First Strike

by Christopher Nuttall

  He looked up at the star chart, searching for options. They could take Tauscher, if not easily. Most of the pirates wouldn’t want to join an attack on a fortified world, but the Clunker fleet and the warships crewed by rebels could destroy the defenders on their own. But what would happen when the superdreadnoughts arrived to take revenge? The entire fleet he’d assembled couldn't stand up to one superdreadnought, let alone three entire squadrons of superdreadnoughts. It wasn't as if they had the weapons the Federation Navy had used at Terra Nova.

  A dozen schemes for crippling or destroying the superdreadnoughts crossed his mind, only to flounder on cold hard facts. The Hegemony would be on their guard. They wouldn't allow a ship crammed with antimatter close to their superdreadnoughts, not after what had happened at Hammerfall. And no aliens served on their ships. They might be able to bribe one of the superdreadnoughts into taking an antimatter mine onboard, but not all of them. And there was little hope that the Federation Navy would be able to intervene. They wouldn't even know what had happened at Tauscher until it was already over.

  Unless...

  Flicking through the star chart, he brought up a strategic display of the local sector. The Hegemony bordered three other powers nearby, one of the reasons why there was so much shipping – and pirate activity – running through the sector. He doubted that any of the powers would risk intervening to protect the Gobbles, but maybe…

  It would be a gamble, but they had little choice.

  “Karla,” he ordered, “start digging through the shipping manifests. I think we took a handful of recon drones from the Funks. Can you let me know what happened to them?”

  There was a long pause as Karla brought up the captured manifests. “We stockpiled them at Base Seven,” she reported. “No one wanted to buy them unless we knocked down the price to a handful of credits, so we didn't sell.”

  “Lucky for us,” Joshua said. It wasn't too surprising that none of the pirates would want them – they weren't that useful without a space navy capable of standing up to other navies – but they'd come in handy. Maybe they could take Tauscher after all. “Have them brought to the support fleet. I've got a cunning plan.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “The Traders Alliance formally protests the Hegemony’s decision to impose new security measures on independent trading ships,” the Ambassador from the Alliance said. Shan listened with interest, concealing her amusement behind a carefully-controlled expression. It had surprised her when she’d discovered that Westerners considered her people inscrutable – she’d never had any difficulty reading her fellow Chinese – but the aliens probably found all humans inscrutable. Reading body language wasn't easy when a nod could mean something different to a dozen different races. “The penalties imposed have already cost a number of commanders their ships.”

  There was a long pause. The Traders Alliance wasn't exactly a galactic power, but they were entitled to a seat on the Commune for reasons that no human had ever been quite able to figure out. Shan privately suspected that the traders had managed to bribe one of the independent planets to allow the traders to claim their seat. If it had happened a few thousand years ago, it had probably become tradition by now. The traders hadn't been particularly interested in the war – they preferred a long tradition of neutrality – yet the Hegemony had started hurting them indirectly. It would have to provoke some kind of reaction.

  “We do not expect that the Hegemony will understand the problems faced by the Alliance,” the Ambassador continued. “The Alliance has therefore resolved that if the matter is not resolved to our satisfaction, the Alliance will withdraw all trading ships from Hegemony space and – furthermore – embargo any other galactic power that continues to trade with the Hegemony.”

  For the first time in decades, the entire Commune stared at the speaker. Shan certainly hadn't expected it to go so far. Humanity must have had more friends than she’d thought, for the Traders Alliance held an economic stranglehold over parts of the Association. The Hegemony’s ability to trade with the rest of the Galactics was about to take a body-blow. They did have their own trading fleet, even if it was smaller than most, but they’d find it impossible to trade openly if the Traders Alliance stood ready to crush anyone who traded with them. They’d still be able to use the black market smuggling networks, yet they couldn’t guarantee deliveries. And some of the smugglers had their own ties to the Alliance.

  “This is not a step we take lightly,” the Ambassador concluded, “but we feel that it is necessary to prevent the Hegemony from doing more damage to our interests.”

  He sat down and waited. Formal protocol demanded that the Hegemony had a chance to reply, although Shan suspected that nothing their Ambassador could say would have any effect on the disaster unfolding in front of her red eyes. If the embargo went into action, the Hegemony’s economy would start to collapse. The factions on their homeworld who wanted to replace the Empress would see it as a gift from the gods. And if their great clans lost enough money to cause them to fold, they’d almost have to end the war on human terms.

  Great Lady Vanla rose to her feet, red eyes flashing around the chamber. “So,” she said. “So we are faced with an impossible situation. The humans have used freighters to attack us, to raid our systems and wreak havoc on our worlds. And yet we are to be denied the right to ensure that such a successful attack is not to be repeated? We are fighting for our lives and yet you see fit to infect our scales?”

  A human would have spoken of stabbing a knife in someone’s back. “We are the ones fighting to prevent the humans from overrunning the galaxy,” she added. It was an astonishing change from her earlier attitude, but Hammerfall had shocked the Galactics – and the Funks. “We are the ones who have been attacked, without provocation, by a race intent on establishing itself as a new interstellar power. You say that your crews have suffered? How many of them have died in treacherous attacks? You say that your ships are being raided? It is the humans who are raiding your ships! And yet you blame us for taking reasonable measures to protect ourselves!

  “The Hegemony cannot give in to blackmail by those who feel that they have the right to dictate to us. Your cowardly attack on our interests when we are fighting for our lives will not go unavenged. It is the humans who have attacked us, it is the humans who are raiding our shipping, it is the humans who must be defeated before the very shape of our society is reformed. You think you can force us to accept a dishonourable peace? We will go onwards to win this war and then we shall see.”

  Shan listened as Ambassador after Ambassador rose to have their say. It was difficult to know just how much of their speeches should be taken seriously, if only because making statements of principle was easy, but it was far harder to actually back up their words. The powers nearer to the Hegemony seemed less inclined to confront it directly, while the powers with thousands of light years between them and the Funks were more than willing to condemn the Funks openly. But what if the Traders actually did carry out their threat? How many galactic powers would have no choice but to stop trading with the Funks?

  She made a mental note to have her staff look into it, while starting to prepare her own speech. Whatever the Traders thought of the human race, they’d created a very dangerous situation for her people. It was quite possible that some of the other Galactics would try to impose a peace, one that might be unfavourable to humanity. They’d certainly want access to humanity’s weapons and other technological developments. Finally, after many other ambassadors had had their say, it was her turn to speak.

  “The Federation was forced into war by constant pressure from the Hegemony,” she reminded them, again. It was easy to see how many Galactics had forgotten that in the wake of humanity’s unexpected victories. “We do not seek conquest, we do not seek economic damage to the entire galaxy; our only goal is to prevent the Hegemony from eventually crushing us and turning Earth into yet another slave world. If that could be guaranteed, we would be happy to end the war rig
ht now. No one else on either side would have to die.”

  Great Lady Vanla rose to her feet before she could be officially recognised. “But you have committed atrocities on Garston,” she thundered. The Funks had started broadcasting propaganda as soon as they realised that Earth wasn't going to be a pushover. Garston’s multiracial stew had, unfortunately, provided more than enough grist for their mill. “You clearly have no intention of returning that world, to which you have no claim...”

  “But we now know that you have been committing atrocities against other races on Garston,” another ambassador said. The floating orb of flesh glared with all three eyes towards the Funk. “You have mistreated other races who have settled on the planet. I propose that the Commune dispatch a fact-finding mission to establish the truth and then place Garston under neutral control.”

  Shan sat back in her chair as the Galactics argued. The Hegemony would oppose the measure, of course, and be regarded as a pariah because of it. Earth would make a show of reluctance, but eventually accept, provided that the forces sent were enough to prevent the Hegemony from snatching it back. Assuming, of course, that the Commune managed to agree. There were so many factions involved that it was unlikely that anyone would agree on anything in a hurry. By the time they did, the war would probably be over.

  * * *

  She was back in the Embassy, reading through reports from Earth and Garston, when her aide interrupted her musings. “Ambassador,” he said, “you have a visitor.”

  Shan looked up, crossly. “I do?”

  “You do,” her aide confirmed. “It’s Great Lady Vanla herself.”

  Shan felt her eyes widen as she stood up. “Have her sent into the meeting room at once,” she ordered. “I’ll be through directly.”

  The meeting room had been designed to be suitable for representatives of every known race, at least the ones that could operate in a standard atmosphere. It still felt weird, almost discomforting, to her, but at least the Funk probably felt the same way. The chairs, formed from a substance that altered itself to match the contours of the visitor, had been provided by the Cats. Her intelligence team still suspected that the material concealed bugs beyond their ability to detect, even if the Cats had stagnated over thousands of years. They’d certainly want to keep an eye on what the younger races were doing as they withdrew from galactic affairs.

  Great Lady Vanla looked… almost furtive as she sat down, giving Shan precious moments to compose herself. She’d expected visitors from the Tarn, or the Traders, or any one of a dozen races that might be friendly to humanity, but she’d never expected the Hegemony to send a representative. Her security staff had noted that Great Lady Vanla had come alone, without even her aide or a bodyguard, which suggested… what? The meeting was clearly intended to be completely off the record.

  “Great Lady,” she said, by way of welcome. “I thank you for visiting my home.”

  The Funk didn't smile. “In her infinite wisdom,” she said, “Her Majesty the Empress of the Hegemony, the Heir to the First Empress, has ordered me to raise the issue of peace terms with you and your people.”

  Shan blinked in surprise. The Hegemony had taken blows, but they were very far from defeated. Earth’s ability to keep fighting was limited, even with the loans they’d secured from the various banking combines among the Galactics. Whatever the Traders did, it was quite possible for the Hegemony to win the war if they kept fighting. Or… could it be that they’d decided that continuing the fight was not worth the effort?

  “I have always stated that we are willing to discuss peace terms,” Shan said, carefully. “Does your Empress wish to listen to ours, or does she have terms of her own?”

  “The Empress believes that continuing the war would be disastrous for both of our races,” Great Lady Vanla said. It was hard to tell, but Shan suspected that anything less than dictating peace terms at gunpoint wouldn't have sat well with her. The Hegemony’s superiority complex was astonishingly powerful. “She is willing to propose terms for an end to the war.”

  Shan listened, carefully. “The Empress is prepared to accept your independence from the Hegemony, now and forever,” Great Lady Vanla said. Shan, who knew that ‘forever’ really meant for as long as it suited the Hegemony, said nothing. “If you return to your pre-war borders, we will recognise them as inviolate.”

  It was hard not to laugh. “So you want us to surrender everything we've taken from you and in exchange you will graciously agree to recognise our right to exist?” Shan asked. “Do you really think that those terms would be acceptable to the Federation?”

  “When the alternative is total obliteration,” the Funk pointed out, “you would find those terms very acceptable.”

  She did have a point, Shan had to admit, but the situation wasn't that dire. “I strongly doubt that the Federation Council would agree that your claim on Terra Nova is valid,” she said, instead. “You not only held a human population in bondage, but you oppressed that population savagely. The Federation will not return that planet to you.”

  It didn't feel right to her to impose such a strict rule on discussions, but Ambassadors had been sacked before for regarding inalienable rights and solid positions as things that could be negotiated and given away. Diplomats liked to keep talking, and to keep the lines of communication open, but some things couldn't be surrendered or the results would be disastrous. At bottom, the Federation wanted – needed – the Hegemony’s formal recognition of Earth’s independence. Giving the Funks a sign of weakness would be disastrous.

  “And you will lose it when we finally recapture the world,” Great Lady Vanla said, coldly. “You clearly have no intention of negotiating openly.”

  “Neither do you,” Shan said. “You came to see me in private. I assume that you don’t want word of this discussion getting back to your own people.”

  “They would not believe you if you chose to tell them,” the Funk hissed. “I shall go.”

  “I have terms that the Federation would regard as acceptable,” Shan said. “Don’t you want to hear them before you slither out of here?”

  If the Funk noticed the subtle insult, she said nothing. “We cannot accept terms imposed at gunpoint,” she said, flatly. Shan barely managed to refrain from pointing out that the Funks expected humanity to accept being dictated to. “But we will consider them.”

  “You recognise our independence, including that of Terra Nova,” Shan said. “Garston becomes independent, governed by the settlers on the planet; Earth continues to administer the high orbitals, but agrees not to turn the system into a naval base. You refrain from rebuilding Hammerfall or basing naval units within twenty light years of the border. And neither side will seek any reparations from the other.”

  The Funk hissed in amusement. “You must think us insane,” she said. “Why would we accept such unpleasant terms?”

  “Because the longer this war continues, the greater the chance that your Empress will lose her head,” Shan said. She smiled in cold amusement. “It will take years for you to repair the damage we’ve inflicted upon you, assuming that your neighbours give you the chance. What happens when they decide they have a chance to take you down forever?”

  “The Hegemony will not go quietly,” Great Lady Vanla said. She rose to her feet. “I will report your words to the Empress, but I do not believe that she will accept.”

  Shan watched her go, and then walked back into her office. Whatever else could be said of her, the Great Lady would not have come on such a mission without permission from her superiors. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance to end the war before it was too late. Or maybe the Hegemony had been hurt badly enough that they couldn't settle for anything less than total victory. There was no way to know. She’d report it to Earth and hope that wiser minds than herself might be able to decide what to do next.

  * * *

  Hammerfall had once been a proud system, the linchpin of a defensive line intended to keep any aggressor away from the core worlds. No
w… it had been crippled. After a frigate had struck a mine and had been almost destroyed, most of the remaining starships had had to withdraw to higher orbits where they would be reasonably safe. Or so Lady Dalsha hoped. It was impossible to say just how many mines the humans had laid, or precisely where they’d all gone as they drifted into orbit around Hammerfall. Some of them even seemed to have been rigged to explode when they picked up an active sensor sweep at close range. None of the fortresses could even risk dropping their shields, for fear that a mine would get through the shield boundary and detonate against their hulls. It was all a fearful mess.

  The propaganda claimed that the Battle of Hammerfall had been a victory for the Hegemony, but the long list of destroyed or crippled starships told their own story. One way or another, the plans for a mighty counterattack would have to be put back weeks, perhaps months – and what if Earth was defended by similar missiles? The entire Hegemony Navy might be unable to break through the defences and range in on the planet. It was no help that most of the independent freighters travelling through the Hegemony had decided to go elsewhere, at the command of the Traders. If they couldn't find a way to crack through humanity’s network of mines, they might have to completely abandon the planet. And that would be difficult to justify to an increasingly angry population.

  At least no one had questioned her command. The smarter ones probably reasoned that they didn't want to get the blame for the disaster; the stupider ones were probably too frightened to see the opportunity for advancement. But she needed to do something before the morale problem got out of hand. How long would it be before starship commanders started refusing to go up against human starships? Millions of rumours were spreading through the fleet, each one crazier than the last. The humans had built weapons that could take out a superdreadnought with a single shot, the humans had created a planet-killer that could eat an entire world and use the debris as fuel, the humans had created a form of rogue nanotech that could destroy an entire fleet in seconds. Each of the rumours had very little connection to the truth, but that didn't help. How could it?