A warning came to the Rêveur from Barren Island. Flight crew, who had hidden during the takeover, now broadcast a message that the renegade troopers were lifting in a shuttle. Alex linked to his officers and Julien.
<Captain Bonnard, I want that shuttle intact. I want those people unharmed, and I don’t want it known we have them.> Each human on the link could feel a mental pressure wave from the intensity of Alex’s anger.
<Copy that, Admiral,> Andrea responded. She wondered if one day Alex would lose his temper and someone would die of a brain aneurysm. The officers and Julien put their heads together to figure out how to pull off Alex’s orders. When their plan was set, Sheila exited formation with a second Dagger to intercept the shuttle. Several moments later, Barren Island personnel witnessed a huge explosion fifty kilometers offshore.
The Admiral’s shuttle and Ellie’s Dagger landed safely at Prima and were met by the TSF Captain and a full contingent of troopers armed with plasma rifles. Overhead shot four Daggers with angry pilots, who were daring anything or anyone else to lift off the planet and endanger their Admiral.
Before disembarking, Alex knocked on the pilot’s hatch. He stood absolutely still, waiting for it to open, despite his agitation. Finally, the hatch motors hummed and it slid open. Edouard stood aside to let Alex enter. Miko sat in her copilot seat. Her knees were drawn to her chest and tears trailed down her cheeks. When she started to rise, Alex laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother, Miko. It should never have come to this, but know that your brother gave his life so that others would live.”
“No, Admiral, don’t say that!” Miko cried out. “My brother gave his life so that you could live. Hatsuto came to believe humanity faced a horror, and you were the one to stop it. He died for you. Make sure he wasn’t wrong,” she said, anger firing her final words.
“I’ll do my best, Miko,” Alex said sadly.
“One more thing, Admiral,” said Miko, unbending from her chair and standing to face him. “Word is that when we’re done, you’ll leave New Terra with the Librans for a new home. Is that right?”
“Yes, it is,” Alex said.
“Make sure you take me with you,” Miko replied.
“It would be my honor, Miko,” Alex said, touching his hand to his heart and nodding.
Miko acknowledged his word with a nod of her own.
<Admiral, your popularity among those who dislike you grows every day,> Étienne said drily as they descended the shuttle’s gangway ramp. He was following Renée’s guidance to distract the Admiral from his present, dangerous course.
<Rethinking your promise to my mother, are you?> Alex asked.
<I have learned a new term from Julien, Admiral,> Étienne replied. <It’s called “hazard pay.” I believe I should apply for it.>
-14-
Alex’s meeting with President pro tem Maria Gonzalez was short.
“I’m going to Libre,” said Alex, blood pulsing in his neck’s extended arteries. “I hold you personally accountable for the safety of my people while I’m gone. When I’m done in Libre, Madam President, I will gather my people and we’ll leave this system. The Méridiens may not know how to defend themselves against an alien horde, but at least they don’t go around killing their own people.” Alex spun around and stalked out of Maria’s office without allowing her to respond.
Maria took a few moments to gather her emotions before preparing to meet with the government’s judiciary counsel. We may have lost your faith in us, Alex, but I will make the culprits pay—every last one of them, she thought.
* * *
The pilots snapped to attention as Alex came into the room. “Please be seated,” he said after returning their salute. He searched out Ellie. She was easy to spot … the young woman with the red-rimmed eyes. “For many reasons, today should never have happened. If I had been thinking, we would have kept up a show of force to dissuade people from this course of action. I take full responsibility for the death of Lieutenant Tanaka.”
Sheila ached to object but decided this was not the right time. If there is blame to be assigned, she thought grimly, I need my share.
“All of you have trained to fight the silver ships; you did not train to kill your fellow humans. If any of you wish to return to civilian status, I will completely understand. You need only speak to your Commander,” Alex said, indicating Sheila.
Ellie Thompson stood up and waited to be addressed.
“Yes, Lieutenant?” Alex said.
“I have a question and a favor to ask, Admiral. I understand we had to fight today to prevent our own deaths, but why did they do that?”
“The New Terrans are not like Méridiens, Lieutenant,” Alex replied. “They are not directed since birth to cooperate with their fellow humans. The extent to which our society grants freedom to individuals allows some to seek power, to gain it by any means possible. Days ago, we removed a corrupt man from office, and the people who still support him wanted his influence and power reinstated. They believe I am an impediment to their plans and thus they sought my death.”
Ellie thought about the Admiral’s words, the concept foreign and yet familiar. “Hmm,” she mumbled, “no better than that monstrous sphere.”
Alex recalled Ellie’s first statement. “You had a favor to ask, Lieutenant.”
The Admiral’s question shook her from her reverie, and she was embarrassed to have kept him waiting. “Yes, Admiral. I would like to attend evening meal aboard the Rêveur and speak for Lieutenant Tanaka.”
“Commander, please arrange transport for the Lieutenant and any crew of the Money Maker who wish to attend,” Alex said and departed.
* * *
When Alex returned to the Rêveur and exited the starboard-bay airlock, he was nearly bowled over by Renée. She threw her arms and legs around him and held him as tightly as she could. The shuttle crew politely edged their way around the couple.
Alex held Renée until her limbs relaxed, and then he set her down. She hadn’t said a word. They walked with arms around each other down the corridor to take the lift back to their cabin.
<Someday I want a world of our own,> Renée sent. <No silver ships; no mad Terrans.>
<If our new world grants independence to all, then there will be madness, and there will be beauty. Creativity always entwines the two. But perhaps if we are careful, then maybe we can limit the madness.>
Alex had time for a refresher and an hour to review the status of their flight preparations. As he touched base with his key people, their opening statements were sentiments of gratitude for his safe return and sorrow for the loss of Hatsuto. The contrast of the two sentiments left Alex conflicted. What had begun as a simple rescue operation of some lost cousins had morphed into a fight for the human race. That fight was still critical to him, but the safety of the quarter-million people under his care had become his central desire. Now he was forced to protect them from their fellow humans. Can this get any more complicated? Alex wondered. His chronometer app chimed for evening meal, interrupting his musings, and he rose from his desk to offer Renée his arm.
Meal was a subdued affair. The room was at capacity, with the pilots and flight crews from both the Freedom and Money Maker making the trip. Tomas, Lina, Eric, the Captains, and the Commanders had come as well.
When crew removed the serving dishes from Alex’s and Renée’s table, he sat back, folded his arms, and sought Ellie’s eyes. She was waiting for him, and he nodded to her.
no disservice to Lieutenant Tanaka, whom I wish to honor. After the fight today, I could not make sense of many things. I spoke to my fellow Independents … I mean, Librans … and found that they, too, were confused by the events of today. Humans attacking humans, and a man sacrificed his life. What are we to make of these strange events? The Admiral spoke to the pilots this afternoon, and it caused me to think much on his words. We are humans from different worlds, fighting to save the human race, but what society will we create for ourselves one day—one that preserves life at any cost and imperils itself … one that grants freedom to the extent that individuals imperil one another? This evening, I would honor Lieutenant Tanaka, who exemplifies how our new world might behave. He was New Terran, and he valued his freedom, his independence, but he did not value the sanctity of life above all else. He held a greater belief, and when the future he believed in was threatened, he took action. He fought those who tried to destroy that future, a future without silver ships. And when the only thing he had left to give was his life, he did so. Today I sought only to survive. Lieutenant Tanaka sought to ensure all of us would survive. I will live my life in honor of his memory.”
Alex was the first one on his feet, offering Ellie honor for her story in the Méridien fashion. She could barely make him out through the tears that coursed down her face. As her peers stood, they obscured her view of him. She nodded her thanks for their tribute and sat down. Hands reached across the table to touch her and comfort her.
When the audience had taken their seats, Alex remained standing. “A brief memorial for Hatsuto will be held tomorrow at 7 hours in the starboard bay, and it will be broadcast by the SADEs to all ships. There will be no star service. TSF has informed us that no remains were recovered. The ships returning to Libre tomorrow will be underway at 18 hours. All preparations should be finalized by 14 hours. Please report any issues through your Captain, who will inform the SADE. We will exit outside of the Arnos system and remain outside until my plans may be actualized.”
Alex glanced at Renée, who rose, and the two of them left the meal room.
* * *
Samuel Hunsader and Clayton Downing sat ensconced in a salon at the CEO’s palatial home. Downing had settled his portly bulk into a luxurious armchair chair while he delivered the news to Hunsader of the death of his nephew and the failure of their plot. Hunsader paced in front of Downing, his footsteps muffled by the thick pile of the hand woven carpet.
“Sit down, Sam, relax,” Downing said. “Enjoy some of this marvelous o’bour you’ve procured. We’re in the clear. As you know, all the participants are dead. Our Strikers were wiped from the sky and—” Downing paused. “Sorry again, Sam, about your nephew. He was a brave boy. But to my point, when that upbraided Captain lost his temper, he removed our remaining people aboard that shuttle he’d shot down. In our favor, he destroyed the three Strikers parked on the shuttle apron at Prima’s secondary terminal. Can you imagine loosing missiles on a city terminal? He’s certifiable. By my count, that’s ten of our fighters, a shuttle, and over forty of our people. We can use this against him—paint him in the media as having gone alien, a man who no longer cares about his own people.”
Downing would have said more, but four TSF troopers with plasma rifles, led by a Colonel, burst into the salon. For a brief moment, Hunsader wondered how they had gotten past his security, both electronic and personal. He would soon be shocked to see how many TSF troopers waited outside on the grounds, pinning his security people face down on the ground and securing their hands behind their backs.
“Samuel Hunsader and Clayton Downing,” the Colonel announced, “it gives me the greatest pleasure to inform both of you that you are under arrest.” While the Colonel’s shoulder-mounted vid recorded his pronouncement of their rights, the troopers roughly secured the two men, despite their vocal objections.
“You have nothing against us, Colonel,” Downing said. “That silly excuse for an Admiral made sure of that.”
“Oh, I see,” the Colonel replied. “You’re confused by that media announcement of the downed shuttle full of TSF troopers … the one that actually was forced to land at Barren. The same one that was full of people who turned evidence to avoid life sentences. It seems they implicated people who in turn produced proof of your involvement.” As Hunsader started to object, the Colonel shoved him out the salon’s doorway, saying, “Save it for your trial.”
* * *
In his suite, Alex worked through final preparations. He ordered Andrea and Sheila to transfer six Daggers, pilots, flight crew, and armament to the Unsere Menschen. <Commander, choose a flight leader who will not hesitate to defend our ships,> he told Sheila.
<I choose Lieutenant Dorian, Admiral. As odd a match as those two were, Robert and Hatsuto became good friends. Aside from Miko, I don’t think anyone was more incensed over Hatsuto’s death than he.>
<Make it so, Commander, and make sure Robert knows to keep our people safe—no exceptions, no hesitation. Captain, contact the contractors and have them prepare a bay on the Unsere Menschen to service the Daggers. Make this a priority over all other work.>
Alex’s next comms were to Director Stroheim, the liner Captains, and the Captain of the remaining freighter. <Sers, I’m transferring six Daggers to the Unsere Menschen. The contractors will prepare a bay directly opposite the station hookup, which you may not need too much longer. Lieutenant Dorian has command of the fighters. He will guide you in the disposition of your ships around the city-ship to provide maximum protection. Please obey his directions in this regard.”
Alex released the Captains from the comm but kept Eric on, sending, <Director Stroheim, take good care of our people.>
<We’ll await your return, Admiral. If I may suggest, we need to search for a new home. This one is unsuitable for our people.>
<And I would agree, Eric. I have an idea that I will share when I return,> Alex said, ending his comm.
Alex made two final calls, the first to his family, which was uncharacteristically short as Alex’s mind was elsewhere, and a second call to the President.
<Madam President,> Alex began when he reached her through the FTL comm station, <we launch tomorrow at 18 hours. I’ve made a final preparation that I need to share. Six Daggers will be stationed on board the Unsere Menschen under Lieutenant Dorian’s command. He has orders to defend the Libran flotilla at any and all costs.>
Maria could sense the anger still simmering beneath Alex’s words. That their relationship had reached this state saddened her. “Admiral, I want you to know that Hunsader and Downing will be prosecuted and more than likely will receive life sentences in prison.”
<They’re no longer my problem, Madam President, they’re yours … they’re New Terra’s problem.>
“I wish to personally apologize to you, Alex, for not being more proactive. We failed as a people to protect our society and our values. The lesson has been learned. My hope is that you trust us again someday to deal well and fairly with your people.”
<It may come in time, Maria, when we are all safe and my people have found a new home.>
After they signed off, Maria recalled Alex’s last statement. He had called her by her first name. She held that small gesture close in her thoughts.
-15-
The flotilla left New Terra for Libre with little fanfare. The Money Maker led the way, setting the limit of the flotilla’s acceleration. The Freedom and the Rêveur, with the Outward Bound attached, shadowed the freighter.
Alex had been assured by President Gonzalez that she had absolute control over the Strikers stationed on Niomedes, Cressida, and Sharius. Nonetheless, Alex had Sheila stand by, ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Now that Alex was responsible for the lives of so many, trust existed in short supply.
When the flotilla cleared the orbit of the gas-giant Seda, the system’s last planet, without an incident, Alex called a strategy meeting with his officers. Sheila and Lazlo participated via comm while Mutter mirrored the Rêveur’s
holo-vid display, which Alex, Andrea, and Tatia had gathered around.
<Admiral, do you still plan to free the creatures in the silver ships?> Andrea asked, hoping Alex had come to his senses.
<Yes, Captain,> Alex replied. <At the very least, I want to talk to the inhabitants.>
<Commander, perhaps you can sway our fearless leader,> Andrea sent in exasperation, but when she looked over at Tatia, the expression she expected to see was absent. <Oh, not you too, Commander?>
<What am I missing?> Sheila sent, unable to see the faces of the others.
<Before everyone gets too excited,> Tatia said, <let me explain. In the beginning, I thought our Admiral was crazy too. Your pardon, Sir.> Since Alex only raised an eyebrow in objection, Tatia hurried on. <Let me show you something. Julien, if you will please, the telemetry that we’ve been examining.>
<On display, Commander,> Julien replied.
<You’re viewing buoy telemetry from our first silver ship encounter,> Tatia said. <This is the point at which we’ve scored multiple hits with nanites-2 missiles and are waiting for them to work.> Julien slowly advanced the display of the fight between the two Daggers and the silver ship. <Our Daggers break away. The Captain heads above the ecliptic and the Commander heads below.>
<And I won the prize,> Sheila groused.
<Yes, the silver ship chases the Commander,> Tatia said. <Now here’s where it gets interesting. Julien, add your overlay.> Within the mirrored holo-vids, a series of translucent shades of color enveloped the three fighters. <What you’re seeing is an overlay of Julien’s analysis of the system’s gravitational fields,> Tatia continued. <They aren’t mapped to any one body, but represent the cumulative gravitational effect of the system’s bodies in that area. Red represents the strongest field and segues to deep blue, the lowest strength. Now watch carefully. The majority of the fight takes place in bands of orange.>