TRUTH SEEKER

CHAPTER 11: SECOND STRIKE

"... As the situation stands now it is effectively a stalemate," Admiral Rey concluded, "However in the medium term our supply and logistical advantage will shift the odds in our favour."

"I see," Karan answered as she finished reading the last of the battle reports before her, "I still have some concerns, however, about leaving the populace at yellow alert..."

"Your Grace," one of her aides suddenly spoke up, "The Naabal command carrier is hailing us. Shall I patch the Naabal Kiith'sa through?"

"Those pompous Naabal," the Sobanii admiral uttered in disgust, "To think that they'd keep you waiting like this..."

"It is alright – better late than never," Karan replied as she gestured to her aide to accept the transmission. Moments later, the proud face of Talas Naabal appeared on the Wisdom's main viewscreen.

"I am sorry for the delay," Talas began in a voice that hardly sounded apologetic, "I was held up by certain trifling matters..."

"Perhaps you would have the courtesy to explain these 'trifling matters' at the very least," Admiral Rey cut in angrily, "Your late arrival to this debrief is an insult to Lady Karan herself!"

"Rey, please," Karan quickly interjected in a bid to keep the discussion civil.

"My my, what a hothead we have here," Talas chuckled smugly, "To think that the Great Fleet of the Soban is led by such an irrational one."

"You..."

"Enough, you two!" Karan commanded firmly, her authoritative voice immediately silencing the duo, "Talas Naabal, I do not think that Admiral Rey's request is an unreasonable one."

"You have Khontala to blame then," Talas shrugged nonchalantly, "Sajuuk knows why he would staff his precious science vessel with what is clearly a team of morons."

"Science vessel? The Clee San?" Karan was surprised by the answer, "What of it?"

"I would like to lodge a formal complaint against the Clee San's crew for violating military communications protocol," Talas continued, "One of their so-called 'scientists' entered the channel without proper authorisation on the pretext of giving me 'critical sensor information.'"

"I suppose that was the cause of your delay then?"

"As you can see clearly it was no fault on my part," Talas now gave a remorseless smile, "If anything you would do well to court martial those bumbling fools..."

"One last query before we return to the main topic at hand," Karan cut Talas off for she had little interest in his petty complaints, "You are entirely confident that this 'information' is not critical to our situation?"

"Absolutely," came the cool reply.

"You would take full responsibility if that were not the case?"

"My policy of ignoring the words of fools has served me well all these years," Talas answered in a bored tone, "I do not foresee any necessary changes in the near future."

"Very well. Returning to the matter at hand: what have you to say?"

Before Talas could answer, the slow warble of the primary sensors console filled the air. Turning to face the relevant viewscreen, Karan saw a tactical display of Hiigara itself and the surrounding sector. Just beyond the maximum range of the planetary defence systems were a series of red dots and pulsating blue circles.

"Multiple hyperspace signatures detected," the Wisdom's sensor officer spoke up, "They're not ours."

The rain began to subside, the sky slowly clearing to reveal the Hiigaran star once more. Pyra was now thoroughly drenched but he didn't seem to care at all.

"The storm's over – you don't need to be afraid anymore," the dripping Somtaaw smiled sadly at the tombstone. Spying several damp spots on the otherwise dry tombstone, he removed a dry cloth from a waterproof pouch on his waist and got to work, wiping the water off the stone carefully. Then he suddenly stopped.

"You know Elie, I'd come and see you more often if not for the Clee San," Pyra mentioned with a sigh, "You know, the whole 'Where no Hiigaran has gone before' business. Things have been going up a notch lately though, and I've a good mind to..."

Pyra paused, his ears suddenly detecting the dreaded wail of the planetary bombardment sirens.

"... This is an emergency announcement from the New Daiamid," the cafe viewscreen was now bathed in the vermilion colours of the planetary emergency broadcast, "Planetary alert condition has been upgraded to Red. Evacuation protocols are now in effect - this is not a drill..."

As the rest of the cafe began erupting in a panicked commotion, the little Somtaaw corner remained motionless as they stared silently at the broadcast.

"By Sajuuk..." Cara managed to splutter.

"Look what your big mouth has caused," Darum gave a sigh of resignation.

"May I know why the hell we're still sitting here?" Rea exclaimed as he stood up suddenly, "We need to get to the Spaceport and..."

"Calm down Rea," Farin interrupted calmly, "No point going there: it's all probably locked down by now. All we can do is head for the nearest shelters like everyone else."

"But..."

"Clee San is a science vessel," Farin reminded firmly, "There's no way they'd let a science crew through at this point in time."

"Farin's right," Cara agreed as she stood up and gestured towards the cafe exit, "Shall we?"

"Give me an update on those numbers now," Admiral Rey ordered as he watched the event unfold on the sensors screen.

"Three carrier groups with full capital ship escorts," the sensors officer answered, his voice quivering slightly with fear, "And their numbers are still increasing."

"Qwaardammit," the curse escaped the Sobanii officer's lips, "It's a bloody armada."

Karan now turned to face Talas, who was now visibly nervous and shocked at the sudden turn of events.

"I... I had no idea..." Talas managed to stutter, his arrogant eloquence now a thing of the past, "I..."

"You will personally answer to the Daiamid," Karan cut him off coldly before closing the channel, "Rey: your opinions?"

"The damned Imperialists must've found some way to shield their hyperspace jumps from our sensor sweeps," Rey answered worriedly, "Combined with the deployment of the majority of our forces to the Sarum defence zone, this is looking very bad for us tactically."

"I will have our best researchers look into improving our sensor grid accordingly," Karan noted, "In the meantime I will leave you to coordinate the defence forces."

"I will do what I can," Rey bowed respectfully before assuming his position at the Wisdom's command console. As the Sobanii admiral barked out move orders, Karan proceeded to the corner console where her aide was seated at.

"The channel is open, audio only," the aide stated as he vacated the seat for the Hiigaran matriarch.

"Thank you," Karan replied as she took her place, "Attention Somtaaw science vessel Clee San – This is the Sjet heavy cruiser Wisdom. Come in please."

"This... this voice..." Aaraan was spluttering in stunned shock, "...Lady Sjet?"

"That is correct."

"Oh... oh my god," came the nearly incoherent reply, "A... Aaraan Somtaaw re... reporting, Your Grace!"

"Away with the formalities," Karan rolled her eyes slightly, tired of the 'goddess-awe' she was always receiving, "I heard that the Clee San's sensors were able to detect the inbound Taiidan?"

"... I didn't realise they were T... Taiidan," the hapless Somtaaw was clearly nervous as hell, "I just p... picked up in... inbound hyper sigs..."

"That is good enough for us," Karan was relieved to hear the news, "I need you to establish a sensor grid uplink to the Wisdom. We are currently operating as the primary command and control for the defence forces and require as much accurate sensor data as possible. Can you do that?"

"...I th... think so. W... will do wh... what I can..."

"Thank you for your help – your efforts will not go unnoticed," Karan finished as she ended the transmission.

"... What the hell are you doing staring there?" Ishbar demanded as he rushed in through the bridge doors, "We have hostiles incoming!"

"... S... Sensor... up... uplink," Aaraan managed to say, still in a state of shock from his first real encounter with the legendary Karan Sjet.

"Sensor uplink?" Ishbar snapped as he wondered what had happened to his colleague. Upon seeing that Aaraan was still stuttering like a nervous schoolboy he shoved him unceremoniously from his seat.

"Alright then! Sensor uplink! But where to?" Ishbar demanded as he keyed in the necessary commands.

"... Wis... dom..."

"That's the Sjet heavy cruiser!" Ishbar exclaimed, "You sure?"

When Ishbar got no response he swore and typed in the final commands. As the computer initiated the uplink with a resounding beep, he reached for his canteen and threw the whole lot in Aaraan's face. While the hapless scientist spluttered and coughed from the surprise, Ishbar strapped himself securely before the helm.

"Get a grip! Here we go!"

The Clee San's main drives roared to life, propelling the frigate away from the menacing approach of the Imperialist attack force. No sooner had Ishbar done so did the first salvo come streaking in – mass drivers and ion beams sizzling dangerously past the science ship.

"Too close for comfort," Ishbar uttered as he switched to the friendly frequencies, "Somtaaw science ship Clee San to Hiigaran Defence Fleet, could use a little help here!"

"Already on it," came the swift reply as Blade squadrons swept in to engage the Triikors on the frigate's tail.

More ion beams surged past on the main viewscreen to Ishbar's relief – for they were the familiar crimson swords of the Hiigaran Firelance formations.

"Oh Sajuuk, the stench!" Cara choked as she found herself being shoved into the crowded shelter by the sweaty and panicky crowd.

"Shut up already. Move on," the gruff voice of a marine sounded beside her.

"Keep moving, keep moving," Farin uttered while he guided Cara along the dim corridor, giving the rude marine a lasting glare as he did so, "The kind of people they let into the Marine Corps these days..."

"Technically, aren't you one of them?" Darum asked, his curiosity piqued by Farin's seeming hostility towards a fellow soldier.

"Don't you even start putting us in the same category," Farin shot back, "They're very different from us Hiigaran Navy personnel."

"You're not making sense – those are both military arms..."

"Darum, did you spend your entire education locked up in cryostasis or something?" Cara could scarcely believe what she was hearing, "It's rather well known, or should I say, an established fact that the Marine Corps is the worst place you can end up in."

"I heard the majority of their intakes come from the so-called 'outcast' families," Rea joined in, "They say it's what causes them to be such a messed up bunch."

"Dishonourable things I say," Farin spat, "Particularly those that keep switching allegiances during times of turmoil. Rats who flee from sinking ships – that's who they really are."

"I know most Navy personnel aren't on good terms with the Marines, but you seem to have a particularly bad grudge with them," Cara observed.

"Don't probe – just keep moving," growled Farin.

"First and Second attack squadrons have engaged the enemy," an officer reported amid the bustling bridge of the Wisdom, "Fourth Firelance formation is providing long range support."

"Bushan Re coming under heavy fire, her captain's pulling her back," updated another, "Matriarch squadrons standing by."

"Dispatch Blade squadrons Gamma seven through nine to cover the Bushan Re," Admiral Rey ordered after a quick consultation with the tactical overlay, "Vengeance squad Kappa will fill in for her temporarily."

"Is everything alright?" Karan asked as she strode up beside the war veteran, who was still the pinnacle of calm in spite of the storm brewing around them.

"We're holding them off, but just barely," the Sobanii admiral replied, maintaining his watchful gaze on the tactical overlay, "Order Caal Shto to pull back – she's too close to the front-line."

"You're doing well nonetheless," Karan observed.

"You flatter me," Rey smiled slightly, "What I'm doing here must pale in comparison with your coordination as Fleet Command..."

"New updates from Clee San coming in," the sensors officer spoke up, now visibly calmer after having seen the Admiral's near-flawless orchestrating of the battle, "New bogies incoming. Exit trajectories on the far side of the Angel Moon. ETA three minutes."

"A flanking manoeuvre," Rey muttered, "Expected numbers?"

"Seven ships: six ion arrays and one super-capital of unknown designation," came the reply, "Looks like the Raiders have joined the fray."

"Don't like the sound of that. Send cruisers Avatar II and Jiin to intercept."

When he saw the massive Mothership Station loom before them, Ishbar couldn't help but heave a long sigh of relief. Now that they were far behind the front-line, all that was left was to set up a local warning grid in case anything slipped past the main defence lines.

As the Clee San's main drives powered down and left the ship in stationary low orbit near the Mothership Station, Ishbar let out a long yawn and tapped a few more buttons. When the computers beeped in acknowledgement, he smiled and spun his seat around to face the drenched Aaraan – still seated dumbly on the floor.

"I hope you're fully awake now," Ishbar commented as he got up and sat down beside his fellow colleague, "What got into you just now?"

"... I spoke with Karan Sjet," came the near-monotone reply.

Ishbar's eyes widened when he heard the answer. Speaking with the one person who saved them all from Genocide was something rather rare in these parts – particularly if you were from a less prominent Kiith such as the Somtaaw.

"... Wow," Ishbar conceded, "That is just... wow. But still, don't you think you're overreacting slightly?"

"Have you ever wondered what it must've been like to be Fleet Command?" Aaraan ignored Ishbar's question completely.

"No. Why the sudden question?"

"I've always had this interest in neural interfaces," Aaraan continued, his eyes giving the impression that his mind was in some far-off imaginary world, "And I've always wondered what it might've been like."

"Well, I suppose it must be awfully claustrophobic," Ishbar shrugged as he considered the thought, "And the idea of all those dozens of wires jacked straight into your head... not exactly very appealing to me."

"Maybe," came the dreamy reply, "But I've heard things from some friends over at the Sjet labs. They say it's the entire opposite of claustrophobia, that it's both everything and nothing, and that..."

"This is starting to sound fairly deranged," Ishbar began cautiously, "You sure you didn't bang your head?"

"Nope, I'm fine," Aaraan shook his head and got to his feet, "It was just a thought, nothing more."

Aaraan was about to leave for his bunk when he spied the new bogies from the corner of his eye. Facing the sensor display, he saw that they had just emerged from hyperspace near the Angel Moon.

"I've never seen this ship design before," Aaraan muttered as a detailed scan revealed strange ship schematics that were clearly Taiidan-inspired but somehow different.

"That's why it's 'unknown designation,' duh."

Then the sensor panel let out its warning scream, the red rhombus of the unknown ship flashing an angry red.

The graveyard felt more silent than ever now that most of Hiigara's surface inhabitants had gone into hiding. All that remained was the distant ghostly echo of the planetary bombardment sirens, their eerie wails continuing long and hard.

Pyra remained seated beside Elie's grave, gazing upwards at the sky above. Night was fast approaching, and as the Hiigaran star dipped further into the horizon it allowed the Somtaaw to make out the extremely faint glitter of ships exploding.

A twinkle.

His eyes moved now to the sphere of the Angel Moon, its surface glowing with reflected light from the Hiigaran star. But there was otherwise nothing in the darkening skies around it.

He saw the twinkle again. It was brighter now and positioned just left of the Angel Moon.

A star gone supernova? Pyra thought.

When Pyra saw the twinkle a third time his engineering knowledge kicked in. He had seen this many times before he was posted to the Clee San, even before his Veer Rak deployment. It was on the prototype ion cannon frigate Firelance – the trademark energy pulse of an ion cannon powering up.

Oh fuck.

"I've lost contact with the Jiin!" an officer yelled urgently from across the bridge, "They are not responding to hails!"

"Jiin's IFF signal has vanished from sensor view," Rey muttered when he saw the tactical display update its contents, "Someone contact the Avatar II now, I want to know what's going on there."

"Sir, emergency transmission from Hiigaran Ground Control," another officer reported, "Asaam Kiith'sid has taken orbital fire!"

"What in Kharak's name?" Rey turned to stare at the reporting officer while Karan turned pale and felt her legs go weak at the news. Her aide seemed to pre-empt this and stepped forward to support the Sjet Kiith'sa as she faltered slightly.

"Preliminary reports put the damage zone as approximately two-hundred and thirty metres wide, so it is not an ADW..."

"Receiving new sensor data from the Clee San – it's coupled with a priority one image attachment," the sensors officer cut in again, "Patching it to the main viewscreen..."

The bridge fell silent as the crystal-clear image appeared before everyone's eyes: an impossibly long ion beam stretching from the Taiidan ship to Hiigara.