by Jay Allan
“Thank you, Doctor,” Darius said softly, getting up from his seat in the first row. “You have given us all something to consider. These modifications certainly make the enemy a more dangerous adversary, and they also explain some of the situations we encountered on Armstrong.” He climbed the small set of stairs to the stage, and he turned to look out at those present, over a thousand soldiers and spacers, officers from all across the Grand Fleet. “I want to thank you all for coming to this briefing. Certainly, these implants are a tactical factor we must consider as the campaign unfolds.” He paused for a moment. “There is no end to the discussions we could have, but the fleet is leaving in the morning, and tomorrow is going to be a big day. I suggest you all try to get some rest.” He turned, looking down at the others sitting in the front row. “I would ask the members of the command council to stay, and join me in the conference room. We have some final matters to discuss.”
* * * * *
“The mission parameters are simple. Shoot to kill. Anything that stands in our way is an enemy and must be destroyed.” Darius’s voice was raw, angry.
“But Darius, those soldiers, they are our people. Spacers captured when their ships were taken, survivors kidnapped from Earth, and who knows how many other places. We have to try to find a way to save them.” Cate Gilson had been arguing with Darius for five minutes now, and neither one showed any sign of backing down.
“Will we save them by losing the war? We have an immense fight on our hands, you know that. We may commit everything we have into this and lose anyway. No doubt, the odds are against us. But we’re going in anyway. I’m going, you’re going, all of our people are going. I will lead them into battle, Cate, but not into some slaughter where they’re holding back, too afraid to shoot the bastards that are shooting at them. So, maybe they were our people. They’re not anymore. The men and women at your back when we go in…they are your people, and that is where your concern has to be. There and only there.” He slammed his fist on the table in frustration. Darius’s Eagles had always kept collateral damage as low as possible in their battles, far lower than the other companies, and yet he found himself constantly debating the issue.
“I’m not saying we put the operation at risk, or any of our people…”
“That’s exactly what you’re saying. You just think if you phrase it differently, it will mean something else. You’ve been fighting since before I was born. How can you be so…”
“Stop.” Erik Cain’s voice was loud, his tone hard. The room went silent. “All of you. Darius is right. I was one of those refugees, for fifteen years. I was taken from my ship and imprisoned. I could as easily have been outfitted with one of those implants and sent into the battle. And if that had happened, I would have expected, I would have wanted, each of you to treat me as any other enemy. I would not want Marines dying at my hand, nor Eagles, nor any of our troops. The guilt of using these people as weapons lies with our enemy, not with our soldiers risking their lives to end this nightmare.”
Cain was silent for a moment, but before anyone else spoke he went on. “But Cate is right too. Those are our people. They are not fighting out of greed or ideology. They are slaves, driven by these…things…in their spines. They are victims, as much as any of our own people who fall. At some point, we need to ask ourselves, what are we? Because if we’re no better than our enemies, if we use their evil to justify anything we want to do, what difference does it make who wins?”
“But it won’t make a difference, Father, not if we lose. I know we’ve all been going hard on the morale boosting, but I don’t think there’s anyone in this room now who doesn’t realize we’re more likely going to our deaths than to victory. Whatever chance we have requires us to do everything—everything—we can to claw out the win here.”
“You’re right, Darius. We will have to kill the enemy’s soldiers, whoever they are, on sight, without hesitation. But I believe we also need to make some effort to try and target our assault on the true guilty parties, the enemy’s leadership. If he can cut off the head, perhaps we can find a way to save some of the enemy’s slaves.”
Darius looked across the table, a doubtful expression on his face, but he didn’t say anything.
“It may be wishful thinking. It may be a hopeless dream…but none have suffered like those stolen from their homes, surgically-altered, and turned into zombies to fight against their own people. Yes, we must utterly destroy everyone responsible, every leader operating under free will, at any level. Without mercy.” The last two words seemed to chill the room.
“But if we can save some of the victims, we must do it. Not during the fighting, but after…if there is any way possible. If we don’t even try, we might as well sit here and wait for the enemy, because we’re not as different from them as we think.”
The room was silent for a long while. Finally, Darius pushed back against his chair and stood up. “Then we are agreed. The first priority, the only priority until we are able to get through the enemy defenses and target their leadership, is to destroy everything in our path. Then, if and when our decapitation strike is successful—and only then—we will attempt to find some way to disable and capture as many of the enemy’s rank and file as we can. But the officers, the leaders, anyone without an implant…dies. Humanity has left the seeds of its next catastrophe behind far too many times in the ashes of the last. This time, there will be no saplings left standing, no trace of the perverse philosophy that drives our enemies. Such things may grow again, indeed, they probably will, but not for our lack of thoroughness in exterminating all we can find.”
He stood firm, looking out at all the others, almost daring someone to challenge the hardness of his words. A few of those sitting at the table looked uncomfortable, but no one said anything.
“Very well. We will crush every vestige of the Black Flag, seeking only to save those enslaved, and then when we have broken the enemy, and not before. We will almost certainly conduct mass nuclear bombardments against the enemy’s home world or worlds, and the presence of their…slaves…there will have no effect on that decision.” He paused suddenly, and then turned and looked over at his mother. “Is there any point to this anyway? Can we save someone with one of these implants, even if we’re able to capture them?”
Sarah sighed softly. “I don’t know, Darius.” She paused. “I just don’t know. But we’ll try. We have to try. We have to find a way.”
Chapter 29
Inner Sanctum of the Triumvirate
Planet Vali, Draconia Terminii II
Earthdate: 2322 AD (37 Years After the Fall)
“The enemy is coming. Such a supposition supports many logical conclusions, including the likelihood that the security breach of four months ago was indeed caused by some kind of enemy probe, attempting to scan our defenses. The conclusion of impending enemy invasion can be drawn from a multiplicity of intelligence sources and leaves no mathematically relevant doubt. Though we have been unable to penetrate the security of the Eta Cassiopeiae system, we have been able to determine with great confidence that vessels and supplies from across Occupied Space have converged on the home system of the Eagles.”
“Your logic, as always, is sound, Two. The preponderance of evidence suggests a massive mobilization, a commitment of resources far beyond that which our enemies can afford to commit to any target, save Vali itself.”
“Indeed, One, and that raises yet another issue of grave concern. The location of Vali has been kept secure for more than three decades. Now we deduce, from other means, of course, that its location is known to our enemies. Though we have now altered our strategy, sought to make this new development serve us, it was never part of the plan. It is an error of significant proportions, one for which we can almost certainly can lay the blame at the feet of Marshal Carrack. We have debated whether to eliminate the Marshal for his failings in the recent campaigns, or to wait and avoid the disruption, to retain him in his role for a bit longer, perhaps until one of his subordin
ates distinguishes himself sufficiently to warrant a change. I now question if we truly have an option. Surely, the loss of our home system’s security demands death.”
“It does, Three, surely. Our debate is not over whether to terminate Marshal Carrack, but only when. We have long known Carrack would betray us, and his elimination was part of the plan long before the recent reverses. I submit that the logic of retaining the marshal for the short term outweighs the need to immediately punish the, inarguably severe, failure to safeguard the navigational data leading to Vali. Indeed, with an enemy invasion imminent, I suggest it is even more vital to avoid unnecessary disruption at the highest echelons.”
“An invasion that is imminent expressly because of his failure.”
“Does that change the parameters of the situation? As I have noted, Carrack’s fate is already decided. It is dangerous to execute a shift in command so close to possible enemy action. We have turned the approaching enemy invasion to our advantage, but I believe it is unwise to risk any degradation of our military capability at this time.”
Two interjected: “Should we reconsider Carrack’s abilities, however? The loss at Armstrong is of concern. My review suggests he should have defeated the Marines there before the Eagles arrived. Indeed, the battle at the Nest was intended as a diversion, one we hoped, perhaps, would result in the defeat of the Eagles, but not one realistically intended to do so. Its purpose was to keep the Black Eagles from interfering at Armstrong, and yet this is precisely what occurred.”
“I see the concern there as well, and I have strong reservations of my own about the Marshal. Yet I find it likely Carrack would have prevailed against both the Marines and the Eagles, had it not been for the intervention of the Martian fleet. We still have not created a satisfactory hypothesis for how they received word and were able to respond so quickly.”
“Agreed,” One responded. “Yet, that point is currently moot. Whether Darius Cain was able to send a message for help, or some other sequence of events was at play, there is little to be done about it now. To return to the matter at hand, perhaps Carrack is not an ideal choice to lead our forces at the current time, but I do not believe we have any personnel who suggest a high probability of performance superior to the marshal’s. That being the case, I see no way to justify disruption in our forces with the enemy approaching. We must fight the battle that is coming at Vali before we can consider the time and manner of Marshal Carrack’s death. Are we agreed?”
“Affirmative, One. The time for Marshal Carrack’s removal has not yet come.”
“Agreed.”
“Very well. I propose we now proceed to a thorough review of our defenses here. Vali is strong, and we have long prepared the system to withstand an assault, but preliminary estimates on enemy strength are…concerning.”
“I believe you overestimate our adversaries, One. Certainly, they have strength, and the Black Eagles remain a worry, but many of the estimates we have modeled entail a large number of assumptions in terms of the abilities of the Cains and their comrades to recruit allies. The Black Eagles have many enemies, and the various planets will be inclined to hold back their forces, if only out of their leaders’ desires to protect themselves. We may analyze projections listing full or nearly full commitment of available forces throughout Occupied Space, but it is highly unlikely our enemies will be able to mount an assault at any level close to that.”
“I am inclined to agree, Three. Even if the enemy has achieved something close to full commitment and mobilization levels, we still have a considerable superiority in both hulls and ground forces. I consider a total defeat to be extremely unlikely, though I do believe we must consider how we would respond to the far likelier destruction of a considerable portion of our established resource and production base.”
“That is my primary concern as well, Two. The conquest of Occupied Space in its entirety will require vast resources. If the coming battle costs us too much in terms of our physical plant, we may be forced to modify our timetables.”
“That would be unfortunate, One, but not disastrous, particularly if our enemies’ most dangerous military power has been eliminated. I submit that perhaps the enemy invasion is an opportunity. Instead of thinking defensively, merely as a parry to drive our adversaries back, perhaps we should seek opportunity in their plans.”
“Explain, Three.”
“Perhaps we should allow the enemy forces to enter the system in bulk, forgoing an aggressive defense at the warp gate.”
“You propose we lure them in, allow them to close with the planets, within range of our industrial operations?”
“Yes. Consider…the strongest and most dangerous of our enemies, the only ones with any real chance to defeat us, are coming to us, to the heart of our defenses. I propose that we do not look to repel them, nor to drive them away. I submit we should entice them in, pull them from the warp gate, hide a significant portion of our forces, and then, when they are fully committed, we attack and destroy them.”
“You wish to create a battle of annihilation right here, in Vali’s system?”
“Yes, One. The Eagles and the Marines, and secondarily, forces such as the Columbians and Martians…they will all almost certainly be here in full strength. They are also the only real impediments to our victory in Occupied Space. If we are able to destroy them, utterly, regardless of the cost we suffer, our ultimate victory is assured. Even if they are able to cause widespread and excessive damage to our facilities, the worst case scenario is a delay in the final implementation of the Plan. This would be frustrating, perhaps, but far from significant with the Cains dead and the threat of the Eagles, Marines, and their allies permanently removed. Indeed, I submit we consider allowing the enemy to destroy the surface industry on Vali and the other worlds. Such an opportunity will lure them in farther, and almost ensure their annihilation.”
“Agreed, Three. Your logic is flawless. Our previous concerns about Vali and the other planets was short-sighted. Material and human loss is irrelevant. Only the ultimate success of the plan is of import. This is a deviation of strategy, certainly, but perhaps Marshal Carrack’s failure has given us an opportunity.”
“I concur. Indeed, I suggest there is an added benefit to this modification of strategy. If the primary military force of our enemies is destroyed here, I believe the Marshal’s continued existence and the attendant risks will become unnecessary. We are unlikely to require his services to pacify the remainder of Occupied Space.”
“I agree. There is no reason Marshal Carrack must survive the battle. Let him destroy the Marines and the Eagles…and then we shall see to his own destruction.”
“Agreed. The Triumvirate has decided. Let the great struggle begin.”
* * * * *
The cabin was cold, dimly-lit, as it had been for months now. Elias Cain sat alone. Both of his previous companions had died on impact. The desperate flight across the system was seared into his mind, every desperate moment. The enemy’s detection grid at the gate was like nothing he’d ever seen. It had picked up the gig the instant it entered the system. At least it had picked up something. He doubted it had been a clear scan of the gig, but it had been enough to trigger an alert, and an intensive search that Elias had been sure would turn up the tiny craft. But somehow, once past the scanners at the gate itself, Sparks’s device continued to function, and Elias and his two spacers managed to guide their tiny craft through Vali’s atmosphere, and down into the planet’s sole ocean. That landing had been anything but soft or gentle, and it had been there that Elias lost his two comrades, leaving him utterly alone, stranded in the middle of an enemy stronghold.
And what a stronghold. Elias had known the enemy was powerful, but he’d been utterly unprepared, even for what his passive scanners had shown him on low power. Ship traffic, energy readings, planets developed on every centimeter of land surface. The Black Flag was based in a single system, it had to be. If they’d had even more strength than he’d seen here, they’d
have rolled over humanity like a tidal wave.
He shivered, and he pulled the blanket around his shoulders. The gig’s life support systems were still functional, though they’d given him a scare or two in the months he’d been there. But he’d been paranoid the enemy would pick up some trace of him, and he knew he was utterly incapable of repairing Spark’s astonishing machine. So, he’d done all he could, which mostly came down to generating as little power as possible and hoping for the best. When the generator gave out, which he knew it would eventually, he would die. He’d considered giving up, just shutting the thing off, but it wasn’t in his nature. It wasn’t something a Cain would do.
Elias had thought he’d go mad long before now, but every day he endured. He waited. And every day, the stealth generator continued to function. He’d been sure he was going to die here, but then he didn’t. And as the time passed, he wondered when Darius would arrive. His brother would come, he had no doubt about that. Sparks had almost certainly gotten back with the nav data, and he knew Darius well enough to be sure the uncertainty of what lay beyond that last jump would be no impediment to his taking action.
Elias had spent the endless, solitary hours trying to determine what he would do when that day came. He didn’t even know if his ship would lift off, and he barely knew how to fly it even if it did. But he was sure of one thing. If he was alive, he’d be part of the fight. His father would lead the Marines in, and Darius would be at the head of his Eagles…hell, at the front of the entire force.