Emergence: Book One of the Dark Tide Trilogy Read online

  Derek let out the breath he had been holding. He replied after regaining his composure. “Good to hear, ma’am. The enemy fleet is gone, you are safe to come out now.”

  Chapter 17 - New Orders

  Agent Kimberly Hague entered the command room of the FIA safe house. Isabelle sat at a terminal, reviewing footage of the assault from earlier that day. Kimberly walked up to her. “Did you contact the Federation fleet, ma’am?”

  “Yes. They knew nothing, as expected. I’ve escalated it to my uncle, he’ll dispatch someone.”

  “Is the president on his way back to Tar Ebon?”

  “Yes, I had the Intrepid take him back as soon as he was in orbit. I’ll receive confirmation the second he enters Tar Ebon space. But there is a different reason I asked you here, Kimberly.”

  “Ma’am?”

  Isabelle looked around to confirm they were alone before speaking. “With the threat of Rae’Shela so prominent, I need someone I can trust on the ground leading the hunt for these bastards. If they hit here, who knows where they’ll show their faces next to wreak havoc. I’m organizing a task force and I want you to head it up.”

  Kimberly blinked. “I am honored, Isabelle…”

  “So, say you’ll accept.”

  “…But do you think I am the most qualified person for this job?” she finished.

  “I think you’re the right person for the job,” Isabelle said. “Sure I could get agents with fifty years of experience to oversee it. But what I need is someone who has intelligence, spunk, combat skills and most of all, I need someone who has seen the Krai’kesh first hand. Most agents, as much as they might deny it to my face, still feel the Krai’kesh are fairy-tales designed to scare little children into obedience. You don’t have that misconception after this encounter.”

  “Am I to disclose details regarding the cult of Rae to the agents in my task force?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you. Focus on hunting the human members of the cult. When you find them, you’ll probably find Krai’kesh supporting them. Once your agents see the Krai’kesh first-hand, well … you’ll make believers of them and can fill them in.”

  “I understand, ma’am. What will you be doing?”

  “I don’t know yet. But I expect shit to hit the fan and I’ll be distracted by bigger things.” She shrugged. “But maybe I’ll be wrong and I can support you in my spare time.”

  “Where is my first assignment?”

  “Outside the Federation. Crossroad Station. Heard of it?”

  Kimberly thought back to her time at the academy. “It’s a neutral space station located to the galactic southwest of Federation space. It is centered between the Federation, Rakosh Empire, Commerce Sector and Non-Aligned States.”

  “You paid attention, good. A fact you won’t learn at the academy is that Crossroad Station is one of the filthiest hives of underworld scum in the known galaxy outside Wild Space. I recommend you start there to find out information about Rae’Shela. You’ll rendezvous with your team on the station and work to gather intel. Where your mission takes you from there is up to you as leader of the team. Will you accept the mission?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I would be honored.”

  “Good. Report to Crossroad Station no later than fifteen days from now. Your liaison will be a man named Sloane Mew.”

  Kimberly tucked that name away in her implant. “I will be there.”

  “On your way there, stop by Tar Ebon and visit the FIA med center. I’ve arranged for you to receive your full complement of nanites, as I promised.”

  Kimberly smiled. “Thank you, Isabelle.”

  ***

  “The shadow antenna is up and running, sir,” Zigana reported.

  “Excellent. The engineers made good time,” Captain Martin Rigsby responded. “Connect us with fleet command, please.”

  “One moment, sir.” The holo screen displayed the logo of fleet command before morphing into the face of the supreme tactical commander, Shelley Abrams.

  “Please identify yourself,” Shelley requested.

  “Captain Martin Rigsby of the eighteenth sector fleet. I am communicating with you from the Eligar system.”

  “What is the purpose of your communication?”

  “I bring grave tidings I must communicate to the supreme commander.”

  “I will be the judge of that. What do you have to report?”

  “The Krai’kesh emerged just over twenty-four hours ago, in the Serpentis system. They disable communication systems and assaulted the planet. We received a distress call prior to their communications being disabled and came to assist…” he continued the story, outlining each event in the chain which led to his conclusion. “…The last of the Krai’kesh ships have been destroyed in the Eligar system, though we believe there are more Krai’kesh ships that may yet appear. We are requesting immediate support from fleet command.”

  “We received notification from the FIA that they had received no word from their agents in some time and could not reach them. Thank you for reporting on the events that transpired.”

  No surprise at the Krai’kesh emerging? Martin thought to himself.

  “Have there been any other sightings?”

  “Yes, on one of the inner realms. I must end this transmission so I can notify the supreme commander.”

  “What are our orders in the meantime?”

  “What is the status of Admiral Kimber?”

  “Deceased. He died in the Krai’kesh assault on the Eligar system.”

  “Then we are naming you temporary admiral of Sector Eighteen. Your orders are to maintain your position, make whatever repairs you deem necessary and prepare for the counterattack you fear may be coming.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. We will do as you command,” Martin said as Abrams ended the link.

  “Zigana, prepare a transport for me. I want to see my wife.”

  ***

  Lieutenant Derek Jamison stood on the observation deck of the Independence looking out at the remnants of the fleet. Clean-up efforts were underway, which he knew Selene Artois was assisting with. How do I feel about her? He thought to himself. Sure, they had talked in the mess hall a few times over the last couple days but how much did he know about her? I’ll leave that for another day. We still might not leave this system alive, he thought.

  Derek entered the mess hall and spotted John and Ashley sitting with Clemence and Ben. He joined them.

  “Ah, Derek, there you are. We were just telling Clemence and Ben how brave you were during the battle.”

  Derek looked at the children. Awe filled their eyes. “Oh, ummm … it was nothing,” he said, trying to stave off their attention. It wasn’t every day he received praise for doing his duty. “I was just doing my duty.”

  “Nonsense. The Marines there were just doing their duty. You went above and beyond and saved a lot of lives.”

  “We’re recommending you for a promotion,” Ashley chimed in.

  Derek sat back, shocked. “A promotion? Why thank you, ma’am, but who…?”

  “We know people,” John interrupted. “Also, we’re requesting you be assigned to the Dauntless, as a military liaison. And a platoon of Marines.”

  “That is … unorthodox,” Derek said.

  “Like I said, we know people.”

  “Where are you going to go next?” he asked.

  “For now? We will stay here and see what the Krai’kesh get up to. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Plus, the Dauntless is going into drydock as soon as a spot opens to get retrofitted and repaired.”

  “What about us?” Clemence asked.

  “Well…,” Ashley began, kneeling in front of the children. “We were keeping it a secret until it was official, but we have begun the process to adopt you both.”

  Clemence gasped. She and Ben gave Ashley a hug.

  “Awesome,” Derek replied.

  “It means I’ll get time to teach these kids how to play euchre. No self-respecting child should grow up wi
thout knowing how to play card games!” He pointed at Clemence and Ben in a mock-serious way and joined the hug huddle. Clemence and Ben giggled.

  ***

  Selene Artois flew through the void of space performing search and rescue operations. She was headed back to the Independence when a message came through from the CAG. “Raptor One, we have a special mission for your squad.”

  What squad? Selene thought. Only two other members of her squad had survived.

  “What’s the mission, sir?”

  “You’re being sent back to the Serpentis system to perform recon. We expected their shadow antenna to be back up by now, but we’ve still heard nothing from them. You’ll be sent as escort for a shifter aboard a transport vessel.”

  “When do we leave, and will my squad be replenished before we depart?”

  “You leave at 0800 tomorrow and yes, we will pull from other squads to bring Raptor Squad to full strength.”

  “Understood, sir. I will be there.”

  Chapter 18 - Call to Arms

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the senate,” Dawyn Darklance said, his voice echoing through the vast Federation senate building. He stood behind a podium and looked around at the sea of over three thousand senators as he did. “The hour is late, but these grave tidings cannot wait. Yesterday at approximately 0600 hours FST Federation forces engaged in battle in the Serpentis system, in the galactic rim. The enemy was identified by numerous sources, including two Eternals, to be the Krai’kesh.” He waited for the reaction.

  Surprise was the dominant response, followed by shouts demanding more information or aid or expressing disbelief.

  “It is true,” President Galantos affirmed from his seat to the left of the podium. “Krai’kesh supported by human sympathizers attacked me on Draxon II. Only timely action by the deputy director of the FIA and a brave FIA operative saved my life.”

  “That is troubling news,” Dawyn confirmed.

  The president raised his voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, there will be order!” he shouted. “Order in the senate!”

  At last the chaotic eruption faded to a dull roar. Dawyn spoke. “Thank you. Now, with the Krai’kesh emerging we come to the reason for this special session of the senate. We must declare the Federation at war.”

  “We haven’t officially declared war in over twenty years, Supreme Commander,” one senator began, “and it is not something we should do lightly. I for one need further confirmation that the Krai’kesh have emerged before I will vote to declare war.”

  Dawn turned to glare at the senator, Senator Golg from Brakov VI. Several nearby senators nodded their heads in agreement. “Senator Golg, need I remind you of the preamble to the constitution of the Federation? Let me refresh your memory in case you’ve grown addled in your old age: ‘We the People of the United Federation of Tar Ebon, to form a Union for the common defense of mankind against the Krai’kesh, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United Federation of Tar Ebon.’ Notice, senator, that the sole purpose of this Federation has been to prepare for the defense of mankind against the Krai’kesh. I urge you to reconsider your decision to ‘wait’ for more information.”

  “Supreme Commander, you would do well to remember where you are,” Senator Golg said. “You are a guest in the senate

  Dawyn laughed and paced. “Senator, senator, senator, I stood in the central hall of the first senate of the Federation as the constitution was being drafted. My signature is on the document. I damn near wrote the thing, through Jason Thorpe. It is you who would remember to whom you speak.” He did not allow the senator to get another word in. “I motion now for a vote for declaration of war against the Krai’kesh. Who will second the motion?”

  “I second the motion,” Senator Regalstein from Galatia IV said. The action caused many grumblings, with not a few senators mumbling about whether the undead could second a motion.

  Dawyn looked toward the president, who nodded at him and addressed the senate. “The motion for a vote carries. Senators, cast your vote.”

  Several minutes ticked by before the notification came in that the votes had all been cast and tallied. “Fifteen hundred twenty-seven for declaring war,” announced the president. “Fifteen hundred and fifty against. The vote fails.” He mouthed “I’m sorry” to Dawyn.

  Dawn looked around again at the assembled senators. “Then you leave me no choice.” He took a deep breath. “By the power vested in me by the constitution of the Federation, I, Dawyn Darklance, first of my name, Defender of the Realm and Supreme Commander of the Federation armed forces, do declare martial law.”

  The senate erupted in an even louder cacophony than before.

  “You can’t do that!” one senator shouted.

  “This is a republic, you don’t have that authority!”

  Dawyn stood silent as the insults and protests filled the room. When the room had quieted several minutes later he spoke. “Let the record show that as my first act, I am declaring a mandatory draft for all men and women between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, with few exceptions. I am nationalizing all manufacturing facilities to produce defensive and offensive equipment. I am nationalizing all research and development laboratories to assist in offensive and defensive development. Food will be rationed and refugee centers will be established. He paused. “When the war with the Krai’kesh is concluded, I will relinquish the order for martial law while retaining command of the Federation armed forces. You can check with your lawyers or the supreme court, I don’t care. You will find I possess this authority for just such a time as this. Goodbye.”

  He cut the link and the senate hall faded away, replaced with the dull gray wall panels of the emulation chamber aboard the FS Nightblade, the flagship of the Black Fleet. He exited the emulation chamber and made his way to the bridge.

  “Shelley,” he began as he entered. “You have three hours to gather the fleet, then we depart.”

  “Of course, sir. What is our destination?”

  “The Eligar system.”

  “Were you successful persuading the senate to declare war?”

  “No. I was forced to go nuclear.”

  Shelley knew what he meant by that. She nodded. “I am sorry you had to do that, sir. I am sure it will make you many enemies.”

  Dawyn snorted. “It is a small price to pay for the resources we need to win this war. There is no room for half-measures. You know that.”

  “Yes, sir, I do. Shall I request additional recruits from the planet?”

  “If we need to fill our ranks and there are trained recruits, yes. Also, the report from the Eligar system you forwarded mentions a high resistance to laser weapons exhibited by the Krai’kesh. We do not have time to waste, but please task the nanufactories to produce railguns and coilguns to outfit our fleet with as much as possible, starting with the Nightblade.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “Send a message to Admiral Rigsby. We will arrive in the Eligar system in approximately five days’ time. Order him to hold his position there unless circumstances demand leaving to provide defense for another planet in Sector Eighteen. Also, place every sector near the edge of the galaxy on high alert. Raise the overall Federation defense level to DEFCON three.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Tar Ebon. Where he suspected senators were even now plotting his demise, both in the political and physical meaning of the word. Billions of young men and women would soon receive their draft papers. He regretted exercising his power, but the mission was too important to risk half-measures.

  “We come for you,” he whispered to no one as the Black Fleet assembled. “We are the sword in the night. We are the watchers of the void. You will not prevail.”

  Eclipse Excerpt

  The gray of the shadow realm gave way to the deep dark of the void as Lieutenant Selene Artois and the transport she escorted shifted into the Serpentis system. A collision alarm flashed on her HUD, and she jerked the flight stick hard to avoid a medium-sized asteroid in
her flight path only to fly into the path of a smaller batch of asteroids. Her wider sensor display showed hundreds of asteroids filling the screen around them.

  “Where the hell did this asteroid field come from?” she asked over the flight group channel. “Did we come out in the wrong spot?”

  "Negative, Raptor One, I double checked and this is the place."

  Selene's stomach sank. “Transport One, do you see Serpentis III?”

  “Expanding sensor range.” Moments passed. “My God,” the pilot of Transport One said.

  “What is it, Transport One?”

  “The planet. It’s gone.”

  “Gone?” Selene consulted her sensor HUD again. “This can’t be right,” she said to herself. The sensor showed zero radio or other electromagnetic signals in the area. Her eyes grew wide. “What the hell happened?” she asked over the flight group channel.

  “Look,” the pilot said, her voice shaking. She sent over an image from their sensor feed. It showed an image of the husk of a planet, with chunks of the planet breaking apart even as they watched, feeding the massive asteroid field.

  Selene struggled to speak. “Are…are there any survivors?”

  “Long range sensors suggest no survivors. We will transmit a signal to contact any.” Moments later the signal came across the global communication channel. “Attention any vessels near Serpentis III, this is a Federation transport ship from the Eligar system. Do you copy? Over.”

  Selene held her breath, but nothing came. No signal, no sensor pings, no static, nothing. She sighed. No survivors.

  “Wait…” Selene said as she reviewed the sensor feed again. “Where is the moon?”

  “We are not detecting any celestial bodies the size of the Serpentis III moon in proximity to this area.”

  “Moons don’t just disappear. Did the Krai’kesh do something?”

  “That seems most logical,” the pilot replied. “But how?”

  Selene thought back to the void shields the Krai'kesh ships used which absorbed energy weapons and slower physical weapons using miniature black holes. "I guess it has something to do with gravity manipulation. Can we collect any data from any satellites or other relays in the system? Perhaps they tried to send out a distress signal?"