High Command

By Cindy Huelat

When the colony of New Caledon capitulates to the tyranny of Galactic Unification, Gillan Beyer finds his life altered irrevocably. After his wife is murdered in a sniper attack, he falls under the notice and protection of the Rebel faction that opposes Unification. Finding himself embroiled in their schemes, he struggles to maintain his autonomy and integrity. He learns dark secrets; about the Rebel and Unification, about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death. Inadvertently he helps set into motion the events that bring the power struggle to a climax, and finds he must ultimately decide which side to support and whom he can trust.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy Huelat
• Release date: Mar 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005292720

Cindy Huelat

Born and raised in northwestern Pennsylvania, Cindy Huelat has lived in Shreveport, LA, Rapid City, SD and Hudson, WI before settling in Loveland, CO. She and her husband Brian raised three sons and now have three grandchildren as well. Cindy enjoys hiking in the Colorado Rockies with her two dogs or boating on one of the pristine mountain lakes.

Book preview

HIGH COMMAND

Copyright 2022 Cindy Huelat

Published by Cindy Huelat at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

About the Author

Other Titles by Cindy Huelat

Dedicated to my husband Brian, my number one fan. I love you.

CHAPTER ONE

A voice boomed over the primitive intercom system of the shuttleport, the words garbled by the echoing steel walls and bare girders. It drowned the tired drone of the endless news report that played in a constant loop over the large screen that hung in the waiting area. Gillan winced against the affront to his ears as he alternated his attention between the overhead screen and his two children. Allie and Joran excitedly pressed their faces against the shatterproof glass that overlooked the shuttle landing pads. Allie pointed at something as she spoke to her little brother, and then she struggled to boost him higher for a better view. Gillan smiled faintly as he watched, unable to hear what they said amid the general noise of the waiting area. Taking his eyes from the children, he scanned the wide area nervously. It seemed to him too long since his wife walked off in search of a restroom, and he wondered what kept her. So many things could still go wrong.

Angela dropped into the seat beside him with a sigh as he turned. She glanced at him in agitation. No sign of the shuttle yet, she commented in a low voice. Maybe I should check at the registration desk.

We already registered, Gillan pointed out. We don’t want to attract any attention.

We’re attracting attention just being here, Angela retorted. She brushed her thick, fair hair from her face nervously.

Gillan said nothing as he silently acknowledged that truth. Even before the coup, few transtar liners frequented the small outpost colony of New Caledon. The colony’s founders originally intended the shuttleport to support the planet’s manufacturing and shipping ventures, and had incorporated very few amenities for the public. Gillan and Angela sat in a row of dirty, hard seats made of some biodegradable material. A single kiosk stood in a far corner, its proprietor enjoying an indifferent business selling candy and earpods. Civilian passengers consisted mainly of the employees of the various planetary corporations. Since the advent of Galactic Unification’s takeover of New Caledon’s local government, the already meagre civilian traffic became almost non-existent. It grew increasingly difficult to obtain passports, and Gillan remained amazed that Angela had succeeded in securing theirs.

Let’s just keep our heads down and get through this, Gillan muttered as he followed his own line of thought. If we don’t get stopped at the checkpoint we might just make it.

You’re right. Angela slipped her hand into his. Her fingers felt like ice. She turned to face him directly, her soft brown eyes wide with anxiety. You’re not having second thoughts, are you?

No, he assured her adamantly. Unification’s grabbing anyone with technical expertise for their war efforts. You know it’s just a matter of time before they come to my company looking for recruits. What would you and the kids do if I was taken in? They’ll probably relocate you to a refugee zone since you’re unemployed. I’d never find you again. The very idea made his stomach churn, and he looked briefly over his shoulder at the empty waiting area.

Angela’s expression darkened at his words. That’s not my fault, you know, she protested resentfully. It’s not my fault they closed the schools.

Gillan turned back to her in surprise and put an arm around her shoulders. I didn’t say that! I know it’s not your fault. Even if they kept the schools open, I don’t want to spend every day worrying whether some Rebel punk will blow himself up in your class to make a statement. I don’t want Allie and Joran in danger. I’d rather have you home, but you know home isn’t safe either, anymore. Isn’t that why we’re here? I’d rather leave everything we have behind than lose you or the kids.

Angela leaned against him, and he held her close while his mind ran over recent events. He and Angela had immigrated to New Caledon before Allie’s birth at the urging of her sister and her sister’s husband. The colony on this small planet had just opened to settlers then, and Maggie and Edmund raved about the opportunities available for technicians and educators. Gillan had to admit that this proved true for both of them as they landed well-paid jobs and approval for a comfortable apartment. The colony remained far from the main starlanes and thus sheltered from the war that raged through the more populated sections of the galaxy.

Galactic Unification made its presence known several planetary cycles ago, which seemed inevitable to Gillan. He’d known this small outpost couldn’t remain isolated forever. The elected chancellor abdicated to Unification’s chosen regent, who replaced the city council with his own handpicked cabal. Peacekeepers patrolled diligently, but as life returned to normalcy the populace drew a collective sigh, thinking that they’d survived the worst.

A freak change of tactics tipped the uneasy balance for New Caledon. A distant starbase capitulated to Unification’s forces, and the colony’s space station became vital as the link between Unification’s home base and their newest acquisition. In the past few weeks the small colony became saturated with warships and troops, and the regent imposed martial law. In response, a rebel group organized, rumored to be part of the larger Rebel force that opposed Unification’s doctrine. As peacekeepers imposed a curfew and began recruiting citizens for forced labor, Rebels retaliated with terroristic tactics. Unification imposed its own indoctrination within the schools, and young Rebels responded by taping explosives to themselves before attending classes, with disastrous results. Parents refused to send their children to school, and Unification closed them. As a teacher, Angela found herself unemployed and vulnerable, teaching their children at home.

Angela straightened as a garbled message began once again, frowning as she tried to understand it. Maybe they canceled the shuttle, she fretted in a low voice. I don’t like this. It should have appeared by now. She shivered visibly as she looked toward Allie and Joran.

Just act calm, Gillan cautioned her. It will be all right. Before you know it, we’ll be on the starship and headed for Beta and your parents’ home. We just need to get through the checkpoint.

She turned to look at him with a strange expression that he couldn’t read. She nodded faintly. We just need to get through the checkpoint, she repeated softly as if to herself. The news release on the screen overhead seemed to catch her attention and she eyed it darkly as Regent Natalianan vehemently denounced the latest acts of terrorism by the Rebel faction and promised safety to his citizens. At his side stood the austere Head of Militia of Unification Forces, Selena Kurejka, her signature blonde hair elegantly twisted under her helmet. Angela gave the screen a look of disgust and stood abruptly. I’m going to get us some drinks. It’ll be a long time before we can get anything on the ship.

Before Gillan could protest she walked away. He watched her cross to the kiosk but Allie distracted him as she gave a cry. She pointed upward, and Joran jumped up and down in his excitement. A star appeared in New Caledon’s hazy sky, its intensity growing rapidly as a deep vibration began to shake the shuttleport. Gillan got to his feet. As the shuttle began its final descent through the atmosphere, he grew aware of another sound beneath its deafening roar and turned to see a contingent of peacekeepers marching through the waiting area. Dark helmets rendered them faceless and they held their formidable weapons ready in their hands. With shock and sudden apprehension, Gillan recognized the blonde woman who kept pace with them, whom he’d just seen on the vid screen.

From the corner of his eye, Gillan noted that Angela hesitated with bottled drinks in her arms before shrinking back into the safety of the kiosk displays. He could easily read the panic in her face and shook his head at her warningly. The soldiers never slowed as they passed through a service exit that led onto the landing pads, but Kurejka diverted her course to speak with a customs official at the counter. Like Angela, the few other people on private business looked like they wanted to fade into the walls.

As the shuttle’s deep rumble grew and shook the building, Angela began to make her careful way toward Gillan. Allie! Joran, Gillan called, trying to keep his voice low and still penetrate the noise. The children didn’t hear, and he raised his voice as he called again. Allie glanced his way and grabbed her brother’s sleeve, dragging him toward their father despite the little boy’s disappointed protest. A series of sharp reports suddenly punctured the echoing din and Gillan turned to see the few other occupants scrambling wildly for cover, while the Unification soldiers flooded back into the waiting area.

Reacting instinctively, Gillan sprang for his children and yanked them to the floor. With one tucked under each arm, he scrabbled for the dubious protection of the row of seats. More shots popped and stuttered, ringing off the girders and support beams. The two small bodies squirmed under Gillan as he cast about frantically for Angela. He could see her nowhere. He attempted to wrap himself over his children as much as possible while the cement floor shook beneath him with a final crescendo as the shuttle touched base and gradually powered down. A last volley of shots broke the deep silence that followed.

Gillan grew aware of Joran crying , his small fists pushing against Gillan’s chest. Gradually, Gillan loosened his grip and raised his head as he searched for his wife. He spied an outflung arm reaching past one of the candy displays and scrambled to his feet in panic, gasping, Oh, God, no.

Weapons swung his way as he startled tense soldiers, but he barely noticed as he left Allie and Joran crouching by the seats and scrambled to Angela’s side. She lay sprawled amid scattered bottles and packets of candy. One bottle had burst, and its contents spread to mingle with a darker puddle. Angela’s brown eyes stared blindly at nothing and blood saturated her shirt from four neat holes. Unaware of the tears on his face or the small noises he made deep in his throat, Gillan gathered her into his arms and held her against him as he cried, while her blood soaked his shirt and arms.

Swallowing his initial anguish, Gillan looked around blindly for help although he knew she was beyond that. No one approached him or seemed moved by his plight. A peacekeeper stood a few paces away, shifting his weapon in his hands as he watched to see what Gillan would do. Movement caught Gillan’s attention briefly as the Commander herself approached to stop next to her underling. Her face remained bland and expressionless as her cold eyes met Gillan’s, and his arms tightened unconsciously on Angela’s limp form as hot fury filled him. Sensing danger, the soldier swung his weapon up and trained it on Gillan.

Time seemed to freeze into a tableau, while Gillan shook with grief, fear and rage. The Commander gestured abruptly, breaking the moment, and the soldier lowered his weapon as the peacekeepers organized once more. They swept through the waiting area and into other areas of the port with weapons live as they sought any sign of aggression, leaving behind a litter of bodies and the frightened, confused survivors.

###

Gillan sat upon a long, uncomfortable bench with a child on each side of him. He kept them tucked close within the protection of his arms. The other survivors of the shuttleport incident surrounded them, a sad, silent gathering of patrons and port employees, all looking shell-shocked. Joran drew a shuddering breath and pressed his face against Gillan’s side, and Gillan looked down at him with sorrow and concern. The small boy had panicked when he caught sight of his mother’s body until finally a medic administered a sedative to calm him. Gillan deeply regretted that he’d succumbed to his own horror and grief rather than shielding his children and wished that he could erase the horror from their minds.

Medics had borne Angela’s body away with the other victims while peacekeepers gathered the survivors and herded them into a waiting transport. They’d ridden in silence back into the city, eyeing one another with varying degrees of fear and grief. No one dared question where they were being taken until Allie spoke up, her small voice carrying through the vehicle as she asked tearfully, Where are we going, Daddy?

Gillan had hushed her quickly, holding her close and attempting to reassure her past his own doubts and confusion. The transport pulled into the hospital complex and circled the sprawling building until it reached a back entrance. There, the peacekeepers guided them through the formality of identifying their loved ones for the official records. Numbly, Gillan stood by Angela’s sheeted body and confirmed her name while a coroner’s assistant repeated the information, recording it into the neural pod pressed to his temple. He tapped the pod lightly, and a brief flash told Gillan that he’d made a visual record as well. Gillan blinked as a vague dread ate past his numbness, but allowed a peacekeeper to direct him back into the lobby where Allie and Joran waited.

Now he waited with the rest of the entourage to perform the final act of redundancy, filing an official statement with the peacekeepers. One by one, those who waited in the small, sterile area within the station filed into an office as their names were called. The procedure made Gillan’s stomach churn. He felt no desire to draw Unification’s attention or to be required to explain why they were at the shuttleport. They had cited Angela’s mother’s poor health on their passport applications but held no intentions of returning to New Caledon when the visas expired. By then, they’d hoped to obtain refugee status within Beta System. Those plans lay in ashes now, shot down along with Angela. Unification closed the shuttleport to all civilian travel and Gillan found himself irrevocably stranded on the colony. If Unification suspected their plans to defect, he could easily find himself shipped to the warfront with a behavioral chip in his brain and his children taken as wards of the regime.

The door at the far end of the waiting room opened and a woman emerged. She wiped tears from her face and kept her head lowered as she braved the gauntlet of watching eyes. As she exited through the outer door a peacekeeper put a hand to his neural pod and called out, Gillan Beyer.

Gillan stood carefully with his heart hammering against his ribs and gently disengaged his children’s arms. Joran whimpered and Allie clutched him uncertainly, her brown eyes beseeching him. It’s all right, Gillan reassured them. I’ll be right back. In truth he didn’t know what to expect and didn’t want to frighten them further by subjecting them to an interrogation. As he stepped away Joran began to cry and Gillan hesitated uncertainly. The woman sitting closest to them shifted closer to the boy. I’ll sit with them until you get back, she offered quietly.

Gillan wavered a moment longer, torn between trusting a stranger or trusting the peacekeepers, but the one waiting for him cleared his throat impatiently and repeated firmly, Gillan Beyer? As he reluctantly approached, Gillan heard the woman talking gently with the kids. The peacekeeper stopped him as he reached the door however, and asked, How old are your children, Mr. Beyer?

They’re seven and five, Gillan responded, struggling to keep his consternation from his expression.

The other nodded. Then they’re too young to file a statement. By law, children ten years old and over must file as well.

They’re too young to have witnessed their mother dying, Gillan retorted as helpless rage filled him. They’re both in shock and my son is under sedation. I can’t believe you’re subjecting us to this. Every person in this room just lost someone. There ought to be a better way to handle this.

The other occupants of the waiting room stirred and nodded in agreement. The peacekeeper said nothing as he turned away and led Gillan into the interview room. Gillan cast one last look back at his children before the door slid shut behind him.

A plump woman sat at a plain desk in a nondescript room. A screen and touchpad occupied the desk. A chair of the same biodegradable material approved by the environmental engineers who planned the colony stood before the desk, while the woman’s seat appeared only slightly more comfortable. Mr. Beyer? she asked briskly, glancing up from whatever she saw on the screen. When Gillan nodded she gestured toward a pad set on the very edge of the desk. Please place your hand there.

Gillan complied, and the woman nodded at whatever information came up. Please sit, she invited tersely. She tore her attention away from her screen and met his eyes directly. Gillan noted the neural pod planted discreetly by her left ear. She watched as he settled into the chair before continuing. Please speak directly to the neural when you answer. Speak concisely and don’t look up or down or mumble. This will go much faster that way and we won’t have to repeat. I’m sure you’d like to go through this as quickly as possible.

Yes, Gillan acknowledged tautly. My children are waiting for me.

The woman made no reply to that, instead launching into her queries. Why were you at the shuttleport today?

Gillan fixed his eyes on the neural, suspecting that it not only recorded his responses but read his physiological reactions as well. The information fed directly into the receptors implanted in the agent’s neuroreceptors. Her fingers moved over the touchpad inset in the desk’s surface, feeding that information into Unification’s storage. He drew a breath in an attempt to keep his reactions minimal but felt his pulse beat. My wife’s mother is ill and not expected to live much longer. We were taking a shuttle to the Beta transtar liner so she could be with her parents.

You had passport visas? The woman’s tone sounded skeptical. How did you obtain those?

Yes, we had passports, Gillan confirmed, feeling indignant. We submitted applications for them some time ago, when we learned about her mother’s condition. The approval finally came through and we prepared to go. We had to wait for an available starship to come to New Caledon.

Your wife intended to visit her parents in her mother’s last days, the woman commented. And yet she has a sister here who has not applied for a visa. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?

Gillan blinked, knowing that his confusion and alarm fed into the system. Maggie and Edmund have four kids. Maybe the cost seemed exorbitant to them. Maggie doesn’t work. I don’t involve myself in their personal affairs and I have no idea if my wife ever discussed it with them.

Your wife didn’t work either, The woman pointed out callously. Although she was a teacher employed by the colony’s school system. Elementary school. And you’re an engineering technician with Technocal Industries.

Yes, Angela was a teacher until the schools shut down. Gillan clenched his jaw, liking the direction the questions took less and less. And yes, I work for Technocal.

Did you intend to return from your visit?

Gillan had anticipated that question and responded smoothly, Of course. Our passports were limited and I can only take so much time from my job. As you pointed out, my wife is- was no longer employed. He swallowed hard as the bleak realization hit that he would always have to refer to Angela in the past tense from now on. Unwanted tears sprang to his eyes and he blinked rapidly, fighting the urge to bow his head.

We’re nearly done here, Mr. Beyer, the woman told him with the first sign of sympathy she’d exhibited. Tell me, who do you think shot your wife today?

Gillan frowned at her in utter confusion and disgust. Are you serious? he demanded, unable to help himself. You did. When the woman appeared startled by his assertion he elaborated hotly. Unification. The peacekeepers. I have no clue why they were shooting or at whom, but obviously my wife was just one of the victims unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire. I hope it was worth it. I hope they got whatever criminal they were shooting at and saved the colony from some terrible fate. Because for me it was not worth it. I don’t care what was happening there today. All I know is my wife was taken from me forever today. My children will now have to spend the rest of their lives without their mother. He clenched his teeth as he felt the tears slip from his eyes. I don’t care who shot her, which peacekeeper was careless enough to endanger innocent bystanders. It’s not going to bring her back. He gulped and looked away at last, lifting his eyes to the dull ceiling before fixing his gaze on the neural once again. Are we done here?

The woman gave him a long, enigmatic stare before answering, and he wondered if she was receiving a message through her link. Yes, she confirmed in a subdued voice. You may go.

Gillan got to his feet without another word and the door slid open. He hurried through before the woman had a chance to change her mind.

###

Somber music issued from hidden speakers, an ancient and vaguely recognizable tune that played in the background and masked the shuffling feet of the people exiting the necrovault. Dim, golden LEDs set in the ceiling illuminated the long space and glinted off the nameplates marking the cremated remains of the vault’s occupants. Gleaming holders supported vases at each square, and the faded scent of dead flowers competed with the cloying perfume of fresh ones. The smell sickened Gillan. He stood stiffly at the entrance to the necrovault with a child’s hand clasped in each of his and nodded to each of the guests that filed past. He hardly heard the condolences or felt the hands that briefly rested on his shoulder or patted his arm. Beside him, Allie sighed as if the ceremony had wearied her and leaned against his leg. Gillan released her hand to slip his arm around her reassuringly, wondering if she knew that she comforted him as much as he tried to comfort her.

He’d come from MarsBase, the first of Earth’s colonies, where old traditions still held. He remembered his grandfather’s burial under the dry ground beyond the biosphere. Laws on New Caledon strictly prohibited altering the planetary environment with the interment of human remains. Gillan had arranged the cremation with the help of his sister-in-law, who had also planned the small ceremony that installed Angela within the vault. Gillan felt vaguely astonished by how many people had showed to pay their respects. He hadn’t realized how many knew Angela but decided that her teaching career had allowed her to touch many lives. He felt thankful as the crowd thinned and the last few remained in line. Joran fidgeted beside him, looking tired and out of sorts.

A man Gillan didn’t recognize stopped before him and shook his hand. With thinning grey hair and a dark, seamed face, he appeared much older than Gillan’s thirty-two years. My condolences, the man said quietly. This is a real tragedy. I worked closely with Angela.

Thank you, Gillan automatically responded as he frowned slightly. He’d attended many faculty functions with Angela over the years but couldn’t place this man.

My name is Daryl, the other informed him with a slight smile as if he sensed his perplexity. The people waiting behind him shifted with impatience but Daryl held his ground. Didn’t Angela ever mention me?

No- I’m sorry- Gillan stammered in confusion at the stranger’s odd question.

Well, I suppose that’s to be expected. Daryl took Gillan’s hand again and squeezed it. Gillan flinched at a small shock and pulled away, growing increasingly uneasy at the other’s strange behavior. My number, should you ever need help. They’ll know where to reach me. He moved away and vanished out the door, leaving Gillan to frown after him uneasily, ignoring the next person in line. Looking down at his hand, Gillan noted that a small code glowed there, temporarily implanted into his palm, and his consternation grew.

Maggie stood last in line with Edmond behind her. She leaned to give Gillan a hug as she murmured something kind and meaningless in his ear, and Gillan hugged her back with real appreciation. Edmund rested his large hand on Gillan’s shoulder and chucked Allie under her chin, making her smile briefly. Their four sons shifted and fidgeted behind him, and he told Maggie quietly, I’ll take the boys out to meet the transport. We’ll hold it for you.

Maggie nodded and folded her arms. Who was that man? she asked curiously. "The one who