by Chris Burton
Prologue
This was not an ordinary ship and its commander no ordinary Kryl. The Kronan knew his power exceeded his peers. His lineage was clear—a direct match for the Kryl Queen and he would soon sit beside her. However, not before his quest to deliver his precious cargo, a pursuit hindered by the persistence of the humans and one that marooned his ship and his crew in this barren, lifeless galaxy. It was devoid of interest, save field upon field of vast quantities of food. This is what they came here for but they must lie in wait for the wormhole to reopen...and reopen it most certainly would.
* * * *
“My Kronan.”
“Yes!”
“A small Alpha vessel is in range and has set a course to intercept our current position. Shall I move us to safe distance?”
“What do we normally do?” He replied sharply. His command crew lacked initiative. This one in particular annoyed him.
“I just wanted to check, my Kronan. This new ship is on an intercept course...”
“Just do it!” the Kronan interrupted. “Do not disturb me unless you have something significant to report!”
The disgruntled crew member scuttled off to his station and left the Kronan to his sanctuary and to his silent thought session.
This is not right, the Kronan began his thought process again. We should not hide from these humans. Yes, it is important to maintain our deception, but to what end? Yet morale was important and his crew had not ‘fed’ for too long.
“This is Morvalt. I have changed my mind. Drop our visibility shields and bring us around. It is time we took a look at our new livestock!”
Alpha One
The Kronan
Part One
Chapter One
Homecoming
The welcome sight of Saturn’s Moons glistening briefly, as the Halo 7 brushed through the outer rim towards the inner planets of the solar system. Even at high velocity, the naked eye could pick out Titan and it’s over populous polar region—a city of a million lights, cascading through the observation decks huge windows.
The journey from the Tri-star Region was virtually over and the Halo 7 had powered down to sub-light-speed just moments before. The five-week journey was enduring and difficult. Jake Carter watched as Carla first warmed to him, but gradually pulled away, seemingly back into the grasp of Steve Costello.
Jake could not believe his luck. He rescued her, dammit, and yet it was Steve who received all the accolades, the praise and Carla’s affection. He wasn’t sure how but he let Carla slip through his fingers, when a few weeks before it seemed certain that there burgeoning relationship was developing into something significant.
Had he let it happen? Carla told Jake on more than one occasion that he seemed distant. He just shrugged it off and told her he was fine. Had he taken her for granted and allowed a barrier to build between them?
In a few hours, they would be home and all three faced the inquisition of the Chancellor of the South Downs Alpha Academy. Graduation was by no means certain, or even that they be allowed back into the academy.
They all had their supporters, of course. The Halo’s commander Jonathan Hoskins had heaped praise on the courageous efforts of his officer candidate protégé. Not only had Jake rescued, Hoskins’ Mistress, Obeya and the two Stevenson sisters, but he had killed the Kryl Winterburn and somehow managed to get them all through the Blue Wormhole just before it imploded. Steve though, was the hero of the moment. His missile had impacted in the center of the wormhole. Packed with its combination of regular and sub space charges, it had destroyed the wormhole and ended the possibility of an invasion by the Kryl.
Carla Stevenson entered the upper observation deck lounge from the aft corridor entrance. She was alone, which was a pleasant surprise and as always she looked stunning, the picture enhanced by the dimmed ceiling lighting which accentuated her tall slim figure. She still took his breath away every time he saw her. He needed her to be his and yet, seemingly she was further away from him than ever.
Carla saw Jake and headed towards his table. He sat in the corner of the lounge, away from the hustle and bustle of the bar and communal area. From here, he could watch the stars go by.
“Hi Jake.” She sat down beside him and pecked him on the cheek. “You should have told me you were going to be here. I have been trying to contact you all morning.”
“My comm. link is playing up. To be honest, I did not want to disturb you from your studies.”
“Disturb me! Jake we have hardly spoken in the last week. I am not sure what’s happened, but you seem distant. Steve said you are blanking him, every time your paths cross.”
“I have not been blanking him. He is enjoying his hero status and I am...shall we say trying to blend into the background. We will be back on Earth soon and I have been trying to catch up on my studies.”
“What about me?”
Jake looked at her quizzically.
“What do you mean?”
“Jake, for God’s sake. I know I backed off a little when we first escaped from the wormhole but I was trying to take in everything that happened. I was kidnapped, got my sister back after six years, and split up with my long term boyfriend.”
Jake interrupted. “Is he back on the agenda?”
“No!” Carla was cross now. “Jake, I split up with Steve to be with you. I just needed a bit of me time. Do you still feel the same way about me?”
Jake smiled, and suddenly felt the weight of a thousand stars lift from his body. “Of course, I do!”
He stood up and clumsily at first, they embraced.
* * * *
Jonathan Hoskins was in his ready room. This was his most challenging mission to date, but it was over and the Halo 7 would shortly dock at Alpha Two, where she would commence a four-week refit. She was badly damaged in the Kryl Galaxy and earned a rest...as had he. This was unlikely. He was soon to become a father. Somehow he had to juggle his career with his family and find time also for Obeya Temsouri.
Hoskins made up his mind. He needed Obeya and he could not let her go He needed his wife too and of course, she was about to give birth to their first child. Somehow, he would have to manage his private and work life to allow him to see Obeya, without his wife finding out. This would be difficult if his wife continued to assert that he should take extended paternity leave. He found himself hoping that a new military crisis would arise and the decision taken out of his hands.
A comm. link broke his pattern of thought. The Halo 7 had reduced to sub-light-speed and would be commencing docking procedures within the hour.
He needed to see Obeya, before she departed. It may be their last time for a while. He left the ready room observing briefly, as his bridge crew prepared the ship for docking. Satisfied his first officer had matters at hand, he left the bridge without comment and headed for Obeya’s quarters.
Chapter Two
The First Prey
The Alpha Patrol Vessel was on a routine operational sortie of the Jandas system, seventy-five light years from Earth. The three-week mission hailed from Alpha 17, a deep space portal station in the neighboring Danekum system and was drawing to a close, when the sub officer reported an anomaly fifteen thousand kilometers to port.
Ship Commander, Lieutenant Roberto Samos was in his third tour, post graduation and was looking forward to shore leave and the start of his new posting as a Frigate XO. He was not prepared for what was about to happen.
“Sir, a large vessel has just de-cloaked where the anomaly was. Oh, my God—it’s a Kryl Cruiser!”
Samos leapt to his feet and barked out his command, “Take evasive action. Shields to maximum. Deploy cannons one and two!”
It was too late. The limited shield strength of the ten-m
an patrol vessel was no match for the powerful Kryl plasma weapons. The single burst of weapons fire burst straight through the heart of the patrol ship. The brief skirmish was over and the ship listed to port, lifeless.
* * * *
Samos rose first and pulled himself back to his chair. The debris from the impact lay scattered around him, with the deadly still bodies of two of his crew, by his side. He knew he was beaten and made no effort to defend himself as three Kryl drones boarded the vessel through a temporary phased portal created on the front section of the fuselage. He was led, with seven of his colleagues aboard the Kryl cruiser in silence. There was little protest, the prisoners seemed resigned to their fate.
The wounded were directed to a medical facility and the remainder to a holding cell. It was only once the Kryl guards had left that Samos spoke.
“We have to keep our cool here. We are captives, but Fleet Command knows where we are. There has to be a way of off this ship.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Samos was not accustomed to being addressed so bluntly, but his Operations Officer was not a man to mince his words, “There is no way off this ship and even if there were, where would we go? We are here to be fed on—plain and simple...let’s just hope it’s quick.”
Samos knew his Ops Chief was correct, but he did not reply and no one else felt compelled to speak.
The Guards returned to provide food and liquid refreshments and having determined that Samos was in command. They led him to the Sanctuary and the awaiting Kronan.
* * * *
Morvalt smiled when Samos entered. He waited for the guards to leave before gesturing his ‘guest’ to a curved seating area at the rear of the Sanctuary. This was the Kronan’s ‘throne’ room and although it shared the same gloomy appearance as the rest of the ship, it did at least offer some comfort to its occupants.
“I presume that you are the commanding officer of your ship?”
Samos knew diplomacy was probably the best tactic but he still had to establish some ground rules. If I have to answer questions, I am bloody well going to get some answers too.
“I am Lieutenant Samos. Can I ask your name?”
“Certainly you can. I am Morvalt. I am the commander of this vessel and of the Kryl fleet. I am a hierarchal Kryl, a Kronan. What is the purpose of your incursion so deep into your galaxy? Why are you patrolling an area, devoid of any substance and meaning?”
“I thought Winterburn was the Kronan? Your fleet has deserted you. I presume it is the other side of the defunct wormhole.”
Morvalt smiled again, revealing a dull set of grayish teeth. His pallid and featureless face makes him look quite dead, thought Samos. He realized he was being a little too confrontational and decided he would go on to answer the Kronan’s question.
“Alpha’s domain is very wide. This was just a routine patrol, to seek out anything unusual. I think we can claim success on this sortie.”
“Your humor is quite refreshing, given your predicament and your insignificance in my presence. I presume you are seeking a way to escape and you have determined that your fate under our control is not good?”
Now, it was Samos’s turn to smile. This was not something the Academies could teach you. This was pure relationship management and Samos was good at this. He decided to be bold.
“I am here to negotiate our release and to advise you that Alpha will find you and remove you as a threat.”
“Negotiate with what? What can you offer me that I am not already in a position to take?” Let me bring this matter to a close. You are here, because I want to create a greater understanding of your species and because I want to explain, as a courtesy, what will happen to you and your crew. You are victims of your own overzealous intrigue. I was not seeking confrontation—not at this stage, but your arrival reminded me that my crew are hungry. The sustenance will spur them on and enhance their morale. You will be consumed slowly, creating both excitement and desperation in my crew as I compel them to savor their food and not rush for the kill. They will learn to wait for the bountiful supply available as we begin to devour the food resources of your galaxy.”
Samos swallowed hard before replying. Things were not looking good.
“You are only a small number against the whole of Alpha. Your ship will be hunted down and destroyed. If we are to be your sacrificial lambs then so be it. This will be your last meal, so make the most of it!”
Another smile revealed Morvalt’s teeth once again. There was more than a hint of enjoyment in the Kronan’s response.
“The wormhole is not permanently closed. It will soon reopen and my armada will flood into your galaxy and commence our feeding. Your sacrifice is a token for my crew, not for me. It will remind them what they are really here for. You show fortitude in your responses,, Mister Samos and I have enjoyed our discussion. You will be the last to be consumed to ensure we have other opportunities to talk. A crew member will be selected and taken for consumption today. Their electrical stimuli will be drained over time and it will be some days before we will need a replacement. Goodbye for now Mister Samos.”
Chapter Three
Realization
When Alpha 17 Command realized Patrol Ship AV7 had disappeared, they sent out a further patrol ship to investigate. When this ship also went missing, the commanders dispatched a type 13 D class cruiser. This, too, was missing.
The news of the loss of three Alpha vessels in the Jandas system was brought to Admiral Koenig’s attention at 11:00 a.m. on the first Monday morning in March 2213. Spring had arrived and temperatures were up, both outside and within Koenig’s chambers where the conversation was heated. The loss of the Alpha vessels did not concern Koenig greatly. The fact that the space cruiser came across two empty patrol vessels which took weapons fire from a plasma cannon whose discharge was similar to those used by the Kryl most certainly had. This coupled with the news from the Tri-star system suggesting the blue wormholes closure could only be temporary, seriously had his attention. He called for a meeting of his inner circle, his chief advisors, Admiral Clarke and Admiral Kohn. The three most senior Alpha Commanders sat around the holographic display in Koenig’s office reviewing the reports for both items.
“If the plasma fire came from a Kryl vessel and the wormholes are still closed, then it must have been there all the time or they have found some other way to enter our galaxy.”
Koenig held his hand to his chin and tapped his finger on his cheek nervously, before he continued. “What is the likelihood that a Kryl Cruiser could have left the fleet in battle unnoticed?”
“The area was surrounded. Our scanners would have picked something up unless they have some kind of cloaking facility. I don’t see how this would be possible.”
Clarke was being pragmatic. He wanted hard evidence before he would accept that a Kryl ship was actively destroying Alpha Vessels in the Jandas system.
“It’s likely the cruiser commanders’ interpretation of the plasma fire damage is incorrect. It would be too much of a coincidence for this and the wormhole issue to occur at the same time.”
Koenig interrupted, “We cannot take this for granted. What action is Alpha 17 proposing?”
This time, Kohn spoke, he was sitting quietly as Koenig and Clarke debated the possibility of a further Kryl insurgence.
“They have no more cruisers and have requested a task group be dispatched to investigate. This is perhaps, a bit reactive. I suggest we send a Class B battle cruiser. This should be more than a match for the enemy vessel.”
He reflected further before adding. “I don’t think we can rule out the possibility of it being a Kryl ship. We need to tread carefully.”
“I agree.” Koenig responded. “Send a battle cruiser immediately. I presume it will take some time to get to that part of the galaxy.”
“About eight days, from Alpha 15—they have the Mauritius on standby. I will arrange it.”
The three commanders moved to the contentious issue of the
wormhole. Again, Clarke questioned the reliability of the report.
“Evidence that the wormhole may reopen at some stage is hardly compelling.”
“No, but we have no contra indications either. Do we have a team in place looking at this...and if not, why not? If that hole reopens, all hell could break loose and we are not best placed to engage in another battle with the Kryl. See to it that the best people are put in place immediately, if they are not there already. Ensure we have adequate resources in the area to defend our position. We need at least a hundred ships of the line in situ. Is Admiral Haines, still in the sector?”
“Haines is en route to Alpha Two, but I believe that Admiral Shenke is still in the sector. I shall ask him to return to the system with a task force back up.”
“Fine, keep me informed. I don’t like my Monday mornings disturbed in this fashion gentlemen. I trust when we meet again, you will both have some good news for me. Do not tell me that the Kryl are back!”
Chapter Four
The Chancellors Inquisition
The three students were briefed by their tutor to attend The Chancellors office at 9:00 a.m. on the day following their shuttles short flight from Alpha Two. They had no idea what the Chancellor would say and whether they would be allowed to continue their respective courses. The subject was off-limits since the Halo 7 docked at Alpha 2. They sat in silence on three modular chairs facing the oak clad door of the Chancellors office and their date with destiny. The Chancellor was not known to mince his words and was always prompt. Today was no exception.
The huge office door opened and a bespectacled grey haired man, dressed in a pea green academy tunic glanced sternly at all three, before speaking.
“I will see you individually, starting with you Mister Costello.”
Fifteen minutes passed, before the door reopened and Steve Costello exited, without expression. He left the Chancellors suite in silence. Two minutes later the Chancellor gestured for Carla to enter. Carla also left the Chancellor’s office without comment. After a further five minutes, it was Jake’s turn to face the Chancellor’s wrath.