Ilthos. “We have sent a group of sophisticated vessels, capable of cleaning up the radiation. It will take some time, but we will see to it that Earth returns to health.”
“That is generous of Diakus,” said Sallas. “This is horrible news. I am so very sorry. “
“Thank you, Prime Minister.”
“I assume that is why Admiral Pike hasn’t returned? He stayed behind to help with the relief effort?”
“No. He stayed behind to deal with the Juttari.”
“Oh? Are they still in the Sol System?”
“Not exactly,” said Kevin. “Do you remember how we freed the Chaanisar who showed up in New Byzantium?”
“Yes, of course. You used your AI to liberate them from Juttari control.”
Kevin nodded. “We did the same in the Sol System, and in multiple other systems. The Juttari had launched a massive invasion of Galactic Accord space, attacking multiple systems. Using the AI, we reversed their gains, freeing many Chaanisar in the process. Those Chaanisar are now part of Admiral Pike’s fleet.”
“How many ships are we talking about?” said Sallas.
“Over a thousand warships.”
“That’s incredible,” Sallas said in awe. “How many Chaanisar serve aboard the average Chaanisar ship?
“It varies from ship to ship, but it can be anywhere from five hundred to a thousand men.”
“Are you saying Admiral Pike has almost a million Chaanisar under his command?”
“Give or take.”
“It is unrivaled,” said Ilthos. “Nothing of this magnitude has ever been achieved against the Juttari Empire.”
“Admiral Pike is preparing to mount an offensive against the Juttari Empire as we speak,” said Kevin.
“Diakus has given its full support to Admiral Pike,” said Ilthos. “The attempted Juttari invasion was the first shot in a new interstellar war that threatens to envelop the entire galaxy.”
Sallas seemed to be having difficulty understanding the sheer scale of what he was being told. “But then, why have you come here? Why are you not helping Admiral Pike against the Juttari?” said Sallas.
“That’s what we need to talk about, Prime Minister,” said Kevin. “After what happened to Earth, Admiral Pike believes that humanity must become united. The Juttari know of you. They know where the colonies are. It is only a matter of time until this war reaches you. We need to make sure we can defend the colonies, and the only way we can do that, is by reopening the jump gate.”
“I’m sorry? What?”
“The jump gate, Prime Minister. The one the colonies shut down over five hundred years ago. We need to activate it, and Admiral Pike believes that you know where it is.”
Sallas sighed. “He’s right. I do. But there’s one problem.”
“What’s that?” said Kevin.
“There are a few hundred Kemmar warships surrounding it.”
Chapter 23
Kevin listened with growing anger. The Kemmar had invaded the colonies, conquering three separate systems. It didn’t matter that the systems belonged to the corporations that attacked New Byzantium. That was a problem of leadership, and leadership could be changed. What was important was that there were humans under Kemmar occupation. Kevin knew better than anyone how brutal the Kemmar could be. He hated to imagine what those poor people were enduring.
These facts didn’t change his mission, however. In fact, they made it all the more important. The location of the jump gate was in Amboss Corporation space. Amboss was the first to fall to the Kemmar. If that jump gate had been activated when the Kemmar came, those people could have been helped. Ships could have crossed through to defend those systems against the Kemmar. Now they were going to have to work backwards. They would need to somehow reactivate the gate while the Kemmar were still there, in order to bring reinforcements through.
“I don’t see how you can do it,” said Prime Minister Sallas, leaning forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees. His face displayed a mix of
“That is generous of Diakus,” said Sallas. “This is horrible news. I am so very sorry. “
“Thank you, Prime Minister.”
“I assume that is why Admiral Pike hasn’t returned? He stayed behind to help with the relief effort?”
“No. He stayed behind to deal with the Juttari.”
“Oh? Are they still in the Sol System?”
“Not exactly,” said Kevin. “Do you remember how we freed the Chaanisar who showed up in New Byzantium?”
“Yes, of course. You used your AI to liberate them from Juttari control.”
Kevin nodded. “We did the same in the Sol System, and in multiple other systems. The Juttari had launched a massive invasion of Galactic Accord space, attacking multiple systems. Using the AI, we reversed their gains, freeing many Chaanisar in the process. Those Chaanisar are now part of Admiral Pike’s fleet.”
“How many ships are we talking about?” said Sallas.
“Over a thousand warships.”
“That’s incredible,” Sallas said in awe. “How many Chaanisar serve aboard the average Chaanisar ship?
“It varies from ship to ship, but it can be anywhere from five hundred to a thousand men.”
“Are you saying Admiral Pike has almost a million Chaanisar under his command?”
“Give or take.”
“It is unrivaled,” said Ilthos. “Nothing of this magnitude has ever been achieved against the Juttari Empire.”
“Admiral Pike is preparing to mount an offensive against the Juttari Empire as we speak,” said Kevin.
“Diakus has given its full support to Admiral Pike,” said Ilthos. “The attempted Juttari invasion was the first shot in a new interstellar war that threatens to envelop the entire galaxy.”
Sallas seemed to be having difficulty understanding the sheer scale of what he was being told. “But then, why have you come here? Why are you not helping Admiral Pike against the Juttari?” said Sallas.
“That’s what we need to talk about, Prime Minister,” said Kevin. “After what happened to Earth, Admiral Pike believes that humanity must become united. The Juttari know of you. They know where the colonies are. It is only a matter of time until this war reaches you. We need to make sure we can defend the colonies, and the only way we can do that, is by reopening the jump gate.”
“I’m sorry? What?”
“The jump gate, Prime Minister. The one the colonies shut down over five hundred years ago. We need to activate it, and Admiral Pike believes that you know where it is.”
Sallas sighed. “He’s right. I do. But there’s one problem.”
“What’s that?” said Kevin.
“There are a few hundred Kemmar warships surrounding it.”
Chapter 23
Kevin listened with growing anger. The Kemmar had invaded the colonies, conquering three separate systems. It didn’t matter that the systems belonged to the corporations that attacked New Byzantium. That was a problem of leadership, and leadership could be changed. What was important was that there were humans under Kemmar occupation. Kevin knew better than anyone how brutal the Kemmar could be. He hated to imagine what those poor people were enduring.
These facts didn’t change his mission, however. In fact, they made it all the more important. The location of the jump gate was in Amboss Corporation space. Amboss was the first to fall to the Kemmar. If that jump gate had been activated when the Kemmar came, those people could have been helped. Ships could have crossed through to defend those systems against the Kemmar. Now they were going to have to work backwards. They would need to somehow reactivate the gate while the Kemmar were still there, in order to bring reinforcements through.
“I don’t see how you can do it,” said Prime Minister Sallas, leaning forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees. His face displayed a mix of
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