by Kal Spriggs
“I think I’ll be a bit busy dodging the Chxor to capitalize on ships I damage,” Lucius said, “And as for the Garu…”
“We have little interest in warships, especially crippled warships. We’ll trade those we capture at a premium for transport and cargo vessels.”
“Still…” Mannetti frowned.
“Unless you have a better alternative, one we can agree on, then we move on,” Admiral Collae snapped. “We all know what the real prize is anyway.”
Lucius nodded, “Then there are no further discussions on strategy and payment?”
“When do we confirm the presence of the Dreyfus Fleet?” Collae said.
“What?” Lucius asked.
“For all we know, Baron, this is all a story dressed up by that smuggler to enable you to capture Faraday.” Collae gave Lucius a basilisk stare. “When do you give us the coordinates, and how do we confirm the fleet is there?”
“That, I’m afraid, is going to be a matter of trust.” Lucius said. Admiral Manneti burst into light, mocking laughter in response. He spoke over the laughter of Mannetti, “We have no way to enter the system and scan that section of space without alerting the Chxor to our presence and interest.” He shrugged, “My insertion force discovered the Chxor already seeded the planet and a good portion of the surrounding space with sensor satellites. We don’t have much time, I fear, before the Chxor discover the fleet themselves, we certainly don’t have time to covertly arrive, verify the Dreyfus Fleet’s position, and then covertly leave.”
Admiral Collae remained silent for a long time, “What happens if you die? Does the secret of the Dreyfus Fleet die with you?”
“Admiral, the Faraday system is quite large. I am sure, however, that someone with sufficient patience and tenacity can scan the entire system. You know it’s there, I can’t very well hide the entire star system from you.” Lucius shrugged, “In this, as I said, I think you just have to trust me.”
“I think we can take Lucius at his word, on this.” Admiral Mannetti said with a tolerant smile.
“Thank you, Lady Kale.”
“Don’t mention it, darling.”
“How long does our partnership last then?” the Garu leader asked. “How long until I must watch my back for the knife?”
Admiral Mannetti smiled slightly, “Oh, I think you’re quite safe from that, dear.”
“It lasts until the job is complete, the Dreyfus Fleet is ours and we go our separate ways,” Lucius said, “Or until one partner betrays the others and voids their share of the profit.”
“Sounds fair,” Collae said, “If you betray us, we cut you out.” The unspoken part was that only worked if the betrayal failed. Obviously, neither Mannetti nor Collae expected their plots to fail.
The silence grew long, and Lucius could hear the knives scraped across the whetstones. He smiled slightly, “Well, gentlemen and lady, do we have an agreement?”
The others responded with nods and polite laughter from Mannetti.
“Very well. Synchronize your clocks, the War Shrike will depart in thirty minutes.”
***
“Unfortunately,” the rebel leader spoke bitterly, “the government of Faraday had quite accurate census records.” He grunted as they eased another crate of weapons into position on the back of a truck. “They knew exactly who had weapons, how many, and what types. They collected them within the first couple days. Any weapons missing and they killed everyone in the house.”
“Yeah, that’s one of their first moves, using the previous government against its people.” Lauren grunted. “On my world, they used the tax records to seize all assets. They knew who to turn, who to execute... they knew everything.”
“Yeah, they used the employment records to round up all the military, all the teachers, and anyone else with authority.” Reese shook his head, “Wasn’t pretty.”
“Uh, have you heard anything about a Captain Beeson?” Lieutenant Beeson asked. Despite his normal slot on the War Shrike, he had volunteered for ground action.
“Yeah!” A scruffy looking rebel said as he settled his crate in the back of the truck, “The Captain led the prison break, got me an’ twenty others out of a death camp!”
“He’s my father, I was hoping—“
The other man shook his head, “Ah, sorry, sir, no, he died.” The rebel shook his head, “He took a round when we broke fence, bled out before we even made the tree-line.” The rebel spat, “Only three of us left from that escape.”
Lauren nodded, “Insurgencies against the Chxor tend to be bloody. Chxor won’t hesitate to use lethal force up to and including nukes.”
Reese nodded, “We lost a couple of small cities, till we learned they’ll accept any civilian casualties. They really don’t care-- even about their own colonists.”
Mason McGann flipped a tarp over the crates in the back of the truck. “What have you been able to do so far?”
Reese shrugged, “We’ve bombed a couple barracks, assassinated a few Chxor officers. Their military is really only an extension of their civilian bureaucracy, so we’ve been killing them off too.” He shrugged, “Mostly, we’ve been dying.”
The driver of the truck spat, then jerked his door open before climbing in. “We had a population of nineteen million before they came. Sometimes I wonder if anyone will be left by the time we beat the Chxor.”
“They’re killing hundreds, maybe thousands, every day,” said the scruffy rebel, who’d spoken of his prison break. “They finished with the teachers, the military, the doctors, they started on the old, the sick, the retarded.” He shook his head, eyes haunted. “Rumor is, they’ve emptied all the hospitals.”
“Any time there’s a protest, or riot, they’ll gas them,” Lauren said, “That’s what they do everywhere.”
Reese nodded, “Most of us avoid crowds. Sometimes, it’ll just be a random group of people, and the Chxor will sweep overhead. The Planetary Governor is a Chxor named Kleigh.”
“I’ve heard of him,” Lauren said, her eyes dark.
“We lost a team, not long ago, that tried to get to him.” One of the rebels said, “The Chxor nuked Fredericksburg, up north, in retribution.”
The driver ground the ignition until the truck coughed into life, then ground the gears until it lurched out of the cave. The group of rebels stood and watched it go. Lauren drew a folded map from inside her uniform tunic. “Tell me about the defense centers.”
Reese nodded, “Follow me.”
They strode deeper into the caves, winding through several dark tunnels before emerging in a long, low room with entrances draped with heavy blankets. “They’re using slave labor for most of the basic construction. They don’t let the slaves get into the technical aspects, but we’ve got some people with knowledge on the inside who can make educated guesses.” Reese moved to a table, taking the map from Lauren and spreading it out. He pointed at two locations, and waited as she marked them on her map. “They’ve got these two sites operational. The Flattop Mountain facility is the closest, there’s a larger garrison there, since we’ve been active in the area. The facility near Grey Coast is the other, not as heavily defended, but it doesn’t look like the guns are fully operational. On both sites they’re more worried about space than ground attack, so they finished those weapons emplacements first.” He shrugged, “We’ve had our people slow things as much as they can on the ground defenses.”
“You planned on storming the defense centers?” Lieutenant Beeson asked.
“Yeah, I figured, if things looked bleak enough,” Reese shrugged, “we’d take a center, blast what we could in orbit and at least go out with a bang.”
“I understand the feeling.” Lauren said, her voice distant. “You already have teams in place, then?”
“Yeah,” Reese said, “Our last stand was approaching. Without weapons, it was a pretty weak hope, but…”
“With weapons, we can take them and hold them.” Lauren said, turning to Beeson, “You can turn the guns on an
y ships in orbit, as well.”
He nodded. In his mind, he saw the stern face of his father. “Be glad to.”
***
CHAPTER VII
February 9, 2403 Earth Standard Time
Faraday System
Chxor Empire
“Baron, we got an update from our corvette on station,” Lieutenant Palmer drawled, “The Chxor haven’t moved much. Nothin’ new came in neither.” The ansibles worked, even through shadow space, though once they engaged the drive on the plotted course, it was far too late to turn back.
Lucius looked at Kandergain, “You are certain that we’ll…”
“I guarantee we’ll be spot on.” She said. Her brown eyes showed amusement and confidence.
Lucius nodded, “Now I only hope everyone else positions themselves correctly.”
Captain Doko spoke, “Sir, I’ve updated our firing solutions from the data we received. That one force in orbit above Faraday is still setting idle, engines cold.” There were three Chxor squadrons in the system, two elements of four dreadnoughts and sixteen screening cruisers, which they had labeled Alpha and Bravo, and a third element, Force Charlie, of six dreadnoughts and twenty four cruisers.
Lucius stroked his jaw, “Timing’s going to be close. We don’t want to kick this off early.” Timing was everything with this plan. “Lieutenant Palmer, cut a message to the corvette, have them relay to our insertion teams that they should commence their attack preparations.” He felt a cold lump settle in his stomach at the thought of those brave men and women on the planet, about to put their lives on the line in the hope that he could pull the Chxor away.
Kandergain appeared at his shoulder, “It will be alright, Lucius. I promise.”
He gave her a sardonic grin, “I thought you weren’t omniscient.”
She smiled back, “I’m not... but I know a good plan when I see one. Trust me, I've had to execute of off plenty of bad plans, I can tell the difference.”
He let out a deep breath and then checked the screens again. His plan counted on Chxor arrogance, their lack of long range sensor platforms, and their tactical inflexibility. If everything worked out, the Chxor would essentially defeat themselves. Not all Chxor were stupid, however. He looked over at his assistant weapons officer, the newly promoted Lieutenant Kral. “It still seems strange with a Chxor on the bridge.”
Kandergain grunted, “Trust me, stranger things have happened.” She locked eyes with him, “Remember, Lucius, the real enemy isn’t the Chxor.”
He gave a nod, then raised his voice, “Navigation, start the countdown. Plan Alpha is in effect.” He looked at Kandergain. “You are certain we’ll hit our target precisely?”
She laughed, “Lucius, I bet you a favor I’ll get us within five hundred meters.”
“That’s less than a ship's length.”
She nodded and held out a hand to shake.
Lucius hesitated, and she raised an eyebrow, “Come now, surely you aren’t afraid?”
He let out a sigh, “Even the best nav computers can’t hit a jump within five hundred kilometers. I’d be satisfied with that.” He hesitated again, “Why do I get the feeling I’m being fleeced?”
She smiled, “Because it’s a sucker bet. All psychics are naturals at shadow space navigation. I’m not the best, not by far, but I’m pretty good.”
“How about this, I bet you a fine dinner that you aren’t within five hundred meters.” Lucius said.
She grinned at him, “Deal.” They shook and she walked briskly over to her station. He watched the countdown. She had under a minute before they emerged.
Lucius opened the ship’s intercom. “People, today, we return to Faraday. Today, we’ll meet the Chxor in battle once again.” He paused. “Today, we’ll kick their sorry asses out of this system.” He heard cheers, and he waited a moment. “It’s going to be dangerous. Some of us may not live to see tomorrow.” He knew that more faces would join the many that lurked in his nightmares. “But today we begin a fight that will become legend. Today, we halt the decline of humanity. Today, we fight back!”
Even the crew on the bridge had begun to cheer now and Lucius felt some of the fire return to his belly. “I want you all to know, I could never ask for a better crew. Baron Lucius Giovanni, out.”
He cut the intercom and sagged back into his chair.
A timer appeared on the edge of his monitor. Lucius watched it tick down.
They emerged from Shadow barely three thousand kilometers from the planet Faraday. A part of Lucius’ mind noted they were within three hundred meters of their targeted location. He owed Kandergain dinner.
“Targets are acquired, Baron, ready to fire.” Anthony Doko’s voice was cheerful, excited. Their target was one of the three Chxor task forces, the one that sat, engines cold, shields and weapons powered down, in high orbit over Faraday.
“Launch the fighters,” Lucius grinned, “and commence fire.”
The War Shrike emerged without warning. The dreadnoughts, without active defense screens or engines to maneuver, lay open to any inbound fire.
The other two forces of Chxor warships lay twenty thousand kilometers away, to either side, positioned to interdict any force that might move towards the planet. They were in no position to prevent Lucius’ attack.
Lucius felt the thrum of the EPCs firing. He watched on the screen as the first missiles shot away. He snarled at the first ripple of explosions from the EPCs. The first set of four missiles bracketed the most distant dreadnought. Before the explosions faded, the missiles launched by the fighters erupted against the unshielded, defenseless warships.
Kral raked the secondary battery across the nearest dreadnought. Further explosions and clouds of debris erupted. At less than three thousand kilometers, they were at knife range. Every shot hit. Each hit smashed weapons and gutted engine pods.
The first dreadnought exploded, a colossal flash as at least one fusion plant lost containment. The explosion and cloud of debris ripped two of the nearest cruisers apart and sent two others spinning from impacts. A second dreadnought shattered, large secondary explosions and internal fires lit space around the dying hulk.
“Baron, Chxor forces Beta and Charlie just went to full power, both of them are on least-time intercepts.” Lieutenant Palmer highlighted both forces.
Lucius nodded, the fighters had already begun docking, their missile racks expended. “As soon as the fighters are aboard, begin withdrawal plan Alpha.”
Both Doko and Kral continued to rake the two remaining dreadnoughts. Force Alpha ceased to be a coherent threat. As Lucius watched, one cruiser lit off its engines. Perhaps it was an attempt to interdict fire at a dreadnought. It looked to Lucius like an attempt to escape. Either way, the cruiser’s unplanned thrust shoved it into Faraday’s atmosphere. Without its screens up, the atmospheric friction ripped portions of the hull away. The cruiser began an uncontrolled decent towards the planet's surface. Hopefully it lands someplace empty, Lucius thought.
Lucius shook his head, all the fighters were aboard. “Cease fire with missile tubes. Continue turret fire on Alpha until we leave weapons range.” The War Shrike rolled up and away from Faraday. The powerful engines thrust it away from the gutted task force.
He studied the distances, calculated the angles. “Time until Strike Point Bravo?”
“One hour sir.”
Lucius nodded. He watched the icons of the two other Chxor forces. For the moment, both attempted least time intercepts. Neither had the acceleration to catch him. “Any sign of missile separation from Charlie or Bravo?”
“Negative, sir. For now, it looks like they’re still trying to get organized.”
Lucius nodded. Soon enough it would become evident that they couldn’t catch him in outright pursuit.
“Force Charlie just altered course, looks like they’re closing with what’s left of Alpha, sir,” Lieutenant Palmer drawled. “Force Bravo’s changin’ course, they’re maintainin' current separation.”
Lucius nodded sharply. Someone, probably the Planetary Governor, had finally given orders. “Excellent. Anything from Naevius?”
“The corvette relays that Captain Naevius has launched, he says he’ll be in position.”
Lucius let out a deep breath. “Very well, maintain our current course, we’re going with Plan Alpha. Keep monitoring Charlie, let me know of any changes there.” Charlie was the largest Chxor force with six dreadnoughts. Lucius figured that to be the command element.
Lucius sat back and adjusted his chair restraints. The game had begun... now he could only wait.
***
Planetary Governor Kleigh sighed at the extravagant waste of resources inflicted upon him by the humans. It wasn’t enough that this world’s populace felt the need to oppose rightful Chxor rule. It wasn’t enough that they had slowed progress of total control. Now, his old opponent returned and with his suicidal attack, destroyed two dreadnoughts outright!
The time had come to end this annoyance, once and for all, “Prepare my shuttle, I will take charge of this battle.” He stood from his desk and walked briskly towards his private shuttle pad. His aides scurried along behind him. “Have Captain Klun prepare my flag bridge, I’ll join him momentarily.”
“Planetary Governor, should I make addendum to standing orders that all vessels retain shields and engines at standby?”
Kleigh looked at the aide, slightly surprised, “Why? Such suicidal attacks by the humans are unpredictable. Wear and tear on equipment on standby will cut deeply into our profit margins. No, once this threat is dealt with, there will be no further attacks such as this.” Kleigh stared at the Chxor aide, “You are an Abaner line, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Planetary Governor. I am Tactical Planning Officer Krath.”
Kleigh nodded, “Place yourself on half-rations for your ignorant assumption.”
“Yes, Planetary Governor.”