by G. P. Hudson
As they neared the bridge, however, the Captain grew concerned. The entire corridor shook from the battle up ahead, and Pietersma heard much heavier weapons than any of his team possessed. He opened a comm with his marines, and the same female voice answered.
“Lieutenant Gomez here,” came the response.
“This is the Captain. What’s your status, Lieutenant?”
“We haven’t made it into the bridge yet, Sir. The Dvorkans have a mech that’s giving us some trouble.”
A mech, Pietersma thought. That explains the heavier weapons. “We’re close, Lieutenant. If we distract them with a rear attack, will that help?”
“Yes, Sir. We can make that work.”
“AI, can you feed our position to the Marine visors?” Pietersma said.
“Of course, Captain,” AI replied. “The Marines are now tracking your position.”
“Lieutenant, can you see us?”
“Yes, Captain. If you continue on your present course, you will come up behind the Dvorkans and their mech.”
“Okay, we’re going to create a diversion for you. Be ready to act when we do.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Pietersma’s team advanced until the sound of battle became deafening. They would have a couple of seconds at most before that mech turned its guns on his people. Without armor, the Captain did not want to think about how that scenario would play out.
They crouched behind a bend in the corridor, their faces grim yet determined. Pietersma gave the signal, and they surged out from behind cover and opened fire. In front of them was a mix of armored and unarmored Dvorkans, along with a monstrous mech. All had their backs to them, and his team hit them with everything they had.
The unarmored Dvorkans fell into a heap. The armored ones stumbled against the barrage but did not fall. The mech’s motors whined as its upper half swiveled around to face them.
“Take cover!” Pietersma ordered as he leaped back behind the corner. Extremely powerful energy bolts shredded the walls and floor as the mech fired its massive guns at their position. When Pietersma heard heavy stomping and felt the floor shake, he ordered his team to run.
They tried to take cover as best as they could, but several of his team were killed in the retaliation, including Lieutenant Isaacs. Worse still, the enormous mech continued its advance toward them. With its fire pinning them down, they had little chance of escape, and he only hoped they had caused enough of a diversion for his Marines to take the bridge.
The next thing Pietersma felt was intense heat from a powerful explosion. Fire filled the corridor and metal shards flew past them at blinding speed. Pietersma raised his hands to his ears and shook his head to stop the ringing.
“Captain… Captain Pietersma, come in. Are you alright, Sir?” a voice said over his comm.
He shook his head a couple more times before he finally regained control of his faculties. “This is Pietersma,” he replied. “I’m… I’m fine.”
“This is Lieutenant Gomez, Sir. We’ve neutralized the mech and the rest of the resistance. You can come out, Sir. The corridor is secure, although not in ideal condition.”
Pietersma stood up and stepped out onto the corridor and what he saw stunned him. Half of it was literally gone, leaving a crater several decks deep. On the other side of the hole were his Marines. Pietersma noted the armored Lieutenant and nodded to her. “Good work, Lieutenant. Have you taken the bridge?”
As if in response to his question, another explosion rang out. “We are taking it as we speak, Sir. That was my team blowing the doors.”
“Go and help your team, Lieutenant. We’ll wait here.”
“Yes, Sir,” Gomez said. She and the other marines turned and ran back toward the bridge leaving Pietersma and his remaining team waiting in the half-destroyed hallway.
After taking the bridge, the AI was able to access the rest of the ship’s systems. The Marines and the crew secured the remaining areas. While some Dvorkans continued to resist, most quickly surrendered and were taken prisoner.
Pietersma learned that his destroyer had successfully rammed its target and the impact obliterated the two vessels. Pietersma advised the UHSF fleet that they had successfully commandeered the Dvorkan ship so that the UHSF would not fire on them. He then jumped the Dvorkan warship back behind the UHSF position.
With the remaining Dvorkans in the brig, his crew worked with the AI to swiftly get the remaining ship’s systems under their control.
“Commander Hayden, what is the status of this ship’s weapon systems?” Pietersma said.
“Eighty percent of its weapons are functional.”
“Well then, let’s put them to use.” Pietersma loaded short range jump coordinates into the system which took them back into the thick of battle. “Initiate jump.”
Chapter 43
“Jump teams have successfully sabotaged another enemy ship, Sir,” Captain Henderson said.
Jon studied his tactical display and the rapidly changing flow of battle. So far, superior UHSF fighting capability and jump team tactics had turned the tide of battle in the UHSF’s favor. The jump teams alone had sabotaged dozens of enemy warships, taking them out of the fight. While he saw room for improvement, the jump team tactics proved remarkably effective.
Beyond that, the UHSF and the Diakans were proving to have the better space combat tactics. After fighting wars against the Juttari and the Kemmar, the UHSF consistently refined its tactical capabilities. That persistence, combined with Diakan knowledge and expertise proved indispensable.
Now, he watched on his display as his forces tightened the noose around the enemy. Enemy. That word still bothered him. The Juttari were their enemies, not the Dvorkans. He had hoped that Miira could bring Emperor Kriss to his senses and stop this needless confrontation. He wondered now what had become of her. Was she alive? A prisoner? In good health?
He regretted sending the scholar as his envoy, but what choice did he have? He could only hope that she had not been mistreated and could somehow put an end to this ridiculous conflict. For now, he was left with no choice. He had to destroy the Dvorkan fleet occupying Diakan space.
His tactical display told him that he continued to inch toward that final objective. After many long hours of battle, his forces had turned the Dvorkan flank attack into a rout. Where the Dvorkans had tried to surround his wings, his ships now enveloped theirs. Where the Dvorkans had fought for conquest, now they battled for survival.
“Send another message to the Dvorkans offering terms in return for their surrender,” Jon said.
“Yes, Sir,” Henderson said. “Relaying message.”
Jon watched the battle while waiting for the reply. The Dvorkans had learned many tricks in the past eight years and had developed some unique tactics employing their ships’ jump systems. But the UHSF adapted. The Dvorkans were not as flexible, however, and found it difficult to adjust to UHSF tactics. That rigidity proved their undoing.
Each time a Dvorkan squadron jumped to a new position, UHSF squadrons appeared on top of them within seconds. With time, the battle became more lopsided and the UHSF the more dominant force. Where the odds were initially more or less even, the Dvorkans now found each squadron squaring off against two UHSF squadrons.
“Sir, the Dvorkans have again rejected our terms,” Henderson said.
“How stubborn are they?” Jon said mostly to himself. His forces were winning the encounter, but they were also taking losses. A Dvorkan surrender would mean fewer casualties on both sides. Evidently, the Dvorkans saw the logic in that analysis. Would they force him to kill them all?
He felt his symbiont growl in agreement at the thought. As far as it was concerned, the Dvorkans had betrayed him and deserved nothing less than death. Luckily, I am not as bloodthirsty as you, Jon said to the creature.
Foolish, it replied.
Yeah, yeah, you’ve said that before. You need a new line, you know that?
The creature answered with an angry growl but
said nothing more.
“Sir, the Dvorkans appear to be retreating,” Henderson said. “They’re jumping to the second gate.”
Jon saw the icons on his tactical display. A couple of squadrons had indeed jumped toward the gate, with UHSF ships jumping in after them. Are they really retreating? Jon thought. “Tell our ships to back off. I want to see what they do.”
“Yes, Sir. Relaying orders.”
The UHSF icons jumped away from the gate, and the Dvorkans began crossing through it. As they did, more Dvorkan ships appeared at the mouth of the portal and did the same. “I think you’re right, Captain. They are retreating.”
A comm request flashed on Jon’s display, and he answered it. General Tallos’s expressionless face appeared. “Why are you letting those ships escape?” Tallos demanded.
“They’re retreating, Tallos,” Jon said. “That means we won.”
“They are crossing into another Diakan system that they control. We will have to dislodge them from there as well. We should destroy them now while we have the momentum.”
Jon couldn’t argue with Tallos’s logic, but something told him to let them go. “Let’s see what they do. I have a feeling about this.”
“A feeling? Admiral, I realize that you are of the Temple, but I must object. This action is strategically unsound.”
“Their forces are weakened. They can’t hold that system.”
“They can if they get reinforcements. Have you forgotten about the gate they built?”
“No, I haven’t.” He noted that the bulk of the Dvorkan fleet was breaking off and heading for the gate. “I’ll tell you what. I don’t think that they’re going to stay in that system. I think they’re going home to lick their wounds. We’ll let them cross through, and we’ll monitor their actions. If they stay, we’ll go in after them. And I promise you that if it comes to that, we will finish them off.”
“Very well, Admiral, but I must advise you that Diakan forces will not tolerate any prolonged occupation of our space. Either they leave immediately, or we will go in after them with or without your support.”
“Don’t worry, Tallos. You have our support. We’ll fight them together.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” Tallos said and terminated the connection.
When the last Dvorkan warship crossed through the gate, Jon sent surveillance drones after them. As he had expected, the Dvorkan fleet continued to retreat and began passing through to the adjacent system.
Sometime later, Jon was in the Freedom’s conference room. Vice Admiral St. Clair, General Calledonius, General Tallos, First Colonel Brock, and Jonas Vicken were all on the wallscreen.
“They have run away with their tail between their legs,” Jonas, the Reiver leader said. “We should follow them back to their home and lay siege to their empire.”
“Sorry Jonas, I’m not prepared to do that. The Empire is too far away and far too big. Conquering it would be a massive undertaking. I’d much rather pursue diplomatic channels. Besides, I think they might have learned their lesson. Their little adventure has turned into quite a disaster for them.”
“Bah! Enemies deserve no mercy,” Jonas said.
“You’re right, Jonas. Our real enemy is the Juttari. If we go after the Dvorkans, who will deal with the Juttari? If there is an enemy that we need to destroy, it is the Juttari. They’re our true enemy. The Dvorkans are merely a distraction.”
“I agree with Admiral Pike,” First Colonel Brock said. “Peace with the Dvorkans may still be attained, but the Juttari will always be a threat. They are the ones who must be destroyed.”
“I am in agreement as well,” Tallos said. “The Dvorkans are leaving Diakan space which satisfies us. Once we secure our territory, it won’t be so easy for them or the Juttari to invade it again. If the Dvorkans are smart, they will remain in their own space. The Juttari, however, must be eliminated.”
General Calledonius and Vice Admiral St. Clair both expressed their agreement.
“Then it’s settled,” Jon said. “We secure Diakan territory and resume our campaign against the Juttari.”
Chapter 44
Jamie stared at the walls of his cell. This was the first time he had set foot on a Chaanisar warship since his escape several years ago. The warship brought back haunting memories of his abduction as a child and his role in the many atrocities he took part in.
This was a Juttari warship. One that Colonel Traeger and his Chaanisar had taken when they revolted against their alien masters. All the Chaanisar warships were the same. He couldn’t understand how they continued to serve on such a ship after all they had been through.
Was it because their emotions were still regulated? Unlike most Chaanisar, something in his brain chip had malfunctioned. It not only freed him from Juttari control but also disrupted its regulating effects on his emotions.
Being a former Chaanisar, he knew how to discipline himself and control his emotions for the most part. But, without the regulating effects of his brain implant, a torrent of emotions raged just beneath the surface. He feared that storm would burst through the dam he had erected if he had to stay in this cell much longer.
He didn’t blame Colonel Traeger for holding him in the brig. Traeger had given him the benefit of the doubt for the most part, but he still had the ship’s security to consider and the brig was the safest place to hold Jamie until Traeger could verify his story. Even if he hadn’t confined him, a ship full of Chaanisar was a powerful deterrent in and of itself.
“I told you, we will always be brothers,” a familiar voice said.
Jamie used his hand to brush his long hair away from his face. Turning toward the voice, he saw the Chaanisar he had met on DLC Station, Lieutenant Jarvi. The lieutenant stood just outside the security field with a woman wearing a UHSF uniform. Upon closer inspection, Jamie recognized her too. She had been with Admiral Pike when Jamie helped them against the hit squad.
Her name was Anki, and she was Admiral Pike’s stepdaughter. He did not remember her wearing a UHSF uniform then, but there was more. Something about her had changed. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something new. He didn’t know why, but the sight of her stirred up emotions deep inside him.
He realized he was staring and turned his attention back to Lieutenant Jarvi. “Why are you here?”
“Colonel Traeger requested verification of your claims. Admiral Pike is still in the Satek System, so Anki vouched for you in his place.”
“I am in your debt,” Jamie said making eye contact with Anki.
To his surprise, she blushed and briefly looked away. Turning back to him she smiled. “It was the least I could do after you saved our lives.”
“Remove this security field,” Jarvi said to the Chaanisar standing guard. “This man has been freed.”
The security field disappeared, and Jamie rose to his feet. He strangely felt self-conscious about his disheveled appearance. “What happens now?”
“We will take you off Colonel Traeger’s ship and escort you to wherever you want to go,” Jarvi said.
“I need to get to my ship.”
“Then we will take you to it, brother.”
“I’m not your-” Jamie stopped himself from chastising the Chaanisar Lieutenant.
“Go on?” Jarvi said expectantly. “You were saying?”
“Never mind,” Jamie said and thought he noted a slight smile form at the edges of the Lieutenant’s mouth.
“Follow me, brother,” Jarvi said and marched ahead of him and Anki.
“We defeated the Dvorkans, you know,” Anki said.
“I heard. I see you wear the UHSF uniform now. Did you fight in the battle?”
Anki raised her chin proudly. “I did. I was part of a Chaanisar boarding team.”
Jamie stopped walking and gazed at Anki in astonishment. “You’re kidding.”
Anki’s smile grew wider. “Ask Lieutenant Jarvi.”
“She’s not kidding,” Jarvi said from up front. “We foug
ht side by side. She is a formidable warrior.”
“Impressive,” Jamie said unable to take his eyes off the young woman.
“Why do you look at me like that?” she said.
Now it was Jamie’s turn to look away. “I don’t know. I apologize.”
Anki smiled again. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”
Jamie looked back at her, and for the first time since childhood, he smiled.
As the three headed to the waiting ship on the hangar bay, Jamie quietly wondered if he should trust the warm, gentle feelings forming inside him. Time would tell. It always did.
Chapter 45
Emperor Kriss brooded in his winter palace, considering his next move. He had relocated to his second home after the destruction of the Imperial Palace by the coup plotters. His Taymati forces had successfully repelled the aggressors, and now the battle lines were being drawn for a civil war.
The lovely Miira had stayed with him throughout and remained the one comfort during this entire development. Intelligence reports had implicated his wife’s family in the coup attempt which surprised him. The marriage to their daughter was supposed to eliminate them as a threat and better secure his position. It did neither, and the knowledge of their betrayal explained the timing of his wife’s decision to leave the palace.
Kriss immediately divorced her when he learned of her treachery, but that didn’t stop his opponents from declaring her as the rightful regent. Their propaganda machine now ran at full capacity, branding him as a heretic and her as the righteous, devout Empress. Lies and misinformation were rampant, and in the end, each citizen believed what they wanted to.
Kriss knew that once someone decided to believe in something, it was damn near impossible to change their minds. Those who sided with his opponents would be ruthlessly dealt with. There was no other way.
He had wanted to marry the beautiful Miira and make her his Empress, but he feared the political backlash. Doing so would merely give his opponents ammunition, and they would say it was evidence of his heresy.