Hawthorne worked his mouth, but no words issued. His mind was numb.
“Sir!” a man shouted. It was Manteuffel. The small ex-cybertank colonel sat at a communications board. Blood leaked from Manteuffel’s nose. “Sir, Grand Admiral Cassius of the Highborn is hailing you.”
Hawthorne limped near the screen. On it, he saw Cassius and the proud manner of the Highborn leader.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” Cassius said. “Our Doom Stars shall reach near-Earth orbit soon and assist you in any way we can.”
All Hawthorne could do was stare at the Grand Admiral.
“They hit South America,” Cassius said. “I doubt much lives there now. You’re lucky none of the pieces hit the oceans and created tidal waves.”
Hawthorne frowned, trying to absorb the thoughts.
“Earth is going to be a harsh place to live,” the Highborn said.
“Death,” Hawthorne said. His mouth was dry. So was his heart.
“Excuse me, Supreme Commander?” asked Cassius. “What did you say?”
“Death to the cyborgs,” Hawthorne whispered.
“Yes, it is time for a real alliance,” Cassius said, nodding. “Through these past weeks, we’ve seen that we can work together. And we’ve learned to trust each other.”
Hawthorne stared at the Grand Admiral, believing nothing the Highborn said.
“You need us,” Cassius said. “And we need to concentrate on the real enemy before the cyborgs obliterate us both.”
Hawthorne’s head swayed as the idea struck home. Likely everyone in South America and maybe even Central America was dead because the cyborgs had launched asteroids at Earth. What he saw from some satellite cams….
Was it possible to trust the Highborn? Earth couldn’t survive a second strike like this.
“We must unite,” Cassius said.
It felt like there were cobwebs in his mind. Hawthorne tried to think. He said, “You are the Highborn and we’re premen. Can we work together without you trying to dominate us?”
“I’m the only chance you have,” Cassius said. “Agree to a real alliance, and I can hold my position as Grand Admiral. Believe me, Supreme Commander, there are officers among us who wish your species’ destruction. I do not agree with them. If nothing else, this strike shows that we don’t have the time to subjugate or annihilate you. We must turn our effort against the cyborgs, or risk total defeat.”
“I have work to do,” Hawthorne said. “The world needs me now. Maybe we can speak again later.”
Cassius lurched closer until his face filled the screen. “Listen to me, Hawthorne. You just lost billions of your fellow humans. If you want to save the rest, you need me so together we can kill these genocidal cyborgs.”
Hawthorne stared into those feral eyes. Cassius was the Highborn Grand Admiral. The Highborn could change course with amazing speed and decision. Did Cassius see something new after this strike? Maybe Social Unity no longer had a choice. South America—
“Yes,” Hawthorne whispered, “a true alliance. Together, let us kill the cyborgs.”
-102-
Two Jovian patrol boats headed for Earth. In the first one, Marten sat at the controls with Omi. It was packed within the spaceship.
“Well?” Omi asked.
“The cloud movement is crazy,” Marten said. He scanned Earth with a long-distance telescope. “But the indicators—”
“I have an incoming message,” Nadia said.
“From Earth?” asked Marten.
Surprised, Nadia looked up. “It’s from their Supreme Commander.”
“Put him on,” said Marten. A tired man with hollowed-out eyes appeared on the screen.
“I’m Supreme Commander James Hawthorne of Social Unity. My com-officers tell me that your designation is Jovian.”
“Yes,” said Marten.
“Does the alliance still hold?”
“It does.”
“Good,” said Hawthorne. “It’s time we humans began to truly work together before the Highborn and cyborgs annihilate us.”
“That’s what I think,” said Marten. “But Grand Admiral Cassius might not see it that way.”
“I’m sure you have an interesting story….”
“I’m Force-Leader Marten Kluge.”
Hawthorne nodded curtly. “Well, Force-Leader, I’d like you to rendezvous with our warships. We need to mass what little strength we have. Then you and I need to talk face-to-face.”
Marten chest tightened. Earth, Social Unity—he nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. Do you have the coordinates of your warships?”
“I’ll have one of my officers give them to you. I look forward to our meeting.”
“As do I, sir.”
“I would talk more, Force-Leader, but I have much to do. The Earth—” Hawthorne eyes tightened. “It’s time we humans banded together…before we’re extinct.”
“I agree, sir. It’s time we went on the offensive.”
“I like your attitude, Kluge. Do all Jovians think like you?”
“…not yet,” said Marten. “But the war isn’t over.”
“No,” Hawthorne said. “For me, this war has just begun.”
What’s next? The last battle is coming where Marten Kluge meets his destiny. And the fate of the Solar System is decided.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the first five books of the Doom Star Series. The E-book Revolution has given me a new challenge: deciding which book to write next. I’m always interested in the reader’s opinion. So if you wish to see more Doom Star novels, I encourage you to write a review for the first book, Star Soldier. Let me know how you feel and let others know what to expect.
