“Look around you,” he replied. “Look at this place. Don’t these people need all the help they can get? Do you really trust the crowd of maniacs about to descend on this place to get this right? They’ll all be out for what they can get for themselves. I know you were hoping to sit this conference out, but I don’t think there’s any way out of it. You’re going to have to take the lead. The delegation is going to need you at its head, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t.”
“You don’t have to. Unfortunately, you don’t have a choice. And you know it.” Mike’s communicator bleeped, and he looked down at the message on the screen, his eyes widening. “I’ve got to get back to the ship?”
“Trouble?”
“You don’t want to know. Yet.”
Chapter 7
Kani walked towards his waiting fighter, his wingman already climbing into the next cockpit over, flashing him a smile. Montgomery again, a failed cadet only a few short months ago, now bearing the five stars that denoted an ace under his canopy, a squadron leader in his own right. They’d suffered terrible casualties over the last few months, enough to make promotions far more rapid than they should have been, but Montgomery had been a true find.
“All ready, boss?” he asked, as Kani climbed into his fighter.
“Just a normal CAP flight, Monty,” Kani replied. “Nothing to get excited about.”
“Then why are you flying this one yourself, sir? I’d have thought patrol duty was...”
“Beneath me?” Kani said, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a dangerous assumption.”
“Not what I meant, sir. Only that it’s normally a job for rookies. Good training, and we’re always here to ride to the rescue if needed.” As their canopies dropped together, he added, “I didn’t mean anything negative by it, sir.”
“I know, I know. Maybe I just want to log a few more hours in the cockpit before all this is over. Frankly, I’m hoping I won’t have to fly into battle for a while.” Tapping a control, he said, “Patrol One to Polaris Actual. Who’s minding the store today?”
“Norton here, Win. Getting a little lonely up here again. Most of the senior staff’s still down on Titan. Probably will be for the foreseeable future.” There was a pause, and she added, “You’re cleared to launch whenever you’re ready. Flight path being fed into your navigational computers.”
“Anything I need to know about?”
“The freighter from Sinaloa arrived half an hour ago, she’s settling into orbital track right now. Friendly faces, I hope; they’ve brought the delegation from Hyperborea along for the ride. There’s an auxiliary cruiser coming in from Caledonia in an hour or so...”
“Where did that come from?” Montgomery asked.
“Apparently it was in the middle of a shakedown cruise, and rebel forces managed to seize it right out of the shipyard. They’ve christened it Liberty. Keep an eye out for her, vector one-niner-two. Aside from that, and the fact that a couple of thousand shuttles are buzzing around out there, I don’t have anything special to report.”
“Roger that, Actual,” Kani replied. “Message received. Have the drinks lined up on the bar when we get back. Launching now.” He tapped a control, and felt the familiar kick of the magnetic catapult as it tossed him clear of the ship, his engines firing to put him on the prearranged course, a strange orbital dance designed to navigate a way through the tangled mass of humanity that was occupying the hitherto-vacant orbital space.
“Where the hell did all these come from?” Montgomery asked.
“Every outpost from here to Pluto wants to be represented at the conference, I guess. I can’t say I blame them. Most of these people have been fighting for years to win their freedom.” Glancing down at his sensor display, he added, “I don’t envy the poor bastard running traffic control in this nightmare. Glad that isn’t my job.”
“That might not be the big problem. Look at the fleet formation. We’re spread all across local space trying to keep everything under control, and I can’t help but think that we’re wide open to attack if one comes. A single warship could knock out half a dozen transports before we could even scramble the alert fighters.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. Maybe we can move some of them out as soon as the conference actually starts. Assuming the Commodore can convince that herd of cats about anything.” Shaking his head, he added, “That’s another job I’m glad to leave to someone else. At least in here I know who the bad guys are, and all I have to do is fire missiles at them.”
“I guess so,” Montgomery said. “I’m just glad we’ve got him running things down there.”
“I think you’re being a little optimistic. Did you see that delegate from Sirius? He sounded like he wasn’t going to accept anything other than a billion-credit bribe or a promotion to Emperor.”
“Yeah,” the pilot said. “Hey, you got that? Nine-four by one-twelve, out by the gravitational threshold. That looks like an emergence pattern to me.”
Kani looked down at his long-range sensors, nodded, then said, “That’s affirm. Polaris, this is Patrol Leader, picking up...”
“You just beat me to the punch,” Norton replied. “It’s big. Capital ship size. Could be the Caledonians coming in early, but I don’t think I want to sit back and wait to find out. I’m bringing Polaris to alert status, and the reserve fighters will be in the air in a minute. I know you outrank me, but...”
“But you want us to go and take a look,” Kani said. “You read my mind, Lieutenant. We’re on our way. Try and clear some of this traffic out of the way if you can. It’s a pretty damned target-rich environment out here, and even a few stray missiles could wipe out a few of these ships without really trying. And if someone means us harm...”
“Roger, will comply. I’ll release your weapons if you need them. If this is a trap, we’re going to go in all guns blazing. Watch yourself. Polaris out.”
“Looks like we’re going to get some action after all,” Montgomery said. “I’m coming around, altering course to the target. We ought to be able to get there just before it arrives with a little luck.”
“Negative,” Kani replied. “Go a little easier on the throttle. We need time to evaluate any potential threat and decide where best to plant our missiles. Go for thirty seconds late. That should be just about enough. I hope.” He paused, looking at the sensor display, and said, “Damn, I hope that’s the Caledonians, but...”
“I was just thinking that, sir. The signature's a lot larger than Castro. More like a real capital ship.” There was a brief pause, and he added, “I just checked, and our friend in Earth orbit is still just hanging there. It isn’t him.”
“I think we’d have noticed if he’d left station,” Kani chided. “Though I suppose we can’t be too careful.” He threw controls, bringing his missiles on-line, and started to calculate an attack run. “Looks like the rest of the birds are in the air.”
“Watch out, boss! Shuttle crossing our path!” Montgomery yelled, the two fighters forced into a series of wild evasive maneuvers to get clear of the rogue pilot, a rocket jockey who’d evidently decided that the rules of the road didn’t apply to him. “Damn, how many madmen are buzzing around up here, Win? It’s crazy!”
“Correcting course,” Kani said, cursing under his breath. “Bastard’s cost us ten seconds.” He looked at the rear display, his eyes widening as he saw the chaos unfolding behind him. The civilian craft had spotted the incoming warp signature, and most of them must have been monitoring the ships of the Fleet. Bringing Polaris to alert status had started a rapidly growing panic, and he could see dozens of shuttles scattering across the sky, others straining to make landings on the surface, one-way trips unless the pilot was very good or very lucky.
“Win,” Montgomery said, “they’re drifting right across the path of our reinforcements. It’s going to take them minutes to pick their way through
that mess. Worse for the capital ships. I think we’re going to have to get used to the idea that we’re fighting this one alone.”
“In that case,” Kani replied, “go for the engines. We’ll pin whoever it is in place for as long as we can, and give our reinforcements a chance to catch up.” He made the mistake of looking at the sensor display again, just in time to watch a pair of transports slide past each other, only narrowly avoiding a catastrophic collision. Shaking his head, he said, “With all this traffic in the air, we don’t need an enemy attack to cause a disaster.”
“One minute to emergence. I can’t even see our reinforcements now. I think Castro’s coming around the far side of the moon, but she’s going to have to do some fancy dodging to reach us in time. And if this is as big as it looks...”
“We’ll find out in a minute, Monty. Just follow my lead. At least I’m pretty sure it’s just a single ship. For whatever that’s worth.”
Kani focused on his attack run, not knowing what might be racing towards them, a thousand thoughts flooding through his head. They’d accounted for every Starcruiser in the Federation Fleet, and this was certainly too large to be the auxiliary from Caledonia, or from anywhere else, for that matter. He reached up to bring his targeting computer online, a winking series of lights announcing his fighter’s readiness for battle. Less than twenty seconds to go.
If anything, the chaos behind them was worsening. Most of the shuttles had scattered, many burning enough fuel that it would take a fleet of tankers to bring them to safety in any reasonable about of time, but the freighters seemed to be engaged in a competition to complete the most dangerous maneuver, some perilously close to Titan’s atmosphere, risking being caught in the gravity well.
With a blinding blue flash, a ship appeared on his screen, and his heads-up display instantly identified it. A Commonwealth cruiser, old Xerxes herself, supposedly placed in permanent mothballs ten years ago for want of crew and components to keep her operational. She looked in excellent condition now, her sleek lines speeding towards Titan, turrets obviously ready to fire.
“Win,” Montgomery began, “do you want...”
“This is Patrol Leader to Xerxes,” Kani said, switching to the Commonwealth military frequency. “Please state your intentions upon entering the system.” He looked up at the approaching ship, his hand poised over the missile release controls, knowing that he’d have to make the final decision in a matter of seconds. He knew he had to shoot unless he was certain, even if it started a war.
And even if it meant shooting down one of his own ships. In that instant, he finally knew that he’d made his decision about his loyalties, and his old fleet had fallen short.
“Patrol Leader to Xerxes,” he repeated. “Please state your intentions, or I will be forced to assume that you are a hostile intruder and respond accordingly.”
“Squadron Leader Kani?” a familiar voice said.
“Wing Commander, actually. Is that Admiral Crawford speaking?”
“It is,” the aristocratic figure replied. “We understood that a conference is being held here in order to determine the future of human-controlled space, and on behalf of my government, formally insist that our voice is heard in the deliberations. Our team of representatives are on board, and I request an escort into parking orbit.”
“Wait one, Xerxes,” Kani said, throwing a control. “Polaris, did you get that?”
“I did,” Norton said. “I’m trying to raise one of the Commodores on the surface.”
“McKinnon here. I didn’t know anything about this, Win, but we all burned our bridges quite comprehensively when we left. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Commonwealth wanted to be involved, though.”
“Xerxes to Patrol Leader,” Crawford’s insistent voice said. “Are we welcome in this system, or must we prepare to initiate defensive fire?”
“Wait one, Xerxes,” Kani replied, gritting his teeth in frustration. “Polaris, we’re going to need a decision on this, and we’re going to need it now.”
“I can’t raise anyone,” the flustered Norton said. “If you can...”
Taking a deep breath, Kani said, “Xerxes, on behalf of the Resistance, I formally welcome you to Titan. Commodore Curtis will contact you at the earliest opportunity to discuss your involvement in the peace talks, and the contribution the Commonwealth can make. My wingman and I will personally escort you to a position in parking orbit, though I request that you remain on board your ship until formal contact can be made. Patrol Leader out.”
“Are you sure about this, boss?” Montgomery asked.
“Someone had to make the call,” he replied. “I guess it was just my turn in the chair. Let’s just hope this doesn’t come back to bite us in the ass.” Throwing a control, he continued, “Now all we have to do is find a safe place to park the beast.”
Chapter 8
Cordova looked out of the window as the shuttle raced over the Martian desert, turning over a burned-out colony dome, long since abandoned. She shook her head at the view, a sigh escaping her lips. Centuries ago, Mars had been the greatest hope of humanity for a new home. Now it had collapsed into a planetary slum, filled with decrepit cities and desperate people, neither the Commonwealth nor the Federation especially interested in throwing money into it. Some had considered a terraforming project, back beyond the discovery of the stardrive, but with habitable worlds now an easy hop away, the momentum behind the effort died, and the last, desperate hope of millions of people had died with it.
Sitting next to her, Schmidt flashed her a glare, and said, “I’ll be watching every move you make, Major. I just wanted to make sure you are aware of that. I don’t trust you, and neither does the pilot. If I think for a moment that you are putting your own interests first...”
“I won’t,” Cordova replied. “I’ve fought with these people before. I know them, and I know how they think, and I know what they must be going through right now.” Turning to her, she added, “They’re going to expect a seat on the negotiating panel, and that’s something we’re going to have to concede. This, God help us all, is the most populous colony world in human space, and they’ve suffered without hope long enough.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“Ma’am,” the pilot reported. “We’re being ordered to set down out in the desert, away from any of the settlements. I’m picking up three buggies heading towards that location, and we’re being monitored by the orbital satellite network.”
“If this is a trap...”
“What have they to gain?” Cordova asked. “I’m certainly of no significant value, not any more, and with all due respect, Commander, you and the pilot are replaceable.” Gesturing at the sensor display, she added, “Look at the course tracks. One buggy from each settlement. I think this is as close as we’re realistically going to get to neutral territory. At least they’re making that concession without an argument.”
“Spaceman,” Schmidt ordered, “I want a low-level pass over the landing site before we touch down, and you will use every sensor pickup we’ve got on the terrain and those three buggies. If one of them is carrying a steak knife, I want to know about it.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” the pilot said, as Schmidt glared at Cordova, as though daring her to contradict her order. Instead, she shook her head, settling back into the couch.
“You aren’t going to get an argument from me, Commander, no matter how hard you try. I’m too much in love with myself to take unnecessary risks, and while I don’t think anyone down there would actually set out to kill us, there’s no point taking a chance.” She paused, then asked, “You didn’t tell them I was coming?”
With a faint, slightly menacing chuckle, Schmidt replied, “We didn’t say a word. You got enemies down there as well?”
“No, but I’d rather keep them surprised, throw them a little off-balance when the negotiations begin. If i
t’s the three groups I’m assuming it is, I’ve worked with them all in the past, and I know where the bodies are buried. I just wish I was speaking metaphorically.”
“Nice friends you have down here.”
“Let me tell you something, Commander. While you were happily wearing the uniform of the Federation, long before you decided to play at being a sympathizer, these people were living in the gutters, fighting for their life and the freedom of their people every day. Most of them never got to leave Mars, never had any of the chances you did as Earthborn, so don’t you dare look down your nose at them! They’re fighters, every one, and they might not be particularly nice people, but they’re hell on wheels in a firefight. Sometimes we have to take our friends when we can.”
“Why do you think you’re still alive?” Schmidt replied.
“Commander,” the pilot said, “I’ve completed my check, and everything seems safe enough down there. I’ve spotted a nice flat piece of rock to touch down on, and with your permission, I’ll be landing in one minute.”
“Permission granted. The Major and I will leave the ship together. You will remain in constant contact with Trotsky and myself at all times, and under no circumstances will you leave the shuttle without my express approval. Is that understood?”
“Loud and clear, ma’am. Initiating landing sequence now.”
As the shuttle gently dropped to the surface, Cordova made her way to the spacesuit locker, taking the nearest one from the rank and pulling it on a piece at a time. Schmidt offered her a holster, a pistol nestled inside it, but she shook her head, and after a moment’s hesitation, Schmidt detached her sidearm as well, leaving it in her seat.
“I’d better not regret this, Major,” she said.
“You won’t,” Cordova replied. “Let me do the talking, and follow my lead.” Forestalling the inevitable argument, she raised a hand, and added, “Unless you feel you can’t. I won’t ask you to violate the dictates of your conscience, whatever they might be.”
Starcruiser Polaris: He Never Died Page 5