A Brightly Flickering Flame (Confederation Reborn Book 5) Read online

  A Brightly Flickering Flame

  CONFEDERATION REBORN

  Age of Renaissance Tale

  Tony Healey

  Bernard Schaffer

  Tony Healey's Dedication

  For Vic Mignogna: keeper of the flame

  The Stars,

  a never-ending field of wonder

  and promise.

  Peace held together

  by the union of vast civilizations

  all working together

  to ensure freedom and justice

  in the name of interstellar Confederation.

  This is the mission of the

  ICSS Endeavor,

  to ensure that bright light of hope

  burns until the end

  of time.

  1.

  Mission Log, Captain William Kirn – ICSS Endeavor

  0833hrs

  We are en route to Farstation Ellison in response to a distress signal received four hours ago. I've had the Endeavor pushed to her limit at maximum speed, which is not recommended for this long a duration, but warranted in this particular situation.

  Engineering reports that if we keep it up much longer, we'll burn out our Lucasian Crystal supply. But I consider this a justifiable risk. We should arrive within the hour. Ellison sent out a distress signal and reported they were under attack, but their transmissions were cut off before providing any further detail. All attempts to re-establish communication have failed.

  Over two thousand people are stationed on Ellison. Scientists and research assistants, with no weapons capabilities. I dread to think of who, or what, would attack them.

  Captain William Kirn ran a hand across his chin as he considered his next move. The Valkar officer opposite him was the ultimate strategist. Coolly logical, completely impassive, unreadable as a statue. His facial expression (such as it was) gave nothing away. Nor did his eyes, which were bright, intelligent but devoid of emotion. Kirn knew that Valkars did in fact have emotions, just like any other humanoid species. But they kept such things suppressed, buried deep down inside, held at bay by the very principles of self-control that had come to define their race.

  There was much to admire about a Valkar, he'd long decided. But damned if they weren't frustrating sometimes.

  "You'd make a great poker player, Mister Saris."

  The Valkar cocked an eyebrow at the suggestion. "Indeed."

  Kirn surveyed the chess board. His first officer had pushed him into a corner, all right. It would have seemed strange to an officer with less experience to find them playing chess at such a time. They were headed to a Confederation Farstation in response to a distress signal, no doubt due to an attack from a hostile element–a rookie would've been hopping about in anticipation.

  Not Kirn.

  "You know, despite the frustration I feel in playing you, Saris, I still find the game of chess a relaxing one," he said, trying to decide his next move. Trying to think of a way to out-fox a Valkar–a near-impossible task.

  "As a Valkar, I am neither relaxed nor anxious, Captain," Saris declared. "However, I do find the competition … intellectually stimulating."

  "Especially when you see me struggling like this, huh?"

  Saris gave nothing. His mouth didn't even twitch. "It is agreeable to me to observe you, Captain, in your attempts to thwart no-win scenarios such as this."

  Kirn looked up at the Valkar, knowing he'd just been slightly poked at, but unable to find even a trace of mischief in his First Officer's gaze. "Some would call those fighting words, Mr. Saris," Kirn said. He picked up his bishop, moved it into position with a smirk.

  This time, this time . . .

  "Perhaps you are correct," Saris said. He regarded the board for a moment longer, then moved his king. "But they would be unwise to do so. Check."

  "What?" Kirn looked at the board in disbelief. "You sneaky devil."

  "I see no reason to insult me, Captain. Your game was lost several moves ago."

  Kirn shook his head in disbelief. He picked up his last piece and moved it back to its original position, then moved Saris's, taking them back one-by-one to try and see how he'd been taken. The comm signal from the Bridge chimed, and Kirn looked over his shoulder at it and sighed. "Report," he said.

  "Sir we'll be arriving at Ellison Farstation in less than ten minutes."

  "I'm on my way. Kirn out." He put the pieces back on the board and said, "I suppose a rematch will just have to wait, Mr. Saris. I trust that next time you won't find me so easily defeated."

  Saris folded his hands behind his back as he followed Kirn out of the room, "We have played chess fifty-two times in the previous year, Captain. Each time, you are defeated within six moves. It is illogical to expect a different result will occur during our next game."

  "What you call illogical," Kirn said, smirking at the Vulkar, "I call optimism."

  "Captain on the Bridge," Lieutenant Cho said, rising from the command chair to resume his place at the helm. Saris exited the lift and headed for his science station.

  Kirn assumed the chair, "Thank you, Lieutenant." He turned to the beautiful Zulu woman sitting at the communications station and said, "Uthando, any word from the station, yet?"

  She shook her head. "None."

  "Mr. Saris?"

  The Valkar looked up from his scanner. "I am not detecting any explosions or radiation signatures consistent with an ongoing engagement, sir. That is not to say the battle hasn't already concluded."

  "They signaled us hours ago. With their limited defenses, any attack would have to be over by now," Kirn said. He nodded toward Cho, "All hands, red alert."

  "Aye sir," the helmsman said. The lights on the Bridge dropped to a deep red. At the moment the alert activated, power from non-essential systems was automatically diverted to defensive and offensive systems.

  "Full power to diffuser array," Kirn said.

  "Aye," Ensign Kuryakin said. The Russian toggled the ship's diffusers to maximum strength and kept his hands ready over his console, looking over at Cho from the opposite side of the helm.

  "Dropping from hyperspace in three . . . two . . . one . . ." Cho said. His hands worked the flight controls, slowing the Endeavor, slipping them back into normal space. The stars ahead of them came back into focus from the simple streaks of light they had been before and were now the backdrop to utter devastation.

  Farstation Ellison listed drunkenly to one side, debris floating free from a massive hole in its hull like blood from an open wound. One of its four arms had been destroyed, leaving charred remnants of bare framework where there had once been solid, reinforced plating. There were no lights emanating from inside the structure.

  "Saris?"

  "No power," he said, "nor signs of life. It appears to be a total loss."

  All dead, Kirn thought.

  "What kind of an animal could do this?" Kuryakin asked aloud.

  Kirn watched the station's dance of death before them. "Mr. Saris, see if you can determine the signature of those blasts along the station's core. I want to know if they match anything in our databanks."

  "Working."

  "Cho, try to find a plasma trail. Anything that will tell us if a ship left the area recently."

  "Aye."

  All starships left exhaust plasma in their wake as they travelled through space, like the tell-tale signature of a galleon crossing an open sea. Much as it would on water, the trail eventually dispersed. But if one was quick enough . . .

  Saris frowned as he worked on the readings from his sensor scans. "It would appear that the laser scoring
across the hull is consistent with only one known species, Captain. This attack was caused by the Korgons."

  Kirn's jaw set hard. "Korgons," he said with distaste.

  "Captain, I've located an ion trail leading away from Ellison," Cho said. "They're heading back home."

  "Running, like dogs," Kuryakin grimaced. "Kapitan, what are Korgons doing this far into Confederation space?"

  Kirn saw the look of rising anger in the young man's face and said, "When we catch up with them, you can be sure that I intend to ask." He looked at Cho and said, "Lay in a pursuit course, at whatever speed you can manage. I want that ship."

  "Pursuit course plotted, sir," Cho said, already toggling the controls on his console.

  The Endeavor moved swiftly away from Farstation Ellison, leaving the dead structure to continue pirouetting through space.

  "Saris, assemble the senior staff in the Conference Room. I want a full report on why any Korgon vessel would venture this far from the Empire."

  "Aye Captain," the Valkar said, walking to the lift at the back of the Bridge.

  Kirn got up, patted Kuryakin on the shoulder. "You too, Ensign. I'll meet you both there."

  "Yes Kapitan," Kuryakin said.

  "Uthando, contact Confederation Command. Tell them to send a search and recovery team to Ellison as soon as they are able." His jaw tensed and he said, "Inform them that there are no survivors, but they should attempt to collect any and all deceased personnel. Their families deserve an opportunity to bury their dead."

  "Yes Captain," she said.

  "Oh, and let Doctor Kelley know I request the pleasure of his presence in the conference room as well."

  "If you call that pleasure, sir," Uthando whispered under her breath as she turned back to her communications console.

  Captain Kirn glanced over to see Cho get up to head for the conference room, and said, "Not you, Lieutenant. I want you on the Bridge, after that ship. The first sign of a Korgon, let me know, but do not engage them, is that understood?"

  "Yes sir. Loud and clear."

  "Catch us up to that ship, Mr. Cho," Kirn said with a grim nod.

  "Even if I have to move heaven and earth, sir."

  "This is the Korgon Empire," Saris said, pointing to a holographic star map that floated above the long conference table. An area in red spanned a large sector of space – a region that would have encompassed every known sector if the Korgons had their way. "Warlike and imperialistic at every turn, they have thrived up to this point by conquering adjacent systems and consuming their resources. As you can see, they've established a considerable presence in this sector of the galaxy."

  "Understatement of the century . . ." Dr. Kelley mumbled from across the table.

  "Have you found anything in our databanks that gives an indication of their motive for coming out this far?" Kirn asked.

  "Indeed," Saris said. He indicated a cluster of planets circling a binary sun. "It would seem that some months ago a Korgon vessel was reported here, in the Baktari system."

  "The Baktari have no allegiance to any governing body," Kuryakin added. "They remained separate from the Confederation, despite our best efforts to incorporate them. They have a Lucasian Crystal mine that yields fourteen kilotons each cycle. It was only a matter of time before the Korgon found them."

  Saris cocked an eyebrow at the Ensign and said, "You seem well informed about remote unincorporated systems, Mister Kuryakin."

  The Russian grimaced. "I make it a habit to read every report on the Empire, sir. My family were on Voyd when it was attacked. Those bastards with their cloaked ships, hiding like sewer rats in the night. We were defenseless when they struck."

  Kirn knew what was written on Kuryakin's file. The Ensign's entire family had settled on Voyd after leaving Earth when he was still a child. Two months later, the settlement was raided by the Korgons and thousands were killed.

  Kuryakin had been left an orphan. Voyd and the rest of the systems in that quadrant immediately joined Confederation following the attack – had it done so before, the Korgon's would have been stopped. The systems surrounding the Baktari would likely enter into talks to join as well. It seems the Empire is succeeding in bolstering our ranks better than we are, Kirn thought bitterly.

  "What else can you tell me about the attack on Baktari, Saris?" Kirn asked.

  The Valkar clasped his hands behind his back. "Two of their mining stations were attacked, along with at least a dozen of their starships. We do not have enough information yet to properly gauge the damage inflicted by the Korgons, but the fact that they were operating so far from the Empire is concern enough."

  "Yes it is," Kirn said, looking away. "It's common knowledge the Empire has been keen to start an interstellar war with the Confederation for over a century. This could be the start of outright hostilities in our territory."

  "Agreed. And their move against the Baktari could have been, in essence, the Empire 'dipping its toes into the water'. I believe I have the old Earth saying correct?"

  Kirn half-smiled. "I didn't think asking rhetorical questions was in your nature, Mr. Saris."

  Before the Valkar could respond, the older man at the end of the table grunted, "Could be just some sort of a rogue element, if you ask me."

  Saris shook his head slowly. He looked at Doctor Jackson Kelley with barely withheld exasperation and said, "I seriously doubt that, Doctor."

  "Oh you do, would you?"

  "Yes."

  "And how come? I know I'm not especially skilled in your areas of expertise, Saris. But I like to consider myself an enlightened man. Seems to me as fair an assumption to make as any other. What better way for a renegade Captain to impress his superiors than to take on some damned high-risk mission, to venture this deep into enemy territory and score a massive victory? Hell, we were doing that on our own planet to one another for centuries, gentlemen."

  "True enough. But the systematic attack of enemy territories would point to a strategic offensive, rather than a rogue ship adhering to its own agenda," Saris said.

  Kelley rolled his eyes. "I thought your kind were open to everything until proven otherwise? Eternal variations of infinite variables, or whatever the hell you call it."

  "My kind, as you put it, Doctor, form our decisions based on the facts as they are assembled and does not discount anything until it has been analyzed. For your information, it took me approximately four point two seconds to analyze your theory, compare it to known data and dismiss it."

  Kelley threw up his hands toward the Captain and said, "Now I'm having a conversation with a damned talking computer!"

  "So what do we do now, Kapitan?" Kuryakin asked, interrupting them mid-flow.

  "I want you to work with Mister Saris," Kirn said, thankful to the Ensign for his interjection. "See what you can learn about prominent Korgon Commanders. Try to determine who they would trust with this task. For whatever reason, they've sent that ship out here to stir up trouble. Perhaps incite us to attack them first, make it appear as if it is unprovoked."

  "We will give it our best effort, Captain," Saris said.

  "I am sure you won't let me down," Kirn said. He looked at Kelley across the table and said, "Doctor, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak with you in Sickbay."

  "What, you think I'd rather stick around listening to these two? At least the Russian knows he's confusing to listen to."

  Kirn shook his head and laughed as he headed through the door. When Kelley emerged, he said, "I could have sworn I detected a hint of sarcasm in your voice when you were talking about a 'renegade captain,' Jax."

  Kelley grunted as they started to walk, "It would take a far better medical practitioner than me to psychoanalyze you, Bill. Hell, it would probably take a whole team of them."

  A young woman approached them from the corridor, dark haired, with ample curves that were hugged by the form-fitting Confederation uniform. Ensign Sara Peters smiled at the Captain and said, "Good afternoon, sir. I'll see you on the Bridge later
on?"

  "Yes, you will," Kirn said, smiling back at her. Once she passed, he glanced sideways at Kelley and said, "Is there any chance we were talking a team of female psychoanalysts?"

  The Doctor sighed and said, "Incorrigible is a word that just doesn't get used enough on certain medical reports, you know. Remind me to try and correct that someday."

  2.

  Kirn flicked on one of the viewscreens built into the wall above the Sickbay beds, turning the dial until an image of Kuryakin appeared. The young man was bent forward, studying a Korgon ship schematic.

  Dr. Kelley touched his finger to the screen and said, "Are you sure this is wise? Letting the kid be involved with this?"

  "He was orphaned by the Korgons, Jax. I would think that gives him extra incentive to work harder."

  Kelley folded his arms, "And you mean to tell me that won't affect his judgment? It's an extra liability we don't need while we're out here on some damned wild goose hunt."

  The Doctor was the only one Kirn let push him like this, using the man's rustic sensibilities as a countermeasure against his own impulses. That had its limits though. "In fact, I think it gives Kuryakin motivation to do his best. He knows first-hand the costs of allowing the Korgons a foothold in our territory. The price of allowing the attack on Farstation Ellison go unanswered is beyond simple retribution. It's opening ourselves up to be slaughtered!"

  Kelley's face hardened as he looked at the Captain. "Is that why you wanted to talk to me here? To make sure Sickbay was ready for an influx of patients in case your bloodbath goes wrong?"

  Kirn felt his eye twitching and touched it with his fingers, massaging his cheek. He was getting tired and irritable. He took a deep breath and said, "Maybe. But what they did to those people on the Ellison. The Voyd. The Baktarians. Where does it stop, Jax? When do we let them know they can't just come into our backyards with their cloaked ships and murder as many of us as they want? Someone has to do something, and it seems that responsibility has fallen on me."