Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (17 page)

Data Cell 30

Nevlen guided Kason
through the detention cells. He stopped and opened a lockup door.

Kason entered and sat on a bed against the wall, not returning Nevlen’s gaze.

Nevlen was about to close the door but stopped short. “I’m sorry for this situation, Kason. I should be the one in confinement, not you.”

“There’s plenty of room in here, Nevlen. Have a seat.”

Nevlen knew any words of his would only add to the tension between the two.

He knew he should try though. “Is there anything I could do for you?”

“How about getting my men off that planet you left them on to start?” Kason stated.

Nevlen just nodded, understanding Kason’s request; but, without a response, he turned and noticed a figure approaching him.

He looked at Kason one last time before leaving the doorway, heading down the corridor.

Kason waited for the person that had garnered Nevlen’s attention.

Droe Temin rounded the door. “Hello, Kason. May I come in?”

“The door’s open.”

Droe smiled as Kason’s relaxed humor lifted her from her somber mood. She entered and took a seat next to him.

There was a moment’s pause before she moved her head up to meet Kason’s eyes.

She sighed and her eyes began to water. “I’m so sorry, Kason. I can’t believe Alon is gone. I miss him already.”

“Thank you, Droe. My mind right now is on my missing team members. I have no time for the lost.”

Droe reached her hand out to rest on his.

Kason glanced down, then back up to Droe.

She froze for a second, not sure of his reaction, but was welcomed with a smile from Kason. She returned his, her face warmly lighting up. She went to speak at the same time he did. They both stopped before interrupting one another.

“Please, Captain, you were going to say?” she asked.

“I wanted to thank you for the visit and to query a favor if I may?”

“I’m here for anything.”

Kason locked eyes with her before he spoke. “I would like you to make sure Nevlen is watched if he is going to take part in any rescue mission of my men. The man cannot be trusted.”

“I will keep an eye on him and make sure I am involved in any mission planning. This, I promise.”

“Thank you, Droe. It means a lot to me.”

“As it does me, Kason.” She grinned. Standing, she moved towards the door. “I will keep you up to date as we return to Janus. And Kason,” she turned and looked back at him, “my name is different than my father’s because of the difference of opinion my father and I have regarding our service to humanity.”

Kason stood and approached her.

She continued. “My father wanted me to enter politics just as he did. He called it the highest service to the people one could undertake; by giving oneself to the processes the people looked up to, but I believe it to be just the opposite. It’s about giving of one’s life to defend the ideals and principles of mankind. I don’t believe you lead from behind a desk but rather out in front, so for this, my father changed my last name as I was against his beliefs and he couldn’t have that. My father wanted me to be a governor of ideals and the Precept laws. I wanted to be a soldier and lead those who trust me with their lives against our enemies. For this, he disowned me. A form of punishment, I guess.”

Kason placed his hand on her shoulder for support.

Their eyes locked and each moved closer to the other.

Kason spoke before their lips met. “Thank you for telling me, Droe. I understand now.”

He backed away, leaving her disappointed eyes.

“You’re welcome, Kason. I. . . I need to be going. I will update you on any rescue mission.”

Droe turned and left the cell as the door slid shut behind her.

Kason walked back and sat on the edge of the bunk. He stared at the door in front of him. The image of Droe faded and the events leading up to this moment washed over him.

I’ve failed, he thought.

His mentor and friend, Alon was dead. Ramek and Jens were left-for-dead on a planet by an incompetent man he hated more than ever. The
Ordinance
Commander was left to deal with the mess Nevlen had created and Kason was a prisoner to be tried by a government he swore to protect.

How quickly things can change.

Data Cell 31

             
The Keeper, Tanus
returned to the bridge and approached the forward deck where Parejas was standing.

“Commander, you called my presence,” the Keeper said.

Parejas stood looking out the platform window, arms still behind his back.

“Step forward, Keeper Tanus.” Parejas looked over the swirling white mass of light that was hyper-space. He continued. “I brought you here as it pertains to the Annal Precepts... to have a Keeper present to record and archive historical events. You will replace Alon as the Keeper for the
Orion’s Rage
.”

“I do so by your command and by the Precept which binds it. But, only knowing I could never replace Alon.”  

Parejas turned to face the Keeper.

“Throughout our history, we have learned to survive. The ideals we hold onto as humans have become our guides within this new universe. At times, we lose sight of those ideals and wonder if they are still there. What was to be a great event today for mankind has now turned into misfortune. The Annals will record this time as another turning point and struggle for humankind. Will it not, Keeper?”

Tanus nodded. “Yes.”

“Then have it recorded that my revenge will not be sated until the Kryth Mahr Domain lies in ruin,” Parejas said.

The commander turned from the Keeper and resumed his look out into space.

The Keeper left the Commander to his thoughts.

Commander Shenta Parejas’ image reflected back at him from the crystal glass partition. His stare seemed to go far beyond the hyperspace’s void ahead of the great ship.

He knew what lay ahead for mankind, first, the jubilant reception from the people of Janus and the Assembly he was at odds with. Then, the continued campaign against the Kryth Mahr and this new Gashnee mystery that had been hidden from him for so long.

Shenta was pensive as he looked at his own image against the glass. A confident nod and slight smile seeded his face.

He knew the
Ordinance
forces were there to make sure humankind’s existence continued alongside an unkind, unjust, and unforgiving galactic history that had an eternal forward march.

There was plenty of history yet to be written. He would be sure he was there to read its outcome.

Data Cell 32

The
Orion’s Rage
came out of hyperspace, entering the Mydian system. The ship approached the inner-most planet, and home to mankind, Janus.

Commander Parejas could see the planet’s moons appear first, on her port and starboard side, as the
Orion’s Rage
slowed to cruising speed.

The usual activity found around moons and planets of any civilized space-faring race did not materialize as the ship moved closer.

Parejas knew the system appeared empty and lifeless, void of any advanced technology that would give away intelligent beings of any kind. This was the point, if any eyes viewed what his did now.

The ship headed between the moons of Veriton and Tyr with the planet Janus straight ahead.

Then, without warning, the front of the ship vanished, as if entering an invisible curtain. The abyss continued along the length of the great ship as it moved forward, consuming it, as a black hole would devour light, until the whole ship disappeared.

The
Rage
emerged from the other side of this invisible shroud as she passed between two large constellation camouflage projector satellite arrays.

Parejas watched as these camouflage screens cloaked the interior of the Mydian system from prying eyes and enemy sensors by giving false sensory and celestial data, as if nothing were there.

Following the great ship as it entered were two large Suppressor gun platforms, each tracking the
Rage
as she passed. Just another surprise any wandering ship would find as they crossed the threshold of this imperceptible sphere, Parejas thought as he looked beyond the bridge.

The closest moon to the command ship, Tyr, came alive as she passed by.

The Tyr Shipyards, the primary construction site for ship-building and weapon construction for the
Ordinance
forces, orbited high above the moon’s surface.

Activity
sparked
as robot constructors came alive with a wide variety of ship hulls being laid within the orbiting docks around the dynamic moon.

The
Rage
continued towards Janus and to a large station where many of the main fleet, which participated in the attack on Sol, had docked.

Each ship’s crew were readying for the victory ceremonies planned after the Retribution mission.

The great ship moved into her spot as a docking arm came to meet the hull right next to her insignia:
Orion’s Rage
CCR-1

Commander Parejas turned from the window and exited the bridge.

∞∞∞

The lift descended down towards the main hangar bay onboard the
Orion’s Rage
.

Commander Parejas and Lt. Commander Temin stood ready in their formal dress uniforms to inspect the formation of officers awaiting them before they departed to the planet’s surface.

Droe tugged down on her jacket to adjust it with slight discomfort. “I’m not one for formal settings,” she said, agitated at the fit of her uniform.

The formal uniforms worn by the command staff were opposite in color of their active dress uniform. The black of the jacket and pants was now replaced by the silver that lined the collar and wrists. Just as the previously silver rank emblems, collar, and cuffs were now black.

Shenta Parejas smiled. “Good to see I have company in that regard.”

“It’s just the longer jacket that comes below the waist here. Feels like I’m being swaddled.” She adjusted again.

“This show will be over soon,” Parejas stated.

“I’ve heard they plan to have hours of celebrations and speeches.”

Parejas scoffed. “Not if I have anything to do with it they won’t.”

“Then I’m glad I’m in good company as well.” Droe smiled back her commander.

The lift came to a stop.

The hangar bay opened up to a cavernous room. Dozens of fighters, shuttles, and assault craft lined the outsides and loading bays, stacked several high from floor to ceiling. An obvious indication of the ship’s importance as a command cruiser.

The main center concourse awaited them as formations of officers and soldiers stood at attention.

To their right they viewed a row of Nevlen’s troops and a row of Reavers. To their left were the officers of the ship including Nevlen, Major Chion Danchal, and Keelan Sern, now temporary leader of Kason’s Reaver team.

Shenta and Droe approached the two formations that were at attention.

Parejas spotted the small figure in the back of the officer line, dressed in an Ordinance uniform.

It was Mistuuk, the Cuukzen.

Parejas looked at Droe with an inquiring expression as they continued to walk through the procession.

Droe knew Parejas would not have missed the little guy in the back. Who could have, as he was the only wide-eyed alien in the bunch.

The Cuukzen bounced in place with glee, his face plastered with a wide smile, his body was trying to hold the position of attention. He looked beyond excited to be there as if a puppy awaited the hand of its master or a favorite stick to be thrown.

“I can explain, sir,” Droe responded. “He gave us his allegiance after we handed the Kryth their, well you know, as the Cuukzen put it in his language, their
nuts and bolts
.” Parejas continued to walk forward through the formations as Lt. Commander Temin continued. “He gave us valuable intelligence and wanted to join us. He’s quite harmless.”

Parejas glanced at Droe with an eyebrow raised.

“I’ll leave it in your hands then, Lieutenant. It seems the little guy has warmed up to you during the interrogation.”

Parejas took one last look over at the Cuukzen before shaking his head, holding back a grin.

They both came to a stop at the other end of the formation where the main officer core was located.

The shuttle awaited them with ramp down, ready to take the delegation to the Assembly Mount on Janus.

Major Chion Danchal approached. “Your chariot awaits, Commander Parejas.”

“Thank you, Major. Chariots are not my style but, this fine gunship will do.”

Commander Nevlen Bossarios approached, as did Keelan from the Reaver ranks.

Nevlen spoke up. “Looks like all of us are here, Commander. Shall we get on with the procession?”

Commander Takkar’s harsh stare met Nevlen’s words. “Not all are here, Nevlen. How about a little respect?” Takkar asked.

The Reaver Keelan just looked at Nevlen to enhance Takkar’s sentiment.

Nevlen amended his remark. “Yes, Commander. I stand corrected.” Nevlen looked at each officer before meeting the Reavers’ gaze. “I am fully aware not all parties are currently present.” He finished with eyes down.

There was a brief uneasy silence before Parejas broke it. “Let’s get this over with. We have better things to concentrate on than some bureaucratic parade,” he said as he entered the drop ship.

The others soon followed their commander up the ramp as it rose and closed behind them.