Shadow Space Chronicles 1: The Fallen Race (34 page)

“
If you’re hoping they cripple themselves like the Chxor do, without using screening forces, you’re hoping in vain.” Kandergain said.  “They use their destroyers to scout ahead.  Ambushing them is nearly impossible.”

“
Sensors can be fooled,” Admiral Mund said.  “Screens can be avoided.  A ship setting silent—”

“
Is a ship that will die before it can power up.” Kandergain said.  “The Balor don’t rely just on normal sensors, they also have mechanical augmentations for their psychic abilities.  It is damn near impossible to hide from them. I might,
might
, be able to hide a ship the size of the
War Shrike
.”  She shook her head.  “It takes a psychic to screen from them and that still leaves their normal sensors.”

“
So our tactics against the Chxor won’t work.” Lucius shrugged.  “We’ll think of something.  Their weapons range, is it comparable?”

She looked down at the data, “I’m not a weapons tech,” she apologized.  “Their capital and super-capital batteries range twenty four thousand kilometers maximum effective range.  I can say for certain they fire with extreme accuracy.”

Lucius looked over at Dreyfus, “The Nova Roma ships use Ghornath exotic particle beams.  Max range is twenty thousand klicks.”

Dreyfus winced, “Then in that respect, you’ve got my own vessels beat.  Our guns are heavier, I’ll wager that, but they only effectively range fifteen thousand.”  He shrugged, “To be honest, all of those ships will be able to run rings around my fleet.”

“They can outmaneuver us, out range us, and have a sensor sphere we can’t fool.” Lucius said.  “They’ve got heavy shields, swarms of high-tech fighters, and amazing missiles.”  He looked around the gathered group, “So… how do we beat them?”

“
That’s the big question,” Kandergain said, her voice weary.  “Remember what I told you about the extinction of the human race?”

Lucius nodded.

“Well… best guess from the people in the know, if you fail here, against this attack, then there’s no stopping it.” Kandergain said.

“
Oh,” Lucius said, “Good... no pressure, then.”

***

“
So, you’ve got your end of the agreement, am I free to go now?” Mason McGann stood in the doorway.

Lucius looked up, “Honestly, I figured you’d have come earlier.”  He shrugged, “I’ve no reason not to allow the smuggler Mason McGann to go his way.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t know that I like the way you said that.”

“
I’m interested in another ship.” Lucius said.  “Perhaps you might know who I could talk to about it.”

“
Well… I know some people—”

“
It’s a very specific ship.  Infamous, well known, and instantly recognizable.”  Lucius smiled slightly, “The pirate ship
Revenge
, she's a battlecruiser, as I remember.”

Mason stiffened, “I wouldn’t know about that.  I try to avoid pirates.”

“Hmmm, true.”  Lucius raised his glass, looking into its depths for a moment.  “I told you I fought the
Revenge
, once, right?”

“
I think you mentioned you met it at Trinity.”

Lucius nodded, “I can’t remember how long Tommy King and I hunted each other in that star system.  A couple of weeks, at least.”  Lucius shook his head, putting his glass aside.  “I do know that in the end, I couldn’t tell you who won.”

“Some might count it a victory.” Mason said neutrally.

“
Some might,” Lucius shrugged, “At the time, I felt only frustration that the infamous pirate got away.  God knows, he caused enough misery and death in his time.  I thought then, that finally I could put an end to that.”  Lucius sighed again, “Did I ever tell you I actually met Tommy King?  When Admiral Fontaine parlayed with him at Kestrel, I was the junior officer in the delegation.”

“
Oh really?” Mason asked.  Lucius saw one hand go down to clutch at wooden prayer beads hanging from his belt.

“
Yes.  I pride myself in my ability to remember faces.  I’ll remember that one for a long time.”  Lucius sighed, “Maybe truth lies in the rumors of Tommy King’s death.  Maybe the hate that drove him finally consumed him.”

Mason relaxed slightly, “Hate’s a powerful thing.”

“Or maybe, somehow, he’s alive, working at redeeming himself.  Maybe he’s putting his skills to use doing something good.” Lucius said.

“
That’s… not beyond the realm of possibility.”  The smuggler said.

“
Do you think so many years of villainy can be forgiven?” Lucius asked.

“
Never.” The smuggler spoke with instant sincerity.

“
Hm.” Lucius said.  “Yesterday, I received a letter of resignation from an officer I wouldn’t have expected it from.”

“
Oh?”

“
Yes, Lieutenant Kelly has requested I give her permission to leave.”  Lucius lifted the paper out of his desk, looking at it, “She said she didn’t think she could fight the Chxor, not without succumbing to her hatred.”

Mason blinked at that, “Did she say what she planned to do?”

Lucius gave a half smile, “I think she mentioned signing on with a freighter pilot she knew.  I told her I understood, and wished her my best.”

“
Thank you.”  Mason barely breathed the words.  He turned to leave.

“
One last thing, Mason.”

The smuggler turned, slowly, as if he feared the loss of a reprieve.

“Tommy King and his evils need to stay dead.” Lucius stared at the man across from him.

“
Yes, they do.” Mason nodded.  At the doorway, he paused, “It was really you and the
War Shrike
at Trinity?” He asked.

Lucius nodded slowly.

Mason gave a small grin, “Those were seventeen educating days, Baron.”

Lucius smiled slightly as the door closed.

***

Lucius stared at the amber liquid in his glass and sighed.

He wondered how the fierce woman who raised him would have taken the release of her mother’s killer.  He knew her feelings on capital punishment, shared them really.  He also knew she had possessed a strong belief in redemption.  It might have sprung from her belief in God, or maybe from her telepathy that let her see the sincerity of a person’s thoughts.

Lucius didn’t possess that ability.  He had only his own intellect and gut instinct to go by.

He hoped he hadn’t misjudged Mason McGann.

Lucius sighed and set the glass aside.  The upcoming problems of the Balor attack, of the inevitable confrontation with the Chxor, and the possible depredations of the pirate Tommy King should have bothered him more than they did.

He couldn’t focus on those, not any more.  A vortex of problems he’d thought long past swept through his mind.  What did Lucretta Mannetti know about his father that he didn’t?  Had his father, long thought the traitor—even by his own son—been motivated by ambition or by something else?

Lucius wondered about that, and if he could have prevented the crumble of the Nova Roma Empire if he had turned a blind eye to the Mannetti Coup.  Had he doomed millions to their deaths, in a struggle against the Chxor... in a war that the right leaders could have won?

God knows I’ve enough deaths on my conscience,
he thought mordantly.  His command of the
War Shrike
had left many ghosts to haunt him at night.  His only defense, the only thing that let him sleep, was the knowledge that he’d always done his best.  He’d never sacrificed his people like pawns in chess. 
Is that enough?
He wasn’t sure anymore.

At least he’d got Reese back alive and reunited with Alanis.  He doubted Reese had forgiven his decision not to return to Nova Roma.  He doubted the man would ever forget it or allow Lucius to do so.  Even so, the sight of the affection and love they shared, gave Lucius some hope for the future.

He envied them that, in a way.  He felt selfish for it, but he saw what his little sister and her husband had and wished, somehow, he’d been so blessed.

Granted, a number of Faraday’s well-to-do had begun to introduce their daughters.  A particularly ambitious widow had cornered him at the last government meeting he attended.

That kind of arranged marriage made him feel physically ill.  The same situation prevented his grandmother from marriage to the man she loved.  It made his father a bastard, and possibly set into motion the collapse of the Empire.

Lucius knew the pressures of nobility.  He understood the pressures Emperor Romulus I faced.  That didn’t mean he agreed with the actions the old man took.  Nor could he forgive him for the consequences. 
One more reason for me to avoid the dynasty everyone seems set on me creating
, he thought.  Many people had the capabilities to do as good, if not better, a job.  By accident as much as skill, Lucius led them.  That authority and responsibility he would gladly forsake.  He thought of a cottage on Nova Roma, a small plot of land, a beautiful wife…

For a moment, he could almost see her, as she looked back at him from the nebulous future.  Her chocolate eyes and blonde hair, pulled back in a ponytail…

Lucius shook his head and pushed the daydream away.  He had recognized the infatuation he had.  The idea was so preposterous as to be comical.  If his own age wasn’t a factor then her own certainly came into account. 

Lucius grunted to himself and stood.  He poured the rest of his drink down the sink.  It did no good for him to drink when he already felt depressed; it only made him worse.

Better to focus on the things he could do.  Better for him to keep his mind on the problems he could face.  Loneliness wouldn’t kill him, nor would it hurt him to smother a childish infatuation.  He decided it better to focus on other issues, rather than give into foolish daydreams.

Lucius knew from experience it hurt less in the long run.

***

CHAPTER
XII

March 15, 2403 Earth Standard Time

Faraday System

(status unknown)

The conference room with the shuttle-pad-sized table had not changed.  The people around it had.  Their faces held purpose, their murmured side conversations held confidence.

Lucius hoped it would be enough.

He welcomed the change, but after Kandergain’s information, and after reading over the specifics himself, he wondered if all their preparations represented the height of folly.

“Alright people, we’ve got a little under two months to prepare, what will we have?”  Captain Franks, Admiral Dreyfus’s Chief of Staff, spoke.  Lucius privately believed the man too tightly wound.  If he could choreograph a meeting this size, Lucius supposed he deserved some leeway in his eccentricities.

“
Starting with the Fleet, we’ve got five Crusaders and the
Patriot
.  They each can launch five hundred and twenty eight of our Raptor fighter-bombers, and carry forty-four parasite Partisan-class frigates.  We’ve got a screen of forty-eight destroyers of four different classes.  Another twenty-four light cruisers, sixteen heavy cruisers, and eight of the Nagyr-class battlecruisers make up our rapid forces.” Captain Cruz said, her voice bland.

Anthony Doko spoke next, “Recently captured, we have three Chxor five-class dreadnoughts.  They’re slower than everything except the super-capitals, so they’ll probably work best in concert with them.  We have two Desperado-class battleships, for those who don’t know... think in terms of scaled-up battlecruisers.”  He shrugged, “Then there’s the
Gebneyr
, she’s a Danak-class Ghornath battlecruiser, currently on an extended loan to us.”

Lucius smiled slightly, he certainly hoped Strike Leader Maygar didn’t call in that loan any time soon.  Then again, given the mystery of his departure, Lucius wasn't really sure that he wanted to know what payment the Ghornath would want... and how much it might cost Lucius.

Captain Doko continued, “Additionally we have one converted fighter carrier, ten captured ten-class Chxor cruisers, and one Republic Independence-class cruiser.”  He paused, “All told, we have forty-eight Harasser fighter-bombers, and have the facilities and pilots to prepare another two squadrons of six which can be planet-based.  We’re short on trained personnel, especially for the newly captured ships.”

Admiral David Mund spoke for the Nova Roma forces assembled.  “We’ve got the
Emperor Romulus
, the first and only of the Imperial-class super-dreadnoughts.  Along with it, we’ve four Hammer-class heavy cruisers, three Patrol-class light cruisers, seven Knight-class destroyers, and a single Prime-class carrier.  We’ve room for fifty-four fighters, though we only have two squadrons of fighters.”  He shrugged, “All of our ships are short on trained personnel, some of our ships still require significant maintenance work.”

The silence lasted a short time.  Most of the gathered officers looked over the ship specs for vessels they had never encountered before.

Captain Naevius spoke into the silence, “The majority of fighters we’ll have are the Raptors.  They have a smaller payload than the Harassers, but they’re lighter and more maneuverable as well.  We have one squadron of Interceptors, captured from Admiral Mannetti, which are roughly similar to the Raptors, though with inferior avionics, sensors, and a smaller maneuverabily advantage compared to Harassers.  Raptor and Harasser doctrine have a few differences.  This is mainly because fighter support has grown more important over the past eighty years, especially because so few places have the shipyards for capital ships.”

He shrugged, “We’ve plenty of volunteers from Faraday for pilot slots.  Which class of fighter we stick with depends on what type of fight we face long term.  Probably a decision for someone higher than me to decide.  Either way, we’ve set it up so we can coordinate our fighter elements as necessary.”

Captain Franks prompted, “Logistics?”

Commander Magnani gave a poisonous smile, “Yes, well, I think we’ll need some more time to really organize things.”

Admiral Dreyfus raised an eyebrow.  “You’ve had several days, all I need are preliminary estimates.”

She grimaced, “Yes, sir.”  She took a deep breath, “At this time, we’ve stockpiled well over five million metric tons of Mark V missiles and Mark II interceptor missiles.  Unfortunately, the missile racks and tube bores are different between our own ships and our… allies.”  She made a moue of distaste.  “I really don’t see any way we can equip them.”

Lucius coughed slightly, “Your Mark V missiles mount hundred megaton antimatter warheads, correct?”

“
Yes.”

“
We’re using sixty megaton fusion warheads.” Lucius said, frowning.  “I think the difference in firepower is significant enough that it merits some looking into modification.”

“
Well, we could alter individual missiles, but keeping track of which missiles are modified, and then making sure the right missiles go to the right ships, that’s going to be an awful lot of work.”  Commander Magnani said.

Lucius looked between her and Admiral Dreyfus.  He wondered if this were some sort of joke.  The Admiral looked like he’d swallowed a frog.  “Commander Magnani, your people will begin on the modifications immediately.”

“But, Admiral—“

“
We’ll talk about this later.”  Admiral Dreyfus nodded to Captain Franks.

“
Personnel and maintenance issues will be a significant factor.”  Captain Heshim said.  The swarthy captain scowled slightly.  “Honestly, the Chxor dreadnoughts are the biggest issue.  Frankly, they’re crap.  They’re obviously designed for mass production, and the builders cut a lot of corners.  They're also very manpower intensive to operate at full capacity.  We can get all three up in two months, but it’ll take a lot of our attention away from other repairs.”

Lucius nodded, “For now, focus on other repairs.  The Chxor ships don’t fit well in any formation.”

Captain Franks spoke again, “That covers the important material for today, gentlemen.”

The group rose, and most of the officers filed out.  Lucius waited for the room to clear somewhat and then signaled Kral to approach.  “Were you able to send the message?”

The Chxor nodded slowly.  “It was received.  I do not know what the response will be, if there will be any.”

Lucius nodded.  He figured it would require significant trauma for the Chxor Empire to fragment.  He hoped he’d added a bit more tension to it, however.  “Thank you.  Have you visited the prisoners from Faraday yet?”

The Chxor shrugged.  “I have spoken with some of them.  Some show reception to the offer of positions in your new empire.  Some prefer the option of the penal colony on this system’s ice moon.”

“
A polite way of saying it will be a cold day in hell.” Admiral Dreyfus said from nearby.

The Chxor nodded, “Perhaps.”

Lucius snorted, “Thank you Captain Kral.  Tell me when you feel that you can vouch for any who wish to join us truthfully.”

The Chxor recognized a dismissal, “I will do so, Baron.” 

“What was that about?” Kandergain asked from behind him.

Lucius turned, startled, she hadn’t said a word through the entire meeting.  He’d almost forgotten she’d attended.  “The Chxor control their population through limits on reproduction.  It requires service to the Empire to produce offspring.  The Iodans cracked their biology.  I’m offering them a way to cheat the system.  Kral tried to contact someone to spread the secret.”

“For what?” Kandergain asked.  “I imagine you’ll get some to betray—”

“
No cost.” Lucius smiled.  “I’m giving it to them for free.”

“
That’s… very devious.” Kandergain frowned in thought.  “That could have a lot of unpredictable results.”

Lucius shrugged, “True, but I think an important one is to show the Chxor just how wrong they are in their philosophy.  Their society is artificial and hypocritical.  I can’t imagine them particularly liking their noses rubbed in that.”

She shrugged, “Your call.  I was wondering if either of you have any viable plans.”

Lucius looked at Admiral Dreyfus.  “Why don’t we discuss that in the Admiral’s office.”

Dreyfus gestured them ahead of him and they stepped into his office.  Lucius took a seat and sighed slightly, “Honestly, I’m seeing only a few options.  The main one, and the one with most chances of success, is to fight our way close and engage the enemy at close range.”  He shrugged, “How we do that is debatable.”

Admiral Dreyfus spoke, “We could push their screen back with our faster elements, give them less time to react.  Granted, even so, we’ll face a pounding as we close, especially with their higher accelerations and greater range.”

“We can build up speed and make high velocity passes.” Lucius shrugged, “Provided they don’t alter course to avoid us, that’s an option.”

Kandergain looked between them, “I don’t have to be psychic to realize you don’t like either option.”

“No,” Lucius said, “We don’t like either option.  Both plans rely on the Balor allowing us to do something they won’t want us to do.”

“
Either way, we’ll have to run a gauntlet of missiles, fighters, and enemy fire before we can close,” Admiral Dreyfus growled.  “It’s the height of irony that the stockpile of advanced warships we put in reserve aren’t advanced enough.”

“
I… might be able to help you with that.”  Kandergain spoke almost reluctantly.

“
What, you can lead me to the Agathan Fleet now?” Lucius joked.

Kandergain didn’t say anything.

Lucius blinked at her, “Wait a second, do you know the location of the Agathan Fleet?”

“
I can’t help you with that,” Kandergain said.  “But I can put you in touch with a couple people who have advanced ships—and maybe—the desire to help you fight the Balor.”

“
Who would these philanthropists be?” Lucius asked.

“
One of them is a Shadow Lord,” Kandergain said.

“
That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.” Lucius said.  “I think I’d be safer asking Thomas Kaid to tea.”

“
I didn’t say I was eager to seek their help,” Kandergain said.  “I’ve fought the Shadow Lords since before you were born.”  She shrugged, “And I didn’t say she was my first option.  I know someone else who might be able to help, if he can.”

“
And who is he?” Admiral Dreyfus asked.

“
He’s the most powerful psychic I know and he’s been fighting the Balor for a long time now.  He knows more about fighting them than anyone else,” She shrugged, “I honestly don’t know if he can pull any ships free.”  She caught Lucius’ eyes, “There’s also the whole issue of what I told you about before.”

“
The ah… timing issues?” Lucius asked.

She nodded.

“So you can take representatives to meet with him, and if that doesn’t work, then with the humanitarian Shadow Lord?” Admiral Dreyfus asked.

“
No.”  She sighed, “The man I talked about won’t leave at the summons of an emissary or diplomat.  He’ll want to meet Lucius in person.  And the Shadow Lord… she’d take anything less as an insult.”  Something in the tone of her voice suggested that such a perceived insult would only make things worse.

Come to think of it,
Lucius thought,
I've never heard of
anyone
who has insulted one of the Shadow Lords and survived.

“
That’s out of the question,” Dreyfus said, “We can’t spare a ship and we definitely can’t spare him for any period of time—”

“
I’ll go.” Lucius said.  He rubbed his face, then turned to Admiral Dreyfus, “We can’t spare a warship, I agree, but she’s got her scout.  And as for me… I lack the experience to be making a lot of the calls.  For god’s sake, you’ve got well over a century in uniform!”

Dreyfus sagged, “And I feel every year of it!”  He shook his head, “Trust me, Lucius, you underestimate yourself.”

Lucius looked to Kandergain, “How long will this take?”

“
With me piloting, we can reach my friend in a couple days.  It might take a little longer to track down the Shadow Lord I’m thinking of and return.”  Kandergain shrugged and a look of worry flashed over her face  “
If
we return.”

“
You’re dead set on this?” Admiral Dreyfus asked.

“
Yes.” Lucius said.  “It sounds like our best chance to change the equation.”

The other man sighed.  “I know for a fact that a commander leaving in the middle of battle preparations isn’t a good thing.  I’ll trust your judgment though.”  He took a deep breath, “Before you go, however, there are some things you have to do.”

Lucius raised an eyebrow, “What’s that?”

“
First off, you need to hammer the civilians into forming a government and adopting a constitution, or contract, or whatever the hell they want to call it.”  Admiral Dreyfus said.  “Second, you need to accept overall command.”  He raised a hand, “Everyone has heard your arguments, and when it comes down to it, no one really cares.  Anyone who wants the job
shouldn’t
have it, that’s a given.  This whole thing is your brainchild.  Every human left knows someone needs to take a stand, to fight for Humanity itself, and you’re the only one to do so.”