Book 4: Chapter 204: Echoes of Treason

Book 4: Chapter 204: Echoes of Treason

USD: One Hour since reconnection to MNS Theas Hackjob.

Location: Meltisar, MIL-1A, Auxiliary Operations Flag Bridge

Tia stared at the main screen of the backup CIC, showing an optical view outside of MIL-1A. The remnants of the battle hung suspended in the vacuum like a macabre sculpture garden. Twisted sheets of alloy, once part of the moons primary defense fleet, glowed red from the violence of their ships destruction. Some of those sheets belonged to the station itself.

The debris field outside was dutifully being scoured away by maintenance tugs and runabouts, working to clear the hazards and rescue the wounded. There had only been a relatively few ships willing to suddenly launch their traitorous assault on the station. But that there had been any at all was a sign of the fester and rot that the current climate had produced.

Theyd done so in the face of invasion and destruction by other star nations; that was unforgivable, and the current Admiralty, and from what she could tell, most of the populace agreed. Tias gaze, though distance, missed nothingnot the slow spin of a shattered thruster pod, nor the minute flicker of a running light on a piece of hull.

Livi immediately tagged the structure for investigation for survivors. Even if the result was simply to give them court martial and an execution later.

The scene was a stark reminder of the cost of the coups swift brutality.

[InfoEmergencyThea-Elis: Wormhole stabilization and closure detected. The high-energy blackout of region 878-MX has decreased. A connection has been established with MSN Theas Hackjob. Data dump has been received.]

Thea turned her attention to the readouts. Ertan fleet destroyed. 6th fleet bloodied, 38% losses. Wormhole Generator offline for at least 48 hours. 1st Fleet victorious, Imperial Fleet in shambles. Fate of 2nd and 3rd fleet, unknown, likely heavy losses.

The backup CIC thrummed with restrained energy. Officers and technicians moved with focused intensity; their faces set in grim determination as they worked to mitigate the fallout from the recent treachery. The staccato rhythm of keystrokes punctuated the indistinct murmur of voices that played against the backdrop of urgent alerts and status reports.

Tia turned, her attention centering on the temporary flag bridges command table. Westlake was discussing with Wilkes, while several other admirals had materialized to provide further support. She moved toward them with a sense of purpose.

[InfoStatusSystemNet: Significant degradation has occurred; current efficiency is at 87% and has caused serious loss of infrastructure maintenance levels. A serious misconfiguration has caused sewage and waste buildup in New Brisbane that includes 1.1 million structures. Total Population Affected: 1-2 billion.]

Her eyes scanned the central holo-table, where the tangled web of the primary web for the system flickered with bursts of light that illuminated a wireframe version of Meltisar with all its various mega-cities and infrastructure highlighted in small circles.

The delicate tracery of data streams and connectivity paths was marred by dark voids, where physical sabotage had severed communication links. That required a massive undertaking of not only cutting the main bus lines but also knocking out all wireless backup systems.

It was as though a surgeons scalpel had been taken to the very sinews of Meltisars technological infrastructure.

A frown creased Tias face. It wasnt impossible, but how had the Anti-NAI faction managed to be so thorough and act so quickly, right when the system was facing a major crisis?

We need to prioritize the restoration of the primary net, Tia said, her voice cutting through the low hum on the bridge. Everyones attention at the holo tablet turned to her immediately. The risk of irreversible damage increases with every second of delay.

Westlake nodded, his expression matching Tias own. Civil engineering teams are already in action, but there have been a few incidents of them encountering hostile resistance. His expression turned grim as he turned his gaze to the hologram. Its like they knew exactly where to hit us to cause the most harm.

Wilkes face tightened, and he nodded. Well deploy marines to the contact sites. Dont pull the engineering corps out until those links are established.

[WarningPsych-eval: FADM Wilkes experienced a spike in bio-signs, beyond average. Duplicity could be a factor.]

Tia didnt let the warning shock her, but she eyed the man. A frown appeared on her lips. Was it really that unrealistic that the man was under extreme stress at the moment? While his rejuv treatments had kept him young, the man was old enough to be entering his twilight years.

[InformativeExpanding: Signs are congruent with possible deceit or guilt.]

A ping on the console drew everyones attention.

Every face in the backup CIC turned towards the screen, the same question mirrored in their eyes. Tias hand hovered over the table. Since the system was military, it would have been trivial to override the message, but she decided to see what it was.

[InformativeFull System Broadcast: This transmission is being broadcast system-wide. All in-spec civilian systems will repeat the broadcast. Military systems are unaffected.]

The figure of Captain-Major Thraker materialized on the screen, an old-earth style office with a vintage desk and the Meltisar flag hanging on poles behind it. He stood behind the desk, then with measured steps, came around to the front. He paused there, hands clasped behind him, his posture radiating a calm command that demanded attention.

People of Meltisar, Thraker began, his voice resonating through the speakers, some of you know me as the NAI Candidate. Others as Captain-Major. To all of you, I consider myself a fellow citizen of Meltisar. I speak to you now as a concerned citizen, and as someone who has pledged to serve you through the governance of our system if duly elected.

Tia felt a prickle of unease. She glanced at the admirals, noting their rapt attention.

Thraker continued, Today, we faced an attack of unimaginable scale. Our fleets have fought valiantly against external aggressors and have emerged victorious. Meltisar remains safe, our sovereignty intact, and the enemy flees through the jump lanes back to their own systems.

But, Thrakers voice grew steely, our trials today were not solely from beyond our borders. We have been betrayed.

He paused, letting the words echo in everyone who was watchings mind for a moment.

We have been betrayed, he repeated. Reports have confirmed that forces under the control of the Anti-NAI faction launched an attack on MIL-1A and attempted to assassinate Fleet Admiral Wilkes and the Admiraltys High Command at the height of the battle!

Thraker took a deep breath, his expression turning dark. It was only by the grace of Psi Celestia that the Fleet Admiral survived. Their attempt to assassinate our militarys top command is a vile act of treason that could have caused the worst outcome for not only our armed forces engaged in battle to protect us all, but for Meltisar itself which would have been naked in the face of the enemy!

These traitors, Thraker spat the word with venom, sought to undermine the very foundations of our society at a moment when unity was paramount. They exploited our fears, and in doing so, risked everything we hold dear.

He paused again, allowing the silence to linger before continuing. We must stand together against such cowardice, such villainy. I ask that all of you remember this moment of infamy and support me so that we might hold those responsible to account. Together, we can build a secure and safe future for the people of Meltisar where treachery can find no purchase.

The words began to blur in Tias ears. She remained motionless, watching the admirals and naval officers, but her eyes settled on FADM Wilkes. Livi fed her the mans vitals. No shock, no surprise. Considering the earlier reports, she could only come to one conclusion.

He had known. Somehow, hed engineered this. Had he been prepared for his own death when they attempted to assassinate everyone in the CIC? Had he somehow known that she would rescue them?

Surely not. Maybe things had gotten out of his control, and they had slid by on a razor-thin margin. Shed been too preoccupied with the battle to pay attention. She sent a mental command to Livi.

[AffirmativeSearch: All records search relating to FADM Wilkes underway. Primary goal: identify possible conspiracies.]

Tia stared at the console, ignoring the increasing fervor of voices across the bridge as Thraker finished. He had positioned himself as a unifier. His words would sway many, and in doing so, he had just altered the political landscape of Meltisar in one fell swoop.

There wouldnt be a single person calling themselves Anti-NAI anymore.

The military, and herself, would be in full control of the system. Including all the civil institutions and the thin faade of Meltisars democracy that bowed to its military stratocracy.

A feeling of exhaustion ran through her as Wilkes met her gaze. Something in it told her he knew she knew, or would know, and that he expected her to support it.

Alexs face flashed in her mind.

Was this really what they had set out to accomplish?

Would the way they went about it taint the destination?

She didnt have an answer.