A Show of Force (49 page)

“They’re firing missiles!” Mister Navashee reported. “Impact in ten seconds!”

“Jump line?” Nathan asked.

“Three seconds,” Mister Riley reported.

“Five seconds!” Mister Navashee warned.

“Jump!”

“Jumping,” Mister Riley replied as the jump flash washed over them again.

“Swing your nose around and get our tubes to bear on her,” Nathan ordered. “Stand by all forward tubes and cannons. Snap shot as soon as possible!”

“Target is charging her FTL emitters!” Mister Navashee warned.

Nathan felt himself losing control. “Fire, Luis! Fire!”

“It’s no good!” Luis replied. “Her forward shields are at full…”

“Target is going to FTL!” Mister Navashee reported.

“NO!” Nathan yelled. He watched the tactical display at the lower center of the main view screen as the icons representing the Jung battleship and Scout Three disappeared. “GODDAMN IT!” Nathan spun around to face aft. First he looked at Luis, wanting to blame him for not shooting fast enough. Then he turned to his right, looking at Mister Navashee, but he had no one to look at but himself. He was in command. He had let the Jung get away with a jump drive.

He could feel his hands trembling as the adrenaline coursed through his veins. He could feel himself losing control. He felt as if he were about to fly apart in all directions, but something in him took over… held him together… brought back his focus. “Comms. Flash traffic for Scout One. Tell them to pursue and track the Jung battleship, but do not engage. Feed them the battleship’s last course and speed at the moment she went to FTL.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Helm, come about and take us back to Kohara.”

“Aye, sir.” Mister Chiles acknowledged.

“Tactical, do you have Commander Telles’s latest target list?”

“Negative, sir,” Luis replied.

“Comms, get an updated target list from Commander Telles and feed it to tactical.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Update the commander as to the situation, and let him know that there will be no further Jung reinforcements headed for the surface.” Nathan sat down in his chair. “As soon as Scout Two checks in, tell them to retrieve the KKV from the launch position and try to catch up with Scout One. I want them ready to strike if that battleship drops out of FTL for any reason.”

“Understood,” Ensign Souza replied.

Nathan stared at the main view screen, saying nothing further.

Mister Navashee exchanged glances with both Ensign Souza at the comm station, and Lieutenant Delaveaga at tactical, then turned back to his console to continue with his duties.

Commander Telles entered the command post designated Mobile Two, Master Sergeant Jahal close behind. “Lieutenant,” the commander said as he stepped into the darkened control room.

“Commander,” the lieutenant began. “We are in touch with the Aurora now. She reports that the Jung battleship has departed the area, and that they will be ready to begin orbital strikes in a few minutes.”

“Excellent, send them the updated target list.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did they say how long the battleship will be gone?” Master Sergeant Jahal wondered.

“They indicated that it would not be returning.”

“I figured they would simply slip away using conventional FTL, recharge their shields, and then return a short time later,” the master sergeant said.

“Why are they not returning?” Commander Telles asked the lieutenant.

The lieutenant did not respond immediately, instead listening to the rest of the Aurora’s message. His expression suddenly changed to one of grave concern. He looked at the commander. “Scout Three became disabled. The Jung battleship extended her shields and slipped away with the Scout ship in tow.”

“What about their self-destruct systems?” the master sergeant asked. He looked at Commander Telles, who looked equally concerned. “Perhaps it is a trick? Perhaps they mean to delay detonation until an opportune moment, thus damaging the battleship enough that the Aurora can locate her and finish the job?” He looked at the lieutenant, noting that his expression had not changed.

“Their self-destruct systems malfunctioned. The Scout ship’s crew was in the process of ejecting, using their escape pods. The Jung destroyed them as they ejected. The Scout ship was captured intact.”

“Shooting the crew as they ejected?” Master Sergeant Jahal exclaimed in disbelief. “Even the Ybaran Legions are not that callous.”

“There is nothing callous about it,” the commander explained. “The Jung probably feared that the escape pods were weapons, intent on damaging their shield generation systems and making them vulnerable to attack by the Aurora.” Commander Telles sighed, leaning back against the planning table at the center of the control room. “I fear the situation has changed, and drastically so.”

“We are Ghatazhak,” the master sergeant said. “We shall continue to fight.”

“Indeed,” the commander agreed. “However, for the first time since becoming a Ghatazhak, I am not sure that I can complete my mission.”

Several view screens began to light up as the Aurora began pounding Jung targets on the surface from orbit.

“Nonsense!” Master Sergeant Jahal replied. “Look at that fire power! This battle will soon be over, and once again we shall be victorious, just as we have been on every world, and just as we shall be on every world to come!”

Commander Telles looked at his friend. “I was not speaking of the battle,” he said. “I was speaking of Captain Scott. I am not sure we will be able to protect him.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ghatazhak soldiers patrolled the grounds of House Ta’Akar in pairs. At strategic points about the compound, teams were busy erecting gun emplacements to defend against attacks from both the ground and the air. All about House Ta’Akar, the staff was preparing for what they hoped would never come.

Four flashes of blue-white light appeared not ten meters above the compound, revealing an equal number of armed Takaran jump shuttles.

Nearby gun crews jumped into action, swinging their weapons around to take aim at the shuttles hovering over them. Ghatazhak soldiers rushed into positions to open fire. Warning alarms sounded throughout the compound.

A Ghatazhak sergeant on the ground studied the hovering shuttles, taking note that they were neither firing nor landing. They were simply hovering overhead, taking no aggressive action. The sergeant moved further out into the open in order to get a better look at the shuttles. On the side of the nearest ship, he saw the crest of House Navarro, as well as the Avendahl’s ship number. The shuttle rotated slowly, allowing the sergeant to see into the large side door. Standing in the doorway was a Ghatazhak lieutenant gazing back down at him. The Ghatazhak lieutenant made no gestures, just continued to stare down at the sergeant, as most lieutenants might do.

The sergeant tapped the comm-control on the side of his helmet, changing to the command frequency for House Ta’Akar. “Command, Sergeant Cislo. I have visual on the shuttles. They are from the Avendahl, and are carrying Ghatazhak on board.”

“Affirmative,” the officer in the command center replied. “We are speaking with them now. They have properly authenticated and are cleared to land. Have the ranking officer among them report to Commander Erbe in the command center.”

“Understood,” the sergeant replied. “Cislo, out.” The sergeant looked up at the Ghatazhak lieutenant in the shuttle hovering nearest him and waved.

The shuttle moved forward, turning and descending into the clearing at the center of the compound, moving to one side to make room for the other three shuttles to land as well.

Sergeant Cislo walked toward the first shuttle as it touched down on the grass and its engines began to spin down. The lieutenant was the first one out of the shuttle, followed by nine more Ghatazhak soldiers.

“Lieutenant,” the sergeant called out as he approached, offering a salute. “You are to report to Commander Erbe in the command center. If you’ll follow…” The sergeant stopped mid-sentence, noticing something was wrong. There was something odd about the lieutenant’s expression. He glanced at the men behind him, noticing something else… They were not all the exact same size and proportions.

The sergeant raised his rifle to open fire, but was caught in the chest by not one, but three blasts of energy from several weapons. The impacts burned through his body armor and knocked him backward onto the ground. Still conscious, he reached for his sidearm as more energy bolts cut into his legs and abdomen.

He never got his sidearm out of its holster.

“Captain, multiple contacts over House Ta’Akar,” Lieutenant Cahnis, the Avendahl’s sensor officer announced. Another alarm sounded at one of the sensor stations, catching the lieutenant’s attention. “Two more contacts, sir. Just out of FTL. Low orbit over Takara.”

“Set action stations on all decks,” Commander Golan ordered. “Call the captain to the bridge.”

“Action stations, aye,” an officer replied.

“Captain to the bridge,” the communications officer called from the background.

“Identities on the contacts in orbit?” the commander asked.

“Cruisers, both,” the sensor officer replied. “The Tontakeen and the Juda, sir.”

“Shields coming up,” Lieutenant Rogal announced from the weapons deck on the next level down and to the right of the commander. “Weapons coming online.”

“Target both ships with our main guns, but do not paint them,” the commander ordered.

“Aye, sir.”

“What about the ships on the surface?” the commander asked.

“Uncertain,” Lieutenant Cahnis replied. “I believe they were Toran-class combat jump shuttles, but as soon as they jumped in they started jamming our sensors. We currently cannot see any details within ten kilometers of House Ta’Akar.”

“Alert our Ghatazhak platoons to be ready for immediate deployment to the surface,” Commander Golan ordered.

“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Commander Getty replied. “However, I am not certain they are ready for action as of yet.”

“Captain on deck!” the guard barked from the entrance.

“Carry them to their shuttles if you have to,” Captain Navarro said as he moved quickly from the entrance to the command platform at the center of the Avendahl’s control center. “They can finish waking up on the way down.”

“All decks report ready for action,” the communications officer reported.

“Shields at full strength. Weapons charged and ready,” Lieutenant Commander Rogal announced. “Mains are targeted onto the cruisers, but have not locked on as of yet.”

“Four shuttles appeared over House Ta’Akar,” Commander Golan began reporting as Captain Navarro stepped up onto the command platform. “They are believed to be Toran-class combat jump shuttles, but we were unable to confirm, as they immediately activated a sensor disruption field. Moments after, the Tontakeen and Juda jumped into low orbit over Takara, putting themselves between us and the planet.”

“All things considered, I’d say it’s a good bet that those shuttles are not of friendly intent,” the captain said.

“Incoming transmission from the Tontakeen, Captain,” the communications officer announced. “Captain Tenore is requesting to speak with you directly, Captain.”

“Put him on my overhead,” Captain Navarro ordered.

“Aye, sir,” the communications officer replied.

The middle view screen built into the overhead display array encircling the command platform switched on, revealing the image of Captain Amose Tenore, of the Tontakeen.

“Suvan,” Captain Tenore began, using as friendly a tone as possible. “It has been too long, my old friend.”

“Friends do not fire on one another,” Captain Navarro replied, “as you did yesterday.”

“A misunderstanding, I am…”

“I’ll make this easy for you, Amose,” Captain Navarro said, cutting the Tontakeen’s captain off mid-sentence. “Lower your shields and power down your weapons, then recall your shuttles from the surface. If you do so immediately, I am
willing
to consider this a misunderstanding, as you suggested. Fail to comply, and I shall destroy you and all who stand with you.”

“Suvan…”

Captain Navarro held up his hand, again cutting Captain Tenore off before he could speak. “This will be your only warning. You have thirty seconds to comply.” Captain Navarro signaled his communications officer to cut the connection, causing Captain Tenore’s image to disappear, replaced by the tactical display a moment later. “Lock all weapons on the Tontakeen and the Juda and prepare to fire.”

“Locking all weapons on the Tontakeen and the Juda,” Lieutenant Rogal acknowledged.

Captain Navarro looked at his executive officer. “Tenore will not comply.” He turned to his flight control officer. “Launch all Ghatazhak shuttles to reinforce House Ta’Akar. Have them launch to port and jump past Pitora, come around the moon, and then jump to Takara. That way they cannot be targeted during launch.”

“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant commander acknowledged.

“Has either ship replied?” the captain asked his communications officer.

“Negative, sir.”

Captain Navarro looked at Lieutenant Cahnis.

The lieutenant glanced back over his shoulder at the main sensor status display. “No change, sir.”

“Commence firing, all weapons,” Captain Navarro ordered calmly.

“Firing main batteries,” Lieutenant Rogal replied.

Captain Navarro looked at his XO again. “And so begins Takara’s first civil war.”

“It began three weeks ago,” Commander Golan reminded the captain, “when that pig Dahra sent in Ybaran dogs to do his dirty work.”

“But I thought the Ghatazhak were on our side?” Yanni asked as he followed Casimir and Deliza quickly down the main corridor.

“These are not Ghatazhak,” Casimir explained, “at least not in the true sense.”

“What does that mean?”

“The men attacking are of the Ybaran Legions,” Deliza explained.

“I thought Ybara was a moon in your system?”

“It is. It’s one of the many transformed worlds of Takara. Long ago, Caius enslaved Ybara and marginalized their people. He forced their men to serve as Ghatazhak, in order to greatly increase their numbers to defend against the Karuzari attacks against his empire.”

“But I thought the Ghatazhak were programmed to be…”

“They are, but the programming does not work as well on Ybarans, due to their overly aggressive nature.”

“My lord!” Major Bellen yelled, looking up and to their left.

A massive stained glass window stretching across the ceiling of the main foyer burst into pieces that rained down into the foyer next to Casimir and the others. In pairs, Ybaran Legion soldiers fell from a shuttle hovering above the broken window, their Ghatazhak combat suits tensing up around their knees and hips to absorb the energy of their landings.

Major Bellen and his men immediately opened fire, killing three of the intruders.

“Main foyer!” Major Bellen called over his comm-set. “Ten or more!” He drew his sidearm and tossed it to Casimir. “Go!” he ordered as he continued firing with his energy rifle.

The security officer next to him took an energy bolt in the chest, spinning him around and sending him to the floor, as Casimir, Deliza, and Yanni ran behind them to the safety of the other side of the intersection. Two more Ybarans fell as well, as well as two of the major’s men.

Major Bellen grabbed another energy rifle dropped by one of his dead officers and fired with both weapons. After several seconds, he stopped firing and ran to the other side of the intersection, pursuing Casimir and the others as they dashed down the corridor. “Up the stairs!” he ordered. “We can fire on them from above!” He stopped for a moment and spun around, firing both weapons in wild fashion, sweeping back and forth across the intersection behind them in an attempt to keep the Ybaran soldiers at a distance. “Moving upstairs!” the major called over his comms, and he turned and ran up the stairs.

“Any word from House Ta’Akar?” Commander Golan asked the Avendahl’s communications officer.

“Negative, sir,” the officer replied. “We lost all contact with their security forces, as well as Commander Erbe’s platoon, as soon as the sensor disruption field became active.”

“Shield section twenty-eight is down to eighty percent,” Lieutenant Rogal reported.

“Roll our starboard side away from direct fire until the section recharges,” Captain Navarro ordered.

“Rolling twenty degrees to port,” the helmsman replied.

“All weapons tracking with the roll,” Lieutenant Rogal added.

“Captain, I’m reading a fluctuation in the Tontakeen’s number six dorsal shield,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported, “just forward of her number three missile battery.”

“Captain,” Commander Golan said, “I had drinks with several officers from the Tontakeen a few weeks ago. Her chief engineer was complaining about that very same shield generator. He was angry that the Tontakeen’s financial controller had not been willing to acquisition a new one.”

“Lieutenant Rogal, vary your targeting on the Tontakeen,” Captain Navarro ordered, taking the XO’s comments into consideration. “Every third to fifth shot should be at that shield segment.”

“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Rogal acknowledged.

“Keep an eye out, Mister Cahnis,” the captain added. “If the fluctuations become worse, let us know.”

“Aye, sir,” the sensor officer replied.

“How long until our reinforcements reach them?” Captain Navarro wondered.

“At least five minutes,” Lieutenant Commander Getty replied.

“Four Toran-class shuttles, ten men each,” Commander Golan observed. “Commander Erbe will have his hands full for the next five minutes.”

“It was a mistake not to revive all the Ghatazhak three weeks ago,” Captain Navarro said.

“Captain,” Lieutenant Cahnis interrupted, “both targets are launching troop shuttles and fighter escorts.”

“Launch interceptors,” Captain Navarro ordered. “Send them straight to the skies above House Ta’Akar. Those shuttles will have jumped to the surface by the time our interceptors are out of their tubes.”

“They’ll get at least half of those troops on the ground before our interceptors get anywhere near them,” Commander Golan told the captain.

“If Casimir had only taken a more aggressive posture weeks ago, when I first recommended he do so,” the captain said, shaking his head subtly. “We could have had round-the-clock combat air patrols over the skies of Answari, and a ring of Ghatazhak around his property.”

“That’s what Caius would have done,” Commander Golan commented.

“Caius would have arrested all the nobles and executed them on the spot, turning their houses over to any of their heirs who were willing to pledge their loyalty to him.” Captain Navarro sighed. “Casimir could use a few of his brother’s character flaws about now.”

“The Tontakeen is locking her number one missile battery onto us,” Lieutenant Cahnis reported. “They’re targeting our main propulsion.”

“Aft shield strength?” Captain Navarro inquired calmly.

“All aft shields are at one hundred percent,” Lieutenant Rogal replied.

“They’ll never make it through our shields,” Commander Golan said.

“No, they won’t,” the captain agreed. “But they can keep our point-defense otherwise occupied while they send gunships to jump within our shields and take out shield emitters. It seems our dear friend Captain Tenore is upping the ante.” Captain Navarro turned toward his weapons officer. “Retarget all main guns onto the Tontakeen’s number six dorsal shield, and fire them all simultaneously.”

“Retargeting all main guns, aye,” Lieutenant Rogal replied.

“Prepare a missile barrage for the Tontakeen as well. Twelve missiles, full yields,” the captain added.

“Aye, sir.”

“A bit much, don’t you think?” Commander Golan suggested.

“Perhaps,” Captain Navarro admitted, “but it never hurts to send a strong message. I wouldn’t want anymore ‘misunderstandings’ between us.”

“All main batteries locked on the Tontakeen’s number six dorsal shield,” Lieutenant Rogal announced.

“Fire all batteries, single round.”