Surviving Behind Enemy Lines

A Galactic Star Force - Battle Fleet  series

(book 2)

“Ladies and gentlemen of the ProLitTaren, I would like to introduce you to Captain Sam Stone of the Commonwealth of Free Planets.” Captain Landel had quickly seized the opportunity to place himself in the role of facilitator. Sam didn’t mind Landel’s intervention; having someone who was comfortable with Captain Stone could be a plus. “I have placed myself at her disposal for negotiations with you.”

Sam restrained a laugh and thought it couldn’t hurt to have a go-between.  Captain Landel could always be removed from the circle, but she liked him. He may be out for profit, but she felt he was at least honest. Landel had an aura around him that strongly suggested a man of deep conviction. He seemed honest, abundant with integrity, and just not working for the government.

“Why are you attacking our system?” Rufui Shandel, KrePack of the ProLitTaren stepped forward as he asked the hard question of Sam. “We have done nothing to justify this action.”

“KrePack Shandel, it is an honor to meet you. If you look out the main viewer you will see the KroMach fleet still advancing on your planet. Your own fleet is moving to be a last line of defense between Heritage and your planet.” Sam replied as she pointed to the viewer. “We cannot interfere any more than we already have by preventing the ship with those children from being murdered. The ReTairen people are not members of the Commonwealth and therefore I am prohibited from assisting you further.”

“The Commonwealth is a young family of different species that are coming together in the name of peace.” Sam started to describe the Commonwealth to the ReTairen leaders. “Our goal is to identify species of similar beliefs in freedom for all and a willingness to back up the belief by supporting each other. The space within fifty light years of our home planet has been designated as star systems that we can’t allow to fall into hostile species control. Everything I have collected about your people suggests you are a people with values similar to the other members of the Commonwealth.” 

A slight pause allowed a brief conversation between the ‘ProLitTaren’; leaders of the ReTairen people’s, time enough to fully recognize the problem facing them. One alien species intending to dominate the ReTairen people and another species hoping to keep the ReTairen peoples freedom alive.

“My hands are tied regarding interference,” Sam continued. “I can only provide so much assistance and I may have already exceeded what I should have.”

“If you are not attacking us, who is and why are they attacking us?” KrePack Shandel asked. None of the events were making sense. “Why can’t you do more?”

“The KroMach are building an empire and your system is apparently next on the map for expansion,” Sam said, reflecting in the ‘VirtualView’ Reticuli and the direction that the KroMach came from. “It would take too long to negotiate a membership into the Commonwealth and I am not the right person to do that. I could, however, offer you ‘Protectorate Status’ while negotiations are underway.”

“What good is a ‘Protectorate Status’?” KrePack Shandel asked. 

“If your system was a ‘Protectorate’ of the Commonwealth, then I would be obligated to offer military assistance to you,” Sam replied. She felt a little guilty with her answer as it really was maneuvering the ReTairen people into the Commonwealth. If she didn’t do it this way then they would be conquered. “It would give you time to see which would be better for your people: Commonwealth membership, or serving the KroMach.”

The members of the ProLitTaren moved to a circle and began a quick, but rather quiet discussion of options before them. Debate took only a few minutes and the KrePack turned once again to face Sam. 

“We would like to request membership and while negotiations are underway to be given ‘Protectorate Status’.” KrePack Shandel directed his request to Captain Sam Stone; there could have been no other solution. At least, not one that left the ReTairen people free.

Sam had a document already prepared for them to sign and she would sign it as Princess of the Commonwealth. “Very good. Once you all have signed this document - one is in your language and one is in ours - we can get down to business.” 

They put signatures to paper and initiated the formal beginning of a new relationship. The Commonwealth had grown again. Pity that war was what it took to bring species these together; Sam and her crew would have preferred a peaceful encounter.

“KrePack, if you could order your ships to fall back to cover the planet - in case anything gets by me - my ship can get prepared for battle.” Sam knew that the ReTairen ships would fight, but it was a fight they couldn’t win. Heritage and her Battle Wings could fight a delaying fight until reinforcements arrived, but not a toe-to-toe slugfest with nearly thirty KroMach ships.

KrePack Shandel was directed to the communication console where he issued the orders that Sam had asked him to. He was still concerned that just one ship would attempt to stop twenty-eight alien vessels. “Will your ship be enough?” KrePack Shandel asked.

“No. I am expecting a small task force who should be here very ‘soon’,” Sam said. She was not lying, but she was still worried that the soon might not be soon enough. Sam would prefer negotiations to fighting and perhaps the KroMach could be talked to and even delayed. “I would like to try and convince the KroMach to leave your system alone before more lives are lost; maybe they’ll listen.” 

Heritage had already set the Universal Translator to include the data that Jack L. and Freedom had collected. With that information, Sam would be able to communicate with the KroMach and the ReTairen people would be part of it.

“Heritage, open a channel.” Sam said out loud to Heritage. Suddenly the viewer reflected the ‘lizard’ like appearance of the KroMach. This single picture was enough to tell the ReTairen that joining the Commonwealth was right. “I am Captain Sam Stone of Heritage, the ship before your fleet. I am also Princess of the Commonwealth. Who do I have the honor of addressing?” 

“I am Kraon-Lar FroMark female, you insult me by conversing with me.” The KroMach leader had risen from his seat and shot an officer on his bridge.  Sam assumed it was his communications officer. “I will discuss nothing with inferior beings. You will surrender or die.”

 “Good sir, we have already eliminated your other two ships,” Sam was trying to remain calm and civil. She disliked the KroMach and had not encountered one herself until this very day. All she had was ‘vids’, images of the battle in Sol and the ruthless nature of the KroMach. This trait was confirmed in Sam’s mind by the shooting of a KroMach officer by the KroMach captain. “Do you really wish to lose more ships and lives?” 

“Incompetent crews are easily bested,” Kraon-Lar FroMark replied, almost screaming into his viewer. “You now face a battle tested fleet. You have no chance.”

“Kraon-Lar FroMark, I have launched my remaining fighters and MaulingTorpes aircraft and other warships are on the way,” Sam replied to him even as she thought the orders to Heritage. A show of force might tip her hand before the enemy, especially since they had scans of the other KroMach ship’s destruction. Sometimes she had to let people know how big her stick was, to encourage them to leave. “You will not be allowed to attack a Commonwealth planet.” 

“We shall crush your puny ships as the insignificant things they are and then I shall take yours,” Kraon-Lar FroMark had now begun yelling into the viewer, control was lost. “I shall dine on your heart!”

[“Sam, there is an energy wave moving in this direction.”] Heritage interjected a thought to Sam. A spike had been detected, one that exuded of massive energy levels.

[“Thanks, that would be Jack L.”] Sam replied. Jack L. needed up-to-date information on the events here. [“Heritage, can you pass this conversation on to Jack L.?]

[“Yes.”]

 “These beings will become our slaves, as will you.” Kraon-Lar FroMark was definitely screaming at this point. He had lost two ships to an inferior species and that might cost him his own life with his superiors. He had no options now but to make right the wrong of two ships lost. “You will not live to see them as slaves. I shall mount your head on my wall as trophy.” 

“Kraon-Lar FroMark, I am requesting you to turn your fleet around and leave, immediately!” Sam moved to stand full center in the viewer, behind her stood the eleven members of the ProLitTaren. “This is my final warning! If you do not alter course within the next sixty seconds, I can not be held responsible for the ships of yours that will be destroyed.” No course change took place by the KroMach fleet; they still bore down for battle.

“Sir, I repeat, you must alter course immediately! Your lives depend on you altering course NOW!” Sam was almost pleading with the KroMach leader, but it did no good. Sam was hoping the KroMach would leave and maybe the Commonwealth could find a common ground with the KroMach to negotiate borders.

The viewer went blank and Sam turned to the ProLitTaren members, “I hope you all agree that I tried to get them to leave,” Sam said.

“It did no good and your threat seemed idle, with no strength behind it.” KrePack Shandel said in an almost chiding manner.  He spoke to her somewhat like an elder father in explaining to a child the futility in threatening someone if you couldn’t back up the threat. “Perhaps with a real threat they might listen.” 

Several other members of the ProLitTaren argued with KrePack Shandel.  They felt Sam Stone’s action justifiable, even if just lip service. The tone of the KroMach leader gave no quarter to negotiation. A bluff of force that worked might have saved the day. With its failure, a battle was about to begin.  Sensors still indicated a massive energy disturbance moving directly toward Heritage. Sam knew this disturbance and it would never harm her. 

“Ladies and Gentleman, I’d grab hold of something; my threat should be arriving soon.” Sam knew Jack L. would be furious with the KroMach. She had tried, but the KroMach were not a species known in there own history for talking. Fighting, death and wars were their communication. “Keep your eyes on the viewer.  All flight crews, man your stations. Battle stations, prepare for Jack L.’s arrival.”

“What is a Jack L.?” KrePack Shandel asked. Each moment brought additional confusion to an already confused time.

“Jack L. isn’t a ‘what’.  Jack L. is Prince of the Commonwealth and perhaps potentially the most dangerous man in the Universe,” Sam replied to the ProLitTaren members. Jack L. was her best friend and the kindest of people she knew, but to anyone working to crush freedom, Jack L. was in fact dangerous. “He is my best friend and freedom’s most ardent believer and supporter. You don’t ever want to be on a force opposing him. I wouldn’t want to be the KroMach when he gets here.”

 Twenty-eight KroMach ships were less than an hour by Earth time from ReTairen, a planet whose people had just become the first Protectorate species of the Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth was a civilian entity that was taking root in the Milky Way, and its military - Galactic Star Force, led by Freedom and Jack L. was a storm to avoid.

The members of the ProLitTaren watched the viewer very intently; if they blinked they might miss a spectacular event. Sam had moved to her chair; she had no idea how Jack L. would appear, but she felt his frustration through their link.  Jack L.’s feelings emanated anger toward the KroMach and their aggression against Sam. Sam knew that Jack L. would not open with negotiations and she could feel he was beyond words. Through the link Sam was aware of the feelings Jack L. held for her.  She could sense in Jack L. his urgency to protect her and she knew he would quite readily place himself in harm’s way for her.  The ReTairen people were on the verge of discovery, uncovering enemies and at the same time allies. The ReTairen people would be easy converts to the Commonwealth; failure in joining would assure future attacks by the KroMach.

Jack L. was only a mortal man, connected to a ship with boundless power and in love with Sam who was in danger.  Jack L., Freedom and their crew were seconds away from Sam. Freedom had scanned ahead and received a signal from Heritage. Freedom provided Jack L. with the status in the Reticuli system through their neural link. Heritage and Sam had taken up a position to defend the ReTairen people with no real aid from the ReTairen. Freedom notified Jack L. that Sam’s entire Air Wing force had been launched and was in a wait state. For the moment Sam was safe, but it wouldn’t be long before her status changed 

 [“Freedom, time to intercepting the KroMach fleet?”] Jack L. was thinking to Freedom and squirming in his seat. His thoughts were true to Sam and being able to make her safe. [“Will we get there before they attack her?”]

[“We have a safety net of a few seconds, if we ‘fold’ into the system,”] Freedom thought back to Jack L.. [“That’s enough time to move in and inflict some damage on an unsuspecting enemy.”]

[“Can we ‘fold’ in with a surprise, as long as it doesn’t hurt you or us?”] Jack L. was plotting as usual.  Jack L. had a brilliant tactical mind. Combat was a game to him; not the dying or killing, but the out-planning the enemy. To Jack L. it was the most exhilarating game of ‘three D’ chess he could play. Freedom found Jack L.’s thought process to be lightening-like; when it came to strategy, none rivaled Jack L..

[“It depends on the surprise.”] Freedom didn’t read Jack L.’s mind as a general rule. Freedom and Heritage both respected the privacy of Sam and Jack L.

[“I’d like to materialize and generate massive lightening bolts emitting from our shields and grounding out on the nearest KroMach ships.”] Jack L. opened his thought process up and in an instant Freedom and Jack L.’s thoughts became one as the idea became refined. [“It should enlighten them a little.”]