Star Force 82 Hradeiti (SF82) (Star Force Origin Series) (6 page)

      
“Do they know what you plan to do with it?”

      
“Yes, we fully informed them. They laid down a strict set of rules and the penalties that would incur for even the slightest violation…but that’s just normal for them. You know how they work. We have their permission to use them against the lizards and no one else. Aside from the single system we possess and anything beyond the border, we’re not even allowed to move those warships through ADZ space, nor conduct operations with or against any other race. Like I said, they were strict on the provisions, but they gave us a window of opportunity.”

      
“To attack the lizards? More like an opportunity for suicide.”

      
“They pretty much said the same, but they’re willing to let us try. They also said we will get no help from them whatsoever…unless we succeed. They said any system within 50 lightyears of the border, if we’re able to take it, will be extended into their protective bubble.”

      
Paget couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

      
“I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true. They may not be going after the lizards in that region, but it seems like they’re in favor of someone else doing so. We don’t stand a good chance, but if we can mount a large enough force and take a system quickly, before the lizards can call for reinforcements, it will be ours and Star Force will keep lizard reinforcements from coming in and smashing us.”

      
“What’s their definition of take?” Paget asked, still not believing this.

      
“Full naval control and a stable foothold on at least one planet. Enough to know that we will eventually take it if no reinforcements arrive.”

      
“That’s a huge task in and of itself.”

      
“But doable if we pick the right system, and we’ve already been scouting out the region.”

      
“How did your ships not get destroyed?”

      
“We’re careful, and our gravity drives are Star Force models. They still won’t sell weapons, but we can put the two together ourselves. We have three targets in mind that are soft enough that we think we might have a chance at, but we need backers, the right backers, to build enough of a military force to take it and take it quickly. That is the biggest risk, but the reward would be immense.”

      
“How many pieces will the planet be cut into?”

      
“We will be dividing surface area into 32 regions, water or not. With sufficient backing from the Gnar, I can offer you one of those and up to 5 if you’re feeling very generous.”

      
“Water does us little good.”

      
“We haven’t settled on a target yet, but we’re not counting water regions. Those we’re retaining unless someone specifically wants one. But remember, it’s not just the surface. It’s orbit as well.”

      
“I’m well aware of that. Who are the other backers?”

      
“For the moment I’m keeping that to myself, and none of what I’ve told you is public knowledge. I’ve come here because I know the Gnar have had bad blood with Star Force and you’re anxious for new territory that they won’t trade to you. While Star Force has promised to extend their protective envelope out within that 50 lightyear region, they will have no presence there other than orbital defense assets if they so choose to locate them there. This will not be an Alliance World. There will be no economic tug of war. It’s a chance to get away from Star Force entirely…defense considerations aside.”

      
“Surely they made you agreed to a code of conduct?”

      
“They did, which we will enforce, but they will have no infrastructure present. This will be entirely our world to do with as we please, and to share with who we please.”

      
“If you can take it, and that’s a big if.”

      
“Yes it is. I’m not disputing that. We’ll have one chance to take the system, and must come in with overwhelming numbers. If we fail, we’ll not have enough backing to try again…unless you guys get even more desperate for new territory.”

      
“A one shot operation then?”

      
“Indeed. Is that something the Gnar would be interested in considering?”

      
“How much time do I have to think on it?”

      
“Plenty. We can’t build a military overnight. This will take decades to plan and prepare.”

      
“It’s worth looking into, though at first glance I’m not comfortable with the odds. Cleansing beams or not.”

      
“Fair enough. We’re not optimistic either. It’s a challenge to overcome, but we think it’s doable with enough resources and insight.”

      
“Let me run this by my homeworld, along with any additional information you can provide.”

      
“There is none…as of yet. We don’t want to advertise this unless we succeed.”

      
“And if you do you’ll try for another system?”

      
“Only if our wishes come true.”

      
“And Star Force has sanctioned this?”

      
“More like not interfering with it.”

      
“They truly expect it to fail?”

      
“They’ve said as much.”

      
“And if our military wanted to assist?”

      
“We can’t supply cleansing beams, but we can potentially incorporate you if you’re willing to adhere to our rules. A sloppy assault is a failed one. We have to be professional about this, so we can’t take chances. That said we’ll incorporate everything of benefit that we can.”

      
Paget signaled for the menu and ordered a drink for himself, cautiously feeling optimistic. “Tell me more of this world you’ve already secured.”

 
      
5

 
      
March 3, 3139

      
Utia System (Occupation Zone)

      
Ventress

 
      
The Gnar convoy of 18 small jumpships ended their slow microjumps into planetary orbit, seeing only a single, but sizeable starport in orbit. Further off, three additional planets were full of Star Force infrastructure, yet this planet was mostly barren. The starport was of standard Star Force make, as were pieces of the cities on the planet below, but the ships in orbit and the rest of the infrastructure was a mix/mash of different tech cobbled together in seemingly random fashion.

      
Paget hoped that wasn’t a bad sign. He was wagering everything on this endeavor, not just his people’s resources and a good chunk of their treasury, but if this scheme didn’t pay off his position within the governmental ranks of the Gnar would be over. The potential return on investment was too good for him to pass up though, so here he was, far from even his cramped home on Mothere, intent on making a personal inspection of the Hradeiti operations. It was too late to back out now, but for his own sanity he needed to see that this wasn’t a colossal blunder.

      
He wasn’t impressed with what he saw from orbit as the convoy was guided into a parking slot near the starport. There they waited for necessary docks to open up before the shuttles could start hauling over their cargo, and it wasn’t until they’d orbited around to the far side of the planet that he noticed a very large region had been colonized.

      
Using the jumpship’s sensors, which weren’t great for surveillance but adequate for navigation, he saw several large cities in addition to huge swaths of construction. What they were building wasn’t obvious, but he guessed there had to be millions of people down there. The Gnar had done a full investigation of the Hradeiti before they’d agreed to this deal, but none of the reports that Paget had read mentioned anything about this…then again, maybe they’d never actually come out here to do any checking.

      
Relying on secondhand information again. Why the intelligence division had to be so sloppy he could never understand.

      
Eventually a much smaller ship disconnected with the starport and freed up a dock, to which one of the Gnar jumpships began disgorging cargo ships to in a long line of continuous slow motion. It took some time before that line began to return with empty holds to cycle back and get more cargo crates. Paget knew unloading took forever, but at this rate he’d be here long enough to birth another 10 infants!

      
Deciding not to wait, he contacted the Hradeiti to demand a guide and access to the surface for his inspection. Surprisingly he got an immediate response along with a set of coordinates and an offer for pickup if he didn’t have a dropship available. He declined the second part and took to the planet in his own craft, eventually landing in the largest city on the planet and being met at the spaceport by a Calavari dressed in a uniform he didn’t recognize.

      
“Welcome, Gnar,” he said without sarcasm. “My name is Numshet. On behalf of the Hradeiti I am here to give you a tour of our facilities and to answer any questions you may have.”

      
Paget had to stare up at the Calavari, who was nearly 3 times his own height. “My fleet is offloading the materials promised. What exactly are they going to be used for? I saw no shipyard.”

      
“Unfortunately no. We haven’t progressed to that point as of yet. Our current battle fleet is being constructed via contractors in other systems. We’re taking Star Force commercial vessels with strong gravity drives and refitting them into warships. We will do the task ourselves in time, but right now it is more economical to work through them while we utilize surface based shipyards to construct our own smaller vessels,” he said as he lead the Gnar into the city.

      
“What size are we talking about?”

      
“Destroyers and smaller.”

      
“You use Star Force ship designations?”

      
Numshet nodded. “The core of the Hradeiti military is made up of former Star Force soldiers.”

      
Paget stopped in his tracks. “You mean to say this is all a clandestine Star Force operation?”

      
“No, not at all. We’re all ex-Star Force.”

      
“You personally?”

      
“Yes. I served some 14 years in the Calavari military as a naval officer. We never got paid, and I prefer credits, so I went looking for opportunities to put my skills to better use. I was in the employ of the Tennichoo mercenary unit for two years before being offered a position here. I haven’t regretted the decision.”

      
“Are you currently fighting? The Hradeiti I mean.”

      
“Yes we are. Attacking the lizards with an inexperienced army would be suicide. Right now Hradeiti units are engaging in mercenary work far from here where life is more lawless than Star Force will allow. I just returned two months ago from such a tour.”

      
“And the results?”

      
“We’re picking up some extra credits in addition to gaining battle experience, for both our personnel and getting the chance to field test and tune our equipment. It’s a worthwhile endeavor.”

      
“Who are you fighting for?”

      
“A range of small client worlds without the resources to support their own militaries. Most of the assignments are not complicated, but we’ve been picking a few out that are to better test our capabilities. It’s a work in progress, and those of us who’ve seen combat with the lizards know our troops aren’t ready yet. They’re getting there, but there’s a lot to do before we’re going to go up against that buzz saw. The lizards adapt so fast that we have to be equally as nimble, in both movement and thought. They are a formidable opponent, else others would have attempted this already.”

      
“What Human commands the Hradeiti?” Paget asked, assuming despite assurances that this was indeed a Star Force offshoot that they were actually getting other races to pay for!

      
Numshet shook his head. “None. We have no Humans in the Hradeiti.”

      
“Really?”

      
“Yes.”

      
“Is that a rule?”

      
“It is, actually, and one of the demands Star Force insisted upon. No Humans are allowed to join.”

      
“For what reason? They think this enterprise is doomed to fail?”

      
“No, though they’ve pretty much said as much. But those of us who’ve been in Star Force’s military know that’s also a way of challenging us into getting ourselves ready. Leave it up to corporate types and they’d have us charging in there and get slaughtered. No, the Hradeiti are not going about this clumsily and recruiting as many civilian and ex-Star Force personnel as we can get. But we’re not allowed to recruit or accept Humans. And that’s a permanent stipulation.”

      
“But why not? I don’t care for them, but it seems an odd thing to insist upon.”

      
“They insisted on a lot of things, all of which point us into having to do this on our own up until the point where we actually beat the lizards. Then Star Force will help us maintain what we’ve taken…so long as it’s within a 50 lightyear border zone. I think the suggestion is that if we manage to do this, and repeat it regularly, that we might venture beyond those 50 lightyears, at which point we will be operating totally on our own.”