Star Crusades Nexus: Book 09 - The Black Rift by Michael G. Thomas Page A

of the bodies, their heads still covered. The second showed long lines of soldiers in a strange version of the Marine Corps armor. The final image was of President Harrison and his entourage.
    “It says those bodies are generals taken from the fighting over Terra Nova.”
    He turned back to look at his own officers.
    “Those generals are already in T’Karan, along with Admiral Churchill.”
    “So who are they?” asked the science officer.
    There was still doubt in the young officer’s voice.
    “I have no idea. But based on the expression on Harrison’s face, you can be sure it is somebody he fell out of favor with.”
    “Sir. There’s more,” said the communications officer.
    This time he didn’t bother checking and simply diverted the latest feed to the three screens on the right. It showed several ancient warbarges and a number of other unidentified ships engaging in a violent space battle. The text underneath described how loyal Alliance forces had beaten off rebel separatists over Terra Nova.
    “No, this is nonsense,” said Colonel Pierce, “There is no evidence that any of our military forces have been engaged in hostile action.”
    The chief science officer twisted about excitedly.
    “You’re right, Sir. Look. The computer has matched the location of the celestial bodies in the background. This is clearly Mars. I suspect it’s part of the fight between the Biomech ship and the defending Earthsec vessels from over a month ago.”
    The Colonel looked at the footage and watched until he lifted his hand.
    “Freeze that!”
    With the image now static, he moved his arms to zoom in. The detail blurred for a moment but quickly sharpened to show the flanks of an ancient war barge. It was the ship alongside it that he was most interested in.
    “There. That is no warship of ours. Look, she bares the insignia of Earthsec. Check her configuration with our systems.”
    The station’s chief tactical officer was already on it. In a few more seconds, he had detailed schematics up on the screen and alongside the frozen image of the ship. It was clear they were the same vessel, right down to the name emblazoned in black on her bow.
    “It’s ESS Dauntless, Sir, a four hundred-year old Commando Carrier. Her commander is a Captain Thomas Cobb. According to our information, the ship is still at Mars, along with the Captain.”
    Colonel Pierce smiled, a grim expression that betrayed no real pleasure. He spoke loudly so that all those present would hear him loud and clear.
    “This footage confirms just one thing. The government on Terra Nova is going through a major crisis. I suspect this is a localized coup, with minor support from some of the planet’s less favorable criminals. There has always been a degree of distrust between the capital and the other colonies, but this…it is too much.”
    “Your orders, Sir?”
    They looked at each other only for a moment, but there was a clear understanding now.
    “They are fabricating evidence based on random videostreams spliced together. If they are prepared to do that, well, they are prepared to do almost anything to achieve their own ends. This last report is a mixture of the fighting at the Mars Rift several months ago and the relief force from Earth. The whole thing is garbage.”
    He looked away from the footage and tried to look reassuring.
    “None of us will raise a hand against our fellow citizens. We will, however, deny criminal forces from boarding our facility. We will not fire first, but I’ll be damned if I’ll roll over for another dictator. Understood?”
    A reasonably loud chorus of agreement came back. He knew they would do what was needed, even though none of them had the stomach for the potential bloodbath that was to come.
    “Good. Get units positioned at all airlocks, and prepare the medical bay for potential casualties. If they do try and force their way in, we can expect losses on both sides. We will be ready.”
    He then looked back to the