A thousand ships under Alec’s command soared into fold-space, leaving behind the battered, twisted wrecks of a defeated foe. The Ulyians and the Crosians, bitter enemies, joined together to put an end to this cursed former UE officer once and for all. They failed.

     Outnumbered three to one, Alec’s forces, what he called the Golden Fleet, crushed the Ulyian/Crosian Coalition in less than an hour of savage combat. Some Coalition warships, he added to his own fleet. Those he couldn’t capture intact he destroyed without compunction, whether they surrendered or not. He took no prisoners.

****

     Fara lay on (her) back with Alec on top thrusting inside (her) with every ounce of his strength. His eyes were clamped shut, his teeth gritting with intense pleasure. Sweat sprayed off him, pelting the avatar’s unblinking face like raindrops.

     Fara pulled up data from past sexual encounters with the human. There was a time when Alec tried to pretend that the avatar was a human woman. Thus he showed a degree of consideration in his exertions. Of course Fara was incapable of experiencing pain, sexual or otherwise.

     Since the improbable growth of his military might and his equally improbable victories, Alec’s ‘lovemaking’ lacked its former gentleness. His performance grew callous, indifferent to (her) perceived desires, often crossing the threshold into brutality.

     He let out an ecstatic grunt before flopping on his back, spent, with a triumphant grin plastered on his face. “We kicked ass out there, Fara!”

     The avatar gazed at the hexagon floating in the room. Alec moved the object to his quarters immediately after their victory over the marauders. He ordered Fara not to study it. He didn’t even allow (her) to touch it. Not that (she) was inclined to.

     “It was a shattering victory,” Fara agreed. “But how much credit should we take for our successes?” The avatar broke eye contact with the hexagon, turning to Alec.

     The human let out a deep breath. “It’s helping us. No doubt about that. I don’t know how or why, but its gotten us this far and I’m not going to question it.” His eyes sharpened with conviction. “It’s going to give us back the UE and for now that’s all that matters to me.” Alec‘s head sank into his pillow. It wasn’t long before he was sound asleep.

     Fara rose, easing out of the bunk. (She) walked toward the object, and leaned in close, until (her) face was a centimeter from its gold illumined surface. She shifted her optics from standard vision to microscopic and against Alec’s orders began closely examining the hexagon.

****

     The Golden Fleet captured Diblar. Formerly a major industrial world, Diblar lapsed into obscurity after the empire’s fall. Alec brought it back to prominence, rebuilding its manufacturing centers. In Diblar’s newly constructed orbital shipyard, Alec oversaw the creation of a gift to himself: Redemption II. Modeled on the most powerful UE warship, Redemption II was three times larger, and more heavily armed than any war vessel that had ever existed. Alec transferred to his new ship and soon embarked on the next phase of his campaign

****

     Redemption II spearheaded the conquests of twenty star systems. The Golden Fleet swept through additional systems, besieging hundreds of worlds. As Alec’s forces smashed a variety of enemies, political/administrative functionaries went into every occupied system to consolidate the power of the New United Empire. The functionaries eventually elected a provisional council to govern the Golden Fleet’s conquests. It was a development which did not sit well with Alec.

     “We’re doing the grunt work!” Alec paced on Redemption II’s bridge, the massive view port serving as a star strewn back drop to his seething restlessness. “We have shed blood. My soldiers have been maimed and killed to get to where we are today! Now a cabal of overly privileged, gluttonous bureaucrats who know nothing of war is trying to steal away my planets, using this so-called provisional council as a legitimate cover to disguise their criminal power grab!”

     Lord Gemia Hoshan stood erect before the Golden Fleet commander, evincing not a hint of visible reaction to the other’s tirade. Inside she boiled. She was after all an emissary of the provisional council.  As much as she craved to chastise Admiral Dishman for his scathing characterization of her superiors, Lord Hoshan reminded herself that she was a diplomat. So she drew in a calming breath and added an extra layer to the thick skin she was required to have as a diplomat.

     “Admiral Dishman, I can assure you that the council harbors no underhanded agenda, no criminal intent in relation to you and the brave soldiers serving the cause of the New United Empire.” Hoshan made sure to emphasize that the brave soldiers served the new UE, not Alec Dishman. And she did it with a diplomatic smile.  “I would encourage you to think of the provisional council as a partner in the quest to restore order to a galaxy riven by chaos and bloodshed.”    

     Alec halted his pacing to stare disdainfully at the gray haired human female. “A partner....”

     “Admiral, let me be blunt. You need the council every bit as much as the council needs your military expertise. The council is building institutions that will create stability, thus smoothing a host of transitions from occupied worlds to loyal, full fledge member planets of a new UE.”

     “My military governors have done an effective job of creating stability.”

     “Governors alone cannot fulfill this task, nor are they fully capable. The council recognizes and appreciates all that you are doing, but the complexities of rebuilding an empire is too daunting an endeavor to be overseen by one person.”

     “So the council has sent you here to point out my inadequacies to me,” Alec derided.

     Hoshan sighed patiently. She kept an unwavering focus on the admiral, while being painfully aware of his officers populating the bridge. Peripherally, she saw them staring knives at her, felt the heat of their contempt and understood why Admiral Dishman chose to meet her on the bridge instead of in the privacy of a conference room.

     Instead of feeling intimidated by the unfriendly venue, Hoshan’s resolve intensified. “Admiral, the council sent me here to extend to you an invitation to meet with the representatives. You have not responded to previous messages.”

     “I am not at the council’s beck and call.”

     “Of course you’re not, Admiral and the council does not think that at all. The council merely wishes to discuss ways to maximize the partnership between you and it. I would urge you not to feel burdened by such a meeting. Citizens need to see a show of unity between you and the council. Leadership that is of one accord will strengthen our support and bring more systems under our banner. For you personally, your chances of being declared Proctor will only increase.”

     “No two bit council has a say over who becomes Proctor,” Alec disputed with mocking laughter. “The citizens will decide.”

     The emissary regarded Alec dryly. “Perhaps. But the council can endorse whomever it chooses. If it wants to endorse you it will. And it will work hard to make sure that the galaxy does not forget that you are a liberator and a hero.”

     The implication in Hoshan’s words infuriated Alec.  His eyes throbbed like pyres. He turned to the viewport, stifling what he truly thought of the council’s endorsement. “Tell your council that I accept the invitation. But I won’t meet with them until this campaign is over. I still have a war to fight.”

     Hoshan inclined her head. “I will convey your message, Admiral.”

****

     Surrounded by military officers and advisors, Alec had seen little of his avatars. On board a large warship, they had all reverted to the service roles they were created for. A mix of menial and skilled work. The presence and availability of female crewmembers all but put an end to Alec’s sexual liaisons with Fara. Although, he occasionally found time to confide in (her).

     Alec’s quarters on Redemption II bordered on opulent, its spacious comfort fit for an all-conquering admiral…or a future proctor.

     The thought soothed away his simmering anger as he caressed the floating hexagon. Fara looked on in stoic silence.

     “I’ve missed you,” said Alec, glancing at the avatar.

     “Our busy schedules have kept us apart.”

     Alec nodded agreement. “Yes. You’re right. Although there are some aspects of my schedule I’d gladly pass off to you. Like dealing with this upstart council. Those bastards expect me to kiss their asses because they think they can give me the proctorship like it was theirs to give in the first damn place.”

     “You should work with the council, Alec,” Fara suggested. “Your hostility toward it serves no purpose.”

     “It serves my purpose!” Alec snapped. “I won’t be hobbled by a body of corrupt, ineffectual fools.”

     “According to my readings, the council is doing quite an effective job of governance. As for its purported corruption…”

     “Are you on the council’s payroll?” Alec interrupted with a raised brow.

     Sounding as puzzled as an AI could get, Fara replied: “I have no need for currency.”

     Alec waved dismissively.  “I’m joking, Fara…sort of.  Forget it, you’re just an avatar, a typical AI that knows nothing, understands nothing beyond the limited parameters of its programming.”

     “I suspect you do not truly believe that,” said Fara. “Not now, not during those five years of isolation in the outpost.”

     Alec remembered that period. He remembered Coaid’s companionship, how the AI kept him sane…as sane as he could be under the circumstances. That recollection filled him with a potent mix of fondness and pain. “Go,” he told Fara in a softer voice. “Just go. I don’t care where, just get out of my sight.” The avatar hesitated before departing Alec’s quarters.

****

     Redemption II’s mighty fusion cannons seemed to tear linear gashes in space-time as they unleashed massive salvos of directed sun bright energy upon a tide of opposing warships. A single beam drilled into the lead ship, penetrating deeply. The ship blew apart, spewing metals, plastics and body parts into the void. Relentless fusion energy slashed like gigantic fiery sabers into the enemy fleet, causing so much destruction, that it seemed Redemption II was fighting alone. The rest of the Golden Fleet engaged the enemy with equal success. It was a hard fought affair.

     Former old UE military officers turned warlords, entered into alliances with marauders, twelve successor states, and a race of vicious insectoids called the Tokmor, to decisively crush the Golden Fleet.

     The marauders were taken out of the contest early. Smaller Golden Fleet cruisers targeted marauder vessels, annihilating them in swarms of deadly accurate missile fire. The warlord ships put up much stiffer resistance, destroying several Golden Fleet light cruisers and two heavy battleships before being whittled to twisted debris. The successor state fleet scattered after initial sharp fighting. The Tokmar fought to the last ship.

     Cheers erupted on the Redemption II’s bridge after the Tokmor ship initiated its self-destruct, going nova. The Alliance’s defeat marked the end of major resistance to the New United Empire. An embattled galaxy at last faced the prospect of lasting peace under the orderly reign of a single government.

Alec celebrated another victory, but tempered his enthusiasm with thoughts of what he needed to do next. A restored United Empire became a reality at last. For the triumphant admiral of the famed Golden Fleet, the quest had not yet ended.

To be continued....

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