The Phoenix Darkness (60 page)

Calvin didn’t like the sound of that.
Currently, they were on their way to make port, both to repair
their hull, resupply, and take on some additional crew, provided he
found anyone trustworthy and brave enough, but after that it was
full speed to the Charred Worlds and beyond them to Polarian
Forbidden Space. He didn’t like the thought there could be
something out there which might mess with the minds of his crew or,
even more dangerously, affect his own mind. He shuddered at the
thought, then dismissed it as science fiction. Just because one man
had gone mad didn’t mean others would do the same.

“So, now that you’re back, Calvin,” said
Nimoux, “I take it that means I am no longer the Acting XO?”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” said Calvin,
“that’s Summers’ job. But, based on what Summers has told me about
you and your gallant efforts against Pellew, I would be honored if
you were willing to accept the position of Acting 2O with my
apologies for the fact you’d be working below two officers, both of
whom you outrank.”

“I would consider it a privilege to serve as
2O,” said Nimoux.

Calvin was glad to hear it. “I have one other
thing to ask of you,” he said. “I know you need to rest up and
heal.” Dr. Andrews had given Nimoux excellent odds of recovery, but
had warned he still might ultimately succumb to complications from
the gunshot wound. “However, I am short a commander for my Special
Forces garrison. Would you accept that job as well, considering
your prior experience with Special Forces?”

“I suppose I can do double duty,” said
Nimoux. “Although I can’t imagine there will be much point in
having command over our four remaining, mutinous soldiers.”

“Better to have someone I trust overseeing
them than no one,” said Calvin. “Besides, I mean to take on more
soldiers at port, should we find anyone trustworthy enough.”

“Ah, I see,” said Nimoux. “In that case, yes,
of course I accept.”

“Thank you,” said Calvin, hoping the duties
he’d dropped on the recovering legendary officer would not prove
too much on top of his injury. Only time would tell, Calvin
supposed.

***

“To all life on Capital World,” said Raidan,
standing tall before the background of
Harbinger
’s massive
Bridge. No other officers were in view of the camera, which was
broadcasting on all the channels and frequencies of Capital World.
“Be you citizens or not, I now give you fair warning. Know this:
your planet is in grave danger! The threat?
Me
.” He paused
for effect.

“I have at my command a flotilla of warships
fast approaching your world. Our weapons are numerous and our
crosshairs are fixed upon you all. The devastation we shall unleash
will be a hell beyond imagining.” He paused again. “And if you
think your government can save you, you are wrong. Its fleet cannot
overtake me; it is far afield, in Ophiuchus System waging war
against an Imperial planet, just as I aim to do against
you
.
So rally your pathetic defenses and raise your alarms! They will
avail you
nothing
. Ophiuchus did the same, and has fallen.
Your fate is equally sealed.” He paused again.

“
Unless
you meet my
one
demand.
Kill Caerwyn Martel
! That’s right, kill Caerwyn Martel, the
usurper who sits upon your throne. Slay him and deliver his body to
me when I arrive. If you do
not
, then I shall rain down a
barrage of missiles and beam weapons upon you and none shall be
spared the slaughter! So heed my words! Do this one thing:
overthrow your king. Either Caerwyn Martel dies, or you do! You
have nineteen hours. I suggest you use them wisely.”

***

The Bridge was an ordered chaos as each
station chief kept reporting loudly on the status of the
Black
Swan
’s various systems. So far, the dreadnought was holding
steady and Kalila, Captain Adiger, and Sir Gregory had their eyes
glued to the various 3D displays, which kept track of the ongoing
battle.

The Rotham fleet had been taken completely by
surprise and, so far anyway, the pincer attack was unleashing hell
upon the enemy. Their ships were sandwiched between the planetary
defenses and Kalila’s two major fleets in such a tight cluster it
seemed impossible for Kalila’s warships to miss their targets. The
enemy was starting to adapt, beginning to disentangle their
formation into something capable of fighting back, but in the
meantime they were taking heavy losses.

“Keep the pressure on them!” said Kalila, as
she watched lights winking out on each of the displays, most of
them belonging to the enemy.

Captain Adiger kept his attention primarily
on commanding the
Black Swan
itself while Sir Gregory helped
Kalila to coordinate and command the battle. He had access to a
comm panel that, with the push of a button, was programmed to
transmit encrypted messages to the entire fleet.

“Leopard Squadron, hold your position,” said
Sir Gregory. “Yellow Jacket Squadron, move
now
to support
Leopard. The rest of you, keep pushing!”

Kalila heard someone approaching from behind.
She turned to see Garrick, one of her spymasters.

“Pardon me, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing
his head. “But there is an urgent report for you from our network
on Capital World.”

“Can't it wait?” asked Kalila. Now wasn’t
exactly a good time; she had a battle to win.

“In my judgment? No.”

“Very well,” said Kalila. “Have it ready in
my office.”

Garrick nodded and left. Kalila turned to Sir
Gregory, “I trust you to command the battle in my absence.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Her eyes locked with his. “
Make. Them.
Bleed
.”

“With prejudice, Your Majesty.”

She went to her office where, true to his
word, Garrick had a recorded message ready to play. The screen was
paused on a picture of Raidan. He stood upon the
Harbinger
’s
Bridge, looking domineering.

“Play message,” she said.

The message played. It wasn’t exactly the
move she'd expected from Raidan, but it was close enough and would
suffice.

Because she’d had some indication this was
coming, she was ready with her own broadcast in short order. This
one also sent to every channel and frequency of Capital World, but
also to the Empire at large.

“I, Queen Kalila Akira, have received word
that one Asari Raidan, a rogue at the head of many warships, has
made threat of death against our beloved capital and the citizens
there. To all within the sound of my voice, know this. Such threats
will
not
be tolerated. We are one people and one Empire and
must stand united. Therefore, I hereby declare Asari Raidan, and
any who follow him, to be enemies of the Empire! Let it be known
forthwith!”

She ended the broadcast, preferring to keep
it simple. She’d done her due diligence, done what was required of
her, what the people expected. But as she left her office and
walked the long stretch of corridor leading back to the Bridge,
guards accompanying her on either side, she smiled a dark
smile.

***

Hunter Four
dropped out of
alteredspace as deeply as possible inside Thetican System.
Blackmoth instructed the ship to accelerate to full thrust and then
adjusted pitch and yaw accordingly until his attitude positioned
him directly facing the bright orange star.

At maximum thrust,
Hunter Four
moved
very quickly, halving the distance in a matter of seconds. “And so
it begins even as it ends,” he said aloud, looking at the projected
display showing the presence of hundreds of starships within the
system, none of which was able to detect his presence. They were
forming up innocently enough, the large cruisers recollecting their
fighters before jumping from the system. None of them knew they
were entirely out of time for such a thing.

He looked back at the star, which now filled
the entirety of his forward window. The ship adjusted the view to
prevent the star from blinding him with its awesome brilliance, so
Blackmoth was able to take in its great orange majesty all at once,
looking upon one of the greatest stars in the galaxy, one whose
time was up. One which would make an excellent sacrifice to the One
True God and gift to the void.

“The fourth destruction is upon us,” he said.
“And it is my honor and glory to fulfill it. Blood for blood. Life
for life. The galaxy shall be reaped even as this system.” Now the
star so engulfed his view most of it could not be seen. “I
surrender my soul to the void. Such is the will of the One True
God.” Alarms began to sound as panels all over the cockpit lit up,
warning of the ship’s inability to resist the intense heat it was
experiencing.

“Now is the hour of Darkness! This
penultimate destruction is the herald of the Dread Fleet! Bring
them forth!” Entire systems of
Hunter Four
were beginning to
fail. The hull integrity was quickly bucking as the armor swiftly
melted away. “Let the Final Reckoning commence!”

With that, Blackmoth closed his eyes and
raised his arms, delivering himself to the void.

(End of Book 5)

The story will finally and epically conclude
in
The Phoenix Reckoning
.

For more information, including various free
downloads, please visit:

www.richardlsanders.com

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This book is dedicated to my grandmother
Elizabeth R. Wilson. Her example of stubborn independence, sheer
determination, and positive belief that anything is possible, is an
inspiration to not only me but also the entire family. I am proud
to believe I have inherited some of my best traits from her. Thank
you, Grandma.

I also would like to give a special thank you
to Frank MacDonald and Janell Parque whose heroic efforts have
helped to eliminate many errors, atrocious grammar mistakes,
inconsistencies, and many other problems that would otherwise have
ruined the reading experience. Thank you, Frank! Thank you, Janell!
I would also like to thank Brandon Crowther and Ruth McNabb for
their continued support.