Pax Imperia (The Redemption Trilogy) (47 page)

The remaining warships of the Confederation 8
^th
Fleet exited faster-than-light, their own guns targeting the remaining defence platforms that were only just coming into range.

*****

Captain Vickers blinked as the view-screen went a fiery red, as another defence platform was eviscerated by the weapons-fire from the warships. “What the hell?” he muttered, as there seemed to be a full-scale war going on within the System, and they had not been invited to the party. Shielding his eyes from the brilliance of another explosion, he felt the
Warspite
being violently buffeted from the blast, even though it was many kilometres distant.

“Operations,” he practically shouted to be heard across the bridge. “Have you identified those warships yet? As they seem to be rapidly running out of things to annihilate, I would rather not be next on their to-do list,” he added, under his breath, shielding his eyes from the annihilation of yet another orbital defence platform that was now nothing more than an expensive pile of slag.

“Captain, I’ve got a confirmed match—it’s the
Relentless
and the 8
^th
Fleet.”

Vickers mouth fell open in shock; the orbital defence stations were firing on Confederation Warships. “Bring us about,” he roared furiously. “I want a targeting solution on the nearest orbital platform that is firing on
our
ships.”

“Captain Vickers,” Robert interrupted, having arrived on the bridge only moments before, shocked at the destruction going on all around them. “I must protest in the strongest possible terms—those are the property of the Callas Defence Force.”

Vickers turned his furious gaze on him for a moment, but still that was long enough to pin him to the wall. “I very much look forward to hearing your explanation regarding why your
defence
force just opened fire on Confederation Navy warships, Mister Calis. But that explanation will have to wait as I am a bit busy now.” At a nod from his Tactical Officer, Vickers took his seat, and with a quick glance at his own display, ordered. “Commence firing.”

*****

Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Miranda observed the short argument between Vickers and Robert, speechless, but she had to do something to stop this madness. “Captain,” she urged hurrying to his side. “We don’t understand what is happening, it would be foolish for us to take sides now until we have more information.”

“I think you’re forgetting which side you are on, lass,” Vickers said. “Those are Confederation Navy ships out there being fired upon. People that I have known for many years. I’ll be damned if I sit here idle, while I can do something to help them.” He continued on in a more quiet voice, so not to be overheard by anybody else. “You might also want to remember that Jon Radec is on the
Relentless
, as last I heard it’s his flagship now. So maybe the question that you should be asking yourself is what is our Emperor doing this far out here, and why is the Callas Defence Force firing on
him
?”

Miranda had no reply to that question, just stared helplessly at the main view-screen watching the insanity continue to unfurl all around them.

*****

“Captain, that seems to be the last of their stationary orbital defence platforms. Sensors are detecting a number of smaller ships still in the area, but most are either heading to the surface or fleeing into deep space,” the Operations Officer on the bridge of the
Relentless
reported breathlessly.

“Damage report?” the Captain inquired.

“No damage reported Captain, but it would have been an entirely different matter if our escort frigates hadn’t arrived when they did. Another minute and we wouldn’t be here.” The officer smirked. “The Callas Defence forces don’t have any other weapon that would even dent the hull of the
Relentless
.”

“My Lord?” the Captain turned back to Jon, who had remained motionless throughout the entire exchange. The Captain wondered if the man had even noticed what had happened, as he seemed preoccupied ever since he had stepped onto the bridge prior to their departure. The question at least seemed to rouse him from his thoughts.

“They have an orbiting docking station I presume?” Jon asked absently.

“They do, my Lord.”

“Then dispatch destroyers
Warlock
and
Ajax
, target the station and await my further orders.”

“My Lord?” the Captain queried appalled. “It’s a civilian station, it’s unarmed.”

“More the pity for them,” Jon replied unmoved. “You have my orders, now carry them out.”

At a nod from the Captain, Jon turned to the Communications Officer. “I want a public broadcast on all frequencies to everybody in this System. I have a message for Robert Calis, wherever he may be hiding—”

“My Lord, we are receiving an incoming message from the
Warspite
,” at this the officer looked up in surprise. “They seem to already be in orbit around Callas Prime.”

With their abrupt departure from Sirius, following the receipt of the message, Jon had completely forgotten about the
Warspite
, with Jason and Miranda on-board. Perhaps they could shed more light on the contents of the message that he had received? “Acknowledge it,” he ordered briskly.

“My Lord,” Captain Vickers insisted with a smirk, and an ornate bow that would have made any sycophant proud. “We didn’t expect your arrival. And may I say what a spectacular arrival it was.”

Jon had to consciously not roll his eyes at the absurd introduction, for it seemed like Vickers had changed very little over the past ten years. “You can skip the flattery,” he insisted. “It doesn’t become you. Now where are Jason and Miranda and, more importantly, Robert Calis? He and I have some unfinished business.”

“I am unsure of the location of Lieutenant Edgar, but Miss Sun and Mr Calis are both here, on the bridge with me,” Vickers replied curiously.

“Put them on.”

A moment later, Robert Calis stepped into view, his expression furious. “What is the meaning of this? The Callas Star Cluster is an independent Republic within the Confederation. You have no right to enter our borders without express written permission, which I refuse by the way, and then to open-fire without any provocation—”

“Shut it,” Jon snapped, halting him. “I am placing you under arrest on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and treason. You don’t need to say anything. It won’t make any damn difference anyway, as I’ve already determined that you’re guilty. Furthermore, you will have absolutely no need for any legal representation, as they can’t help you when you meet your Maker. But I might make a Pastor available to you to put in a good word on your behalf.” Jon practically spat the words at him. “On the condition you hand over my wife to me, alive and unharmed, this very instant.”

Everybody on the bridge froze at his words, looking from one man to the other, the shock clearly visible on all their faces.

*****

“Jon,” Miranda replied hesitantly, looking first at him, then Robert. “I know that you’ve been under a lot of pressure and are still grieving over Sofia and Marcus, but this is crazy. Robert doesn’t have—”

“Jason suggested otherwise,” Jon interrupted her, continuing to fix Robert Calis with such a searing gaze that anybody caught between the two was likely to be incinerated on the spot.

“What?”

“Ask him,” Jon spat out. “Ask him what he has done with Sofia,” he demanded, not breaking his gaze for an instant.

“She doesn’t belong to you. She never has. She should be allowed to make her own choices, but you’ve never given her the chance.” The words came not from Miranda, but Robert Calis. His feet were planted firmly on the deck, his expression unwavering, as a battle of silent wills seemed to take place between the two men. Although still separated by hundreds of kilometres, the distance did not seem nearly enough.

“Give her to me,” Jon ground out each word, as if he was pounding each to dust. “If you don’t it will not just be your death on your conscience, but many others—for I will start with the orbiting docking station. Once I have reduced that to scrap, I will start on the cities below. I will destroy them one by one, while you watch on helplessly. Maybe then you will start to understand just how deadly serious that I am.”

“I’ll kill her first,” Robert Calis insisted hastily.

Jon looked like he was about to have an epileptic fit, as first he went a bright red, then purple, before he finally closed his eyes, trying to rein in his rampant temper. Even the bridge crew looked on in shock, taking a step away from Robert Calis, on the off chance Jon tried to leap through the view-screen and strangle him on the spot. Vickers shook his head in disbelief, unable to comprehend such stupidity, while Miranda just stared, wondering if she really ever truly knew the man.

Finally Jon seemed to manage to get his temper under control, opening his eyes once again. “Fine,” he waved his hands, motioning for Robert to proceed. “Go ahead. Kill her.”

Robert Calis just stood there, mouth agape, speechless.

“You haven’t changed,” Jon sighed. “You are still the starry-eyed, idealistic youth that you were back on the
Imperial Star
. Always quick to jump feet-first into a situation without thinking it through first. You’re so in love with the idea of being in love with her, that you wouldn’t have the first idea of what to do if that love was ever reciprocated. You’re in love with a dream. A boyhood fantasy, for that person doesn’t exist.”

“You are one to speak, as you’ve never truly loved her. Simply using her as a means unto an end,” Robert insisted.

“You’re quite right,” Jon said. “I’ve no love for the Princess, never had.”

“So I was right,” Robert gloated. “All you cared about was the wealth and power.”

“No,” Jon disagreed. “I never cared for that either. She can have it all back with my blessing.”

For the first time Robert Calis seemed dumbstruck, unsure. Miranda looked on with pity, for he had never truly understood what she had been trying to tell him. Now he would have to learn it first hand, from a man that understood it, all too well. “Then what is it that you want?” he finally asked, confused.

“I want my wife, Sofia, who I had thought taken from me forever, back safely. Not the Imperial Princess, or even the Confederation President, as I never particularly cared for either, but, instead, the woman I love. The one who promised to stand by me no matter how difficult things were. A woman who I held in my arms as she was dying, and all she cared for was that her father and I were safe. A woman who refused to leave my side, knowing it would be certain death for her, yet insisting she would rather die than live without me. That is who I want.”

The silence was so deep nobody dared breathe, fearing they might shatter it, while Robert looked on helplessly, not knowing what to say. Sparing him a glance filled with sympathy, Miranda stepped forward, offering a way out for him.

“Robert, you said that Sofia should be allowed to make her own decisions. Then let her decide. I assume she is on Callas Prime, at your personal residence?” Robert just nodded wordlessly. “Then Jon, we’ll meet you there, and let her decide. Is that acceptable to you?”

Jon just nodded before the view screen went blank. Sighing, Miranda turned to face Robert, but he would not meet her gaze.

“I’m sorry. I tried so many times to tell you, but I didn’t know how to say the words. I promise you that she is safe. I would never have harmed her.”

Miranda just shook her head, brushing past him, leaving the bridge in the direction of the shuttle bay.

As Robert turned to follow her, Vickers caught him by his arm, staring at him for several seconds. “I cannot figure you out, son. You either have balls of steel, or you’re as stupid as stupid comes. I think perhaps both.”

*****

Standing outside of his personal residence, in the late afternoon sun, waiting for the arrival of Jon Radec, Robert felt a cold chill pass over him. Looking up in surprise, as the sky was a bright golden colour with not a cloud visible, he shielded his eyes with his hand and simply stared, and then cursed loudly. Miranda, standing next to him—as the two of them had arrived together in her personal ship—simply laughed.

“I don’t see what you find so funny,” Robert spat out. “This was never part of the deal.”

“Actually, we never specified just how many people could accompany him,” Miranda pointed out. “Although I must admit I never thought he would bring along quite so many.” The two of them watched on wordlessly as the sun was blotted out by ship after ship descending from the upper atmosphere. The glow caused by the heat of re-entry seemed to surround them all with a halo. At a rough count she guessed at least fifty ships were descending towards them. The assault shuttles, clearly visible by their much larger size, the numerous smaller fighters in close escort formation—at least three squadrons of them.

“He’s brought an entire brigade with him,” Robert cursed. “I’m going to—”

“Do absolutely nothing,” Miranda insisted calmly. “I don’t need to remind you that it was you who kidnapped his wife and locked her away for so long? Anyway, you are exaggerating, I would suggest it is a reinforced company, a battalion at most,” she suggested with upturned lips.

“You find this amusing?” Robert replied, looking at her aghast. “He’s invading my planet. A sovereign Republic.”

“I’m sure he will return it to you later,” Miranda smirked, taking a step forward towards the group of shuttles that had just landed and were busy spewing out squad upon squad of heavily armed marines. Recognising Jon she took a step forward, the marines melting out of her way at his rapid-fire orders. “Hi Jon, we weren't expecting quite so many of you.”

“I wanted to discourage him from suddenly changing his mind,” Jon frowned, looking around at the imposing buildings, interconnecting halls and atriums that comprised Robert Calis’ residential complex. “Major Thompson,” he addressed one of the imposing marines standing next to him. “Order a company of marines to secure the perimeter. Nobody enters or leaves without my express permission. Then come with me.”