by T. Y. Carew
General Kelton switched off without waiting for any comment from Xander.
“I’ll get us home,” Tyra said quietly. “You go get some sleep.”
For once, Xander didn’t let pride get in his way. He went to his quarters and fell down on his bunk. After a few hours of heavy sleep, he began to have disturbing dreams. He tossed and turned until he finally resigned himself to getting up.
Going into the galley, he found Matt already there with a pot of coffee already brewed.
Chapter 8
It was going to take longer for Xander to adjust to the gravity on Netera than he expected to be on the planet.
After getting a good night’s sleep, he had a Scottish breakfast and sat back to savor a cup of good, fresh-roasted coffee. Trey and Tyra found him in the restaurant.
“Ugh,” Trey said, “how can you eat that stuff?”
“With relish,” Xander said, smiling the first smile he’d allowed himself in a long time.
“Don’t let him kid you,” Tyra said. “Trey had black pudding with his eggs.”
“Good choice,” Xander said with a wink to Trey. “How long has it been since we’ve relaxed?”
“No idea,” Tyra said. “We certainly didn’t relax much on our last visit to Netera.”
“The base hospital says we can visit Drew any time we’re ready,” Trey said.
“God, I miss him,” Xander said. “One more cup of coffee and we’ll go.”
***
Matt was already there, sitting on Drew’s bed in the bright, airy hospital room, when Xander and the twins entered.
“The feelings I was getting on that ship were creepy,” Matt was saying.
“I wonder if the Anassos has paranormal powers,” Drew said excitedly.
“Don’t make up new problems for us to deal with,” Trey said.
Xander and the Lentarins gave Drew hugs as best they could with all of the wires and tubes he had attached to various parts of his body.
“Have they said when I can return to duty?”
“Let’s not rush it,” Xander said.
“How are you feeling?” he asked Mattie.
“Ninety-something percent. I got a message from Simon. He says he’d like to see me. I think I don’t want to see him. When are you getting together with Major Barns?”
Xander blushed just a little.
“I think I don’t want to.”
General Kelton knocked firmly on the inside of the door as he entered.
“I see everyone is here. Good. How are you, young man?”
“Good, sir. I’ll be better when my hair grows back.”
The General let out something like a laugh, only smaller.
“I had to pull some strings, but I’ve arranged for your ship to undergo some repairs and upgrades. By the time she’s complete, you should be ready for duty.”
Drew stammered his surprise and pleasure.
“What about Alton Three?” Xander asked. “Provis Paradise has already cost a lot of lives. Are we going to continue sending military ships and personnel to protect that half-baked commercial development?”
“I’m afraid that’s above my pay grade to decide,” General Kelton said. “I follow orders just like the rest of you.”
“Did we get the Beltine hive ship back safe and sound?” Matt asked. “I can’t wait to find out what we can learn from it.”
“About that,” Kelton said, appearing uneasy. “I’m afraid the powers that be chose to scuttle it. Something about too much expense involved in bringing it back.”
“What are you saying?” Xander was aghast.
“One version of the story holds that they thought blowing it all to hell on camera would make a good recruiting tool.”
“What do you think?” Xander asked.
“I don’t know for sure,” General Kelton said in a low voice. “I think too many people were afraid of what one of the ships would do once it was set free from its Beltine masters. I’m not sure how I feel about it either.”
With that, General Kelton stood, hat in hand.
“Get better, son,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot to do out there.”
Episode 15 - Control by Andrew Bellingham
Chapter 1
In orbit, high above the planet, a small fleet of cruisers kept a vigilant watch on the ink-black void. For the sake of one party, a small armada had been put on standby. Five ships, bristling with an array of weapons capable of leveling cities, trained their guns out towards the stars. They lapped the planet like sharks, dangerous and eager to demonstrate their power. From time to time, one of the ships would linger in place. Gun batteries would move, lining up at some invisible target in the sea of space. Then, after a pause, the weapon batteries would return to their ready positions and the ship would return to its course.
***
“War is the ultimate crucible of scientific discovery. In a way, science exists to further war. It is how we survive, how we establish dominance and how we take our position in the food chain.”
An array of suits nodded at the speaker, lifting their flute glasses in affirmation of her wisdom. Only one listener failed to give the expected praise owed, and she wasn’t even part of the conversation.
Matt hated science conventions at the best of times. Far too often such grand meetings of the universe's best minds would devolve into meaningless ego stroking and peacocking from a bunch of smug, self-satisfied fools who called themselves scientists. This one was no different. No, in fact, it was worse than most because of the presence of that woman.
It also added to her frustration about her weaponry. The military had insisted that Matt leave her Adamanta on the ship in orbit. Of course, she’d refused at first, but even Xander hadn’t been able to persuade them to change their minds. After a while it had become apparent there was no getting away with taking her kit to the planet with her. Now Matt could see why, but it made it all the more annoying.
“Take the Beltine, for instance. They achieved their unique place of superiority through the remarkable precision of their hive mind. When you think about it, as alien as the Beltine are to us, this is one thing we have in common. Both our race of humanity and theirs rose to prominence because of some power of the mind. As arguments for brain over brawn go, I think it is one that proves the old adage true.”
It was hardly a joke, and Mattie could scarcely believe that the others stood listening to such drivel were giving it the time of day. They were pompous fools, the lot of them. They wore their white lab coats as though they were the purple robes of an emperor. Each one was so proud, so puffed up. Matt had to wonder how many had ever left their sealed and safe little laboratories. How many of them actually saw the brutality that was the fight against the Beltine?
“What I want to know is why I have been called here,” Trey said. He held in his hand a glass of champagne, his fifth since arrival, that he was halfway through.
“A grand gala for investors across the galaxy. I would have thought it obvious,” Drew said. “General Medina Doggett put in the request for us to attend this gala. She’s in charge of military research and development. So, best guess, we’re here to drum up interest and funding for Adamanta research and training.”
“I’d have thought our field work did that for us. Someone wants to know how effective Adamanta is as a weapon, go read our combat record.”
“Ah, Trey.” Drew put his arm about the lizard’s shoulder. “This is what it means to court money and businessmen. People like these can’t throw their money at something without having a party to go to once in a while. They need to feel important and valued, after all.”
“I’m not sure,” Matt chimed in. Her brow knotted as she looked ahead to the gaggle of suits. “If Doggett just wanted us to sweet talk a bunch of fat cats she’d have been open with us. Instead, we’re ordered to attend a party with no explanation or clear directive. To top it all, that woman talking there is definitely the woman we keep running into, the one who helped a c
riminal escape on Netera.
“That’s her?” Drew did a double take. “I thought you said she had red hair.”
“Hair can be dyed, Drew,” Matt pointed out. “It’s definitely her.”
Matt remembered the woman’s face as well as she did her own mother and father. She had never got her name, but she had left a powerful first impression. The woman had helped a murderer by the name of Harry Cronell escape military custody. Cronell was a murderer, and not just any kind. He had used Adamanta as his murder weapon, putting a blood-red stain on the research and noble work Matt’s parents had given their lives to. The woman stood talking about ‘science’ had helped that man escape justice, and Matt was not thrilled to see her again.
“Miss, is everything all right?”
A waitress moved over to Matt. Her brown eyes bounced back and forth between Matt and the now brown-haired woman ahead. Matt blushed and scratched the back of her head. She didn’t like that complete strangers could read her disdain so easily.
“I’m fine," Matt assured her. “Do you know who that woman is over there?”
The waitress turned her gaze and nodded. “That’s Doctor Evelyn Cardew. She’s been at our facility for a few months now. She’s part of a new science team that stepped in shortly after the military made that deal with outside investors. Can’t say I know what she’s been doing, but she’s been a pain in the backside for outpost command with her orders and demands.”
“So, you’re not just a waitress flown in from off-world for this party?”
“Nope. Private Cassidy Stern. The reception staff asked for volunteers to help catering for this event. When I heard you’d be in attendance, I signed up like that.” The girl clicked her fingers, earning a perplexed look from one or two of the military brass attending. “I’d best be getting back to serving drinks. But it truly is an honor to have met you, Miss Adair.”
“Same,” Matt replied. She didn’t bother watching the waitress leave but kept her eyes on the now-brown-haired woman. She had her name. Now all she needed to know was why she had been brought to a party headed by that woman.
***
Sat on a crate, Lt. Davies was drumming out a beat on the metal container. There was no rhythm, and his banging on the cylinder failed to create a tune. He drummed anyway. Lying on the floor, a parachute pack under his head, Davies' co-pilot, Nathan, stared up at the gunmetal gray ceiling. His lips were drawn thin, and the muscles in his cheek were held tight.
“Do you have to do that? Can’t you just lie down and get some sleep? It is supposed to be our rest period, you know?”
“Force of habit.” Davies frowned and clenched his fingers. They hovered in place near the metal container for a moment, then moved to his sides.
“Yeah, I know it’s a force of habit. It’s the same habit you practice every time we fly out into a combat zone. I let you do that stupid drumming because I know we all need to keep our minds off the fight. But this, this is not a fight.” Nathan gestured to the hangar and the body of men sat around doing nothing.
“The brass put us on high alert for a reason, man. There must be something going on.”
“It’s just a precaution.” Nathan put his hands over his face, massaging the skin around his eyes. “The brass wants to let the big-wig investors down on Icarus know that they are valued, and they are safe. It’s not like this party was bounced around on the comm waves and broadcast networks for the Beltine to hear about. Unless someone sent them a formal invitation, they have no idea what’s going on here and no reason to venture so deep outside their own territories.”
***
Matt sat with her arms folded. She had chosen a seat near the back of the auditorium, with her shipmates. A glance at Trey, Tyra and Xander on her left revealed three sullen faces. They seemed to be staring down at their own laps rather than the stage, reminding Matt of kids at school enduring their least favorite subject. On her right, Drew seemed to be faring a little better. He sat with his body forward and hands clasped together. His eyes were glued to the podium at the front even though no one was there. It seemed anything that remotely passed for a symposium was enough to keep his interest.
“You were talking to a lot of people earlier, Drew,” Matt whispered. “Did you find anything more about our guest of honor, Dr Evelyn Cardew?”
“She’s going to make some big speech about new tech the military has added to its arsenal since her people started working with us. All to encourage the investors to donate more. Some exciting new tech was on display in the reception room. You should have taken a look at it.”
“Yeah, I had more important things to do.”
“Keeping an eye on the Doctor…” Drew sniffed and scratched his head. “I know she helped rescue that one guy on Netera to use in her people’s private army… still, she was probably working under orders just like us.”
“You weren’t there,” Matt replied, her tone clipped. “And you’re forgetting the Dairos I saw her capture.
“True…” Drew held his mouth open like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t.
***
There was a flicker. For one moment, all the lights in the hangar seemed to dim. The eyes of thirty pilots and their attendant crews looked up, brows raised and lips curled into frowns.
“What was that?” Davies asked.
“A power surge,” Nathan answered. He adjusted his position yet again, trying to force the metal floor to be more comfortable for him.
“That’s not normal, though.”
“It’s also not a Beltine invasion. The Beltine don’t have the tech to disrupt ships' systems or drives. They prefer the old-fashioned method: force their way aboard, kill everyone, gut the ship of all valuables.”
“Then what was that flicker?”
“I don’t know!” Nathan sat upright, glaring at his friend. “If it bothers you, go report it to engineering. Report it and give me some peace.”
***
“Esteemed guests, thank you for joining us for this momentous occasion here on Icarus. To humanity and the universe at large, Icarus is just a small military world used to train recruits and resupply freighters passing in and out of the galactic combat zone. You and I know Icarus as the leading research center wherein the future safety and survival of humanity is assured through the work of dedicated and innovative scientists. Night and day our people work to provide our brave troops with the best weapons and resources to fight the great enemy of our age. Here in our labs…”
“She likes the sound of her own voice, doesn’t she,” Matt whispered to Trey. The reptilian’s lips split into a smirk.
“… You have already seen today some of the latest weaponry and technologies being developed here on Icarus since my team and I were contracted to the military research and development wing. However, the items on display in the showroom are just the tip of the iceberg. Allow me to reveal to you the future of combat against the Beltine horde.”
The lights in the room went down, and a holographic projection of a planet appeared above the heads of the investors in the hall. It didn’t look like much in and of itself. It was a green world, with oceans and plant life in evidence. It looked like a vision of Eden, a world fit for colonization, but Matt knew better. As she and the others next to her looked up at the screen, she felt her palms grip her armrest. A trickle of sweat ran down the back of her neck, and she had to concentrate to keep her breathing regular. Next to the holoprojection of the planet was a handy readout of its salient features, along with its name: Anathema.
Chapter 2
“What’s going on?” Nathan pulled himself up onto his feet cautiously. All about him, people were shouting, calling out for light in the darkness.
“Nathan, is that you? I told you there was something wrong!” Davies called out from somewhere ahead of him.
“Yeah, well done. I’ll be sure to recommend you for a medal later.”
Nathan reached out for the stack of crates he knew were ahead of him. He had left his f
light jacket on them. It took him a few moments, but his groping hand soon connected with something soft. A few seconds later still, a ray of light shone out from his jacket’s flashlight. Other beams were also flickering to life in the dark. The other pilots found their flashlights and swept them across the benighted deck.
Nathan shone the light at Davies. The man’s face was pale, though it could just have been a trick of the light. He hadn’t yet activated his own torch and fumbled awkwardly with his suit jacket.
“Come on, Davies, it’s a simple flashlight with an on-off button. Get it together and get over here.”
“You have a plan?” Davies asked. He moved with lumbering steps, swearing when his body collided with one of the heavy metal crates.
“Get to the carrier and prep her for take-off. Whatever’s downed our systems shouldn’t have affected the bird. We’ll boot her up, turn on the headlights and see if we can reach the bridge through the comm relay.”
“Yeah… good plan.”
“Plus, you’ll feel better once you’re at the helm. You never operate well unless you’re flying.”
The two moved to their ship that lay dormant on the runway of the shuttle bay. Others in their unit were doing the same and soon the pilots were installed in their shuttles and fighters, high beams shooting out across the decks and engines purring into life.
Nathan had been right: Davies was a different man the moment he sat in the pilot’s chair. His fingers moved over the console, bringing the vehicle to life, while Nathan looked to the comms and scanners.
“Carrier five to bridge, carrier five to bridge. Power outage in docking bay two. Can you confirm? Bridge control? Hello?”
Davies shot Nathan a look as they listened to the comm channel. It was dead. A moment later, they found themselves hailed by another of the carriers in the bay.
“Carrier five, check your scanner. Beltine hive ship on approach to Icarus.”
The muscles in Nathan’s jaw tightened, and his throat felt dry. He forgot he was even on audio with the other ships in the hangar. He just nodded at the sight on their long-range scanners.