“Those were your SAMs?” Maddox asked Lank.
The security chief nodded.
“It’s obvious the New Men have inserted an agent into your midst,” Maddox said. “Kane is a plant. My bet is the New Men realized they couldn’t find Ludendorff in time. So they fed you Kane to help you escape a trap, hoping to get him near the professor. I take it the enemy hasn’t even got close to Ludendorff yet.”
“I can personally attest to the fact that the professor is hyper-paranoid,” Lank said. “He trusts few people. He also has a layered and clever security system.”
“Can we talk to the professor?” Dana asked. “It’s vital I see him.”
Lank studied her and must have come to a swift conclusion. Moving away from Kane, Lank drew a compact pistol, aiming it at the big man.
“You have been genetically modified,” Lank told Kane. “Meta has been as well. The clues are obvious. I’m afraid you’re an altered individual as well, Captain Maddox.”
“You’re right,” Maddox said, his estimation of Lank rising. “My mother fled the Beyond. She was pregnant with me at the time. I never met her, as she died soon after my birth. Before she died, she made it to Earth. I don’t know if I have the genes of the New Men, but it’s possible she escaped one of their facilities.”
Kane’s head shifted minutely. Maddox felt the man’s heightened scrutiny.
“Interesting and troubling,” Lank said. “It occurs to me that you could also be one of their plants, Captain Maddox. It would be a complex play, but well within the cunning of the New Men.”
“He’s not one of theirs,” Dana said. “Captain Maddox gave Star Watch the ancient vessel, the only ship that can save humanity from the plague of the New Men.”
Lank stared at Dana through his goggles. Finally, the security chief turned to Maddox. “Captain, if you will allow us to handcuff Kane and Meta, we will return to the base camp. The doctor obviously needs medical attention. We should then decide what to do next. I take it this Victory is coming to Wolf Prime?”
Maddox’s nape hairs stirred. Something was definitely off here. He tried to think it through. How had Kane and Meta made it to Wolf Prime faster than they had? What was the Nexus, a giant, silver pyramid? Could that be true? Why had Ludendorff’s people trusted Kane? It seemed inconceivable.
“Yes, the starship is coming,” Maddox admitted. It was an obvious conclusion. He gave nothing away by saying so.
“Kane,” Lank said, as he trained his pistol on the man. “You have a choice. Submit and live, or resist and die. Which will it be?”
“You have handcuffs with you?” Kane rumbled.
“I’ve studied your wrists before,” Lank said. “They’re much bigger than average, too big for normal handcuffs. Fortunately, we have leg irons, which in your case, will act as handcuffs. As to your question, yes, I brought a pair along.”
“On your own authority?” Kane asked.
“The professor suggested it, if that’s what you’re saying.”
“I would like to explain my story to the professor in person,” Kane said.
“In order to do that,” Lank said, “you would have to first submit.”
Kane nodded. “I will submit.” He put his hands before his body.
“Behind your back, if you please,” Lank said. Kane complied
Lank motioned to one of his people. A heavily bundled trapper came forward with leg irons.
Maddox readied himself to fire. He could tell Kane knew that. The big man allowed the trapper to manacle his wrists with the leg irons.
“Handcuff Meta next,” Lank said.
The trapper did so.
“Does that satisfy you?” Lank asked Maddox.
“There’s something going on here I don’t understand,” Maddox said. “This doesn’t feel right. Doctor, do you feel it?”
“I don’t,” she said, sharply. “We can trust them.”
Maddox didn’t agree, but he didn’t know what else to do. “We’ll walk in back, if you don’t mind.”
“Fair enough,” Lank said. “Kane, Meta, you will lead the way. If you attempt anything unwarranted, I will shoot to kill. I have imbibed some of Ludendorff’s paranoia. The New Men are notoriously crafty. Grim determination combined with ruthlessness is the only solution. Do you understand?”
“We’ve already proven ourselves,” Meta said.
“Is that how Baron Chabot felt about you?” Maddox asked.
Meta turned, staring into his eyes. She became thoughtful. “You have a point. I understand,” she told Lank.
“Kane?” the security chief asked.
“Let’s get on with this,” Kane said. “Nothing but the truth can change your minds now.”
“Right,” Lank said. “Let’s go.”
***
At Maddox’s request, one of the trappers took his place with Dana. The stiff pace soon told on the doctor. The captain debated telling the others to slow down. Time seemed too important for that, so Maddox remained silent.
The tunnel widened and they took several different passages. At one point, lumber lay on the floor. The air felt warmer here too.
“How far are we underground?” Maddox asked.
“Approximately four hundred meters,” Lank said.
“These are the former tunnels of the Swarm?”
“That’s what the professor believes,” Lank said.
“Did the Swarm have queens like an ant or bee colony?”
Lank chuckled. “We know far less than that about the Swarm. They are an enigma in too many ways. The professor has said there are reasons to believe the Swarm moved from planet to planet, devouring the ecology until they had to head to a new star system.”
Maddox thought about that. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Why not?” Lank asked.
“Wolf Prime doesn’t seem devoured.”
“True.”
“That ruins the theory.”
“Not necessarily,” Lank said. “It could be someone drove the Swarm from Wolf Prime.”
“Who?” Maddox asked.
“It’s one of the reasons the professor has remained here for so long.”
“This dig can’t be a secret then.”
“You mean secret from the New Men,” Lank said.
“Right.”
“You’re wrong,” Lank said. “It can remain a secret. The professor is more than paranoid, and he happens to be the most intelligent person in the universe.”
“Smarter than the New Men?” Maddox asked.
“Oh, yes. I think that goes without saying.”
Maddox eyed Lank Meyers. “You people are hiding from the New Men. The New Men aren’t hiding from Ludendorff.”
“By your own admission,” Lank said, “the New Men are terrified of the ancient starship. That vessel leapt from the brow of Professor Ludendorff. The ability to enter the craft likely came from his genius as well.”
“You have a high opinion of the man.”
“I’ve seen him in action for many years,” Lank said.
“You weren’t with him on his journey to the ancient graveyard of ships?”
“You’re full of questions, Captain Maddox. Before I answer any more, I have a few of my own I’d like answered.”
“Fair enough,” Maddox said.
Before the security chief could begin, a large device on his belt began to blare with noise.
“Stop,” Lank said.
Everyone halted.
The security chief unhooked an earpiece, listening intently. Behind his goggles, his eyebrows shot up. “We’re on our way,” he said. He hooked the microphone back to the bulky device.
“Starship Victory is approaching Wolf Prime,” Lank said. “It appears you’re correct, Captain. Your vessel made a star drive jump. Well, two actually. The professor has kept his eye on the situation above. The ancient craft jumped from the outer system Laumer-Point, escaping three star cruisers. I don’t know where it went, but it must have made a second
jump. That one has brought it near. Victory is braking even now for an orbital station over the planet.”
“Two star cruisers are in Wolf Prime’s orbit,” Dana said.
“I took on three star cruisers before,” Maddox said. “The ship should be able to handle two. How long until the three that chased the vessel to the Laumer-Point return?”
“Why is the starship here at Wolf Prime?” Lank asked Maddox.
“To pick up Professor Ludendorff,” the captain said. “Doctor Rich believes he can figure out the ancient weapons systems that have baffled Earth’s best scientists. Before Star Watch’s Fifth Fleet reaches the Tannish System, it’s going to need reinforcements in order to defeat the New Men’s main armada waiting for them there.”
“That sounds interesting,” Lank said. “I’m sure the professor would like to hear all about this.”
“We have a narrow window of opportunity,” Maddox said. “Do you have a way to get from here into orbit?”
“Couldn’t Victory send down a shuttle?” Lank asked.
“Yes, but that will take more time. First, they would have to chase off the two star cruisers.”
“I thought you said Victory could defeat three of them.”
“No,” Maddox said. “I faced three and barely survived the encounter, destroying a star cruiser. I’m not sure Galyan can do the same now.”
“Who?” Lank asked.
“Never mind. Can you get us into orbit?” Maddox asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you should do that as fast as you can. Once the other three star cruisers return, it will be too late to act.”
Lank stared at Maddox. Finally, the security chief glanced at the trappers. “It’s time to run,” he said. “It’s time to talk to the professor in person.”
-29-
Lieutenant Noonan sat on a chair on Victory’s bridge. Sergeant Riker sat beside her. Behind them, the holoimage of Galyan watched the main screen critically.
“These are New Men,” Galyan said. “Their star cruisers have powerful beams. I suspect they have contact mines and heavy drones scattered in orbit waiting for me.”
“I haven’t detected any,” Valerie said, as she scanned her board.
“The New Men are masters of deception and decoys,” Galyan said. “They tricked us once already. You saw the ordnance they unlimbered near the Laumer-Point. It is why I sought your advice and brought you up here to the bridge.”
Valerie didn’t remember the situation exactly like that. Galyan had brought her to the bridge. That much was true. The ancient AI had thereupon discounted each piece of advice she’d given him. Instead of fighting as she’d wanted to do, Galyan had opted for flight. Now, she wondered if the AI hadn’t been right after all.
Valerie had also been wondering about her desire to fight the three star cruisers. Maddox had faced three before, destroying one. Victory had taken near crippling losses doing so then. Valerie believed she could have done better. The ancient starship had collapsium hull armor now, and its neutron cannon was in better shape than it had been a year ago. Had it been an ego issue with her? Did she need to prove herself a better starship captain than Maddox?
“What do you suggest we do?” Galyan was asking.
Valerie turned around to eye the holoimage. “We have to reach low orbit and call the captain. You said so yourself by the Laumer-Point. Picking up Professor Ludendorff takes precedence over everything else. Ludendorff should be able to exponentially increase your combat power.”
“In theory that’s true,” Galyan said. “More importantly, the professor can tell me the location of the Swarm homeworld. Yet now that we are here, or nearing the planet, I fear the New Men have a trick in store for me.”
“All battle is risk,” Valerie said.
“That is easy for you to say, as a Star Watch combat officer.”
“Actually, it’s harder for me. I’m flesh and blood. You’re just circuits. I have more to lose.”
“That is a highly unjustified remark,” Galyan said. “I am a unique construct, a one-of-a-kind vessel over six thousand years old. I hold ancient secrets. You are young, with literally billions exactly like yourself. Your loss is miniscule in nature, easily replaced.”
“Sorry if I don’t agree with you,” Valerie said sarcastically.
“There!” Galyan cried, pointing at the screen. “I see a star cruiser. My sensors indicate that its weapon ports are heating up. It wishes to fight. That implies the star cruiser, or its captain, has computed a fair ratio for survival. As we know, the New Men are highly rational creatures. Would they dare face me if they couldn’t win?”
“You’re making a lot of assumptions,” Valerie said. “But what I don’t understand is your sudden lack of fighting spirit.”
“I have gained a new and higher awareness,” Galyan said. “I realize more than ever what I risk in entering battle.”
“Well, I learned a long time ago in Greater Detroit that to live, you have to fight.”
“That is not logical,” Galyan said.
“Yes it is. If you become a coward, you die a thousand deaths throughout your life. A brave man or woman only dies once.”
“I hope you are not accusing the greatest tactician in the universe of cowardice,” Galyan said.
Valerie turned to Riker, lofting her eyebrows.
Riker shrugged, shaking his head.
“Drive the star cruiser from the planet,” Valerie said. “Your neutron beam is superior to his ray.”
“At close range, you are correct,” Galyan said. “He has the advantage now.”
“Then use the star drive and jump closer.”
“I dare not attempt a jump this close to a large gravitational object.”
“You never had that problem before,” Valerie said.
“If you refer to the time in the Beyond when we jumped by a planet, you must recall that I did not have complete control of my own vessel. I have not forgotten that you people turned me off.”
Valerie faced the control panel. She’d gotten thoroughly sick of the AI a long time ago. She yearned for a regular ship where the people made the decisions. Arguing with the ancient computer drove her crazy.
Riker shouted.
Valerie saw it on the screen. The star cruiser used its main beam. The ray struck Victory’s deflector shield, which stopped the New Men’s beam cold.
“Increase speed,” Valerie said.
“Yes,” Galyan said. “In the end, I believe you are correct.”
The ship’s engines increased power, which caused a slight vibration upon the deck plates. The ancient starship had excellent gravity dampeners, so the high velocity hardly affected Valerie or Riker.
As the giant starship increased velocity, the star cruiser continued to fire its ray. Then, the second star cruiser appeared from around the planet. It, too, fired, adding a second beam. The two rays struck the deflector shield, slowly turning it red.
Valerie glared at the screen. Her hands bunched into fists. She hated the New Men. For too long, these interlopers from the Beyond had tormented humanity. The enemy never lost a fight. She dearly wanted to make them lose now. The idea that she sat in the captain’s chair…it fired her resolve.
“There,” Galyan said, pointing at the screen. “Do you see those?”
Valerie’s fingers played over the panel. She had convinced the AI to give her independent scanning ability. Big orbital drones activated their thrusters. Galyan had been right. The New Men had seeded orbital missiles here.
“They don’t have enough—”
Valerie stopped talking as the nearest warhead ignited. A thermonuclear fireball blew outward. Gamma and X-rays expanded in a ball. Behind it followed the slower heat.
“My sensors can’t see past the blast area,” Galyan complained. “Are the New Men trying to hide something?”
That was a shrewd guess, Valerie realized. Why else would the New Men blow a nuke at that range? Was the enemy trying to blind the sensors from
something else?
“Start beaming the other missiles,” Valerie said, as she studied her board. “They’re in range.”
“Activating the neutron beam,” Galyan said.
Valerie continued to study the tactical situation. The missiles headed away from Wolf Prime and came straight at Victory. The two star cruisers remained in a low orbital path as they struck the deflector shield. Now, a purple neutron beam touched the nearest drone, exploding it before the warhead ignited.
“We should be in neutron beam range in five minutes,” Valerie said, meaning in range of the star cruisers. “We can get there faster if you increase velocity even more.”
“No,” Galyan said. “I submit we’re already going too fast. We wish to gain a low orbital path in order to pick up Professor Ludendorff. Begin trying to contact the captain.”
“It’s too soon,” Valerie said. “The New Men could pick up our signal, pinpointing the captain’s location. They might send missiles down to the surface to annihilate him.”
“Yes,” Galyan said, “that is sound advice. Thank you. Belay my last order.”
“You’re welcome,” Valerie said, surprised the AI could give compliments. What had come over their jailer? The AI hadn’t acted this way before.
The minutes ticked by, and Victory closed the gap between the other combatants. Another nuclear warhead ignited. The red area of the deflector screen darkened and expanded, but the blast didn’t come close to rupturing the shield.
“Neutron beam in range in one minute,” Valerie said.
At that moment, the star cruisers engaged their main thrusters. Long exhaust tails grew behind the two vessels. They increased velocity, fleeing across the orbital face of Wolf Prime. Were they trying to get behind the planet in relation to Victory?
“They’re running away,” Galyan said.
“I don’t know what else you’d call it,” Valerie said. “That implies they know the operational range of our neutron beam. I don’t like that. They know too much about our ship.”
“I agree,” Galyan said. “Now, prepare for emergency braking. We must insert into an orbital path and attempt to contact Captain Maddox. It is imperative that he’s already gained contact with Professor Ludendorff. They must be ready for an immediate liftoff.”
The Lost Command (Lost Starship Series Book 2) Page 29