hadriana. “And why did she fail?”
“No one can know,” said Representative Baldwin.
“Perhaps she failed because she lacked the support that Caerwyn could have given her,” said Hadriana, to the shock of the others.
“Are you saying that if Caerwyn had agreed to a truce and helped defend the system, it would not have fallen? The star would not have been destroyed?” asked Representative Ogden.
“I cannot say for sure, but wouldn’t you agree that its chances of survival would have been a lot better if Caerwyn had sent forces to help protect it? The man’s own father lived there, but Caerwyn did nothing. And now, perhaps thanks to his royal pompous ass, our colleague and friend, the esteemed Representative Tate, is dead. And so is her family. And her neighbors and friends. And everyone on her world.”
Hadriana could tell that her words were sitting uncomfortably with the others in the room, just the way she wanted them to. They knew something had to be done, and they knew Caerwyn was, to one degree or another, to blame for what happened, since he did literally nothing to prevent it.
“A man who hides and protects himself, and refuses to defend his people, refuses even to defend his own blood, that is no kind of king, and even if Raidan were not here, demanding him with threat of violence, I say it would still be our duty to remove such a king from power and instate a new one.” These were bold words, but, to her pleasant surprise, no one contradicted her. Even Representative Ogden seemed at a loss for words, which was a first.
“I cannot conclusively say that Caerwyn is to blame for the loss of Thetican System,” said Hadriana, “but I do know that I hold him accountable for what happened there. If he is our king, why did he not defend the system? Why is it not him who is broadcasting to the Empire, admitting shame and apologizing to the people? I’ll tell you why. It’s because he knows he’s a coward. And he probably even knows that if he’d sent his fleet to help defend the system, then combined with Kalila’s forces, together they may have been too many in number for the Rotham to engage. The decision to agree to a truce and defend his people might have saved every single life that day by preventing a battle. Not just the billions that were lost on the planet. But, no, Caerwyn did not do that. I don’t blame Raidan for wanting the man’s head. I say it’s high time we give it to him.”
These words were met with significantly more uneasiness, but still no one contradicted her. It’s because, deep down, they know I’m right, she thought, even if they are afraid to admit so out loud.
“But, what about a plan?” asked Representative Taggart. “You, Sergei, you speak of strategies to overcome obstacles, well how, my good sir, do you propose to overcome this one? The king is in an undisclosed location surrounded by an army of security guards, how can we possibly hope to contend with that?”
“Simple,” said Sergei. “I’m his Head of Security.”
“What?” Confusion resounded throughout the room. “He trusts you, yet you are here?”
“He doesn’t really trust anybody, he’s paranoid, especially now,” said Sergei. “But, for some reason, he mistrusts me the least. Enough that I know where he is, I know the guard rotations, hell—I know the guards. I know which ones are sympathetic to our cause and which are not. I can arrange everything. All I need is the legitimacy from you, the top officials of the Imperial Assembly, to give me your seal of approval.”
“Done,” said Hadriana. She then looked at the others expectantly.
“Yes, done,” said Representative Baldwin, “if you’re telling the truth.”
“I assure you I am, although I must say I shall need your help to pull this off,” said Sergei, “but we will succeed if we work together; I promise you.”
Although this condition lessened the enthusiasm of those in the room, a quick reminder that in only a few short hours forty-one warships would begin bombing the planet—possibly killing them all—was all it took to get the rest of them on board. Even Representative Ogden came around to giving his seal of approval, although he was the most stubborn holdout. What eventually moved him, Hadriana believed, was the image of a warship firing down on the planet and destroying his home—one of the wealthier estates on the planet—and subsequently killing his entire family and staff, probably him too.
“All right, Sergei,” said Hadriana. “You have us. Now, what is the plan?”
“It goes like this…”
CHAPTER 05
Raidan was shocked to hear about the devastation of Thetican System. Not only had he predicted, and counted on, the queen to secure a decisive victory over the Rotham, he never would have suspected Thetican System to be the target of an isotome weapon. There was no value for the Rotham, or the Enclave, or even the Phoenix Ring—if any of them remained—to commit such an atrocity. Unless…the only party that arguably benefitted from the wanton destruction, and the near total loss of the Rotham fleet and significant loss of Kalila’s forces, was either Caerwyn himself—though such a feat seemed even too demonically low even for him—or, arguably, the Polarians. But why would they do it? And, more confusingly, how? They had no isotome weapons.
Raidan briefly entertained the notion that the weapon that was deployed was the very one he had ordered Pellew to secure, the one that Pellew managed to lose to a solo operative. But no, it couldn’t be, that operative had been human, not Polarian. Something else was going on…
The immediate worst part about that brutal event was that the ensuing shockwave destroyed so much of Kalila’s fleet that she could no longer hope to oppose Caerwyn in the field of battle. Which made Raidan’s work here all the more important.
He stepped onto the bridge and Commander Mason gave his report. “It has been three hours and fifty-nine minutes, sir, and not a word from the planet. Nor any sign that they are planning to cooperate.”
Goddamn cowards, thought Raidan. “How many seconds remain?”
“About forty, now less,” said Mr. Gates. “Sir, the other ships are getting riley, they want to know w
hat to do. Are they to fire, or hold fire, are we bluffing?”
“We’re not bluffing,” said Raidan stoically. “We can’t afford to bluff.” He tried to shove his emotions aside, but deep within himself a part of him cried out in anguish for Capital World, and what he was about to do. They gave me no choice, he reminded himself. “But we’re not going to devastate the planet either. Just enough to get their attention. Broadcast to Capital World that their time is up, then order the battlegroup to commence firing protocol Alpha One.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Mr. Demir, you may fire at will.”
The thirty seconds that followed after Raidan gave that order, he knew, must have felt like pure chaos on the ground, as beam weapons and planetary bombardment rounds made short work of the battlegroups pre-designated targets. The targets totally destroyed included: the Assembly Hall, the Palace, the Martel Estate, several command and control structures—though careful not to disrupt planetary communications—and various government buildings. At the end of it all, ships held fire, just like they were supposed to do, firing Alpha Two—should Raidan have to give the command—would not be so merciful.
“Mr. Gates, broadcast me,” said Raidan, wanting to send a new message to the surface of Capital World.
Mr. Gates signaled the go ahead.
“You have just witnessed the tiniest measure of the power I wield from the skies above your very heads. I only stopped my storm of destruction as a gesture of kindness. Because of the generosity inside my heart, I give you forty-five more minutes to deliver me Caerwyn Martel, dead or alive. I strongly urge you to do this. Because I will not be kind to you again.”
He signaled for the broadcast to end.
“Are we really going to bomb the planet into oblivion?” asked Mr. Mason. “If they don’t deliver Caerwyn Martel?”
“If they don’t deliver Caerwyn Martel…” Raidan’s voice trailed off, he then looked away, out the window, down upon the very planet that was simultaneously the soul of the Empire which he loved so dearly, and yet also the haven for Caerwyn Martel, who, more than anyone, had put the Empire in grave jeopardy.
The Phoenix Reckoning (The Phoenix Conspiracy Series Book 6) Page 7