Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price (7 page)

All that changed after the liberation of Alamar-4.

“My dad was asked to guide a group of reporters and senators to Alamar-4 to see firsthand the devastation encountered by Federation troops after the planet’s liberation from Brotherhood occupation.  All I had ever seen of war were news reports on the vid screens, so I thought it would be interesting to see for myself what the fallout of war looked like.  I asked my dad for permission to go along with him, but I honestly didn’t think he or my mother would agree to it.  I was surprised when they both agreed and even suggested that my sister accompany us.

“What I witnessed on Alamar-4 was nothing that I could have predicted.  I don’t think any rational human being could anticipate the scenes and smells that told the story of the inhumanity inflicted there,” he said as his voiced became strained. 

He paused a few seconds, staring at the paper in his hands before continuing.  “It wasn’t the damaged buildings or ruined cities and farms; it wasn’t the lack of fresh water and utilities that affected me.  It was the people.  Somehow, seeing victims of war on the vid screen and actually seeing them in person are two different experiences.  On Alamar-4 I stood strong… and healthy… and safe… before
real people
who had been subsisting in unspeakable conditions and who had suffered brutalities that I cannot, even now, imagine enduring.  I walked with my father and sister and with representatives from our Federation’s legislative body through the ruins of once beautiful cities and towns that had been transformed into places of violence and torture of innocent women and men and their children.  Until I stepped foot on Alimar-4, I couldn’t even begin to conceive the depth of cruelty and ruthlessness inflicted by the Brotherhood upon its victims.  I saw malnourished and diseased people that were little more than skeletons, clinging to life with the barest of flesh hanging from their frames.  I saw piles of dead bodies – men, women and children – who had been forced to toil as slaves for the benefit of the Brotherhood until they could toil no more.  These people, who had thrived and raised their families on a beautiful planet, had been all but completely exterminated at the hand of an enemy so vile, so vicious, and so evil that its very existence is almost unfathomable.”

Reide’s voice wavered and I heard him choke for a moment.  He paused briefly, adjusted his posture, and took a deep breath before continuing.  “I could write all day about the things I saw on Alimar-4, but I could never convey the horrors and level of depravity that I witnessed – that all of us witnessed – on that day.

“After returning home with my father and sister, the memories and feelings that overwhelmed me during the visit continued to intensify.  Every luxury around me mocked the victims that I still saw vividly in my mind’s eye.  I couldn’t justify my home, my luxuries, my food or even my existence in light of what I saw there.  I suddenly came to realize what it was that my father and mother stood for; why my father fought
so hard
to defeat the enemy; why he sacrificed time with his family to protect not only us, but everyone on every world in the Federation and even those who lived on non-aligned worlds.

“My father and mother possess the greatest wealth and fame the universe can provide.  They could have chosen more than twenty years ago to raise their family in peace and luxury, far from any enemy threat.  Instead they chose, and continue to choose, to give more and fight harder for others than anyone I know.  They’ve both been wounded in action fighting for the Federation.  My father has died at least once and been revived.  My Aunt Luinella died fighting for the Federation; and Jenira, who is like an aunt to my sister and me and who was once a slave to the Brotherhood, has also been wounded since dedicating her life to defending the innocent from the Brotherhood. 

I could name more examples than just my family.  All around me are heroes who have fought to preserve life and liberty.  Some were enslaved by the Brotherhood; others lost friends, family and comrades; and the greatest heroes of all are those who paid for our security and freedoms with their very lives. 

In the meantime, all
I
have done is enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices.  But I can no longer live that life.  After having witnessed the things I did on Alamar-4, I can no longer justify enjoying any of the things that have defined my life, especially the freedoms and privileges provided to me, without doing something to help fight the evil that denies others even the simplest of daily needs and the most fundamental right to dignity.

“I understand now what our heroes fight for and I too must join that fight; for if I fail to do so, I fail as a human being and I do not deserve to live, let alone enjoy the benefits that our guardians have sacrificed to preserve.

“Serving in the Galactic Federation Military Service is not about glory, honor or recognition.  It’s about upholding and defending the greatest of all things – life, dignity and freedom.  I cannot and shall not stand idle in the face of a threat to these most essential manifestations of virtue and morality; and I refuse to reconcile myself to a future where I do nothing less than fight as hard as my predecessors and heroes to vanquish the enemies of peace.

“That is why I joined the Junior Auxiliary Corp.”

Reide stepped back from the podium.  An emotionally charged silence was suddenly replaced with a roar of foot-stomping and cheering that lasted several minutes.  Even the cadets on the field and the officers on the podium were stomping and cheering with their hands raised in the air.  I looked about and saw so many people with tears running down their cheeks that I though my chest would burst with pride.  When I turned to Kala, she and Lunnie were also crying and hugging each other.  As I gazed upon them and looked back to the stage where Reide still stood, I could feel in my heart that I truly
was
the luckiest man in the universe.

When the roar of the crowd finally began to subside, Commander Ircart returned to the podium and began to speak.  “I know what I am about to request is not the normal protocol, but these are not normal times.  First Citizen Rear Admiral Tibby was asked earlier to speak at this graduation ceremony, but he refused, because he didn’t feel it would be right when his son was among today’s graduates.  To be more direct, he didn't want people to feel that his son had been provided special privileges and I can tell you for a fact that his son was not.  Cadet Reidecor worked harder than any cadet here and he graduates second among the cadets today.  Not only did he apply himself to the best of his abilities at every task, he went out of his way to assist and inspire as many of his fellow cadets as he possibly could – a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by his commanding officers and instructors, in spite of his efforts to hide it.

“As I said, my next request is outside the normal protocol, but the leadership of the Federation Junior Auxiliary Corp would be honored if Cadet Reidecor’s family would come forward to stand with him, while First Citizen Rear Admiral Tibby says a few words.”

As the foot stomping and cheering once again filled the stadium, Kala said, “You may as well go.  It will look bad now if you don’t.”

I sighed as I started to stand.  “Alright, let's get this over with.”  Kala and I both began to walk out onto the parade grounds as Lunnie began sit back down.  “Ohhh no, Lunnie.  The commander requested that Reide’s
family
come to the podium, so you’re going too.”

Lunnie reluctantly followed us as we began walking toward the rostrum.  My trooper bodyguards remained behind, since we were on a military base where it was unlikely I would be attacked. 

We had just reached the first column of cadets when one of them shouted out, “Attention!  Admiral on the field!”

Immediately the cadets snapped to attention and saluted as I walked to the podium accompanied by Kala and Lunnie.  Of course, this made me feel awkward, as always, but it was a protocol and I just had to tolerate it.

After climbing the steps of the rostrum, I saluted the officers and then turned and saluted the cadets and ordered, “As you were.”

Commander Ircart began speaking again.  “As you will note,
all
of Reidecor’s family serves in the military.  Reidecor’s sister…” he leaned over to Reide and whispered, “What is her name?”

“Luinella, sir,” Reide responded quietly.

“…Luinella,” the Commander repeated, “Just completed her boot camp training and is now a trooper in the Federation military.  So, as you can see, this family truly
is
giving its all in service to the Federation.

“Now, Rear Admiral Tibby, if you don’t mind, I believe the people would like to hear a few words from you.”

I never got the chance to say anything, for at that very moment the air was split by a loud boom.  The dignitary section, where Kala, Lunnie and I had been seated a few moments earlier, and a large radius around our seats, had exploded, sending bodies and debris flying in all directions.  At least three other explosions could be heard around the base grounds.  Seconds later claxons began to sound.  I started to shout out an order for everyone to take cover, when something hit me hard in the chest, immediately knocking me off my feet.  I heard someone yelling out orders, but I couldn’t make out clearly what they were.  I seemed to fall to the stage floor in slow motion.  Even at that, it seemed I was looking up at the blue sky for only a split second before Lunnie had thrown herself across my body.  I turned my head to the side long enough to see Reide and a group of cadets surround me to form a body shield.

As if from a great distance, I heard Lunnie shout, “Hang on, dad!  Help is on the way!”  Then everything turned red and faded into blackness.

Funny things happen to me when I die – or nearly die, anyway.  I seem to go somewhere else, to a beautiful, serene valley lined by trees and a colorful ribbon of meadow meandering through it.  Each time I find myself there naked.  It was usually Kala's sister, Luinella, who greeted me at this place.  At least, that’s how it was in previous events.  This time it was different.  This time it was Tanden, Jenira’s brother that I saw when I opened my eyes.  Like me, he was nude and hunkered down on a large rock, waiting for me to rouse from my strange slumber.

Hi, Tibby,” he said without a smile.

“Tanden?” I said in wonder as I slowly looked at my surroundings and realized where I was.  “Am I dead?”

“Not yet,” he said as he stood up and looked about.  “But you soon could be.”

“So I’m going to die?” I said more as a statement than a question, but Tanden answered anyway.

“You could, but you won’t – at least not yet.  You still have things to do.  Ming is about to attack the Federation again and his forces are stronger than ever.  If you wish to save the Federation, you must be prepared to do it at an enormous price.”

“How do you know that?  And at what price?” I asked.

Tanden smiled softly.  “I can’t explain how I know.  You'll have to take my word for it.  As for the price, you’ll know what it is when the time comes.”  He smiled again, just as I started to hear a growing buzz that filled the air – or maybe my head.  I wasn’t sure which.

“Well, it looks like it’s time for you to return, Tibby.  Tell Jenira I love her and that I’m doing great.”

The last of his words slowly faded into the buzzing that had now become very loud.  I felt like I was spinning as everything turned red again.  From somewhere in the distance I heard a voice say, “Got a pulse.  He’s coming around.”

I opened my eyes to see a wide-eyed and panicked cadet observing at me on one side and Kala watching me from the other.

“What happened?” I asked feebly.  When I spoke, an unexpected intense pain shot through my chest.

“You were shot,” said Kala emotionally, as she took my hand and squeezed it.  I could see pools of tears in her eyes.  “It was some sort of projectile weapon, possibly a magnetic propulsion gun.  Luckily, your body armor prevented the round from piercing your chest cavity, but the impact was right over your heart.”

“Where are we now?” I asked.  Something about the room looked familiar.

“We’re aboard a patrol ship headed for the nearest carrier.  We'll use one of their launch tube Cantolla Gates to fly back to the
GLOMAR ROSA
as quickly and safely as possible.”

Around me were several young people wearing JAC cadet uniforms and outside the med unit stood trooper guards in full gear and at the ready.

“Where’s Lunnie and Reide?” I asked, as events started to sort themselves out in my mind.  “Are they alright?”

“Lunnie is flying this ship.  Reide organized with other cadets and began fighting the attackers, last I saw.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“We were attacked just as you were getting ready to speak.  It’s a good thing that Commander Ircart asked you to speak or you, Lunnie and I would be dead.  The first explosion took out the entire section where we were seated.”

“How did we get on this ship?” I asked.

“Commander Ircart told Lunnie and the cadets surrounding you to get you out of there immediately.  He had a patrol ship on standby just outside the parade grounds that was to fly him someplace after the ceremony.  He told Lunnie where it was and gave her the access code to gain entry.  These cadets carried you out.  Two of the troopers guarding the officers at the rostrum accompanied us to provide you with protection.  Your own guards were killed in the blast.”