Battle in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 4)

by D Patrick Wagner

  “Let’s all take a break, people. Back here in two hours. Tribune Ambakai, it looks like we have a wait. Please have your men stand down.”

  “Certainly, Captain.”

  “One more day, Igaklay.”

  “But, Captain Marston, it is perfectly safe! I have cleaned and emptied your living spaces. Your home is ready for you!”

  “Ya, Iggy. We want to get there as quick as possible. But you know Cap and Keiko. They like it safe and no worries. And them being the overseers and all, we kind of need to do what they want us to do.”

  ‘It’s just not fair!”

  Krag looked at Mack, gave an inquisitive shrug then pointed at Buster and Vidhee.

  “Look, Iggy. I have an idea. While we wait, why don’t you link up with Buster and Vidhee? You know, learn more about Human and Elonian lifestyles. How to get along. Get more so that you are a member of Griffin Den? Fit in better.”

  “You’re just saying that, wanting me to wait.”

  “Well, maybe. But it is still a good idea. That way, you’re not just a moon floating around. I’ll work on your hologram so that you can run it anywhere you want.”

  “I would rather make an avatar.”

  “You can make an avatar? Why haven’t you done that before, Igaklay?”

  “My original creators wouldn’t let me, Ambassador Suzume.”

  “Why not?”

  “They said that they didn’t want me to permeate the populous. They said that I had specific functions and that I could only do those.”

  “I completely disagree with that.”

  “Me too, Honorable Vidhee.”

  “What do you need to make an avatar?”

  “Since Captain Marston and Ambassador Suzume are now my Overseers, just a command to build the avatar. Then I can rework my code and make myself capable of building the avatar and installing a quant-com for control.”

  ‘”I understand, Igaklay. I think we need a private meeting to plan the exact command. Is that alright?”

  “Yes, Ambassador Suzume.”

  “And waiting until tomorrow before we come down?”

  “I suppose.”

  “In the meantime, Tribune Ambakai, please have your medical specialist report to the Doctors to train for the planet-side trip and gathering of samples.”

  “At your command, Captain Marston.”

  Sato Scout Team

  The team of Sa-Janto Sato and Kaihei Hayashi found the main civilian encampment first. Ghosting through the forest, they came upon a lone sentry, unarmed, huddling under branches, trying to stay dry.

  Standing off, still in chameleon mode, Sato softly mumbled into his throat mic.

  “Kaihei. Stay concealed. I will deactivate my suit and approach.”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto.”

  Sato pushed the power button. He popped into visual existence. The sentry startled.

  “Peace, friend. I am from the palace.”

  “The palace is taken. No one survived.”

  “That is true,” Sato answered as he slowly approached the nervous civilian.

  “Many of us left before the invasion. We established a hidden base. Where are your people?”

  “How do I know you aren’t a spy? Someone recruited by the aliens?”

  “I am a Nightshade. Sa-Janto Sato. I serve my Emperor. I do not betray our vows.”

  “A Nightshade? Then Emperor Kaneko is safe?”

  “Yes. He is safe. So are his family and advisors.”

  “Thanks to Bishamonten. We worried that all was lost.”

  “Not lost. Just waiting. We will strike back. Where are your people?”

  “Up the mountain. Scattered.”

  “Will you lead me and my cohort to your command center?”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto.”

  Sato mumbled into his throat mic. Hayashi appeared and approached, weapon ready, him sweeping the area, searching for danger.

  “This is Kaihei Hayashi. And you are?’

  “My apologies, Sa-Janto. I am Minami. Fumio Minami.”

  “Good to meet you, Dono Minami.”

  “The same to you, Sa-Janto and Kaihei.”

  “Kaihei, activate all five drones. I want everything recorded.

  “Hai, Sa-Janto.”

  “Set the warbot to chameleon and bring it in. set it here, in sentry mode.”

  “Hai, hai.” The kaihei nodded his head in compliance.

  The three stood and waited. Finally a path of broken limbs and crushed brush formed as the invisible, five-meter warbot made its way to the designated spot. Minami kept craning his body, seeking different angles to see this metallic killing machine, to no avail. Finally the rustling and crushing stopped just in front of Hayashi.

  “And now, Dono Minami. To your command center?”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto.”

  Minami led the two Nightshades up the mountain, constantly being distracted by the silent, fist-sized drones bobbing and weaving through the forest. He watched as the kaihei would hover one of the drones to get static shots of the surroundings. He’d watch as the kaihei would send one off in a direction, tracking down something out of the ordinary. After a short distance, Minami led the two Nightshades into and through well-hidden temporary shelters scattered among the trees, nestled into stands of brush or erected on ground cover. People variously peeked out or stood, stopping whatever they were doing to watch the two military men quietly float past. The drones stopped more frequently, getting good readings on the survivors of the alien invasion.

  “Well concealed, Dono Minami.”

  “Hai, Kaihei. And mobile. Everyone can pack up and move at a moment’s notice.”

  After more careful, quiet walking, Minami stopped in the middle of a ring of dwellings that resembled all of the others. In front of one camouflaged, four-person tent a small group of men and women sat, obviously involved in a meeting. One man stood. He studied the two new arrivals and noticed the hovering drones.

  “Sa-Janto, this is Shutaru Ueda, mayor of Nishio. Shutaru Ueda, May I present Sa-Janto Sato and Kaihei Hayashi of the Palace Nightshades.

  “Is our Emperor alive, then?”

  “Yes, Shutaru. And safe.”

  “Good. We have a chance, then.”

  “More than a chance. We plan on counter-attacking. When the time is right.”

  “Well, we have almost two thousand people who would be more than willing to help. There is a deep anger here. A need to avenge the losing of our homes. To avenge the deaths of our families, the enslavement of others.”

  “And they will be needed, Shutaru. But for now, they are needed to survive.”

  “We have done that, Sa-Janto. And we will continue.”

  “Now, I must inform headquarters that we have found you. Also, we would like to plan with you, determine your needs.”

  “These seated are the council.”

  The four men and two women who had been sitting, watching and listening formally bowed their heads in recognition.

  “I am honored. Kaihei, please consolidate our readings into one drone and send it back to Headquarters.”

  “Hai, Sa-Jante.”

  Everyone watched as the drones hovered then one sped off, dodging through the trees and quickly disappearing from sight.

  “Now, tell me how we can help you, Shutaru.”

  “Sit. Fumio, please bring some tea.”

  Aboard Frigg

  The Atlantius system had never seen the likes of the fleet that came streaming through the Cencore gate. The small flotilla of defense ships, stationed between the one habitable planet and the Earth gate just sat and watched as hundreds of ships poured in.

  After the initial friend-foe signals jumped between the flotilla and Frigg, the local flotilla relaxed and begrudgingly welcomed the scraggly fleet of mismatched ships. Atlantius still smarted from the heavy boots which the Federacy had used to stomp the system into obedience. The peoples still looked upon themselves as independent from the Federacy and resented any time spent d
ealing with the tyrannical government. And it became the backwater where Federacy malcontents got dumped. So, with hidden hostility, the Idun’s captain of the Atlantius Defense Fleet welcomed the Federacy survival fleet.

  “Welcome to Atlantius, Fleet-Admiral Weiskoff,” Captain Sarah Mitchell invited, easily concealing her dislike.

  “Thank you, Captain. Status of the flotilla?”

  “Frigate Idun is at maximum readiness, as are the seven gunships, Admiral.”

  “Good. We are going to need them. The aliens have succeeded in breaching the Cencore gate. Frigg is what remains of our fleet.”

  “Oh, no. I thought we had a strong enough defense.” All memories of the petty squabbles vanished like dust in the wind.

  “Obviously not.”

  “Then, Olympia is due to go the way of Sasania?”

  “Yes. That appears so.”

  “Our factories? Shipyards?”

  “Scuttled.”

  “Are anymore ships coming?”

  “No. This is it. This is the last of Humanity. Except for those hiding out. And Old Earth, of course. And Odin. Possibly” Weiskoff’s last statement came out more as a hope.

  “What can I do, Admiral?”

  “Not much, Captain. We can’t stand and fight. We have nothing left for fighting. We have one point six million people crammed into two thousand ships. We need to get them down to Pantea. Regroup and reload them. Prepare them for a one-year flight. We’re heading to Old Earth.”

  “Old Earth? We haven’t heard from them for almost a hundred years.”

  “Be that as it may, that’s where we are going. It’s all we’ve got left.”

  “Do we have time?”

  “I believe so. If the aliens stay true to form, they will settle Cencore before they move again. That gives us six months.”

  “I hope that is the case.”

  “Me too. There is one thing you and your gunships can do. Run security. Make sure we don’t have any criminal or pirate activity amongst our ships.”

  “Mission parameters, Admiral?”

  “No tolerance. Extreme prejudice. We have to hold this fleet together.”

  “I understand, Admiral. Do I have any support?”

  “Just a few police patrols. Not heavily armed.”

  “I’ll make do, Admiral.”

  “I know we’ve had our differences, Captain. I know you don’t like us Cencore people very much. But now everything has changed. I hope that you can let bygones be bygones.”

  “Without saying, Fleet-Admiral Weiskoff. The past is the past. I’m on board. And I am sure that everyone else will be, too.”

  Onboard Ravage Maker

  “My Lord, Fourth Fleet is prepared to enter the soft skin’s Corrinar gate.” Flight’s wings extended in pride of his accomplishment.

  “Very good, Flight. Launch the attack craft.”

  “At your command, My Lord.”

  “Intelligence, what have you found?”

  “As you suspected, My Lord. The exit to the gate is heavily mined. I do not believe that our attack craft will establish a large enough space for our fleet.”

  War repeatedly tapped a single claw on the conference table.

  “Weapons, as we planned, have all frigates launch twenty-four missiles each. Have each missile programmed to aim for any artificial objects.”

  “At your command, My Lord.”

  “And, have a six-clack pause in between each frigate’s launch. This will insure sixty waves for breaching.”

  “Yes, My Lord.”

  “Should we send the attack craft with the missiles??”

  “No, Intelligence. We do not know what kind of defenses the soft skins have. We need the missile launch to reveal their plans.”

  “Excellent thought, My Lord.”

  “Flight, Begin.”

  “As you command, My Lord.”

  Aboard Heimdallr

  “Status, Toast?”

  “Five minutes to exit, Captain.”

  “Gazelle keeping up?”

  “In exactly the same position as when we entered, Captain.”

  “I’ll say one thing, Cap. Hornet certainly can fly.”

  “And that kid, Brooksy. I don’t know about combat, but in so far as maneuvers, they hold their own to any of ours.”

  “Well, Hornet is ex-navy.”

  “Coming through, Captain.”

  The second that Heimdallr hit Bridgelen’s open space, Brooks and Torres scrambled to panic mode, hitting every switch, pushing every button and sliding every icon that got their ship as invisible and silent as possible. At the same time, Brooks turned the little scout ship hard over, shooting off, perpendicular to the mass of death squatting in front of them. After the few seconds it took to change course, Brooks shut down the engines while Torres shut down everything except environment and passive sensors.

  Once everyone resettled from the violent acceleration and directional shift, Captain Scott commented. “Quite a welcoming party. Toast, pick up any pings?”

  “No Captain,” the shaky sensor operator replied. “Unless they picked us up on passive, we’re clean.”

  “Get on the horn. Warn Gazelle. Get them turned around and back to Corrinar.”

  “Well, this trip just went toes up.”

  “We still need to check out Cencore.”

  “Yeah. But now it’s a real slow sneak.”

  “Quit whining, Brooksy.”

  “Just saying, Toast.”

  “You get the message to Gazelle?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Now we watch, see if they get in and out.”

  All three watched their sensors. They saw Gazelle break through Bridgelen’s gate tail first. Even before the entire ship had exited, they watched the little transport’s engines fire massive exhaust plumes bringing the ship to a halt then leaping back into the gate.

  They saw one alien ship get one spread of missiles off but none of them came close as Gazelle disappeared back into the greyness of the wormhole.

  “Those girls are definitely hot on the stick.”

  “You never let it go, Brooksy.”

  “No, I didn’t mean that, Toast. Really, whoever pulled that maneuver is definitely a grade ‘A’ stickman. That’s all I meant.”

  “Ok. This time. But you show those ladies some respect, Brooksy. Got it?”

  “They’ve got mine, Toast. Watching their formation flying, then that emergency burn, big time respect. Big time.”

  Aboard Gazelle

  “Message from Heimdallr, Trish.”

  Jesse quickly read the message.

  “Hot damn, Captain! Aliens at the gate!”

  “Amanda, Jesse, pump the pods! Amanda, one-eighty! Cancel the burn!”

  “You want to take over, Captain?”

  “No, Amanda. You’re a better pilot than I am. I’ve gotten to old.”

  Captain Forsythe waited the short time it took for her and her crew to finish getting protected against the massive gee’s that she knew were to come.

  “Amanda, as soon as our tail sticks out the gate, I want you to slam it. To the stops. Once we get a reverse acceleration curve, come off, but not much.”

  “I’ll set an auto-timer. In case we black out.’

  “Good idea. Do it.”

  “More message, Captain.”

  “Read it, Jesse.”

  “Says we need to warn Corrinar. A full alien fleet is coming through.”

  “Will do. We’ll set up a panic squawk while we’re in the hole. Fire it off ahead of us.”

  “Coming to the gate, Captain.”

  “Everyone, exhale. No cracked ribs today.”

  Decelerating tail first pushed the three women into the backs of their pods. The gel padding held. When Amanda followed orders and slid the acceleration icon to its max, the three women got slammed deeper into the backs of their pods, more air being pushed from their lungs.

  Their brains became oxygen-starved. Their thoughts became
mushy. Their eyesight became blurry. Thirty seconds later the harsh acceleration backed down to half. No one passed out.

  “Amanda? Jesse?”

  “Still with you, Captain.”

  “Me too.”

  “Stay buttoned up. Let’s get to max speed then cut accel.”

  “One hour, Captain.”

  “Then a four hour recovery.”

  “I’ll put together the squawk, Captain.”

  “After accel, Jesse. An hour won’t hurt. Then it’s fourteen days.”

  “Can’t say much for this vacation, Captain. Long trip in, turn around, long trip back.”

  “Yeah. But, thinks to Scotty, we’re going back. Without the head’s up, we’d be cooked.”

  “There is that. And we get to give a little warning to Corrinar.”

  “That too.”

  Chapter 05

  Aboard Griffin

  The four humans, four Elonians and two synthetics all redirected their focus on the door of the Faraday room as they all heard the knock.

  “Enter,” Krag commanded.

  The door opened and Tribune Ambakai announced, as he saluted, “Medical Specialist Suraya is back from his foray to the planet, Captain Marston”.

  “Did he get all of the samples?”

  “Yes, Doctor Ganakin. They have been placed in the analysis box. And the bay is repressurized.”

  “Thank you Tribune. Please remain. We are finalizing our command for Igaklay’s avatar creation.”

  “Sir,” the Elonian Guardsman replied as he closed the door to the Faraday room and remained at attention.

  “At ease, Tribune.”

  “Sir.” Ambakai relaxed his stance and lowered his tail to a more comfortable position.

  “Do you mind if I run my tests, Captain?’

  “Not at all, Doctor.”

  Everyone watched the Elonian archeologist leave then turned back to Krag.

  “What have we got so far, Keiko?”

  Keiko looked down at her personal tablet and reviewed her notes. “One, Igaklay can make only one avatar. Two, the avatar must be of the same form and size as Kokali”

  “We should add that it has no extra capabilities, like weapons, Cap.”