The Great Fish Pond
At least we're doing it right this time around, Grazot mused. The trek across the choppy waters of The Pond would be much different than they'd been on his last trip. No spur of the moment scavenging for a vessel. No threats or bribes. No senseless loss of life. They were not going in a small craft, as before; they were going in the largest boat the apes possessed. Not only that, but there would be two companion ships to haul supplies and support personnel. The Island was going to become a central operations center for the Alliance. It was to be synced with New Washington and the relay stations in Caesarea.
Grazot made all the arrangements, covered all the expenses, and now had a hand picked crew based on the skills necessary to expedite the mission's success and completion. He looked around at his old homeland. Things were certainly changing. Several of the workers were fascinated with the equipment being both loaded and installed on the ship. Others were gawking at the tracked and wheeled vehicles in the convoy. Men were assisting apes and apes were working with men. The two races were even beginning to joke and create small ties. Nothing big, but at least the insults had stopped.
"Full circle, eh General? Back to where it all started" Hayes said as he skipped a flat stone across the face of the water.
"Yeah, so it would seem." The ape replied. "How's it going with the supplies?"
"We're almost loaded, Sir." Hayes answered. "All except for those crates you wanted segregated. They're in the supply tent as you ordered. I thought the ship's captain or whoever he is was going to have kittens though. He nearly wet his pants when you sent Tom and the other humans his way to make the final arrangements."
Grazot laughed. "It was a sight at that wasn't it? I wish I could have captured that expression he had when the Major first spoke up and handed him that manifest with the state seal on its face. He must have thought he'd lost his mind. But March is a good soldier and he knows how to cut through the crap and get things done, so the harbor master is going to have to learn how to deal with him and the rest of you furless muties. Listen, I want us underway in the morning so we'll have plenty of daylight to make this trip. It's bad enough to have to go back into that water, but I'll be damned, if I'm traversing it in the dark. I don't plan to take an unscheduled midnight swim."
"Ok enough on that" Grazot went on to say. "What about the enhancements? Do you think they'll be done by morning?"
"Fitting these vessels with motors and power cells isn't really that complicated. A lot of the work is already done too" Jon explained. "But most of the problem is with the weight of the equipment. In the larger ship we have to get that stuff down to the lower decks, but that's where your people help. You can lift ten times what the average man can, maybe more. I could have used a few of you when I got married. My in-laws gave us this oak cabinet. That thing weighed more than my car. I nearly broke my back getting it into the house. And then my wife wanted it upstairs, in our bedroom."
"Females, yes they can certainly make the simple, more complex" Grazot stated.
Hayes gave a half smile, in agreement, to the remark. A second later he got back on subject; "You don't have to worry about the trip across the water; with the onboard motors we'll be there before you know it. That island can't be more than an hour away at the most"
Hayes pointed out at the large Canadian lake and continued. He threw the last stone in his hand and paused as it 'kir-plunked' into the water. "I've operated speed boats since I was a kid. My family had one at our cottage, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This isn't all that different than Lake Superior. Once things are in place I can easily manage one of the supply crafts. But your soldiers need to realize that we'll be moving fast and the water can get choppy. That can make for an uncomfortable and bumpy ride. I don't need a midnight swim either. Just make sure they don't panic and pull me in."
"We'll address all of that in due course" Grazot stated. "But I actually called you here to get your opinion on something else."
"Um, ok?" Hayes replied inquisitively. "What's that?"
They walked over to a large supply tent and stepped inside. A couple of the local primates gazed at the man like he was some kind of alien from outer space. The astronaut was used to it by now but to Grazot it was becoming extremely old. His infatuation with humans had worn off long, long ago. He hardly noticed a difference anymore and he didn't have time for these childish fascinations.
"Stop gawking like that and finish with the inventory or the next thing you'll be staring at is the bottom of the Pond" He hollowly threatened. The General had no intention of drowning the apes, but they certainly got his point.
"Open that crate, there." Grazot said pointing at a very long rectangular container in the corner.
Hayes grabbed the crowbar and pried the lid back. He grasped and pulled at the padding and various protections insulating the object below. When he saw what was there, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Where did you get these?" He asked in confusion. "Better yet, how, did you get these?" Hayes rubbed the Kevlar box with his hand as he quietly read the writing on its face; "United States Air Force. DOD Serial Number – A51200902457 – Intrepid Class SAM. These areSurface to Air Missiles".
"Our forefathers migrated to this land after a great bomb killed nearly every human and ape in the banned territories …or the part they inhabited anyway. Prefect Sullen's grandfather was our first leader. Or maybe it was his great-grandfather, I don't recall exactly. Anyway, he began telling stories of your kind and rewriting history. He thought that your technology was some kind of evil taboo that had doomed both species. However, when they migrated north, they took things like these …machines… along with some books in the event that humans ever returned. He thought that if he could introduce technology in small pieces, it could be controlled." Grazot explained.
"Yes" Hayes said still fixated on the weapons. "You told us this already. So this is part of the supplies they took. What am I supposed to do with them? They're far superior to any SAM I've ever seen. Besides, these are used to take out air craft… Flying machines, General"
"I'm not sure I fully understand it either" The General replied. "I just heard about them myself, before we left. These were supposed to be taken to Kawaka, but they never made it out of Arum. Evidently, several dozen apes lost their lives when they first tried to manipulate their workings. The Lord Prefect doesn't want Polk or St. James knowing of these, or any other relics we have, but he thought that maybe you could make use of them."
"Well that would explain why one of them is missing." Hayes stated. "What other surprises does your fearless leader have tucked away? But, like I said, this is for engaging air craft. They also require some sort of radar and ground control signals. You don't just push a button and watch it go."
"Well, we need to think of something. The Imperiam have some kind of flying crafts" Grazot answered somberly. "One of the human recon elements confirmed that two days ago ...Just before it killed every one of them"
"General, if that's true, we are in big trouble. If they gain air superiority, our armies will never be able to advance. They'll pick us off like flies. We have no idea what type of aircraft those are or what defenses they possess. We only have three SAMs. Even if they're sophisticated enough to take out their planes, what good is that against an entire air fleet?" Hayes asked.
"Well, it's all we have and it's better than nothing." Grazot stated trying to stay optimistic.
Outside the tent, Corporal Price was crouched on one knee as if he were sorting through supplies. He quietly stood and looked right, then left. It was still clear. The man slipped into the wooded area where he was mildly concealed. He removed the small device that resembled a compass and popped the face of the object. Next he pressed the voice only option. Then he quietly spoke into its face. "This is Monarch eight one. The recon element is in position and will be moving towards the radar station within eight to ten hours. Once we reach the objective I'll send a final V.V.L. Be advised that enemy is in possession of three Surface to Air Missiles and has knowledge of what they believe to be Imperiam Air Craft." He quickly closed the face of the compass as he saw someone approaching. "Monarch eight one, out". He closed the face of the object and rolled it between his hands, as if he were bored.
"Price, what are you doing out here?" The man asked. He was a twenty one year old Staff Sergeant. Advancement within the Human Coalition was sometimes rapid. The young man formally entered the military at the age of nineteen. Within two years most of the leadership he'd know, at that time, were now dead. He'd advanced to a senior noncommissioned officer in no time at all.
"Hey, Max. I'm just taking in the sights." Price convincingly lied as he tossed the compass up and down, in his palms, a few times. "Can you believe all this vegetation? …and green vegetation at that. I just thought I'd slip away and enjoy it, for a second. I overheard the General talking about getting us underway soon. Man, I sure could get used to this. It beats staring at rocks and dirt all day. It's hard to believe that a place like this even exists"
"Yeah," the Noncom replied. "I think we've all noticed that. How could we not notice? But you'd better get back there. You're the General's driver and runner. He may want something. You know how officers can get".
"Yeah," Price said with a sarcastic huff. "What do you think of all this buddy-buddy stuff with these monkeys? First we take their capital and now we're sharing resources and intelligence with them."
"It is a lot to swallow, but as long as we're sitting on that tech back in New Washington, I guess I can live with it for now. I was in the assault on their capital. That was history too. For as long as I can remember they've been kicking the crap out of us left and right. They've had their boots to our necks for years. But this new threat is bigger than all of us combined. Maybe when it's over we can all live a normal life." Max answered. "Come on let's get back there before the Monkey needs a banana."
Price smiled and slapped the man on the shoulder. "Of course Sarge, whatever you say." And with that the two strolled back into the camp.
Imperiam Palace – The Capital City: New Eden
Emperor Marcus yawned as the two Nobles before him argued back and forth over a property dispute. He could think of a hundred things he'd rather be doing but by Imperiam law, as land owners, the two lords had the right to appeal directly to the throne. Their case had been heard several times and the lower courts had reached a stalemate. The crown was the final arbitrator in a case such as this.
Lucky me, the Emperor thought.
The argument was petty as far as the Monarch was concerned. One was arguing about the other butchering his slaves. Something over the splitting of a family due to an unpaid debt. The family had been segregated and sold into servanthood to cover the financial loss.
Evidently, the father escaped and went out his to retrieve his children. While on the land of the second party he'd been shot stealing them back. In retaliation the first party sent one of his simian slaves to slaughter the three surviving children belonging to the second party. He not only did that but he burned the servant's quarters to the ground and killed several of his livestock. He'd been captured and hung but the damage was done. Now both were screaming accusations and demanding compensation and punishment.
"…And furthermore, Your Eminence, in addition to the holo evidence, I have an itemized e-statement of both actual and projected losses…" the man rambled on.
"Enough," Marcus shouted rubbing his temples in frustration. "You both sound like a couple of adolescent school boys. You're Nobility for crying out loud. You ought to be an example to the commoners. Instead you're out there waging your own private war. I should have you both shot just to put you out of my misery. And if I have to listen to anymore of this, I might have them shoot me too."
The two men stopped dead in their tracks and bowed in reverence. It was more in fear, but the gesture portrayed respect. They waited uncomfortably as the Emperor took his time to speak the next thought; hoping it wouldn't be orders to have them brought before a firing squad.
"You" he finally said pointing at one of the men. "You will compensate him for the loss in labor and cattle. Further, you'll pay any damages caused by your runaway servant. And you," he continued looking at the other. "In turn, you will replace his loss of labor. No compensation will be awarded for any kind of projected or estimated losses of profit or gain by either party. You take your slaves, rebuild your structures and leave the killing and destruction to our military. Am I clear?"
The man who'd lost his three slaves and servant quarters wasn't happy. His production had dropped considerably due to the reduction in his labor force. He'd lost a month's wages already. However, he was no fool. He stuffed his frustration, smiled slightly and said "As you wish, Excellency. Thank you for your wise and benevolent council."
The second babbled something similar but his groveling was a bit more sincere. He'd gotten off rather easy considering what he'd caused. Rioting could have broken out and that would have cost him his life.
"And let me include this, gentlemen." Marcus added. "If I see either one of you in here again regarding this or any other matter, you'll both seriously regret it. Consider things settled. Again, am I clear?"
"Of course, Sire. By your leave, Majesty" the two men said as they left the great hall.
"The Bondsmen will work out the damages and compensation" The judicial treasurer said as she waved them off in his direction.
No sooner had the room been emptied when the lord of the court whispered that the military leadership was requesting an audience.
"Never a moment's peace" The man muttered while shaking his head. "Ok, show them in."
Admiral Shunt and General Cade walked into the chamber with their aids and support personnel. The Emperor ordered refreshments to be brought in. "Better to do these things on full stomach, eh gentlemen?" He said with a smile. The truth was, he was hungry and that's all that mattered.
"So Admiral Shunt, what is so important that we had to meet under such immediate circumstances?" Marcus asked. "Oh, and by the way, your selection of consorts was better than I could have hoped for. The Kingdom thanks you."
"You are too kind, Excellency," Shunt stated with a nod. The man pressed a button and a holo-map appeared. "If you'll look at the chart, Sire you can see where our forward elements are deployed. We have several armored battalions and artillery support units here and here. They're identified by these orange dots. Infantry units are at these locations in green. The enemy is massing on these lines here and farther north, here, in red. We believe that …"
Shunt went on to explain the full deployment of the Eastern Theater. He reported on the status of the other combat units as well. There were also Imperiam special ops working in the region. Cade presented his plans on reestablishing a new HHQ and stated that additional security forces were being deployed so that any further attacks could be spotted long before they ever approached their positions.
Cade also lied as he falsified reports from the spy network. Though they'd successfully assimilated into the enemy's ranks, nothing had been received in days. In truth, all but a two or three had ceased communication entirely, but Cade was not about to share that with the Emperor. It would just fuel his ambitions to attack that much more. Instead the General simply reported good news of gathered intelligence and sabotage of the enemy's bases and forward elements.
Cade's final briefing was on the status of the dismantled nuclear devices and their conversion to energy cubes. He spoke of plans to create air craft and he ratted off some impressive but inconsequential statistics and percentages regarding moral, equipment, troop strength, and logistics. He finished up with a phony projected timeline.
It was all falling into place. Or so it seemed. Cade and the military leadership were content until the Emperor shattered it all with; "I want us to attack within two weeks. Once the new Com HQ is place, we move."
"Excellency?" Cade asked carefully. "With all due respect, Sir, that's a bit aggressive, don't you think? We have to neutralize their orbital missile system or …"
"Or what, General?" Marcus blurted out. "You just gave me a status report of sunshine and bunny rabbits. What's the big roadblock now? Your spies are obviously terrorizing the enemy from within and they're doing a damn good job at it. Have them focus on the ground interfaces with their satellites. Destroy their links to the ODN; suicide runs if necessary. We certainly have enough bodies out there for it. I'm sure they'd be honored to serve their Empire in its glorious victory"
This was one of the rare occasions in his life where Cade was at a loss for words. His big mouth had gotten him into this mess and he couldn't think of a thing to say except; "Yes, Sire. I'll arrange it immediately." He nonchalantly looked at Shunt and watchfully shook his head.
The briefing lasted another half hour but Cade paid little attention. Instead his mind was spinning for an alternative. The missile platforms were no where near completion and the nukes needed to be moved and hidden. That was no small task. He'd already pushed Chapman to his limit. Mixing things up now might push the weak fool over the edge.
Two weeks. His disregard for the obvious is going to cripple the Empire. I'm going to have to delay the set up of the Communications element somehow, Cade thought as he walked out of the great hall.
Kawaka
Sullen had experienced enough traveling to last a lifetime. He'd spent the past two months wandering from Argos to Kawaka and back again more times than he wished to count. It was good to be home, but he couldn't help but think of his departed family. Spring was coming and his wife always loved the warmer weather. His youngest son had a birthday coming up and that made things all the more bitter. These subtle reminders seemed to be everywhere.
Knock – knock echoed suddenly through the room. Sullen popped back into the present and said "Enter".
General Mikos walked in with Colonel Brewster. The Imperiam Officer was still being shadowed by security elements but things had eased up considerably. He'd been a great benefit to the Ape nation and he'd also benefited Sullen personally. The ape felt ten years younger and possessed a renewed energy since the doctor had been treating his injuries. The Prefect hadn't used a cane in over a week and half and the pain in his knee was nearly nonexistent. His mind, body, and stamina; all of it made him feel like he was in his prime again.
"The prisoners talked, Lord Prefect." Mikos stated. "We have a few names and specific locations. But there's a catch. So do you want the good news or the bad news?"
"I'm sure none of it is going to be good but let me hear it anyway." Sullen stated.
"Thanks to the Colonel here," Mikos answered, "we've located every spy within the Alliance. Oddly enough there were only four. Three were with the humans in their southern capital. Communications report they've been neutralized. That's the good news, Sir."
"Ok" Sullen said "Spit it out. What's the bad news? Where is the forth?"
"The last one is with General Grazot and his element and we didn't get a name or species. The prisoner hung himself this morning." Mikos said plainly. "And we can't reach Grazot either. In our last communiqué, he reported that he was about to embark for the island."
"Whoever that person is, Excellency, you can bet he's on the way there to sabotage your sensor array." Brewster added.
Sullen had given up on correcting Brewster. The man was determined to use Sire, majesty and every other irritating title he could muster up. But that was the least of his worries.
"Ok, gentleapes, I have a plan." Sullen replied. "If executed correctly it just may give us a fighting chance. Colonel, you say that every citizen is implanted with one of those chips, as you called them."
Brewster nodded.
"That object you have…it can sense and disable a person implanted with the device…Can you build something like that on a larger scale?" Sullen asked.
"Maybe, Sir" The Doctor stated. "If you had the equipment, I suppose I could, but its range is limited… probably to Three thousand meters; maybe four in an open area."
"But it is possible, then." The ape said standing to his feet. "Listen, if we could build such devices and place them strategically, we could disrupt their advance, capture their equipment, turn this into a more even battle"
"Well, Lord Sullen," the man replied in a reverent posture. "I suppose it's probable, but the Imperiam will pound your cities to dust before any ground elements move in. Of course, you could bury the transmitters, but you'll limit their range even further. You could deliver them by missile. If you have any, of course. That could be an option as well."
"Doctor," Sullen asked. "Could you instruct the Human Coalition and Polk's scientist on how to construct such devices?"
Brewster nodded again. "It should be easy enough. All you need is a steady frequency broadcasted on standard communication equipment in a wide band. I can probably build you something in a couple of weeks or so…"
"No" Sullen interrupted. "You're coming with me. We have to find that last spy and that bloody equipment of yours only works for you. Make the necessary arrangements General Mikos. As much as I hate leaving, I'm heading for the Pond"
"As you wish …Excellency" Mikos replied with an over embellished bow and a grin.
Approximately Thirty Five Kilometers NE of Tepoc City
Boom – Boom – Boom – the artillery shells exploded in a linear sequence and took out a full city block in the process. In the distance apes spilled out of the garrison and buildings running in every direction possible.
The town was in chaos but the military did their best to organize. The enemy knew just where to strike. Their water reserves had been hit and parts of the city were inundated in a thick muddy paste. It had literally cut the town in two. The garrison was still standing but that was only because it had been shielded by some of the taller structures. The only good news, if you could call it that, was the cities main power supply. It was underground and shielded from the bombardment.
"Rollo" the ape yelled "Get yourself to high ground and see if you can't find out where that artillery fire is coming from."
"Roger, Lieutenant" Rollo replied as he leapt in the air and scaled the tallest structure he could find. His heart was pounding as screams and secondary explosions went off all around him. He looked out at the militia and mechanized units in the distance.
"Forget the artillery." He shouted "We've got enemy units approaching in iron, track vehicles."
The gorilla officer paused and shouted at another soldier. "We need to get counter fire on that position ASAP! Get on a horse and see if you can help our field artillery dig their heads out of their collective rears so they can put some bullets into the air."
As soon as he finished he heard a familiar whistle buzzing through the air above. The Lieutenant ordered anyone within earshot to take cover. He cussed and beat the dirt with his fist as he watched Rollo and the structure he was on shatter in a sweltering blaze. Chunks of gravel and dirt peppered his hide. It stung as the tiny elements scarped across his flesh.
"Why would the humans attack, LT?" a young private asked. "I thought we signed an armistice."
The ape ignored the ignorance of the inquiry and simply replied with. "Who said it was the humans?"
The officer immediately called out to one of his Platoon Sergeants and gave the order of "Steel Rain". It was the emergency code that Polk and St James had worked out if an attack were to hit. All Territorial and Coalition cities had a predestinated code that corresponded back to a set of coordinates within the ODN. Every officer and NCO had been given the code. It was the only alternative the officer decided.
The ape understood the order. He tore off a piece of his uniform and wrapped his wounded thigh. The cloth immediately soaked up the blood spilling out of the wound. He then wobbled to a horse and rode off towards the communications center. I hope it's still there, he thought to himself.
Several meters north a crackled voice filled the air of the Imperiam Fire Direction Center. "This is Raven-one; I'm reducing speed and will be over the target in approximately 2 Mikes. Please hold your fire until I signal again, over"
"Sir," the RTO shouted to his commander outside the vehicle, "Air support is requesting that we cease our barrage for the next few minutes. They're coming up on the target"
The Platoon executive officer acknowledged and relayed the information to the gun line. He instructed the artillery battery to stand down.
Within the cockpit, the pilot in command flipped the com switch to the internal communications channel. "Ok Miles, talk to me. What do you have?"
Captain Miles glanced at the screen and said "There's a power reading off our Port side at 10 o'clock. It's buried …eighteen meters underground. No Bios in the vicinity. I'm sending the coordinates to navigation. We also have some sort of heavy equipment on the far side of the town."
The navigator acknowledged. "Coordinates received and logged Skipper. We have one primary target and two alternates."
The three man flight crew looked down at the settlement as the plane dove. Most of the city was leveled. The parts that weren't, were burning out of control. A small militia had formed in the western portion of the city. They looked like tiny little ants scurrying about after some child had stepped on their hill.
It didn't matter anyway. They died before they ever knew what hit them. The plane pounded the underground power cells and strafed a few more targets. Minutes later it disappeared into the clouds and headed back for home. Once it was out of range and the pilot had signaled the all clear, armored units with infantry support advanced towards the city with blazing speed.
Off in the distance, the Territorial soldier grasped at the communications equipment. His bloody thigh and exposed side told him he didn't have long to live. He was light headed and his vision was blurring. It was ironic he thought as he reached out to his bitter enemy for help, but orders were orders. He plugged in the emergency signal and said "Mayday, mayday – This is the Territorial city of Tepoc, steel rain, I say again, steel..." The ape fell over and died just as the structure went up in a ball of fire.
"Transmission stopped, Sir and the bio is neutralized" the observer in the Imperiam tank stated. "But some of it got through".
In New Washington a Coalition Major received the news shortly after the message came in.
"Get a holo-image up now. I want this verified." The man ordered.
The technician fumbled with a few buttons and warned of the power drain, but within seconds, it was confirmed. The Major entered the code and the automated systems did the rest. The ODN launched enough ordinance based on want it calculated from the Major's Intel.
Three missiles spread across fifty kilometers, was all it took. The orbital platform released the clamps. The power generators and the micro processors within the rockets core ignited and the projectiles made their calculated descent towards the atmosphere. Their internal targeting pinged the selected objectives and processed it along with New Washington's statistics in a millisecond. They evenly spread out over the impact area calculating maximum yield. That information also included the apes in Tepoc. Once confirmed, the objects went to mac-2 and streaked through the sky.
The advancing Imperiam units were caught blind and hit like a sledgehammer. The firepower rained down and engulfed every soul and object within its predetermined range. Several large mushroom clouds of dust and flame rose into the sky. When it was done all of Tepoc was obliterated as if it had never existed.
Every Imperiam soldier within the fifty kilometer radius was also vaporized. No one on either side survived. The city and surrounding desert were now one large smoldering depression of dirt, molten metallic fragments, and sullied fused rock and glass. Just outside of the blast radius, the surrounding dried out vegetation burned with a violent combustion caused by the outward push of the exploding force. The inhabitants in the next ape settlement looked up at the fiery reflections bouncing off the heavens.
Imperiam Military Command
Admiral Shunt walked into Cade's office without even knocking. It took all of his self control to remain poised. Cade took little offense to the intrusion. He knew the man well and the look on his face was signaling; disaster.
Shunt took out a small device and fixated it to wall. He pressed its face, paused about three seconds and waited for the object to light up. "We have to talk, Cade, now"
"Colonel Parks, will you give us a moment?" Cade asked.
"He can stay." The Admiral said signaling for Parks to remain seated. "What I have to say won't remain a secret for long. Besides, it won't take Imperiam intelligence long before they realize they're being jammed."
"Hmmpf" Cade huffed mockingly. "I have half of them in my back pocket. Besides they only listen when I want them to. No one is going to show up at my door. So get it out my friend, have we been exposed?"
"No nothing like that, Sir …mind if I have a drink?" he said, changing the subject for a moment. Cade waved him off with a smile but said "Will you stop dancing around it and spit it out already?"
Shunt gulped back the liquor and filled Cade in on the Emperor's unilateral orders to attack the eastern alliance at what he called 'one of their weak spots'. "The only weak spot is between our Sovereign's ears" the man added angrily. "Look at these aerial holo images."
Cade tapped the pad and watched the static images flash before him. Shunt filled the images in with combat status updates from the field commanders and V.V.L. data.
"Good gosh" Parks stated as the photos stopped on the final image. "Look at the destruction. Everything's gone. These warheads are different than the ballistics they fired at our probe of the Sigma Twelve outpost. They look like they're sub-nuclear"
"Damn straight, Colonel. They're some kind of ion based missile. Similar to what we used in the Demeeka uprisings of '88" Shunt replied gritting his teeth. "Three hundred men and one hundred and twenty eight apes, gone Cade. Just gone. We lost two full armor battalion and as well as the combat support elements. Thank the fates that Raven survived. Until we build more, it's the only air unit at our disposal."
Cade was stunned, as was Parks "Why would he do it Sir?" the Colonel asked. "He knows they'd retaliate with their orbital missiles. I proved that when we attacked the northern ape province. That was the whole reason for the raid. I briefed the Senate myself. Lord Marcus was sitting right there…"
"Give it a rest Colonel" He answered. "You're trying to explain this with reason and logic. We all know how eager Marcus is to expand our territories and add gold to his coffers. The fool got drunk last night with his harem. He started ranting in anger and gave the order."
Parks asked. "But the Senate has proxy in these matters. Why would they sanction it?"
"They didn't know" Shunt said shaking his head. "Hell, I'm supposed to be his chief military advisor and I found out from General Trion's office only after Raven landed. He jumped on the V.V.L. and gave the order directly to the commanders in the field."
"Ok, arguing or confronting the crown will just get us imprisoned or killed" Cade stated. "The damage is done and at least this is an isolated incident. … Damn it! … We don't have the personnel or equipment to spare. We meet on Operation Eagle tomorrow. We'll sort it out there once all of the information is in. Let's get something to eat. I'm sure we'll be pulled into a Senatorial briefing soon enough."
As if he were a psychic, Cade's V.V.L. lit up. It was Senator Ghent ordering the senior military leadership to an emergency debriefing.