His tone altered as he finished, implying that he had no, or at least very little respect for these factions.
"The good news for us is that we have managed to avoid the primary entry points, and any hostile forces that could have impeded our progress."
Again the imagery shifted to show the wreckage of space battles. Nate watched in stunned silence as a burnt out passenger liner twisted slowly through space. The view then shifted to show a starmap of the entire Byotai Empire.
"The Empire consisted of nine partially colonised star systems, with a tenth in a state of civil war. This is bigger than the Alliance in every way, so we have to be careful. Thanks to local intelligence, we've made it this far without running into trouble, and it's up to all of us to make sure it stays this way."
A quick adjustment shifted the imagery to focus on a single point.
"This is our current position."
A dot appeared on the edge of the inner cluster of colonies.
"We are now just ninety-six hours from our final destination, and it is time for you to hear our orders."
A dotted line moved from the position in open space and towards one of the Trinity star systems. It flashed and then zoomed in to show the large number of planets rotating slowly around the single star. One planet lit up and then grew in size to take up most of the projected space. A flashing ring appeared around it, marking it as their objective. Captain Cornwallis reached into his pocket and removed an envelope. Nate shook his head in surprise at such an archaic object.
"This was given to me by Admiral Churchill the day we left Alliance space, and inside it contains the final details of our mission."
He then proceeded to open the envelope and removed an ivory coloured piece of paper. The room was silent as every single one of them waited in anticipation. Nate looked on as one of the crowd, and thought back to the many rumours he'd heard. Some said they were heading to the Tenth Quadrant to help in the war, others that they were meeting up with the rest of the fleet. There were even suggestions they were being withdrawn to defend the Alliance colonies. Then he began to wonder if it was entirely true that communication was being kept so restricted that the Captain was having to rely on something as odd as paper.
This looks like theatre to me.
It took a moment for Captain Cornwallis to unfold the paper and then to scan the lines. Nate watched him, trying to ascertain if the man was truly reading, or simply going through the motions as part of this possible act.
It's the Byotai homeworld. I bet it is.
Nate knew more than most about what had been happening in the Empire. He was there when the mutiny started, and since then he'd heard the many stories of the new faction that had risen from the ashes of both the Byotai and the illusive and nomadic Anicinàbe.
The Star Empire is the new big bad. We can only be here for them.
Just thinking about this new regional power sent a shudder through his body. Many of the new men and women aboard Relentless were still getting used to life on the ship. Only a small percentage had been aboard during the last few battles with the rebels and their new allies. Nate new only too well how tough this new foe was.
"We received a communiqué from the Byotai homeworld two weeks ago. In it the Crown Prince, a young man called Kratha pleaded for assistance throughout the Empire. As far as we can tell, he has managed to rally substantial numbers of loyalists, and even a few mercenaries to assist him."
He lowered the paper and then spoke more slowly.
"This call for assistance was not just made to the inhabitants of the Empire. The Crown Prince’s representatives have met with our leadership. As you know, we have a mutual defence treaty with the Byotai, and they have called upon our commitment."
One of the pilots muttered words, and another followed by mentioning something to do with war. Excitement tore through the group in seconds until the Captain lifted his hand for silence.
"Orion Command, under the authorisation of Admiral Anderson, has agreed to offer limited assistance to our allies. We will help protect those still fighting for the Empire against foreign threats."
He looked up at the audience.
"We are not here to start a war, only to help those of the Empire that remain."
The side door opened and in came a marine. He moved directly up to the podium and stopped alongside the Captain. They exchanged words, and the marine left as quickly as he'd arrived. Captain Cornwallis motioned for Commander Higgins to join him, and as they spoke, a hand reached over and touched Nate's shoulder.
"What?"
He jumped and spoke louder than expected. Luckily, the others were equally intrigued by what was happening, and a gentle hum of conversation spread like wildfire. Nate looked back and found the Foss brothers looking at him. They were both from the OTC group, but right now neither seemed to be interested in the conflict between them.
"What do you know about the treaty?" Jaren asked.
He was the slightly taller of the two, stocky in build and spoke with a thick Australasian accent, something that was a surprise to Nate. Before he could answer, Travis joined in.
"We heard you spent time out here. Do they expect us to fight for them? Is this going to be war?"
Nate shook his head as he listened to them.
"We've been allies since fighting the Biomechs. We've helped them before at Karnak, so yeah, maybe. The Alliance can't fight a war against a power this big, though, not without help."
Matilda heard what they were saying and twisted about in her seat to look at the brothers.
"It doesn't really matter about the treaty. I can tell you now that this mission is much more focussed than just assistance. This fleet is nowhere near big enough to operate a war. Where are the troop ships and logistical ships?"
Travis laughed, but not too loud that he might draw too much attention to himself.
"Are you kidding? This is a powerful fleet."
Matilda sighed and then moved back to her original position. Nate started to do the same, but Travis touched his shoulder again.
"She's wrong, right?"
Nate lifted his left eyebrow.
"Very rarely."
Captain Cornwallis nodded several times as the volume reduced.
"Admiral Churchill has been authorised to offer direct assistance to the Byotai central government. This message has been kept secret until now...and this is why."
The imagery shifted to show a single planet encircled by hundreds of ships of different shapes and sizes. The largest were the great ore bulk haulers and passenger transports. There were also a large number of capital ships, some still bearing the horrific scars of space combat. Scores of these mighty vessels burned from within, while great chunks of debris circled the planet. A stunned groan spread through the audience.
"As you are aware, the mutiny started in the middle of November and spread throughout the Empire in a matter of days. Intelligence reports suggest this new organisation calling itself the Star Empire is attempting to wrest control."
The display altered a little to bring focus down on a large number of ancient looking buildings.
"The Imperial Homeworld of Ctenosaura Primus was hit by waves of uprisings. The palaces were lost in a matter of hours. It seems large segments of the Imperial Army turned on the government, quickly capturing or killing officials."
Once more the imagery altered, but this time it changed to show a mighty Byotai battleship. She bore the colours of the Imperator and dwarfed those ships nearby.
"The Battleship Red Star, the Imperial flagship. If the reports are true, it was boarded and captured by forces loyal to the new Star Empire regime. The Imperator was aboard and is presumed dead, and most of his known family have been publically executed. Some are rumoured to be in hiding, but we have had no contact from any of them, all except this one."
Now the imagery changed to a single young Byotai. The image was relatively poor quality, but it showed a young figure adorned in the armour and finery exp
ected of a figure of this importance.
"As far as we know, this is the only remaining member of the entire Byotai royal family. When he is captured or killed, the old regime will die with him."
Nate shook his head in astonishment. He'd never met or even seen a member of the royal family, but he did know that they were treated with great reverence in the Empire. The suggestion that so many of them had vanished and possibly killed was incredible.
"His name is Crown Prince Kratha, a young but charismatic figure and now the most significant leader among the loyalists. We received word from Kratha that he has rallied substantial forces at Nozu-Kuba, home to the Imperial Gas Mines, and he intends to fight."
The Captain looked away from the images of the Byotai territories and towards the men and women in the room. Every single one of them looked on at the latest videostreams from this alien and unknown domain. Only Nate actually turned his attention back to the officer, and for a second their gaze passed each other.
"We have a treaty with the Empire, and this Kratha is the only official representative still alive that we are aware of. That is why High Command has sent Admiral Churchill and our battlegroup here to extract him."
They all looked to the Captain and waited. At that very moment, something flashed on the Captain's arm. He looked to his Secpad and then let out a short sigh. He turned to Commander Higgins and nodded.
"Commander Higgins will explain the operation in detail. I must report to the Admiral. All I want to add is that our reports confirm the Empire is no more, and that the last few military units are days from defeat. We are here to save whatever legacy remains. We are not here to start a war."
With that, the Captain marched away from the podium and left Commander Higgins alone, and in front of the three squadrons. Last time he'd been in this room, he'd been one of them. Now he was giving the speeches and planning the missions.
"Pilots, gunners, crew. This is as serious as it gets, and the Orion Battlegroup will be at the forefront of the action."
Nate held his breath and looked across to Billy. His friend was far too engrossed, but Rex was a few seats over and their eyes crossed for a second. Unlike the others, Rex seemed on edge as they waited.
"Orion Command is mobilising all assets throughout the Alliance in case this violence spills out into our territory. Colonial Guard units have been activated, and the Interstellar Assault Brigade is on standby should ground forces need assistance."
Nate spotted Billy tapping his leg continually, but he couldn't tell if it was nerves or excitement.
"Our Battlegroup has been sent on a black ops mission deep behind their lines, and it is one of the most...challenging operations I have ever seen."
He rubbed his chin as he thought about the last reports he'd read. Much of the information was unnecessary to repeat, but he knew his people needed to understand the background to the mission.
"Like the Captain said, you and I are here to protect whatever remains of the Byotai High Command. We are here at their request, and while a single member of their Royalty lives, so does the Empire. Our mission is flexible and entirely to assist the Byotai government. We will do whatever we can do keep the Empire alive. But..."
He waited for a moment.
"...That does not mean we are here to fight a war for them. We have fuel, ammunition, and supplies for a short operation only."
He pointed to the projected images.
"The Nozu-Kuba Gas Mines are one of the richest and most developed industrial sites in the Trinity and positioned right on the edge of the Third Quadrant, four days from the nearest Spacebridge. There are more moons, starbases, and mining platforms in this one location than exist in the entire Alliance."
His expression then changed to something much more sombre.
"The last message was sent only three days ago. Since then, all communication has been blocked. You will recall that the Byotai fought beside us, both in space and on the ground war. We have an obligation to help them, just as we would expect the same from them."
The holographic projector changed from images of the region to a recorded videostream segment. It showed the young Prince and a small entourage. The quality was surprisingly good, though the camera shook every few seconds. As the Prince spoke, his voice was dubbed over with a computerised translation.
"... remaining loyalist forces have withdrawn here, to the Nozu-Kuba Gas Mines. My ships and soldiers will fight to the last to preserve the Empire."
Though the translation was of perfect quality, the image feed faded in and out, while in the background the loud bang of explosions and artillery shook the camera. It was almost impossible to make out details behind the Byotai, but they were clearly on the planet or a nearby starship.
"I call upon the treaty agreed between my people and the Alliance. We require your aid. The traitors are everywhere, but we will not leave. The Royal standard flies above Nozu-Kuba, and we..."
The image froze to single image, the Prince and his entourage looking both fierce and determined. Commander Higgins lifted his eyebrows as he looked out to the others.
"The mutiny began thirty-eight days ago, and since then the Empire has collapsed at an unprecedented speed. Estimated casualties number in the tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands, with many colonies changing sides, or simply giving in without a fight."
There was silence in the room now as each of them waited to hear what their role would be.
"Now, there is a moral argument for helping, but also a strategic one. We know from history that we cannot, and must not leave a vacuum on our doorstep. If we do, it will be filled by the rising tide of the Star Empire, or another regional power looking to consolidate its position."
The face of Kratha finally vanished, and the display changed back to little more than a simple static display of the star system. A dotted line showed their arrival and the elliptical course the battlegroup would take.
"We have a long road ahead of us until we can reach Nozu-Kuba. Ninety-six hours of travel."
He pointed to the unit, and a number of flashing objects appeared.
"This is where you all come in. The most direct route to Nozu-Kuba will take us within three hundred thousand kilometres of the Spacebridge to the First Quadrant and the Byotai capital. The Spacebridge is a full day from Nozu-Kuba. If hostile forces are anywhere nearby, it will be around the homeworld."
He looked much more serious as he explained.
"If the rebels detect the presence of our warships, they will be able to hit us soon after we arrive at Nozu-Kuba. This is a major vulnerability for the entire fleet. Speed and the element of surprise are our weapons. We cannot afford to be trapped deep inside hostile territory, with Nozu-Kuba on one side, and the Rift to the Imperial homeworld on the other."
The image changed, and it took a moment as the projector assembled the data to create the complex structure in thin air. Great patterns of dust mixed with objects the size of moons. It reminded Nate of their last adventure deep inside the Byotai Empire, but this one was something different. Instead of fragments drifting in space, this was one of the most significant regions in the entire Empire. Even he, a lowly Academy cadet, knew the Nozu-Kuba Gas Mines.
"The Prince chose the Nozu-Kuba Gas Mines for both its resources and its strategic position. It is a location well chosen."
He reached for a glass of water on the podium and drank it quietly. His throat was dry and speaking before such a large number actually left him feeling a little dizzy. It was not nerves that were the issue; it was the new burden of responsibility.
"The Kuba Nebulae is a massive cloud of dust, rock, and asteroids that extends out several days in every direction. Mining facilities and processing plants litter the entire region."
A flashing line penetrated the cloud.
"This must be breached if we are to reach the planet of Nozu-Kuba that is hidden deep inside. Like our own world of Prometheus, the debris and hazards are both a benefit and a hindrance. If I wanted to stop rein
forcements reaching the Prince, that is where I would run a blockade."
He deactivated the unit, and the lights brightened slowly, bathing the room in a warm glow. Nate watched in silence as his eyes adjusted to the new level.
"We will pass the Rift in approximately ten hours, and it is our job to secure the position for the fleet."
The imagery now changed from that of a general briefing to one of an actual combat mission.
"Relentless will coordinate a strike unit to scout the area, and if necessary clear a path for the fleet. That is why we have been towing a Prometheus flagged civilian ore hauler for the last eleven hours."
Nate's smile widened as he listened to rest of the plan. He'd been involved in such briefings before, but always as part of a simulated operation. This was the real thing, and it was deliciously intricate. He'd been listening for five minutes when the Commander paused to take another sip of water.
"You will wait inside the open cargo compartments of the ship until you arrive. At the agreed time, you will deploy and secure the area. It is imperative you remove any threats to the fleet, and that you block communication from the control station."
The projector showed a portion of space with a closing Spacebridge. Like many Spacebridges, it had to be stabilised by small control stations on both sides of the tear in space-time. If either were disabled, the Rift would become impossible to navigate.
"The fleet will drop back and arrive one hour after you arrive. I want Corsair Squadron ready to launch three hours before we arrive. You will provide CAP for the fleet until we are well past the Spacebridge."
Billy sighed, and Cassandra shoved him so hard that he pushed against Nate.
"Thunder Squadron will take lead for this operation. Your entire strength will be deployed to the civilian ship."
He looked in the direction of the newest squadron on the ship.
Star Crusader: Knighthawk Squadron Page 14