Ep.#4 - "Freedom's Dawn" (The Frontiers Saga) (11 page)

Nathan could see the apprehension on the man’s face. It was obvious that the idea of taking on the Ta’Akar seemed a fool’s errand to him. “You need to prepare to defend yourselves, as do we.”

“We have no effective means of doing so.”

“You have a military, do you not?” Nathan asked, indicating the uniformed and heavily armed men in the room. “You have ships as well. We have seen many leaving your world.”

“Those are civilian ships, not military vessels. They are armed, yes, but only for defensive purposes, and certainly not enough to defend themselves against Ta’Akar warships. Our military is primarily ground based. Other than a few squadrons of short range fighters, we have no space borne military assets. The Ta’Akar took them from us decades ago as a condition of our surrender.”

“You have missiles,” Jessica added, “with nukes. That’s a bit more than nothing.”

“Not when targeting a heavily shielded warship,” the Prime Minister’s aide corrected. “We were unable to defend ourselves against just one of their ships. You saw this for yourselves. And now we have the additional burden of the chaotic situation on the surface of Corinair. If the Ta’Akar return, especially in force, we will be destroyed in short order. In our current state of disarray, the population would never support any type of resistance. They will simply march in and take over once and for all. Or worse yet, they will remain in orbit and finish what the Yamaro started.”

“If I may, sir,” Tug chimed in. “What exactly
is
going on out there?”

“The Loyalists are accusing the Followers of polluting the minds of the Corinairans with lies. They believe that such behavior is the reason for the Yamaro’s bombardment.”

“It is entirely possible that the actions of the Loyalists are being instigated by Ta’Akar agents operating covertly on your world.”

“Yes, we have suspected their presence for some time now. But other than causing general disruption, I fail to understand the purpose of such activities.”

“Their goal is to destabilize your government enough to justify seizing control,” Tug explained. The Prime Minister’s aide looked confused. “The original terms of your surrender allowed you to maintain your self-governance. This was necessary due to the delay in communications over even short interstellar distances. Three decades ago, the problem of communications delay was even greater. Direct administration over conquered worlds was impractical. But the original terms of surrender included a clause that allowed agents of the Ta’Akar to take control of the planetary government should that government become unstable.”

“But why now? Was it because of the reports of the sign of Na-Tan’s arrival?”

“Possibly, but I believe there are deeper reasons. This event only serves as a convenient excuse,” Tug continued. “The anti-aging serum that used to be reserved for the most elite of Ta’Akar society has been increasingly distributed to the lesser classes. Nearly every natural born Takaran now lives to be several hundred years old. This has caused their population to increase exponentially over the years. Takara itself is dangerously overpopulated. They had originally planned on reforming more worlds within the cluster, but the power requirements for such reformations are massive, requiring great amounts of resources. The rebellion has limited such resources over the last twenty years. Soon, however, they will have their new power generation systems working, and they will be able to reform the worlds they need. But that will take centuries that they do not have. That is why they seek to take control of your world utilizing the loophole in the terms of your surrender. Your population is young, and your world is still mostly undeveloped. Soon, your people will be forced to serve the billions of Takarans that will come to colonize your world, making it their own. Within a few generations, your entire people, your culture, your history will all be erased through attrition.”

It was a dire prediction, but the Prime Minister’s aide translated Tug’s words to his leader. Nathan could tell by the expression on the Prime Minister’s face that he did not consider such actions beyond the capabilities of the Ta’Akar Empire.

Nathan watched the Prime Minister. His expression did not change. He showed no signs of horror or denial at the dire forecast-only an increasing look of determination to do what was best for his people. There was a strength in this man. It was the same strength that Nathan had noticed in the flight crew of the airship that had brought them to this facility little more than an hour ago.

“The Prime Minister agrees with your assessment of the situation, sir.” The response was aimed at Tug, and ended with a nod of respect by the aide. He turned his attention back to Nathan. “He also asks what it is that you suggest we do.”

“We will do all that we can to defend your system, but we have suffered much damage over the last week, and we have many casualties. Unless we can make significant repairs before the Ta’Akar return, we shall not prevail.”

“I am sorry, Captain,” the aide responded, “but we ourselves are quite overwhelmed at the moment. Until we can get control of the current crisis, there is little we can offer you.”

“Can you provide medical assistance?” Nathan asked. “My first officer, she was critically injured during our battle to defend your world. Our ship’s physician has done all that she can. But Mister Tugwell here has suggested that your doctors might be able to help—that your facilities might be more extensive, and maybe even more advanced than those on board our ship.” Nathan immediately noticed the look of disbelief on the Prime Minister’s face as his aide translated Nathan’s request.

“Captain, forgive me, but a civilization that can instantaneously travel between the stars must surely have more advanced medical technologies than even the Ta’Akar, let alone our meager world.”

Nathan had expected this reaction, as most of the locals they had met thus far had been surprised to find that most of the Aurora’s technology was outdated in comparison with their own. “An understandable conclusion, sir, but our jump drive technology is a recent break through, an accidental discovery if you will. In addition, our own medical facilities are overwhelmed with casualties. Believe me when I tell you that any medical assistance you can offer would be most helpful.”

Nathan waited anxiously as the aide translated his words. Tug had assured him that the Corinairans had medical capabilities that exceeded those he had seen on board the Aurora. He only prayed that Tug was correct.

“As you might expect, we are also facing a medical crisis due to the bombardment of our world. However, we will dispatch a medical transport to your ship immediately, Captain.”

“Thank you, Prime Minister,” Nathan said with obvious relief in his voice.

“It is the least we can do, considering all that you have sacrificed on behalf of, not only our world, but others suffering under the oppression of the Ta’Akar.”

“Might we be allowed to contact our ship, so that we might alert them of your approach?” Nathan asked. “They are still in a high state of combat readiness and I would not want to see them mistakenly fire on your medical transport.”

“Of course. One of the guards will escort you to the communications center.”

Nathan turned to Jessica. “You go. Fill Vlad in on what’s happening down here.”

“Yes sir.”

Nathan returned his attention to the Prime Minister’s aide. “My security chief will handle the task, if you don’t mind. That way we can continue our discussion about how to defend your world.”

“As you wish, Captain.”

* * *

“You realize you are wasting your resources,” Captain de Winter stated quietly so that no one but the commander would hear.

“Despite your belief to the contrary, Captain, my reasons for capturing some of this worlds radiological weapons have nothing to do with your so called mission.” The commander stood up from the planning table and turned to face the captain. “The fact that I am willing to task some of those missiles for your purposes is a courtesy as much as anything else. I suggest that you remember that.”

The captain had been hovering over the commander’s shoulder for nearly an hour now, and it was becoming quite a nuisance. The commander understood Captain de Winter’s goals, and he certainly understood the strategic importance of either denying the Corinairans use of both the Yamaro and the Aurora or gaining control of them for the Ta’Akar. However, his mission was to take control of this world, and ultimately the entire system, and place it under the direct rule of the Ta’Akar once and for all.

“This is maddening,” Captain de Winter exclaimed.

You’re telling me,
thought the commander.

“This is a highly advanced world, with thousands of space faring vessels. Surely your men are capable of hijacking something that can reach the Aurora.”

“Acquiring a ship that can
reach
the Aurora is not the issue, Captain. Being allowed to come close enough to board her is the problem. Considering what she has been through, and what she must surely know is going on down on the planet below her, she will be ready for trouble. I’m afraid the best we can hope for is to get a civilian ship carrying a nuke close enough to detonate and permanently disable if not destroy her.”

“There has got to be a way,” the captain insisted. “I must have that ship.”

“Sir,” a subordinate called as he approached the commander, “we just received this message from one of our deep cover agents.” He handed a small data pad over to his superior.

The commander frowned momentarily as he realized the implications of the message. As much as he hated it, the captain was going to get his wish after all. “This must be your lucky day, Captain.”

“What is it?”

“It seems the Corinairans are preparing to send a medical shuttle up to the Aurora to ferry down one of her wounded.”

“That’s our way in!” the captain exclaimed.

“Perhaps,” Commander Dumar admitted. “A transport is being dispatched from their command center to the local hospital to pickup medical personnel.
If
we can get a team assembled and get them to the spaceport before the transport arrives, and
if
we can take control of the medical shuttle, then you
might
be able to get on board.”

“Excellent! We must depart immediately! How many men can you spare?”

“Weren’t you accompanied by twelve of the best officers the Ta’Akar nobility have to offer?”

“Those are command staff, commander. I doubt any of them even remember how to hold a gun.”

“Then I suggest you refresh their memories, and quickly.”

“Commander, surely you can spare a few men?”

“I believe I made my position quite clear on that point, Captain.”

“Need I remind you, Commander, of the importance of this mission?”

He didn’t. As much as he hated to admit it, the commander knew that the captain was correct. The capture of such technology would make the Ta’Akar nearly invincible. As well, great rewards would be bestowed upon those responsible for her capture. However, he was also aware of the danger such technology presented—not only to his empire, but to anyone who opposed the holders of such capabilities.

“Five men, Captain. That’s all I can spare at the moment. But they will be five of my best,” he assured him. “In fact, they could probably take the ship without the help of you and your command staff.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

The commander turned to face de Winter once more, a serious expression on his face. “Be forewarned, Captain. Should you fail to capture the Aurora, I will do everything within my power to destroy her. Even if you’re still on board.”
Especially if you’re still on board
, he thought.

“A reasonable precaution, Commander.”

“I will give you one hour, one hour from the time you touch down on her flight decks. If I have not received word of your success, I will do my best to destroy that ship.”

“I shall take that ship,” the captain promised, “or die trying.”

Captain de Winter turned and exited the room to prepare for departure. The commander watched him leave, confident in as well as grateful for the knowledge that, regardless of the outcome, he would not be seeing the pompous nobleman again.

“Corporal,” the commander called to a nearby aide, “who’s next up?”

“That would be team four, sir,” the corporal responded.

“Get them geared up for a boarding action and on the pad in ten minutes. And get Sergeant Tukalov in here immediately. I’ve got a mission for him.”

* * *

Vladimir was frustrated. Ever since Nathan had left the ship to go to the surface of Corinair, nothing had gone right for him. Systems were failing all over the ship—not critical systems, just minor things. However, the constant reports of insignificant system failures were making it impossible for him to get anything done. Every time he would get started on a project, another call would interrupt him. The most he had been able to accomplish in the last hour was to coordinate his repair teams. This frustrated him further as he preferred to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty as well. As short staffed as they were, everyone needed to be fixing something.

“
Cheng, Comms,
” the comm-officer called.

Vladimir put down his data pad yet again, rolled his eyes and tapped his headset to take the call. The bridge had been particularly bothersome, calling him every five minutes to update him on one thing or another. “Yes, this is Cheng. Go ahead.”

“
Sir, I’ve got Ensign Nash on comms.”

Finally
, Vladimir thought,
a real reason to interrupt my work.
“Put her through, Ensign.”

“She’s broadcasting over an open frequency, sir. No crypto.
”

“Understood.”

“
Vlad, are you there?
” Jessica’s voice called over his comm-set.

“Yes. Jessica? Is that you?”

“
Who the hell else would it be?
”

“What is going on? You are overdue for check in. Is everything okay?”