Border Worlds (United Star Systems Book 1)

by J Malcolm Patrick

  Patrick finished clasping the restraints and turned to head for the bridge.

  “I love you, dad.” Aaron reached out and hugged his father tightly before he could move.

  “I love you too, son,” he said, returning the hug. He leaned back and clapped the little boy on the shoulder.

  He turned and headed for the bridge. As he did so he glimpsed Aaron picking up his favorite book—“A Comprehensive History: Twenty-First Century Earth”.

  Space travel had progressed leaps and bounds since the end of the twenty-first century. The primary innovators were the rich corporations and Space Navies. Neither shared their technological advancements with the general population. Navy warships had advanced sub-light and FTL propulsion systems, enhanced inertia compensators and state-of-the-art life support systems. Compared to Santiago, which would take a year to travel to the frontier from Sol, military ships could make the trip within three months. Additionally, Santiago’s passengers and crew had to be in acceleration couches for any hard burns during intra-system travel. The general populace didn’t migrate across the core simply for a change of scenery. The majority couldn’t afford the passage. What was it Anna said to him a year ago when they had discussed raising Aaron while serving aboard an old Border Worlds passenger-liner?

  Ah! Now he remembered. Her clever little remark, which seemed to seal the deal for them, and inject a dose of reality.

  No one lives forever.

  He’d never forget the sound of little Aaron nearby, laughing at what his mother said that day as he read that same book she’d given him.

  He had a feeling then too, that little Aaron would never forget either.

  Chapter 3 - Inquisition

  United Star Systems Fleet (USSF) Headquarters

  High Earth Orbit

  Sol

  Present Day

  It had been two hours since Aaron Rayne arrived in the reception lounge outside Fleet Command’s conference room. The soft leather seat now seemed made of rocks. The first hour he willed his restless self to stay still, wishing he had a Fleet personnel device(FPD) to access the latest Fleet briefs on the Baridian Empire—The United Star Systems galactic rival.

  More than a hundred years ago, a populous leader named Aelius Baridian led several powerful star systems in their succession from the United Star Systems. Aelius believed humanity could thrive by applying the philosophies of the ancient Roman Empire—one of Earth’s greatest Empires. Over time, the Baridian military and society evolved to mirror many of ancient Rome’s customs. The Empire fielded a well-organized space navy, planet-side military and had a strong economic base. Many citizens even dressed similar to the ancient time-period they chose to emulate.

  During the last hour, Aaron shifted from side to side, all while trying to avoid another glance at the hideous brown antique clock on the wall.

  Any attempt at discussion with Lieutenant Delaine, Fleet Admiral Shepherd’s adjutant was useless. She never looked at him. It was as if he didn’t even exist. She was pleasant to look at it, her blue eyes radiated bright as a neutron star against the void. Her wavy dirty-blond hair cropped just below her ears. The Fleet uniform couldn’t hide her curves. Her features were smooth and pleasant apart from a persistent scowl.

  Aaron traced a long scar underneath his right eye to the corner of his mouth. He’d kept it as a reminder. If he’d struck his head any harder, he would have died in the escape pod. He touched the sensitive spot, feeling for evidence of the injury. They’d awakened him from the coma one week ago. Now it was time for this—inquisition. He gripped the arms of the seat, pushing down the memory of the days spent adrift in the pod. He closed his eyes. Vee always accused him of masking his feelings with cynicism. Maybe the XO was right.

  The life of a starship captain. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

  If he ever came to have any say in the matter, there would never be admirals in the Fleet without prior extensive experience as captain of a starship. No more armchair admirals.

  He pulled down on his dark dress uniform. It wasn’t a fancy design. The jacket didn’t button and fell just below the belt outside his waist with an angular cut. Affixed to his left breast was the United Fleet emblem depicting an old starship accelerating from Earth’s surface into orbit.

  “Commander.”

  He opened his eyes. The “robot” spoke and she was holding a personnel device in her hand toward him. “This is yours, Commander,” Lieutenant Delaine said. “Significant upgrade to your previous issue. It’s loaded with Fleet’s latest improvements.”

  He took the device and perused the latest intelligence reports on the Empire while running his fingers through his scruffy dark blond hair. Before he could read anything about the Empire, the blank screen in the lounge came to life with an animated civilian reporter. She was speaking about the Border Worlds.

  “—Sources claimed the separatist’s leader intended to reveal his identity and evidence of a conspiracy within the United Star Systems. Fleet Admiral Shepherd, Supreme Commander of the USSF has stated the Fleet would intervene if the separatists posed a threat to the security of the United Systems. These sources claim the Border Worlds is the intended scapegoat for the actions of the conspirators. In the past month, separatists have secured sixty percent of popular support. Sources within the United Star Systems Fleet tell us the majority of the Border Worlds Navy sympathizes with the separatists. Tensions are rising fast. Ships are disappearing within the sector. The USS blames the separatists who deny any knowledge of the missing ships. The Border Worlds Alliance is one of the strongest former independents to have joined the United Systems within the last—”

  “They’re ready for you, Commander Rayne,” Lieutenant Delaine said. He’d have to listen to that report later—sixty percent! At this rate, the Border Worlds might soon hold a referendum. He stood and tussled his hair out of place more. With a snicker, he stepped up to the doors and they parted. He wasn’t going to make it easy for them.

  ****

  During the first half-hour, the inquisitionists rehashed the sequence of events from the receipt of the distress signal, to the moment he entered the escape pod. Forcing him to relive the ordeal in vivid detail. He gnashed his teeth while forcing his jaw to remain closed. His palms were sore from where his nails dug into them. The guilt he felt over the deaths of his crew told him he deserved the scathing remarks.

  Then things took a nasty turn during question and answer phase.

  “Twenty one.”

  The number floated in the air. Repeated again by Senior Captain Jackson. A bitter officer who’d never even left Sol.

  “Twenty one, Commander Rayne. That’s how many.”

  That was the death toll. The body count from Trident. With many more gravely injured.

  “And you tell us it was—and I’m quoting your report—‘undefeatable’. This technologically advanced starship, with ‘gravitic charges’, which can also magically leap within a star system from one point to another.” He under looked Aaron with weasel eyes. “I’m not in the least convinced. Who among us do you really expect to believe this?” he said, motioning to the panel.

  “The more intelligent among you . . . sir.”

  The Senior Captain’s cheeks flushed. “May I remind you, Mister, for the moment you are still a member of the Fleet and you will conduct yourself accordingly. Insubordination will not be tolerated.”

  Aaron raised a single eyebrow. “You asked a question, sir, and I gave you an answer. How you interpret the meaning is entirely up to you.”

  The captain parted his lips to respond when Fleet Admiral William Shepherd—the Supreme Commander of the United Star Systems Fleet—held up his hand. Shepherd was an imposing figure. Aaron had only met him once when he took command of Trident. He loomed a full head above Aaron. He had a low haircut and not a single line on his features.

  “One moment, Senior Captain Jackson,” he said, “let’s not turn this into some kind of witch-hunt. This is a general inquir
y into Trident’s destruction, with the added urgency of establishing the facts of these claims. Commander Rayne’s own file is of use to us here. We’ve been over it before. I see words such as: reckless, rule breaker, silently discreetly rude—that one’s interesting,” he looked up at Aaron. “What in blazes is silently discreetly rude? Although, come to think of it, it might be a clever way of defining a sometimes-indifferent kind of attitude displayed by you Commander Rayne—going by what I’ve seen and heard here today. Then I see words such as: loyal, honorable, dedicated, tactically innovative but overly impulsive. Do you know what this tells me, Commander?”

  Aaron didn’t immediately answer, but another swipe at Captain Jackson seemed appealing. “That one part of my file includes comments from Senior Captain Jackson and the others are from competent starship captains who have been out in the black?”

  Perhaps he’d pushed too far. But he wasn’t going to sit idle and nod, “yes sir no sir”, while they attacked him over the deaths of his crew. His men and women who without hesitation he would give his life for. And if they believed he would make it easy for them, they would have to update his file.

  “Sir,” Aaron continued, “barely a week has passed since they awakened me. Since then, I’ve learned of the deaths and injuries to my crew, my shipmates, and my friends, while still recovering and limping around a damned medical bay. Now I’ve been released, just to come in here and listen to some people, who, without a clue what they’re talking about—judge me in hindsight. They’ve had two weeks to analyze and squabble like bored men with nothing else exciting to tend to in the Fleet. Now, they think it’s fair to damn me on what I had seconds or minutes to act on. Damn them, sir. Damn this inquiry and damn the—”

  “As you bloody well were, Commander!” The Supreme Commander stood and pounded the wide-table in front of him.

  Aaron shivered at the rage. He’d short-circuited the fuse of the one person in the entire Fleet, who everyone said had the coolest temperament in the face of any adversity. Maybe they would make a special note about that in his file too.

  The Supreme Commander took a deep breath and eased himself back into his seat. He had regained his composure, despite Aaron’s best attempts to erode it.

  “What I am reading here, Commander, is an individual in conflict with himself. Almost as if you were a child of two vastly different worlds. Going forward, the question we face is—how do we harness these talents for command, which you clearly possess, while ridding you of the ones holding you back.

  “The others and I have discussed this matter in depth before today. Giving you the opportunity to be heard was in keeping with process. I am concluding this matter now. There will be no further hearings. I consider the issue with regard to your competence to command closed. There will be no further discussion on it. I have made my decision. You will continue in a command capacity. Separate and distinct are the claims made in your report. Whatever flaws you have, Commander—you are not a liar.

  “I’m afraid this has grave implications for the Fleet and the United Star Systems. Tensions along the border with the Empire are exceedingly high. Whispers of anti-USS sentiment among the Border Worlds permeate the core worlds. Now we have the discovery of an advanced aggressor attacking USSF and Imperial ships near the same Border Worlds. We do indeed have much to do. This inquiry has concluded.”

  Aaron’s jaw dropped. He’d figured the Supreme Commander was about to order a full court-martial and his downward spiral would continue. But instead, he’d just exonerated Aaron and accepted his version of the events.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about the fateful encounter. He played it over and over in his mind, yet couldn’t think of anything he could’ve done differently. Maybe he was reckless with the lives of those under his command and should be court-martialed. To say the Supreme Commander’s statement was a sudden and unexpected outcome, would be an understatement.

  Aaron couldn’t think of a good reason for the sudden conclusion, was this some kind of spectacle for his or someone else’s benefit?

  Senior Captain Jackson didn’t even try to protest. He took his personnel device and headed for the exit. He played his part well. What if they staged the whole thing to elicit a response and judge his reactions? But for what purpose? This is why life aboard a starship appealed to him from an early age. There were no cloak and dagger games or hidden agendas. Just a captain, his ship and his crew against the unknown.

  Aaron stood and acknowledged the head-table and turned to leave when he felt an arm on his shoulder. He flinched.

  It was the Supreme Commander.

  “Commander, you’re coming with me. We have important matters to attend.” Shepherd guided him out an unknown exit. There was a distinct edge in his tone. “I’ve been talking with your father for the past two weeks while you were in recovery. Very interesting man. He’s very proud of you. And I can see exactly where your unique wit comes from.” He motioned to the right and together walked into a narrow corridor. “Commander, I’ve transferred you under my direct command. Meet me in my personal quarters in exactly one hour. Tell no one. Just come—one hour. Turn left at the end of this corridor. My aide will meet and guide you out.”

  Aaron for once had nothing to say. Shepherd was staring right at him. Now he was closer, he could see the fatigue in the man’s eyes—the SC clearly had not slept well in recent times. He seemed nervous or afraid. Was that fear in his voice? Whatever was happening in the Border Worlds had the Supreme Commander on edge. What could rattle something as constant as a northern star?

  Aaron nodded instead.

  “One hour aye, sir.”

  He rounded the end of the corridor and almost bumped into Lieutenant Delaine. “Lieutenant.” He smiled.

  She nodded. “This way, Commander.”

  Delaine led him through the labyrinth of corridors and back to the station’s habitat ring. The Supreme Commander took his personal security serious. That must be a good thing then. It meant the man was no fool.

  As he headed for his guest quarters, a knot formed in his gut. Lee and Vee were conspicuously absent. It would be nice to see a friendly face. They hadn’t even come to see him when he was in recovery. As far as he was aware, no one came to see him. His caregivers kept him in an insulated bubble. It was necessary for medical observations they said. He was a Fleet officer and he couldn’t refuse the medical staff’s care.

  When was the last time he’d seen Vee, anyway? In the escape pod.

  So where was the XO? Why wouldn’t he come to look for him? If he had, why hadn’t they allowed Vee to see him? He stopped and leaned on a bulkhead. He choked and almost heaved when the only reason he could think of came to mind.

  He returned to his guest quarters and tried reaching out to old contacts, but it was useless. No one would tell him anything about his crew. It was as if they no longer existed. But every good starship captain had an equally good friend in the intelligence community.

  Shepherd would have to wait. He had to find his friends.

  Chapter 4 – Your Mission Aaron

  USSF Headquarters

  High Earth Orbit

  Present Day

  For the past fifteen minutes, Aaron paced what Captain John Higgins called an office. A dingy carpet covered the deck and what looked more like weeds instead of plants adorned each corner. The overhead lighting was dim and the furnishing sparse. Undoubtedly, the captain didn’t want guests getting comfortable.

  Aaron had met Higgins while serving as the tactical officer aboard the Venture. Higgins was one of the first Intelligence assets assigned to a line ship. That was the first policy Supreme Commander Shepherd implemented when he took command of the United Fleet.

  Shepherd pulled the initial cadre of operatives from United Star Systems Intelligence (USSI). But USSI was a civilian organization, who argued successfully they hadn’t signed up for duty on military starships. It didn’t deter Shepherd’s vision—he reorganized and reformed the Fleet Intelligence Bureau ar
ound the idea these operatives would serve aboard starships. Volunteers from the USSI crossed over and created an entirely new division of Intelligence within the United Fleet. United Star Systems Fleet—Bureau of Intelligence, a fledgling but competent organization.

  The Intelligence officer returned, looking somber, as if he’d just buried his pet poodle.

  Aaron’s knees felt weak.

  “Just tell me, John. What happened to them?”

  Higgins rested an arm on Aaron’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Aaron, I can’t believe they kept this from you. They must have been worried about your recovery and they didn’t want to add any further str—”

  “John!”

  “Aaron . . . Alvarez and Lee are listed KIA. I’m so sorry. I had to—”

  His body went numb. He could no longer hear the captain’s voice. His friends—dead. The face of each man flashed before him. His deep love for space travel didn’t cure him of the need for friends. It could get quite lonely in the black. The solitude that threatened never seemed real once you had a good crew and great companions.

  Now they were gone. And he’d killed them. He stumbled out of the office and into the corridor.

  His personnel device beeped a reminder of his pending meeting with Shepherd. He ignored it. Who cared, what his lordship wanted now. He needed time. It had been nearly six weeks since the destruction of Trident. Now he faced the delayed reality. Why would they think it was a good idea to keep this from him? And why didn’t they tell him before that awkward kangaroo court session.

  His handheld chimed again.

  “Commander, I need you up here right away,” Shepherds voice boomed.

  He still ignored it. The SC likely checked his location and could see he wasn’t moving. He was about to toss it.

  “Commander—I have a feeling you will find what you’ve been looking for in my office.”