Into the Breach (Empire Rising Book 15), page 19
“Right away, Admiral,” Roche asked. She paused before she turned to carry out the orders. “And what about us?”
Emilie turned to her Chief of Staff, her smile fading as determination filled her. “We are going to take every ship we have that is up to the journey and put ourselves right behind whatever Flex-aor ships are there. We can’t get back the people and ships we lost today, but we can get revenge for their deaths. Admiral Becket can be the hammer and we will be the anvil on which we’re going to smash whatever fleet Ala’ron thinks is going to attack our worlds.” The tone of Emilie’s voice made Roche, Rodgers, and her other staff officers’ faces harden as they nodded in agreement. “Now, let’s be about it,” she ordered. “The hunt is not over yet.”
Chapter 15
The Silizzeras have a lot to answer for; numerous wars and many millions, if not billions of sentients have died as a result of their shadow wars. To this day, the true cost is still unknown.
-Excerpt from Empire Ascendant 3015 AD.
Achilles, 3rd September 2509 AD, (one week later).
Within seconds of Achilles jumping out of shift space, three contacts appeared on her gravimetric sensors. Lydia’s sensor console sounded an alert to ensure everyone’s attention was drawn to them. Jonathan’s teeth clenched together. He didn’t need to wait for confirmation from the ship’s computer to know who they were. The three contacts were heading towards the same shift passage he had been about to order Achilles towards. From their line of travel, it looked like they had come from the general area of space the Farvul’vian colony had been in. “The Eaglaton ships,” he said, anger filling his voice. “They are headed for the Gift.”
“Computer confirms it, Captain,” Lydia said moments later. “They are the same three contacts we watched enter the Farvul’vian system.”
“What are your orders, Captain?” Cortez asked.
Jonathan didn’t hesitate. From their analysis of the visual data they had collected from Farvul’vian, he knew the two warships were about the size of Imperial light cruisers. The larger ship, the one with the ability to produce gravimetric anti-eddies, was closer to a battleship. Though he had no idea how powerful their weapons were, it changed nothing. “Put us onto an intercept course, maximum acceleration.”
Jonathan’s words immediately changed the mood on the bridge. Since their fortuitous meeting with Captain McMasters, they had been rushing towards the Gift. Every one of Jonathan’s officers had been working non-stop to ensure Achilles could maintain her maximum speed. It had been an exciting technical challenge. With one command, that disappeared. They knew their Captain’s resolve and the stakes at play.
“Right away, Captain,” Cortez replied, her tone matching Jonathan’s.
“Going to maximum thrust,” Scholes said at once. A single tap on his command console got Achilles moving forward. He then began to work at his controls further. On the holo display, projected courses appeared. “We will catch them just before they can reach the system’s mass shadow,” Scholes reported. “Assuming they can jump out the same distance from the system’s gravity well that they jumped into Farvul’vian.”
“Which may not be the case,” Lydia responded. “In Farvul’vian, they jumped in with other Protectorate ships. They may be able to jump out sooner then.”
“They may,” Jonathan agreed. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. They will know we are chasing them, and equally, we know where they are going. We’ll catch them here or in the next system. They will not escape us.”
“It looks like they’ve picked up our gravimetric waves,” Lieutenant Schmidt said from his tactical console. “Look, they are increasing their velocity by a few percentage points.”
Jonathan nodded. Whoever was in charge of the small flotilla realized Jonathan knew where they were headed. Unless they were going to turn back from travelling to the Gift, there was nowhere to hide.
“Shall we increase our acceleration?” Cortez suggested. “We could probably run at one hundred and two or three percent for an hour or two with minimum risk.”
Jonathan shook his head. “No, if we damage an engine, they could get to the Gift before us. They are still two weeks away. We will bring them into missile range before then. “Send the crew for an early lunch. Make sure everyone is fed. If they decide to fight, it may be a long engagement,” Jonathan ordered. With no way of knowing how powerful the alien ships’ weapons were, he would have to be careful. Simply rushing in to attack all three ships could get Achilles destroyed very quickly. As Cortez began to give orders to be passed onto the rest of Achilles’ crew, Jonathan studied the sensor readings coming in from the rest of the system. Three to one odds were not great, even if Achilles ended up having the tech advantage. He needed to find an edge.
Half an hour later, and Rutherford surprised everyone as his head snapped up from his console. “We’ve just received a communication from those ships!” He said as he spun round, his eyes wide.
Jonathan was just as astonished. It took him a moment to process what was happening. “Well, we better hear it,” he said as he gave himself a shake.
When the holo display changed, it showed an alien Jonathan hadn’t seen before. Regal, was his immediate impression. The alien had a small thin face, dominated by a large yellow beak, it’s body was a mixture of thick hairs and feathers. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the combination of how the alien looked and how it was sitting in its command chair just gave off the impression of someone of importance. The closest thing Jonathan had experienced before was when he had first seen his mother sit on her throne to receive foreign dignitaries. In an instant, she had been transformed in his eyes. The alien didn’t quite impress as much as his mother had, but it was close.
“Human ship, I am Commodore Gifosous of the Eaglaton Defense Fleet. My sensors inform me you are the same ship that visited the Farvul’vian system. Achilles, are you not? If so, then you have heard of the Eaglaton Protectorate. Why then are you pursuing my ships? State your intentions.”
“Play it again,” Jonathan requested when the short visual message ended. “How long would a reply take to reach them?” He asked after watching Gifosous for a second time.
“Ten minutes, Captain,” Rutherford answered.
Jonathan nodded. “So, these are the infamous Eaglatons. What do you make of this message?” He asked as he glanced from Cortez to Lydia.
“A ploy to distract us,” Lydia suggested. “Maybe they think they can turn us back.”
“Maybe they don’t realize we know about what their larger ship can do,” Cortez said. “Though they have to know we are suspicious of them, given how we left the Farvul’vian system. They’re probably trying to figure out what we’re doing here.”
“Well, let’s not beat about the bush with them,” Jonathan decided. “Record and send this,” he said as he gestured to Rutherford. “Commodore Gifosous, I am sorry we are not meeting under better circumstances. However, I have come to learn that a species has been spreading malicious lies about my people and our Empire. As you clearly know about Humanity and Achilles, I fear you are either the ones who have spread these mistruths, or you have been misled by them. Whatever the truth of the matter, I know your Eaglaton Protectorate has been preparing to launch an unprovoked attack against my Empire and our allies.
“I also know the capabilities of your ship and your purpose. Let me warn you that your intentions have already been made known to my senior commanders. You are approaching systems the Human Empire considers part of our territory. You will not be allowed access to them, nor especially to the Gift. You will not be able to do anything to our wormhole. I do not know why you chose to make enemies of us, but we will defend ourselves if attacked. Turn back now from your misguided intentions, and our ships will not have to fight one another.”
With Achilles slowly gaining on the Eaglaton ships, it took just under twenty minutes for another message to come back. “Your lies are impressive, Captain, at least in their consistency. However, you will not dissuade me. I have a mission to accomplish. You and your Empire are a threat to everything the Eaglaton Protectorate stands for. I am sorry you have learned of our true intentions, even as I am impressed that you have deduced what I have planned. I know the capabilities of your ship, and while they are impressive, you are no match for my three ships. Turn back now, and you need not lose your life and the lives of your crew. I would take no pleasure in ordering the destruction of your ship. Conquerors and enslavers your species may be, but I desire to see no more of your people die than is strictly necessary.”
Jonathan shook his head at the message. Gifosous’ words seemed contradictory. One moment, the Eaglaton Commodore’s tone seemed almost friendly, yet he was speaking of closing the Gift and opening the way for Admiral Lvant’s fleet to attack Bastion and the Conclave Alliance systems. “It is you who does not have to do this,” Jonathan replied. “Your species has been lied to. We are not conquerors, but liberators of species who have been attacked and conquered by the Karacknids. Your species and your allies are the ones who are about to become the aggressors. Turn back now, or I will be forced to interpret your actions as an act of war and act accordingly.”
“No matter how flattering your words, you will not be able to dissuade me, Captain,” Gifosous said. “I have my orders, and I will carry them out. Your species has brought this upon yourselves. Try to close with my ships, and I will interpret your actions as an act of war.”
“But what if you have been lied to?” Jonathan asked, a hint of desperation entering his voice. It was clear Gifosous thought himself in the right.
In his reply, Gifosous’ beak parted in what looked like a smile. “I assure you, my species has received our information on your Empire from a very trustworthy source. But, if it does prove to be wrong, and your species is what you claim, then that is something those far more important than you or I will have to sort out. I have my orders and my duty, and it seems you believe you have yours as well. Very well, Captain, it seems our fates are sealed. Whatever becomes of us, at least we can agree on this, we are each fighting for a worthy cause.” To Jonathan’s surprise, Gifosous brought a feathered hand up to his chest and then leaned over and bowed to him.
Jonathan looked from Cortez to Lydia. He didn’t know how to respond. He had grown up reading mythical stories of chivalrous knights from the Middle Ages, or samurai from Japan who fought one another with respect and honor, despite being strong enemies. The regal atmosphere Gifosous gave off, combined with his words, almost made Jonathan feel like the bad guy. But I’m not the one about to launch an unprovoked attack, he said to himself forcefully.
“You speak of duty, Commodore,” Jonathan said, anger starting to creep into his voice. “That is something my species, and particularly my family, understand well. Yet, I’ve been taught that there is more to being a naval officer and a protector of our species than simply obeying orders. One’s duty requires that an officer put the moral good ahead of his own life, and even at times, his own duty. You’re about to start a war that could lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. A war based on false intelligence. I do not know who has told your Protectorate that Humanity is a threat to you, but I give you my word, we are not.”
When his reply came, Gifosous looked even more serious than he had before. “Almost, you would persuade me, Captain. Yet, I have been warned that your species are masters at deception. It matters not in any case. Our paths have already been chosen for us. If you intend to pursue us, then our fates are already set. There’s no point wasting any more time on words. Our skill will determine what is to come next.”
Jonathan slammed a fist into his command chair. “Send the crew to battlestations,” he ordered when he saw all of Achilles’ bridge officers staring at him.
“Maybe we could transmit more of our historical data to him?” Lydia asked. “He sounds more reasonable than Admiral Lvant. And if the Eaglatons are the senior species in their Protectorate, then maybe he has more of an open mind.”
Jonathan shook his head. He recognized Gifosous’ tone. It was the same one his father had when he was certain he was in the right. “It will do us no good,” he said to Lydia. “Someone has set the Eaglaton Protectorate against us, and I fear words will not turn them back.” And if we don’t stop them closing the Gift, there will be nothing Rear Admiral Salamanca can do to turn them back, either, Jonathan feared. For if the Eaglaton Protectorate did plan to attack the Conclave worlds, possibly even under the impression they were liberating them, Gifosous’ tone suggested they had the resolve to see it through. And then they would learn they had been lied to, too late. For by then, they would have had to crush the Conclave fleet, leaving the entire sector open to Karacknid invasion.
“So then, we will stop them,” Lydia said confidently.
Lydia’s tone drew Jonathan out of his brooding. He nodded confidently, though he felt very little of it inside. “You’re right, Lieutenant, we will. Words may not dissuade these Eaglatons, but Achilles’ weapons certainly will. Let us make our final preparations.”
As soon as his crew were at their battle stations, Jonathan ran them through a number of drills to prepare them. Then, he returned to watching the three Eaglaton ships. Since talking to Gifosous, they hadn’t altered their course. As more time passed, it looked increasingly like they would reach the system’s mass shadow and jump out before Achilles could bring them to battle. A part of Jonathan wanted them to turn. If there was going to be a battle, he wanted it now, not days away in the next system. Power spikes from the Eaglaton ships as they passed the point where Achilles could have jumped to shift space indicated to Jonathan that he was going to be disappointed. He sat forward, however. Achilles was only detecting two power spikes. One of the smaller Eaglaton ships was not preparing its shift drive. Sure enough, minutes later, two of the ships disappeared. The third began to decelerate as it turned to face Achilles.
“It looks like we are going to have a fight after all,” Jonathan said to his officers. “And a fair one at that!” He had been worried about having to face three ships; now he only had to worry about one. Yet, the two other ships jumping out didn’t exactly put Jonathan’s mind at ease. If Gifosous had been telling the truth and the Eaglaton navy was familiar with the capabilities of Imperial warships, then it didn’t bode well that they were confident enough to just send one ship against Achilles. Perhaps they don’t want to risk their larger ship, he told himself. Or Gifosous think he needs the other light cruiser to escort his larger ship to the Gift. Jonathan hoped either was the case. I guess there’s only one way to find out.
“Missile launches!” Schmidt reported, surprise filling his voice. “Tracking twelve contacts inbound!”
Jonathan fought and failed to keep the shock from his face. The Eaglaton ship had opened fire at a thirty percent greater range, greater than even his mark VIIs could. As more than one officer turned to him, Jonathan quickly got his emotions under control. He opened his mouth to reassure his officer, Rutherford spoke before he could, however. “We are getting another communication from them.” Jonathan gestured for it to be put on the holo display.
“Captain Somerville, I am Captain Honras. This is your final warning, turn around and I will abort my missiles. Continue on, and we will destroy you.”
James couldn’t help but grin at the situation. “They certainly are cordial, if nothing else.” He’d never heard of two combatants exchanging so many pleasantries before battle.
“Should we say anything in response, Captain?” Rutherford asked.
“There’s no need,” Jonathan said as he shook his head. “We maintain our course. That is answer enough.”
“Shall we deploy our point defense drones?” Cortez asked.
“Yes, do so now, and launch an extra spread of recon drones. I want that light cruiser surrounded by them in case they have any other tricks up their sleeve,” Jonathan ordered. As his crew prepared Achilles’ defenses, Jonathan watched the Eaglaton light cruiser. Its first missile salvo was still thirty minutes away from entering range of Achilles’ point defenses. Achilles was also seven minutes away from being able to open fire with her multistage missiles. The question was, how soon would the Eaglaton warship be able to fire again? It’s rate of fire would be one factor that would determine the outcome of the battle.
When six minutes passed and the ship hadn’t fired, unconsciously, Jonathan began to hold his breath. Achilles could fire every six minutes, every second the Eaglaton delayed meant his ship had an advantage. Just as he counted to sixty seconds, twelve more contacts appeared on the gravimetric plot. One advantage to us, Jonathan thought. It was small, but still significant. “Open fire as soon as we come into range,” he ordered. “Then alter our heading to one three nine point two. Let’s keep them at arm’s length until we know just how effective their missiles are.” Achilles had the momentum and acceleration advantage, and Jonathan intended to use it.
“Firing,” Schmidt announced as soon as he was able. Once the nine mark VII missiles were launched from Achilles tubes, the destroyer began to alter course.
