“Yes, I’ve fallen a little behind,” Ben said.
“So let’s table the discussion,” Nance said. “If the professor asks what we’re doing, just tell him we have ship maintenance that takes priority.”
“Speaking of, how are we on rations?”
“Enough food for at least a week,” Magnum said. “But we’re nearly out of ale.”
“Oh man,” Kim declared. “Life is going to suck if we’re forced to drink water all the time.”
Ben was sitting in the crew lounge just off the bridge. He had his injured leg propped up on a small table and the rest of the ship’s crew were seated around him. Kim was back to her old self, if maybe still a touch weak from fighting off the infection from her gunshot wounds. Professor Jones was busy with his research. It occupied nearly every waking minute for the older man. He had given Ben strict instructions for using the plutonium. Half had gone into the rocket, and the other half was waiting for a possible second attempt if the first one failed. There were more stable, less dangerous elements that could be used to fuel the black hole, but plutonium was what Ben had found, so it would have to do.
Ben had reservations about the flux rocket and the wormholes that Forrest Remington Jones had invented. But his biggest concerns were more immediate. Like where they would be able to get food, and what they would trade to get it. The one obvious source was the Confederates. The rebels were sponsoring the professor’s research, and for the time being, the Echo as well. And yet Magnum’s point about the professor and the Confederacy’s interest in the older man’s work weighed heavy on Ben’s mind. They would want the rockets for a weapon. A black-hole device might be incredibly effective against a large, heavily armored ship where most conventional weapons were not.
If they went to the rebels, they would insist on taking Jones away. Ben knew he couldn’t let that happen, but what choice did he really have. He needed to have a chat with the professor and see what Jones had to say about matters. They couldn’t hide forever, not with their food running out soon.
“We have a lot to figure out,” Ben said.
“But we can’t go anywhere without getting sensors on the Echo,” Kim said. “That new shield is great, but not if it rips the ship apart.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Ben said.
“I’ll help,” Magnum said.
“Let’s meet in Engineering in, say, an hour,” Ben said. “I have something to take care of.”
Magnum nodded, and Kim gave Ben a knowing look. He shrugged, got to his feet, and bent down over their pilot. She smiled at him, and kissed him lightly, before waving him on. Ben headed upstairs.
“Ben!” the professor called as Ben made his way around the galley and toward the observation deck where the crew had a dinner table. “Look at this. Come here, come here. Look.”
The older man was standing next to the table which was covered with sketches of his flux rocket designs. Most of the notes were scribbled in such a poor scrawl that Ben couldn’t read them. But as he looked across the table, he felt the certainty of their dilemma.
“What is it?” Ben asked.
“There, you see,” Jones said pointing up through the transparent steel roof of the observation deck. Hundreds of stars shown in the expanse above them, but one in particular seemed to be pulsing.
“What is it?” Ben asked.
“It’s the death of a star.”
“The star is going nova?” Ben asked.
“Supernova, I should think,” Jones said. “Look here. I’ve pulled up the latest chart from the ship’s computers. I’m quite certain that was one’s Ammophodes 4817.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Ben said.
“That’s because it died hundreds of years ago,” Jones said with enthusiasm. It’s a black hole now, see?”
Jones pointed to the chart on his data pad, it showed a black hole with a number designation.
“What we’re seeing is the light, which has traveled hundreds of light-years to this point. We’re experiencing the past, my boy. As if it were happening right this minute.”
Ben couldn’t help but admire the professor’s enthusiasm. And the science was pretty cool as well. They were seeing something that happened centuries ago.
“We live in an incredible universe, Ben,” the older man said. “It’s good luck to see this, you know. Has to be. It’s a sign that my research is valid.”
“Whoa, what?” Ben asked. “You believe in signs?”
“Well, no. I believe in the laws of the universe. Those things that are proven, unbreakable boundaries that hold together all that we see and experience. That light always travels at a set speed, for instance. Or that gravity is constant. And within those boundaries, we are free to live and learn, to create and destroy. It is a wondrous thing, my boy, quite wondrous.”
“Do you really think your rocket will work?” Ben asked.
“I know it will. Perhaps not this first attempt, but certainly it will work. Because it is based on the natural laws of the universe, it has to work.”
Ben nodded. “And once we test it, what then?”
“That is an excellent question. I would have to submit my research for peer review. Hold a demonstration to prove my hypothesis and design are valid. Perhaps tour the larger universities to promote my work. They can’t deny me once I’ve proven my research is fact.”
“Do you ever think about the consequences?” Ben asked. “About what someone might do with your work?”
“I should think they would use it to create a transportation system that would revolutionize the galaxy. Think of it, Ben. Every planet and system could have a portal leading to a central hub. Communication beacons could be set in place and you could talk with someone hundreds of light-years away in real time. Just imagine what we could accomplish in a truly united galaxy. The greatest minds from every planet working together. Free trade and transport at a fraction of the cost, all because of my life’s work.”
“That all sounds wonderful, Forrest,” Ben said. He rarely used the professor’s first name but it seemed appropriate at that moment. “But I don’t think the Royal Imperium wants any of that.”
“Who cares what they want?” Jones snapped. “They are selfish, self-indulgent despots. It is long past time that we threw off the yoke of their rule.”
“Exactly,” Ben said. “And they know it. They don’t want people talking to each other, comparing the conditions on their worlds, revealing the lies that the Imperium is spreading.”
“That is just too bad,” Jones said. “Progress cannot be thwarted.”
“It can if you’re assassinated,” Ben said. “And even if you get everything just right, it’s not like we can fly you to a civilized world and drop you off. We’re wanted by the Royal Imperium. If they knew you were with us, they would arrest you and torture you for every bit of information that you could give them.”
“I see,” Jones said. “Of course you’re right. We’ll have to make other arrangements with the Confederacy. Perhaps even build the portal system ourselves, without the Royal Imperium knowing anything about it.”
“And what if the Confederacy doesn’t want to do that?” Ben said. Jones looked puzzled and Ben held up his hands to show he meant no offense. “Look, maybe I’m wrong about them, but I’m afraid they might want your technology to use as a weapon against the Royal Imperium. I’m certain they’ll want my flux shield designs.”
“What are you trying to say, Ben?” Jones said.
“I think maybe we shouldn’t test the rocket.”
“We have to,” Jones said. “I have to know if I’m right.”
“But we’re talking about dangerous things here. A rocket to create a portal across the galaxy or a missile to destroy capital ships. There really is very little difference between the two.”
“That’s…that’s…” the professor couldn’t finish. He dropped into a chair and put his face into his hands. “It’s not fair.”
“No,” Ben said. “It isn
’t.”
“This is my life’s work. And we can’t even test it. I’ll die never knowing if I was right or not.”
“Maybe,” Ben said, suddenly feeling horrible. “I don’t know. I’m not giving you an ultimatum. I’m just asking you to think about it.”
“What are the odds that we survive?” Jones asked. “Supposing I stay here, on the Echo with all of you. What are the odds that we survive?”
“Not good,” Ben said. “I don’t even know how we’re going to get more food before we run out.”
Professor Jones looked up, “So, we have nothing to lose.”
Chapter 41
“Tell us!” Admiral General Volgate demanded as Brigadier General Pershing walked into the room.
It was a small briefing room, completely secure in theory, but Alicia Pershing knew better than to trust the other officials seated at the table. Fleet Admiral Merick and Major General Evander were surrounded by their advisors and aides, all of whom were staring at her. There were political advisors too, even a representative from the royal family—a distant cousin, if Pershing remembered correctly.
“What is this news you couldn’t share over coms?” Volgate continued his rant. “I should have you brought up on charges for not returning immediately following the terrorist attack above Torrent Four.”
Pershing had to will herself not to snicker at the Royal Imperium’s spin on the debacle in the Torrent system. They could never take the blame, of course, or admit any fault whatsoever. So the incompetence of the ship commanders was glossed over, and a terrorist plot was invented.
“I have the location of the rebel ship Modulus Echo,” Pershing said, taking her seat at the table with the other joint chiefs as head of the Special Forces division. They could, and often did, meet without her, despite the fact that she was a fully fledged member of their cabinet.
“That’s impossible,” Fleet Admiral Merick said.
“How?” Volgate demanded.
Pershing looked around the room. How many of the senior officers were waiting to stab her in the back the moment she let her guard down, she wondered. They were all beholden to someone, even Pershing herself. Although she believed her loyalty to Spec Ops made her own bias more honorable.
“My team put a tracker on the ship,” Pershing said. “I didn’t return immediately because I was collecting the members of that team getting the information I’m about to share with you.”
She set a portable hologram projector on the table. It was small, the size of a deck of cards, but came to life and projected a small replica of the galaxy in the air above the center of the table. She had to zoom in several times, but eventually she brought up a massive expanse of empty space. In the very center was an icon with the designation Echo 001.
“If you’ve known their location all this time, General,” Evander said in a grave voice. “Why are you waiting until now to share this intel?”
“The beacon will send a signal just once,” Pershing said. “And only after enough time has passed to ensure that the ship is no longer moving. That signal then has to reach the nearest nav buoy. The crew of the Deception has been monitoring the Nav Network for the signal to appear.”
“This is perfect,” Volgate said. “I had no idea we’d find them so quickly.”
“You doubted our abilities to do what we’re trained for?” Major General Evander said. It was a challenge, meant to be carried back to the royal family and political power brokers. Evander wanted the top spot, and if he could wound the admiral general or make the commander-in-chief look weak, it would make the Major General’s campaign more appealing.
“That’s not what he said,” Fleet Admiral Merick snapped.
“I expected the ship to return to their Confederate masters,” Volgate said.
“Which is a question we should answer before making more plans to chase them down,” Pershing said.
“What do you mean?” Merick asked. “Are you saying we should be afraid of a single ship.”
“That ship just took out four of our capital ships,” Pershing said. “Without firing a single shot. That’s six ships of the line and one space station, and we haven’t even been able to scratch their paint yet.”
“Wrong!” Merick screamed, as he jumped to feet and pointed at Pershing. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I do,” Pershing said. “I was there.”
“Then you know that rebel ship didn’t do anything to hurt us.”
“No, your imbecilic commanders did most of the damage,” Pershing said, “because they panicked.”
“Sit down, Admiral,” Volgate said in a menacing tone. “Nothing can change what happened in the Torrent system, or your fate because of it.”
Merick looked suddenly pale, and the aides around him, all senior naval officers, moved back as if he were contagious.
“I have a plan to thwart this rebel ship,” Volgate said. “We’ve all seen the recordings of what happened when our capital ships fired on it. Does anyone have an explanation for why our weapons wouldn’t penetrate its defenses?”
The room was silent. Even Pershing, who had theories, couldn’t say for certain how the Modulus Echo had survived the Imperium barrage of laser and missile fire.
“No,” Volgate said. “I expected as much. But while conventional weapons may not have an effect, there are other weapons that will. If we can’t capture or destroy the rebel vessel, we’ll force them to surrender.”
Major General Evander sat back and chuckled. But Pershing leaned forward, anxious to hear the admiral general’s plan.
“I have selected ten planets with strong ties to the Confederacy,” Volgate said. “I had planned to send a message to every world and space station in the galaxy, declaring our intent, but now that we know where the ship is, that won’t be necessary.”
“Our intent?” Evander asked.
“I’m giving the ship and its crew a chance to surrender. If they do not, I will begin bombarding the ten aforementioned planets from orbit.”
“Your plan is to bomb entire worlds in the hope that one ship surrenders?” Major General Evander asked. “That’s ludicrous.”
“No,” Volgate said. “It’s daring. And I fully expect it to be unnecessary. The ship will surrender, and we’ll have justice as well as this new shielding technology before we’re through.”
For the first time since she had come to know the commander-in-chief, she actually thought he was right. It was a sound plan. Her own idea was more crude. She had hoped to batter the ship into submission by firing kinetic weapons with much greater mass than the little Kestrel class ship. Their shields could bend light and cast off missiles, but she didn’t think it could stop heavy kinetic bombardment. Still, if they could force the ship to surrender, that would be the best option.
“Prepare the Fleet,” Volgate said to Merick. “The sooner we set out, the better. They could move again at any time.”
“Wait,” Pershing said. “You’re sending the Fleet?”
“Of course,” Volgate said.
“But wouldn’t it be better to send a single ship?”
“And why, pray tell, would that be better?” Volgate asked, his voice simmering with resentment that she would question his plan.
“Because as soon as our ships enter the system, the rebel vessel will simply jump away,” Pershing said. “Better to send a ship they won’t notice or be frightened by. We get close enough to send your message and have the rebel ship come to us.”
“She’s right,” Evander said. Pershing wasn’t sure if he really agreed with her, or if he was simply in favor of anything that could be conceived as a threat to the admiral general.
“Have them come to us?” Volgate asked.
“If they’re going to surrender anyway,” Pershing said. “Once we show up, they’ll know they’ve been tracked. If we spook them, we might not get another chance.”
“But we must show them we mean what we say,” Volgate said.
�
�I doubt there is anyone in the galaxy who doesn’t know we could bombard ten worlds,” Pershing said. “Showing up in the middle of nowhere en masse won’t prove that.”
“I like it,” the representative of the royal family said. “Make them come here and beg for mercy before the royal family. It will show the might of our regime.”
Volgate’s eyes narrowed. Pershing knew he was trying to discern if she was being honest with him or plotting behind his back. But there was no hole to be found in her logic. So he nodded.
“Go then,” Volgate said. “Take your spy ship and deliver the message. But know this, if the rebel ship doesn’t comply, I will hold you personally responsible, General. I will remove your star personally and see you dishonorably discharged from the service.”
Pershing felt a heat rise in her cheeks. It infuriated her that someone who had never risked their life in combat would sit in judgment of her honor. If the pompous admiral general tried to take her star, she would probably break his arm. Self-control was not always her strong point, and she had no doubt that she could end the admiral general’s life in eight different ways without breaking a sweat.
Still, she had no intention of failing in the mission. She was sincerely impressed with the possibility that it might just work. Standing up slowly, she smoothed her dress uniform and then saluted the commander-in-chief.
“Consider it done,” she said.
Chapter 42
Ben welded the last sensor in place. He didn’t really like the way the little sensor nodes looked on the hull of his ship. But he knew they needed to get a reading on the gravity shield. It wasn’t a perfect solution to keep them safe, but it made him feel much better to know they had it. Ben shut off the power to the MIG welder and tapped his com-link.
“That’s the last one,” Ben said. “Fire them up and let’s see if they’re working.”
“Okay,” Nance replied. “Bringing the system up now.”
Ben could use his broken arm to some degree, but he was still inside the artificial gravity bubble, which made crawling over the Echo’s hull more difficult. He put the welding unit into a bag with a long strap, which was looped around one shoulder and his neck.
Gravity Flux: Kestrel Class Saga Book 3 Page 19