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

by Damon Alan

  Sarah's eyes narrowed and she grimaced. “That was expensive. Nanites again?”

  “Get over it. I need you, and freezing you got you here sooner. The courier decelerated into the Mindari system at two hundred gravities. Not too many people can say they pulled a sustained two hundred gravities, even if you were frozen near absolute zero.”

  Sarah groggily patted Heyden's arm. “I always feel like the doctors aren't getting all those little bastards out of me, sir. That's all.”

  “You know they've got a limited lifespan. Quit being a drama queen. I need Sarah Dayson back because I have a purpose for you.”

  “Didn't I just plan and execute a special mission for you?”

  Admiral Heyden's eyebrows raised. “Sure, nearly a year ago. You did it so well I've been passing out the method to every battle group in the Alliance. The Hive will adapt, but for the moment we're hurting them. It's been a while and it feels good.”

  Sarah tried to nod her agreement, but her head didn't want to move. “Yes, sir. Thanks for letting me do the mission, admiral.”

  “I hope you enjoyed it, because I'm moving you on to something bigger and… well, I hope better.”

  Sarah didn't like the sound of that. “Sir?”

  Heyden paused before answering. Sarah knew he didn't want to say what he was about to tell her. “The doctors say the fracturing in your neck at the base of your skull was too complex to fix easily, Sarah. You're not medically allowed to exceed six Gs again.”

  I can't be hearing that right…

  Any remaining sleepiness poured away. Sarah protested. “What? That's nuts. My ship will hit sixteen for brief intervals.”

  “I know. I'm relieving you of command of the Teplo, Sarah. I have no choice. But I've got something bigger in store for you.”

  Sarah's spirits fell. “That's not what I want to hear.”

  “I said I was moving you on to something bigger.”

  “Gun cruiser? That would be fun. Get in close with those bastards.”

  “No. I want to transfer you out of Fourth Fleet.”

  Sarah gasped as she panicked. “Oh no, sir, please. Not a desk job.”

  “No, not a desk job,” he laughed. “I better tell you before you have a stroke. If you accept, I'm promoting you to the rank of Fleet Captain immediately. You will assume command of the Thirty-First Battle Group's Seventh Fleet as soon as you are medically able.”

  Sarah was speechless.

  The admiral looked smug. “Hamilton is recording this whole thing, Sarah, so you're going to need to say something.”

  “Stop recording me without telling me. That should violate a reg or something.”

  Heyden shrugged his shoulders. “It does. Turn me in. Do you accept the promotion and position?”

  “Of course I do, Admiral.” Sarah's heart pounded. “Tell those oafs out there to get in here and pump me full of nanites. I have a battlecruiser to command.”

  The admiral snorted and laughed. “Calm down, Sarah. I came here to promote you, not kill you.”

  Sarah's tried not to sound like she was getting a birthday gift, but failed. “What's the name of the ship?”

  “The Michael Stennis.”

  “That's right. I've seen it in dry dock. Older model, been around a few decades.”

  “And survived all that time. You need to make sure it's here two decades from now.”

  “Aye, sir,” Sarah agreed, but then paused before observing, “But he's a he.”

  “What?”

  “The Stennis. With a name like that, he's a he.”

  Heyden tossed his hands up. “It used to be nobody corrected flag officers. Doesn't being an admiral mean anything anymore?”

  “Sure it does. As long as being Fleet Captain does. He's a he.”

  Heyden laughed. “You win, Fleet Captain Sarah Dayson.” The admiral gestured toward the door, his face turned somber. “I've got to run, I have to attend Captain Parath's funeral.”

  The mention of Parath's funeral sobered Sarah a bit. She realized the loss of Parath was why she was moving up to the Stennis. “Tell Parath's family I'm sorry for their loss.”

  Admiral Heyden nodded. “I'll do that. I'll let them know I found someone to carry on the legacy of a great man.”

  “When will I be out of here?”

  “Three days, tops I hear. I'll see if I can find a shuttle big enough to fit your ego inside so I can get you up to the Stennis once you get released. But rest, and don't push it. He,” the admiral emphasized, “is in dock for extensive repair from the battle that killed Parath. He will be a while in repairs, and he is getting a few upgrades too. So take your time healing, and remember to fight, retreat, regroup, rearm, and fight again. You're rearming.”

  Sarah grinned and pointed to the base of her skull. “Renecking, you mean.”

  Heyden groaned. “Bad joke. You must be getting better.” He stood and walked toward the door, where he turned back toward Sarah. “Oh, and Sarah…”

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks. Armeus meant a lot to morale.”

  Sarah yawned and pulled the covers up to her neck. “You just wait until I get my hands on a fleet. Isn't my next promotion after fleet captain your job?”

  “You'll never make it. Plus I'm immortal.”

  “A challenge. I accept. See you in a few days, Admiral.”

  The door closed itself as Heyden left.

  My own fleet.

  Sarah reached up to feel her neck. I don't feel anything strange… but it must not be quite right. No matter. I gained twenty-four ships with which to kill Hive.

  Sarah yawned again and closed her eyes. Sleep came and she dreamed of Vonn and Jac smiling at her as she boarded a shuttle for the Stennis. She was an outside observer, and she watched herself in her dress grays.

  Vonn and Jac waved to her, enthusiastic.

  “The Hive haven't seen anything yet,” she told dream Vonn.

  His smile faded as his eyes glowed blue inside. Circuit board patterns laced across his face.

  Just like the horror Widdis became.

  Sarah screamed and cried as she drew her sidearm and shot dream Vonn in the head. Vonn collapsed and Jac fell down by his father's side. Tears rolled down her face, but suddenly quit and her face was dry. Vonn and Jac were gone, no bodies lay on the ground. She holstered her weapon as she stepped onto the shuttle and belted herself into an acceleration couch.

  Sarah watched her dream face contort with anger.

  “Hive bastards,” she snarled.

  Chapter 32 - New Mission Parameters

  Bn74x00 activated as cooling fins extended from its drive core. It dropped out of highspace and calculated its position. Navigation completed, it ignited fusion engines to bleed away its speed relative to its destination.

  Bn74x00 merged data with other nanites. This star system was fully colonized and offered a plethora of subroutines it would add to itself. As it sifted through the torrents of data, it learned that it knew things that made it uniquely useful to the Collective. It relayed information about the debris trail left by the ship that destroyed its home base. It relayed the DNA signature of the crew members. The local collective processed this information and shared the results with 00.

  It learned the human ship that attacked Armeus was the Teplo and the captain of the vessel was a human female. She was Commander Sarah Dayson, refugee from the recently colonized system of Korvand. Sarah's ship carried a success rate statistically above the norm in battle against the Collective. Significantly so. Considering the close battles a ship like the Teplo engaged in, survival beyond three engagements was improbable. Sarah Dayson's presence was verified in seven. The enemy secured victory in two of those seven battles, including the last.

  Processing Bn74x00's data, the system processing hub evaluated the threat status of Sarah Dayson and elevated her to a higher priority on the termination list. Fast couriers were dispatched to relay the data to other nearby processing hubs. Soon Sarah Dayson would be a galaxy wid
e target. 00 noted that of the top twenty humans on the termination list, four were associated with a conglomeration of human vessels within the command structure of Admiral Jerna Heyden. The local collective elevated Heyden to number two on the termination list. Sarah Dayson was number twenty-seven.

  Bn74x00 docked with the processing station, looking for a new mission since the sub-collective it was part of was destroyed. It merged with hive colony Bv29x01, creating a more powerful analytical unit. With the consensus of the local sub-collective, it was assigned a larger, long range FTL drive core, then given a new mission. Identify the location of Admiral Heyden's battle group. Provide the Collective information needed to find and destroy the enemy. Collect data relevant to the termination of Heyden and Dayson.

  Bn74x00 undocked from the colony and moved into its new drive core. It accelerated away from the local processing center, then entered highspace.

  Chapter 33 - Captain's Personal Log

  28 JAND 15324

  AI Lucy82A recording, Captain’s personal log, Michael Stennis archive: Galactic Standard Date 07:02:47 Jand 28, 15324

  Personal log entry #1, Captain Sarah Dayson, origin Korvand, Pallus Sector.

  Current Location: Slip 18, Alliance shipyard Theta, Mindari IV

  This personal log is more for selfish purposes than anything else. I want to remember this moment. The moment when I take command of the Seventh Fleet. A fleet of warships with enough power to bring a planet to its knees. Instead, I, Fleet Commander Sarah Blaire Dayson, will use it to protect humanity.

  [twenty-one second pause, followed by statements AI considers to be not part of the actual log]

  No, no, over there. Is that the biggest cooler you have?

  [a muffled voice not Captain Dayson's]

  Seriously?

  [a muffled voice not Captain Dayson's]

  That's sad.

  [eleven minute and nine second pause, interspersed with the sounds of construction]

  You're done? Great. Have the yeoman outside show you back to your shuttle.

  Where was I? Oh yeah, finishing up the log. I am going to use this fleet to do great things. Mark my words. Parath survived twenty years commanding this old man, I'm going to command him another twenty.

  You should see this stateroom. It's bigger than the bridge of the Teplo.

  AI, what's you're name.

  [AI speaks]

  Lucy82A, Captain Dayson. I am pleased to be of service.

  [Captain Dayson speaks]

  Great. End the log, Lucy.

  Chapter 34 - Lirizam

  14 SEPPET 15324

  “Realspace in four… three… two… one…”

  “Jump complete,” her navigator, Lieutenant Qabri said.

  The huge viewscreen of the Michael Stennis was awash with stars as the ship dropped into realspace. The Seventh Fleet was ordered to jump from Lirizam V to Lirizam I to engage a Hive fleet reported near the innermost planet of Lirizam Prime. The star blazed brilliantly to the right of the viewscreen. The AI compensated image was amazing.

  “Commander Giarri, locate that Hive fleet. There are mining stations on Lirizam I, we're here to protect them.”

  “Yes, Captain. Right away.” Giarri turned to her screens and began ferreting out the location of the enemy ships.

  “Ensign Seto, get the other ships searching as well. Waste no time. That enemy fleet may be here to infect these miners and establish a foothold.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  “Mister Qabri, get us on a course toward the planet. Put us in the shadow, we'll search better from there.”

  “Yes, sir. We should be ready, Captain, the Hive might think that's a good location as well.”

  “Officer's thinking, Lieutenant. Get sensors on that area,” Sarah answered. “Seto, have the Yascurra launch a couple of grapplers over that way.”

  “Right away, Captain,” Seto answered.

  Sarah rested and thought a minute. The Seventh Fleet hadn't fought a battle with the Hive yet that the enemy didn't pull a surprise move out of their hat.

  “Qabri, can you plot a jump into Lirizam I's shadow?”

  “I can, Captain, but we're low on antimatter. We've been in short supply since the Hive hit Zelvani.”

  “Yeah… that's right. Just considering options. Okay, we'll fly over there the hard way. How long?”

  “Seven hours until we're parked.”

  “That's a long time. This close to Lirizam Prime we might not see the enemy until they're close. Be ready.”

  * * *

  The Michael Stennis sat in the shadow of Lirizam I, waiting for an enemy that didn't appear. The Yascurra sent out several radiation shielded grapplers to search. Nothing. As they waited, they listened to battle transmissions from Lirizam V.

  “It's been over a day. We'd have seen them by now.” Sarah fidgeted at her station, staring at the viewscreen empty of everything but stars. She would wait no more. “That's it. This is a ruse. Prepare a jump out to the main fleet.”

  “Sir? We have our orders,” Giarri said. “We're to hunt down the fleet the miners reported.”

  “Commander, either the miners lied to get extra protection, or the enemy fleet mistakenly navigated into the star. I don't know which, but they're not here. I'm rejoining the fleet. We have no idea what's happening at planet V.”

  “It's your call, Captain. I don't agree with it. Admiral Heyden didn't order us here to second guess him.”

  “Then he shouldn't have selected me to be the Captain.” Sarah sighed quietly. “Your concern is noted. You may log it if you like.”

  Giarri logged it. The rest of the bridge crew shifted uncomfortably.

  She needs to get laid or drink a few shots. Something.

  “Spinning up now, Captain,” Qabri said. “A nine minute jump.”

  Sarah smiled. At least someone was cooperative. “Excellent. Ensign Seto. Tell the four grapplers we have out to keep looking, we'll call them home soon.”

  “Wilco, Captain.”

  Sarah waited for the spin-up to complete. She raced through the sensor data from the last day, hoping any anomaly would jump out at her. Even with the bridge AI tasked to help her, nothing stood out.

  Nothing.

  “There isn't anything on these scans. We've been duped. Spin-up?”

  Qabri gave her a thumbs up. “Done. We can go now, Captain.”

  “Jump the fleet, Mister Qabri.”

  The stars disappeared, and then reappeared minutes later. Lirizam V loomed large ahead the the Seventh Fleet. Signs of a massive battle in orbit above the planet were obvious.

  “Captain Dayson, where have you been?” It was Admiral Heyden, calling on the override frequency.

  “Getting a suntan, sir. Where do you need us?”

  “Pick a target and start shooting. This is a close one. Heyden out.”

  “Qabri, match our speed with the other fleets.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Sarah looked at the young officer in charge of weapons and damage control. “Mister Harmeen, you heard the Admiral. Loose the Seventh Fleet on the enemy.”

  “With pleasure, Captain.”

  “All ships, Seventh Fleet, you have nuclear release on enemy targets. You are cleared to depart formation unless assigned Stennis escort. Samville, launch all grapplers and G-Ks. Release code Delta-Niner-Tango-Four-Four-Tango-Alpha.”

  Sarah watched the tactical display and the unfolding drama told there.

  Two heavy cruisers turned off to hunt together. The captains of the two vessels were close friends, both from a planet now under Hive colonization. They hunted together well, and Sarah liked it that way.

  “The Mongol and Vixen are going solo again,” Giarri noted.

  “I approve,” Sarah said. “I've seen their work.”

  Giarri frowned. “The four heavy cruisers are supposed to stay in close recall position relative to us according to Alliance protocols.”

  “Everyone knows their role, Commander. The Schein a
nd Hinden will stay near us, to protect the FTL drive. Our light gunships will stay close. Everyone else will hunt. Let it happen. Besides, the regs don't define close recall position. The definition is therefore mine to make.”

  Giarri didn't get it. People naturally fell into what they were best at, even in groups. It was something Sarah not only observed in her years as a Captain, but learned to respect and use to her advantage. She encouraged free thinkers within reasonable boundaries.

  “Mister Harmeen, you have nuclear release for the Stennis. Kill some Hive for me.”

  The Lieutenant JG smiled at the Captain. “Right away, ma'am.”

  Giarri visibly flinched each time Harmeen addressed anyone as ma'am. Sarah didn't prefer it either, but it wasn't anything that impacted performance. It was his way. It was more important to Sarah to teach Giarri to be adaptable than to make her combat engineer politically correct.

  Sarah watched as Harmeen set up a launch package and coordinated with the weapons officers across the fleet. The Stennis shuddered as missiles flushed from launch tubes. Sarah knew Giarri felt left out of that process, but if trust in the weapons officer was there, micromanagement didn't need to be.

  The sneer on Giarri's face broadcast her feelings about it. She opposed letting any junior officer handle the big decisions.

  She's never going to be what I need. I need to move her along.

  Sarah felt her time was freed as her junior bridge officers dealt with the business of the fleet. That time left her able to stay on top of the strategic picture, and to deal with any problems before they became deadly. It was a system of command that seemed to work well for her, she refused to believe she was just lucky.

  Soon kills credited to the Seventh began rolling in. Two friendly ships lost, both small assault gunships designed to suppress the grappler squads of the enemy.

  “Giarri, if damage control arises, I want you to handle it for the fleet.”

  “Yes, sir,” Giarri said. She stared at the back of Harmeen's head as she emphasized sir.

  Yep. She's got to go.

  * * *

  At first the battle progressed nicely, the Seventh fleet ripped into the enemy like a meteor storm.