A Show of Force (28 page)

“Time to attack?” Nathan inquired.

“Two minutes, twenty seconds to first window,” Luis replied.

“Mister Riley?” Nathan called.

“Attack jump one, plotted and locked,” Mister Riley replied from the Aurora’s navigation station, directly in front of Nathan. “We’re ready to jump.”

“Very well,” Nathan replied. “Set general quarters. Notify Scouts One and Two we are go for the first attack window.”

“Aye, sir,” Ensign Souza acknowledged, as the alert lighting activated, painting the edges of the overheads and decks of the Aurora’s bridge a faint red.

Nathan listened as the call to general quarters went out all over the ship. The attack on the Jung forces in the Sigma Draconis system was planned and expected, so the crew was already standing by, awaiting the official word that the attack was about to commence. Within a few seconds, the Aurora’s many departments began to report their readiness.

“Scouts One and Two are pulling away,” Mister Navashee reported. “Scouts are jumping.”

“All weapons are deployed, charged, and ready for action,” Lieutenant Delaveaga reported.

“All departments report general quarters, Captain,” Ensign Souza announced.

“Very well,” Nathan responded. In this attack, just as in the previous ones, there was little for him to do. His crew knew their jobs, and they knew the plan of attack. Assuming everything went as planned, all he had to do was give the word, and then sit back and enjoy the show.

“Coming up on the attack window in twenty seconds,” Luis reported.

“Flight ops reports Falcons are in position and ready to jump on schedule,” Ensign Souza announced.

“KKVs should be launching in three,” Luis added.

“Jump point in twenty seconds,” Mister Riley reported.

“Two……”

Nathan glanced at the battle timing display on the lower right corner of the main view screen, as the various timers counted down. Each timer showed the time remaining to each ship’s next action.

“One……”

Above the battle clocks, in the upper right portion of the Aurora’s spherical, wraparound view screen, a tactical map of the Sigma Draconis system—more specifically the small, rocky, hellish world known as Kalita—would show the position of every ship, friend or foe. Not only would it show their predicted positions, but it would indicate whether or not those positions were verified.

“Launch.”

Nathan looked back at the tactical map, his eyes on the six-armed icon representing the Jung battle platform following Kalita at one of the parent star’s gravitationally stable points.

“Five seconds to KKV impacts,” Luis reported.

“Jumping in ten,” Mister Riley added.

“Three……two……one……impacts.”

“Jumping in three……”

Nathan watched the tactical map as the icons for both the battle platform and the battleship both began to flash, indicating predicted KKV strikes and probable destruction of the targets.

“Two……”

They would not know for sure that the targets were destroyed until after they jumped into the system to engage the remaining Jung ships.

“One……jumping.”

The Aurora’s jump flash washed over the bridge, subdued greatly by the automatic filters in their main view screen.

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported.

Nathan looked at the view screen. Along the far right edge of the screen, about sixty degrees to starboard, he could make out the massive explosions of the battle platform. His eyes glanced at the tactical map, just as the flashing icon for the battle platform changed from the six-armed icon to a much larger collection of dots, indicating the destroyed platform’s debris field.

“Target charlie one, dead ahead,” Mister Navashee announced. “Target alpha one has been destroyed.”

“Locking all forward tubes on first cruiser,” Luis reported.

“Weapons free,” Nathan ordered.

“Weapons free, aye,” Luis replied.

“Target bravo one has been destroyed,” Mister Navashee added.

“Firing triplets on all forward tubes,” Luis announced.

Nathan saw the icon for the battleship change as well, as the red-orange balls of plasma left the Aurora’s forward tubes and streaked forward, on their way toward the first unsuspecting Jung cruiser.

“Plasma cannon locked on charlie two,” Luis reported. “Firing.”

“Jump flashes,” Mister Navashee said. “Scouts One and Two are attacking the frigates.”

“Turning onto target charlie two,” Mister Chiles announced.

“Five seconds to jump two,” Mister Chiles reported.

The image of the first Jung cruiser began to slide upward on the view screen, as flashes of white-yellow light reported the impact of their plasma torpedoes.

“Multiple torpedo impacts,” Mister Navashee reported.

“Jumping in three……”

“Charlie one has lost all port shields…”

“Two……”

“Charlie one is breaking up,” Mister Navashee added as secondary explosions began to deform the cruiser on the view screen.

“One……”

“Retargeting plasma cannon on target charlie two,” Luis announced.

“Jumping.”

Nathan looked at the tactical display again. As the jump flash washed over the bridge, the icon representing them disappeared, then reappeared just beyond the icon for the first cruiser, as it changed to a debris field as well.

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley announced.

“Pitching up,” Mister Chiles added.

The image of the second Jung cruiser that had just appeared at the top of the main view screen began to slide down toward its center as the Aurora’s helmsman raised the ship’s nose to bring her torpedo tubes onto the new target.

“Targets foxtrot one and two have both been destroyed,” Mister Navashee reported.

“Locking forward tubes on second cruiser,” Luis reported.

“Scouts have jumped. They should be engaging the other two frigates now,” Mister Navashee continued. “Multiple jump flashes low over Kalita. I’m showing twelve Falcons engaging surface targets.”

“Torpedoes locked,” Luis reported. “Firing triplets on all forward tubes.”

Again, red-orange balls of highly charged plasma left the Aurora, bound for the second Jung cruiser only a few kilometers away.

“Charlie two is maneuvering,” Mister Navashee warned. “She’s raising shields, and she’s firing.”

“Pitching to track charlie two,” the helmsman assured.

“Incoming missiles,” Mister Navashee reported. “Impact in ten seconds.”

“Locking plasma cannon and all four plasma torpedo cannons on charlie two,” Luis said.

“Escape jump ready,” Mister Riley reported.

“Firing plasma cannon. Firing plasma torpedo cannons,” Luis continued. “Torpedoes away.”

“Impact in five,” Mister Navashee warned.

“Jumping,” Mister Riley announced, dispensing with the usual three-second countdown.

Nathan watched the tactical display as the jump flash again washed over them. The icons representing the last two frigates began to flash, indicating that Scout ships One and Two should have both engaged and destroyed their last two planned targets. The icon representing the cruiser that had fired on them also began to flash.

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported.

“Coming about,” Mister Chiles added.

“Scanning the area of target charlie two,” Mister Navashee said as he stared at his sensor displays.

Nathan continued to watch the flashing icons representing the last three Jung ships left in the Sigma Draconis system.

“Target charlie two, destroyed,” Mister Navashee reported as the flashing cruiser icon changed to a debris field icon. “Jump flashes, over Kalita.”

“Incoming messages from Scouts One and Two,” Ensign Souza reported. “All frigates have been destroyed.”

The last two flashing icons changed to debris field icons on the tactical display.

“Turn complete,” Mister Chiles reported.

“Jumping to low orbit over Kalita,” Mister Riley added. “Jumping in three……”

Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him.

“Two……”

This was the third such attack on Jung forces in nearby systems, and it had gone just as smoothly as the previous two.

“One……”

Thus far, none of their ships had taken any damage, and their crews had suffered no casualties.

“Jumping.”

They had lost Ghatazhak on the two previous engagements, but according to Commander Telles, the losses had been less than he had anticipated.

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported as the Aurora’s jump flash faded.

Nathan looked at the main view screen again as the reddish image of Kalita appeared along the bottom edge of the main view screen.

“Executing roll,” Mister Chiles reported.

The image of Kalita began to move along the bottom edge of the screen sliding around to the right, up the side, and across the top of the screen, as the Aurora rolled over to bring her main guns into position. The planet now above his head was an ugly reddish-brown color, with no visible water on the surface, and no polar ice caps. He could not imagine what life on the surface of Kalita could be like.

“Scans show all surface defenses have been neutralized,” Mister Navashee reported.

“Primary target will be in range in ten seconds,” Luis announced. “Locking quads on primary target.”

The view from one of the quad rail gun’s targeting camera appeared in a window on the main view screen. The image magnified until the entire Jung military base on the surface of Kalita filled the window.

“Quads locked on target. Ready to fire,” Luis reported.

“Open fire,” Nathan ordered calmly.

“Firing quads.”

The aerial image of the Jung base on the surface became obscured by a gray, grainy fog, as thousands of rail gun rounds rained down upon the target. The image was quickly engulfed by a rising cloud of reddish-brown dust that swirled in chaotic patterns as the rail gun rounds continued to pummel the base. After only thirty seconds, the firing stopped.

“Target destroyed,” Mister Navashee reported.

“Green deck,” Nathan ordered.

“Green deck, aye,” Ensign Souza acknowledged.

Nathan continued to watch as the winds on the surface of Kalita slowly blew the dust cloud away, revealing a massive crater surrounded by a wide ejecta field, all marking the place where a Jung base once stood. As many as one thousand Jung soldiers had just died, possibly even ten times that number, but it had little effect on him.

“Combat jumpers are away,” Ensign Souza reported.

“They’re jumping,” Mister Navashee added. “Multiple jump flashes on the surface,” he continued. “Near the base, near the mining facility, and near the worker encampments.” He paused for a moment as he counted. “Total of twenty-eight flashes, Captain. All our forces are on the ground.”

“Any ships trying to depart the surface?” Nathan wondered.

“Negative, sir,” Mister Navashee answered. “However, Scouts One and Two
are
moving into position to enforce the departure quarantine.”

“Anything further out we might have missed?” Nathan added.

“Negative, Captain,” Luis replied. “The threat board shows clear. Second wave of Falcons is taking up BARCAP positions now.”

“Very well,” Nathan said. “Stand down from general quarters, and set ready condition two.”

“Stand down from general quarters and set ready two, aye,” Ensign Souza acknowledged.

Nathan rotated his command chair around to face aft. “This is getting too easy,” he said to Lieutenant Delaveaga as he rose from his seat and headed aft. “You have the conn, Lieutenant.”

Luis smiled. “Aye, sir.”

“Patch the feed from the Ghatazhak mobile command post to my ready room,” he instructed Ensign Souza on his way out.

“Aye, sir.”

Nathan stepped into his ready room, closing the hatch behind him. He moved around his desk and sat down, activating the large view screen on the forward bulkhead over the sofa that Lieutenant Commander Nash loved to stretch out on. A few clicks on his remote, and he had what he wanted… the views from every single Ghatazhak helmet camera currently fighting on the surface of Kalita. It would be a gruesome spectacle to witness, but Nathan felt he had to watch. The last three engagements had gone so well, that he feared losing contact with the brutality of their job. He hoped the images from the Ghatazhak helmet cameras would serve to remind him. What he saw took him by surprise.

The Ghatazhak helmet cameras were not sending him images of combat, but rather of rescue. Thousands of men being held in work camps on the hellish surface of Kalita. The men were dirty, with weather-worn skin and tattered clothing. Their homes were sturdy, but simple and without any creature comforts. The expressions on the men’s faces were a mixture of fear of what was to come, and determination to survive it for the sake of their loved ones. The women had expressions of sorrow the likes of which he had never seen, while the few children that he could see showed only hopelessness. Their lives, their world, their homes… they all appeared functional, but nothing more. Their existence had but one purpose… to serve the needs of the Jung, working the mines of Kalita.

What little guilt Nathan might have felt minutes earlier disappeared.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Naralena sat staring at the video display on the wall in Ellyus Barton’s well-appointed guest suite. As of late, her days had been spent relaxing as she watched countless Cetian news and entertainment programs, both current and past. Although she had learned much about both the Jung, and the Cetian culture, she felt somewhat guilty. The last five days had felt more like a vacation than a dangerous, off-world assignment on an enemy-held world.

“Learning much?” Jessica asked as she entered the room.

“Actually, yes. Did you know that the Jung are telling the people of this system that the Earth is still infected with the bio-digital plague?”

“Seriously?”

“It appears to be a recent development, going back a few weeks at most. However, it appears to be gaining momentum lately.”

“I know the Jung love to use propaganda—every government does—but it seems a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?”

“They’re doing an awfully good job of it,” Naralena insisted. “Pictures and everything.”

“Where are they getting pictures?”

“I’m not sure about all of them, but I do recognize some of them. They’re from just after the Jung first invaded your world. They were likely altered to remove any trace of the Jung from the images, of course, but the end result is quite effective. It paints a portrait of a world that is constantly ravaged by the plague and is struggling to maintain a population large enough to support its own infrastructure.”

“I don’t get it,” Jessica admitted. “What’s the point?”

“The Jung are saying that they are trying to enforce a quarantine on the Earth to prevent them from spreading the plague, just like before.”

Jessica shook her head. “This is really suspicious. Why this effort? Why now?”

“To spread distrust?” Naralena suggested. “To build themselves up as protectors in the eyes of the local population?”

“Are they even bothering to tell the people of their attempt to conquer Earth?” Jessica wondered.

“Not a word. According to the Jung, they have ships parked outside the Sol system to prevent anyone from leaving it. If a ship doesn’t heed their warnings, they destroy it.”

“I suppose they have nice graphics for that one as well?”

“Of course.” Naralena looked at Jessica. “Do you think there is a correlation between our arrival and this new propaganda tactic?”

“It’s possible, I suppose,” Jessica admitted. “It’s also possible the Jung here at least know about the liberation of Earth. We were never quite sure of how many comm-drones were launched during that battle, or the direction they were launched. For all we know, the Jung have known about Earth’s liberation all along. Or this whole thing might have been planned from the start, as a ‘public opinion countermeasure’ of sorts. They probably thought of this long before our first jump, when they first learned about the jump-drive project. There’s no way to tell, really.”

“Then you’re not worried about it?”

“Worried? No, not really. No point,” Jessica insisted. “Nothing I can do about it. It
is
worthy of reporting to the Alliance, however, as it is bound to hamper development of relations
after
we clean the Jung out of this system.”

Naralena sighed. “I still can’t help but think that all of this could have been learned by monitoring emissions from the edge of the system, though.”

“Not really,” Jessica disagreed. “We tried that, and all we got was basic ship-to-ship stuff, and routine tests of their emergency broadcast network. The stuff you’ve been watching is streamed across their planetary network. They stopped using airborne broadcasts decades ago, just like we did. That’s one of the main reasons we came.”

“Yes, I remember. I guess I just feel a little guilty. I didn’t expect to be spending my days in enemy territory in a luxury apartment, watching entertainment broadcasts and snacking all day long. My God, I think I’ve gained at least three kilograms since we got here!”

Jessica smiled. “Yeah, we did kind of luck out on that one, didn’t we,” she agreed as she plopped down on the other end of the sofa.

“Not all of us,” Naralena commented solemnly, looking down at the floor. She noticed that Jessica had her shoes on. “Going downstairs again?”

“Yup.”

“You’ve gone down to speak to Ellyus every evening since we’ve been here.”

“Just keeping my eye on things.”

“Has he offered anything new since his intel was retrieved?” Naralena wondered.

“Not really,” Jessica admitted. “I guess I just like hearing his stories. I mean, for decades he has been doing what I wanted to do since the first day I started special operations training. He’s got so much experience to share, and no one to share it with… all this time. Can you imagine? Keeping a secret for that long? Even from your wife and children? That takes a serious amount of discipline. Now that we’re here, he’s like a burst water pipe. I feel bad for him. I practically have to gag him and kick him out the door, or he would never shut up and go home to his wife.”

“Then, you’re probably getting some good intelligence from these conversations.”

“That’s the weird thing,” Jessica said. “I’m learning a lot about what
he
has gone through, and about the changes the Cetians have gone through, but nothing significant about the Jung forces.”

“But he showed us tons of images, troop counts, defenses…”

“All of which we could have gotten from a few closer passes had we chosen to put the Scout ships at greater risk, and possibly even tip our hand to the Jung. Besides, all of the information he
has
provided is at
least
a decade old, at best.”

“Well, he did say he pretty much gave up hope that anyone from Earth would ever contact him again,” Naralena reminded her.

“Yes, he did,” Jessica agreed, “and yes, that would explain his outdated intel.”

“So, these talks you’re having with him, you’re pretty much like his therapist, then?” Naralena joked.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Have you figured out a way to get any of this information back to the Alliance?”

“I don’t think we’ve found anything important enough to justify the risk,” Jessica insisted.

“You don’t think that the entire population of all three Cetian worlds being in
favor
of the Jung occupation is important?”

“I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate,” Jessica argued, “at least not according to Ellyus. He says it’s mostly propaganda. He says that many of the private conversations he has had over the years—in a soundproof room, I might add—indicate otherwise. He believes that while there are quite a few Jung supporters, most people are just saying they are in favor of the Jung to avoid suspicion.”

“I don’t know,” Naralena said, “I’ve seen a lot of propaganda back in the Pentaurus sector. The Ta’Akar Empire were masters at it. This is different.”

“Perhaps, but it’s not like the Cetians are going to pick up guns and fight alongside the Jung when the Ghatazhak show up.”

“Probably not,” Naralena agreed, “but don’t expect them to be too thrilled about it either. These people have a thriving economy, good living conditions, and robust interplanetary trade… all the things they did
not
have until the Jung arrived.”

“But they had to give up their freedom to get those things.”

“Freedom is relative, Jess. One person’s freedom is another person’s anarchy.”

“What?”

“I heard it on one of the Cetian programs,” Naralena explained. “Quite true, when you think about it.”

“Maybe, but it’s also the kind of thing you’d expect to hear from pretty much any dictatorship,” Jessica replied as she rose from her seat. “Anyway, I’ve got a patient downstairs waiting to see me,” she added as she headed for the door. “Enjoy your research.”

* * *

Doctor Galloway sat at the nursing station in the intensive care unit, studying patient reports on her data pad. She had been working at Geneva’s central hospital for more than a month now, ever since they first started using nanites on Earth. At first, their use had been restricted to Alliance personnel, as well as a few of the more severe civilian cases. This was due largely to the fact that—for reasons they had been unable to determine—the Corinairan nanites seemed to cause considerable discomfort to anyone not from the Pentaurus cluster.

Although the medical facilities on Earth were inferior by Corinairan standards, it had been nice to again work in a more controlled and traditional environment, despite the fact that the hours were long and the patient load never ending. She felt as if she were gaining more experience per day here than she could in a year of residency back on Corinair.

“Doctor Galloway,” the nurse said as she approached. “I have the latest statistical analysis you requested.”

Doctor Galloway reached out and took the data chip from the young woman. “Thank you,” she said as she inserted the chip into her data pad. The information contained on the chip began to scroll down her screen, causing a quizzical look to befall her.

“What is it?” the nurse wondered.

“Nothing. I just was expecting different numbers, I guess.”

“How so?”

“As you know, the problem has always been that Terrans seem to experience discomfort during nanite therapy,” Doctor Galloway explained. “However, a few isolated cases have not experienced that discomfort. Now that we are administering the nanites to the general public, that percentage has risen… and drastically, I might add.”

“How drastically?” the nurse wondered.

“It has practically reversed itself. Originally, ninety percent of the patients on nanite therapy experienced some level of discomfort. Now that we have begun administering to the general public, the percentage has dropped to twenty-three.”

“That’s good, though, right? Since there is such a shortage of analgesics?”

“Yes, it does make the patients easier to manage, since they do not need to take medications to manage the additional pain. However, it also means we are even further from discovering the reason behind the discomfort. Since our physiologies are the same, we had always assumed that the cause was environmental, but this bimodal distribution is puzzling.”

“Maybe it’s too soon to tell?” the nurse suggested. “After all, it has only been a few days since we began widespread usage of the nanites.”

“I suppose you are right,” Doctor Galloway agreed. “Odd that I find myself
hoping
for my patients to experience additional pain.”

The nurse looked over Doctor Galloway’s shoulder, noticing something on her data pad. “Did you notice the effectiveness percentage?”

Doctor Galloway looked at her data pad again. “No, I did not. I was so distracted by the drastic change in… That is odd.”

“There have been other cases where the nanites did not work, haven’t there?”

“Yes, but, according to this, the decrease in effectiveness correlates strongly with the decrease in discomfort.” Doctor Galloway thought for a moment. “I am probably wrong about this, but let’s begin screening the urine of all patients on nanite therapy for expelled nanites.”

“I thought they stayed in the patient until you transmitted the evacuation command?”

“Usually, yes, but if the nanite fails, it is programmed to automatically disengage, allowing the body to flush it out of the system. We could be dealing with a bad batch of nanites, although this would be the first case I have seen in many years. The manufacturing process is quite precise.”

“That would explain a lot,” the nurse agreed.

“I will notify the other physicians monitoring nanite therapies,” Doctor Galloway said. “Let’s get the first round of urine testing going as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Doctor.”

* * *

Naralena looked down at the digital tablet that Ellyus had given her, as she took more notes about what she was seeing on the Cetian news programs. As she was writing, she could hear footsteps from the entryway. “That was quick,” she called out. “I don’t think it has even been an…” Her words fell short as she looked up and toward the doorway to her left. Standing there was a man, dressed in black from head to toe, his face covered by some sort of screen that diffused the features of his face. She did not react, trying to remain calm, just as she had been trained over the weeks preceding the mission. Without moving her head, she glanced to her right, looking for an escape route, but another man in similar attire was blocking the other doorway.

“Where is the other one?” the first man asked. His voice had a metallic sound to it, as if it were being altered by some device. He was also speaking in English, but not perfect English.

“What?” Naralena responded, speaking in Jung using the same Cetian accent that she had observed over many hours of Cetian news broadcasts.

“There were two of you,” the man replied, again in English. “Where is the other?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Naralena said, again speaking in Jung.

“You are lying,” the man insisted, this time speaking in Jung. “She was here earlier.”

“She left,” Naralena replied, continuing in Jung. “She went shopping.”

“We do not have time for games,” the man told her. “You are both in danger.”

“Who are you?” Naralena asked, pretending not to understand them.

“The Jung have this place surrounded. They are preparing to storm the building as we speak. They will take you prisoner.”

“I don’t understand…”

“You are from the Aurora, right?” the man asked.

Naralena suddenly found it hard to hide her reaction, her eyes growing wide. They were nearly twelve light years from Earth, so even with the Jung’s fastest probes, it was unlikely that anyone on Kohara would know about the Aurora. “Who are you?” she asked, again in Jung.

“Who we are is unimportant. If you and your friend do not escape with us now, you will both die in Jung captivity.”

“Why should I believe you,” Naralena replied, still speaking Jung.

The man deactivated the visual distortion field, revealing his face to her. “You have no choice.”

Naralena stood. “She’s downstairs, with Ellyus, in his office,” she replied, this time in English.

The man tapped his comm-set, speaking in Cetian this time. “She is with the peeper, in his office.” A moment later he said, “Understood.” He looked at the other man, signaling him into action. “Go with this man,” he instructed as two more men came in from the outside landing and headed down the stairs behind the first man. “He will see to your safety.”

“What about my friend?” Naralena asked.

“I will see to hers,” the man answered as he turned to follow the others downstairs.

“Wait!” Naralena called out. “How did you know about the Aurora?”

The man turned back to look at her. “Jung comm-drones are much faster than you realize,” he told her just before he disappeared through the doorway.

* * *

“As expected, the people of Kalita did not offer any resistance,” Commander Telles told Nathan in his ready room.

“Any stragglers to deal with?” Nathan wondered.

“Not of a number that would cause concern,” Telles explained. “The conditions on Kalita are rather harsh. Without proper logistical support, the few Jung who escaped will be forced to either surrender, or die… either at the point of a Ghatazhak weapon, or by the atmosphere of Kalita, once their particle filters have become saturated. In any case, they will cease to be a factor within a few days.”