Retribution (18 page)

Others sure at least from their perspective

Their concerns addressed and fear quelled

Some strive for meaning in their endeavour

To them actions speak louder than words

Others seek solace in one another

Emotions bind people of all worlds

Headlong they rush

These adversaries crush

Delusion is shattered

And all that’s mattered

Is destined for resolution

One way, there will be a solution

Chapter 1. Outer Polaris 1400, 9 June

The parasitic AI on the Arcwright satellite activated a trigger and began working overtime deleting all media feeds relating to the suspension of the Combined Chiefs. Deletion was a course of action with much higher risk than substitution but there was no way of effectively substituting video and remaining undetected.

The AI would now be constantly employed deleting not only media feeds but also all messages relating to it. It would only be a matter of time before this was detected or a related message got through the advanced filtering. In any event, news of the suspensions would spread to Polaris via direct flights from Earth in 12 days. The original programmers knew this. By then though, events would have overtaken this news. The race was on.

Chapter 2. Nova Vista 0915, 10 June

The light shuttle touched down at the spaceport and it was an impatient Cmdr Bellard that tore through the gate lounge, barked out instructions to the Service Centre and was driven to Fleet HQ. Alex Peebody was there to lead her into the briefing room, where Phil, Dave and Rihan awaited. Aubrey was still breathing heavily when she entered. It was 0937.

“Sorry Sir. Strong headwinds.”

Phil smiled. “That’s all right Aubrey. Sit down.” He pointed to the water jug. “I think you need a drink.”

Aubrey poured and took a drink. She smiled at Dave and Rihan. Alex closed the door and sat beside her.

“Right then. Alex can you brief us on the Fleet Admiral’s directive.”

Alex gave a succinct brief. He ended with the words “so the directive is fully authorised.”

This was all news to Aubrey. Her mind had already put two and two together. She could tell that Dave and Rihan had already been apprised of the directive and by their disappointed expressions, they were unhappy to hear it was fully authorised. She also knew that her ship was now the only means of delivery – with any chance of survival.

She was in a quandary. She knew what was coming. ‘How do I respond?’ she asked herself. She gulped and reached out for the water and took another sip. She looked back up at Phil. He was studying her.

“So what do you think of that Aubrey?” he asked.

Aubrey gulped again. Her throat felt tight. “You want me to carry out that directive?” she asked.

“Would you?”

Aubrey looked at Dave and Rihan. Both just stared at her without giving anything away. She turned to Alex but he too was impassive. She gulped one more time and then spoke. “I don’t like it Sir.”

“Why?” asked Phil as though he was seeking her opinion about buying a red shirt or a blue one.

“Well these are civilian targets Sir.”

“There most likely will be military targets within the cities.”

“Yeah but we’re using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Millions of civilians are going to be killed.”

“They’re rogan.”

“It’s still mass murder Sir. It’s not as though there is a military imperative. Is there?”

“So you won’t do it?”

Aubrey again looked to Dave and Rihan, her eyes pleading for support. But none was given. She frowned at them and then turned to Phil “No I don’t think I can Sir.”

“Good” said Phil emphatically “glad to hear it” and he smiled reassuringly at her. Aubrey released the tension in her back and neck. “So we’re all in agreement then that this is a bad order and we should not fulfil it.”

Dave and Rihan smiled at Aubrey and Alex ticked off his first agenda item on his console with a notable flourish. He too smiled at Aubrey.

“So I passed the test then” said Aubrey a little annoyed at being used so.

“We had to be sure where you stood on this” said Phil. “Sorry.”

“Why Sir. You are obviously not going to go through with it.”

“True but I need you for our little plan to avoid a catastrophe.”

Aubrey was now puzzled.

“Let me explain” said Phil. “If I just refuse to execute this directive, then I will be replaced with someone who will. I need to go back to Earth and confront the Chief Minister. But I need to bring something to the table. I would like that to be a credible terms of settlement with the rogan. One that restores Chelora to us, returns the sleth home worlds to the sleth, offers us due compensation, a statement of regret, agreed borders and zones of influence and an undertaking not to use force against us or the sleth. I want you to get that.”

Aubrey’s jaw dropped. She thought for a few seconds. “Is that all Sir?”

“That’ll do for starters” said Phil with a smile. He looked at Aubrey. Her mind was struggling where to begin and it showed on her expression. “Don’t worry we’re going to lend a hand.”

“Well that’s nice to know” said Aubrey. For the first time since the meeting started she relaxed a little.

“It’s quite simple really” said Phil. “I’ll let Alex explain.”

Alex activated the holo display and bought up the star charts. He then gave an outline of the plan and ended with “simple, hey?”

“Right” said Aubrey, still a bit overwhelmed. She looked at the other faces and then at Phil. “I’m not sure I’m going to be …suitably senior enough to conduct these negotiations.”

“Fair point” said Phil. “That’s why you need to pick up Commodore Pious from Beta Phi.”

“But he’s still recovering from his...”

“Torture?” asked Phil.

“Well yes Sir.”

“He was not in a good shape when I last saw him” said Rihan.

“Surely Sir he’s been through too much” protested Dave.

“I received his message last night. He assures me he is ready?”

“Does he know he’s going into rogan territory?” asked Rihan.

“Not as such. I dared not mention any details in a message.”

“That’s not fair Sir” said Rihan.

Phil looked annoyed. “Enough. I appreciate your concern for the Commodore but as Aubrey here points out we need him.” He finished with a stern look that brooked no challenge. Well, except from Rihan, who was about to speak up, until Dave tapped her foot. She turned to Dave and then sat back in her seat, shaking her head. She was not happy.

Phil turned to Aubrey. “Rihan will be the ops officer here for this mission. Any comms you need to make, do so directly with her or me. Apart from us here the only person you are authorised to discuss this mission with is Commodore Pious and your crew. Do not let your crew know until you are in warp. Alex will arrange for Felis and Plentun to be shuttled to Tumos early tomorrow morning. You’re scheduled to warp away at 1000 hours. Any further questions?”

“There will be no resup I take it.”

“None, so avoid combat. Use your cloaking.”

“Right Sir.”

“Remember Aubrey, the sooner you pull this off the better.” Aubrey nodded and Phil added “Morning tea time then, hey Alex.”

“Right oh Sir” said Alex “but I’m going to get you a personal assistant if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Now, now Alex, why would I need one when I have you?”

Alex let out a moan and shook his head as he left the room.

“Oh Dave can you stay for a moment” asked Phil.

Once the others had left, Phil said “With the Phantom committed, Dave, I no longer have a reserve. I need one, your ship. I want you to catch the shuttle back with Aubrey and check up on the progress of your ship. I know Mani and his team are working hard but ride them I want the Resolute ready as soon as possible.”

“What about our replacements?” asked Dave.

“I’ll get Alex onto it tomorrow. Don’t ask me what barrel he’s going to have to drag to rake them up, but trust me we will get you your marines.”

“All right Sir.”

“Oh, I nearly forgot. I authorised Mani to upgrade your drives.”

“Sir?”

“Oh you don’t know. Well the drive technology that we secured under our new partnership treaty with the Sleth is being incorporated on all new ships, including the Phantom and the rest of the Resolute class under construction. Seeing as your ship is in refit anyway, I thought you’d appreciate the new tech. Mani will fill you in. You’ll be impressed.”

“Thanks Sir. One other thing. Well two actually. Who is my new XO and when do they arrive?”

“Ask Alex. He’s the font of all wisdom in those matters.”

“OK Sir will do.”

In the next hour, Dave grabbed a coffee with Rihan, spoke with Alex and had an impromptu conference with his ships officers in one of the briefing rooms. He told Li Nahn to see if he could get some training for his pilots at the nearby fighter base. Jim Bucknell was tasked similarly, though Jim complained about having to spend any more time at Sandford. “The whole company, to a man would prefer the digs on board Sir” Jim had said. His pleading eyes were destined to be disappointed.

He tasked Chase to secure some simulation facilities and conduct some command centre exercises for the ships command staff. Val made the cheeky suggestion that her staff, which included the ships stewards, were more than keen to do a restaurant crawl in search of new recipes. In the end she reluctantly agreed to follow up with her counterpart at Fleet HQ for appropriate training.

“Gunter” said Dave.

“Sir?” said a wary Gunter, fearing the worst.

“You and your team come with me to Tumos. I have a real treat for you.” There was a gleam in Dave’s eye that Gunter didn’t quite trust but Tumos was better than hanging around Fleet HQ. That was for sure.

“We could come too Sir” suggested Val, again with her best cheeky smile.

“Afraid not Val. Your destiny lies here” said Dave and Val shrugged her shoulders in disappointment.

At 1220 Dave, Aubrey, Gunter and his engineering team boarded the light shuttle back to Tumos. It was soon cruising at 12,000m.

“So how are you feeling Aubrey?” asked Dave.

“A little shell shocked.”

“It’s a daunting task for your first mission. But I’ve every confidence in you.”

“Thanks. What did you do on your first mission in the Hermes?”

“Went on a tour of the neighbourhood” said Dave with an expression that said ‘go figure.’

“Right!” said Aubrey rolling her eyes.

Chapter 3. Tumos 1500, 10 June

Aubrey arrived back to find that Manuel had taken the Phantom for a test flight out to the systems edge and was not due back for another three hours. ‘He doesn’t lack for confidence’ she thought. She decided to use the time to study the star charts and plan her warp in route. Mani had provided her access to one of the briefing theatres.

Next door Gunter and his team were enthralled as one of the tech staff gave them a briefing on the new drives. Dave, having been given the executive summary from Mani, was now getting a run down from him on the refit.

“So that’s good news then” said Dave on hearing that the trials of the new material for the life support system were going well.

“Yes it is but it will still take time to test it thoroughly, then go into full production of the units and of course to install and test them on line in the ship itself” advised Mani.

Dave could tell from his patter that Mani was a master at managing expectations. “Understood, but what’s the latest ETA?”

“It depends…”

“On what?” cut in Dave.

“On whether we encounter any problems during the testing at each phase.”

“Mani can you cut to the Chase and give me a date?”

Mani was expecting this and already had one. “20
^th
of June.”

“But you said a week earlier.”

“A week for the testing and production but we need time then to install and test on line.”

“Mani, you do realise that this ship is the Admiral’s only reserve and it can’t function as a reserve unless it is ready to operate.”

“20
^th
of June is the best we can do Captain. If by chance we can expedite matters we will.”

Dave realised he was unlikely to budge Mani any more. “OK 20
^th
of June.”

Mani was keen to change the subject “So what did you think of the drive upgrades” and he gave Dave a big smile.

“Very nice, very nice indeed. Oh, one thing I forgot to ask about them. This ability to warp through space clouds, you mentioned that there was a certain probability of misguidance while in the cloud.”

“Yes, according to the sleth, and you have to remember that they got this tech indirectly from the rogan. Well according to them, sometimes a programmed warp route would be bent or redirected onto another vector.”

“Shit. So if you are unlucky you could run into an asteroid or planet.”

“No, no the warp route stabilisers will prevent that. You will be brought out of warp immediately if such a possibility is detected. That will be an abrupt exit I’m afraid but at least not a catastrophic outcome. The real worry is that your route vector is changed and you end up light years from where you had intended.”

“Terrific.”

“It’s best to avoid the clouds, but even if you can’t, remember that the new warp drives are three times as fast on average.”

“Sounds good. What’s the drain like on our power source with the impulse surge? How long do you think we can maintain it?”

“That has yet to be seen. We did the test with the Phantom yesterday. Very impressive. Was able to maintain the surge for fifteen minutes. Massive drain on power though – equivalent to a 50% hit. But remember you can recharge your power systems with exposure to sunlight. This works best when stationery but also during normal impulse movement.”

“Direct sunlight hey. How long does it take to recharge?”