The Black Guardians: Book 4 in the Black Guard series, page 1
The Black Guardians
Book IV in the Black Guard Series
By
C. R. Daems
The Black Guardians: Book IV: in the Black Guard Series
Copyright © 2022 by C. R. Daems
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from C. R. Daems.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-7362282-3-4
Check out all my novels at
talonnovels.com & crdaems.com
Table Of Contents
1 - Dreams and Nightmares
2 - Departing the Nest
3 - South Lake Naval Station
4 - Testing
5 - The First Hurdle
6 - The Helix Alliance
7 - The Second Hurtle
8 - Tinker Man
Back to Duty
9 - Graduation
Decision Time: Fly or Fix
10 - Unexpected Choices
11 - Reunion
12 - Reporting for Duty
13 - New Job, New Challenges
14 - Flight Certification
15 - Admiral Noam
16 - Jax Military Committee - Progress
17 - Helix Alliance – Progress
18 - What If? Problem Two
19 - Graduation
20 - Unscheduled Leave
21 - Combat Training
22 - The Skulls
23 - Sky Lake Advance Fighter Training
24 - Jax Committee, Helix Alliance
25 - Sky Lake Guardian Candidates
26 - New Candidate Training
27 - The War Horse
28 - The League of Skulls
29 - Not What They Appear
30 - Unexpected Company
31 - UNTESTED TEENAGERS
32 - Debriefing
33 - Analyzing Rumors
34 - The Besra Expansion
35 - Returning from Leave
36 - Tordova Assignment
Malin Commonwealth
37 - RECOVERY
38 - MALIN DEBRIEFING
39 -Back on the War Horse
40 - A Change of Plans
41 – Malin, Advanced Fighter Pilot Training
Raiders Interrupt Training
42 – Malin, Double Trouble Squared
43 – Sorting Fact from Fiction
44 – New Assignment
45 - Skulls, New Players
46 – Ceetana, in the Grus League
47 – Ceetana, Bedtime Story
48 – Rumors, Lies, and Facts
49 – What's Next
50 – Answers
51 – The Demise of the Black Leopard
52 – Mostly Good News
53 – A Guessing Game
54 – The Demise of the Crouching Tiger
Commander Shaw
Captain Blatt
Commander Shaw
55 – Mostly More Good News
56 – A Call to War
57 – A Unified Clarification for War
58 – Waiting for Action
59 – Party Time
Karambit – Captain Hadt
Besra – Commander Quinn
Karambit – Captain Hadt
Besra – Commander Quinn
60 – Outpost – What Now
61 – Jax Committee – What Now
62 – Sabretooth – New Assignment
New Command
New Arrivals
The Entry
63 – Alliance Meeting
Blackwood System
Chancel System
Safort System
Haven System
Kaycia System
64 – Outpost – A Thorny Decision
65 – Helix Alliance Meeting
66 – Prison Break
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
67 – Assassins at Work
Admiral Noam
68 – What Now?
Commander Caitlin ‘Kat’ Quinn
1 - Dreams and Nightmares
When Admiral Olivia Geller, Chief of Naval Operations, and General Michael Lerman, Chief of Army Operations, entered the Jax Military Committee conference room, it was dark except for the early morning light coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. General Lucas Noam, Chief of Special Operations, sat with his eyes closed, legs stretched out with his loafers resting on the conference room's ebony table. He looked asleep, his plush leather executive chair tilted back so he was almost prone. Making the scene even more surreal, he was dressed in brown slacks, and a casual long-sleeved shirt rather than his army dress uniform.
"Lucas, Lieutenant Williams told Michael and me that you canceled all of today's meetings. What is going on?" Geller had not raised her voice, but it had a definite icy bite to it. Lerman, on the other hand, looked amused.
Noam spoke, but his eyes stayed closed. "Last night, I was sitting alone with Zeus, my Great Dane, having a glass of Louis XIII cognac in front of a log fire when I dozed off and had a wonderful dream. It was some years from now and I was retired, in good health, and enjoying life. Zeus and I spent our time traveling, visiting my sons and daughters and my grandsons and granddaughters, staying at upcountry resorts, and puttering at home on new and creative endeavors. I started a small company for entrepreneurs interested in developing new products–"
"Are you working up to telling us you are planning on retiring, or do you actually have a point to your ramblings?" Geller asked. She shook her head in frustration, but her tone had a touch of amusement as she pulled out a chair and sat facing Lucas. Michael did the same, but his expression had gone from amused to interested.
"Unfortunately, I do," Noam said without changing his position or opening his eyes. "My beautiful dream faded and I was back at work with you. Nothing appeared to have changed. We were still responsible for the Jax military, until I realized Jax no longer had a civilian government. The three of us were responsible for the military and civilian components of the nation. Every man, woman, and child were either on active duty or involved in some aspect of the war machine. Factories no longer produced anything that was not directly supporting the war effort."
He held up a hand to stop any comment. "As the years passed, the nightmare morphed into a vision of Hell. The cities had been reduced to rubble, overrun by rabid animals competing with adults and children for food, out-of-control diseases from the rotting bodies and lack of medicine and medical professionals, peeling skin and deformed bodies from radiation, gangs–"
"Stop, Noam! Enough, please." Olivia closed her eyes and rubbed her face as if to cleanse the images from her mind.
As she did, Noam removed his feet from the table, sat upright, and opened his eyes. "Today, we…yes, we must decide Jax's future. The Outpost, Valhall, and Lariw triad of systems are no more than three years, five at most, from forming an alliance with the other five systems in the Helix cluster of inhabitable systems. After that, within five to seven years of forming that alliance, they will have the ability to create a formable navy under the pretext of providing security for the systems in the Helix Alliance. That, in turn, will finally provide the triad with the power to hassle Jax's merchants, isolate Jax, and eventually create a situation to declare war on Jax. Like a pack of wolves on the hunt: isolate, cripple, and kill. In my opinion, we have as little as eight to as many as twelve years to find a solution. To do nothing is Jax's road to the underworld."
They sat in silence, each person lost in his or her own thoughts.
Noam was right, Lerman mused. Outpost had been a sparsely inhabited colony when a group of pirates conquered the local inhabitants and eventually set up a government. When Outpost discovered Jax, they had raided the planet frequently, forcing Jax to expand its military. The raids continued to increase when other raiders conquered Valhall and Lariw and aligned their newly-formed governments with Outpost.
Eventually, Jax had managed to develop a navy and army that made the reward of raiding Jax not worth the risk. To this day, a hostile peace existed between the Outpost, Valhall, and Lariw triad and Jax. Outpost knew a war with Jax, even with the help of Valhall and Lariw, could result in the destruction of all four systems, but a Helix Alliance – which would not include Jax – would present an opportunity to finally defeat Jax.
The committee has been ignoring the problem, Olivia realized. The do-nothing policy they had been pursuing would lead eventually to Noam's nightmare. She jumped up, opened the door, spotted Lieutenant Williams twenty meters down the hallway, and shouted, "Williams, tell whoever is at the reception desk, we need kaffa, lots of it, and now!" She stepped back into the office and smiled at Noam. "Well, Lucas, that was a horrible story, but one we needed to hear to get us to stop our collective dreaming and do what they pay us the big credits to do–make sure Jax is free to determine its future."
Several hours after midnight, they sat quietly, staring out the windows at a city shrouded in shadows.
Geller broke the silence. "Noam, you have always been the force behind our evolution, which has kept us fr om stagnating. Right now we are trying to force a solution, and I'm afraid that Michael and I are more of a distraction. I suggest you take a leave of absence, relax, travel, visit family, start a hobby, and enjoy nights with Zeus and your Louis XIII cognac. Forget the committee, war, and Jax, and give your brain time to consider the problem. In the meantime, Michael and I will take care of the day-to-day business."
"Olivia is right," Michael said. "The problem is ours to solve, but she and I believe you are better suited to develop a solution. Forming a committee seldom produces anything but terrible compromises that exacerbate the problem, and a leak about such a committee would alert our enemies and decrease the time we have to implement a potential solution. Come back when you have a solution, and together we will implement it."
2 - Departing the Nest
Much of my future was preordained the day I was born because of the Jax Conscript Law. That law required that each family with three children send one to the military, and the selected child must be between six and nine years old. At the time of my birth, my youngest brother, Neil, had been ten and my oldest brother, Sean, twelve, which meant I was the only one that could be eligible. My only choice was whether I wanted to enlist in the army, which required the child be between six and seven, or the navy, which required the child be between eight and nine.
I had been a surprise baby. To my parents' credit, they treated me as special but were very careful not to spoil me, knowing the Jax military schools were difficult and my level of success would depend on my performance. So, from an early age, I was aware of my destiny and immersed in learning about the various military services and their potential career opportunities. I wanted to be able to make an informed decision and to have a goal to work towards. I could choose between the army or the navy, and to some degree prepare for the specialty I thought I would want based on how well I applied myself in my studies. In the army, for example, average-performing candidates were diverted into the regular army, candidates who performed above average went into the commandos, and those whose performance were judged to be outstanding went into the Black Guard. Therefore, if a candidate thought he or she wanted to be a Black Guard, the candidate would have to strive to be one of the top students during his or her initial eight years of training.
The navy was similar. Average performing candidates were diverted into the general navy, above average to cruiser crew, and outstanding performance to cruiser Bridge crew.
Early on, I was exposed to the various army and navy services and to the specialties within each service. I learned those assigned to the regular army served in a variety of units: infantry, mechanized units, artillery, support, etc., while those assigned to the regular navy would be serving in sections that maintained the cruiser's environment, weapons, food preparation, etc.
By age eight, I had decided on the navy, and by age nine had set my sights on Bridge crew. I was fortunate during my formative years that I had the full support of my mother, father, and two brothers. They never suggested the path I should take, or helped me to do the work, but were always there to give advice and provide suggestions on where to look for help.
As I approached my tenth birthday, I felt as prepared as I could be to start my new career. I had no delusions about what it would take to achieve my goal but was looking forward to a career in the navy and informed my father he should notify the authorities.
"Are you sure, Caitlin? You have three months before you’ll be ten and legally have to report," my father said.
"Yes, Father," I said and gave a small giggle. "If we drag it down to the last few days, it will make it feel like an execution date rather than the start of my career and an exciting adventure. I'm actually feeling sorry for other children my age. They don't have a clue about their future or choices. On the other hand, I got to choose my career, know I will be gainfully employed for the next twenty-five years, and will have a good retirement package afterward."
We were eating breakfast a week later when there was a knock on the door. A look at the monitor in the kitchen showed a tall, good-looking man in a dress navy uniform.
As my father rose and went to answer the door, I grabbed my mother and gave her a tight hug, more for her sake than mine. I was well prepared to leave home, while I thought her less prepared for me to leave. I gave her a kiss, then turn to find Neil and Sean standing there waiting. We hugged.
"Look after Mom and Dad," I whispered. "They will need your support. I'm prepared to go and looking forward to a new adventure, but I'm afraid they will be feeling unnecessarily guilty that I have to go into the military. Remember, you two, I will be visiting from time to time, and I will hold you responsible," I warned, twisting my face into what I thought was a stern-looking expression.
"I actually feel sorry for the navy, Sean," Neil said while squeezing me harder. "The Quinn family is releasing a force of nature into their ill-prepared organization."
"They will probably send her back to us when they figure it out," Sean said with a snort. "Caitlin, I expect you to write home often." Sean gave me a brotherly kiss on the forehead and a tight squeeze. "Everyone will want to know what you are doing. Although you are not living here, you are family, and we are here if you need anything."
"I'm going to need a medical evac if you two don't stop squeezing," I said as my father walked into the kitchen with the man at the door. His dress uniform had a gold star above a gold half-inch band, and a gold trident with wings insignia on his left breast. From my studies, I knew that meant he was a lieutenant, junior grade, with cruiser Bridge duty. Just where I want to be assigned, eventually, I mused.
"Lieutenant Bevert," Father said. "I would like you to meet my wife Eveleen, my sons Sean and Neil, and the girl of the hour, my daughter Caitlin."
"A pleasure to meet you," Bevert said, giving a small bow. "Well, Caitlin, you look prepared to leave."
"Yes, sir. I've been preparing for nine and a half years and ready to get to the good part," I said and smiled, trying to keep this moment positive. After all, I wasn't going to prison, or the hospital, or being punished.
"The good part?" Bevert said cautiously.
"Yes, when my uniform looks like yours," I pointed to his gold pin. "Bridge duty on a Jax cruiser."
Bevert gave a chuckle and smiled. "I guess you have been preparing and are ready to get to the good stuff.”
My father took that as an opportunity to swoop me off my feet, bringing me face to face with him and kissing me before giving me a tight hug. "Write often. We will miss you."
"I will," I said as he returned me to the floor. I walked over to Lieutenant Bevert. "Time to leave," I whispered, "before we all start crying."
Bevert pulled out a black device, tapped it, and a silver disk emerged, which he handed to my father. "Thank you, Mr. Quinn. This acknowledges your compliance with the Jax Conscript Law."
He gave a small bow and followed me out the door. I waved as we entered the silver-colored vehicle, capable of holding six to ten persons. It looked like a civilian limo, except it had the navy insignia on the front door and writing on the back of the vehicle stating it was the property of the Jax navy. At present, there was only a driver, Bevert, and me inside.
"You are a very brave young lady," Bevert said after the driver had the vehicle moving.
"Not really, Lieutenant Bevert. My father told me about the Jax Conscript Law when I was old enough to understand and helped me research the military service and options. Therefore, I understood my choices and have been preparing for years to make the most of my military career. After doing my research, I chose the navy and understand what I must do to get the assignment I want.
“We all have to leave home eventually. I just have to leave a few years sooner. I will be able to visit on my leaves and can move back when I retire. So, I'm looking forward to the challenge and to a satisfying life in the military." I put a frown on my face and stared at him. "Unless they lied to me, and I've been sold into slavery." I crunched my face like I was going to cry.
Bevert choked out a laugh. "No, the military is a very satisfying life and has plenty of opportunities to have fun." He sobered. "Are you sure you aren't thirty and not nine or maybe a substitute for the Caitlin girl?"
We laughed on and off all the way to his next pickup stop. The laughter was welcome, and although it didn't stop the ache in my chest, it helped.
