Ep.#8 - Celestia: CV-02 (The Frontiers Saga)

by Ryk Brown

  “Dammit!” Admiral Galiardi cursed. “What the hell happened to one year?”

  “I guess our intelligence estimates were wrong,” Rear Admiral Duncan said. “Orders, sir?”

  “Set Fleet alert status to condition two, Marty. Use FTL comm-runners to contact the Volkov and the Zhang-Ti. Have them hightail it inward to support the Reliant if she’s attacked.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And tell the Intrepid to spin up her reactors and prepare to get under way.”

  “I don’t think all her crew has reported in yet, Admiral.”

  “We’ll hold off deploying her as long as we can, but she may have to leave shorthanded.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Notify the UER and all continental governments as well. They’ll want to activate their militias as soon as possible. It makes them feel like they’re doing something.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “One more thing, Marty,” the admiral said. “It may not matter now, but our budget was given the green light.”

  “Yes, sir,” Rear Admiral Duncan answered as he rolled his eyes. “Duncan out.”

  Admiral Galiardi set his comm-set down and sighed. He rose and stepped toward the hatch to return to his seat in the passenger compartment. He looked at the communications technician. The young man’s eyes were wide, and his face was pale with fear. “Buckle up, son,” the admiral said. “Things are about to get bumpy.”

  The young comm-tech swallowed hard as he reached for his chest harness. “Yes, sir.”

  Admiral Galiardi returned to his seat, fastened his seatbelt, and pulled his chest harness down as well. He hadn’t worn a chest harness since he was a fighter pilot more than thirty years ago, before the first Defender-class ships were even built. As he secured his chest harness, the Fleet condition status display above the forward hatch changed from a green-lit number three to a yellow-lit number two. The shuttle began to rapidly lose altitude as the pilot took his ship down to the deck and accelerated. Things were different now.

  * * *

  “Shuttle two zero four seven for the Orbital Assembly Platform now boarding at gate five,” the voice announced over the Fleet Academy spaceport’s public address system.

  “That’s our ride,” Luis told his friends. A measure of excitement began to creep over him as he picked up his bag and prepared to head for the boarding gate. “Time to leave this rock.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Devyn said. “Two years in space.”

  “Two years without waves,” Kyle complained.

  “Don’t worry, Kyle,” Devyn said. “Tilly will hack the artificial gravity in your quarters, so you can play in zero-G.”

  “It won’t be the same. You don’t suppose the Intrepid’s got a wave pool?”

  “I’m sure they do,” Luis laughed, “right next to the golf course.”

  An alert horn squawked twice from the far end of the terminal.

  “What the hell was that?” Kyle said.

  “It’s an alert horn,” Devyn said.

  “What’s going on?” Tilly wondered as he looked about.

  “I don’t know,” Luis said.

  All around them, people stopped whatever they were doing and looked at each other, hoping for an explanation for the alert horns.

  “Attention. Attention,” the voice called over the public address system. “Set condition two. Repeat, set condition two. All Fleet personnel, report to duty stations. All civilians should clear the spaceport immediately. This is not a drill.”

  All around them, cadets, recent graduates, and civilians were looking at each other in disbelief. Only the senior officers and spaceport personnel seemed to be moving with purpose.

  “What the…” Kyle started.

  “Holy shit,” Luis interrupted.

  “Oh, my God,” Devyn exclaimed.

  “What do we do?” Tilly asked.

  “We do like the man said,” Luis told him. “We get to our duty stations.”

  “We don’t have duty stations,” Kyle reminded him, “at least not on Earth.”

  “Then we get to the Intrepid before she leaves us behind,” Luis said as he headed for gate five. “Come on!”

  Luis’s three friends followed his lead, grabbing their own bags and heading for the boarding gate.

  “Is shuttle twenty forty-seven still cleared for departure to the OAP?” Luis asked the officer at the gate as he approached.

  “As far as I know, yes,” the officer answered.

  “Then we need to get on board,” Luis insisted as he handed his orders to the officer. “We’re due to report to the Intrepid.”

  “I can’t promise you she’ll still be around when you get there, Ensign.”

  Luis looked at his friends, each of whom held their orders in their hands, ready to board the shuttle. Not one of them showed any signs of hesitation. They all wanted to get to their ship. “We’ll take our chances, sir.”

  The officer handed Luis back his orders. “Very well, son.” He took the orders from the other three ensigns and stamped them before handing them back. “Good luck.”

  “Let’s go!” Luis said as he headed down the boarding tunnel at a fast walk, his friends right behind him.

  They moved quickly down the boarding tunnel, ducking as they stepped through the hatch at the far end and into the shuttle. Much to their surprise, the shuttle wasn’t even half full.

  “Where’s everyone?” Luis asked the flight tech as he dropped into an empty seat with his bag between his legs.

  “We weren’t due to launch for another thirty minutes,” the flight tech told him. “You’re the first to board.”

  “Where did the others come from?” Devyn wondered, pointing at the wide-eyed Fleet personnel sitting behind them.

  “They boarded in Europe,” the tech answered.

  “We have to sit here for thirty minutes?” Kyle asked.

  “Hell, no,” the tech answered as he made his way forward. “We’ve gotta refuel before we can take off again.” The flight tech peered through the hatch into the boarding tunnel. “Come on!” he yelled as a few more passengers entered the shuttle.

  “Is this for real?” Kyle wondered.

  “Do you think we’re really under attack?” Devyn asked.

  “If we were, we’d be at condition one,” Luis reminded them. “I suspect Fleet has picked up a Jung ship somewhere in the system.”

  “Where there’s one ship, there are more,” Tilly said.

  “That’s why we’re at condition two,” Luis told him.

  “How long until we get to the OAP?” Devyn asked Luis.

  “If we’re fully loaded with fuel, an hour at max burn,” Luis told him.

  “Man, I really hope this is all just a big mistake,” Kyle mumbled.

  “Me, too,” Luis mumbled to himself.

  * * *

  “Relieve the gate detail,” Sergeant Surbeck ordered the combat-equipped squad of men that had just arrived at the guard post near the main gate to the United Earth Republic compound. “Send them back here to gear up and redeploy.”

  “Yes, Sergeant!” the corporal in charge of the squad answered.

  “Sergeant, I have Captain Maur on comms,” the sergeant’s communications technician reported.

  Sergeant Surbeck stepped closer to the corporal managing the comm-system and took the handset from his hand. “Main gate, Surbeck. Go ahead, sir.”

  “Sergeant, I’m sending two more fully geared squads to your position. Deploy them as you see fit. A pair of tanks will be arriving within the half hour. They will become your secondary gate.”

  “Understood, sir,” the sergeant answered. “Captain, is this the real thing or another drill?”

  �
��It’s no drill, Sergeant,” the captain answered over the comm-set. “EDF picked up six Jung cruisers about six AUs out. They’re moving to intercept.”

  “Any word of their intent?” the sergeant wondered, hoping for good news.

  “We’ll know in a few hours, Sergeant,” the captain said. “In the meantime, let’s prepare for the worst.”

  “Copy that,” the sergeant answered. He passed the handset back to the corporal.

  “Is it for real?” the corporal asked.

  “Six Jung cruisers have entered the system,” the sergeant said. “It’s real.” The sergeant stepped out of the guard post and looked at the crowd of protesters. While they had not changed their behavior at the sight of increased readiness on the behalf of his guards, the news cameras had definitely taken notice. Every one of them was pointed at his men, and their respective reporters were all standing between their cameras and the gate in the background, proving to the world that they were right where it was happening. “Corporal, if we go to condition one, we’re going to need to disperse that crowd in a hurry. Pass the word. Make sure everyone is carrying stunners. We don’t need to be shooting civilians.”

  “Yes, Sergeant!” the corporal answered.

  Sergeant Surbeck continued scanning the crowd. If the Jung were about to attack, there was every possibility they already had agents on the ground. Those agents could be out there carrying protest signs right now. “Toller!” the sergeant yelled at the corporal leading the squad from the main gate back to the guard post.

  “Yes, Sergeant!” Corporal Toller answered as he approached.

  “As soon as your squad gears up, I want your shooters on those two rooftops, scopes on the crowd, just in case.”

  “Yes, Sergeant!” Corporal Toller answered as he turned and continued toward the guard post with the rest of his squad.

  Sergeant Surbeck could hear the corporal as he passed the orders to his two best shots, ordering them to pick up sniper rifles. As the sergeant continued scanning the crowd for suspicious activity, he thought about his wife and daughter on the other side of the city. They had gone to visit friends, which put them as far away as he could hope from the UER compound. At least there was that. If the Jung did attack, he was confident that his wife knew what to do. They had talked at great length about the subject of survival during an invasion. She knew what to take, where to go, and what to do when she got there. Most of their families were similarly educated, as it was only prudent. While much of the Earth’s population lived in blissful ignorance, believing the nonsense that poured from the mouths of politicians who called for peace through diplomacy, those who stood guard knew better, as did their families.

  Sergeant Surbeck pulled on his body armor and cinched it up tightly around his torso. He then donned his helmet and slung his combat weapon over his shoulder, so it hung in front of his chest at the ready. He looked up at the sky. The beautiful sunset had gone, replaced by the city lights. Rain was coming later in the night. He only hoped that rain would be the worst of what came their way.

  * * *

  “Mister President,” Agent Hanson said in a low voice as he leaned in close to the president.

  President Scott opened his eyes, turned his head, and looked up to his trusted, lead protection agent. “Yes, Mark?”

  “Sir, I’m afraid we have a situation,” the agent began.

  President Scott noticed the two additional agents standing behind Agent Hanson, each carrying heavier weapons than usual. They were also wearing military issue comm-sets instead of the more discreet earpieces they usually wore. “What is it?”

  “EDF has detected a group of Jung cruisers on their way to Earth. They’ve set condition two throughout the fleet.”

  “How many ships?” President Scott wondered as he straightened up in his seat.

  “I don’t know, sir,” Mark said. “I’ve been instructed to move you to the communications compartment, sir.”

  “Of course,” the president agreed, rising from his seat to follow the agent.

  Agent Hanson led the president to the stairwell at the aft end of the compartment, the other two agents following behind them. President Scott followed Agent Hanson up the narrow staircase, to the upper deck of the large presidential shuttle, and into the communications compartment just aft of the cockpit.

  “William,” the president said, greeting his military liaison. “What do we know?”

  “EDF reports that six Jung cruisers dropped out of FTL here,” William explained, pointing at a three-dimensional map of the Sol system displayed on one of the consoles along the side of the compartment. “They were detected a little over an hour ago by the Reliant, who was here. They immediately moved to intercept.” William looked at the wall clock. “They should be in range of the Jung ships shortly.”

  “Any word on their intent?” the president asked.

  “No, sir. As far as we know, there has been no communication with the Jung ships. EDF is playing it safe and assuming the worst for now. They’ve called in the Volkov and the Zhang-Ti to back up the Reliant, and they’ve ordered the Intrepid at the OAP to spin up her reactors and prepare to get under way.”

  “Then they believe this is an attack,” the president surmised.

  “As I said, they’re preparing for the worst. However, the EDF knows better than to fire the first shot.”

  “Of course,” the president said with a grimace.

  “The UER is placing their ground forces on full alert,” William added. “They’re recommending that all nations do the same.”

  “Agreed,” the president stated. “Let’s get our people ready. Contact the joint military chiefs and order them to go to full readiness.”

  “Yes, sir,” William agreed.

  “And pass the word to the backup shuttle,” the president added. “Eli is on board. He should be made aware of the situation.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The president turned to Agent Hanson. “My wife…”

  “She’s already being secured, sir,” Agent Hanson promised. “We’ll secure your children and their families as well.”

  “Thank you, Mark.”

  * * *

  Eli looked at his watch, then rose from his seat in the backup presidential shuttle. He pulled out his secure comm-unit and tapped some keys as he headed aft, climbing the stairs to the communications compartment above.

  “Sir,” the communications technician began when he saw Mister Scott enter the compartment, “we just received word that all forces are going on alert.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of the situation,” Eli told the technician, holding up his comm-unit to indicate he had already received a message to that effect. “Our plans have changed. Tell the pilot to drop to the deck, go stealth, and immediately return to the UER compound in Geneva at best possible speed.”

  “I don’t understand…”

  “Orders from the president,” Eli interrupted, holding up his comm-unit just long enough for the technician to see that there was a text message displayed. “I am to act as his direct advisor to the Republic during this crisis.”

  “Yes, sir,” the technician responded. “I’ll notify the pilot immediately.”

  “Thank you.” Eli placed his comm-unit back in his pocket and calmly made his way back down the staircase. He offered no sign of emotion as he returned to his seat and fastened his seatbelt. He waited patiently for several moments. Then, without warning, the ‘Fasten seat belts’ sign lit up. A moment later, the large shuttle began to descend rapidly. Eli smiled. His greatest role was soon to begin.

  * * *

  “Captain, Comms. Message from Fleet Command,” the voice called over the comm-panel in the captain’s ready room.

  Captain Christopoulos, commanding officer of the Intrepid, the Earth Defense Force’s seco
nd-oldest Defender-class warship, pressed the button on his comm-panel. “Go ahead.”

  “Action orders, sir. Message reads, ‘All fleet personnel, set condition two. Reliant reports Jung ships inbound. Intrepid is ordered to spin up her reactors and prepare to get under way. Details to follow.’ The message has been authenticated, sir.”

  “Very well. Contact engineering. Tell them to spin up the reactors, and call the XO to the bridge. I’m on my way.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Captain Christopoulos clicked off his comm-panel and ran his fingers through his thick, gray hair. He stood slowly, allowing his old body to stretch out completely as he stood. Over the last twenty years, the majority of his career in the fleet had been spent serving on Defender-class ships, first as an engineer, then a bridge officer, and finally as an executive officer. Now, he was wrapping up a two-year assignment as the Intrepid’s commanding officer. In all those years, he had never been called into action. He had seen many drills, as well as several space combat exercises, but never had a ship of the line been called upon to perform that for which she had been built.

  He had seen action on several occasions. During his previous ten years in the European Navy, he had served on several submarines, eventually ending up in command. He had fired his weapons in anger more than once. He had seen men suffer from horrendous wounds, and he had seen men die. And they were always young. He was in his last year as captain of the Intrepid. In fact, he was expecting to hand over command to his executive officer after the next patrol. He had planned on retiring to a nice, little place in the Greek Isles where he and his wife could enjoy the fresh fish and the Mediterranean sun. He figured that, even if the Jung came, they were unlikely to ever show interest in his tiny island in the sea. Now it appeared that his retirement plans might have to be put on hold.