Harvest End

by Max Dane

  Angry, Finn threw the datatab down causing the display to waver before returning to the morning news. He had read the story three times, but it still didn’t make sense. A day of mourning had been declared across the League of Worlds in reaction to a violent, aggressive move by dissident forces at what they were calling, ‘The Battle of Jorund’s Hope.’ The story released by the League, said that dissident ships attacked a Fleet rescue operation in the process of evacuating colonists. Something about them facing an oncoming spread of a virulent plague. The only survivors had been relocated to Levant. Millions had been lost. Outrage at the unwarranted assault was spreading like wildfire across the League.

  Alex ran into Miko as she was leaving Finn’s quarters. “Be careful, Alex, he’s in a real mood today. The news about Jorund’s Hope has got him pretty worked up.”

  “I was guessing that was the case; that’s why I’m here.”

  “Well, good luck, maybe you can do better than I did.”

  Alex knocked and walked into Finn’s quarters as he threw the tablet down. “Of course, you might be missing part of the story.”

  Finn whirled around, “I am useless here!”

  “Finn,” said Alex, in his calmest voice, “it’s very unlikely that you could have done anything even if you had been there. And that story is leaving out the fact that the plague was really the scourge; what else do you think it’s leaving out?”

  “What’s your point, Doctor?”

  “My point is that you don’t have all the facts.”

  “Alex, I’ve exhausted every resource on this planet, and they all say the same thing. I need to get out of here.”

  “I agree, you need answers and maybe it’s time to go get them.”

  “You agree? But, Alex, you’ve been telling me to relax, heal, enjoy the beaches.”

  He nodded and walked over to pick up the datatab. “I know, but this is too big. I’m just as involved as you are, Finn, maybe more. Don’t you think I want to know what happened as well?”

  “Me, too.” They turned to see Micha standing in the doorway. “I’m ready to get involved again, even if it means joining another crew. Finn, I want to get back out there.”

  She walked in and stood next to Alex, “I think you should approach Rear Admiral Radke again.”

  Alex smiled, “What have you got to lose, Finn? And I will come with you.”

  “Don’t leave me out, old man.”

  With a hand on each of their shoulders, he smiled broadly, “Thank you both, I feel better than I have in weeks. Let’s do it. I’ll charter a shuttle, and we’ll take a quick trip to Adare, where he’s posted. Get some things together, Micha, Alex; we’re moving out.”

  Alex followed Micha out the door, “It’s about time we got some action.”

  “Or court-martialed, don’t forget that we haven’t been invited. They tend to frown on that.”

  “Technically, I’m a civilian, so I would only be arrested and jailed.”

  “One can only hope.”

  He tripped as they walked across the courtyard in front of the building.

  She was still laughing when she got to her quarters.

  Jacob Radke sat heavily in his office, reading the updates on troop placements and Fleet tallies. These were difficult days, and they just didn’t seem to be getting better. His assistant knocked lightly on the doorframe to his office. “Sir, you have three visitors.”

  He leaned back and turned his display off, “I could use a break; please send them in.”

  Moments later Finn, flanked by Alex and Micha, walked into his office.

  Smiling and happy for the unexpected visit, he stood up and walked around his desk to greet them. “Finn, Commander Alwin, it’s a pleasure to see you. You look very tan. I told you New Brazil was beautiful. And, Dr. Stiles, I see these two have dragged you along as well.”

  “Yes, sir, although I suppose I was brought along as moral support.”

  “I’m not sure I understand, Doctor Stiles, but please come in; have a seat.” Turning back to Finn, “It really is good to see you, Finn. Is Miko keeping you out of trouble?”

  “Yes, Sir, your daughter is smart and beautiful, and despite my sour demeanor, has been a very good friend. Thank you, Jacob, for all that you’ve done for me.”

  “Finn, your father once did something very much the same for me,” he said looking from Finn to Micha and Alex, “but that’s a story for another time.”

  He sat down and motioned to the couch, “What brings you here at such an inglorious time?”

  Finn sat down across from him, “Sir, we read the news about Jorund’s Hope and could not sit idle any longer. We want to help.”

  “I bet you do.” Radke returned to his desk and turned the display back on.

  “The details of the story are missing some important points.”

  “Judging from the absence of any mention of the scourge, we guessed as much,” said Alex.

  “And you would be correct, Doctor Stiles. The plague in the story was of course, the scourge. But there’s more, Doctor, much more. You see, the dissident fleet that appeared and attacked our fleet said that they sought justice for the destruction of their own colonies. They thought we had developed the weapon, which reduced their worlds to sand. They didn’t know; they couldn’t understand that the true enemy was the reason our ships were there. It was a rescue operation, not a staging point for another war. They must have thrown everything they had at us. Records from the surviving vessels indicate more than a hundred enemy ships were there.”

  Radke shifted uncomfortably, solemn with the senseless magnitude of loss. “Our ships were in the midst of the rescue operation when the attack came. Trying to protect civilians and holding position for evacuees to land, they were easy targets. We lost about a quarter of the League Fleet there, and about a third of our senior, our most seasoned, officers. We’re still trying to recover. I imagine fleet allocations will be adjusting for quite some time to come.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, who was in charge?” said Finn.

  “Commodore Greyson Bishop was the Fleet Commander for that operation; he was a good man and my friend. We went to the academy together, but that was a long time ago.”

  Alex was the first to break the silence, “Excuse me, Admiral, but do you know how many of the dissident colonies were destroyed by the scourge?”

  “Not really, no. They may have built colonies on the far side of the jump, at Jorund’s Hope. There aren’t any habitable planets in that system, so we don’t really know where they came from. Right now we have blockaded the jump to Jorund’s Hope from inside the Levant system. There won’t be any more traffic coming from that direction.”

  “And you also have a blockade at the jump from New Dublin, inside the Canis Major system.”

  “Yes, that’s right, Doctor. We are making a stand at both points to prevent the spread of the scourge to the inner systems.”

  Alex mentally took inventory of the cut-off colonies: Madras, New Dublin, New Rome, Bunda, the Lester Colony, Jorund’s Hope, and one or more dissident colonies. The loss in human life was too big now to count in numbers. It could only be understood as a percentage of the whole. In a low voice, almost a whisper, he said, “The loss is staggering, Admiral.” He may have been expecting a response, but Radke only nodded.

  Finn stood up, “Sir, we’ve discussed the matter and respectfully request that you reinstate us for service. Even if we are to be incorporated into other ships, we want to help.”

  The Rear Admiral sighed, “Thank you, Captain Holt, but I have a different proposal for you. We are fighting a war now; it’s important that you understand my meaning. The death toll of the scourge has now surpassed the Sedition Wars, the I’Otin Genetic Conflict, and even the Hegemony of Unification. And where these wars took generations to run their course, the scourge has taken less than a single year. This is becoming a war of survival.”

  Finn sat heavily back on the couch. “I understand, Sir.”

 
; “Do you, because I don’t? The Science Council is our best hope right now, and they seem to be saying we don’t have enough information to do anything. This enemy takes our systems and denies us any further access. I don’t dare send a fleet to investigate for fear of bringing the damn things back. Nearly half of the planets humanity can live on, are now lost to us. Do you know what that means to us, as a species?”

  “I do,” said Alex, “We are now bottled up behind the blockades, unable to expand. Humanity is as big as it will ever be, if we cannot regain access to those systems and their jumps.”

  Radke nodded, “Very good, Doctor, that’s correct. Which brings me back to you, Finn.”

  He stood and walked to Finn, “If I put you on another destroyer, hell, if I made you captain of a battleship, it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. One more ship won’t stop the encroaching scourge from taking another world, nor will one more ship take back our lost systems.”

  “But I don’t understand, if not another ship, what then?”

  “Finn, I want you to report to the Science Council.”

  “What? Sir, you can’t be serious.”

  “I most certainly am, Captain Holt. In fact, I’ve already signed the orders.”

  “But, Sir, I’m no scientist, I’m not even- ”

  “Finn, I think you’re the perfect choice, and besides, they requested you.”

  “They requested me? Seriously, Admiral, with all due respect, I am part of the military, a Fleet Officer. This is not- ”

  “Enough, Captain Holt, you will report to the Science Council on Adare, tomorrow morning. There you will be briefed and receive your next orders. Dismissed.” Radke returned to his desk and pretended to study the ship rotations.

  “Lieutenant, please show our guests out.”

  Surprised and confused the trio stumbled out of Radke’s office and outside, down the street. “The Science Council? What do you think that was about?” asked Micha.

  Finn shrugged, “I have no idea. Why would we report to the Science Council? It makes no sense.”

  Alex smiled, “I think we’ve finally found an enemy great enough to make bedfellows out of the Science Council and Fleet Headquarters. Personally, I can’t wait to hear what they have to say. Come now, Finn, we came all this way with you; the least you can do is buy us lunch.”

  The following morning, a ground transport arrived at the main hall of the Adare Segment of the League of Worlds Science Council. Three figures emerged from the vehicle to stand before the iconic image of ‘the Thinker’. Looking up, Finn estimated the statue was nearly fifty feet tall, but silver now rather than the original bronze. It perched on several spheres that looked to be modeled after real planets, probably representing Earth and the original four colonies. Finn was familiar with the work and not at all surprised to see the changes made by the Science Council. Their self-important rhetoric had morphed and blurred the lines between science and an almost cult-like religion. Always at odds with the other branches of government, the inscription at the bottom summed it up perfectly.

  ‘The mind will lead all men to God. Serve not the whims of aristocrats or militants but at the right hand of the infinite. Only there shall man find peace and fulfillment. Understand that which is understandable, know that which is knowable, and ignore the base desires of all else.’

  “Micha, may I take your and Finn’s picture next to it?” said Alex, amused at their obvious dislike of it.

  “The Fleet statue of Admiral Ryan Cochran, at the Adare Headquarters is taller,” said Micha unperturbed.

  Finn shook his head, “Tell me again why we’re being punished?”

  “Because you wanted to get involved,” said Alex, “Micha and I were perfectly happy on New Brazil.” Micha laughed out loud and started up the stairs leading to the entrance. “Come on old man, let’s get this over with.”

  Once inside they reported for duty and were led to a large table somewhere high in one of the facility spires. Except for the three of them, everyone was dressed in white. After several moments of confirming who they were, they were told to wait until one of the Facility Directors joined them. Minutes turned to hours as they continued to wait. Finally a man in a white coat stepped inside, “The procession will now begin.”

  A short line of men and women in white coats entered to stop and sit together in a row of chairs at the head of the room.

  Finn stood up, “We’ve been waiting here for hours. Is someone going to explain why we’re here?”

  One of the men in the middle said, “Patience before discovery.”

  Finn shook his head and sat back down.

  Another man walked in and stood before them.

  “I am the Director of the Adare Colony Division of the Science Council. I stand before you representing the will of the Directors of every Council in the League of Worlds. You will do well to remember the words of Director Jax. Patience, Captain Holt, patience before discovery. It seems that we must work together, your order and mine, to defeat the enemy who has been set upon us. We will not win this conflict through force of arms; do you understand this?”

  “Yes, I acknowledge this to be true,” he said.

  “Then know that we have approached the Fleet leadership to propose a union of resources in this cause. And as they have provided you and those you wish to bring, so too have we provided our representatives.” He motioned to the side where another door opened, and someone new walked in.

  “Julian!” Finn rushed over to him, grabbing his arm and shaking it up and down. “I was worried, we lost track of you after the inquiry. I never got to thank you, or to- ”

  “Ahem.”

  The Director nodded, “Julian Yates will represent this group. Know that both of you will be jointly responsible for the outcome, good or bad. May reason comfort you in the days ahead.”

  After the Council Directors left, Finn clapped Julian on the back, “It’s so good to see you, Julian. And here I thought I had gotten you into some serious trouble back at Madras.”

  “Well, after the inquiry, they put me in their version of the brig. I was there for just over a week before they sorted out all the reports and details. Eventually they figured out that I was the only one who seemed to understand what was happening.”

  “So, now they’re listening to you?” said Micha grinning, “Do they know you?”

  “They’re scared, Micha. They have finally come face to face with a science that is more advanced than their own. They’ll listen to anyone that sounds like they know what’s going on.”

  Alex stepped forward to join them, “So basically, they’re stumped.”

  “Hello, Dr. Stiles, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “And you, Dr. Yates. Your idea for the sensor modifications was quite clever.”

  “Thank you, I actually wanted to- ”

  Finn walked back to the chairs and sat down. “Gentlemen, I for one am still completely in the dark as to why we’re here. Julian, can you tell me what’s going on?”

  “Of course, but I should think it’s completely obvious,” said Julian.

  “Yes,” said Alex, “I think it is.”

  Then in unison, “We’re going on a mission.”

  Finn looked from the two of them, standing there smiling broadly, to Micha. “I don’t know if having the two of them together is such a good idea.”

  Micha stood next to him, arms crossed and looking very annoyed.

  “I’m sure of it.”

  That afternoon, Julian took them to the port authority landing site, where a Science Council shuttle waited. “Come on, Finn, they’re expecting us.”

  Walking across the landing field, between the monstrous platforms, Finn was watching as a ship, not too much smaller than the Ajax, was loaded inside a huge, bulk freighter. Usually, ships that big never made it planet-side; someone must be paying a fortune to bring it down here and then lift it back to space. Distracted, he noticed that Julian and the rest were getting ahead, and he ran to catch u
p. They moved between countless ships of every make and design, until finally reaching their shuttle. Finn recognized it from the red Science Council logo on the side.

  Julian said something to the pilot and then motioned for them all to take seats.

  “Okay, you got us here,” said Finn, “Now can you tell us where we’re going?”

  “We have a few minutes until we can depart, so now’s as good a time as any. I’m taking us to the ship.”

  “The ship?” said Micha.

  “Our ship,” said Julian.

  Suddenly he had Finn’s complete attention. “What do you mean, our ship, Julian?”

  The engines of the shuttle hummed as they began their pre-flight warm up sequence.

  Julian began buckling his seat straps.

  “Yes, our ship; the Science Council Director asked for a ship from the Fleet Admiral to use especially for this mission. They needed a hull big enough to accept new engines, upgraded scanning hardware, and a special addition, which I’ll explain when we get there. They received a Tempest Class III Cruiser and went to work. It’s in the Adare shipyard, and that’s where we’re going. They’ve had three weeks to put it together, and this is my first look at it.”

  The shuttle lifted off and streaked into the sky.

  “Julian, it sounds like you’ve got this wrapped up already, so why are we here?” said Finn.

  Julian sighed, “I’m sorry, there wasn’t time to brief you properly. Finn, you’re going to be the Captain; Micha, Alex, and the rest of your people are the crew. I haven’t been trained to lead a mission or run a starship, and I’m smart enough not to try. We have one shot at this before the powers-that-be start burning whole star systems. You see, they don’t really believe that we can do anything, and they only really let us go, because they need more time before they’re ready to begin.”