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    Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground
    Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground
    Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground
    Ebook435 pages7 hours

    Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground

    By Randolph Lalonde

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    About this ebook

    The war between the Order of Eden and the few who fight for their freedom continues. Jacob and his comrades are within the Iron Head Nebula, a natural border between sectors where danger surrounds them as they do their best to assist stranded ships, fight the Order, and make connections with those who dwell in the gargantuan dust cloud.

    Meanwhile, Alice and many young Officer Candidates are challenged by the rigorous training provided by the new Triton Fleet Academy. Her mind, body and preconceptions will all be tested as she makes her attempt to complete the first curriculum so she can become a leader in the growing fleet. The fight awaits Alice and her fellow students but they have to prove themselves before they are allowed to join the battle.

    Everyone will be pushed to their limits as they confront some of the most incredible challenges and mysteries of their lives.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRandolph Lalonde
    Release dateDec 11, 2016
    ISBN9781988175027
    Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground
    Author

    Randolph Lalonde

    Born in 1974, Randolph Lalonde has worked in customer service, sales, played drums for several heavy metal bands you've never heard of, dealt blackjack in a traveling casino, and serviced countless computers. He's also owned businesses in the design, printing, collectible and custom computer fields.He completed writing his first novel in the fantasy adventure genre at the age of fifteen and has been writing ever since.He self published his first novel;Fate Cycle: Sins of the Past in 2004 and after taking a break has begun to release his work again starting with the Spinward Fringe series.Randolph Lalonde's Ebooks have been legally downloaded over one million times to date. He has made just enough to keep writing full time from sales. He is deeply grateful for his following of readers and strives to improve his skills to better entertain them. The Spinward Fringe Space Opera series has proven to be his most popular offering.

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      Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10 - Randolph Lalonde

      Prologue

      The Rahgha

      Order of Eden fighters swarmed between the ships of the Iduoi Tribe convoy, hatefully blasting the most heavily armed ships before Woone’s young eyes. An itch had been burning on the top of her dark furred snout, but she was a Nafalli warrior, and her hands were steady on the turret controls.

      Shoot anything coming for your turret first, we need to keep our gunners safe, came the order over the comm stick she had pinned into the fur next to her ear. The order came from her father, the Captain, and she thought it was cowardly. Woone was sure she should fire at the enemy ships that were causing the most damage to the least well defended, but she followed orders.

      A trio of Order of Eden ships rose up from behind the Elloo, one of their oldest vessels. The round edged, long vessel was already losing power to most of its critical systems, she feared for the thousands of Nafalli aboard. The enemy trio took a sweeping turn, and she opened fire with her quad cannon, scoring hits by the time they were facing her.

      Enemy bolts of particle weapon bursts started peppering the shields protecting her emplacement, flashing blinding light across the front of her turret. Gritting her teeth, she concentrated on what her visor was showing, three dots with the speed, distance, shield strengths, and operational status of each fighter in simple codes. These pilots are so stupid, she grunted as she set her four cannons to fire at maximum power.

      Her fingers were going numb from holding the triggers down for so long. These would be the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth kills she made in less than fifteen minutes. The energy shield protecting her turret was slowly depleting, the trio were trying to take her out, and she hoped that the bolts of contained super-hot plasma her quad cannons were spewing would take them out first. Their assault was so brazen, Woone was positive they would be slag before they got her.

      The middle fighter’s shields dropped suddenly, and Woone aimed for the sweet spot, right above and behind the narrow fighter’s canopy there was a thin armour panel, and behind that was some kind of fuel cell. The middle fighter exploded violently, sending the one to its port side spinning sideways.

      Small shards and chunks of the exploding fighter collided with her shield like droplets of hot metal rain as she aimed for the other fighter, tearing into it at such a high rate that the barrels of her turrets were turning red. Woone activated the coolant gas to slow the heating down, making sure she didn’t release so much that it would damage her turret. The white plume of the coolant entering the heated space around the barrels filled her view, so she completely relied on her tactical visor, ignoring the obstructed view outside.

      The second fighter was about to break off when its shields failed, and she ripped into the side of the ship. The third was regaining control, turning and flying away, and she blasted the vessel from behind. Your shields were set to cover your nose, weren’t they? she growled to her enemy, even though they couldn’t hear her. No running, you little bug.

      The shields covering the aft side of the enemy fighter winked out, and the pilot didn’t get a chance to spin their ship before several high speed plasma bolts tore through the thin armour. Burn! she shouted as the ship’s interior let a jet of atmosphere out then exploded as one of her shots struck a fuel capsule.

      That explosion was followed by a much larger blast that lit up the dark corner of the nebula they tried to hide in for several seconds. Large chunks of hardened hull plating drifted across her view. She recognized the shape of one of the large sections, it looked like someone had reached out to their enemy with a fiery hand and ripped a large portion of an Order of Eden carrier’s fore section off. It was foolish for the Order to believe that one carrier with a few smaller destroyers could take on the might of their fleet.

      The Iduoi Tribe were running, their ships were damaged, but they had tens of thousands of real warriors. The humans of the Order may as well have been worms. She wished she could spit on the massive shreds of hull plating from their carrier, or make trophies of a few of the crewmembers who still clung to hope inside sealed compartments like her ancestors would have. They knew how to make examples of their foes.

      There were a few fighters in range, all flying away. Woone squeezed a few rounds off at the closest ones for good measure, striking sporadically and fairly ineffectively. Better run, she muttered as the last of them made it out of her range. Prepare for an emergency short distance jump, came the announcement through her communicator. It wasn’t her father, but her uncle Rikin speaking.

      The lights in the rear section of the Elloo lit back up, and their main thrusters fired despite the terrible damage the large ship sustained. To her relief, a wormhole split the space in front of it and the ship slid inside, accelerating out of sight within seconds. Woone took a moment to secure her post so the weapon couldn’t go off by mistake, and to scratch the itch on top of her nose. The relief she felt at seeing the Elloo get away safely was so intense she felt she could cry. While most of her immediate family was on the Rahgha, their largest carrier, she had over a hundred cousins on the Elloo, and there were children aboard because it had a heavily armoured core. Their entire tribe was set on breeding back to full numbers, and she was left out because there were so few males left to couple with, not that she liked her choices over the past year. That meant she could concentrate on being a warrior, a passion of hers since she learned to track at a very early age, and that she could visit the Elloo whenever she had time and be surrounded by baby Nafalli without having to take care of any of them after leaving. Truly, the best of both worlds.

      Their ship shuddered as it crossed into a wormhole, something that had never happened before. The alarm went up and the flexible panels of her containment suit closed. Emergency, reactor three has failed, announced Rikin. We are not going to be able to jump again. The convoy will be going dark as soon as we arrive at our destination. If there is anyone near Primary Junction Twenty-Eight, please prepare to deactivate the power flow to the rest of the ship.

      That wasn’t good. It meant that enough of their convoy was so damaged that they had to go dark in order to hide from sensors. Dead dark, no systems running, scary dark. All so they could hide and make essential repairs. With a start, Woone realized that she was close to Junction Twenty-Eight, it was only a few strides behind her turret door.

      With care, she turned her chair around and opened the hatch. With a whoosh the atmosphere in her pod escaped into the vacuum in the hallway. Command Centre, I’m responding to your request, she said. The hall behind my turret is depressurized.

      Woone? Thank goodness you’re still alive. That section was heavily damaged, her aunt said. She was the Tribe matron, and the woman Woone admired more than any fictional or real person in the universe. Is there anyone else nearby? Any sign of other survivors?

      Woone looked down the hallway in both directions. The strange shifting white and blue light of starlight reflecting off of particles in the nebula, amplified by the wall of their wormhole was the only illumination in the broad hallway. The light was coming in through a broad rip in the hull that ended three paces away from her turret pod. It was so still and quiet, it made Woone wish she’d never opened her pod. People were lost somewhere behind. People had died. It was the reality of war, but she wondered who she’d never see again.

      Woone shook her head solemnly as she concluded that there was only torn deck plating and the remains of a half-slagged reactor to her right, and an empty hallway to her left. I don’t see anyone, there aren’t even any remains.

      We can confirm that a few got into a secure room before that area was damaged, but if what you’re seeing is right, most of them were pulled out into space, Loashi said. Can you see the Junction Panel? Is it still intact?

      Woone saw it right away. Several paces down the undamaged end of the hallway there was a black panel with red stripes across it. I can get to it. The ship emerged from the wormhole, and she pushed off from the hatch of her turret pod.

      We have to shut down now, Loashi said. It’s going to get very quiet and dark down there, Woone, so stay calm until we can get to you. In the meantime, you can use your personal scanner to see if there are any other crewmembers stuck back there. Do you think you could do that?

      Pfft! Don’t worry about me, my suit didn’t take any damage, so I can look for crewmates for days.

      Okay, be careful, Rikin said.

      Is my father all right? Woone asked, dreading the answer.

      We’ll discuss that when you’re safe, Loashi said.

      No, is he safe? Woone asked, making contact with the Junction Panel and opening it.

      Woone –

      Tell me, I need to know.

      He was killed when the port shields failed, Loashi said. I’m sorry.

      Woone found the control that would cut off most of the ship’s power. Ready to go dark?

      He died a warriors’ death, and didn’t suffer, Loashi said. The light flickering around her dimmed. They were out of the wormhole.

      Are we ready?

      Yes, Woone, go ahead.

      Woone pushed the mechanical button in and it sprung back with a click. She knew the entire ship lost power then, they would be difficult to detect using long range scanners. She turned back towards the rip in the hull, it was broad and long, and she hadn’t noticed it thanks to the position of her turret. What did that damage was so close to killing her too, she found herself wondering if her family had been cursed. First, she’d failed to find a good mate, then the Order of Eden raided their world and killed most of the humans there along with her mother, and now her father was gone.

      Through the hull breach she watched three of their lesser armed ships go dark, the lights in their portholes flickering then going out. It suited her. Let everyone feel as alone and lost as she did. They would work in the dark, repairing whatever it was that kept them from trying to escape the Iron Head Nebula.

      A small green light appeared on her visor, indicating that there was someone alive down the corridor, just past the breach. Woone took a deep breath. Father and Mother are both watching now, she said, feeling a tear roll down her furred cheek. I will show you how I can save people.

      One

      Pride

      Captain Jacob Valent, Captain Ayan Anderson, Commander Stephanie Vega and Lieutenant Liara Erron went aboard Freeground Alpha with Minh-Chu Buu as their pilot. The five of them rode in one of the oldest transit cars any of them had ever seen. Jake looked from one member of his team to the next. There was Minh-Chu, comfortable in his light armour and pilot bomber jacket – a new one since he’d given his original to Ashley Lamport nearly a year before. His shoulder length dark hair was loose, he watched the surfaces of the tunnel go by as though he was riding through a ghost town.

      Lieutenant Erron was studying everything she could to finish learning about Freeground’s history, people and organizational structure. Jake couldn’t see exactly what she was looking through from second to second, but those holographic images were flipping by so quickly he could scarcely believe that she was absorbing anything. In a short amount of time she’d proven to be a highly valuable communications officer. She didn’t seem comfortable in her heavy armour yet, struggling against the thick suit covered by horizontal bands of protective metal. The flexible strips overlapped each other for protection, and to hide emitters inside that could provide minor propulsion in space, or more commonly, a personal shield.

      Commander Stephanie Vega was right at home in her black armour. They didn’t need her for security, the group could handle themselves, but Jake, Minh-Chu and Ayan needed new eyes with them, and those would be Liara’s and Stephanie’s. Jake had come to trust Stephanie Vega, one of the few people who had stuck around for almost all of his bounty hunting years, when he wasn’t even aware of who he was supposed to be. She watched him transform more than once, following along, supporting him without a complaint or question. Her trust and loyalty to Jake was proven, and he knew she would notice if something wasn’t quite right on Freeground Alpha. She was his first officer, a post she assumed with gusto, studying the responsibilities of the position, the crew under her command and the details of their ship – the Revenge – late into every evening. It was about time she was given a clear path to her own command, but Jake wasn’t ready for her to leave just yet.

      Ayan flashed him a smile, noticing that he was looking at his people, or that he was quiet, well, noticing something. He didn’t think she should be on the first trip to Freeground Alpha, but he wouldn’t tell her that. With her along, he was afraid that they would become more involved with the station’s politics than they could afford to be. Time was not on their side, if it were up to him, they would make a quick statement about Triton Fleet’s intentions, find out if Freeground Alpha had any objections, then take every action they could to assure that the massive station got out of the Nebula. Politics would definitely complicate matters.

      Even still, Jake had learned not to underestimate her. They’d had time away from each other, and he could see that she’d changed, she’d grown in ways he was slowly discovering. Ayan was one of the strongest women he’d ever known, and he didn’t just love her, he admired her for all she had accomplished and for her unbreakable spirit. She may have been made to replace an earlier version of Ayan, named Ayan Rice, but Jake firmly believed that Ayan Anderson was an improvement on the original. She wore the same style of combat armour, but hers was blue, designating her as a member of the Triton Fleet Engineering Department. She was the highest ranking member, technically a Captain but with more responsibility than any master of a single ship. It was her task to supervise the upkeep and upgrading of every Triton ship within her live communication range.

      Ayan tucked her curly red hair into a bun, then sighed and undid it – perhaps because she thought it was too sloppy or loose, then tried again, leaving her second attempt as it was. He idly wondered how much time they’d actually have together when they returned home.

      Unearthing strange memories? Ayan asked him. Her warm smile lightened his mood.

      It’s strange, Jake said. I’ve never been here before, and I can tell all my memories of this place are from Jonas, he shrugged. It’s like seeing someone else’s home after hearing them describe it over and over again.

      I know how you feel, Ayan replied. I’ve never been here before either, but it’s like Ayan Rice is with us, welcoming me in.

      Maybe she is, Stephanie said. My people still believe that our ancestors watch over us. To me, Ayan Rice and Jonas Valent are your ancestors.

      It’s like genetic memory, maybe? Liara said. The Soojoun have a genetic memory, you might want to look into them. They stay away from humans and most of the other species because they see them as immature, but who can blame them. They have a perspective of centuries. The traders who ran into them also said they were really big snobs, they didn’t want to deal with humans at all but they needed parts. As though she just realized who she was speaking to, she returned to her work.

      Are you all right, Minh? Ayan asked.

      Just got a case of the welcome back jitters. When I left here last time, I was technically an escaped mental patient.

      That drew surprised glances from Stephanie and Liara. Ayan only laughed. I’m sure they won’t put you away, they’ve got to be past it by now.

      I hope so. I don’t know why I came though, I don’t have family here anymore. The notes in the system say that everyone but my youngest sister found a Lorander Colony Ship and they’re not even in the same galaxy anymore. I didn’t even have to come aboard to download their last messages to me.

      I’m sorry, Minh. I know how close you were with your family.

      It’s all right, I still feel like I drifted too far from them, Minh-Chu said. Most of them hated the idea of me serving in the military, I know I was severing ties when I left the last time. I miss them, but I know they’re safe, so I’ll go visit some day when I’ve saved the galaxy.

      When you’ve saved the galaxy? Stephanie asked with an upraised eyebrow.

      Of course, I’m thankful to all of you for your assistance, but we all know I’m the hero here, right? he replied with exaggerated self-assuredness.

      Oh yeah, you’re an escaped mental patient, all right, Stephanie said.

      Maybe you’re here for your little sister? Jake asked.

      She left me a note saying she didn’t think I’d ever be back to Freeground, but to be sure I’d be seeing her soon if I did come back and read the message. It didn’t say where or how or when though.

      She was always sneaky, Jake said.

      And loud, Minh-Chu added. How she made those two things work together, I’ll never understand, but that’s the way she is. I hope she’s okay.

      I remember her being smart and resourceful too, Jake said. I’m sure she’s fine. For all we know, she’s tracking your route through the galaxy right now.

      I wouldn’t be surprised, Minh-Chu replied, his mood brightening.

      I’m wondering, Stephanie said. Did any of you expect to see Freeground again?

      The question surprised Jake, and he was still pondering when Ayan replied. No, she said. Once I’d found Oz, and found out that Carl was my father, I didn’t see a reason to return. The politics here have cost the station its viability, it’s not the place I remember from Ayan Rice.

      You didn’t know he was your father? Liara asked.

      I had no idea. I loved him like one, he was around a lot when Ayan Rice was growing up, was her family doctor, and even joined us on the First Light, but I had no idea. To be honest, Ayan Rice worshipped him a little because his career was so diverse, he’d had so many secret adventures and he was also a scientist.

      That sort of explains your attraction to mysterious older men, Liara said. The colour drained from her face. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up Liam.

      We’re all officers here, Ayan said. And I’ve paid for the wrong turn I took in my personal life. I’d appreciate a little more discretion, though.

      Jake could see that Ayan was making a real effort to be kind to the new Communications Officer. In his experience, Liara was normally graceful, clear and what she said was well thought out, but she seemed nervous around Ayan and Stephanie. Ayan was blushing, Stephanie and Minh-Chu were watching the exchange with interest.

      Thank you, Captain, Liara said to Ayan. I have to say, I admire you for everything you’ve done with Haven Shore and the Fleet. I think you’re really amazing.

      Thank you, Lieutenant.

      There’s something else, Liara said. I’m getting a data dump from Freeground Fleet via the Triton, not from Freeground Alpha. It’s navigational and observational logs of the nebula from their journey so far and from limited scouting missions.

      Take a quick inventory of the data but focus on the meeting once we get started, Jake said.

      Aye, Sir, Liara replied.

      When I heard my family were off the station, Minh-Chu said, returning the conversation to the previous topic, I didn’t think I’d ever be back. I loved what I had here after the All-Con War, but I was restless. Seeing more of the galaxy, even though it was dangerous, was more interesting to me. I was the black sheep after I left on the First Light, no one said it, but I knew I was the brother everyone relied on before then. I disappointed them, and I couldn’t handle it, so I left. I’ll have to find them someday, I don’t know how, but I will.

      The car stopped, several people on an old grey and white platform tried to enter the car, but the doors were locked. The people there, most of them in plain, clinging vacsuits of various colours, regarded the locked doors with irritation but stood back as the car began to move again. They were only a few stops away from the command section of Freeground Alpha.

      Jake decided it was time for him to answer. I never thought I’d see Freeground. There’s nothing for me here, even Jonas didn’t really care about Freeground much by the end, his friends were home to him more than any place, he took a breath and shook his head. Okay, it’s time to focus on the present. We know what we’re doing here, right?

      Oh, yes, Ayan said. We are not offering anything but a way to the Rega Gain system.

      So they’ll have no ranking in our fleet or government, they’ll have to earn it? Will they abide that? Liara asked.

      They’ll have to, Ayan replied. The Haven Shore Council is finally under control, I’m not going to let whoever’s in charge here throw it off again.

      I have to admit I wish Oz was here, Minh-Chu said. Just because he’s probably the only person who would want to see the inside of Freeground again.

      The transit car passed into a section of the station that had taken massive damage. The outer hull was gone for a stretch of more than a hundred metres, and the rooms behind it were destroyed. The transit tube was the first thing to be repaired, it seemed, and it passed through open space. The white, blue and rust coloured hues of the Iron Head Nebula were visible through the large gap. There were crews removing sections of plating that was too damaged to be repaired and others working on critical components. A large shield emitter was being moved into place, it looked newer than everything they’d seen on Freeground Alpha until then.

      The transit car continued into the undamaged section and began to slow down. How old is this part of the station? Stephanie asked.

      Over three hundred years, maybe even older, Ayan said. There have always been rumours that this was the main ring on a large ship that ran through the middle and provided main power and propulsion.

      The car stopped and the station they arrived at was filled with Freeground Officers who greeted them with applause. The space was built like so many other main hallway intersections, only the floor was worn down by so many feet over the centuries that it shone with the steely silver of the original metal. The rest of the space was coloured white and grey, and it was spotless. Memories of a lifetime spent growing up in modules that looked very similar were instantly revived, and it felt like Jonas was watching from within.

      This is kind of eerie, right? Ayan asked him quietly.

      So glad it’s not just me.

      If you’ll follow me, please, said an ensign who looked too old to wear the uniform. They were led down the left hallway only a few steps before entering a narrower corridor that led directly into a conference room. There were no chairs around the waist-high table, and the transparent metal windows along one side overlooked the main control room of Freeground Alpha. The members of the High Command wanted to meet you at the secure station, but the risk was too high, the Ensign explained. This contained Control Centre is the most secure area of the station now. No attacks have been able to penetrate it.

      There have been internal attacks? Liara asked.

      You haven’t been briefed? the Ensign asked.

      We’ve only had time to review the information you provided in summary, we’d appreciate some details, especially if you’re having difficulty with security.

      I’m sorry, I haven’t been cleared to give you any of those details. The members of High Command should be with you soon. Please wait here, he told them before exiting through the opposite door set into the transparent wall.

      He swiftly made his way through the busy command centre, where at least a hundred crewmembers worked at their posts. The work stations looked like they were built with three-hundred-year old technology. Flat gel screens with switch and button controls that blinked with colours that corresponded to the systems they were attached to occupied the broad control desks. Jake remembered being trained on that ancient operating system, they were Jonas’ experiences, even the First Light had better control interfaces. There were no visible upgrades in sight with one exception. In the middle of the control centre was a shielded tube with the liquid quantum core of a massive computer system.

      Oh my God, Minh-Chu said. Some nightmares never cease to haunt. He said, pointing at the computer core.

      Jake took a longer look and realized what it was. Is that what I think it is? he asked.

      Ayan was already scanning, and a moment later she nodded. That’s the liquid quantum core the First Light captured when the crew escaped the Overlord class Base Ship. They have it tied into their navigational systems, but isolated from any communications devices.

      Is it installed well? Can there be any outside interference?

      They have hardware safeties in place and signal shielding around it. Even at this range I couldn’t send an instruction to it.

      Well, I never wondered what happened to it, Minh-Chu said. I know anyway.

      Admiral Jessica Rice followed by an older looking woman and gentleman entered the room. Jake couldn’t help but notice that she looked young for her age, and her gait was particularly spry.

      Jessica Rice stopped to stand directly in front of Ayan. I’m so sorry for the way you were treated, especially for the way I treated you, when you were last with us. It looked as though the Admiral was between deciding to attempt a hug, a handshake, or even a shoulder pat.

      Ayan broke the awkward moment by embracing the woman warmly. Jessica was visibly surprised at first, then rested her hands on Ayan’s back gently. Without letting Jessica go, Ayan said; I know what it is to make mistakes and regret them more every day. You were still grieving when I was born, so I understand why you couldn’t accept me then. It’s okay.

      Jacob could see Jessica Rice’s expression relax, as though she’d found a moment of peace. Thank you, Ayan, she said quietly. Thank you so much.

      They parted, and Ayan smiled at Jessica Rice. We’re going to be okay. She whispered, and Jessica nodded.

      I’m sorry to interrupt this strange, albeit touching reunion, but we have little time to spare, said the grey haired stocky woman settling in at the other end of the table. I’m Commodore Merick, and this, she said, gesturing at the gentleman in a loose fitted vacsuit and long jacket with glittering public service medals on the lapels, is Prime Minister Hemron. The pair of us are the High Command for the fleet, she said, gesturing at herself, and the Civilian body, she finished, gesturing at the Prime Minister. Admiral Rice is here as a courtesy.

      We don’t have much time for negotiations, Commodore, Jake said. What we need to know is how long it will be until this station can jump again, how much distance you can cross, and if you’ve scouted ahead in the right direction. If any of those parts of your strategy are missing, we have a lot of work ahead of us.

      Don’t worry, we have the situation well in hand, Prime Minister Hemron said. What we need are any foodstuffs, or medical supplies you may have on hand. We also require any spare components that we could use to restore function to a few damaged sections.

      From our scans we can see that the Revenge has a large store of spare parts, long supports that haven’t been installed, and ammunition that will be compatible with our point defence guns, the Commodore said. The Triton has a great deal of food and equipment in reserve, including some fabrication systems that we could use. We weren’t able to complete our scan, however, since it was blocked seconds after we started it.

      I’m sorry, Ayan said. I’m sure the Captains can come up with a shipment of food, and maybe a little equipment that will help, but most of what you’ve scanned is essential to the function of those ships.

      I’m sure they’ll be pleased to know that the Captain with no ship has spoken for them here, the Prime Minister said. Freeground Fleet vessels are only permitted to carry one week’s worth of rations for emergencies. Since your ships are being entered into the fleet, you will ship all your excess to Freeground Alpha.

      We’re not joining you. We’re here to lead you. I can speak for both ships because it’s my responsibility to oversee the condition of my fleet, and I’m telling you that you’re not going to scavenge in our cargo holds and fighter bays for parts and supplies. Our mandate is simple: to assist in the defence of Freeground Alpha for as long as it’s tenable and escort you to a safe solar system. We were thinking of taking you right to Rega Gain, but, unless the tone of these negotiations changes, you won’t be welcome there.

      I warned you, Jessica Rice told the Commodore. These people know what they’re doing. They have their own priorities, and we’re lucky they’re here at all.

      Jake shook his head at what he was seeing. It seemed more like a staged argument with one of their people taking one side, while another took the other so their guests would be guided to a conclusion of their choosing. I speak for the Revenge, he said, his voice filling the room. Your people are not going to be allowed aboard. Our supplies are off limits. Nothing we would provide you with, if I chose to do so, would be in a quantity that would make any difference anyway. Captain Anderson is right. Our mandate here is simple: to assist in the defence of Freeground Alpha and deliver it to a safe solar system.

      That’s utterly ridiculous, Commodore Merick said. Your ships should join Freeground Fleet, we already have plans, and our wormhole systems are charging as we speak.

      How long will that take? Ayan asked.

      We have to charge for another thirteen point six hours, Admiral Rice replied.

      Admiral, you will not share operational details until we’ve negotiated the position of the Triton and the Revenge in terms of where they will fit in the fleet, warned the Commodore.

      That’s easy, Jake said. The Revenge won’t be joining your failing fleet. Every single ship out there is damaged, I’ve seen the scans. You are orchestrating a disaster, and I bet you are commanding out of fear, not wisdom. I bet every ship you have is right here so you can feel safer.

      You’re right, Captain, Admiral Rice said.

      You need ships out there doing small jumps along your projected course, scouting, making sure you’re not going to run into opposition, checking for planets where you can salvage supplies and materials, Minh-Chu said. Let us do that for you. We have plenty of fighters with jump capabilities, and they’re in good shape. I’ll even volunteer to lead a long range scout ship so we can map a real route for you, one that will make it harder for the Order to find you.

      Now that’s a good place to start, Admiral Rice said.

      We are using long range scans, the Prime Minister said. We see a clear route ahead.

      Those scans can be tracked, Jake said. You’re also making signal noise that anyone can use to locate Freeground. The more deep scans you perform, the longer you remain here afterwards, the more likely you’ll be discovered.

      From the damage I saw on our way in, I’m guessing that’s already happened once, Ayan added. You need us, but you’re going to have to accept our help on our terms. She specifically adjusted her tone and demeanour to one that was almost pleading. Our terms are the best you’ll find. We keep the supplies and equipment that enable us, and help this entire station to safety. I’d like to see a day very soon when you are welcomed into the Rega Gain System with open arms. We’re forming a larger fleet there and have a partnership with the British Alliance.

      The British? Prime Minister Hemron said, throwing up his hands. The Freeground Loyalist Party won’t have it! I’m wasting my time. He began storming from the room.

      Jake couldn’t take any more. He hadn’t had a flare of anger since he lost the framework technology, but it was easy for him to embrace his irritation and follow his instincts. Without a moment’s hesitation, he moved to stand in front of the Prime Minister, who looked up at him wide-eyed. With a

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