Alpha One: The Kronan (11 page)

Four long years.

Four long and very eventful years, some filled with pain, others with happiness, but now it came down to this. Today was Graduation day and as each Enson’s name was called and they triumphantly walked the short distance from their seat to the stage, they became an officer. As each, reached the top of the stage, the Chancellor would greet them, address them by their new title, reveal to them their passing grade and utter a few words of congratulations, before they returned to their seat. In each case, the auditorium erupted as their fellow officer candidates showed their appreciation for the magnitude of what they had achieved.

There was no particular order. Steve Costello was called a few minutes before. He seemed happy enough with his grade.
Probably couldn’t believe he was allowed to graduate,
thought Jake. Carla came next and she left the Chancellor with a beaming smile, which continued as she sat down next to Jake. She winked at him and kissed him on the cheek.

Now it was Jake’s turn. His name was called and he stood up and smiled at Carla before exiting his row and commencing his walk to the stage. Strange that he felt slightly unsteady on his feet, as he reveled in the significance of the occasion. He reached the stairs, climbed them, and was greeted by the Chancellor.

“Lieutenant Carter. Congratulations. 9.6 is the second highest grade this year. I know you have had a tough year, but your future looks excellent. Well done.”

Jake thanked the Chancellor and returned to his seat.
So that was it
, he thought. In just a few days, he would head for his first posting and his time with Carla would end. How long would it be before he saw her again? Would he ever see her again?

* * * *

“So, where’s Steve? I did not see him leave the hall.”

“Over there by the plasma display.”

Carla and Jake ventured towards him. Steve looked distant, but looked up and smiled as they reached him.

“7.3. Not bad. Could have been a lot worse. What did you get Jake?”

“9.6. Jake quickly dismissed his score. “I think 7.3 is a reflection on how well you must have done on your Geometrics! Overall, that is an average grade for Alpha graduates. That will open things up for you, I am sure.”

“It will be front line SED and you know it. I just have to hope I can get a Rapier posting. Carla you seem happy.”

Carla tried to avoid getting involved in the conversation. It was good that Steve was on speaking terms with them, but he was still a shadow of the man she used to know. Now, though, was the time for celebration. They had all graduated and they needed to enjoy what little time they had together.

“Yes, 9.3 was better than I expected. I guess we are all going to get some good opportunities now. Just have to wait and see what surprises our tutor has for us.”

“I told you. It will be front line SED for me. Jake will get a decent ship of the line posting and you will get into Alpha communications. You two will get what you want. I should as long as I get a Rapier. To be honest, I just want to get the hell out of the damn academy and get flying again.”

* * * *

Last night had been enduring. The new Alpha officers descended
en masse
to the Refectory and then toured the bars outside the academy until the early hours of the morning. Jake woke in Carla’s bed with a headache, made worse by the early start and the thundering reverberation of a large bulk carrier, fully laden, struggling to clear the take off zone at the South Downs Space Port. He showered and took ‘hangover’ pills and felt much better. Carla dressed into her new Officers fatigues and looked very sexy.
God, why did the bloody term have to end
, thought Jake.

“You did not have to get up yet. Your tutor meeting is not until this afternoon.”

“I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible. Can I walk you down to the tutor’s office and wait?”

Jake agreed and within ten minutes, they set off. They waited briefly outside Steve’s apartment, before realizing he had obviously left already.
This was not the way it was supposed to have been,
thought Jake. Barely six months ago, they planned their journey in to see the tutor, post-graduation. They would be drawn to see him together, based on alphabetical surnames. They planned to storm the tutor’s office and demand a JS posting at the same location. It was all a ruse of course, but at the very least, they were supposed to have walked in together and had an outside chance of a posting in the same location.

“Whatever they offer you, make sure you get the one which delays your departure from here as long as possible!”

Jake laughed.

“I will try, but to be honest, what with the Kryl invasion. I am not sure I will get much choice. I am also kind of restricted with my suspended combat status.”

Steve was already sitting outside the Tutors office when they arrived. He also adorned his new officer fatigues. Jake was due to go in first so he took the chair nearest the office.

“Here we go then. Look sharp Steve. We could still get the same posting yet!”

“What makes you think I want a posting with you?”

Before Jake could respond, the tutor’s door opened and he was ushered inside.

“Good morning Lieutenant Carter. Take a seat.”

Jake sat down in front of the tutor’s desk. He was nervous. Where would he end up?

“Your grade was excellent. Second highest this year and there is no shortage of people wanting a piece of Jake Carter. I had twenty-seven postings which came up on the reserve system this morning and I have reduced this to what I think are the best eight. I presume that you still wish to take a Jump Ship posting, even though you are still signed off from combat flying?”

“Yes.” Jake stuttered, he was about to say, Sir, but realized he and the tutor were now the same rank. “I would like to be as near to the action as possible.”

“Of course. There are five posts in the battle fleet, two at stations on route and one at Alpha Two. This last post would be ideal. You can’t do much until your leg mends properly and this way you get lots of non-combat flying hours.”

“I would like to think I still have a lot to offer in a front line capacity. Are there any junior CAG posts?”

“Yes, two. The first aboard the Griffin, a type 36, class C cruiser as Assistant CAG. The second aboard the Viceroy, as a deputy assistant CAG on one of the sub JS decks. They are both good posts. The Viceroy post is excellent, but you would be a very small fish in a huge sea!”

“Where is the Griffin now?”

“She is in the battle fleet, but she is a back up vessel.”

“Not much chance of her Jump Ships being used in front line combat then. What are the other posts?”

“They are on a variety of C class ships—all would be straight JS pilot roles. So from a combat perspective you would find yourself little to do over the next few weeks, although it is possible that a CAG position could become available on any of them.”

“Are any of the C class vessels on the front line?”

“The Antibes. She is a C class 15 galaxy cruiser. One of the newer ones and so a fast ship and she will definitely be in the thick of it. Sound interesting?”

“Yes, I think so. I am not sure about the CAG positions and if I can be signed off faster then so be it. I think a smaller ship sounds better and with my tactical knowledge of the Kryl, I may even find my way to the bridge in some capacity.”

“Sounds like you have made a decision, although I would try to avoid letting your imagination run away with you. Rookie JS pilots are not exactly top of the pecking order. You have to earn your stripes, so to speak.”

“Fair comment. Yes, the Antibes sounds the best for me right now.”

“Okay, I have selected and confirmed. The other roles will come off your reserve list and that’s it. Your placement is complete and you will now serve your first tour as a Jump Ship pilot aboard the Antibes. I have forwarded your orders to your palmtop.”

“When do I leave and how do I get to the Antibes?”

“Your shuttle leaves for the fleet at 1400 hours tomorrow. You will probably be ferried from a central point to the Antibes. It will take about three weeks though; not much fun in a shuttle and not the most glamorous of starts to your career...and certainly not as exciting as the last time you visited the Tri-star System!”

Having thanked his tutor, Jake left his office. Carla was not going to like this.

* * * *

“So, where are you going then...and when?”

Steve got the question out first

“Fleet frontline. The Antibes, a C class battle cruiser. But the bad news is the shuttle leaves at two, tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ah God, Jake. That leaves us just one day together!” This time it was Carla who responded and she was clearly not happy.

“I know. We will just have to make the most of it.”

Carla, Jake and Steve met five hours later at the Refectory. All three had agreed their postings and this would be their last drink together.

Steve was offered one of two posts with the SED, based on Alpha Two and he was scheduled to report for duty, Moon side at 9:00 a.m. the next day. Carla was also Moon bound. She accepted a junior communications officer post for the Galactic Senate, an influential and far-reaching division which sat as part of Alpha’s diplomatic Core on Alpha Two. This was an excellent post for a new graduate and reflected her high graduation mark and her language skills. She had forty-eight hours before she was due to report to the Senate.

“So, this is it guys. We will all be at our posts by the end of tomorrow night. I guess this is goodbye and good luck!”

Steve was in his element. He was secretly delighted that both he and Carla would be stationed on the moon. They could and would meet up, while Jake was left to clean up the galaxy from some distance away. This was the perfect opportunity to win her back. He had quickly overcome his disappointment of not being offered a front line JS post. He would make the best of it and move up through the ranks by reputation.

“There’s a good chance I will make Squadron Leader before you do Jake. I think I got the best posting, bearing in mind your flight ban.”

“It’s not a competition Steve. I am pleased with my posting, but frustrated with my combat ban. I can still fly though, just not in combat yet and actually, that’s not very different from your position. Alpha Two is a long way from the front line.”

“Boys, Boys. Let’s not postulate. Personally I am pleased that neither of you will be going straight into the firing line. We are at war again and the Kryl won’t take prisoners. I hope you both get your Jump Ship obsessions out of your systems as quickly as possible and we can both meet up in a year’s time, safe in the knowledge that you guys will be saluting me!”

It was Carla’s time to join in the fun. She was delighted to accept one of the most prestigious graduate roles available. This was fast track and she could be heading up a Comms team on a star ship within two or three years. It was Jake though she was thinking about. This was their last night together. Would she ever see him again?

“If we all keep our heads down, we could all meet up in a year with our careers progressing nicely. Let’s just all keep safe though. No heroics Steve. You do not have to emulate your father and grandfather. They would be proud of you for just being here. And Jake, just get yourself back to me as quickly and as safely as you can. I will be waiting.”

“As will I!” piped up Steve. He could not miss the opportunity to remind Jake that he would be based just a few blocks away from Carla on Alpha Two.

The three new Alpha officers continued their celebrations. They each had different reasons for rejoicing, but at the back of their minds lay the possibility that this could be it. There may never be a repeat of this evening. They may never meet together again, on Earth, Alpha Two, or anywhere.

The Sanctuary was vast. It consisted of six small chambers with a central hall into which they interconnected. The hall was the Queen’s thrown room and spanned more than three hundred meters across. Each chamber peaked in the center with a dome shape ceiling, which was five or six stories high. There was very little light, with the solitary source a large cylindrical tube that ran down the center of the thrown rooms dome and each of the smaller chambers. Light poured down over the thrown, leaving the surrounding areas in the darkness.

Morvalt stood in the shadows of the main hall and waited patiently to be summoned. He was here many times before, but somehow he did not think his Queen would be quite as accommodating as she had in the past.

“Come forward my Kronan.”

Morvalt moved into the light and stood before his Queen. The matriarch paused before speaking again.

“The defeated Kronan comes out from his hiding place now that his Queen has come to protect him.”

“My Queen. I was taken from the fleet to protect me.”

“From defeat! How did an entire division lose a battle? They should have won. You do not deserve to live, let alone lead another division.”

“They were much stronger than we anticipated. The humans were joined by the others and...”

“Enough! I have your battle analysis. You are fortunate your drones followed their instincts to protect you. Then when the battle was over, you lay in hiding. Why did you not come out and prepare for my arrival?”

“We could not be sure when the hole would reopen. With just one small ship, there was not much we could do.”

“And so you did nothing! Your predecessor in this galaxy did not hide. He took the battle to the enemy and created an opportunity for the Kryl to take, even though he knew his life would be taken.”

“Navalion had many years to prepare...”

“And he did so on his own!”

The pause in dialogue, gave Morvalt the opportunity to change tack.

“Now you are here and with a whole fleet at our disposal we can defeat the humans and their supporters and take control of the galaxy. I am ready to assume control of the fleet.”

“No! You will not. I will not trust you again with such things. I will defeat the humans. I will give you a battalion when we are ready to take Earth.”

“What would you have me do in the meantime?”

“Navalion’s killer is still alive and he is here in this system. You will find him and bring him to me, alive.”

Morvalt saw that to protest would be futile. He needed to re-earn his Queen’s respect.

“What will you do with him?”

“That is not your concern. I understand you have taken a human?”

“Yes. Our dialogue has been most productive.”

“What does he know of us? Does he know of our weaknesses?”

“We have talked at length, about his people and ours. He is no risk to us. He is contained and is all too aware of what will happen if he...”

“You fool! It only takes a moment of chance and he could be free. Free to spread the word of the fragility of our existence. Kill him now!”

He knew he had to obey her. It was pointless to argue.

“He is quite safe and he has been very useful. However, his existence is meaningless. I will terminate him today.”

“See that you do Morvalt and bring Navalion’s killer to me. Prove yourself again to me and I will give you back your fleet.”