Black Dawn (12 page)

Later Coy sat down with everyone who had come with Drake
and discussed the possibility of joining the BlackFleet. Most had good
motives for wanting to remain with the mercenaries instead of being
sucked into the ongoing fighting back home. One such person was a
teenage boy who was apparently in some sort of officer’s training position. It turns out that their society had the habit of leapfrogging young
aristocratic men and women into positions of authority by sending
them out with the military and assuming they would learn what they
needed to know before they were killed in battle.

Coy had heard of such practices back on ancient Earth sailing
vessels, but had no idea that anyone in modern space still did such a
thing. Especially since Jimmy Dobbs, the young man in question, did
not seem to have any aptitude and had spent several miserable months
in the service.

Then, helping out in Sick Bay at their arrival changed everything. He not only had aptitude for medical duties but a lot of enthusiasm as well. Coy thought Ceal would be thrilled when it took Jimmy
in to talk to her.

Jimmy, standing next to Asch, watched the officers intently as
they debated his future. Unconsciously biting his lip, his eyes darted
back and forth between Commodore Lamont and Med Tech Byars.

“
He was on a warship before he came to us,” the commodore
was saying. “If he wishes to serve on a better one, I would commend
him – not stop him.”

Coy raised a brow.
“By what planet’s standards? Yours maybe, but not his.”
Ceal opened her mouth to protest more, paused, then said quietly, “This is different.”
Coy didn’t even answer. It continued to look at her steadily
until she slumped in defeat and turned away.
Coy turned then to Jimmy. “Asch here will get you situated
with your uniform and cabin assignment.”
Jimmy’s eyes opened wide. “I can stay? Yesss!!!” He stopped
just short of leaping into the air. Taking in Coy’s sudden frown, he
took a breath and calmed down. “I mean, yes, sir, that is, aye, sir.
Thank you, sir.”
Coy watched them leave the room before turning back to Ceal.
She was still facing away, doing something, or pretending to do something, with her files.
“You want to tell me what this is really all about?” Coy asked
gently.
“Children shouldn’t be soldiers,” she answered too steadily to
be natural.
“He asked to work here with you, not out on the field with
Schiff,” Coy reminded her.
“People can get…” she began, but stopped. “It doesn’t matter.
You’ve decided.”
“Yes, my decision is made. But it matters that you are this
upset.”
No answer.
“I could make it an order.”
Ceal turned around at that, but still didn’t speak.
Coy tried again for a voluntary response.
“I’ve never been at odds with you, Ceal. If this was Butler I
was talking to, I’d be relieved that everything was normal. But not
with you. What is wrong with Jimmy serving with the Fleet?”
Ceal sighed sadly. “He’s 17.”
“Yes. And...?”
“My…my kid brother is, was 17 when the fighting broke out
in the capital. My father thought he was old enough to help defend
our…our home or honor or something. They let him go out with the
palace guard. He acted like a kid playing soldier. Like it was a
game…..Right up until he was hit.”
Coy stood quietly, picturing the scene. Knowing all too well
the pain of watching someone dear to you cut down before your eyes.
“Thank you,” it told her sincerely. “If Jimmy chooses to serve
the Beta Region by helping in your Sick Bay, he may. But he will
have the same training every BlackFleet member has had. I can’t
promise you he will never be hurt. Any more than I can promise that
you or Sweggert or Vennefron will not. But I can promise you he will
never think it is a game.”
And it left Sick Bay.

A few days later, the BlackFleet shuttle docked at the New
Grenich Transit portal station. Drake stood at the hatch in his new
black uniform as the three who had chosen to return home prepared to
exit.

“
Take care,” he told them.
They stood uncomfortably for a moment.
“Come on, Lieutenant Come home. This is wrong. You’re

Drake stood his ground.
“My own countrymen tried to push
me out into space. These people saved my life. I’m here until that
debt is paid.”

Service.
”
“I’m sorry, Albert, I know you don’t understand. Or agree.
But this is what I have to do. Maybe my destiny is different than
yours.”
“If you don’t come back now, you can’t come back at all.”
Drake nodded. “There is that chance. I’m willing to take it.”
“You’re wrong. And you’re taking nine guys down with you.”
“If the BlackFleet didn’t exist you and I wouldn’t be alive to
be here having this disagreement. I believe this is worth doing. I love
my home world, my people. That hasn’t changed. But I don’t believe
in the Service like I used to. They didn’t warn us. They didn’t help us.
I’m sure they had orders and reasons, but that’s exactly why this Fleet
is here. To
cut through all that and help people anyway. You’re a good soldier,
Albert. You’ll be a good officer. I hope they pin a medal on you when
you get home.”
Albert looked at him a moment longer. Finally, he saluted
gravely despite the different colors they were wearing.
“Good bye,
sir.”
Drake returned the salute and watched them disembark. He
turned to find Butler behind him.
“The commodore mentioned that
your situation was similar to mine. Did you have to say good-bye to
your men like this?”
“Nope,” Butler forced his voice to his usual flippant tone.
“They kinda said good-bye to me.” He cocked his head a little. “Regrets?”
“I regret what I know they’re walking into.”
“Well, if the Skipper has its way, we’ll be saving the whole
galaxy eventually. Maybe they’ll be okay
until we get back around to
them.”
Drake had to smile despite his worries. With one last look at
the hatchway, he mentally shook off his old life and prepared himself
for his new one. Although the real break had been earlier in his cabin
when he took off his battered tan uniform. He had stood looking at the
black suit for a long time before carefully putting it on and eying the
stranger in the mirror. Albert was right about one thing. There was no
going back now. His choice was made. “I hear my training begins today.”
“Why do you think I’m here, Trainee Drake? Commodore
Lamont, for some reason, thinks you have officer potential. Let’s find
out, shall we?”

Barely a day later Drake was broken in when the next mayday
was received. Aziza did his best to clean it up before sending it down
to Lamont.

“
....under atta...engines....please.....ambassa....Tau.....” It faded
to static, then to nothing.
“Sorry, Skipper,” Aziza’s voice followed the transmission.
“It’s enough. Keep monitoring.”
When they came upon the battle, Butler swore. A stately, if
elderly, vessel was being attacked by another swarm of fighters. “Tell
me those aren’t who I think they are.”
“Nope,” Bon told him, checking the scanner readouts closely.
“Different design altogether. Much older. In fact, I didn’t know anyone still used these things. And the big ship, what shields she has left
she’s rotating to… ouch, a hit, mid port.”
“Let’s break it up and send them to their corners until we sort
it out,” Coy ordered.
Parker’s first volley exploded exactly in the center of the battle, but hit no one. One could almost sense the puzzlement of the combatants. ‘
Where did
that
come from?’
But it was only a pause.
The swarm continued.
She lined her next shot across the bow of what appeared to be
the leader of the fighters. That caused more than a surprised pause.
A very angry man appeared on the
Raven’s
vid. “Who the hell
are you?”
“Commodore Lamont commanding the BlackFleet,” Coy gave
its customary answer to the customary opening question.
“This is none of your business, mercenary.”
Coy gave him an icy look. “The galaxy is my business.”
“Oh, shit, you’re those blasted vigilantes,” He muttered.
“Look, you have no idea what’s going on here.”
“Enlighten me.” Blasted vigilantes? It didn’t realize quite how
far their fame had spread.
“I don’t have time...”
“Enlighten me or we can blow you apart. We are answering a
distress call. Which makes your, ah opponent our clients. Which
makes
you
,” Coy’s look changed to a glare, “the enemy.”
The image disappeared abruptly, but the fighting ceased as
well.
“What the...?” Butler frowned. “Who are these guys?”
“I think you got his attention, Skipper,” Rebel added.
“Devyu, get our ‘clients’ on the line,” Lamont ordered.
“Aye, aye sir.”
The next person to appear was a desperate looking woman,
graying hair escaping from barrettes.
“Captain,” Coy opened with a nod, and repeated its introduction. “How may we assist you?”
In obvious relief, the captain pushed a strand of hair back into
place. “Commodore, if you are responsible for breaking off the attack,
you have already assisted us.” She took a deep breath. “I am Captain
Romex. We are transporting our ambassador home on a gravely important mission. If you could keep those fighters at bay until we can
get reinforcements we would be deeply in your debt.”
“How deeply?” Butler murmured.
“We would be quite willing to help,” Coy told her, glad she
couldn’t hear Butler. “May I ask what nature of mission we would be
assisting?”
“I guess that’s the least we can do.” Captain Romex agreed.
Another breath. “The planet Sontaire has become an unbearable thorn
in our side. The ambassador is going home to recommend war.”
Drake, as part of training, was manning a com station in the
Tac Room with Lamont. He sat up at the mention of war. “What is
there, an epidemic?”
Coy was staring at the holovid image. “I see. Please remain
where you are while we investigate.”
“Investigate? What do...”
“I suggest you use this cease fire for emergency repairs. Lamont out.” Coy spoke to the bridge. “Get me that other captain. Now.”
It took several repeated hails before the man appeared.
“Yes, Commodore? Is it time to blow me apart?”
“It’s time for you to enlighten me.”
“Why do you care?”
“If you don’t want to talk I can always go ahead and escort
them safely home.”
He paled. “Oh, don’t do that.”
“Again. Why?”
“If they reach home, they declare war.”
“Now, why would they do that?”
“Because our idiot ambassador insulted their idiot ambassador
and now a million people will pay for it. The only thing we knew to
do was stop him from reporting.”
“Won’t they just transmit the information?’
The fighter captain shook his head. “Wouldn’t do any good.
It’s in the code. They need a physical document delivered by a sworn
appointee... What does it matter?’
Coy thought for a moment. “Captain, would you be willing to
come on board my ship for a meeting?”
“My turn. Why?”
“To try and stop a war.”
He heaved a desperate sigh. “What do I have to lose? When
and where?”
The same agreement was made with Romex and her ambassador. Escorts brought them separately to the briefing room. The ambassador stopped in his tracks at the sight of the fighter.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Coy indicated the chairs around the table. “We are having a
peace conference.”
“This is preposterous! By whose authority...?”
“My own. And since it’s my ship, my guards and my weapons
that are superior here, I get to make the rules. Now sit.”
Reluctantly, everyone sat, one eye on the guards at the door,
the other on Ceal Byars, also seated at the table.
Coy leaned forward, and clasped its hands on the table. “And
now for my ground rules. First of all everything in this room is being
recorded. Secondly only the truth will be spoken.”
Romex snorted. “How do you intend to enforce that?”
“That brings me to number three, pentha.”
“What?” the fighter asked.
“Pentha. You will all be questioned under a truth drug.”
Protests exploded all around.
“You can’t do that!”
“What right...?”
“How dare you...”
Coy waved a finger at them. “My ship, my rules, remember?”
It nodded to Ceal. “My medical officer will now test each of you to
make sure you will not have an allergic reaction.” Byars did a skin test
on all of the intended, ah, volunteers. When all the tests turned out
negative, Coy chose the fighter captain to be first.
A few moments after Ceal administered the hypo spray of pentha, he relaxed in his seat with a totally blank expression, all resistance
washed away.
“What is your name?” Coy asked him.
“Aldolf Sondrie the 4th.”
“What planet do you come from?”
“Sontaire.”
“What is your position?”
“Captain of the Blue Wing Strike Force.”
“Why were you attacking the large ship?”
“To stop them.”
“To stop them from doing what?”
“ Reporting home.”
“Why don’t you want them to report home?”
“They’ll start a war.”
“Why would they start a war?”
“Tamaz was insulted by Fodor. Fodor said his face looked
like
a ...”
“Stop. Who is Fodor?”
“Our ambassador.”
“And where is he now?”
“In the Capital prison.”
“Why?”
“He’s under arrest.”
“On what charge?”
“Treason.”
“Hmmm. Thank you, Captain.”
Ceal administered the antidote and a dose of something to help
the typical post-pentha hangover. Then she stepped to Tamaz.
“I refuse to sit here and be...” he tried to stand. Ceal pressed
the spray against his neck and he melted back down.
Lamont repeated the interrogation. “What is your name?”
“Tobias Tamaz Santiago.”
“What planet do you come from?”
“Tauten Three.”
“What is your position?”
“Ambassador to Sontaire.”
“Where were you going before your ship was attacked?”
“Home”
“Why?”
“To give the king the declaration of war.”
“Why?”
“Because he wanted me to.” Pentha subjects always answered
as literally as they could.
“Your king wanted you to declare war?”
“Yes.”
“On what grounds?”
“On whatever grounds I could find.”
No one breathed. The room seemed to drop several degrees.
“You were under orders from your king to create a war with Sontaire
however you could?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Santiago paused and fought for control for a moment before
giving in to the drug again. “To disrupt trade.”
“Why would your government want to disrupt trade?”
“I don’t know. It has to do with a deal he has.”
Coy’s heart stopped. “With whom does he have a deal?” it
asked very carefully.
“I don’t know.”
“How would this deal benefit your king?”
“I don’t know.”
Coy tried a few more questions, but the man didn’t seem to
have any more helpful information. Ceal gave the antidote and medicine. The sick look in his eyes, however, had little to do with nausea.
He glared at Sondrei. “We don’t imprison traitors. I will be
killed.”
“Like the civilians, the parents and children who would’ve
died in your war?” Coy ground out.
Everyone got very quiet at the tension that filled the room.
Captain Romex cleared her throat quietly. “May I have a dose
of that please? I want it on record that I had nothing to do with any of
this.”
Coy nodded agreement. She was drugged. And cleared.
Once again, no one spoke for a few minutes. Finally Tamaz
mustered a shred of haughty dignity. “None of this is your affair, anyway, mercenary.”
With an effort, Lamont refrained from shouting at the man.
“Anytime helpless people are on the verge of being slaughtered, it better be someone’s affair.” It paused to contain its sudden , and unexpected , anger. “I am going to send a copy of this meeting to both
heads of state. And may I remind everyone involved that according to
all evidence, this ship alone has more firepower than either of you
have. And I have more ships.”
“Meaning?” Romex asked.
“Meaning that if I hear about a war, I will be back. And I will
stop it. Is that understood?”
No one said anything. There was no need.
After the declaration was disposed of, they were escorted back
to their vessels. Bon and Butler came into the briefing room as Lamont
watched the ships disappear off the monitors.
“Commodore, do you know what you did?” Bon asked.
“Besides dramatically overstepping my authority?”
Bon grinned.
“Besides that, yes. You saved a hell of a lot of
people.”
“Couldn’t help it,” Coy shrugged. “It’s in my job description.”
“I don’t suppose we can count on any favors coming from this
little experience,” Butler said.
Lamont sighed in frustration. “We almost had something better. We came this close,” it measured with its thumb and forefinger, “
to finding our Boogeyman.”
“You think the deal his king had was with the same guy that’s
ripping off cargo ships?” Bon asked.
“Yes I do. Disrupting trade seems right up the same line as the
rest of the trouble going on.”
Butler put on his best belligerent look. “Skipper, do you have
any clue at all how you intend to find this guy?”
“As I said, every job is a clue. A piece to the puzzle. I just
have to figure where this one fits.”
“We could always kidnap the king and give
him
a dose of pentha,” Bon half joked.
Lamont looked thoughtful. “If I thought it would help, I
would be tempted. But anyone this intent on winning would not leave
that obvious a trail.”
Butler put a hand on Coy’s arm and raised his eyebrows in
disbelief. “You wouldn’t really, would you? I mean, a
king?”
Commodore Lamont looked at him steadily. “Remember, Captain, I’m intent on winning as well.”