Inherited War 1: Retribution (39 page)

Both ships had suffered casualties.  Cole had ten
Worlders in the med bay with Sky.  They had all failed to eject or been unable to eject, and were currently unconscious.  One Nixa had been trying to get a Worlder to the sick bay and had been thrown around by incoming fire and broken a few bones.  It had been worse on the
Reckoning
.  Half of the drone pilots were either unconscious or had such horrible migraines they couldn’t fly for at least a few hours.  They had also lost ten crew when the
Reckoning
took concentrated fire on its side and the hull was breached.  The incoming fire had killed five of them outright, the others had been so violently sucked into space they had died from the trauma.

Cole was shaken by the reports.  He knew it was bound to happen and more likely on this mission than on any before.  It still sucked and it was even worse because they hadn’t known what they were about to be facing.  Cole didn’t want to think of himself as someone who threw people lives away needlessly and he hated losing even just one life.

The alarm reporting that they had finally made it far enough out of the system to make a jump brought Cole back to the present.  “See you on the other side
Reckoning
.”  Cole said over the open channel.

“Roger
,
Retribution
see you there.”  Cole disconnected from the ship and started an abbreviated countdown to launch.  He looked around the bridge, some of the bridge crew had turned off their helmets and were looking to Cole.  He could see the disbelief in their eyes.  They had trusted him and he had been wrong, as far as they knew, about what they were facing.  Cole turned off his helmet and looked at his crew.

“I am sorry to those of you who lost a friend today, I regret any loss of life and you have my sympathies.”  He didn’t have time for more because the countdown hit zero and the ship jumped.  They left the chaos of battle far behind them at least for a little while
, and made the best possible speed for the safe haven of Nixa.  There Cole hoped they would find a new ally. 

59

“
I hated what I did to those who trusted me.  I lied and I willingly endangered them and their home.  I will live with that the rest of my life.  If I fail and live, I will never forgive myself.  If I win on the other hand, well I will savor it for the rest of my life.  Sky and the Nixa on the other hand may never forgive me and I can’t blame them.  That I will regret.  I never wanted to hurt or lose Sky but this course of action was set in motion centuries ago.  I was entrusted with bringing humanity back to the stars and I will use any means at my disposal to accomplish that goal”.

The
Retribution
reverted to normal space a fraction of a second before the
Reckoning
.  It was a welcome respite from the chaotic battle they had just left.  They had set a course that would force the gravity of the local star to yank them out of warp travel, so they were a lot further in system than most normal ships would dare come out of warp.  Local systems rarely ever liked ships, especially war ships, to drop out of warp space almost right on top of populated planets.

With the
Reckoning
’s and
Retribution
’s advanced drive tech, they came in system closer to Nixa than any ship had ever attempted.  The Nixa navy was a little upset.  All their channels were clogged with requests from naval commanders and planetary authorities to identify, heave to, and wait for an escort.

Cole watched the threat counter tick up as more and more ships responded to the interlopers.  Thank god thought Cole, they had a sizable force ready and mobile
.  It nearly equaled the Esii force they had just run from.  Cole had ordered Fury to handle the initial comms.

“Nixa Home Fleet, this is Commander Fury of the Combined Task Force.  We have engaged superior enemy forces and were forced to emergency warp to Home System.  We are not a
threat to you but there may be Esii forces following.  We ask for aid and assistance to make repairs and defend against possible incursions.”  The next part of his message shocked and surprised Cole.  “Also, be aware, that onboard the
Retribution
is the Prime Administrator’s Daughter.  She is whole, well and currently handling medical emergencies on the ship.”  Sky had never said a word before about being related to, what Cole assumed, was someone of importance on her home world.

There was a long pause before they received a response from the Nixa contingent forming up around the planet.  “Former
Major Fury, power down your ships and prepare to be boarded. This is Admiral Suns, have the daughter of the Administrator ready to be received by the boarding party and immediately removed from the ship.  As for any incoming Esii ships, we will send them packing like always.”  Cole did a quick search on the name Suns in the current registry of Nixian officers.  Shit this was the biggest bigwig they could have gotten.  He was damn near three hundred years old and had spent almost all of it in the navy.

“
Sir, I respectfully…”  Fury was cut off by the Admiral.

“You no longer hold any rank or importance in the Nixa military Fury, and we do not formally recognize your current posting.  You will do as ordered or…”  At that point Cole chose to intervene.   He called up all of the local and military channels and started a full broadcast.  He was transmitting both voice and video.

“Nixa, I am Commander Cole McLeod, formerly of Earth, now just a member of the galaxy.  The two ships that you see now are a legacy left to the supporters of the Pure Humans of old.  I am a legacy of their forethought and their last living descendant.  The last one we currently know about.”  Cole paused a moment to let that sink in.  “With the help from allies of old, we have started the crusade to wipe the Traitor races from the face of the galaxy.  We have avoided involving your people directly to insulate them from this war until a certain objective had been met.  That objective was the destruction of the Esii Sun Eater.”  Cole started to stream the footage of the attack on the Earth as he talked.  “This super ship was brought to my planet after the Esii found out that some nefarious beings were attempting to return humans to the galaxy in hopes of capturing long hidden technologies.  With the help of that technology, and of a Dr. Sky, I was freed and destroyed those who wished to use me.  But not before this occurred.”  Cole stopped talking so everyone could focus on the video.

The video still sent chills up Cole’s spine even though he had watched it dozens of times.  “That was the last day my planet was alive.  I swore vengeance that day.”  Cole’s voice was a little quieter as he said that last part.  “With the help of a few brave Worlders and Nixa
, we have restarted the war we lost so many years ago.  Not more than a few hours ago we jumped into an Esii controlled system, I had thought would be easy pickings.  I was wrong.  We sustained some damage and were forced to flee to safety.  To your system.  Before we left we saw the goal of our operations these last few weeks.  The Sun Eater.  Now I believe it will be coming here.  Because we jumped here the Esii may now believe that you are officially helping us.  We need your help, I believe that if we join forces we can not only defeat the force they may now already be sending here, but also destroy the Sun Eater.  If we can accomplish this we can turn the Esii back and repay them for their betrayal.”  The last images of Earth breaking into quarters disappeared and Cole’s image returned on the screen.  “I ask that you, our former allies, stand with us against the Esii and help us level the playing field once and for all.  If they no longer have that damn ship to hold over your heads you can go on with your lives knowing that what happened to my world can never again happen to any world.  We don’t have much time and I need to make repairs, so I will not be powering down or allowing any boarding parties on my ships.  I suggest you prepare yourselves for what may already be coming.  Commander McLeod out.”  Cole severed the link to the com system and let out a nervous breath.  If he hadn’t been wearing the second skin he would be drenched in sweat right about now.

He hooked back up to the
Retribution
and hailed the
Reckoning
.  “Sorry Fury, but your way was taking too long.  I had to get them moving in one direction or another.”

“I understand
, my people can be monolithic at times.  I believe you grabbed their attention.”  Cole cut the connection to the
Reckoning
and left Fury to manage his own repairs.  Cole got the ball moving on the drones on his own ship and would have it back to fighting trim in an hour or two.  He ordered all his crew to grab some chow and catch a nap if they could before hostilities resumed, if they resumed. He disconnected from the ship and left the bridge headed for the med bay.

The door slid open and Cole
saw Sky’s med personnel working on the last two Worlders in the med bay.  Both were holding their heads and groaning with what was probably a killer headache.  In a few minutes, after the pain meds and their own nanites did their jobs, they would be feeling better.  He waited patiently for her to finish with the last of the drone pilots.  He was thankful that no one on his ship had died or been too badly wounded but it still unsettled him to see those few who did sustain some form of injury because of his choices.

Sky finished up with her last patient
, took a deep breath and stretched her back.  She worked her head from side to side trying to loosen up from being bent over for so long.  The last pilot left the med bay and the medics followed, Cole presumed to get some food and rest.  Sky stayed behind.  Cole cleared his throat to announce his presence.

“I saw you come in.”  Sky said without turning around.  “I was listening in on your comms, what
happened Cole?”  She turned and Cole saw weariness in her eyes.  “How were you so badly wrong?” She moved to him and wrapped her arms around his body laying her head on his chest.

“There is no time for second guessing, we are in trouble if your people won’t help.”  Cole kissed the top of her head and enjoyed what was probably going to be the last time she let him hold her.

“What are our options?”  She asked him.

“The way I see it a few things could happen.  Your people will help us and we will carry the day.  They will try and curry favor from the Esii and attack us when they do. Or they will do nothing and we will be defeated and destroyed, then shortly thereafter your planet will face the same fate as Earth.  I hope they choose the first option myself.” 

“My people are smart
, they will see the same options as you, and choose correctly.”

“It might help if the daughter of the Prime Administrator asked them for help
, too.”

  “No probably not.”  Then she remembered that Cole thought that her parents were dead.  “I guess I couldn’t keep that from you forever.”  Sky backed away from Cole and sat in her chair.  “Fury told me after they joined our
cause, I didn’t want it distracting you from our main purpose.  I have caused so much pain and suffering in your life I didn’t want to make you choose between returning me home or continuing on with our mission.  Besides you needed me to install the nanites into everyone and train the medical staff.  I was afraid you would take me home if you found out.  I am sorry I lied Cole.”

“I can deal with it, for now I need you to try for me please.  Use whatever influence you might have as a returning child of the PA to ensure their help.”  Cole watched as Sky wrestled with her thoughts and he hated himself for manipulating her like this.  She hadn’t seen her family in over twenty years and he was forcing her to manipulate them into helping him.

“I will try, for you.” 

“Thank you
, Sky.  On other matters how, did our unknown patient do during the battle?” 

“Fine, no change or anything but still alive and breathing on her own.”
  Sky turned to her med bay link to the ship and bonded with the
Retribution
.  Cole sat back and waited for her to finish.  She was only connected for about ten minutes when she broke from the ship and turned to look at Cole.

“They will help but on one condition.”  Cole waited for her to continue.  “They think that you lead the Esii here on purpose and do not trust you.  They will not fire upon any of our ships
, but they will also not come to our aid.  They will follow their own defense procedures and not engage Esii ships until they prove a direct threat to Nixa ships or assets in the system.  My father wants me off of this ship and on the ground as soon as possible.”

“It wasn’t what I had hoped for
, but it will have to do.  Did they say we had to leave our current location?”

“No, that’s odd they didn’t say anything about us moving at all.”  She was thoughtful for a moment.

“Not really, they want in on this battle so they set all the rules to make it look like they are staying neutral.  By having us stay where we are they can force the Esii into endangering Nixa ships and assets.  That Admiral is clever.”  Cole stood up and held his hand out to Sky.  “Well, let’s get you ground side.”

Sky smacked his had away.  “If you think for one moment that I would abandon you in this critical time you are crazier than Split.  I told my father I would stay here until the end and that you needed all the medical help you could get for the upcoming battle.”

“Okay, okay you can stay.”  Cole held up his hands in surrender.  “Just be safe and keep my people alive.

She saluted Cole in the human fashion.  “Yes
Sir.”  They both left the med bay and went to get in a final meal before all hell broke loose.

She could feel the strong emotions radiating from nearby.  Disgusting.  She grew tired of being trapped here, in this inferior body.  She enjoyed her nightly excursions into that weak human’s mind, but she needed more.  She felt the swirl of chaos surrounding the ship and briefly touched a mind of one of her people.

She had been a part of the attack on the human world, the one called
Earth.  She had been a menial servant of one of the cruisers’ commanders when they had attacked the planet.  They had found no trace of those responsible for finding the lost humans and searched the system to no avail.  They had remained hidden from the human apes covering the planet below as they decided what to do.

They couldn’t leave an entire planet of Pure Human descendants alive so they waited for the Sun Eater to come and wipe away the puny planet from the galaxy.  But that wouldn’t take care of the problem of the human who already roamed the galaxy.  So they had devised a plan, a plan that would allow them to get a spy into the midst of the last human.

There was an interesting piece of physiology that no race, not even the Pures, knew about the Esii.  They could force a consciousness swap with any sentient being.  She had been selected along with one male to make that swap.  They had chosen the pathetic craft orbiting the human world to house the spy.  Shortly before attacking the planet, a small group boarded the station and killed almost all on board.  They left two alive, a male and a female.  The swap didn’t work for the male and both the human and the Esii died from the trauma of rejection.

Hers had worked, if only just barely.  The humans were t
oo underdeveloped mentally to handle the swap effectively.  She had been placed in the emergency life support area of the station and left there to be found, or not, by the human if he returned.  Meanwhile, her body currently held an unwilling mind of the human she had switched with.  She was disgusted at the thought of a mere human inhabiting her body all of this time.