The Others (Blood on the Stars Book 13) by Jay Allan

Author:Jay Allan [Allan, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-08T22:00:00+00:00

They will learn to worship us, the gods who reign over them.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Planet Calpharon

Sigma Nordlin IV

Year of Renewal 267 (322 AC)

“I don’t really care, Akella. You can ask the Council’s permission, or you can simply provide my people with the full data record on your own authority. But my condition is an absolute one. I will request that the Senate dispatch the rest of the fleet to Calpharon, and also direct my forces already present here to undertake hostilities against the Others as soon as I receive authorization…but only if you immediately turn over all scanning and targeting data on the enemy forces. Cooperation is a two-way street, Akella, and I will not even consider committing Confederation forces to battle unless we have all relevant data on effective tactics to engage the enemy.” Barron had been arguing all morning with Akella—more debating, perhaps than arguing, but the fact remained, the Hegemony leader had been slow to consent to his two primary requests.

Demands.

He wanted the targeting data, including the most recent algorithms derived from it…and he wanted a Hegemony team dispatched at once, with orders to assist Commodore Fritz and her people in operating Colossus. They were demands difficult for any recent enemy to accept, but no more than coming to an adversary’s aid, as Akella had bade him to do. He had come to see the threat of the Others, but if Akella wanted Confederation assistance, she was going to have to meet him halfway.

“Those are difficult conditions to meet, Tyler. The Council is unlikely to authorize the release of such sensitive military information, even if I strongly urge it…and they are absolutely never going to agree to train your people to operate Colossus. A large majority of the Council still supports every effort to reacquire the vessel. There was even a vote authorizing me to offer your government a large payment for Colossus’s return. I never followed up on that, of course. It is clear to me your people would never surrender the vessel…and I understand why they wouldn’t. I do not see our efforts to absorb the Rim in quite the same terms you do, Tyler, but it is perfectly understandable to me how your people feel.”

“Akella, I believe all you’ve said about the Others. I believe they are a threat to the Rim as well as the Hegemony. But I, too, have to convince my people to join yours, and that will not be easy. My first demand, I consider nothing less than essential. What is the point of sending Rim warships here if they are not able to target the enemy ships? If you really want help against your enemy, you have to show us you will do everything to enable us to provide that aid.”

Akella didn’t answer, but she nodded gently, a gesture that told Barron she understood, and that she agreed with him. Which, of course, didn’t necessarily solve the problem.

“As for Colossus, my argument—my insistence—is based largely on the same premise. Clearly, the ship is a tremendous asset in any fight, at least if it is properly operated and supplied.

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