When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (71 page)

             
Chavez had driven his team hard, but the results spoke volumes. In just a few short months they had discovered battle strategies, unit designators and carrier groupings. The Boxti, though incredibly advanced and ruthlessly efficient, were not very different from any other Navy. They ran on their stomachs, as the adage went, and supporting elements followed them in packs toward the rear of the formations. They cared little for their dead, allowing derelicts to drift free until they succumbed to the nearest gravitational force. In each engagement they focused on mid-level frigates first before moving on to capital ships. Terrans trained to use frigates to support both fighter movement and capital ship offensives, and having their middlemen cut out severely hampered the defendability of the group. That the aliens had adapted so quickly to a new enemy was remarkable, and somewhat telling about their military prowess. In each engagement witnessed, the doctrine was sound. All except one.

             
Ray ran his fingers through his thick hair, noting absently that he needed a haircut when he had a day off. His heart would
n’
t stop pounding. Not after tonight. A light drizzle began to fall, but neither scientist made any move to go inside. The sounds of the city floated around them, all of it just white noise.

             
“What will you do
?”
Mara asked.

             
Ray sighed, longing for a cigarette. H
e’
d never gotten into the habit, having grown up in a house stained gray with smoke. But at times like this he remembered how relaxed his father seemed after a puff or two
.“
I have to report it. They need to know
.
”

             
She nodded, but clearly loathed the inevitability
.“
I ca
n’
t stay if you do. None of us should. It wo
n’
t be safe
.”
Rain matted her hair across her face, and she brushed the damp strands aside
.“
Not that we deserve any better
.
”             

             
“If i
t’
s true
,”
Ray said
.“
This is raw data, it could mean anything
.
”

             
Mara turned to face him. H
e’
d found it easier to read her expressions, having worked so closely with the alien during the project. Or maybe sh
e’
d just adopted human quirks. Her eyes were narrow, eyebrows raised and spread. It was
n’
t regret, but horror and despair.

             
“They fought as one mind at Tallus and New Eden. In every battle with my people it has been the same overwhelming swarm. But here, above your planet, they were in disarray
.”
Her hand went to her eyes, wiping more than rain away
.“
Unless we were pursued by the worst elements of their Navy, those were not Boxti warships in your skies. It was a trick
.
”

             
Tha
t’
s not the worst of it
, Ray thought. When Mara had made the sickening proposition, had suggested that the Nangolani faked the battle over Earth, he had immediately dismissed it. How else could the Boxti have found the humans at Tallus? Or New Eden?

             
There had been a signal recorded at Luna and Tallus, a relay buoy that called in the invading forces. For months, it was the only known trace of the Boxti communication band. Then, after the invasion of New Eden, Ray had compared the two signals listening for a match. His hope had been to break into the alien
s’
communications. What h
e’
d found was something else entirely. Boxti traffic operated on a low power, long distance FTL broadcast tuned to a specific frequency. In playback, it gave off a distinct
Khuum
. But the sounds heard over Luna and Tallus had been much higher in pitch, and a short band.
Tim.

             
Ray pushed away from the railing and paced the balcony. He could
n’
t look at her, not feeling the way he did.
Wretched
, he thought.
I never understood that word until now
.“
Would they do it
?”
He bit his lip, trying to control the burning sensation in his chest
.“
Your leaders, would they sign off on it
?
”

             
“They had to
,”
she said
.“
Anduin knows all and sees all
.
”

             
Ray could
n’
t help but notice she had
n’
t said
Emperor Anduin
. There came a knock at the glass door behind them, and a young intern poked his head out. Ray motioned for him to speak, as the young man seemed starstruck by the Nangolani. It sometimes seemed hard to remember that aliens had been real to humans for less than a year.

             
“Dr. Chavez is ready for your report, sir
.”
The inter
n’
s eyes darted back and forth between the human and the alien. Mara, for her part, made no reaction
.“
H
e’
s waiting for you in his office
.
”

             
Ray nodded and the intern disappeared back inside
.“
I can buy you time
,”
he said
.“
Let you get in touch with your government. Maybe ther
e’
s another explanation
.
”

             
She shook her head
.“
Yo
u’
ve never experienced life as a refugee. No home, no concept of safety. Every day we woke up thinking the enemy would finally close in, finally destroy us. I was born onto the
Gomatta
.
I’
d never seen the sky from a plane
t’
s surface until coming to Earth. Imagine being Anduin and living that nightmare, with the pain of your failure to save Nangol eating at you every day. What would you do to secure the future of your people? There is no doubt in my mind that he would stage such a battle, coax you into taking our side. I was the one who made the initial report on contacting Humanity. It was
n’
t as an ally in war, not back then, but I remember the words I used
.”
She looked out at the lines of traffic, the rain soaking her clothing and running down her face
.
“
‘
Humanity is an honorable race, one that longs to see justice in all aspects of life. They will rush to defend the downtrodden, taking on incredible odds but always overcoming adversity
.’
Could Anduin have found a better target for his farce
?
”

             
Ray could
n’
t find his tongue. He lowered his head and walked back inside, leaving the glass door half open. He stopped just past the threshold and turned to face Mara
.“
The
y’
ll say terrible things
.”
Her head raised, confusion spread across her face
.“
When this gets out, the politicians and talking heads on TV will make you out to be monsters. I want you to know that
I’
m here, if you need me
.
”

             
She smiled, her teeth white against her black lips. Stress was written across her face in deep lines, but she put on a brave front
.“
Thank you, Ray. I hope to be strong enough to weather what is coming
.”
She faced the rain, putting her hands against the chilled railing
.“
I pray we can all be strong
.
”

-                           
III                            -

              The event began with as much fanfare as possible, down to the orchestra playing a rousing rendition of the
Rise of the Sea
, the oft-neglected prelude to the Federat
e’
s Anthem. Dozens of well-dressed wait staff ensured no glass remained uncharged long enough for the patrons to sober. Even with delegates from every major political party bumping elbows and spilling drinks, the atmosphere was too enjoyable to fight. It was everything Alexander had needed, and everything he hated. His argument with Jerry the day before left him raw, and a part of him itched for a fight. More than anything, he wanted to go to New Eden to parlay with the aliens. The entire cabinet agreed that was a terrible idea, and locked the High Chancellor in his own ship.

             
Planning for the gala started not long after contact with the Nangolani, but had
n’
t reached full swing until the attacks in New York. Now, with the future of the Earth government in such dire straits, the High Chancello
r’
s advisors felt that the celebration was the only card left to play. If Alexander could
n’
t get the rest of the Council to see the lack of sense in the citizenry of their home planet, it would
n’
t matter if Kerrigan took the office. There would
n’
t be a point in saving a species that so willingly allowed tyrants to take the throne.

             
Jerry had to remind him that there was another side to the dinner. Tensions between the humans and Nangolani were beyond a breaking point. On Earth, the aliens needed armed escorts to walk the streets, even in Vienna. Violent demonstrations plagued the few embassies that remained, and what had started as silent protests had escalated to a number of executions. The Net was filled with ghastly videos of scientists and physicians captured from their dormitories and murdered, often after hours of sadistic torture. It was worse than xenophobia; there was true malice in the acts. With Arthu
r’
s help, Jerry hoped the event would help build a better rapport between the aliens and the general public, at least in a top-down way.

             
And the Nangolani royalty were represented in a big way. Magistrates Kadrine, Botont and Flur, as well as their extensive entourages, marched up and down the event floor, shaking hands and chatting away. The dignitaries seemed old hat at chumming with human politicians, and made quick headway at building better relations. Just talking to one of the aliens in such a comfortable if formal event held great sway over the mayors and governors and councilors. Near the head table, chatting with Admiral Gilroy and Vice Chancellor Kristoff, Emperor Anduin stood straight and proud. Even at his diminutive height, his presence demanded attention. He wore a beautifully cut suit with an ankle-length overcoat. Gold lining covered the black fabric, and multicolored medals and icons hung from his collar to his waist. Strangely absent from the Empero
r’
s side was the Royal Magister, the second-in-command of the alien race.

             
Nearby, Fleet brass grouped together to attack the buffet. Admiral Gilro
y’
s uniform was impeccably pressed and clean, with each brass button catching the light at just the right angle. The left side of his jacket bore his military history in row after row of campaign ribbons. On the right half, citations and awards hung down toward his belt. The most impressive, however, was the medal around his neck. Held in place with triple-corded gray fabric laced with crimson threads was a golden coin bearing the soaring falcon of the Colonial Federate. The Medallion of the Unchallenged had been the highest honor a soldier could earn for almost one hundred and fifty years. Gilroy wore the only one in the room.

             
The Admiral drained the last drop from his third glass of bourbon, placing the drink down on a nearby table with a loud thud. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and ran a hand down his sweaty, red face. He wandered toward the alien Emperor, a sour expression growing
.“
I hope you at least appreciate the trouble we went to throwing this event
.”
Gilroy surveyed the room for another drink. He sneered as his eyes fell on a costumed member of the Guard
.“
Such a disgrace
.
”

             
“What is that, Admiral
?”
Anduin asked. The elder Nangolani had barely spoken a word since boarding
Imperion One
. He seemed ill at ease, lost in a thought that never ended. His weathered face was stoic, barely creasing into a smile when approached by members of the press.