Dawn of a New Age (30 page)

2.11.2136

1030

Gamma Epsilon Station

Main Conference Room

“
T
HE Brentax delegation should be here shortly, Admiral,” Kerrin smiled.  “They have to go through the propriety of getting to the conference room for the first day.  It is symbolism at its best.”

“I know,” John Bonetti growled, checking his chrono again.  “Worried about the Creighton is all.”

“I figure they should be getting to the jump gate any minute if they haven’t already,” Kerrin noted.  “They were supposed to be doing some engine modifications.  I’m not sure how well the new modifications will take though.  From the jump gate, it’s about twenty hours in hyperspace then another twelve hours to Brentax III.  Give them about six hours to retrieve Captain Bryce, then they have to fly back.  God willing, they’ll be back in less than four days.”

“And hopefully there will still be a peace initiative going when they get back,” John scowled.

“Admiral, do you really think I would jeopardize the peace process on purpose?” Kerrin asked.  “I’ve been looking forward to the end of this war for as long as you have.  I’ve been looking forward to an end of the war even more so after Perrin died.”

“I keep forgetting we’ve all lost people we care about in this war, Kerrin,” John said quietly.  “In light of the fact that my son keeps managing to land himself in danger, there are days when I wonder how I haven’t lost a child in this war.”

“You have been fortunate then, Admiral,” Thorrin Jade said as he entered the conference room.  “I see the Brentax delegation has not yet arrived.”

“They’re on their way, Thorrin,” Kerrin said.  “They should be here in a little under a half an hour.”

“Good.  I cannot wait to get these talks underway.”

2.11.2136

1049

Gamma Epsilon Station

A Corridor

The two Jaradan monks stood in a niche in a corridor of the Gamma Epsilon Station.  Word of the peace conference had spread throughout the station, and the corridors were lined with people who wanted to get a glimpse of the Brentax delegation.  The two Jaradans were able to blend in with everyone else.

Way down the corridor the procession of security and the Brentax delegate had slowly started coming down the corridor.  The security officers were doing their best to keep people away from the Brentax official.  One onlooker was dragged away after trying to rush over and club the Brentax delegate.

“Security is tighter than you said it would be, Toran,” one of the monks said.

“Yes,” Toran said.  “It is an unexpected problem, Joval.  We shall not fail though.  She is counting on us.”

Toran slowly pulled the small throwing dagger he had secreted in his robes.  Joval followed suit, and both monks checked to ensure that the poison had been carefully applied to the blades.

The procession neared, and the two monks tensed for action.

As the procession started by, the two monks let fly with their daggers before the security officers could react.  Neither dagger hit the Brentax official, but each one hit one of the officers in the security detail.  The two human security officers crumpled to the floor almost immediately, and the two monks rushed out and fell on top of the fallen security officers.  Each monk pressed his ring against one of the fallen guards’ forehead, leaving a small mark, no more than an inch wide.  It was a circle with a fancy T inset in it.

Other members of the security detail hauled the two monks off their fallen comrades and led them away.

2.11.2136

1102

Gamma Epsilon Station

Main Conference Room

Commander Erin Sykes led the procession into the conference room, a grim look on her face.  She smiled weakly at everyone else in the room and shot a look at Admiral Bonetti that said “I need to talk to you right now.”

John took the hint and headed over to the corner of the room, and Erin followed.

“We have a problem, Admiral,” Erin said without preamble.

“What happened?”

“There was an assassination attempt,” Erin sighed.  “Two Jaradan monks threw poisoned throwing daggers.  They hit Ensigns Dalton and Kelleher.  They’re dead.”

“I assume the Jaradans responsible have been detained?”

“They’re in lockup waiting to be interrogated.  I thought you might want to be there when they are.”

“You’re damn right I do,” John growled.  “Let me just go explain my absence to the president and Mr. Jade.  Then we can go interrogate your prisoners.”

John stormed over to the president and Thorrin Jade and sighed.

“What’s going on, Admiral?” Kerrin asked.

“Assassination attempt on Commander Tarmos,” John fumed.  “I’m going to talk to the would-be assassins.”

“Assassins.  What else could go wrong?” Kerrin sighed.  “Go.  We’ll deal with it.”

2.11.2136

1134

Gamma Epsilon Station

Security Visitation Room 3

The two Jaradan monks were sitting in chairs in the security visitation room.  They were chained, and they were both staring straight ahead.

“They almost look proud of what they did,” John snarled.  “Two good security officers dead.”

“Let me do this, Admiral,” Masha growled.  “Dalton was one of my brightest security officers.”

“Go ahead, Lieutenant,” John said.

“Thank you.”  Masha smiled as she walked over to the two monks.  “I want some answers.”

“We’ll tell you very little,” one of the monks said.

“What poison did you use on those knives?” Masha asked.  “It didn’t register on the stations medscanners.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” the same monk said.

“What was that symbol you two burned on the foreheads of the security officers?”

“All I will tell you is this, Lieutenant,” the other monk said.  “It has begun.”

Both monks bit down on something at the same time, and their eyes glazed over.  Masha reached over and felt for a pulse.

“They’re dead.  I would say they’ve poisoned themselves,” Masha announced.

“What has begun?” Erin wondered aloud.

2.12.2136

0843

SLS Creighton

The Gym

“
A
LL right, guys,” Mario said.  “We need to make sure you all know how to use this equipment before we reach the insertion point.”

“I hate to ask this,” a young ensign said.  “But aren’t we bringing too much stuff?”

“No such thing, Ensign,” Jack smiled.  “Tell you what.  What would you do if you ran out of charges for your plasma rifle and you had a bunch of Brentax officers still coming at you?”

“I’m not sure, sir,” the ensign admitted.  There was a decidedly sheepish look on the young man’s face.

“That’s why I bring the extra equipment along, Ensign,” Mario said.  “Now everyone will be fitted with the same stuff, so let’s go over what you’ll get.”

Mario started pulling equipment out of the rucksacks and laying them out in piles of identical items.  As he pointed to the different piles, Jack explained what they would be using.

“First, we have the regular plasma rifles you’ll be assigned.  Each person will receive two refill charges for their rifle.  You’ll also receive two rechargeable shock grenades.  These shock grenades can be used up to three times each before their charges are expended.  In addition, each person will receive a regulation sword and three throwing daggers.  We’ll also be assigning regulation shock troop outfits for the mission fitted with adamantine linings.  Our battle helmets have been refitted with IR and UV scanners.  Each person will also receive a mini-computer that will be preprogrammed with as much information about Brentacchia and the Brentacchia Prison complex as we have.”

“Over the next seven hours, we will go over how to use each piece of the equipment,” Mario said.  “By the time we reach Brentax III, you will all be well acquainted with all of the equipment, and will be able to more than competently use it.”

2.12.2136

0902

SLS Creighton

The Bridge

“Captain,” the helm officer said.  “We’ve reached the Brentax jump gate.”

“Initiate jump to normal space,” Tom ordered.

“Jumping to normal space now,” the helm officer said.

“Soon as we’re clear of the jump gate, I want best speed to Brentax III,” Tom said.

“Yes, sir,” the helm officer said.

“Shall I put up the cloaking screens?” the person replacing Jack at the tactical station asked.

“No,” Tom shook his head. “Transfer all power from the cloaking systems to the engines.  I want all available power to boost the output of the engines.”

“Understood.”

Tom nodded and smiled to himself.  His crew would get them there in one piece. Then it was up to Mario.

2.12.2136

1215

SLS Creighton

The Gym

“All right,” Mario said.  “The shock grenade is a special weapon.  It will incapacitate several enemies at once, but it can incapacitate yourself as well, so you need to be careful.  Before you activate the grenade make sure your auditory and visual sensors on your battle helmets are dampened.  Otherwise you’ll be as stunned as your enemies.”

“What does the grenade do?” Ensign Hawthorne, who was the ensign that had criticized the amount of equipment earlier, asked.

Mario nodded at the Ensign, thinking it was a good thing the Ensign was asking questions rather than keeping his attitude about the extra stuff.

“Basically,” the colonel said.  “The shock grenade emits a loud auditory pulse as well as an extremely bright light.  The light causes temporary blindness, and the sound can cause hearing to fail temporarily.  The end result is that the people affected are stunned and unable to act for a period of time.  They have been very effective against the Brentax in the past.”

“Great,” Hawthorne said.  “So we have to make sure it doesn’t stun us too.  Good to know.”

“Ensign, I’ve used them before,” Jack sighed, exasperated.  “They’re kind of fun.”

“Fun?” Mario chuckled.  “You’re sounding more and more like Masha all the time.”

“Yes, but would she have thought of making the proton torpedo tubes do an auto rapid-fire?” Jack asked.

“She probably would, but I bet the Captain nixes it,” Mario laughed.  “Anyway, back to practice, gentlemen.”

2.12.2136

2037

SLS Creighton

The Bridge

“Captain, we’re entering the Brentax system,” the officer at the helm station announced.  “We should arrive at Brentax III in under an hour and a half.”

“Good,” Tom said.  “Let me know as soon as we make orbit.”

“Understood.”

2.12.2136

2102

Roid Skimmer Ganthus

“
K
’ALAN, look!” Crovax called from where he was monitoring the scanners.  “The Brentax vessels are pulling away.”

“Let me see!” K’Alan said.  He looked closely at the scanners.  “There’s another ship out there.  Can you get me more information about that new ship?”

“Looks like a Star League vessel.  Pegasus class,” Crovax said.  “I’m getting a fix on the registry now.  SL-2166.”

“That’s the Creighton!” K’Alan exclaimed.  “G’Kiron, prepare to send that message as soon as the Creighton’s in range.”

“Have you figured out what you want to say in the message, K’Alan?” G’Kiron asked.

“Endeavor,” K’Alan said.  “Captain Keevan will know what it means.”

“I hope so,” G’Kiron nodded as he began to prepare the message.

“It’s the first ship we served on together,” K’Alan explained.  “He’ll know that it means I’m here and he’ll know I know who’s out there.”

“The message has been sent, K’Alan,” G’Kiron said as he finished tapping out a series of commands on his console.

“Now we wait.”

2.12.2136

2105

SLS Creighton

The Bridge

“
C
APTAIN, three Duhari class cruisers coming up fast,” Jack reported.  “They have their weapons primed.”

“Our weapons are hot, Captain,” Mario added from tactical station 2.  “Ready to sweep targets on your orders.”

“Steady, Colonel,” Tom said.  “Give me full defensive screens and a tactical holo.”

“Defense screens full, Captain,” Mario said.

“Tactical holo up now, Captain,” Kim called from the comms station.  “Captain!  We’re receiving a low frequency communication.  It’s in code.”

“Decode,” Tom said.  “Where’s it coming from?”

“From a small ship on the asteroid the Duhari class vessels came from, Captain,” Kim said.  “Decoding message, now.”  After a moment, she looked up and exclaimed.   “Captain, it’s an automatic computer message.  The message is just one word.  Endeavor.”

“That’s Captain Bryce!” Tom shouted excitedly.  “Helm, put us between the Duhari class vessels and that asteroid.  Kim open a channel to that vessel.  Mario, start targeting the Brentax ships.  Engines and weapons only please.”

“You got it, Captain!” Mario said as he began to track the three vessels.  “They won’t know what hit ‘em.”