Ep.#15 - "That Which Other Men Cannot Do" (The Frontiers Saga) (34 page)

Captain Poc glanced at the mission clock again. In ten seconds, their first and second wave of missiles would jump to their targets, likely destroying all six Jung frigates. However, their next group of targets, the cruisers orbiting the system’s only gas giant, were too far away from the frigates or the Kent to be aware of what was happening. But that would only last three and a half more minutes. In thirty seconds, the jump KKVs launched by the Aurora and the Celestia would strike the battle platform and the battleship, destroying them both. The Kent’s job was to attack the frigates and the cruisers, destroying as many as possible in the first few minutes of battle. After that, she was to stand off at a safe distance and await further orders, while the Jar-Benakh and the Cobra gunships finished off anything that managed to survive.

“On course and speed to third launch point,” Lieutenant Serra announced from the helm.

“Missiles are jumping,” the sensor officer reported.

“Jump point in ten seconds,” the navigator added.

“Reload complete,” Commander Jento reported from the tactical station. “Eight missiles ready to launch.”

Everything was running like clockwork. Their first two rounds of missiles were already slamming into their targets on the other side of the Kappa Ceti system. In a few seconds, they would jump to their third launch point and unleash eight more jump missiles on the still unsuspecting Jung cruisers. Meanwhile, the Aurora and the Celestia would jump into orbit on opposite sides of Terravine and begin their orbital attacks.

“Execute your jump,” Captain Poc instructed calmly.

“Jumping in three…”

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported from the Aurora’s navigation console. “We’re in high orbit over Terravine.”

“Green deck,” Nathan ordered.

“Green deck, aye,” Naralena replied, as she passed the order on to the Aurora’s flight operations center.

“Multiple contacts at Terravine’s first gravity point.” Mister Navashee reported. “Jump flashes as well…twelve of them. Multiple impacts.” Mister Navashee shook his head. “They didn’t stand a chance. All six frigates are destroyed, sir.”

“I guess the jump missiles worked,” Nathan commented.

“Coming up on first three surface targets,” Jessica announced from the tactical station.

“Flight ops is reporting the Super Falcons have destroyed all STO sites and are moving to patrol orbits for escape intercepts,” Naralena reported.

“I’ve got locks on the first two targets,” Jessica announced.

“Fire at will,” Nathan ordered.

“Firing ventral quads.”

“More jump flashes,” Mister Navashee reported. “Cobra gunships.”

“Incoming message from Cobra One,” Naralena said. “Captain Nash is asking for new orders, since there’s nothing left of the frigates for them to clean up.”

“Have them split up,” Nathan said. “Four to the area of the battle platform, and four to the area of the battleship. Verify their destruction and make sure no shuttles get away.”

“Aye, sir.”

“First two targets destroyed,” Jessica reported. “Targeting third site.”

“Flight ops reports all fighters and CNS shuttles are away,” Naralena said.

“Prepare to jump ahead to the next group of surface targets, Mister Riley,” Nathan instructed.

“Aye, sir.”

“Jump flashes in the atmosphere,” Mister Navashee reported. “Combat and troop jumpers.”

“Incoming message from the Jar-Benakh,” Naralena added. “Two of the four cruisers have been destroyed by the Kent’s missiles. The other two are damaged. They are finishing them off now.”

Jessica shook her head. “This is getting too easy. I almost feel guilty.”

Nathan turned slowly in his chair, coming around to look at her with one eyebrow raised.

“I said,
almost
,” she reminded him.

* * *

Captain Dubnyk stood in the middle of his vegetable garden, admiring the various plants around him. It was a healthy garden, and it provided more than half of the daily sustenance for himself, Fayla, and the six young men who had come to him for shelter when their families had turned their backs on them for whatever reason. He had never understood the Tannan tendency to shun family members who had brought shame upon them. To Alan Dubnyk, family was everything. It was also the one thing, in all his thousand years of existence, he had never obtained. He had always meant to, but like most young men on Earth back in the day, he yearned for excitement and adventure. Family was something that came later. So he had pursued his career, and he had found his excitement and adventure. But by the time he had gotten his fill, it was too late. All that he had seen and experienced had left him jaded and bitter. He had tried more than once to retire, but it had never stuck. There was always another adventure to be had. So he had returned to work, eventually finding his way to the ill-fated mission to BD+25 3252.

Things were different now. Fate had given him another chance. He had his family, or at least something akin to it. They may not be his biological children, but they depended on his guidance, nonetheless. They needed one another, trusted one another. In his mind, that
made
them family.

“How long have you been standing out here?” Fayla asked as she stepped out of the kitchen door.

“An hour, perhaps,” he replied.

“That long?”

“The sun feels good on my face,” he said, looking up at the Tannan sky. He looked back down at the garden. “And this garden, with all its healthy plants…it makes me feel alive.”

“You should sit, you must be tired,” Fayla insisted. “I will get you some tea.”

“I am fine.”

“Do as I say, and sit in the gazebo. The midday sun is bad for you.” She turned back to the house, only to find Brill coming out to join them. “Brill!” she exclaimed with joy. She ran the few steps to Brill and threw her arms around him to welcome him home. “When did you return?”

“Less than an hour ago,” he replied. “I haven’t even been home yet.”

“It is good to see you again,” she told him. “I am getting the captain some tea. Please, make him get out of the sun, while I get tea for you both.”

Brill nodded in agreement as Fayla went inside, then walked over to Captain Dubnyk in the middle of the garden.

“I was beginning to worry about you,” Captain Dubnyk said. “It has been nearly forty days since you left for Earth.”

“I apologize,” Brill replied. “It took some time for them to provide transport back to Tanna.”

“Yes, of course. I suppose that is to be expected.” The captain turned and began to walk slowly toward the gazebo at the far end of the yard.

“You look remarkably well,” Brill said, noticing not only the steadiness of his mentor’s stride, but also the improved color and tone of his skin. “The treatments must be working.”

“To a point, yes,” the captain agreed. “But they will not fix the problem. They are only a crutch, a delaying of the inevitable, I’m afraid.”

“Do not speak in such ways,” Brill insisted. “Our plans will succeed.” He followed the captain up into the gazebo, sitting down across the table from him. “I have good news,” he said, barely able to contain his excitement. “I was accepted into their advanced training. I learned everything I could, so much more than I would have if I had stayed in basic.”

“That
is
good news,” Captain Dubnyk insisted.

“I learned about all sorts of weapons, combat techniques, tactics, entries… I even learned the basics of flight. I spent considerable time studying
that
part of my training.”

“That is very good, Brill. Then you must teach the others. You must teach them everything you learned.”

“I will,” Brill promised.

“But not today, I think. Go home to your family, spend some time with them. A few days, perhaps.”

“But they will be ashamed of me.”

“Tell them you were given a three-day pass, and permission to visit your family before beginning your service. Tell them it was a reward for doing so well in your training.”

“But I do not wear the uniform. They will become suspicious.”

“No matter. In three days’ time, bid them farewell and return to me. Tell no one of your deception, not even your brother.” Captain Dubnyk looked the young man in the eyes. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir. I understand. I will return in three days.”

Captain Dubnyk leaned back in his chair and sighed. “You have made me very proud, Mister Daymon. More importantly, you have given me hope.”

Brill smiled, a feeling of genuine prided washing over him.

“Now, go,” the captain insisted. “We will see each other soon enough.”

Brill rose from his seat, nodding respectfully before he turned and left.

Captain Dubnyk watched his most loyal student as he made his way through the garden and disappeared into the kitchen. He looked up at the sky above the house and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a long sigh.

Fate had indeed given him yet another chance.

* * *

“We believe our next targets should be the Zeta Doradus and the Zeta Reticuli systems,” Admiral Dumar announced to his officers gathered in the mission briefing room deep inside the Karuzara asteroid base.

“Those are both nearly forty light years away,” Nathan commented. “I thought the idea was to expand the Jung-free zone around Sol?”

“The further away from Sol we get, the greater the number of potential targets,” Gerard explained. “Also, by this time, we have to assume that any Jung-held system that we have not yet attacked has been warned of our liberation efforts. The element of surprise
may
be gone.”

“And the risk will be higher,” Admiral Dumar added. “Therefore, we must choose to attack where it will do the most good.”

“Why Zeta Doradus?” Cameron asked.

“During my time on Kohara, I learned that much of the equipment, supplies, and personnel used by the Jung came to Kohara by way of 82 Eridani. After Captain Poc discovered the additional flow of Jung forces through that system, we began to watch it more closely. Prior to the liberation of 82 Eridani, our recon efforts revealed that Jung shipping traffic was coming to that system primarily from Zeta Doradus
and
Zeta Reticuli.”

“You think the supplies are coming
from
those worlds?” Nathan wondered.

“We do not know,” Gerard admitted. “We
have
seen cargo ships, as well as military vessels passing through both systems from places unknown. Places outside of the Sol sector.”

“How far outside?” Jessica asked.

“Again, we do not know. We have not had the recon resources available to commit to missions beyond fifty light years from Sol, as we had been forced to keep an eye on all Jung ships within the danger zone of thirty light years.”

“Now that we’ve cleared that zone, can we start looking further out?” Nathan asked.

“Again, we run into the problem of the number of systems that must be investigated,” Admiral Dumar reminded them. “However, we are in the process of refitting Scout One for long-range recon missions. We think it’s only prudent that we start by following known shipping routes and see where that leads us. Scout One, or ‘Recon One’, as it will be called, will be able to conduct long-range scans, thus enabling her to detect Jung ships within a system without having to penetrate that system. With luck, it may lead us to higher value targets.”

The door to the mission briefing room opened, and an officer entered. He walked up to Admiral Dumar and handed him a data pad.

The admiral looked at the data pad as the officer departed. A disappointed look came over his face as he read. Finally, he set the data pad down and sighed.

Nathan looked at Jessica sitting next to him, as he noticed the expression on the admiral’s face.

“I’ve just received word from President Scott. In response to Admiral Galiardi’s petition, the Coalition Congress has called for a meeting of all Alliance member worlds, in order to decide how best to proceed. In the meantime, we have been ordered to stand down and discontinue all offensive operations. We are authorized to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the member worlds of the Alliance, and to conduct reconnaissance, but nothing more. We are not to fire on any Jung ship unless fired upon.”

The room fell quiet.

“Return to your ships,” Admiral Dumar instructed. “I will keep you updated as the situation changes. Meanwhile, I expect you all to maintain a constant state of readiness.”

“That’s it?” Jessica asked.

“Jess,” Nathan scolded.

“I mean, we’re not going to patrol or anything?” she added. “Don’t we need to let the Jung know that we’re keeping an eye on them, or something?”

“I will speak to President Scott directly,” Admiral Dumar assured her. “Until then, you all have your orders. Dismissed.”

Everyone in the room stood as the admiral departed.

Nathan turned to Cameron. “Well, it’s not like we didn’t see this coming.”

“That doesn’t make it suck any less,” Jessica grumbled as she turned to follow the others out.

* * *

General Bacca opened his eyes, slowly at first. His eyelids felt heavy, and his body felt weak and listless. The room was dimly lit, making it easier on his eyes. He could see a man hovering over him. The man was speaking.

“General Bacca?” the man said to him. “Are you awake, sir?”

“How long?” the general asked. His voice was harsh, his mouth dry.

“Two hundred and forty-five days, sir,” the man replied.

General Bacca recognized the man. He was the shuttle’s communications officer. The general reached his hand out. “Help me up.”

The communications officer took the general’s hand and helped him sit up, repositioning the general’s legs to hang over the side of the open stasis bed. He handed the general a bottle of water, giving him a moment to regain his senses before speaking further.

“Two hundred…” the general began, unsure of himself.

“And forty-five, yes.”

“Are we still…”

“Yes,” another voice said.

General Bacca looked at the other man. It was his pilot.

“We are still in position just over a light year outside of the Sol system,” the pilot confirmed.

“Why have you awakened me?” the general wondered.

“We received a message from a passing comm-drone,” the communications officer explained.

“It triggered our stasis pods to wake us,” the pilot added.

“A message for us?” the general asked, seeming surprised.

“Indirectly, yes,” the communications officer explained. “The drone was on its way to Earth, with a message from the Jung homeworld.”