by Damon Alan
Captain Sheffaris extended his hand to shake Sarah's. “Congratulations, Lieutenant. I sent a note to your husband hours before we departed telling him of this, and promising a record of the moment.”
Sarah noticed a small camera in the palm of the XO's hand. “Thank you, sir… I'm speechless.”
“You were railroaded, Lieutenant. I don't let my people take heat they don't deserve, and you're my officer now. I'm proud to have you aboard and I'd like you to be on the bridge when we engage the enemy. The XO will make that happen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed. Return to your duties.”
Sarah returned to her position, stunned.
She hoped the good news was a preview of how the battle would go.
* * *
01 GUSTA 15314
The flotilla arrived over Srarach and entered a high orbit around the planet. Sixty percent of the planet was covered in ice, except for a band around the equator.
“Looks cold,” the Captain observed. “But cold or not, it's ours. Get ready to fight for it.”
Murmurs of agreement circled the bridge.
“Incoming communication from the surface, sir.”
“Put it on screen.”
A man in a business suit appeared on the screen. Gold rings sat on his fingers, and an expensive brooch lay clipped to his lapel. “Royal Navy. This is Darman Alteri. I represent the People's Right.”
“This is an official use only frequency, Mr. Alteri. Unless you're an official from the planetary governor's office, I suggest—”
“I suggest you listen,” Alteri replied. “Captain. If you know what's good for you.”
Sheffaris's eyes narrowed, he didn't respond.
Alteri started walking, and the camera shifted to follow him. A man tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth came into view. Alteri stepped closer to the camera until his face filled the screen. Sarah recognized him from the Captain's briefings. The governor of Srarach. “As you can see, I have the direct cooperation of the governor.”
Captain Sheffaris stroked his face, he appeared to be carefully planning his answer. Sarah wasn't used to this sort of intrigue. It was unexpected, exciting and unnerving.
Comm relayed information into the ears of the bridge crew. “Darman Alteri. Srarachan businessman, extremely wealthy, owns several companies involved in mining uranium, as well as other precious and base metals.”
This is the gratitude for our defense. Desperation doesn't care about the sacrifices of others.
“Her Majesty's Navy doesn't cooperate with terrorists,” the captain said.
Sarah was disappointed. That response seemed both tame and scripted.
“I am not a terrorist. I am the lifeblood of Srarach.” The man gestured off camera.
A gunshot blasted from the speakers.
The camera panned to a young woman on the floor, wearing the uniform of the Royal Navy. She lay on her back in an expanding pool of blood. Her eyes stared upward, at first desperate, then lifeless. The receiver groundside was muted, so Captain Sheffaris said nothing.
After the woman died, the terrorist continued. “That's what I think of your refusal to cooperate. I have two more officers of your Navy here. If you don't want the same for them, you'll arrange for the evacuation of Srarach to another planet far away from the Hive front.”
The captain's voice was deep and angry. “Mr. Alteri, if you harm one more person I will order my soldiers to land and seize your location by force. I don't know how you found out about the pending Hive invasion, that's classified information. But since you have, the matter must be dealt with.”
That's better…
Alteri smiled and swaggered back to his original spot by the governor. “I think you will deal, in fact I'm certain you will, and on my terms. Because I also have acquired, thanks to the governor, access to the city fusion plant. If you don't do as I demand, I will shut off the magnetic containment while the reactor is live.” Alteri raised a small device for Captain Sheffaris to see. “I have a remote to do just that right here.”
The captain muted the microphone and shielded his mouth so Alteri couldn't see him. “Weapons, lock in on the signal with a ground attack railgun. Prepare to fire at my command.”
Captain Sheffaris unmuted the microphone. “Mr. Alteri, I just asked my logistics officer to look into your demand. Give us a few minutes.”
Alteri practically foamed at the mouth as he stared into the camera. “You have five minutes, Captain. I can be gracious.” The link went dead.
“No delays, weps,” the captain said. “He's probably bluffing about the fusion plant, there are plenty of failsafes in place to keep what he mentioned from happening. But we can't take any chances.”
The section lead for weapons looked uncomfortable. They were executing the order, but with clear reservations. The captain tried to set them at ease. “I don't normally explain my orders, but this is unexpected. I didn't think it would apply so soon, but this is the reason I gave the speech I did when Lieutenant Dayson got her promotion. We do the hard thing when it needs to be done.”
“Ready to fire, sir,” weps reported.
“Fire.”
A single THUMP resonated through the hull of the Chimera.
“How long until impact?”
“Ninety-three seconds.”
The captain's voice raised to override the low rumble of discussion on the bridge. “Comm, explain the event to the fleet captains, in private. Classify this as top secret. They are to maintain order on their vessels.”
The bridge grew quieter, and Sarah heard comm set up a conference with the ship captains.
“Raise Mr. Alteri,” the captain ordered.
Alteri was no less smug. “So, have you seen reason Captain?”
The captain spoke to the terrorist on the holo. “Mr. Alteri, do you believe violence is ever the answer to the problems we face?”
Alteri looked puzzled. “What? Of course I do. I just showed you that.”
“So you did. And I happen to agree with you in extreme circumstances.”
“How long?” Captain Sheffaris asked, not bothering to mute the microphone.
“Eight seconds,” weapons responded.
Alteri's expression changed when he realized the meaning of Captain Sheffaris's statement.“You son of a bitch—”
“Four.”
“—will set off—”
“Two.”
“—nuclear—”
“Impact.”
A flash of light and Alteri disappeared from the viewscreen. Srarach's white orb returned.
“Just so everyone knows, that's how we'll deal with civil disorder that threatens our mission,” Captain Sheffaris said. The determination in his voice was clear. “Every time.” His tone of voice returned to neutral. “Sensors, any sign of trouble at the fusion plant?”
“None, sir. Either he was bluffing or he didn't get his signal off.”
“Bluffing. It's how some people do business.” The captain moved to the edge of the command platform. “We just fired on civilians. I'm sure there will be hell to pay once we return to Korvand, but we have to survive the coming battle first. Let's concern ourselves with that for now, and I'll take full responsibility for dealing with Mr. Alteri.”
Sarah stared at her console wondering if she had what it took to be an officer. Killing civilians wasn't what she'd signed up for even if it was the right thing to do, considering the circumstances. She understood the conflict that must be raging in Sheffaris's mind.
He knows my pain now. At least weapons didn't refuse his order to fire.
* * *
Srarach's society collapsed into anarchy once the impending arrival of the Hive was common knowledge. Some people fled the cities for remote locations, some tried to steal ships to leave the planet surface. Those who had papers and tickets to depart Srarach were allowed to do so. Those who didn't were turned away at the spaceport by a contingent of marines Captain Sheffaris stationed there. Viol
ence increased and in some cases authorities on the ground used lethal force to restore order. Or, more accurately, in an attempt to restore order.
Eight days after the Alteri incident, a fusion bomb detonated over a major city. More death followed as time passed and fanatics gained control of military assets. Sometimes the detonations were preceded by a statement of intent, usually a manifesto declaring the salvation of the city from the clutches of the Hive. Other times by demands from the group with the bomb to be rescued from the surface. The Navy refused to negotiate, and the bombs went off. There was no room for a mass exodus of citizens. Thousands of Srarachans were rescued from the space stations and given berths on flotilla ships. A few hundred civilians vessels loaded with refugees held position near the Navy flotilla in order to leave the system in an FTL bubble. Operations had their hands full provisioning the ships for the one month jump back to Korvand.
With no way or the will to accommodate the demands of terrorists, the violent self destruction on the surface continued. Maybe it was a better end, a final fling of hedonism followed by lights out. Her memories of Widdis made Sarah think so.
Within two months after the arrival of the flotilla, the inhabitants of Srarach were no longer functioning as a society. Hoarding, murder, rape, violent assault filled what news transmissions were still available. Sarah swore Vonn would leave Korvand as soon as she got home.
One week after the last surface station ceased transmitting news, the Hive arrived in system.
But Srarach, in all the ways that mattered, destroyed itself before the enemy even arrived.
Chapter 16 - Strategic Regrouping
31 SEPPET 15314
Sensors scanned space around the clock. Every ship in the fleet was assigned a section of the sky. The Ikagi Haran was first to detect the Hive's arrival.
Sarah was on duty when comm barked the arrival into the command channel. “Ikagi reports gravitational lens flare at our zero-five-five mark zero-one-five, Captain.”
Despite months to prepare, Sarah's stomach rolled at the news.
This is only my second battle. Five years of military service, and I've been in two battles.
“Send grapplers to confirm hostiles,” the captain ordered.
Communications notified the grappler carrier to divert two grapplers for inspection. But everyone knew it was Hive.
The XO floated close the command station. “Should we deploy the fleet?”
“Negative,” Captain Sheffaris replied.
“Sir?”
The captain released the auto-straps on his gravity couch. “I want section leads to meet me in the briefing room in ten minutes.” As the captain freed himself from his grav couch, he grabbed a handhold and looked over his bridge. “Dayson, I want you to be there too. You have experience I want. Sachelle, you as well. You're a well known hardass.”
Sarah looked across at the weapons station where Ensign Marika Sachelle was staring back at her. Sachelle grinned and shrugged her shoulders as she began to extricate herself from her grav couch.
Sarah checked to make sure her partner, Ensign Karden, could handle the nav station solo. She unstrapped and pushed off toward the bridge hatch, joining Sachelle who waited for her.
Sachelle whispered, “I'm a hardass. Doooon't you forget it.”
Sarah laughed as the two exited and dropped down the long axis of the ship along the main crew gangway. Moments later they floated outside the briefing room. Officers well senior to her entered to take their place at the Captain's briefing.
“What do you think he wants us in there for?” Sachelle asked.
Sarah sighed, and looked around to see if anyone could hear her other than Sachelle. “I have a dark suspicion.”
Sachelle leaned in closer. “And?”
Sarah whispered her thoughts. “The Captain already proved he won't tolerate civil disobedience. You're the one who pushed the button on Alteri.”
“Yeah? So?”
Sarah was surprised Sachelle didn't see it. “Isn't that what all of Srarach is doing now?”
Sachelle's jaw dropped and her mouth hung open before she spoke. “You mean we're going to attack the planet?”
“No, genius. I think he'll—”
The Captain poked his head out of the hatch. “I believe I asked you both to be in here?”
Sarah and Sachelle looked at each other. “Yes you did Captain. I apologize,” Sarah said. “I detained Ensign Sachelle to speculate.”
The Captain smiled, something he didn't do often. “Then speculate in here with me and the other officers.”
The two junior officers pulled themselves through the hatch and into the room. There was a table, but in zero G the officers all floated along two of the four walls. Captain Sheffaris pointed to an open area near the front of the room with him. Sarah and Sachelle pushed over and secured themselves.
“Comm, light up the display wall for me,” Sheffaris said.
The unoccupied long wall lit up. The visages of six captains appeared, those of the capital warships in the fleet other than the Chimera.
The captain clapped his hands together once, a sharp slap rang out. Everyone looked at him and the room grew quiet. “Greetings, gentlemen and ladies.”
A jumble of return salutations filled the room.
“I'd imagine you're wondering why I'd call a meeting instead of dispersing the fleet to engage the enemy.”
Nods around the room, but curiously, Sarah noted, not on the screen.
“Because I don't intend to disperse the fleet. We have thirty-six ships here in the flotilla, and another seventeen that are permanently stationed here at Srarach. I intend to pack them up and take them home for the defense of Korvand when the Hive attack there.”
The response was instantaneous. The room exploded. “You can't… that's trea… what about the… serious… he'll be tried…”
Sarah noticed most officers remained silent, including the six captains of the other capitals. Sarah kept her mouth shut and her face expressionless. She distracted herself from the furor by studying the faces of the capital ship captains.
Sheffaris already talked to them…
“Enough,” the captain said. “This is my decision, but I'm calling this meeting to allow you each an opportunity to share your thoughts. First, let me tell you my reasoning.”
The room was as silent as the vacuum of space except for the background drone of air handlers.
“Srarach has seventy to eighty million souls. It's a marginally habitable planet with a low population. Korvand has billions of inhabitants, it's a garden planet with perfect habitation conditions. If you count the outposts in the Korvandi system, the population exceeds ten billion. Right now there are just under two hundred ships at Korvand, the remnants of the Royal Navy after Zelan and Alberath. We have another fifty-three ships here that we can throw away fighting an enemy we know is going to win, or we can take them home and increase the defense of Korvand by twenty-five percent.”
Commander Hanakki, the Engineering section lead on the Chimera, spoke first. His voice wasn't friendly. “So you're suggesting we just leave all these people to die?”
“That ahole is Srarachan,” Sachelle whispered.
Captain Sheffaris didn't need to explain himself further. But he did. “We don't know how many people are even left down there. They bombed and burned their own world for galaxy's sake. Their power grid is down, their comm system is off the air, and the one starport is still burning. I'm lucky we got our marines back without casualties. There are ships in launch cradles that could have saved people, but they can't launch because civil violence disabled them. These people descended into barbarism the first chance they got. I don't know why, but that's what happened. Maybe it's a symptom of growing up in such a hostile place. Korvand is the seat of our culture and government. We need to defend there.”
When it was clear the captain was done, the room erupted again. The voices were a mix of for and against stances.
“Quiet,”
Sheffaris roared. The room fell silent immediately. “Only one other person in this room has had to kill civilians before…”
Oh shit…
“…Lieutenant Sarah Dayson. I'd like for all of us to listen to her opinion.”
The room grew quiet. Sarah looked at a gaggle of faces, some angry, some confused, some dismissive. They all looked at her.
The Captain is right. I don't know if I possess the experience to have thought of it, but his is the best way. Put me on the spot though…
Sarah took a deep breath. “This is the right path. The greatest good for the greatest number. When freighters from Zelan showed up with refugees they were Hive infected. I was ordered to destroy them, and I did. When fighting the Hive, horrible choices are thrust on us. If we can win the first battle of Korvand, we'll give people more time to flee. That alone might save more people than defending Srarach. If we value people equal—”
Sarah was cut off as a superior officer interrupted her. Commander Hanakki's hostility was evident in his voice. He didn't like her. “We all know who you are, Lieutenant. But we're not talking about destroying freighters inbound to Korvand with Hive on board. We're talking about abandoning our fellow citizens, not yet infected, to the worst fate I can imagine.”
“We are increasing the chances of a far greater number to survive,” Sarah repeated. “If you're measuring human suffering, defending Korvand has the best chance of preventing it.”
Hanakki took the path intellectually dim people often take when losing arguments. He attacked the messenger instead of debating the message. His sneer was a sign he had no idea he was on the losing side, however. “What do you know. You've proven you're willing to discard human life. Some Lieutenant is going to dictate our path because she's willing to attack civilians?”
Sarah felt her face flush and a burning desire to beat the man senseless washed over her.
Captain Sheffaris came to her rescue, and from the tone of his voice he wasn't pleased with Hanakki. “Commander Hanakki, I asked Lieutenant Dayson to be here as an expert witness. She isn't going to dictate any path, that's my job, and you will treat her with respect. She has not only made the hard choices, but she was crew on a grappler at Zelan that single handedly destroyed twelve enemy vessels. I think she has as much experience as any of us.”