Existential Threat: Chapter 8 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

“They have two choices, launch an attack now, or possibly never. President Maranos was Admiral Maranos, Haver is his old second in command.”

“What do you think they will do.”

“Attack,” Foster said.

“Is there anything we need to do?” Stuart asked.

“We have been preparing for this ever since they attacked us last. If they attack us I suggest we carry out Operation disunion, strike their stations, their refit and repair while Azirith and Orion systems defend,” Dana said.

“I think we need to be more worried about Ramirez than we are right now,” Adeline looked around the table. “First he attacked ships that were moving food and water to stations and remote planets that require those supplies to survive. You don’t mess with the water or the water, that’s spacer code. He threw that out the window. He used nukes against warpgates. The Federation have nearly twenty times the intra-system freighters compared to wormhole capable freighters. That puts them at a huge disadvantage.”

“People run out of food and water, they start getting irate, start not making sensible decisions,” Fin said.

“Stations and settlements are starting to run out of food, water and air. Ships are already coming in and unable to buy those kinds of supplies. Freighters are all taking on human transportation jobs out of Federation space!”

Brad shuddered, a chill reaching through his body. “No air, not water, no food.”

“Stations, ships, they’re going to start failing,” Adeline said.

“We need to put an end to this, lethally if we must.” Stuart said. Continuing before others could speak. “We cannot have some rogue terrorist with our gear running around human space.”

Silence hung heavy over the room.

“I agree,” Foster said.

“He was wronged, gravely so, but his attacks will hurt the innocent much more than the guilty,” Brad sighed.

Fin let out a breath through his teeth, his eyes flicking up from the table. “If we remove Ramirez, then the Federation have little threats upon them. While we have multiple,” he raised his hands. “It must be said.”

“We are possibly the only group that can find him, we must. If we don’t then innocent people, miners, station staff, freighter crews, they’re going to die and possibly set off the biggest civil war we’ve seen.”

“I think it would be good to talk to our allies, the Federation has been a pain in our side since this started,” Ichika said. “While we deal with the threat they haven’t been able to, our allies can send aid to the Federation, feed the people information. Dilute the Federation’s propaganda, open channels for people to leave. Drive a wedge into them. The Federation has limited ability to move throughout their territory, reducing the impact of reprisals by the military.”

“You raise a good point,” Brad made a note.

“For the investigation I think adding Mitch to the team would be valuable to seek out the patterns and track down where Ramirez built his ships and is re-supplying,” Adeline said.

“Mitch?” Brad turned to him.

“I should be able to devote some extra time. I would like to review the files and all raw data with and without notes.”

“I can send that over afterwards,” Adeline said.

Mitch tilted his head in agreement.

“I agree with the operation,” Brad coughed, his throat dry.

“I agree as well,” Stuart said.

***

Admiral Haver Saluted and his staff came to attention in the conference room as President Maranos appeared on the other wall, sitting at a desk.

Maranos returned the salute, “Be seated.”

Everyone shuffled into the seats quickly, focused on the President.

“We have been attacked by a terrorist that cares only to vent his anger upon our systems,” Maranos said.

“It is my belief that he has been funded by Orion Belt Enterprises, given weapons and arms in order to carry out these cowardly attacks. We have warned others the threats that come with giving un-trained people weapons capable of killing planets. That have used such weapons on one planet already. These Charlatans target our very way of life.”

Hairs rose on Haver’s neck, slowly crawling up his spine.

“If we kill Ramirez, another will stand up, as he is just a pawn. We must go for their heart. For several months you have been creating bots and outfitting our warships to be able to counter the maneuvering advantage of Sphere World ships and gear. With the newest addition of factories from our Orkaran allies, we now have the numbers to man the majority of our ships with bots.” Maranos’ brows pinched together, his jaw straining.

“This latest attack strikes right at our ability to move supplies, including those to resupply our ships. It will take months or years to recover from unless we are able to quickly create warpgates and jump-capable freighters to ease the strain. Every day, every week we wait means another day, another week of supplies our military consumes without promise of resupply. Our readiness will degrade.”

Haver and others nodded.

“I am ordering you to take every ship that we can man with bots, and strike at the heart of the enemy. We must remove their capability to fight, their ability to wage war upon our people. Free ourselves from their oppression. What is the minimum amount of time you require?”

“We can launch the warships today, but they would be without bot ground forces to enter and take the sphere worlds from inside. With our factories working around the clock we can create a steady stream of bots using Federation gear in four days.”

“Then you have four days. With the Sphere World’s under our control we can turn this around.”

***

Luke opened the pot heating on the stove, dipping a spoon into the broth to taste. He grabbed some thyme and pepper, closing and locking the lid down.

A song played over the speakers as he cleaned up the cutting board and utensils. The exercise grounding and calming him as he muttered along with the song.

The door chimed and opened.

“Something smells good,” Dana said.

“Hearty chunky soup and fresh bread, grabbed some from Laura’s on my way back.”

“Is this domestic bliss?” Dana asked as she turned the corner, leaning against the door-frame into the kitchen.

Luke smiled, moving the soup around. “Just felt like cooking. How were things?”

“Your buddy Ken wants to join OBE. Wine?”

“Please.” He leaned over to kiss her, his lips curling into a smile as they left hers. She pressed her hand to his chest, biting her lip and moving around him to the fridge.

He turned off the heat and pushed the pot away from it. “Be a couple of minutes to cool down.”

“Okay,” Dana passed him a glass and put the other in the fridge.

“Thanks.” She looked up at the ‘note’ in his voice, his eyes flickering up to meet hers, unapologetically checking her out.

She thinned here eyes at him and put the wine away.

He pulled her in and kissed her.

“Haven’t even had my wine yet,” She tutted.

Luke laughed and kissed her again. “Maybe there’s something better than wine?”

Her eyes flickered, her body tensing up slightly.

“You okay?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, well, kind of, can we have a chat?”

“Sure,” Luke smiled, kissing her on the forehead and releasing her, checking everything was good on the stove. His stomach swimming.

They sat on the couch, Dana folding her feet under her as she sipped from her wine.

“So,” she exhaled the word, the Iron Admiral coming to the fore. “Mitch has been going through the information on Ramirez with Fin and your mother. I have been tasked with leading the task force to apprehend him and to remove the threat that his fleet presents.”

Luke’s felt like every muscle in his body relaxed, his vision sharpening.

“Destroy the ships and possibly his base.”

“Correct.”

Luke rested his elbows on his knees, holding his open fist, chin resting ontop. “I understand, I wish there was another way, maybe I would have been angry before. Now I understand that there are some people out there that as much as you reason with them there is no going back. He was a good person, I only knew him a little, I might have connected to him more because of being the one he trusted with getting that video and information out.” Luke pushed out his breath through his nose. “He’s not the same person I knew back then, grief twisted him into someone I don’t recognize him. Someone that would attack traders just plying their trade, that would cut off people that were in the same position as his own family?”

Dana put her hand between his squeezing it. He smiled and squeezed back. “I understand what you have to do. I don’t know if I would have the same strength in your shoes, but I’m glad you do,” He kissed her hand.

“Thank you.” She wrapped her hands around him and hugged him.

He wrapped her up in his arms and held her tight.