Chapter 9
HMS Shadow was on a fast ballistic course to the fifth system in its mission. It had left hyper well beyond the system it was entering to avoid detection. If anything, Captain Bryon Rawlins was even more cautious than the captain of the HMS Whisper had been. He also had a ship, which though slightly smaller than the Whisper, was far more powerful and technologically advanced.
There were far fewer people assigned to the Shadow than had been to Whisper despite its size. Automation took care of a lot of the people requirement. Usually a ship this size boasted a complement of around 600 sailors. The HMS Shadow had only 203 people assigned to it. Naval Intelligence ran and crewed this ship. It not only had state of the art surveillance equipment, it had equipment that was generations ahead of the regular navy.
It had an offensive capability that any ships captain would drool over. That weapon system was not yet in the Imperial Navy's official arsenal. The computing capabilities of the ships computer were almost as good as a, planet based, Task Master 200.
It had a speed in normal space and in hyper that was almost 30 percent faster than any other ship in the fleet. It had non-standard everything really. It had one reason for being, and that was for spying on whomever they were pointed at. The stealth capabilities of the HMS Shadow were also ahead of the regular navy's abilities. Besides the normal electronic magic that the navy used to render a ship invisible to electronic prying eyes, it generated a field that caused anyone looking at it with biological eyes to see what was exactly behind it. No matter what angle you looked at it from, you didn't see it, but what was behind it, effectively rendering it invisible.
For over a week now, HMS Shadow had been slowing its speed as it entered its target system. Finally it came to a stop just two million kilometers from a large shipyard. They observed ships that were being constructed. Ships being repaired. They also noted several orbital factories whose final product was a mystery. Passive sensors could only tell you so much, and they could not send over an observer.
They dawdled in that system for a little over two weeks, gathering as much intelligence on everything within sensor range. Finally, just as they were leaving, the HMS Shadow launched 4 highly classified missiles that were stealthed and would not reach their targets until two days after Shadow left the system. When the 4 missiles reached their targets, one orbital factory and one shipyard were destroyed by matter anti-matter warheads. The explosive ratio's of the warheads were stunning to say the least.
When the 4 warheads blew, they went simultaneously. Three warheads went off at selected points in and around the shipyard. Each warhead took out 10 kilometers of docking and the ships that were docked there. The factory and three freighters that were on loading from it were also destroyed. This mission alone set the Shas'vsaz back in their war effort. 40 new war ships almost completed, and 8 ships being repaired were totally destroyed as well as a space yard and dock.
Emperor Richard Newcastle was in love. He was lost in thoughts of Vonda Preston. It was reciprocal. During the party the emperor had thrown, Richard had invited Vonda as well as her representatives in the House and the Lords. Of course, he had invited others as well, but the whole party was geared to getting Vonda Preston to the palace.
For the following two months since the party, Richard and Vonda were becoming inseparable. Richard had taken a chance, and revealed his abilities to Vonda and opened his mind to her. It was love at the first meeting of their minds. It was with wonder she read his mind, knowing there was someone like her, who understood. He opened himself to her, and she read him deeply.
She read of his other abilities. Of his having scanned her in the past, as well as the other two men he had identified as telepaths. She felt the loss he felt of his wife and child. His guilt at their deaths. She felt his deep sorrow and regret for the men and woman who were being killed in this new war. She also felt his wonder of her. She also read of and felt the presence of his symbiot, making her only one of 5 people in the Empire who knew of this aspect of the emperor. Finally she felt his total trust in her.
"I want to marry you, Vonda." Richard told her.
"But... you hardly know me!" Vonda exclaimed after hearing this.
Richard just cocked his head at her and looked. She stared back and chuckled at the ridiculousness of that statement. If any two people ever knew one another, these two did to the fullest!
"Well, isn't it a bit early to be asking me to marry you? Won't this give you problems?" Vonda asked.
"I love you, and I know you love me." Richard replied simply.
Vonda sighed. "I know. I love you too."
"Don't worry about what others will think. As for problems, well, it comes with being Emperor. Everyone wants me to marry. A lot want me to marry whom they want me to. A lot of members of the Lords, and the House want me to marry one of their daughters or someone they know or think will cement relations with other political entities.
"We love each other. You love me, and I love you. How often does this happen? As for marrying you, there are provisions in the constitution for this. Nothing says I have to marry a princess, or queen, or some lord or lady's daughter. My last marriage was an arranged thing. We did our duty and I produced an heir. They were killed in an assassination attempt. They were after me, but settled for my wife and son.
"I CAN protect you. You know it. Before, well, I didn't have the abilities and training that I do now. You have an ability which can also be used for protection. Your a natural telepath. But you also know that I can teach you more. Also, Imp. Sec. Is so much better than it was back then." Richard paused for a moment.
They talked well into the night; Vonda bringing up reasons why it was a bad reason to marry her, and Richard shooting them down. It became almost a game. They stopped talking verbally and joined in mental conversation. That decided Vonda. She knew he loved her, just as he knew she loved him. She saw and felt his exasperation of her refusal, and he saw her true feelings, and reflected them back at her. As morning broke, she agreed to marry him.
Vice Admiral Maxine (Mad Max) Gordan, was just a bit nervous. She was sitting in the office of the Terran Federation's Chief of Naval Operations. It was a well appointed room. Various models of ships were displayed in a case against the far wall. She was studying one very closely when the door across the room opened and a Commander stepped in and told her she could go in.
Nodding she made her way into the presence of the top officer in the Terran Navy. He was standing as she entered and she approached to within 3 feet and saluted.
"Admiral Gordan reporting as ordered, sir." She stated in that officious voice that senior officers seem to learn after a number of years in service.
Returning the salute, Admiral Roger Kessler offered her a seat. He moved over to the other chair in the room, ignoring the one behind his desk and sat with her.
"Maxine, thank you for coming so quickly." Roger told her.
"Not at all sir. When the Chief of Naval Operations wants something, you sort of move quickly." Maxine replied with a grin.
"Well, this came up with almost no notice and I wanted my best officer to handle it. It concerns intelligence reports from the war the Newcastle Empire is currently fighting. As much as our politicians didn't want to get involved, it appears we're going to have to give more support that we had anticipated. A whole lot more." Roger said, sighing.
"What's the problem?" Maxine asked, her interest piqued.
"Despite the Empire's success to date, a recent intelligence mission has revealed a massive gathering of ships in a previously unexplored area. Also, these Shas'vsaz appear to have gotten some support from still another race. We know very little about them except they have moved over 100 ships to this new gathering area.
"We have detached units from the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 12th fleets to give you 100 ships. With this command you are also receiving your fourth star. Congratulations, you've earned it." Roger said.
"What's the catch? I know there has to be a catch in there somewhere." Maxine said cautiously.
"Well, the Empire was attacked and suffered some severe losses at a forward repair yard. How the enemy managed that one is still a mystery. We know it was in retaliation to an attack the Empire did some time ago to two of their yards. With this new information, and the hit the Empire took, we can't afford NOT to support the Empire now. If we don't, we might be fighting them in our front yards next." Roger finished somewhat grimly.
"When do I take command of this fleet, and how long do I have to get it trained up?" Maxine asked.
Roger stood and got a chip off his desk. "Everything you need to know is in this chip. There will be a reception this evening at the Newcastle Embassy. You will be expected. Your orders for your promotion as well as an in depth briefing are in that chip. Further briefings will be done throughout the week." Roger went around his desk and opened a drawer and pulled out a jeweler's case. He handed it to Maxine.
She opened it and looked inside. There, glittering on a black velvet background were collar stars. Two sets of four stars each. Despite herself, Maxine gasped. The 8 stars were formed into two circles of 4 each, which was a full admirals rank.
"Let me be the first to congratulate you." Roger Kessler said.