Ep.#4 - Rebellion (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  “Permission granted, Captain,” Captain Gullen replied happily. “I look forward to speaking with you.”

  “I as well,” Nathan replied. “And thank you all, gentlemen. Aurora, out.” Nathan waited for the two vid-link screens to disappear, then let out a sigh of relief. “How’d I do?” he asked, turning to Cameron and Jessica on his left.

  Jessica looked at Cameron. “I’d say Nathan is back. How about you?”

  Cameron nodded. “It certainly looks that way.”

  * * *

  “Our first priority must be resources,” General Telles insisted, “beginning with ships. Preferably, ones capable of accommodating all of our people.”

  “By our people, I’m assuming you mean those rescued from Burgess,” Nathan commented from the end of the conference table. It was not where he normally sat. This was still Cameron’s ship, and it was still her command briefing room. Hence, he felt best that she sit at the usual place for the Aurora’s captain.

  “Many of which either worked for the Ghatazhak, or are related to them,” the general added.

  “Have you asked them if they wish to continue their association with the Ghatazhak, or with this rebellion?” Nathan briefly scanned those in attendance. “That is what we’re calling this, right? A rebellion?”

  “Resistance might be a more accurate term,” Cameron pointed out.

  “Resistance is more technically accurate, given that the Dusahn only seized power eighteen days ago,” General Telles agreed.

  “Resistance sounds too much like a small group of people carrying out useless attacks on small targets, and never really getting anywhere,” Jessica commented. “Rebellion, on the other hand, sounds bigger, more organized.”

  “Excellent point,” General Telles agreed. “And the term ‘Karuzari’ does mean ‘rebel warrior’.”

  “Then Rebellion it is,” Nathan concluded. “And my question remains. I don’t think we can rightfully assume that, just because they worked for you in peace, they are willing to do so in war. We should give them the opportunity to choose.”

  “It was always my intention to do so,” General Telles assured him. “However, given that their world was unjustly destroyed by the Dusahn…”

  “Because of the presence of the Ghatazhak…” Nathan interjected.

  “…Because of the presence of the Ghatazhak, I suspect they will be so inclined,” the general finished.

  “Or, they may wish to distance themselves from us all, to avoid future retaliation,” Nathan pointed out.

  “Captain, I fail to see your point,” the general said, becoming annoyed.

  “My point is that we will need to be extra careful going forward, to ensure that we do not bring similar fates to everyone who does decide to help us.”

  “Hence the need for a mobile base of operations,” General Telles reminded them.

  “Every ship that joins this fleet is putting a target on their hulls,” Nathan countered. “That is no small matter, especially to owner-captains, whose very livelihood depends on their vessels.”

  “All the more reason for the owner-captains of jump-capable ships to want to see the Dusahn driven from the sector,” General Telles argued. “The Dusahn are demanding the surrender of all jump-capable ships. They are not simply asking everyone to register their ships with them, and then continue with their operations as normal. And even if they were, I suspect they would demand considerable fees to do so.”

  “So, as an owner-captain of a cargo ship, my choices are to hand over my ship to the Dusahn and hope for the best, or fight for the right to operate my ship freely?”

  “Precisely.”

  “You left out one more option, General,” Nathan said. “To cut and run, just as Connor was going to do.”

  “What?” Cameron was a bit surprised.

  “He came back,” Jessica told her.

  “We all know there are hundreds, if not thousands, of inhabited systems out there,” Nathan pointed out. “An owner-captain could simply work his way further and further out, thus avoiding the Dusahn for the rest of his life.”

  “Assuming that the Dusahn expansion proceeds at a slower pace,” General Telles argued.

  “I’m not trying to be argumentative, General,” Nathan said, recognizing the admiral’s irritation. “I’m just playing devil’s advocate. I’m assuming we’ll be going out and asking these owner-captains to risk their primary asset, all for the greater good. I’m not sure all of them are going to buy your argument.”

  “You could show them the statistics,” General Telles said.

  “What statistics?” Cameron asked.

  “It is a simple process to run the numbers. Ship production rates, jump travel times, rates of technological advancement, available resources and manpower. The Dusahn did not choose the Pentaurus cluster because they liked the name. They chose it for its potential for rapid growth and expansion. They chose it for its abundant resources, and its industrial and technological base. They chose it because of its large number of skilled laborers. Even more importantly, they chose it because of its relatively weak common political structure. In a nutshell, the Dusahn chose the Pentaurus cluster because it will enable them to rapidly grow and expand their influence. The Dusahn mean to build an empire, and they mean to do so on the backs of the people of the Pentaurus sector, and the surrounding sectors.”

  “And you came to this conclusion, how?” Cameron asked.

  “It is the only logical conclusion that the current facts support,” the general explained. “A relatively small number of ships for an invasion force. A target that contains a number of planets within relatively close range, thus being easy to cover with a smaller number of ships. And, the fact that they went a considerable distance beyond the cluster in order to destroy the only force that posed a threat to them.”

  “Still not enough to assume they plan to expand their little empire,” Cameron argued.

  “No, but you are forgetting one important fact,” General Telles said. “The Dusahn are Jung, and the Jung are conquerors.”

  “Good point,” Cameron agreed. “And if the Dusahn are a Jung warrior caste that was once expelled from the Jung Empire…”

  “Then they’re looking for payback,” Jessica interrupted.

  “I was going to say that they’re looking to build their own empire, but…”

  “Is it possible the Dusahn want a war between the Jung Empire and the Sol Alliance?” Nathan wondered.

  “That would guarantee that the Alliance would not interfere with their plans in the Pentaurus cluster,” General Telles agreed. “Especially if they knew of Admiral Galiardi’s desire to rid Earth of the Jung threat, once and for all.”

  “You’re not inferring that Galiardi is in collusion with the Dusahn, are you?” Nathan wondered.

  “More likely they simply have good intelligence,” General Telles replied. “After all, if they have similar jump capabilities, it would not be difficult to insert operatives back on Earth, as well as on Nor-Patri.”

  “Doesn’t the Alliance monitor jump traffic?” Nathan asked.

  “We do,” Cameron told him. “All jump-capable ships have to be licensed by the governments of the Alliance, and they have to be fitted with appropriate transponders. But the amount of civilian jump traffic has increased exponentially over the years. What was once live-tracking has been reduced to more of a paper trail than anything else.”

  “Then, it was really just a matter of time before the Jung got their hands on a jump drive,” Nathan said.

  “As far as we know, they still don’t have jump tech,” Cameron pointed out. “At least, there is no evidence one way or the other.”

  “I think it is more likely that Admiral Galiardi is simply taking advantage of the situation to further his own agenda,” Gene
ral Telles surmised.

  “It would make it a lot easier to get rid of him, and get the Sol Alliance involved here, if he was in collusion with the Dusahn,” Jessica said.

  “This is exactly why I think politics and the military should never mix,” Cameron muttered bitterly.

  “We could debate this all day,” Nathan said, hoping to move forward. “We need to decide what to do next.”

  “Wars are fought with people, intelligence, and resources,” General Telles stated plainly. “We currently have little of each of these.”

  “Not exactly,” Deliza said, finally arriving to the meeting. “I apologize for my tardiness,” she added, taking her seat at the conference table.

  “No apologies necessary,” Nathan assured her. “It is good to see you again, Deliza.”

  Deliza stared at him a moment, noticing that he appeared much younger than she remembered. “It is wonderful to see you again, Captain.”

  “You were saying?”

  “Yes… Ranni Enterprises has holdings in many markets, spread throughout the Pentaurus sector, and beyond. Most of those holdings are not yet under the control of the Dusahn, although many soon will be.”

  “Why?” Nathan wondered.

  “My father recognized the amount of resistance he was getting from the nobles of Takara, regarding his desire to move our society to a truly democratic one. He began moving our family’s holdings off-world, just in case. After his execution, I continued the same practice, out of fear that the nobles would find a way to legally seize those assets. In the first few years after the fall of House Ta’Akar, the economies of the entire Pentaurus sector were in turmoil. This created many opportunities, which we took advantage of. The effect began in Takara, and spread outward. We simply stayed one step ahead, taking advantage of the change. We were able to amass a considerable fortune.”

  “Enough to fund a rebellion?”

  “Perhaps not that much, but certainly enough to get it off to a good start,” Deliza explained. “However, we will need to gain access to those accounts, which will require my presence at each institution.”

  “The Aurora can help with intelligence,” Cameron said. “We carry six jump recon-drones, and twenty jump comm-drones that can be reconfigured to serve as limited recon drones.”

  “That will be helpful,” General Telles agreed.

  “What we need is boots on the ground,” Jessica insisted. “Human intelligence. Eyes and ears on the Dusahn-occupied worlds. Preferably ones we can turn into underground resistance movements.”

  “We have already dropped weapons and leaflets calling people to arms on Corinair,” General Telles pointed out. “That would be a logical place to start.”

  “How are we supposed to communicate with them?” Nathan wondered.

  “There are always ways,” Jessica assured him.

  “You will need operatives on the ground, won’t you?” Cameron asked.

  “At first, yes,” Jessica agreed. “To get them organized, and to set up communications. Once that is done, the operative doesn’t necessarily have to remain there.”

  “How are we going to get the operatives onto Corinair, and off again?” Nathan wondered.

  Jessica looked at General Telles.

  Deliza noticed the exchanged glance. “You still have it, don’t you?”

  “We do,” the general replied.

  “Have what?” Cameron wondered.

  “The jump sub we used to escape from Nor-Patri with Nathan’s consciousness,” Jessica explained. “It’s been boxed up all these years, but it was working when we packed it up.”

  “Where is it?”

  “We moved it off-world, along with other assets, prior to the Dusahn attack on Burgess. We have yet to retrieve it.”

  “Assuming it still works, who’s going to go?” Cameron asked.

  “The only person with the training, and experience in such matters,” General Telles said.

  “Which would be me,” Jessica followed, reluctantly raising her hand.

  “I should go as well,” Nathan said, not sounding convinced with the idea.

  “Perhaps it would be best if you were to remain here, where it is safe,” General Telles suggested.

  “If I’m going to lead this rebellion, I’m going to do so from the front lines, General,” Nathan insisted. “Not from a comfortable chair on a bridge somewhere. Not this time.”

  “But you have only just awakened,” the general argued. “Perhaps it would be best for you to take the time to get accustomed to your new body…”

  “It’s the same body,” Nathan argued. “And the more I use it, the more quickly I become accustomed to it.”

  “I’m just suggesting…”

  “I know,” Nathan said, cutting the general short. “And I appreciate your concern. But I need to do this. I need to be out there, risking my own ass. Otherwise I don’t have the right to ask others to risk theirs. Besides, the Corinairans all think I’m long dead and buried. They’re not going to believe I’m alive unless they see me, in person.”

  “And if the Dusahn see you?” Cameron asked, also not convinced that Nathan should go.

  “I never said it was without risk,” Nathan replied. “But we’re launching a rebellion here. There will be risk, and plenty of it. Besides, it’s not like I’m going to walk down the street waving at everyone.”

  “But it’s a foreign world to you,” Cameron reminded him. “Jessica’s trained for this type of thing. You’re not. How are you going to blend in?”

  “I’ve lived in and around the Pentaurus sector for five years now, as Connor Tuplo,” Nathan replied. “I speak Angla like a native, and I even know enough Takaran and Corinairan to get by without raising suspicion. I also speak a little Palean, and enough Volonese to order dinner and get my face slapped. I’m pretty sure I’ll get by.”

  “He makes a good point,” General Telles reluctantly agreed. “However, I would strongly suggest that you spend some time engaged in rehabilitation, prior to charging off into battle.”

  “Are you trying to tell me to spend some time in the gym, General?” Nathan asked, smiling.

  “I am trying very hard not to tell you just that.”

  “Do we have the time?” Nathan wondered.

  “I imagine it will take some time for our people to get the jump sub ready for use,” the general said.

  “Very well,” Nathan replied. “In the meantime, we should start looking for another ship. Something that can accommodate a few thousand people. I can take the Seiiki out and visit a few ports I know, and ask around.”

  “What about your rehabilitation?” General Telles wondered.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Jessica offered. “I can go with him. There’s room in the Seiiki’s cargo hold. I can give him a few good workouts.” She looked at Nathan with a mischievous smile.

  “I’m sure you can,” Nathan said, grinning back at her.

  “If I may?” Captain Gullen said, speaking up for the first time since the meeting had started. “There is a cruise ship; the Mystic Empress. She is of Takaran registry, but her captain is Corinairan. His wife and child were among those you rescued. My daughter spoke with them during the escape journey. The Mystic was on the grand tour when the attack occurred.”

  “The grand tour?” Cameron wondered.

  “A twenty-day tour of the Syllium Orfee clouds,” Captain Gullen explained. “It’s a luxury cruise that jumps from system to system, offering spectacular views of the clouds, and some of the more interesting ring worlds within the systems of the cloud. The tour ends with an all-day party as they slingshot around the blue giant, Syllium AB, that gives the clouds their beauty.”

  “I’ve heard of that ship,” Nathan said. “Luxury is an understatement. They cater to the upp
er crust of Takaran nobility, don’t they?”

  “Mostly, yes, but there are a few Corinairan families wealthy enough to afford the trip as well.”

  “You think they’re avoiding returning?” Nathan speculated.

  “Possibly,” Captain Gullen replied. “But it is also possible that they do not yet know of the invasion.”

  “How could they not know?” Cameron challenged.

  “Syllium Orfee is at least three hundred light years from Takara, and at least half that from any other inhabited world. The clouds are highly charged, making long-range communication impossible. Even sensors are unable to penetrate the clouds to a significant depth. It is part of the grand tour’s appeal. To be completely disconnected from regular life, and explore and witness sights that most people will never see in their lifetime. If the Mystic entered the clouds before the Dusahn invaded, and they have not yet exited the cloud, it is highly likely that they are unaware of the Dusahn invasion.”

  “Did his wife say when the Mystic was due back?”

  “Only when he departed, and when he was due home. However, if you assume two days at the beginning and end of the journey, one could reasonably assume that the Mystic is nearing the end of her journey.”

  “Then we should start looking for her as soon as possible,” Jessica concluded.

  “In such an environment, she will be difficult to find.”

  “The Seiiki has pretty good sensors,” Nathan said. “If we backtrack her course, we should be able to find her.”

  “Our Reapers might be better suited for the task,” Cameron suggested.

  “Perhaps, but I’d rather your vessel concentrate on reconnaissance for the time being.”

  “Of course,” Cameron agreed.

  “I can speak with the wife of the Mystic’s captain,” Captain Gullen offered. “She may have some knowledge of her husband’s course.”

  “Very well,” the general replied. “Finding the Mystic Empress shall be your first mission, Captain Scott.” He turned to Cameron. “Captain Taylor, how soon can you start sending out recon drones?”