Garrick

#

A wave of fury built up inside Garrick as he watched the cloud of wreckage from the Lazard expand in front of them. How dare the Caxians ram an Alliance warship--it just wasn't how wars were fought! He was almost spluttering with rage. The Alliance fleet that had meant to come and save them was now being picked off by some farmers from Caxis. It made him embarrassed to be in the military.

"Sir." Peters brought him back down to reality. "The insurgent ships are towing the Edinburgh to the lanes. They're trying to get away while the fleet is distracted."

He felt a rush of adrenaline course through him. "Do we have enough power to follow them?"

Peters consulted his console. "I--I think so, yes, we can make it to the lanes and they should be able to do the rest."

"Get Ramsey on it. I want to be moving in five minutes."

Peters started communicating with engineering while Garrick went back to focusing on the scene in front of them. From what the Ezekiel could detect, there were only three Caxian ships remaining. What was inexplicable was that the Alliance vessels were backing away, trying to hit the Caxian's from distance rather than risk being rammed again.

Just accept the losses of three ships and get after the actual threat.

"Sir, a communication link is being requested by the Phoenix Rises. It's Admiral Jansen," Peters said.

"Put her up on the viewport."

An image of the bridge of the Phoenix Rises appeared in front of him, focused on a grim-faced Admiral Jansen. "Captain Karn. What is your status?"

"We're in trouble Admiral. The Edinburgh is disabled and has been boarded by insurgents. We have minimal power but are attempting to follow them through the lanes. Admiral--you need to send ships after the Edinburgh. Forget Caxis."

"Shit." He had never heard Jansen swear before. "Grand Mediator Mayeaux has ordered an invasion force to land and attempt to take control of the planet."

"What?" Garrick was dumbfounded. "Caxis is not the threat here."

"That's not all, Captain. We're picking up signs of a potential insurgent fleet coming through the lanes to Caxis."

"That's impossible," he breathed. "I can't detect anything."

"Our sensors are more advanced than yours. They're coming, Karn. I'm needed here. I'm counting on you, Captain. We haven't always seen eye to eye, but you're all we've got now."

"Yes Admiral. I won't let them get their hands on it. You can trust me on that."

"I hope so, Garrick. For all our sakes."

Mayeaux came into view on the feed. "Captain. Under no circumstances must that bomb fall into enemy hands. Use whatever means necessary--whatever the cost--to ensure that it does not happen. Do I make myself clear?"

Before Garrick could respond Jansen had jumped to her feet to round on the political officer. "Are you insane? You would risk the lives of the billions in this system?"

"Admiral Jansen--stand down. That's an order." Mayeaux pointed to Jansen's chair as though he were chiding a child.

"You bastard, Mayeaux--"

The feed cut out leaving the bridge of the Ezekiel in silence. Garrick knew full well the implications of what Mayeaux was suggesting. If the bomb got away from this system, billions if not trillions more lives might be lost. The Grand Mediator may have been wrong to invade Caxis, but here Garrick knew Mayeaux was right. Jansen's reaction only confirmed that in his mind.

"Status, Mr Peters?"

"We're ready to move sir," Peters said.

"Good, take us in to the lanes. Follow that ship." Garrick had the beginnings of a plan in his head, but they would have to time it perfectly. "Get me Okoro."

"Sir, she's in the medical bay getting treatment."

"I don't care, I need her here. Now."

"Yes, sir." Peters bowed his head.

Garrick couldn't care less what his officer thought. Instead, he brought up the military override codes needed to disrupt the lanes. There was nothing he could do about the Edinburgh, but the lanes gave him an opportunity to make up some ground.

#

Chi-Young

#

"Have they seen us?" Allison lent forward in his chair on the bridge of the Mandrake. Following their arrival in the Caxis system, the fleet had used manoeuvring thrusters to draw them into the lanes. The Mandrake now led the way closer and closer to Caxis, and where the dream of an independent coalition of systems would live or die depending on how the next few hours would pan out.

"Not yet," Ensign Kassem said, though Chi-Young knew that it would be impossible for them to be sure.

At least the Caxians had been keeping the rest of the Alliance fleet happy, even if he didn't approve of their tactics. Still, better a few ships dead than the gates destroyed.

"They'll see us soon enough though, sir," Kassem said. "Our power signatures will light up their sensors. It's difficult to hide ships this size."

"You've done an amazing job, Ensign," Allison reassured her. "You and the crew have bought us time and the element of surprise. That shouldn't be underestimated."

"Thank you sir." Kassem blushed.

Chi-Young's nerves built once again as they drew nearer to the inevitable confrontation with the Alliance--and the Phoenix Rises. This was not how they had ever wanted this to go. Allison's grand vision was for the split to be without bloodshed. If they had a bomb, they could have talked down Jansen--she wanted to avoid a conflict as much as they did. But now the fighting had already begun. What was worse, Caxis had started it.

Even without detailed sensor readings, the viewport showed the troop transports laden with Alliance soldiers making their way towards the planet. He couldn't help but feel this blood was on their hands.

"Are the troops ready?" Allison said.

Chi-young consulted his console. "Yes, Admiral. The fleet reports ready to deploy transports to Caxis as soon as we're out of the lanes." If the Alliance were landing their forces, the ISC couldn't let it go unanswered. They needed to show the rest of the Arm that they could protect the independent systems.

There were too many actors in this system now. Too many risks that could jeopardise their plan to get a bomb, even the stability of the weapons themselves. One miscalculation and the entire system could be destroyed, and with it their chance of a peaceful solution. But first they needed to get through Jansen.

"Sir, they've spotted us. The Phoenix Rises is making her way to the exit of the lanes."

"Power up all systems and charge weapons." Allison was all business with no hint of sentimentality. "Prepare to engage."

"They're requesting a connection, Admiral," Kassem's voice wavered.

"Put her through."

"Admiral Allison. Forgive me, but I had hoped to never see you again." Admiral Jansen was smiling sadly at the camera, sitting with her legs crossed.

"Admiral." Allison nodded at her. "Believe me, I am sorry it has come to this. I had hoped to conduct our secession peacefully, but events have transpired against us."

"You have Captain Karn to thank for that."

"Captain Karn?"

"I granted him a field promotion to take charge of the Ezekiel. He worked out that your insurgent ships were targeting the Edinburgh. I must admit, Admiral, you had me fooled." Jansen sighed. "How long have you been working for them?"

"It hasn't been so much 'working for them' as starting the endeavour. A lot of this was my doing. But in answer to your question, it's been since they killed my wife on Partheus. It was after that I decided things couldn't go on the way they have done since the Exodus. Surely you can see that as well?"

"It doesn't matter what I see, Benjamin. I have a duty to the Alliance."

"And I have one to the Independent Systems Coalition. to the safety of those who dwell there, including Caxis."

"You don't mean to land on the planet?" Jansen lent forward, frowning.

"Like you, Keiko, I have no choice. A hostile force has landed on the world of an ISC member, and I am sworn to defend it."

"So that's that then? We have to play out our parts in this?"

"It would seem that way."

"You know, failing to persuade Caxis to stay in the Alliance haunts me the most. Everything that has happened comes from that point, I know that. It feels poetic to me that it should be me sitting here, ready to fire the first shots in a civil war."

"This was not your doing, Keiko. If more in the Alliance had your heart and attitude... Well, things would be different. But we can't sit by any longer."

"We could do with more people like you still working with the Alliance, rather than against it."

"I'm sorry, Keiko. Nothing you say will change my mind."

"I see."

There was a lengthy period of silence, no one wanting to speak because as soon as someone did there would be no going back. Chi-Young wept quietly.

In the end, it was Allison who broke the spell. He took a deep breath. "God-speed Admiral."

"You too, Allison."

So that was it then. The war begins.

God, what have we done?