Chapter 4. The Six Day War
12 Aug 2020Black Llama
August 12, 3306Vaucanson Hub, Zandu system
The war is over. We lost.
This was the second time in my life I got involved in a civil war, but the first one in which I fought in space. It was also shorter, as it only lasted six days (and I only participated during the last three). Hostilities between Zandu Jet Comms Inc and the Star Chasers started on August 6th. The fighting was mostly focused on control of Frimout Horizons outpost in orbit around Zandu 2, but there were some actions in nearby systems as well - I personally flew a hostage liberation mission in the Mirdi system on the final day of the war.
I returned to Zandu on August 8th. I had spent the previous couple of days visiting engineers and also checking out some Alliance records on Lave, following my own leads on the past of Maggie's father after finding puzzling information on the records of Mainani Empire Party (more on that later). Vaucanson Hub was left untouched, mostly due to the strong influence of the system's controlling faction, the Zandu Progressive Party. And only because they filled -and surrounded- the station with their Federal Security detachments. But Vaucanson is the only starport with repair facilities in the system, so as I docked I could clearly see the shot up ships in other landing pads and the grim faces of medical personnel as they removed wounded or dead crew.
I think it was the Star Chasers who started the war, though their public statements claim they were forced to react against unacceptable aggresions. Obviously. I think they sensed an opportunity to regain lost ground: Zandu is their home system, but they don't control any facilities or installations. And they haven't for a long time now. Still, I'm an ally so I fought for them. Why didn't I just run away, grab a pint and wait for everything to blow over? I'm not entirely sure, but I guess I've lost too many homes and I wasn't ready for another one to go up in flames. In most combats I flew a heavily armoured Federal Assault Ship, switching to my Python or Krait Mk II for running supplies or black ops missions.
The war ended on August 11, after the ZPP backed by Federal forces enforced a ceasefire on both belligerents. I found out right after returning from the final engagement over Zandu 4, which had been a victory for our side. With hull integrity at barely 20%, several weapons and utilities malfunctioning from damage, I set the Affondatore down carefully in its pad and walked out, only to find myself surrounded by a ZPP security squad which flashed an arrest warrant - I was wanted for sabotage of Federal property. As they loaded me into a transport bound for Detainment Centre Delta-7 in the Tascheter Sector AV-Y b5 system, I saw a Star Chasers coordinator on the landing pad, all grim and downcast. I was granted a few minutes to talk.
"What happened? I thought we were pushing them back!"
"So did I, but the Jetcoms were pulling resources from their other systems. In the end it was the Zapps who generously" -he rolled his eyes when saying that word- "stepped in to mediate and end the fight."
"Did they? Why not earlier? Why let us use Vaucanson for repairs?"
The coordinator looked away, then sighed and said, "I guess they took the opportunity to let both Jetcoms and Chasers bleed each other out." He turned to me. "Sorry to see you like this, but you knew there was a risk when running black ops missions."
"Ha ha." I was as dry as an explorer's biscuit. "Just contact my lawyers on Zephyrus - they will get me out quickly."
So they did.
Strictly speaking, the war ended on a draw, with a return to the status quo ante bellum imposed by Federal interstellar factors and enforced by the Zapps. But in reality, we lost. The Chasers didn't make any gains, and they actually lost about half of the influence they had on the system prior to the war. The Jetcoms haven't made any threats, but walking around Vaucanson has become uncomfortable.
It's probably better to keep away from Zandu for a while. I still have a rendevous at Achenar to deliver my findings, at least some of them. Maybe it's time to go.