by David Adams
James shrugged helplessly. “None. The Rubens’s mission directive was solely to harass shipping and attack targets of opportunity. They have five Wasps, a minelayer Broadsword and twenty five marines. The Rubens docked here almost a month ago; there was no indication that they were going to attack any planetary bodies, let alone occupy one. If Magnet pulled this off, it’s got to be some kind of bluff. Maybe it’s a planet like Velsharn, almost entirely uninhabited.”
“Well,” said Liao, “as unlikely as it seems, Avaran appears to be convinced they did attack this ‘Belthas IV’ and that they’re currently holding it.” She looked at Harandi. “Can you get Magnet on the horn and ask him what the fuck is up? Is there a communications protocol or a way to get in contact with him?”
Harandi shook her head. “That’s difficult. They’re more or less autonomous; the ship jumps around, attacking where it can then retreating. They tend to hide out near busy jump points, laying mines and generally making pests of themselves. We’ve got no way of communicating with them, but they are supposed to report in every month. They’re about due.”
Liao mulled that over. When the Beijing was in space, it was much the same story, a fact she had relied upon at her trial. It was ironic that, now, she could see the disadvantages of being out of touch with the rest of the fleet. While it gave Magnet and his ship autonomy, it meant that coordinating their efforts was more difficult. “Well, I guess the only thing we can do is wait until the Rubens docks next and ask.”
“I suppose so.”
“Although,” James said, “that doesn’t exactly help us right now. Whatever’s happened, it seems to have thrown Avaran and the whole Alliance off their feet. I think we should capitalise on this if we can.”
The other two nodded in agreement.
“Right,” said James, “well, let’s see what else we can find out about this planet and what’s happened to it. Maybe this could be the break we’ve been looking for.”
“Agreed.”
Liao took a breath, then looked back towards the conference room. “Let’s see what we can find out.”
*****
“Apologies for the delay,” Liao said as she resumed her seat. “We obviously have a lot to discuss.”
[“Obviously,”] agreed Avaran, although to Liao, the Toralii seemed less convinced than he did just a moment ago.
“Regarding Belthas IV,” James said, “we are currently out of communication with our agents there, but we can arrange for a message to be sent to them to open a communication line with the fleet. In fact, we may be able to permanently station a diplomat in the region, if this would be agreeable to you.”
[“A diplomatic presence would go a long way to restoring order to this system, yes. The forge world is a vital part of the Alliance’s infrastructure. It is the primary manufacturing facility for the Telvan, and we rely upon it through trade. After our recent losses, we require the forges to be operational and are willing, for now, to discuss a temporary measure to allow the Humans to keep their jump technology.”]
That struck a chord with Liao, something that stood out more than anything else Avaran had said so far. The Telvan that Liao had met on Velsharn seemed more than willing to ally themselves with the Humans and resist the Alliance. Saara was Telvan. It was well known that they were not part of the Alliance and were, in many respects, considered allies; even after the destruction of Velsharn, efforts had been made to try and bring the Telvan more completely into the fold. The likelihood of Magnet deliberately attacking a Telvan colony, or attacking one in error and holding it long enough for the Alliance to become worried about it, was extremely low.
“Recent losses?”
[“Perhaps you have not heard,”] Avaran offered, shifting slightly on what Liao realised must be an extremely uncomfortable chair for his body shape. [“Although this is not unexpected, given the small size of your forces there. They would be, I imagine, unwilling to relinquish control of their prize, even to inform you of their victory.”]
It was the Rubens. Liao kept her eyes on Avaran, forcing her composure to appear calm, but inwardly she was struggling to understand how a victory this vast could possibly have occurred.
“In the interest of disclosure, maybe you can enlighten us, then, so that our dialogue can proceed with the best possible information available to both parties.”
The Toralii inhaled slightly as though admitting some great personal failure. [“Last month, the Alliance pooled our forces from many sectors and attempted to reclaim Belthas IV, an operation that failed. Your soldiers and sailors are to be commended, Commander. We have greatly underestimated your kind and your ability to wage war. The Toralii have not suffered a defeat of this kind in hundreds of years. A third of our fleet lies in ruins, annihilated by a single ship, and it will take us decades to rebuild… And a species with such destructive power cannot be our enemy. This is why we are offering your species this amnesty.”]
The silence in the room was palpable, a thick, pervading fog that smothered rational thought. A full third of the Toralii Alliance fleet was enough force to occupy hundreds of star systems along with the spaces in-between. This was a cataclysmic disaster for them and, if true, the balance of power in the entire Milky Way galaxy was soon to shift, although in which way nobody could be certain.
That was why the Kel-Voran abandoned Earth, not because they were afraid of the Toralii attack upon her person, but because they were afraid of humans. They did not want to be anywhere near a species who could bring the greatest empire in known space to their knees with a single ship.
But how had they done it?
“Our communication with our ground forces is limited,” Liao lied, “and so no, we had not received this report. The outcome, though, was what we expected.”
[“Of course. Possession of the experimental voidwarp devices has long been theorised to be one of the most powerful devices one can own. Their use as a weapon is undeniable. The Telvan have performed amazing advances since they turned the first prototype over to us.”] Avaran gave a bitter chuckle. [“Which, I suppose, explains why you destroyed the facility after you wrestled the device from them. You are wiser and more savage than I had previously given you credit for, Commander.”]
“The facility?” Liao spoke without thinking. “Are you referring to the Velsharn Research Colony?”
Avaran frowned slightly, his scarred face regarding Liao with a mix of curiosity and interest. [“That is the name the local Telvan gave it, yes. Our long-range sensors reported your ship arriving and collecting the device. Its radioactive signature was seen departing that world to test the device, but returned at a later date to destroy the facility, presumably to prevent any more of its kind from being developed. The radiation signature of the unique void was subsequently spotted at Cenar before it too was destroyed, and now at Belthas IV.”]
“Yes, but that wasn’t us that destroyed Velsharn. It was…” her voice faded away as the terrible realisation dawned. “… Ben.”
Avaran raised a fuzzy eye-ridge in confusion. [“Yes. The commander of the vessel that assaulted Belthas IV identified himself by that name, a Human name. Our Forerunner probes intercepted the transmissions made to the surface, but since landing on the planet, we’ve had no contact with this ‘Ben’ or any other representatives of your forces.”]
Realisation came to her in a sudden wave, like a floodlight being shone in her face, and Liao could think of nothing to say. When Ben had engaged the Beijing’s jump drive and leapt away across the stars, she fully expected that would be the last she would ever see of him. But, it seemed, Ben had somehow gathered a ship and the power to occupy a planet, all in a few short months.
She leaned across the desk, her tone becoming quiet. “Warbringer Avaran, the Toralii have a reputation for honesty and integrity, do they not?”
[“You know this to be true.”]
“Then hear this. I do not have a perfect understanding of what has occurred, but Ben is known to me. He is not,” sh
e clarified, “a member of our military, and we do not have any power over him.” Liao leaned back, choosing her words carefully. “But he is… someone I have had significant dealings with, someone with whom I have a certain rapport. I will do whatever is in my power to investigate what has occurred on Belthas IV, and I will, if possible, attempt to find a peaceful resolution on behalf of the Alliance, and others.”
Avaran started at her as though trying to pierce the veil of some elaborate deception she was setting up. To have admitted that Ben was not a part of their military, she knew, was to give away their primary bargaining chip, but she was aware of the bigger picture. Ben’s possession of the jump drive had shown where the balance of power would swing to fill the void left by the decimated Toralii fleet.
Towards him.
[“Why would you do this?”]
“I want my people to be left in peace. I want possession of our jump technology to be sanctioned by the Toralii Alliance. I want the hostilities between our people to end. We don’t have to be friends,” she said, “but we can no longer live at war.”
[“I can promise you none of those things,”] Avaran said, [“not in the long term. But I am empowered to offer you a period of grace where your use of the voidwarp technology is sanctioned, as is your passage through Toralii Alliance space towards Belthas IV, or anywhere your investigation may lead you aside from occupied worlds.”]
Liao considered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well.” She went to stand. “It is customary, as a sign of good will, to shake hands upon the reaching of an accord.”
[“I am familiar with the gesture. We learnt a great deal about your peoples while the crew of the ship you call the Tehran were… guests… at Cenar.”]
James stiffened slightly beside her, and Liao quickly spoke to prevent an incident. “Then this is good.” She stood, moving to the end of the table, and Avaran did the same.
She slid her hand into his massive paw, the two exchanging an amicable, if forced, shake of their hands. Liao was surprised by his size, but also by the sheer strength in his grip. Saara’s hugs could crush her, but her paws were soft and cultured. Avaran’s were rough and calloused. The hands of a warrior.
It seemed odd that, not so long ago, Liao, James and Avaran had been trying to kill one another in the black gulf of space, but now they were, tentatively at least, working together.
Avaran’s nostrils flared slightly and Liao caught the gesture.
[“You smell of blood.”]
Liao retracted her hand and, as she did so, saw a red smudge on the underside of her sleeve. A spot of Tai’s blood from the shooting that had somehow escaped her efforts to scrub her hands clean and had passed unnoticed on the trip to the station.
“Sorry,” she said, “it’s…”
Tai’s death, the death of the Velsharn colonists, now the death of untold Toralii servicemen at the hands of Ben’s terrible power. Her legacy seemed to be slaughter and devastation, to bury her friends and enemies alike. Now she had literal blood on her hands, a metaphorical stain turned very literal.
“It’s nothing.”
Act II
Chapter V
“Game Plan”
*****
Cerberus Station
The next morning
The TFR Beijing appeared in the Mars-Phobos Lagrange point with a flash of light and the subtle rumble of the resultant shockwave as it passed over the station, a gentle shaking that faded quickly. Liao saw her old ship through the observation portal for the first time in nearly a year, a familiar and welcoming sight that made her heart soar.
The ship was just as she’d left it—long and thin and powerful, lined with fins to dissipate heat and dotted with missile launch tubes. It was widest at the rear and came to a narrow, thin point like an arrowhead, its dull metal finish glinting slightly as the faint light of the station’s floodlights illuminated it.
Liao was wearing her own uniform again, something that pleased her immensely. It felt comfortable and welcome, a return to the life that she had fought so hard to maintain. No, she was not the captain now, but in her mind, the Beijing would always be her ship.
She waited at the docking port for what seemed like an eternity before the seal locked and pressurised, making entry to the ship possible. She knew from experience that the crew would be eager to disembark even for a short while. She stood by in an adjacent corridor as the first wave of uniformed crew departed, laughing and joking with each other. She didn’t want to be recognised, didn’t want to make a scene.
None of them saw her, but as she prepared to step out and move aboard the ship, a stretcher supporting a wounded crewman was gingerly carried out of the airlock. The bearers held an IV bag aloft, walking past her with slow, careful steps. The station had no real medical facilities, so she knew they must be unloading him for transport to Mars, or even Earth. She caught a look at the wounded man’s face; it wasn’t one she recognised, and neither were any of the stretcher bearers. This would be a common sight, she mused, as the team walked down the corridor and turned towards the station’s tiny infirmary. Unknown crew, strangers aboard her vessel.
[“Commander Liao?”]
A voice startled her. Liao turned around, her face lighting up. “Saara!”
The Toralii woman stepped forward and wrapped her up in a tight, bone-crushing hug.
“Ow, ow, ow!”
[“My apologies, Commander.”] Saara released her but Liao still held on, squeezing the Toralii woman around her upper chest.
“It’s quite okay, really. I didn’t need those ribs anyway.” She smiled, stepping back. “What the hell are you doing here? James said you were aboard the Tehran.”
[“I was, but of course when I heard you were here, I requested a brief leave of absence to visit you.”] She smiled a wide, toothy smile. [“Given the disposition of the Commanding Officer, it was unsurprising that this request was granted. Besides, we were in the neighbourhood.”]
Liao smiled. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”
[“And I you, Captain. Thank you for showing me Earth… I have many fond memories of your planet, and I wish to return as soon as I am able.”]
The thought pleased her. “Great. Let’s go to Hong Kong next, okay?”
[“I am unfamiliar with that location.”]
“You’ll love it. I promise.” Liao couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “So the Tehran’s here, huh? All three original Pillars are together again… that’ll be quite the sight.”
[“It would appear so. Bear in mind, though, that we have had combined operations since you left.”]
At the mention of that, Liao felt a faint feeling of regret in her gut. Saara’s face shifted subtly, and Liao wondered if she’d picked up on her reaction, a suspicion confirmed when the topic was swiftly changed.
[“And the Madrid will be joining us within a day.”]
Liao forced her tone to remain lighthearted. “Good. We can best project our strength when we’re together.”
Saara nodded eagerly. [“Sound military doctrine, Commander.”] Her eyes widened. [“I was almost forgetful. Commander, Captains Knight, Harandi, and Grégoire request your presence. The TFR Washington has been launched from its berth under the command of Captain Anderson, and after it’s undertaken its first jump, it will be moving to the Cerberus Station with the Madrid.”]
Liao frowned. “They’re putting the Washington into action without a shakedown cruise?”
Every newly launched Pillar of the Earth had undertaken a shakedown cruise, a first journey via reactionless drive, typically out to Jupiter or Venus and back. This was seen as a good opportunity to find and solve problems with the incredibly complex machines before they were to see actual combat.
Saara’s face belied her concern, too. [“Grégoire explained to me that it is the opinion of Fleet Command that the Triumph class vessels are now a proven platform and ready for mass production. Protocol now dictates that the shakedown cruises for current and future vesse
ls be curtailed to one day. Construction and material issues have delayed the Moscow and the Tripoli from being able to launch with the Washington, regrettably, so they are still a month away.”]
“Great. Don’t they remember all the problems the Sydney had in the beginning?”
[“Evidently not. Additionally, your nation of Libya’s financial problems necessitated a large grant from the South Korean government. They’re petitioning to have the ship renamed the Seoul. Meanwhile, the Brazilians, who also contributed significantly to Libya’s assistance, wish the vessel to be christened the Brasília. As you Humans say, everything is political.”]
Liao opened her mouth to say something but Saara’s eyes lifted, looking over Laio’s shoulder. She followed Saara’s gaze until her eyes fell upon Summer Rowe.
“Hey, Cappy!” The fiery redhead skipped forward, grinning impishly. “Ya’ made it!”
Liao shook her head at Rowe’s exuberance. “Well, look who’s still not locked up in an insane asylum yet.”
“Hah. Are you fucking kidding me? Everyone else is the crazy one. I’m totally sane.”
“I’m afraid it’s relative.” Liao couldn’t help but feel that Summer’s bubbly, energetic personality was infectious after having been without it for so long. “But anyway, it’s great to see you again, but I’m not the captain anymore.”
Summer blew out a loud raspberry. “Yeah, well, Commodore Wrong is a shit-eating shithead. They need to give that crotchety old fuck the boot and get you back in command, I reckon.”
Liao grimaced slightly, glancing around to make sure nobody had overheard. “Commodore Vong is a decent Commanding Officer,” she said, “based on what I hear. I have confidence in his abilities.”
[“I, too, preferred you in command,”] offered Saara, [“and I think your style is much more agreeable than his.”]
“And I appreciate that. But for the foreseeable future, the Beijing is under the command of Commodore Vong, and that’s all there is to say about it.”