“Greetings Captain Peterson,” the female said. “I am Countess Tktch and I welcome you to my fiefdom.”
“Thank you for the welcome,” Brian said. “Are you allied with the queen?”
“Yes,” she said. “Although I don’t agree with her decision to change our government structure, I also don’t believe the other duchesses have what it takes to rule our people. Queen Kchlt brought peace to us for almost two decades. None of the others would’ve come close.”
“Are you planning on staying or running?” Brian asked.
“Unlike many of the other resource nobles I have access to military forces,” Tktch said. “Because of that we don’t plan on leaving. As a matter of fact, I’d like to invite you and your crew to stay here for a rest. I’m sure you need it.”
“I take it those were your ships following us a moment ago,” Brian said.
“They were,” the countess said.
“Then we’ll take you up on the offer,” Brian said.
“We’ll be waiting,” Tktch said.
After the monitor went black Brian turned to the others.
“We should get Tctie to check them out,” he said.
“Not a bad idea,” Myden said.
“It feels like we’re being paranoid,” Grigon said.
“True, but we need to be careful,” Brian said.
* * *
Jesela woke up on the floor of the launching bay and stared at the Artemis and Siren. The room shook when the Freedom docked with the Ick-Tckt mining colony.
“Looks like my nap is over,” Jesela said before she sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I should sleep in my bed more often.”
She got up and grabbed her tablet. After that she began checking the drives again the door opened. Seles and Mira walked in.
“Were you up all night again?” Mira asked.
“No,” Jesela said. “I slept in here for a few hours.”
“The floor doesn’t look very comfortable,” Seles said.
“It isn’t,” Jesela said. “But I couldn’t afford to leave for anything. But after last night I’ve decided to put a bed put in the storage room next door.” She looked up from her scans. “So what did we bang into?”
“The countess of this territory is rather amicable,” Seles said. “She’s not only giving us safe passage but would like for us to visit the station.”
“I’ll leave that to you two,” Jesela said.
“Have you solved the problem?” Mira asked.
“Yup,” Jesela answered. “The filters in the drives were acting up. All it took was a good spin to clean the systems out.”
“I didn’t understand a word of that,” Seles said.
“I’m just as in the dark,” Mira added.
“They’re working fine now,” Jesela said.
The door opened again and Brian entered.
“Are you two joining me?” he asked.
“Sure,” Seles said.
“We wanted to check on our friends,” Mira said.
“I know,” Brian said. “Let’s go.”
“See you later Jesela,” Seles said.
“See you,” Mira said.
After the door closed silence filled the room. Jesela started humming a tune while she continued maintenance on the two mobile suits.
* * *
Tctie stood in Myden’s quarters with the telepathic staff in hand. The Grey was opposite of him and watched the drone carefully. After clearing his mind, Tctie concentrated on the staff to create a protective field around his body. A few minutes passed before a faint field came out of the staff and surrounded him. After exhausting his energy it finally gave out.
“I can’t keep it going for very long,” Tctie said.
“Mental energy is like a muscle,” Myden said. “It requires decades of training to do what I can with a staff.”
“Is this how you learned to use your power?” Tctie asked.
“Not quite,” Myden said. “On my world we trained as a class.”
Tctie’s antennae twitched.
“What is it?” Myden asked.
“I sense them,” Tctie said.
“We’re docked with their colony,” Myden said.
“I’ve never felt their thoughts like this,” Tctie said.
“You’ve gotten used to anger and violence,” Myden said. “Do you want to join the others leaving the ship?”
“No,” Tctie said. “I still need time alone. Part of me fears showing others of my race my abilities.”
“It was the same with the first generation of my people with telepathic powers,” Myden said. “One of the reasons we warred amongst ourselves for so long was because of the fear of that power. Those who had telepathy often considered themselves superior, while those without it feared having their minds read.”
“I wonder if the same will happen with me,” Tctie said.
“You’ll be fine,” Myden said. “You don’t have an ego to boost your feeling of superiority.”
“We’re taught from birth to think only of the hive,” Tctie said. “The only one of importance is the female because she gives us life.”
“To think of oneself too much is folly, but to think nothing of oneself is just as much,” Myden said. “We must always balance the conflict between the individual and the collective. Otherwise we’ll be drawn to one of the extremes.”
Tctie held the staff up and started focusing his mind again.
“Have you found your second wind?” Myden asked.
“Yes,” the drone answered.
* * *
Brian stepped off the Freedom with Seles and Mira at his side. The three were greeted by a contingent of drone guards led by a warrior.
“I’m here to escort you to the countess,” the warrior said.
“Then lead the way,” Brian said.
The Freedom was attached to one of the five docks in the spinning complex. The others were currently occupied by cargo vessels similar in mass to the Freedom. The three followed the warrior and a few guards to a different level via the elevator. They walked down another hallway until it opened up into a larger room where the countess waiting.
She looked at the escort group. “You may leave us.”
“As you wish,” the warrior said before leading his group out.
The female walked up to Brian and the two women to look the three of them over.
“Is something wrong?” Brian asked.
“No,” she answered. “I’m surprised how close to their kind you look. But there’s something strange in your eye.”
“What do you mean by that?” Brian asked.
“I can’t define it with words,” the countess said.
“Then we’ll leave it at that,” Brian said. “These two are my first officer and chief medical officer.”
“I’m Commander Seles Daevon,” Seles said.
“I’m Lieutenant Commander Mira Kein,” Mira said.
“It’s good to meet the three of you,” she said. “As you suspect I called for you not just to exchange pleasantries but to convey some information.”
“You’re not going to betray us, are you?” Brian asked.
“No,” the countess answered. “There isn’t any profit in doing so.”
“Then I’ll drop my suspicions,” Brian said.
She tossed him a data crystal.
“I could go in depth about the situation and who’s who,” the countess said. “But it’s changing everyday so that’s not feasible. The two enemies you’ll want to keep an eye out for are the Duchesses Mlka and Klchta. Both have extensive military power as well as something that may interest you.”
“I hope it’s all in detail on this,” Brian said while holding up the data crystal.
“It’s on there,” the countess said. “But to give you a preview our wealthiest nobles have been experimenting with carriers like your organization has.”
“Asteroid bases?” Seles asked.
“That would be a problem,” Mira said.
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br /> “Apparently, they completed two of them before this war began,” the countess said. “I only have the rough blueprints on that crystal. But there are a few additional things on there.”
“Go on,” Brian said.
“Each noble has a different amount of military power at her disposal,” the countess explained. “I have only enough to guard my territory, so I can’t help you. But there are many loyal to the queen who will follow your lead.”
“We thank you for this,” Brian said.
“I want this war over with,” the countess said. “Business can’t be normal when chaos reigns.”
Chapter 39 - Bases and Palaces
Four of the bases Heaven’s Light remained at the Ick-Tckt border and were filled with activity. Because of the war within their territories, large numbers of the lesser nobles and their subjects were fleeing as refugees. The bases and all nearby Confederation ships were currently being used as processing centers. Veda and Reban were leading the effort from the command center when another wave of ships came out of gravity jump.
“That’s fifty ships this morning alone,” Veda said.
“It’s getting more hectic by the day,” Reban said.
“The good news for us is Lord Ka is on his way back,” Veda said.
“I wonder if his mate is with child,” Reban said.
“We’ll know by how big his grin is when he gets here,” Veda said.
Valis and Kivi walked in and put the latest information about the Ick-Tckt military and the Freedom into the holographic planning table.
“How far along are our friends?” Veda asked.
Valis hit the button to load everything.
“The Freedom is right outside the home system,” Valis said. “From what we’re hearing the ship used its special systems.”
“Hopefully Brian will let us see that ship in action,” Kivi said.
“Grigon only fed me bits and pieces of information on the subject,” Veda said.
The fleets being displayed showed Ick-Tckt controlled space and most of the resource systems as empty while the colony systems were looking thin. The main solar system of the ant people had three main forces of over a thousand ships each. Veda focused on the two fleets opposing each other over the homeworld.
“The queen has her back to the wall,” Veda said.
“True, but help is on the way,” Valis said.
She pointed to a number of the smaller fleets. The looked like they were converging on the point where the Freedom was.
“Brian’s going to get help whether he likes it or not,” Kivi said.
“Add them all up and they equal one of the Duchess’s fleets,” Veda said.
“He counted on something like this happening,” Valis said.
“This is fascinating and all, but I really need to get back to work,” Veda said.
“We thought you’d say that,” Valis said. “Why don’t the two of you take a break and let us take care of things here?”
Reban looked up. “I’m starving.”
“I feel the same,” Veda said. “Two hours and we’ll be back.”
After the two left Kivi took Reban’s spot while Valis took Veda’s.
“This is tedious,” Kivi said. “Now I know why I quit the first officer job.”
“It gives us something to do,” Valis said. “I know I need something to get my mind off things.”
* * *
Queen Kchlt and Khcha watched the fleet movements on the monitors in the palace hall. Numerous other warriors and drones ran around the complex to secure everything from attack. The enemies on the surface had moved their main force around the capital city and were laying siege to it. In space, Duchess Mlka and her fleets were keeping the queen’s forces occupied. The Freedom was shown departing Countess Tktch’s colonies. Numerous smaller fleets from the lesser nobles still loyal to the queen were moving towards the lone ship’s position.
“Our chances increase if they join with the Terran’s ship,” Khcha said.
“Yes,” the queen said. “But we still have problems here.” She showed the picture of Duchess Mlka’s asteroid carrier. “The two of these our military developed ended up in their hands.”
“We have all of their capabilities in our database,” Khcha said.
“For some reason that doesn’t comfort me,” the queen said. “With their shielding the special power the Siren uses won’t have any effect on them.”
“They can also withstand the Artemis’s arrow attacks,” Khcha said.
“I hope Captain Peterson knows a few things about taking things like that out,” the queen said. “He is the only captain known to have destroyed something bigger than those.”
“You’re talking about a Grey planet killer, aren’t you?” Khcha asked.
“Yes,” the queen said. “I hope to never see one of those in my lifetime.”
“I agree,” Khcha said.
“Our forces on the ground are having the most problems,” the queen observed.
“An escape route has been secured in case we need to retreat,” her warrior said.
“We’ll only do that if the capital is sure to fall,” the queen said.
* * *
Baeron and his troops were processing the majority of Ick-Tckt refugees in the docking bays of the four bases. He was at the head of the effort in the empty dock of the Columbia base. After touring the asteroid base Siata floated over to the Minan commander.
“They keep coming,” Baeron said.
“There are many more than we anticipated,” Siata said.
“And because of that there’s a line three hundred ships long,” Baeron said. “At least we have these bases for processing.”
“They are a marvel of construction,” Siata said. “I think the Confederation could use a few for things like this.”
“Another expense they have no interest in,” Baeron said.
“That’s true,” Siata said.
The ten ships in the dock opened their stair hatches before letting the numerous ant people walk onto the platform.
“Time to get back to work,” Baeron said.
* * *
The Freedom appeared inside the home system of the Ick-Tckt people. The ship was currently alone as it headed for the eighth planet of the system. The planet in question was a mid-sized gas giant with an extensive ring system around the equator. Several fleets of ships were picked up on the scanners while Brian looked it over on the bridge. Behind him, the four droids, Myden, Grigon, and Jesela were hard at work. All the pilots were in their mobile suits and ready to fly out on command. Three fleets of a hundred ships launched from the moon bases orbiting the gas giant.
“The Duchess is sending out a welcoming committee,” Brian said.
“Are you going to try talking again?” Grigon asked.
“Of course,” Brian said. “I don’t think she’ll listen to anything I have to say though.”
“What’s the plan if they have one of those bases?” Jesela asked. “They look as difficult to sink as one of ours.”
Brian tapped the helmet on the captain’s chair. “I’ll do my thing if it comes to that.”
Seles and Mira appeared on the monitor from the cockpits of their mobile suits.
“That’s a bit dangerous, isn’t it?” Mira asked.
“I’m counting on you two to come get me when the battle is over,” Brian said.
“I don’t know, it’s going to be a mess out there,” Seles said.
“You won’t get rid of me that easily,” Brian said.
The monitor flashed when several groups of Ick-Tckt ships came out of gravity jump. Each of the smaller fleets grouped together around the Freedom until their numbers were over two hundred. In the distance a number of other fleets did likewise as they approached the eighth planet.
“Captain, we’re receiving a hail from one of the incoming ships,” Droid A reported.
“Put them through,” Brian said.
“Yes sir,” the droid said.
On the monitor appeared a particularly tall warrior.
“I am Captain Zkcha,” the warrior said. “We’ve come to join you in this battle Captain Peterson.”
“I gladly accept your help,” Brian said.
* * *
In a massive base constructed within an asteroid was the palace of Duchess Klchta. She stood with two of her warriors at her side while her Chka Knight led the fleets from the flagship. She noted the incoming Ick-Tckt ships with disgust while her subordinates scurried about.
“Have you had a chance to check their systems against ours?” the duchess asked.
“Yes,” her second warrior said. “Our shields should be able to block their main cannon at least five times.”
“Our communications buffer should protect us from the disabling effect as well,” the third warrior said.
“How far can our buffer extend?” the duchess asked.
“Only far enough to protect the base and its guard ships,” the third warrior answered.
“Excellent,” the duchess said. “All forces are to move out. Because our enemy knows our standard tactics I’ll leave each fleet commander in charge of their forces. This base will act as the rear guard. The three fleets heading for the Freedom will be our first wave. The other seven will join the fray shortly. Our objective is to surround the enemy and crush them. We’ll leave Mlka to take the homeworld from our foolish queen.”
“My lady, we’re receiving a hail from the Freedom,” the second warrior reported.
“Ignore it,” she said.
“Yes my lady,” the warrior said.
Chapter 40 - Battle in the Giant’s Rings
The Freedom and its Ick-Tckt allies approached the enemy fleets cautiously. The scanners showed the first of the asteroid bases was acting as the rear guard. Brian quickly looked it over while the others on the bridge worked away. As he did so he sent the battle plan to his newfound allies. Afterwards, he put the enemy base on the monitor.
“That’s impressive,” Grigon said.
Freedom Saga 3: The Dawn of Liberty Page 21