Interstellar War (The Pike Chronicles Book 5) (19 page)

Anki ran to the door as it slid open to reveal a tall man with long gray hair and beard encompassing a rugged face, and threatening eyes.

“Grandfather!” said Anki, leaping at the man, whose warrior-like features instantly softened as he caught the little girl.

“Hello, little one,” said Jonas with a smile, lifting up his granddaughter and kissing her on the cheek.

“You’re scratchy,” said Anki, giggling and wrapping her arms around Jonas’s neck. “Why do you have a beard anyway?”

Jonas laughed. “It is a warrior’s beard.”

“Jon doesn’t have a beard, and he’s a warrior.”

Jonas glanced over at Jon. “Yes, but he is not a Reiver. But now that I think of it, maybe it is time that he grows one. It might suit him.”

“Father, stop,” said Breeah, greeting her father. “I like Jon’s face the way it is.”

Jonas set Anki down and gave his daughter a hug. “You should reconsider. I think it would do wonders for his appearance.”

“Do I have a say in any of this?” said Jon, stepping up and gripping the old Reiver’s hand in a firm handshake.

“You can say whatever you want. You’re the Admiral,” said Jonas.

“Come, let’s sit down,” said Breeah. “There’s food on the table. I’m sure you are hungry, father.”

“Hungry? Child, I could eat non-stop for days.”

They sat together at the table, where a traditional Reiver stew waited.

“I understand the colonies have fallen to the Kemmar,” said Jon. He had already learned about what had happened, but wanted to hear Jonas’s version of the events.

“Only the corporate worlds. Serves them right, the fools. They wasted their ships attacking New Byzantium, and were defenseless when the Kemmar came. Idiots.”

“I don’t like the Kemmar,” said Anki, with an angry expression on her face.

“Nor do I, little one,” said Jonas.

“I’m told three systems fell to the Kemmar,” said Jon.

“That’s right,” said Jonas, in between bites. “The jump gate is in the Amboss system. We’re lucky the Kemmar moved to occupy the other two, or their entire invasion force would have been there. We could never have activated the gate if that was the case.”

“And Kevin gave New Byzantium the jump system technology?”

“He did, but I don’t know what good it will do them. They’re almost as stupid as those on the corporate worlds.”

“Why do you say that?”

Jonas stuffed another spoonful of stew in his mouth, and wiped off the sauce that had dripped onto his beard with his free hand. “They gave us four jump ships, but the captains were insubordinate. One Captain’s stupidity caused his ship to take unnecessary damage that ultimately lead to its destruction. The others broke ranks, deciding they knew better. They tried some ridiculous flanking maneuver, while we struggled to fight off the Kemmar and keep them away from the science vessel working at the gate. If you ask me, those men should be stripped of command.”

“But you succeeded in activating the gate.”

“Just barely. I’m telling you, if the Diakans took any longer we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

Jon swallowed a spoonful of the chunky Reiver stew. It was made with the strange New Byzantium vegetables that Jon was starting to recognize, even if he still hadn’t acquired a taste for them. They had stocked up on the produce before leaving the colonies. The stew was hardy, however, and the cloned tomatoes used for the sauce did a good job of improving the taste.

“How many jump ships has New Byzantium built?” said Jon.

“They managed to build eight by the time we left. They gave us four, and kept four for themselves. They may have more by now. They had some problems integrating the jump system with their newer ships, so the process took longer.”

Jon had run into similar problems as he tried to retrofit his fleet with the jump system. For some reason some ship designs were easier to retrofit than others. Even with Chief Engineer Singh available, the job took longer than he had hoped. Nonetheless, the number of jump ships in his fleet grew steadily. The Chaanisar and the Diakans were working hard to convert as many warships as possible.

Singh was also experimenting with smaller jump system designs. There was no getting around the fact that they were in an arms race. Right now, Jon had the early lead, but that could change in a flash. Jon needed to capitalize on his success and keep the Juttari on the defensive, both militarily, and technologically.

“Do you think New Byzantium can withstand a Kemmar attack?” said Jon.

“I don’t know. New Byzantium has the jump system now. It will help, but the Kemmar are savage creatures. You should have seen them at Amboss. They willingly sacrificed warships to gain a strategic advantage. We brought a minelayer with us which dropped smart mines all around us. The Kemmar just drove their ships right into the mines, sacrificing them to make way for the rest. Does New Byzantium have that kind of resolve?”

“They’re defending their homes. I’m sure they’ll do what it takes.”

“Perhaps. Let’s hope that it is enough.”

“The Kemmar might not even make it to New Byzantium. Now that they know about the jump gate, I think their priorities might shift somewhat.”

“Yes, now that they’ve learned the value of the jump gate, they will try and seize it.”

“It won’t be that easy. Diakan and Chaanisar warships have been dispatched to secure the gate. I’m confident they can handle the Kemmar.”

“Yes. Now, enough of the Kemmar. When do we attack this Widow’s Triangle?”

“Father, maybe you should reconsider joining the attack. You and your crew have been through a lot lately,” said Breeah.

“Nonsense. Reivers live for battle. Sitting around here while other’s fight for us? Now that would be exhausting.”

Breeah shook her head.

“We have some minor repairs left to complete, and we will be on our way. Shouldn’t be more than a day, two at the most.”

“Excellent! My crew will be happy to hear it.”

Tallos gazed out of General Dathos’s window, at the armada assembled before him. Thousands of ships. Some were Diakan, some Chaanisar, some plain human. All would soon fight together under one man. Jon Pike. A man he had long been obsessed with destroying. How could he have been so mistaken?

The Great See’er had foretold of Pike’s rise, yet he had had the blasphemous belief that the prophecy was incorrect. He had even worked to intercept the prophecy himself, to prove as much. Yet here, before him was irrefutable proof that the mistake was his, and his alone. Jon Pike had risen, just as the Great See’er had foretold. Now, this fleet, his fleet, was assembled in the vanquished territory of Diakus’s eternal enemy, the Juttari. Here it prepared to drive a spike through the center of the Juttari Empire. The prophecy was unfolding before his eyes.

Tallos had always prided himself in his intelligence. He had always shown promise, excelling at everything he had ever done, first at school, and then in service to Diakus. He had risen quickly, and attained the rank of general faster than most. His intelligence blinded him, however, to the importance of his assignment. He had not understood the honor bestowed upon him when assigned to the Hermes. He had scoffed, believing it a demotion, rather than a laurel leaf. Diakus had given him an opportunity to guide the prophecy, and all he did was work to destroy it. He had been a fool.

Logic had always guided him, and now that logic showed him he was mistaken. The only option left was to accept the truth, and do his part in what was to come.

“I have placed two hundred warships under your command,” said General Dathos. “You will report directly to me.”

“Yes, Sir. I understand,” said Tallos, turning to face the General. Even though Tallos had attained the rank of General, Dathos was still the most senior officer in the fleet and maintained supreme command of all Diakan forces present. Tallos felt Dathos scrutinize him. He knew that Dathos had learned some of what had taken place on the Hermes. He couldn’t change any of it. He only hoped to redeem himself in the coming battle.

“It is a difficult thing, being subjected to human command,” said Dathos. “But this is our fate, and we must do our part for the future of Diakus. Do you not agree?”

“Diakans have sacrificed throughout history to ensure the future. We are no different,” Tallos replied. He hoped that this was all Dathos would subject him to. A little Diakan dogma, and he could be on his way.

“I know you have had
disagreements
with Admiral Pike, on the Hermes, and after. I expect you have buried your contempt, and silenced your anger.”

“Yes, General. I admit that I had desired vengeance against Jon Pike. Those feelings have since been quashed. Nothing will interfere with the performance of my duty.”

“I am prepared to accept your word as a Diakan General. If you betray my trust, your life will be forfeit.”

“You need not fear, General. I may have wavered from the true path, but I understand my error, and will not repeat it.”

“Good. These humans are arrogant creatures. It is easy to view them with contempt. I have given you this opportunity to redeem yourself because I understand how difficult this can be. I, as well, have struggled with this prophecy. The idea of a species so unworthy rising to power borders on the absurd. We need to be vigilant, lest we allow our own arrogance to control us. While we may follow Jon Pike, we always serve the Great See’er, and Diakus. We must never forget that.”

Follow Jon Pike. How can I ever swallow those words? And yet, I must accept them. For the good of Diakus, I must accept Jon Pike’s rise. Have I not had more difficult tasks in life?

Tallos bowed his head. “The Great See’er is wise beyond comprehension.”

Dathos bowed his head too, as tradition dictated. “By Her will.”

“By Her will,” repeated Tallos, signaling an end to their discussion. When Tallos left the room he felt relieved that Dathos had spared him. He had two hundred ships under his command. It was a decent start.

“Siege ships are in position and reporting ready for action, Sir,” said Commander Konos. “They’re awaiting your orders.”

“What is the fleet status, Commander?”

“All commanders have reported in. Fleet is ready to engage the enemy.”

Jon studied the fleet deployment on his tactical screen, the blue icons numbering in the thousands. He looked up at the main viewscreen, which displayed a panoramic view of his fleet. A sea of warships filled the screen, all arrayed in formation, waiting to cross through the jump gate into the pyres of battle. He contemplated the jump gates themselves. They were ancient creations, their builders long forgotten. How many battles had these gates witnessed over the eons? How many armadas of this size, or larger, had crossed through? A handful? More? What was his place in the eternal march of history? Would he merit a footnote? A paragraph? A chapter? Would all of it be forgotten one day, just like the ancient gate builders had been?

“Sound General Quarters,” ordered Jon, displacing his musings about history with the urgency of the moment.

“General Quarters! General Quarters! All hands man your battle stations,” announced Konos over the ship wide comm.

“AI, what is your status?” said Jon.

“I have successfully inserted myself within the vehicles, Admiral. I do not foresee any complications.”

“Good.” Jon tapped his console and the faces of First Colonel Brock, and General Dathos appeared. “Gentlemen, what is your status?”

“All Diakan ships are at full readiness,” said Dathos.

“All Chaanisar are battle ready,” said Brock.

Jon nodded. “Stand by.” The two men blinked off the screen. Jon tapped the screen again and Jonas appeared. “Jonas, what is your status?”

“As always, the Reivers are ready for battle.”

Jon couldn’t help but smile. Jonas had grown on him, and now he actually liked the old man’s brashness. “Stand by, we are about to begin.”

“Understood,” said Jonas, blinking off the screen.

Jon looked back up at the main viewscreen, still displaying the waiting fleet. Thousands of ships. Millions of personnel. All about to dispense their judgment on the Juttari Empire. He considered his strategy one last time. Attacking through the jump gate was a gamble, but one Jon was willing to take in favor of speed. In the days since the attack on Meybaris, the fleet’s engineers successfully retrofitted several more ships with the jump system. It increased the size of his jump squadron, but not enough to justify postponing the attack.

If every ship in the fleet was jump capable, Jon could attack the Triangle simultaneously from multiple directions. Attacking only through the jump gate created a natural choke point that would benefit the Juttari defenders. Because of this, the siege ships were incredibly important. They needed to punch through the defenses quickly, making room for the rest of the fleet. Failure was not an option.

Jon pushed any remaining doubts aside. It was time to act. “Commander Konos, commence operations,” ordered Jon.

Konos relayed the order to the fleet commanders. On the screen, the space directly in front of the fleet began to shimmer and take shape, as the jump gate came to life. The two siege ships stood before the gate, like mechanical worshipers at the alter of the ancients. Their engines came to life and they lumbered toward the gate. Traveling side by side the two ships seemed unstoppable, practically an invasion force in and of themselves.

Entering the jump gate, they began to steadily disappear into the shimmering field. The fact that both siege ships, as big as they were, could enter the gate side by side, was a marvel. Watching the two giants serenely travel through, Jon could only imagine the contradiction of the other side. Those two ships had just entered hell itself.