Read Online The Last Charge (The Nameless War Trilogy Book 3) by Edmond Barrett - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Edmond Barrett
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elements are willing to make concessions and the Council has struck a bargain. On behalf of the Council, the President of the United States will be making an announcement in about twenty minutes. She will be informing the planet that a convoy of personnel transports is being formed. Five thousand colonists have been selected from the major nations, who are being lifted into orbit as we speak. Once they’re on board their ships and in hibernation, they will be escorted to the Confederacy border by the Aèllr cruiser. There they will wait for the Battle of Earth to be decided. Should Earth fall, then they will continue on to the Aèllr colony world of Ptioet, on the far side of Confederacy space. It is the newest of their colony worlds, which they only started to settle twenty years ago. One of the planet’s continents has yet to be opened for settlement. We’ve… bought it.”
Lewis and Fengzi exchanged looks of amazement.
“The colony will be an Aèllr protectorate. They have offered guarantees on internal independence, which the Council regards as acceptable,” Wingate continued as he sat down. “Thanks to their position on the far side of Aèllr space from the Nameless, they will be a protected outpost of humanity.”
“The Aèllr? The race against which we fought a war: a war in which they attempted to box us in onto our own planet.”
Fengzi’s tone was no longer angry, but one of utter disbelief. “Last year the Council kept good ships pissing around on the Aèllr border when Dryad was nearly taken from us!”
“And they’re doing this out of the goodness of their hearts?” Lewis asked in a matching tone.
“Politicians take time to adjust to new conditions,” Wingate shrugged. “Once they do, they can go in unexpected directions. No, the Aèllr are not acting out of some newly discovered fondness for us. Our ships will be carrying a database of our ship designs, technical plus tactical manuals and every piece of military writing from the last two hundred years. That is the price we have paid for their agreement.”
“We can’t give the…” Fengzi started to exclaim.
Wingate slammed his hand down.
“That decision has been made!” he shouted, before continuing more calmly. “The agreement has what is in effect a standby proviso. If we succeed in repelling the Nameless, then the convoy will return without handing over any information. That much I was able to add to the deal.”
“And we really think the Aèllr can be trusted?” Fengzi asked, aghast.
“The Council do and that’s what matters,” Wingate shrugged. “If Earth falls, then our military secrets are valuable only as currency. Our political masters have made the decision and we do as we are bid. The Council is doing what it thinks, what it hopes, is for the best. That isn’t our problem; our problem is making sure this doesn’t break the morale of the fleet.”
“What about Dryad?” Lewis asked.
“Publicly, nothing will be mentioned. If asked, the Council will state that since the Mhar cannot offer any meaningful military protection and none of the Tample can be trusted, the policy towards Dryad is as it always has been – to defend it against all comers. However when Admiral Melchiori was ordered to send the Resplendent home, he was also instructed that in the event of Earth falling, he is authorised to seek political union with the Mhar Union. The three cruisers under his command should provide a sufficient sweetener for such a deal.”
“With us gone, the Mhar would likely seek full alliance with the Aèllr,” Fengzi said, now in a calmer tone.
“Yes. Which since the Aèllr seem to sincerely believe that war with the Nameless is coming, would likely not be refused,” Wingate agreed in a tired voice. “So even if Earth falls, something will remain of humanity. Even if is only as a subordinate species.”
He pulled himself to his feet again and, picking up the glass, returned to the window.
“I think that’s
Lewis and Fengzi exchanged looks of amazement.
“The colony will be an Aèllr protectorate. They have offered guarantees on internal independence, which the Council regards as acceptable,” Wingate continued as he sat down. “Thanks to their position on the far side of Aèllr space from the Nameless, they will be a protected outpost of humanity.”
“The Aèllr? The race against which we fought a war: a war in which they attempted to box us in onto our own planet.”
Fengzi’s tone was no longer angry, but one of utter disbelief. “Last year the Council kept good ships pissing around on the Aèllr border when Dryad was nearly taken from us!”
“And they’re doing this out of the goodness of their hearts?” Lewis asked in a matching tone.
“Politicians take time to adjust to new conditions,” Wingate shrugged. “Once they do, they can go in unexpected directions. No, the Aèllr are not acting out of some newly discovered fondness for us. Our ships will be carrying a database of our ship designs, technical plus tactical manuals and every piece of military writing from the last two hundred years. That is the price we have paid for their agreement.”
“We can’t give the…” Fengzi started to exclaim.
Wingate slammed his hand down.
“That decision has been made!” he shouted, before continuing more calmly. “The agreement has what is in effect a standby proviso. If we succeed in repelling the Nameless, then the convoy will return without handing over any information. That much I was able to add to the deal.”
“And we really think the Aèllr can be trusted?” Fengzi asked, aghast.
“The Council do and that’s what matters,” Wingate shrugged. “If Earth falls, then our military secrets are valuable only as currency. Our political masters have made the decision and we do as we are bid. The Council is doing what it thinks, what it hopes, is for the best. That isn’t our problem; our problem is making sure this doesn’t break the morale of the fleet.”
“What about Dryad?” Lewis asked.
“Publicly, nothing will be mentioned. If asked, the Council will state that since the Mhar cannot offer any meaningful military protection and none of the Tample can be trusted, the policy towards Dryad is as it always has been – to defend it against all comers. However when Admiral Melchiori was ordered to send the Resplendent home, he was also instructed that in the event of Earth falling, he is authorised to seek political union with the Mhar Union. The three cruisers under his command should provide a sufficient sweetener for such a deal.”
“With us gone, the Mhar would likely seek full alliance with the Aèllr,” Fengzi said, now in a calmer tone.
“Yes. Which since the Aèllr seem to sincerely believe that war with the Nameless is coming, would likely not be refused,” Wingate agreed in a tired voice. “So even if Earth falls, something will remain of humanity. Even if is only as a subordinate species.”
He pulled himself to his feet again and, picking up the glass, returned to the window.
“I think that’s
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