Chapter Eleven
Two weeks after Benson and Huang left Center Neptune, the planned attack against the Spectra Imperium launched. Federation forces destroyed or captured fifty-plus staging and supply bases on both sides of the border with the Empire. Imperial forces, hampered by the lack of interlinked computers for time-warp travel, had fought well, but been defeated or captured. Their isolation made them determined to fight back, but also meant they had no fallback positions where they could regroup, nor any chance of back-up or reinforcements.
G-Force, along with similar units, remained ready in case enemy ships appeared behind the lines. Desperate generals and captains might decide the risk of ending up elsewhen was worth the effort. If they died taking down a Federation ship or base, they would die heroes. Enough might turn the tide against the Federation. So far, no such attacks had occurred.
"Fifty bases. Not bad, but not enough," Jason said.
"We want to win this war, not conquer the Empire." Mark knew that would be a drain on the Federation. The Empire was too large. Better if Spectra sued for peace. The Federation would be spared the expense of occupation and administration, and could concentrate on keeping the extremists and 'Never say die' types from causing trouble.
That didn't keep him from wanting to see Z'ólt'ár and Mala captured and tried for their crimes. But not executed. That would make them heroes and martyrs, and inspire rebellion. Alive and punished was enough. They could remain figureheads as the government of Spectra changed. History showed what happened when civilizations were forced to change too quickly and radically. The social disintegration and cultural chaos were too high a price to pay for an 'acceptable leader.'
Two Spectran commodores risked their ships and crews attacking behind Federation lines. One took three ships to a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, only to have them come out of warp in different centuries. All three would be captured, but nobody would know until it happened.
The other targeted the Federation Security building in Manhattan. News organizations had live feeds of the counter-attack by G-Force and drone planes. The drones played their usual role of intercepting the missiles fired by the Spectran ship.
Tiny jigged and jagged the Phoenix, annoying the mecha crew until they followed G-Force over the Hudson River. There, Jason broke it apart with a few well-aimed missiles. Most of the crew survived, and were captured by police or military as they made shore.
Of the fifty bases, the ones inside Federation space were taken over and re-garrisoned. Analysts went over every surviving inch of the remains, confirming or correcting previous knowledge about Spectra's operational capabilities and technology.
These operating and supply bases had been located on uninhabited worlds, to prevent discovery. While Spectra could, and did, put bases on inhabited worlds, these tended to be for espionage and sabotage, and completely self-contained.
Bases in Spectra Imperial territory were near cities that could provide labor and manufacturing support. Attacks on them were planned to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible. For whatever reason, the otherwise ruthless Z'ólt'ár (and previous Emperors) had not placed the bases under or in the middle of the cities. Still, urban sprawl and settlement patterns had placed enough non-combatants in harm's way to make casualties inevitable.
A little over nine months after Anderson's rescue, Federation Intelligence picked up two internal Imperial communications. Mala nâl Afés'trin had given birth to a boy, named after her father, Va'dõr'an. A week or so later, Z'ólt'ár's consort, Patricia Hayes, a human defector-turned-assassin, had a daughter, named Nir'aÿan, after a legendary empress.
Anderson, even as he hoped that he wasn't the father, researched legal avenues. Just in case.
He knew what some people would want to do. He knew that a purported 'rescue' would begin a messy propaganda war and be a sticking point in any future negotiations with Spectra. Whatever Mala's true plans for her child, she would be justified in calling it a kidnapping, and there would be many in the Federation who would see it the same way. Spectra could play the 'Mother deprived of her child' angle and make the Federation look hypocritical, not to mention that the implications of such an act would terrify parents throughout the Empire. A great reason to continue the fight.
Although he also wanted to get the boy out (if only because Va'dõr'an was a complete innocent), there was little reason to think the child in any danger. Mala was a member of the royal family and held high rank in Spectra's government and military. The pregnancy must have been expected (even intended), so she would not neglect or abuse him.
Still -
He sat conflicted, then reached for the phone.
The best Benson could offer was sympathy and the names of some people and organizations who might be able to help him deal with his emotions. "Most of the people in this situation are women," she said to Anderson. Because they had given birth.
"I find myself hoping I'm not the father. I don't know how I would react if I ever had proof of it. What happened was bad enough…. Oh, I'm sorry, Olivia. I forgot."
"Hey, I understand how you feel." She did. Her relationship with her mother had always been rocky because her father was a rapist. She knew her mother had not been able to look at her without being reminded of the attack, and doubted the feelings would be any different for a man in a similar situation. Other women in that position had similar feelings towards their children. And, in this case, the child was a potential heir to an enemy's throne. "I know you'll do the right thing."
"Doing the right thing isn't always easy," he admitted. "Thank you for listening.
The official Imperial announcement of the births made news in the Federation. Pundits held forth, and Jefferson Kavanaugh tried to use it for a comeback. Many urged that Mala's and Z'ólt'ár's obviously half-human children should be 'rescued.' After all, they were half-human. Others made the same points that Anderson had considered, and a few he had not.
Well, now we know this wasn't false information to needle Anderson into ordering something foolish, Benson thought. As if he would have done such.
As for 'rescue': during her police career, she had been involved in far too many custody disputes. Not all of them were clear-cut 'abusive parent vs non-abusive parent' cases (which could be resolved with proper investigation). Too many non-custodial (and a couple of custodial) parents, unwilling to accept court judgments, had kidnapped children, necessitating long searches. When they were found, there were the court battles and 'he said, she said' declarations, accusations of abuse, neglect and anything else that would get an edge with a judge and jury, and the children suffering through it all. There were the conflicts within multi-ethnic families, whether the members were foreign or American citizens, for various reasons. Those were even messier, as both parents might have valid reasons, based on their cultures, for claiming the children (assuming that neither one was merely being selfish).
This would be a custody dispute with interstellar ramifications. Spectra was a sovereign power, and at war with the Federation. Anderson might not have any legal recourse under Spectran law. Even if he did, without clear evidence that Va'dõr'an was abused, he dared not act. They really would have to wait and see.
"I know what I'd want to do," Stabler said, tossing aside the newspaper carrying the story. He shook his head. "Those idiots who second-guess Anderson don't have to think about the consequences of a bad call."
"They don't even think about how their words are used by Imperial propagandists, or what others in the Federation think." Kavanaugh was still stuck in his hole at the only radio station that would hire him. And, amazingly, there were a few female commentators who seemed to think Mala had struck a blow against male oppression, rather than carrying out her duties towards Spectra. Other women had their heads on straight, and condemned such thinking.
"I wonder if Z'ólt'ár laid a trap? If I were in his place, I'd prepare for someone playing hero. Just in case."
Which was another reason Anderson used when he forbade missions to 'rescue' the child who might be his son. Aside from the legal and political problems, he would not have anyone risk entering a trap.
Everyone in Federation Security knew that Chief Anderson was straightforward. There were no 'understandings' in his orders, no implied permission for disobedience. This was real life, not the movies or television. Anyone who went to Spectra was insubordinate, and would be punished upon return. If they survived.
So far, no covert missions. Z'ólt'ár hadn't expected Anderson to be so foolish or reckless, but there was always a chance that someone would try to rescue a child who did not need rescuing.
Just as well (at least for the intruder): Mala would kill anyone who tried to take Va'dõr'an. And if she didn't, I would. No-one gets to our children without our permission.
Patricia, his 'little mouse', shared his feelings. Let an enemy get too close to the children, and she would wipe the nursery with the fool.
One of these children would be the next ruler of the Imperium. He knew who he preferred, but Va'dõr'an could just as easily be the heir. Assuming Anderson lived so long, his reaction would be interesting to see.
Seven months after the Federation attack on the Empire, Z'ólt'ár oversaw the destruction of Center Neptune. G-Force and Anderson escaped, along with at least half of the personnel.
Anyone with a brain knew the war was about to get hotter.
