Machines of War: A Military Space Opera Adventure (Descendants of War Book 5), page 1
MACHINES OF WAR
DESCENDANTS OF WAR: BOOK FIVE
G J OGDEN
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
The battle of Arminius
Chapter 2
To hell with diplomacy
Chapter 3
Experimental surgery
Chapter 4
Genetic memories
Chapter 5
A bad atmosphere
Chapter 6
Faithful companions
Chapter 7
The bowels of the Slum
Chapter 8
A matter of faith
Chapter 9
Surge nightmares
Chapter 10
The underground
Chapter 11
The First Minister
Chapter 12
Cold storage
Chapter 13
I am One
Chapter 14
It’s like a reflex
Chapter 15
The Arkatrix
Chapter 16
Out of breath
Chapter 17
Imperixo Qurrat
Chapter 18
The last stand
Chapter 19
It’s not right
Chapter 20
The final frontier
Chapter 21
Lessons from the past
Chapter 22
The Shadow Realm
Chapter 23
Docking procedures
Chapter 24
A battle of wits
Chapter 25
Transformation
Chapter 26
We will become gods
Chapter 27
Grave risks
Chapter 28
Bugle call
Chapter 29
Neutral no more
Chapter 30
Coming clean
Chapter 31
The Vanguard
Continue the journey
More by G J Ogden
About the Author
Copyright © 2022 G J Ogden
All rights reserved.
Published by Ogden Media Ltd
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by Laercio Messias
Editing by S L Ogden
www.ogdenmedia.net
CHAPTER 1
THE BATTLE OF ARMINIUS
“Lieutenant Curio, you have the CIC,” said Commander Dalton Reeves, barking the order at his operations officer as he bustled toward his ready room, with Major Katee Kane at his side. “Yes, sir,” replied Curio, jumping to attention. Like a schoolchild who’d been yelled at by the teacher for daydreaming in class, Reeves’ sudden announcement had caught the erudite Eyrhu officer off-guard.
Maintaining a furious pace, Reeves almost walked into his ready room door, impatient for it to slide open, then hurried to his desk and activated the computer terminal.
“Computer, open a channel to Jean Moulin. Maximum security protocols,” Reeves said, drumming his fingers on his desk. “And show me tactical feed One-Alpha-Seven-Four.”
“Security check required,” the computer intoned in its dull, lifeless voice. Reeves placed his hand on the terminal and waited for the computer to scan both his palm print and his retinal pattern. “Identity confirmed, Reeves, Dalton William, Commander, Concord Station. Channel open to secure contact, Jean Moulin.”
“Do you think she’ll answer?” Kane wondered, standing next to Reeves with her arms folded and a concerned expression furrowing her brow.
“If the rebels aren’t paying attention to the most significant military engagement of this war so far, then I don’t know what the hell else they’re doing,” Reeves replied.
A spinning holo logo composed of six elongated diamonds in a star pattern appeared to the side of the main holo viewer. The fact it was flashing steadily told Reeves that the connection had yet to be accepted.
“Computer, where’s that tactical feed I requested?” Reeves asked, momentarily turning his attention away from the holo channel to the other request he’d made.
“Processing…” the computer replied.
Kane tutted and shook her head. “Would it be so bad if we tore out this dumb mainframe and installed an old gen-fourteen AI from before artificial intelligence was banned?”
Reeves huffed a laugh. “You mean the same AIs that became self-aware and spawned the Obsidians, who are now trying to kill us, alongside the Sa’Nerra and Progenitors?”
“That base AI code also created Ambassador One and Three, so it can’t be all bad,” Kane said, shrugging, “and it would save us the pain of waiting for this piece of crap computer to complete our requests.”
“I think we have enough AIs to contend with as it is,” Reeves replied, smiling.
The computer finally finished processing Reeves’ order, and a wide-angled view of a massive military engagement in space appeared on the holo viewer.
“Holy shit, how many ships are there?” Kane took a step back to soak in the view more clearly.
“Four thousand, seven hundred and forty-eight military vessels began the engagement above the Eyrhutii prime world, Arminius.”
Reeves glanced left to see Ambassador One in the open doorway to his ready room. He was about to ask how the sentient AI had gained entry without even pressing the door chime, before remembering that there were few technological barriers that could stand in her way.
“Come in, Ambassador, not that you need an invitation.” Reeves waved the android over.
“Apologies, Commander, old habits die hard,” Ambassador One replied, stepping inside the room and turning her glowing eyes to the holo image. The display had now split into multiple parts, showing different aspects of the massive battle that was taking place in Eyrhu space.
“How many of those four-thousand seven hundred ships are Sa’Nerran?” asked Kane, her brow scrunched up even tighter.
“The joint Eyrhu and De’Vaught armada totaled two-thousand three hundred and seventy-four ships at the beginning of the engagement,” One replied, plainly.
“That’s exactly half the total number in the battle,” Reeves said. He had also now folded his arms tightly across his chest, as his XO had done.
“Yes, Commander, and that is no coincidence,” the android replied. “Once the allied armada surged in, additional Sa’Nerran ships immediately emerged from Shadow Space in order to exactly even the odds.”
“Why not send more?” Kane asked. “Why just match their number, when they could easily outnumber them?”
“They do not need more, nor do they wish to reveal their true numbers,” the android replied, striking a suddenly more ominous tone of voice. “Nevertheless, it appears clear that the Imperator has significant reserves.”
“How many more ships it has in reserve is what we need to find out,” said Reeves, studying the battle unfolding at the Eyrhu homeworld. Already several hundred vessels had been destroyed, and from the scan data that was being relayed via the probes Ambassador One had secretly tapped into, the fight wasn’t going their ally’s way.
Suddenly, the comm link to their Rebel Six contact, known only as Jean Moulin, was established. The holographic star emblem morphed into the silhouette of a humanoid figure, though Reeves couldn’t tell if the shadow was a man or woman, or even what race it was.
“Apologies, Commander Reeves, I was detained on another matter,” said the intentionally disguised voice of their agent on the inside of the rebellion.
“That’s okay, Jean, I’m sure you have a lot on your plate too,” replied Reeves. “Are you seeing the tactical feed I forwarded through your secure channel?”
“Yes, Commander, though I wish I could say it made for happy viewing,” the rebel contact said. “The Eyrhu-De’Vaught armada has already lost twenty-percent of its ships, while Sa’Nerran vessels that are damaged or destroyed simply get reinforced from Shadow Space. It’s a tactic we’ve seen many times before.”
Reeves watched as an Eyrhu task force led by a Sagax-class capital ship was pulverized by a trio of Sa’Nerran Heavy Destroyers, supported by a dozen Skirmishers. The lead destroyer was familiar to him; some of the scars covering its battle-hardened hull had been earned in combat with the Invictus. In other parts of the holo feed, the Imperator’s forces were tearing through the De’Vaught and Eyrhu ships with similar ease. The Sa’Nerran weapon systems, which had been dramatically enhanced by the Progenitors, were simply too strong for the allies.
“Forgive me for speaking plainly, Jean, but why aren’t the rebels surging in to assist?” Reeves wondered. “If the Eyrhu homeworld falls, the rest of their colony worlds won’t be far behind.”
“Our forces aren’t ready for a large-scale confrontation yet,” Moulin replied, without hesitation. It was difficult to tell due to the distortion, but Reeves d idn’t think the rebel contact had taken offence at his question. “Until we are fully prepared, the rebels will continue to use guerilla tactics, and strike the Sa’Nerra where they are weakest.”
“Guerilla tactics will not succeed,” Ambassador One cut in, again speaking plainly and without her usual cheerfulness. “The Eyrhu and De’Vaught have already lost dozens of worlds. We must strike at the heart of the Sa’Nerran base of power; at Shadow Space itself.”
“I don’t disagree, Ambassador, but it’s the best we can do right now,” Moulin replied. This time, Reeves detected a hint of resentment, though it could have merely been frustration at her inability to have more of an impact on the war. “The rebel forces are growing in number and skill. When the time is right, we’ll be ready.”
“What about Bastion?” Kane said, glancing across to Ambassador One. “They must also be monitoring this, knowing it won’t be long before the Imperator turns its yellow eyes to the core federation planets?”
“Bar a few communiqués from the Federal Government, contact with Bastion has been cut off,” replied Ambassador One. “Consequently, I have been unable to reach Commodore Jana. However, I have monitored a huge militarization along the tendrils of Shadow Space inside federation space. It is reasonable to assume they are preparing for an invasion.”
“My network can confirm that the Bastion Navy has established a vast array of listening posts and torpedo defense grids at all key worlds, where Shadow Space intersects Bastion Space,” Jean Moulin added. “What I don’t know is whether it will be enough.”
“Any news from the Bukkan Kingdom?” Reeves said, also addressing Ambassador One. “Gruba is still insisting the Bukkan won’t get involved, but while they might be a bunch of self-serving capitalists, they’re certainly not cowards.”
“The probes inside the Bukkan Kingdom that I have gained access to suggest there has been no further militarization since the Imperator issued a warning to Ambassador Gruba in council,” the android replied.
“I agree, my network has also seen no increase in military activity from the Kingdom,” Jean Moulin added, “and we have had very few Bukkan recruits to the rebel cause. It looks like they’re hoping the Imperator will stay true to its word, and leave them out of it.”
Reeves shook his head again. Despite the fact the Sa’Nerra had already defeated the Quarr, made the Skemm a vassal and was close to subjugating the Eyrhu and De’Vaught, the mercantile Bukkan had remained on the sidelines. This was despite the Kingdom possessing arguably the most powerful war fleet in the six realms.
“Gruba will have to see sense sooner or later,” Reeves said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just hope it doesn’t take the obliteration of the Eyrhu to hammer that message home.”
An alert tone sounded and Reeves instinctively checked his buzz. However, nothing new had registered on the device, or on his main computer console.
“Commander, I’m receiving word that Na’Vreth, the De’Vaught Holy Planet, is being bombarded,” said Jean Moulin, her voice urgent. The alert had evidently bled through the comm link from wherever the rebel contact was located. “It appears to be a massive attack, on a scale even larger than at the Ehryu prime world.”
“Surely, the Sa’Nerra can’t have enough ships to fight two major engagements at the same time?” Reeves hit back, though he knew it was wishful thinking to believe otherwise.
“So much for trying to conceal their numbers,” Kane quipped. Reeves’ XO then scowled at the computer console. “Wait, the De’Vaught ships at Arminius are leaving the battle and surging away.”
“How many ships?” Reeves stared into the tactical holo of the battle that was still raging on at the Eyrhu homeworld. Surge flashes were popping off all across the system, like a cascade of hundreds of supernovae.
“Seventy percent so far,” Kane replied, but Reeves could see that the torrent of surge flashes had not abated.
“That’ll leave the Eyrhu completely outmatched,” Reeves said, checking the updated scan readings on his console. “The Sa’Nerra will outnumber them two to one, if not more. It will be a massacre.”
“The De’Vaught will not abandon their holy world,” Ambassador One cut in. “By attacking Na’Vreth now, the Sa’Nerra have divided the allied forces. It is an effective tactic.”
“That’s a damned cold way to describe what just happened, Ambassador,” Reeves replied. The android had sounded almost admiring of the Imperator’s move.
“War is a cold business, Commander, as your ancestors knew well,” Ambassador One hit back, the glow behind her eyes seeming to have diminished. “Now, the Eyrhu homeworld is certain to fall, and the six realms are a step closer to defeat.”
Another alert chimed, but this time it was accompanied by a vibration that rattled Reeves’ left hand. Checking his buzz, he saw it was a security report stating that the Imperator had been seen leaving his embassy. Cursing under his breath, he dialed in Sergeant Calera and activated the link.
“Sergeant, I just got a report that the Imperator is on the move. What’s your status?”
“The Imperator is heading to the council chamber, with a full honor guard, sir,” Sergeant Calera answered. “I have two squads of Enforcers in pursuit.” As ever, the station’s security chief was on the ball.
“Stay with them, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Reeves replied, tapping his buzz to close the link before Calera had a chance to respond.
“Cana the Wise has called an emergency assembly,” said Ambassador One, the backs of her eyes flashing. “I believe we already know why.”
“I must also go, Commander Reeves,” said the shadowy form of Jean Moulin. “I’ll be in contact again soon.”
The silhouette vanished and Reeves was left staring at the holo image of the encounter at the Eyrhu homeworld. Even without assessing the latest figures on his console, it was clear the battle was already lost. Unlike the proud Quarr, or the tenacious Bastion Navy, the Eyrhu would not throw their lives away in an unwinnable fight. Soon, they would signal their surrender, giving the Imperator yet another huge victory. The war was developing even faster than he’d anticipated, and so far, the Sa’Nerra had appeared unassailable.
“We must get to the council chamber,” said Ambassador One, breaking the dread silence that had fallen over the ready room.
“To hell with the council, we need to get back out there,” Reeves said. “We have to get inside Shadow Space and figure out how to tear it down. It’s the only way to stop the Sa’Nerra just waltzing into whatever system they choose with a war fleet.”
There hadn’t been a single moment where diplomacy had made a difference to the Sa’Nerra, and Reeves didn’t want to waste another second in a pointless round of debate with the pompous delegates of the six realms.
“All in good time, Commander,” the android replied. A brightness had returned to her voice, which was at odds with the dark scenes that were still being fed through the tactical holo from the doomed Eyrhu homeworld. “We must continue to act as normal. The Imperator cannot suspect we are planning an incursion into Shadow Space.”
“I’ve half a mind to storm into the chamber and slit that bastard’s throat,” Reeves said. He knew the ambassador was right, but he didn’t want to hear it. All he wanted to do was fight.
“Killing the Imperator will change nothing at this stage, Commander,” Ambassador One replied. “But you dying today will.”
Reeves let out a weary sigh then met his XO’s eyes. She looked as beleaguered as he felt. “Fine, let’s hear what that piece of shit has to say this time,” he said, bowing to the wisdom of the millennia-old android. “But after this session, I’m done with talking. It’s time for action.”
