"No new energy readings yet, either our suits are shielding us from the station's passive scanners reading us as a threat, or that system isn't working here, Admiral."
Wheeler signalled to have the communications muted then addressed Captain Kenly. "How far in is Anderson's lab? Will they be passing anywhere near it before getting to a main control node?"
"We can't know for sure, but from the information we could gather, Anderson's lab is past the nearest node. They won't be approaching it until we have control of the station."
"Smart enough," Wheeler said with a nod. If there were anti-personnel traps aboard the station, they would be in the control section and the lab of the late Carl Anderson. The research behind the cure for framework technology was there, according to the little information they could get from the backup storage Anderson kept on Tamber. The drives re-crystalized several thousand times, destroying most of the data after they turned them on and failed to enter the right credentials, but they were able to extract a little data, just enough to lead Wheeler on this chase. Communications with the team were re-enabled. There was ambient light coming from somewhere ahead of the team. "Is that light coming from your gear, Commander?"
"It's from the station. We're detecting a bio-lighting system ahead, probably made to stay on for centuries."
"Are you sure something other than lighting isn't being powered? What about a passive scanner?" Captain Kenly asked. "Maybe some sort of basic detection system? Pressure plates? Something?"
"I'll keep my eyes open, but pressure plates on a high-tech base like this would surprise me," the Commander replied. "Moving into the manufacturing control room now," he said. There was a three-tiered area with monitoring and work stations in rings. To one side there was a thick transparent wall that provided a live view of one of the manufacturing lines. The Commander's team spread out, checking for systems that may have been left on, watching their passive scanners for signs that there were traps set up.
"Imagine, we'll be able to reproduce anything this facility made when we get control. We could start work on one of their ships in a few hours, have it in our hands for testing and examination in a couple days, maybe sooner," one of the aides said with wonder as the main holographic view focused on the observation deck of Solar Forge Two. "This is only one of three fabrication lines that we were able to find with passive scans, and there are probably more."
"Looks like we're ready for the technical team to come aboard," the Commander said. "Team leader to the X-1097, follow our path to Control Room Three."
Over a dozen technicians rushed onto the station, leaving a pilot in the X-1097, their armoured boarding ship. "It seems a little soon to send a technical team in," Wheeler said under his breath.
"Team's away, we're de-coupling and will start our first sensor sweep from the outside," said the pilot.
"Acknowledged. Don't hurry back, I think we'll be here for a few days," the Commander replied.
"Minor issue, Commander," the pilot said. "The mooring system won't de-couple. I'm working on it now, but it doesn’t look like the problem is on our end."
"What do you mean, Sub-Lieutenant?" The Commander asked. "Exactly what do you mean?"
"The station's mooring system has coupled with us. My sensors still don't detect the mooring clamps, but my co-pilot can see that they're locked onto the shuttle, they didn't trigger the sensors aboard the X-1097, though."
"How can the station's mooring clamps move into place if there's no power?" Captain Kenly asked. "Are you sure your sensors are working, Commander?"
"Captain, I'm not sure of anything right now," the Commander said. "Hold on, one of the techs has something on her sensor package."
Wheeler saw the technician, a woman in a boarding suit, move into view with urgency. "The station's hacked our sensor systems, we can't trust the readings we're getting! This air-gapped system says the station core is operational, there's a power build up!"
"Get off the station, drop everything and move," Wheeler said, feeling a chill run up his spine. "That's an order."
"I don't know what we're supposed to do if our shuttle's being held by the station, but we're on the move," The Commander said, passing the order to his team with gestures.
"Throw yourselves out the nearest airlock, you all have independent life sup…" Captain Kenly was interrupted as the shuttle pilot began to shout into his communicator.
"The station is turning, moving fast! My tactical system says there's an exterior door opening, pointing at Solar Forge One."
"Show me an exterior, show me the orbital tactical map, now!" Wheeler ordered. The holographic view changed as a beam of white light fired from within Solar Forge Two at its older sister station. A moment later, Solar Forge Two exploded from within, becoming a yellow and white circle of light before disappearing, leaving a void behind. "What is that? What was that beam?"
"Some kind of power transfer?" Captain Kenly asked the room. One of his science officers got to work hurriedly.
Solar Forge One's gun emplacement doors opened and the turrets that survived the invasion, more than thirty-nine of them, roared to life, firing long range rounds at every Order of Eden ship it could strike. "Disable that base!" Wheeler ordered. A beam of light erupted from it, aimed directly at Solar Forge Three.
The Order of Eden ships were slow to react, many of them taking damage before they could get their combat shielding up. The smaller ships, the pickets, the fighters, even one of the destroyers were blasted apart. The face of Admiral Lamonthe appeared beside the tactical display. "You should have destroyed those bases when you saw us leave. Did you even ask yourself why they would go dormant as soon as you managed to defeat the other orbital defences around Tamber? I wonder about your fitness as an officer, as a strategist. I look at you in that suit and I see division in your ranks and paranoia in your mind. How much could you fear your own chain of command if you need a suit to keep transmissions to your framework system out? Do your subordinates know?"
"This is a live transmission, it's coming from Solar Forge One," said one of the officers in the room.
"How? They wouldn't leave him behind," Wheeler said.
"I remained behind. I'm in the Haven System right now with access, firepower and a grip on the building you're in right now. By the time you find the source of this transmission, I'll be gone. It's your uncertainty, your lack of faith in your own people and our ability to think ahead that will ensure our victory," Lamonthe said with a wolfish grin. "You are right where we want you: inside the Haven System, using facilities we know better than you ever will. Do you still feel like you're on the right side?"
"Cut him off!" Wheeler screamed. He knew the game the Admiral was playing. The questions, the speech wasn't for him, it was for anyone else listening in and everyone who would play it back later. The whole message was made to make everyone nervous about where they were as well as their Admiral. Some of that may have been true, but Wheeler didn't need anyone to know.
"His transmission is coming from Kambis, low orbit, there's a something there that just de-cloaked, we haven't gotten a good scan on it yet, it's the source of the transmission," reported the only communications officer in the room, a young man who worked feverishly on a thin pad.
"I look forward to seeing you in one of our cells," Lamonthe said. "The Queen sends her regards."
Lamonthe's head disappeared, and Wheeler looked back to the tactical display, where a cruiser with new electromagnetic beam systems was moving into position, getting close enough to try to disable Solar Forge One. As soon as its beam touched the station's hull, the hulking orbital installation exploded. Solar Forge Three burst in a circle of white fire an instant later, leaving massive voids in their wake. They lost twenty-eight orbital defence satellites and thirty-three planetary shield projectors, systems they were close to hacking and turning to their own purposes. It was a system that would take them months to repair without the Solar Forges or similar manufacturing systems. Another reason why t
he Order might remove him from his post, or worse. "Start scanning the system, I want…" he started, then a name appeared on the tactical map that filled him with dread: HF SUNSPIRE. "Get that ship! Disable and board it, and if you can't manage that, bring me what's left of its hull!"
The Sunspire moved towards Tamber, a broad signal was broadcast as it moved at incredible speed towards the nearest Order cruiser. "The power level of the signal its sending is cutting through everything, we're trying to decipher it now, but it looks like some kind of activation code," communications reported.
The rest of the defence satellites - both, shield and weapon - activated and began to use their small thrusters to send themselves towards Tamber's atmosphere. "They're making their own satellites burn up in the atmosphere so we can't use them," Wheeler said as much to himself in disbelief as he did to the rest of the room.
The Sunspire fired torpedoes that disappeared as soon as they left the launch tubes. "Cloaked torpedoes," Wheeler muttered under his breath. "Tell the crew of the Cruiser to brace."
Flashes along the perimeter of the Cruiser's shields went off, battering the energy field protecting it, then the hull itself was struck by violent antimatter explosions. The Sunspire continued to accelerate away, leaving the damaged Cruiser behind, reeling. It was the only ship in range that could stand up to a dreadnaught like the Sunspire, and Wheeler could see what was about to happen. "It can't cloak now, not with all that radiation in the area, but in a minute, that old ship will be gone," he said. "Fire everything at it, map its trajectory, get interdictors in the way and turn their signals up until their systems are about to fry."
"Aye," Captain Kenly replied, using a holographic interface of his own to help pass the orders faster. It would have been faster if Wheeler could connect to the Order Command Network, but he waited, watching from his armoured suit.
The Sunspire began to fade as sensors across the fleet they had in the Haven System started failing to detect it. "It's about to disappear, hurry!" Then, the icon marking the Sunspire on the tactical map did just that, leaving a trajectory line behind. "Now they change course and we are left here to stare at each other while you wonder what order I'll give next."
"I'm sorry, Sir, the fleet can only move so quickly," Captain Kenly said quietly but firmly. "We had no expectation that there could be a ship hiding in Kambis' clouds."
"Get out," Wheeler said. He was so angry he could bite through the faceguard of his helmet, but he kept it in check. "I have to move ahead with my plans and that will take concentration. Get out."
"Yes, Sir," Kenly replied, directing the rest of his people to leave with him. They did so quickly, leaving Lucius alone in an armchair. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and when he calmed a little, he stood and moved to the bedroom. The only thing on the large bed there was a long, white dress box. He patted the top and sighed. "You'll be getting some air sooner than expected."
Five
Interlude
* * *
Ayan traced her fingers lightly down one side of Jake’s chest as her head rested on the other side. Her arm around her, his hand resting idly on her hip under the covers, she felt more comfortable than she had in a long time. A glance up into his eyes brought a little smile to both their lips, and she nestled in a little more. “We’re still very good at that,” she sighed.
“Amazing,” Jake chuckled. “I wish I had a little advanced warning, though.”
“Why? Were you planning to put up decorations?” Ayan teased.
“I would have changed the lighting at least,” Jake snickered. More seriously, then; “This feels right, though.”
“Nothing has felt more right,” she replied with a nod. It did, but there was guilt. It came from everything she missed, the Haven System, the people she left behind, Alice, who was far behind enemy lines, and the children who were sent away for their own safety. She missed little Laura constantly, and in a moment like she was having, she wondered what kind of person she was if she could be so happy while her baby was so far away. If all went well, Laura and the rest of the children would be back in less than three days, but sending them away felt wrong in the first place. They took every precaution they could to protect them, but sending them away on a single ship, no matter how well armed, felt like the wrong move the instant Laura was out of her quarters. The thing that bothered her most about the whole situation was that she couldn't imagine a better solution during the Invasion or since. The act of calling the ship to the fleet's hiding place before they moved on felt almost as selfish as the happiness she was feeling with Jake as she cuddled with him.
“Your head is far, far away,” Jake said quietly.
A tear rolled free and fell on his chest.
“Maybe it was too soon,” he said, starting to shift.
“Don’t you dare move,” she told him, wiping the second tear away. "It was the perfect time, the perfect way. I didn't plan on jumping you after being in a meeting all day, but I wouldn't take it back. I was just thinking about Laura. I'm sorry, I know I should be more present."
"Don't apologize, I think about her all the time, too," Jake said, planting a kiss on her forehead. "And I didn't have hormonal treatments that helped me bond with her. Sending her away must have been hard."
"Do you think it was the right thing to do, though?"
"They're still safe?"
"Yes, and - this is top secret - they're on their way back," Ayan replied, propping herself up and looking at him. He was relaxed, at ease with how they were together in that moment. "That could be a bad decision too."
"Self-doubt has defeated as many generals as a sword," Jake replied.
"No quoting Academy reading," Ayan snickered, playfully slapping his chest. "Seriously, I feel like every decision I've made on this is either selfish or reckless."
He laughed and nodded. "The quote is true, though. Everyone in the fleet will do what they can to protect them, no matter where they are. Maybe it'll be better if the kids are living on the War Forge, where they're surrounded by the most armour, the biggest guns, and the best cloaking we have."
"It's also the biggest target if something can see through its cloak," Ayan said.
"You've already gone through all these details in your head and decided the War Forge will be the best place for them. Most of them will be living with their parents, that's a good thing. I know I miss Laura like crazy, so I couldn't imagine how it is for you, and she has to know you're not around right now."
The thought that Laura missed her too didn't make anything better. Ayan squeezed her eyes closed and tried to hold the ache of missing her down.
Jake caught her by surprise, wrapping his arms around her as he rolled onto his side, keeping her close. "I'm just saying that you've thought this through more than any decision you've made, and I'm sure you didn't do it alone, so you've done your best. You'll be back with Laura soon. All the parents will be reunited with their kids. I hope I can be there to see it. I bet every parent will be grateful that their children didn't have to see the Invasion."
Ayan remembered how he was with little Laura when he was able to visit the War Forge. He didn't have the most natural touch while handling Laura, but before long he was cradling her, even cooing at her when he thought no one was looking. 'Hello, little kiddo, everyone's happy you're here,' he told her several times in a hushed sing-song as Laura looked up at him. Catching him like that only made her love him more. "You really miss her too?"
"Of course I do. She's a little charmer," Jake said reassuringly.
"I was still a little afraid that I made things too complicated for you, turning the prospect of accepting me into having to take me and a new born," Ayan watched him closely, an easy thing since they were nose to nose.
"Laura is a bonus, not a negative. It's more complicated, sure, but I think skipping ahead to become a family is a good thing. We've spent so much time starting over, and with everything going on, it might have never happened if we kept waiting for just the right t
ime."
"I've heard that from other people in relationships when they see Laura. Their eyes light up, then they get a little guarded, say they're waiting for the end of the war, or for the Haven System to be safe, or to have more time before they have kids with their partner. I just didn't think I'd take the leap so suddenly, then I saw Laura..."
"…and you couldn't wait," Jake whispered to her. "Hate to tell you this, but you aren't the spontaneous type. When you introduced me to her, I knew she was important to you."
"Sometimes I feel selfish, though. I'm so busy, I'm a target that could endanger anyone close to me, and there are other people who could adopt her who aren't first time parents. I need so much help to care for her."
"Everyone needs help. Everyone's busy right now, and I always thought you'd eventually be a mother. We never had the 'do you want kids?' conversation, I think it was because I thought I already knew the answer. I know you're only second guessing yourself because you finally have a minute to spare, and you can't wait to see Laura. I don't know if this helps, but I don't see a bad decision anywhere. I think you made the right calls. Now that you're delegating more, it'll get easier, and we can spend more time with Laura."
That was encouraging, but mostly because he said; "We?" she asked.
"Unless I get called away. I'd like to be more involved if that's okay, to help out, at least be around."
Ayan nodded. "Most romantic thing you've said all day."
"The bar was pretty low for that, considering we were in meetings with commanders for a whole day and the topic of romance didn't come up once," Jake said with a chuckle.
"We didn't do much talking after we adjourned either."
"True," he said, kissing her briefly. "How long can you stay?"
"Admiral Lamonthe is in command of the fleet for the next twelve hours, then it's Admiral Doolth's turn for the first time. Chief Onnel is running War Forge Operations, so unless an emergency comes up, I'm off tonight and tomorrow. The Merciless is probably going to be sent out tomorrow, though."
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 13 Page 5