Convergence/Chapter 17

17
 As vantage points went, Lord Tierno’s VIP suite offered a much more expansive view of the battle than Admiral Sakantos was used to from such spaces. Four repeater displays and a sizable holoprojector provided more than enough information. While it wasn’t as comprehensive as one might expect in a warship’s bridge, it was far more than what was available in the cell where he’d previously been confined—which hadn’t shown him anything.

 Apparently, Lord Tierno no longer cared that the admiral might obtain useful tactical information about Grasp fleets. Granted, the Five Worlds Defense Force had a sizable database of such information already—but what it told the admiral was that the secret Lord Tierno prized more than fleet dispositions or tactics was the location where he’d previously been taken and held. He filed that nugget away for future use, but allowed himself to be distracted by observing the battle over Glee Anselm. If nothing else, he was professionally curious, both about Grasp deployments as well as that of the Zabraki, a distant power he knew little of personally.

 If the repeater displays were accurate, the fleets seemed evenly matched. The Zabraki, though caught offguard, quickly rallied their ships and turned sharply to meet the oncoming threat. The Grasp ships, by contrast, plunged themselves into the Zabraki fleet with the ferocity that Sakantos had come to expect from them. The ship shuddered and lurched from the impacts as the two fleets collided. Lord Tierno apparently had no qualms about subjecting his flagship to battle.

 Then again, if the repeaters were to be believed, the leader of the Grasp traveled on a warship that, while sizable, was nowhere near the largest ship known Grasp ship. Lord Tierno sat quietly, not attempting to command the battle. That was also interesting.

 “Sadly there is little to be learned from this engagement,” Tierno commented dryly as the Grasp ships knifed their way through the Zabraki flotilla.

 “Oh?” the admiral replied.

 “Caught offguard, they revert to standard tactics,” Tierno said. “A headlong, measured approach with overlapping fire. It’s the classic Chakhan formation. Effective against swarming droids following programmed attack patterns, but so very orthodox and uninspired.”

 “I find the Chakhan effective in many such scenarios,” Admiral Sakantos countered mildly. “One of its main benefits is being widely applicable.”

 Tierno scowled dismissively.

 “They’ve already lost,” he said. “Sacrificed the initiative.” He jabbed a finger at the display.

 “Look.”

 Two Grasp cruisers slipped from their protective position flanking Lord Tierno’s ship and recklessly surged forward into the midst of the Zabraki formation. As Sakantos expected, they were targeted by most of the Zabraki’s heavy weapons and quickly reduced to burning wrecks. However, the cruisers were too large to simply blow up and had too much inertia. They slid right through the Zabraki formation, forcing some of the ships to either pass perilously close by the hulls, or else scatter their defensive formation. Sakantos realized with a pit in his stomach what was going to happen. Even as Lord Tierno’s ship, bereft of its flanking guards, began to suffer increased punishment, Sakantos knew it was a trap.

 A second later, both cruisers exploded as what was left of their reactors completed their overload. When the radiation and backscatter cleared sufficiently from the explosions, only tattered remnants of the Zabraki fleet were left. Sakantos had seen the Grasp use such tactics before. If the ships were largely automated and were constructed by a sufficiently robust industrial base, the loss of a pair of cruisers was hardly a setback. Of course, there was no guarantee this wasn’t all some elaborate charade to dupe him.

 “As I said, completely uninformative,” Lord Tierno told him. “The Zabraki show some ingenuity in devised plans, but when confronted with unexpected variables, revert to all-too-predictable behaviors.”

 “I’m sure they’ll learn and adapt,” Sakantos countered. “Then they would have a surprise for you.”

 “Perhaps,” Lord Tierno replied mildly. “This raid was rather bold; but mere boldness is no substitute for strategy. The presence of this ship and fleet were likely unknown to them, but of course you already know the value of good intelligence in any campaign.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Of course,” Sakantos replied neutrally.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> He looked back at the battle holos. Their ship had stopped shaking with impacts and the remaining Zabraki ships were scattered and fleeing. Only a few were still firing in futile attempts at defiance. They had lost all cohesion and the Grasp droids would mop them up easily. He’d seen it before. Lord Tierno was right; this particular battle was all but over. The would-be invaders had been expecting light opposition and an easy raid—pitched battle against ruthless Grasp defenders had not been the plan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> As to the extent of the damage, as far as Sakantos had been able to glean, a medium-class orbital defense station had been fairly damaged; perhaps a few other moderate-sized cruisers and frigates had been damaged, aside from the pair intentionally sacrificed. Glee Anselm had taken some moderate bombardment on its air defense bases, but Sakantos doubted casualties had been too heavy given that Grasp forces were automated. In the strategic picture, the Grasp had come out ahead unless the Zabraki damage had being intentionally downscaled to give him a false perspective on the battle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “For my part, I have up until now been missing some intelligence that would have greatly aided our discussions thus far, Admiral.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Oh?” Sakantos replied. “What information do you think you possess that could possibly make me sympathetic to the Grasp?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “We are not so different, Admiral,” Lord Tierno told him. “You are a military and political leader; so am I. You’ve seen a Grasp-administered world—those people are no more oppressed than Corellians or Selonians in the Five Worlds. You’ve seen us throw our fleet into desperate combat to defend our territory, just as you’ve done yourself on—what was it—at least eleven occasions?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Sakantos was quiet, unwilling to rise to the bait.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Both of us would benefit from the Five Worlds joining the Grasp,” Lord Tierno continued. “In the end, a pointless struggle would be avoided, and countless lives would be saved. Both of our nations would desire that, no?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “The difference being that one of our nations doesn’t have ambitions to conquer and raid everything around it,” Sakantos growled.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Lord Tierno gave him a tight, mirthless smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Come, Admiral, let us not be naïve. If the Five Worlds had 1,000 more capital ships and the crews to man them, don’t you think some. . . expansion would be clamored for and eventually ordered?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “We would defend our own,” Sakantos said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Ah, of course,” Lord Tierno replied. “A clean, neat justification that conveniently allows the expansion of ‘our own’ to whatever is politically convenient. Like Dracknall, yes?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Dracknall sits at a crucial hyperspace junction and has historically been associated with Corellia,” Sakantos replied. “We would be fools to simply allow the Herglics—or anyone else—to control it. We had to take it!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Indeed,” Lord Tierno said. “Convenient, moralistic reasons can always be devised for whatever those with power want. The Grasp, on the other hand, makes no attempt at pretense. We take what we can because we can, and because there is no one strong enough to oppose us.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “And that is the difference between us,” Sakantos countered.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Quite true,” Lord Tierno replied, sitting back in his chair. “You do lack the strength to stop us.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Then why all the charades, all the posturing?” Sakantos said. “If the Grasp is so unstoppable, why go through all of this effort?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Lord Tierno smiled.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Because it would be so much easier for everyone involved for the Five Worlds to agree to Grasp oversight. It would make so many other minor powers much more amenable to accepting the idea if the Five Worlds were open to joining the Grasp.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “It’ll never happen,” Sakantos told him. “And even if it did, I wouldn’t help you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “That is where my recently-acquired intelligence comes in.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The Chiss leaned forward, offering a gleaming black datapad.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I learned the identities of the Five Worlds naval infantry sent to Yanibar, the ones you were so concerned about. It took more effort to fully unravel the puzzle, but I think I have something of value to you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The datapad showed a Human face that Sakantos knew all too well.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Lieutenant Corian Gonnard. Your daughter’s only surviving son and a member of the expedition.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Yes,” Sakantos growled. “Your cursed droids killed the rest of the family.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “An unhappy coincidence,” Lord Tierno replied. “Especially considering that you are estranged from the lieutenant himself, as you did not approve of your daughter’s marriage, and you haven’t spoken to him in years. Nevertheless, I have learned that Lieutenant Gonnard is likely still alive. . . for now.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “What do you mean?” Sakantos demanded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “His remains were not identified at the conclusion of the battle, and we have reason to believe he escaped.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I won’t betray my nation,” Sakantos answered staunchly. “Not even to save Corian.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Very noble,” Lord Tierno said. “I expected no less. Fortunately for you, I am not about to issue some sadistic ultimatum to force you to choose between flag and family. That would accomplish nothing, especially given what we know about you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Then why bring this up?” Sakantos demanded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Lord Tierno’s devious smile returned.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Because I am willing to make a much more minor trade,” he said. “I won’t give you as much, but neither will I ask as much.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I’m listening.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I will offer Lieutenant Gonnard safe flight offworld, but not back to the Five Worlds. I will have him brought to a neutral planet. He will have to find his own way back—if he is able to.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “And in return?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I want you to broadcast a message to the Five Worlds. Tell them you volunteered to stay with me in return for safe passage for Lieutenant Gonnard.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “And any other survivors from the naval infantry,” Sakantos added.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Lord Tierno’s eyes glinted darkly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             “I would agree to that if there were any.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             “Why should I take you up on this?” Sakantos asked defiantly. “My grandson is resourceful. He’s eluded your droids thus far; he might well hold out until the relief force arrives—and one will be sent.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             “Indeed, Admiral,” Lord Tierno replied. “You could gamble with his life if you choose. However, I might ask you why I should give you such a generous offer. You lose nothing by this trade, as you would remain my guest regardless. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t simply have my hunters pursue Lieutenant Gonnard as long as possible, and I gain very little from allowing your nation to know you are alive and in Grasp custody. If anything, I risk turning them against us, and while the Five Worlds could not defeat the Grasp, they could prove vexing.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             Sakantos thought about it. He did not want to give Lord Tierno even the appearance of a propaganda victory, but. . . Corian was the last surviving member of his family. Even if he hadn’t approved of Siriah’s choice, he couldn’t ignore an opportunity to help Corian because of his own pride. Lord Tierno had framed his offer cleverly—Sakantos wouldn’t betray his nation for Corian, but he could sacrifice some of his image. It was an easy decision.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             “Very well,” he said. “I accept.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             Lord Tiero nodded knowingly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">             “I will make the arrangements.”