by Ryk Brown
“We have security forces…”
“To protect us against angry citizens and political rivals,” the president said, cutting his assistant off mid-sentence. “They would be killed within seconds. Order them to stand down.”
“Yes, Mister President,” his assistant replied, raising his comm-unit to his face.
President Voros turned to gaze out the window again as another armed shuttle appeared overhead, quickly setting down next to the first. More men came pouring out, followed by a determined-looking officer who disembarked with alarming confidence.
The president sighed, turning to take his seat and await the man to whom he would hand over control of his world and his people.
At least no one will die, he thought as he sighed.
Captain Borra slowly paced the length of the Penta-ben’s operations command center, listening to the various controllers as they communicated with Dusahn forces on the surface. His ears were tuned for any words that might indicate his troops were meeting resistance, but as of yet, he had heard none.
“Captain,” a junior officer at the far end of the compartment called. “Transmission from Major Gattso.”
Captain Borra turned to acknowledge his officer.
“The president of Palee has relinquished control of his world to the Dusahn.”
“Casualties?” the captain asked.
“No Dusahn were lost, sir.”
“What about civilian casualties?” the captain asked.
“Major Gattso reports that no shots were fired.”
Captain Borra frowned. “A world that does not fight back is not worthy of the Dusahn.” He turned and headed for the exit. “Dispatch the support teams and secure the planet. I want to jump to Volon by the end of the day,” he ordered on his way out.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Every time we come here, I say the same thing,” Josh said, staring out the window at the planet below. “This is one weird frickin’ world.”
Deliza looked at Josh as she stood between him and Loki in the Seiiki’s cockpit. “Frickin?”
“He’s trying not to swear as much,” Loki explained.
“Really? Good for you, Josh.”
“Don’t congratulate him just yet,” Loki insisted. “He still lets a few fly, now and then.”
“Well, at least he’s trying,” Deliza said, gazing out the forward windows again. “I still think it’s beautiful.”
“Half the planet’s surface is too thin to breathe,” Josh argued. “Heck, it’s got mountain peaks that are in space.”
“Really?”
“How many worlds have you heard of where you could slam into the side of a mountain while in low orbit?” Josh asked.
“He’s exaggerating,” Loki told her.
“Not by much,” Josh argued.
“By a lot,” Loki insisted.
“I should have known,” Deliza remarked.
“You know, I’m surprised that Yanni doesn’t like the air here,” Josh said, changing the subject. “Didn’t he come from a mountain village, or something?”
“Where he was raised, the elevation was only about a thousand meters,” Deliza explained. “So about eight-seventy-five to nine hundred millibars. At the lowest point on the surface of Volon, the atmospheric pressure is only about six hundred millibars.”
“How do you know this stuff?” Josh wondered.
“We were considering putting a plant here at one time,” Deliza told him, “but the lower pressure would have screwed up the curing process on the hull sections. That’s why the plant is on Rakuen.”
“Why can’t Yanni just wear a booster like everyone else?” Loki wondered.
“He doesn’t like having the tubes in his nose,” Deliza replied.
“Like I said, delicate,” Josh said, laughing to himself as he guided the ship through the mountain pass.
Once they crossed between the two towering peaks, the Valley of Considor appeared before them.
“Constantatia,” Josh announced, looking out at the sprawling city that covered the entire valley.
“Seven hundred and thirteen millibars,” Deliza stated.
Josh glanced at her. “You’re as weird as this planet.”
“We’re being hailed by Volonese Control,” Loki interrupted. “They want to know our destination.”
“Lennar Field,” Deliza told him. “There are several Aramenium battery manufacturers nearby. I should be able to get a transport.”
“Got it,” Loki replied.
“What the hell?” Josh said, noticing something on the sensor display in the center of the console. “Two fast-movers, passing to starboard, about two clicks. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they’re…” The tracks on the sensor screen changed course. “Shit! They’re on an intercept!” he declared, reaching for the shield controls.
“Wait!” Loki insisted, reaching his hand out to block him. He flicked a switch, putting the local communications traffic on the overhead speaker.
“Seiiki, Seiiki, this is Eti One Five Four. We have determined that you are an armed vessel. Surrender your controls to Volon Flight Control or you will be considered a hostile vessel and dealt with appropriately. This is your only warning.”
“Jesus, they’re painting us,” Josh realized, switching on the auto-flight system. “Nobody wants to let you hand-fly these days.”
“Since when do the Volonese have interceptors?” Loki wondered.
“Eti fighters are Tonganese,” Deliza said. “They must have bought some recently.”
“And some pilots, too,” Josh added.
“Can you blame them?” Deliza defended. “Volon’s only twelve light years from Takara; well within the Dusahn’s single-jump range.”
“Like they could defend themselves with Eti fighters,” Josh laughed.
“They probably felt like they had to do something,” Loki stated. “Auto-flight link is established. They have control.” He glanced at Deliza. “We’ll be on the ground in five minutes.”
“I’ll get ready to depart,” she replied, heading out.
As soon as Deliza climbed down the ladder, and was out of earshot, Loki looked at Josh. “You know, if you had raised shields, they would have opened fire on us.”
“And I would’ve jumped the fuck out of here,” Josh replied.
* * *
Nathan made his way quickly to the intel shack, a few compartments aft of the Aurora’s bridge. It wasn’t often that his presence was required in the cramped space occupied by Lieutenant Commander Shinoda and his staff, which meant that it was either something urgent or the lieutenant commander needed him to make a decision. When he spotted General Telles coming toward him from the opposite direction, he knew it was both. “I didn’t even realize you were aboard,” Nathan said.
“I only just arrived,” the general replied. “I was on my way to medical when Lieutenant Commander Nash requested my presence in your intelligence shack.”
“Medical? You got a cold, or something?”
“Just my monthly nanite booster.”
“I had forgotten that the Ghatazhak use nanites prophylactically. How is that working out?”
“It does not make us any healthier, if that’s what you’re asking. It does, however, give us a better chance of survival if we get injured in combat.”
“I thought they had to be programmed for specific tasks,” Nathan replied as they turned the corner and headed toward the entrance to the intel shack.
“Our specialized nanites are preprogrammed to respond to any trauma that is immediately life-threatening,” the general explained. “The theory is that they will stave off exsanguinations long enough to receive more precise treatments. Unfortunately, there is insufficient evidence to verify their effectivenes
s.”
Nathan paused at the entrance, looking cockeyed at the general. “Don’t you mean, fortunately?”
General Telles furrowed his brow. “I suppose it depends on your point of view.”
“After you,” Nathan said, gesturing for the general to precede him.
General Telles stepped into the compartment, followed by Nathan.
“What’s up?” Nathan asked Jessica and Lieutenant Commander Shinoda.
“We received flash traffic from our comm-relay agent on Haven,” the lieutenant commander explained. “They have been attacked by the Dusahn.”
“When?” Nathan asked, looking concerned.
“Thirty-eight hours ago.”
“Why are we just hearing about it now?” Nathan wondered.
“The message type caused the jump comm-drone to initiate a level-three evasion algorithm, which takes a bit longer,” Jessica added.
“Any idea if they captured it?”
“It is highly doubtful that the Haven Syndicate’s security forces would be able to repel a Dusahn invasion,” General Telles opined.
“Yeah, they all but hid when the Takarans tried to take us out nine years ago,” Jessica commented.
“Haven is well-outside the Pentaurus cluster,” Nathan said, thinking out loud. “Do you think this means they’re trying to take over the entire sector?”
“Looks like it,” Jessica replied.
“The most industrialized worlds, and therefore the ones of most value to the Dusahn, are in the Pentaurus cluster,” General Telles said. “The other worlds in the sector, like Haven, Palee, and Parador, are not of significant value, except as a buffer zone.”
“A buffer zone?” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda asked.
“They know the Aurora has a limited jump range, just like their large warships do,” the general explained. “By taking control of all worlds within that range, they are preventing us from using any of them as points from which to attack.”
“That means they’re going to take Palee, Parador, Ursoot, and Volon, next,” Jessica surmised.
“Deliza and the Seiiki are on Volon by now,” Nathan realized.
“We don’t know that they’re going to attack the other worlds,” Jessica insisted. “Even if they do, we don’t know what order they’ll attack in.”
“Regardless, it would be prudent to warn the Seiiki and insist that they complete their mission with due haste,” General Telles insisted.
“There’s another possible motive,” Nathan offered. “They’re trying to bait us.”
“Force us to attack?” the lieutenant commander asked. “Why? Wouldn’t it make more sense to just hold what they have while they build up their forces?”
“This ship is the only thing preventing them from seizing control of the entire quadrant,” Nathan insisted. “They need to get rid of us, once and for all.”
“Then why not just jump us while we’re sitting here in the Rogen system?” Jessica wondered.
“You’re assuming that they know we’re here.”
“Pretty safe bet, I’d say,” Jessica replied.
“Agreed,” Nathan said. “But they know our reputation for overcoming the odds, and they can’t afford to keep losing ships. They’ve barely got enough to hold the cluster, let alone the entire sector.” Nathan sighed. “No, there are only two possibilities that I can see. Either they’re trying to build a buffer zone, as the general suggested, or they’re trying to draw us out so they can glass this entire system.”
“Wait, I thought you said they wanted the Aurora gone,” Jessica commented.
“What’s the best way to kill off an enemy while suffering the fewest friendly casualties?” Nathan asked.
“Cut off their supply chain,” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda replied.
“Attack their weaker allies,” Jessica added.
“Then, you suspect the Dusahn hope to draw the Aurora away long enough to destroy Rakuen and Neramese,” General Telles concluded. “A distinct possibility.”
“What do we do?” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda asked.
“Nothing,” Nathan replied.
“Nothing?” Jessica said, one eyebrow raised.
“For now,” Nathan added. “If their objective is to draw us out so they can destroy the Rogen system, then it means they believe it’s too risky to attack the system while we’re here to defend it. So, as long as we’re here, the Rogen system is safe.”
“We can’t defeat the Dusahn if we never leave the Rogen system,” Jessica told him.
“I didn’t say never,” Nathan replied. “We stay put until the Rogen system can defend itself, or until we can increase our one-minute jump range to more than twice the distance between it and Takara.”
“That could take months,” Jessica pointed out.
“Yes, it could.”
“And if they are simply trying to increase the buffer zone around them?” General Telles wondered.
“Like you said, none of those worlds will significantly increase the Dusahn’s industrial capacity, therefore their capture does not significantly affect our chances of success,” Nathan insisted.
“But what about all the people on those worlds?” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda wondered.
“If they do not resist, the Dusahn will likely not bother them,” General Telles replied. “They cannot afford to keep a strong presence on worlds that do not contribute to their military buildup.”
“For now,” Jessica pointed out.
The general nodded his agreement.
“There could be another reason they attacked Haven,” Jessica said. “They may know we have a spy on Takara, and they are trying to root him out.”
“Or use him to send us false intel,” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda added.
Nathan thought for a moment. “I don’t believe that is the case,” he finally said. “If they know our comm-relay point is Haven, then why attack the entire planet?”
“Because they know we’d hear about it right away,” Jessica said.
“I suppose you could be right,” Nathan admitted.
“Either way, we need to warn Terig,” Jessica insisted.
“Agreed, but how?” Nathan wondered. “We can’t send him a message through the Haven relay, can we?”
“Nope,” Jessica replied. “Sergeant Olivo was under orders to go ghost in this situation.”
“Go ghost?” Nathan asked.
“Stealth recon,” the general clarified. “He is to spend one day monitoring developments on Haven, then report to his extraction point and await pickup.”
“So, once he is picked up, we’ll know more about exactly why the Dusahn attacked Haven.”
“We will have to go to Takara ourselves to contact Mister Espan,” General Telles stated.
“That’s a hell of a risk,” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda warned.
“No more than he took for us,” Jessica insisted.
“We will be fine,” General Telles promised.
Nathan looked at the general. “We?”
“Being Takaran, I am the logical choice,” the general insisted.
“Who is the other logical choice?” Nathan wondered. “Or should I be afraid to ask.”
“A lone man wandering the streets would be more suspect than a man and his wife,” the general replied.
“I knew it,” Nathan said, shaking his head.
“Besides, I wish to speak with Lord Mahtize myself,” General Telles admitted.
Nathan sighed. “I don’t suppose I can convince you otherwise.”
“Your wisdom is what makes you such an excellent leader, Captain,” the general complimented.
“Sarcasm now?” Nathan said. “I was still getting used to Ghatazhak hu
mor.”
* * *
Jessica sat in the starboard jump seat, facing aft, staring at the nose and open canopy of the jump sub, protruding into the underside of the utility cargo pod bay. As the newest addition to their little fleet, Jump Sub Four had just passed its operational-readiness tests a few days earlier. Although this was not Jessica’s first time in a jump sub, it would be Jump Sub Four’s first jump into enemy-controlled waters.
To her right, General Telles sat in the port jump seat, his feet resting on the nose of the jump sub, his head back against the wall, and his eyes closed. Such was his form of pre-mission meditation, or at least that was what he claimed when questioned. Jessica just assumed he was catching a bit of rest while he could.
“Two minutes to max jump range,” Ensign Weston called from the cockpit.
“Time to mount up,” Jessica said, rising from her seat. She grabbed the overhead railing and pulled herself up over the sub’s nose and canopy, walking the few steps in a low-crouch across the top to reach the boarding hatch. She placed her hands on either side of the open hatch and lowered her feet down inside, standing on the pilots seat. After turning around to face forward, she lowered herself down into the seat, and then pulled the release latch on the underside of the seat, sliding it forward into its operational position, which created the space the passengers would need to climb in behind her.
As the general lowered himself in, Jessica began powering up the tiny jump sub and checking its systems. Although this most recent iteration was perhaps the easiest to operate, it was still a complex, highly precise vessel. Jumping across light years of space was a scary enough thought to many, but jumping a few light years directly into an ocean? Most would consider that insane. At this particular moment, Jessica also questioned the sanity of such an act.
“It’s actually roomier than I remember,” the general commented as he buckled into one of the four passenger seats behind Jessica. “Weren’t there supposed to be six seats back here?”