10 Hours Later, Present Time. December 17th, 2267. 13:05 Vosture Prime – John’s Homestead
Elias felt his stomach churn. They were lured away from the safety of their home. However in truth, was there any safety in that building after all? John knew exactly where they were living. To be frank, it would’ve been child’s play for him to attack and capture or kill the five of them remaining.
“What did you inject them with?” Elias asked feebly.
“A rather wicked concoction that doubles as a blood thinner and sedative. It’s unlikely either of them would have woken up,” John paused for a moment, “The sedative component was likely overkill given the ass-kicking they both took.”
“Sylvia was a woman.”
“Yes, how very observant of you.”
“She was brutalized.”
John nodded, “Not to sound all misogynistic and shit, but there’s a reason women shouldn’t be on the front line or behind enemy lines. To be fair to her, I was wearing our standard combat suit which includes lots of armor in it. My hands were armored which meant that I was punching with a weighted glove.”
“They were both beaten to hell and then you stabbed them with that weird knife. Why? What does that accomplish?”
“It broke one of yours from the sound of it. It had the desired effect,” John paused for a moment then pointed at the screen, “Truth be told it affected both you and that young cat that’s on this shuttle.”
“They will detect the armed warheads. Our scanners are…”
John shook his head as he interrupted Elias, “Your technical advancements are in armor and weapons, not scanning devices. I’m not sure our sensor suite would be able to detect armed warheads inside another ship. They just aren’t sensitive enough.”
He took a drink and then cracked his neck.
“Please don’t ask me how it works, I’ve read how they do and can recite to you, to the letter, what the books say. But fuck if I get what it all means.”
“What do you hope to expect from this?”
John smiled, “To end your threat and then go home. Nothing more, nothing less. I miss my family and frankly, I’m sick of living by myself in the middle of fucking nowhere. Now, if my wife was here with me, I think I could get used to that kind of quiet life.”
Elias sat there quietly. His decisions and directions were flashing before him in his mind. He struggled with understanding just how he had gotten to this point. What was boggling him was still how a single man had so effectively thrown a wrench into all their plans.
His only hope, the only thing he clung to, was that John’s plan to use their shuttle as a delivery system would fail somehow. It wasn’t a guarantee that it would even work. Hope on that mark was fading though, especially now with how the shuttle was on final approach to the dreadnaught.
“Won’t be long now,” John said, “If you don’t mind me asking, how did your superiors believe controlling our worlds would play out? I don’t think your military has the bodies to enforce its will on all of our planets.”
Elias looked over at John with surprise, “What do you mean?”
“Holding the void isn’t going to do much. You need to control the planets. To do so you’ll need to intervene militarily on every planet.”
“I wasn’t privy to those conversations, but reserve troops are being called up as far as I’m aware.”
John paused, “Just to clarify things. You’ve got colonies three systems and nine planets or moons?”
“We are beginning to colonize our seventh system. And we have fourteen worlds that are populated.”
“And your total population is what, three billion?”
“We are approaching four.”
John shook his head, “Let’s assume you have two billion troops for ground wars. That’s going to be enough to attack and potentially hold a handful of worlds. Our population is dwarfing yours; the most recent census has our population sitting around forty billion. And that’s ignoring any shenanigans the other two powers would do in this short-sighted war.”
“Our technology is better.”
“Quantity is a quality unto itself, my friend,” John said, “And you’re ignoring what would happen if Naval Intelligence engaged immolation protocols.”
Elias was surprised and questioned John, “I don’t know what that is. What do you mean by that?”
“Whole detachments of soldiers will be ordered to spread out into various colonized worlds. They will go underground and create an organized resistance against any occupier or loyalist forces to the invaders. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is off the table for dealing with the occupiers. The whole point is to make the occupation so expensive that you leave.”
“We would find and punish the people that conduct those attacks or those who provided aid to them,” Elias said confidently.
John shook his head, “You do not understand anything. The ignorance in your way of thinking is stark. That will only drive more and more people against your cause. And then what happens if whole sections of our Naval forces go dark and assault your agri-worlds or the home world? Immolation protocols aren’t just a means of attacking you in our worlds, but it’s also a means of attacking you at home.”
Elias had a dumb look on his face. He comprehended some of what John was saying, but most of it made no sense. Immolation what? What would they set fire to? Elias’ eyes opened and he realized it. They would burn a world or worlds.
“Your government wouldn’t dare. You couldn’t…”
“If you want to win this war of yours, I’d hope for your civilization’s sake that you end our military quickly. Because if you don’t, we will glass worlds in recompense. The price you’d pay for your victory would be hilariously high.”
Elias shook his head vigorously, “You wouldn’t do that.”
John stood up and stretched. He looked down at Elias and smiled. There was no warmth behind that smile. It gave off vibes that a predator would give to their next meal or victim.
“I’d push the button myself. Though it’s far more likely I’d be ordered to go to a world and go dark, and then cause the streets to fill with blood,” John stopped stretching, “Imagine what I could do if I was specifically ordered to create as much havoc and damage possible.”
John then pointed at the display.
“But, now from the climatic finale of this mission. Your shuttle is approaching that glorious ship. What’s going to happen to it?”
Elias shook his head. This wasn’t happening. He had to do something. He had to warn them. He began to fiddle with his tablet when John turned to watch the two screens.
“If I could disable a smart gun, what makes you think I couldn’t disable that communication device,” John then shook one in his hand, “I got here a couple of hours ahead of you. Remember?”
A cold chill ran down Elias’s spine. He was helpless. His defeat was now complete.
“Please,” Elias begged, “Don’t murder everyone on that ship.”
“Had y’all left shortly after getting here we wouldn’t be in this situation. But you had to go and waste resources here, murder my former compatriots, and then plan some insane dumbass war. The best part about this though, is you’ve left us the gate and the plans for it.”
Elias was shaking in his chair.
“What happens if we find a way to activate that thing on our end in such a way that doesn’t require the opposite end to be turned on? Makes sending an invasion fleet into the heart of your territory a rather spicy possibility.”
John smiled as the shuttle made one last turn before heading towards the shuttle bay. He didn’t say it, but he was wondering where in that big ship the extra hardware necessary for the gate would be stored. The odds were in that hangar, which meant they’d be annihilated in the coming explosion.
Even if the explosion didn’t kill that ship, it’d delay activating the gate here. That was when John was wondering if the Navy would send enough reinforcement to this system. Too often the admirals, even the more competent ones of the outer fleets, were reluctant to send enough of their forces. Politics and paperwork were anathema to a great number of them.
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The shuttle began to slow and inched foot by foot slowly into the hangar bay. Part of John was a bit sad regarding what he was going to do to the ships. There was an urge to geek out over the vessels more. But alas, time was not on his side. And frankly the sooner the threat was dealt with the better.
Then it happened. Communications to the shuttle were cut. A bright flash of light emanated from the hangar. The satellite recording of the footage was blinded. John smiled. Elias, on the other hand, felt sick to his stomach.
“Holy hell,” John exclaimed then put his hands out in frustration, “The fuck is happening?”
When the camera’s video feed was re-established, the damage was evident immediately. The hangar no longer existed. Nore did three decks above and below it. Several large armor panels were cracked, with the broken-off pieces floating off as space junk into the cold void. Secondary explosions were seen going off up and down the ship.
“Looks like I was wrong, that big bastard didn’t split in two. Can’t imagine the interior is all that hospitable anymore though. Most of the viewports along the port side appear to have given way to the void,” John said in a matter-of-fact tone, “Yeah, our techies are going to love getting their hands on that wreckage.”
Elias became more and more horrified by the video he was seeing. Explosions continued to rip through the decks. As they continued Elias began to believe that no one on that ship would be spared. There was no conversation for the next five minutes. Five painfully long minutes for the alien on this world.
His great hope was burning up in front of him. The tool for their conquest and unification of humanity under one banner was no more. He began to gag with the stark realization that everything he had done had been for naught. The final two members of his team were vaporized in that blast. He was all that remained.
“Well, that was entertaining,” John said with a smile, “Eve, does this safehouse have a secure connection with the Naval database?”
“It does not,” the feminine computerized voice said over the speakers.
“I presume there is at least one in the colony?”
“There are several. I would recommend the Naval Intelligence safehouse designated TD-1 in the suburbs. Transmitting its location along with the other ones to your truck now.”
John walked over to a table and picked up a syringe. He walked over to a despondent Elias and jabbed it in his neck. The pinprick of the needle caused Elias to jerk about.
“You’ll be going to sleep. I’m afraid I won’t be killing you. You seem to be fairly knowledgeable so my superiors would like to question you.”
A deep lethargy washed over Elias. His eyelids felt like weights were attached to them. He struggled mightily to stay away. Before he fell asleep, he managed to get one short question out.
“Why?”
The answer came after he had drifted into unconsciousness.
“Because my dear friend, I don’t want to give you the sweet release of death. Maybe I’m being a sadist but keeping you alive and milking you for all that you’ve got seems to be more beneficial for us, and more painful for you.”
John then shoved his legs together and shackled his ankles together. He handcuffed Elias’ arms as well. Then he walked back to the table and picked up a pair of data slates.
“Eve, contact the Naval Intelligence stealth frigate that is no doubt in the system already. Advise them to meet me at the Naval Recruiting station in the colony.”
“They will be there in four if they are near orbit.”
“And I’ll be there in two hours. Long enough to make John Lief exist once more and be in the presence of friendlies for the prisoner exchange.”
“Understood, I will hold off sending that message until you leave in the truck.”
John nodded then walked back to Elias. He picked up the man in a fireman carry and walked out of the house. He gently, as gently as one could lay out that much dead weight, placed Elias on the floor of the backseat of his truck. The injection should keep him asleep for six or so hours.
Then the truck’s engine roared to life when John sat down in the driver’s seat and pressed the ignition button. As he had done so many times, the Raptor screamed to life and tore down the road at breakneck speeds. But unlike the other trips, John could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although there was a shadow over that tunnel that he worried about.
15:55 Naval Recruiting Center on 45th and Dean Avenue
Commander Steven Hart was no more. He was just a random collection of bits on a server someplace. John didn’t fully trust his chain of command; he certainly didn’t trust Naval Intelligence and Director LeCroix.
John’s big fear, if he was still Steven Hart, was them talking him into custody as Steven and then forgetting him in some god-awful prison. That was a legitimate concern of his. But because of his general distrust of virtually everyone, John kept a backup of his original identification documentation and data in his backpack.
They weren’t his originals; those were with Admiral Dufresne supposedly. The bigger issue was how he was getting home. The NI frigate that John correctly ascertained was in the system and had even watched the giant dreadnaught blow up from the inside. The next civilian flight out of here wasn’t until tomorrow.
John didn’t know when Eighth Fleet’s assets would arrive. They should be in the system today, but there was no guarantee of that. They should be since Naval Intelligence was in the system. But too many things should be but never are in the military.
There’s plenty of time to think of that though. John’s truck was parked in front of the recruiting facility. Across three parking spots, one of which is designated for the handicapped. When he hopped out of his truck and closed the door, he didn’t bat an eyelash for the highly egregious parking job.
John took a couple of steps to the rear door, opened it, and leaned in. He pulled Elias partially out of the truck before hoisting him over his shoulder. Then he slowly walked to the main door of the recruitment center.
When the door opened there were five enlisted soldiers and three officers witnessing the scene that had played out in front of their office. John nodded and walked right past them as he looked around their office. He walked over to a large desk in the middle of the office and gently tossed Elias onto it.
“Yeah, that will do.”
“Good afternoon, sir,” a confused chief petty officer said, “Don’t suppose we could help you?”
John turned, smiled, and gave a quick salute, “You sure could. Please contact First Fleet Admiral Dufresne, I need a word with him.”
“I would be happy to do that if I could confirm your identification.”
John nodded as he handed the smart ID to the senior enlisted man, “Lieutenant Commander John Lief, commanding officer of the CNS Waukesha. Temporarily reassigned to Naval Intelligence.”
The chief petty officer took the identity and tapped it on the holographic keyboard of the terminal he was standing next to. John’s image appeared as he expected it to. Internally, John thanked the good Lord for Intelligence’s secure terminal. At least that part of his repatriation attempt was working.
“Commander, apologies. It’s not often we get a senior officer to drop an idiot on our desks.”
One of the seamen then chirped up, “Literally in this case.”
An ensign gave a side-eye glance to the junior enlisted man but couldn’t keep himself from letting out a single chuckle before controlling himself again.
“Seaman Olson, do me a favor and get that communication line activated.”
“Sir. You are aware that our communications have been sketchy, to say the least.”
“Were sketchy, key words.”
“They aren’t anymore?” the ensign asked.
“Resolved as of this morning,” John grinned to the chief petty officer.
“Dare I ask why you were assigned here?” the chief petty officer then motioned for the other enlisted sailors to go back to their assigned positions.
“It’s one of those, I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you, kind of things,” John said plainly and without a hint of emotion.
John’s statement was stated in such a way that everyone in the room, save the chief petty officer, legitimately believed him. It isn’t often they see an asshole drive up in a big ass truck and park across multiple parking spots. Even rarer when one of them jumps out of the truck. And then even rarer than that the naval individual brings in a bound and unconscious man. The chief wasn’t the only one there who wanted answers, but he had been in the military long enough to know that none were forthcoming.
“Sir, Rear Admiral Kasey Thames can answer. Admiral Dufresne is in a meeting with the other Fleet Admirals,” the seaman said.
“Transfer it to the main holographic,” John said.
“Uhm, sir?” the seaman said in a very confused tone.
“Do as I say, young man,” John’s tone carried a hint of annoyance in it.
Moments later Kasey appeared onscreen. The look on her face was one of extreme surprise. But no annoyance. This was a genuine surprise to her. John didn’t know how to take that. Was she never expecting to see him ever again? Or was she just surprised to see him today and wasn’t expecting this conversation until later?
“Good morning, Commander. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. I was expecting Naval Intelligence to contact me when they met with you.”
John quickly saluted, “I think you can understand my concerns with trusting them. I presume there will be a vessel to transport me back to Manchester, right? It’ll be a long and expensive journey back home if I have to fly commercial.”
“Do they know where you are?”
John nodded, “They do. They should be arriving in fifteen minutes. The filthy bastards are ahead of schedule. Way ahead today.”
“Stay put, I’ll see what I can do. Do you have a preliminary report on your actions?”
John nodded, “Transmitting now, LeCroix will get a copy of this as well.”
“Stay put and please do not start anything with them.”
“Yes ma’am, I will not start anything.”
Kasey’s face looked deeply conserved in the moment before the connection ended. For good reason, the moment her face was no longer on-screen John drew his sidearm and pulled back the slide slightly as he rotated the gun. While he ensured the barrel was facing in a safe direction the chief petty officer took offense to a gun being drawn in his office.
“Sir, personnel are not allowed to have their sidearms on their person. I must ask you to relinquish it to me until you leave this office.”
“That’s not happening,” John said coolly as he holstered the gun, “Write me up if you want to, but no one is disarming me today. Especially when NI agents are on their way here. I don’t trust them.”
“I must insist,” the chief petty officer didn’t back down and now sounded annoyed with John.
“Your request is notated and disregarded. Besides, my orders come from the top, you can’t order me to do anything.”
The second lieutenant gestured to the senior enlisted man, “Are you expecting problems, sir?”
“I am planning for the worst-case scenario,” John paused as he looked over at the junior officer, “But I am hoping that it comes to nothing.”
“Ok, I am going to sit in the corner and hope for the best,” the ensign said sarcastically.
Two of the enlisted members joined the ensign. The chief petty officer looked pissed. This was his office and here an outsider was not only disregarding their rules but dared to say the rules didn’t apply to him. Even the lieutenant’s words, whatever it was that was whispered to him, didn’t sway his opinion of this rash officer.
Then the doors swung open, and several slick-looking individuals walked in.
“Lieutenant Commander, we are told you have…” the lead agent stopped talking when he saw John pointing at a certain idiot resting on a desk, “He’s right there.”
John nodded.
“How the fuck did you blow up that big ass ship?” a familiar voice said walking into the office.
“Sherman, how the hell are ya? I still remember you picking up a snot-nosed version of me for Mardi Gras.”
“Doing well, seriously, how’d you do that?”
“I’m just damn good at what I do?”
Silence reigned in the office for a moment. Confusion was the name of the game. One of the seamen broke that silence.
“What big ass ship?”