“Shit,” Rick said.
“Think she’s laying it on a bit thick?” Salchar said, as if commenting on a movie.
“A bit,” Min Hae said.
Rick looked between them, obviously missing something.
The Chaleel representative looked confused by Salchar’s inaction.
“Very well, may we hold your motion until the end of the session to allow people to go over the collective evidence?” Elisati asked the Chaleel representative.
“Yes chairwoman,” the Chaleel planetary governor said nodding her head.
“Very well, we will go to the Ershue representative,” Elisati said.
“So I was thinking that we should have a dinner with all of the Free Fleet. Something to allow people to decompress. Think you could organize it?” Salchar asked Rick.
“Commander Salchar, is there something so important that you feel unable to hold your conversation until recess?” Elisati asked, her voice like that of a teacher talking to a slow child.
“Oh sorry, I was just talking about planning to have a meal with my Free Fleet brothers and sisters, please continue,” Salchar said waving for them to proceed.
Rick knew that Salchar had his rash moments but they were few and far in between, as he had aged with his service in the Free Fleet they had rarely appeared. He rarely if ever showed his hand unless he knew he had a rail gun right behind it. He aimed to win no matter what.
“Please hold personal conversations until after the meeting,” Elisati said, clearly not pleased with the answer. Rick had learnt enough Dovark body language to be considered an expert on it. It was one of the skills Salchar really pushed for him to understand.
Knowing what people were thinking without them having to say a thing was an important thing for any leader.
“Please go on Governor Isaz,” Elisati said.
“Thank you Chairwoman, I would expect nothing less than from these Free Fleet brutes,” he said keeping his back to them, Rick knew that was a pretty big insult in Ershue interactions.
“Ershue is dear to me and all Ershue. We asked the Free Fleet for their protection and they forced us to hide in the ground, a place that no Ershue looks forward to being in. We lived in conditions that would make many shudder in disgust. While we waited, terrified and afraid of the Kalu threat that the Free Fleet had exaggerated to almost impossible heights, they were busy destroying the planet Ershue love,” he said, pausing and looking to people’s faces, his wings sad but also angered.
“They used nuclear weapons to burn holes in our forests, to turn regions into wastelands. They used our scouts, Ershue inhabitants who volunteered to assist them as bait, getting them killed as they sat back, happily destroying our world. They used tricks and imagery trickery to hide the truth.” Rick saw Salchar stiffen slightly, his hand opening and closing into a fist.
“These brutes have no understanding of anything but using their power to bully others, they are nothing more than a new Syndicate. I second the Chaleel’s application to have the Free Fleet put under the control of the Planetary Defense Force,” Isaz said, looking around again.
“Very well, you may take a seat I will add your request to the roster,” Elisati said.
Isaz took a seat, still not facing the Free Fleet delegation.
Rick felt the tension in the booth, even Monk seemed to be angry. Something that bode ill for the others in the room.
He didn’t know if he would even stop them, because he was feeling pretty inclined to jump in as well.
Urshval complained about having to pay for troops that they never needed, Ouquishar fielded the same problem, both requested for the Free Fleet be put under the oversight of the Planetary Defense Force. Rick read what that entailed. It looked to have the Free Fleet pulled apart with their tech being turned over to the Planetary Defense Force.
New anger went through him with the cold bully tactics they were using. Maybe they thought the Free Fleet weak after the Kalu war, maybe they thought they could bully them somehow.
Rick knew the Free Fleet was weak and hell if the other systems got their people behind them then it would be messy indeed.
“We have another complaint to be made after the break, from the Free Fleet,” Elisati said.
“But how did they...” Ouquishar’s governor didn’t realize their microphone was on and immediately turned it off.
“They submitted it a period of time ago, as this is the first time that the plantiff and accused have been in the same facility,” Elisati asked.
The lights came up and people flowed into the secondary meeting room.
Aides of the Free Fleet were there, aides talked, doing the real work as people positioned themselves according to alliances and images they wanted to hold in the public eye.
Salchar and the Free Fleet delegation didn’t move.
“So I was meaning to ask you Rick,” Salchar asked.
“What?” Rick said, confused at Salchar’s calm tone.
“Do you want to be commander of the Free Fleet?” Salchar asked, his eyes searching Rick’s.
“That’s one hell of a question to drop on me,” Rick said sitting back.
“Well I don’t know if I can do it much longer. Yasu and Henry and all the enemies I’ve made. I’m a war commander, you know the game but because of my rushing in I’ve kept you covered. You know how this fleet works and you’ll be the better one to work us through a transition into the Free Fleet corporation,” Salchar said.
“What are you planning?” Rick asked.
“I’m going to clear you a path, I’ll secure the Free Fleet’s future. Not as a group of mercenaries, but as a family that looks after one another and that creates its own future,” Salchar said.
“Speak plainly,” Rick said, people were already coming back in.
“I’ll get us out of this mess, I can no longer be the Free Fleet’s commander. I need you to look after what we’ve built. I will help the Free Merchant Fleet and its sister corporation but I’m spent as Commander Salchar,” Salchar looked to him and Rick saw the lines on his face, lines that hadn’t been there before. Salchar dropped his mask, something he did around few people. Rick saw the pain of command, the weight of those deaths. He could see the pain that had been hammered into him until it seemed normal.
Salchar was tired, and on the brink, he couldn’t take much more and return to being James, the man behind the mask.
“Will you become the Commander?” James asked.
Rick wanted to say no, he wanted to run away from it all.
“Yes,” he said, softly, knowing that his world was changing and not quite sure how to feel about it. “By god I don’t want to be the Commander of the Free Fleet, but Bok Soo said it best. Sometimes there is no choice, you can only accept the decision and continue on,” Rick admitted, giving him a nervous smile.
James smiled and patted Rick on the back.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be here if you ever need a word, or a good shove to get going,” James said.
“Thanks brother.”
“Anytime,” James said, Salchar replacing him as he took back his hand.
“We set?” Salchar asked, looking to Min Hae and Monk.
“Yes, I am getting messages now,” Min Hae said now, passing a data pad to Salchar.
Rick looked at the various messages, most were from the other representatives that had talked out against the Free Fleet, there was another from Empress, one from the clan leaders of AIH and the Independent Kalu nation.
The musical note that told everyone the auditorium was in session sounded.
“Will the Free Fleet representative please voice their complaint,” Elisati said.
Salchar rose, all eyes on him as he headed down to the center of the auditorium. Rick saw a few smirks and others making comments to their peers.
Salchar stood in the middle of the auditorium, a mouse in the center of a snake pit.
“The Free Fleet wishes to raise the complaint of missed payments,” Salcha
r said.
Outraged noises came from around the room. It took Elisati a few presses of her buzzer before the room calmed down.
“The Free Fleet carried out duties as proscribed by their contracts to the member nations of the Union. We are working to defeat the last of the Kalu on Daestramus and we have started the shipment of warships, weapons and equipment to the Planetary Defense Force. On both of these contracts there are outstanding credits. On my command we have ceased to provide these materials,” Salchar said.
“See they wish to intimidate us!” One of the Ershue said.
“They won’t let us defend ourselves!” A Dovark called out.
“They wrecked our planet!” Isaz complained.
Elisati brought the room to a silence.
Only to hear Salchar’s laughing. It was not a pleasant sound and Rick could see a dark light to his eyes.
“Oh we wrecked your planet, fuck me that is rich!”
“Commander Salchar!” Elisati said, appalled.
“Oh fuck this, alright here you go you self righteous pricks, fucking listen up and listen well. I will not be saying this again.”
“COMMANDER!” Elisati said.
“CHAIRWOMAN, IT IS MY TIME TO TALK AND MY HONOR FOR MY DEAD FAMILY ORDERS ME TO TALK! YOU WILL HEAR THEIR WORDS, AND LISTEN WELL!” Salchar said, Elisati recoiled in her chair as he looked around the room. Stunned silence filled the room as cameras continued.
“You came here complaining of the damage we have wrought to save your people’s lives. Men and women died on your planets for your people and you’re going to lecture me about burnt trees and farmland that the Free Fleet is already looking to repair? Then in recess you come to my people and ask them to reduce the payments on your debts.” The main screen filled with messages and data pads pinged across the room.
“I am done with this monkey court, I am done with the lying, the politics of this sham. The Free Fleet was made to help people and that is what we have done. People have put their lives on the line and too many of them died for that duty. You can come in here and bring this idiocy up because you stand on those days. No you piss on them. You piss on their sacrifice.” Salchar looked like he wanted to spit as the main screen changed.
“Isaz, you talked about your people being used as bait? They weren’t bait, they were some of the best fighters that the Free Fleet has had the honor of fighting beside. They fought for weeks to harry the Kalu, to pull the pressure off of the mound. Then as reinforcements were coming in from Oolta Fal asked them for volunteers to once again pull attention away from the mound, to give the mound time to be reinforced and push the Kalu back.”
“This is Commander Fal on Ershue,” Salchar said, voices coming over the rooms speakers as a video from the command center showed Fal talking.
“Poj, contact the scouts, see if you can get those crates closer to their positions. I want volunteers only, but they’re to harass the rears of the Kalu. We need to divert attention away from us and give those shuttles time to drop Commandos,” Fal turned to Poj, eyes connecting. “Volunteers only,” he said waiting for her stony nod.
“Yes Commander,” Poj said.
The screen changed to show a scouting group come under contact.
“We’ve got their attention!” The Scout groups commander said as they moved back.
“Fuck they’re everywhere, Poj, prep artillery, we’re not going to last long and I don’t want any of us getting in the Kalu’s claws,” the Commander said.
“Poj, tell my family I love, them, god I love them so much,” the commanders voice cut out the sounds of combat continuing as the screen showed red markers surrounding the green. The Red dropped in large numbers but it wasn’t enough.
“Poj! DO IT, fucking bastard got me,” the Commander said, pain in his voice. “Tell my family!”
“I will Damel, I will. This is Poj, I need artillery fire on these contacts, don’t let a single Kalu live,” Poj said.
“Sending,” the artillery commander replied.
“Poj we’re under heavy fire, we need fire support,” another scout commander asked.
“Alright,” Poj said, her voice catching. The video and audio cut. The auditorium was silent.
“Do not try to trade on the dead, they might not be here, but they aren’t forgotten. Those contracts are not just plat and resources, they are symbols of what the people of the Free Fleet died for. Hell the costs were more than any of those contracts, and too little compared to what those people’s lives were worth.” Salchar shook his head and sat on the steps leading to the dais Elisati stood on.
“Thankfully the Free Merchant Fleet and Free Fleet protective force have been shown your true colors. We must stand together in this universe or we fall apart. It’s something that I have said time and time again. It’s what the Free Fleet lives off of,” Salchar said, looking around, everyone was shocked, a mix of emotions, waiting for him to continue.
“There is a saying, with allies like these, who needs enemies. The Free Fleet withdraws from the Union,” Salchar said, noises of shock and confusion went through the room.
“We will not stand in front of those that try to stab us in the back as soon as the threat is gone. The Free Fleet corporations stand separate. We declare Parnmal as our main home system, all personnel part of the Free Fleet will get an FF citizenship. Avar Interim Hermanti has entered into an alliance with the Free Fleet, so has the newest representatives in this room, the Independent Kalu,” Salchar nodded to them. “And the Kuruvian Empire,” Salchar opened his arms and tilted his head in Kuruvian greeting. “As well as Jakram.”
The representative from Jakram gave a slight nod.
Rick looked around the room. James had walked around the whole Union, they had been so fixated on accruing power that when he pulled the carpet from right underneath their asses they were left open mouthed and stunned.
“My people are tired, they have bled and died for you. They deserve their coming time off. I have a meeting to attend with the new alliance and a meal to prepare with my brothers and sisters,” James said, standing.
He looked like he had aged decades in months, letting his fatigue show, and the cold darkness in his eyes. Not one of the complainants moved.
“The Union was supposed to bring people together; I hope you do eventually reach that. Stabbing people in the back is what the Syndicate did and I will not tolerate another power hungry bully. The Free Fleet will be there in aid, but do not think that like a beaten dog we will come every time if you keep this kind of behavior up.” His eyes swept around again. Commander Salchar held court here.
He turned and left through the door he had come through, Krom, Shreesht and expanded security detail surrounded him as soon as he walked out.
The room started to move into motion, the new people of the alliance were given Free Fleet escorts from the room as the others were left to fend for themselves.
Rick and the others sat back.
“So that was what he was planning?” Rick asked.
“Yes it is, Commander,” Monk said, his voice sad.
“Forge a new alliance, teach the other systems a lesson and clearly define the Free Fleet. I have a lot of live up to,” Rick said.
“You have already lived up to it, otherwise he wouldn’t have made you his second in command,” Min Hae said.
“Well, that’s a bit different,” Rick said.
“Would you have fought for the people of the Free Fleet with ever fiber of your being even if you knew it meant the end for you?” Min Hae asked, turning to Rick.
“Yeah, but…” Rick started.
“There is no but, saying but only tries to degrade the first act. As you look after the Free Fleet, it will follow you. Lead, don’t push,” Min Hae said.
Rick sat back in his seat, looking around at the reporters which were demanding answers to questions and the Union people leaving the room. He looked at the rough rock that Parnmal had been cut from.
The Free Fleet had been a bun
ch of slaves trying to survive. They’d made allies, rules and defeated their masters. Kalu had come for them and they’d stood together again. They were now a warrior nation looking to protect its ships and those that stood beside it.
The Planetary Defense Force was becoming a reality and Earth was working towards a united government and getting the to stars to explore and build, instead of attack and steal.
They had all faced real fear, stared at it and walked on. Fear let people know that they were alive, it told them when to protect those they love. Optimism powered change, fear only powered hate.
Miracles aren’t real, it takes a hell of a lot of work and more than a few sacrifices. Rick thought, feeling the weight of his new office settle on his shoulders.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure. I hope you have enjoyed the Free Fleet series. Unfortunately, with all good things it must draw to an end. It’s been awesome to write this series and I hope that I can bring you many more!
As with all self published authors I rely on your reviews to get these books to more people and dedicate more time to writing series. Any reviews or comments are greatly appreciated!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to give a special thank you out to the Beta readers: Alex, Shan and Paul that have helped shaped this book and my others.
Also I’d like to thank Paul Kebler who took my rough outline of the Free Fleet Universe and turned it into a real map.
To Hokunin that turned my words into pictures and Neil Turville that took my words and made them make sense!
Thank you all, and thank you reader for following the adventures of the Free Fleet
POSTSCRIPT
You can check out what I’m working on and upcoming releases through the following means:
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Thanks again for reading!
War's Reward (Free Fleet Book 6) Page 33