Fall of Icarus

Merric paused, searching for a proper response. “The ship defenses worked admirably, as did the Duun pilots as they repeatedly destroyed both the invading Cair ships and incoming missiles.”

“And our own Cair pilots? How did they do?” Captain Hodge already knew the answer, but strove to develop Merric as a leader. Though he was callous when dealing with subordinates, he was a brilliant Fleet officer and held a lot of potential for future advancement and, if fate was in his favor, command of his own Cruiser some day. Prior to then, however, he still required positive grooming.

“They struggled to find any opening in open space. One of our pilots even hesitated when ordered to advance. Only two of the Cair ships actually made it to the Defiant, and those were immediately destroyed by Captain Nitella’s quickly responding ship defense forces. None of our Infantry ever got close enough to place an explosive that would have caused any serious damage, nor were they able to locate any officers of significant rank to take as prisoners of war.”

Captain Hodge had already heard about Magistrate Riddell and her disobeying of a direct order by the Squadron Commander. Riddell was young, Hodge knew, and fresh from the Academy. She had taken a great risk recruiting Keryn as a replacement Cair pilot, succumbing against her better wishes only when nearly begged by Magistrate Xiao. Captain Hodge hoped that she found her confidence soon. It would be a great disappointment to lose so young a pilot in the heat of battle because she was unable to follow orders.

“Ma’am,” the Communications Officer interrupted. Merric shot him a disapproving stare, but Captain Hodge brushed aside his rebuttal.

“What is it, Magistrate Young?” she asked.

“You have another call, ma’am.”

Captain Hodge rolled her eyes. She was sure that Nitella had finally realized the double-edged sword of her departing words. It was just like her to call immediately back, eager to offer the last retaliating words of the conversation. “Please tell Captain Nitella that I’m indisposed, being right in the middle of a tactical briefing.”

Turning back to Merric, the Captain was surprised when Young cleared his throat loudly. It was an annoying habit of Young’s, one she would have to address later. “What is it, Magistrate Young?”

“It’s…” he paused, clearly nervous. “It’s not Captain Nitella, ma’am.”

“Then who is it?” Merric interceded. “Out with it, man!”

“It’s a message from the High Council,” Young replied meekly.

Both Captain Hodge and Eminent Merric paused, their terse replies forgotten. “You’ve confirmed the signature?” Hodge asked.

“The message is authentic, ma’am,” Young answered. “Would you like me to transfer the message to your console?”

“No!” Hodge replied quickly. “No, Magistrate Young. Please transfer it to the conference room. I’ll take it there shortly.” Captain Hodge met Merric’s stare of wonderment. Behind his eyes, though, she noticed disappointment that she did not invite him to listen. A message from the High Council, however, was not meant for prying eyes. “Eminent Merric, alert me at once of any changes while I’m away. Magistrate Vargus,” she said to the ship’s Navigator, “keep us on course.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the Wyndgaart Navigator replied.

“Give me two minutes, Magistrate Young, then transfer the message.”

Captain Hodge climbed quickly from her seat, tucking her wings in tightly to her body as she hurried to the lift. As the doors closed, she allowed her knees to shake slightly in the cooling darkness of the elevator. There could be no confusion as to why the High Council was contacting her. As commander of the Alliance Fleet assigned to eliminating the Terran threat, this would be their declaration of war. Captain Hodge smiled, knowing that they would soon be embroiled in the single greatest conflict of their generation.

As the lift doors opened, she offered only absently acknowledged greetings to the Crewmen she passed, intent, instead, on the door at the end of the hall. Captain Hodge entered her Captain’s code and heard the doors hiss open. The lights began to flicker to life, but the Captain was seated in her chair before they could fully illuminate the dark conference room. Activating her console, she noticed the already blinking red light at the base of the screen. Nervously, she reached out and pressed the button, receiving the message. Though she knew the call was previously recorded and she would not speak personally to the High Council, it was still a nerve-wracking experience as the dark screen was filled with the bright red Council symbol.

On the screen, the symbol melted away, revealing six shadowy figures sitting around a semi-circular table. Though the lighting in the room did little to reveal details of each of the six individuals, their identities were unmistakable as they spoke in turn.

“Captain Hodge,” a gravelly-voiced Councilmember began. “You have been tasked with the single greatest responsibility ever offered to a member of the Alliance Fleet in recent history. It has fallen on your shoulders to hunt down and eliminate a Terran threat.”

A massive and gruff Councilmember, clearly dwarfing the others in sheer size, spoke next. “As you already know, the Terran Destroyers invaded our space a few months ago and have since assaulted and destroyed five Alliance Cruisers. This atrocity, in itself, cannot go unpunished.”

The Avalon Councilmember spoke next, his musical voice wavering with age. “But this is not the only atrocity they have committed. The Terran Fleet has also attacked an Alliance outpost, eliminating one of the only communication nodes we had for that sector of space. Without it, it was difficult to identify their exact location. However, that situation has now been rectified as well.”

“We have a ship in pursuit of the Terran Fleet,” a new Councilmember added. The three remaining Councilmembers looked too similar in the gloomy darkness to discern one from another, though Captain Hodge placed the strange accent of the speaker as coming from a distant rural star system, one predominantly occupied by Pilgrims. “Our spy has been sending updates about the Terran activities, including their whereabouts, any new assaults on Alliance vessels, and projected course.”

One of the two remaining Councilmembers spoke up next. “It is this information that we are forwarding to you now. With it, we expect you to move your Fleet to engage the Terran threat. Updates from our spy will continue during your travels to ensure you are provided all information when planning your assault. We don’t need to remind you how much hinges on your actions in the next few weeks, Captain Hodge. Should you fail, the Alliance will be left in an awkward position, one easily exploitable by the Terran Empire.”

The last Councilmember finally spoke. “Captain Hodge, this is our declaration of war against the Terran Empire. They have committed an atrocity by invading our space, and yet another by attacking ships patrolling the Demilitarized Zone. You are to use all resources available to ensure that our response is swift and decisive. Much rests on your shoulders. Do not fail us.”

With those haunting last words, the screen once again flashed the brilliant red High Council symbol before leaving her staring at the black, silent console. Captain Hodge sat unmoving for quite a few minutes, her eyes not moving from the screen for fear there was more to the message. Though this was what she had been waiting for over the past few weeks, to suddenly be ordered to war was daunting and frightened Captain Hodge more than she wanted to admit. Repeatedly, her mind kept wandering back to the engagement with the Defiant. Neither ship had performed well. Even with superior numbers — her twelve ships to their reported six — the Terrans had the experience of multiple combat engagements on their side. Mirroring the Council’s last message, she was scared they would fail.

Finally, on legs that felt like lead, Captain Hodge climbed from her chair and walked back toward the hall. As she walked, the worries washed away, pulled free of her by the air that brushed past. She left the room, walking steadily toward the lift that would return her to the bridge. Behind her, the lights went dark in the room and the door slid shut. The nervousness of the Captain was left behind, there in the darkness. Presented to the Crewmen she passed was a determined and bold Captain, driven by a single purpose: the destruction of the invading Terran Fleet.

She was calling orders to her crew before she fully departed the lift, catching them all by surprise. “Magistrate Vargus, take us out of orbit. Put us on a course that I will send to you shortly. Magistrate Young, broadcast a message to all the Captains. Tell them to break orbit and follow our lead. Eminent Merric, please notify all Officers and Warrant on board the Revolution that we are having a mandatory formal dinner tomorrow night. I will make all necessary announcements about the High FCouncil’s message then. Before you ask, yes, we are going to war.”