Echoes of Harmony

Hallow Building

Mornage

Silence reigned in the conference room as the reports came in just minutes after the incident on the southern continent. Images from drones captured the aftermath. Once soaring buildings were reduced to rubble, their internal skeleton structures exposed and mangled. Eight mushroom clouds still rose into the lower atmosphere, accented by blue from the material in the missiles used. A heavy layer of dust hung in the area, choking any who were unfortunate enough to survive the initial blast and wander the cracked streets. Bodies, their skin blistered, littered the ground wherever one looked.

Hayden Reid once more cupped his face in his hands. He forced himself to look at each of the images as they came in. These deaths were his fault, their blood on his hands. If he had surrendered when the Hyperions demanded it, the twelve million people and counting would still be alive.

The three other Hyperion vessels still hung back beyond maximum range of their fleet. Every one of the defensive satellites remained out of commission. Regular updates from the Bastion indicated they believed they were getting close to a solution, but no luck yet. Perhaps the singular piece of good news to arrive since the start of the battle was the destruction of Master Three, the HMV Conta, before it was able to crash itself into Mornage. But the resulting damage to the Celestial Phoenix would leave it out of commission for the rest of the battle, possibly years to come. It didn’t appear it would even be able to land the spacecraft it deployed.

“Incoming message, sir,” Fleet Marshal Tyn said, gesturing to the holographic projector. His voice sounded defeated. Gone was the gusto he displayed the previous day when suggesting attacking the Hyperions. He pointedly avoided Rivas’ withering gaze. “Direct transmission to this office with governmental override codes.”

“Please tell me it’s the Bastion with a solution to the defense satellite problem.” Hayden sighed, knowing the answer would be a firm no.

“Unfortunately not. It has the same signature as the Hyperion message yesterday morning.”

“Very well. Let’s hear what they have to say.”

Tyn pressed the controls on the holographic projector and brought up the familiar image of General Augusta Zorn. He stood in front of the same flag as before, his arms folded behind his back and a smug grin on his face.

“Provost Reid, it is an honor to meet you.” The man bowed his head respectfully. “I certainly wish it were under better circumstances.”

“As do I, general.” Hayden sat upright and steepled his fingers in front of him. “What can I do for you? I’m sure you’re aware I’m a little busy here.”

“Ah, of course. I heard you were one who got right to the meat of things. No point in beating around the bush. I am requesting your immediate surrender.”

“That is not going to happen,” Tyn said through gritted teeth.

Hayden gestured for him to remain quiet and sent a scathing look his direction. Returning his attention to the general, he said, “Why would I do that? We still outnumber you eight to one. Plus, we’ve proven you’re not as invincible as you think you are. Leave our system now, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

“Our one cruiser took down six of your ships and damaged a dozen others, including nearly ripping your precious Celestial Phoenix in half.” The general’s calm demeanor was gone, replaced with one nearing that of a petulant child. “I purposefully held back to give you a chance to see the error of your ways. Do you really wish to test me further? Especially without your precious defense satellites?”

Hayden narrowed his eyes at the mention of the satellites. Of course the Hyperions knew they were disabled. They were the ones who disabled them in the first place.

He sighed and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the smooth tabletop.

“General, once again, I am going to have to ask you to leave our system at once. I will not ask again.”

“Provost, there is no need for further bloodshed.” Zorn held his hands in front of him, clasping them together. “Too many have died already. Please, allow us to care for your people as you do.”

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“I apologize, general,” Hayden said, shaking his head, “but I have heard of how this Hyperion care has worked since the end of the Praesidium Union. It is not the same as my care.”

“A pity. Perhaps this will help you see reason.”

Before anyone could respond, the call disconnected, leaving the group once more in the quiet conference room. The six of them looked at each other. Their eyes asked the unspoken question of whether they would actually be able to win this battle. If they continued to lose ships at a rate of six to one, they would at least have a chance, but that would be too many dead. Far too many dead.

Hayden looked up at the tactical board, expecting to see the other three Hyperion ships moving into position. However, they were remaining still.

“Fleet marshal, any indication what they’re doing?” Hayden asked, raising an eyebrow.

“None, sir.” Tyn shook his head. An alert chimed from the holographic projector, and he quickly looked at it. “Sir, message from the Bastion, text-only. It says, ‘We got it.’”

He looked up at Hayden with a shocked expression on his face. Hayden returned it before letting out a laugh and clapping his hands. The others around the table couldn’t help but smile themselves. Maybe, just maybe, there was some god out there answering his prayers.

“Well, tell them to get those satellites back online and take out those Hyperion vessels.” His voice held jubilation, even in the aftermath of all the events. Hayden stood and looked out the window to the south. Though he knew it was much too far away, he swore he could see the smoke from Epinau rising into the air. “Let’s get these invaders out of our backyard.”

#

Phoenix Bastion

Mornage, Stariek

Lieutenant Colonel Jackson paced the room fervently, going from technician to technician as they tried to do something, anything to get the defense satellites back online. Over the past half hour, it seemed like nothing they did had any effect. It was almost like they were locked out of them.

Finally, Specialist Taylor let out a cheer, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the room. All eyes turned to her. Rhyse hurried over to see what the commotion was about.

“Sir, I did it. I was able to use a backdoor implemented when the satellites were first put into place to weasel my way in. Whenever you’re ready, I can turn them back on.”

“Do it now, specialist. Far too many of our own have died already. Let’s not make it any more.” As he said the words, he used his CAM to alert the Hallow Building of the development. Jackson smiled widely as he returned to the center tactical board in the room. “Return control to the Celestial Phoenix if they are capable. If not, we’ll need to handle it from down here.”

“The Celestial Phoenix indicates it is incapable of performing that duty, sir,” Specialist Jaden Knight replied from across the room. “They request we have the honor of commanding the satellites.”

“Very well.” As he watched, the satellites turned from gray to green one by one. Each brought a smile to his face. “Tactical, set firing point procedures, Masters One through Three, neutron beams and magnetic cannons of all available satellites.”

“Firing solution set, sir,” Taylor replied, giddy.

“Match bearings, shoot, neutron beams and magnetic cannons.”

For a moment, nothing happened. This was not entirely unexpected. Being so far away from the battle, it left them unable to experience the instant feedback the way a ship would. While the neutron beams would go at the speed of light, it would take a few moments for the magnetic cannon rounds to punch into the Hyperions. They could do nothing but wait.

Then, one of the Stariek ships disappeared off the tactical board. Jackson stared at it in shock. The Hyperion ships were much too far away to have done it themselves.

“Tactical, what happened to Sierra Twelve? Did the Hyperions launch any sort of attack on it?”

“Conn, communications!” Knight practically yelled across the room before Taylor could reply. “Our ships demand to know why we’re firing on them.”

Jackson’s heart plummeted as he looked from Knight to the tactical board. Another blue dot disappeared from the overlay. They were shifting position now, attempting to move away from the satellites nearest them.

“Tactical, turn those satellites back off.” His feet clanged against the metal floor as he stomped over to Taylor’s station. “There’s something wrong, something we missed, and we need to figure out what before our forces are eviscerated up there.”

Taylor’s hands flew over her keyboard. Lines of code flew up her screen as she typed, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. After several moments, she shook her head, though her fingers kept moving on the keys.

“I’m locked out. Something tells me I didn’t do anything in the first place. Best I can tell, when the Hyperions shut down the system, they injected some sort of malware that gave them complete control. I can’t believe I missed it.”

“It’s not your fault,” Lieutenant Colonel Jackson said as he returned to the board. He left off the unspoken sentence filling his head: But it is mine. Another two ships had disappeared already. His brain churned at what he could do, searching for a remaining option, but came up empty. “Communications, request our vessels to fire on the satellites. Better to destroy them instead of being torn to shreds by them.”

“Yes, sir,” Knight replied, relaying the message. Another blue dot disappeared in the meantime.

The room was deathly quiet aside from the clicking of keys and beeping of machines. All technicians were looking for something—anything—they could do to rectify the situation, but so far they were left wanting. And tens of thousands of people were going to die.

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