Captains Malicious (The Liberation Series Book 1)

by T. R. Harris

  “You’re speaking in the abstract, Patel. So far the peace negotiations are continuing, despite all the bloviating by the Vixx’r. It’s good that they’re upset. It shows we mean business and will stand up to their aggression. And I repeat, Kincaid—and me by extension—has committed no Human crime—”

  “What about murder?”

  Banaras Lu’s comment stopped Victoria in her tracks. “Killing Vixx’r is not a crime otherwise, there would be about a billion Human murderers on trial.”

  “Murder of Humans, Madam President.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “So far there have been documented cases of seven Humans who have died as a direct result of Kincaid’s attack upon their vessels. As the commander of a non-sanctioned piracy force, Kincaid is responsible.”

  “Non-sanctioned? I thought that’s what this is all about? I sanctioned his actions, but not to kill Humans, only aliens.”

  Lu and the silent Fe Ferguson exchanged a quick look, before Lu turned back to Simms. “So for the record, you admit to the sanction of Kincaid’s operation and actions?”

  “I sanction a lot of actions and operations. That doesn’t mean I’m responsible for every little detail of their execution and results. I’m the President, and I have certain immunity for my actions during the fulfilment of my official duties.”

  “And yet Kincaid’s activities appear to be outside the realm of your official duties,” Patel said. “This appears to be a rogue operation, and even presidents can’t unilaterally order personnel and resources to be employed simply on a whim.”

  “And now there have been Human casualties.” Lu added.

  “Explain about these so-called Human casualties!” Simms demanded. “I’ve heard nothing of these.”

  Lu scrolled through the datapad that sat on his lap until he found what he was looking for. “Yes, on four separate occasions, ships under Captain Kincaid’s ultimate command attacked vessels of the Kincaid Shipping and Transport company, resulting in the combined deaths of seven Human pilots and crew, all civilian.”

  “Of course,” Victoria said. “The Vixx’r have taken over KST and are using the Humans essentially as shields against attack.”

  “Not very effective shields,” said Fe Ferguson, speaking for the first time. Victoria focused her laser stare at the lawyer. She knew he played a major role in what was transpiring and even suspected him of being behind the hacking of her comm files.

  “And yet he still attacked the vessels, knowing full well that Humans could die,” said Noah Osei.

  Victoria Simms had heard enough. “This is all I’m going to take of this,” she announced. “If you have a case, then go through the proper channels and issue an arrest warrant. And by the way, good luck with that. Try finding a judge who will order the arrest of the sitting President of the UPE, and especially using illegally obtained records and for actions against the very forces we’re current at war against. Even if some collateral damage has occurred, I don’t think that rises to the level of impeachment. And even if it does, there’s a process in place for that, too, and it’s not through a gang of thugs sitting in my office.”

  Lu produced a sheet of paper from his case. Simms was startled every time she saw real paper; it was so rare. He handed the page to her.

  “This is a decree signed by the majority of the Council authorizing federal agents to place UPE President Victoria Simms under house restraint, pending a declaration of formal charges against her.”

  “You can’t be serious…?

  “Furthermore,” Lu continued, “President Simms is to be held incommunicado to prevent news of such action from spreading throughout the UPE. First-Secretary Kyle Patel is authorized to temporarily assume the role of acting-president until this issue is resolved.”

  “You can’t do this!”

  “The Council can do what it damn well pleases, Simms,” Patel spat out. “Apparently, just like you.” His dark face looked even darker now from the blood that had rushed to his face. “And I should inform you, Madam President that once the peace agreement has been signed and executed, the people of the UPE will see me as their savior, not you. After twelve long years of war and over forty-million casualties, I will be the hero, and anyone who opposed the peace process—including those who actively sought to subvert it—will be vilified. At that time, any minor shortcuts that had to be taken in order to ferret out such individuals will be overlooked.”

  “You’ve just committed high treason, Patel. All of you have,” said Victoria. “And when the true nature of the Vixx’r threat is revealed, it will be you who are vilified.”

  13

  ALL two hundred members of Kincaid’s pirate crews were gathered in the huge landing bay of the six-master Revenge to view the broadcast from Earth. Their numbers had grown steadily since the Vixx’r began using KST ships for the bulk of their transport needs throughout the Reaches. Disgruntled flight crews deserted on a regular basis, and now they were all here, along with the veterans of his pirate fleet, crowded together and awaiting the message that was also being broadcast throughout the entire UPE, as well as the Reaches.

  Robert and his senior staff were in a room just off the bay, seated around a table oriented so they could watch the transmission on a huge screen mounted on the wall.

  Robert had a pretty good idea what the crux of the message would be: Robert Kincaid has been a bad boy, and we of the UPE strongly condemn his actions; however, he is no longer under our jurisdiction and therefore there is very little we can do to make him cease and desist.

  In his secret communications with UPE President Victoria Simms he had been assured any condemnation would run along those lines. Robert trusted her and agreed that such a public pronouncement had to be made in order to protect the Human population of the Reaches from Vixx’r reprisals if his identify was ever found out, which it had, thanks to First-Master Gaolic Baett.

  Javon Steele and Lt. Sean Sinclair were the only two others in the room privy to Robert’s true mandate and how the upcoming broadcast was all part of the larger plan. They trusted the President; yet they were not so trusting of the UPE Congress.

  The screen suddenly came to life as a tech in the comm center received the first data packet and released it to the monitors. This was the moment Robert had dreaded, yet knew was inevitable. From this day on he would have a hard time returning to his home without running the gauntlet of Vixx’r spies and informants. His permanent residence would now be the Malicious, or at least it would be for the duration of the campaign—however long that was to last.

  The screen displayed the circular seal of the Congress of the UPE, which surprised Robert since he had been expecting this message to be coming from the President herself. He felt a slight twinge at the back of his neck as a trace of uncertainty crept up his spine.

  The image now changed to show the serious face of First-Secretary Kyle Patel, his piercing blue eyes seeming to glow against the dark contrast of his olive complexion. He was standing before the main podium in the huge UPE Capitol Building in New London—the third such building to carry the label since the original had been destroyed over five hundred years ago. This one was much grander than the structure that had once stood in a city called Washington, D.C., with a gaudy opulence Robert found pretentious, even though he’d only seen it in pictures. It was also much larger, designed to accommodate the three thousand ninety-four members of the current UPE Congress.

  There was a representative from the Reaches present, even though he now served in absentia following the occupation and annexation of his territory. Robert saw him seated behind the podium, next to the Speaker of the Chamber.

  President Victoria Simms wasn’t in view of the camera, and Robert began to get nervous. If the President of the UPE had been present, surely the media cameras would pick her out. Patel began to speak, and still Simms was a no-show.

  “Citizens of the United Peoples of Earth, I am First-Secretary Kyle Patel, and I come before you
today bearing a very grave message, one that involves the fate and well-being of over one billion of our fellow Humans, people now residing in the far-distant section of the UPE known as the Reaches.”

  It was obvious Kyle Patel was a seasoned professional in public speaking, because he paused and looked around the room before focusing his gaze directly into the camera. He let the tension rise just enough before continuing.

  “Through the actions of one man the entire Human population of the Reaches is now in peril and faced with extermination. That man is former Fleet Captain Robert Kincaid. This disgraced former officer has taken it upon himself to launch a campaign of piracy and terrorism throughout the Reaches by targeting the ships and personnel of the occupying Vixx’r forces.

  “At first glance this may appear to be a just and noble undertaking, yet believe me, nothing could be further from the truth. His actions, carried out for purely selfish and greedy purposes, have placed the entire Human population of the Reaches at risk of deadly reprisals from the Vixx’r. It would be one thing if Kincaid was conducting as military campaign of loyal resistance against the Vixx’r, yet he is not. Instead he’s attacking civilian ships of Vixx’r origin, stealing from them and keeping the bounty for himself, without any regard for the suffering his actions may bring upon his fellow Humans.

  “Kincaid is himself heir to a fortune from his family’s iconic shipping business, so he is already with means and comfort; he does not need the treasure pulled from the Vixx’r ships. And yet he still persists in risking the lives of over a billion men, women and children, people who were once his friends and neighbors, and who helped his relatives build such a prosperous business over the past seventy-five years.

  “And for all their support and generosity, this is how he repays his fellow citizens.

  “Already the UPE has received scathing condemnation of his actions from the Vixx’r, who threaten to unleash an all-out purging of the Human population of the Reaches if Kincaid does not cease and desist in his actions. We in the UPE government have tried to convince him to do so, yet to no avail.”

  Again a pregnant pause to let the message sink in.

  “And so it has come down to this, a public denunciation of his actions; however, we in Congress do not feel that even such an emphatic expression of disapproval as this will be enough to stop this sick and demented soul from placing even more Humans at risk. Therefore, Congress has authorized that a substantial reward be paid to anyone who will assist in the capture and prosecution of this criminal, and as a consequence, the Vixx’r have agreed to let this money be forwarded to the recipient—or recipients—without interference or taxation.

  “The amount of the reward is ten million UPE dollars.”

  Robert heard the gasps from around the table; he swallowed hard himself, turning slightly weak with the announcement. That was a lot of money….

  Patel continued: “In addition, we are also offering a reward of one hundred thousand UPE dollars for each of his pirate crew, with the notable exception of Commander Javon Steele, his second-in-command. The reward for Steele will be five hundred thousand UPE dollars.

  “Now, before the people of the Reaches begin contacting Vixx’r authorities, let it be known than any member of Kincaid’s rabid cabal who publicly resigns from his service over the next seventy-two Earth-hours will receive a complete and unconditional pardon.”

  Damn! Robert thought. This was not what he expected. Something must have gone terribly wrong for Victoria to allow such a public crucifixion to go forth. But Patel wasn’t through—Robert realized that he was just warming up….

  “As a further action against Mr. Kincaid and his cohorts, all properties, businesses, money accounts and anything else belonging to him and his crew are hereby summarily confiscated and awarded to the Vixx’r as compensation for the damage they have caused to the commerce and economy of the Reaches. However, any crewmember who resigns within the declared grace period will have their property and wealth returned to them.

  “Furthermore, even though Kincaid has officially terminated his commission in Fleet Command, he has been retroactively subjected to Courts Martial proceedings and has been found guilty of violations of nine major articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a document I might add that has been sacred among all honorable military personnel for over six hundred years. If Kincaid is apprehended by Human authorities anywhere within the UPE, he will be subject to the sentence handed down in the final verdict. I regret to say this concerning any Human being, but that sentence shall be death by lethal injection.”

  Robert felt like he was about to pass out. His breath came short, and as he looked around the table at his crewmates and dearest friends, no one met his eye.

  Patel appeared to be summing up, or at least Robert hoped. The only thing he’d left out of this public evisceration was the part about pissing on his grave.

  “All the necessary letters of authorization, verdicts and other official documentation regarding these actions will be on file for public display as early as tomorrow. Rest assured, all have been voted on and approved by the Council and by Fleet Command, and signed by President Simms.

  “I deeply regret that we have had to take such drastic steps to protect our fellow Humans from the senseless and irresponsible actions of one egomaniac, yet Human history is replete with examples of how a situation like this can get out of hand. We are determined not to let that happen—not this time. And let this be a lesson to others throughout the UPE, that we take threats to our citizenry—and to our species—seriously. We will not tolerate the blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of Humans anywhere.

  “That is all. Thank you for viewing this historic pronouncement.”

  *****

  FOR one of the few times in his life, Robert Kincaid didn’t know what to do. The content of the broadcast from Earth had come as such a complete betrayal of all he’d been told that now he felt as if he was at the bottom of a deep well with no way to escape. He did have a direct and secure channel to President Simms, and he would be sure to use it to get some answers—if he survived the next fifteen minutes aboard the Revenge.

  Everyone aboard had watched, plus an untold number of others throughout the Reaches. And for those who hadn’t watched live, they would be subjected to innumerable reruns ad nauseam—or at least until Robert Kincaid was brought to justice and placed in a shallow grave with a simple headstone that read: R.L. Kincaid, 2518-2550, RIP.

  Robert became aware of the shaded looks from the others in the room. No one was willing to start the conversation, yet many looked anxious to join in once it began.

  “Well, that didn’t go exactly as planned,” Kincaid said with a forced grin.

  “Backstabbing bastards!” Javon Steele cried out.

  “Screw ‘em! This only proves whose side they’re on,” Sean Sinclair said as he rose up out of his chair, unable to contain his nervous energy any longer. “We’re doing their job for them, and this is the thanks we get.”

  Robert stood as well, which brought a hush to the room. “Earth may be a festering boil on the ass of the universe, but our most immediate concern is not the sycophants in Congress. It’s the two hundred men and women on the other side of that door. I’ll suffer whatever consequences I must in the name of duty, but they shouldn’t be dragged into this vendetta Patel has against me.”

  “You may be right, Robert,” Steele said, “but remember, they all volunteered.”

  “For the money.”

  Steele grimaced. “Yes, you’re right, of course. And now that a reward of ten million dollars has been dangled before them, things could get pretty dicey from here on out.”

  Now they all stood, and Steele placed a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “It’s been a good run, boss, but we might as well get this over with.”

  Robert nodded, and then silently led the parade of senior officers through the gladiator gates of the ancient Roman Coliseum…and out to where the lions waited.

  *
****

  ROBERT was stunned by the absolute quiet that met him as he stepped onto the small platform that had been constructed previously—a prominence from where he had originally planned to rededicate himself and his crew to their noble cause following the broadcast. Now it felt as if he was voluntarily walking up the steps of the gallows….

  From where he stood, he could look into the eyes of the first several rows of men and women filling the vast landing bay. They stared at him, almost universally with an intense look of hatred and rapt determination. They appeared as a pack of wolves just about to pounce.

  “This is really bad, Captain!” a voice called out from the crowd.

  “My family, my home—what am I to do now?” asked another.

  As expected, the room suddenly exploded into a cacophony of angry retorts and shrill proclamations. The mob was taking over and gaining courage with each passing moment. And then there came and ebb and flow to the bodies, as those in the back rows began to surge forward, pushing those in front closer to the stage.

  In the metal-lined room voices echoed loudly, and even as Robert began to ask for order, his own voice was lost to the din of the angry mass.

  Suddenly, a plasma bolt lit up the room, streaking up to the high ceiling above before impacting the titanium structure with a deafening clap.

  Robert instinctively jerked to his right, reacting to the origin of the bolt. It had come from behind him and to his left, and not from the crowd before him. Everyone in the room froze, not quite sure what was coming next.

  Robert looked to his left as Bondel Drake and six of his crew from the Kai Shek entered the landing bay and took up positions surrounding the platform, each with Browning HK-4 plasma rifles aimed into the crowd. It took Robert a moment to realize this—and then to question why they weren’t aimed at him?