Into the reckoning, p.17
Into the Reckoning, page 17
Drew took a couple of sips of his beer as he considered the question, his brow furrowed in thought, his eyes distant. “Right now, I don’t think I need the kind of support Gehlen can provide. Dakkuri has been working tirelessly to build a parallel Mukhabarat network to spy on their colleagues so our organization can continue to stay a few steps ahead of them. We have managed to infiltrate the leadership echelons of the Gurista government and their military. What I could use if this plan goes to hell is another three or four ODA teams and a lot more explosives.”
Krzysztof grunted, but his expression remained grave. “OK, that makes sense. What about weapons? If things go to hell, the coup fails, do you have the resources to switch tactics to an insurgency? To arm and sustain a guerrilla force to make life miserable for the Zodarks and their collaborators?”
Drew felt his jaw tightening at the thought. “If the coup fails, Krzysztof—hell, even if it works—the Guristas will need support from the Fleet to remove any Zodark ships in either of the systems the Guristas call home. Fortunately, the Gallentines detected no more than three Zodark warships in either system at a given time. Still, unless they are dealt with, our little coup d’état won’t last more than a few weeks at best. The moment a Zodark contingency force arrives, they’ll brush aside the fledgling Gurista Navy, and then it’ll just be a matter of time as their warships pick off our units from orbit and their ground forces mop up what’s left.”
“Huh, yeah, that’s a question you’ll need to speak with the Viceroy or Admiral Bailey about. If they’re able to provide some sort of expeditionary force or task force of ships, it would at least give you a chance of succeeding in fully evicting the blue devils from their territory and keeping them out,” Krzysztof elaborated, his gaze intense.
Drew sighed, running a hand through his hair. “One problem at a time, Krzysztof. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow at ten with the Viceroy. This is an action item I had planned to bring up during the meeting. I’m sure they’ll figure something out.”
Krzysztof sat back in his chair, his expression a mix of concern and approval. He was about to say more when the automated server arrived with their food, still steaming fresh from the grill. “Well, I guess we can discuss things further another time. You’ve earned this dinner, and I’m not going to spoil it with talk of business.”
“I appreciate that, Krzysztof,” Drew said, his voice heavy with responsibility. “We’ve got time to catch up. Let’s eat, and you can tell me what’s up with that girlfriend you’d been seeing before I left.”
“Oh man, don’t get me started with that chick—the moment I mentioned taking our relationship to the next level, all she talked about was how many babies she wanted. As if I didn’t have enough kids and child support from my last two failed marriages.”
Drew tried not to laugh as he dug into his food.
*******
Following Day
Security Council Chamber, Tiberius Hall
Alliance City, New Eden
Rhea System
As Drew stepped out of the transport, he found himself marveling at the progress Alliance City had made in his fifteen-month absence. The towering apartment buildings and condominiums, housing the myriad of races that made up the alliance’s workforce, seemed to have sprouted from the ground like metallic trees reaching for the heavens. Altairians, Primords, Tully, and Ry’lians, all working in harmony to support the intricate tapestry of the alliance’s military, political, and economic functions.
He approached Tiberius Hall, a monolithic structure that exuded both power and elegance. The building’s exterior was adorned with intricate designs, a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that had gone into its construction. The landscaping surrounding the edifice was equally impressive, with manicured gardens and sculptural elements that seemed to pay homage to the importance of the work carried out within its walls.
Drew’s thoughts drifted to the various councils housed within Tiberius Hall, each responsible for a different aspect of the alliance’s governance. The Council of Military Affairs, the Council of Industrial, Trade, and Economics, the Council of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Law and Justice, and the Council of Education, History, Research, and Development—all overseen by the paramount Governing Council. A wry smile played on his lips as he silently thanked the universe for steering him away from the labyrinthine world of politics, a path his brother Micah had chosen to embrace.
In his absence, Drew had allowed his brother to stay in his palatial, overly fancy, and way-too-expensive condominium penthouse. He had sunk his life savings into purchasing it a number of years ago. He had a feeling it was one of those rare opportunities where the value of the property was likely to increase many times beyond what he had purchased it for. There weren’t a lot of opportunities for soldiers and operatives to increase their net worth. Owning a house, a condo, or a property was still the best way to increase a person’s net worth or retirement account. His condo sat atop one of the few one-hundred-and-thirty-two-story-tall buildings adjacent to the Office of the Viceroy, Drew’s office when he wasn’t on assignment, and a block away from Tiberius Hall, where Micah worked.
As Drew neared the main entrance, he found himself craning his neck to take in the sheer scale of the intricately carved wooden doors. The double doors, standing an impressive thirty feet tall, were flanked by a more modest pair of sixteen-foot doors, which appeared to be the primary point of entry for employees and visitors alike.
He joined the line of individuals waiting to pass through security, noting the presence of heavily armed Republic Security Guards. The guards, outfitted in state-of-the-art Dragon Skin armor and wielding M-111 Slayer rifles, exuded an air of unwavering vigilance. Drew raised an eyebrow at the level of security, silently questioning the necessity of such firepower within the heart of the alliance’s capital.
As he reached the front of the line, Drew was surprised when the guard, a captain judging by the bars on his armor, waved off his attempt to present identification. The captain informed him that he had been preauthorized to proceed directly to the Council of Military Affairs’ conference room, where Viceroy Hunt and Admiral Bailey were expecting him.
Intrigued by this development, Drew entered the cavernous lobby of Tiberius Hall. Within moments, a holographic guide materialized before him, introducing itself as Dexter. As he followed the shimmering figure through the halls, Drew found himself absorbing the wealth of information Dexter provided about the building’s namesake and the emperors who had preceded him.
The anticipation grew as they approached the conference room, the holographic guide vanishing as suddenly as it had appeared. Viceroy Hunt stood before him, a warm smile on his face as he extended his hand in greeting. The two men exchanged pleasantries, the Viceroy expressing his satisfaction at seeing Drew in person after months of holo communications.
As they entered the conference room, Drew’s mind raced as he took his seat at the table, the eyes of allied partners focusing on the obvious outsider seated before them.
*******
Security Council Chamber
Viceroy Miles Hunt stood at the head of the conference table, his presence commanding the attention of the alliance members gathered before him. The room hummed with anticipation and tension as he prepared to address them. When Miles cleared his throat, the conversations stopped, and all ears focused on what he said next.
“Good morning, everyone,” Miles began, his voice resonating with authority as he took charge of the room. “Before we start the meeting, I’d like to take a moment to address the obvious—why our military commanders from the Lyrius system have been recalled from the front lines to join us. If you bear with me a moment, everything will be revealed, and the reason why this meeting was called will be explained.
“It’s been said that some decisions have generational impacts and ripples felt for eternity. The decision we are about to make today, I believe, is one of these. Let me start by explaining why I believe that and also introduce you to a key person in this struggle against the Zodark Empire and this Dominion Alliance.” He gestured to the seat beside him, where Drew Kanter sat, his expression a mask of calm determination. “Joining us today is Drew Kanter, a key figure in the success of the project we’re about to discuss and how its outcome will impact generations to come.”
Admiral Wiyrkomi, Miles’s trusted friend and advisor, nodded in recognition. He had been deeply involved in Drew’s work, privy to the sensitive information shared between Miles and his inner circle. “I second what the Viceroy has said about Drew’s contributions to our cause and the mission he is presently leading. He has become an invaluable leader and operator for the Republic and the alliance writ large,” Wiyrkomi affirmed, his voice carrying a note of respect.
Miles continued, “As many of you are aware, the Zodark spy web, run by their human proxy, the Guristas, had infiltrated the Republic and, through them, the alliance. It was through the collaborative efforts of our intelligence agencies that we eventually uncovered their espionage ring. I wish I could report that this allowed us to prevent future attacks against the Republic and our alliance. But we were too late to dismantle it before they could provide our enemies with the necessary information to make an invasion possible. Earth, my home world, the capital of the Republic, paid for that failure.”
The room grew somber as the facts were laid bare before them, the weight of them hanging heavy in the air. Admiral Bailey, still filling the temporary role as Chancellor of the Republic, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “I suspect this has something to do with our ongoing interrogations of captured Gurgorra and what we have been uncovering about the Zodarks’ experimental creations?”
Miles looked grim as he nodded before turning to Zudolly, the Altairian representative from their intelligence agency.
“I am Zudolly, from the Schendolly—Altairian Intelligence. Our agency has been collecting intelligence against the Zodark Empire for centuries. At times, our knowledge of their affairs is broad and deep. We have our successes. We have our failures. What we have not succeeded in understanding is to what extent the Zodarks have dabbled in genetics and biological weapons. Our knowledge of the Gurgorra program—what it was, what they had created—was limited at best. We had known the Zodarks were running experiments, but what kind of experiments and the extent of their progress were unclear. However, the humans on the planet Sumer—their tribute system—and this parallel society the Zodarks call the Gurista were something on which we had collected extensive information. This allowed Republic Intelligence to vet and validate the information being provided to them, leading to the formulation of a daring plan, a stratagem that would alter the course of this war and the future of humanity should it succeed.”
At this point, Drew took the lead as he addressed the council. “When we turned the Mukhabarat deep-cover operatives Ashurina and Dakkuri, we gained a wealth of information about the Gurista society, the locations of their star systems and planets, and how they operate. In the lead-up before the Zodark attack on Earth, the Mukhabarat Karaff, the spymaster and head of their operation, Dakkuri, had apparently been contemplating switching sides—the facade of who he was working for had steadily eroded until it fell away completely. It was his surrender, his cooperation, and his desire to rid his people of their blind allegiance to the Zodarks that led us to believe that maybe—with their help—we could attempt to sway the public from their Zodark hero worship—freeing the Guristas from their grasp and turning them into an ally against them.”
The more Drew spoke, the more excitement and energy filled the room, which buzzed with a mix of surprise at what was being said and cautious optimism that it might work.
Lieutenant General Hopper, commander of the Republic Third Expeditionary Army, was the first to speak. “Wait, are you saying there is a real, legitimate opportunity to infiltrate Gurista Prime and potentially sway their loyalty away from the Zodarks?”
Drew smiled, his eyes glinting with determination. “We already have. In fact—”
“Wait, what do you mean we already have?” interrupted General Hopper.
“In the days following the Zodarks’ attack on Earth, we began working on a plan with Ashurina and Dakkuri to figure out how best to unmask the Zodarks and expose them and their plan for the Gurista people if they don’t break from their allegiance with them. Once we had developed a plan, the Gallentines offered to help us infiltrate the star system and planet,” Drew replied.
Admiral Helixar signaled that he wanted to speak. “General Hopper, when we saw the opportunity to weaken the Zodark Empire, we offered the Viceroy the services of one of our Vraxerian-class stealth corvettes and some intelligence support during their operations on the planet,” Admiral Helixar explained, pausing a moment to collect his thoughts. “This was and is a risky endeavor, General. The potential rewards should we succeed outweigh the cost should we fail, however. If we can turn the Guristas to our side, it could be a turning point in the war.”
Miles nodded as the Gallentine surmised the situation, his gaze sweeping over the assembled leaders, his eyes sharp as he searched for questions or doubts in their expressions. “Indeed, Admiral Helixar. It has been more than a year since we first launched this operation. We knew from the beginning that the plan was fraught with danger, but we had a unique opportunity to strike a blow against the Zodarks and liberate a fellow human society. Right now, we’re at a crossroads, and a decision must be made, our next move decided—here, today. The seeds of doubt sown this past year are yielding their fruit. The pieces to initiate this coup, this overthrow of the Zodark-controlled government, are in place. If we are to pull this off, it means forces will have to be drawn from both of your commands,” Miles explained as he looked at General Hooper and Admiral Rosentreter. “We cannot launch a coup and expect it to succeed if we’re not able to intercept Zodark warships and reinforcements. Fortunately, the location of the Gurista planets is on the far side of Zodark territory—a long way from reinforcements beyond what’s in the nearby garrison two systems away.”
Admiral Rosentreter laughed, his hand smacking the table in excitement. “Hell yeah, Viceroy, this decision is a no-brainer. My command just received replacement ships and personnel along with an additional squadron of warships. I can detail off Admiral Dobbs to command a reinforced squadron of ships. If Hopper can spare an SOF regiment in case a ground contingent is needed, I think we can easily handle supporting this mission—we just need a bridge for us to cross and we’re good.”
“Excellent—a bridge won’t be a problem. Our Gallentine allies have that covered,” Miles replied, then turned to face Drew. “I think we have our answer. Let’s go ahead and move forward with Operation Free Gurista.”
Drew nodded solemnly, a determined look on his face, a fire burning in his eyes as he saw victory not far off.
Chapter Twenty
We Have Contact
Task Force 28
RNS Cassiopeia
Gravaxia System
“Jump complete. We are now in the Gravaxia system,” the helmsman informed them the moment they were through the gate.
“Antenna array extended, initiating PELS,” announced Lieutenant Harris, the ship’s electronic warfare officer, who controlled the ship’s pulsar echolocation system or PELS. Within seconds of transmitting its rapid pulse signal, it populated the TAMs table near the TAO station. “Admiral, initial scans show no sign of enemy warships, surveillance drones, or warning beacons near the gate—OSTSA is beginning a system-wide scan now. That should get us a better view of what we’re facing within the Gravaxia system. ETA on the full scan should be around ninety minutes.”
Admiral Lee was taking the information in as fast as the scanners were providing it. The most vulnerable time for any ship was the first thirty seconds to three minutes after exiting the stargate—the time it took a ship’s sensors to recalibrate following the jump.
“Very well, thank you, Lieutenant Harris. Let us know immediately if the long-range sensors detect any military or civilian craft in the system,” Admiral Lee directed. He then turned to face his comms officer. “Lieutenant Rodriguez, get a status report from the ships that crossed with us. Then establish comms with the Donovan and Valiant—we need an update on their present situation and their coordinates,” he ordered calmly, setting the tone for the bridge staff.
“Yes, Admiral—Quantum Beamlink has been established with the squadron. We should have comms with the Valiant and Donovan shortly,” responded Rodriguez, his fingers dancing across his control panel.
“Outstanding, Rodriguez. I’m digging this new comms system. I only wish we had more of our warships equipped with it,” praised Lee.
The Quantum Beamlink, or QB, was among the most valued promising technologies Doctors Johnson and Sakura had discovered during their ongoing exploits of Lab Site X amid the buried Humtar technology they were exploring. It was the beginning of a revolutionary technology in the field of interstellar communications. The QB system employed a combination of quantum entanglement for encryption and a secure narrow-beam laser communications system. It would provide the ships equipped with it a secure method of data transmission in near real time and with nearly unlimited range. It was also a newly fielded comms system, which meant only new warships from the shipyards or those retrofitted at the newly created IMB Quantum Naval Shipyard were in possession of it. Lee had lucked out in that the ships comprising his task force were all equipped with this latest communication system.
