by Nick Braker
Chapter 9
MIRA
Earth - Managua, Nicaragua
Tuesday, October 27, 1987 - 10:20am
Jules
Jules tilted her right hand slightly left and the ship adjusted course accordingly. Miguel’s home was their destination. It was located 6.089 miles south of Managua. Her ship’s course vector was linked to Li Xin’s EP device and, while she could easily put the ship on autopilot, she preferred to control it manually. Jules worshiped flight and the altar of the helm gave her absolution, if only temporarily. Right now, she needed to focus and squeeze every second from the ship she could to stop the Omarii plan. The tectonic threat had been a ruse. Thousands of miles of flight and scanning had revealed nothing. They had been sent on a proverbial wild goose chase. The Omarii queen had deceived them again. She hated the Kron. This was her home and she would ensure the enemy would fail.
Li Xin’s EP broadcast indicated the Omarii host was dead. The Omarii itself may have projected home before brain damage occurred. Jules hoped Li Xin had killed the creature. Jules had to conclude the probability was quite high that there were plenty of Omarii in reserve and that the Kron had already sent their best. Satirra was still missing and now the one called Chitra had taken her place. According to Alara and Magnus, he had killed one named Sania, AKA the General, in the Paris church.
Two down, many to go. A variation of an old cliché. Dismiss.
Ship’s vector is 0.0323 degrees off course. Negligible. Dismiss.
Thirteen seconds to arrival. Noted. File.
Mira is worried but her worry is probably for herself. Create background process to track and analyze. Execute.
Zara should finish her sensory analysis of our target location in fourteen seconds. File.
Seph will complain about my next action. Action necessary to arrive sooner. Ship’s engines will tolerate a short burst. Execute in eleven seconds.
Hundreds of similar thoughts and impressions flooded her conscious mind, fed from constantly running background processes that were both innate and personally created. The innate processes had started during her fifth year of age. She had no memory of her alien abduction but she knew that the Aliri were responsible. The aliens had augmented each of them the same day. Jules was grateful for her new gifts and someday she would thank the one behind the decision.
“Mira,” Seph yelled. “The PB engines have not ignited yet.”
They had nicknamed Doctor Thorpe’s planet buster bomb for simplicity’s sake. She disliked abbreviation but the others seemed to lean toward it, especially Zara. Jules’ right ring finger flicked forward and the ship accelerated further. It responded to her impulses the instant the neural pathways in her hands fired. The muscle or muscles didn’t need to move for the system to know what she wanted.
Here it comes...
“Jules,” Seph said. “you’re already pushing the engines-”
“No choice. Besides it is a short burst,” Jules responded, dismissing her objection. “Five seconds to target, prepare weapons, and...”
“Do not do that stop on a dime shit,” Zara said, raising her voice.
“Mark,” Jules said.
“Weapon systems on-line,” Zara said.
“Two...”
“One...”
The craft stopped directly over Miguel’s home. It was instantaneous. A wake of light steam and superheated air caught up with it, nearly enshrouding the spaceship. The gravity well didn’t stop the ship but it did prevent passengers and all internal components from being ripped apart by severe inertial forces. Jules knew the ship was no longer moving and, since she didn’t feel anything from her sudden braking maneuver, Seph must have anticipated the move and prepared the gravity well generator.
“You are welcome,” Seph said.
“Uh... we stopped?” Zara asked. “Holy shit’h.” Jules groaned at Zara’s reference, rolling her eyes. “Never mind. Thank you, Seph.”
Jules sensed Zara glaring at her from the corner of her eye. Jules smirked. “You know you love-”
“I am reading life signs,” Zara interrupted. “Li Xin is semi-conscious but alive. She is also far enough from any weapon fire we create.”
“Has the mechanism activated yet?” Jules asked.
“No, but it could happen any second. Recommending immediate action,” Mira said.
Jules had also anticipated Zara would need the weapon system directly over the launch site. She had placed the ship perfectly above the bomb’s projected path into the Earth and had rotated it so the ship’s weapon system could fire a directed particle beam straight down the tube it would form should it descend before they could stop the ignition.
“Seph, status of PB?” Mira ordered.
“Still charging. Current power level at 92%. At this rate, the mechanism could release the PB and finish charging en route. Charging time is two minutes and forty seconds.”
Mira wiped her brow with the back of her hand.
Mira’s somatic motion noted. Her concern is increasing. File.
Engines are fully functional and operating at 98.2% efficiency. File.
Magnus is missing. I worry about him. Dismiss.
I refuse to believe he is dead. Focus on the mission. I said dismiss.
Power up the outer hull ramp. The away team will need it open immediately. File.
Jules blinked her eyes trying to keep the tears from forming. Her chest ached and her stomach felt tied in knots. She still loved Magnus and he could be dead. She had treated him horribly. Shouldn’t she have at least talked with him? Given him a chance to explain? He had gone through so much death and heartache but now he was gone. No, she would not believe that... not Magnus. The Aliri had chosen him and they couldn’t be wrong. Mira’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“We need to disable the propulsion system, get the PB on board and launch it into space,” Mira said. “Can you disable it, Zara?”
“There is no one better with their hands than I,” she smiled, enjoying the innuendo. “Piece of pie.”
Zara’s remarkable beauty surpassed even Alara’s though one’s taste in beauty certainly created deviations from that perception. It was worth noting that Zarabeythe’s augmentation not only included biochemistry and language constructs but the Aliri, for whatever reason, gave her an exceptionally gifted physical appearance.
“Zara, the cliché is ‘piece of-”
“I like pie more,” Zara said, interrupting Seph. “Firing particle beam in three seconds.”
Their spaceship had sixteen firing portals along its outer hull, eight on the lower section and eight on the upper section. Each weapon would deliver twenty-six megatons of power onto a single point, though only one at a time due to power restrictions. Such extreme power levels were rarely used and they would not use that much power now. The particle beam needed to disable the launching mechanism, leaving the bomb untouched. At this point, it could detonate prematurely and that had to be avoided at all costs. Since its blast radius was exponentially linked to its charged level, if it detonated now, Jules estimated that, at 92%, the city of Managua would no longer exist. They had to get the bomb into space.
Twenty-six megatons were the equivalent of four petajoules. Jules smiled. She liked the partial homonym. There was also a potential for a pun in the word so she began a background process in her mind to work on it. The process started and she returned to focusing on the most expedient course it would take to deliver the bomb into space. Their destination should avoid celestial or man-made objects like the moon and satellite systems.
Though Li Xin was close, she was in no danger from the particle beam. They would not risk her life unless it meant the destruction of Earth. That danger was not yet a viable probability. With current variables and knowns values, they had plenty of time to disable the bomb, get it on board and then launch it into space. Other variables could play into their plan and disrupt it but the odds of that occurring were at twelve percent. Zara would disable the mechanism and leav
e the bomb intact, giving Mira and Zara time to extract it.
“Now,” Zara said.
A blue beam of energy streamed down from the underside of the ship, close to its edge. The shrill sound it created dispatched birds into the air in fear, fleeing from the strange noise. The beam traveled down the short distance at near light speed, stopping short of Miguel’s residence. An energy barrier had activated around the Nicaraguan leader’s home, protecting it from the destructive energy.
“An energy shield just activated around the building,” Zara said.
“Seph, destroy it or deactivate it,” Mira ordered.
“On it,” she said.
“Automated shielding,” Zara said. “Another surprise from our Omarii friend.” She rolled her eyes.
Seph had her back to Jules, working at her engineering panel but Jules knew her. She could see Seph’s furrowed frown in her mind’s eye as she worked to figure out the engineering puzzle Mira had given her.
“We can’t break through that shield with the particle weapon but,” Seph said, taking a breath.
“But?” Mira asked.
“We can overload it,” Seph responded. “Jules, bring the ship to the edge of that energy barrier. I am activating our own shields. We’re going to-”
“Wait,” Mira ordered. “How long will this take?”
“Jules, go now,” Seph ordered. Seph turned to look back at Mira. “Possibly more time than we have but it is our only option.”
The pun on petajoules process is still running. Continue.
The energy barrier’s power is alien. How can Seph be certain this is the best option? Decision made. Conjecture unproductive. Dismiss.
I hope Magnus- Dismiss. Not now. Dismiss.
Jules maneuvered the ship to the edge of the energy barrier surrounding Miguel’s home. She angled the side of the ship into it as if she intended to ram his house.
“We have no choice,” Seph continued. “We will drain the ship’s power before our weapon systems can even put a scratch in that barrier. I have already diverted power to-”
The ship lurched to a stop as the barrier’s energy pushed back against the ship’s shields.
“Jules,” Seph continued, “the ship’s engines have all the power you need. Knock it down, girl.”
Jules straightened, closing her eyes briefly. She repositioned both hands within the navigation system’s sensory area. The ship inched forward. It vibrated, sending small rumbles of sound through the metallic floors and walls. The main view screen showed the scene unfolding outside. The energy from each shield vied to repel the other. The air sizzled in the area where the shields invaded each other’s space. Lights danced and sparked as the systems fought each other.
Jules prodded the ship farther, pushing it into the barrier. The two energies exploded sending the ship backward several feet. Jules nudged the ship forward again, forcing the two systems to fight. Several crackles of energy sparked outward into the air like small lightning bolts during a storm. They discharged harmlessly.
“Seph,” Mira said, “I need a PB status every ten seconds.”
Jules couldn’t see it but she knew Seph had nodded. The ship shuddered violently, throwing Zara out of her chair. Jules and the others had managed to hold on.
She should use the restraining system. Zara will not compromise nor see the logic in it. Dismiss.
Mira’s agitation is growing. Noted. File.
Magnus could be- Dismiss. Damn it.
Easy does it. Push the engines slowly forward. I need to test that barrier’s power. Continue.
“I am okay,” Zara said, climbing back into her seat.
“PB at 92.5%. Detonation in 130 seconds.”
“Jules,” Mira said, her face filled with uncertainty, “do what it takes.”
“Hold on, my friends,” Jules said, forcing the ship’s engines to push forward harder.
The internal lights dimmed. Zara’s station blinked off and then back on.
“Whoa,” Zara said, “I just lost my station. It’s booting back up.”
“PB at 93.0%. Detonation in 120 seconds.”
Lightning sparked outward again from the contact point, burning the air and ground. The ship’s hull absorbed the heat and energy, radiating it along its edges.
“Seph, is this working?” Mira asked, swallowing.
They all knew their time was running out. They had to transport the bomb into space. It would explode regardless. There was no stopping it now that the cascading energy buildup had started. Jules forced the ship forward.
“Probability of success is higher than using the weapons,” Seph said. “PB at 93.5%. Detonation in 110 seconds.”
“How much higher?” Mira asked.
“Approximately-” Seph started.
“Wait! Get the ship a bit further through the barrier,” Zara said. “I have an idea.”
The engines were heating up. She could sense it. The stress of pushing the ship against an immobile force could not be maintained indefinitely. They had to break through soon. Seph knew exactly how long the engines would hold up but she hated giving bad news. The barrier’s energy pulsed through the ship’s shields slamming the hull with kinetic energy waves. The hull groaned under the pressure only to be protected again as the ship’s shielding system compensated.
“What is your idea?” Mira asked.
“Jules,” Zara said, “rotate the ship seven degrees clockwise and push through another four feet.”
“Are you suggesting I have not been?” Jules asked, adjusting the ship’s rotation.
“Mira,” Seph yelled. “The mechanism just powered up. It is going to release the PB. We are too late.”
“We are not too late,” Zara said. She fired the particle beam.
A portion of the ship had pierced through the barrier and one of the weapon portals was inside the alien shield. Zara’s idea had worked. The energy traveled down, burning a hole in Miguel’s home as it tunneled instantly down to the basement. The mechanism melted and the PB fell forward landing on its side. Zara fired a second time but her new target was the barrier’s generator located on the second floor of the home. The generator exploded, blasting fragments through wall and windows. Smoke poured from the upper floor. The barrier collapsed and Jules’ hands snapped back. The neural signal in her hand registered much faster than the muscle, bringing the ship’s engines to a stop.
“Propulsion system and energy barrier destroyed. PB at 94%. Detonation in 100 seconds.”
“Land this ship now,” Mira ordered. “Zara, you are with me.”
Jules pushed her palms down, flush with the navigation panel. The ship landed. Zara raced to catch up with Mira who was already at the bottom of the bridge’s ramp. Jules switched the main view screen’s feed to internal cameras. She watched them as they raced to the already open external ramp. Seph put her hand on Jules’ shoulder, standing next to her.
“We will not make it,” Seph said.
Jules turned, looking up at her.
“What?”
“Even augmented, we won’t make it. We will save most of Earth but we will not make it.”
“You calculated the time?” Jules asked.
Seph nodded, tapping her EP device.
“Grep,” Seph said, speaking to him over her EP. “Let Alexandria know Earth will make it. Call off the strike...”
Jules didn’t believe Seph, checking her navigational panel. They had 81 seconds before detonation. Jules estimated Mira and Zara could get to the basement in 27 seconds, return the bomb to the ship in 33 seconds, then at top speed, they could get the PB out of range of Earth and its atmosphere in 20 seconds, and another 3 seconds to unload the PB into space, at which point, she would need just 2 seconds to get the ship away from the blast radius. Jules stopped. Seph was right. They could save Earth but not themselves.
There had to be a way. Loading the PB was the only variable that could be changed. Mira and Zara could not run any faster, nor load and unload any quicker.
Jules could hear Seph talking softly with Grep. Seph’s voice did not hide her emotions and she was already crying. How could Seph be so affected by the knowledge she was about to die? Was it fear? No, the Aliri had inured them to such debilitating emotions though, on several occasions, that augmentation had failed. Had it failed again? Now that the thought had coalesced, she started a background process to understand why, under certain circumstances, the four of them appeared to override the Aliri changes. The highest probability was that Seph was not afraid of losing her life. It was the thought of leaving Grep behind. Did love override the Aliri changes?
Pun on petajoules process still running. Dismiss!
If Magnus is dead, would my existence have meaning without him? Noted. File.
Jules knew the answer was certainly yes but the pain of loss still weighed heavily on her. Love? Did she love him? Yes, undoubtedly. Love. She knew what it was, though Magnus had ensured hers was unrequited. She would not give up. It was not her style and it never would be. Magnus would be hers, he just didn’t know it yet.
I should be focusing on saving us. My emotions are crippling my thought patterns. Dismiss.
Jules had to let it go, at least for now. Magnus was alive. He had to be but right now they had to fight to survive. She had to come up with a plan. Could she shrink the load or unload time? It was too bad the PB was not a torpedo of some sort. She could shoot... wait. Torpedo.
“Seph!” Jules exclaimed. “Get back to your station. I have a plan and it might be enough. I am going to need you thinking clearly though. Tell Grep goodbye.”
“Grep, I need to go,” Seph said. “I love-”
“Now,” Jules ordered. “Seph, close the main ramp. Mira! Zara! Load the PB into the airlock. Both of you get in it.”