Awakening Threat

by Patrick G Cox

  Someone moved into his field of vision.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant. Welcome aboard Aesculapius. I’m MedTech Demi Petronas, and I’ve been assigned to the team tasked with getting you back up and running, sir.” The speaker was an attractive young woman a few years his senior.

  Harry focused on his cyberlink. The AI could be a little skittish at times, and it always seemed reluctant to allow him access to its audio system. The way it presented his voice made it sound odd, high-pitched and rather childish. “Good morning, Med Petronas. My apologies; I still cannot respond to you properly.”

  She smiled. “Don’t worry, sir, we’re working on fixing that. There’s quite a team on it in fact. I think you know some of them. Some scientists and your own surgeon Lieutenant from the Beagle came over with you.”

  “How are my fellow sufferers? Are they here as well?”

  “Dr. Klonowski is doing well, considering. She’s a tough lady. Goes with her profession, I guess. Mr. Du Bois is having a few problems, though.”

  “I know. I am lucky; at least I have the ship’s AI to talk to. They have nothing unless they are fitted with the cranial link.”

  “You’ll have to tell me what that’s like—talking to the AI, I mean. Is it friendly?”

  “We don’t know each other very well yet, but when we do, I hope to enjoy as good a friendship with Aesculapius as I have had with Beagle and other ships I’ve communicated with.”

  “OK, well I hope you do, because we’ll need both of you working with us if we’re going to beat this toxin.” She paused. “However, a few changes are needed now that you’re in these units. We have to get you back onto normal feeding via your stomach, and that will mean inserting a bunch of tubes down your throat to assist your breathing while the feeding tube is in place. These units will stimulate your muscles. Two purposes: one to maintain muscle tone, and the other to test responses to signals to nerve centres. The neurosurgeons need to know whether all the receptors are blocked or if just the higher ones are.”

  “I understand.” He didn’t really, just as he was certain that the medics couldn’t fully understand what he felt as they did things to him.

  “Good. We’ll make it as comfortable as we can.” She pulled a face. “But some of it is a bit tricky.” She smiled. “Now, I better go and visit your friends. Mr. Du Bois needs a lot of reassurance.”

  “All contact has been lost with the ship Acheron and with the colony on New Edo. We have a major problem, colleagues. The last report suggested at least ten of these Niburu ships were involved in the attack.” The Commander in chief tapped the table. “One ship escaped: the Sino Asian Imperium destroyer Han Sheng. She is damaged and may be infected with that metal-eating agent Beagle reported, but she’s got the only record of the weapons these damned people deploy. Let’s hope we can get our hands on that information sooner rather than later.”

  “How will we retrieve it?”

  “Fortunately, our relations with their Fleet Commander are good at present. He’s agreed to share the data with us. There is, of course, a string attached. He wants to know what we know and what data we’ve got on the Niburu.”

  “Seems reasonable. Presumably the Council of Ministers agreed.”

  “No. Half the ministers are still smarting over the Imperium’s siding with the Consortium. The Australians put up a strong argument, and the vote ended up hung.” He grimaced. “I’ve had a word with Admiral Li. It’s not all a disaster. Both the president and the leader of the Council have authorised me to negotiate an exchange. Li has agreed to give us a share of the key bit of their record if we assist in finding their ship, which has now lost contact.”

  “Given what we know of the way that agent affects a ship, that doesn’t sound good.”

  “You’re right—it doesn’t sound good at all. We’ve a heavy cruiser and her escorts near the last reported location. With Li’s agreement, they’ll intercept her and make contact. All being well, they’ll be able to put Li in contact and upload the bit of the record he authorises.” He hesitated. “I’ve shared some of the information with him that we got from Beagle on the way that agent took over the surveyor craft and the ex-Consortium ship. The president and the leader of Council agreed to it.”

  “What was his response?”

  “He played his cards close.” He rubbed his forehead. “He’s very aware of the danger. That ship won’t be allowed to enter Earth space. I suspect one of his ships will intercept it and destroy it.”

  “They’re a cold-hearted lot,” Rear Admiral Grenville remarked. “We’d at least take the crew off, I hope.”

  “Different culture, Richard.” The Grand Admiral glanced down the table. “Have the scientists made any progress on the antidote to the Niburu poison?”

  “Some, but we aren’t anywhere near a usable treatment yet.”

  “Distress call, sir. Ship identified as the Phoenix, under charter to the League for the Protection of Sentient Life.”

  “Location?”

  “Haley 757, sir. They report that something attached itself to the ship, and now the ship refuses to respond to commands.”

  “What the blazes were they doing there? The damn place has been quarantined since it was attacked.”

  “According to the news channels, sir, they believe they can make friendly contact and assure the aliens we aren’t a threat to them.” The flag Lieutenant shrugged. “Their spokeswoman made the usual statement about us ‘raping pristine worlds’ and destroying the developing life forms. As if that weren’t bad enough, she then appealed for a ‘popular demonstration of support for their aims.’ Some people just never seem to connect with the reality of anything, sir.”

  “Have we anything close enough to get them out of there?”

  “Only the ships sent to find the Han Sheng, sir. They’ve just reported arrival at her predicted position. Shall I send them on to attempt a rescue?”

  For a moment, the Admiral hesitated. “Yes. Order the Parramatta to detach Coolibah, but make it clear that the Phoenix is not to be retrieved, only the crew, and if there is any indication she’s already been boarded by these creatures, they’re to abort and get out of there.”

  Martin Borner rubbed his bald head. “This does not make sense. The DNA from the warrior killed on Galapagos doesn’t match the data the Siddhiche gave us. The DNA in the toxin doesn’t match the DNA in the warrior, and the DNA we got from the agent attacking Surveyor Two doesn’t match anything else.”

  “But this seems to be the active ingredient in the toxin, or at least these segments seem to be what controls its ability to regenerate,” his assistant remarked.

  Martin studied the displayed data, and his expression changed as the realisation set in. “Yes… I see what you mean…good observation. Let’s do an analysis of that segment. There must be a way to counter it.”

  Niamh was extremely angry. Not only was her beloved Harry lying helpless in the sickbay of a ship light years from home, but the damned League for the Protection of Sentient Life was using every opportunity to insinuate that it was he who had precipitated the attack on Galapagos, and by association, the latest assault on the colony world New Edo.

  “Theo,” she stormed, “is there nothing we can do to stop these lies?”

  “Not directly, my dear. As long as they make no definitive accusations of Harry or name him specifically, we can do nothing, and, for the rest, they have the right to air their opinion.” The chief justice shrugged. “The media, of course, love it. They know the Fleet can’t reveal everything and won’t comment on individuals or actions, so they blow these fringe groups up in importance and make them sound authoritative. You’ve encountered them; how many of these so-called journalists actually know anything other than what is on their briefing notes and question lists? Most of them don’t have the faintest grasp of the answers they’re given anyway.”

  “That doesn’t excuse their behaviour! Not in the least.” She glared at her husband. “Damned vultures. What do the
y know about the dangers our boys face? I bet not one of them has been farther into space than the lift platforms.”

  “You’re very likely right, my dear.” Theo paused. “I think I must have a word with the leader of the Fleet Council. Perhaps a dose of reality for the media pack will wean them off the LPSL and their spin doctoring.”

  “Good idea, particularly that foolish woman who always interrupts the person she’s interviewing and tries to trap them into a sound bite answer on the most complex issues.” She flashed a smile. “I’d love to see her confronted with these Niburu.”

  Theo grinned. “So should I. There are a few more like her I’d put on my list, though, all very highly paid and opinionated. One or two have seriously prejudiced important trials with their speculation and leading questions in interviews.” He paused. “We’d need to be careful, though, and make sure they show everything they record and not mere edits of the bits they want to spin. I seem to recall that was done to the military back in the twenty-first century and proved extremely damaging.”

  Niamh considered. “I’ve half a mind to call Monty Montaigne, and see if I can get him to do something positive on the boys.”

  “Better not, my dear. Besides, Monty is about to embark with his film crew. They’re going to do a documentary on the work of the LPSL – I’d say he’s not the best person to ask to cover anything on Harry at the moment.”

  “Your friend Ferghal is seeking you, Harry.” The soft voice of Aesculapius broke into Harry’s misery. “He contacted Beagle, who told him you were not aboard, and directed him to find me. I expect him to contact me shortly.” The AI paused. “I have contact now. He is in my data update stream. Do you wish to communicate?”

  “With Ferghal? Yes!”

  “Harry, what the devil happened? They tell me you’ve been poisoned. Were you paralysed by those Niburu creatures?”

  “’Tis true, that and the small matter of Palmer knocking me aside in his haste to escape, then one of the brutes hit me and Roberta with a stinger, and down I went.”

  “Be damned to the man, I’ll repay him pound for pound…”

  “You’ll not, my friend. Down that road lies trouble you do not want. The Admiral will deal with him. Already his own people turn their backs on him.” Harry hesitated. “I am well tended for now. The Surgeon and Martin, our genetics expert and his team, are working on an antidote. When they find it, I will deal with Palmer and his cronies—not you, not the Admiral, not our aunt. It shall be my satisfaction.”

  “And I shall hold your coat, my friend.” Ferghal paused. “Is Aesculapius with the Fleet?”

  “Yes, and we remain so. So too the Beagle. The Admiral keeps us close. Why do you ask?”

  “Because, my friend, I am joining the Prinz van Oranien, if I can ever learn how to pronounce the name of that ship! She’s the mother ship to two corvette flotillas. She will be joining our Admiral’s fleet as soon as we have our flotillas embarked.”

  “Famous! I hope I may escape the confines of this med-unit and then the Beagle so I may repay some of the distress these Niburu have caused.” Harry paused. “Light a candle for me to whichever saint you think appropriates memory, my friend. I am near out of my mind at this helplessness.”

  “It shall be done, Harry. Rest easy. Damn, now I’m wanted. Thank Aesculapius for giving me a section of his data transfer.”

  “It is a pleasure, Ferghal,” responded the ship. “I look forward to welcoming you again.”

  Chapter 20

  Search

  The heavy cruiser Parramatta and her escort of six frigates dropped out at the extreme edge of the system that the Han Sheng was thought to have been attempting to reach.

  “Scans are clear, sir. No trace of the target.”

  “Damn. Anything else visible?”

  “Nothing yet, Commodore.”

  “Maintain vigilance. These damned Niburu can appear out of nowhere. Warn the escorts that I want maximum attention to visual scanning. Anything looks odd or out of place, I want to know immediately.” Commodore Wright turned to his Executive Officer. “If she’s not here, where could she have dropped out between here and New Edo?”

  “We’re working on it, sir. There are three places she could be if we assume she didn’t suffer a failure in transit.”

  The Commodore stared at the command display. “We’d better hope that hasn’t happened then. If it has, we’ll never find her.”

  “Signal from Flag, sir. We’re to detach Coolibah to assist an LPSL ship that’s gotten itself disabled in the New Edo system.” The communications officer handed over a tablet.

  “Hmm, so they got infected by the agent the Niburu use to take over a ship. Damned fools—we should leave them to their own damned stupidity. Get me Coolibah on the link.”

  “Report from Parramatta, Admiral. No sign of the Han Sheng at her supposed location. They propose back tracking toward New Edo.”

  “Show me their track.”

  “The probable dropout points are here, here and here, sir.” The plot officer highlighted three systems the Fleet charts indicated as waypoints for ships transiting through the area en route to the Edo system.

  “That last one is very close to the area we first encountered the Niburu. Run some predictions and flag it up to the Commodore.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Get me a channel to Grand Admiral MacQuillie. I have a bad feeling about this ship. I hope the record was transmitted to their HQ and isn’t in danger of being lost.” He paused. “What progress are the scientists making on a cure for this poison?”

  “They say they’re examining a new line, sir. Something they think the Siddhiche have been trying to indicate to them, but they’re very cagey about how long it will take to get it right.” The Flag Lieutenant hesitated. “How is Harry coping, sir?”

  The Admiral grimaced. “As well as he can. I suspect he’s frustrated and a little scared. I would be if I were in his position.”

  “Niamh, I’m very concerned about Harry.” Mary twisted her scarf between her fingers. “You know how he hates not being in control of himself, and now he’s paralysed—at least that’s what Danny says in his latest message to me.”

  “It isn’t quite the same thing, Mary, my dear, but it’s close enough.” Niamh wished she could reach out and touch the woman Harry loved, and who so evidently loved him. “Fortunately, or so James tells me, they hope to find an antidote to this toxin and have him back on his feet quickly.”

  “I wish I could go to him, but they won’t allow any civil transport into that area.” Mary flashed an impish smile. “Perhaps if I talked my way onto one of the LPSL ships, I could get arrested and then talk my way onto the hospital ship Harry’s on.”

  Niamh laughed. “More likely to get you into just the sort of situation that will have Harry really worried if he should hear of it, and you can be sure he would. You know him, my dear—he’ll be all over the network looking for ways to find out what’s happened.”

  “I know. I just hope he hasn’t seen or heard what that dreadful man Stolt was saying about him.” Mary grimaced. “A faint hope, I suppose. In view of the emergency, my tour has been curtailed, and I’m scheduled to return home on the first available ship. Will you be in Dublin at any time? I’d love to see you.”

  “If we’re not, my dear, I’ll be at Scrabo.” Niamh hesitated. “Why not come and spend some time with me there? I’d love the company.”

  The medical team were well aware of the frustrations their patients faced, and arrangements had been made to ensure they had as much face-to-face daily contact as possible.

  “Lieutenant Heron is coping better than the others, but he does have the advantage of being able to talk to us without the cranial caps,” said Rubin. “I’m worried about Anton, though. He’s withdrawn quite a bit and sometimes refuses to talk to us.”

  “That’s not good. Have you tried linking them so they can share their thoughts?”

  “Yes, Admiral. It has been helpful for Ro
berta and Harry to communicate, but Anton is very negative.”

  “Right, we’ll have to keep an eye on him. He may be depressive. Check his brain chemistry. It could be an indication of something else this toxin does.” The Admiral turned to Martin Borner. “Your latest update suggests you’re on to something.”

  Martin shifted in his seat and tapped his tablet. “Yes. We think we’ve identified the segment of the toxin genome that replicates itself. The toxin is actually an organism, not a simple chemical. It’s quite an advanced microorganism, rather like a virus. We think it prepares the infected party to be a host to something else, perhaps a sort of controller, which is most likely another organism.”

  “That shifts the whole picture.” The Admiral leaned back. “Can we kill it? Or will that risk permanent damage to the patient’s nervous system?”

  “We may be able to kill it another way. It blocks the victim’s ability to make voluntary movements, but a closer look suggests that it is something like a receiver. We’ve gone over the recordings Harry and his team made when they boarded that Niburu ship. Most of those creatures behave as if they are being controlled by something else. It shows in the robotic way they move. It’s as if whatever controls them is only capable of simple movements.”

  The Admiral frowned. “That would make sense. Harry reported that these creatures have six legs, but they walk on four and used two as arms to carry their human victims.” His frown deepened. “Could that mean whatever acts as the control unit isn’t able to keep something upright on two legs? They also seem to work together with a sort of group mentality, similar to a colony of ants, Harry observed. We need to keep that in mind when we determine how to deal with them. He said they reminded him of worker ants focused on one task, carrying their cocoon-wrapped human victims the way ants carry bits of food and their larvae. They have that sort of hive mentality that overrides independent thought or action, but it seems even more insidious than that.”