Eclipse: Book Two of the Dark Tide Trilogy

by Dayne Edmondson

  The Federation capital ships seemed to fire even faster. Selene desperately sought a target to shoot. Every enemy fighter they stopped from suicide bombing the fleet could save lives. She locked on one as it neared the hull of the Independence and fired. The shells struck, causing the enemy fighter to spin around wildly, but its momentum carried it into the shields and hull of the carrier. The shields, not capable of stopping fighter-sized projectiles, were overwhelmed.

  Selene emerged from the cloud of fighters and capital ships mingling and stared in shock. Eligar II, or what remained of it, had met the same fate as Serpentis III. Already the rocks were floating outward to form a debris field. Not that she had expected the planet to survive or the moon to stop its descent. Seeing it again brought back memories she had hoped to keep buried. How many would more planets fall to the Krai’kesh?

  ***

  The expanding debris field blotted out the sun. Martin tore his eyes away from the scene and back to the sensor display at the behest of alarms.“Status report.”

  “We’ve sustained heavy damage, sir. Hull integrity is down for forty percent. Inner bulkheads have been sealed and contained the worst of the damage.”

  “I presume engineering is secure now?”

  “Yes, sir. The Krai’kesh there have been neutralized.”

  “And my wife?”

  “The Dauntlessreported in minutes ago they were departing from the surface of Eligar II. We have them on our sensor display, and they are out-pacing the debris field expansion.”

  “Will the debris field affect us?”

  “Based on current estimates, the debris field will reach us within the hour.”

  Martin bowed his head.“All right. Put me through to the Supreme Commander.”

  The sensor display was replacedmoments later with the image of the Supreme Commander.“Admiral, I presume you’ve seen the enemy fleet departing?”

  “Yes, sir. Did the Nightbladesuffer much damage from the suicide strikes of their fighters?”

  Dawyn waved a hand.“The Nightbladesuffered minimal damage due to its mage-forged hull, but the rest of the fleet was not so fortunate. A quarter of our ships are out of commission and being evacuated ahead of the debris field.”

  “That is the reason for my call, Supreme Commander. Are we pulling out of the Eligar system?”

  “Yes. There is nothing left here to protect, Admiral. Once all survivors are rescued, and evacuees brought onboard I will order the fleet to depart for the Yushon system to resupply, drop off refugees and plan a strategy.”

  “Understood, Supreme Commander. We will see that it is done.”

  The link ended and Martin was leftstaring once again at the display screen which now showed no Krai’kesh contacts on screen. A hollow victory to be certain. Yes, they had defeated the Krai’kesh fleet but lost a planet in the process. The remaining ships would be bursting at the seams with refugees. This war is far from over.

  ***

  Kimberly entered the bridge of the Interdictor-class cruiser Vindicator. She approached Isabelle, who stood near the large viewport. Outside in the void of space the ruined hulks of merchant, Imperial and Federation ships floated aimlessly. “Have the remaining merchant vessels been neutralized?” she asked.

  Isabelle looked as if she had been startled by Kimberly’s presence. “Sorry, I was thinking other thoughts.” She cleared her throat and looked toward the station. “The remaining merchant ships have fled to the station and hunkered down. Their attempts at blockade-running were unsuccessful.”

  “And now we settle into a blockade?”

  “Yes. We can’t afford a frontal assault without knowing how many Krai’kesh remain on the station. To complicate matters, however, there are hold-outs of civilians hiding within the station. We need to get to them. But the Imperials are being uncooperative.”

  Kimberly snorted. That didn’t surprise her. “How so?”

  “They’re demanding we not launch any Marine forces to the station or attempt any assaults on the station now.”

  “Do they want to do it themselves?”

  “They’re in worse shape than we are. The boarding parties caught them unawares. I think they’re biding time until reinforcements can arrive.”

  “So, you’ll invade as a joint force? Once their reinforcements arrive.”

  "That's what bothers me. If we combine forces and take the station, then the Imperials will claim the territory they wrested from the merchants as their own and the station will be split. Worse, they could betray us and claim the entire station as theirs. We cannot allow that.”

  “It would cripple our trade operations,” Kimberly speculated.

  “And during a time of war that is the last thing we need,” Isabelle confirmed. She met Kimberly’s eyes. “But that’s not your concern. I have a different mission for you and your team.”

  Kimberly’s thoughts drifted to her meager “team,” which comprised Corbin and Baillidh. So much for her first command being a success. “A mission?”

  “The connection between a group of merchants and the Krai’kesh concerns me. Yes, we knew about the Cult of Rae, but the knowledge that Krai’kesh had infiltrated the Federation who knows how long before the ‘official’ invasion in the outer rim has me concerned. I don’t think this action was sanctioned by the Merchant Council or the Corporate Council, but we need confirmation. I’m sending you and your team to the capital planet of the Commerce Sector, Epsilon III.”

  “What are we to do there?”

  “Find out how deep the connection goes. Find out which families or corporations knew about the Krai’kesh, how the Krai’kesh infiltrated our galaxy without our knowledge, how long they’ve been in our galaxy and anything else which would apply to build a case against them.”

  “Do you think it will come to war with the Commerce Sector? I’m sure I need not tell you, ma’am, but war with the Commerce Sector would invite the Empire to invade us and a triple front…”

  “No, it will not come to war. But the information is critical for us to plan a defensive policy to stop events like this or Draxon II from happening within Federation territory. Information is power and right now we’re lacking information.”

  “Of course I’ll go.”

  “There’s one other thing. We will replenish your team, and you’ll be infiltrating as part of the team accompanying the new ambassador to the Commerce Sector, but this is important.” She paused. “You will be on your own. The Ambassador and embassy will disavow all knowledge of you, the Federation will disavow all knowledge of you, I will disavow all knowledge of you if you are captured. There will be no fleets coming to your rescue, no backup waiting in the wings. You will be on your own, cut off from assistance from the Federation. Do you understand?”

  Kimberly looked Isabelle in the eyes. “I understand.”

  Isabelle nodded and smiled slightly. “Good. You depart for Tar Ebon in the morning. From there you will join the Ambassador’s team in transit to Epsilon III. Once on Epsilon III you will be issued new identity documents and assume a false identity. You will depart the embassy and not return until you are successful in your mission.”

  “We won’t fail you.”

  “I know you won’t intentionally fail, which is why I chose you. Now go get some rest, you’ve got a long trip ahead of you.”

  Chapter 19 - Reflection

  “Admiral’s log, October twelve, twenty twenty-nine. The Krai’kesh have been defeated at Eligar II but the planet is lost. We are enroute to the Yushon system to re-group, re-supply and drop off refugees. From there the Supreme Commander and I will plan a strategy for halting the Krai’kesh advance and hitting them back. My fleet, along with the Black Fleet, sustained heavy damage, with many ships not able to survive the shift and being evacuated in advance. Casualties within the Eighteenth fleet stand at four thousand men and women lost during the Krai’kesh offensive beginning on Serpentis III and ending with the defense of Eligar II. Admiral Rigsby, signing off.” He ended
the recording.

  “No mention of the Governess of Eligar II surviving?” his wife asked.

  Martin smiled despite the grim circumstances which had put the survival of the Governess in question. “I’ll try to remember next time. How are the kids?”

  “Shaken up, but they fell asleep after two stories."

  “I’ll go give them a kiss in a moment.”

  His wife approached him. “How about giving your wife a kiss first?” She bent down and kissed him on the lips. He pulled her onto his lap. He had his family back with him and didn’t intend to let them go again.

  ***

  Derek surveyed the wreckage of the mess hall. Around the room crew, refugees and other military personnel turned those tables still serviceable upright and carried out the wreckage of those destroyed, while medics carried out the dead and wounded human fighters. The corpses of Krai’kesh were thrown into a cart and ferried out of the room. Mops glided across the floor, scrubbing at the blood pooled there.

  “Where am I going to play cards with the kids now?” John asked.

  Ashley began to respond with “John…” but was pre-empted by the arrival of Selene and another young woman. Her eyes widened. “Emma,” she breathed. She raced to the young woman and they embraced.

  John followed behind Ashley and joined in the three-way hug.

  Derek approached Selene. “Hey.”

  Selene took in Derek’s blood-stained armor and the bruises to his face. “You couldn’t have taken a shower or changed your clothes before coming to eat?”

  Derek blushed. “We came straight from the docking bay.” He bowed. “But if my appearance displeases her excellency…”

  She punched him in the shoulder. “Oh, shut up and kiss me.” She stepped forward and tilted her face up.

  Derek obliged her by putting a hand on her lower back and pulling her tightly against him. He kissed her passionately, letting all the pain and anger and frustration with the Krai’kesh flow out and be washed away. I love this woman, he realized. Did she feel the same about him?

  “I love you,” she whispered in-between kisses, answering his unspoken question.

  “I love you too,” Derek responded as he gasped for breath.

  Someone cleared their throat. Derek kept his hand on Selene’s back but faced John.

  “As happy as I am to hear you guys worked out all this,” John waved a hand, encompassing the two, “forgive me when I say ‘get a room.’”

  Derek couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that an order, Captain?”

  “No, it’s a plea shared by everyone in this mess hall right now.”

  Ashley punched John on the shoulder. “Have you met my daughter yet, Derek?” She gestured to Emma.

  “I haven’t had the honor.” Derek extended a hand.

  Emma shook his hand and smiled. “Selene didn’t tell me you were so cute.”

  Derek felt his cheeks burning. “Ummm…thank you?”

  Emma looked at her parents. “Where is Ethan?”

  John sobered, his smile gone. “He went with his men to the barracks.”

  “Oh. I’ll try to catch up to him later, then.” She left unspoken the reason Ethan hadn’t accompanied his parents. What had transpired in their past which estranged him?

  Derek pointed to an open table. “Let’s sit.”

  ***

  Dawyn Darklance, Supreme Commander of the Federation military, stood before the viewport in his quarters as the gray of shadow space slid by outside. He sensed a familiar presence behind him. “Hello, Bridgette.”

  “Brother. You asked for me?”

  Dawyn turned to face his sister. Over two thousand years old and still she reminded him of the seventeen-year-old girl she had been when they first came to Tar Ebon. A few more scars marred her face and her hair was shorter, but her eyes were the same green color as she watched him. “How have you been?”

  “You mean since you declared martial law?”

  “You disagree with my decision?”

  “It wasn’t your most tactful move.”

  “It had to be done.”

  “What do you want, Dawyn? You didn’t ask me to come all this way for a social call, did you?”

  Dawyn looked down at the floor and gathered his thoughts. “I need you to find someone.”

  “She doesn’t want to see you. She made that abundantly clear the last time I approached her, or have you forgotten?”

  “Circumstances have changed.”

  “Not for her.”

  “We need her, Bridgette. Or did you miss the report about Eligar II and Serpentis III?”

  “I don’t feel like being pinned against the wall again.”

  “Please, you’re the only one who can find her and get to her expediently.”

  Bridgette was silent for several moments. “While you’ve been out here playing soldier, I’ve been dealing with a crisis of a different sort. Do you know what that is?”

  Dawyn shook his head.

  “The Krai’kesh assaulted Crossroad Station.”

  Dawyn furrowed his brows. “What? How could that have happened?”

  “A group of merchants smuggled them in. The entire station had to be evacuated, and now a blockade is underway while we are at a stand-off with the Empire." She held up a hand to forestall him from speaking. "But that's not the worst of it. The evidence from Crossroad Station and Draxon II suggests the Krai'kesh have been in our galaxy much longer than we knew. They had time to make connections with human organizations and then make their way to the planets they struck. I don't know where else they might be hiding in the Federation or where they might be waiting to strike next.”

  “Like hidden saboteurs,” Dawyn mused.

  “Worse yet is this Cult of Rae, the human sympathizers who could have spies in the highest levels of government.”

  “How did the FIA not detect such spies sooner?” Dawyn held up a hand when Bridgette arched an eyebrow. “Not that I’m blaming you.”

  “We became complacent. The whole damn Federation did. We figured the Cult of Rae was harmless until the Krai’kesh emerged. We expected them to emerge like they did at the edge of the galaxy with great fanfare, yes, but not to sneak behind our lines and lay in wait.”

  “They caught us all off-guard,” Dawyn agreed. “Which underscores the need for you to find her and bring her back.”

  Bridgette sighed. “Fine. I will do it this once. But if she refuses I am not approaching her again, do you understand?”

  “If she refuses I’ll go to find her myself,” Dawyn said.

  “I’ll leave right away,” Bridgette said. “Goodbye, brother.” She faded to mist and was gone.

  I pray she finds you in time, daughter. You may be our only hope to survive this war.

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