“It’s admiral now, Captain Edgerton,” Martin said, clenching his teeth.
“Oh, cool! Congratulations! What can we do for you?”
“I would like to speak with your wife. Is she available?”
“I’m right here,” Ashley’s head popped into the display. “We’re on our way back to the Independence. What did you need, Admiral?”
“I reviewed a disturbing video just now of the planet Serpentis III being destroyed…by a moon.”
“A moon? Are you sure it was a moon and not like a space station disguised as a moon?”
Martin stood there feeling confused for a moment. “Yes, we confirmed it was the moon of Serpentis III which slammed into the planet. The devastation was total.”
“Do you know who did it?” Ashley asked.
“I’ll give you three guesses, the first two don’t count,” John said to her. “Let me guess: the Krai’kesh.”
Martin nodded. “Indeed. The video shows a large Krai’kesh fleet in orbit at the time the moon was making its descent. They left before impact.”
“Didn’t want to stay for the fireworks,” John commented. He whistled. “And I thought Ashley was hot stuff making whirlpools out of asteroid fields.”
“Do you have any idea how the Krai’kesh could have moved an entire moon?” Martin asked.
“We have detected no magic among those Krai’kesh we’ve faced. Not even those bi-pedal Krai’kesh. It could be gravity manipulation,” Ashley speculated. “My brother could tell us more, I imagine. I can try to get in touch with him.”
“If you’re able to, it would be appreciated,” Martin said. He paused, unsure of whether he wanted to mention the next part. “There is one more thing…it’s about the bi-pedal Krai’kesh warriors you faced in battle.”
“What about them? Did you dissect one?”
“Yes, we dissected one of them. The results were…not as we expected.”
“Well, are they little green men in battle suits? Old, wrinkly aliens wearing back braces?”
“They are human…or appear to be.”
Several bridge crew members around the room sat up straighter in surprise. This was the first Martin had spoken of the results in front of any other crew. He knew word would spread like wildfire through the ship now. John blanched. “Human. But, but, are you sure?”
“Our science department is still reviewing their complete genetic structure, but yes, they appear to be genetically modified humans, which explains their significant height advantage.”
“We faced no human Krai’kesh two thousand years ago. There was this big Krai’kesh, hulking thing, but never a bi-pedal commander like we’ve seen these last few days.”
“Yes,” Ashley said, “but remember we speculated they were a scout force of sorts and so perhaps they didn’t include a commander.”
“Maybe.” John sounded doubtful.
Martin cleared his throat. “If the Krai’kesh attack here again, what help can the two of you offer?”
“You mean magic-wise?” John asked.
“Preferably.”
“Well, I don’t know. I mean, we could try the whole asteroid field thing again, if the enemy was flying through it, or I could do something with light to burn their ships, but I’m afraid their void shields would absorb the energy.”
“Please think about it. Consult with mage-guard commander, Mandu Koenigheim, on how the mage-guards can assist.”
"You got it, chief," John said.
“Is Lieutenant Jamison with you?”
“I am here, sir,” Lieutenant Derek Jamison’s face appeared in the holo.
“I understand you have been training Marines on the planet. What is the status of that?”
“They are making good progress, sir. My concern is the shortage of swords and shields.”
Martin nodded. “Yes, lack of supplies is the primary concern now. We’ll produce more for the Marine Corps as soon as possible, but right now our priority is space-based weapons. If our fleet is destroyed before the Marines can use those swords and shields that won’t do us any good.”
“Of course, sir.”
“I want you to continue training the Marines aboard the Independence using practice equipment. I’ll have Zigana free up a production channel to produce a batch of swords and shields soon.”
“Thank you, sir. I will do so.”
“That is all,” Martin said. “Admiral Rigsby out.” He ended the connection to the Dauntless.
“Zigana, I will get rest. I’m overdue for a good night’s sleep.”
“Of course, sir, enjoy your…,” Zigana paused mid-sentence. “Sir, we are receiving a signal through the shadow array. We’ve pieced together most of it due to it being on repeat.”
"Put it up on display," Martin ordered.
The imagine of a woman in a Federation captain’s uniform appeared on the screen. “This is Captain Kamlyn Yamaguchi of the Federation defense force ship Kyoto stationed at Yushon IV. We are under attack by unknown hostile aliens. We are requesting all available support. I repeat, we are under attack by unknown hostile aliens. We are requesting all available support. This is Kam…” The message repeated.
Not another planet. “Are we certain this message came from Yushon IV?” he asked, though he recognized Captain Yamaguchi from previous engagements. “The Krai’kesh could have laid a trap.”
“It contains the proper validation codes, sir. It’s authentic.”
“I was afraid you would say that. This presents us with a dilemma; we can go aid the Yushon system or remain here and shore up our defenses for when the Krai’kesh attack here. What say you?”
“The sound move is to remain here, sir, as Eligar II is more valuable than Yushon in terms of population and natural resources. However, emotionally,” Zigana trailed off.
“We are obliged to protect all life, and it’s morally right also. Order all forces to return to the fleet within thirty minutes.”
“As you command.”
“Open a channel to the governor of Eligar II, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
The holo display came to life and moments later Martin’s wife appeared as a holographic image on the bridge of the Independence. “Martin, it’s good to see you.”
“And you, Felicity. How are the children?”
Felicity smiled. “They are well. Their new surroundings are taking a little getting used to. Are you sure I should be in the mountain hiding?”
“It’s not hiding, Felicity. We talked about this. We’re ensuring continuity of government, nothing more than that.”
“That’s sweet, but my lieutenant governor could be here and government would survive my death.”
“Well, let’s say I have a vested interest in you surviving.”
Felicity smiled at him. “Goodbye, dear.”
“Stay safe, my love.”
The holo faded. “Zigana, I will take a nap while we’re in transit. Wake me when we arrive at Yushon IV.”
“Yes, sir. Sleep well.”
Chapter 4 - Tales From the Past
Lieutenant Derek Jamison stood on the observation deck, watching the dark gray of shadow space as the Independence and the rest of the Federation fleet moved through it.
“Hey, jarhead, you survived.”
Derek smiled and turned to see Selene entering the observation deck. For the first time since they’d met she wore her navy uniform instead of her flight suit. “It’s not for lack of trying on the enemy’s part. I guess I got lucky. And look at you - not a scratch on you.” He admired her curves as she approached, meeting her sky-blue eyes a second later.
Selene leaned against the railing. “So, did you see that big monster Krai’kesh down on the planet?”
“How could I miss it?”
She jabbed a thumb into her chest. “I thought of the idea to destroy it. Sure, it cost us a bunch of transports, but hey it saved a lot of lives.”
“You deserve a medal.”
She waved her ha
nd to dismiss the notion. “Nah, medals are for chumps.” She looked at one medal on the chest of his uniform. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
She pointed at one medal. “The Purple Heart. How did you get that?”
Derek looked out the viewport. “It was during the prelude to the Putrid War. I was serving as escort for a scientist who came to Galatia IV right at the onset of the virus there. While there I transferred into a squad to accompany the lady Isabelle Thorpe planet-side. We were clearing a medical lab believed to be the source of the outbreak when Imperial insurgents attacked us. I shielded a young girl who was accompanying us from the blast from a grenade. The back of my body got torn up bad, and I was out of commission for several months of nano surgeries and physical therapy."
“Do you have any scars?”
Derek shook his head. “No. As part of my recovery they had to inject me with permanent nanites and sync them with my implant. So, the nanites healed my scars.”
Selene nodded. “Nice. My father bought me a suite of implants for my sixteenth birthday. Still have them. A lot easier than jumping in front of a grenade.”
“I don’t regret my actions,” Derek said, turning to watch her. Was she dismissing his sacrifice?
“Sorry,” Selene said, averting her eyes. “I do that sometimes, brag about my past.”
Derek’s expression softened. “I’m sorry as well. I shouldn’t be so prickly. What was it like growing up wealthy?”
Selene snapped her eyes on him. “Are you sure you want to know? Or are you being sarcastic?”
“I’m genuinely curious. I grew up in the slums. Tell me what it was like for you, please.”
“It was wonderful, other than for the fact I never saw my father. He was the head of House Artois and that meant he worked all the time. How he even found time to create me and my siblings boggles my mind to this day.
“As for my mother, well, she was high in society. She was always planning or attending parties, hobnobbing with the other six houses or lording over the lesser houses. She kept up the image of House Artois, while my father handled the day-to-day operations and finances. Both are needed, I suppose.
“I am the youngest in my family. I have two older brothers, Conroy and Phillip, and two older sisters, Dianna and Christiana. Phillip is the heir to the House.
“Growing up a nanny watched over me night and day while my parents were out doing more important things for the good of the House. My brothers and sisters were under her care too, until they came of age.
“I had private tutors and I learned everything from history to science to mathematics and more. I was taught that the merchant families had the best interest of the plebeians, that’s what we called them behind closed doors, in mind but that we must always remember we were above them in status and not to intermingle with them. We were taught to keep a separation between us and them.”
“That sounds awful,” Derek said.
Selene shrugged. “I didn’t think so. But when I left to join the Federation military I was in for a rude awakening. I still fall into those ways sometimes…”
“What made you want to become a pilot?”
"From an early age, I drove land speeders and hover cars all around. I had a speeder bike at age fifteen and I flew circles around Conroy. My teachers said I had a natural ability and hand-eye coordination which allowed me to fly at a high level of skill.
“When I turned sixteen my father told me in no uncertain terms I would not inherit anything - it would go to my brothers and sisters first and I would be little more than a plebeian with the Artois name. So, I tried signing on as a pilot in one of the merchant fleets, but my family name meant I couldn’t get a job within my house’s fleet or any other house fleet. I was left with a choice of flying freelance, which meant getting a crew I trusted and risking pirates, or leaving for a place no one, or few knew me.
“I traveled to Crossroad Station and signed up at the embassy there. From there I made my way to Grakosh I for flight training. Have you ever been there?”
Derek nodded. "My brigade passed through on the way to board transport for this place. Didn't stay long, but it's a crazy place."
"Hell yeah, it is. Try being one of two thousand fighters during one of the war-games there. Can barely process everything, and one wrong move means you’re ‘dead’. I think I partied on the orbital ring more than I trained as a pilot, but I graduated top of my class.”
“So how did you end up out here at the ass end of nowhere?”
“The same ass end of nowhere as you, you mean?”
Derek laughed. “Yeah, the same.”
Selene smiled. “I enlisted right as the Putrid War was beginning. I was sent fresh out of the academy to this fleet and it so happened they were on the front lines down at the Imperium Line. I saw plenty of combat during that time, lost buddies and kicked some Imperial ass.”
“Were you there during the siege of New Rakosh?”
“Nah, the Imperial 102nd held us up at Bergisgrad. Tough bastards.”
“They didn’t call them the Iron Fleet for no reason.”
“Yeah, well, iron met black steel down there. I’ll tell you about it some time.”
“I look forward to it.”
“So, after the Imperials surrendered, the fleet went home and I went with them. Got a lot of friends in the fleet. Well, I had a lot of friends.” She cleared her throat. “What about you, fly boy? How did you end up in the Serpentis system?”
"Well, after my time of recovery the Putrid War was nearing its end. I arrived during the final assault on the Imperial Palace and led a platoon. I was there when the supreme commander accepted the emperor's surrender."
“Wow, impressive.”
“Eh, I was one of several thousand, so not that special.”
“So why did a hero of the Federation get put way out here?”
Derek chuckled. “This hero of the Federation faced either being sent out here to train recruits or being forced into ‘retirement’ as the suits back on Tar Ebon enacted spending cuts.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, the Marines are all I’ve ever known, so I didn’t relish going back to civilian life at all. I figured I could finish my thirty years of service out here and retire in comfort…boy was I wrong.”
“So, in all these years you never got married?”
Derek snorted. “Nah, never met the right woman.”
“Did you even date?”
Derek laughed. "Yeah, I dated plenty of girls before enlistment, and I even met girls on the planet during basic. But once I was on the move…well, I didn't want to fraternize with my fellow Marines, ya know?"
“And once you were on Serpentis III?”
“There was one girl, Katrina, but it didn’t last long. She had a kid already and I wasn’t ready to settle down.”
“Do you know if she got off before…did you hear…?”
“Before the Krai’kesh dropped a moon on the planet? Yeah, I heard about it from the admiral. As for Katrina, she was never one to travel - another reason it didn’t work out. I imagine she went down with the planet.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Derek sighed. “For what? You couldn’t have saved them, no one could.”
Selene shrugged. “It’s just an expression. My parents used to say it.”
“And did they mean it.”
Selene averted her eyes. “No.”
“Well, I have a feeling we will be using that expression a lot more in the days, weeks and months to come. If the Krai’kesh can destroy whole planets, what’s to stop them from dropping Tar Ebon’s moon down on it?”
“The Home Guard fleet wouldn’t let that happen.”
“Even if it was a huge fleet?”
“All the fleets would come together, law be damned.”
“You’ve given it some thought I see.”
“I spend a lot of time alone in a starfighter. Not much else to do but think about the future somet
imes.”
“What about you? Any boyfriends?”
“Plenty of lovers, but nothing steady.”
Derek blushed. “Ah.”
“I’m not one to settle down. Most of them get too clingy, want to move too fast. Others want to start a family right away. And some are just whiny babies who can’t handle a woman who kicks their ass in the cockpit. Chauvinism is still alive and well in the Federation.”
“Well, I’m not intimidated by a strong woman,” Derek said, looking her in the eyes.
“Are you offering something?” Selene asked, taking a step toward Derek.
“Depends,” Derek said, also taking a step.
“On what?” Selene was a foot away from Derek.
Derek put his hand under Selene’s chin and tilted it up. “On this.” He kissed her full on the lips. She returned the kiss with fervor and pressed her body against his.
***
Derek entered the mess hall. He combed his hair and made sure his uniform was straight. It’s not like I’m ashamed of what we did, he thought, but he didn’t need to announce that he and Selene had slept together.
John and Ashley sat at a table with Clemence and Ben. Each of the four held five cards in their hand. “Okay, kids, see this,” John held up a jack card, “this is a bower. When the suit of this kind or the suit of the same color is trump, this becomes one of the most powerful cards in the game. So, this is a jack of hearts. If Ashley makes diamond trump,” he nodded to his wife across from him, “then my jack of hearts is the second most powerful card, with only the jack of hearts beating it. Do you guys understand?”
“This game is hard,” Ben complained. “Can we play go fish?”
“Let’s play one game, kid, then we’ll go back to go fish.”
“Ugh, fine,” Ben said, pouting.
Derek smiled as he approached. “Appreciating parenthood, John?”
John gave him a suffering glance. “Oh yes, loving it,” he said sarcastically. “Now I remember why we stopped having kids centuries ago.”
“Oh, come on,” Ashley said. “You’re torturing the poor kids, what did you expect would happen?”
Eclipse: Book Two of the Dark Tide Trilogy Page 3