{"id":2428,"date":"2018-04-21T10:29:33","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T15:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2428"},"modified":"2018-04-28T07:19:01","modified_gmt":"2018-04-28T12:19:01","slug":"master-of-violence-part-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2428","title":{"rendered":"Master of Violence – Part 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 12<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark paced on the bridge before he was called for an incoming message.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral,\u201d Mark said seeing the admiral on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have news, for you first,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Mark nodded and put on some headphones before waiting.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry to say, the mission failed.\u00a0 The Princess Royal was destroyed, all hands are assumed lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark nodded not trusting himself to speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe President is heading to Congress to ask for a declaration of war between humanity and this unknown race.\u00a0 As of this moment you and any defense ships are clear to open fire upon seeing this hostile enemy race.\u00a0 We have new intel on them which will be forwarded to you at once, including better images of their ships, and a scanner reading of them.\u00a0 If you spot anything which matches you are to open fire at once,\u201d Richard said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand sir,\u201d Mark replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne more thing, they attacked without any communications at all, don\u2019t expect any,\u201d Richard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, but what if they do?\u201d Mark asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen use you\u2019re discretion, but remember, they have attacked without warning,\u201d Richard said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re first priority is to protect Earth at all costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, I expect the declaration of war to pass with no problems, so assume a war footing on all procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Mark said as the conversation ended and he put the headphones down and picked up the microphone for ship-wide communications.<\/p>\n

He knew everyone was watching him now, and mentally prepared for what he had to say next.<\/p>\n

\u201cAttention all hands, this is the captain speaking.\u00a0 The latest news is now in, the mission to Sierra had failed.\u00a0 The Princess Royal was destroyed, all hands assumed lost.\u00a0 As of this moment we are on a war footing, all stations are to maintain readiness at any moment.\u00a0 Fighter squadrons are now on a rotational alert, all weapon systems are to be ready.\u00a0 We have a scanner imprint of the enemy ship thanks to the Princess Royal.\u00a0 Once this is uploaded to your scanning and targeting computers, any ship with that signature is to be engaged without question,\u201d Mark said to them all.\u00a0 \u201cWe are Earth\u2019s only defense at the moment, and all efforts are being made to improve such defense.\u00a0 Until that happens, we will not fall, we will not fail.\u00a0 That is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark looked at the rest of the group hoping he did a good job.\u00a0 Speeches were never his thing and he hoped he said the right thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be ready for them if they come,\u201d Hans said to him standing next to him.\u00a0 \u201cWe have a good crew, and a good ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark nodded, hoping the ship was technologically advanced enough to fight off this new enemy.<\/p>\n

The Enterprise was the most advanced warship humanity had ever built.\u00a0 Now Mark could only hope it was advanced enough.\u00a0 All their lessons of the past came down to this ship, and it would be required to defend Earth now from an enemy its builders never considered, an alien race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Hans, I want a meeting with the all departments at once, we need to make sure the ship is completely prepared.\u00a0 Inform the other ships as well, I\u2019m sure they know by now as well.\u00a0 We need to coordinate our efforts with them as well,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark made his way back to his office sitting down knowing he had a lot of things to do.\u00a0 But something made him look over at his phone.\u00a0 Activating it there was still nothing from his niece, but decide to send a message to her anyways.\u00a0 He informed her that they were now at war with this alien race and he hoped she was doing fine.<\/p>\n

He almost put his phone away when he decided to tell her a bit more.\u00a0 He informed her that they had sent a ship to talk to the aliens, which had been destroyed.\u00a0 If they could find anything else out and send it, they would appreciate it.<\/p>\n

Moving back to his reports he paused as another communications came in.\u00a0 Frowning a bit he opened it surprised to see Senator Jeff Cerial appear on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHope I\u2019m not interrupting anything captain,\u201d the senator said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, what do I owe the pleasure?\u201d Mark asked wondering what the senator was calling over.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant to give you a heads up, the war measure passed, and that you\u2019ve been chosen for a promotion,\u201d Jeff said.<\/p>\n

Mark waited, wondering why the admiral didn\u2019t mention that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re being put in charge of earth defense fleet under Admiral Jorkenstein,\u201d Jeff said to him.\u00a0 \u201cRichard is being promoted to Fleet Admiral, you\u2019re moving up to Rear-Admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news surprised Mark, the military hadn\u2019t had a fleet admiral in almost fifty years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is more, construction on new warships has already started,\u201d Jeff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo soon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe military continued to submit new designs, the ships are only small ships, destroyers and such, but they are better than nothing until we can start a new battlecruiser,\u201d Jeff said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my duties, are you taking me off the Enterprise?\u201d Mark asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd move you where?\u201d Jeff answered.\u00a0 \u201cNo, you\u2019re in charge of the fleet, and coordinate with the planetary defense stations as they come on-line again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long will that take?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEstimates vary, but teams are already on their way up,\u201d Jeff said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd there is one more thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark waited patiently knowing this was the reason for the call.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou receive information from Sierra, any other news?\u201d Jeff asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy niece,\u201d he replied understanding what Jeff wanted.\u00a0 \u201cNo, but I did send her a message back informing her I got her message.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see what happens next.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep us informed,\u201d Jeff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Mark replied, as the conversation ended.\u00a0 Not surprisingly he received another call and saw Richard on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, or should I say fleet admiral,\u201d Mark stated watching as Richard seemed surprised at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know about that?\u201d Richard asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinished talking to Senator Cierial,\u201d Mark replied honestly.\u00a0 \u201cHe mentioned your promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Rear-Admiral, head of the Earth Defense fleet,\u201d Mark said wondering what Richard would add.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I assume you\u2019ll be making the Enterprise the flagship,\u201d Richard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems logical, though I\u2019ll have to promote some people on board, a new captain,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo it. Let me know who and we\u2019ll do the updates here,\u201d Richard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything else?\u201d Mark asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be sending up a command staff to help you out, Lieutenant Victoria Scheffer, she\u2019s good at what she does, along with a few others she is picking out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make the arrangements,\u201d Mark replied.\u00a0 The conversation ended and now he contacted the bridge to have Hans come to his office.<\/p>\n

He went over everything which had just happened.\u00a0 Things seemed to be heating up, and now he was a rear-admiral, though his position really had not changed much.\u00a0 He had already been in charge of most of the fleet, now it was official.\u00a0 A knock interrupted his musings and looked up as Hans entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other captains are on their way, but something else happen?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, got some new news, I\u2019ve been promoted to rear-admiral,\u201d Mark said watching Hans.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral Jorkenstein was promoted to fleet admiral,\u201d Mark said.\u00a0 \u201cThey are preparing for new ships in the fleet.\u00a0 Which means I\u2019ll need you to take over the Enterprise.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be staying on board as it\u2019s my flagship now.\u00a0 We need to make room for a command staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll see what can be done,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Mark said.\u00a0 \u201cGive me a few days to get things organized, but you should be the next captain of the Enterprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just do my duties,\u201d Hans said.\u00a0 \u201cBut it\u2019s nice to know I have your confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll need recommendations for your replacement as well,\u201d Mark said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHadn\u2019t thought of that, I\u2019ll think if over, see who rises to the challenge out of all of this,\u201d Hans said and Mark could already see the man\u2019s mind working.<\/p>\n

Mark watched him leave knowing they had a lot of things to do and not a lot of time to do it in.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Toncor made his way into the office along with his translator.\u00a0 A person who wore a translating device and could inform the others of what he said.\u00a0 For some meetings it was easy to just move it back and forth, but larger groups this method was better.\u00a0 He had actually gotten used to the entire thing by now, and had learned so much more about the human race, and the planet they lived on.<\/p>\n

He wondered how his race might have adapted with such violence, yet the humans managed to create such beautiful music.\u00a0 Listening to the classical pieces they rivaled anything he heard in Simian history.<\/p>\n

Turning his attention back to the people in front of him, he looked on to see several senators already there, along with the President, who could have a translator earpiece as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Toncor, thank you for coming and sitting in on our meeting,\u201d she said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPleasure\u201d Toncor replied back.<\/p>\n

At this the President motioned for everyone to sit.\u00a0 He sat down, slightly annoyed that everyone else seemed so much taller than he was.\u00a0 Then wondered where that thought even came from.<\/p>\n

He listened in as they went over what had happened.\u00a0 He knew about the declaration of war and the sudden ship building, something he had been expecting since they arrived, only not for it to be warships.\u00a0 He would have expected transport ships to escape the planet and the Dark Race.<\/p>\n

In fact, all over the planet he saw where the people were preparing to fight, not surrender.\u00a0 They were constructing several new warships, in fact he heard that the total would be about five of this class of ships.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmbassador, you\u2019ve been listening in on all of this, it will affect the repairs on your ship,\u201d the President said to him.<\/p>\n

Toncor paused to think about the statement.\u00a0 It was not a question, only a fact they were telling him.\u00a0 He thought about what Hakkas said to him about the engines before replying.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil such time as our engines are repaired, we are stuck here,\u201d Toncor said to her.\u00a0 \u201cI understand that, but there are some on board who will feel uneasy about this, especially with the news of the Dark Race attacking one of your colonies.\u201d<\/p>\n

He heard the guy behind him translate it, not word for word, but it got the point across.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur facilities are still small, and if we are to defend ourselves, every effort must be put into that,\u201d the President said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Toncor said, not saying they had not mentioned to those on board that the Dark Race had attacked the humans.\u00a0 \u201cWill there still be work on our engines?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they are an important part of our defense,\u201d another person said.\u00a0 \u201cYour engines and technology have given us new ideas upon which to create new technologies of our own, even weapon systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

That statement did shock Toncor.\u00a0 He never thought of any of their technology which could be used for war or killing.\u00a0 Humanity really did think different than just about any other race in the universe.\u00a0 Or at least the few races he had met so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did promise to help you, we don\u2019t plan to abandon that promise now,\u201d the President said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to work with you,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 But another thought came to him, if they were looking at their technology, were they purposefully stalling, and gave voice to his doubt.\u00a0 To his surprise it was the man who spoke up earlier who spoke again.<\/p>\n

\u201cA natural assumption, and while there are many things in your ship we are still understanding, we could always repair you engines and ask you to stay, could we not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Toncor sat back at the question.\u00a0 It was logical, and he could see no reason why they would not.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour reply is logical,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019re right, we probably would stay, until such time as the Dark Race appeared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll work hard to repair your ship,\u201d the President said, and Toncor understood she spoke the truth.<\/p>\n

End part 12<\/p>\n

Continued in part 13<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence by AJ Marks Part 12 Mark paced on the bridge before he was called for an incoming message. \u201cAdmiral,\u201d Mark said seeing the admiral on the screen. \u201cI have news, for you first,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Mark nodded and put on some headphones before waiting.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry to say, the mission failed.\u00a0 The […]
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