Forsaken Ruins: Part 6 (415 hits)
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Submitted by Craig Williams <thetyrant82.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-05-23 06:19:11 EDT
Part 5: http://www.ubersite.com/m/66009
Part 4: http://www.ubersite.com/m/65313
Part 3: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64985
Part 2: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64817
Part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/63802
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Mattias! How can that be? "Is that my brother?" he asked incredulously. His question was answered immediately, as the view was replaced with portraits of his older brother on one side, and the Jovian on the other. "Mattias, where are you? What happened to your ship?"
"Tantoseisen, it's good to see you", said Mattias, who sounded angry. Veniel was silent. "I'm really sorry you got brought into this, but as long as we're all here, this is what happened..."
Mattias explained the entire course of events that brought them to the abandoned station. He talked about the tip they received about Trald Vukenda's whereabouts and movements, the operation that he and his team had planned to ambush him, and how it went terribly wrong. Tantoseisen was stunned.
"My God, Mattias...why Trald?" Tantoseisen didn't want to start an argument, but he just couldn't help asking. You're completely out of your league is what he should have said. Mattias was always like that, pushing himself to pull off impossible feats and insisting on doing things his own way. It was reckless, and it endangered everyone in his care. The strict military officer of Tantoseisen's psyche hated it. But as a younger brother, he found it inspiring. Mattias was always a source of strength in his life growing up. Tantoseisen surprised himself to discover that he still admired his brother's courage. He knew exactly what motivated him, and what the reply to his question would be.
"Same reason as always, little brother," he answered. "Because it was the right thing to do."
Yes, the right thing to do. Tantoseisen nodded his head slightly, not saying anything. He often passed along information about criminals who escaped the punishment of CONCORD to Mattias, always in secret. The DED, as powerful as it was, lacked the resources to chase felons past Empire borders. Justice should have no bounds, the brothers always said. Mattias would be the instrument of CONCORD where the Tantoseisen and the DED could not tread.
"Commander, I can give you the exact locations of the other 68 stations," said Veniel. "But that is conditional on two terms. First, you and your fleet must come to our present location here in the Immensea region."
"Hey, wait just a minute—" Mattias started, but was cut off again by Veniel.
"The second term is that you do not, under any circumstances, tell any of your superior officers of your intentions."
"So that's how you plan on fulfilling your agreement with me? Goddamn you, Veniel," cursed Mattias. "You know he can't do that, he's a DED officer! He could be court-martialed and executed for doing something like that. Tantoseisen, don't listen to this snake, we'll be alright over here."
Veniel was unfazed. "It is true that the risks are great. But there is greater risk by not acting."
Remarkable, Tantoseisen thought, that he could put the both of us into positions that pit our mutual fates with each other's decisions. Was this man seriously prepared to let Mattias die at the hands of the Angel Cartel if I refused? Was he seriously capable of doing something that sinister? What was it that he really wanted, and why all this trouble for a corpse?
"Why the second term, Veniel. Why is it that my superiors are to be kept out of this?"
"There are certain elements within the DED which stand to benefit directly from this information, Commander. Some would almost certainly use it to advance their own personal incentives, rather than promote the cause of the greater good, as the DED mission statement specifies."
Tantoseisen was losing his patience. "'Certain elements'? Veniel, don't be cryptic with me, give me straight answers—"
"Elements who would take this information and attempt to conceal it from the other Assembly members. Tell me, what do you suppose the repercussions would be if it was revealed that a member government was hiding the existence of these stations?"
Veniel had a valid point there. Unbeknownst to the general public, the political situation within the Assembly had become very volatile, with disagreements between member governments on issues ranging from debt restructuring to deep-space territorial disputes. The internal strife wasn't serious enough—yet—to endanger the integrity of CONCORD, but this was precisely the kind of thing that could ignite the situation. If the right spies were to get hold of information this sensitive, the results could be drastic.
Sixty-nine stations, Tantoseisen thought. Trillions of isk worth of property and assets, up for grabs to whoever wants them...nations have gone to war for much lesser reasons than that.
Veniel continued his case. "Commander, time is running short. Trald's forces are actively hunting your brother, and they could appear here at any moment."
The comment infuriated Tantoseisen. "What's in this for you, Veniel." He spoke through clenched teeth.
"Knowledge, of course. And clarity of vision, for I consider myself a student of humanity."
This didn't surprise him. Jovians were known to covet the things that most other races took for granted. Judging from their grim, ghastly appearance, Tantoseisen could easily see how rediscovering humanity would be at the forefront of any Jovian's agenda.
"I suppose you need my fleet there as well to get inside?"
"That is part of the agreement, yes."
"And you'll share with us what you know of these stations?"
"Correct. We can begin during your journey here."
"No! Goddamnit, Tantoseisen, don't listen to this man!" Mattias protested.
"Mattias, I've already made up my mind. The Jovian is right; it's riskier not to do this. This is the right thing to do, even if the DED thinks the contrary." He began tapping commands on the screen console in front of him, readying his battleship and replacing the hybrid weapons with energy turrets. "I just hope I don't have a mutiny on my hands once I tell the crew where we're going."
"You are a courageous man, Commander. The crew will rally to you, not to a DED protocol." said Veniel.
"Veniel, I'm still not sure what kind of elaborate scheme it is you have going here, or if I even understand what your true intentions are. What I do know is that it is not your place to make assertions of any kind about me, and especially not about my crew. I want you to know that I am disgusted about the manner in which you decided to handle this situation, and that I would prefer it if you ceased making any more judgments about what you think my brother or I believe is right. Are we clear?"
"I intended no disrespect, Commander. I am deeply regretful for offending you."
"You're making a mistake, Tantoseisen", said Mattias. "Your command, your career, your life, all of it is in jeopardy—"
"And I'm talking to someone who has done the exact same thing for years. For this one, I think I'll be the big brother for a change, Mattias." He keyed in an order to have spare armor and hull repair modules loaded into his battleship's hold. God knows we'll probably need them also, assuming we actually make it there, he thought. "The order to recall my fleet from their patrol has already been issued. They will rendezvous with me here in Orien within 20 minutes, then we're going to set course for E8-YS9. That's 44 jumps...my ETA is 2 hours. I'm going to leave this channel and will contact you after we cross the line into unregulated space. Any questions?"
Neither of them said a word.
"Good. I'll be seeing the both of you soon." Tantoseisen terminated the connection and looked down at the DED 5-star patch insignia on the breast of his uniform. He was about to violate every principle that he held his own crew accountable for. The only way out of this, he thought, is by going right through it. Without hesitating any longer, he rose from his desk and made his way for the door.
User Reviews
Submitted by Williams_2004 (user info) at 2005-05-23 11:05:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-05-23 09:50:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
You are averaging 146 hits per post, you must be depressed. +2 don't kill yourself.
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I had more hits when I was posting shit posts, when I post actual storys that I have taken time to produce I get shit hits. I dont think the uber community like me!
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-23 10:04:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah that's harsh, will read from beggining, but here is a plus two to start.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-05-23 09:50:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You are averaging 146 hits per post, you must be depressed. +2 don't kill yourself.