“This might be a little tight,” she murmured uneasily. “Weps, point defence free, but no aggressive action. Defensive only. Clear?”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Irene Bishop replied. “Point defence online, no aggressive action.”
“Helm, go to evasive when necessary. Don’t wait for the order.”
“Aye, aye, Skipper,” Lieutenant Hadden replied tensely and firmed his grip upon Invincible’s stick.
Aboard Chakra, in pursuit of alien ship, Shan System
“Alien in range. Target lock confirmed… firing!” Kajika said.
Tei’Varyk watched Chakra’s claws reach out to rend the alien ship, but he missed. Tei’Varyk leaned forward to study the data more closely. No, he hadn’t missed. Chakra’s eyes reported a definite hit, but the alien was unaffected.
“No effect,” Kajika reported.
Tei’Varyk’s hackles rose. If Chakra’s main energy mounts could not hurt it, what would? “Engage with secondary weapons, engage with everything!”
“I hear,” Kajika said. “Launching torpedoes, firing secondary mounts, firing primaries.”
Tei’Varyk watched the torpedoes impact and detonate, but this time they definitely missed. Just as they reached terminal range, something detached from the alien and the torpedoes impacted it. Again, Chakra’s torpedoes flew straight to the target, and again they were decoyed off track.
“Save his torpedoes. Go to maximum rate of fire on all energy mounts.”
“I hear, Tei,” Kajika said making the adjustment on his panel. “Firing energy weapons at maximum.”
“Chakra slows!” Jakinda reported.
Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement and watched grimly. Chakra’s weapons were energy hogs. Maximum rate of fire was causing him to sacrifice energy normally reserved for propulsion.
“Continue action,” he ordered grimly.
“I hear,” Kajika said.
“I hear,” Jakinda said. “Main propulsion heating beyond critical. Failure imminent.”
“Reduce by twenty percent and continue pursuit,” he said without fuss. He had been monitoring the situation closely on his own panel.
“I hear,” Jakinda said in relief as Chakra’s great engines cooled into the safe zone once again.
Chakra was losing the alien now, but it would remain in range for a while longer. The heavy fangs were just coming into range, and would have to take over from Chakra unless Tei’Varyk could somehow slow the alien. He could think of no way to do that. Everything he could do was being done.
“Alien wreckage detected,” Tarjei yelped in glee.
“Well done, Kajika!” Tei’Varyk howled his own excitement. “Continue action.”
“I hear!”
Aboard ASN Invincible, Shan System
Damage control parties scrambled in the darkness trying to patch the hole in Invincible’s defences. She had lost her aft launchers and boat bay, but worse than that; she was breached from frame two hundred all the way to two-fifty. Over a dozen crewmen were killed when shrapnel shredded their uniforms opening them to vacuum.
Finally, power was restored and the full horror was revealed. Dead crewmen littered the deck with blood and fluids splashed over the walls where the absolute zero of space it had frozen it solid.
“All right people,” O’Malley said coldly. “There’s nothing we can do for them. Get that blast door shut. We seal this section or we can’t jump.”
Swede lifted the wreckage clear by main strength and forced the hatch shut. Men rushed forward to help and welded it in position. The damage control party moved on, repairing what it could, sealing what it could not.
On the bridge, smoke hung thickly, but no one took notice. Monroe raged at the loss of her people, but she would not be the cause of another interstellar war. She could not, would not, fire back. She grimly held to her composure and watched the heavies bear down on her.
“Damage control to bridge. She’s sealed, Skipper, but I don’t know for how long,” O’Malley reported.
Monroe’s eyes snapped up to Keith Hadden at the helm. “Execute!”
“Executing.”
ASN Invincible gathered herself and jumped into fold space as a dozen torpedoes raced through the wake caused by activation of a jump drive. The tiny computer brains were no longer able to find a target, and as a safety precaution, they detonated.
Aboard Chakra, Shan System
“Target lost,” Tarjei said fiercely.
Everyone grinned and began celebrating their victory, but Tei’Varyk stared at the empty display in puzzled silence. There was something just before the final explosion, he was sure of it.
“Tarjei, look for debris,” he said quietly and caused a profound silence to descend upon the command deck.
“I hear. Scanning for debris, indications…” she said in stunned realisation. “Indications negative!”
Hisses of shock and outrage sounded from all sides as they realised the alien had escaped. How was it possible? One moment it was fleeing, the next it was gone. The explosion had blinded Chakra’s eyes for a moment, but that was not enough time for the alien to escape.
Tei’Varyk studied his now empty tactical display. “Jakinda, search pattern at last known coordinates.”
“I hear,” Jakinda said and brought Chakra onto a new heading.
Tei’Varyk turned his station to Jozka. “Contact Hoth, Hekja, and Neifon. Tell them what we have discovered and ask that they search with us.”
“I hear,” Jozka said.
He flexed his claws in frustration. There was nothing on Chakra’s display to say the alien had ever existed. Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in annoyance with himself and turned to Tarjei.
“Replay last action.”
“Time index?” Tarjei asked.
“Just as the heavies fire their torpedoes.”
“I hear.”
Tarjei displayed the data frozen on the main viewer. Everyone, except Jozka who was busy talking to the commanders of the heavy fangs, turned to watch the screen.
“Advance at twice speed… stop,” Tei’Varyk ordered when the scene reached the point he wanted. “Play at one half.”
“I hear.” Tarjei turned a control on her panel.
Tei’Varyk watched again as Chakra’s claws reached out to tear and rend the alien. He noted the tiny amount of damage he had inflicted, and his lips rippled back in worry and fear.
“Slow to one tenth,” he said.
“I hear.”
The torpedoes approached at a crawl, and then it happened. Space itself shimmered and twisted. The alien ship seemed to glow blue for an instant before twisting violently and disappearing. Tei’Varyk’s shock was complete, and so was that of his crew. The alien had not been hit by the torpedoes and destroyed, it had escaped somehow. The torpedoes lost lock as they watched and detonated as they were programmed to do in these cases. The screen flashed white as the violence of the explosion overloaded Chakra’s eyes, and then the star speckled black of space returned.
“The alien escaped us,” Tei’Varyk said quietly. “Contact the elders, I must tell them what has happened.”
“I hear,” Jozka said.
“Reverse course back to where we first encountered the alien.”
“I hear, Tei. Chakra turns to new heading, one-two-eight by zero-zero-two.”
Why had the alien shown itself and then run? Was it possible there was more than one? It could be. They had been unable to find one, why not two or three or even more?
“The elders await,” Jozka said.
“I hear. Call Tei’Unwin to take my place here. I will speak to the elders in my chambers.”
“I hear, Tei.” Jozka hunched over his consol.
Tei’Varyk stood and left the command deck. He was tired after all the excitement of the pursuit. He had been sitting for far too long, but strangely his legs felt wobbly. Fright. No doubt he would start shedding later. His people always shed when stressed—it was part of being born Shan. Would they ever find a cure for it?
His people had made so many advances in the time since the war, that one would scarcely recognise the way they lived these days.
The war wasn’t all bad he supposed, though it was a shocking thought. If not for the war he wouldn’t be living in space, which he loved, commanding a ship that he also loved.
“Where do aliens come from?” he mused as he made his way along the empty corridor. “Other planets orbiting other suns obviously.”
That being true, how did they travel the vast distances from one sun to another? Faster than light travel had been theorised by the elders since time began. It was generally accepted as being impossible, but what if it wasn’t? The Murderers came from somewhere, and now these new aliens had also come. He had accepted that these aliens were not the Murderers of old. It became obvious as soon as he had a clear view of their ship. Maybe the blue light and the twisting was an FTL drive. But it was impossible… was it not?
Tei’Varyk growled irritably. He entered his chambers and keyed the terminal alive. The screen lightened to show three very old and grey-streaked Shan.
He bowed. “Honoured elders, I fear I have failed you.”
“Nonsense, Tei’Varyk,” Kajetan said from her position in the centre. She was the speaker for the elders. “Chakra was the only ship to detect the alien intrusion. The only ship to find them again, and now you are the only one to have noticed this new data. We are pleased with you.”
“I hear, Kajetan. Chakra is on route to the inner belt to discover what the alien ship found so interesting. I have theorised that there might be more than one ship.”
“Evidence?” Kajetan demanded.
“None eldest, except intuition. Chakra was unable to find the alien, yet he came out of hiding right before us knowing he would be discovered. This strange light and twisting may be a way to overcome the FTL restrictions we have long debated. If this is so, why did he wait to use it?”
“Why?”
“I believe he was luring us away from something he wanted to protect,” Tei’Varyk said guiltily.
“Another ship?”
“Perhaps, or an asteroid base.”
Hisses of shock and anger told him what the elders thought of such an idea.
“Chakra will hunt to find the answer,” Kajetan ordered. “Is there anything you require?”
“Not at present, but I would advise you to hold Hoth, Hekja, and Neifon in readiness nearby. These alien ships are very fast.”
“We hear. It will be as you ask. Good hunting.”
Tei’Varyk bowed and the screen darkened.
12 ~ The Next Step
Aboard ASN Canada, Inner Belt, Shan System
James pushed aside his empty plate and stirred his coffee. How quickly things change, he mused watching Brenda eating her breakfast. A few months ago such a simple thing as sharing a meal with her would have seemed impossible, but now nothing did. Brenda’s choice to move in with him was responsible for his new outlook on life, and he was so very thankful. He never wanted to be alone again.
“What are you thinking?” Brenda said.
“Hmmm?”
“You were light years away, James. I asked what you were thinking about.”
James smiled. “I was thinking how much I love you.”
Brenda’s eye lit with pleasure. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“I love you too, James. I know I don’t say it very often, but I do. You know I do…” she frowned worriedly. “You do, don’t you?”
He chuckled. “I know you do, but it’s nice to hear it now and then.”
Brenda shrugged ruefully. “I never was very good at telling people how I feel.”
“Me neither,” James agreed. “Maybe we can learn together.”
Brenda nodded. “I can’t wait to show you off to my parents. They gave up on me and men a long time ago.”
“I doubt that.”
“It’s true. They used to be worse than Janice with all their hints about marriage and wanting grandchildren.” She shook her head gently. “When they find out about you…”
“They’ll disown you?”
Brenda grinned. “No, they’ll be the first Humans to reach orbit without mechanical aid!”
James chuckled. “Can’t wait to see that.”
Brenda finished buttering what the autochef insisted was a British crumpet. She knew better, as did he, but although it looked wrong, it actually tasted quite good. “What do you have planned for today?” she said and took a bite.
He sipped his coffee and then leaned back in his seat. “I have an idea on how to help Bindar. The translation is taking longer than he hoped—we haven’t learned near enough phrases to attempt first contact.”
“Hmmm, I know.” Brenda frowned. “Janice is worried about him. He hardly sleeps. She says we’re way behind schedule on the language side, and there’s no sign of Invincible.”
That was a worry. Captain Colgan said Invincible had planned to sneak back in system once the dust settled, but she hadn’t yet. Invincible’s damage had been light, and chances were good that her crew was fine. James was worried for Trish, Swede, and the others, but Colgan was very sure. He said the probable reason for her non-appearance was that she had been ordered to stay out. James thought it more likely that Captain Monroe had seen the mess they were in, and had decided to stay out on her own. Whatever the reason for her extended absence, Canada and all aboard her were running out of time.
Chakra had not given up when Invincible jumped out-system. If anything, the Shan captain was more determined to find them, not less. Hardly a day went by without Canada’s battle stations alarm sounding. The first time had been so unexpected, it almost stopped his heart.
What followed was a mad scramble to seal his uniform all the while trying to watch Brenda as she fumbled with the unfamiliar connections. Teaching Brenda how to use her uniform and its connections properly was the first thing he did after Colgan announced their successful evasion. He accepted no arguments. Only when she had shown him that she could seal her uniform, and connect herself to life support, did he relax enough not to watch her all the time. He only watched her half the time now… well, three quarters… maybe.
“How can you help him?” Brenda stood and dumped their plates into the autochef. The plates quickly disappeared to wherever dirty plates go aboard ship.
“Hmmm?” James said still thinking about Invincible. He hoped Trish and the others were all right.
“Bindar.”
“I think I have a way around the speech problem. My historical studies have helped me there.”
“That’s great,” Brenda said excitedly.
“I hope so. I plan to talk with the Chief about it. If anyone can make it, or know someone who can, it’s him. What about you love?”
Brenda grimaced. “I’m still stuck on this harmony thing. I know it’s important to them. They have so many sayings that link to harmony, but I can’t get a handle on it.”
James nodded remembering his own speculations regarding the harmony question. They all had their pet theories, but none of them were convincing to his mind.
“I hate to say this, Brenda, but I think you should move on. I agree it’s important, but you can’t afford to get bogged down with unanswerable questions.”
“You’re right.” Brenda sighed. “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t make sense. The Shan talk of the Great Harmony, and the Twin Worlds of Harmony, or the Twin Worlds of the Race living in harmony, when in reality they fly around in multi-megatonne warships and train everyone to fight. How is that harmony? Who do they fight—anyone?”
James shrugged. “I said I agree, but maybe the answer is more in my field. Maybe they did live in harmony in the past, and then something happened to change it. That might be the reason for the sayings you mentioned—they’re all that remain of an older civilisation.”
Brenda sighed again. “I’ll move on, it’s the only thing to do.”
He stood and kissed her. “I’m sorry, but I thin
k you’re right.”
They stepped out of their cabin and separated, Brenda to the briefing room, and James to find the Chief.
Finding the Chief wasn’t hard as it turned out. James knew many of the crew by sight if not by name and prevailed on them for directions. He stepped into generator room four, and found a pair of legs sticking out of a control station with the Chief attached.
“Chief?”
“Yeah?” a muffled voice said. “Whatdoyouwant?”
“I need help.”
“Don’t we all,” came Williams’ voice clearer now as he wriggled out of the tight space.
James grasped the man by the ankles and pulled him the rest of the way out.
“Thanks.”
“The contact team needs a little help, Chief. We’re falling behind schedule because of all these alerts. Every time Chakra turns up, we have to stop work.”
“Yeah? Sorry to hear that, but what do I know about aliens?” Williams said scratching his head. “I can build you an autochef that makes the best pizza this side of Earth if you want, or beef up your pulser so it can knock out a tank with one shot—course you only get one, it uses a lot of power you know? But aliens…” He shook his head. “Nah, don’t know any.”
James smothered the laugh that threatened. “What I need is a device to convert our voices into the alien language, and the alien’s voices into ours.”
Williams’ face brightened. “A translator eh? Sounds interesting. I just might be able to help you there.”
“Oh?” he said feeling his hopes rising. So easy?
“Yeah, come with me.”
James followed Chief Williams deep into the ship until they entered a cluttered workroom that Williams called his own.
“See that?” Williams pointed to a piece of equipment with circuitry hanging out of it. It must have weighed as much if not more than James did and stood taller.
“What is it?” he said circling the thing and looking it over.
“That’s the voice recognition unit for the ship’s whole damn computer that is,” Williams said with a glare for the offending item.
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