Alpha One: The Kronan (32 page)

The explosion rocked the Halo 7, sending a shudder down the center of the ship, giving Mather just the chance he needed. He pushed three marines up directly into the line of fire, deploying a smoke bomb to add to the confusion. As one marine fell, the smoke lifted and marines faced the Kryl directly with just ten meters between them.

“Kravos, show yourself!”

Hoskins moved to the front of marines and stood up. This was now a face-off. Kravos responded in kind and brought himself to the fore.

“It’s over Kravos. That last explosion was your ship. She is gone and your other cruisers are preparing to move out. Let’s end this now. We have an agreement in place to end this fighting.”

“I came here for Carter. Do not preach to me about an agreement which is mine and mine to break.”

“Your position is untenable. You are outnumbered and we have proven we can kill you. You have thirty seconds to surrender.”

Kravos did not respond. Pausing briefly, he reeled back and grabbed a Kryl assault rifle in one continuous movement. The marine sniper did not wait for him to fire his weapon and discharged his plasma burst directly into Kravos’ forehead.

Then there was silence. The four remaining Kryl drooped their weapons and surrendered. Their leader was dead.

Hoskins moved forward and stood above where Kravos had fallen.

“Sergeant Mather. Take the remaining Kryl to a detention cell.”

Hoskins moved forward through the badly damaged corridor, opening a comm. link to his XO as he passed into the detention section.

“Jean-Luc...Kravos is dead. The situation is contained down here. What is the status of the two Kryl cruisers?”

“One has left, the other is static.”

“Contact them and tell them to prepare to receive the surviving Kryl and their dead. Advise them that we are adhering to the Earth-Kryl Agreement and that hostilities are over. Request confirmation that they will follow suit. I am going to see Carter.”

All was quiet. Hoskins knew today a small but important victory had been won. Protecting Carter was symbolic, as was the fact that Carter must accompany them on their long journey. He stepped inside the cell.

“It is over Jake. Are you okay?”

“My head is killing me, Sir; but yes. Is Kravos dead?”

“Yes.”

“I felt him die, Sir. He was in my head and then suddenly his consciousness just floated away. Have the other Kryl vessels gone?”

“Yes. We have secured the hostages from Kravos’s ship.”

“Hostages?”

“Yes. Major Carla Stevenson and her colleague. It seems that being kidnapped is her forte.”

“Carla is here! Can I see her?”

“In good time. See a medic first. Then get cleaned up and fit to report to duty. Your position as Comms Officer is no longer available. I am afraid we had you replaced when you left the ship but I want you on this next mission. It is an important one. Despite the trouble which follows you around, I still believe on balance that this is your home. This will be a long sortie and I am not sure yet in what capacity we can best utilize your skills. This is your ship and I want you to stay. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Sir, of course. What can you tell me about the mission?”

“Nothing more at present. Things will become clearer in due course.”

The new Governor of Earth, Safrec was hastily appointed by the Queen as the next Kronan in line to become her chosen one. She mourned the loss of Morvalt but he had done his job. Earth was taken and soon they would feed.

Safrec arrived on Earth twenty-four hours after the Earth-Kryl Agreement was ratified. He and his entourage were led into the ECG Government building but he alone entered President Roslyn’s office.

“President Roslyn, I presume?”

“Yes. You are the new Kronan, Safrec?”

“I am but there is nothing new about me, I can assure you.”

“I would like to extend a hand of friendship in the interest of pursuing the spirit of the agreement. I...”

“Enough. There is no need for pleasantries. Please show me your draft plans for the rotation of your population for feeding.”

Roslyn was angry but held his ground.

“Safrec. If this is going to work, there needs to be an understanding between us. I will lay out how we intend to deliver on our side of the agreement. As we will deliver, your part is to verify that our plans will give you what you require. These plans are not in draft. They were adopted and are in compliance with the agreement.”

“I will not exchange in gesturing nor will I accept your rule of law. We will abide by our obligations once we are satisfied that you are in compliance. Let us not get carried away with ourselves. You are defeated and your planet is ours to do so as we wish. Right now that means we will allow you to continue to self-govern as long as you provide the food source. How do you intend to do this?”

“Random selection of persons aged sixty or over, with sound mind. One hundred million will be selected, once a quarter and they will be delivered to ten central processing locations, having first been filtered at sub-stations throughout the planet. All aged sixty-plus citizens, including all members of Alpha and the ECG, will be eligible for selection, including myself. We will deliver the first batch to the central processing ports within one month. The Kryl can collect directly from these locations. Finally, those filtered out will be no longer eligible for selection.”

“Why do you need to carry out a filter? Only the Kryl can determine who will be rejected. All one hundred million should be delivered to the Kryl directly. You must have the first batch ready within one week.”

“We will filter on the basis of demographics, specifically in terms of whether children will be affected. Those with family ties will be filtered out. We will not have the facilities in place within a week. A month seems to be in the spirit of the agreement.”

“You will deliver within one week or we will select indiscriminately. You may sort in terms of demographics but you will not filter out. There are other issues which we need to factor in order to facilitate the best quality source. All one hundred million within one week, Mister President or this agreement will be voided.”

* * * *

Admiral Koenig sat at his desk, five-hundred meters below ground level. This was his new home. From here he would continue to command Alpha. He selected Admiral Yamoto as the man most diplomatically suited to run Alpha in an official capacity on the surface. Yamoto’s Alpha would comply with the Earth-Kryl agreement and would be a façade to the real operation. Koenig surrounded himself with his closest friends and allies, including his two most trusted colleagues—Admirals Kohn and Clarke. They would continue their inner circle of power.

The facility was huge and completely undetectable from the surface. Over one hundred and fifty thousand Alpha personnel, together with nearly ten thousand civilians in the form of scientists and other specialists could be entombed in the facility for up to five years. The only necessity for any person to return to the surface was to communicate with outside agencies and to maintain a link with the Contingency Fleet in the Styros Cluster. The control of surface access vested solely with Koenig.

“So, we are here, gentlemen.”

“We have everything we need. It is a bit clinical but we will just have to get used to it.”

“I agree my friend.” Koenig addressed Koln, “We need to constantly remind ourselves of why we are here and of the need to preserve the integrity of this facility. The fleet will come home soon and then we can return to the surface of our beautiful planet.”

“If that reaches beyond five years?”

“Chris. I know you have been the most reluctant of my close friends on this matter but here we are and here we stay. If five years comes close, then we will find a way to restock or we ration. Neither of which is an issue right now.

“I must advise you that I spoke to Roslyn yesterday just before we left Alpha HQ. He is aware of our existence and the full capabilities of the Contingency Fleet.”

“Was that wise? Roslyn is a real politician. He is not the most trustworthy source.”

“He is also the leader of our planet. We have an obligation to make him aware of our existence. Let us move on. Jonas, do you have an update on the contingency fleet?”

Admiral Koln stood and activated the desktop holo display.

“There are twenty-five additional ships on route to the Styros Cluster—all travelling separately. They include, the Halo 7, which was yesterday involved in two post agreement battles—the first with Morvalt and the second against Kravos. Both are now dead.”

“Hoskins is a good commander and will provide a good deputy to Admiral Martin. People like him will bring our salvation to us. Very well, let’s close for now. We are going to be here for a while gentlemen. I suggest we make good our surroundings.”

Jake saw the medic and returned to his quarters, showered and dressed. When Carla arrived, the doors opened. They embraced and held each other in their arms for a brief moment before Jake invited her in.

“Not bad for a Lieutenant. No window though. I guess that will come later.”

“Ha. Ha. Okay, I guess I should salute you. How the hell did you make Major so fast?”

“Did you have no faith in me? Of course I have been promoted—I slept with all the Admirals!”

Jake smiled. They embraced again, kissing passionately this time before Carla broke off their embrace.

“I have some bad news to tell you...Steve is dead.”

“Oh, Christ. When…how did he die?”

“In true Steve fashion. He took on a squadron of Malchian Arrows. When his ship could take no more and there was no means to escape, he crashed his Jump Ship in between two cruisers, destroying both of them.”

“Then I guess he died having achieved what he wanted.”

“Yes, he did. I am so very sad. I did not love him like that anymore but we were together for a long time. I miss him.”

“I know...you have every right to feel upset and mourn his loss. Jesus Christ! Isn’t it so typical of Steve to have gone out this way?”

“I worry about you . I know you are going away for a long time and I know why but I can’t say. Just promise me you will keep safe.”

“Me...I am not the one staying here with the Kryl!”

“Maybe not now but you will meet them again someday. I have said too much already. Oh, what the heck… you are joining a Contingency Fleet who will lie in wait until the time is right to come back and retake the planet.”

“How the hell did you know that?”

“I sat in a room with the CIC, his two Chiefs of Staff, and Harrington. Koenig told us. Then he told us not to tell anyone.”

“Don’t worry. I will not share your secret. I guess we will be told soon anyway. My God, promoted to Major and hanging with the CIC. That’s impressive for a first year graduate.”

“Don’t mock me. I have been lucky but it has not been easy. In a way, I am party to the decision process which formed the agreement and that makes me feel physically sick.”

Carla went on to detail the content of the agreement and explain her part in the process.

“This arrogant bastard, Kravos decided to kidnap you so he could get to me. I think we have both had a rough time. Carla—I love you but I guess we will soon be apart again.”

“I am leaving in about two hours.” Tears ran down her face as the words drifted from her mouth.

“Then I guess we will need to make the most of the next two hours.”

* * * *

Jonathan Hoskins was in his ready room having asked not to be interrupted. He was recording his personal log.

“...and one day the fleet will be ready to face the Kryl...
Yes, what is it?”

Commander Jacques walked in.

“Sorry to disturb you. I just want to discuss our mission. It seems the crew know as much as me.”

Hoskins sighed. “I am sorry Jean-Luc. I needed to get clear of the Kryl before I told you what was really going on but now is as good a time as any. Before I do...do we know when the Senate’s shuttle will arrive?”

“It is due imminently. Would you like a chat with them before they go?”

“No, you can send them on their way. We will hold off our little chat until we are underway if that’s okay. I presume that Major Stevenson is with Carter?”

“Yes, she certainly is.”

* * * *

Carla and Jake embraced for the final time in private. He smartened his tunic before opening the door to his quarters.

“Let’s get you back where you should be, Major. Your ship awaits.”

The two lovers walked side-by-side as they moved down the ship to the hanger deck. Neither wanted to say anything for fear of spoiling their last moments together.

They arrived at the hanger deck just as the senate shuttle completed its landing procedures. Lieutenant Colonel Harrington and Commander Jacques were there already.

“Ah, you must be Lieutenant Carter. I guess we have to thank you for the cacophony this afternoon?”

“Yes, Sir. Although I hope you will not hold me personally responsible?”

“Of course not. I am just glad we are all okay. Are you ready Major?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Carla turned to Jake and held both his arms ,catching his eye for the briefest of moments before releasing him. She turned towards Commander Jacques and saluted Harrington followed suit and the two-senate officers boarded the shuttle. Carla turned and blew a half-covered kiss to Jake as she entered the shuttle and doors closed. The shuttle lifted off immediately and the two Alpha officers stood to attention as she departed.

“Okay, Lieutenant Carter. We have not had a chance to speak since you returned. I am obviously pleased to have you back. You are a good officer. Both the CO and I want you on the bridge although there are now no Comms positions available. How would you like a spell as Junior Weaponry Officer?”

* * * *

Hoskins continued his personal log.

“To my wife and son. All I can say is that I am sorry. One day I will be home again and then my journeys will be over. Please be safe and look after each other. I hold the heartfelt belief that the Kryl can be defeated. We have seen enough of this today and in the past few weeks to know that this is possible. I will stop at nothing to achieve this and to bring my crew and this ship home.”

Satisfied that the log entry was complete, Hoskins left his ready room and approached his command station.

“Helm, take us out, maximum cruising speed. Heading: the Styros Cluster.”

* * * *

Jake Carter sat at his new station—the Weaponries section on the bridge and monitored the unfamiliar controls in front of him.
This was it now
, he thought.
I am a Jump Ship pilot no more. Now I am a Bridge Officer.