“This goes beyond my authority. In fact, USSI should be trying to determine the nature of this threat, but perhaps just as my hands are tied by civilian oversight, theirs may be as well. I’ve assembled a team myself and I want you to lead them into the Border Worlds. We’ve made contact with an individual on Atlas Prime who claims to be a high-level member of the separatists. We’ve established a pre-arranged time and place to meet with this contact. The individual claims to have evidence of a conspiracy within the United Star Systems and to know who is responsible for the attacks along the Border Worlds.
“Tensions are almost as high as they were before the last war. All it will take is some rash action or poor decision by either of us and this next war might set us all back to the Stone Age. Our back channels between our respective diplomats have closed. Even my counterpart has threatened to shut off communication with me. The threat is real, and it is with a heavy heart that I tell you, this may be our last chance to prevent a war. As of two days ago, scouts detected a large Imperial fleet warping for the frontier. Our response fleet consists of three battle groups, at least a couple dozen ships strong, and Intel suggests a similar number from them.”
Aaron leaned back in his seat. The life of a starship captain was simple compared to the dangerous games governments played with the lives of their citizens. The machinery of the “system” now played out on a galactic scale and the universe was its playground. No matter the century, some things just wouldn’t change.
If power was a drug, then it was the most addictive drug known to humankind.
“Sir, if neither side is responsible for the disappearance of those ships then someone else must be.”
“That, Commander . . . is correct. And that is your mission. The separatist movement is powerful and well organized. Although they haven’t resorted to violence, it may only be a matter of time before they adopt more extreme methods. We’ll take this meeting, but there are no guarantees. Incidentally, it seems either you forced this unknown element’s hand during the incident at Orion, or they’re ready to act. You and most of your crew are the first survivors of one of these attacks. The first to transmit any real data on them and provide us with conclusive proof that an unknown instigator is responsible. Your assignment is complicated, just as the Baridian Empire all those years ago sought Independence, the separatists desire the same and it seems they are keen to entice other United Star System worlds to join them. That makes the Border Worlds and particularly the Atlas system volatile now. That is a very dangerous future. If we fracture, there will be no other interstellar force capable of keeping the influence of the Empire at bay.”
That last part troubled Aaron the most. If the Empire could impose its way of life on other worlds, then the known universe was about to become a despotic place.
The Empire had legalized slaves, exotic drug use and spatial weapon research. The latter of which was banned by the United Star Systems three hundred years ago. Such weapons could destroy the fabric of the universe. Yet for such backward ideals, it seemed to be an attractive ideology for some people. Intel suggested there were no serious crimes within the Empire—they dealt with criminal offenders swiftly and harshly. Additionally, they possessed a strong and powerful economic base and fielded a well-funded and capable space-navy.
The common illegal slave trade existed throughout outlaw space—pockets of unaligned star systems who made up their own rules. Some United citizens even engaged in slave trading for quick profit. Ordinary slaves received the worst treatment and had absolutely no rights. However, Imperial slaves were different. Although they didn’t earn wages, the Empire allowed them to raise families, work normal hours, own a small section of personal land, and their owners provided them with adequate amenities. They simply weren’t free to move around as they pleased, or to choose to do anything else, other than carry out instructions and repay the debt they owed.
Some people argued the free citizens of the United Star Systems were not that different from Imperial Slaves. In the USS, you might live and work in the same place for the majority of your life. Instead of receiving amenities from your employers, you received a wage, which was yours to do with as you pleased. In some instances, depending on the individual, this could be anything from money well spent, to indulging in drugs, prostitution, and other negative activities. You were free to engage in practices which brought about hardship in your life, or which brought great joy. You had a choice. And many argued that free will is what separated the life of an Imperial Slave from that of a USS citizen.
They argued that the fundamental question was; whether choice was important enough to justify the resulting chaos created by some cross sections of the free citizens of United Star Systems society.
Aaron believed it was.
There could be no justification for barriers to freedom. If you chose to commit a crime against the State or someone else, the State had laws that dealt with you. That’s how a free society protected itself while still allowing its citizens their freedom. Otherwise, life was meaningless.
“Sir, what theories have we tossed around for the Border Worlds trying to pit us directly against the Empire? To emerge as the new interstellar power? I guess what I’m asking is—what do they gain?”
The SC shook his head. “Our speculation is dangerous without more facts. That is one likely scenario among others. A war between us and the Empire would severely weaken us both and galvanize the support of the undecided civilian population in the Border Worlds Alliance to break away from us. The Border Worlds would be the next major power. I almost wish it is the Border Worlds fueling tensions, and that the rumors of a conspiracy with the USS are just that—rumors.”
The final question was obvious to Aaron. His selection to lead this mission was strange at best. “Why do you think I’m the right candidate for this particular assignment, sir? Why not some other specially trained intelligence operative?”
“I don’t think, Commander . . . I know. If there is a conspiracy within the USSF, we have no idea who they are or what their objective is. I’ve taken extraordinary measures to keep your mission secret. Only a handful of persons besides your team are aware of it and your movements from here will flow naturally. We don’t want anyone detecting any hint of Fleet Intelligence interacting with our Border Worlds contact, nor any elements of Fleet personnel. It’s likely the contact’s safety is equally compromised. Your recent encounter works in our favor. The record will show you were dishonorably discharged from the Fleet. You abandoned your ship while under fire, without first attempting a defense and deserted your crew. We’ve altered your file to reflect this. The backup I sealed contains the original version and I’ve stored it in my office, not available on any network. When you return from your mission, despite the outcome, all will be as it should be, and your role in this mission recognized. That and being a Border Worlds citizen makes it an obvious choice for you to return there after being discharged from service.
“Some of your team will meet you on Rigel with an equipment package obtained from unofficial USSF sources. Nothing you carry can be traced back to the Fleet. Another member of your team—my operative—will greet you when you leave my office. You will get familiar with her on-route to Rigel. She will give you more operational details. And, Commander, she is my most trusted operative—you will take care of her and heed her guidance. But I have no doubt she will be taking care of you. She’s an intelligence expert. You think only starship captains keep the USS safe? No, son, a lot goes on down here on the ground and in places you’ve never heard of to keep our grand alliance intact. This is it, Commander. I wish you all the good fortune in the universe. I will attempt to gather more ships and warp to the frontier myself to meet the Imperials. Hopefully a strong show of force will deter any rash actions by them.”