Loyalty to the Cause

Colossus-Class Snow

Armed Vessel - Elathra

Tonnage: 3,480 tonnes

Length: 107 meters (351 feet)

Beam: 22 meters (72 feet)

Draft: 29 meters (95 feet)

Crew Complement: 65 (8 Officers, 57 Enlisted)

Armament: 2 Bredalin neutron particle cannons, 2 Lyle Dual General Purpose (GP) pulse lasers, 4 Blackings laser carronades

Drive: 4 Junkkers-Dalmer -213A1 drives powered by Kuritan 910 power plant

Sensors: Standard Blue-Suns sensor suite, Twin Argus VSP-14 Fisheye Array

Defenses: Duralloy armor, Endrix AIPS Screen

Galactic Map

Order of Battle

Prologue

A wide wall screen inlaid into Envoy-3’s outer corridor translated the light from Anthe’s M8V red star to yellow. Long shadows followed the Internal Security troopers and their prisoner as they walked past the view. The captive looked furtively at the vast, open expanse of space on the screen, a sharp contrast to the tiny cell that had been her home for the last forty-eight hours. An armored hand reached out and grasped her right arm to signal the arrival at their destination, a door bearing the simple title Interview Room Beta.

Locking mechanisms rotated inside the portal and the door noiselessly slid open. Komandor Podporucznik Isabella Lombardi stood defiantly immobile at the threshold, moving into the room only after feeling a forceful shove against the small of her back. Reaching twin chairs at a conference table, she thrust her magnetically bound hands toward one of her escorts, who made no move to release her prisoner identification bracelets. Instead, a firm hand guided her into one of the small, metal chairs. The I.S. guard then pulled her restrained hands to the conference tabletop and Lombardi felt powerful magnetic forces lock her wrists to the surface. She tried to lean back but found she had been secured just far enough forward to not be able to reach the back of the chair. Sighing, she sat bolt upright but realized her position would become quickly uncomfortable. Her escorts turned and left, leaving her solely in the accompaniment of the cameras mounted in the corners of the chamber.

The last two days seemed more like years to Lombardi. She had fled with Kapitan Marco Romano and Starzy Sierzant Nilis Vidic to a lifeboat before her heavy cruiser, Phoenix, had bared its core to Engineering. The immense relief of escaping certain death was tainted with the knowledge that a large portion of her Hollaran crew had not been as lucky. Staring at Phoenix’s white fireball on the lifeboat’s monitors had been like looking at a funeral pyre for hundreds of her shipmates. Her morose thoughts drifted to her departed first officer and mentor, Anatoly Valokov. At least he is at peace. All of them are… now. The exact number comprising them remained a mystery to Lombardi in her captivity.

Making matters worse, the heavy cruiser, BRS Claymore, and its insufferably arrogant captain had recovered her lifeboat. Lombardi weathered the indignity of her personal encounter with the condescending Brevic ship commander considerably well thanks to a mixture of combat shock and grief over the loss of her crew. During Claymore’s twenty-minute voyage to the Anthe space station near the system’s habitable planet of Pallene, Lombardi conspired with her shipmates while Phoenix’s chief medical officer, Komandor August Timoleon, performed rudimentary first aid on Romano’s injured thigh. Upon docking with the Anthe orbital, Lombardi was immediately separated from her crew and interned in a two-meter by two-meter cell. Her only respite from the drab environment had been a brief interview with a supposed Brevic representative of the Anthe system, prior to her current excursion to Envoy-3.

The portal to Interview Room Beta slid open to reveal an aging man, perhaps in his late sixties. His clothes were plain but their quality bespoke of someone with refined taste and desires. The grey-haired man nodded humbly as he took his place opposite Lombardi. He smiled and began, Hello, my friend. I believe I have made some progress on one of the many requests you had during your first interview.

Surely you mean ‘interrogation,’ Mr. Angelo, Lombardi replied bitterly while returning his smile. She ached to call the man by his real name, Brewer, and end his charade as a low-level civilian assistant to the Brevic Navy instead of the head of the Bureau of Internal Security and one of only three secretaries under the Minister of Intelligence. However, she knew revealing her knowledge would only serve her enemy. Where is the lackey you first had speak to me and why am I even remotely surprised that the ‘Vics continue to refuse to abide by the Laws of Armed Conflict.

Brewer shrugged in a manner suggesting an apology. You must understand that our navy’s position is that your ship violated Brevic space under the guise of a false truce. They maintain this negates your crew’s status as prisoners of war under LOAC.

Lombardi felt anger welling inside her. She tried to resist the surge but failed. Your troopers invaded my ship! We simply defended sovereign territory of the Hollaran Commonwealth. We did not even fire upon the ‘Vic ships stationed near us. Lombardi knew this was a distortion of the facts. She had ordered Phoenix to fire but the Brevic ships had wisely moved out of range before the I.S. Trojan horse operation had commenced. It sounded convincing though.

Brewer casually poured himself a drink from a pitcher of water on the table. Unlike the first interview, only a single glass rested on the alloy counter. It is possible you may face trial without the protection of the Laws of Armed Conflict, Isabella, Brewer stated gravely. Of course, I am doing everything in my power to prevent that. However, you must give me something I can work with. My political masters insist on an official, public statement from you admitting Hollaran culpability in starting this war.

Lombardi’s melodic laugh filled the room. ‘Vic optimism always delights me. What could you possibly offer me in exchange for that?

What you campaigned so hard for during the last interview. The status of your surviving crew. Brewer let the statement settle in as he drank deeply from his glass.

Lombardi shook her head even as her heart wrenched. Not good enough. I would not even begin to consider such treason unless you returned all my remaining crew to the Commonwealth. She contemplated her offer and added, "And then only after I have verified their return would I consider such a statement." Lombardi’s eyes tracked Brewer’s glass as he drank, her lips curling upward involuntarily at the memory of the refreshment offered to her during the first interrogation.

Isabella, you ask for too much, Brewer confided solemnly. Between you and me, I am being pressured to initiate trials against your crew for what they are calling the murder of the innocent Brevic civilians. Innocents who were invited to your ship and then brutally slain by Hollaran treachery. He feigned fear before giving an irritated look at the cameras behind him. You must give me something to forestall this, Isabella, he pleaded. Do it for the sake of your crew! I’m just a junior manager for the Navy; you have to give me something that will make them listen to me. He sighed dramatically as a look of remorse came over him and he slowly shook his head. There are those who would see your crew treated horribly… I don’t wish to see more lives lost.

The display of false emotion impressed Lombardi. Does he believe his own lies? How else could he appear so sincere?

How did you know those shuttles carried armed troops, Isabella? Brewer evaluated her intensely. Did Commander Heskan warn you during that brief communique?

Lombardi’s face flushed red and the blood vessels in her neck began to bulge as she angrily spat, Commander Heskan is a liar and I will kill him with my bare hands if I see him again. He lured my ship to your space under the deception that if we cooperated with his squadron we would be treated fairly by his government. She leaned forward with eyes flashing and said, The only thought that sustains me during these times is that if I survive, I might once again face him on a field of battle to exact my revenge.

Jaw muscles clenched tightly and her unadulterated look of hatred threatened to destroy her interrogator. Inwardly, she hoped her outburst was convincing. She knew that unlike the man in front of her, she was no sociopath and had great difficulty compartmentalizing her emotions. Lombardi held no illusion that she would ever see Heskan again but his final deed for Lombardi had given her the ultimate power over her captors. Phoenix’s destruction ensured her beloved ship would not yield any secrets to the enemy. Only Lombardi and her crew remained as potential sources of information and propaganda for the Republic. That fact buoyed her. The only additional advantage the ‘Vics can gain from this situation is what I give them.

Brewer subconsciously rocked back from Lombardi’s vehemence and stated, The next time we meet, Isabella, you must give me what I need or I might be forced to employ more aggressive forms of questioning. I hope to avoid that, but there is only so much I can do to protect you, unless you give me something. The man stared deeply into her eyes to drive his chilling threat home.

Lombardi exhaled wearily and nodded in fatal acceptance. Mr. Angelo, I want very much to do so but you must convince your superiors that the key to everything they wish from me rests in the safe return of my crew. I would willingly stay in the Republic and confess to whatever lies your government desires but not before my crew is safely in the Commonwealth.

Brewer started shaking his head but Lombardi continued. Imagine the boons I could give your Republic if I were to fully cooperate. She smiled as she dangled the fruit in front of him. And you would be the man who delivered such gains. I would make it well known that you, Sebastian, were the key to my cooperation. With the information I might reveal, what doors could that open for you?

Lombardi watched gears spin furiously behind the man’s eyes. Mr. Angelo had never told her his given name and she had just used his real identity. Careful, Isabella, you cannot afford to play this man’s game. He will rip you to shreds if you fence with him.

After nearly a minute of inscrutable silence, Brewer stood. His voice was strained. Make no mistake, Isabella, this is not a negotiation. The next time, you must offer something. He moved through the room to the door, crossed the threshold and was swallowed by the closing portal.

* * *

We’re missing something, Brewer declared angrily as he entered Interview Room Beta’s observation chamber. That bitch knows who I am! All this time she’s been toying with me. He brought his hand down quickly as if he might slam his datapad onto the table in front of him but recovered and placed it gently on the surface. How does she know who I am? he asked while looking expectantly to his assistant. What have you uncovered?

Assistant Secretary Jackson Neal nervously shook his head. Nothing conclusive, he mumbled apologetically. Academy graduate at New Roma, top ten percent of her class but we’re missing the majority of her records from there. Her background is in Support, what we call Operations, where she demonstrated strong command aptitude. She assumed command of Phoenix at the age of twenty-nine after a two-year captaincy of a destroyer. She also has an early line number for promotion to komandor porucznik. This won’t be her first below-the-zone promotion.

She took command of a destroyer in her mid-twenties? Brewer repeated dubiously. That’s too young. His eyes tilted toward the ceiling. If she commissioned at twenty-two, that means she’d have made Grade O-5 in only nine years. That’s too fast to be normal. She has leverage over someone up high, I can feel it.

It would explain her arrogance, Neal said in support while he subconsciously swept the location on his shirt that Lombardi had drenched with the refreshment he had offered her during her first interview.

Brewer noticed the subtle gesture. He grumbled, She avoids the traps nearly as fast as I can place them. His wrinkled, right hand found the scar on his chin. You need to discover who she has influence over in the Hollaran command system and then the dominos will start to fall.

Neal’s head dipped as he spoke. Our people inside the Commonwealth are working to uncover all of her academy records. They’ve been very difficult to obtain so far but once we do, they’ll contain her academy recommendations. We’ll also have her childhood.

Brewer nodded in agreement. She has something incriminating; someone in a high place is serving her. It all fits and once that piece of information is mine, she will serve me. Brewer removed the earbud from his right ear. He cast the tiny device onto the table beside his datapad.

Some good news, Neal offered. The prisoner transport should arrive in a few weeks.

It’s about damn time. The interrogation facilities on Titan will speed things along.

Neal arched an eyebrow and suggested, You could always send her forward on Envoy-Three and catch up to her via the transport.

Brewer shook his head fiercely. No, she is the key and she’s not leaving my sight. I won’t have Cromwell or Michaels steal my intelligence asset from underneath me this time. As long as I’m stuck in Anthe because of the Kite situation, she’s not leaving this star system. He looked sharply at Neal. Now update me on the escape of the pilots. Who was responsible for that fiasco?

Chapter 1

The Jewel of the Night was a twenty-five berth, luxury passenger schooner although no one would know from her appearance. A mere deck and a half in height with twin, dorsal Boxer-11R drives, her patchwork hull gave her a rather ordinary, even tired air. No longer sleek nor young, the Jewel displayed her fifty-eight years of service like a former beauty queen being ravaged by time.

The sad story was retold in her interior. Formerly lustrous oak and brass had been dulled with each passenger’s caress. The portals that seemed to struggle to close, the hinting at frayed carpet, all accoutrements suggested a ship whose number of years were greater behind her than ahead.

Lieutenant Stacy Vernay stood in the most forward compartment of the liner, a large, open room that spanned the entire width of the schooner on its top half-deck. Called The Star Lounge, the room served not only as named but as the focal point of relaxation for the ship’s passengers. While the Jewel of the Night also boasted a restaurant, entertainment room and gymnasium, those compartments were much smaller and located along the centerline of the ship. Despite those three rooms being adorned with spacious wall screens, a passenger’s innate sense of location placed those facilities in the ship’s interior and ruined the illusions the screens projected. In The Star Lounge, one could easily believe the wall screens lining the bulkheads were simple windows, revealing the unfathomable grandness of space.

Tables and couches, each well-worn and faded, were placed strategically around the room to provide privacy for each party while still packing in enough furniture to accommodate a full complement of passengers. The Jewel was currently at only eighty percent occupancy yet the lounge was crowded. Every passenger aboard the schooner now sat along the curve of couches that matched the arc of Jewel’s bow. Also curved, the wall screens gave the impression of looking out over the bow of the ripened ship. The view was wasted though, as each person faced inward, rather than looking out at the vistas displayed on the screens.

Twenty-one pairs of eyes followed Vernay’s movement as she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. After clearing her throat and taking a final look over her shoulder at Jack Truesworth to ensure that Kite’s renegades were the only souls present in The Star Lounge, she began to speak. Ladies and gentlemen, now that we’ve entered t-space, I can conduct this briefing and tell you the next steps of our plan.

Where is Captain Heskan? Denise Gables interrupted.

He is not on board but we will meet up with him once we return to Anthe.

"So he was involved in our escape?" a second ensign wearing the occupational badge of a Brevic pilot asked.

Vernay nodded. Who do you think paid for your passage? As I said, we’ll see him again once we get back to Anthe.

Why are we going back to Anthe? I thought we were making a run for the eastern border and the Federation? Diane Selvaggio questioned.

Because we’re not done rescuing people, Diane, Vernay answered patiently.

Who’s left to rescue? another pilot inquired. It seems awfully dangerous to go back to Anthe.

Rumblings of agreement rippled through the crowd. Vernay began to answer but stopped as the crowd’s discontent grew.

Pipe down, people! Andrew Brown thundered. "Maybe you oughta listen to the folks who broke you outta Kite before you start goin’ on about what you think we should do next." The senior chief petty officer cast a supportive glance at Vernay.

Thanks, Chief, Vernay muttered. Order restored, she continued. I’ll answer everyone’s questions after the briefing but for now, please, just listen. As you undoubtedly noticed when boarding, this ship’s destination is the frontier system of Erriapius. When we arrive at the small orbital over Baradis… that’s the agricultural planet in the system, you’re free to do whatever you wish. Captain Heskan gave me sixteen cred-sticks with enough money on them to book passage out of Erriapius. If you decide to leave us, the captain suggests traveling to the Federation. He doesn’t think it’s going to be possible to just hide in the Republic after we do what we’re planning to do.

What exactly are we plannin’, L-T? Brown asked.

I have a list of freighters that we believe are owned by the same pirates that ran, well, run the drug facility in Skathi, Chief. She looked around the room. When we get to the Erriapius orbital, the plan is to find one of those freighters and ‘claim’ it.

A fourth pilot, Vivian May, raised her hand and asked, How do you know those freighters are going to be in Erriapius, ma’am?

Vernay cringed slightly as she thought, Actually, I don’t. Simple, Viv. Those who served aboard Anelace on her final mission have knowledge of the illegal operations originating in Skathi. Pirates manufacture drugs in the asteroid fields and transport them out of Skathi on large freighters. Erriapius is where those freighters go to divide their product to smaller, tramp freighters. We assume they then use the small freighters to distribute their drugs around the sector. When Kite transited Skathi a few weeks ago, it was obvious the pirate activity is ongoing and we doubt they’ve changed their shipping patterns. We hope.

Why wouldn’t they change them? Won’t the Republic just shut them down again? May questioned.

Vernay swallowed bitter frustration before answering in an even tone. Our guess is that this part of the Republic doesn’t want them shut down… luckily for us. To her mind, it was poetically elegant. They would escape Brevic justice using the very tools provided by the same corrupt government chasing them. We’ll commandeer the most suitable freighter and return to Anthe immediately.

Why? Brown asked.

Brace for it, Vernay thought as she prepared to recite her carefully practiced statement. Captain Heskan is going to fulfill our promise to the Hollarans. We’re going to free them and take them home on the freighter we secure.

Muted astonishment filled the room and Vernay seized upon it to press the plan forward. Freeing them will be taken care of while we seize our freighter. That’s why Captain Heskan remained in Anthe. She pressed even further while watching heads begin to shake in disbelief. We’ll just simply dock at the Anthe orbital, load them and then set our course out of the system.

How is he going to break them out single-handedly? a doubt-filled voice asked.

Vernay judged the crowd’s demeanor and chose her escape response. I’m not allowed to share that information, for our protection and yours. I still don’t know how many of you are going to help keep our promise and how many of you want to go your own way. She looked at each crewmember. I won’t lie to you. This plan is dangerous and punishment will be swift and severe if it fails. The safest bet is probably to take a cred-stick and run. In fact, that’s what Captain Heskan recommends you do.

Agreement rippled through the crowd.

But we do need you, Vernay improvised. The captain needs you. Before last night, he was a hero to the Republic, one of the Navy’s shining stars. Now, he’s risking everything to ensure that the people who battled alongside us in Junction-Two have a chance at the freedom they fought for. He’s freed you from imprisonment or worse and he can save the Hollarans, too, but he can’t do it without your help. She waited several beats before asking, Is anyone here going to let him down?

* * *

In a hotel room on Pallene, the volume of Commander Garrett Heskan’s datapad chime increased gradually to ease him out of a sound sleep. So deep had his slumber been, he suffered momentarily from a hazy disorientation before rolling over and reaching across his bed to the table next to it. His datapad chimed impatiently again, louder, before Heskan touched Accept.

Heskan here, he slurred sleepily.

Secretary Brewer’s face appeared instantly. Commander, the prisoners aboard Kite have escaped.

Huh? Heskan both questioned and acknowledged.

They were led by Lieutenant Jack Truesworth and Chief Andrew Brown.

What? Heskan exclaimed as he shot upright on his bed. Brown? Are you sure? How?

We have them recorded from Kite’s airlock camera. Brown led them right off of the ship and onto the orbital, Brewer explained. I’ve put the orbital security forces on alert and have patrols of agents searching the station.

Heskan was staring blankly at the datapad as he mumbled to himself, That doesn’t make sense. What could have happened? He finally focused on Brewer. I need to see the recording. Have you stopped departures from the orbital?

Not yet, Brewer replied. We’re finishing our sweep first but, personally, I think they’ve had ample time to flee the station. Brewer’s eyes narrowed considerably. These men worked for you for quite a while, Commander. Did you have any suspicion of their treasonous propensities?

Heskan remained silent for the exact amount of time he had planned when anticipating this question. Finally, he slowly shook his head with a pained expression before letting his eyes drop, again practiced countless times in front of a mirror although he improvised his verbal response. I cannot, for the life of me, think of any reason why Chief Brown would betray the Republic… after thirty years of service... He looked up at Brewer and asked, Why would he throw all that away?

Brewer replied with an equally measured response. I would like to know that very answer, Commander. I’m sending a shuttle down to collect you. I’m afraid your vacation is cancelled. I want you on Envoy-Three as soon as possible.

Heskan saw Brewer’s hand reach toward the camera to terminate the conversation, returning his hotel room to relative darkness. The wall screen, set to window mode, foretold of dawn as slivers of orange-red light bathed the horizon with a faint glow. After several minutes, he moved toward the sonic shower.

* * *

Immediately after his conversation with Heskan, Brewer’s eyes snapped to the two men on the opposite side of his conference table on Envoy-3. Analysis, he demanded.

Field Supervisor Aaron Jennings pointed at his datapad and answered, The spikes here, here and here are genuine. Voice analysis combined with facial pattern analysis confirm candid surprise when you told him the details of the escape.

His first reaction was an honest one, then? Neal asked.

Jennings nodded but hedged. Well, his very first response was ‘huh’ and I’m getting inconclusive results from the analysis program on that but I attribute that to him being half asleep. His first real reaction, once fully awake, reflects genuine surprise at the news. I’m almost certain of that.

How certain? Brewer asked.

Ninety-three point three percent, sir. If you look here, Jennings directed as he pointed to analysis waves overlaid on the transcript of the recent conversation, you’ll see that his answer regarding Brown’s involvement is authentic. Even though he dropped his eyes, the program estimates over a ninety-five percent chance of truthfulness.

He didn’t know, then, Neal summarized.

That’s my assessment, Assistant Secretary, Jennings concluded. The software isn’t foolproof but it’s very difficult to beat. It would be even harder just rousing from a deep sleep.

Brewer gave the penultimate judgment. This matches what I know of the man. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Besides, Garrett Heskan would have to have nerves of steel to be in on this and still stay in contact with us. Brewer paused briefly before announcing to Jennings, I’m going to attach him to you, Aaron, as an advisor during your investigation. We’re short on manpower because of the botched attempt on Phoenix, and he knows these men better than anyone else. He might be able to provide insight that we don’t have.

An eyebrow arched inquisitively over Neal’s eye. You won’t be handling this investigation directly, Mr. Secretary?

Brewer shook his head. There are far too many strings to be plucked for me to become bound to a single thread.

Jennings reset his datapad. Who is next? he asked.

Lieutenant Spencer, although I want his interview to be in person. As it is, he’s looking at dereliction of duty for gross incompetence as Kite’s captain. Send two agents to collect him and the enlisted man responsible for the airlock that night.

* * *

Hours later, Heskan’s eyes were sweeping over Jack Truesworth’s living quarters on Kite.

The man standing next to Heskan remained silent for some time before finally breaking the tranquility. Your first impressions? Jennings asked.

Heskan walked to the small closet and glanced in. He didn’t pack, or at least he didn’t take extra uniforms. He moved to a small desk and pointed to its docking station. No datapad. He may have taken it with him. The question is will he be stupid enough to use it?

Jennings nodded. He already used it to conduct a large transaction with a Pallene public transportation shuttle the night of the escape.

Heskan’s eyes shot toward Jennings. They fled to the planet’s surface?

Yes, straight to the capital, unless it was misdirection, Jennings replied. Which is more in character for Truesworth?

Heskan paused in consideration. Jack is no strategist. To be perfectly honest, he was a fine sensorman but he lacked the ability to think about the long game.

That’s consistent with someone who waited until the night of the escape to buy shuttle tickets, Jennings agreed. However, I would have expected more foresight from a senior chief.

Heskan gestured in exasperation, his first truthful emotional demonstration since his conversation with Brewer hours ago. Yeah, Chief Brown is a planner. He shook his head and began to speak but stopped. Finally, he stated, I really don’t understand his involvement.

Jennings moved to the neatly made bed in the sterile room and stared at it. The bed sheets were drawn tightly into perfect hospital corners. The entire room reminded him of the quarters of a first-year security cadet. Time spent searching these quarters would be time wasted. This place has been sanitized, he judged. We’re probably not going to discover anything here or in the other rooms. Our best chance is working backwards with each traitor’s signature left by his datapad actions. I’ve only had a short time to study Truesworth’s trail but already I see anomalies. He left and boarded Kite multiple times over the last week and he has a charge at an orbital restaurant that was clearly with a group of people… probably co-conspirators.

Heskan felt his heart skip a beat but asked calmly, Do you want me to run that down?

Jennings shook his head. No, I have another agent working that angle. I want you to go over these rooms with a fine-tooth comb and find me something. Ideally, you’ll find me an actual datapad. Failing that, think about what you know of each of these fugitives and give me insight into what their next move might be.

Will do, Heskan acknowledged. I’ll do my best for Secretary Brewer.

That’s what he’ll expect… and so will I. Jennings scowled at Heskan. The secretary is not the only man that should concern you. The warning given, the internal security agent retreated from the room, leaving Heskan alone.

Heskan watched