Chapter 4 – War


--UNSC Fryberg--

"Good Morning Ambassador." Said Admiral Copper

"Hello Admiral, I've contacted you to talk about the aliens we have encountered over in the Epsilon Khari system." Replied Binchy.

"I'm listening."

"Well. As you already know, we have been having trouble in getting these aliens to ally with us in our fight against the Covenant. If the scans of the alien fleet are correct, they would be invaluable allies. The Commander of the UNSC Fryberg seems to have struck up a friendly relationship with the aliens High Command. Therefore I suggest we propose an officer exchange between us. Hopefully learning more about the Covenant will get them to ally with us." Said Binchy.

"Hmmmmm... Interesting idea. Are you sure it will work?" Asked the Admiral

"No sir, but at the moment I believe we have no choice."

Suddenly an aide walked through the door and approached the Ambassador saying, "Mr. Binchy, the Duke Ecaz requests your presence."

Acknowledging the message Binchy turned back to the screen, "Sorry sir but I will have to cut this short. Can I ask for an officer exchange though?"

"Your request is approved. Just make sure they get on our side soon. We need them."

"Thank you Admiral." Said Binchy as he terminated the link. Turning to the aide he said, "Okay, take me to the shuttle."

Silently the aide turned and lead the way to a waiting Pelican.

--Landing Bay 1 on The Ecaz--

Standing in the observation room the Duke watched the Pelican head through the inner set of airlock doors and quickly land on the deck. As the rear doors opened on the Pelican he could see the head Ambassador from the UNSC walk out clutching a briefcase. Most likely full of papers, communication devices and jammers. The Officer in charge of the flight bay walked up to the Ambassador and escorted him to a waiting room and told him the Duke would be along presently. Using the extra seconds this gave him the Duke reviewed the information that he had come across in the war between the UNSC and the Covenant. If the information given to them was correct, then House Ecaz would go to war. Total genocide of a sentient species was something he couldn't sit by and watch. It went against everything he had been taught by his tutors and father. Time to find out the truth the Duke thought as he headed to the waiting room. Stepping through the door he said, "Thank you Ambassador for coming on such short notice."

"No problem Duke Ecaz." Replied Binchy, "I had no functions to attend to today."

"If you would follow me Ambassador, we can head to my office to discuss why I asked you over here." Asked the Duke.

"As you wish." Said Binchy smiling.

Walking through the corridors Binchy was impressed at how large this ship was. Larger than any ship constructed by the UNSC and probably the Covenant he thought, and they have artificial gravity as he bounced on his heels walking along.

After leading the Ambassador to his office, Brian sat in his chair and invited the Ambassador to sit down. Initiating the conversation, he said, "Ambassador Binchy, in my study of your recent history I came across a part that disturbed me greatly. It says that the Covenant, after gaining a human controlled world, systematically destroy it from pole to pole. It also states that they stated their intentions to exterminate you. In my home space, no matter how desperate you were, you never destroyed a habitable world. Even though we have devices the size of a person that can split a planet in two."

Shocked at this new information, it took the Ambassador several seconds to compose a response, "Duke Ecaz, what you have read is true, I have seen it with my own two eyes. Does this mean you will ally with us?"

"Not yet." Was the Duke's reply, "If it would be possible, could we interview some of your people to check that this is the truth."

Puzzled by this request Binchy asked, "How would you know if what our troops say is the truth and not some well fabricated lie?"

"We have people called Truthsayers in your language. They have an ability to see if someone is telling the truth no matter what they do. They are trained to enhance this ability and are aides to every single person who holds power. I myself have several under my direct command. What I would like is to have one of these people present as one of my officers interviews your men. Depending on the results we may or may not join your fight. Remember, we are only a few million people all up and we do not have the infrastructure to fight a large scale conflict at the moment."

"Understood, I will ask the station Commander if he can find some men that fill your requirements. I would also choose to participate in this interview process." Said Binchy.

"That will not be necessary Ambassador, I have had this conversation monitored by a truthsayer and mentat of mine. I am sorry I had to resort to these measures but in my universe, this is standard fare. Plus you haven't told us everything and neither have we told you everything. For example, in the histories you gave us, your home planet of Earth was mentioned but the co-ordinates were never given. So I ordered my mentats and navigation department to find Earth, it took many days but after piecing together many separate pieces of data we have found it." Typing a command into his console a hologram formed over the table, it showed the precise co-ordinates of Earth.

Even after years experiencing the arena of politics and diplomacy, Binchy was lost for words at this display of power. Regaining his composure he said, "Duke Ecaz, to change subjects I have a proposal for you. I'll dispense with the diplomatic protocol because of these displays of power and the fact that we are desperate." gesturing to the hologram, "I requested to my superiors that we initiate an officer exchange program between our two powers. I would like to propose it to you."

"I'll have to think about that Ambassador, I may have larger problems soon." Replied the Duke.

"Thank you Duke Ecaz. I think I should return to the station to report to my superiors on your abilities and request Commander Johann to get several men and women ready for the interview." Said Binchy as he stood.

"Very well Ambassador. Allow me to escort you back to your lighter." Replied the Duke as he walked past Binchy and opened the door.

Walking back to the shuttle Binchy's mind worked overtime comprehending the new things he had learnt on this single trip. After saying goodbye to the Duke, Binchy boarded the Pelican and ordered the pilot to return to the Fryberg. Acknowledging the order the line cut out and the ship started to lift. Reclining in a seat, Binchy began his report and prepared orders for Commander Johann. Quietly the Pelican flew out of the airlock and headed to the Fryberg.

--The Ecaz--

Duke Ecaz sat at the head of the large hardwood table that dominated the main briefing room in the Ecaz. Sitting in chairs near him were one of his mentats and two thruthsayers. Three days ago, Ambassador Binchy had contacted the Duke confirming that the interview had been approved by his superiors. The next three days were devoted to preparing the meeting. The holo projector set in the table came to life displaying the Flight Ops Officer, "Sir, the UNSC lighter has landed and the occupants are being led to the Fleet Briefing room by Vice Admiral Michael presently."

Replying, Brian said, "Acknowledged Flight Ops, keep the landing bay clear and let the Pelican move to the head of the cue."

"Affirmative sir." Said the hologram as it winked out of existence.

Turning to his men he said, "Make your final preparations, you know how important this could be."

After about a quarter of an hour the door opened and Michael led eight people through. There were three marines, three naval personal, Ambassador Binchy and Commander Johann. Quietly the assembled men sat down and waited patiently for the proceedings to begin. Deciding to get the ball rolling the Duke chose to speak first.

"I welcome those from the UNSC to my ship, The Ecaz. You know why you have been asked to come here so I think we should get right down to business."

"Thank you Duke Ecaz, if it is all right with you I will volunteer to answer your questions first." Said Commander Johann, speaking before Binchy could say anything.

"That is fine with me Commander. My first question is, 'Have the Covenant ever destroyed or rendered any habitable UNSC world uninhabitable?'" Asked the Duke.

Waiting a few seconds to gather his thoughts, the Commander replied, "Duke Ecaz, whenever the Covenant successfully conquer a human held world or are forced off it by our Marines they bombard the surface with all of their plasma weaponry and turn the surface into a wasteland."

The Duke waited to gather his own thoughts before proceeding, "Thank you for telling us this Commander, can you have the men and women under your command here answer the same question."

The Commander nodded to the Marines to do as asked. The first Marine to answer was relatively young man whose eyes told of unspeakable horrors he had seen. He took a slow trembling breath and said, "Two years ago I was posted to a frontier colony that had yet to be attacked by the Covenant, a month later they came, we fought them on the ground forcing them into a stalemate, but no less than five days later they pulled out. We quickly followed their lead and packed up, none of us knew what was happening. After landing on the Cruiser Steadfast we headed to the gymnasium to see what was happening. The Captain had fed the stern camera to the main screen in the gym. What we saw stunned us. The world that we had spent thousands of lives defending was being burnt to a cinder, the entire planet was aflame. There were people in the gym breaking down all around me. I even heard a few strangled cries as several people took their own lives after seeing the horror. The Covenant ships just ignored us, destroying the planet was more important to them then killing those that had killed their own." Closing his eyes the Marine sat down, tears dripping from the corners of his eyes.

This went on for another 40 minutes as the other Marines and Naval personal repeated their own stories. It was over five minutes until anyone spoke.

"Thank you for your information. I don't know how hard it was for you to say all of that." Said the Duke, turning to the Commander and the Ambassador he said, "Gentlemen, you will have your reply within 24 of your hours. Please excuse me while I talk to my men in council. Once again, thank you for what you have done today." Quietly he ordered his men out of the room and headed to his office with them in tow.

--In the Duke's office--

Sitting down the Duke got straight to work, "Was what they said true."

They both nodded and one of them decided to add something, "M'Lord, I detected no falsehood in their statements. What they said is true and all of our evidence supports this. In council I suggest that you declare war against these Covenant. What they have done is an atrocity. Just because they can does not excuse them from being exempt from basic honor."

"Understood. Michael, your analysis and suggestions?"

"I also recommend that you declare war upon this Covenant. Even though we are few in number, we cannot let this atrocity go unpunished lest it happen to us later." Said Michael.

"Thank you. Go now and let me think over what we are about to do."

--On the bridge of The Ecaz--

"Comms, open a channel on all frequencies." Ordered the Duke.

"Open and ready sir" replied the comms officers

Taking a few seconds to prepare himself, the Duke started his address, "Men and women of House Ecaz and United Nations Space Command. After much deliberation with officials from both sides about the conflict between the Covenant and the UNSC I have made a decision." He let that hang in the air then continued, "I, The Most Honorable Duke Brian Ecaz of House Ecaz hereby declare war with the Covenant Hegomany and all its allies. We will not rest until a peace is brokered between all sides or the Covenant Hegomany and all of its allies are destroyed."

Finishing his address, the Duke walked to his command chair and opened an fleet only channel. "All Fleet Officers will report to the Fleet Briefing room in seven hours. The Duke out."

Quietly he headed back to his quarters to prepare for war.