Spinward Fringe Broadcast 12 Read online

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 12: Invasion

  Randolph Lalonde

  Contents

  Books by Randolph Lalonde

  Before we begin…

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Farewell For Now

  Books by Randolph Lalonde

  THE CHAOS CORE SERIES

  Trapped

  Cool Pursuit

  Savage Stars

  * * *

  THE SPINWARD FRINGE SERIES

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 1 and 2: Resurrection and Awakening

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 3: Triton

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 4: Frontline

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 5: Fracture

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 6: Fragments

  The Expendable Few: A Spinward Fringe Novel

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 8: Renegades

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 9: Warpath

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10: Freeground

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 10.5: Carnie's Tale

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 11: Revenge

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 12: Invasion

  Spinward Fringe Broadcast 13: Warriors (2019)

  * * *

  FANTASY

  Highshield

  Brightwill

  * * *

  HORROR

  Dark Arts

  Dark Arts II (October, 2019)

  www.RandolphLalonde.com

  © Copyright 2018 Randolph Lalonde

  Spinward Fringe is a registered trademark of Randolph Lalonde

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Randolph Lalonde.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  Thank you for supporting the author by purchasing this book. Every honest reader counts.

  * * *

  EBook ISBN: 978-1-988175-18-8

  Before we begin…

  The Spinward Fringe and Chaos Core series have collided! After a receiving a message from a family member close to the Galactic Core, characters from the Spinward Fringe series departed between Spinward Fringe Broadcast 11: Revenge and Broadcast 12: Invasion so they could appear in Chaos Core Book 3: Savage Stars. It is highly recommended that you follow them on this journey, or read the entire Chaos Core series so far, which consists of only three brief novels, before continuing on to the adventure awaiting you in Spinward Fringe Broadcast 12: Invasion.

  I'd like to thank everyone who on the Patreon page for supporting the crossover. Thank you, neither series would be running this well or this quickly without the readers to propel it on.

  Let's get on with the show.

  Prologue

  The Return of the Revenge

  * * *

  It wasn't the homecoming that Alice imagined for the Revenge. The War Forge was almost complete, with more interior space than all the military bases on Tamber combined four times over, and she had no problem believing it from the size of the spaces she saw within.

  Most of the interior was dark grey with highlights in red in the sections she was allowed to visit on the day of the ship's return. The briefing and observation area was huge, with tiered seating that could accommodate a few thousand by her rough estimation. "This is encouraging, I like it," Iruuk said as he stayed close while they were looking for their seats. "My father says that humans didn't make big gathering places like this for a long time because they used technology to experience things simultaneously instead. This is better, being with people for real is better."

  "You should send a message to the design team, I hear they don't get much positive feedback. Their inbox is full of requests and complaints about how all the furniture looks the same," Alice said, noticing the balcony overhead. They were in the first row near the end of the first tier, to her surprise.

  "You're kidding! They did all this and people just complain about the armchairs? I mean, they could be bigger, I guess, but even I know that people who live here can put one in the recycler and get a better one in a day or so."

  To Alice the furniture was a little large, but she liked having more room than she needed to curl up, so it was perfect. To someone like Iruuk, a growing Nafalli who was already at least a third again her height, she could see how everything might seem a little small. "Yup, make people feel safe enough, give them some spare time, and they'll use some of it to complain."

  "Maybe that's the human way," Iruuk muttered. He was quiet for a moment as they searched for their seats, then added. "And, yeah, I guess that's the Nafalli way for some of us too. Our beds are never good enough, but then again, every bed has room for improvement." He looked around for another moment then nodded, an expression that was exaggerated by his long snout. "Yup, definitely sending the design team a nice note."

  "They're pretty busy answering all those complaints, though, so you might not get a response for a year."

  "I don't need one, they're doing good work," Iruuk said. "I think we're being seated with the captains and their first mates."

  "We're sitting here," Alice said, pointing to a pair of seats behind her as she looked down the long row. He was right, the admiralty and other commanders were settling in seats to the far right of the stage, while the captains were taking their places at the front of the seating level with the stage. Behind the stage was the vast black bulkhead, five storeys tall, it provided a solid backdrop. There were more captains than she could count at a glance, all in full uniform - jacket, military vacsuit, boots and gloves - black except for the stripes running down their sides. Most of them were gold, indicating that they were assigned to a bridge command crew, but several were red like hers. It was an indication that they were members of the Special Operations Combat Unit. A few of them had blue stripes, which was new. There were only three of them from what she could tell at a glance.

  Alice sat down and looked to the right of the stage, where she could see Ayan in a uniform only she wore; a light blue vacsuit and coat that had a white stripe down t
he side with the insignia of Admiral. There was a discussion going on amongst the commanders there, and she was at the centre. It looked pleasant, they seemed happy to see each other. It was good to see many commanders who merged with Haven Fleet from Freeground Nation in good humour. There were even several people who were from the Tamber Militia, the last original military organization in the solar system. They were starting to merge with the Rangers, a few of them were immediately stolen into the ranks of Haven Fleet.

  Still, amongst the mostly black uniforms, Alice's mother stood out. Ayan was losing the fight to bury the fact that she was technically the queen and owner of the entire Haven System.

  Regardless of the threat that the Order of Eden posed, civilization was returning to many parts of the galaxy and the best way for the Haven System to maintain its independence was to name one owner and a succession of inheritors. Alice still didn't know exactly how she felt as one of the people on that list. If Ayan then Jacob were killed, she'd inherit the entire solar system. That, along with several other recent decisions were made for her after she was put on mandatory shore leave.

  The group of upper commanders took their seats and a hush fell over those gathered in the auditorium as her father, Jacob Valent strode onto the stage. He wasn't only in full uniform, but in full armour. The horizontal slats crossing his body were jet black, polished to a shine, and by the time he reached the stage the sounds of his boots on the metal deck was louder than everything else. He retracted his helmet into the collar of his suit, the pieces sliding together and down with a whisper of shifting slats.

  Alice expected an occasion that was celebratory, meant to honour the crew of the Revenge, but his expression was sombre. "During a rescue attempt that could have become a disaster at any moment, the crew of the Revenge served bravely and did not hesitate to perform any task I put in front of them. Improvisation, dedication and service with honour are terms I use when describing the average crewmember aboard that ship."

  Faces began to appear on the vast space behind him, all equally visible as they cast their light on the audience. Their names and ranks were written on the lower half of their images. Captain Valent continued. "Three hundred one crewmembers made the ultimate sacrifice on the Revenge's first long-range mission. Not one of them knew the citizens of Freeground Alpha or the service people in Freeground Fleet. Their sacrifices were driven by duty and the knowledge that the Revenge and the Triton were the only ships ready and able to help. There was no one else coming. I'm happy we were wrong and acknowledge the debt we owe to our Nafalli allies. They are as ferocious and tenacious as they are reputed to be, but they are also honourable, intelligent, and kind."

  "Ogun Sha!" came a response from a few dozen Nafalli in the auditorium.

  "We honour them," Iruuk translated in a whisper. "They're talking about the crew the Revenge lost."

  "Thank you," Jacob said. "Every one of the people listed behind me has their own story. Over the last few days I've reviewed their files so I know more than how their stories ended. These were remarkable people, the kind we can't afford to lose. Our mission in the Iron Head Nebula was a success, but they paid the ultimate price for it. I ask for a moment of silence before we continue."

  Everyone in the auditorium stood and after a moment of quiet shuffling, lowered their heads. That included Alice, who didn't lower her head as much as some, keeping her eyes on her father instead. She watched him up there, his head lowered, his eyes closed, and could almost see the weight of the loss pressing down on him. Even still, he looked immovable, as though he was a permanent fixture in the galaxy that nothing could break. He raised his head and gestured to his right, where Minh-Chu Buu entered a moment later. "Thank you. Now, the Wing Commander of Samurai Squadron and my friend, Commander Minh-Chu Buu would like to say a few words before the Revenge arrives in visual range."

  Minh-Chu crossed to the middle of the stage where he shook Jake's hand. He was in a newer black uniform with a silver stripe. His jacket was black with the Samurai Skull large on the back, it was a newer armour version that was the same as her SOCU model. "Thank you, Captain." He turned to the audience. "Thank you all for coming. I wish I could tell you a few stories about Freeground Fleet, about all the things those stories have in common with what's happening now, but I'm here to read a passage from the earliest version of the Regulations and Practices manual of Freeground Fleet, a passage that has been added to Haven Fleet's guide. Don't worry, it's not a regulation, it's a Charge." He looked to the wall of the fallen so the audience could still see his face. "I'd better get this right the first time, everyone for a million klicks in all directions is hearing this."

  "More like five hundred million!" shouted a Freeground Rear Admiral Alice didn't recognize from the gallery to the side of the stage.

  "No pressure," Minh-Chu said with a little bow.

  That brought a trickle of laughter throughout the auditorium before they settled down again. Jake was off stage to the right, where he was standing at attention, looking up at the faces of the lost.

  Minh-Chu began reciting the passage. "We have answered the call. The call to aid, to explore, and, to fight if necessary. I brave the hazard so my people may prosper in peace. May my cause and my service be noble." He cleared his throat as the images faded and the bulkhead became transparent. "Now, join me in celebrating the return of the Revenge and her crew." He snapped to attention and brought his hand up in a salute.

  He was joined on stage by Jacob first, then the members of the admiralty and commanders who could make it to the ceremony. It was a diverse staff already, with humans towering over several Mergillians and Nafalli towering over everyone. The stage was full in short order, each of the commanders standing equal lengths apart, shoulder to shoulder in three rows as they saluted. On the right and left-hand side of the wall were live images of thousands of trainees, soldiers and officers standing at transparent sections of the War Forge's hull at attention. To the crew of the Revenge the gargantuan station's windows must have looked like they were filled with the silhouettes of thousands of people saluting.

  Alice stood at attention and held her salute proudly as she watched the Revenge begin a slow fly-by. The nose of the ship was gone, patched lopsidedly, and the rest of the hull bore scars of heat and kinetic weaponry that were so deep in some places that the patch work was recessed several metres. It would be the last of its kind, a ship that was once a new Order of Eden design, then modified by Haven Fleet. They would no longer adapt or refit Order of Eden ships, they didn't have to anymore.

  Despite that sombre thought, Alice was excited to see Ashley and the rest of the people she knew aboard that ship. It would be good to have them home. She brought her thoughts back to the moment, with Iruuk standing straight, much taller than her at her left side, and a Captain she'd never met to her right, his arm held so stiffly that she swore it was shaking a little.

  "Thank you for taking her and her crew the rest of the way home, Commander Vega," Captain Jacob Valent said.

  "The Revenge has done her duty, returned home and will stand down," Admiral Rice said. "Thank you, and welcome home."

  The ship finished its pass and to her surprise, the Triton began moving into view behind it. It was repaired and given an entirely new skin. The broad, stingray shape had a dark, black gloss that had opalescent highlights of blue and green. Alice had tried to see what they'd done to it in the refit but wasn't allowed to know more than the fact that it had taken three trips through the manufacturing lines of the War Forge and that it was on assignment in system. Its commander, crew, and all the details regarding the ship's capabilities were a secret to her and most of the fleet. The ship passed, its long tail taking the most time to clear the transparent armoured hull as they watched it. After a few more breaths, Alice heard Terry Ozark McPatrick's voice call out; "At ease."

  The commanders sharing the stage with him left in orderly lines and he smiled at the audience. "That was the Triton, but not as you knew her. I'm happy to anno
unce that the design for the Zhan Two class of close-combat carriers has passed. They’ll be going into production soon. The Zhan Two Class is the most lethal rapid-response carrier ever built. The few of you who have the clearance to see the details know why already, but as this war goes on, the rest of you will find out. The experimentation on the Triton and the Revenge have made many of the advancements and the expansion of our fleet possible. The mission to save Freeground Alpha, the return of the Triton, the Revenge and the discovery of our new Nafalli allies are worthy of a celebration that should last weeks. I’m afraid we can only afford an hour, so make the most of the refreshments before you return to duty. Before I go, I'd like to acknowledge the work of Commander Minh-Chu Buu, Captain Jacob Valent and Admiral Ayan Anderson along with their senior staffs. These people avoid praise so well you'd think they were deathly allergic, but I know this mission would not have been successful without them. Thank you for your service." He saluted towards the seats filled with senior commanders, where Jacob and Minh-Chu had joined Ayan, then he left the stage.