Five of the twelve who said aye raised their hands. Admiral Varkov was among them.
Dawyn nodded. "So be it. You may leave this meeting and send me your resignation in writing if you no longer have confidence in me. Am I clear?"
"You won't get away with this," Bordekov said. "You haven't seen the last of us. Your entire command is a sham, and I look forward to the day you come crashing down." She cut off her transmission without waiting for a reply. The other five who had raised their hands also cut their transmissions.
That can't be good, Martin thought. Will they take more direct action now?
Dawyn fell silent for a few moments. "Now that business is out of the way, are there any more concerns you wish to express concerning my position as Supreme Commander of the Federation military or can we get on with the discussion of a battle strategy?"
None of the admirals spoke. The seven who had voted against Dawyn but not resigned continued to study their virtual desks, while the fifteen others who had supported him just stared. They had done nothing wrong and had nothing to feel guilty about, other than perhaps letting the discussion get to that point in the first place. "Silence was consent" went the saying.
"Good," Dawyn clasped his hands behind his back. "As I was saying, we are still trying to understand the technology behind the Krai'kesh gravity weapon. In the meantime, we need to draw up a battle plan. Twenty-three sectors with as many fleets in addition to the Black Fleet and Home Guard. The Home Guard cannot leave," he nodded to Admiral Stephenson. "So we are left to split the remainder the best we can. My first instinct is to pull half of the fleets from the core and mid-rim sectors and move them to the invaded sector to help stem the tide. I am asking for constructive thoughts regarding this conundrum."
Admiral Stephenson cleared his throat. He wore spectacles and gray streaked his hair. "Sir, do we have a plan if the Krai'kesh attack Tar Ebon? Does intel suggest the Krai'kesh know the location of Tar Ebon?"
Dawyn chuckled and cracked a smile. "Does military intelligence ever know anything?" That elicited a nervous chuckle from the collective admiralty. His smile turned somber. "Intel, both military and FIA, knows nothing about the level of knowledge the Krai'kesh possess. Even their true motives are unclear, other than they appear to desire all of humanity destroyed. We still do not fully understand why they want us destroyed."
"I am not a politician, sir," Admiral Julia Reynolds began, crow’s-feet flanking her mouth and her hair dyed a dark red, "but have we tried opening diplomatic dialog with the Krai'kesh?"
"There have been no attempts at communication with the enemy. The testimony of the Founders and the actions of the Krai'kesh on Tar Ebon two thousand years ago spoke to the futility of diplomatic solutions."
Admiral Reynolds nodded, satisfied with the answer. "I presume, sir, you have been briefed on the situation at Crossroad Station?" Her sector bordered Crossroad Station.
Dawyn nodded. "The director of the FIA gave me the limited details she had. The Krai'kesh infiltrated, our forces engaged and evacuated the Federation embassy, an Imperial and Federation fleet both arrived and things became heated. Does that sum it up?"
"Quite, sir, but the conflict there has resulted in a build-up of the Imperial Navy near the Imperium Line."
"I know. Which means we cannot move ships from those sectors," Dawyn mused. "That ties up four fleets."
"Also, sir, if the Commerce Sector truly are harboring Krai'kesh, military action may need to be taken." That from Admiral Thompson, whose fleet bordered the Commerce Sector.
Dawyn shook his head. "The FIA is working to confirm Commerce Sector involvement, but even if they are involved I do not expect you to take action against them. If we attack the Commerce Sector while still defending against the Krai'kesh the Empire will smell blood in the water and pounce or a coalition from the Non-Aligned States will try to sneak in and stab us in the side. We cannot afford to fight a war on three fronts."
"With respect, sir," he said with a tone of genuine respect in his voice, "if the Krai'kesh are found to be aiding and abetting a foreign government do we not have an obligation to respond?"
"There are other ways than force, Admiral. The president can speak to the Merchant Council and tell them to take care of it or we introduce economic sanctions or a similar diplomatic solution. I don't know all the avenues available, I am a soldier first and foremost."
"And the Empire, sir?" Admiral Reynolds asked.
Dawyn surveyed the other three admirals whose fleets bordered the Rakosh Empire's territory before meeting her eyes. "Begin conducting war games of your own. Posture and make it clear that if they attack we will be ready. In the meantime, I will ask the president to place a call to the emperor to enlist them rather than make them enemies. I would do it myself but the emperor and I do not exactly get along."
Martin snorted. Dawyn glanced his way and he straightened up. “Do not exactly get along” was an understatement, as the story went. The Supreme Commander had slammed the emperor up against a wall and threatened to run him through with his blade if he didn't call off the Iron Fleet. The emperor had wisely decided to heed Dawyn's threat, much to the relief of Martin, who had been facing said fleet. He dreamed of the Empire being on their side instead of always looming on the horizon as a potential enemy.
Admiral Stephenson spoke up. "Tar Ebon, sir?"
Dawyn shook his head. "Ah, yes, Tar Ebon. If the Krai'kesh learn of Tar Ebon's location and attack we will pull all available fleets in to assist." He held up a hand to forestall Admiral Stephenson from speaking. "Article Twelve Section Three of the Federation constitution grants an exclusion to the rule forbidding any Federation fleets other than the Home Guard enter Tar Ebon space. It can be enacted in times of grave danger which threaten the integrity of the Federation. I certainly see the Krai'kesh as a grave threat, should they show up. Does that set your mind at ease, Admiral?"
"Yes, sir, although I do wonder how the Home Guard could defend against one of these gravity weapons the Krai'kesh possess. I understand it was defeated with magic?"
"Yes, light magic."
"A magic we have no access to here, sir. The only light mage is attached to your fleet."
"As I said, we are working on a scientific solution and I also have the director of the FIA chasing a potential lead. Let us not dwell on what ifs."
Admiral Stephenson bowed in acquiescence. "Of course, sir."
"If there are no further questions, I am ordering half of the sixth, eighth, twelfth, sixteenth and twentieth fleets to our current sector to aid in military operations. That will still leave those sectors with defensive capabilities." He had not included any of the fleets belong to the admirals who had resigned their commissions. "Retrofit your fleet with as many railgun and gun batteries as possible, for those are the only weapons effective against the Krai'kesh shielding. Then proceed to the outer rim with all due haste. That will be all, ladies and gentlemen. As always, your noble service to the Federation is greatly appreciated."
The gathered admirals, including Martin, saluted and the images from the other admirals blinked out. Martin looked to Dawyn. "Well, sir, that was an... interesting meeting."
Dawyn's shoulders, which had been upright during the entire meeting, slumped. "It was disheartening seeing so many admirals lacking faith in my command. I fear how deep such lack of faith goes."
"Sir, the admirals are playing the role of rear admiral. They are not on the front lines, not seeing the existential threat the Krai'kesh pose. As more fleets face them, they will come to appreciate the gravity of the situation and respect you even more for preparing for it as best you could under the circumstances."
Dawyn gave a slight smile. "Thank you for your words, Admiral, though I do doubt the predictive nature of them. I fear that what we have is a Navy full of old yet inexperienced admirals who saw only limited combat in their careers. Training and war games can only do so much."
"That is true, sir, but the alternative would have been to en
gage in constant war, which could have destabilized the Federation instead of hardening it. Too much pressure can destroy even the hardest stone."
"That's exactly what my sister told me. For all her...edges...she is a prudent woman who prefers solutions other than violence. From the formation of the Federation her sole purpose has been to protect the Federation from all threats, foreign and domestic, even if that meant using methods I didn't agree with to do so. But hind-sight is twenty-twenty. I see now the things she did were often to prevent the death of more people and to prevent the Federation from becoming destabilized. She didn't always get it right, but she got us this far. One of the unsung heroes of the Federation. I am usually the one the history books tell of, but it was she, working tirelessly to keep the Federation held together, who is the real hero."
"I should like to meet her, sir."
Dawyn's expression became distant. "I expect you will, one day."
Chapter 3 - Vertigo
Selene sat in her fighter in the hangar bay of the Judicator, waiting to exit shadow space and emerge into an unknown situation. All communication with the system had been lost, so they were going in blind.
"How are you holding up?" Emma asked.
"You mean after you destroyed me eight out of ten times today? Humbled." More humble, really. The first moment of humbleness she felt since the arrival of the Black Fleet was being asked to join Victory Squadron. She had of course said yes.
Emma chuckled. "Hey, you should be proud of that. Most pilots don't even beat me one time. You're among the elite who have beat me twice."
"But not a record-setter?"
"Nope, that honor goes to a pilot fifty years ago who beat me five out of ten times. A savant, I swear, she was the best pilot I ever knew apart from myself."
"What happened to her?"
"She died ten years back. Old age."
"I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say. She couldn't imagine everyone she knew, friends, family, being born, growing up and dying while she remained the same.
The line was silent for several seconds. "It happens. I'm used to it."
"At least you have your parents still, that must count for something."
Emma snorted. "When I see them. They're too busy gallivanting around the galaxy, searching for a legend."
"A legend?" Selene asked. She had spent some time with John and Ashley while aboard the Independence, but never heard the mention of a legend.
"Earth." She sounded disgusted. "They've been searching for the mythical planet of Earth - just Earth, mind you, not an original named world - since the first time I piloted a shuttle into space."
Selene smiled. "Was that the same day you had to be rescued by your cousin?"
Emma chuckled. "You know your history,"
"I was educated in a noble family," Selene quipped. "And I had models of the early star ships hanging from my ceiling."
"Well, as you alluded to, that was also the day Isabelle learned she could shift outside of Tar Ebon's atmosphere. It was still centuries before shifting technology advanced, but just knowing it was possible emboldened my uncle Jason to research shifting and build a shadow drive. The rest is history." Her tone suggested it was a history she didn't always care for.
"Did you ever..." Selene was interrupted by a message from flight control both inside her cockpit and outside in the hangar bay.
"All fighters, prepare for emergence and immediate deployment. Clear all hangars. Prepare for depressurizing," the mechanical voice announced.
"We'll talk later," Emma said and the channel closed.
If we survive whatever this is, Selene thought. With details about the enemy being scarce, such as their position and numbers, it was anyone's guess as to what the Krai'kesh had planned for them.
"Emerging now," the same voice announced. The strange chilling sensation passed over her as the Judicator returned to real-space. "Deploying," came the voice, even as the launching mechanism in the hangar floor hurled her fighter out into space.
She oriented herself and consulted her HUD, searching for Krai'kesh signatures and preparing to take evasive action. What in the world? she thought.
A fierce battle ensued around Proxima X, with lasers and explosions lighting up the darkness. Several defense platforms lay in ruins, while the husks of several capitol ships floated deeper into space or plummeted toward the gas giant below.
What shocked Selene wasn't the battle. She had expected conflict. It was the signatures of those fighting. What the Hell are they doing here? A House Artois fleet, her family's house, faced off against a fleet of House Vivendi ships and a host of defenses.
Emma opened a channel with Selene before she could even issue the command to her implant to open one of her own. "Are you seeing this?"
Of course I'm seeing this, Selene thought. But instead of giving a sarcastic answer, as Emma was her commanding officer, she responded with a simple yes. She was still surprised seeing ships from her house so far away from the Commerce Sector.
"So much for it being the Krai'kesh. I guess intel was wrong."
"To be fair," Selene began, "we weren't told it was the Krai'kesh, correct?"
"No, the communication cut off before they could tell us who was attacking. We assumed it was the Krai'kesh. Hold on, the Judicator's commander is pinging me." The line went silent.
Selene took that moment to study the battle. House Vivendi's forces were on the losing end of the battle. Even as she watched another corvette went down. House Artois fighters overmatched the enemy fighters three to one.
Emma came back on the line. "Coward," she spat as if cursing.
"What's wrong?" Selene asked.
"The Judicator's commander is ordering the fleet to return to the Yushon system."
"Why would he do that? They need our help!"
"He says a dispute between two houses isn't his problem."
Selene's thoughts raced. "Let me speak with them," she said.
"With the commander?"
"No, with House Artois."
"Will they listen to you?"
"Probably not, but I can distract them long enough for you to figure something else out."
"All right, do it. If you're in danger, I'm coming to help you."
That's what I'm counting on, Selene thought. She punched the thrusters on her fighter and sped toward the assailing fleet. She opened a global channel and spoke. "House Artois forces, this is Selene Artois. Is a member of the Board present?"
The line remained open but silent. Finally, a male voice came over the channel. "Selene? Is it really you?"
Selene breathed a sigh of relief. It was her second-oldest brother, Frederick, rather than her eldest brother Zacharias. "Frederick, it's good to hear your voice. It has been too long."
"I heard you joined the Federation," he said. He sounded distracted.
"How did mother and father take it?" She already knew the answer and kept her eyes on the sensor display. If Emma was going to make a move she would need to do it soon.
"Mother cried for weeks on end. Father called her weak and disowned you."
All things she already knew from her own sources back home. The guilt she felt for causing her mother so much grief ate at her conscience sometimes, all those years later. "Why are you here, Frederick?"
"We're carrying out a hostile takeover. Just routine business, you remember."
She remembered. She remembered being forced to stand at her father's side at ten years old as an entire colony world was taken over by House Artois. The horrifying images of men, women and children exterminated by a combination of bio-weapons and conventional explosive ordnance shared her nightmares with the face of her mother. "So far from the Commerce Sector?"
"I'm charged with liquidating their assets, wherever they may be."
Selene snorted. Her family, and all the ruling Houses, knew how to best distance themselves from the people they hurt and killed. Invasion and genocide were called "takeovers," wholesale destruction of fac
ilities or theft was called "liquidation." It disgusted her to think she had ever been a part of that society. "Well you've entered a war zone, brother, in case you hadn't heard."
"Oh, something about the Krai'kesh, yes?" he sounded dismissive. "We are not concerned about them."
"You'd be a fool not to." She always thought Frederick was the smarter of her two elder brothers. Perhaps she was wrong - maybe they were both idiots.
"The Krai'kesh are not concerned with us."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "How do you know what the Krai'kesh are concerned or not concerned with?"
"I just...I just meant they are not likely to be concerned with us with such a ripe target as the Black Fleet in the region."
Selene didn't buy it, but didn't have time to press her brother. A text-only message from Emma flashed across her HUD. Keep him talking. I'm speaking to the House Vivendi forces now.
Okay, Selene typed back. "How far are you into the liquidation process?"
"We've neutralized their defenses and are preparing to breach their facilities. Why are you asking, little sister? The commander of your task force indicated you are going to be returning to the Black Fleet."
Selene tried to think of the most House Artois thing to say. "I just want to know when you'll be done, that's all. I wouldn't want the Krai'kesh to catch you unawares."
"As I said, we have nothing to fear from the..." he stopped." What are you up to? Why is it you are communicating with us and not the commander or your squadron leader?" His voice was thick with suspicion.
Nice deflection, she thought. She sent a text-only message to Emma. He's on to me. Whatever you're going to do, do it now.
I heard, came the brief text a second later. The icon representing Emma's fighter, Victory One, accelerated toward the battle zone.
"What is that fighter doing?" her brother asked. All warmth had drained from his voice, replaced by a hardness akin to her father.
Emma streaked through the battle line, unchallenged by the fighters of House Artois, and reached the House Vivendi base. A blast door opened as she approached and several boxy ships exited. Transports, Selene thought.
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