"That the most moralistic member of our crew has somehow been turned into a cold, amoral killer," Crusher said. "Back before Khepri, Lucky would have never harmed an unarmed combatant, even if it put him at risk. Even if the guards were using the office staff as shields, the old Lucky wouldn't have cut his way through them to get to the threat."
"Let's take it easy with the old Lucky, new Lucky talk," Jason warned. "For right now, we should keep this between the two of us. I want to be able to really sit and process this and there just isn't any time right now. We'll keep an eye on him, but if we tell everyone else, he may feel that it's an us verses him thing, and it could all go belly up."
"Agreed," Crusher said.
"Captain, better get your ass up here…something's happening."
"Finally," Jason grumbled, swiping a chip so fast of Crusher's tray he couldn't stop him and jogging for the command deck.
"New contacts appearing at an unauthorized mesh-in point, Admiral. Six ships so far, all capital class vessels not broadcasting any ident beacons."
"Thank you, Captain," Kellea said. "Please have Councilman Scleesz brought to the bridge. We may need him as a liaison soon."
"At once, Admiral."
Scleesz had been careful to feed her enough information, or at least a skewed representation of it, to sow seeds of doubt in her mind about Seeladas and the leadership within the Cooperative. What he hadn't provided, however, was the reason the Defiant sat deep in ConFed space at the behest of the Grand Adjudicators. So far, that had been no broadcast greetings or envoys from the surface to welcome her to the capital system.
"You summoned me, Admiral?"
"We have a lot of unknown ships popping into the system," Kellea said without turning to look at Scleesz. "Over thirty now have arrived in an unapproved mesh-in point. Care to fill me in now on what it is we're supposed to be doing here?"
"Admiral, I am not lying to you when I say I don't know what you're supposed to be here to see," Scleesz said.
"Okay, so why are you still here?" she asked, turning to look at him. "I assumed you would send for a shuttle or ask for one of ours to take you back to the surface."
"I-I haven't been summoned," Scleesz floundered.
"Summoned?" Kellea repeated, now fully turning and taking a step towards him. "You're a senior member of the High Council, chairman on two separate subcommittees, and widely considered one of the most influential people on Miressa…and you are waiting to be summoned?"
She hadn't fully believed his story about an all-powerful AI taking control of the ConFed. Her instincts had told her she was being manipulated by someone who was skilled at getting people to do what he needed them to do, so she took the story in stride and made sure she kept an open mind as to what she saw around her. But she had to admit that something had him spooked, and he was hiding out on a Cridal ship rather than returning to his home on the surface.
"Perhaps we could speak in private?" he asked, trying to maintain as much dignity as possible as the bridge crew now turned to stare at him.
"After you." Kellea motioned towards the small office directly off the bridge where she did most of her work.
"There have been some developments on the surface I've only now become aware of," Scleesz said when the hatch slid shut. "People loyal to me were able to send word that the capital's internal security force raided my offices and home. It didn't happen right when I left, so I have to assume that, somehow, the Machine has received word that I've been playing both sides."
"You suspect someone on this ship?"
"Or in Mok's organization," Scleesz said. "Captain Burke's crew is the least likely to have talked given their personal connection to the Machine, but I also have no idea who he entrusted this information with after I gave it to him. The timing makes it likely that when I divulged Seeladas Dalton's duplicity, the Machine found out about it."
"This is worrying on a few levels," Kellea said, pacing. "If this Machine, as you call it, has expanded its influence that it can order a raid on a sitting Councilmember without raising an alarm, that means it is far more integrated into the government than previously thought. The other concern is that the Defiant hasn't been acknowledged since we've arrived, and I'm assuming they know you're aboard."
"I have some experience in how this thing thinks," Scleesz said. "Your ship is in no danger. It has no idea that I've been warned, and it will have a trap waiting for me. Once I return to the surface and either go home or to my office, the Machine's synths will grab me and take me before it. I'll be forced to beg for my life and divulge everything I know about the people working against it before I'm executed anyway."
"It has synths working for it?" Kellea frowned.
"Is that important?"
"It could be. Never mind that for now. What do we do about this? If you try to claim asylum within the Cooperative, it's more than likely that Seeladas will just have you turned over if what you've told me is true."
"I can manage my own affairs, Admiral," Scleesz said. "I've had a few escape plans in place for many years once I realized what Miressa Prime was really like. My only concern right now is the—"
"Admiral, apologies for interrupting," Captain Essel's voice broke in over the intercom. "The incoming ships have assembled into a loose phalanx formation aimed at the capital world, and they've just fired up their transponders. All forty-two are Eshquarian warships. Their registries match ships that were reported missing after the invasion."
"It's a retaliatory strike," Kellea whispered. "On a civilian target."
"No, it's something else," Scleesz said. "We need to see what's happening, Admiral."
"They're broadcasting a message, Admiral," Essel said when she walked back onto the bridge.
"Put it on from the beginning."
"This is a message to the ConFed from the remaining free people of the Eshquarian Empire. We do not accept your authority over us. With these, our last ships of war, we strike at your heart. The Empire may be gone, but so shall you die with us."
"Admiral, the Miressa Home Defense Force is breaking orbit from around Taus and moving for what looks like a midpoint intercept," Essel said. "Correction, they're going for a blocking move."
"The HDF ships are mostly ceremonial," Kellea said. "They're no match for two full Eshquarian battlegroups."
"It appears we're about to find out if that's true, Admiral," Scleesz said. "I think it's safe to say that whatever happens next, this is what you were brought to Miressa to witness and report back to your leadership about."
21
"There they go. All Imperial ships are accelerating down into the system, committing to the attack."
"And the HDF ships are moving to block, right on cue," Jason said. "Send word to the crew of the Sarafin that we're ready to depart. We need to get down there so we're in position when the first volley is fired."
"The captain says he's under orders not to let us out until both fleets are fully committed," Kage said.
"Under whose orders?" Jason fumed. "Never mind…I already know. Tell the good captain that we're powering up weapons and drives. He can either open the forward hatch to let us out, or we can do it ourselves."
"What's Mok's game?" Crusher asked.
"He's trying to control things too tightly," Jason said. "He's afraid the Phoenix will be recognized or that we might tip off the ConFed we're onto them."
"You're not worried about any of that?" Twingo asked. In front of the ship, a crack formed in the hull of the freighter, and the massive doors swung open enough for the Phoenix to fit through.
"I think that at this point we're all locked onto our individual courses," Jason said, nodding to Kage to shut down the mooring beams and nudging them towards the doors on maneuvering thrusters. "It's too late for any of us to call this off, including the Machine. If anybody is having second thoughts and wants dropped off somewhere, now is the time to speak up."
"I want off," Kage said.
"Tough shit. You're staying."
Jason's adrenaline spiked once his ship cleared the cargo hauler, and he was able to engage the main drive. He'd be a mess of nerves and butterflies until the shooting started. Once the first shot was fired in anger, he'd calm down and get into a rhythm. Kage had given him three courses that would allow him to skirt around where they assumed the main engagement would be without making it obvious he was heading directly for the area.
"Since we'll have appeared to be coming out of a larger ship on their sensors that's flying cargo ship transponder codes, we're currently squawking a clean set of codes that identifies us as an industrial heavy lift shuttle," Kage said.
"Good thinking," Jason said. "The longer we stay hidden, the better our chances. Any word from Mok?"
"He'll be in a com blackout right now," Doc said. "The Sarafin has instructions not to reach out to him, and he won't risk transmitting to us."
"That message the incoming fleet is broadcasting is a little dramatic, isn't it?" Crusher asked. "No Eshquarian Fleet Master would transmit some silly shit like that, they'd just come in and start wrecking the place."
"The Machine doesn't trust that the correct conclusion will be reached by people unless it leads them by the nose," Jason said. "That also works in our favor."
The Phoenix shot down into the system along one of the approved decent lanes while the two large fleets continued towards each other, the aggressors broadcasting ridiculous threats and the defense force remaining silent as it repositioned. The big capital ships had admirable acceleration profiles, but they topped out around .075c on their subliminal drives. The aging HDF ships were even a shade slower than that as they lumbered out of orbit and straggled to form a picket line that the Eshquarian formation wouldn't be able to just skirt around.
Jason would never claim to be an expert in tactics and strategies when it came to big ships hammering away at each other, but he'd been around long enough to recognize certain patterns. The HDF response was unimaginative and textbook, the sort of thing that any unconfident commander might do as they tried to find comfort in the basics of their training. At first glance, he assumed that it was because both sides were orchestrated and timed carefully, but that didn't seem right. So much work had gone into making the Eshquarian fleet toothless that the Machine wouldn’t risk some HDF commander being in the loop on something like this. It would have likely pressed some poor hapless sucker into service, putting someone in command it could easily predict.
It seemed so overelaborate for something that could be considered a glorified weapons demonstration, but as Jason watched what remained of the Imperial Navy roar down to avenge the fall of their homeland—or at least that's what appeared to be happening—he understood the impact the Machine was going for. Ever since he'd come to live in the greater universe outside the Solar System, Jason had lived under common knowledge that the ConFed was the largest power in the quadrant, but the Eshquarian Empire kept them in check through superior military might. The spectacle about to unfold before him, coming right on the heels of the Empire's stunning defeat on their own turf, would drive home the point the Machine wanted to make: the ConFed ruled supreme and there was nobody that could hope to stand against them.
This would be broadcast on every major media carrier all the way to the border worlds. As far as propaganda went, this was as extreme a measure as Jason could ever remember seeing. But when the stakes were the control of the entire galactic quadrant, maybe it wasn't as outlandish as he'd originally thought.
"I think it's about time for you to make the decision, Captain," Kage said quietly. Everyone on the bridge turned to look at Jason. They'd told Mok that they had planned to simply disable the missiles so they were turned into ballistic space debris, then he could free the crews and try to recover as many of the Eshquarian ships as possible before the Machine figured out its plan has been subverted.
In Jason's mind, however, that plan was a wasted opportunity to strike a hard blow against the ConFed and send a loud message to the rest of the quadrant that, if they fought, they wouldn't be alone. He had Kage program a set of secondary protocols that Mok wasn't aware of, but the plan wasn't without high risk and grave consequences, even if successful. If Jason's secondary plan went off without a hitch, the retaliation from a wounded and humiliated ConFed would be fast and brutal, but likely unfocused. Many innocent people could suffer.
"I—" he started and looked away. "Guys…I don't think I can make this decision. It's too much. Too much can happen. If I'm wrong…if I fuck up and kick off a full-scale counterstrike on worlds that can't defend themselves… I can't do this."
"You have to, Captain," Crusher said firmly, standing and walking over to the pilot's station. "You have to because you're the only one who can. We're already at risk, but nobody else has been willing to even admit that we now live under the boot of a power that is no longer content to just bleed us dry through excessive taxation and one-sided trade treaties. Now, the ConFed has shown they're willing to cross that line from oppressive to truly tyrannical.
"You've never shrank from a fight since I've known you, so I know you're not afraid for yourself. This fight, this war, is bigger than anything else we've done together. Before it's all over, we'll have likely given everything and still come up short…but if what we do here today gives the rest of the people a fighting chance, wouldn't it have been worth it?"
Jason's palms were sweaty and his mouth was dry as he considered the words of one of his closest friends and a brother in arms. Crusher's own world was at just as much risk as Jason's, perhaps more so, and he was still willing to swing back at the Machine. He had never had to make a choice that could plunge a quarter of the galaxy into a full-scale war. While he wasn't sure what he thought it would feel like if he ever did, he was pretty sure the mixture of panic attack and stroke he was feeling now wasn't it.
You already know the right answer, Jason. This fight is coming, and you're right, many will suffer. Greatly. But that doesn't change the fact that this war will happen with or without you. You have a chance to be a spark right now that starts that fight before the other side has fully gathered its strength. You know what you have to do.
"Kage, load secondary protocols into the buffer," he said finally, Cas's words pushing him over the edge. "It looks like we've going from grubby mercenaries to full blown rebels…or traitors, depending on your point of view. Anybody got a problem with that?"
"This will probably screw up my pension if I'm labeled an enemy of the state," Crusher grumbled. "But what the hell…I actually didn't think any of us would even live this long anyway."
"Purging primary protocols and loading secondary instruction sets into the queue," Kage said. "You want to give Mok a heads up on the slip-com?"
"Better not," Jason said. "If he figures out what we're up to, he may try to force the issue by threatening to withhold his merc crews or broadcasting a warning to the HDF fleet."
"You think he'd really do that?" Doc asked. "Sabotage the entire operation?"
"I don't think Mok's fully committed yet," Jason said carefully. "He understands the necessity on an intellectual level, but he's just not ready to make that leap."
"I also think he's worried that his position is tenuous, at best," Kage said. "Being the head of the Blazing Sun Syndicate isn't the most secure position in the galaxy. He serves as long as his Twelve Points don't decide that someone else could do a better job. If they found out he was running around funding rebellions, something that's inherently bad for criminal enterprise, they'll kill him off without a moment's hesitation."
"Grim," Doc said.
"Unfortunately, standing on the sidelines and seeing which side might be winning before jumping into the game is no longer an option," Jason said. "We'll tell him after the fact since I'm sure his ship will be lightyears away before the first missiles hit their targets."
"We're coming up on the midway point," Twingo said. "I'll be down in Engineering. Lucky, I could use your help down there in case the Phoenix ha
s to fight her way out of something."
"Go ahead," Jason said at Lucky's questioning look. "There's not much for you to do up here." Once the battlesynth was gone Crusher decided that it would be a good time to bring up a completely unwanted distraction.
"Should we tell the others about his—"
"Not now, damnit!" Jason snapped. "What the hell is the matter with you? I know I ask that a lot, but I'm genuinely curious…is it genetic?"
"Fine…I'll just sit here silently."
"I'll believe that when I see it," Kage said. "It looks like we're getting an answering call from the HDF fleet on a broadcast channel typically reserved for the Orbital Control Authority."
"Put it on."
"—ast warning. We repeat…to the battlefleet that has entered the Miressa System, you are here illegally. Your Empire has surrendered, your leadership has accepted treaty terms with the ConFed. If you do not power down and surrender your ships, we will be forced to take action. By now, you must realize that your remnant fleet is no match against our forces."
"What the hell was that babbling drivel?" Crusher asked. "No commander talks like that."
"No commander broadcasts a warning over a public channel when they can clearly see the approaching enemy, either," Jason said. "That was meant to be heard by all the ships in the system, recorded, and retransmitted throughout the quadrant. It was a little overdramatic, though. I might have gone a different way."
The hours dragged by as the ships all repositioned themselves, creeping along on subliminal drives. The Phoenix was faster than most, so she had already passed the Eshquarian armada and was nearing the point Jason thought would most likely be where the two fleets would face off. He saw on the sensors that the Sarafin was also discreetly coming down into the system on a tangential course that would allow her to deploy the attack boats quickly when the time came.
Omega Force: Rebellion (OF11) Page 20