Jon stepped out of the house and walked through the arch and into the field. Already Mark had troops unloading supplies and equipment. Gilas was following closely behind him wondering what was going on. Things had gotten worse through the discussion with the King. Even to the point of the King ordering Deatra to return to the palace immediately. Jon just stood by and let it happen, it was something that made Gilas wonder.
"Ask, I know you want too," Jon said as he made his way towards Mark.
"How could you let her go?" Gilas said. "You know you'll probably never see her again if the King has his way."
"He won't get his way," Jon said as he stepped into the command building. "He'll see my side soon enough. She's safe there; I'm not too worried about her well being."
The command building was a preformed auto build package. You told the small computer the size and dimensions you want and small nanites quickly built it. You could even have it build multiple rooms if you wished. The shell could be adjusted to maintain a certain temperature inside the small building. It would absorb local sunlight or reflect it depending on how hot or cold it was inside. It also stored energy to run equipment and to maintain the temperature when the sun went down.
In a pinch secondary nanites, the ones used to maintain the structure, could be commanded to build a power source. As the nanites were expended the structure would have the remaining nanites to seek out suitable resources to build more. They would burrow down into the ground and survey the local area for useful deposits. Something they would be doing now. All the structures could talk to each other and would help maintain each other if needed. You could build a small city with them and that's what Mark was doing. Hangers were already constructed for the fighters as well as barracks for the troops and garages for vehicles.
"You do know she'll be around Duke Andara and he has ideas about who she should be with," Gilas said.
"I'll know if anything is going on that's not right," Jon said as he tapped the side of his head.
"Commander," Mark said once he noticed Jon. He snapped a small salute.
"How's it going?" Jon said as he returned the salute.
"We're almost set up and the last drop ship is on its way down with the last of the supplies," Mark said. He turned to a table and brought up a map of the surrounding area as he continued to speak. "I have roaming patrols along the borders and have air support on alert."
Jon reached up and turned the map slowly and pointed at a spot as he spoke, "I want a guard station here. It's the only way in by land and I want it covered. No one enters the grounds without authorization from a commanding officer. All authorizations will pass though you for final authorizations."
"Already done," Mark said as he grinned. "Fourth armored division is stationed there as we speak. The only reason it doesn't show up yet is because they have to clear the land and the engineers are just now landing. As far as the authorizations, well I wasn't sure how you wanted that handled. I'll set that up and issue the orders. I'm also going to have roaming scouts along the road and borders."
"You're deploying tanks?" Gilas said.
Jon nodded as he continued to look over the map. "Of course, I'm playing for keeps."
"Sounds like you're going to war," Gilas said.
"Not yet, war is a last resort and then only to remove the cancer that is affect your world," Jon said. "I would rather your people woke up and realized what was happening to them. It's the only way to save your people. Or would you rather pack up and leave them to their fate?"
"I'm just saying all these troops seem a bit extreme," Gilas said. "It might give the King the wrong idea about what you're planning to do."
"What wrong idea? That I'm serious about what I said?" Jon said. He looked up at Gilas as he spoke. "Right now the only thing I'm planning is securing this embassy against any attack. There have already been attempts on my sister's and my life and the attacks seem to point here and at the King and the Duke."
"I know you're serious. Hell I am too," Gilas said. "But this." Gilas swept his hand at the displayed troops on the map. "Just seems a bit much."
"There are two things I know," Jon said. "One is that your people and even the animals on this planet are dying from an unknown cause. That is something I plan on fixing as soon as possible. The second is that the King is either being manipulated by some outside force or is just a plain idiot that doesn't realize he's hurting his people. I'm hoping it's the first and not the second. Because, if it's the second there's not a lot I can do for him."
"I don't think the King is being manipulated," Gilas said.
"So, he's an idiot then," Jon said. "That makes my job a bit easier if he moves against me."
"You don't really think that will happen do you?" Gilas said.
"It's already happened several times," Jon said. "Now it just needs to happen here where your people can see it. He needs to break the law and an attack on me would do that."
"He is the law here on Euthara," Gilas said.
"He thinks he is," Jon said. "Even Kings answer to the people and have rules they have to follow. He'll make a move and that will give me all the reason I need as long as I can prove it."
"He is still the ultimate authority here on Euthara," Gilas said.
"This is true," Jon said. "I respect that to a point."
"What point is that?" Gilas said.
"Are you having a problem with how things are being handled here?" Jon said. "If you are I can send you back to the station if you'd like. Or if you want your free to go anytime you wish."
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Gilas said. "I'm just worried your actions will cause a war and do nothing to prevent a war. Troop build ups like this would scream to me of an incoming attack. I want things back to normal as much as the next Eutharan. I'm even willing to go to whatever lengths we have too to get it done. But, I prefer we don't go to war when it might be settled a different way."
"Let me pose a few questions to you," Jon said. "Answer them honestly and then come to your own conclusions."
"I can do that," Gilas said.
"Why would a King allow his planet to be cut off from all outside contact?" Jon said.
"It wasn't really his choice," Gilas said. "The Invaru Collective was pushing us back and we had no way of winning. He made an agreement we stayed in this system and were allow to patrol out as far as two systems in each direction. The Invaru agreed and a treaty was signed. Since we couldn't go beyond two systems the factories became useless and were shut down."
"So, the Invaru never gave you the option of joining the collective?" Jon said.
"Oh sure they did," Gilas said. "If we accepted occupation, it was something the Council and the King both agreed to not let happen."
"Did the treaty disallow other races from coming here?" Jon said.
"No, I don't think so," Gilas said.
"The treaty forbid warships from crossing the boundary not transports or other vessels," Jon said. "It also didn't disallow other races from coming here to do business. The King and his advisors decided to close down Euthara to all outside races. They told the people the treaty forbid any ship from going past the boundary. Why would they do that?"
"I never thought about it that way," Gilas said. "You've done your homework."
"I like to know what I'm up against," Jon said.
"I have no idea why they would close the borders like that," Gilas said.
"I do," Jon said. "Would you like to hear my opinion?"
"Of course," Gilas said.
"I think they decided they could do it on their own and rebuild their diminished fleet," Jon said. "They didn't want spies so they closed all borders. The only thing they didn't count on was the sudden decline in the population due to a low birth rate. They couldn't get the people together to run the ship yards efficiently. They planned on using Euthara's own industry to support the fleet. But, it all collapsed in two years due to population issues."
"Hrm," Gilas said.
"I checked," Jon said. "The ship yard was operational for two years and some odd months after the treaty signing. Industry ran for a few months after that before being shut down by the respective owners as there was no one to sell their products too."
"So, why not just open the borders back up and allow trade?" Gilas said.
"That's a good question," Jon said. "The reason they couldn't just reverse everything is because then the lies would come out. The treaty and all documents for the three years after it are sealed. I only gained access because of Deatra's status and my title. What you read was a copy, doctored to convey what they wanted people to think. Yet it still showed the truth if you looked closely. They were hiding their mistake in plain sight with careful wording. It was simpler to keep everything quiet and hope for a solution to come along."
"Interesting," Gilas said.
Jon nodded as he continued, "The Ga'sahde treaty was dissolved by the King because he knew they would be back. Their authority for brokering contracts would allow them access to all documents sealed or otherwise. The King couldn't have that happen if or when they returned, so he did the only thing he could even though it was illegal."
"So, it's not that he dislikes the Ga'sahde. It's because he's afraid of what they would find," Gilas said.
"That's it exactly," Jon said. "So, the government is caught in what my people call a catch twenty-two."
Gilas arched an eyebrow as he spoke, "A catch twenty-two?"
"Yeah, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't," Jon said. "Any path you choose, you lose. What do you think the people would do, especially the company owners, if they found out that they could have moved about freely?"
"That might start a civil war," Gilas said.
"So, you ask is it my intent to go to war," Jon said. "Trust me when I say no. I could have just let those documents out and let things progress on their own here. All the while I would be supporting the side opposed to the King. I would rather this be solved without bloodshed."
"I can see that now," Gilas said. "I had no idea that the bastards did that."
"None of your people do," Jon said. "I'm even guessing some of the nobles have little or no idea. That was one of the reasons I let Deatra go to the palace so easy."
Gilas gasped and said, "That was a set up?"
"Kind of, I expected it to happen and Deatra was pretty sure it would," Jon said. "So, most of it was an act. I was pushing him on purpose trying to force the issue. When I go to the Palace I'm going to need all the allies I can get. That is what Deatra will be doing while she's there. She has all the proof she should need."
"Won't that start a civil war though," Gilas said. "Some of the nobles have large armies and they're not going to take kindly being lied too like that."
"She is still their Princess," Jon said. "She'll be ordering them to not take any action unless directed by her or me. I'm aiming for a bloodless coup."
"So, you're after the throne?" Gilas said.
"No, not really," Jon said. "I'm more for getting things back on track and getting the Eutharan people on the upscale instead of this continuous slide down."
"You understand that through Deatra you're next in line for the crown right?" Gilas said.
"True," Jon said. "However, I've already discussed that with Deatra and I'll be turning it down and Euthara."
"She's going to turn the crown down?" Gilas said.
Jon nodded as he spoke, "I begged her to keep it and rule the Eutharan people if it came to that. But, she insists on being at my side and will give it up to do so. Next question, now that we have cleared the treaty issue up. With the King knowing that warships aren't allowed past the boundary except under certain circumstances. Why would the King order one of his ships to Ghost Station in an attempt to take it from someone he knows little about?"
"Well, that one's easy," Gilas said. "The station is Eutharan property."
"You would be willing to risk war with the Invaru Empire to take a station back that has been dormant for ages?" Jon said. "Doing so without knowing enemy numbers or forces?"
"Well, I never said he was the best military strategist," Gilas said.
"So, you would risk war with two entities at once all over a station that hasn't been used in ages?" Jon said. "Even as your world is dying around you and your fleet is shrinking?"
"It wasn't his best idea," Gilas said. "The loss of Vors was a blow and then the loss of the Arc Light was an additional blow. Something the Eutharan Empire could ill afford."
"He knew about the loss of the ship and the general," Jon said. "He has someone on the inside reporting to him about our movements. I'm willing to bet he knew about the bond and the return of the Ga'sahde."
"So we have a spy?" Gilas said.
"Appears so, I'm not too worried about it though," Jon said. "I want him to know what I'm doing and what's going on. I have nothing to hide from anyone, not even the Invaru."
Gilas nodded in agreement.
"The King however, has laid his cards on the table so to speak," Jon said. "He's let it be known he'll stop at nothing to get the station back and that he has someone feeding him information on our side. There's more than just this, most of it you know. But, I think you get my point that things aren't as they seem."
"Thanks for explaining it," Gilas said. "I can see what you're doing now. I'm sorry I questioned you and your plans."
"Don't be sorry about anything," Jon said. He placed his hand on Gilas' shoulder in friendship. "You're my friend and someone I trust in. You deserve answers to your questions and I will never refuse you that. I also encourage my officers to ask questions as I'm not the end all be all and I can make mistakes. There might be times I won't explain something right away due to a circumstance and I ask that you understand if I don't explain myself at the point."
"Of course," Gilas said as he smiled.
"The Ga'sahde is standing by until they're needed," Terri said. She took this time to interrupt to give her report. "I have ten Ga'sahde on the way down."
"Thanks," Jon said.
"You're the boss man," Terri said. "I'm just following your direction, no need to thank me. I'm happy to help however I can. Now I'm going to find a fighter and get some flight time in."
"I thought you would want to do that," Mark said. He grinned at Terri and gave her a small wink. "You squadron is in hanger three and they're waiting for your arrival."
"Be careful," Jon said as he gave her a hug.
"Always, you know me," Terri said.
"Yeah, I do and that's what scares me," Jon said.
"I have five hundred troop deployed on your order," Nefeit said.
"Good, they will follow Mark's orders as he's ground commander here," Jon said.
"As you wish," Nefeit said.
"Communication from the Atlantis to Jon," an officer said.
"Put it through here," Jon said. He tapped a few buttons and the map turned into the face of Carla. "What's sup Carla?"
"Sir," Carla said. "Three Castanian dreadnaughts dropped from hyperspace a few seconds ago. Sa'oliq is in contact with them now."
"I knew they were coming," Jon said. "You'll be getting a call from the station when the ships arrive there. They're to be placed under Carex's command and offload station personnel and supplies. Carex knows what to do with them after that. Have the new arrivals set up patrols in the joining systems. All ships are to move in pairs and to report any enemy movement. You have command of the fleet until Commander Gilas is back on board the Titan. You two are to continue your training and the Atlantis and Titan are to be paired."
"Understood sir," Carla said.
"Have Sa'oliq take command of one of her ships," Jon said. "I was going to bring her down, but right now things are a little bit hectic. Please explain to her I'll send for her when things calm down here."
"Yes Sir," Carla said. She was already barking orders to people off screen as Jon was speaking. Jon smiled and was happy the way she had been changing as her training progressed.
"Take care up there, contact me if you need anything, Hunter out," Jon said.
"You too Sir," Carla said as she saluted and the hologram switched back to the map.
"Then on that note I'll take my leave and return to the Titan," Gilas said. He turned al started for the door.
"Gilas," Jon said.
Gilas stopped and turned around.
"Trust me," Jon said. "We both want the same thing here."
"Jon, you've always had my trust," Gilas said. "From the moment I met you I knew you were trust worthy. Nothing has changed to make me think any different. Sometimes, I just don't understand why you're doing something so I ask or give my opinion."
"Good you keep doing that. It will lessen the mistakes I make," Jon said.
Gilas nodded as he turned back and stepped outside.
'Sandpiper to base, ' Terri's voice said.
"Go ahead Sandpiper," an officer said.
'We're engaged, I repeat we're engaged, ' Terri said. 'I've lost two wingmen and one has heavy damage and is in route back to base. Requesting permission to engage hostiles.'
"Sandpiper you have permission to engage the hostiles," Jon said. He pointed at an officer who touched a few buttons on the hologram in front of him. The table switched view and showed Terri and four wingmen being swarmed by Eutharan fighters. "Son of a bitch, they're inside the boarder too."
"Lieutenant scramble all remaining fighters and have them intercept Sandpiper," Mark said. "There are weapons free and cleared to engage all hostiles. They're not to pursue targets across the border."
'Shit, I'm hit, shields are down' Terri said. 'I'm rerouting power to stabilizers and port engine. Alright everyone you heard the man weapons free we're clear to engage all hostiles.'
"Damn it, if anything happens to her there will be hell to pay," Jon said. He slammed his fist down on the small planning table. "Get me Eutharan Military Command."
Nefeit stepped up next to Jon and took his hand in hers and gave it a slight squeeze. Jon looked up at her and gave her a brief smile then took a deep breath.
Jon turned his attention back to the hologram as he watched Terri's wingmen blink out of existence. Soon it was only her in the middle of the other fighters. She was giving as well as she took as three hostile fighters disappeared. Then Terri's fighter signature disappeared from the hologram.
"Terri!" Jon said.
'I'm ok, ' Terri said. 'I took another hit, several systems are offline and the bots are attempting to repair them.'
The fighters carried smaller versions of the spider bots carrier on the larger ships. They could do minor repairs during to the fighters during combat.
"Terri, get out of there," Jon said. "We have fighters in route to your last position but they're not going to reach you in time."
'Already on it, ' Terri said. 'However, I don't have guidance and I have no idea where I am. They're on my tail but I'm starting to pull away. No, get the IFF back up first don't worry about life support as I'm not going into space.'
A mechanical beep followed by several beeps at different pitches cam across the com.
'Yes, the IFF, they need to know where I am in case we go down, ' Terri said. The fighter's engines whined as Terri let out a grunt. 'Shit that missile was close. I think I'm going to ok... ' Something like the sound of rain hitting a tin roof came across the open com as Terri swore. 'I'm hit, I'm hit. Major damage to both engines, I'm going down.' Then static filled the com as Jon's jaw dropped.
"Terri?!" Jon said. "Terri, come in."
"She's down," Mark said. "I'm scrambling search and rescue."
"Sir, the hostiles are pulling back," an officer said.
"Have the flight groups start a search pattern from the last known location of her fighter," Mark said.
"How did they know?" Jon said.
"Do what?" Mark said.
"They knew she was up there," Jon said. "Their goal was to engage them and shoot her down."
"I don't think they knew," Mark said. "They more likely stumbled on to them and the rest was luck."
"I would agree if it had been a patrol," Jon said. "But, that was a squadron they knew what it would take to put our fighters down."
"Don't read too much into it Jon," Mark said. "There's a lot of troop movement here and I'm sure they're increasing their own security. Terri's ok, she's a good pilot. We'll find her alive."
"Oh, I know she's ok," Jon said. "That's why I'm not freaking out. I can still feel her through the bond. If Deatra was here she could probably locate her through it. It's like a chess match, the King knew what he was doing when he recalled Deatra. Then he waited for a clear shot on anyone of importance. From now on all senior officers will have a guard detail with them at all times. Double up security around the base, bring more troops in if you have too."
"Sir, Eutharan Military Command is online," an officer said.
It was a bit late but Jon decided to talk to them anyway. "Put them through," Jon said.
"Connected," the officer said.
"This is Duke Andara," Andara said. "How can we help you?"
"This is Jonathan Hunter," Jon said. He let go of Nefeit's hand and gave her a small peck on the cheek as he turned his full attention to the call. "Some of your fighters have cross the embassy border and engaged my fighters."
"Excuse me, embassy?" Andara said. He was trying to sound surprised but Jon caught the deception.
"You know full well what I'm talking about," Jon said. "I filed the paper work in triplicate and have copies of where and when I sent them. Including but not limited to who accepted them. I believe your name was on one of the copies as being received. Time coded and stamped by your own mail delivery system."
"I received no such documents," Andara said. "I have no idea..."
"Cut the shit right now," Jon said. "I'm in no mood to play your petty little games. I sent them through your own mail system and marked them to have a receipt sent to me upon delivery. I have that receipt in my possession and there is no way you can say you didn't receive it. So, let's stop playing games and get on with why I've called."
"You've no right to speak to me like that," Andara said.
"Until it's decided that the bond between me and Deatra is false I still carry the title of Prince. No matter what the King says or anyone in the court says contrary to that. The law is the law, you had better remember that. Or you and I are going to have major problems," Jon said. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Uh..." Andara said.
"Good, now tell me you see the documents I sent and you know what I'm talking about," Jon said. "If you continue this little charade about missing documents you're going to piss me off."
"I really have no idea what you're talking about," Andara said.
"Fine have it your way," Jon said. "I'm dispatching a shuttle with Royal marines to pick you up and bring you here. We can continue this discussion then."
"I'm sorry, but I can't give you a flight plan right now," Andara said. "It might be several days before I could fit you in the backlog."
"Because you have so much going on right?" Jon said.
"We're very busy routing traffic and the amount of flight plans in the past couple days have swamped us," Andara said.
"Hold a second," Jon said. He muted the communication and opened a new channel to traffic control. A young Eutharan female filled the screen next to Andara.
"This is Prince Hunter-C'loth bond mate to the Princess Deatra," Jon said. "I'd like to file a royal flight plan to Eutharan Military Command and then back to the embassy."
She bowed slightly before she spoke, "I need your identification please to confirm who you are. I'm sorry but I have never seen you or heard of you."
"Of course," Jon said. He typed in the code Deatra gave him when they arrived at Euthara and transmitted it to the female traffic controller.
"My Prince," she said after she studied the screen that displayed his information. "When would you like that plan set for? Though, I don't really see the need as the skies are pretty empty. You could have just filed it through regular channels."
"Now please," Jon said. "I would like a copy of the flight plan transmitted to Duke Andara and have several guards hold him until the shuttle arrives please."
"Oh, OH," the female said as her eyes widened. "As you wish, I'm transmitting that flight plan now and transmitting you command to the Master-at-Arms on the base."
"Thank you, you've been very helpful," Jon said.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked.
"Not right now, thanks though," Jon said as he closed the channel.
Jon watched Andara's eyes increase in size several times as he read the transmission from flight control. When he looked up Jon flipped the channel open.
"You don't have the authority to do this," Andara said.
"I do and I did," Jon said. "My next action while you're on your way here will be to pull all of your transmissions all the way back to when I arrive at Ghost Station for the first time."
"You can't do that!" Andara said. "Those are private transmissions."
"I'm a Royal and it's in my rights to pull them," Jon said. "The shuttle is being dispatched now with Royal Marines and Special Forces on it. They will have an escort as well as being watched from orbit. Any hostile action against the shuttle will be met with an equal response." Jon reached down and muted the com for a second. "Mark, send Oojoung and his unit with the Royal Guards. Make sure the shuttle is displaying the Royal Emblem."
Mark nodded his head and turned to get things ready as fast as he could.
Jon unmuted the com just in time to hear a beep at Andara's door. "Enter," Andara said as he turned to face the door.
Four marines entered the room followed by the Master-at-Arms. "We're here to escort you to the shuttle when it arrives, Sir," the Master-at-Arms said.
"I'm not going to any shuttle," Andara said. "You can stand down and return to your posts."
"Sorry Sir, but I have my orders from Prince C'loth," the Master-at-Arms said.
"I'm calling the King," Andara said.
"No, I don't think you are," Jon said. "Master-at-Arms, he's allowed no calls until he arrives here."
"Yes my Prince," the Master-at-Arms said.
Jon could see the gears clicking in Andara's head as he tried to figure a way out of the situation. Mark held up a finger for Jon to see, it indicated the shuttle was one minute out from its destination. "Fine you win," Andara said. He was defeated and he knew it.
"I'm sorry we'll finish this conversation when you arrive," Jon said. "The shuttle should be touching down and second. "Master-at-Arms, could you please escort him to the shuttle and turning him over to my men."
A small grin spread on the man's face as he answered, "Would be my pleasure sire."
Jon watched as the Duke struggled a bit until the cuffs came out and he gave in. Jon turned closed the channel and grinned to himself. He had traded a Princess for a Duke and somehow he was sure the King was getting the bad end of that deal.
He called up the Eutharan Archive Commission and had them pull all of the Duke's transmissions over the past year. There was something going on and Jon was going to get to the bottom of it. Jon was pretty sure the Duke's transmissions had some of the answers he sought.
"Well, here is some good news," Mark said. "All pilots are accounted for and except for some minor scrapes and bruises they're fine. The bad is we haven't found Terri's fighter and a few of the search teams have reported seeing Eutharan troop movements in the forest."
"What kind of troop movements?" Jon said.
"They seem to be searching for something as well," Mark said. "They're all light patrol units from the numbers coming in."
"They're searching for Terri," Jon said.
"My thoughts as well," Mark said. "I've sent additional units to reinforce our own troops."
"You tell our troops, they're to secure Terri at all costs," Jon said. "I want her returned safely."
"I've already given that order," Mark said. "I have special forces standing by in the event the Eutharan's find her first."
"If they find her first I'm pretty sure she will be executed on the spot," Jon said.
"Terri won't go down without a fight," Mark said. "She has enough supplies and arms in that fighter to hold off a small army. I don't have to remind you she was trained by Oojoung. Those light patrols will have their hands full and that will give us time to react."
"You're right," Jon said. "I still want you to have two man sniper teams shadowing the Eutharan troops just in case she needs help."
"That I didn't think of," Mark said. "I'll get it done right away. It will also let us track their movements more precisely."
"Sorry to interrupt Sir but the shuttle reports the Duke is on board and they're headed back," an officer said.
"Good, it's time we got some answers," Jon said.