An Empire is Born (Maraukian War Book 3) Read online

  “The mergers work well as they’re trained to attack, unlike legionnaires, so it is better for the mergers to get troopers and turn them into mergers, or people from the rural systems who are in constant combat with those on the same planet as them.”

  “What the hell did Rimateus and Hesra do?” Cassius looked five years older.

  Damus could only sit there silently, numb to it. He wanted to help the mergers in the future and punch Rimateus, but there was no easy way to tie the mergers to the legion.

  Hesra’s actions had led to sixty-three mergers dying.

  They had gone silent, as did the entire SLS Moby, making Hesra call to board the freighter. Only on Legate Nerva and Legate Yousef’s orders was Hesra stopped.

  Now the quick reaction force surrounded the ship, and the carriers that were inside the freighter were undocked and moving on their own. Their reinforcements were moving toward the planet while retired troopers were heading for the freighter once again.

  Damus had an uneasy feeling. He could see the power that was the mergers, the abilities they had and allowing them to strike the Maraukians head on instead of just relying on defenses. If not for them, the retreating legion and people in Edani wouldn’t have survived. If they hadn’t reinforced the defense wall, legionnaires would have died in droves. This was the same in Gilese.

  In just these two actions, they had saved possibly hundreds of thousands.

  “Why?” Damus Versanti asked his empty office. He wasn’t blind to what happened with the different family members of powerful people in the senate, the easier jobs that they got. There needed to be someone there and it didn’t matter as long as they didn’t mess up.

  Did I let them have too much power? Gain too much confidence? He felt a headache coming along. If he was to try to clear out the legion from these political movers, he’d be removing those rear echelon jobs. They might not be front line but they dealt with resupply and keeping his forces active.

  If he was to attack these political forces in his legion, then it would disable him. The cancer seemed to have gone too deep.

  Chapter Nine

  Ducharev

  Indalia, Otarvi System

  9/3555

  When Mark stepped off the combat shuttle, every eye was focused on him.

  The legends and the stories about the mergers had been spread far and wide among the people who were at Ducharev.

  The people of Edani had taken them on to be their guardian angels, knowing the losses that they had suffered trying to protect them.

  The legionnaires respectfully cleared a path as he walked through the masses. He passed two trooper sections as they were about to board the shuttle he had stepped off.

  The warrant officer with the group snapped to attention and saluted Mark while the others with him went silent, snapping to attention.

  “At ease,” Mark said to them. The simple action made him feel kinship with his fellow troopers.

  They came from all over Earth, all different gangs and credos, but here they were all just troopers. With them, Mark felt at home and relaxed.

  He moved on through the different supplies that were being carted away to the front lines and the shuttle pads that had been erected; shuttles and drop-ships moved to and from the carriers and other ships in orbit, or even other cities, to move personnel and equipment. In the distance, Mark could hear the artillery barrages from the artillery parks raining hell down on the Maraukians that were still harassing what was being called the Ducharev line.

  Once the reaction force had reached the planet’s orbit, they had been moving legionnaires down to the planet’s surface in droves.

  As legionnaires came in, they relieved the troopers. With their better gear, the legionnaires were able to compensate for the troopers without much difficulty.

  Add in the fact that troopers were trained to take objectives and pressure the enemy through constant advances, they weren’t as well suited for this defend-and-hold combat that the legionnaires had been trained for.

  Sarah guided Mark through all of the ad hoc camp that had been erected to support the Ducharev line and stretched all along its rear.

  He entered a modern-looking workspace that instead of being filled with workers was filled with armored legionnaires and troopers passing orders or checking out the different information boards that were contained within.

  “Construction has been completed on the R-13 section, allowing us to free up some of our personnel and artillery. A new watch has been put into place, with the legionnaires from the surrounding sections being pulled back to their original areas instead of acting in support,” an aide said in a large open room that was dominated with information screens and processing centers that had been hauled in and pulled together to create this command center.

  “Good. With that, we hold the high ground in the Yurev valley. Let’s move more artillery into that area. It’ll increase their strike range and allow them to strike up and down the line with greater precision.”

  Mark stopped as he heard that no-nonsense tone that was oh so familiar, but different at the same time.

  Images flashed through his mind when he saw Nerva’s symbol being wiped off his mini-map just as the Harmony War was starting. Mark was just about to become an officer, still a young man in the EMF.

  It felt like a lifetime ago, as if he were seeing it all through the eyes of a different person. Mark closed his eyes as he remembered Alexis and Tyler getting married, with Nerva officiating.

  Mark wanted to be angry with Nerva, but he knew Nerva wouldn’t intentionally hurt them, and with the information from Sarah, he was able to figure out what Nerva was doing.

  While Mark had been sleeping from one battle to the next, Nerva had been fighting again and again across tens of planets, trying to save the people there, trying to keep his legionnaires and the EMF personnel alive.

  He even took a demotion to auxiliary legionnaire commander so that he could work with the EMF personnel he knew and keep himself updated on what was happening with the EMF within Earth and Her Colonies.

  Time to buck up or shut up. Mark cleared his head and opened his eyes.

  Two legionnaire guards moved to intercept Mark but seemed to get some kind of message as they moved away, letting him through.

  Mark walked into the command center and pulled off his helmet.

  The people in the command center looked to him. Nerva, seeing their gazes, looked with them, to see Mark as he held his helmet to his side.

  Mark and Nerva locked eyes.

  Seeing the familiar face, both of them felt as if they were seeing someone from an old life. Neither of them knew what to say.

  Nerva nodded as he looked to Pullo. “Take over for me.”

  “Yes, sir.” Pullo cleared his throat and got people working again.

  Nerva walked over to Mark, who didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s good to see you, Mark.” Nerva held out his arm.

  Mark recognized the familiar gesture that many called the trooper salute. A feeling of nostalgia ran through him as he bumped his forearm against Nerva’s. It had been the way that he and Tyler had greeted each other on the battlefield so that they didn’t have to take their hands off their weapons.

  “I’m sorry that we’re only meeting now,” Nerva continued.

  “I know about how you went to Earth, trying to help us, and I know that you were pulled into the reactionary force right as I was going back to Earth,” Mark said.

  Nerva nodded. They stood there silent for some time, both of them happy to see the other but not sure how to express it. Being in the military didn’t give them a way to express their happiness at seeing the other well, but also knowing that behind them there lay a pile of bodies of the people who they cared for and hadn’t made it.

  “Come with me.” Nerva guided Mark away from the command center and toward a conference room. Mark walked inside, with Nerva locking the door behind him.

  “Can you make sure no one is rec
ording?” Nerva’s voice sounded surer. The old Nerva seemed to be resurfacing as Mark felt himself relax.

  Mark only needed to do a simple scan to check the room and make sure there were no recording devices or anything else in the place.

  “It’s secure, sir.” Mark fell back into his familiar address with Nerva.

  “Been a long time since I heard you say that.” Nerva laughed. “You were a major, too, when you left the EMF.”

  “Well, you got there first.” Mark shrugged.

  Nerva didn’t seem to have anything to say before he cleared his throat. “All right, what’s your plan and what the fuck is going on here? I had Admiral Hall telling me that there is something seriously fucked up but he wouldn’t tell me over a line no matter how well it was encoded but instead entrusted it to you?” Nerva looked to Mark with a serious gaze.

  Mark needed a few moments to compose himself before leaning on the table with balled fists. “When we were fighting in Edani to protect the civilians and the legion that were pulling back, we were running low on supplies. The Moby was requesting supplies again and again from the different supply vessels located in orbit but they weren’t able to get any.

  “Hesra was holding them back. Yeah, he might just be an anal pencil pusher looking to abide by the rules but Moretti did some digging under Admiral Hall’s request. By the way, Moretti sends his thanks in you allowing him access to your information network.”

  Nerva waved this off as if it was only a natural thing to do.

  “Anyway, he was able to pull together information that shows Senator Rimateus, who was pursuing control over the mergers through a senate oversight, seemed to have said something or done something to get Hesra to stick his neck in.” Rage circulated Mark’s body as the veins along his neck popped out.

  Nerva’s face didn’t show any emotion as he looked at the table in the meeting room. “Do we have any concrete evidence on him for this?”

  “No.” Mark let out an angry breath before continuing. “Moretti had another plan. He’s gathered information on other things that Hesra has done in the past that put people at risk. As well as the political deals that he made to shield people with powerful political ties. He wasn’t so good at covering up his tracks in the past. With this information, we can spread it to the people under his command.”

  “That’s a good plan. If his people are forewarned and they remove him from power themselves, then you can strike. It could be related to any one of the people he screwed over.” Nerva didn’t even blink as he talked about the murder of an admiral in the space legion.

  He knew that with Mark, there would be nothing else; he even agreed with it. To put your political alliances above the people under your command and putting their lives in danger deserved death.

  “Does Moretti have a plan for the senator?” Nerva asked.

  “He does. Attack his political base, as well as remove the backing of his people by exposing what he has done. Let all that they’ve made burn around them and then have the people they stepped on turn on them, then strike,” Mark said.

  “It will be hard. Rimateus might be a snake, but he is a very good planner. He’s not as good as Nivad, but Nivad won’t be causing anyone issues in this life,” Nerva said.

  Mark nodded. Clearly Nerva knew that Mark had killed the former director of the Ministry of Intelligence.

  “With the number of troopers in the ranks of the Victor Corporation exposed, what are you thinking of doing? The EHC and the Union will be looking at you with wariness. Both of them have the power to stand up to one another, for a bit anyway, and it would cost more resources than they would gain to try to overtake the other. But to eliminate the Victor Corporation and bring the troopers under your command into some kind of penal battalion—it has happened before,” Nerva warned.

  “That is a little bit more complicated.” Mark didn’t say anything more but sent a secured file to Nerva with complete plans for what they had figured out for the future of the Victor Corporation.

  Nerva went through the files and information snippets organized by his NIAI. “Looks like you weren’t just fighting against the Harmony Forces but building something there. You brought Osdal and the greenhouses of Earth in as well? You’ve got balls, Mark.” Nerva nodded, looking through all of the information.

  After some time, he closed the information packet and looked at the table. “I need to finish off my final posting, then I’ll join you.” Nerva looked up, his face set as he looked at Mark.

  Mark wanted Nerva to join them but now that he said the words, Mark knew the stress that was riding on Nerva’s shoulders. He was no longer that kid who had just become an officer. He was a veteran with wars under his belt and people who had been under his command and died listening to his orders.

  Doing something like changing militaries felt as if he were leaving a part of himself behind.

  Mark made to say something to give some comforting words, but he closed his mouth instead, seeing Nerva’s expression. It was clear to him that this was Nerva’s decision and nothing could dissuade him from this plan of action.

  It was a big decision and one would need to make it for themselves.

  “I have given the legion most of my life that wasn’t served being frozen for the EMF or fighting wars across the Colonies. The legion I left was a powerful machine that looked after its people, the civilians and the legionnaires. There were people from the political sphere who were part of the legion but they were proud to serve their people and Roma. Now—” Nerva’s eyes sharpened as his jaw flexed.

  “Now I don’t know if there is anything left for me to salvage. It looks like there are all of these political parties that are toeing the line, saying that they will give all for the Union but then on the other hand are using their positions in the legion to gain favor. It’s become corrupted from the inside. I don’t know if the same won’t be said for what you’re building, but I’ll do my damn best to make sure that it isn’t the case,” Nerva said.

  “So will I,” Mark said. The two men looked at each other.

  “I’ll send word to my contacts and the legions that I can vouch for, pass them on this information. Once Ducharev is secure, any who are willing to join me will head toward Emarl. We’ll need transport as well as supplies. With this in mind, you’ve got about six months to be ready for any forces I bring over,” Nerva said.

  Mark nodded. For the first time in a long time, he would be able to build something. If it worked, then it would mean that there weren’t just two major powers, but three. It was on him to make sure that the system didn’t collapse as the Union and EHC had.

  He had an idea, and a goal, but it wouldn’t be simple or easy to carry out.

  Chapter Ten

  VCF Osdal

  In Transit from Otarvi System to the Emarl System

  9/3555

  Admiral Hall looked over the information coming from the different troopers and their commanders. As well as the crew of the Moby.

  He then glanced over to the side of the command deck, where Mark, Jerome, and Ortiz stood.

  “We sure about this?” Hall asked.

  “Nope, but this sure isn’t right. It’s time that we looked after ourselves instead of being told what to do,” Jerome said.

  Ortiz and Mark agreed with him.

  “All right.” Hall knew that the future was uncertain and there was no knowing what might come out of the decisions they’d made today. He was nervous and anxious, but more than anything, he was excited. With this, they would be able to control their own future, not be led around by the corrupt, or the people who had been used to power and getting others to do their bidding.

  “Guy, ready the message and files,” Hall said.

  Everyone in the bridge was freshly shaved, washed, and wearing their old uniforms. The one change was that they no longer wore the emblem of the EMF on their shoulder. Instead, they wore a patch of the Victor Corporation.

  All of them sat a bit taller as they now k
new their purpose and they had a direction to go in.

  “Understood, Admiral. Message is ready,” Guy reported.

  “Good. Mister Yeltsin, are those engines ready?”

  “Yes, sir. Exit plot planned and Alcubierre drive is primed, ready to get out of here at the earliest convenience. Exit point is dialed in,” Yeltsin snapped off.

  “Good. Rasalov, Celik—how are we looking on your side?”

  “Legion fleet is a fair bit away from us. Reaction force is blocking them still. We’ve got a clear window,” Rasalov reported.

  “Weapon systems are ready to be deployed if necessary, all loaded and ready. The Moby is secured within the freighter, Captain Chen has confirmed.” Celik checked one more screen. “Ready to release vessels with the crew who don’t wish to join us,” he reported.

  “Release those shuttles and send them over to the reaction force. Yeltsin, move us out as soon as they clear our doors and aren’t in our flight path,” Hall said.

  With his words, the large doors of the VCF Osdal opened.

  Hall hit the all-hands button. “All hands. All hands, this is Admiral Hall. Secure all loose items and strap in! Prepare for high gravity maneuvers in ten!” Hall let go of the all-hands button and looped the message.

  “Well, looks like I best go and get on my own shuttle,” Ortiz said.

  “Good luck.” Jerome tossed Ortiz a tin of chew.

  “I’ll do my best.” Ortiz laughed and clasped arms with Jerome.

  “Be good to have all of our fellow troopers awake. Bring them back safe.” Mark clasped arms with Ortiz.

  “You got it,” Ortiz said. With that, he turned and left the command center as the last of the shuttles cleared the hangars.

  “Firing the drives. Ready on the solar sails!” Yeltsin yelled.

  The massive doors across the ship were closing as the engines of the VCF flared to life.

  The freighter was in high orbit over Indalia, with Hesra positioning his fleet so that they would run right into them if they turned away from the planet and accelerated away on the least time plot.