by S. H. Jucha
“That’s what we fear,” Renée said.
“With resupply, the captains wouldn’t have a reason to incite the crews to take extraordinary measures,” Gregich pointed out. When a reply was slow to come, he said resignedly, “You’ve chosen not to give us supplies.”
“What if you were offered an alternative to resupply?” Jess asked.
“What would be another option?” Gregich asked.
“A home world,” Jess replied, and he watched Gregich sit up straight, with renewed interest.
“It’s not as lush as Crocia, and it comes with its own hazards. It’s located here in alliance space,” Jess explained.
“Then the fleet could reach it in time?” Gregich asked hopefully.
“Easily, Captain. The commodore and I recently arrived from there. It took us eight Omnian cycles,” Jess replied.
“Tell me more,” Gregich urged. He was intrigued by the opportunity.
“Captain Gregich,” Alex interrupted. “If you accept this offer, there are conditions that we’ll impose. You should hear them first.”
“What are they?” Gregich asked.
“Your battleships represent a great danger to the races in this area of space, as I’m sure you’re aware,” Alex began.
“We were surprised by the lack of opposition,” Gregich said. “In the federacy, a fleet is accustomed to encountering resistance.”
“If you were to settle this world, Captain, you’d have to give up your battleships,” Alex said.
Gregich was stunned. “Without our ships, we’d be stranded,” he objected.
“You’d have a planet with abundant resources,” Renée pointed out. “Isn’t that a better alternative than starvation or dying of thirst?”
“Captain Gregich, have you noticed the glowing domes on the moons near the home worlds you visited?” Lucia asked.
“We saw the structures, Commodore. Why?” Gregich queried.
“Those domes are quantum-linked gates between alliance worlds,” Lucia replied.
“Gates?” Gregich repeated.
“A form of instantaneous transport between domes,” Julien explained. “Every alliance world, and there are hundreds of them, has a dome. Most of them possess multiple gates to other worlds.”
“We would have access to the dome of this world that you offer?” Gregich asked hopefully.
“Not right away, Captain,” Renée replied. “You won’t have your shuttles.”
“We won’t have our battleships or our shuttles,” Gregich repeated slowly. “What will we have?”
“No ships or heavy armament, such as missiles, fighters, or close-quarter guns,” Alex detailed. “Other than that, you can strip the battleships of anything you want.”
“What will happen to our ships?” Gregich asked. It had been a source of pride that he’d attained the rank of senior captain of a battleship wedge.
“This might be painful to hear, Captain,” Renée said gently, “but they’ll be destroyed. The alliance races don’t need to be introduced to one of the devastating aspects of federacy space.”
“Then we’re to start again on this new world?” Gregich inquired.
“As has been pointed out, Captain, you’d have a world with plentiful resources to develop,” Alex replied. “In exchange, you must give up your offensive capabilities, and you’ll be isolated until you understand your role among the alliance races.”
“Is there infrastructure on this world, or do we live in the woods like abandoned nestlings?” Gregich asked, with some ire.
“The planet has a great deal of infrastructure,” Jess replied.
The answer mollified Gregich, and he asked Alex, “Are these the extent of the conditions?”
“From us, yes,” Alex replied. “Now, we need you to listen to Captain Cinders and Commodore Bellardo about conditions on the planet. It’s called Quall.”
Gregich focused his attention between the two newcomers. He had knots in his stomach. The Omnians were offering him an opportunity to save the crews, but the cost was getting prohibitive.
When Jess acceded to her request, Lucia said to Gregich, “Captain, Quall has a single deficit, and it’s a great one. The alliance has an enemy called the Colony. They’re dangerously aggressive, and they breed quickly. Quall has been inundated by them.”
“I would like to see images of them, Julien,” Gregich requested.
Julien sent an image of a red and a gray to the holo-vid. They were seen rearing on their last third of the lengths, and they bracketed Gregich’s image to represent scale.
Gregich gulped as he stared at the holo-vid image, and he sipped on a water tube to relieve his suddenly dry throat. When he’d seen enough, he slashed a hand at it, and Julien turned off the display. Now, he knew what the Omnians were offering. They would be sacrificed to remove an alliance problem. He wanted to glare in defiance at the individuals around the table, but something niggled at his brain.
“There is something missing from this conversation,” Gregich said, when the disparate parts clicked together and exposed the hole. He regarded Jess and said, “You say Quall has infrastructure. Then a race must have been present. Then you, Commodore, say that the Colony has overtaken this world. Do these points indicate that a race on Quall was eliminated?”
“Yes,” Lucia replied.
“Everyone?” Gregich asked.
“Every Quall,” Lucia affirmed.
“If they’ve been destroyed, what chance do a paltry three thousand of us have against the enemy?” Gregich asked plaintively. He saw an opportunity to save his fleet personnel slipping away in the face of impossible odds.
“You’ve two assets in your favor,” Alex stated firmly. “Your species is also aggressive. I’ve understood from Captain Cinders that the Qualls were a race of peace-loving intellectuals. For the most part, they were scientists without weaponry.”
“And the second?” Gregich inquired.
“The commodore, captain, and many veterans have fought the Colony,” Alex replied. “They’ve recovered three domes and two planets from the enemy, and they’ll soon take a third planet from them. These individuals, led by Captain Cinders, have volunteered to help you establish a foothold on Quall. They will teach you how to fight the Colony species, called insectoids.”
“We didn’t care for our home world,” Gregich admitted. “That’s why this expedition and others were sent out. Great changes will be necessary among my kind to live in a different manner. Captain Cinders, I would ask a personal question of you.”
Jess nodded, and Gregich said, “You don’t know us. We’ve not behaved well in alliance space. Why would you and others risk your lives to help us?”
“We didn’t start winning against the Colony until the Omnians and the Earthers, humans from Sol, arrived,” Jess explained. “They didn’t come to this area of space to help us. They were searching for a lost colony ship. When they saw our problem, they offered their assistance. Some of them died in the effort, but that didn’t stop them. That’s who they are, and I’m determined to continue the fight with their support.”
“Did you know the Omnians freed the federacy races from an entity known as Artifice?” Gregich asked.
“I’d heard,” Jess replied, “and I’m surprised you so poorly repaid their generosity by your actions here.”
Gregich ducked his head. The captain was within his rights to criticize them, but Gregich refused to place the blame where it belonged.
“This brings up a subject we’re curious about, Captain Gregich,” Renée interjected. “We know your fleet commander was killed on Usaana. We would have expected your appointed leader to meet with us instead of you. Was your fleet not assigned a political head of the expedition?”
“We have one ... Leader Stasnich,” Gregich replied.
“And why isn’t Leader Stasnich here?” Julien inquired.
“I’
ve confined him to his quarters,” Gregich replied. “He’s caused enough problems for the expedition.”
“What do you think of our proposal?” Alex asked.
“It’s frightening,” Gregich admitted. “Then again, so are the prospects of starving to death or landing in the Crocian wetlands. However, there is an obstacle to our acceptance.”
“What?” Alex queried.
“With the leader detained and no commander, I’m the fleet’s senior individual,” Gregich said. “My position is tenuous. Some of the captains see me as their contemporary, a peer. Convincing those captains to accept your plan, even if I recommend it, will be a challenge.”
“What if they were to see Quall?” Jess offered. “It’s a worthwhile home world.”
“Three of the captains will be suspicious of your reason, Captain,” Gregich replied. “Two other captains will tend to follow them. That leaves only three others who’ll follow me without question.”
“There is one thing that you can use to convince the captains,” Alex said. He’d sat straighter in his chair, and he stared quietly into Gregich’s eyes. “I’ve two full commands of warships in this system. Each ship carries a complement of fighters, and this ship, the Freedom, has the equivalent firepower of multiple warship squadrons. If the captains choose to invade an alliance system, we’ll decimate their ships.”
Gregich swallowed hard. The Omnians’ fighting prowess and commitment to their allies was well known. “What if I could convince some captains to follow me to Quall?”
“Understand our problem, Captain,” Renée said respectfully. “We’re guests in alliance space too. We’ve no legal standing that allows us to gift this world to you. If some of your citizens choose to settle on Quall, but others attack Crocia or some other alliance world, how will that be received by the alliance membership? This is a delicate matter, and it requires the right solution.”
“What if the alliance membership decides to evict us after we’ve fought to gain Quall?” Gregich asked. He wondered if this might be the Omnians’ ultimate plan, although that didn’t fit with what the federacy races had learned about them.
“You have my word, Captain Gregich,” Alex said. “If you settle Quall, the alliance memberships won’t evict you. I can’t guarantee that the races will accept you on their home worlds after you master your dome’s console. That might wait for your next generation or two.”
Gregich nodded, accepting Alex’s promise. “I must speak personally to the captains,” Gregich said. “When I present this proposal, I must look into their eyes. I’ll know what they think even if they lie to me.”
“Understand me, Captain,” Alex said. “Your crews will be afforded every opportunity to survive on Quall. Our SADEs will assist you in gaining experience in operations of the system’s infrastructure. However, you must make it clear to the captains that this is an all-or-nothing offer.”
“I understand,” Gregich replied. He stood and was prepared to be led to his shuttle, but Alex loomed in his path.
“This is how we greet, say goodbye, and commit to our promises,” Alex said, extending a hand.
Gregich reached out and encircled two of Alex’s fingers.
Alex grinned and gently moved his hand. “May the stars bring you fortune, Captain,” he said.
“Thank you for your generosity, Alex, whatever future comes our way,” Gregich said.
35: Leader’s Chaos
Gregich was en route to his battleship. He was taking advantage of the time to compose his proposal to the captains. Rischvoss was flipping over the shuttle to decelerate, when comm channel one lit.
“Captain Gregich, danger,” a panicked voice erupted over the pilot cabin speaker.
“Who is this?” Gregich demanded.
“Sorry, Captain. This is Second Officer Bastich. I’m calling you from engineering’s comms room. Leader Stasnich was freed. He’s convinced some junior officers and a few crew members to support him. He’s taken the bridge and locked the hatch.”
“Hold for me, Bastich, and thank you for your warning,” Gregich quickly replied.
“Rischvoss, call our ship. Request to speak to First Officer Damich and him only. He should be on duty,” Gregich directed.
“On what pretext, Captain?” Rischvoss asked.
“Something about the shuttle is amiss,” Gregich replied. “Use your imagination, Lieutenant.”
“What if Damich has sided with the leader?” Rischvoss pursued.
“He won’t have,” Gregich assured her.
“This is Lieutenant Rischvoss. I’m inbound with Senior Captain Gregich,” the pilot called on comm channel two. “I’m requesting to speak to First Officer Damich. We have an emergency,” Rischvoss had pitched her voice high and instilled it with nervousness.
“State the nature of your emergency, Lieutenant,” a voice said.
Rischvoss wasn’t familiar with the voices of the senior officers, and she glanced at Gregich for confirmation. In response, he shook his head.
“Who is this?” Rischvoss queried indignantly.
“Lieutenant, don’t question a superior,” the voice replied harshly. “I repeat ... state your emergency.”
“The senior captain has directed me to speak to First Officer Damich,” Rischvoss insisted. “Please, put him on.”
There was a slight delay. Then the voice said, “The first officer is indisposed. I’ll relay your message.”
When Rischvoss saw Gregich’s hand signal, she said to the voice, “Hold.”
“Make for the bow,” Gregich told Rischvoss. “Put our shuttle halfway below the bridge and the ship’s bottom. Face us outward.”
“Why there?” Rischvoss asked, even as she changed course.
“It’s a blind point to the ship’s sensors and guns,” Gregich explained.
“What if the ship gets underway?” Rischvoss asked nervously.
“Then you’ll need to be ready to move us ahead of the behemoth, unless you wish us to be tumbled underneath the ship’s length and into the engines’ flare,” Gregich replied offhand. Then he put a finger to his muzzle and selected comm channel one.
“Bastich, this is Captain Gregich.”
“Here, Captain,” Bastich replied.
“Connect me to the fleet,” Gregich requested.
“Captain, groups of crew members, who support the leader, are armed with energy hand weapons. They’re roaming the ship and trying to gain control of the engineering suites,” Bastich objected. “If I connect you, the bridge will know that I’m hiding here. One of these gangs will be directed here, and they’ll kill me. The leader’s followers have already demonstrated that they have no problem using deadly force.”
“Make the connection, Bastich, and then leave the comms room. Hide somewhere else,” Gregich said in a calm voice. “I’ll wait to make my call. Have courage, Bastich. This situation will be quickly resolved.”
Gregich checked his chronometer, as he placed channel one on hold. He watched Rischvoss maneuver the shuttle along the battleship’s port side, as she headed for the bow.
When Gregich felt he’d given Bastich sufficient time to find a new place to secret himself, he opened channel one. “This is Senior Captain Gregich,” he said. “Leader Stasnich and some individuals have commandeered the bridge and sealed off access, and a few roving gangs are hunting loyal officers. I’m requesting the captains stand down. Don’t intercede or be swayed by Stasnich. He’s a political appointee and not in the fleet’s chain of command. I’ve an offer from the Omnians for us to discuss, but if Stasnich manages to mobilize one ship in the fleet, the Omnians will hunt every ship down. Their leader has sworn to this.”
“You can stop now, Gregich,” Stasnich declared harshly. “You’re no longer broadcasting to the fleet.”
Gregich and Rischvoss exchanged disappointed glances. Each had their own thoughts. He wondered how much of his message had gotten through to the captains. On the other hand, she wondered if one of the gun ports they pas
sed was going to open and fire on them.
“Stasnich, you have one opportunity to save yourself,” Gregich replied. “Recall your gangs. Surrender the bridge and your weapons to First Officer Damich.”
“That will be difficult, Gregich. The first officer is permanently indisposed.”
Gregich could hear the leader’s gurgling and gleeful teeth sucking. The quavering voice and delight over the death of an officer indicated to Gregich that he was dealing with an unstable individual. The leader hadn’t been mentally and emotionally prepared for the confinement aboard a battleship.
“If those on the ship’s bridge can hear me,” Gregich said, “you’re risking your lives and those of the crew by following the leader, who is obviously ill. The Omnians —”
Gregich stared at the shuttle’s comms panel. Channel one and two had been silenced. That was the end of his chance to communicate to anyone in his fleet. He glanced out the starboard viewport. Rischvoss had arrived at the bow. She was utilizing the shuttle’s jets to tuck under the bridge overhang, and she was nervously fingering the engines’ throttle controls.
* * * * *
“Tucking under the lead ship’s bow,” Tatia replied. She’d beat Alex to the bridge, and she was staring at Cordelia’s holo-vid display. “We’ve just learned one thing of value. The captain has pointed out a vulnerable point on his battleships. If it does come to a fight, that’s a perfect attack point for drone fighters.”
“Despite her youth, I hope Rischvoss is a natural pilot,” Alex said softly. The shuttle was a speck compared to the massive battleship, and she’d stationed her vessel’s engines only meters from its formidable armored hull.