Now it was just time to mop up, he watched for a few seconds as the surviving Caliphate vessels changed course to escape. The dying wasn’t over yet, but it looked like the battle had been won.
“Begin long range scans,” Luke said. “Watch for any Battle Singer signatures and let’s put drones on each of the worm holes.”
“Aye, aye Admiral,” Halsey said.
Now it was time to bury the dead and to learn their names.
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Survivors
Everything hurt and at first Sarah wasn’t sure where she was. Slowly, her memory came back to her, the fear, the shaking shuttle as it accelerated toward a tiny opening in the hull of the massive ship. At that point, she had been convinced the droid pilot would kill them all. Her eyelids wanted to stick together as she forced her eyes open to stare at a white ceiling.
“You will be okay,” a voice said nearby, and the pain receded, and. Now she felt warm, like she was lying in a warm pool. When she moved her hand, it felt like it was in a jar of honey and Sarah raised her eyes. She was lying in a shallow bed of green mud. Nearby an android with glossy white skin smiled at her. The smile was both alien and comforting, but the eyes showed no emotion.
“Who are you?” Sarah asked as she looked around. It was a small private room with two doors. One at the foot of her ‘bed’ and another to her right. Everything was clean and pristine while she lay there submerged in odorless mud.
“I am Doctor Wayne Caron,” the droid said. “Chief medical officer aboard the Tigress.”
The final moments in the shuttle came back to her as she remembered the crunching and grinding of metal caused by too many shuttles trying to fit into too small a space. She couldn’t remember all the details but she remembered becoming conscious and not being able to breath as a siren screamed in her ear.
“Rescue crews reached you in time Lieutenant Gray,” Wayne said. “Your suit had lost atmospheric integrity, and you were badly hurt in the landing.”
“Landing?” Sarah said, her throat dry enough to make her voice crack. “What idiot considered that a landing?”
“I’m told that when you come away alive, it is a successful landing,” Wayne said holding his smile.
“Last time I ride in a Namo shuttle,” Sarah said, laying her head back in the mud. It wasn’t uncomfortable but it would probably be a pain to get out of her hair, as short as it was. Might be easier to shave her head bald again.
Sarah paused. She didn’t know how to ask the next question. To ask who lived, or who died.
“There were casualties,” Wayne said. “I’m sorry. Staff Sergeant Berry and Lieutenant Silva are taking care of the remaining Jupiter Marines.”
A weight lifted off her chest. Berry had made it.
“Major Porter?” Sarah asked and Wayne shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” the droid said. “The shuttle he was on didn’t make it into the hanger before the blast wave reached us.”
Sarah nodded, feeling numb again. The New Alamo Marines had been the last ones off. They had covered for her people and now she had a debt of honor to pay the New Alamo Marines.
“You should rest now,” Wayne said. “Everything is under control. We will return you home as soon as we can.”
Sarah nodded as her eyelids got heavy and she sank back into the healing muck. As she fell asleep, she realized she didn’t know what Major Porter looked like without his helmet.
James stared at the reports scrolling across his screens. Eighth Fleet, his pride, joy and hope for a better future, had turned on Fifth Fleet and slaughtered them before joining the Caliphate forces.
He had seen the classified reports, the last transmissions of the Eighth Fleet officers as their troops had turned on them. The officers were true loyalists to the Jupiter Socialist Party, but the troops were lesser individuals who had received specialized InnerBuddies that directly influenced what they saw, felt and heard. Those lesser commoners lived almost completely in a virtual reality that encouraged them to behave in a proper manner, as loyal members of the Jupiter Alliance. Any disloyalty could be detected and corrected. The protocols to control them were the most secure ciphers and technologies known to the Jupiter Alliance. They should not have been able to break their InnerBuddy conditioning and controls, but they had and they hadn’t just rebelled, they had turned on their officers and the Fifth Fleet in a swift and coordinated manner.
The announcer buzzed and James looked up to see Admiral Tetsuo and Lee standing there. This couldn’t be good. If it were routine matters, they would have sent him a message. With the loss of Eighth and Fifth fleets there could not be any good news. He had seen the projections of the Namo fleet. There was nothing the Jupiter Alliance had which could stop them, even if they were mauled by the Caliphate. Hopefully, they would continue to Earth and fix that problem for the Jupiter Alliance. That might give the Jupiter Socialist Party enough time to consolidate control and come up with a proper response.
The Defender project was a dramatic failure.
James authorized the door to open. Lee and the Admiral came in to stand before James’ desk.
“The people of Eighth Fleet were hacked,” Tetsuo said.
James nodded and then what the Admiral said sank in. ‘The People’ of Eighth Fleet. How did the Admiral know it was the people? Besides, why would the admiral care? They weren't officers.
“What do you mean?” James said. Perhaps this pompous loser had meant something else. The Admiral was not cleared to know much about Eighth Fleet. Nobody outside the Blue Baldrics was supposed to know.
“Project Defender is a project designed to control people, to make them subservient slaves of the ruling elite,” Tetsuo said and James could hear the anger in the Admiral’s voice.
“Not subservient slaves,” James said. “Good citizens. They are not living in abject poverty and they receive positive stimulation as frequently as negative stimulation. The common people of the Jupiter Alliance are a treasure. Even the anti-Socialists that do not want to contribute or be a part of society. Now those anti-Socialist elements have the incentive and encouragement to be model citizens.”
“Slaves,” Tetsuo said. “You control their hopes and fears through chemicals, you influence what they hear and see through subtle color shifts and sound pitches. You dictate what they like and don’t like. They only have the freedom to see things your way.”
James stood up.
“It is for the common good. You need to be careful Admiral. I can have you replaced at the flick of a finger,” James said. “My concern is the people of the Jupiter Alliance and by extension the entire human race. Who are you to tell me? You aren’t good enough to be a civilian. You need the military to give your life purpose and structure. If you didn’t have the military to take care of you, then you would be a destitute waster rooting through the garbage looking for food. Why do you think the military takes orders from a civilian government you fool?”
Admiral Tetsuo stared at James, stunned by the truth and James couldn’t conceal his smirk. The fool had never thought about it. Military men were usually the most clueless. They only saw their own small slice of the world and didn’t have the vision to see beyond that. The real military men who had vision and loyalty had been recruited into the Blue Baldrics long ago.
“The secret about Project Defender and Project Gaia is out,” Lee said and James felt cold. Project Defender could be buried, but project Gaia could not.
“How did that happen?” James said angry. There would be riots and rebellion because most of the citizens of the Jupiter Alliance couldn’t see the bigger picture, couldn’t make the hard decisions that were best for all. Who had jeopardized that?
“I told them,” Lee said softly.
“What?!” James yelled, causing Lee to take a half step back. “Why would you do something so stupid?”
“Because I’m done,” Lee said.
“You are done all right,” James said and then he noticed the door
behind them was still open. In the distance, he heard gunshots.
“Dammit,” James said. “The riots have probably begun already.”
“No,” Tetsuo said drawing James’ attention.
“What do you mean ‘no’,” James asked.
“All Blue Baldrics and JSP officers are being placed under arrest,” Tetsuo said.
“Who gave that damned order,” James said. “Revoke it and bring me whoever gave that order.”
“I gave the order,” Tetsuo said.
James stared at the Admiral and then noticed the holstered side arm the Admiral was carrying, and he noticed how the Admiral’s hand was resting on the handle.
Sitting down James eyes went from Lee to Tetsuo. They were betraying him. They were fools, afraid of the glorious future he was trying to give them.
“I will have to ask you to come with me,” the Admiral said.
“No,” James said putting his hands on his legs. The Blue Baldrics would be here shortly if this pompous ass was playing for a coup. Had Lee put him up to this? He just had to stall long enough for loyalists to arrive.
“You are not the one in charge here,” James said as he reached for the pistol he kept in a holster beneath his desk.
James didn’t even see Tetsuo draw and fire, placing a single shot right between the eyes.
Shum bowed his head as he entered Topa Suresh’s quarters.
“You sent for me?” Shum said, holding his head high.
“Yes,” Suresh said, standing up to look at Shum.
“I need you to return to the Pral and take up the post of Brak Tal,” Shum said.
Shum stood there staring at Suresh.
“I am not worthy of that post,” Shum said. “Until recently I was Falla.”
Suresh nodded.
“There is nobody half as qualified as you,” Suresh said. “There are Tal survivors and Tal forces, but they are scattered.”
“I was soul bonded to a vassal of the Battle Singers,” Shum said.
“And the Battle Singers are finally extinct,” Suresh said. “You have more experience with non-Pral than any other Tal that I know of. More than any Tal has had in centuries. You have learned so much from Shoka Kishi, you have become a Brak Tal. No Pral paradigm can define you now.”
Shum bowed his head in thought.
He had seen how humans, Bronkaw and Caleet fought, how brave they were, how little they could value lives when they were fighting for what they believed in, he had seen how little value they gave lives when the cause required it. Until he had become Falla, he had never imagined how dangerous such races could be. Now such races were in ascendancy and the Pral were not.
“Why?” Shum asked.
“There are dark times ahead,” Suresh said. “The Tal are no longer dominant. If the Pral are to survive, we must change. We cannot challenge the younger races or they will destroy us. Instead we must work with them, we must help guide them, and, in time, we may have to fight them. The path into the future is unclear but conflict is the nature of life. Like the younger races we must accept chaos or be crushed by it.”
Shum nodded.
“I will follow you Topa Suresh,” Shum said, looking Suresh in the eyes and standing tall.
Suresh smiled.
“What is next?” Shum asked.
“I have prepared for the fall of the Conglomerate,” Suresh said. “There have always been contingencies. The Topa, the Tal and the Pral are not without resources. Come with me and we will learn the meaning of Falra.”
Shum bowed.
“Good morning Captain,” Fry said. He sounded relieved as Sonya struggled for consciousness.
“Status report,” Sonya said, trying to clear the cobwebs from her mind as she looked up at the ceiling. Medical.
“Much better,” Fry said. “Lieutenant Commander Harris is likely to be out for a few more hours. Lieutenant McLaughlin was killed. Commander Goodwin was injured but is back on duty. There was a small explosion in the CIC. Lieutenant McLaughlin’s console blew.”
“The juggernaut?” Sonya asked trying to remember what had put her here.
“Gone,” Fry said. “We got it and the Tigress stomped the Jupe ships that were attacking.”
“Major Porter?” Sonya asked.
“I’m sorry,” Fry said. “His shuttle didn’t make it.”
Sonya nodded. Her body was too young to feel this old.
“Most of the Jupe Marines made it though,” Fry said.
“Ship status?” Sonya asked.
“We are hurt, but the battle is over,” Fry said. “The Cincinnatus is banged up pretty good but our spine isn’t broken and repairs are proceeding. Not sure when we will be a hundred percent, but we will get there.”
Sonya nodded and closed her eyes. She saw Major Porter standing there, but he didn’t look angry.
“We won Captain,” Fry said with a smile. “The Gallant is on approach and will send over some additional repair crews. Captain Kagawa sends her regards and congratulations.”
Sonya nodded. Why did it feel like they had lost?
“That desk is more powerful than the Knight,” Mark said sliding into a chair opposite Bruce. The office was spacious, and it looked like a glass box in the depth of space. Each wall looked out onto a specific ship or a squadron.
“Feels more like a prison,” Bruce said as his eyes swept the surrounding walls.
Mark laughed.
“Perhaps right now it does,” Mark said and stared pointedly at the Admiral stars on Bruce’s shoulders. “But prison stars suit you.”
Bruce gave Mark a wry smile.
“There is a lot to be said about commanding one of the most powerful battleships in the history of the human race,” Bruce said his eyes coming to rest on the graceful lines of the NAS Knight.
“You command all of them,” Mark said following Bruce’s eyes.
“From a desk,” Bruce said. “Not a bridge. Luke is the lucky one.”
Mark shrugged.
“Maybe,” Mark said. “But the ship is technically his. Topa Suresh was clear on that and I couldn’t think of a way to chain him to this desk anyways. It would have been like trying to staple jello to the ceiling in the dark.”
Bruce chuckled.
“But seriously,” Mark said. “He is not a social type and the Bronkaw worship the ground you walk on after the battle at Bronkaw Secundus. They seem to have no problem working with you and that is what we need coordinating our mutual defense. You more than anyone convinced the Captains to obey Luke when he told them to re-assemble.”
“But I’ll be doing it from a desk,” Bruce said. “I don’t think I could fill Admiral Day’s shoes.”
Mark nodded solemnly.
“Admiral Day was a personal friend of mine,” Mark said staring into the depths of space. “He got to command the greatest fleet in human history. Don’t be so sure about being chained to that desk. Sylvester thought he was chained to the desk.”
Bruce grimaced. Admiral Day had been a good man.
“You were an outstanding officer of the Jupiter Alliance, and then a prized Shoku of the Topa. Now it is time for you to be something more,” Mark said. “I can’t think of a better man.”
“Thank you,” Bruce said as the shoes he was filling seemed even bigger.
Luke stared at New Alamo, receding in the distance.
“You up for this?” Leonessa said coming up behind him and rubbing his shoulders as he sat in his desk chair.
“Yes,” Luke said turning his eyes back to the destination wormhole, still a few hours out.
“To explore the galaxy, find new friends, meet interesting new people and learn from them,” Leonessa said. “A blank check. Your own ship and no oversight. To go where no human has gone before.”
Luke smiled.
The End
Thank you for reading New Empires. I hope you enjoyed it.
If you liked it please write a quick review. Your favorite character, part or concept. I would apprec
iate it and Thank you!
If you would like to read more about the Conglomerate Series check out the Conglomerate Trilogy, starting with book #1 The Return
Book 1: The Return
Only two out-gunned and outnumbered pilots were there to hold the line against the enemy while the colony of New Alamo escaped. When the battle was over, the enemy fleet was shattered and Luke Kishi had lost the love of his life. She had made him promise to live, and he would keep that promise. However, on the other end of the wormhole the Conglomerate had other plans. It was a harsh and unforgiving society and Luke became a mercenary, fighting for the ruling Topa. Wishing for death, but honor bound to live; Luke receives a mission that sends him to a distant corner of the Conglomerate. The Topa have plans within plans, and Luke has to find something worth living for besides honor or the human race will executed.
Book 2: The Darkness
With his ship destroyed and his future uncertain, Luke is forced to return to New Alamo while Leonessa is forced to return to Athena to help rebuild her shattered home. The drums of war are beating as the colonies prepare to defend themselves against the religious fanatics of Earth, but there are other threats, lurking in the darkness preparing to strike and Topa Suresh has an even more important mission for Luke, a mission that could involve the death of the Conglomerate and the collapse of civilization.
Suresh missing, the Jupiter Alliance and Caliphate preparing for war, and death in every shadow Luke and Leonessa must take the battle to the enemy and build alliances against an ancient enemy intent on the destruction of civilization and peace.
New Empires: Conglomerate Series Book 3 Page 32