Steven Gordon 3: The Modloch Empire (39 page)

‘
You realise, of
course, that you have given quite a substantial amount of
information away to a potential enemy.’

‘
Not really. You
don’t have the coordinates of any of our assets. To do so, you
would have to reconnoitre our solar system. The Albany are
intimately aware of the Earth and have studied it in great detail,
but not the rest of our solar system. To be frank, you do not have
the resources to do much about it.’

‘
Now I see the scale
of the problem. I have to agree. I also see now why the Albany
desire your solar system so badly. To be honest, what they are
promising for our aid is nothing compared to the riches your solar
system contains.’

‘
More to the point,
we could quite easily throw a hundred thousand asteroids at your
home planet.’

‘
I suppose you could.
For myself, I am going to return home and have a very long talk to
our glorious king. He really needs to be put in the
picture.’

‘
Your King was given
a gift that should have put him in the picture a long time
ago.’

‘
I will ask him about
it.’

‘
You may wish to
return to your ship now. You may also withdraw your fleet. Our
operation is complete.’

‘
You will destroy
these asteroids?’

‘
As soon as you are
out of range we will pulverize them to dust.’

Valachean hesitated for a moment. ‘You
don’t have any more of those snacks do you? Maybe one or two of
those root beers?’

Baxter looked round, ‘Martin!’

His steward stepped forward. ‘I had a
hamper prepared for the Admiral sir. It is with his men. It
includes two six packs of root beer.’

‘
Thank you
Martin.’

‘
Sir.’

Baxter accompanied Valachean to his
shuttle. The two saluted in their own way. On board the shuttle,
Valachean ran his hand over the hamper. ‘I wonder what material
this is. Did you sweep it for devices?’

‘
Yes sir. It is
clean.’ The commander of his escort answered.

‘
Then let’s get back
to the ship.’ He sat down and the shuttle disengaged.

Within a few minutes the enemy fleet
had jumped away and Baxter ordered the redeployment of his units,
as well as the destruction of the asteroids.

CHAPTER 48

Grand commander Pan Lo Tae´, son of
President San Lo Tae´, sat frozen in his command seat. The ships
carrying the engines had arrived just moments before, and now he
had the cold hard muzzle of a pistol stuck behind his ear.

Alarms began to sound on his ship.
Bewildered crew men barked in alarm.

‘
Tell them to calm
down. Order your ships to raise their shields but not to charge
their weapons.’

Outside a large Human fleet jumped in
and surrounded the battle group. The loading platform had been
moved to the centre group of asteroids and had forced the Humans to
change their plans slightly. In fact, the change had made the
Human’s plans easier.

‘
Now!’ His aggressor
ordered.

It took a bit of shouting but his
captains and crew finally calmed down and obeyed.

There were two exits to the bridge.
Lewis and a Japanese engineer ran a gel round the edges of the
doors and a few seconds later they set it off. A bright light ran
round the edges and the doors were welded shut.

‘
I am going to
presume you are Human.’

‘
Correct.’

‘
Do you know who I
am?’

‘
Grand Commander Pan
Lo Tae´, son of President San Lo Tae´.

‘
Dey doors are sealed
Charlie’ Lewis shouted over.

‘
Thanks Lewis. Keep
an eye on them.’

‘
Will do.’

The pistol in Charlie’s hand roared and
an operator who was reaching for something screamed as his hand
disappeared. Another operator had leapt to his feet but a solid
kick from one of the Japanese special forces knocked him out
cold.

‘
NO ONE MOVE!’
Charlie roared.

‘
Do as you are told.’
Growled Pan Lo Tae´. ‘If they wanted us dead we would already be
dead.’ He sat back. ‘May we attend that man?’

‘
Of course you can.
If you have a medical kit on the bridge here.’

Pan snapped out an order and one of the
operators rushed for a med kit. He was keenly aware of the amount
of weapons that tracked his every movement.

‘
What is the meaning
of this outrage?’

‘
Can the bullshit,
Grand Commander. I’m not interested in a dialogue where you try to
deny that you are planning to fire a shitload of asteroids at our
planet. We are very aware of what you and your allies are up to. As
we are not at war with your people, you are being spared, but one
false move on your part and that will change in a heart
beat.’

‘
I had better just
shut up then.’

‘
That would be
wise.’

On board Ico, Komoru was dropping off
the assault teams that would commandeer the freighters. The last
was just being dropped off as the fleet arrived. Tensions ran high
while they waited on reports from her teams.

Within fifteen minutes life pods began
to erupt from the freighters. A few minutes later life pods began
to launch from the loading platform. She sent a signal to
Charlie.

‘
Grand Commander, I
have just received a report that your people are beginning to
evacuate the freighters and the platform. Would you like to
despatch a vessel to pick them up?’

Pan looked up at Charlie. The heat from
the barrel of his weapon had dissipated. ‘I will send them to one
of my destroyers.’

Charlie nodded and stepped back.

‘
Communications
Officer. Direct all life pods to rendezvous with the Renar´ and ask
its Captain to take on all life pods.’

‘
Yes sir.’

The life pods had almost finished
loading when half the Human fleet, along with the freighters,
disappeared. The Grand Commander saw a chance. Before he could take
another breath the muzzle of Charlie’s pistol pressed in behind his
ear.

‘
Are we having
naughty thoughts commander?’ Pan froze. ‘If I was you I would wait
a few seconds more before trying something stupid.’

As if on cue, another Human battle
fleet, larger than the first, appeared. Pan sat back in his seat
again.

‘
Can you read minds
soldier?’

‘
I was chosen for
this task because I am adept at reading body language. You tensed
up as if poised for positive action. I assumed that, as you had
just seen half our fleet disappear, you saw an opportunity to turn
the tables on us.’

‘
It must be extremely
difficult to lie to a person with your talent.’

‘
I can assure you it
is.’

‘
What do you intend
doing with us?’

‘
I have no idea sir,
I am only a sergeant. You would have to speak to my
commander.’

That probably infuriated Pan more. ‘May
I speak to your commander then?’

Charlie raised his head. ‘Lieutenant
Satto. The Grand Commander would like a word.’

Satto came over and bowed low. ‘How may
I be of assistance sir.’

Pan sighed. ‘I wish to know what you
are going to do next.’

‘
You will be allowed
to withdraw soon. We have no intention of firing unless you give us
no other choice. We are not at war with your planet, nor do we wish
to be.’

‘
You do not consider
this a hostile act?’

‘
Of course we do.
However, as yet you have been unable to carry out a direct attack.
Therefore we do not as yet consider yourself an enemy. Our true
enemy, the Albany, has already been destroyed.’

‘
So your people are
trying to keep ourselves and the Catataracs out of this
conflict.’

‘
I believe
so.’

‘
Of course you are.
If you attack us, it would turn others against you and harm your
bid for citizenship.’

‘
I am only a soldier,
not a politician. I cannot answer that question.’

Charlie leaned forward. ‘That would be
a very bad decision.’

Pan froze. ‘What would be?’

‘
To try and force our
hand.’

‘
Are you reading my
mind again?’

‘
Your posture has
become aggressive. It doesn’t take a genius to work out the
thoughts behind it. You would die first, before you could even
reach that button on the arm of your chair that you keep looking
at. A few seconds later, everyone on this bridge would be dead. A
few seconds after that, everyone in this entire fleet.’

‘
Better to die than
live in disgrace.’

‘
No it isn’t.
Besides, what would your father say if gave your life
needlessly?’

‘
What do you know of
my father?’

‘
I have met him. I
think he rather admires us.’

‘
Impossible.’

‘
We shared a shuttle
ride once. I also saw him at the big celebrations. He seemed very
impressed by our elephant.’

‘
What is an
elephant?’

‘
Why don’t you ask
him?’ Charlie stood and addressed the Japanese officer. ‘Sir, would
it be permissible for the Grand Commander to contact his
father?’

Satto blinked. ‘I am not sure Sergeant.
I will ask. If, of course, the grand commander wishes to do
so.’

Pan was looking up at Charlie. ‘Yes why
not. What was that name?’

‘
It is an Earth
creature called an elephant.’

It took a few minutes for Satto to get
the link established. ‘You have permission to contact your father.
Voice only from this side.’

Pan turned to his Communications
Officer. ‘Get me through.’

‘
Yes sir.’

It didn’t take long. President San Lo
Tae´ appeared on screen. ‘Is that you Pan? What’s wrong with your
screen?’

‘
Just a little
technical difficulty father. Nothing serious. An acquaintance has
asked me to ask about a creature called an elephant.’

His father sat up straight and made a
noise that was strange to the Human’s ears. ‘An elephant is a
wondrous creature from the planet Earth. If I could, I would wish
to have it brought to our planet to show our people. It is
unfortunate that circumstances will not allow that. It is larger
than anything you have ever seen in your life. Majestic in
appearance and grace. I will send you a picture. How are things
there?’

‘
Not good. We have
lost contact with the Albany commander.’

‘
That is not good.
What about everyone else?’

‘
Nothing.’

‘
Send a
reconnaissance party. If our allies are under attack then help as
much as you can. If they have been destroyed then get the hell out
of there and return home as quickly as possible.’

‘
Are you sure
father?’

‘
Positive. If the
Humans have discovered the Albany plans then you and our people are
in grave danger. Latest intelligence on the Humans puts their
numbers much greater than your combined numbers. As yet no one has
had a real chance to study their tactics and provide
countermeasures. To remain where you are would be suicide. In fact,
withdraw out of sensor range and send in destroyers to scout our
allies’ positions. You will know what course of action to take by
what you find. Good luck son. I will not detain you any
farther.’

‘
One last question
father.’

‘
Quickly.’

‘
Are you sympathetic
to the Human cause?’

There was a momentary silence. ‘I wish
our circumstances were different. Is that enough?’

‘
Yes
father.’

Communications were cut and his crew
looked to their leader. ‘Lieutenant Satto?’

‘
Yes Grand
Commander.’

‘
May I do as my
father suggests and send a destroyer?’

‘
Wait please.’ Satto
talked to Komoru. ‘There is no need. We can show you if you
wish.’

‘
Yes
please.’

It soon became apparent that the Albany
had been completely destroyed. The Catatarac were in exactly the
same position as he was. He had seen enough.

‘
Lieutenant Satto, I
wish to withdraw my forces.’

‘
Our orders are to
detain you until told otherwise.’

‘
So we cannot go to
the aid of the Catataracs or try to retrieve the
freighters?’

‘
Correct.’

‘
May I speak to my
captains?’

Satto looked to Charlie, who nodded.
‘Yes sir.’

Pan sat forward. ‘Listen in, this is a
general order. Stand down from battle stations but keep your
shields up. We have received orders to withdraw, and will do so
shortly. When we have withdrawn to a safe distance, reconnaissance
parties will be sent out to ascertain the condition of our allies
and pick up any survivors. I can tell you now that the Albany
contingent have been wiped out while the Catatarac contingent are
in a similar predicament to our own. As soon as the reconnaissance
parties return, we will be returning home.’

Pan sat back. ‘You can remove that
cannon from my ear, Sergeant. What is that thing anyway?’