The Anvil of Dust and Stars (Dark Seas Series Book 1)

by Damon Alan

  The Colonel shut off the player.

  Sarah laughed uncomfortably and shook her head. “Sachelle is a hero. She will-powered the radiation sickness out of herself. She told her dosimeter to go to hell.”

  “Yes, we're aware. Your captain and XO lauded her too. She is still unconscious, her treatment will take a few more months than yours due to the dose she took,” the Colonel said. “The fact is that we hope to find a spot for nearly everyone from the Chimera, and we'll probably refit the two destroyers you saved and put them to work.”

  “What about the Chimera?” Sarah asked.

  “Still up in the air. As I said, it's practically a heap now.”

  “That sucks.”

  The Colonel nodded in agreement. “I can understand your feelings. I'll pass along the sentiment to Admiral Heyden. If the ship has a use, we'll find it. We owe you, Sarah. You brought trained and battle hardened sailors to us. As well as warships.”

  Sarah held out her hand, palm up. “That'll be one million drenna.”

  Anmick smiled his twinkling eye smile. “We use Alliance credits here, so much of this world has gone to the military. But I think a meeting with the Admiral will work out better for you than cash.”

  “Set it up, Colonel. I should be released soon.”

  “I'll do that. There will be a driver sent to pick you up and provide you quarters when you're discharged.”

  “Okay,” Sarah said, and looked over Anmick's shoulder. “Colonel, does smiley over there have a gun?”

  The man's smile turned to a frown, but the Colonel grinned.

  “Yeah,” the Colonel responded. “I've been jumped more than once by patients sicker than you.”

  “Jumped?”

  “Some people blame the Alliance for not coming to the rescue of their planet, even if that system or systems made the choice not to join.”

  “Oh.”

  “We have to commit our resources to protecting those under our umbrella.”

  “You don't have to explain yourself. It makes sense. How's protecting those under your umbrella working out?” Sarah asked.

  The colonel's eyes narrowed. “Not as well as we'd like. Which is why High Command lets Admiral Heyden pull crazy stunts like this to pick his officers. He gets results when good results aren't as common as HC would like.”

  Anmick passed her test. She hoped she was passing his. “Thanks for being honest with me.”

  “Thanks for not jumping me,” he replied. “We'll be in touch.”

  Sarah yawned, and the Colonel stood up from her bed.

  “Who's that guy?” Sarah pointed at the sitting man as he rose to leave.

  “Psychologist. The admiral will get his report too,” Anmick answered. “Rest. Thank you for talking to me. You've got some changes in your future.”

  Chapter 27 - A New Allegiance

  07 GUSTA 15319

  Sarah stood outside Admiral Heyden's office door. She adjusted the braids on her dress white uniform for the hundredth time.

  Across two meters of carpet the Admiral's civilian secretary chuckled from behind his desk. “He's not that scary, Lieutenant.”

  Sarah bounced on the balls of her feet. “You're not standing in my shoes.”

  The man laughed. “That's true. Proceed with your meltdown then.”

  Jerk.

  Sarah glowered at the man as she rubbed the hair stubble on her head. It was growing back nicely, although it itched doing so.

  A chime sounded on the secretary's desk, then an AI spoke. “The admiral will see Lieutenant Dayson now.”

  “Thank you, Hamilton.” The man flipped a toggle on his desk holodisplay. The door next to Sarah clicked. She took a deep breath, collected herself, then pushed the door open.

  She stepped into the Admiral's office, walked across a wood plank floor that clicked under her feet. She snapped to attention in front of a massive burled wood desk.

  “Lieutenant Sarah Dayson, Royal Korvand Navy, reporting as requested, sir.” Sarah saluted.

  The Admiral sat in a large leather chair on the opposite side of the desk from her. His back was to her, only his graying crew cut visible over the top of the chair. Sarah wondered if he was looking at the vista that filled the back wall of his office. The view through the glass windows was of snow capped mountains in the distance. Nearer was the city of Andulmar, with its mix of white office buildings and black factories. Smokestacks belched smoke into the sky as the military machine worked to keep up with demand.

  After a few minutes Admiral Heyden swiveled his chair to face Sarah. He leaned forward to rest his crossed arms on his desk, then stared at her a moment before he spoke.

  “You're smaller than I expected,” he said.

  What the…?

  “Yes, sir. One point six meters, sir. Fifty-six kilograms.” Sarah hoped her annoyance wasn't on her face. She held her salute, unflinching.

  “That irritates you.”

  Sarah involuntarily grimaced.

  “Good. It should. Nobody should judge a warrior by size,” the admiral said. “Sit down, Lieutenant. I'm sure you're wondering why you're here.”

  “Yes sir.” Sarah dropped her unreturned salute and sat down. The chair cushion felt like a brick, which suited her fine.

  “The Alliance is looking for good officers, Sarah Dayson. Know any?” Admiral Heyden asked.

  “Are you asking me to volunteer, sir? Otherwise I'm confused.”

  Heyden laughed, a deep laugh of genuine mirth. “Relax, Lieutenant, I won't bite. I am offering you something that might surprise you if you're patient with me today.”

  Sarah's heavily starched uniform made her itch. She ignored it. “I'll make every effort to be patient with the admiral, sir.”

  The admiral studied her a moment, then continued. “An associate of mine forwarded a few reports to me. Captain Sheffaris's report regarding your performance on the Chimera, to be precise, as well as a report from your XO.”

  A bead of sweat collected in Sarah's short hair. She reached up and slowly stroked her skull to remove the irritant. The short bristly hair was somehow a comfort, as if reminding her that she was a survivor. She remained silent. The admiral would let her know when response was necessary.

  “I guess you didn't know there would be a report?”

  Sarah nodded perfunctorily. “Colonel Anmick told me about the reports, sir.”

  “He gave you his name? Good, that means he liked you.”

  “I hope so, sir,” Sarah replied. “I wasn't at my best in the hospital.”

  “Who is? But that hardly matters. You passed your short psychological evaluation as well, although there will be more in the future. “Bent but not broken” summarizes what I have on my desk here. It says other things that most admirals might disqualify you for. But I know better.”

  “I am not broken, sir.” Another bead of sweat trickled down behind her ear. “Not by a long shot.”

  “How do you feel about your episode on the bridge?” the admiral asked.

  The bead of sweat rolled past her ear, then down her neck. She felt it absorb into her collar. “I'm human, sir. But I'm also an officer. To quote your shrink I bent, but I didn't break. I made a mistake, but I recovered. I lost my captain in interstellar space, just days after losing my family. We lost the XO and nine hundred of our crew members, sir. Nine hundred and eight. We dropped out of highspace with barely enough crew to brew coffee, let alone run a cruiser.”

  The admiral slapped his desk with the palm of his hand. “You're direct!” He shook his head once to the side. “By the stars, I like that. You're not going to let my rank intimidate you.”

  “You're a bit intimidating, sir. I won't lie.”

  “Good, I thought I was losing it,” Heyden replied. “Sarah, I command the Alliance Navy's Thirty-First Battle Group. I don't have very many captains in my fleet that are from a world still whole.”

  “Colonel Anmick mentioned that, sir.”

  “I'm going to have to talk to him
about giving all my details away,” the admiral said. “They're my details, after all.”

  I'm starting to like this guy.

  “What he mentioned that mattered, sir, was a job.”

  “Yes, yes, I'm getting to that. I've altered the way I pick starship captains, Lieutenant. To a way that is giving me superior results.”

  Sarah tilted her head in interest. He might be getting to the meat of why she was here.

  “I see you're intrigued.” The admiral smiled as she nodded, then continued. “People fighting for their world, well, they'll die for their world. Which is a problem. Even if it's hopeless and the Navy would be better served by retreating and regrouping, they throw themselves on the fire. But that won't win this war, Lieutenant. I can't afford the ships and I can't afford the skilled officers. I demand officers who know when to retreat. How to bleed the enemy, regroup, rearm, and fight another day. The reason my officers fight… well, it may be vengeance, or it might be justice they seek. I honestly don't care about why, that's for them to deal with. I care about how. My battle group has the best combat record in the Alliance.”

  “I'd like to be a part of something like that, sir. You give me the chance and I'll prove it.”

  The admiral smirked. “I know.” He stared at Sarah for a few uncomfortable seconds, then spoke. “Hamilton, record until ordered to stop.”

  “Recording,” the AI said.

  “Effective immediately, Lieutenant Sarah Dayson, you serve under me in the Alliance Command structure as a member of the Thirty-First Battle Group. All you have to do is agree on this recording and you are thereafter legally bound to my command for a length of six years.”

  Sarah's eyes darted about the room a few seconds as she processed his statement. His decision was quick, she'd expected a battery of tests and a tougher fight. “Sir?”

  The admiral stood. He was a massive man. “Agree, Dayson, or don't agree and walk out of here as a civilian. We'll give you papers, maybe even get you a job in a factory. It's your choice.” He was already extending his hand as he began to walk around his desk.

  She heard herself answer. “I agree.”

  The admiral stopped in front of her. His hand was still extended. He looked down into her eyes. “I knew you would.”

  Sarah stood up and he was still a half meter taller than her. She placed her hand in his, watching as his mammoth digits engulfed hers.

  “You are hereby promoted to the rank of Commander under the powers granted to me by the Articles of Alliance, to be given command of the Alliance Missile Frigate Teplo. You will be assigned to the Fourth Fleet, to report for your duty station in three days for command training. The Teplo is in orbit overhead as we speak.”

  “Commander sir? I'm a Lieutenant. You're skipping Lieutenant Commander.”

  “Hamilton, stop recording.”

  “Recording ended, Admiral,” Hamilton replied.

  “Only commanders and above captain my ships, Commander Dayson. You won't be the first time I've stepped someone up a few notches. You won't be the last.”

  Sarah was shocked, and a bit off balance. “I've never seen anyone do business this way, sir.”

  “Of course you haven't. Which is why my results are not being seen elsewhere.

  “I was insubordinate, sir, and I've never commanded a starship in battle.”

  “You weren't just insubordinate. You also neglected your station and you placed personal needs ahead of the needs of the military. Are you trying to talk me out of this?”

  “No sir,” she blurted out. “I am shutting up, sir.”

  “You're going to have to trust me, Sarah. I know the officers I want when I see them,”

  “Yes, sir. I will trust your judgment,” Sarah said. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

  “It's probationary. You have one year to prove your mettle. If you don't meet my standards, I'll replace you. It's why the Teplo is in orbit right now. Her last captain failed to engage the enemy when ordered. I expect you to die if that's your order. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir. I understand completely.”

  The admiral reached for a wooden box sitting on his desk and pulled a cigar from it. He put the cigar in his mouth without lighting it. He extended the open box toward Sarah. “Like one, Commander?”

  “No sir. Bad habit, sir.”

  “And you should find one that appeals to you immediately. You'll need the pressure valve.”

  “What's to be done about the record of my infractions, Admiral?”

  “Nothing. I already destroyed the reports. Your record is clean, and as far as anyone is concerned Heyden just made another of his inexplicable yet nearly always amazing choices.”

  Sarah couldn't help herself. She laughed with joy for the first time in months.

  The admiral smiled. “That's a good sound. The sound of healing.”

  “I feel… like I have a second chance, Admiral. I can't explain it.”

  “You don't have to explain. I've felt it myself.” The admiral extended his hand again. “Congratulations, Commander. My man outside will have an Alliance uniform for you. You can keep that Korvandi uniform as a memory, or you can have him incinerate it. But you're Alliance from this moment until your final breath.”

  Sarah shook his hand again. “That will be a long time from now, Admiral. You signed me up for six years.”

  “It's war, Commander. Either you'll die before your term of commission is up, or you'll be too valuable to let go if you survive and we'll extend your term,” the admiral replied.

  “Fine by me, sir. I won't mind an extension.”

  Heyden nodded his approval. “Your unofficial oath will be administered at the ceremony to assume command of the Teplo. I'll be there to administer it.”

  “I won't disappoint you, Admiral.”

  “I know. Survive as many missions as you can, and kill Hive. That's all I ask.”

  “I believe I'll do better than that, sir.”

  “Dismissed, Commander. There will be someone sent to your quarters with a briefing packet. Enjoy the next few days, they'll be the last ones you have off for some time.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Sarah walked out of the office, life in her step that wasn't present when she walked in. The admiral's man had her uniform ready, and she stepped into a storage closet to change. The new uniform felt strange. Despite having switched from a white uniform to a uniform of dark gray and navy blue, it was oddly bright as she stepped back into office lights.

  “There will be a full wardrobe of uniforms delivered to your quarters, Commander. What would you like me to do with the old one?”

  Sarah considered Admiral Heyden's words for a moment.

  “Burn it,” she said. “Like the bridges behind me.”

  Chapter 28 - A Taste of Victory

  14 Mapri 15320

  The Teplo hurtled toward the enemy for the kill, like a dagger for a throat. Commanding the small vessel was similar to commanding grapplers, something Sarah Dayson excelled at. The Hive grappler carrier ahead of Sarah's ship was burning heavily and venting atmosphere to space. She intended to finish it.

  “Launch eighteen and nineteen,” Sarah ordered.

  “Firing two hot birds,” Lieutenant Rego, the weapons officer of the Teplo, replied.

  The ship vibrated with energy as the missiles hurtled from their launch tubes. Sarah watched her personal holodisplay as they plunged forward, accelerating away from Sarah's ship at hundreds of Gs.

  “On screen,” Sarah ordered. “Magnify.”

  Ensign Ellis tapped a key at his station and the main screen switched to the forward view. The visual zoomed in on the Hive carrier, and two pinpoints of light that raced toward it.

  The XO, Lieutenant Commander Hanada Kuo, grinned like a devil. “They're not firing at all. The previous volley must have taken down their defensive guns, Commander.”

  “Then let them eat their just desserts,” Sarah said. “This is the first winning fight against the Hive I've ev
er been in, Mister Kuo.”

  “I read your file when I came on board, Commander. I know. It's my first too.”

  “I suppose that says more bad things than good. Let's enjoy this.”

  Kuo nodded and turned back to the main screen. The first missile impacted in the aft quarter of the carrier and detonated. A brilliant flash filled the screen.

  “Compensating,” the bridge AI, Molton18C said.

  Sarah jumped. The Teplo had four human crew members on the bridge, it was a much smaller ship than the Chimera. The Alliance relied far more on shackled AIs than the Korvand Navy had. She still wasn't used to Molton's presence, but on several occasions appreciated the things he could do when everyone else was busy.

  The front half of the Hive carrier tumbled away from the explosion. It rolled one complete revolution on it's long axis when the second missile struck. This time Molton compensated immediately, and Sarah watched as flaming pieces of wreckage streamed from the explosion. The enemy capital ship was destroyed. Sarah watched the screen as three small escort vessels turned to flee. Two of those were burning as well.

  “Let them go. They're no threat and we're low on missiles.”

  Sarah punched into the ship intercom. “Scratch one Hive carrier. That's our third capital kill this engagement, and the biggest. The outstanding crew of the Teplo will reap shore leave appropriately.”

  The Teplo was small, one hundred and ten meters long. Sarah heard cheers echoing through the air handling system.

  “Mister Rego, go to active search, I don't want to be ambushed. Mister Kuo, call command and let them know we're done here.”

  “Aye, Captain.” Kuo busied himself passing Teplo's kill to the command ship. “Era of Glory, Teplo…”

  Sarah stopped to think a moment. The Thirty-First battlegroup attacked this system in numbers. Thought to be a staging point for Hive operations for six parsecs in all directions, the havoc wreaked here would put a huge dent in the Hive advance.

  We can win. We can beat the Hive…

  “Incoming contacts, two G-Ks, bearing one-niner-zero mark zero-four-zero. Distance seventy thousand kilometers.”