Ivan Kal - Out of the Ashes

With Fleet Commander Isani and Jusan traveling to Sanctuary via hyperspace, carrying the orb there, Adrian was left in charge of the system. Commander Isani’s and Jusan’s warships were left in his command, all save Isani’s flagship, battleship Valor. The knowledge in the sphere is amazing, and they would need all the expertise of Sanctuary to unlock its full potential.

With little to do in Nuva, Adrian busied himself with tweaks to his colony “proposal”. It had engrossed his mind. It was fun, trying to come up with a way to run a colony. Especially when he knew that it would never happen, he could do whatever he wanted.

Then a ping on his imp interrupted him, again it was a call from Paul. Adrian sighed and answered.

“What is it?”

“Ships dropping from hyperspace, from the directions of Nelus.” Paul said. Adrian stood up and started towards the CC. “They came earlier than I thought they would.” Iris said. Adrian agreed, but in any case they were ready.

Adrian reached the CC and sat in his chair. His ships were ready. He gave the order to the First Fleet now consisting out of 20 Nel retrofitted merchant ships, 10 Nel light cruisers, 2 Nel heavy cruisers, 3 human light cruisers, 2 human heavy cruisers, 2 human battleships, and his flagship the dreadnought Leviathan. All of his ships moved towards the hyperspace barrier and the Nel ships.

There were fifteen Nelus ships in total, 10 retrofitted merchant ships, 3 light cruisers and 2 battleships. They started moving in the system towards Adrian’s ships. An hour later they received a message from the Nelus ships.

Adrian had it played on the forward screen. “We are here on behalf of the council of Nelus. The human presence in the Nel colony of Nuva is no longer needed, my ships are here to protect the system. You are to leave the system immediately. Before that we require that you escort us to Sestar Jusan.” The Nel said. Adrian smiled and looked at Paul,

“He didn’t even introduce himself.” Adrian said.

“No manners.” Paul said nodding gravely.

“Well, I was taught better.” Adrian said and started recording a message.

“Greetings, my name is Fleet Commander Adrian Farkas. Sadly Sestar Jusan is not in the system, and your claim on Nuva no longer applies. Both Sestar Jusan’s people and the people of Nuva had decided to join the Empire. Meaning that you are trespassing on our territory. I require that you turn your ships around and leave, otherwise my ships will consider you hostile and open fire. If you wish to make diplomatic contact with the Empire, you may send a diplomatic ship escorted by no more than four warships. Fleet Commander Farkas, end.” Adrian sent the message and waited.

When the response came, it was exactly what he thought it will be.

An angry Nel started speaking, “This system belongs to the council. You will leave the system immediately or we will open fire, and destroy your ships.”

Paul sighed, “They can see that they are outnumbered right?”

“I don’t think that they believe that the Nel ships on our side would fire on them.” Adrian said. Then he put on a calm commanding face, “Ship Master Isaacs, I believe that the Nelus ships had declared their hostile intent.”

“They have Fleet Commander.” Paul said.

Adrian nodded, “Order all ships to target the incoming Nelus ships with missiles. Missile package “warm welcome”.” Adrian said. He didn’t use the c-board, as the Nel ships in his fleet didn’t yet have their interfaces installed.

Paul acknowledged and relayed the orders to the fleet.

“Missiles locked.” Paul said.

Adrian nodded again, “Fire.”

Seven thousand Swarm Mk1 missiles launched from the First Fleet, from three times the missile range of Nelus ships. At almost twice the speed. The Nelus ships tried to take them down with their laser point defense, but the missiles were outside of their effective range, and their evading capabilities far too effective. Then, as the missiles finally entered the Nelus ships point defense range, and they started taking a few of the missiles down, the Swarm missiles engaged their secondary protocols. What was around seven thousand missiles suddenly became twenty one thousand. The Nelus commander knew that he was doomed his ships couldn’t possibly take down that number.

Their point defense firing frantically even as the Nelus ships tried to move out of the way. Then the missiles reached his ships. Nelus commander closed his eyes as he waited his death. After a few moments, he realized that he was still alive and opened his eyes in time to see the human missiles pass right through his formation and then explode behind them. Stunned, he looked at his crew. He realized that this was just a warning. Immediately he ordered his ships to turn and head back to Nelus.

“You think that they will be back any time soon?” Paul asked.

“Don’t think so.” Adrian answered,

“Yeah, probably not.” Paul added.

Sanctuary – ten days later

“The council will not take well to this.” Clan Leader Sumia said.

“No, but I doubt that they will do anything about it.” Laura said.

“Even if they do, we have sufficient defenses protecting the system to hold them back.” Tomas said. Tomas looked at Sumia, “When do you think that we should tell both our peoples about the sphere?”

“Let’s wait until Sestar Jusan gets here and we can verify it in person. Then we shall see.” Sumia said. Jusan and Isani would arrive at Sanctuary in eight months.

Tomas cleared his throat, “Well then let’s move on.” Tomas said, “The Second Fleet has started exploring the trans-lanes back to Sanctuary. They are carrying three thousand people rescued from Earth.”

“Three thousand… Out of so many.” Seo-yun said.

“There was no way for them to save more Seo-yun. The mega storms that are ravaging the planet don’t allow them to even land anymore. The people on Earth are probably already dead.”

“And what about those in the asteroid belt? How could the Fleet Commander let that maniac kill them all!” Nadia asked.

Tomas shook his head in sorrow. “Were they supposed to let them starve to death, or in desperation turn to cannibalism? It is a terrible thing that Jacob Kelly did, and he had surrendered himself to the Fleet Commanders custody. But I can understand the act. It was he that started the rebellion, he felt responsible for them, he failed them. And so he took it upon himself to end their lives before their suffering truly began. He will have a trial once the Second Fleet returns home.”

Elias nodded firmly, others kept their mouths closed. “Let’s move on from Earth. It will be a while until the wound heals sufficiently for us to be able to talk about it without so much emotion.” Elias said.

Tomas nodded, and turned to Laura. “Did you all get the chance to look at the colony proposal from Adrian.” Tomas asked.

Laura nodded her head, “It is interesting. I don’t know if he could pull it off. It is ambitious, and completely different from every other proposal. But that system isn’t on our plan, it will be dependent on Sanctuary for a long time before it could sustain itself. And the nature of the Clan itself…” Laura said.

“I think that we should consider it further.” Elias said. “When Tomas started that petition program this is what was he had in mind. And his proposal is the most detailed and fleshed out one of them. He had the plans drawn out for the next fifty years.”

Tomas scratched his head. “Yes, let’s check all his data and plans. See if it could work. Then we make our decision.”