The Fringe Series Omnibus

by Rachel Aukes

  Moments later, the tech comm chimed. He shrugged, surprised. “They’ve accepted our request to chat.”

  “Answer it,” Seda said.

  The face of Willas James appeared on screen. He wasn’t just any reporter; he was one of the most famous reporters in the system, known for showing up on the most dangerous scenes.

  “This is Willas James of DZ-Five News. I have press access to the full Collective system, and I intend to report the news. To whom am I speaking?”

  Seda motioned for the tech to move.

  The tech’s eyes widened, and he spoke in a hurried whisper. “No one can know you’re here. If the CUF knows you’re at Nova Colony, they’ll bomb—”

  “Let me handle this,” Seda said. He took the tech’s seat to place himself in front of the screen. He went to video.

  The reporter’s brows lifted and his jaw loosened.

  “I’m Seda Faulk of the Fringe Liberation Campaign. What brings you out this far, Citizen James?”

  The reporter’s features smoothed. “I’m here to report a story. I heard the Unity was headed out this way to possibly bomb Nova Colony. Seeing you, now I understand why.”

  “Laciam doesn’t know I’m here, so I can assure you I’m not the reason,” Seda said. “He’s come here to bomb a colony full of refugees in retaliation for the bombing of Parliament. This is just a revenge stop for him before he heads to Darios to face off against the Darions, who are now back in control of their world.”

  Willas frowned. “I saw the video of the Sol Base boycotts, but no one said anything about losing the planet. What do you mean the Darions are now in control of Darios?”

  Seda cocked his head. He had no doubt the entire conversation was being recorded and so he stated his words carefully. “I see Corps General Laciam is withholding information from the press. Three days ago, torrent forces led by Marshal Aramis Reyne took control of Sol Base as well as the warship Littorio. Casualties totaled sixty-four. Commandant Corll and the citizen dromadiers who report to him are currently in custody on Sol Base. They will be released, unharmed, upon Parliament’s acceptance of the cease-fire signed by Corps General Barrett Anders and myself. This is what I relayed to both Maximus Laciam and Senator Etzel on multiple occasions, and once again after reclaiming Sol Base.”

  Willas looked blankly ahead for a moment, clearly upset that whatever deals he had worked out with officers, senators, or both, had been reneged. Willas looked directly at Seda. “You are currently an enemy of the state. I hope you understand why I can’t take your words as truth, but I will perform my due diligence and verify if what you’ve said is accurate. If Sol Base has fallen, there will be many upset citizens wondering how soon the food will run out.”

  “We don’t intend to cut off the food supply,” Seda said. “However, I have no control over Laciam’s phase cannons should he attempt to re-take Sol Base by force. If citizens starve, it will be by the CUF’s doing.”

  “Did you reach out to me today to tell me about Sol Base?”

  “No,” Seda said. “I reached out to you to see if you could get a message out. Should Corps General Laciam invade the Space Coast, and fire Nova Colony, he will kill Senator Gabriel Heid as well as six thousand refugees—along with a half dozen torrents.”

  Willas frowned. “Senator Heid was killed in the bombing of Parliament, for which I was led to believe you were responsible.”

  “The bombing was a joint operation, by citizens and colonists, to destroy a building that represented oppression to the majority of the Collective. And Senator Heid is alive and currently sitting in a prison cell here on Nova Colony. He was arrested for the murder of Citizen Gaia Welden, Commandant Gabriela Heid, and over seventy thousand colonists on Sol Base. Here, he will stand trial for his crimes.” When Willas opened his mouth to speak, Seda continued. “I have proof of his crimes and can share that with you should we come to a mutually beneficial agreement to work together. The only fact you need to know right now is that Senator Heid is in my custody on Nova Colony. I’m sending over a video now to give you the proof you need.”

  Willas looked away from the screen for several seconds as he examined the footage of Heid sitting in his prison cell. He returned focus to the comm screen. “I’ll get the message out.”

  “You can save six thousand lives today,” Seda said.

  “I’m not picking sides,” Willas said. “I report the news as I see it.”

  “Of course,” Seda answered.

  Willas lifted his chin. “If there are going to be talks between you and the CUF or Parliament, I want to know.”

  Seda thought for a moment. “Consider it done. Send your personal comm address.”

  “Sent. Plus, grant me an exclusive story with you. You’re the face of the rebellion. Give me your side of the story.”

  Seda smirked. This man was a reporter through and through. “If I’m alive after today, I’ll give you an exclusive interview, Citizen James.”

  He smiled. “Call me Willas.”

  “You can call me Seda.” He disconnected the comm.

  “We should get you off this asteroid,” Tax said from behind him.

  “I’m not leaving,” Seda said. “If I leave, it will look like I think I’m more important than any other colonist here. What would that inspire? No, I’m a colonist, and I’m staying with my fellow colonists through thick and thin.”

  “You’re a hardheaded bastard,” Corbin mumbled.

  Seda leaned back. “Turn on the news. Let’s see if DZ-Five will still report the news, or if it’s smothered.”

  Twenty-two tense minutes later, Seda watched Willas James report that Senator Heid was alive and being held at Nova Colony, and that Corps General Laciam was sitting outside the Coast instead of going to Sol Base, as the latter had fallen to rebels three days ago.

  “He never mentioned you,” Tax said.

  “He’s a better reporter than I thought,” Seda said. “With only Heid and refugees at Nova Colony, it would reflect very poorly on Laciam should he attack. If I was known to be here, then there would be some in favor of attacking, regardless of the casualties.”

  “Do you think he’s on our side?” Tax asked.

  “Willas James is on his own side,” Seda said.

  “Should we relocate Heid?” Corbin asked. “They’ll likely send in teams to rescue him.”

  “I don’t think they will,” Seda said. “Heid has dirt on so many people they may hope he stays here for a very long time.”

  “The Unity is moving,” the tech exclaimed.

  Seda leaned forward. The red blips on the screen were backing away from the Coast and building a jump formation. Three minutes later, the blips disappeared.

  Cheers erupted.

  Seda hit the intercom for the entire asteroid and all the civilian ships. “The CUF has decided not to play with us today. They’ve bugged out. We’re safe for now. Thank you for your help, and you can return to whatever you were doing before we had to stand up to the schoolyard bully.”

  Seda leaned back and let out a deep breath. They’d gotten lucky. He pushed to his feet and clasped the tech’s shoulder. “Warn Reyne that the Unity is on its way.”

  As the room emptied, Corbin moved to the bar and poured four drinks, bringing one back to Seda and handing the others to Tax and Layla. They clinked their glasses, and Seda savored the drink.

  “Critch has the good stuff,” Tax said.

  The four sat around and enjoyed each other’s company after the stressful experience of nearly getting bombed into oblivion. As time passed, Tax checked out Critch’s rooms to make sure they were safe. After several minutes, he popped his head through the doorway. “All clear.”

  Seda stood. “I’m ready to call it a night.”

  Layla ran a hand down softly down his left arm and gave him a hooded look. “Need help getting tucked in?”

  He glanced at the door. A smile formed on his face. “I might.” And he meant it.

  Eighteen

&
nbsp; Frayed Standoff

  Sol Base, Darios

  “Marshal, the Unity and its complement has just emerged from jump and is less than three hours out. Laciam has two frigates and three destroyers more than us, plus a lot more trained dromadiers,” Shauna reported from the Littorio.

  In the Sol Base command room, Reyne shot a glance at Sixx and Sammy before turning back to the screen. “Be ready to jump if they start shooting. The same goes for the Houston. If they attack, they’re going to take Sol Base, but at least we can prevent them from getting their warship and destroyer back.”

  She nodded. “We’ll be ready.”

  “Until he shows aggression, give him no reason to believe that the Littorio and the Houston aren’t dead in the black. The last thing we want is a fight. Our goal is to negotiate an armistice.”

  She lifted a brow. “You haven’t met Corps General Laciam yet, have you?”

  Reyne scowled. “No. I heard he has an over-abundance of confidence.”

  She laughed. “You just described every citizen I’ve ever met.”

  “He may be hotheaded, but he’s got to be smart to be the position he’s in. I’m counting on him knowing what’s best for the Collective and not come in shooting.”

  “Good luck with that,” she said.

  Reyne disconnected the comm.

  “You really think they’ll jump if Sol Base is fired upon?” Sixx asked.

  “I have no idea,” Reyne replied. “They have a bone to pick with the CUF, just like we do. Whether they stay and fight or run to fight another day… I just don’t know what they’ll do.”

  Hatha entered the room with Tully at her side. “I heard the Unity has reached our sector.”

  “It has, along with a full complement of frigates and destroyers,” Reyne said. “We have three hours tops before they get here. That’s assuming they’re coming in close to talk and not just fire on us as soon as they reach firing range.”

  She frowned. “I’d like to think they wouldn’t bomb their own food supply. Speaking of which, because of the CUF blockade, I’ve grounded all Alluvian and Myr transports in the docks.”

  “There’s no blockade yet,” Reyne said.

  “I may have been a couple hours premature on my message; however, we both know there will be a blockade as soon as the Unity arrives.”

  “I bet the transport drivers are none too happy sitting in the middle of the war’s hotbed,” Sixx chimed in.

  “They’ll like it less if the food starts to rot in their cargo holds,” Hatha said before turning back to Reyne. “I’ve already notified my brokers on both Alluvia and Myr that their current shipments are delayed due to the CUF’s blockade, and they won’t see another shipment until the transports can depart without being shot or seized.”

  Reyne spoke. “Having empty shelves in the grocery stores will certainly inspire citizens to call their senators and demand them to negotiate. Since you’ve never been linked to the torrents, you’ll have a better chance at talking with Laciam. Are you good with that?”

  “Of course.”

  “Stationmaster, Marshal, there’s a ship that emerged from jump just outside our airspace.”

  “Is it CUF?” Reyne asked.

  “No. It’s broadcasting media codes.” He ran his hands over the screen. “The captain says they’re transporting Willas James of DZ-Five News, and he’s requesting clearance to land under the Fair News and Reporting Act.”

  “Excellent. Let him land,” Hatha said.

  “Hold on,” Reyne said. “Could it be a trap? Why would the press want to be on the ground rather than on board the Unity where it’s much safer?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Hatha said. “Having the Collective’s news channel down here, on the ground, means that if the Unity fires upon us, everyone in the system will see.”

  “That’s assuming he’s not coming down here to put the Collective spin on what’s happening here. Him emerging from jump right after the Unity can’t be a coincidence. Don’t trust reporters—not until you know who puts the credits in their pockets.”

  Hatha watched Reyne for a brief moment before turning back to Sammy. “Let him land.” She then turned to her guard. “Tully, have him brought to the control room. Have extra security on hand in case he tries something.”

  Sometime later, Willas James arrived with a cadre of camera handlers and Darion security forces.

  Hatha moved to greet him first. “Willas James, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I’m Hatha Satine, serving as interim stationmaster of Sol Base.” She motioned to Reyne. “And, this is Marshal Aramis Reyne of the Fringe Liberation Campaign.”

  Willas shook both their hands. “I’m familiar with both of you. Thank you for allowing me to land.”

  “Why did you land?” Reyne asked bluntly. “Sol Base is about to become the most dangerous place to be in the Collective.”

  Willas grinned. “Which means it’s the best place for a reporter to win a Halston Prize.”

  “True, though the CUF might not look too friendly on a reporter on the ground with torrents rather than up in the air on the Unity,” Reyne said.

  Willas looked offended. “I travel under the Fair News and Reporting Act. I report the news, and I go where the news is.” He paused. “And I’m down here because Corps General Laciam wouldn’t return my comm request.”

  Reyne smiled when the reporter said something that made the most sense about why he was in Sol Base.

  Willas motioned to his camera handlers. “We’re here to check things out firsthand. Is it true you have control of Sol Base?”

  “It’s true,” Reyne said.

  “The Darion people have reclaimed their colony,” Hatha said.

  “And what did you do with the CUF dromadiers who were here, as well as the crews of the ships above us?” Willas continued.

  “They are being held as prisoners of war,” Reyne said.

  “I will give you a tour, so you can see all prisoners are being treated with respect.”

  “I would like that,” Willas said. “Does that mean you took control of Sol Base without the loss of any lives?”

  “Unfortunately, lives were lost on both sides,” Hatha said. “Four dromadiers and fifty-eight colonists were killed on the ground, and we estimate three hundred and twenty-six dromadiers and thirteen colonists were killed in the air when Commandant Corll refused to stand down and negotiate. But those numbers will pale compared to the number of deaths if the Unity fires upon Sol Base, where there are over fifteen thousand innocents working at rebuilding the colony and shipping food to the Collective.”

  “Speaking of food,” Willas continued, “will you cut off food to Alluvia and Myr, now that you’re in control of Sol Base?”

  “Absolutely not,” Hatha said. “However, that’s not up to me. I have transports sitting in Sol Base’s docks right now, loaded with food, and they can’t launch without risk of being shot down. I’m not going to risk the lives of colonists to have them try to sneak around a CUF blockade. Perhaps citizens will risk their lives to attempt circumventing the blockade.”

  “Stationmaster,” Sammy announced. “The Unity has reached our airspace and has sent a comm request.”

  “I want to report this live,” Willas said. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No. I want the Collective to see what we’ve been facing,” Hatha said.

  Reyne said nothing, though his jaw was clenched tight. He didn’t like reporters. They played with words and used video snippets to tell the story they were getting paid to tell. Reporters had made the torrents out to be the aggressors in the Uprising, and they’d done the same in the Campaign. He believed Willas James would be no different.

  Willas tapped his wrist comm. “Hey, Sydney, I’m going to be sending you a live feed. Have Hanna start with the live feed and be ready to cut to me… Where am I? I’m at Sol Base, which has been taken by colonists, and Corps General Laciam has just arrived on the Unity… Yes, I’m seriou
s. Drop everything else and slate me in for at least the next hour… Trust me, this will be a big story.” Willas lowered his wrist comm and looked back to Hatha and Reyne.

  Sammy opened the comm request, and Corps General Laciam’s face appeared on the comm screen. Reyne made certain to stand out of the camera’s field, and Hatha stepped closer to the screen.

  “I am Corps General Laciam with the CUF Unity. You have seized unauthorized control of Sol Base and are hereby ordered to surrender immediately.”

  “Hello, Corps General. I am Hatha Satine, and I have been serving as interim stationmaster since the station was opened following the blight. I did not seize Sol Base. The Darion people held peaceful protests across the colony, and they were fired upon. My security forces arrested those responsible for killing unarmed people. The incident would’ve been over except that your Commandant Corll attempted to bypass legal standards and attacked the colony. We defended ourselves and acquired control of the Littorio and the Houston as a result.”

  “Those ships are the property of the Collective Unified Forces and must be returned immediately.”

  “Corps General, it’s my job to do what I have to do to ensure the space docks are operational. I did what I believed needed to be done to protect the docks and innocent lives.”

  Laciam guffawed. “No. You participated in a wartime event, leading an attack on my ships and people, which makes you a torrent. I know Aramis Reyne is there. Put him onscreen.”

  Hatha sighed and took a dramatic step back.

  Reyne stepped forward. “Corps General.”

  Laciam scowled. “Aramis Reyne, you are a war criminal, and you have willfully attacked the lawful protectors of the Collective. Your actions have led to the deaths of citizens and colonists alike. You will be judged for your crimes.”

  Reyne cocked his head. “You said it yourself: we’re at war. I know who I fight for. I fight for the colonies, trying to protect them from getting blown up or from getting hit by the blight again—both of which were delivered by the ship you’re now commanding. I fight to keep colonists from being shot during peaceful protests. Tell me, who do you fight for?”