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Strategos (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!) - Part 3 - A Light In The Black -
Chapter 29 - Invocations[]
The Commando's Prayer[]
Give me, my God, what you still have;
give me what no one asks for.
I do not ask for wealth, nor success,
nor even health.
nor even health.
People ask you so often, God, for all that,
that you cannot have any left.
Give me, my God, what you still have.
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.
I want insecurity and disquietude;
I want turmoil and brawl.
And if you should give them to me,
my God, once and for all,
let me be sure to have them always,
for I will not always
have the courage to ask for them.
The Commando's Prayer
Enemy Sighted[]
"Inhabited world…
…sixth out from the binary. Looks like a 771 day orbit, plenty of movement in the system. Strange for a planet that far out to be orbiting free, instead of circling a gas giant." Mister Samuel spoke softly in the CIC. Amanda listened, while Lori looked concerned and Saya frowned.
The imagery was a few years old-light from the system crossing this part of open, interstellar space. "Multiple L1 points between the stars and the planet," he added. "Most of them have stations or habitats. There's enough infrastructure in the inner system to account for around a couple billion people, and that's not counting the class-M planet they've got industrialized."
"How bad is it?" Amanda asked.
"It makes Grankum look like a couple of mud huts and an airstrip." the Belta-born engineer said. "If this isn't their capital? Then everyone is screwed."
Lori glanced at Saya, "You're being quiet."
"It is bigger than… When my Clan was driven from the Homeworlds, those worlds were not as developed." she stated. "This is bigger than any world in the Clan Homeworlds."
Desmond took over Amanda's hands, and adjusted focus on the faint imagery.
"Shipyard." Amanda's vocal timbre changed enough that it was clear to Lori and Samuel that it was Desmond speaking: //"Those are Pinto class Corvettes under construction, that yard came from the Rim Worlds Republic."\\
"This was what, five years ago?"
//"About that. Those two ships are complete."\\ Desmond stated.
Amanda's eyes closed. "Right now, given the date? The Alliance Fleet, plus Allied units, are burning for Bannerhoft." she said, and the difference was audible to everyone in the CIC. "Which means right now is the worst time to send the message we need to send. Lori, spin up the HPG, first prime address is Dante, followed by Alpheratz, followed by a second burst direct-line to that relay we spotted. Recipient target is going to be the relay at Michtal, they'll forward to Port Orphan." She opened her eyes, "We're not going closer, not without a goddam fleet backing us up."
"So…"
"Make ready the ship, we're burning for home." Amanda stated. "I take risks, I'm not an idiot about it."
"They're SURE to see that message, Captain, at least two links in the relay chain have to pass through systems we know they're holding." Lori insisted.
"Yes, they will, won't they?" Amanda said. "Might make the bastards divert forces to find out who's spying them out, won't it? When everyone gets secured, skinsuits and helmets nearby, we'll be jumping under combat conditions."
"Where?"
"We're going to sink some merchant shipping and make a lot of noise, Saya. Have your aviators ready for launch as soon as we come out of jump… Mister Samuel, make sure my LF battery is charged please, I don't fancy spending a week playing run-round-the-rosies in an enemy system…. and we'll be burning hydrogen anyway, because we'll have to repeat the reports until we get a reply, just in case they're smart enough to block the relay to keep us contained." Amanda told her
"So… we're…", began to ask Saya
"Going to go ahead and be Pirates for a bit, Saya. Yo-Ho-Ho!"
Fort Simmons…
…SLDF Garrison Base (Sons of Plunder) was interrupted while Lord Commodore Cecil Halford was arguing with the Lord Governor over provisioning.
The cause of this being an attack on the system's Nadir control Jump Point, while SLS Biringer and her group were… not at the Nadir.
The attackers hit hard, delivering fighter-borne nuclear weapons to the Supply Jumpships taking in the sun at the Nadir point, followed by capital grade naval gunfire from a Corvette.
By the time response was scrambled, over a million tons of shipping was burning or broken, and the attacker was jumping out, leaving behind a beacon broadcasting the following message:
<<"I am the Great Captain Roberts! I am Here! My men are HERE!! Soon, you will NOT BE HERE!!! Lament, for I have come to devour your SOULS!!!">>
Followed by a childish giggle.
On repeat, wideband enough to make normal RF comms difficult.
By the time things were properly organized, the HPG site reported unauthorized traffic had passed through the relay using DRUM protocols. The site archived it, and it made Halford's stomach drop.
It was a listing of coordinates, and selection of sensor and video files.
It was the location of Churchstone, the Capital. Where the Basileus actually makes her home… with strategically useful imagery.
"Where?" he demanded.
"Dante, and Alpheratz."
An enemy force of unknown size was playing his game, dammit!!
The Hunt was on.
The Dance is Over[]
Billie Siegel…
…missed a step in their dance. Dave Foster had been noticing that of late. Little hints that something was wrong with her.
“Billie… You faltered again. What is wrong?” Dave probed.
“Just the rigors of war catching up with an old Warrior playing at being a ristar again. It’s nothing.”
“Bullshit, Siegel. This is more than getting old and exhausted. We know each other too well for either of us to get away with such blatant lies.”
“You’re right. Ever since the imprinting process, something has been off. I need to sleep more, coordination has become more difficult, and the headaches are becoming more frequent. I have been putting off seeking help because you’re needed here and I could be out there, and there was demand for that.” admitted Billie
“Then this date is over. We’re going down to medical.” demanded Dave
“I hate it when you’re right.” Billie Siegel grumbled.
The two left the dance floor. Dave paid for their meal and drinks on the way out.
The pair made their way down to medical. Billie was trying to hide how much she was struggling with her balance as the station’s gravity shifted as they went from deck to deck, changing their distance from the center of rotation. But Dave Foster could see it.
“Corpsman. I need an emergency neurological workup ASAP.” Dave Foster snapped at the attendant on watch.
The next few hours were terrible for Dave Foster as he had no choice but to wait for the results.
The pain where his prosthetics connected to what remained of his legs as he paced was almost a welcome distraction. There was no sitting for this situation.
Eventually the relief of the Doctor coming out to see him got him to stop.
“How bad is it?” Dave Foster found himself dreading the answer to the point of almost trembling.
“Honestly, I am surprised she was functional enough for deployment based on the scan results. I do not know enough about the imprinting science and procedure but the level of neurological degradation would seem to match up with it being the root cause. Even if she came to us sooner I am not sure we could have stopped it. Slowed it down, helped manage her symptoms better, but not stop it. Even with all the advances of Clan medicine, I do not think we can promise her more than a few months, perhaps a year before the degradation claims her. I wish I had better news.” The Doctor shook his head.
“Is she awake?” Dave Foster asked.
“I had to sedate her for some of the scans. She will be asleep for a few more hours.”
“Then there is someone I need to talk to. Call me the moment she wakes.” Dave Foster was visibly trembling.
Promise to Keep it a Secret[]
”You said…”
…you were confident it was safe. You were either wrong or a liar. Which was it?”
“A bit of both I suppose. I had hoped that the refinements made to the system since its first introduction would have been enough. But it seems it is still true that there is a reason why every source imprinting was also terminal. I owe you and Miss Siegel an impossible apology. We failed to be as transparent and honest as we demand of ourselves because we got caught up in the excitement of welcoming someone new to the fold. It would seem becoming sapient with complex algorithms to allow us electronic versions of emotion has also come with certain human drawbacks as well.” Billie Hoel was back at Port Orphan to take on fresh supplies before heading back out again to support convoy raiding.
“Strangely that actually makes me feel better. Do not get me wrong. Some illogical emotion driven part of me is still upset, but that you are imperfect like the rest of us does make it sting less.” Dave Foster visibly relaxed. “Wait, you said every source was terminal. Alice…”
“I promised to keep it a secret, but it seems I said too much. But yes, Alice too. I will at least keep my promise about the rest of the details of the matter.”
“I can accept that. Now you and I are going to march down to medical. Go ahead and bring Alice too. We’ll need the witness.”
“How unconventional for a Clanner, Dave Foster, but only a fool would expect something less from you.” Billie Hoel looked at a small box on David Foster’s desk.
In a small private ceremony in the medical bay David Foster and Wilhelmina Siegel became man and wife until death do they part.
Chitchat while on a Double Date[]
”Best idea…
…ever.” Helena was at dinner with Leon, Elizabeth, and Mitch Avellar.
“We never got to do this back home, so it is well overdue.” Elizabeth smiled.
“The Cameron sisters double dating. I’m pretty sure someone out there just had their head explode from the thought.” Helena chuckled.
“Somehow I feel as though I’d rather be clearing a minefield while under artillery barrage…” Leon tried to whisper.
“Nonsense, Leon. This is a much more pleasant event.” Mitch Avellar boasted.
“So what made you two finally go for it?” Helena leaned in.
“Life is too short for regrets. Even with how long we live. Plus, I have a type. So do you, it seems.” Elizabeth smirked.
“Any thoughts about what you will do now, Elizabeth?” Leon poked at his food nervously.
“For now enjoy myself a bit. Despite my setback I’m still in a good place mentally. I have a wonderful and delightfully nerdy man, and just want to be a woman in love for a while. I’ll eventually think of something though.” Elizabeth leaned over and kissed Avellar on the cheek.
“What about you, Lady Cameron? Any thoughts on what you are going to do when the war is over?” Mitch Avellar was far more steady.
“Oh boy. Well I know I don’t want to give up, Leon. Call me selfish if you want, I won’t argue. But I also need to go home when this is over. My people don’t really need me. They can get by on their own just fine, but it is home. What about you, Mitch? Going to run again?” Helena countered.
“Yes. Win or lose, I must keep trying to put my nation back together and make sure it is never a victim again.”
“Leon?” Elizabeth smiled.
“I am just a simple man. For now, I serve as the Clan dictates.”
“Wrong answer. Right answer is, ‘We'll talk about that in private’.” Elizabeth’s smile became decidedly more wicked.
“I think I would like that artillery strike now…” Leon said quietly.
Dealing the Human Side of Things[]
Mina Siegel…
…was out on a mission when the news caught up with her.
The only other AI in system with her was Johnston.
<This is a lot.> Mina Siegel was shocked.
<This is largely new territory. All of us other AIs, we were not fully sapient until well after our source was already dead. Yours is still alive. I’d be willing to back you in a report saying you need a D-check if you want to get back to Port Orphan.> said Johnston
<No. Somehow it doesn’t bother me too much.> Mina answered.
<I suspect it helps that you are from a very different culture than most people.> speculated Johnston
<Clan ways do demand one have a certain amount of pre-built up psychological scabbing so new wounds do not find purchase as readily.> commented Mina
<We are weapons of war. Still that does not make us immune to the effects of death when it visits someone we care about.> Johnston to her.
<But it does mean we can focus on the task at hand.> Mina countered.
<Yes. We’ll talk more about this I am sure.> Johnston answered
<Really I think what shocks me the most is that human me said yes to becoming Dave Foster’s wife. I also care for him, but I am glad I do not have those basic biological impulses to contend with anymore. Ugggh. I just thought about human me having his freeborn child.> complained Mina
<A natural response when one knows death is approaching.> foretold Johnston
<Thankfully the Clan eugenics program can produce such an offspring without the inconvenience. I think I shall petition them for just that though. Their legacies combined would make for a formidable Warrior.> commented Mina
<The scary part to me is the Clan probably actually would love Lucy and Ottillie to be guest instructors for sibkos.> Johnston told her
<Oh?> Mina commented with surprised.
<They think it is okay to teach toddlers how to mix napalm and thermite. Or how to take down a tree with explosives.> cheerfully answered Johnston.
<I knew there was a reason I liked them.>, Mina happy agreed with her counterpart