Lindsay noticed Mona slowing down. She looked over her shoulder and found the Admiral bracing herself against the wall, hand at her throat.
“It wasn’t him, Ma’am,” Lindsay said. “Not really.”
“I’ve never seen such rage in him.” Mona laughed ironically. “You’d think, just once, after living with the man for so long. I never thought he would hurt—”
“Permission to speak freely.” Lindsay shifted to parade rest.
Mona nodded her head.
“The Captain fought a long way and nearly died to rescue you. If I know Captain Irons, he would have let the Earth fall before he’d let Haddron keep you as a prisoner. Whatever that battle armor did, it messed with his head. But you saw out there. He’s fine now. “
“You’re right, Private. I just hope my…” Mona searched for the right word. “Fear of him doesn’t create a distraction.”
“I hope not, too.”
“Do you think we’ll be ok, Lindsay?”
The informal question took the Private back. As far as Earth Fleet was concerned, Private Lindsay Brooks was accompanying the top figure in the hierarchy. Second in command only to the President. Lindsay was happy with mere saluting and following orders. She entertained the conversation out of duty and loyalty to Irons. But this was getting into drinks with friends territory. Other people’s personal issues for her were just that. Their personal issues.
“I might not be the best candidate to have this discussion with, Ma’am.”
Mona pushed off the wall. “What am I doing?” She readjusted her clothes, trying to make herself look as presentable as possible after her abduction. It took her little time to reassume her air of leadership. “The Catters are invading Erra and I’m here worrying about my love life.”
Lindsay cracked a small smile. “Love life, Ma’am?”
Mona glared at her, full Admiralship on display. Lindsay dropped the matter and awaited her orders.
“Proceed, Private.”
* * *
The floor of the Wartech manufacturing shop was abuzz with activity. Workers hurried this way and that. Some carried familiar and unfamiliar devices in various states of production. All the while Wartech security kept a close watch. Suspicion was not usually a personality feature the company CEO had but this looked like Benjamin wanted to make sure corporate secrets didn’t escape into the hands of others.
“Hold it!” a commanding voice ordered from behind them.
Lindsay turned around to find a rifle aimed directly at Mona’s head. She sprang into action, knocking the rifle away and throwing her fist at the security member’s dark visor. The figure blocked her strike and stepped backward, letting his rifle hang on its sling and drawing his side arm.
“I said don’t move!”
Lindsay moved in front of the Admiral. “Do you even know who you’re aiming at?”
“Don’t care. Get on the floor, hands behind your heads.”
Several more security members showed up, surrounding Lindsay and Mona.
Mona drew herself fully upright. “I am Admiral Mona Collins of Earth Fleet. I have Level Seven Wartech clearance.”
“Show me your badge!” the security member demanded.
“CEO Stevens is my badge.”
Lindsay tightened her fists, already mentally running through the various ways this could play out.
As if reading the young woman’s mind, Mona murmured. “It’s not worth it, Private Brooks.”
Lindsay took note of the positions and weapons the security team had. She let her fingers relax. If it was just her, she could probably make it out of this intact. And while she had no doubts as to the Admiral’s ability, she knew it had been a while since Mona Collins had been in a combat situation. And after all they did to rescue her, Lindsay did not want the responsibility of getting her killed.
“Stevens, can you hear me?” Lindsay spoke through the Neural Transmitter.
“Private Brooks?” Benjamin was surprised. “When did you..? Is the Captain with you?”
“No. But I have the Admiral.”
“Outstanding! That’s excellent news.”
“Just one problem. Your new security guards have us at gunpoint.”
“Well, that won’t do.”
The sound from the transmitter on her end suddenly grew louder. Lindsay winced at it.
“They have level seven clearance, men!” Benjamin shouted.
Lindsay and Mona turned and looked up to see Benjamin Stevens standing just outside of a second floor control room. He waved at them both and the Wartech security members lowered their guns.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re safe, Admiral.” Benjamin’s smile was so wide it could be seen from the floor.
“I wish it was as simple as that,” Mona called up to him.
“Still bad, eh? Well, come up here before someone else pulls a gun on you.”
Both women stepped between the security members to the steel staircase leading to the control room.
A table covered by papers and diagrams sat in the middle of the room while Benjamin stood at a single console. It was lit up by digital progress readouts of the shop floor below.
Lindsay looked over a few of the scattered pages and recognized a few of the images. “Is this the—“
Benjamin snatched the pages up and flipped them over. “Just a few new pieces. Not quite ready for public eyes.”
“Whatever they are, I hope they can help with what’s happening on Erra,” Mona said.
“What’s happening on Erra?” Benjamin asked.
“Catters.” Lindsay’s voice was flat.
“But you all…I mean their Flagship was—”
“We thought so, too,” Mona added. “Apparently it’s more complicated than that.”
Lindsay glanced around the table. Schematic sections stuck out from under other scattered pages. She couldn’t see the whole image but the parts she could see looked familiar to her. The Private turned, looking out the window of the control room. Concerned and curious over what she saw, she slowly made her way to the window.
“Um, Private,” Benjamin started. “I’d ask you not to go near the window.”
Lindsay ignored him and stared at the manufacturing floor below. “Stevens, what are you doing, here?”
The CEO grimaced. “No one was actually supposed to see any of this yet.”
Six
Future Plans
A slow moving conveyor travelled at eye level with the control room. The belt carried large and small sized translucent lenses. As the pieces made their way down the assembly line, some were grasped by automated arms that lifted them from the belt and carried them to a metallic box.
As each lens was lowered to the box, another part rose up. The lens was placed on top of the new part then both were carried away on another belt. Lindsay tried to see where the next conveyor was taking them but machine parts obscured her view.
“You’re mass producing teleporters, too?” Lindsay asked.
“What do you mean, too?” Mona turned from Lindsay to Benjamin.
Benjamin Stevens took a deep breath. There was no point in further secrecy. Not while the two witnesses were such public figures. “The Catters changed everything when we got hold of their wormhole tech. And now we have this Nordic teleporter which changed things even more.”
“How could you have done all this so fast?” Lindsay continued to stare out at the busy shop floor.
Benjamin approached the window to marvel at the productivity alongside her. “When you can machine all of your own parts, in house, productivity tends to fly by.”
“She said, ‘too’.” Mona folded her arms over her chest. “What else are you building that we’re not supposed to know about?”
“What’s under the tarp?” Lindsay pointed to the right, deeper into the shop.
A large canvas sheet covered something equally large. The bottom corners of the canvas billowed whenever a worker passed by it but it never blew high
enough to give even a small idea of what was underneath it.
“Ah that,” Benjamin said with a smile. He walked back to the table and sorted through the scattered pages until he found one in particular. He held up the page. “Our logo says it all.”
Lindsay and Mona turned to look at the diagram. There was no mistaking what they were looking at.
“You’re building the Slagcship?” Lindsay couldn’t believe it.
“We’re trying, anyway,” Benjamin said, turning the page to himself. “We’ve barely gotten anywhere with it so far. That tarp down there is covering up what I think is part of the engine. Even with everything being done in house, there are still things we just can’t get on Earth. Frankly, I’m not sure we’ll even get a working prototype.”
“Good,” Mona said.
“Just think, though, Admiral. If we had a fleet of Slagschips, Earth could never be invaded again.”
“I’ve heard and seen the results of just one of those in action. And if any of our enemies were to get hold of such power, Earth would be far worse off than just invaded.” Mona grabbed the page from Benjamin’s hand and ripped it apart.
Benjamin looked surprised for only a moment. “I understand your hesitation, but—”
“I don’t think you do, Stevens,” Lindsay cut the CEO off. “We fought that thing. It tore through the Lucky Liberty worse than any Catter armada ever did.”
“But that’s why we need such weapons on our side,” Benjamin reasoned.
“Ordinarily, I would agree,” Mona said. “I’d probably even commission Wartech to make such a weapon. But the universe is better off with only one of those flying around. And right now, I assume that one is on our side. If only temporarily.”
Benjamin shifted his gaze to Lindsay for elaboration.
“Haddron has us DIV.”
“DIV?”
“Dead in the void,” Lindsay went on. “The firepower of the Slagschip was too much. The Lucky Liberty was riddled. Life support functions gone. Thrusters, gone. Most of our weapons, gone. And that was with teleporting and constantly moving.”
“But you saved the Admiral.” Benjamin didn’t understand. “You’re alive so the others must be—”
“The Captain made a truce with Haddron in exchange for our help on Erra. The Catters attacked the Nordics,” Lindsay said, anxiously. “We don’t know how bad it is but we’re going there to…”
“Private?” Mona asked
“Sorry, Admiral. All the fighting, it just starts to blend. It feels like a long time since we’ve had a rest. Now we’ve got one more war with the same enemy.” Lindsay straightened up. “Hopefully this is the last time.”
“I agree.”
“Wait, back up,” Benjamin said. “Irons is working with Haddron?”
“Until Erra is free, yes,” Mona said. “There’s little choice in the matter. If the Catters take over Erra, that brings them that much closer to Earth.”
“They’ve already been in our solar system once,” Lindsay added. We don’t need them doing it again.”
Benjamin fell back against the table, tired from their words alone. ”Wow. I didn’t realize so much had—It seems like the Ka’traxis Brood War was never won.”
“It was won, Mr. Stevens,” Mona said. “It just wasn’t over.”
“We’ll make sure it is after this,” Lindsay stated.
“Well if any ship can do it, it’s the Lucky Liberty.” Benjamin smiled. “I guess the Slagschip will be a big help, too—”
A sudden burst of rapid gunfire erupted from inside the shop.
“What in the world?” Benjamin ran to the window. “Oh no.” He moved to the console and pressed a button on it.
Warning lights and alarms blared throughout the building, nearly drowning out the sound of automatic gunfire.
Mona covered her ears. “What is it?”
“Rioters! Things escalated fast while y’all were gone. They’ve been running on banks and attacking other businesses that weren’t affected by Haddron.”
“Haddron hasn’t done anything since the last bank!” Lindsay yelled.
Benjamin crouched down and reached under the console. He felt around until he found a switch. He flipped it.
On the other side of the room, a section of wall moved backward then rose up into the ceiling, revealing a small arsenal of guns.
“These people aren’t taking prisoners.” He rushed to the wall. “They’ve been taking whatever is most valuable. Truce or no, frankly, I’m not sure how we can bounce back from this. Haddron’s plan, I’m sad to say, is working. Even without his involvement.”
“He’s set up a perfect domino effect.” Mona rushed to the wall and grabbed a gun.
Benjamin tossed a rifle to Lindsay. Without even thinking about it, she checked the magazine and slammed it back in then pulled the slider back, readying the weapon.
“Not you!” Mona yelled.
“But Admiral—”
“I need you back up there. We’ll deal with things down here. You help the others end the fighting on Erra.”
“I can help here.”
“Private Brooks,” Benjamin said. “The Admiral and I can handle it. Plus my security is pretty effective. And I know Captain Allen is dealing with more rioting around the country. Earth Fleet and the Army can handle things in planet. You go help Captain Irons.”
Lindsay turned back to the Wartech floor. The conveyor belt was shut down with a few of the unfinished teleport devices already broken from wild shots. The Wartech Security members took up defensive positions and returned fire on the armed citizens storming the plant. Lindsay didn’t like the idea of retreating but firing on civilians was no more desirable. Cross purposes wasn’t a position she liked to find herself in.
“I’m making the hard call for you, Private.” Mona put a firm hand on Lindsay’s shoulder. “Return to the Lucky Liberty and save Erra.”
Lindsay swallowed hard. It was the first time she’d found it difficult to follow an order. Especially a direct one from the Admiral of Earth Fleet.
“Now, Private!” Mona commanded.
Decorum took over and Lindsay saluted the Admiral then pressed the lens on her teleporter. In an instant, she was gone.
“Welcome back, Admiral Collins,” Benjamin said with a forced smile. “Wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Just remember they’re not Catters. Shoot to wound or disarm.” Mona checked over her own rifle and pulled the slider back. Despite her years away from battle, she was still an Earth Fleet soldier.
It’s like riding a bicycle, she thought.
* * *
Lindsay teleported onto the merged bridge of the Lucky Liberty and the Slagschip. She instinctively raised her gun in the unfamiliar surroundings, especially when she heard the sound of fists cracking across flesh.
Near the stairs, Syracuse and Jammin were trading blows with each other. Both of them were giving almost as good as they got. The rest of the crew were yelling for them to stop. Elit was the only one cheering them on. Even Irons couldn’t convince Syracuse to let it go.
Lindsay ran over to Durham. “What’s going on?”
Durham turned to her and immediately put his arms around his fellow team mate. “Glad to see you, Brooks!”
“Durham!”
“Sorry. I’m just glad you’re back.” He turned back to the fight. “This is your typical, run of the mill disagreement.”
“We don’t have time for this.” Lindsay raised the gun and fired off one round. She didn’t know if that would cause problems but she knew the yelling wasn’t doing anything to stop the human and the Nordic from beating each other senseless. Everyone in the room stopped, including the combatants. All eyes turned to the only one of them holding a gun.
“About time you showed up,” Irons said.
“Sorry sir. I got held up back home.”
Jammin ran his wrist under his nose. When he lowered his wrist, he found it bloody. Scoffing, he walked down the stairs
to his own console.
“Things any better, there?” Irons asked.
“Worse, sir. Riots seem to be nationwide. Could be global,” Lindsay said.
Irons turned to Haddron. “Seems to me that’s your doing. Congratulations.”
“What your people do to each other is of no matter to—”
“You’d best start caring. Cuz you got us helping you save your world while we should be trying to save our own.”
Haddron stared at Irons. “Saving Erra will save Earth.”
“Isn’t this how those two got to fighting in the first place?” Durham pointed at Syracuse and Jammin.
The accusation sparked up another round of yelling. Hannah removed herself from the situation. It was clear that all of the infighting and the fighting to come was making everyone a little crazy. She walked down to the console next to Jammin and stared out the window. Her eyes narrowed as she peered outside.
“What is that?” She watched a flickering light growing in size as it headed right toward them.
Another light from the console caught her attention. The word [WARNING] flashed on and off. Her eyes grew wide and she looked back out the window. The missile shape was unmistakable.
“Incoming!” she yelled.
Seven
First Strike
The missile’s heading was straight at the bow window of the Slagschip.
“Evasive maneuvers!” Irons shouted as he rushed for the old maritime wheel.
“Wait!” Haddron rushed to the Captain’s chair and took quick note of the armrest controls. They looked slightly different in their merged state but the basics were still there. Haddron entered a quick command and watched out the window as a ripple cascaded out from the nose of the ship.
The ripple distorted their view as the vibrational wave grew wider. It struck the missile and detonated it. The fireball from the explosion was quickly doused in the vacuum of space but not before the missile’s explosive shockwave slammed into the Slagschip’s hull, knocking everyone on the bridge around like marbles in a glass jar.
Hannah used the console to pull herself back to her feet. She took a quick glance at the readouts. “Captain. Positive ID for thermonuclear blast.”
ROYAL LINE (War In The Void Book 3) Page 4