Chapter 43: PART 3: THE ALEPH - War Council

“Hello everyone, we’ll skip the formalities given the situation,” said Tohil gruffly, his admiral’s collar loosened. “Rav, give us a status report.”

Admiral Ravzan stood beside Tohil, in the communications room of Polyphemus, a heavily armed Tyger-class ship operating not far from Tybalt. While most of those on the call had the exhausted look of people who hadn’t slept in two days, he seemed full of energy. Desperation? Facing him on a screen were about ten captains who had survived the assault on the Aleph, each in the comm room of their respective ship.

“Uh ... so, two days ago, an individual-human or a Xeno with human appearance-possessing powers equal or even superior to the Transients, attacked the headquarters of the HS Council, and has since controlled both that location and the HS itself. In the operation, we lost an indeterminate number of ships and personnel, but we count at least the loss of Endymion Romulus and Endymion Remus, usually tasked with protecting Earth and the Earth-Mars corridor. It should be noted that according to the individual, who calls himself Aleph, these losses were caused by Transient maneuvers. Aleph then established what we’ve called a control zone roughly the size of a solar system, but this zone extends through the entangled gates, which means his influence reaches the Big Five, Earth, Prospero, Antioch, Alonso, Titus, and also Lennox-which, let us remember, produces antimatter. Furthermore, his ‘control’ also extends through the miniature entangled gates inside our Drifts, which enable LE synchronization.”

“Control-what does that mean, Rav? Be specific,” pressed Tohil.

“We’re almost certain he can, like a Transient, read minds and alter individuals’ psyches.”

“You heard that? Assume he knows everything about us.”

“As we speak, we’ve developed major technological innovations to isolate our Drifts from the HS, and still, we’re not certain Aleph doesn’t have an eye or an ear inside our ships. Our Drift Maps have been wiped. We’re rebuilding them-some from memory.”

“Tell us about the Stellar Fleet.”

“99% of our fleet, following the crisis, either Drifting toward Earth or trying to flee, ended up blocked and unable to jump because of the map losses. That said, a few officers still know Drift coordinates by heart, but no one’s dared to use them in the chaos, and it’s basically the number one rule: never do that.”

“Any ship not present at this war council is considered in enemy hands,” Tohil stated grimly.

“Dear Captains and Admirals, I want you to consider this: the Stellar Fleet is the armed arm of humanity. But in fact, a large portion of that humanity has joined Aleph. This includes, among others, part of the Admiralty Council, which has defected to follow this new leader.”

“Traitors!” roared Tohil. “Cowards! Unworthy of the uniform. But let’s keep our composure. I want to reassure you. We’re not planning any suicide missions. You know what? We might even, by mutual agreement, do like the others and bow to Aleph-even if all I want is to wring his neck. We are military. We are the Stellar Fleet. So whatever we do, we’ll do it by the book-not out of fear. You know what I mean? With the dignity and honor of the Fleet. But first, I want to know you. So introduce yourselves, folks.”

The invitation triggered a stunned silence in the room, especially as the first ship captain was a woman.

“Captain Miroslava Ivet, of the Endymion Alké. Captain for the past two days. The former captain, Ancalor Vlasto, is currently in the medical wing undergoing mental treatment. His entire family served aboard the Remus. We are fully operational and have three thousand personnel.”

“Captain Silouanos Kerenza,” said another, wearing a Psi brooch. “I’m on the Tyger Steropes and command a small fleet of six assault-class Ozymandias that I managed to salvage: Squadron Eulabee Alpha to Zeta. Each has an elite zero-G assault team. The Eulabee served on the orbit of Caliban-1 and Orion Prime.”

“Captain Kenny-just Kenny-of the Tisiphone Anicroche. For what it’s worth, I’ll let you know that the Tisiphone has been repurposed as a cruise ship for military personnel too old for active service. That said, my passengers are ready to fight if mobilized, and I think they share Admiral Tohil’s feelings about Aleph.”

“Captain Margarita Lieke of the Endymion Deimos,” said a woman with an exhausted face. “We’ve just returned from a five-year mission in Drift Five and I’m out of supplies for my three thousand crew. In two days, either we surrender, or we eat the sailors.”

“Surgeon Captain Sindri of the hospital ship Fuxi, Invictus class. It’s a good old ship from 2500 but still holds up well. Captain Lieke, I have supplies for your crew, but not enough to last more than ten days. For context, the Invictus are the older Endymion models. Lots of space and good propulsion, but no weapons and a tiny crew made entirely of doctors.”

“Captain Sirius,” said an android with a robotic voice. “I’m a former Captain, passed through the After, but never left the military. I command a modest Ozy named the Kairos, packed with missiles. If you’re looking for someone who can dive onto a target and blow up with it, I’m your ideal recruit.”

It was a joke, but no one laughed. Sirius figured the assembly might seriously be considering him for a suicide mission.

“Captain Miltiades,” said an old man with shining eyes. “Here as well, a modest Ozy named the Keres. I’m on a secret mission but it’s moot now. I do have good news. I’m transporting a pair of Entangled Gates two meters in diameter, which I was supposed to bring back to Earth.”

Tohil whistled in admiration. He imagined dropping a gate somewhere and sending the Eulabee squadron through it.

“Now that’s a top-tier asset.”

“I also have one or two tons of antimatter,” added Miltiades. “That’s a load worth what, two or three trillion thalers?”

“All that in a single Ozy?” asked Rav. “When you need to transport precious materials on busy routes, discretion is king.”

“Captains Roman, Evgeniv, and Tena of the Antioch League Fleet,” boomed a voice from a corner. “The League taught us to hate you, Tohil, but our leader Sashko decided to surrender to Aleph. We immediately mutinied and came with an elite squadron of Alexandrite-class ships. They’re Antioch’s equivalent of the Ozymandias-capable of lightning missions in atmosphere. They’re equipped with high-power thermal beams and have the best grappling acceleration in the HS. We are the Moirai Commando: the ships Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho. We’re going to kill Aleph, and then I’ll kill Sashko myself.”

“We just signed a peace treaty with Antioch, for the record,” noted Ravzan.

“I’ll slit his throat and it won’t be political,” added Roman with Antioch’s trademark deadpan.

“Captain Andreï of the Alecto Anicroche. Our ship isn’t armed but-”

Tohil had said “hold on” and abruptly cut the feed. In private, he asked his colleague:

“Rav, what the hell is this crap? That loser Andreï? He’s still in command of the Alecto?”

“Yes. He even led the peace talks between the League and the HS. Brilliantly, from what I-”

“Rav, I asked for him to be discharged. You kept him behind my back?”

“Not at all. He has the President’s favor.”

“The President of the HS?”

“And you know, all Endymions now have Psis aboard.”

“You’ve always kept an eye on him, haven’t you? I once saw a report on him lying around your desk.”

“I monitor him like I monitor all anomalies.”

“Dammit. Well, it’s not like the situation wasn’t already a total mess.”

He reactivated the remote conference, took a breath-and noticed a new window had just opened. A Wau in armor appeared on the screen.

“Uh, Wau, do you have something to say to us?”

“Thank you for allowing my intrusion,” said the Wau in his steady voice. “As you know, the Wau Order has a mission to protect humanity. If this meeting intends to lead an assault on Aleph, then I will join you.”

“Uh ... hold on ... you have access codes to military comms?”

“Your protocols are remarkably secure, but not beyond our capabilities.”

“Listen, Wau,” Tohil shouted, already on edge, “this is a war council of the STELLAR FLEET. It does not concern you. GET OUT!”

“I’m staying, whether you like it or not. These are times when no one has the luxury of refusing help. I want to state two points. During the Lennox life-seed crisis, a Wau opposed your Endymions entering orbit. Alone, he breached the hull and disabled the main power source. One Wau is stronger than your most powerful ship. Second point, I personally confronted the one you call Aleph, who tried to kill me-and I survived. I am on your side; and though I don’t expect thanks-which would nevertheless be appropriate-I believe my presence is legitimate here, if not valuable.”

Tohil was breathing so heavily that everyone could hear it. Andreï made a small hand gesture as if to say “why not?” and Rav nodded.