Exiles (The Progenitor Trilogy, Book One)

by Dan Worth

  Kojima regarded him with interest.

  ‘What you don’t seem to bring into account is K’Soth psychology.’ Simonov explained. ‘Those fucking lizards don’t fight like you or me, so fighting against a human crew proves nothing.’

  ‘Please Colonel, do elaborate,’ said Kojima with a slight smile.

  ‘The K’Soth are religious fanatics. They don’t fear death in the same way as we do. For them to die in battle is a blessing. If they die in holy war, they believe that they go straight to paradise, and their clans benefit from the honour that they earn.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘So they fight differently. They don’t employ all the careful tactics and manoeuvring that we do because we’re trying not to get ourselves killed. They don’t give a damn. They just get stuck in and charge straight at the enemy. They’re not above suicide attacks, and that includes warships. Ask Haines, he’s seen it at first hand.’

  ‘I will. But it seems a wasteful tactic.’

  ‘It is, but with their numerical superiority and hordes of willing volunteers it seems to work. Besides, it’s a great shock tactic. You’ll of course remember that they took out the defence installations around Elysium by ramming cruisers into them. You should model that into your next combat simulations, Admiral. Otherwise it’s a goddamn waste of time.’

  There was an uncomfortable silence. It was broken by Benson.

  ‘Colonel, have you ever had to fight the K’Soth yourself? There have been one or two incidents over the years, rogue factions and whatnot’

  ‘Once, yeah. When I was still a sergeant. ’

  Chen studied Simonov’s face. It had acquired a haunted look. He seemed to be contemplating some horrific memory.

  ‘One of their generals went rogue and had decided to start himself a little war. They took a planet in the Arcadia system and slaughtered the human colonists and we went in to clear them out.’ He paused a moment before continuing. ‘We killed every last one of the bastards but not before we lost half of our own troops, even though we outnumbered them two to one. You’ve never known true fear till you’ve confronted the K’Soth up close. They use ranged weapons, but what they really love is to get in close and fight hand to hand. Those armoured suits they wear and the swords and whatnot that they carry, plus their teeth and claws make them near unstoppable. I’ve seen men ripped apart, torn limb from limb by those evil fuckers and believe me, it felt good to get your own back on them. You don’t ever want to fight them in dense terrain where they can close with you or let them board your ship. If you do you don’t stand a chance. They just mass into a big group and charge straight at you, and you can only kill so many before they get to you.’

  ‘What if you had to fight them again Colonel?’ enquired Kojima.

  ‘I’d rather not, but if I had to I’d try and do it somewhere nice and flat and featureless. Then if they try any suicide charges I’d mow the bastards down with everything I had. We’ve learnt a lot from the last time and the vehicles and weapons we have now have been designed with K’Soth assault tactics in mind. We could take ‘em, if we had the right resources to hand.’

  It was Chen’s turn to pose a question.

  ‘There is one thing I was wondering, Admiral, Colonel.’

  The two men looked at her expectantly.

  ‘Just how much do we know about the K’Soth armed forces? Is it not possible that they’ve changed their methods over the years? Is it also possible that they do have better ships and equipment but that they’ve kept them out of sight so far?’

  ‘It is possible Captain,’ replied Kojima. ‘But the K’Soth Empire is characterised by stagnation, now more than ever. I doubt we have much to worry about in that respect.’

  ‘Sir, can we be sure?’

  ‘Captain, Command assures me that what information we have managed to obtain regarding K’Soth operations to maintain their northern border confirms that they are still using the same tactics, and that few new ship types have been sighted.’

  ‘But what if they’ve improved the ones they have?’

  ‘Captain Chen, we must act on what we know. We could speculate about all sorts of things, and that would get us nowhere,’ said Kojima firmly.

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Admiral Haines is right you know,’ said Kojima. ‘The Empire is collapsing piece by piece. They’re overstretched and their brutality is counter-productive,’ he eyed Chen coldly. ‘Not that that stops some of our species attempting to emulate them, eh Captain Chen?’

  ‘Just what do mean by that sir?’ she replied, attempting to suppress her rising anger. She was starting to suspect what he was driving at.

  ‘Well, the planet Urranakar is now lost to us entirely, thanks to a certain Navy Captain’s rash decision and the slaughter of several hundred civilians.’

  ‘Sir, with all due respect I believe you’re out of line. I was cleared of all wrong-doing by a military tribunal.’

  ‘Indeed you were Captain.’

  Lehman spoke up in her defence.

  ‘Admiral, I have known Captain Chen since Naval College. She is a more than capable Captain and I for one am proud to serve with her.’

  ‘On that I have no dispute Captain Lehman, I was merely commenting on the growing trend for gunboat diplomacy within the Commonwealth, of which the esteemed lady sat next to you is merely one example.’

  ‘Sir I still think…’

  ‘Captain Lehman, the Commonwealth is a democratic state. We don’t go around shooting or oppressing people because they happen to object to our presence or our policies or because they have something we want. We start doing that, and we become an empire and at worst we become a dictatorship. Captain Chen here should never have been sent to Urranakar in the first place, and she should have realised that the moment that she arrived there!’ He paused. ‘Captain Chen, I apologise. My comments are perhaps inappropriate in light of the presence of more junior officers, but I still stand by them. You may be a good tactician, but I think you’re dangerous and I’ll be keeping a very close eye on you. I hope to God you don’t confirm my fears.’

  ‘Sir, I won’t sir,’ replied Chen defiantly.

  ‘Hmm.’

  ‘Sir I still think…’ he cut her off.

  ‘Captain Chen, you proved today that you and your crew are more than capable. But you’re no diplomat.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Chen sat in sullen silence for the rest of the meal. She resented Kojima’s undermining of her authority a great deal. How dare he embarrass her like this! She noticed also that Benson had said little during the exchange, but he had sat there smugly surveying the scene. She wondered whether he was jealous of her assignment as she suspected that he was as ambitious as she. She couldn’t tolerate any sort of rivalry between the various captains, least of all any attempt to undermine her. Forthcoming events would be difficult enough without them engaging in Navy politics.

  Chen watched Kojima as he talked with the other captains. She realised now that she held little respect for the Admiral. Despite his long service he had never seen action, never had his ship fired upon and seen his trusted crewmates torn to ribbons. It angered her that he could sit and pontificate about things about which he had little practical knowledge or experience. He was old and set in his ways and she thought that he was weak. His own smug sense of superiority would be his undoing, she thought. Conciliation was not the way to deal with the enemies of the Commonwealth. A firm hand was needed when the future of the human race was at stake. She told herself that she would prove herself right, and that one day she would outrank him.

  Ramirez tapped her arm and murmured:

  ‘What are you so satisfied about?’

  ‘I’ll tell you later,’ said Chen gave him a cryptic smile.

  Following the meal they retired to the observation lounge that looked out over the cavernous main hangar deck in the very centre of the gigantic vessel. The various officers mingled, talked, and drank large mugs of ship’s coffee; alcohol was
of course forbidden. Whilst Ramirez chatted with the XO of the Rameses, Chen stood by one of the large, thick windows that looked out over the rows of fighters, bombers, gunships and landing craft that sat with wings and weapon pylons folded to conserve space, like a flock of metal birds sleeping perched atop their nests. A number were being serviced and were surrounded with busy technicians and machinery that hung from the overhead gantries. The sounds of their industrious efforts could be heard faintly even through the thick glass panelling.

  She turned to find Colonel Simonov standing at her side. He was regarding the scene with a look of supreme satisfaction.

  ‘That’s quite a force you have there at your disposal Colonel.’

  ‘Yes, yes it is. I’m proud of my Marines, Captain. I trust you feel the same way about your crew?’

  ‘Of course Colonel, they’re the finest starship crew in the Navy.’

  Simonov chuckled and gave her a knowing look.

  ‘Just thought I’d come and offer my support so to speak,’ he said, his voice lowered.

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Kojima’s a good man, but he’s old and he thinks he knows it all. What he said back there was out of order, though his political comments carried some merit. But his personal comments should have been said in private, if at all.’

  ‘Thank you Colonel but…’

  ‘Let me finish, Captain. We need people like you in the services, people who know how to fight, how to really stick it to those scaly bastards and dance on their fucking graves, if you’ll pardon the language.’

  ‘Don’t worry Colonel; it takes more than a few swear words to upset me.’

  ‘Good. Look, Kojima doesn’t know what the K’Soth are like. He thinks that if we fight them it’ll be all textbook and proper, and that what our intelligence tells us will be the gospel truth. Anyone with any sense knows that that just isn’t the case, it never is. There’s always someone trying to fight the last war, however in his case he seems to have forgotten even the lessons we learned during that one. It doesn’t matter how much firepower your new ships have Chen, or how much my tanks and men can wield. Those damn fanatics will still charge straight at us if they can. We have to think of a way to kill as many of the bastards as we can in the process.’

  ‘Colonel, I believe I may have found a way.’

  ‘What you tried today? Yeah I saw that, but can you make it work with a whole fleet? That’s the real test.’

  ‘I know. We need every ship to have a more than competent helmsman. There’s no room for error whatsoever.’

  ‘Yours seems pretty good.’

  ‘Yes she is,’ Chen said and thought for a moment. ‘How do you fancy your chances against the K’Soth, should it come to it?’

  ‘Can’t say I relish the prospect, Captain. Even though it’s what we train for, I’m not sure just how long we could hold out against, say, a full scale planetary invasion. Still, I’d make sure we’d take as many of ‘em with us as we could. I just hope it’d be enough.’

  ‘You think it’ll come to war then?’ said Chen, her voice barely audible above the hubbub of general conversation.

  ‘Yeah, probably. You heard Haines, and those morons back on Earth seem pretty set on it. Seems they haven’t learnt since last time.’

  ‘We are in a much better position, militarily.’

  ‘True, but it’s a big gamble. If things go wrong at the outset we’d be wide open for a counter attack. It’d be embarrassing if the Arkari had to come and rescue us again, if they came at all that is. I’m not sure they come to aid of a species who are the victims of their own stupidity.’

  ‘Command seems to think that the Empire is on the verge of collapse.’

  ‘Do they? Well let it I say. If it’s so fragile what do they need us for?’

  ‘I suppose getting it over and done with could save millions of lives.’

  ‘Hmm, or it could result in completely the opposite. I’ll say it again Captain. Do not underestimate the K’Soth, they may be brutes and fanatics, but they’re damn good fighters and there’s a hell of a lot of them.’

  ‘Thanks for the advice sir.’

  ‘No problem.’

  ‘I must say sir, it’d feel good to have you by my side in a fight.’

  ‘Thanks, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that eh?’ he clapped her companionably on the shoulder. ‘I’d better go talk to the Admiral, he’ll be wondering what us two are saying about him.’ Simonov ambled off across the room towards Kojima, who regarded Chen coldly before smiling mechanically at the Colonel as he approached.

  Ramirez finished his conversation and rejoined Chen.

  ‘Hobnobbing with the brass Captain?’

  ‘I certainly was Commander, some people do, it seems, have faith in me.’

  ‘Well you can count me in that category.’

  ‘Yes, but you have your own reasons don’t you?’

  ‘Well there is that too. How soon before we can get out of here?’

  ‘Not soon enough. Commander, I have some things I’d like to go over with you once we return to the ship.’

  ‘Very well Captain,’ replied Ramirez with a conspiratorial smile. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  Back on the Mark Antony once again, Chen and Ramirez finished the day as they had begun it, in each other’s arms on the bed in Chen’s quarters. Ramirez noticed that Chen’s lovemaking had acquired a new urgency, and afterwards she lay silently beside him, apparently deep in thought. He drew her closer and kissed her forehead.

  ‘What’s the matter Michelle? Are you still upset by what the Admiral said to you?’

  ‘In a manner of speaking, yes.’

  ‘You know Haines and the others have faith in you. I have faith in you.’

  ‘I know, but it just made me wonder how many other Admiral Kojimas there are within our ranks, how many others who can’t see the truth, who are stuck in their ways. Failure to adapt to changing circumstances leads to extinction, you know that?’

  ‘I know, but remember that Haines is in charge, and he isn’t one to sit on his laurels. Neither are you it seems.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’

  ‘I am, trust me Michelle. You’re my pet research project after all, and I have access to the personnel files of the other captains that you’ve been given to command. They’ll fight like you order them to, and all of them have exemplary service records. Kojima’s our only problem.’

  ‘What about Benson?’

  ‘Benson will posture and comment and it’s no secret that he wanted your job, but when it comes down to it he’ll fight by your side without question. He’s ambitious, but he’s not stupid.’

  ‘That’s re-assuring Al. Thanks.’

  ‘I see you met Simonov. What did you think of him?’

  ‘I was impressed. He seems like a capable, level headed man.’

  ‘He is.’

  They lay in silence for while, Chen caressed Ramirez’ cheek and gazed at him, she had a curious look on her face, sad almost.

  ‘Al, where do you see this going?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘This, us.’

  ‘I hadn’t really thought about it, well I mean what with all this hanging over our heads I hadn’t really thought beyond the two us just surviving.’

  ‘Not after?’

  ‘No. Not yet anyway. I didn’t want to assume too much you know?’

  ‘I understand, only I don’t know what I’d do without you,’ she kissed him deeply and moved against him.

  ‘You’ve said that before.’

  ‘Well it’s true Al, now more than ever. I don’t think I could bear to lose you.’

  ‘You won’t, I promise you.’

  He wrapped her in his arms and held her small body close to his.

  Chapter 13

  The Darwin was an ugly ship. Even by the utilitarian design standards of the Commonwealth it was not pretty. Its bullet nosed forward accommodation and bridge section swelled into a fatter, barrel-shaped mid s
ection that was pregnant with a vast array of instruments and probes. These were stowed in equipment bays, ready for deployment from behind the banks of hatches that covered the exterior of the hull. The engine block, meanwhile, sat at the end of a long slender pylon that extended a hundred and fifty metres from the back of the mid-section. This was a sufficient distance to protect the ship’s delicate instruments from interference caused by the reactors and jump drive. It gave the vessel an appearance that resembled an ancient firework rocket when its sensor arrays were stowed, and of a bizarre flower when they were fully deployed.

  Built ten years before the war, the Neptune class of survey vessels had been in service ever since, charting the galaxy for the Commonwealth. Though its hull was now antique and cramped by modern standards, the Darwin was not as outdated as it seemed. Numerous upgrades and refits had improved its systems and avionics immeasurably over the years and the sensor packages that were now bolted into its bays at the start of a mission were of course light years ahead of their predecessors. Its modular design meant that there was still plenty of life in the Neptune class yet.

  Captain Spiers didn’t care what people said. The Darwin might be aesthetically undesirable, but he believed beauty was in the eye of the beholder and he loved his ship for what it could do, not what it looked like. With its instruments he and his crew could chart systems, probe nebulas, survey planet surfaces in minute detail and peer into the heart of stars or more exotic and spectacular phenomena. Aboard the Darwin, Spiers had seen up close and first hand things that few humans had ever experienced: black holes pulverising and devouring stars and planets, new systems forming inside nebulas from giant spinning, coalescing disks of rubble and gas, spectacular shock waves of stellar death and collapse, neutron stars spinning madly as they blasted space with deadly radiation. As far as he was concerned, the Navy could keep its fancy battleships and carriers. For Spiers, the Darwin was where the real adventure was. It gave him the universe at his fingertips, to explore, scrutinise and marvel at as much as he wanted.