The burden of command, p.26
The Burden of Command, page 26
part #14 of Empire Rising Series
It took several minutes for a reply to come back. When it did, Jake had it played on the main holo display. The woman who sat in a Captain’s command chair identical to the one Jake was sitting in looked every inch like the pirate Jake knew she really was. Her uniform was made up of mismatched pieces of clothing and her hair was slightly disheveled. Most telling of all were her eyes, they stared at Jake with a predatory gaze. “Python, you have entered Chennai space without authorization,” she said. “Neither the Imperial government, nor it’s Navy, are recognized here. Power down your reactor and cut your engines. Your ship is being impounded. Your crew will be taken into custody. No harm will befall you if you do not resist. If you do, then I can give you no promises.”
Jake ground his teeth together. “I have no time for messing around. The news I have to deliver is far more important than me or you. The Flex-aor could have a battlefleet nearby. We are all in danger. Please, let us past. We do not wish to fight you.”
This time the pilot responded immediately. The message began with her laughing. “What kind of fool do you take me for Lieutenant? Why would a non-imperial built warship, commanded by nothing more than a Lieutenant, be bearing such important news? Confess. You stole that ship somehow and were trying to sneak back to your precious Earth. You are a spy, nothing more. Now cut your engines or be destroyed.”
Jake looked around at his fellow officers desperately. “She is not listening. She is going to kill us all.”
“If it comes to a fight, I’d bet on our people over her any day,” Lydia said as she raised her chin. “We might be badly damaged, but we still have a missile tube and some point defenses. Maybe we could damage her ship enough to escape.”
Jake shook his head. “We’d all be killed. And even if we succeeded, other ships would hunt us down.”
“Then we share all our sensor data with them,” McKay suggested. “If they see that we tracked a Karacknid freighter and then engaged the Flex-aor freighter and the unknown alien vessel, they’ll see we are not lying.”
Jake doubted it would change anything, but it was worth a try. “Do it,” he said as he nodded to McKay.
“We still have my marines,” Becca said. “If they won’t listen, we can cut our engines. Then when they try to board us, we can board them instead. There’s no way I’m going into custody without a fight.”
Jake liked that idea a little better. Yet it was still extremely risky. The other destroyer could simply veer off and blast Python with her plasma cannons when they realized what was happening. “Make the preparations,” he ordered Becca. “It’s a last resort, but you’re right, we can’t be taken into custody. Not unless we’re sure they’re going to pass on our intelligence to New Delhi.”
“We’re being hailed again,” Lydia reported.
“Let’s speak to them,” Jake replied.
This time, the pirate Captain had a grin on her face. “I have to hand it to you Lieutenant, you know how to spin a good story. Maybe I’ll host you for dinner once I take you into custody. It would be fun hearing you tell me all that in person.” She leaned forward and the smile fell from her face. “Your lies change nothing, however. Cut your engines, now!”
Jake felt panic racing through him. He couldn’t defeat the pirate vessel, nor could he convince its Captain to let him go. Could he risk trying to fight the pirate ship or board it when the death of his ship would mean their vital intelligence wouldn’t reach Earth? Damn the secessionists! Jake cursed. Damn them and their hatred for Earth and for my parents! Jake froze. A thought occurred to him. Maybe, just maybe it might give them a chance. And if it doesn’t, then they might be willing to barter for Python’s freedom, he realized. With a COM channel still open with the pirate vessel, Jake reached up to his face and sunk his fingernails into his prosthetic chin. With a grunt, he ripped it away. Then he moved to his nose and pulled the prosthetic from it as well. Finally, he ripped away his prosthetic forehead. Looking back up, he stared at the pirate Captain straight in the face. “If you won’t listen to me as a Lieutenant, then listen to me for who I really am. Jonathan Bartholomew Somerville, son of Emperor and Empress Somerville, crown prince to the Imperial throne. I have vital intelligence I must bring to Earth; I order your ship to stand down and let us pass.”
Around Jake, gasps escaped the lips of pretty much every officer. Jake sensed them all staring at him in wonder. He felt bad that he had deceived them for so long. Yet his eyes never left the pirate Captain’s. For the briefest of seconds, shock rippled across her face. It quickly disappeared. She shook her head again. “This is another trick. An impressive one, but a trick nonetheless.”
Jake slowly raised his hand, then pressed it down onto his command chair. “I’m transmitting my handprint and DNA sequence to you now. That will confirm who I am.”
The pirate Captain waved her hand dismissively. “Those things can be faked. Trust me, I should know.” Before she could say anything more however, another muffled voice could be heard across the COM channel. The pirate Captain looked away for several seconds. Then the channel ended. Jake frowned. He couldn’t afford for the pirate to be wasting his time.
“Jake!” Lydia hissed.
When Jonathan turned to her, she was staring at him wide-eyed. He gave her a small smile. “I’m sorry for the subterfuge. It was my father’s idea, he wanted me to serve in the Navy without being treated as his son.”
“You mean… You mean this isn’t some kind of trick?” Lydia asked, her mouth hanging open.
Jonathan smiled at her again, then turned to look at Becca and McKay; they each looked just as surprised. Becca was the first to shake herself out of it. “Now it starts to make sense. Your augments. It wasn’t because you have some rich father. At least, that wasn’t the only reason.” Jake nodded. “And your insistence we didn’t land any strikes on the head during our bout.”
Jonathan nodded again. He then waved the prosthetic forehead he was still holding. “One good blow from you, and this would have been ruined.”
“But how did you get away with it?” McKay asked. “So many personnel files would have had to be altered.”
Jonathan couldn’t help but chuckle. “When your father is the Emperor and head of the Navy, and your cousin in law the head of Naval Intelligence, it’s not too hard.” He turned back to Lydia. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Lieutenant Morrison,” he said in a voice as close to his father’s as he could. “As your friend, I am asking you to forgive me. I’d rather that, than have to order you to as the Empire’s heir.”
Slowly, she did look up. Her cheeks were red. “Of course I forgive you,” she said. “It’s just, I didn’t realize. This changes everything.”
Jonathan shook his head firmly. “It changes nothing. Not among any of us,” he added as he glanced at McKay and Becca again. He couldn’t help but frown when he saw Becca was grinning at him. “What?”
“I was just thinking, I’m probably the first Marine to ever kick the butt of a sovereign,” Becca replied.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Jonathan said. “I have seen my dad and General Johnston spar with one another more than once. He has no problem laying Dad flat on his back. Come to think of it, when Dad does hear you beat me, he’ll probably hire you to be my personal trainer. He was always complaining the trainers I had in the Palace were too soft.” Something in Becca’s face changed. Jonathan frowned. “What’s the matter?”
“I just remembered something. I’m afraid I’ll owe you an apology, too. You see, someone hired me to train you. Our fight, I thought that was the best way to get you to accept my invitation to train together. I didn’t think you would otherwise. I guess I know who hired me now.”
Jonathan couldn’t help but laugh. His dad was always up to something behind the scenes. It had been the same throughout his entire life. For years, Jonathan had hated it. Yet since joining the navy, he had slowly but surely been coming to see that everything his father had taught him or forced him to go through had been preparing him for the real challenges he would face in life. I guess I have one more thing to add to the list, he told himself.
“We’re being hailed again Jake, eh, I mean Jonathan… sorry, Prince Jonathan,” Lydia stumbled.
“Cut that out immediately,” Jonathan warned her. “It’s Lieutenant, or Jonathan...” He waited for her to nod. “Now, let’s see what they have to say.”
“Putting it on the holo display now,” Lydia said, “it’s from the planet, not the pirate ship.”
This time, a man dressed in a far finer outfit appeared in front of them. “Prince Somerville, I am truly astonished that you have come to Chennai, and in such a beat-up ship. My name is Ragnus Dewan. I want to apologize for the tone of my Captain. You must understand, of course, these are delicate times politically. If you would, I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit Chennai. I will be able to protect you here, and we can send word to your mother and father that you are here. I’m sure we will be able to arrange your safe passage back to Earth in due time. If you join us, I will also guarantee the safe passage of your ship. It can return to New Delhi, and in due course, to Earth. If the intelligence you claim to have is correct, then ensuring it reaches Earth is of paramount importance.”
Jonathan smiled at the politician, for though he hadn’t identified himself, he was certain he was speaking to one. Growing up, his mother had as much influence on his training as his father. As a result, he knew exactly what was being discussed. If he surrendered himself, then Python could go free. Of course, why wouldn’t the politician be willing to make such a deal? Capturing the heir to the Imperial throne could massively swing the balance of power in any attempt to secede. Chennai and New Delhi could use Jonathan as a bargaining chip to gain their freedom. Jonathan knew that too. Yet the Flex-aor threat was the greater threat. Even if it meant being taken prisoner or possibly even killed, he knew he had to take the deal. He began to nod. “Very well, have your ship rendezvous with us.” The COM channel suddenly died. Jonathan swung around to Lydia. She was just taking her hand back from her console. “What are you doing?”
Her eyes flashed as she looked at him. “I’m not letting you do that your Highness. You are the heir to our Empire. We cannot let you fall into secessionist hands. It would be a national disaster. We are all sworn to serve your parents, and to protect you. We cannot break our oaths. If they really are serious about seceding, we’d be giving them the biggest bargaining chip they could ever dream of.”
“I concur,” Becca said. “Accepting that offer is madness. You know they just mean to take you prisoner?”
“Of course I know, why do you think I told them who I was?” Jonathan asked. “Surrendering myself is the only way I can get Python out of Chennai peacefully.”
“But you will be giving them just what they want,” McKay added.
“And if the Flex-aor attack, what will it matter if a planet is trying to secede or not?” Jonathan countered. “This is bigger than my rank or title.”
“But that’s exactly why we can’t hand you over and leave you here,” Lydia said, her voice was growing in forcefulness. “If the Flex-aor attack, you would be here, helpless. You would be killed with everyone else.”
“If that’s the price, then I’m willing to pay it to get our intelligence to Earth,” Jonathan said solemnly. “I’m the commanding officer here; I will hear no more arguments about this. The Chennai destroyer, is it not moving to rendezvous with us?” No one answered him for several seconds. “Is it not?” Jonathan repeated, adapting his father’s commanding tone again.
“Yes, it is approaching,” Lydia reluctantly admitted.
“Then move us alongside it, we will dock, and I will transfer across. Then you can be on your way,” Jonathan said. His words were greeted by silence. James could sense his officers sharing glances with one another. Yet none would look at him. Nevertheless, Python altered her heading in obedience to his command. As the two ships closed, the silence on the bridge got thicker and thicker. Lydia, Becket, and McKay were all typing furiously on their consoles. Jonathan guessed they were trying to come up with an argument to change his mind. Though it irked him, he left them to it. He knew they meant well. Over the last months, he had come to think of each of them as important friends. He hoped they still felt the same. In that light, their concern was touching. Yet they had to put it aside.
Suddenly, Becca unbuckled herself and jumped to her feet. “I need to see to my marines,” she announced. “We’ll secure the docking hatch to make sure the pirates don’t double-cross us and try to board us.” Jonathan thought Major Onoda could see to that, but he let her go.
Half an hour later, when both ships moved together and began to dock, Jonathan unbuckled himself. His action caused Lydia and McKay to swing around. He smiled at each of them and then took a moment to look over at the rest of his bridge officers. “It has been an honor to serve with all of you,” he said as he nodded to each of them. “We have accomplished far more than I thought possible. And with luck, you will be back in the Sol system in no time. Then my father can get a fleet together to kick the Flex-aor back to the stone age. Don’t worry, we’ll be reunited soon enou…”
“New contacts!” One of the sensors officers called out, interrupting Jonathan’s last moments with his friends. “Hundreds of new contacts!”
Jonathan swung around to the holo display. His heart fell. The display was filling up with new ships. They were coming from the shift passage Python had exited just hours ago. Every ship was of a strange design. Python’s computer couldn’t identify them. Yet he could. They were Flex-aor. They have brought forward their plans, Jonathan knew. Whatever attack they had been planning for the last thirty years, his encounter with their freighter had caused them to put it into action. And now Chennai will die.
“Look, everyone’s going crazy,” the same sensor officer announced.
Jonathan wasn’t surprised. All the Human ships in the system were scattering. The freighters were all turning towards the shift passage to New Delhi. Most of the warships were doing the same. Only a handful were heading back to Chennai. The ones manned by Chennai inhabitants rather than pirates, Jonathan guessed. They were going to protect their homeworld.
“The pirate destroyer is trying to undock with us,” McKay reported. “I think they want to get out of here.”
“Keep our docking clamps in place,” Lydia snapped.
“Our shuttle has just launched,” another officer announced.
“What? What is going on?” Jonathan demanded.
“This is the perfect opportunity,” Lydia replied without meeting his eyes. “And we can’t escape those ships on our own. Look how close they are, we don’t have the acceleration.”
“For what?” Jonathan asked. The holo display gave him his answer. It switched to show Python’s shuttle. Moving quickly, it flew up and over the pirate destroyer and clamped itself onto its starboard side. Jonathan knew who was in it, Becca and her special forces marines. No doubt Onoda also had several squads rushing across the docking umbilical to attack the pirate destroyer from one side, while Becca’s team cut their way into the destroyer from their shuttle and attacked from the other side. Without waiting for an answer from Lydia, Jonathan rushed out of the bridge. He quickly made his way to the docking hatch. Drawing his plasma pistol, he crossed into the other destroyer. Several bodies greeted him. They were all in ordinary flight suits. Before he got any further, his COM unit crackled. “This is Sergeant Samuels to all of Python’s crew. We have secured the pirate destroyer. Repeat, we have secured the pirate destroyer. Evacuate Python immediately.” Movement behind James made him swing around. Lydia was stepping onto the destroyer. She had a plasma pistol in one hand. Behind her, more of his crew followed.
She flashed him a smile. “Sorry to disobey you, Jonathan, but we weren’t going to leave you behind. If you’re upset, you’ll just have to report us to your father.”
Jonathan wanted to shout out to her. They had been planning to do this even before the Flex-aor had arrived! Trying to take the pirate ship had been risky, even for a squad of special forces marines. They could have gotten themselves all killed. Yet the Flex-aor have arrived, Jonathan reminded himself. That changed everything. They had to get out of the system as fast as they could. “To the bridge,” he said instead. “We need to remove the docking clamps and get underway!”
Matching action to words, he turned and sprinted towards the new ship’s bridge. Being identical to Python, it was easy to find the way. Becket and two marines were already on the bridge. They were pulling bodies out. “She’s all yours Lieutenant,” Becca said. “Most of the crew surrendered, we have them in one of the hangar bays.”
Jonathan shook his head, “I don’t know how you do it Sergeant. But you are a miracle worker.”
“Just make sure you get us out of here,” Becca replied. “We are not out of danger yet.”
“Right,” Jonathan said with a nod. “Everyone, to your consoles,” he ordered. As he moved over to the Captain’s command chair and began to input commands into its panels, it felt like stepping back in time. The ship, Jonathan realized he didn’t even know its name yet, was identical to how Python had been before the changes they had made to her. At least it won’t take us time to familiarize ourselves with her, Jonathan thought. “Set course for the New Delhi shift passage. Disengage from Python as soon as all of our crew are across. Then engage the engines at maximum military power. And check on that Flex-aor fleet!”
