HADRON Chaos Read online

  Mace grimaced. “Injuries? Casualties?”

  “Two moderate injuries, the rest minor. Oh, and we’re out of range of that weapon.”

  A new Targarian ship jumped into space near the Rogers.

  Johnny grinned. “It’s Jasper on the comm. He’s already made a transfer to another ship.”

  Jasper said, “OK, the Cave is headed for the repair docks. I suggest you take the Rogers there as well. I have crews waiting. And thanks for saving my ass back there.”

  Mace nodded. “Open a portal for us. Ours is dead.”

  “You’ll find a new Collins when you get there if you want to come back. Those repairs are gonna take a while.”

  A micro-wormhole was opened to Divinia and the Rogers slipped through. After they had passed, the wormhole was kept open for a sensor feed from Jasper’s new ship.

  The battle at the rift raged on. The Union ships appeared to be dominating. Karthian ships were being destroyed or leaving the field of battle in tatters. Because of the close proximity of the ships, the massive Karthian station remained out of the fight. Again the Karthian threat was being thwarted.

  Chapter 2

  *

  The Rogers moved into a repair dock. The crew, excluding those who were injured, transferred to a new ship. The Ravix was the latest to receive a commission in the Targarian fleet. The controls on each of the new Collins class vessels were switchable between Targarian and English. The changeover was made and the crew familiarized with the new stations.

  Humphrey commented, “The layout is quite similar.”

  Mace replied, “Check every sensor in every configuration. That goes for each of you. Spend as much time as you can learning your stations fully. It’s likely we’ll find ourselves without time if we join the fight like I think we will. The Karthians have yet to fully commit.”

  A jump back to the Karthian rift was made.

  Jasper was waiting with the rest of his fleet aboard his new command ship, the Robert E. Lee. “I can’t say I believe this. The Karthians are getting trounced. They’ve lost a third of their ships, and that station has been taken out of the fight. I don’t understand. They have to have more ships than that. Why aren’t they using them?”

  “War is hard to predict. More than one battlefield commander has made an error that cost his side a war. Just look at WWII when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Had they continued in with troops, they could have taken the islands, completely changing the map of the war in the Pacific. Or Hitler’s invasion of Russia. Had he stayed in Europe until he had it consolidated, he could have taken the British Navy out of the fight using his air force, leading to an invasion. Instead he spread himself too thin to fight on both fronts. History is littered with examples.”

  Jasper laughed. “You don’t need to explain it to me. I was actually alive back then.”

  Humphrey said, “Mr. Hardy, a number of those shield ships are forming up. It looks as though that station is the target.”

  Jasper added, “They take down that station and I might just commit to this fight.”

  The Humans and Targarians watched for hours as the Karthian fleet was cut in half. The Union had lost three hundred ships to the six hundred of the Karthians. The shield ships continued to frustrate the fight by positioning themselves between the great station and the bulk of the fleet. The Karthian defense of the rift was changing for the worst.

  Humphrey said, “Mr. Hardy, we have ships moving toward the station.”

  Fifty of the dome-fronted ships were followed by two hundred Union cruisers. They closed on the Karthian station and began and all-out assault. Defensive guns on the station were taken out and boarding parties put into use. Within minutes of the first assault ship attaching itself to the station’s hull, thousands of Union troops were storming aboard. The great green energy weapon was quickly taken offline.

  Jasper said, “Give me your thoughts on joining in.”

  Mace replied, “I’m not convinced the Karthians aren’t playing some game, although it sure looks like they are getting their asses kicked.”

  Humphrey said, “Mr. Hardy, I show another stream of Union ships jumping in. Hundreds of ships. And I just picked up two cruisers coming back through the rift. Sir, they’re flying Stark banners!”

  Mace stood from his chair. “Stark? Are you sure?”

  Humphrey nodded. “Undeniable. The new Union ship count has surpassed five hundred.”

  Mace shook his head. “Where are they getting these ships from?”

  “My people had no indication that any such force existed,” said Jasper.

  Johnny hailed Stark’s command ship.

  The hail was accepted. “This is Captain Remington. Mr. Hardy, the king would like a word with you, but will not be available for another fifteen minutes. He asks for your patience.”

  Mace nodded. “Sure.”

  The comm closed. The two Stark cruisers joined with the newly arriving Union ships. The banner of Stark’s command cruiser was transferred to one of the newer vessels. After a minute, a comm came through for Mace Hardy.

  A dark silhouette sat in front of a back-lit screen. “Mr. Hardy, I’d like to thank you for maintaining my kingdom in my absence. I’ve been keeping abreast of your accomplishments. Impressive, I might add.”

  “Earth is a free planet, Stark. You have no kingdom.”

  The silhouette leaned forward. “Oh, I beg to differ with you, Mr. Hardy. If you recall, you did leave my people in charge of your new government. I should thank you for making the transition back to my kingdom so easy.”

  “There is no transition, Stark. The people are forming an elected body at each of the community centers and each of those will be sending representatives to a new congress.”

  “Yes. I do like the idea of the congress. It keeps the people involved with settling all the petty matters pertaining to governance, allowing my teams to focus on the items of critical importance. As we speak, my return is being welcomed on Earth. The battle raging here before us is being broadcast back home. I have given several prepared speeches and my media contacts ensure me they are being warmly received. The people of Earth are in need of strong leadership, Mr. Hardy. And I have returned to give it to them.”

  Mace scowled. “The people don’t trust the Union or you anymore. Besides, other than trade, it’s been abandoned and shut down. This show of force here, while impressive, won’t be enough to convince the people to back you again.”

  Stark stood, his silhouette slowly pacing back and forth. “The people are watching this battle unfold with both fascination and pride. Their king is winning handily against the only threat they face. The Karthian menace will soon be gone. And with them any outside threat to the former members of the Union. A union by the way, which still fully exists. Excluding Mr. Collins, of course. But that will change soon enough.”

  “How is it you’re still alive?”

  Stark stopped. “We chased the Karthians through the rift. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to come back once the Moalmoth was parked there, the Moalmoth being the station we are currently taking control of. Once on the other side we were able to capture several high-ranking officials. I’ve been working with them to cause a deep divide in the Karthian worlds. I convinced the Karthian politicians to keep nearly three quarters of their fleet out of this fight.”

  Mace shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would they do that? And why wouldn’t you just have one of your Muhathas open a wormhole for you?”

  Stark returned to his chair. “The answer to your first question is simple: economics. I promised an end to the war between our peoples and a robust trade alliance with them. You see, as it turns out, the Karthians are weary of this war and its costs. They have another, bigger, threat on one of their far frontiers. Even though the Galactic Union members were the ones who started this war, the individuals I have been dealing with were willing to sacrifice this fleet to get the economic backing they require to fight on their other front.”


  “Wait. I thought the Karthians were the invaders.”

  “The Sarkesians and the Quelli discovered the rift some time ago. They sent through fleets, destroying several Karthian outposts and even a small colony. The Karthians sought vengeance by establishing colonies on this side of the rift, which my men and I wiped out. They followed with that massive attack on Harkoza. We were lucky to have pushed them back. They had victory in hand had they continued to press forward. I suppose I should thank Mr. Collins for holding back the Targarians from that fight. I believe that kept the Karthians guessing as to when they were going to commit. Anyway, they retreated and here we are.”

  Mace gestured toward a display. “This fight, why would they sacrifice a quarter of their fleet and that station?”

  Stark sighed. “Because of the eternal game of power we all love so much to play. That fleet, and the station in particular, are controlled by their political rivals. You see, the fleet gets destroyed and our allies move in for a quick peace deal, which has tremendous potential for economic benefit. It also allows them to focus their energies on the far front. It’s all a quite convoluted mess of backroom negotiations, which is something my staff and I seem to be quite good at.”

  “So you somehow managed a deal with the Karthians. What I don’t get is how you maintained ties with the Union.”

  Stark leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Simple, really. Before passing through the rift, I gave coordinates for a point on the other side where I could be contacted, or brought home if need be. Since reaching that location, we’ve been in near constant contact with the Union members—excluding the Targarians, for obvious reasons.”

  Mace scowled. “So you’re telling me you’ve been able to control everything, including people, from somewhere on the other side of the rift? I don’t see how that’s possible. Why would the Union follow your orders?”

  Stark reached up, rubbing his temples. “You still lack an understanding of my abilities, Mr. Hardy. I am a powerbroker. I am good at convincing people to act according to my will. I lay out the potential benefits with words and they joyously follow along. I believe you would call it a gift.”

  “I’d call it a con. Tell me, why shouldn’t we take down your fleet right now?”

  Stark tilted his head to one side. “Let’s contemplate that scenario for a moment. Let’s say you attack and defeat my force here, including those on the other side of the rift. Doubtful, but let’s play along. You would undoubtedly lose a large portion of your fleet in the process. Now… what do you think would happen to the Karthian fleets that remain? With such a weak front here, would they attack? The answer is yes, and eagerly so. You see, Mr. Hardy, you play a weak hand, a hand with which you don’t have the ability to bluff.”

  Mace scowled. “So you expect us to just roll over and give up?”

  “On the contrary,” Stark replied. “I expect you and the Targarians to continue to be a force to be reckoned with. You see, it is partially your efforts that allow me to wield power with the Union. You are a plague on their existence. I offer control of that plague. It is not me that you should fear, Mr. Hardy. It’s the other Union members. They view you as a nuisance, whereas I view you as a tool, sometimes to be used as a hammer, and at other times as a spoon to feed the masses.”

  Mace said, “You do realize we have this entire conversation recorded, right?”

  Stark nodded. “And I expect you will pass it around to all those concerned, only further solidifying my position. You see, Mr. Hardy, I am one species away from having the remaining Union members uniting behind me as their king. I promise a rebound in both economic activity and military strength. And with the Karthian threat removed, the Galactic Union will once again be free to pursue expansion… which they are all again longing to do.”

  Mace turned. “Johnny, open a comm back to Earth. Ask Tres if anything is on the news feeds back there.” He regarded the silhouette on the screen and betrayed no expression of his own.

  “Well, Mr. Stark, it seems you have it all figured out. So what happens when the Union defeats the Karthians here? They sign a deal, and then decide to space their newly-proclaimed king?”

  Stark moaned. “Oh, Mr. Hardy, do you think I am not three steps ahead of them? The deal with the Karthians is through me and me alone. They want nothing to do with the Union at this point. The trade deals will all be routed through Earth. This is one of the pillars of my economic foundation for man, the other being trade between the Union members themselves. Again, all routed through Earth… for a small transaction tax of course.

  “And then there is the exploration of new territories and conquering of new species. You see, there will no longer be any bickering over who gets what new territory. All new territories will belong to the Stark Kingdom, with royalties paid to member species.”

  “And the founders are going to go for that? I thought all the species were equals now.”

  “They are equal with regards to rights under the kingdom laws. However, as part of the negotiated freedoms, the founders each received an extra percentage share. Founders, of whom there are now five members, will receive a 4 percent royalty on kingdom profits. Sixteen members will receive a 3 percent option. And fledgling members, those who are weak or new, will receive a 2 percent share. There are six of those.”

  Mace lifted an eyebrow. “And what about the Targarians and their three affiliates?”

  “I’m afraid they will be left out of all trade and security deals. Offers will be extended to them to join with us. It will be their choice to do so or to remain independent.”

  Mace did the quick math in his head. “That takes up 80 percent of the royalties. Does that leave you with 20 percent?”

  Stark shook his head. “No. That leaves Earth with 20 percent.”

  Mace sighed. “And what about expenses? I’m sure there will be some cost associated with determining kingdom profits. Who will be keeping track of those?”

  Stark crossed his arms. “That would be Earth. You see, Mr. Hardy, an almost uncanny thing happened during the Great Starvation, as it’s being called. An unusually high percentage of the accountants survived. No one knows why, although there is speculation they may have been better at planning for their survival. Whatever the cause, we will have an army of accountants to tabulate kingdom income and costs as they relate to this whole arrangement. These will be well-paying jobs with bonuses going out for both efficiency and accuracy.”

  “You’ve planned this out that far?”

  “And well beyond. Oh, and I almost forgot: I would like to thank you for setting up the defense perimeter around Earth. My teams have floated many a rumor out among the Union members as to its lethality. Let’s just say the founders have no interest in invading Earth space.”

  Stark’s silhouette turned to his right as he received a message. “Mr. Hardy, you will have to excuse me. It seems the Karthian station is close to falling. I will be moving my final force in for the surrender.”

  Stark stood and then stopped. “Isn’t it exciting when a plan comes to fruition? True, this is only the first of many parts. However, it has been accomplished with fewer complications than anticipated.”

  The comm closed as Stark walked out of the camera view.

  Johnny said, “Jasper’s been hailing you almost nonstop.”

  Mace nodded. “Accept. He’s gotta know what just went down.”

  Jasper said, “Not very friendly of you to keep me waiting.”

  Mace shook his head. “That was Stark. I’d have joined you in on the comm but he had no interest in me doing so. I have a load to tell you, and it’s not especially good. I should come over.”

  A short ride on a shuttle had Mace standing on the deck in front of an irritated Jasper Collins. “He’s managed to somehow take control of Earth… and all the Union members.”

  Jasper scowled. “Impossible.”

  Mace frowned. “Very possible. It seems he’s been in contact with the other Union members si
nce his disappearance. That whole fight with the Karthians… that’s a coup of sorts. He managed to get three quarters of the Karthians to side with him against that fleet and that station. In return, the others get full control of their empire, get peace through the rift, and a committed trading partner with Earth. And Earth will be the new hub for the prior Galactic Union. All species will be members of the Stark Kingdom, and as such will receive a royalty cut of the kingdom’s earnings.”

  “And why would Earth follow that lunatic again?”

  “Earth will be the center of the universe as far as all the species we know are concerned, excluding the UF and Hoorka of course… and your people. He hit the Earth airwaves broadcasting this fight, which is coming to a victorious close. When it’s all done, there’ll be a peace treaty and a trade accord between Earth and the Karthians. He gets rid of a major threat and promises great wealth for all mankind.

  “I almost want to join him myself. He’s uniting all the Union species behind him. Except the Collins Kingdom. I suspect all your Union trading partners will no longer be interested in any deals with the Targarians. And I would expect a lot of pressure to be applied toward your overthrow. After all, the Targarians and your other species will want to be a part of this new vast kingdom and all it has to offer.”

  Jasper shook his head. “They love me. They won’t be leaving.”

  Mace crossed his arms. “They love strength. You’ve said so yourself. And who appears to be the strongest among us now? Stark is. He arranged that fight out there. He arranged the deal with the Karthians and the other Union members. And he managed to build a twenty-five hundred ship fleet right under our noses.”

  Jasper waved a hand. “We were sloppy. Won’t happen again.”

  Mace sighed. “Won’t happen again because we won’t likely have a chance at control like what we had. I hate to say it, but he snaked us. And he’s done it with a completeness that even I have to admire.”

  Jasper frowned. “You aren’t serious about joining him, are you?”

  Mace shrugged. “I tell you, it’s tempting. I could go back now and possibly enjoy a long life with Jenny as Stark takes care of all the issues. Maybe I just become the ambassador to the UF. I don’t know. There’s a lot to think about. His reappearance is a huge change, one I’m not certain we can overcome. He seems to be holding all the cards.”