by S. H. Jucha
“Are we being told that we have to journey to every star and document the Colony’s presence?” Tracy asked with incredulity.
“It’s the only way to gather convincing evidence to corroborate the display,” Hangor replied.
“If that’s the purpose of the journeys, then it would seem to me that we don’t have to visit every dome,” Devon surmised. “We can visit enough of them to prove that the display is valid.”
“I would think four should suffice,” Jaktook reasoned, looking at Mangoth for confirmation.
“Agreed,” Mangoth said.
“Could beta count as one?” Tracy asked.
“Probably not,” Aurelia replied. “We can’t establish whether the second query is adding to the original query or is replacing it.”
“I don’t understand,” Tracy replied with a frown.
“We’d like to presume that the new query indicates where the Colony is at the moment,” Devon explained. “But what if it shows both the path to the Colony home star and wherever else they are.”
“But how could they be in delta if they didn’t pass through beta?” Tracy argued.
“That’s just it,” Devon replied. “What if they just passed through to these other domes? Maybe they didn’t see any value to establishing a foothold on the world that’s associated with beta.”
“I see,” Tracy nodded thoughtfully. “The Tsargit could argue that beta’s occupation was unproven, and we’d have nothing to deny it.”
“Then we must document four other domes,” Harbour remarked.
“But how do we get to the outlying stars without going through these central ones?” Hangor asked.
The veteran members of the team were quiet. They knew the limitations of wandering through unknown domes.
“Hangor, the answer isn’t a good one,” Tracy spoke quietly, saddened to tell the Crocian the ugly news. “We know the gates that connect delta to beta and beta to alpha. We have to depend on what we know.”
“The question becomes which of these stars do we visit?” Mangoth asked. “Three radiate from delta and four are adjunct to beta. I see no reason to investigate those four connected to alpha.”
“And what will the Colony do if we successfully pass through delta dome?” Jessie asked. “The Colony might calculate that if we passed through, then we’re probably planning to come back the same way.”
“I’d say that speed is our asset,” Devon interjected. “We should decide on our targets, move soon, and journey quickly.”
“Not give the Colony any more time than we have already to react to our intrusion,” Tracy added, pointing an agreeing finger at Devon.
“Assuming that we have this right and every dome will be occupied, we’ve got to limit our overall exposure,” Jessie said. “There are three gates that connect delta to adjunct stars. We should visit those three.”
“Why?” Tracy asked.
“I’m thinking they’re the farthest from the Colony’s home world and would be the least defended,” Jessie reasoned.
“What if the distance from their home star hasn’t anything to do with the Colony’s concentration?” Hangor argued. “What if it’s the nature of the world below the dome?”
“Hangor has a good point,” Harbour said. “Why is the Colony constructing a shuttle launch dome adjacent to alpha dome? Are we assuming the reason is because it’s the nearest dome to their home world, or is it because the Colony desires to inhabit the world they can see from alpha dome?”
“Obviously, we don’t have sufficient data to make an educated decision,” Jaktook said, echoing everyone’s thoughts. “It appears we must depend on fortune.”
“Do we rest or go now?” Jessie asked.
“It’s late. The team needs some rest,” Harbour said firmly.
“I want to visit the facilities, and I’m hungry,” Tracy replied.
“What she said,” Aurelia replied and followed Tracy down the ramp.
“Take care of your personal business and get some sleep, if you can,” Jessie ordered. “We must choose three domes. Once we do, we leave for delta. Jaktook, we’ll make our discovery at delta one of our four investigated domes.”
“That’s reasonable,” Jaktook replied.
-16-
Three Intrusions
The team ate together and then separated to rest. Jessie and Harbour enjoyed a second opportunity for intimacy.
Harbour awoke a little later and discovered Jessie was gone. She slipped off the pallet, donned her skins, and walked barefoot up two levels to the deck.
Jessie lay on his back on a platform. He stared at the dome overhead. Aurelia had left the star field displaying the locations where the team believed the Colony had been heard.
Harbour lay down next to Jessie, and he extended an arm for her to curl next to him.
“Can’t make up your mind about our targets?” asked Harbour, her breath warm in Jessie’s ear.
“I don’t like depending on fortune,” Jessie replied. “The four domes connected to beta are linked in line as two pairs. We’d have to pass through what I believe are two Colony strongholds first — delta and beta. Then there’s what you said about Hangor’s warning.”
“You’re telling me that I’m the source of your worry,” Harbour said, her nose nuzzling Jessie’s check.
Jessie turned his head to stare into Harbour’s eyes. “As long as we’re exploring these domes, you’ll always be my worry,” he replied in a husky voice and kissed the tip of Harbour’s nose. Returning to stare at the star field, he added, “I’m trying to decide what path would be least dangerous, especially if the Colony has weaponry.”
“Jessie, that’s something none of us can know in advance,” Harbour said. “What’s your gut telling you to do?”
“There are five platforms in delta. Three of those gates connect to adjunct domes,” Jessie replied. “We should bounce into delta, hit an adjunct dome, document it, and bounce out. We do that three times. Each time we pass through delta we eliminate more of our adversaries.”
“And why do you like that scenario?” Harbour asked.
“Delta is the farthest dome from the Colony home world,” Jessie replied. “Despite Hangor’s conjecture, I’m betting on a lesser Colony presence. However, we can’t discount the fact that the Colony knows we’re here, and they will react to that.”
“I think your reasoning is solid,” Harbour said. “Let’s leave it at that. Now do you want to do this here or return to the room?”
Jessie turned his head toward Harbour and found her unzipping her skins. He laughed and sat up. “There’s a chance we’ll be interrupted up here,” he said. He stood, offered Harbour a hand, and led the way below.
Jessie and Harbour enjoyed each other for a short while. Harbour took a moment to use the facilities, and that’s when Jessie heard a knock on the door.
“Yes,” Jessie called out.
“It’s Aurelia. No one is sleeping, Jessie. The rest of us want to go.”
“Understood, Aurelia,” Jessie shouted. “We’ll be on the deck shortly.”
“We’ve the team’s gear,” Aurelia added before she headed upward.
Jessie didn’t wonder how Aurelia located their room. It was the same way Harbour had identified Aurelia and Devon’s room. He had no doubt Harbour hadn’t bothered to focus her power on him. More than likely, she was radiating in all directions.
When Harbour returned from the facilities, Jessie told her about Aurelia’s visit.
Harbour’s smile faded. She’d received a gift that she thought she’d never possess. Now the danger of it being lost increased with every gate they passed through. Aurelia was in the same position. The empaths knew their men would take risks to protect them, perhaps unnecessary ones, but there was little that they could do about it.
Jessie saw Harbour’s reaction. He rose from their pallet, gripped her bare shoulders, and lightly kissed her. “Time to go,” he said.
Harbour nodded. Then they quickly dress
ed and made their way to the deck.
“There’s a common agreement that we should journey to the three adjunct domes that connect directly to delta,” Aurelia stated unequivocally. She was ready to defend their decision.
Instead Jessie replied, “Agreed.”
“Delta has five gates,” Devon said. “We arrive on gate three. Our target platforms are one, two, and four.”
The team members stared at Aurelia and Devon.
Jessie jumped to the explanation first. “That’s right,” he said. “You’ve documented our previous path. Okay, I suggest we try for gate one. That’s the farthest platform from our arrival point. Shorter ones later.”
When everyone agreed, they assumed their places on the platform, readied their launchers, and journeyed to delta.
“Aurelia, the console,” Jessie ordered harshly, when they appeared in delta. He had to break the team out of their stupor. The dome was deserted. “Everyone else, gate one,” he shouted.
The explorers were galvanized by Jessie. While Aurelia ran for the console, the others leapt from the platform and ran for gate one.
“Transferring,” Aurelia yelled and sprinted to join the team.
Adjunct dome number one wasn’t like delta. It wasn’t empty.
Four grays were arranged around the explorers’ platform. Two of them triggered a wad of material that lay on the deck, and a net, guided by rails, flew over the team. Its leading edge was reeled into devices fastened to the far side of the platform.
The metal net was yanked tight, flattening the team, except for Jaktook, who had launched himself from Mangoth’s shoulders. Unfortunately, he’d had to drop his weapon to leap clear in time.
Immediately, the grays came after Jaktook, and he scrambled over his netted companions. “Apologies,” he said, as his nails dug into his teammates.
Tracy managed to unhook her drum and shove her launcher through the net’s narrow opening.
Jaktook snatched Tracy’s weapon, attached a drum from his satchel, and turned his launcher on the grays. He screeched in anger, as he swiftly eliminated the four who managed the net.
More grays slid up the ramp, but they halted when Jaktook cut down several more grays close to their platform. Those immediately behind the destroyed ones were sprayed by body fluids, and they hissed their displeasure.
“Temporary impasse,” Jessie announced from his cramped position, as Jaktook waved his launcher at the grays, who were neither advancing nor retreating. The net was pressing Jessie’s face into the mesh covering the back of Aurelia’s thigh, and someone was lying across his legs.
“Jaktook, can you disable the restraints?” Devon asked.
Jaktook climbed over his companions to the edge of the platform to eye the mechanisms.
“Watch out, Jaktook!” Aurelia warned.
Jaktook returned to the top of the pile. Grays had slithered close to the deck and around its periphery to avoid detection. One rose up near Jessie, and Jaktook shot him. Biological debris blew onto Jessie, Aurelia, and Hangor.
“Yuck,” Aurelia complained, wiping at the mess that had struck her face.
“Apologies,” Jaktook muttered again. He took aim at one of the net’s winches and hit it with a dart. It was ineffective against the metal.
“Jaktook, my pack has a cutter,” Mangoth said in a muffled voice. He was facedown and his snout was pinned between the net and Hangor’s back. Fortunately, his pack was on his back.
Jaktook laid down his launcher to dig in Mangoth’s pack, but Aurelia issued a second warning. He had to stop his investigation, pick up the weapon, and wave it at the grays to force their retreat.
“Who’s in the front that can get their hands through the net?” Jessie asked.
“I can,” Devon, Aurelia, and Hangor chorused.
“Who can dismantle their launchers and hand them through the net?” Jessie continued. He got multiple responses.
Jaktook scampered to collect a launcher, add a drum, and place it in Aurelia’s hands. He had to destroy another gray before he could collect a second launcher and purpose it for Devon. Then a third weapon was delivered to Hangor.
The three explorers defended the platform, with their arms shoved through the net. Their shots often went wild, but they made up for it by spraying darts in the grays’ general directions. Eventually, the gas-filled darts found their way home.
Meanwhile, Jaktook tore into Mangoth’s pack. “What am I looking for, Mangoth?” he asked, when he got the pack open.
“A silver stick,” Mangoth replied.
Jaktook had to ask him to repeat his words. He thought he heard Mangoth say something about being sick. The second time, Jaktook understood the Crocian. He rummaged through the pack until he found the device and slipped it from its holder.
“Operation?” Jaktook requested.
Hangor answered for Mangoth. “The red tip is pointed toward the target,” he said. “Twist the other end to produce the torch. You’ve plenty of fuel to cut the net’s four metal lanyards.”
“Jaktook, cut my corner first so I can get free to help,” Jessie directed.
Jaktook climbed off the pile, stepped around the remains of grays, and activated the cutter. The fine blue flame slowly cut through the net’s retaining line. He concentrated on separating the metal cable even as he heard the distinct pops of darts striking nearby grays.
When the line separated, Jaktook hopped across the dead grays and tugged on the net’s corner to aid Jessie sliding out from under it.
“Return to cutting, my wonderfully agile friend,” Jessie said, and Jaktook flashed his teeth in reply.
Jessie jumped onto a nearby platform, where he could command a better view of the deck and the ramp. His firing forced the grays to retreat from the deck and slide down the ramp.
“Second line is cut,” Jaktook yelled.
Hangor managed to free himself. Then he gripped the edge of the net and hauled it off the others.
Launchers were redistributed, and Mangoth ensured that the net was clear of the platform for the explorers’ return.
“Ready to transfer,” Devon called out from the console.
“Wait,” Harbour said urgently. “Did anyone manage to record what happened?”
“Mangoth,” Jaktook said, gesturing the Crocian to his side.
The cutting torch was returned to the pack, and Jaktook pulled out his recorder. Then Mangoth hoisted the Jatouche to his shoulders.
“The net first,” Jaktook instructed.
Mangoth walked around the platform, while Jaktook documented the device that had trapped them.
“The dead next,” Jaktook requested, and Mangoth toured the deck, stepping over body parts.
“I want imagery of the ramp,” Jaktook requested next.
“Wait,” Jessie called out to the pair. “Aurelia, you have the console. Devon, flank Mangoth with me.”
Mangoth swung his snout to both sides to ensure his support was ready before he approached the ramp.
Numerous grays were crowded on the ramp, and they hissed at the intruders. They edged backward at Mangoth’s approach.
“Jaktook, I’ve as much courage as any Crocian, but we’re reaching my limit,” Mangoth rumbled, when his heavy clawed feet touched the edge of the ramp.
“Retreat, Mangoth,” Jessie ordered. “Prepare to return,” he yelled.
Devon ran for the console, but Aurelia waved him toward the platform.
Jessie guarded Mangoth’s back, as the Crocian lumbered toward their gate. Then he held back to protect Aurelia.
“Assume your positions,” Jessie called out.
“We’re ready,” Harbour replied.
“Now,” Aurelia said loudly and ran for the others.
Jessie spun around and sprinted after her. The pair gained the platform, and the team was sent back to delta’s gate one, where they were promptly ambushed a second time.
Reds and grays now crowded what had previously been a deserted deck.
The t
eam fired in all directions at the mass of Colony insectoids.
Jessie spotted reds cradling meter-and-a-half-long tubes. “Drop down,” he called out.
Projectiles shot from the reds’ tubes and struck the dome’s shield. They disappeared in flashes of bright light.
“Jessie, the other platforms are covered,” Harbour said in a panic.
“Target the reds,” Devon directed at the top of his voice.
“We should —” was all Hangor managed to say, when his head exploded. Remains of poor Hangor splattered the team.
Mangoth erupted in a chest-shaking roar. He pulled Jaktook from his shoulders, stepped across his sibling’s body, and waded into the insectoids.
“Protect Mangoth,” Jessie yelled.
Rather than fire from the platform, most of the explorers leapt off to defend Mangoth.
“The console is covered too,” Aurelia cried out, as she jumped off the platform to join the others.
Several times, a teammate spotted a red targeting them and yelled to hit the deck.
Projectiles launched from the reds’ tubes either struck the dome’s shield or other Colony members. At the accidental deaths of their own kind, the reds hissed and clacked their pincers in agitation.
The fighting continued until every red was destroyed and the grays abandoned the deck.
Devon and Aurelia tore at the console’s cover and finally managed to remove it.
Meanwhile, Tracy and Harbour used Mangoth’s cutting tool to clear away the net that covered gate three, their retreat to, hopefully, a safe dome.
Jessie carried Jaktook on his shoulders to document the carnage.
Mangoth was left to grieve for his clutch mate, whom he sat beside, resting a hand on Hangor’s chest.
“Jessie, gate three is free. We can retreat if we choose,” Harbour called to him.
“That supposes the Colony hasn’t taken that route to set up another ambush,” Tracy added loudly.
Tracy’s comments brought heads snapping up. The realization was striking home to the explorers that the Colony had planned an interlinked pair of ambushes. There was a distinct possibility that other traps awaited them.