The Porwia Incident
In the fight to save the galaxy, one moment can change everything...
Serina’s stomach lurched when she heard the command to halt. The officer’s deep voice cut through the high-pitched sounds of the launchers and the ever-present hum of the force field keeping them safe from the vacuum of space. She wanted to keep jogging toward the ship as if she hadn’t heard the order. But her duty was to obey. The flight instructor, just ahead, waited and tapped her foot, annoyed at the delay. She’d fly, even if she had to wait a few more minutes because the Deck Officer had something to say.
“Attention!” said the Deck Officer.
Serina snapped into position, standing straight, arms tight against her sides, eyes facing forward. Her body felt pulled toward the Lern fighter ship, like she was standing on a spring ready to let go. At the edge of her vision, she could see the flight instructor pacing.
“Junior Cadet Starfire,” the Deck Officer said. “You are to follow Lieutenant Jord to a new training assignment.” He pointed to a young officer standing to his left. “Immediately.”
“But Sir! I’m up for flight prep now.” She waved her head toward the list on a large holodisplay hovering in the air behind him. As she looked, her name disappeared as the one below it took its place.
The Deck Officer stepped closer to her and tilted his head down. “Are my lips moving?”
She felt the warm air from his breath puff her bangs, even though he towered over her small frame.
“Are the words I used too difficult for you to understand? Or do you think your status entitles you to question a superior officer?”
Behind her, she heard snickering from the other cadets. They broke into a low chant of “I’m a princess!”
She set her jaw. Stood perfectly still.
The Deck Officer glared at them and the sounds stopped. Though she never remembered saying “I’m a princess,” they mocked her with it frequently.
“No, sir,” she said, swallowing. Her face flushed. Her eyes watered. She focused on the Core insignia on the Deck Officer’s chest, following the stitches around the round outer border that enclosed ten segments radiating from a solid gold circle in the middle.
“Why are you still here? I said immediately,” he barked at her.
“Yes, sir!” In her hurry to follow orders, she nearly ran into her escort.
Unimpressed, he turned toward the exit without a word. Only a few steps behind him, she heard the Deck Officer yelling. “I don’t know what they let you get away with down on Galad, but on this station you’ll act like officers! I don’t care that you’re a bunch of twelve-year-olds. Tuk, I wouldn’t care if you were a bunch of five-year-olds! You will act like the cadets you are, or I’ll launch you right back to your mummies and daddies where you can cry and whine all you want. Do you hear me?”
She knew they’d blame her for whatever punishment he handed out. That’s how it had been the entire school year. If something could be her fault, it was. None of them cared she had no mother or father to go back to. It didn’t occur to them she was there for them, to learn how to lead so that in eight years when she took the throne, she could keep the Core safe from the Katorana rebels. Unless the Ruling Council defeated them first. No one else should ever lose their family the way I did. Whatever happens, I will protect them, even if they don’t deserve it.
The Lieutenant brought her a short distance to another hanger bay where a small personnel carrier sat ready for launch, its rear engines glowing like miniature suns. They walked under the stretched, dark gray oval-shaped ship to the ramp on the other side.
“Junior Cadet Starfire, pick a seat and strap in,” the Lieutenant said once they were inside. “We’re cleared for immediate takeoff.” He walked towards the front of the ship to the command section.
Serina glanced around at the two-dozen empty gray seats lined up facing the front of the ship. If she couldn’t fly, maybe she could at least get close enough to see how to pilot a personnel carrier. “Can I sit in the command section too, sir?”
“No.” The door snapped closed.
A few seconds later, the ship lifted and the landing gear clanked and clicked as it retracted with a final thud. She rushed to sit in the closest chair and snapped the restraints in place, acceleration pushing her into the firm cushions. The pressure subsided as they cleared the bay and the localized gravfield kicked in.
She relaxed in the seat and inspected her surroundings, looking for any clue where she might be going. The oval shaped, windowless walls, number of seats, and the lack of access to any type of control other than her seat belt told her she was on Type Two or Three short range military personnel carrier. But it wasn’t the type of shuttle they used to move back and forth between school on Galad and the Exampru in orbit. More likely, she was being transferred to another ship. I don’t really know. I could be going anywhere.
A familiar feeling settled over her. She went back to another trip, on a more elegant shuttle. The twelve seats were wide, white, and soft. Chancellor Zul sat next to her, his long fingers caressing her small seven-year-old hand.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Your home.”
“We just left my home.” She sniffed and rubbed her nose.
“That was the home of the Starfires. The Emperor’s heir’s family home. Now that the Emperor is dead,” Zul looked her in the eyes, “and your family along with him, you are the empress-to-be. Princess Serina. And you will live on Arbordise until we make proper arrangements.”
“How did they die again?” She knew he had told her, but her memory didn’t seem to work. It was the head injury, the doctors had said. She remembered that because it still hurt when she leaned her head back on the seat. But her memory of that day, and the days since, floated like a monster just under the surface of a rough sea.
“Duke Katorana betrayed your family and the Emperor. He thought that by killing them, he could seize the throne. It’s a miracle you survived the attack.” Zul shifted toward her in his seat and brushed a strand of caramel brown hair off her forehead. “A miracle that put the weight of securing the Core in your hands. But you won’t have to do it alone.” His hand slid down to her shoulder. “I promise to be your ever-present servant and guide as you learn to be the leader the Core needs to defeat the Katorana rebels and avenge your family.”
His face softened. Brilliant blue eyes seemed to pour sympathy and confidence into her. He had lived up to his promise the last five years, always supporting her, always guiding her on what to do.
She rubbed her hand across the hard gray arm of her seat and wished Zul was with her. He always knew what to say to make her feel better and help her understand what was happening and why. She’d wished it often during her time at the academy, but his visits were infrequent because of his duties as her representative on the Ruling Council.
The short flight from the training facility was followed by a long, swift, silent walk to a small conference room. She guessed they were on one of the Core’s military ships because there weren’t any other facilities nearby the Core Military Academy. Lieutenant Jord refused to even acknowledge questions as she’d followed him to the room, and now he’d locked her in with no orders other than to wait.
She chose a seat at the oval table where she could keep an eye on the door. The Adi on her wrist buzzed twice. She removed the Boost injector from her belt, placed it on her neck, and pressed the delivery button. The medicine coursed through her body, counteracting the effects of the poison from another Katorana attack while she was at school on Rynlis. She tapped the Adi to stop the buzzing and register she’d taken the dose at the appropriate time.
As she ran her hand across the smooth glossy surface of the table, she tried to relax. It wasn’t often she was alone. It unnerved her. The room held nothing but a dozen chairs and the table. Everything was white, a canvas her mind tried to fill with memories, but they were blurry and filled her with regret and an ache she didn’t understand. Consciously, as Doctor Nerez had taught her, she directed her mind to the present. Nothing. The blank walls and lack of information gave her nothing to focus on, but she heard the chanting of her classmates rising louder to fill the empty space. In six years, she’d transition out of the military and return to the sole role of Princess, until she was coronated Empress at twenty. What will the cadets say to me then? What will I say to them? Will I even care? Her priority was to destroy the rebels and secure peace for The Core. That’s what Zul had taught her. Everything she did must be in service to that goal. She wanted to make him proud, to become the leader he told her she could be. So, she kept the teasing and harsh treatment at the Academy to herself. Admitting it bothered her felt like she’d failed him. That was something she couldn’t do.
She rubbed her neck, then stood and paced around the oval table, her thoughts returning to the reasons she’d been reassigned and what that might mean. Nothing about it made any sense to her, but she kept trying to figure it out anyway. It was better than seeing a past she couldn’t remember well, or facing the jeers of her fellow students. She was deep in thought when the door slid open. Chancellor Zul, with his perfectly groomed brown hair and his official, long, flowing, deep blue robes, strode in.
She dashed towards him, throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his robes. The plush material caressed her skin, his arms around her a comfort she’d grown to need.
“My Dear,” he said gently stroking the back of her head, “what has gotten into you?” He reached down, unlocked her arms, and pushed her out in front of him.
She looked up at him to see his smile had gone flat. She stepped back and stood up straight. “Forgive me Chancellor, I, I forgot myself for a moment.”
“It’s quite alright, dear. I’ve missed you too. I just wasn’t expecting such an emotional outburst from Junior Cadet Starfire. But I need to remember you aren’t just any cadet,” he said, stepping a half step closer and brushing aside a loose strand of hair from her face. “You’re also the princess and future empress. There’s a time and place for informality in your private quarters. You must always present yourself properly elsewhere.”
She looked at the patternless white floor while he admonished her and swallowed to push the emotions down, hardening herself before the tears could leak through her defenses. “Yes, of course, Chancellor.”
“Based on the reports I’ve received, you’ve done a fabulous job switching to your military role, but you mustn’t forget what you’ve learned about being a princess.” His hand rested on her shoulder as he looked down at her. He squeezed his hand reassuringly and smiled down at her. “Let’s sit. We have important things to discuss.”
He pulled out a chair at the end of the conference table and motioned for her to sit. He took a seat next to her, examined the Adi on his wrist, then looked at her. “We don’t have much time before our meeting. What you need to know is you is you must be perfect in both your roles. This opportunity is the first major test of your leadership. Others will be watching, assessing whether you are up to leading the Core in the fight against the rebels. Are you ready?”
His eyes burned into her. She knew he wanted her to say yes, exude the confidence that came with tackling an unknown challenge. But for the second time since he arrived, she didn’t live up to his expectations. “No. I don’t understand. Ready for what? Why are you here? You’re not military, but this must be a military ship. What do you have to do with my reassignment? I’m so confused.” She looked down at the table, unable to face the disappointment in his eyes. But she still felt it and heard the almost inaudible sigh as it escaped his lips.
“Yes, I will admit some others have found this confusing, too. We can’t discuss details until we’re at the meeting. But let me just say this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, and has implications beyond the military, which is why I’m here as your guardian and representative on the Ruling Council.” His face grew hard.
What I’ve been waiting for… “You’ve found where the rebels are hiding?” She felt her chest tighten, the rush of blood to her face as she clenched her jaw.
A slight lift on one side of his mouth signaled she’d guessed correctly. He glanced down at his Adi again. “It’s time to go. Now, are you ready?”
The flash of anger and anxiety passed. She stood, straightened the deep green jacket of her uniform and let her military training take over. “I am ready, Chancellor.”
He nodded at her use of his proper title, “Then follow me, Princess.”
Serina broke into a sweat trying to keep up with Zul as they walked to the meeting. This wasn’t one of their rare leisurely strolls they’d had on the few evenings he visited her over the last year. She’d never seen him so hurried. They passed through three security checkpoints. Each time, the officers manning the station bowed to her. She tried to tell them it wasn’t necessary when she was in her military uniform, but Zul ushered her through, saying there wasn’t time for any explanations. They reached an unmanned door with a console on the wall to the left. Zul tapped his entry codes onto the small display, and the dark gray door split in half, each side disappearing into the wall.
Zul stepped to the side and motioned for her to enter. The room was at least five times as large as the small conference room she had been in, but the white ceiling and gray walls curved towards the far side, creating an egg-like shape. Holodisplays hovered above various black and white desks along the walls. More desks were laid out in concentric curves surrounding the center, where she saw a large circular table with a map of the ten major Core sectors in the holodisplay. Two men and a woman standing at the circular table turned towards her. One she recognized as General Faeger, the man in charge of the Academy. Another she knew was General Brack, Chairman of the Joint Core Military Forces. They had never met, but Zul had made sure she knew who the important leaders in the military were. The woman was a general too based on her insignia, but Serina didn’t know her. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her breathing quickened. A gentle pressure from Zul’s hand on her back forced her forward into the room.
She absentmindedly pulled down her uniform jacket, stood as tall as she could, then marched into the room. A few feet away from the generals she stopped and saluted with her open palm out, slightly turned upwards. “Junior Cadet Starfire reporting as ordered, sir!”
She could feel them inspecting her, looking for something, anything, to dismiss her. One, two, three, she counted in her head. The commanders at the Academy would have discovered any faults by now. If she made it to five, she knew she’d surpassed their expectations. Four, five… six, seven. Still, she stood at attention. Eight, nine…. The three generals took their gaze off her and looked at one another. Ten, eleven—.
“General Brack, General Ainen, General Faeger,” Zul said, nodding to each in turn.
“Chancellor,” said General Brack. “Thank you for escorting Junior Cadet Starfire here. Have you told her why she’s been summoned?”
Serina did her best to keep her eyes forward and her salute steady while the others discussed her as if she weren’t there.
“No, General. I thought that was best explained by those in charge. Though I am the Princess’ guardian and her representative as Chancellor of the Ruling Council, you know I wouldn’t ever presume to interfere with the military process.”
“If that were true Chancellor, neither of you would be here,” General Brack said, returning his attention back to Serina, “At ease, Cadet.”
Serina gratefully dropped her salute, placed her hands behind her back, and waited for her next command. Her throat felt tight, like someone was pressing their fist into her neck just above the collarbone.
“Junior Cadet Starfire, what you’re about to hear and see is classified at Core STNO level,” General Brack began. “You’ll be read into the program later if we’re convinced you’re up to the mission, but for now you need to understand that nothing you learn here can be spoken of outside of this room, or to anyone besides those you see here without proper approval. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” she said, her knees weak. General Brack spoke quickly, leaving her with the sensation of being blown by a strong wind that carried her way beyond any place she knew.
“Good. We’ve received confirmed intelligence that the Katorana forces have established a small outpost on Porwia, just on the outskirts of Daylen.” As he spoke, the holodisplay zoomed into the Callen sector, stopping on an orbital view of Porwia, with a flashing circle icon indicating the city of Daylen. “General Ainen controls the Callen sector. She’ll share the details of the mission.”
The woman stared down at Serina. Her clenched jaw and gray-green eyes revealed the irritation boiling inside her. “General…”
Brack held up his hand. “We’ve discussed this already, General Ainen. The decision has been made, pending the outcome of this meeting. Begin your briefing.”
Ainen looked at Serina again, then sighed before launching into the details of the intelligence surrounding the newly discovered base. The rebels hadn’t been sighted since the attack on Rhynlis three years prior. It appeared they were trying to regain a foothold inside the Core, beginning with Porwia. The section they occupied was an old industrial zone, mostly abandoned or disused buildings, along the northern edge of the city. They had no external offensive systems, making the target suitable for an aerial strategic strike. Seven CTS-26es would be deployed from the Vigilant, the Porwian flagship, and conduct a close approach attack. In and out, simple and easy, the General said.
Serina remained focused on the General and the simulation of the attack shown on the holodisplay. Zul was watching her, she knew, relying on her to behave, listen and respond perfectly.
“The last detail you need to know is that you’re going to be the commander of the mission, in the lead CTS-26, the first one to attack the target,” General Ainen finished, her tone making it clear she wasn’t pleased.
Serina stared forward at the repeating simulation playing out above the table on the holodisplay. Her throat tightened more, and she forced herself to breathe deeply. She glanced quickly at Zul standing beside her. He gave her a slight nod, which steadied her.
“Clearly, she has more sense than all of us. Wide eyed, pale and speechless. Her face says it all. She’s not ready for this.”
“General Ainen,” said General Faeger. “That isn’t a fair assessment. I imagine we all looked pale and nervous when we received our first commands. You are correct that she isn’t ready, but her record at the CMA says she’ll be more than ready when she’s completed the dedicated training. But first I think we need to hear from her. Do you agree General Brack?”
Brack nodded. “Starfire, do you have any questions?”
“Yes, General,” she said as she gathered her thoughts together, deciding in the moment to be military, not princess. “I understand the mission and that you want me to lead it. I’m prepared to do whatever is asked of me.” She steadied her voice. “But why? Why do you want me to lead it?”
The three generals looked at Zul.
“This mission is as much a political one as a military one,” Zul said. “It’s our—your—opportunity to make a statement. The future Empress herself leading the mission, destroying their attempt to infiltrate into the Core society, will be a powerful message to anyone who might think they can move against us now or in the future.”
There was an intensity in Zul’s eyes she’d come to recognize as absolute certainty. It always hit her like a forceful blow that pushed her into the making the only choice possible. In this way, he’d always laid out the path before her, helping her understand what she must do. “House Katorana needs to pay for what they did,” she said to Zul. “I see how important it is that I be the one. I’m willing to do it, but General Ainen is correct. I’m not ready.”
“That’s why I’ve designed an intense training program for you,” General Faeger said. “In six weeks, you’ll be flying the Kekt like you were born on one. I wouldn’t say that about everyone, but your first live flight training received top marks and your simulated flight stats are nearly perfect.”
“What’s a Kekt, General?” She asked before realizing it probably made her appear even less qualified for the mission than she already was.
General Ainen shook her head. “There’s only so much you can teach in a short time, Faeger. A Kekt is the nickname for the CTS-26,” she said, shifting her attention to Serina, “Unofficial, of course, which is why you would never have heard of it in your limited training. I admire your self-awareness, Cadet Starfire. Understanding one’s limitations is key to surviving in combat. You have the makings of an outstanding officer, in the future. For now, though, there is a counterproposal to General Faeger’s training program and you leading the mission. Politically, all we need is for you to order the attack. You can even be on the command deck of the Vigilant when you do, in your position as future ruler of the Core, not a military commander. After a successful mission, we issue a statement that the action was done on your command. That should have the same effect on the rebels as if you flew the mission yourself. I think that’s a reasonable compromise. Do you agree?”
Serina stayed silent, considering the General’s words. Aiden’s alternative felt more reasonable, certainly safer for everyone. But she knew without looking at him again Zul had decided she needed to do it personally. If he believed she could do it, then she would. Aware all the adults in the room were waiting for her response, she kept her eyes on the center table until she was ready, as the Princess, to answer. “As Generals, and Chancellor,” she added to include Zul, “which option would lead you to respect, or fear, a leader more? One who led the attack, or one who remained safely behind on the command ship? Then answer that question, considering your enemy is only twelve.”
The Generals exchanged glances. Ainen and Faeger nodded to Brack, who then nodded to Faeger.
“Junior Cadet Starfire, you’ve just received a field promotion to full Cadet status. You’ve been reassigned to the Vigilant to complete the training program prior to executing the mission.”
Zul’s approving smile confirmed she’d managed both her roles perfectly. She felt triumphant under his gaze.
“Your training starts now,” General Faeger continued before Serina could enjoy her success. He turned to the table and typed into the console. The simulation disappeared, and the map of the Core systems returned. The door opened, revealing Lieutenant Jord waiting on the other side. “Lieutenant, escort Cadet Starfire to the Sim Station on level eleven. You are dismissed.”
Responding to the order, she saluted the generals, then nodded to Zul and turned to follow Jord. She heard the doors swish closed behind her. A wave of heat passed through her and she stumbled.
The Lieutenant stopped and turned to her. “Are you all right, Cadet?” His voice was still cold, but more formal than cruel.
The heat wave subsided. In its place rose the realization of what she’d just been ordered, agreed, to do. “Yes, sir,” she said and stood up straight. They resumed their walk in silence, leaving Serina to wonder what was coming next.
***
“Tuk!” Serina said and ripped the transhex off her chest. The simulation ended, and she dropped the short distance to the ground and pounded her fist into the firm foam floor.
“Cadet! Did you ’ear me give the order to abort the simulation?”
Serina lowered her head to the ground. “No, Ma’am,” she said to Commander Myi.
“Get up.”
Serina pushed herself up and straightened her flight suit. Prepared for a barrage, she stood silently.
“Explain yourself,” Myi said.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Serina said, surprised by the lack of insults and commentary on her inadequacies. Though slim and not much taller than Serina, the woman’s intensity and rank intimidated her. “I knew I’d turned too early. Again.”
“So you thought you’d just quit and start over?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“’ow many times ’ave I said to treat the Sim as if it were real?”
“I’ve lost count, Ma’am.”
“Exactly. Yet you still don’t seem to understand.” The Commander returned to the control station and began resetting the simulation.
Serina’s frustration made things worse. But it wasn’t just frustration. She was exhausted. In the week since she’d been assigned to the mission, she’d trained in the Sims at least ten hours a day. Another two she spent in physical fitness drills. There was barely time to eat or sleep. If she only could get some downtime, she knew she’d do better. It seemed neither General Faeger nor Commander Myi believed in rest.
“Go again. This time, you’ll feel every mistake you make. You might even wish you were dead.”
Serina swallowed hard, suddenly alert and afraid. She placed the transhex back on her chest and tapped it to create the localized simulation. A Kekt formed around her, then the main docking bay of the Vigilant took shape. Her ship was in position for takeoff. The large force field protected the opening in front of her. She went through her preflight checklist, reviewing and resetting controls on the consoles that surrounded the pilot seat on three sides. A holodisplay highlighting her flight path appeared above the central console in the front. Cleared for takeoff, she launched. She and her simulated wingman followed the flight pattern perfectly through the first ten waypoints. As they approached the eleventh, Serina prepared to make the complicated maneuver she’d failed every time in this Sim sequence. Myi’s words lingered in her head, so she took a deep breath to calm herself, waited for the waypoint and executed the maneuver.
The ship shuddered. An alarm shrieked. Multiple consoles flashed red. The holodisplay fluttered, then disappeared. She heard a crack like shattering glass before her body seemed to ignite from the inside. Her arms and legs felt punctured by thousands of needles, but she was stuck, rigid, unable to move.
She wanted to die.
Serina sat on the ground, rubbing her arms and legs. The burning and pincushion sensation had passed, but she still tingled.
“You thought the trouble was the execution of the turn. Because you kept aborting, you never even got to the real test. Until now. What do you think ’appened?”
“Something hit the ship, but nothing showed up on the scans. It came out of nowhere, Ma’am.”
“Correct. Any theories of what it might ’ave been?”
“No, Ma’am.”
Myi shifted her stance. “Stand up. Follow me.”
At the console, Myi set the simulation into replay just before Serina made the turn and they stepped through it, analyzing every decision and option. Serina watched herself in the holodisplay, wincing when the playback reached the spot when the simulation feedback kicked in. At CMA, the Sims didn’t allow pain or injury, the stakes were never that high. Commander Myi had made her point by turning the feedback on. Serina never wanted to experience it again.
***
Zzzz. Zzzz. The Adi on Serina’s wrist persisted its vibrating until she tapped the alarm off. Fifteen minutes to dress. Fifteen minutes to eat. Hours of training. She’d started her fourth week of the program the day before. The lack of sleep and constant activity felt natural to her now. She got dressed, excited about the day’s scheduled training. Commander Myi had told her to expect only live flys from now on. The one thing keeping her from enjoying herself was the reason she was there. It hovered in the back of her mind, but moved forward when she made mistakes, making her question if she’d be ready in time. But she never gave into her doubts for long. Imagining Zul’s disappointment if she gave up was unbearable. He’d taught her to do what was required of her, no matter what, to honor her family’s memory and protect the Core.
Too anxious to eat, she skipped breakfast and arrived at the fighter bay five minutes early.
“Don’t just stand there, Cadet,” Myi said as she entered behind Serina, “suit up.”
“Yes, Ma’am!”
Once ready, Serina waited for the order to begin flight prep. Commander Myi usually yelled at her to hurry, so she silently commended herself for finally being fast enough. Until she noticed Myi was huddled near the door, talking to Lieutenant Jord. I’m not fast, she’s just busy. She sighed, determined to wait patiently and be ready when the Commander gave the order.
“Change of plans, Cadet,” Myi said when she returned from the conversation. “We’re wanted up top.”
“Ma’am?”
“We have five minutes to report to the Egg. No time to discuss it.”
Serina hurried after the Commander, doing her best to keep up. As they approached their destination, she recognized the door as the one she and Zul had entered. She wondered if ‘Egg’ was the official name for the room, or just slang. Inside, she saw General Ainen and General Faeger, once again, standing at the central table. The air in the room was heavy. The stern looks of the generals made her chest to tighten and her stomach turn.
“We’ve received new intelligence this morning. Duke Katorana is at the base on Porwia,” Ainen said after the proper greetings.
Serina clenched her teeth at the name. The man responsible for all her pain and loss had been found. She wondered if this could really all end now. Killing the man who’d killed so many others.
“But only for a brief window. Twelve hours, possibly less. We need to strike now. It’s the best shot at destroying the rebels we’ve had since the war began.” Ainen asked Commander Myi for her input on Serina’s readiness. They discussed her as if she wasn’t there, evaluating her progress, making adjustments to the mission to account for a shortened training period. “Last time we were in this room you showed great self-awareness,” Ainen said to Serina, “So, I’m giving you the opportunity to say if you think you are up to the task.”
“General, I’m ready to fly the Kekt. We’ve practiced the mission countless times in Sims and live fly. I think I can do it.” She had to do it, to prove Zul’s faith in her wasn’t misplaced, to avenge her family and end the war now.
General Faeger nodded in support.
“You haven’t practiced the entire mission. You’ve only flown with Commander Myi, not the entire squad. We aren’t willing to put their lives at risk with an untested commander,” Ainen said.
Bile burned the back of Serina’s throat, her stomach becoming a hard knot.
“However, we have two options. One is the alternative scenario I presented to you at our first meeting. You stay here on the command ship, give the order, and let the Commander and her squad complete the mission. The other is that you and Commander Myi fly the mission alone. We still don’t expect any resistance, but should anything go wrong, you will relinquish command and do exactly as Commander Myi orders.”
“She flies the mission,” a voice emanating from the table said. Serina recognized it as General Brack’s. “That’s an order, General Ainen.”
“Yes, sir.” Ainen snapped.
“Good luck Starfire,” Brack said.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Cadet Starfire, you’ve received a temporary field promotion to commander and assigned to squad P1-1,” General Ainen said. “After launch, you’ll take the lead on the mission until you return to the Vigilant, or Commander Myi directs you to relinquish command. Understood?”
“Yes, General.”
“We’ll be at Porwia in two hours. Dismissed.”
***
A flurry of activity surrounded Serina. Commander Myi lead her through the pre-mission prep, methodically checking each step to make sure everything was in order. Serina tried to thank her for believing in her, but the Commander cut her off. Only the mission mattered, Myi had told her. Everything else could wait. Serina shoved all the thoughts and feelings down and only focused on the details of what she had to do so she could forget about the why or wonder if she was ready. If she didn’t, she knew the knots in her chest would unravel, she’d crumble and fail everyone.
They boarded their Kekts, ran through the launch sequence and takeoff before Serina’s nerves showed. Her hands trembled, and her voice cracked.
“Easy Commander. Just like we practiced,” Myi’s voice reassured her.
Serina nodded to herself and swallowed. She led them through the waypoints, exactly as they had practiced in the Sim and dozens of live flights. As they turned into the attack vector, she armed weapons and locked on target. All she had to do was release the missiles as planned, then pull away to the next waypoint. The mission is all that matters. The thought steadied her hand, helped her focus on the single task in front of her.
Green lights lit up the weapon console. She heard a beep and pressed the release button. “Weapons away.”
“Confirmed. Impact in 10 seconds,” Myi said.
Relief washed over Serina. She’d done it. Duke Katorana would be dead by her hand. Without a leader, the rebels would disperse. The war would end.
She angled away from the base, watching the missiles’ trajectory on the holodisplay until they impacted. He’s dead. Pulling her attention away, she headed for the next waypoint.
“Pull up! Pull up!” Myi ordered.
Confused, Serina followed the command. The cockpit grew bright. The ship surged forward, then tumbled end over end. All she could see outside was a yellow tinged blur. Inside, alarms sounded and consoles flashed red.
“Tuk! Serina, lock navigation on the Vigilant, then activate your burst-drive. Now!”
Serina, disoriented, struggled to get her hands to work the controls as she spun out of control, but she found the Vigilant’s signal and started the burst-drive. The ship reoriented itself and she was pressed into the seat. As it accelerated away from the planet, she passed out.
***
Back inside the Egg, Serina watched Porwia burn. Daylen had been obliterated. A mini-map appeared on the holodisplay, constantly adjusting the region of damage that grew out from the gaping crater left behind by the attack. Where the crater ended, a fire raged on the land, creating a ring around the unfathomable destruction. General Faeger and Commander Myi watched with her in silence. Occasionally, updates on General Ainen’s rescue efforts flashed. Millions of people needed evacuation, and Core ships continued to arrive to take them. Estimates were twenty million died in the initial blast, millions more in the aftermath. And it wasn’t over yet.
The missiles she launched didn’t cause the destruction directly. Still, it was her fault. Millions died because she wanted one man dead more than anything else. Those thoughts ran through her head, disappearing and reappearing, but she couldn’t focus on them. She simply felt numb, so empty inside she knew she could never be full, whole again.
“The bastards,” General Faeger said.
“What is it, General?” Myi asked.
“Here,” he pointed to a report that popped up on the display. “Chemical traces of Odex. The rebels must have laced it underground, in large amounts.”
Serina didn’t know what Odex was. She knew she should ask but couldn’t bring herself to do it, afraid that if she spoke, she’d start to feel.
“Chancellor,” the General said, breaking her out of her fog. Zul briskly walked to join them at the table.
She kept staring at the holodisplay, not daring to look at him.
“General,” Zul said.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just now, but I’ve been staying informed. Princess, are you all right?” he placed his hand on her shoulder.
She glanced at him and nodded before returning to the display of Porwia. He squeezed her shoulder, the sensation bringing no comfort.
“General,” Zul turned to him, “have you seen the report about Odex?”
“Yes. They planned this. They wanted to destroy Porwia.”
“But they didn’t. I did,” Serina said, her voice cracking.
“I wonder if I might have a few moments alone with the Princess, General?” Zul said, breaking the silence Serina’s words created.
“Yes, of course, Chancellor. Commander Myi and I should leave to help with recovery efforts.” He turned to Serina. “You did well completing your mission, Cadet. This is not your fault. This is war.”
His words sliced through the numbness. She choked back tears but managed to nod. As soon as they were gone, she collapsed to the ground, sobbing. She melted into Zul as he cradled her in his arms and let her cry. When the worst subsided, he stood her up and dried her face with his robes.
“The pain you’re feeling doesn’t belong to you. This is the rebels doing, the Duke’s plan and would have happened whoever led the attack.”
“Why? Why would anyone want to do this?”
“To turn the people against us, against you. What would people think if they believed we would attack our own? No one would feel safe, and when people don’t feel safe, they’ll turn to anyone who they believe can keep them safe.”
“I don’t know…”
“It’s true. The Duke has already made a statement denying any responsibility.”
“He wasn’t there?”
“No. That was another ruse to make sure we took action. They planned this, carefully placed the Odex to ensure massive destruction. They will do anything to destabilize the Core.” He reached out and held her hands. “I am so sorry we didn’t recognize this before getting you involved. But… it was inconceivable before today. They must be stopped.”
The warmth of his hands and the conviction in his voice shifted something inside her. Her pain and guilt mixed with the knowledge of what the rebels would do to win. Inside her, they solidified, becoming a hard mass of anger.
“I will stop them. Before I do anything else, before I take the throne, I’ll stop them.”
Zul acknowledged her statement, then leaned forward to enlarge a video that appeared on the display. The image of Porwia disappeared, replaced by a newsfeed with a woman’s face, with a smaller inset of video from a rescue ship at Porwia.
“We’ve just received a statement from the Office of the Chancellor and Ruling Council,” the woman said, her tone of voice somewhere between excitement and horror. “They are saying the events on Porwia are the result of rebel activity and Duke Katorana’s immediate denial is proof he had foreknowledge of this disastrous event. They will make further announcements at a press conference later today after more information—hold on, we’re getting more details. Yes, yes. We’re going to switch to a live feed of the rebel leader Duke Katorana now—”
A video of the Duke, his dark curly hair disheveled, eyes puffy and bloodshot, appeared. The simmering fire in Serina’s chest ignited into an inferno.
“—the ones responsible for this tragedy are those currently in power within the Core government. That they used Princess Serina as a tool for this destruction—”
The image of the Duke disappeared, and the image of the woman returned.
“It looks like we lost him,” the woman said, tilting her head as if listening to something. “Yes, yes, we did. We’re going to go to Ireldo Ranva currently on Porwia at the site of rescue efforts. Ireldo, what is it like there?”
“Thank you Carokay. It’s hard to find words to describe the level of destruction and despair here on the surface.” People streaked with dirt and blood, some wrapped in blankets or towels, walked, ran or hobbled behind the well-groomed reporter. In the distance, the sky glowed a flickering red-orange. Ireldo gestured with his hand at the people, “But you can see people of all ages, families with young children are fleeing the area—”
Zul reached out to turn off the video, but Serina pushed his arm aside.
“—behind me that still burns even as the Protection Forces work to put out the fires—” His voice cut off as the image began shaking. He spread out his arms to steady himself. “As you can see,” his voice trembling, “there are these intense tremors that continue to roll across the land.” Several seconds passed where he and the camera shook violently, the only sounds a faint rumbling and distant screams. “The authorities say they haven’t hampered rescue efforts yet,” he resumed when the shaking lessened, “but no one can confirm if they expect them to subside or increase in intensity.”
“That’s very discouraging, Ireldo. I hope the authorities can provide more information soon. Other than the shaking, can you give us a sense of what it’s like there?”
“I’m not sure I can find the words, Carokay. It’s pure devastation, smoke, fires, blood and screams. It’s a nightmare of unfathomable proportions. I have to keep reminding myself this is real and not a new Sim feature. Whoever is responsible for this will never be forgotten, just like all the other butchers in history who resorted to extreme methods to achieve their ends. It’s horrifying, just horrifying.”
“I’ll have to stop you there Ireldo, we’ve got a break coming up,” Carokay paused again, her head tilted ever slightly. “We’ll come back to you soon, but in the meantime, I think you’ve coined a new name for Duke Katorana: the Butcher of Porwia.”
Serina turned away from the holodisplay. Suddenly she was back in the ship, her finger pressing down, launching the missiles. Pain in her shoulders brought her back to the Egg. Zul stood in front of her, gripping her shoulders. She looked into his eyes, searching for his certainty they’d done the right thing. It was there, unwavering.
Continue Serina’s story in the Butcher of Porwia series, available from your favorite ebook retailer:
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