Ryk Brown - Ep.#4 - Freedoms Dawn: The Frontiers Saga

Chapter One

Commander Dumar looked out through the blast-proof windows of the third floor operations center. His eyes squinted in the glare of the setting sun, its waning yellow light flickering in and out as the smoke drifted past from the many fires of devastation still burning in the city. Most of the buildings across the parkway from him had been reduced to rubble as a result of the bombardment earlier that day. It seemed miraculous that, while so many structures around him lay in waste, his seemed undamaged. It was indeed a testament to the accuracy of TaAkar weaponry.

It wasnt just his building that had escaped the destruction rained down upon them by the warship Yamaro. The majority of the structures still stood, some damaged and some not. As he looked out at his neighborhood, it appeared as if some enormous being had walked through the district, crushing buildings with every careless footfall as it lumbered across the sprawling metropolis that was his home.

His city, Aitkenna, was the capital of Corinair. It was the seat of not only the global government, but also of the entire Darvano system, in which the planet was a member. He had lived here for going on thirty years now. He had met his wife here, married here, and raised a family here. His home was only a few kilometers away to the east. The school where his children had been educated lay just beyond. In fact, much of his city was now gone, reduced to piles of rubble and bodies. The lives of the people of this world would be changed forever. The lives of his family would be changed forever. Even though it was all for the betterment of the empire he served, it saddened him, as it was destruction on a scale that few had ever witnessed.

Unfortunately, he was one of those few. This was not the first time he had seen such utter disregard for human existence, and he feared it would not be his last. His home had not been destroyed. This he had already confirmed. Nor had any of his immediate family been injured in this attack, just as he had suspected would be the case.

He drew in a deep breath and sighed as he wondered how many of his men could say the same about their homes and their families. He knew why this secret compound and his home to the east had not been targeted by the Yamaro. As the central operational command post for all the TaAkar Anti-Insurgency Units operating covertly on this world, its location would have been marked as protected in the Yamaros fire-control systems. In addition, as the commander of all TaAkar anti-insurgency activity on Corinair, his home would also be on that list. He only wished that everyone under his command could share the same privilege. Had every one of his teams homes been spared, however, a connection might eventually have been made, one that might lead to their untimely exposure. The advanced warning they received was barely enough for them to take whatever preventative measures they felt were needed.

So no one would be the wiser. To any but the most astute observer, the firing pattern would appear random rather than the prewritten target list it had actually been. To the people of Corinair, it was indiscriminate punishment for acts of sedition perpetrated by their fellow citizensundoubtedly by Followers of the Order. With any luck, that would be enough.

For decades he had served as the planetary commander of the Anti-Insurgency Forces stationed here and on the two other populated worlds in the Darvano system. For decades he had trained his men, recruited Loyalists from the civilian population, and carefully massaged local informants in order to ensure the proper connections needed. Finally, the time that he and his men had trained for had come. As much as he loathed the things he would have to do, he also knew that he had little choice in the matter. If he did not, one of his subordinates surely would; and they might not be as humane about it if given the chance, especially since they all had something to prove. He did not. He had already served the empire and his king with considerable distinction, even if not with the same amount of pride.

His king. The thought rang just as false whether spoken aloud or imagined. Caius was no king. Kings were stately men of courage, honor, wisdom and above all else, mercy. These were qualities that Caius neither possessed nor understood. The man was nothing more than the heir to the throne of TaAkar. His father had been a true king, as had been his father and his fathers father before him. Their wisdom had forged a willing alliance throughout the Pentaurus cluster. They had built it from little more than a handful of struggling, hastily thrown together colonies in the wake of a great evil that had nearly destroyed all humanity or so the legends told. At least they had before Caius, who in all his arrogance had decided to rewrite them in order to feed his own ego.

Commander Dumar, the young lieutenant said as he stepped up from behind, we have received an update from our teams at the spaceport.

The commander turned his gaze away from the burning ruins outside to face his subordinate. What do they report?

As suspected, it is the command staff of the Yamaro, as well as her captain.

The commander turned the rest of the way around to face the interior of the room, his attention moving to the large video screen on the far wall. The room was full of dozens of functionaries all going about their tasks, gathering intelligence, creating estimates, contacting informants, and communicating with field units. His command was a picture of efficiency, unlike the empire it served.

A live video feed from the spaceport showed the view from the crowd. He could see a large review platform filled with local dignitaries, many of which he recognized. Behind them and off to one side were the twelve members of the Yamaros command staff, as well as her captain. Sir Augustine de Winter, he said as if the name itself left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

You know him, sir?

I know of him, the commander corrected. Another pompous TaAkar nobleman of questionable skill and valor.

The young lieutenant knew better than to comment on his commanders disdain for the so-called nobles of TaAkar society. As with most true men of war, he had little respect for the aristocracy that passed themselves off as honorable and worthy commanders. Such men had little use for honor or patriotism. Their interests were in far more tangible concerns. Men of his ilk were one of the many reasons he had asked for this assignment; so he could finish out his long and distinguished military service without having to deal with such fools.

They appear to be turning the prisoners over to the Corinairans, sir, the lieutenant concluded.

Yes, this will not sit well with command; of this I am sure, the commander said. Have we been able to make contact with the Yamaro?

No sir. Not since she broadcast her surrender a few hours ago.

Is the ship still in orbit?

Yes sir. Although she appears to be powered down, our scans revealed only minimal life support. The enemy shipwhich we have since learned is called the Aurorastill holds station alongside her.

And the rest of the Yamaros crew?

We believe they are still on board. We stopped receiving telemetry from the Yamaro more than an hour ago. At that time, the ships sensors showed around two hundred people gathered in two of the primary cargo bays, as well as two dozen more being held in the detention cells.

Commander Dumar watched the video feed as one of the strangers wearing a uniform of unfamiliar design stepped up to the podium, his hand held high by one of the local dignitaries. The action had caused the crowd in attendance to swell into a roar of approval at the arrival of the visitor, and they were chanting somethingalthough the commander could not quite make it out. What are they saying? he asked his lieutenant.