“The merc guild planned to capture it,” Paka said, making a dismissive gesture. “We didn’t expect the rotten Humans to use it against us. Antimatter weapons are illegal.”
“Just like the ones we used against them earlier? Why else did you want to secure it?”
“By order of the Mercenary Guild Council, you are to get me out of here. I cannot be allowed to be killed or captured.”
“By order of the Mercenary Guild Council,” Glashpooka repeated.
Paka was surprised her translator could convey such a level of disgust from the speech of a mollusk. “Yes, by the guild’s orders.”
“The guild is why this all happened in the first place. How many millions have died? How many ships have been lost? How many of my people, the Maki, the Izlians, were sacrificed at the guild’s orders? And why? Just to stop the dangerous Humans? They didn’t start this war. They are a merc race, doing what merc races do.”
“They broke every law they could,” Paka snapped. “The trial of Sansar Enkh proved that.”
“Yet the Besquith have perpetrated all manner of atrocities over the centuries and have never been subjected to this sort of vendetta. This sort of slaughter. Why?”
“General Peepo has her reasons.”
“Oh, General Peepo. I thought it was the will of the Mercenary Guild Council.”
“Same thing,” Paka said, filling with rage. “The Veetanho run the entropy-cursed council! We have since shortly after the Great War. We move events in their correct direction. We keep the peace. We decide who lives and who dies.” She gestured at the captain. “What are you, in the grand scheme of things?”
Glashpooka stared at her for a second, one eye turning to look elsewhere before returning to Paka.
“Now execute my orders.”
“Execute,” the captain agreed, and Paka looked in surprise as a laser burned through her chest from behind.
She gurgled as blood filled her lungs. Reaching down she disconnected her safety harness and floated free, struggling to breathe. Glashpooka’s XO held a laser pistol in a pseudopod behind her, its emitter glowing slightly. “You…you…” Paka stammered, trying to concentrate with a mind filled with pain and outrage. “You will pay for this.”
“No,” Glashpooka said, and his XO fired again, this time hitting Paka in the center of her chest.
She screamed as blood pumped from her chest while she tried to stem the flow with a paw.
“You asked what I am in the grand scheme of things? Why, I’m the captain of this ship, and my word is law.”
Paka struggled to breathe, each breath becoming harder and harder. She tried to catch hold of her chair—there was an emergency medkit inside. If she could just reach it…but she couldn’t. It seemed a light year away. “Pay…” she whispered. They will all pay.
“Comms, signal the Winged Hussars that we surrender.”
Paka wondered how it all went so desperately wrong as she quietly died.
* * *
Conference Room, EMS Shadowfax, New Warsaw System
Captain Elizabeth Stacy floated into the conference room, a med tech close behind her. The surgeon hadn’t wanted to let her out of sickbay, but Elizabeth had ordered her to do so. The surgeon assigned a young female medic to follow Elizabeth and constantly monitor her condition. Elizabeth had also had the level of pain killers reduced so her mind was clear. But damn, she hurt.
In the conference room waited the remnants of the Winged Hussars’ captains. Only twenty-eight captains of the sixty-three who’d left for Earth a few weeks earlier watched her enter. So few. Along with them were Sansar Enkh and Nigel Shirazi. Every one of them looked tired, beaten, bruised, and bloody.
“Captain Stacy,” Evie, her XO announced. “Commander, Winged Hussars.” Everyone saluted, and Elizabeth struggled to keep the tears at bay.
“I am in command,” she said. “For now. Let’s get through the rest of this war before we get ahead of ourselves.” She looked at the faces, Human and alien, all of which didn’t want to hear what she was about to say. “Make no mistake, this war isn’t over. We know from information surrendered by the Izlians and Bakulu ship commanders, Peepo intends to bring more forces here to take control of New Warsaw. If any of us escape, we will be hunted down. The same goes for all Human mercs.”
“We already know they tried to enslave our colonies, from the biggest to the smallest,” Sansar said. Heads turned to look at her. “I know you’ve all lost friends and loved ones; so did we.”
“Some of us lost our closest friends,” Nigel said, his expression dark.
“We can’t let our sacrifices be in vain,” Elizabeth said. “Lieutenant Commander Kowalczy fought to the last to hold Prime Base, and in the end gave her life.” She wanted to mention Patrick, yet she dared not. He was somewhere in Shadowfax; she didn’t know where. What she did know was he wasn’t who he had been.
“What are we going to do?” Captain Drizz of Nuckelavee asked. Others nodded.
“We need to go back to Earth,” Sansar said. She nodded as the assembled captains gasped.
“How?” Captain Eshek of Franklin Buchanan asked, his elongated Sidar face unreadable. “Half of our ships are damaged.”
“Doesn’t seem possible,” Captain Sarauw of Seattle Slew added.
“And yet we must,” Nigel said with complete conviction. “The only way we can end this is to go after that bitch Peepo in her own lair. Look around you. She sent such an unbelievable and overwhelming force, and we kicked her ass.”
A few chuckles.
“A lot of it was luck,” Elizabeth said. Luck and magic? “Yet as Colonel Shirazi said, we did win.”
Nigel nodded. “Plus, there are hundreds of mercs prisoner on Earth, including Colonel Cartwright. He doesn’t deserve to be left behind any more than the others.” Nigel seemed about to say something more, then pursed his lips and shook his head. “I am going back, with or without the rest of you.”
“What kind of forces can we muster?” Captain Corder asked. Just out of medical after weeks in recovery from a previous battle, he already looked resigned to the task.
“First and foremost, we have the Merc Guild’s dreadnought that our forces captured. Although it was roughed up in the capture, even at fifty percent it’s much more powerful than anything the guild forces have.”
Many of the commanders nodded, having fought—and lost—to it.
“We also have the surviving Izlians and Bakulu. I’ve spoken to both their commanders. The Izlians seem to think we’re some sort of legend come true.” She shrugged. “Who knows what a freezing bag of gas thinks?” A few people laughed. “The Bakulu realize they’ve been used by Peepo, and they would like to get a little payback. Either way, they didn’t have to surrender.
“The captain of Paka’s battleship, the one who had her killed, spoke with the dreadnought commander, Admiral Galantrooka. There is an understanding between them. Galantrooka isn’t happy about the situation or about being used by Peepo. The Bakulu don’t throw away their lives like some merc races. They want to go back and settle up with Peepo. I trust them, which is good, as we don’t have the personnel or the know-how to man that monster.”
She used her pinplants to examine the information. “The fleet resource officers are evaluating the rest of our ships now,” Elizabeth continued. “I’ve already gotten commitments from two Maki battleships. It seems that, like Colonel Shirazi’s Lumar troops, they were quite tired of being on the losing side and have switched their allegiance to us.” Many shocked faces were evident with the revelation as she continued: “Everyone here is best able to evaluate his or her own ship’s capabilities, though. Given three days to repair and rearm, please indicate by a show of hands how many would be prepared to deploy.” Elizabeth raised her own hand. “To go kick Peepo’s scrawny ass off Earth? I know I will.”
It took a few, long seconds, but Captain Drizz put his furred hand in the air. “Nuckelavee will answer the call.”
“Count Seatt
le Slew in,” Captain Sarauw said. “It seems like suicide, but I’ll be damned if we don’t take the fight back to them. That’s my planet that bitch is squatting on.”
Within seconds, every captain’s hand was in the air. Elizabeth gave a little sigh and nodded. “Okay, three days. Everybody get to it.”
Nigel immediately caught her after the meeting broke up. “Commander,” he said. “Can I ask a favor?’
“If I can accommodate you, I will,” she assured him.
“Revenge was badly damaged in the assault on the dreadnought. Is there any chance it can be repaired in time to participate?”
Elizabeth reached for her slate and hissed in pain. Her arm was far from healed, so instead she used her pinplants. “There isn’t a detailed assessment of your ship on file,” she said. “I’ll see if I can get a team there. That said, I can only allocate staff as available. I need to prioritize forces. There are other merc units who weathered the battle in the asteroid field; perhaps you can use one of their ships?”
“I will see,” he said. “Although I admit, I’d rather have Revenge.” He got the same look on his face he’d had earlier in the meeting.
“Is there something more?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “We haven’t talked about it with your people for many reasons, but you should know.” Nigel gestured to Sansar who was waiting by the conference room door. The other Horseman floated over. “Tell her about the dream.”
A minute later Elizabeth was reeling yet again. Her med tech turned to look at her from across the room, obviously in response to her suddenly elevated bio-signs. “A dream?” she asked Sansar.
“You do not have to tell me how it sounds,” Sansar said. “Believe me, I know. But the fact cannot be denied that our family has the gift—or curse—of visions of the future. I saw the attack on New Warsaw months before it happened, and in great detail.”
“So, you think Alexis Cromwell is alive?” Sansar nodded. “I don’t know how to process this,” Elizabeth admitted.
“She’s also pregnant,” Sansar added. Elizabeth’s eyes went wide, and she turned to look at Nigel. “And yes, he’s the father.”
“Entropy.” Both Nigel and Sansar nodded this time. “So, you want Revenge because you’re going to get her back.”
“The very hounds of hell could not stop me. I will wade through a sea of blood to save Alexis.”
Sansar chuckled. “That means yes. If given the opportunity, he intends to rescue her.”
Elizabeth used her pinplants to alter orders. “A team is heading for Revenge as we speak. As long as its damage isn’t critical enough to require drydock, I’ll have it ready.”
“You have my thanks,” Nigel said and bowed his head.
“If she’s indeed alive, bringing back Alexis Cromwell is all the thanks I need.” She looked at the two. “I cannot tell the Hussars about this, although this added hope would be a powerful tool, if they believed it. Morale is already holding on by a slender thread, and if it were to turn out you were wrong—”
“Which is possible,” Sansar interjected.
“—it would be devastating,” Elizabeth finished. “For now, this is not public knowledge.”
“I agree,” Sansar said. “It’s also why we haven’t shared this information previously. We wanted you to know, however, because if the opportunity exists to rescue her, we intend to do so.”
“Good. Well, I’ve got a lot to do.” The others nodded and left the conference room. A thousand messages clogged her pinplants, much of it fleet logistics. I wish you’d made it, Aleksandra. Her expertise in logistics would have been incredibly useful. I’m sorry I left you there to get killed.
“Commander?”
She glanced over to see Captain Corder waiting nearby. “Captain?”
“Forgive me. I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation with the Horsemen.”
“It’s fine. What can I do?”
“I don’t have a ship,” he admitted, and gave a nervous chuckle.
“Oh, hell, I forgot.” During the height of the battle, Hippogriff had disappeared from the shipyard. None of the Hussars’ monitoring assets had been focused on that area of New Warsaw; the shipyard and parking orbits hadn’t been a priority. It was pure luck anyone noticed the Keesius being activated, although no one still knew how it had happened. Its use saved the day…but its activation was a mystery.
In addition to the missing Hippogriff, four incomplete Crown-class hulls were also missing. Sato had moved them out of the shipyard before he’d left to allocate construction to the Avenger bombers for the SalSha. The hulls weren’t much more than superstructure, powerplants, and engineering spaces. Still, they were missing. Elizabeth wondered if the Dusman were responsible. Back when they’d been known simply as the Fae, helping themselves to various assets had been their hallmark.
“Well, the problem of crew shortages is gone,” Elizabeth said. “We lost a lot of ships, yes. However, many of the crew survived either by ejecting, or by holding out in wrecked hulls prior to being rescued. In fact, I have several ships with no command crew assigned.” Corder nodded as she looked at the list.
“You’re familiar with battlecruisers, so I’m going to give you Pegasus.”
“Commander!” Corder exclaimed. “You can’t be serious. You should take it.”
“That isn’t how this works,” she said. “I’m familiar with Shadowfax and my crew is used to her. I’m not uprooting my crew. In addition, Pegasus has most of her crew intact, she just lost her command crew. Captain Akoo managed her fine until the traitor took her out.”
They only referred to Paka as, “The Traitor.” Many felt calling her by her name was simply wrong; she didn’t deserve the honor. When it was revealed the Bakulu captain of Trushista had her shot, it had been considered poetic justice. Especially since Paka had been using the Bakulu and Maki as pawns in the Veetanho schemes. Now, with their schemes laid bare, the Bakulu had become allies as well.
“Fleet repair is already on board Pegasus and Phaeton. They’re sure they can get Pegasus’ CIC back into shape, although probably not Phaeton’s, which has a newer design. Teenge has Arion underway, although her computers will need more repairs. She’ll be ready. I’d rather have all five Egleesius, but I’ll settle for four.” She looked at Corder. “Your assignment is Pegasus, Captain.”
He blinked, then saluted. “Yes, Commander. I won’t let you down.”
I just hope I don’t let you down, she thought as he left. One item off her checklist, 999 more to go. Nearly at the top of the queue was a message from Laras, now in charge of the Geek Squad after Kleena gave his life in Prime Base. He said the modifications on the Egleesius were possible and would be given priority. Elizabeth grinned, caught Evie’s attention, and they headed for the CIC. Her med tech followed closely behind.
* * *
Upsilon Asteroid, New Warsaw System
“I didn’t tell you to go out there and get half your forces shot to entropy,” Sly said.
“You said to help them the best I could,” Peskall countered.
“And that is the best you could do?” Sly jabbed a claw at the stringer dock which extended from Upsilon’s main maintenance bay. There were twenty-eight moorings, but fourteen had cables floating where the ships should have been. “We have so few of the Zhest-equipped ships left, and you use them like markers in a L’oopo game?”
Peskall floated without comment. Neagle, his second in command, stayed back. His black-brown ears were folded back.
“The other factions won’t commit,” Sly said. “I’m only a Kroof. I have no power to sway this decision. Reporting we’ve lost fourteen Zhest won’t help our position, or Splunk’s.”
“How will her position be helped if she’s dead?” Peskall asked, uncowed.
Sly ground his rear teeth together. The pilot had a point. “That female has been a thorn in my side from the day she left the creche.”
“Yet you cannot deny she has influence,” Neagle sa
id, breaking his silence. Sly was about to tell him to stick to flying when Seldia floated in. The other three lowered their eyes in reverence.
“Splunk is key,” she said. Even though she hadn’t been there for the discussion, she always knew what had been discussed. “Her and those who follow her.”
“Fine, whatever,” Sly said, then gestured for Akl’a to come over. She floated over, bowing her head to Seldia, who merely stared past the new arrival. “How comes the work?”
“We’ll have it ready in six days,” Akl’a said. “After the Humans have left.”
“As fast as possible,” Sly said. “But do the job right.”
“Of course,” Akl’a said and gestured to the bay. Hippogriff was in several parts as hundreds of Dusman in powered suits moved among the parts, cutting and welding. “Their ships are unimaginative, to say the least. Still, we’ll make it work.”
“We must be there,” Seldia said, gazing at the ship. Everyone near her listened. “We must be there when they join the fight, at the end.”
* * *
CIC, EMS Shadowfax, New Warsaw System
The Tri-V showed the fleet forming up.
Elizabeth flexed her arm. It was healed, though still stiff. She was better off than more than 5,000 Winged Hussars. Luckily, very few of their dependents had died. Another debt they owed to Aleksandra Kowalczy.
The fleet formation was a total of thirty-nine ships, including transports, carriers, and merc cruisers. They were desperately low on escorts and frigates, and the SalSha were spent with only ten combat crews remaining. The survivors would remain on New Warsaw. Their carrier, Dragon, would stay back, as well; there weren’t enough bombers to make it worthwhile, and there wasn’t enough time to equip it with a useful drone payload.
The good news was that all five Egleesius were operational, crewed, and armed. Dan Corder was in command of Pegasus, and Elizabeth assigned Lieutenant Richard Wilde as captain of Phaeton. Fleet crew cohesion was a mess, with hundreds in positions they were either unfamiliar with or weren’t entirely qualified to operate, but at least they were fully manned.
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