“Are those black holes?” asked Angela as she saw the two areas of darkness on the screen.
Race nodded. “Yes, there are two of them.”
“That’s where the Creevak must have gotten the power to create the anomaly in the first place,” suggested Councilor Rosen. “Are there any signs of structures orbiting either black hole?”
“No, I believe Fleet Admiral Strong for some reason probably destroyed those power stations upon arriving in the Creevaks’ universe and that’s why there has been no sign of an anomaly since.”
“Where’s our fleet?” asked Grayseth as his eyes narrowed.
“It’s not there. As near as we can tell all of Fleet Admiral Strong’s ships and Indomitable class battlestations have been destroyed.”
This caused a lot of nervous talking in the council.
Grayseth stood up, his eyes turning red. “Where is Fleet Admiral Strong?” he roared.
Race touched his small screen again. One of the black holes swelled in size until a battlestation came into view. The station seemed to be floating just above the event horizon. “The battlestation is here, fifty-two thousand kilometers above the event horizon of one of the black holes. At it’s current location the passage of time has been slowed even more. We estimate for every year they’ve been at this location six have passed here.”
-
“Is there any way to know how long that’s been?” asked Angela. This entire situation was becoming more complicated.
Race shook his head. “No, we did manage to send a brief message toward the station which we hope they received. It was a simple message that said we know they are there and we’re coming.”
Angela could feel her heart beating faster. Only the large battlestation had survived. What had happened to the New Horizon and the Avenger? “How soon before we can send the rescue mission?”
“The space drive worked as expected on the probe,” answered Councilor Rosen. “We need to run some simulations and once we’re satisfied we’ll send the probe through again. If it returns safely, we can begin installing the drive in our warships.”
Angela was feeling impatient. It had been fourteen years since she had last seen her friends. “How long will that take?”
“If we use a number of our shipyards we can have the drives installed in all of Grayseth’s dreadnaughts and the juggernaut in six weeks from the time we start.
“So we’re still talking about two to three months before we can mount a rescue mission?” Angela had hoped it would be sooner.
-
Race knew Angela was feeling impatient. “Yes, there’s no way we can speed it up. Keep in mind while it will be eight to twelve weeks for us it will only be about two weeks for those on the battlestation.”
“There is another problem,” said Councilor Trallis. “While the drive will allow us to enter the Creevak universe we’re not certain if our dreadnaughts can reach the battlestation due to its proximity to the black hole.”
“What about the juggernaut?” asked Grayseth. “I’m willing to make the attempt.”
Councilor Dreel began to speak. “We could add several more dark matter converters to the juggernaut as well as strengthen its gravity drive to handle the extra energy. We would have to dock the juggernaut to the station and transfer its crew over. It won’t be easy but it can be done.”
“Do we have any other ships which can reach the station?” asked Race.
Councilor Dreel nodded. He looked directly at Angela. “The Liberator is our most advanced ship and it has the extra power systems already as well as a strengthened gravity drive. It should easily be able to make it to the battlestation.”
“There is another problem,” added Councilor Dreel. “In order for the juggernaut to dock with the battlestation, the battlestation will have to extend its energy shield to cover the juggernaut as well. If I’ve figured correctly, the battlestation will only be able to keep its shield intact for a little over two hours before the added stress causes it to fail.”
Race looked stunned. “So we have only two hours to evacuate over sixty thousand people off the station?”
Dreel nodded. “Yes, maybe a little less.”
Angela looked at Councilor Trallis. “It will be necessary for a ship to enter the Creevak universe several days before our rescue fleet so the station will be prepared to evacuate when the time comes. The only ship we have is the Liberator. I volunteer to lead that mission.”
Race knew he had been backed into a corner. “If we can’t find another option I’ll agree to it, but I’m not sure I want all of the children on that ship, particularly the younger ones.”
Angela stood up and smiled. She was wearing her commander’s uniform. “These are the children of the Special Five. Is there anyone here who is going to stand in the way of them going to rescue their parents? You already said their ship is the most advanced that has ever been built.”
The council looked uncomfortable. The Altons and Humans on the council nodded their heads.
“I will support allowing Angela to take the Liberator through to the Creevak universe,” said Councilor Garson, an Alton.
“I second the motion,” added Councilor Jackson.
The council voted and by a narrow margin approved Angela taking the Liberator along with the children through to the Creevak universe.
-
Later Race was in his office with Angela. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do,” replied Angela. “I’ve been in much tougher situations in the past and I have one hell of a ship and crew to help me.”
“I still don’t feel comfortable with the children going but Jason is too much like his father. I have a feeling if I refused this mission Jason would take the ship and go anyway.”
“What would you do if you were Jason?” asked Angela knowingly.
Race let out a deep sigh. “The same thing you’re going to do. I want that ship recalled immediately and gone over with a fine toothed comb. I want you to begin running simulations of what it’s going to be like to go to the Creevak universe and approach the black hole. It’s going to be tricky as hell maneuvering against the gravity that monster puts out.”
“We have Clarissa. If necessary she can take the ship in.”
Race stood up and walked over to stare at a large painting on the wall. It was of the obelisk above the Fleet Academy on the Moon. “Let’s get it done.”
-
Angela grinned. She felt excited knowing that very soon she was going to go and rescue her friends. It had been a long time in coming but the day was rapidly approaching. She could hardly wait to tell Jason and the others. One of the first things she would do after leaving here was contact Rear Admiral Marks and begin setting up the training scenarios. Standing up, she left to go home and tell Brace. She was going to the Creevak universe where she and the children would be in deadly danger. She could hardly wait!
Chapter Two
In the Creevak universe Jeremy, Kelsey, Katie, and Kevin were all at Jeremy’s home discussing the recent appearance of the Originator probe.
“They’re finally coming,” said Kelsey, her eyes wide and full of hope.
Katie looked thoughtful. “Elizabeth, Mathew, and Jason will be eighteen years old. Clair will be nineteen and Andrea seventeen. I hope they still remember us.”
“I’m sure Angela has been telling them stories about us,” said Jeremy. With the arrival of the probe he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “Don’t forget Clarissa is there as well and I can promise you she has been telling the kids everything she can.”
“That’s sort of scary,” said Katie, recalling some of her antics when she was younger. Clarissa would know all about them.
Kelsey laughed. “I’m just glad this is almost over. I know we’ve missed most of the kid’s childhoods but we’re still going to be a big part of their lives.”
“Where’s Ariel?” asked Kevin.
“She’s still in the Comm
and Center. She wants to be there in case another probe comes through or Clarissa attempts to contact her,” replied Jeremy.
Kevin wasn’t surprised. “I think Ariel has really missed Clarissa. They used to share everything.”
“She does,” confirmed Katie. “She’s told me so. Ariel and Clarissa don’t show emotions like we do but they still have them, particularly with the bodies the Originators created for them.”
“Those are pretty nice bodies,” said Kevin, grinning. “Both of them look like twenty-year-old beauty queens.”
Katie elbowed Kevin in the side. “Behave.”
“If a rescue fleet comes how do we reach them?” asked Kelsey. “I know taking the battlestation out of orbit of the black hole isn’t an option.”
Jeremy’s face suddenly turned serious. “Rear Admiral Jones has been working with some of the Originator and Alton scientists we have on board. We don’t have the power to move the battlestation away from the black hole so we’re going to have to abandon it.”
Everyone had already known that was a good possibility.
“What about the Avenger, the New Horizon, and the other two dreadnaughts?”
“The New Horizon would be our best bet. It has a more powerful power system than the other three,” answered Jeremy. “Even so, if we use the New Horizon, Damon Brim is suggesting we strip the power systems from the other three ships and add them to the exploration dreadnaught. He wants to make some modifications to the gravity drive as well.”
Kelsey slowly shook her head. “The New Horizon is big, but I don’t think we can put over sixty thousand people in her.”
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed as he tried to think of a solution. “I’ll speak to Damon about the possibility of increasing the power systems on the Avenger.”
Kevin looked around at the others. “Let’s go out and eat. We need to celebrate the fact that we may soon be rescued and be reunited with our kids. I know of a restaurant that serves some really good hamburgers!”
This sounded like a good idea to Kelsey. She just wondered what kind of reaction the kids would have in finally being reunited with their parents. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought. Would Jason still look at her as his mother? After all, for most of his life he had been raised by Angela and Brace.
“They’d better serve something besides hamburgers and hot dogs,” threatened Katie.
“They do,” replied Kevin quickly. “They serve steaks too.”
Jeremy stood up. “Then let’s go. I’m getting hungry.”
Moments later they were all out the door and heading toward one of the two aircars parked out front.
-
Just outside of Federation space, the Liberator was on its way back from visiting the original Human Federation of Worlds. They had actually gone down to Maken for a short visit with retired Fleet Admiral Hedon Streth and his wife Janice. Hedon was getting on in years but still spent much of his time hiking and fishing. Hedon had asked many questions about living on a Dyson sphere and what it was like being the children of the Special Five.
“I can’t believe we actually got to speak with Fleet Admiral Hedon Streth,” said Braleseth, his large brown eyes showing his excitement. “Even on Careth he’s a legend.”
“Jason, I just received a message from New Tellus Station,” reported Elizabeth. “It seems a science vessel has vanished near Borzon space and they want us to go and see what happened. We’re not to cross the border nor engage in combat. They’re hoping it’s merely an engineering problem of some type. We’re currently the closest vessels to where contact with the vessel was lost.”
“How long will it take us to get to the science vessel’s last coordinates?” asked Jason, feeling his pulse beginning to race. They finally had a real mission!
“Twelve hours,” replied Mitch. “We have to go a little slower due to our escorts.”
“We could leave our escorts behind,” suggested Mathew. “That would allow us to get there faster.”
Clarissa interrupted. “I would not recommend that. While the Borzon Empire is no longer hostile and has begun freeing its slave worlds, it could still be dangerous if we have to go to close to their border.”
Jason nodded his agreement. “We’ll take our escorts. At least that way if there is a danger we’ll have some powerful backup.”
“Elizabeth, send a reply back to New Tellus Station and inform them we will investigate and we’re taking our escorts as a safety precaution. We’ll let them know what we find. Mitch, set a course and inform our escorts.”
“Are we making the right decision?” sent Clair. “Mother would have a fit.”
“I know,” replied Jason. “But we have to go out on our own sometime. We can’t always be shielded from danger. Besides, that science vessel may need some help.”
“Just promise you’ll listen to Clarissa. She’s done stuff like this before.”
Jason turned toward Clair and smiled. “Of course I’ll listen. Anyway, I have a suspicion Clarissa has been ordered by Angela to take command if we get into difficulty. Isn’t that right, Clarissa?” Jason knew Clarissa could listen in on their private conversations.
“Maybe,” replied Clarissa in a neutral tone. “I’m sure you will be able to handle this situation.”
-
In space, the Liberator and her ten powerful escorts made the transition into hyperspace. Little did they know of the danger waiting for them near Borzon space. A danger no one thought could still exist.
-
Kelsey, Katie, Jeremy, Kevin, Ariel, and Rear Admiral Barnes were all at a small restaurant in the heart of the city within the battlestation. Kelsey had invited Kathryn and Ariel to come along.
“Clarissa is coming,” announced Ariel with a pleased look on her face. Ariel was drinking wine which she had developed a taste for.
“And probably Grayseth,” added Kevin as he sipped on a beer. “I’ll bet that crazy bear will be leading the rescue operation.”
Jeremy laughed. “You’re probably right.” Jeremy was drinking tea. He had never developed a taste for beer.
The restaurant they were in was packed full of families all enjoying a night out. Many were talking excitedly about the possibility of rescue.
“Everyone is really excited,” said Kelsey. People were laughing and smiling. It was far different than it had been only a few days back.
A waiter appeared with a large tray and begin putting plates of food in front of everyone.
Kevin smiled broadly as a large double meat cheeseburger with a large pile of fries on the side was placed in front of him. “Now, this is food!”
Katie only shook her head. She had long since given up on lecturing him about eating too many hamburgers.
Cutting a slice off the steak on his plate Jeremy took a bite. “I think I’ll stay with steaks. Hamburgers are for picnics or the backyard.”
“I wonder what it’s going to be like back home?” asked Kelsey.
“I doubt if it has changed much,” replied Jeremy as he put butter on his baked potato. “The war between the Originators and the Eternals is probably still going on.”
“How long do you think it will be before they send a rescue fleet?” asked Katie. “I want to see the kids even if they are older.”
Jeremy put his fork and knife down. “The probe was probably the first successful attempt they had in reaching the Creevak universe. They’ll have to evaluate the data and probably run a few more tests before they can actually begin building the new space drive for our larger warships. I’m guessing another two to four months their time or about one to two weeks our time.”
“Then we have a lot to do to get ready,” said Kathryn as she sipped a glass of red wine. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get the Avenger and the New Horizon ready.”
Clarissa sat down her nearly empty glass of wine. “I suggest we get the New Horizon ready first and then when it’s finished we start on the Avenger. That way if the rescue fleet arrives early at
least we’ll have one ship ready.”
Jeremy nodded. He hated the idea of possibly leaving the Avenger behind but if that was what it would take to save the majority of the people on the battlestation then he was willing to sacrifice his flagship.
Kevin was eating his french fries and taking occasional bites of his cheeseburger. “This is really good. I wonder if our homes on the Dyson sphere are still there?”
Katie’s eyes widened. “Surely they left them alone. Angela would have made sure no one bothered them. I have a lot of keepsakes I’ve picked up over the years in that house.”
“I’m sure they’re okay,” said Kelsey. “I’m ready to leave this station so I can quit worrying about the Creevak. I also have nightmares about us falling into the black hole.”
“We all do,” replied Kathryn. “I can’t wait to see my father. I’m sure he’s been a nervous wreck while I’ve been gone.”
“That will be over soon,” said Jeremy. “Now all we have to do is get our ships ready and wait for Grayseth to come to the rescue.”
Everyone nodded. It was hard to believe that shortly their lives might actually be returning to normal.
-
Jason was back in the Command Center after catching a few hours of sleep. He wanted to be rested when the Liberator dropped out of hyperspace. “How much longer?”
“Twenty minutes,” replied Clarissa. “I’ve been doing some research on the area of space where the science vessel vanished. It used to be part of the Hocklyn Empire and then the Borzon took it over when they extended their boundaries after the war. There’s not much more that is known about it.”
Jason frowned at hearing this. “Is it possible the Borzon could be responsible for the science vessel vanishing?”
Clarissa shook her head. “I doubt it. Once the Federation received more help from the Originators, they forced the Borzon to pull back to their previous borders. They also forced the Borzon to begin freeing their slave planets. The Borzon know to leave the Federation alone.”
Nodding, Jason began thinking about what could have happened to the ship. “Did the ship have a defensive energy shield?”
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