"I need a map of all Swarm systems!" I demanded from the praying mantis, and Triasss Zess sent me one.
I pulled up the map on the screen and didn't even try to hide my surprise. The Iseyek warp tunnel system was much more complicated than humanity knew. And the size of the territory under Swarm control was also impressive. It wasn't just ten star systems, as Imperial maps showed it, but twenty-seven!
I mentally thanked fate that I hadn't made any promises to Count Timur royl Nayt ton Miro. Based on what I could see, if I had agreed with the Joint Chiefs' proposal to attack the Iseyek, humanity would have repeated its century-and-a-half earlier mistake and started a war with an enemy whose power they had seriously underestimated.
"Mark systems under Alien control on the map," I asked the praying mantis messenger, and Triasss Zess quickly marked a number of systems on the touch screen.
Can that be? It turned out that a whole eight star systems had been lost, and not just the two that I had inferred from the information the Iseyek had so sparingly provided.
"In the last three months, the Aliens have taken the Unt and Khe systems, and soon they will also capture Kej," Triasss Zess said, confirming the frightening information.
I took a harder look and evaluated the map. Capturing systems at the current pace, one Iseyek system every month and a half, the Aliens would totally defeat the Swarm in a year and a half or two. And the fleet that the insects had left, based on what I had in front of me, was simply in no condition to stop an enemy invasion.
"You will not manage to evacuate the eggs," I said, after having looked out the window again and judging how close the transport ship was to being ready.
"Yes, that's true. I said that on our first meeting, Crown Prince Georg. Since that time, the pace of the Alien invasion has increased significantly. There's just no one to hold them back now. That is precisely why we invited the Sector Eight Fleet."
I remained silent for a while longer and made up my mind:
"Very well, Triasss Zess. Tell the Swarm that I am taking my fleet to Kej. But my spies will be checking the data about the Alien forces in that star system in advance."
"Thank you, your Highness!" The huge, light gray praying mantis made a fairly quick bow, imitating a human one.
Standing change. Your relationship with Triasss Zess has improved.
Presumed personal opinion of you: +55 (loyal)
Standing change. Iseyek race opinion of you has improved.
Alpha Iseyek race opinion of you: +11 (trusting)
He expressed his gratitude perhaps a bit too sharply. That set my Phobos and Deimos on edge and, in the space of one second, they took Triasss Zess down and were restraining his upper appendages in their pincers. Several Chameleons became visible, and also showed their readiness to immediately eliminate the threat.
"Everything is fine. He's a friend, let him go!" I ordered.
"I thank you again, Crown Prince Georg." The praying mantis, his chitin shell slightly dented by my guards, took an evaluating look at the two members of his own race that were my servants. "Then I will not further distract you from your preparation. We'll meet in the Sobj system immediately before the attack."
"My Prince, I need his retinue, all four Beta Iseyeks. It is important. Ask – he would not dare refuse you." Flora's familiar voice rang out in my head.
Flora had already awoken from her sleep? Why such a strange demand? I was extremely surprised at such a request from the paralyzed girl, but nevertheless I hailed the Swarm messenger, who was already preparing to return on a shuttle. Triasss Zess heard me out carefully and suddenly turned his head on its side. Was he confused? Unable to answer due to lack of information? Probably.
"These Beta Iseyeks have strong psionic powers. Right now, they are providing a full shield over the messenger's mind. He clearly doesn't want to reveal the Swarm's secrets. But I need them more. I just saw them in my crystal dream. They were with me."
I explained the situation to Triasss Zess as well as I could. Clearly the praying mantis was very, very upset by my request, a fact which he did not fail to inform me of:
Standing change. Your relationship with Triasss Zess has worsened.
Presumed personal opinion of you: +50 (loyal)
But, all the same, the praying mantis did not refuse:
"Alright, Crown Prince Georg. You can have all four Beta Iseyek for your Truth Seeker. You are right. They really are very mentally powerful individuals, whose genetics the Swarm expended a great deal of force and time to create. They are a very valuable resource, planned for use in the further reinforcement and development of unique psionic abilities of this branch of Beta Iseyek. The Swarm gave me these four individuals to protect my mind from being read. After all, I'm not just an ambassador's assistant anymore, and not even a lowly ambassador. I've been promoted to the level that the Swarm has entrusted me with a great many state secrets, and a large number of these I do not have the right to share, even with my closest companions. That is why I will fulfill your request, but only after I have left on my ship, Crown Prince Georg."
Triasss Zess bowed again and rushed to leave. He completed the "realignment under new master" procedure right before he shipped out, just as had been done with Phobos and Deimos. It seemed to me that my acquaintance had been seriously offended. To be honest, I also would have been offended if someone made an ultimatum to force me to part with four important members of my retinue. But, unlike me, the praying mantis was simply unable to refuse, given that the agreement to attack the Aliens and ultimately the fate of his entire race, was dependent on my staying in a good mood...
With Bionica and the four giant pill bugs in tow, I started off toward the medical wing. I was feeling very funny and admonished myself for having obeyed little Flora. The Truth Seeker was still dressed in inky dark clothing and was learning how to user her mind to control a flying chair with Nicosid Brandt and his assistants sitting in it.
"Prince Georg, ask everyone but the Iseyek to leave. Even your translator won't be needed now. To be honest, I would rather not even have you be here. I want to try to communicate with my new assistants."
"They won't understand you, Florianna. These Beta Iseyeks don't know human language."
"I am not trying to talk with them in the usual sense, even if I could. In fact, it is very important to me that they not understand other people so they won’t get distracted by them. I just saw these four in a dream and know that they are able to understand my thoughts. And also, Crown Prince, I ask you to free up the cabin that I used to sleep in with Astra. I'm ready to leave the hospital today. There's absolutely no reason for me to stay here any longer. I'm not going to get any better at this point."
* * *
In the Sobj system, I was met by two surprises. The first was a system message that popped up almost immediately after we left the warp tunnel:
Global fame increase. Current value +13
Global standing increase. Current value -26
I noticed that many of the officers nearby also froze for a few seconds and exchanged unconfident glances. Admiral Kiro Sabuto was the first to break the silence:
"Did everyone here get an increase in fame and reputation? It would seem we are the first people who have been able to get this deep into Swarm territory. Now, such a reward will greet us in every new system."
"Unfortunately, that's not the case," I replied. "We cannot get any further without intelligence – it's too dangerous. Scouts on cloaked frigates will make the jump to the Kej system before us to figure everything out and report it back to us. It is the crews of these frigates that will get the first discoverer's bonus."
"That seems pretty fair," said the admiral, continuing the conversation topic. "They will be the first..."
The admiral was not able to finish the sentence before a loud message came in from an officer, interrupting our conversation:
"Picking up Iseyek ships on the directional scanner!"
The normal routine began in the
headquarters. Messages poured in one after another:
"The targets are drifting! The ships are in warp!"
"They are getting closer! Multiple targets. Four heavy Legash cruisers. Four light Umoyge cruisers. Eleven Vassar destroyers. Many frigates... Thirty-four Safas."
"The Swarm fleet has left the tactical grid. Distance: one hundred twenty miles. Identification by radar signature. All four heavy cruisers are Improved Legashes."
For the first time since my fleet came to Swarm territory, we were seeing Iseyek ships. They could hardly have been displaying aggression. The forces were painfully uneven, but in any case the proximity of these combat starships with incomprehensible intentions forced us to stay on alert. Finally, the situation was resolved:
"Commander, incoming call from Triasss Zess on the Sobj station."
My old acquaintance appeared on the screen.
"Crown Prince Georg, as you must have already noticed, the Swarm has decided to split off a group of aid ships for you. These are reserves, collected from various systems. They are yours. The Swarm recognizes your talent as a fleet commander and supposes that your Highness can make much better use of these ships than our admirals could. Your ships can use the Sobj station to recharge or repair. Here on the station and on the nearby planet, Sobj-II, there are a fair amount of Alpha Iseyek landing troops that you can use to carry out operations in the Kej system. The Kej warp beacon is currently off for security purposes, but on your request they can turn it on. I will personally be at the beacon leading a group of technicians to make sure no unforeseen delays should arise."
I thanked Triasss Zess for his participation and improved my personal opinion of him by ten points. The praying mantis on the screen gave a slight bow, and I answered in kind.
To gather intelligence, I sent three cloaked frigates straight to Kej. Angel royl Mauri was appointed leader of the three scouts. Seven hours later, he called me with up-to-date information on the enemy:
"My Prince, warp jump time: six hours, ten minutes. There are seventy-six Alien ships in the Kej system. Eight Sledgehammers and three cruisers of an unfamiliar design, seven Ascetics and nine Hermits, forty Meteors and nine landing ships. The fleet is orbiting the planet Kej-V, bombarding its surface."
"Excellent, Angel. I order the two cloakers to continue their observation in Kej, and one Ghost should set off to the Aysar Cluster as soon as it has the energy to check out the situation."
"All ships, at the ready in thirty minutes!" I said over the fleet channel and headed off to my cabin.
I was feeling very troubled at heart. Seventy-six Alien ships! That wasn't just a lot – it was too much for my fleet. I wasn't at all sure that the battle would have a positive outcome. Feeling somewhat upset and depressed, I went into my cabin. Astra was sitting in front of a big screen and, when she saw me come into the room, she shot up and dashed over to turn it off with suspicious agility before looking in my direction, batting her eyelashes innocently. I was staring at another easel the Princess had installed in the room. The canvas was ripped, crumpled, and all over the floor.
"It just isn't working. I have no inspiration," Astra admitted, after having noticed my gaze being drawn to her next masterpiece, which wasn't exactly coming together.
I took a seat in an armchair and, after sitting for a bit in contemplation, said:
"Astra, I want to send you to Tesse so you can wait for my return at Roben's or in Likanna's palace."
I wasn't really planning to tell her the real reason I wanted her gone, which was the dangerous situation Joan the Fatty was heading into. I intended to say that it would be boring for her to sit for days on end in the same little room, so I was worried about her and suggesting a more interesting way of spending her time. However, Astra perceived my words in a totally unexpected way:
"That's so low on your part, Crown Prince, to read my correspondence and listen in on my conversations! I was just having a friendly chat with Corwin ton Ugar. I didn't even have the inkling of a thought about what the captain of One-Eyed Python said and wrote!"
"What?" I asked in surprise.
Astra puckered her lips in dissatisfaction, turned on the screen and, clearly getting embarrassed and even becoming red in the face, went to the side and suggested I read her personal correspondence with the dashing captain. Of course, I refused:
"Who do you take me for?! I really don't care who you talk with or what you talk about, as long as your conversations don't contain any top-secret information about the Sector Eight Fleet or me personally. In addition, I already told you, Astra: if you like that mustachioed soldier so much, I have no intention of stopping you by force. I give you half an hour to collect your things and head for his light cruiser."
"No, Crown Prince Georg! You’ve completely misunderstood me! I just sometimes get bored cooped up here, which is why I spend time chatting with people. But I am completely satisfied with my current position, and am not trying to change anything. I beg you please not to send me to Tesse or anywhere else."
"Corwin ton Ugar and all the others here have nothing to do with it," I sighed, having decided to tell the Princess the truth after all. "The Sector Eight Fleet is about to do battle with a very, very dangerous opponent. I'm only telling this to you, Astra, and you are not to share it with anyone else. But I am not at all sure we will win the next battle. That is why I wanted to keep you from danger and send you to a safe place."
In reply, Astra could first only sniffle, but eventually began to speak, and fairly convincingly at that:
"Crown Prince, imagine just for a second the worst possible outcome: the fleet loses, and you die. Who will want me around on Tesse after that? Verena is very suspicious and jealous; she will not let me stay there with her husband. Your brother may allow me to live in his palace for some time, but he could just as well throw me right out the door. After all, I am not even your Highness's lover but no one at all. The only reason people keep calling me Princess is because they're confused. Without a title or money, or friends or protectors, I won't be able to live. I'll just disappear. Now, on the other hand, if your fleet does win, there will have been no reason for me to leave. And I want to remind you of one favor you owe me. Your Highness promised me a romantic evening, which you have yet to make good on. So, I won't be going anywhere until that is taken care of. And basically, Princess Likanna asked me to look after her father before she left, and I promised her I would."
The last two arguments she put forward looked strange, but I didn't point it out, instead allowing Astra to stay. She squealed in joy and unexpectedly took a seat on my knee. The Princess kissed me quickly, and said, looking right into my eyes:
"This is an advance on the romantic evening. And to make that evening happen, you just need to beat these Aliens. Easy as that."
* * *
As it turned out, it wasn't "easy as that," a fact I realized shortly after the fleet started the jump to the Kej system. The Alien ships, which were supposed to have been near the planet Kej-V, were next to the Kej station itself at full battle readiness. They were clearly waiting for my fleet.
"There is a group of targets. They're four hundred miles out," Nicole said.
Today, the girl seemed surprisingly calm. I had somehow become used to her always being anxious before a battle.
"Attention, all ships! Do not charge them head on. Remember the training sessions in Sss. Head toward the first planet. Imitate a retreat! Heavies and battleships, full speed ahead. Don't let the Sledgehammers get any closer to us. Faster ships, slightly in front, but still make a sudden retreat, and no enthusiasm; you will soon be needed. Surprises from one to five, disperse. Head for the enemy, choose someone to sneak up on, and get ready to release the megatons if the Aliens try to come after the rest of us. Tria, don't lag behind!"
"The enemy has begun maneuvers! They are giving chase!"
I laughed. That was exactly what I was expecting them to do. Now we could test how effective the strategy of bombing the small ships w
ould be.
"Destroyers and frigates, step on your thrusters and move out like your lives depended on it! Your mission is to get away from the epicenter of the explosion! Bombers, attention! Your goal is to reduce all the Meteors to shit! Set your timers to three seconds. Check projectile synchronization."
The Aliens' nimble frigates closed the distance quickly, trying to catch up to and capture my heavy ships so the Sledgehammers could get to work.
"Stand by in thirty seconds! Nicole, timer! Light cruisers, turn toward the enemy so you'll take the hit with your frontal shields. All ships, cover light-sensitive equipment!"
"Ten seconds to detonation! Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, launch!!!"
I was able to see the squad of Surprises appear simultaneously on the screen and launch their thermonuclear payload. But I was not able to tell whether my stealth bombers had warped back out or not. All the delicate external equipment on Joan the Fatty was covered with protective shields, including the cameras and radars.
Son of a bitch! Though Joan the Fatty had been two hundred miles from the blast, it gave a noticeable shake, and the electronic devices inside began flashing on and off, then switched to reserve power.
"Our thrusters have desynchronized. The electronics that control them have failed, but the automatic emergency system smoothed everything over," explained the captain.
"All ships report back on damage taken! Oorast Pohl, what are our shields like? I need a tactical map immediately!"
"This is Bride of Chaos. Our rear shield has fallen by fifteen percent – nothing critical."
"Master of Tesse here. The situation is similar. Our shields are down by fifteen percent."
Beyond Death (Perimeter Defense Book #2) Page 13