The Jovian Sweep (Asteroid Scrabble Book 1)

by Martin Bourne

Jose couldn’t stop looking at the tiny human. “It's just incredible. Did we really make this?"

  Donal just kissed her on the forehead.

  Josie ran her fingers over the newborn's face. "We really do have to think of a name now.”

  “We did decide to wait, if you recall. We wanted to choose a name after we saw what our bundle of joy looked like, so we could choose something that, well, fitted.”

  “It would have been wise to have gotten a few ‘possibles’ though wouldn’t it? But you wouldn’t hear of it, you stubborn gunner you!”

  “Well, names are important. There’s nothing more personal than your name, and yet you don’t get to choose it. Other people give you your names, and you have to live with them.”

  There was a pause. Josie put a hand on his arm. “Courage.”

  Donal’s stared for an instant, and then he smiled. “Yes.” He gripped her arm. “Thank you for remembering that.”

  “We’ve been married for nearly a year now. How could I not know something as important as that to you?”

  He smiled. “I’m always finding new, wonderful things about you, love.”

  “Sweet talker! Why don’t you put that honey tongue away and instead put your brain to work in thinking up a good name?”

  Donal considered a moment. “How about Zoe, after your dam?”

  “Dam doesn’t want that. She says it’s too confusing having two members of the family with the same name.”

  Donal considered. “Then what about ‘Celene’? That’s a good name.”

  Josie nodded slowly. “Celene Courage. Yes.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you for remembering her.”

  Donal smiled. “Celene Zoe Courage. How about that?”

  Josie giggled as her hands slowly roved over her baby, continuing to explore every digit, every strand of hair, imprinting every detail. “I’m okay with a middle name, but don’t you think that if it’s my choice for the first name, the second should come from your side of the family?”

  Donal reached forward and stroked Celene Courage’s doe-soft scalp. “One of the many reasons I love you is that you are so thoughtful! Tragically, however there are some serious practical difficulties to picking a name from my side.”

  “Practical? I’m not talking ‘practical’! I’m talking personal, emotional, very…I don’t know…Human. I’m inviting your family to help name our baby!”

  “The only girls in my family are my half-sister, who I don’t get on with; my dam, who you recall is called “Hortensia’; and my aunts ‘Esmerelda’ and ‘Chastity’.”

  “I withdraw my offer.”

  Donal grinned. “Tell you what. If you really want to honour my side of the clan, we can name her brother ‘Jack’ after my famous cousin, the somewhat tarnished hero of the defence of Jupiter.”

  “Brother?”

  Donal slid an arm around Josie’s neck, drew her closer and kissed her wetly on the cheek. “You know, the one that’ll be born…ooh…about eleven to twelve months from now?”

  She returned his kiss. “You are thoroughly incorrigible!”

  “It’s your own fault for being so delectable.”

  “Mmm…I seem to remember you used that same argument nine months ago.”

  Donal motioned to the bundle in Josie's arms. “And look how well it worked! Why change such a successful tactic?”

  She giggled. She had done a lot of laughing in the last year. Some crying too of course - nothing was ever perfect all the time – but much more joy than sorrow. The times had been good.

  She gazed at the new arrival cradled in her arms. And now the times were the best she had ever known.

  Donal broke into her thoughts. “It is rather overwhelming, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I mean, she’s ours. We have to feed her, look after her, guide her - even educate her.” He puffed out his cheeks. “It’s one heck of a responsibility.”

  Josie considered him for an instant. “Look at it as a role progression in your life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you were just like her at one time.” Josie sat up a little in the bed. “I know it’s hard to believe now, but you started out as a helpless baby being adored by everyone.”

  “True.”

  “Then you went onto being a snotty child who was adored by no one.”

  “Humph.”

  “Then you became a wild-living, rakish bachelor, playing the field.”

  Donal’s brow furrowed. “I don’t remember that bit.”

  “You must have blinked. Anyway, then you met a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman and fell for her.”

  “Hu-huh. That’s a beautiful, intelligent, talented and modest woman.”

  “My apologies, you’re quite right. To continue, you wooed and won that beautiful, intelligent, talented, modest and a few other things woman, and became a husband.”

  Donal grinned. “I was being a bit maudlin, wasn’t I?”

  “Just a bit.” She passed Celene up to him. “Anyway, now you are going to be a father.”

  “I said it was overwhelming. I didn’t mean it wouldn’t be amazing too.” He reached out and stroked Celene’s head. “Hello my little sweet.”

  “Enjoy it while you can.”

  “Eh?”

  “Look how the last year has flown by. It won’t get any better. You’ll turn around and she’ll be winning prizes at school.”

  “Doesn’t matter - she’ll still be my little girl.”

  “Not forever. Girls take after their mothers. A few years and she’ll be a teenager, disobedient, arguing with you all the time, and then being seduced by some lascivious sailor.”

  “A curse upon the navy!”

  At that instant Celene’s tiny hand shot up, quick as lightning, and grabbed Donal’s forefinger. They looked at each other, amazed.

  “Reactions like that, we’ve got a great little link warrior in the making here!”

  Josie reached up and took Celene again, tucking her errant arm away. “I’m not so sure I want her to be a link warrior.”

  “But both her parents are link warriors. People will talk if she isn’t!”

  “I’m being serious Donal.”

  Donal paused. “It’s very uncommon for link warriors to get killed Jose. Celene D’Abro was really unlucky.”

  “I know, but...Donal, truthfully, what do you think about this new argument with the Trigs? The last news reports said negotiations were on the point of breaking down.”

  Donal reached out and caressed her shoulder thoughtfully. “It’s getting serious, that’s for sure.”

  Josie cuddled her newborn. “Do you think there's going to be another war?”

  Donal removed his arm from its comfortable enclosing slot and hesitated. When he spoke, his voice was very subdued. “Yes. I think there will be.”

  Little Celene looked so beautiful, and so innocent. Josie swallowed. “Everything seemed to quieten down after the second battle of Hypatia and all that nonsense at Industrial Rim. This ceasefire has lasted, what, nearly six months?”

  Donal pulled up a chair and sat facing his wife and child. “Yes, but the fundamental issues between us and the Trigs remain unresolved. There’s been a lot of noise from the government about peace and goodwill, but if you really look at the ‘generous concessions’ both sides trumpet it’s pretty obvious they’re nothing more than window-dressing. Neither side is going to give way on any of the really important points. Neither side can afford to.” He sighed. “Frankly I’m amazed the peace has lasted this long.”

  Josie hugged Celene. “Why are we arguing with them Donal? What is it all about? I mean, I’ve never even met a Trig. I don’t have anything personal against any of them. They’re Human just like us. They’re Belters, just like us. They live much the same kind of lives, they fall in love, get married - there’s probably a Trig link warrior holding a baby in a hospital ward on Notia or Origin right now.” An image of only eighteen months ago we
lled up, a coffee bar, a smiling face, a vapid conversation about courses and trendy carryalls. “They might even have dead friends.”

  Donal pursed his lips. “What is it all about? Good question. There's a lot of talk about honour and duty and sovereignty and patriotism, but basically I think it all comes down to economics.”

  “Economics? You mean money? All this is just about money?”

  Donal shrugged. “Most wars are.” He saw her expression and stood up. “The Belt is valuable real estate Jose. The middle solar system produces the overwhelming majority of minerals and D2 fuel in the whole Solar System. We even make most of the food now. All those goods have to be moved around to be of any use. The Virtue Confederation is the biggest trading power in the Belt and the Trigs would like to supplant us, or at least get a bigger slice of the pie.”

  “In other words, we’ve got it, and they want it.”

  He shrugged again. “That’s about the size of it. Shorn of all the excuses and the accusations and the rabble-rousing, yeah I think it really is just as simple as that.”

  Josie pursed her lips. “Not much of a cause, is it?”

  “No. Scrabbling over money and minerals and trade rights is hardly very edifying. It's rare for any conflict to be righteous, more’s the pity."

  "Pity?"

  He shifted on his chair. "It would be much easier if we were fighting some grand crusade to rid the middle system of tyranny and injustice, but we aren’t.” He stood up and edged his way behind her, cradling her upper arms in his, the arms that were holding their daughter.

  His hand tightened on hers for a few seconds of reassurance. “I met some Trig link warriors once you know.”

  “Really? You never mentioned that.”

  “Oh yes. On Mars. Couple of years before the war started. The Martian Red day celebration regatta. The navies of lots of nations were there, flying the flag sort of thing, but the Trigs were there in force. You couldn’t go into a bar or a shop or a plaza without tripping over them. They were a bit cautious with us at first, but after a while they opened up and we got chatting, just like people do.” He shifted position. “They were different from us in some ways, especially in their domestic arrangements, but they were far more like us. They were good fun to be with – as long as we avoided politics.”

  “So, if they’re just like us why are we fighting them?”

  Donal considered. “Beats me. Maybe because they are just like us?”

  Josie gave a shiver and clutched little Celene, her arms unconsciously forming a protective barrier. Donal walked round to face them both.

  “Then how about this? Is it really so bad to be fighting over trade routes and mineral rights? Trade means wealth and wealth means power. Power and wealth mean comfort and security for us now, and for little Celene later.”

  Josie’s unconsciously reached up to twirl a lock of her hair, only to find that sweat had plastered it all to her scalp. She mopped at it distractedly instead. “In other words, what we are really fighting for is the future.”

  He cocked his head. “Well, that’s how I’m planning to justify it anyway.”

  They were both silent for a while. Donal reached out and stroked Celene’s scalp.

  “I just can’t stop touching her!” he said after a long time. “She’s just so beautiful. You did really well Jose.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  Donal grinned. “Of course, you did have some great initial help.”

  “Just bear in mind, oh master strategist, that you are now well within swat range.”

  “Ah, but you are also holding a baby.”

  “I am a link warrior. I am a woman. I can multitask.”

  “Good point.” He got up and circled the bed, fumbled at the closet at the other end, and extracted a fruit juice carton. “Fancy a drink? I got your favourite.”

  “Yes please.”

  He opened the carton while he sauntered back to her side, then held it to her lips and slowly lifted it. The cool fluid flowed through her mouth, the familiar flavours more intense than ever, heightened no doubt by stress and dehydration. Donal tipped it back slowly so she could swallow properly, then pulled it back when she held up a hand.

  “’Made on Callisto’,” he read from the label. “How very appropriate - you wouldn’t be drinking this if we had lost the Jovian system.”

  It was the best drink she had ever had. “More please.”

  He brought the carton to her lips and tipped it again. She gulped down the rest of the delicious liquid. The heat in her face dissolved just a little. She could feel her whole body beginning to return to normal, the muscles relaxing, the heartbeat and breathing steadying. And she felt weary. She had been running on adrenalin and willpower for a long time. Her body was claiming its due. She yawned.

  “You need to rest sweet,” said Donal as he looked around for somewhere to dispose of the carton. “You look beat.”

  “I want to be awake a little longer.”

  “Of course.”

  At that moment, the vidscreen above the door fizzed into black, and then coalesced into a Courage government logo. A calm modulated voice spoke over the picture. “The following special announcement is being made on all media." The screen dissolved to show a podgy middle-aged man with lank hair but very intense eyes. A subtitle identified him as Coordinator Wentworth of the Courage High Admiralty. “Greetings to you all,” said the man. “As you are aware, less than a year ago this great nation was forced to defend itself against unwarranted aggression from the Triangle League. This was a fight we did not want, that we worked long and hard to avoid, but was, in the end, forced upon us. That struggle was long and hard for all of us, but we came through, a tremendous testimony to the courage and endurance of our Belter people.”

  The man paused an instant. Josie had a sudden sick feeling of dreadful premonition.

  “With the advent of the ceasefire negotiated by our great Confederation, in which your Courage Asteroid representatives were heavily involved, that conflict was successfully put aside. Since then we have been tirelessly negotiating to resolve all our disputes with the League, and to ensure that peace will be the rule, and not the exception for future generations.”

  Josie’s feelings crystallised into a cold, hard knot of certainty.

  “As you know, there has been a continued dispute over the Alearic cluster for some time,” continued the man. His voice suddenly rose. “There can be no doubt that these asteroids are the sovereign territory of our friends at Industry Asteroid, and therefore within the sphere of influence of the Virtue Confederation. We reject utterly the claims made by the Triangle League. Nonetheless, we have made substantial concessions to the League, with regard to access, passage and to trade rights.” The man was an admittedly consummate politician, combining reason and emotion, sympathy and directness, all wrapped with a heavy coating of sincerity and unadulterated charm. It didn’t make up for the obvious fact that he was about to drop a very large bomb.

  Josie saw the man straighten up. “I have to tell you now that all of our overtures to resolve this situation peacefully have been rejected. Our generous compromise suggestions have been summarily dismissed. We have received confirmed reports that a large Triangle League fleet has entered the Alearic cluster and has made landings on several asteroids. There are even some unconfirmed reports that shots have been fired.” He paused for obvious effect. Donal snorted.

  The representative redundantly checked his notes. “Four hours ago a statement released by the Triangle League government announced that their intervention was at the invitation of what they claim are the rightful rulers of the cluster. Our ambassador to the League has protested in the strongest possible terms.”

  The man drew his hands together on the desk. “There is little doubt that this Triangle League intervention amounts to the virtual annexation of the Alearic Cluster, against the wishes of its people and its legitimate authorities. This is a state of affairs that we cannot and will not allow to ha
ppen.”

  “Oh slag…” whispered Josie.

  “Accordingly, the Pattern has decided to despatch a large fleet to the Alearic Cluster to enforce the rule of the legitimate authorities there. Naturally, we hope that this demonstration of force will be sufficient to alter the League’s policies, without having to resort to actual…”

  Josie found the controls and clicked the vidscreen off.

  Donal looked ruefully at the empty drink carton, crushed it, and dropped it into a recycling bin. Almost on cue his perscomp beeped the arrival of an incoming message.

  Josie settled back and closed her eyes. “Looks like the future is beginning now.”

  TO BE CONTINUED.

  Orders of battle for the Jovian System Campaign.

  Virtue Confederation units.

  Jovian Defence Fleet.

  (Post modifications made by Admiral Jack Courage).

  Unless noted, all vessels are registered to the Courage High Admiralty.

  Fast division.

  Fleet Depot ships (1 ½ and 2nd Generation)

  Valiant “Victory mod” class, Captain Raime

  Embarked war drone squadrons:

  CH-2010 (16 Lancelot II and 8 Kazans) (transferred from "Rosette")

  CH-2134 (16 Lancelot II and 8 Kazans)

  CH-2138 (16 Lancelot II and 8 Kazans)

  CH-2147 (16 Lancelot II and 8 Kazans)

  CR-125 (6 Clippers) (transferred from “Rosette”)

  CR-130 (6 Clippers) (transferred from “Tycho”)

  CZ-137 (6 Clippers) (transferred from “Dylla”)

  CR-141 (6 Watchdogs)

  CR-144 (6 Watchdogs)

  Sapphire “Modified Gemstone” class, Captain Charest

  Embarked war drone squadrons:

  CM-1002 (24 Scythes)

  CM-1008 (24 Scythes)

  CM-1127 (16 Epee’s and 8 Epee-R)

  CM-1128 (16 Epee’s and 8 Epee-R)

  CM-1130 (16 Epee’s and 8 Epee-R)

  CM-1131 (16 Epee’s and 8 Epee-R)

  FT-2507 (24 Scythes) (transferred from “Main Field base, Persephone”)

  FT-2505 (24 Scythes) (transferred from “Main Field base, Persephone”)