by C. S. Harte
They landed in front of the Calfar horde. Dozens of Calfar warriors formed a circle around them.
Bast held his gun to Thorne’s head. He finally took off his helmet to reveal a silver, metallic head molded in the likeness of a human being. His face gleamed in the last slivers of the setting sun. “I am not your kind.” He displayed a perfect replica of a human sneer. “I am nothing like humans nor do I ever wish to be.”
Thorne shuffled backward at the sight of the imposter in front of him. “What… What are you?” he stammered.
“I am someone who suffered under the abuses of a cruel creator — a megalomaniac who thought so much of himself and eventually died from his arrogance.”
“Everything you told us has been a lie…”
“Telling lies seem to be humanity's greatest talent,” Bast said with an edge. “In that, I have learned well from my creator.”
Thorne looked away. “Why bother pretending to save Inoke from the vulas and Rayfin from the sandwyrms? Why go through this facade?” he asked with his back turned to Bast. “Why not hand us to the Calfars when Meomi and Rayfin were still here?”
“I saved Inoke from the clutches of the vulas.” Bast smiled a sinister smile. “But he was not dead when I reached him.”
“What?” Thorne spun around with his fist clenched.
The Calfars around them took a step closer.
“You killed Inoke?” Thorne asked in a soft, measured tone that belied his rage. “He was just a child. What… What did you do with his body?”
“Inoke was a telepath, he could see my intentions. His death was unfortunate but necessary. I understand why you would not trust my words, but I did not…”
Thorne lunged himself at Bast before he could finish his sentence.
With lightning quickness, Bast sidestepped his attack and slammed Thorne to the ground from behind. “Your life has no current value to me,” Bast said with his knee on Thorne’s spine. “If you feel so reckless as to throw it away, that is your choice. However, if you wish to survive longer than today, I suggest you stop resisting and being so foolish with your actions.”
A deep roar bellowed from the mass of Calfars. Like a sea parting, the Calfar horde cleared a path to the King for Thorne and Bast.
“The Calfar King would like to see you.” Bast helped Thorne to his feet.
Thorne shoved Bast away as he got up. “So you hate humans. That doesn’t explain why you're helping the Calfars. You said so yourself, they are the true monsters on this planet.”
“The Calfars are vicious predators, yes.” Bast wiped off the excess sand from Thorne’s exo suit. “Unlike humans, they kill for food and not for sport. Secondly, we have an agreement. That agreement has been honored by both parties.”
“What could you possibly agree to with these… things?” He asked in a voice dripping with disdain.
“They allow me to travel without fear of attack and in exchange, I help them off this planet. Humans and Calfars have one thing in common. You both are enemies of Mimics.”
“Shouldn’t that make us allies, then?” Thorne raised his eyebrows. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
“That is for the Calfar King to decide.” He pointed to the King with his eyes. “Be forewarned — they are not the type to form alliances.”
“Were the Calfars banished here by Mimics?” Thorne glanced at Bast’s gun in his hand.
“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “They were most certainly brought here against their will.”
A shaky laugh escaped Thorne’s lips. “Maybe there’s a sliver of hope for me then.”
They stopped in front of the Calfar King.
“Kneel.” Bast pressed on Thorne’s shoulder.
Thorne glared at Bast but complied.
The King opened his mouth. His throat vibrated as if he was speaking, yet no audible sound came out.
Bast stood and made gestures with his arms. “Calfars speak in a high-pitched frequency imperceptible to human hearing and also in a language unlike any of those found on Earth.”
“What did he want?”
“To know why he cannot feed you to his perpetually hungry soldiers.”
“And you said?” Thorne narrowed his eyes.
“That you might have some unknown value in the future, which I suppose could be true.”
“I’d like to think so.” Thorne frowned.
Bast and the King continued a more extended series of conversation. “The Calfar King wants to know why humans have not sworn loyalty to the Mimic King since humans are such a weak species.”
“Mimics have a King?” Thorne rubbed his chin. “That implies they are intellectually and socially advanced enough to have a system of governance.”
“I could be misinterpreting their language, but yes.” Bast nodded. “According to them, Mimics have a King.”
“Explain to them humans are not their enemies.” Thorne requested with an intense look. “That we too are fighting for our survival against the ones that banished them here. In that respect, we should be allies.”
“I already have.”
“And?”
“Your species has a reputation for being untrustworthy.”
“Where would they get that notion?” Thorne wrinkled his brow. “Are there humans in this universe?”
“I told them.” Bast shrugged.
Thorne closed his eyes and shook his head. “Look, I don’t know what the humans you interacted with did to you, but we’re not a homogeneous group of people. Most of us strive to do good within our lifetime.”
“If I am to be honest…” Bast tilted his head. “My time spent with you, Captain Hana, and Ensign Manalo have changed my impressions of humans. Albeit only slightly. Why do you think I am arguing for your life?”
Thorne scoffed.
“I can understand your need to work with the Calfars in defeating the Mimics, but I do not believe this is the right moment to ask.” Bast made a long series of gestures aimed at the Calfar King. “The priority now is to save as much of the Calfar people as possible.”
The Calfar King shouted an ear-piercing cry. Waves of Calfars ran toward the portal.
“They’re going to enter the portal?” Thorne raised his voice. “All of them? But that leads to our universe, not theirs.”
“There is not enough food for the Calfars on this planet.”
“No…” Thorne reached for Bast’s gun and knocked it loose from his grip. The weapon fell to the ground, but Bast quickly slammed Thorne on his back.
“That was remarkably reckless, Captain.” Bast pressed his foot into Thorne’s neck. “It will not take but a small gesture from me for a Calfar to come and tear your flesh from your bones.”
“Calfars are just as, if not more dangerous to humans than Mimics.” Thorne squeaked out his words. “You would wipe out all of humanity to settle a personal vendetta against one human?”
“Personal vendetta is a human notion, Captain.” Bast scoffed. “This is about survival. Mine and the Calfars. They will die if they stay. The Calfars have been trapped here for thousands of solar cycles.”
Thorne watched as the long procession of Calfars entered the portal. He hoped Meomi and Rayfin made it through and were now far away from the portal exit. Meomi and Rayfin were humanity’s best chance of saving the 5th Navy. With each Calfar soldier that entered the rift, the hope in Thorne’s heart dimmed.
30
Meomi exited the threshold of the rift into an empty crew quarter on the CMS Harbinger, the Capital-class, flagship of the 5th Navy. The journey between universes seemed quicker using the rift — it lacked the disorientating world-distortion effect she previously experienced. Her eyes jumped to Rayfin sitting on a bed with a half-tired, half-smug look on his face. Red lights flashed throughout the room. Battle sirens blared from the hallway. A video screen to her right displayed the Fleet logo and their position on the ship — Crew Quarters - Deck 6. “We made it. But…” Her eyes opened wide, and she quickly turned around l
ooking for the rift but found only the door. “Thorne and Bast…”
“What about them?” Rayfin asked.
“The Calfars…” Her voice fluctuated. “I saw them rising out of the sand, close to Thorne.”
“I’m sure they’re fine.” Rayfin stood. “It’s Thorne. You know he can get out of anything. I wouldn’t worry yet. It took some time for you to arrive after me which — if you think about it — makes sense. It should take longer to travel between universes than the time it takes for me to shower.”
Their Tempest suit computers synced with the Harbinger’s computers, pulling in current Fleet information and statuses.
“Looks like the battle started without us,” Rayfin said.
“I know.” Meomi sighed. “We don’t have a lot of time.” She retold the highlights of her conversation with the Inoke figure in the pyramid. “OK, so remember the mission: kill the Fleet Marshall and convince the other captains to make a run for Earth.” Meomi checked her wrist console. “How many stim packs do you have left?”
“None.” Rayfin shook his head. “You?”
“One. Status of your neuromods?”
“One cycle of strength left.”
“Save it.” Meomi changed her visor display to show the feed of the battle from the Harbinger’s main camera.
Artemis missiles from the forward destroyers weaved in a curved trajectory toward massive Mimic sphereships that were so black they camouflaged against the backdrop of space. Yellow and green lasers from hundreds of Fleet cruisers crisscrossed the emptiness of the expanse, lighting up the darkness in a spectacular show of light. Blue and white arcs of electricity snaked across crippled Fleet ships as they drifted hopelessly toward destruction.
“We’re losing… badly…” Meomi whispered to herself.
“I know, Captain.” Rayfin rubbed his eyes.
She scrolled through the Fleet comm logs with her eye movements. Dozens of cries for help rolled across her visor. “So many ‘abandon ship’ announcements. How many ships have we lost?”
“By my count, a lot.” Rayfin shook his head. “I think we lost over half the 5th Navy. That’s more than 1,000 ships and one million lives…”
“We can’t sit here and wait for Thorne and Bast,” Meomi said. “Every second we wait, we lose more people and ships.”
“I agree, Captain.” Rayfin nodded. “If anyone can take care of themselves, it’s those two. Bast has his super exo suit made from a mad genius. Thorne always has a puzzled look on his face like he’s thinking about a chess move from a match he has yet to start.”
“Let’s get moving then.” Meomi took a deep breath.
“Wait, Captain.” Rayfin stared at his wrist console.
“What is it?”
“I have bad news and even badder news.”
“Bad first.” She frowned.
“I received an updated internal sensor report of the ship. There are several hull breaches across all decks.”
“Hull breaches?” Her eyes widened. “Are intruders on board?”
“Yes, that’s the badder news.” Rayfin stared at his feet as he spoke. “According to the sensors, the intruders aren’t human.”
“Mimics…”
“Maybe we should wait for Thorne and Bast after all.” Rayfin backed away from the door.
“Our mission was always difficult to begin with, sailor.” Meomi patted Rayfin’s chest. “So someone added a few extra challenges. The objective remains the same. If we fail here, the Commonwealth will not have enough of a navy left to protect Earth. There’s no choice. We can’t fail.”
“Captain. Permission to speak freely.” Rayfin stared into Meomi’s eyes.
“When have you not spoken freely?” She smirked. “Go on.”
“I think we have to survive.”
“Well, that is the plan, Ray.” She raised her eyebrows.
“No…” He shook his head. “I mean, whatever happens, we need to survive and tell others — anyone — about what we know… about the conspiracy, the subverted Fleet Officers, everything. That’s just as, if not more important, than saving whatever is left of the 5th Navy.”
“I hear you, Ensign,” Meomi said in a quiet voice. “But I can’t leave here and abandon the mission. You don’t have to tell me about the odds. It doesn’t matter. I’m not running away.” She placed both her hands on Rayfin’s shoulders and stared unflinchingly into his eyes. “You, however… You do not have to be here. I agree that at least one of us should try to escape in a shuttle so that the intel we’ve gathered will make a difference to someone, somewhere. We’ve sacrificed too much. The entire Commonwealth needs to know what we’ve uncovered.”
“I go wherever you go, Captain,” he said with a stiff expression. “Besides, I know my chances of surviving are low if I head off on my own.”
“Thanks, Ray,” Meomi said with a smile. “The truth is, you’ve been like a good luck charm to me. But we will need more than luck here.” Meomi pulled up the ship’s floor plan on her HUD. “The armory is three decks below. It should be stocked with weapons and Centurias droids. Having better weapons and droids should give us a puncher’s chance at least.” She stared at Rayfin’s face through his visor and noticed him wrinkling his brow. “What’s wrong, Ensign?”
“There aren’t many humans left on this ship.” Rayfin sighed. “Thousands of enemy markers…”
Meomi gazed at the spot where she portaled in hoping that Thorne would step through along with Bast. Her relationship with Thorne started off rocky, but they made a great team, overcoming insurmountable odds many times over.
An explosion rocked the ship.
“What was that?” Meomi asked.
“A sign we need to head out sooner rather than later.”
Meomi overlayed the ship’s life signs scanner over the map of the Harbinger. One blue dot sat in the exact center of the bridge. Fleet Marshall Mathias Klopp. Her target. Meomi closed her eyes for a moment to picture the Fleet Marshall in her mind. Not only did she have to kill him, but she had to do so in the most inhumane way possible, by decapitation. She took three deep breaths to steel her resolve.
“Captain, I’ve been looping through video streams of various ships and found something you might want to see for yourself.”
“What is it, Ensign?”
“It’s something you have to see. Zoom in on carrier group 17.”
Meomi switched her HUD display to the battle raging outside the Harbinger, zooming in on a small section of the fight with carrier group 17. “What am I looking for?”
“The Mimic sphereships. Originally I thought we finally broke through the lines and smashed some of their ships.”
She zoomed in to see large chunks of Mimic ships were missing. “I don’t…” Her eyes widened as she continued her gaze. Something was filling the holes. “They’re… regenerating.”
“I know…” Rayfin whispered. “How can we hope to defeat a navy that can regrow their ships? That’s just… impossible.”
“We haven’t lost yet…” Meomi had never before told a lie to her subordinates. When her words came out of her mouth, while technically not a lie, her brain registered them as such. It was a lie to herself as much as to Ensign Manalo — one she needed to hear. Meomi pounded Rayfin’s chest plate. “Are you ready?”
He nodded at her. “Always forward, Captain.”
“Stick close.” She opened the door to the hallway. The red alert sirens were nearly deafening. “Stealth tactics. We’re going to avoid engagement as long as we can. If they swarm us before we reach the armory…”
“I understand, Captain.”
Using her mini-map, Meomi sneaked her way to the armory, hiding in empty quarters when Mimic reapers neared. They made it to the decktram without issue and then onto the armory floor.
As soon as the decktram doors opened Meomi glimpsed two reapers walk past. She held her breath.
“That was close, Captain.” Rayfin slowly exhaled.
“It was. We w
ere due for a bit of luck.” Meomi checked her mini-map. “I don’t see any other Mimics on the mini-map.”
“That’s because parts of the deck are gone.” Rayfin pointed to the gaping holes where the external walls used to be which were now replaced with containment fields. “No deck, no sensors.”
“Great.” She groaned.
“For a moment, I thought this would be too easy.” Rayfin sighed.
“50 meters till the armory. I hope it's still there… for the sake of the galaxy…”
After waiting to ensure the reaper patrols were gone, Meomi and Rayfin sprinted the last 50 meters to the armory doors.
“Still attached to the ship!” Rayfin said. “A command authorization from a captain should be enough to open the door.”
Meomi began typing in her captain’s authentication but stopped at the last character.
“What’s wrong, Captain?”
“It’s been too easy.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Perhaps. Ready your weapon.”
Rayfin armed his gun and steadied it. “What am I aiming at?”
“Just in case something is on the other side of the door.” She entered the last character.
The computer recognized her password, and the doors slid open.
Six Mimic reapers stood waiting in a half-circle formation on the other side.
31
Instinct guided Meomi’s next course of action. “Fire!” She yelled at Rayfin while shooting her rifle into the unsuspecting group of reapers. The combined laser bursts from their weapons did little damage. After several ineffective volleys, Meomi shouted, “Run!”
The two raced back toward the decktram but was cut off by the group of patrolling reapers from before. Trapped. All exits covered. Two reapers in front, six behind.
“What do we do now, Captain?” Rayfin asked in a tense voice.
“That’s a good question, Ensign.” Meomi’s eyes darted between the two groups of reapers. “You have any ideas?”
“Nope. But if we go down, we go down swinging.” He bared his teeth.