“Will do, Sir,” SR6 answered in the background.
“Based on the rapid disintegration of our equipment, my best guess is some unknown safety protocol shut down the information flow,” Crestone astutely replied.
“I like it. Blanchard?”
Looking toward Commander Remming who happened to be standing nearby, “There is nothing that I know of that could have disabled SR6’s Access and Storage capabilities like we just witnessed,” The Captain assessed. As Blanchard spoke, Scout Teams One and Scout Two had completed their initial surveys. Their portion of the display now ninety-five percent complete, Euphretes momentarily stood still and contemplated his next move.
“I know it sounds hasty, but perhaps the only way to gather beneficial intel is to just see it for ourselves.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Sitting back down and turning toward the Communications Team, “Lieutenant Tropar, get me the Command Teams and Primary Staff on a single connection please,” The Admiral directed before turning his head toward the front of the room. “SR6, prepare Steadfast and Loyal for a ten minute jump-sequence, ninety percent capacity; and ensure all weapon systems are on-line.”
Euphretes then looked toward his close friend, “Senior Leading Operative Crestone, please alert all crews to report to their battle stations immediately. And help me monitor our progress on the pre-jump checklist. Whatever is out there is about to get a very rude awakening.”
“We’re going to want to be in a reactionary formation,” Neuma assessed, knowing her partner’s train of thought.
The Admiral then turned toward to Captain Blanchard. “Get the Armada in a modified fist formation. If we do end up getting hit by whatever is making those radio waves, we’re going to need to remain intact before we break through their ambush.”
After thirty-three minutes of waiting for jump drives to re-prime and a quick mission brief with the individual Command Teams, the Silent Raider Armada flawlessly established a reinforced Fist Formation and entered their brief jump sequence. From Euphretes’s vantage point on the data display, his Flagship was placed front and center on the fist to act as the focal point. Two Predators were established horizontally on Steadfast and Loyal’s left and right, at the three and nine o’clock positions. The third Predator was placed to the right of and slightly behind the three o’clock Predator, sealing off the formation’s right flank.
Of the Silent Raider’s eight Cruisers, three were dedicated to the left side to seal off the left flank. Two were placed to the left of the nine o’clock Predator and the third was sandwiched between the Predator and Steadfast and Loyal. The remaining five Cruisers were positioned in line underneath the main face of the formation. One was placed directly under the two Predators to Steadfast and Loyal’s immediate right and left. The remaining three sat just behind Steadfast and Loyal to act as a reactionary element. As a whole, the Armada’s formation could effectively respond to a threat by a larger force while simultaneously conducting a devastating counter attack if the situation proved advantageous.
To minimize unnecessary losses, the plan was to pull all fighters inside their home Fleet Vessels and sustain the initial onslaught before reacting. While it was a risky decision and placed the entire Armada in a precarious position, it gave the Command Teams flexibility in their levels of response and protected the aviators and fighters. Adding to the importance of the preservation of his small fighters was the fact that replacements were a minimum thirty-three day jump sequence away.
“Everything is good to go on my end Sir,” Crestone informed, letting Euphretes know that all Fleet Vessel personnel were fully prepared and at their battle stations.
“And two minutes faster than last time. Not bad Crestone.”
“All weapon platforms are up and running, jump drives are locked in, and all elements are battle synced to Steadfast and Loyal. Just waiting on your command, Sir,” SR6 announced.
Euphretes looked down at the empty section on the data display and wondered what sort of mayhem he was about to get his Armada into. All the possibilities of what could be hiding on the other end of the jump flooded his mind space, forcing him to war game each one. Certain that he had thought through every scenario, Euphretes gave the order. “Initiate Jump Sequence; Synchronized advance on Steadfast and Loyal’s mark.”
At precisely the exact same time and speed, all Fleet Vessels entered jump. Only a ten minute journey through interstellar space stood between the crew and the moment their entire lives would forever change; the moment everything would change.
Just over nine minutes later, “Here we go,” Neuma warned as the Armada closed in on its objective.
“All units, standby for hot exit,” Euphretes broadcasted throughout the Armada while oxygen rich air with enhanced neuro-cognitive additives consumed Steadfast and Loyal, fueling its crew.
“Three. Two. One.” SR6’s words came out slower to Euphretes as Neuma began to trigger his body’s combat responses. Simultaneously, all Fleet Vessels arrived seventeen million miles from the last known coordinates of the two drone teams; well outside combat effective range of anything that attacked the drones but close enough to be in danger nonetheless.
“Initiate first response barriers and target identification sequences,” Euphretes continued to broadcast while all eyes were plastered to their battle stations.
“Clear of any immediate threat,” Neuma quickly analyzed.
“Confirm all sectors of fire, and scan your designated quadrants.”
As he finished, the realization that they were not in any immediate threat started to spread across the Command Center. Information started to populate on the central data display as RAIs compiled the overwhelming influx of material coming in from every Fleet Vessel and threw it onto the display for the Armada Commander.
“Clear for reporting,” Euphretes declared after the initial tense moments had passed without seeing any evidence of enemy activity. In a specific order, all Fleet Vessels began sending up their post jump reports to the Communications and Personnel Management Teams. Meanwhile, Euphretes was up on his feet and watching the single star system once again develop on the data display, doing his best not to pace in nervous anticipation.
One by one, the sun and its satellites came to life and hovered four feet off the floor. Their sizes were perfectly scaled as well as their distances and orbital speeds. Almost immediately, Steadfast and Loyal recognized the third planet from the central star as peculiar and shifted it out from the others and enlarged its image.
“No doubt about it, that planet is producing enormous amounts of radio waves that are definitely human in origin,” Neuma commented internally while she continued reading the information that was pouring in.
“It’s almost unbelievable that it has avoided detection all this time!” Euphretes remarked, sensing Neuma’s astonishment.
“No kidding, but…” she was cut off momentarily and then continued to speak. “This can’t be right.”
“What’s going on?”
“Based off the typical footprints of human activity, at the very least, that planet is harboring three billion human inhabitants!”
“Sir, I’m registering human activity on the surface of the third planet!” SR6 declared, effectively ending every side conversation that was going on in the Command Center.
Once he had Euphretes’s attention, “Lots of evidence of intelligently made structures. Light and noise pollution is off the charts.” Switching to another long range scanner, SR6 continued speaking. “Heat signatures are showing hundreds of areas with intense human activity.” Another switch, ending up on infrared atomized scans, and SR6’s eyes widened in shock. “There’s got to be BILLIONS of them down there!”
Euphretes quickly scanned through the data next to the planet and tripled its size to see all of the information at once. “Good copy. How about enemies?” He asked, now certain that this planet attacked the Natron Cruiser.
Neuma interjected, her voice growin
g serious. “No threats that Steadfast and Loyal can see. Euphretes, I still can’t find any trace of Scout Teams Three or Four.”
SR6 minimized the planet and brought up Steadfast and Loyal’s immediate surroundings, “There is no evidence of any sort of nearby enemy Fleet Vessels. To be honest Sir, minus that planet, we are absolutely alone out here.” As the RAI explained, the data display started to fill in the gaps of missing information on the satellite. Finally allowing the first true live images of the blue rock hurtling through interstellar space, everyone held their breath. While still unable to see live images of the surface because of the distance, Euphretes could start to see tiny, man-made objects caught in orbit.
The Empirical Admiral turned to face the entire Command Center, “Then can anyone please tell me how my Scout Teams just disappeared?” Euphretes asked out loud.
“Our long range scanners have breached the atmosphere.”
“Threat analysis?” Euphretes instantly answered in his mind space.
Neuma couldn’t help but chuckle, “Minimal, at best. Based off what they’ve managed to place in orbit, it looks like they’ve just started to take on interstellar space.”
“Thinking we should still get a few squadrons to run the perimeter. Also, I think it’s wise to send another group of SAR18s to get actual eyes on that planet,” Euphretes replied to Neuma, deciding to play it safe.
An unexpected wave of trepidation and discomfort rang out from Neuma. “Wait a second. I’m getting an inexplicable ….” Her voice gurgled into incoherent utterances for a half second before disappearing all together.
Captain Blanchard was in the middle of responding to Euphretes when the glitch reached the Command Center. “…a reconnaissance team to move in close and get actual eyes on the…” The Captain’s eyes widened as he watched SR6 turn into a jumbled blob of static.
Adrenaline instantly started pumping through Euphretes’s veins as his peripherals caught the image of SR6. Simultaneously, tingling sensations crawled up his spine and neck as his mind screamed at him that disaster was imminent.
GERU! GERU! NIHAAHH! NIHAAHH!
Alarms and high pitched tones that no one had ever heard before started screaming on and off across every available surface. Monitors connected with interface desks violently purged their contents and started shredding content and information without discretion. At the same time, every RAI across the Flagship disappeared without a trace; leaving the crew to fend for themselves. All across Steadfast and Loyal, personnel desperately fought against the Flagship to regain control of their battle stations. Regardless of their struggle however, the crew found themselves powerless against their unseen enemy.
“Neuma, what’s going on?!” Euphretes shouted over the deafening barrage of fear and panic.
GERU! GERU! NIHAAHH! NIHAAHH!
No response in his mind space. He realized she was not present, but the understanding that he didn’t feel the usual emptiness in her absence, kept him from crumbling to the floor.
“All personnel, man your stations and prepare to respond!” Senior Leading Operative Crestone bellowed over the noise while Captain Blanchard bolted for Commander Remming’s team, “What are you seeing?!” The XO shouted.
“Neuma, can you hear me?” Euphretes cried out again to a now frantic and terrified mind space. While he could still feel her presence, it was the sensation of Neuma’s struggle to hold up a falling wall that brought bile to his throat.
“It’s not responding to SR6!” Neuma’s voice came out choppy and barely recognizable.
“Steadfast and… is receiving… order to… external systems! … obligatory message… to the Command… stop it but… to my authority!” SR6’s fragmented response mirrored the rhythm of the alien warnings taking control of the Command Center.
GERU! GERU! NIHAAHH! NIHAAHH!
“What’s not responding?!” Euphretes fired in Neuma’s direction. He was immediately hit with a sensation of being too preoccupied with running damage control.
Neuma replied, “Not now!” without having to vocalize anything.
Misinterpreting the chaos as an attack from an unknown enemy that their equipment couldn’t identify, Euphretes barked, “All units break contact and fall back on Contingency Phase Line Two Bravo, immediately!”
One of the engineers instantly responded while throwing his hands in the air in frustration, “Sir, I’ve lost all connectivity with Steadfast and Loyal!” Euphretes’s subconscious mind somehow already anticipated the issue and dumped the solution on his lap by the time the engineer finished yelling. “Use the direct link to order a manual override!”
GERU! GERU! NIHAAHH! NIHAAHH!
The Admiral then turned his head toward the Communications Team, “I need confirmation that my order was received!” In the background, a voice rang out. “On it!”
Lieutenant Tropar’s frantic voice broke through the chaos to Euphretes’s ears. “All of our transmitters are down Sir! I am working on establishing light comms now!” As the Lieutenant spoke, Steadfast and Loyal abruptly powered down.
ZZZRRRIIIPPP!
The Command Center quaked as groaning metal let out its displeasure at the sudden onslaught. Every blast door on the Flagship slammed shut without any mechanical assistance. Designed to stall the loss of air and heat in their compartments for as long as possible, the slamming blast doors was the last underwritten fail safe in a sequence of hundreds of safety protocols.
BOOM!
“EUPHRE..” Neuma’s pleading tone haunted Euphretes’s mind space, drawing an immediate reaction,
“Neuma!”
ZZRRAAPP!
Every light source shut off, leaving Euphretes lost in a world of questions.
Chapter 17:
The Guardian Response Program
Darkness engulfed the Command Center, followed by an unnerving stillness that weighed heavily on the crew. Pulsating hums of equipment, getting stripped of their energy, added to the already angst-ridden atmosphere. Everyone’s ears quickly adjusted to the new environment, only to hear the distressing hiss of oxygen and air pressure impossibly escaping the Command Center. Magnetic fields imbedded in all clothing and equipment managed to keep crew members and large objects from drifting away in the now low gravity environment. Meanwhile, non-metallic items started to slowly break free and rise several inches.
Euphretes stood in the darkness on the verge of vomiting. The moment everything started going haywire, he experienced Neuma getting forcefully expunged from Steadfast and Loyal. She ended up violently crashing back into his mind space in a discombobulated cluster of information and fragments. The emergency landing knocked the air out of Euphretes’s lungs and tied his stomach in knots. Adding to the discomfort was his body’s confusion about the unexpected low gravity. It was a sensation not unlike vertigo which just added to his nausea.
“Tell me you’re still here,” Euphretes pleaded, internally reaching out to Neuma with grave concern.
“I’m. I’m okay. I think.” Neuma’s apprehensive voice let him know that she was far worse than she let on.
“What do you need? What can I do?”
Neuma, who was already piecing herself back together, released a warmth of reassurance and a sense of rejuvenation through his consciousness. “I’m fine Euphretes, honestly. I’ll be good as new in a few seconds. Besides, it’s everyone else that you should be worried about.”
Taking her cue, “Commander Blanchard, what’s our current status?” Euphretes asked out loud to the near absolute darkness. A few hushed whispers later and Commander Remming’s voice replied, “Honestly Sir, we have no idea. SL6 must have been shut down with everything else. But Crewman Nueltin here says that some power should be coming to the Bridge and the Command Center soon.” Although visibility was still severely restricted, solid tritium stripes strategically placed throughout the room were starting to reflect their green energy, casting eerie shadows across the walls.
Euphretes couldn’t help but find the humor
in the fact that without RAIs, they were literally fumbling around in the darkness. “Crewman Operative Nueltin, you’re the second shift’s Information Technology Specialist, right?”
“Surprised you remembered that.”
“Me too!” Euphretes laughed, feeding off Neuma’s rapid rejuvenation.
Nueltin quickly answered, “That’s correct Sir.”
Turning toward the sound of the crewman’s voice, “Can you shed some light on your answer? And, yes. Pun intended.” A few chuckles could be heard as the Fleet Admiral did his best to diminish the overall tension in the room.
Euphretes could sense Neuma trying to extend but coming up empty. “I can’t feel Steadfast and Loyal.”
Through the Abyss Page 38