A Hoorka commander responded. “This is the Hoorka Kaninga. Our scans show no bios on this planet. If your subjects were here, they either left or departed. I apologize for any brusqueness, but we must insist you leave this system. This is rightfully claimed Hoorka space.”
The diplomat leaned toward his camera. “The subjects in question were here only two days ago. No ships have been seen leaving this system. I must insist that we are allowed an inspection of their previous encampment.”
The Hoorka commander scowled. “You will insist on nothing. This planet and this system are property of the Kingdom of the Hoorka. I will only ask you this once… kindly leave.”
The diplomat countered, “Very well, Commander. You have forced my hand.”
The diplomat turned away from his comm camera, giving a nod. A new wormhole opened and fifty Karthian cruisers and two radica ships came through.
The diplomat turned toward the comm. “We will be conducting an inspection, Commander. When we are satisfied our subjects are no longer on your planet, we will leave. In the meantime, just so there are no incidents between our forces, I suggest you and you ships leave the area. We shall not be long.”
As the Karthian cruisers moved in close, the Hoorka ships held their ground. After five minutes of a stare-down, several small explosions then burst out from the forward-most Karthian ship. Laser blasts were returned at the Hoorka. Within seconds, both sides were firing at will as their ships took evasive actions.
A Karthian cruiser, the same ship that had taken the initial hit, was the first to take major damage. A heavy breach of the exterior shields and armor had been followed with a direct hit from a Hoorka dreadnought. A hundred meter long rent, covering five decks, had been ripped into her port side. A breached hydrogen store, and the ignition of the oxygen reserve, sealed her fate. The center of the ship exploded in a massive fireball before splitting in half.
The Hoorka pilots and gunners were skilled in their tasks. Three more Karthian ships dropped from the battle before the first Hoorka ship took major damage. The concurrent laser strikes had converged on the location of the bridge deck at the same time. The Hoorka dreadnought was now in a slow, uncontrolled roll as the following Karthian cruisers pounded her relentlessly. In the span of the next five minutes, five more cruisers were taken from the fight and a second Hoorka ship was shredded when its rear shields failed.
Another wormhole opened and forty Karthian cruisers slipped through. As the new ships joined the fight, two more of the Hoorka vessels met with violent ends. Only moments later, twelve of the Karthian ships exploded.
Johnny said, “What just happened?”
Mace stood. “Jasper Collins just happened. Was probably his shot that started this thing.”
A wormhole opened near the Royal Fortune’s location, a fleet made up of one hundred twelve Hoorka dreadnoughts, cruisers, and destroyers, joining the fight.
“This is spiraling out of control,” said Jane. “How do we stop it?”
Mace shook his head. “We don’t.”
The casualties on both sides began to mount. Ships flew, twisted, and turned. Weapons fire lit up the blackness of the void. Sparks flew and explosions vented as the two sides rammed their heads together. Twice again each side committed new ships. The fight continued to grow.
Forty-two minutes into the escalation, one of the massive Karthian stations came through a wormhole portal. The green energy weapon was quickly put into use. Three Hoorka ships were its first victims. Four additional firings saw ten Hoorka vessels completely destroyed.
A wormhole opened and the Hoorka fleet retreated.
Johnny said, “This can’t be good for the queen. A new war with the Karthians is not gonna play well with her people.”
Mace nodded. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
Jane asked, “What do we do?”
Mace frowned. “Not much we can do. We wait to see what happens, and then we go back to Alpha to yell at Mr. Collins.”
Johnny said, “He was only protecting his people.”
“I know. But he might have just cost us our only ally.”
Mace let out a deep sigh. “This has just been a bad week for us all the way around.”
Johnny slapped Mace on the shoulder. “We’re still here. And that means we can still fight. The Targarians are hidden away. They should be safe from detection.”
Jenny said, “Not if the Karthians put troops on the ground. I doubt they’ve had time to completely cover their tracks. A good forensics team would take them right to that ravine they covered over.”
Forty minutes after the fighting had ended, the first of the Karthian ships touched down on the surface. Troops piled out, searching through the remains of the previous Targarian encampment. The first hour of searching turned over no leads.
The Royal Fortune moved back to the Alpha Centauri site. Jasper Collins was waiting.
Mace walked down the shuttle ramp. “You just started a war.”
Jasper shrugged. “They were closing in on my people. I wasn’t gonna sit back and just watch. Anyway, I think I have a way to end this.”
“How could you possibly do that?”
“By blowing up the capital on Terrex. I’ll open a video stream and broadcast an image of Favia, demanding an end to all hostilities and immediate removal of their ships from Hardy. I have a crew making a 3D image of the queen right now.”
“This is a horribly bad idea. We need to sit and discuss this.”
Jasper shook his head. “There is no discussion. The Karthians are on the ground. We both know it’s only a matter of time before they figure things out. There are dozens of well worn trails between that abandoned city and the underground complex. They only need to follow one. So I’ll be moving ahead with the assault on Terrex. Maybe this buys us peace. If not, it hopefully buys me enough time to move my people elsewhere… which is my big problem at the moment. If you have an alternative, you better tell me what it is in the next hour, because as of right now, this is happening.”
Chapter 17
*
Mace paced the deck of the Fortune with the others. “There must be something we can do.”
Johnny shook his head. “In an hour? Not happening. Don’t know that it would do any good to notify Favia, either.”
Mace said, “Jenny, take us back to Hoorka space.”
Johnny placed his hand on Mace’s shoulder. “They may not let us anywhere near her. Your name is on the deed stating Hardy was purchased from you. A single credit might have seemed cheap, but not if it comes with war attached to it.”
“We have to tell her what just transpired and why. We owe it to her. She may be the only one who has enough pull to get us out of this.”
The shuttle moved through to Hoorka space.
An immediate comm was opened from two dreadnoughts parked in the shuttle’s way. “Mr. Hardy, I’m afraid the queen is temporarily unavailable.”
Mace replied, “Patch me through to her, Commander. This is important.”
The commander shook his head. “I have my orders, Mr. Hardy. She is not to be bothered.”
Mace nodded as the comm closed. “Jenny, jump us out to free space and then back in again near the planet. We’re going all the way to the ground.”
Jenny replied, “They’ll have detected a wormhole opening.”
Mace nodded. “But they won’t see anyone come through. Take us in and put us down smack in the middle of her palace courtyard. I’ll hop down from there and go directly to her… if she’s there.”
Fifteen minutes later the ramp of the shuttle was lowering… just enough for Mace Hardy to jump down to the grass of the courtyard. A sprint had him entering the queen’s throne room, where the monarch was sitting with three advisors standing before her. Mace turned off his projector as we walked into the grand room.
Favia stood. “Mr. Hardy? What has happened?”
Two guards raced into the room, tackling him to the marbled floor.
Fav
ia yelled, “Unhand him! He is here on business of the queen!”
The guards relented. Mace walked up the steps toward the throne. “This is the doing of Mr. Collins. His people are trapped on that planet. The Karthians insisted on performing a search. Mr. Collins fired the first shots that started the fight. Both sides escalated the conflict almost immediately.”
Favia motioned for her advisors to leave. “Why is it the Karthians lay claim to the king’s people?”
“The Karthians defeated them in battle, claiming their home world. They killed the rest of their citizenry and will do the same to Mr. Collins��� people. That’s what these people do. They’re genocidal.”
Favia rubbed her forehead. “I should have refused your request for a claim, or found some other way. This is disastrous… simply disastrous.”
Mace nodded. “And there’s more to come. Jasper Collins, right now, is preparing to demolish the Karthians’ capital city. He’ll be giving them an ultimatum… disguised as you. If they don’t comply he will destroy the capital. He has a second city that is wired and ready to blow after that. I begged him to wait. He wouldn’t listen.”
Favia held up her head in thought. “Is this possible? Can this be done?”
Mace replied, “It can and he will do it. He’s working up an image of you to use before he does this.”
Favia stood, clapping her hands for her assistants to return. The three Hoorka scurried back into the room and were soon at her feet.
“Bring my scepter and my crown. I will be making a speech momentarily. Mr. Hardy, can you open a comm to the king?”
Mace nodded. “I can, but your people will not be happy with how it’s being done. We’re parked in your courtyard. I’d give you the coordinates so one of your ships could do this, but it would reveal the whereabouts of our base.”
Favia said, “Make the connection, Mr. Hardy. I will speak to the king directly.”
Mace enabled his comm. “Jenny, go back up and open a wormhole comm back to Jasper. She wants to speak with him personally.”
Jenny replied, “You do realize you are giving away our position right now, don’t you?”
“We have no choice. Go up and make the connection. You’ll be under the protection of the queen.”
Mace turned. “Order your military to not move on the Royal Fortune. They interfere and you won’t be talking to Mr. Collins.”
Favia nodded. “I will give the order.”
The comm was opened. “King Collins, I would like to offer my services directly to your effort. I am volunteering my image and my voice for the purpose you are about to undertake. Allow me to speak with the Karthians on behalf of my people.”
Jasper replied, “This would be demanding their complete withdrawal from the Hardy system. And a complete cessation of all hostilities. If they refuse, their capital city will be destroyed. Of course, don’t tell them which city, just threaten that a city will be demolished. And tell them you’ll be firing a secret weapon at them that they won’t be able to defend against. I doubt they’ll agree to your demands, but it’s worth a shot.”
Mace said, “Favia, as an extra incentive, you could tell them the Hoorka will retract any claim to the system as well, but make sure they know that system is off limits to both species.”
“Mr. Hardy, that will be a hard sell to my people.”
“Will it? If it allows them to avoid a war? Currently your people have no stake in that planet. Fighting over it is not worth having it. If it was, you’d just go back to war against whoever else it was you were fighting, as that was over disputed territories as well.”
“Excellent points. And they fit perfectly with our foreign policy. King Collins, if you and Mr. Hardy allow me to play this role, I think I can bring an end to this conflict and serve all parties involved.”
Jasper nodded. “We’ll contact the Fortune when we’re ready. Mr. Hardy, you’ll be receiving a video feed of her broadcast, of their response, and of the result should they deny her offer.”
Jenny came over the comm. “I have a dozen dreadnoughts up here facing us down.”
Favia replied, “Give me one moment. Commodore Gluthy, I requested the Royal Fortune be left alone. Under the direct order of the queen you will move your forces back immediately. I am conducting critical negotiations that will bring about the end of this conflict. Your interference may make that impossible. If these talks fail because of you, I will hold you fully responsible for the continuance of this war. Do you understand me?”
The commodore leaned in to his camera. “I will respect your wishes. However, should your effort be unsuccessful, know that it is you who may be held responsible.”
The queen scowled. “I am the queen of the Hoorka, Commodore. I am already responsible!”
The commodore bowed as the comm closed. The dozen menacing dreadnoughts pulled back, though remained within weapons distance.
Twenty minutes passed before Jasper came over the comm. “I’m in position. Feed is coming through. We’re tapped into their system. Broadcast will be live in fifteen seconds. I’ll patch through their response when I have it.”
Favia shooed away her advisors. She adjusted her crown slightly with her left hand as she right clutched the royal scepter. The image of Jasper nodded as the video feed went live to the capital city of Terrex.
“Karthians, I am Queen Favia of the Hoorka Kingdom. As some of you may know, your forces violated our territory and attacked a small fleet of our ships only an hour ago. I am here on behalf of my people to offer you terms of peace. Should these terms not be agreed to within the hour, I will be forced to order the destruction of one of your cities on Terrex. This is not something that either I or my people desire. I hope it will be the same with you.
“Here are our terms. All hostilities and operations in the Hardy system will cease immediately. All Karthian and Hoorka ships will be removed. As a side to this agreement, the Hoorka Kingdom will relinquish all claims to this territory. The Karthians will also relinquish any claim. Both sides will refrain from any visitation to this system, as will any associated allies. It is in both our best interests to let this system go.
“To do otherwise would mean continued and escalating war between our peoples. Should that happen, I can assure you the Hoorka will not stop until the Karthian Empire is no longer a threat. I await your response on the comm channel that is open to you. Should any effort be made to encroach on the comm channel I have presented, it will trigger the immediate response of the destruction of your city.
“With that… I beg for the safety and security of both your people and mine, that you will accept this offer and end this already bloody conflict. Let there be peace between us.”
An image of the queen stayed on the broadcast with a caption in Karthian that read “Peace Between Us.”
Mace was the first to speak. “Well done. You looked confident and commanding.”
“I feel strangely calm. We’re at the beginning of a war and I do feel confident in our military. If you can do as you say with regard to that city, I would think they would eagerly agree. If they deny my offer, I would like to give them a short time to evacuate their city. The Hoorka are not about killing civilians. However, I will do that if it prevents a larger war. If you’ll excuse me, my military and political leadership is demanding answers.”
The time spent waiting on a response seemed to drag forever. Favia’s discussion with her leadership was heated. In the end, she was given the time she asked for. When the hour had come and gone without a response, Favia returned to the Karthian airwaves.
“Karthians, as a show that we are not barbarians, you will be given one hour to fully evacuate your capital city. Should you continue to deny the offer when that time arrives, the city will be destroyed in its entirety. You have one hour from this time to clear out your people.”
Jasper came over the comm. “Just realized the Karthian hour is like seventy-nine of our minutes. We might have cut their initial response short, but
this evacuation offer more than makes up for it. We’re getting images of people beginning to leave the city already. Many of those heading in are turning away.”
Mace looked up at Favia. “A gracious offer. It will play well with your people that you are compassionate.”
Favia frowned. “If this destruction doesn’t happen and we continue at war, you will see the people not caring about my compassion. They will instead be demanding a ruthless warrior who would do anything to defend her people.”
“The game of war only has temporary winners. Eventually those who started it die off, whether during or after the conflict. The newer generations lose sight of what it was all about and what needs to be done to assure it never happens again.”
“Sounds like you speak from experience.”
Mace nodded. “Some. It’s also what the history of war teaches us. Hoorka children being born today will hear about the great war that just ended, but it won’t have the same impact on them as it had on those who lived through it. That seems to run in a vicious cycle that repeats itself. Full preparation for war is the only means for a possibility of lasting peace. Ideologies cannot defend against it, and are often the cause of it.”
Mace watched as a counter ticked down. The Karthians continued to stream out of their capital, but not at a rate that would allow it to be empty when the hour was up. As the moment of decision approached, Favia returned to the air.
“Karthians, we are only moments away from the destruction of your capital. This is not the outcome we desire. Your leadership chose to attack us in our territory. They shed Hoorka blood. My people demand justice. I have made this offer to instead give peace. Our comm is open and awaiting a response. If this hard thing is done, the responsibility for it rests on your shoulders.
“You have… seven minutes to stop this. And so you know, if you fail to respond after this event… a second of your cities will be targeted and destroyed. Choose peace for both our peoples.”
HADRON Havoc Page 16