(As with any snippets posted here, all copyright protection applies. Hope you’re enjoying this experiment. I certainly am.—Amanda)
Two
Presidential Palace
New Kilrain, Fuercon
President Derek Harper sat at the head of the conference table, the fingers of one hand drumming a harsh beat against the tabletop. His pulse thundered a matching beat as every instinct demanded action. The images displayed on the holoscreen on the far wall might not be the worst he had seen during his time in office. But they were bad enough. He was a military operation, not a random attack by pirates or smugglers. An attack against their supposed allies. Allies who, for whatever reason, not only denied the action but refused to ask for assistance.
Damn it!
Silence, save for the drumming of his fingers, filled the room as the holoscreen went dark. A moment later, the lights came up. Harper leaned back, glancing at his closest military and diplomatic advisors. All looked as serious—and as seriously pissed—as he felt. Several made notes on their datapads. He waited, giving them time to digest what they had seen and heard.
This was not how he wanted his last year in office to begin. Unfortunately, it was what he expected. Unlike his predecessor, he paid attention to the reports sent not only by those in the room, but by others as well. His instincts, honed by years in the military and then by leading Fuercon and its allies to victory in a war they should have won long before he took office, warned him trouble loomed on the horizon. He even warned those present, only to learn they shared his concerns.
How he wished his instincts had been wrong.
“How confident are you of the accuracy of Captain Locke's report, George?”
Admiral George Tsamis (Ret.) leaned forward. Everyone waited as he input a series of commands using the virtual keyboard in front of him. A moment later, the holo display over the center of the table once again came to life. As it did, the Acting-Secretary of the Navy climbed to his feet and moved to stand at the opposite end of the table. Habit, engrained from years of active duty, saw him automatically taking an at ease position. Harper waited, not liking the way the man hesitated a moment before answering.
“Mr. President, I have the utmost confidence in Captain Locke's report. I was his CO for part of the war. Locke’s a dedicated officer, one capable of thinking outside of the box More importantly, he isn’t one to see bogies that aren’t there. If he thinks there is trouble, I’d bet my life he was right.”
Harper nodded slightly. Tsamis confirmed his impression of the captain based on a review of Locke’s service record. Still, he needed more before he made a decision about what their next move should be.
“And?”
“Before I forwarded his report to you, I pulled the information he referenced. If you take each instance individually, there appears to be little to worry about. However, looking at it together, I admit I share Locke’s concerns. Something is going on and the response, or the lack of one, from the system government worries me.”
“I appreciate that, George, but his actions, specifically his threat to enter allied space without permission, trouble me.”
“I understand, sir. Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you. But these aren’t normal circumstances.” Tsamis started to say something else before changing his mind. “We can discuss those circumstances later. As for Locke’s actions, I would remind everyone he didn’t violate his orders or any of our treaties with Bennington. I’d also point out that his threat to act did force the locals to dispatch ships to the last known location of the Shalimar.”
That was something else that bothered Harper. Why hadn’t the Bennington Navy dispatched at least a squad of LACs to investigate the distress call?
“What are your thoughts about his report and all it implies?” Secretary of Defense, and probable next president, Linden Klingsbury asked.
When Tsamis didn't answer right away, Harper frowned. He understood the man’s hesitation. No one wanted to bring the President bad news. But if there was more to the reports coming out of the Bennington System, he needed to know. The system was one of Fuercon's closest allies, not just politically but also economically and geographically.
“George?”
Tsamis blew out a breath and input a new series of commands, changing the image on the holo screen. Three documents and the Bennington System map replaced the president’s seal.
“Captain Locke sent additional data with his report. This is the third time in as many months that the Windwalker has intercepted similar distress signals. Each time, the ships in question reported they had been attacked without warning by two to four other ships. The attackers were classified by the ships sounding the distress as being either frigates or corvettes. Windwalker confirmed the IDs of the ships sending the SOS in three of those attacks.
“There is something else. Each time, the SOS was on a loop and Locke couldn't make direct contact with the ship requesting aid. FleetIntel reviewed all the data sent back by Locke and his crew. Our best guess is that by the time the Windwalker received the signals, the ships had either been captured or the crews had abandoned ship.”
“What did his long-range scans tell him?”
“Everything points to each of the three ships being ambushed as their messages said. Only one had a chance to return fire before its weapons went off-line. Our best guess based on long-range scans is that the ship was then destroyed. The scans picked up a debris field nothing else explains.”
“Did Captain Locke attempt to render aid or conduct SAR operations?”
A muscle along Tsamis' jaw spasmed and his nostrils flared. Fury burned in his eyes for a moment before the admiral got his emotions under control. Harper waited, not liking the implications of the usually unflappable Tsamis' reaction.
“He tried.”
“And?”
“His orders are, for the moment at least, not to enter the system without permission from Bennington Space Command unless he can confirm there is imminent danger to Fuerconese interests in the system. All three times, he could not do so. By the time Command got back to him in the first two instances, any emergency was over. All he could do was report the distress call and hope they took care of their own people. The last time, they did finally scramble a squadron of LACs. Unfortunately, what little Locke could tell based on his scanner readings, it was too late.”
“What has the system government said about the incidents?” Harper turned his attention to Fuercon’s new ambassador to the Bennington System, Caitlin Murdoch.
“Premier d'Arcy has done his best to downplay Captain Locke's reports ,” Tsamis said.
Murdoch pursed her lips and shook her head in frustration.
“He's lying. I’m confident of that much at least.” Tsamis smiled slightly when Harper arched a brow in question. “d’Arcy has a tell that goes wild every time the topic comes up.”
“A tell?” Murdoch leaned forward in interest. Knowledge of something like that would make her job much easier.
Tsamis nodded. “When he’s lying, the left corner of his mouth twitches. If you press him, the twitch gets worse and he will look down and pick at his nails while he tries to figure out what to say next.”
“What did he say this time?” Harper asked.
“He said it’s a local issue and they will ask for help when and if they need it.”
“What do your sources within the system say?” Klingsbury asked.
“When pressed, members of their Navy High Command admit there’s trouble. However, they either can’t or won’t identify its source. They also conform that d’Arcy and his government are using the same story locally. By blaming the trouble on local rebels, the government’s been able to impose wartime-like rules on local businesses and the media. Reading between the lines, I’m worried we may be facing a poor attempt to copy what happened with Midlothian before Santos and her Marines put a stop to their treachery.”
Harper hissed in a breath. The betrayal by Midlothian came close to costing Fuercon and its allies the war. Even worse, more than a decade after the war ended, Midlothian remained under close watch by the allies. Fortunately, the current government, operating under a new constitution voted on and approved by the citizens, continued to do all it could to rebuild after the war. It also did everything it could to repair its relations with the allied systems.
The last thing any of the allied systems needed was for the Bennington System to go
From her seat at Harper’s right, General Helen Okafor, Commandant of the Fuerconese Marine Corps, studied her datapad before looking up. “What do our other allies have to say about what’s happening?”
“They report much the same as Captain Locke. The Windwalker isn’t the only allied ship to intercept distress calls from within the system. As with the Windwalker, the other ships were also denied permission to respond,” Tsamis said.
Harper frowned and climbed to his feet. The others watched as he moved to stare out the window. From there, he could see not only the security complex, but much of the business district and, in the distance, the space port. On the streets below, people went about their daily business, oblivious to the trouble being discussed inside. For most of them, the war was nothing more than a distant memory.
Not that he blamed them. Since the war’s end, the system had been peaceful. The damage from the Callusians attack had been repaired, buildings rebuilt, and their dead buried. He ran for office fifteen years ago with the belief the system needed a strong hand and a military mind at its head to finally end a war that had already cost too much. Was he about to lead them into another war, one they weren’t ready for?
“Have any of our assets in Bennington space been negatively impacted in any way?”
“Negative, sir.”
Unspoken was his “so far”.
“Recommendations?”
“I've spoken with Admiral Tremayne as well as others in FleetCom. They recommend that we send Windwalker some reinforcements. Their take on the situation is that this is more than a local problem despite everything the system government says. I happen to agree. If we're right, Locke and his crew will need the help not only to protect our assets in the sector but also those in the neighboring systems as well,” Tsamis said.
“You’d best explain, George,” Okafor said. “Obviously, there’s more to what’s going on than you’ve said.”
“There's been nothing unusual in the surrounding systems, at least nothing of any consequence. The occasional pirate trying to hijack a ship for its goods or passengers, smugglers who are still trying to take advantage of the fact those systems have drawn down on their Navies since the end of the war. Nothing those systems haven't been able to handle on their own or with minimal assistance from our ships in the sector.”
“But?” Harper didn’t doubt there was more. What he didn’t understand was why Tsamis hesitated answering Okafor’s question.
“As noted earlier, Captain Locke’s reports on their own don’t rise to a level that should concern anyone but the local government. However, when you add in the reports from our allies, it appears to be a different story.”
“Admiral, I get that you don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I’m scheduled to leave for the Bennington System tomorrow. I need to know what I’m walking into,” Murdoch said.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and blew out a breath. “This is one of those times I wish Norton hadn’t stepped down. He has a much better feel for the Bennington government and its military than I do.”
Harper nodded. When Admiral Norton Hollingsworth came to him a month ago with his decision to retire, part of him wanted to convince him to serve out the rest of the year. Then it would be up to the next president to appoint his successor. But like so many others, Hollingsworth had gone above and beyond in the war with the Callusians and had stayed on to help rebuild not only Fuercon but to help her allies as well. Now he wanted to be able to relax and enjoy time with his family. Reluctantly, Harper accepted his resignation and appointed Tsamis as the Acting-SecNav. He prayed he hadn’t made a mistake.
“And you know exactly what he would tell you if he heard you saying that, George.” Okafor pinned him with a firm look, holding his gaze until the man reluctantly nodded.
“He’d tell me to quit being a fool and to trust my gut and my experience.”
Harper grinned slightly at the man’s almost perfect imitation of the former Secretary of the Navy’s voice. “So?”
“I’ve had a look at the reports from our allies. My gut tells me that whatever the trouble is in the Bennington System, it’s expanding. Despite what the system government says, this isn’t some homegrown rebellion behind the attacks.”
“What else do our allies have to say?”
“They’re as frustrated. They have also increased their patrols along shared borders, Derek.”
The fact the admiral broke his own rule about maintaining formalities in these briefings convinced Harper about the depth of his concern.
“Cait, your departure just got moved back a couple of days. I want you to talk to your counterparts here in the capitol. Find out what they have to say. If you can, get specifics from them about any issues their governments might be having with the system with it comes to trade agreements, immigration, tourism, the whole picture. Let's see if we can’t get a handle on what we're actually dealing with.”
“I’ll get on it as soon as we’re done here, Derek.” She paused, her expression thoughtful. “I recommend having Marc touch base with his counterparts, not only among the allies but also with the Bennington Secretary of State.”
“Agreed.”
He’d already planned to do just that. Marc Nelms wasn’t present that day because he was off-planet, meeting with the secretary of state for the Cassius System.
“Helen, talk with Rico. I’ve no doubt he’s already digging into what’s going on in the Bennington System. Find out and make sure he knows about Captain Locke’s report. Tell him I want a report by morning.”
“Understood.”
“You each have until this time tomorrow to pull together as much intel as you can as well as recommendations for how we should proceed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“George, tell FleetCom new orders are to be dispatched to Captain Locke and all our ships in the sectors near Bennington space. If they receive another distress signal, they are to seek confirmation. They are also to get IDs on the attacking ships. If those IDs match with any of the previous attacks, they have authority to respond with all necessary force. I will deal with the Bennington government if necessary. If the ship or ships being attacked are from Fuercon or any of our allies or if they are carrying allied personnel, passengers or cargo, he is authorized to intervene without delay.”
“Understood.”
“For now, this is need to know only, ladies and gentlemen. If you want to take it outside of your immediate staff, run it by Linden or myself. Understood?”
Each of those gathered nodded.
“Then get to it. I have to meet with the Tenassic System’s trade commissioner shortly.” He watched as the others stood. “Helen, please stay.”
Okafor nodded and remained seated. They waited until the door slid shut behind the others. Then Okafor turned her attention to the man she'd known most of her adult life, her expression concerned.
“What do you think?” Harper asked.
“I think they're hiding something. The question isn’t just what but why. Hell, Derek, they’ve forgotten what the war was like. Either that or they’re afraid of the voters finding out they’ve let things get out of hand again.” She made no attempt to keep the bitterness from her voice. “It is possible their official explanation’s the truth, but my gut says no. The reports I've received from my Marines assigned to Captain Locke's ship confirm everything he included in his reports as well as noting the attacking ships appear to be too new and too well armed for this to be a simple homegrown rebellion. You know as well as I do that those tend to be cobbled together unless someone with deep pockets is backing them.”
“Your recommendation?”
“Right now, follow your gut. We need more intel, both about what's going on and about why the system government is taking the approach it is. In the meantime, I also agree with reinforcing Captain Locke and his people. I'd suggest sending at least one squadron of the new Strikers as well as two Marine companies in addition to the Marines already assigned to the ships being sent to reinforce the Windwalker.”
“Write up your recommendations, including command and specialties, and we'll go over it tomorrow. Will that give you enough time?”
She nodded and, judging from her expression, she was already considering who to send.
“We'll meet for breakfast unless you have a conflict.” It wasn't a question and she nodded again without checking her schedule.
“I recommend asking Rico and Miranda to join us.”
He tilted his head, considering her suggestion. Then he agreed. It made sense to have Santiago there. With the additional information the senior Intel officer might have, Okafor could make an informed decision about what Marines to send. As for Tremayne, the woman was one of the best military minds alive. He'd done everything he could to convince her to accept the position of SecNav when before appointing Tsamis as the Acting-Secretary. She declined, reminding him she'd already done her stint as a politician, a very short stint that proved to her she had no desire for a repeat performance. Instead, she continued as the commanding officer of First Fleet and remained one of his closest advisors.
“I'll make it happen.” He leaned back. “Be honest, Helen. How bad do you think the situation really is?”
She pursed her lips, and he waited. He knew that look and it did not reassure him.
“I've never been as confident about that system and its connection to us and the rest of our allies as others have been, Derek. You know that.”
He did and it was a concern he shared. But, without more evidence the system government was actively working against Fuercon's interests, he couldn't do much about it.
“I also know they are one of the allied systems that drew down their military more than the rest of us after the war.” She held up a hand before he could interrupt. “I understand why they did it. We were all tired of fighting after the war. With the Callusians defeated, the vast majority of their forces interdicted to the home system and their military and manufacturing capabilities severely limited, we all hoped we'd see peace for a very long time. But I'm a warrior. I know it isn't that easy and I know we didn't get all of their ships and we certainly didn't get all of their military or intelligence personnel. Nor did we manage to identify and track down everyone who worked with them. That means there's still danger out there and, to be honest, we've been damned lucky that hasn't come back to bite us on our collective asses yet.”
And it still might, unless he managed to find a way to get the Bennington System's government to see sense.