Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance (13 page)

Serena had been at first confused, and then amazed at the activities that had been taken place on Earth. She had a hard time believing that the people that lived there could be so violently stupid as to try to throw nuclear and chemical weapons at each other. Ian did what he could to explain it to her, but she still had difficulties with it. She finally told him that she would help as much as she could, but would leave the command of it to him, since he had a better understanding of the people involved.

Ian had fantasized about taking Serena down to the UN and letting her meet the Ambassadors posted there. Of course, most of those entertaining dreams ended with her getting so frustrated she shot the idiots in their heads.

Fun time for Ian ended seven days after the event on Lake Superior. He was in his office going over a supply mission report when Mel told him that the Talosian delegation would be arriving in just under an hour.

“Thank you, Mel. Could you please find out if Commander Serena has a moment to spare me?” Ian asked.

“Certainly Sir, just a moment please,” Mel replied.

“Good Morning Ian, what’s going on?” Serena asked a few moments later.

“Our visitors from Talos will be arriving shortly. I’m calling to make sure you don’t freak out too much when they get here," Ian said. “Just keep in mind, we won’t actually fire on them, but we will scare the crap out of them.”

She looked a little troubled. “I’m still not understanding why you need to do this. After all we know they’re coming.”

Ian nodded. “They didn’t ask to come, they told us they were. They are arriving in a Heavy Cruiser, not a political envoy escorted by a warship. Finally, we want to make damn sure they know we will not be bullied; by them or anyone else. Besides, considering the way the houses of the Grand Council view our situation, we really can consider the Heavy Cruiser to be, at the least, potentially hostile.”

Serena nodded. “I can see that last point, and can understand your desire to show you will not be bullied. My concern is what will happen if they fire on you?”

“No one in their right mind would do that, considering what’s going to happen. But, if they do, there still won’t be much of a battle. We have a few tricks up our sleeve to make sure of it, and still make certain no one gets hurt,” Ian explained.

“Okay, I trust you, Ian. But I can’t help but feel this is an unnecessarily dangerous game,” Serena replied.

“Oh, it’s very necessary. I trust you, too; I trust what you’ve told me about the people coming here. This will put them off their guard from the moment they arrive." Ian sighed. “Anyway, how are things going with the station?”

She smiled at the change of subject. “Other than a few final touches, it’s finished. In fact, they already started laying the keel for one of the new ships. Must be a big mother, because they’re using one whole side for it.”

“Yeah, that’s the Battle Carrier. Once it’s finished, we won’t have to worry about system security again. However, construction on it will be stalling when the station gets finished. Most of the workers will be coming back here to work on the Mars Station. We’re going to have to increase the number of workers we have. There is simply too much to get done,” Ian said. “So recruitment is in the works too.”

“Considering all that you have accomplished already, I can’t wait to see what you can do with more people to do it!” Serena said, excitedly.

“Well, I’m actually expecting a fall-off in production once we get a larger number of people. It’s easier to motivate a smaller number of people than it is a larger one. Yes, we need more people in order to get all of this done, but the more we get, the less intimate the community gets,” Ian explained.

“Do you think that might be what happened to my people?” Serena asked.

Ian shook his head. “No, that is a different social issue. But, to be fair, I’m not a social scientist or even a politician, so I only have an opinion. I think because of how your house leaders have been working, aided by the fact that the general populace has no idea what's really going on, has created a type of social atrophy. Like in a feudal type of system where the dukes and barons are greedy and mostly unconcerned about the people that they rule, the people tend to develop the same attitude in reverse. They only do what is needed to keep the royalty out of their lives so they can try to improve their own lot.”

“So you think what’s wrong with the Talosian system is that the people are doing only enough to keep the house leaders from complaining?” Serena asked.

“Well, I don’t think it’s quite that simple. The leaders are only looking out for their own interests and power base. None of them are letting the people know the truth about what’s really going on, or why they’re doing the things they do. I think that if the Talosian leaders got the people more involved in what’s going on, and the house leaders became the voice of their clans like they are supposed to be, you would see a marked increase in overall production and efficiency. That is, if the people didn’t overthrow the existing power structure first.”

“Well, there is a lot of stuff that has gone on over the years that I haven’t told you. If the people had full disclosure of everything, we would have a civil war. At this point, though, I don’t know for certain if that would be a bad thing. That is, other than the fact that the Empire would roll right over us while we fought amongst ourselves,” Serena said.

Ian nodded. “And because of the hostile interaction with other races, the Alliance of races would not be inclined to protect you while you got your internal issues fixed. It’s definitely a mess with no easy means to clean it up. It's also the main reason the Council is debating even getting involved.”

“Well, I hope they do agree. I honestly don’t know what will happen to us if we don’t have you, your people, and your remarkable resources to help us," Serena said. “If they do alienate you, we’ll be doomed.”

“Well, I’ve been arguing for an alliance in Council, but, as you know, I can only offer my opinion as the military leader,” Ian said.

“Sir, pardon the interruption. The Talosian Heavy Cruiser, Adonis will be dropping out of Hyperspace in fourteen minutes. Do you still want to execute ‘Welcome Wagon’?" Mel asked.

“Yes, Mel, please initiate Operation ‘Welcome Wagon’.” Ian replied, and looked back at Serena. I guess time’s up, my friend. Wish us luck.”

“Luck,” Serena said. “Try not to enjoy this too much Ian.”

Ian shook his head. “I actually won’t enjoy this at all. It would have been whole lot easier if this would have happened in a more friendly way.”

Serena nodded agreement as she winked and closed the channel. Ian got up, and went to the bridge.

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W
hen Ian arrived on the bridge, he saw that it was already a very busy place. 

“Commander on the Bridge!” the Marine guard yelled. Ian scowled at him, and he grinned back.

“What do we have, Colonel?” Ian asked as Jenny got out of her chair.

“Operation Welcome Wagon is fully active. Adonis will drop out of hyper in ninety seconds. When she does, all the missile platforms will immediately acquire and lock onto her. Phoenix Base will scramble fighters and activate her defenses.

“As you know we arrived a while ago. One third of our fighters have been launched, and the rest are ready to go. All Centurions are still out on their normal patrol routes. Our weapons systems are hot, but as per orders, master safety is on for all offensive weapons systems.

“The Raptors Damocles, Apache, and Gemini are already on station and ready. It was decided to let Apache have the lead this time, since Damocles got to handle the Earth situation. Other than that, the sector is quiet,” Jenny finished.

“Excellent, thank you. I have the Con,” Ian said.

“Yes Sir, you have the Con,” Jenny replied, and took her station.

“Jenny, do we have a place to park the Adonis once the excitement is over?” Ian asked.

“Yes Sir, Pleiades One has reserved an open birth next to the Prometheus. I made sure we would have the resources we may need to make any repairs to the Adonis that might need to be made. There is also a full wing of Hornet fighters available for transfer to her. The Station AI is installed, but not yet ready to assume her duties,” Jenny explained.

“That was quick, I didn’t expect the new AI to even be installed for another two weeks,” Ian said, grinning.

“Maia is still working through environmental assimilation and personality development. However, she is doing remarkably well,” Star said proudly from her position close to his dais. “She will be a fine station controller.”

Ian nodded, acknowledging Star. “You must be proud of her.”

“I am Sir, she has a remarkable grasp of ship design and configuration even for an AI. She has already suggested a number of corrections to the Battle Carrier that the designers hadn’t thought of,” Star replied.

“I thought you looked over the design before it was approved for construction?” Ian asked.

“I did Sir, very carefully. She spotted things I missed and has even suggested a major modification to the primary power units. As they were, it would have left the ship vulnerable during certain types of combat operations,” Star explained. "She analyzed the design in ways I never even thought of doing. Like I said, Sir, she is going to make a remarkable station controller.”

“Adonis ETA, thirty seconds!” Chloe reported.

Ian nodded. “So you chose to name her Maia?”

Star nodded. “Yes, according to the myth, she was the eldest of Atlas’ daughters.”

Ian nodded. “The Mother of Hermes by Zeus. I’m sure she will perform very well.” He had been keeping an eye on the timer on the main screen at ten seconds, Ian called, "Red Alert! All stations, prepare for uninvited guests!”

As the lights on the bridge changed to red, and a soft klaxon rang three times to announce the change in status, Ian heard all the orders being given, but his mind focused on Chloe.

“Flight Operations, Launch all remaining fighters! Master safety is still on! Remember, lock on to your targets, but do not engage, I repeat, do not engage! Raptor Apache, you're on! Remember, this is a training mission; try not to kill anyone!”

“Hyperspace event forming, sector front, distance one hundred thousand. Energy readings confirm a capitol class ship,” Navigation reported.

“Sector Defense reports missile platforms have detected the event and are in acquisition!” Chloe reported. “Damn things actually work!"

“Remember Chloe, in normal mode, they would have already locked on and launched,” Ian said.

“True, they did have a hyperspace lock twenty minutes ago. But we didn’t know if they could transition as designed. It looks like they can,” Chloe replied.

“Sir, the Talosian Heavy Cruiser Adonis has exited Hyperspace ninety thousand kilometers off the bow. All weapons are locked, and fighters have it bracketed,” Chloe's FlightOps liaison reported.

“Sir, all missile platforms report hard lock on the Adonis,” another reported.

“Sir, our weapons are also locked on. If she really were an intruder, she would be dust by now,” Jenny reported.

Ian frowned as he looked over the mock engagement area. “So would about half our fighters. Look,” he said pointing. One of the squadrons was in the center of the Star Dancer's firing solution.

“Communications, get me Silver One, right now!” Jenny ordered, she was not happy.

“Sir, we are being hailed by the Adonis. Admiral Belirus is demanding to know what the hell is going on,” the comms officer said.

Ian grinned. “I just bet he is. Put him on the screen, Ensign.”

Although Ian and most of the people on the bridge spoke Talosian, the comms officer enabled the translators anyway. “Star Dancer, what the fuck are you doing?” a corpulent, and very belligerent man said as he appeared on the main screen. The translator actually used the word ‘sex’ were ‘Fuck:’ should have been, but Ian got his meaning.

“Why Admiral, you should know what’s going on. An unannounced warship enters our sector without clearance, how would you react?” Ian said reasonably. "We were informed of, and approved, a political envoy from the Talosian Council, not an armed warship.”

“Well, call off your attack, we’re friendly, damn it!” Belirus replied.

“Yeah, you sound like it!” Ian said as he turned to Jenny. “XO, stand down from Red Alert, reset master safety, and begin recalling our fighters."

Belirus snorted, “What fighters? All we see is you, and I have hundreds more locks from what I assume are remote missile platforms!”

Ian grinned. “Jenny, have our pilots activate their general IFF beacons, please?” Ian asked.

When Ian saw the man pale as the tally of fighter strength was given him, he smiled. “Now, since we’ve passed all of that, I am Commander Ian Williams of the Terran Defense Ship, Star Dancer. To whom do I have the honor of speaking?” The fat man snorted at the title, but replied. “I’m Admiral Belirus of the Talosian Defense Forces aboard the Heavy Cruiser Adonis. You knew we were coming, Commander, was all of this really necessary?”

“Admiral, we were not informed of the ship the delegates would be travelling in. We had no idea exactly who you were, or that you were actually a friendly. In fact, the only reason you lived to drop out of hyperspace was because we didn’t know for certain. Had you been completely unannounced, you would have been destroyed in hyperspace, twenty minutes ago.” Ian explained.

“Bullshit! No one can target a ship in hyperspace!” Belirus countered. “You’re bluffing!”

“Those missile platforms that had you targeted are equipped with hyper-missiles, Admiral. They’ve been locked on to you for the last twenty minutes. How else would we have known your exact exit point?” Ian explained reasonably. “Not only that, but you’ve already been boarded. Major Green of the Raptor Apache is talking to Admiral Goya as we speak.”