Chapter Nine
Senior Specialist Eannwen entered Lord Yan’wal’s chambers and took a seat before the Overlord’s desk. He held a datapad and a file chip, which he passed across the desk to his superior.
Yan’wal slipped the chip into a reader, and the monitor to his right lit up.
“We have gone back over the past several months and correlated transmission traffic throughout the Sector,” Eannwen began without preamble. The graphic on the screen showed an almost red screen around the planet Dimloe. “There has been a marked increase in transmissions to and from Dimloe, beginning right around nine standard months ago. According to the inhabitants of the Sector, this planet is one of the least desirable of the habitable worlds, so any such increase is definitely out of the ordinary.” He stopped, waiting for a reaction from the Overlord.
After regarding the screen for a few moments, Yan’wal turned to the comm-unit on his desk. “Provide a link with Fleet Commander Siegor,” he commanded into the device. He then turned his attention back to his subordinate. “So Dimloe is a viable candidate for the destination of the Klin ship? Are these transmissions concentrated in any particular region of the planet?”
“There is increased activity across most of the surface, but there appear to be two primary sources. They are widely separated.”
Yan’wal nodded, just as Commander Siegor appeared on the large monitor. “Yes, my Lord?”
“We have confirmation of increased wave transmission activity from Dimloe, which appears to be concentrated in two distinct areas. You are directed to launch an assault on the planet, taking care not to allow any surviving targets to escape the area.” Yan’wal’s speech was even and passionless.
Without hesitation, Siegor stated, “I will employ an enveloping strategy and set pickets beyond our line to catch any targets which manage to slip through.”
“Approved,” said Yan’wal. Then continuing: “Commander, the Klin may employ weapons and tactics not encountered to date. Be mindful. And prisoners would be beneficial.”
“Understood, My Lord. We can launch in approximately seven hours.”
Chapter Ten
Riyad returned to his ship in orbit above Dimloe, leaving Angar to watch for any discontent among his pirates. Although he knew firm and graphic examples had to be made of insubordinates, he was also aware that such action always ran the risk of inciting even further resentment and unrest.
Besides, Mnnlee had been right. Over the past few months, Riyad had not been taking such an active role in the planning of pirate raids. Most of that responsibility had fallen on Angar, and he just wasn’t that aggressive or confident in his abilities. Riyad felt responsibility for that, too. Prior to Riyad’s arrival and ascension to the leadership position, Angar had been one of the pirates’ most adept captains. Yet after shadowing Riyad for the past couple of years, and marveling at his effortless — and almost uncanny — ability to choose targets and coordinate attacks, Angar was suffering a lack of confidence in his own abilities. Riyad was, after all, a hard act to follow.
Riyad lay back on the bed in his stateroom and stared at the ceiling. His quest for the Klin had distracted him recently and placed Angar in an untenable position. It would be important for Riyad to maintain discipline within the ranks, while at the same time allowing Angar to get a few wins under his belt.
But most of all, Riyad needed time. He needed time to follow up on leads — such as Zylim-4 — while trying to find more. And what if Zylim-4 actually did pan out? How would he infiltrate a Klin stronghold and secure the information he needed without having an army of his own to back him up? At some future date he may have to call upon his pirates — and whatever loyalty he still commanded — to assist him in his quest. Of course, the assistance the pirates would provide would go uncompensated, but hopefully by the time they realized this, it would be too late.
By then Riyad Tarazi would be on his way back home.
But first things first.
He had to lay out some grand action that he could feed to Angar that would appease his pirates and bring some much-needed self-esteem back to his Second. But what could it be His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an alarm blaring through the comm system. He scrambled to his desk and pressed a button. “What’s happening?”
Immediately, Captain Delmin on the bridge answered. “My General, several large contacts have just appeared at the edges of our screens, closing on Dimloe.” His voice was shrill.
Not again, Riyad thought. He had just got the base on Dimloe settled in. “I’m on my way.”
By the time he entered the bridge, an image of Captain Angar was on the main screen. To the sides of the large screen were two smaller ones, showing numerous bright contacts with trajectory lines trailing out from behind them, with the planet Dimloe in the center. There appeared to be far too many contacts closing on the planet.
“My General,” Angar said, “we’ve counted forty-nine ships closing on the planet.” Angar’s voice was also an octave higher, carrying with it a trace of disbelief.
“That can’t be right,” Riyad scolded. “The Juireans only have sixteen ships in their entire Fringe fleet.”
“It is correct, General. We have visual confirmation on most of them.” Angar was nearing panic.
“Have escape procedures been initiated?”
“Yes, but the contacts are coming in from nearly every direction. Even your scatter technique may not work in this instance.”
Riyad was silent for a moment as he took in the information. So the Juireans have learned, he thought. But where did all these damn ships come from?
“Captain Angar, have all our forces coordinate with my location. We will attempt to penetrate their shield by concentrating our strength on their weakest point.” He then turned to Captain Delmin. “From the strength of the wells, determine where the smallest attacking ship is and plot its location.”
Riyad stared at the screen for several seconds, with nothing happening. Then turning to his captain: “What’s the delay? We don’t have all day!”
Flustered, Captain Delmin looked up from his console. “Any weaknesses are minimal. These ships all appear to be mostly heavy cruisers, not the normal contingent of the Fringe fleet.
Damn, thought Riyad. The fucking Juireans seem to be serious this time. Scanning the closing targets himself on the screen, Riyad spotted a slightly wider gap between the contacts coming out a sector that would be fifty minutes on a clock. He pointed at the sector. “There! Set your course for between these two targets,” he commanded. “Angar, have Jolaa and Hasszk lead the force in their ships. They have the most firepower-”
“General!” Delmin yelled. “I have contacts departing the surface and heading to engage the Juireans!”
He was right. On the screen were several lines emanating from a point on the surface, a couple of dozen of them at least. They appeared to be coming out of the southwestern section of the planet, and their gravity signatures were massive. These were fast and powerful ships. But whose were they?
Riyad’s heart skipped a beat. KLIN! They’re Klin. And right here on Dimloe. And they had been right under his nose all along!
Thinking as quickly as he could, Riyad tried to put this new development into perspective. He couldn’t allow the Juireans to defeat the Klin, at least not until he could glean whatever information regarding Earth’s location as he could from them. In fact, helping the Klin might actually ingratiate him into their favor…
Turning to the large screen and Angar’s image, Riyad spoke: “Change of plans. We’re going to join this battle and assist the contacts leaving the surface.”
He could see the shock on Angar’s face. “We…who?” he stammered.
“Just get our ships off-planet,” Riyad told him. “I’ll coordinate from here.” Angar nervously nodded and cut the link.
Fleet Commander Siegor was surprised to see the two dozen ships bolt into space and form up to confront
