by Thomas Fay
‘Sir, I need to assess her injuries,’ he said, quietly.
I reluctantly let go of Selize. My infiltration armour had taken the brunt of the force of decompression but she had not escaped unscathed. The blood vessels around her eyes had burst. The blood looked like blue tears. Her hands and face had icicles on them.
‘Selize?’
No response.
‘Selize, can you hear me?’
I took a deep breath. Focusing my thoughts, I reached out with my mind.
Selize?
John?
Selize? Don’t move. You’re going to be okay.
I know, John. You came for me.
Everything will be alright. They’re going to take good care of you.
I stood up. My eyes were locked on Selize. Despite the Centaurians’ innate ability to withstand exposure to deep space, the explosive decompression had still taken its toll on her. She looked like she’d survived an emergency ascent from the depths of an ocean. I clenched my fists as I thought of Marvik. I needed a target for my anger and this had all started with him.
‘Make sure she’s okay,’ I said. ‘Call me as soon as she wakes up.’
‘Yes, sir,’ the medic replied. He was already applying a medical foam to her eyes, cheeks and mouth.
I slotted my lunar disruptor into a wall bracket. Deactivating the EVA function on my infiltration armour, I removed my helmet. Exiting the cargo hold, I walked swiftly through the ship until I reached the control room.
‘Welcome back, sir,’ Captain Argus said.
‘Thank you, Captain. Nice timing.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Status?’
‘All operatives have been extracted. One casualty: Lieutenant Farson. All Spectre ships are fully functional.’
‘What about the Proxian base?’
‘No change, sir. They’re obviously aware that we’re here but they haven’t moved to engage us.’
‘Does the base have any offensive capability?’
‘No, sir. Our scans haven’t revealed anything other than the gateway generator.’
‘Ships?’
‘Only the one which we pursued here. Our scans have not identified any other vessels docked with the station.’
‘I guess that’s why they’re not coming after us. They don’t have anything to come after us with.’
‘Makes sense, sir.’
‘Captain, our satellites have detected long-range gravitational disturbances,’ Lieutenant Chan said.
‘Ships?’ I asked.
‘Most likely, sir.’
‘Looks like they’ve called for reinforcements.’
‘What should we do, sir?’
‘Drop us back into dark space and reposition us on the other side of the moon. And open a communication channel to Command.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And boost the signal, Lieutenant.’
‘Sir? That will increase the chance of detection.’
‘I think they know we’re here and this is too important. Besides, what’s the likelihood of the Proxians breaking our encryption?’
‘One in ten million.’
‘There you go.’
Spectre Alpha-1 accelerated away from the Proxian base, dropping back into dark space partway through the manoeuvre. Lieutenant Chan confirmed the coms channel to Command was open.
‘This is Rear Admiral Stanton,’ I said.
The reply came through ten seconds later.
‘Vice Admiral Scholtzer here. I thought you resigned, Stanton?’
‘Believe me, sir, this is not where I thought I’d be.’
‘And yet there you are, commandeering our finest covert squad, deep inside Proxima Centauri. Care to explain?’
‘Sir, you’ve read the reports. The Proxians kidnapped a Centaurian from Proxima III. We pursued them and uncovered a class III gateway generator located in a Lagrange point and disguised as a civilian base.’
‘Yes, I’ve read the report. We’re still formulating a response.’
‘There’s more, sir. I’ve now learned that an independent trader named Lars Marvik has been working with the Proxians for over a year. He’s been operating inside Alpha Centauri the whole time and returning to Proxima III on a regular basis.’
There was a momentary silence beyond the time delay associated with the tight-beam coms.
‘What’s the connection, Stanton?’
‘Sir, I believe Marvik was scouting locations for wormhole terminuses inside Alpha Centauri. In fact, I’m certain of it. He attacked us in an asteroid field when we got too close. I’ve also reviewed scan data from a deep-space mining rig that was in that asteroid field—there’s a dormant gateway anchor in that field.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘I’m saying the Proxians are going to invade Alpha Centauri. I’m betting there are more of these gateway generators masquerading as space stations throughout Proxima Centauri. With Marvik’s help and the gateway anchors, they’ll be able to jump directly into the Alpha Centauri system.’
‘If you’re right, they’ll be able to deploy their entire fleet throughout the system simultaneously. It will give them a tremendous strategic advantage. What’s your recommendation, Stanton?’
‘Send a squad to that asteroid field to disable the gateway anchor and sweep for other anchors in remote parts of the system. We should also move the entire First and Second fleets inside Alpha Centauri.’
‘I’ll dispatch a squad immediately to the asteroid field. As for the fleets, the First Fleet is moving towards the Alpha Centauri gateway in the Sol system. The Second Fleet is fully deployed in Tau Ceti and unable to assist at this time.’
‘What’s the situation in Tau?’
There was a long silence.
‘The situation is becoming critical. The Un’Glaz faction leadership has been decimated by a spate of assassinations. Tau III is under attack by supposedly rogue elements but they’re too well equipped to be anything but House of Tau forces. They even spun up an asteroid and threw it at us. Only the sheer firepower we have available on Tau III is holding them back. The Second Fleet is taking up strategic positions to protect our resources in the system while we evacuate our covert stations.’
‘You’re pulling out of Tau Ceti?’
‘We’re getting ready to, in case it becomes necessary. Given the situation with the houses, we believe the Un’Glaz faction will lose control of the Forum within a matter of days. The admiral and the President are currently formulating a final response should that happen and should the houses turn their full might against our forces.’
I hadn’t realised the full implications of the Second Fleet being deployed in Tau Ceti. The UEP had supported the Un’Glaz faction for centuries. I found it hard to believe they would pull out, particularly given the real reason for the Space Navy presence in Tau Ceti. My thoughts turned to that fateful mission years ago, deep in a Tau Ceti asteroid field, where I had seen the truth with my own eyes.
‘But a full withdrawal would mean …’
‘Abandoning the search for Founder technology. Which is why the UEP is unlikely to withdraw unless the houses openly declare war. Their hope is that the presence of the Second Fleet will be a sufficient deterrent to an outright declaration of war and allow us to negotiate with whoever gains control of the Forum.’
‘And if it isn’t?’
‘Then the Second Fleet withdraws to Sol and we shut down the gateway behind them. Without the UEP gateway, it will take the Cetians ten years to reach us.’
‘That’s assuming they haven’t developed more powerful ships or gateway technology.’
‘Even if they have, our covert ops in Tau have provided invaluable data on their military capabilities. We can withstand an assault by the Cetians.’
‘What about the Proxians and the Cetians combined?’
‘That would be close. Too close to allow that to happen.’
I took a deep breath. What I was going to say next w
ould change the situation dramatically.
‘Sir, I believe there already is an alliance between the two species.’
‘What evidence have you got to back that up, Stanton?’
‘During our extraction mission we encountered Founder technology. A functional artefact powering the gateway generator.’
There was another long silence.
‘Are you sure that’s what you saw, Stanton?’
‘Yes, sir. Positive. I’ve seen one before in Tau Ceti.’
‘I need to speak to the admiral at once.’
‘Understood, sir. Where do you want me?’
‘For the moment, monitor the Proxian base. We can’t do anything until they make the first move. If what you say about the Cetians’ involvement in Proxima Centauri is true, then we need to tread extremely carefully. The situation in Tau Ceti is on a knife edge as it is and any unprovoked attack could accelerate the process and lead to an interstellar war.’
‘Understood. Stanton, out.’
40.
Selize and I stood on the surface of the alien planet once more. The gigantic cliffs towered over us as the pale-green mist swirled around our feet. I looked at Selize. Then I looked down at a young Centaurian standing between us.
She was Selize and she wasn’t. The young Centaurian looked up at me, her crystalline eyes reflecting the pale light of the twin star system. Then she smiled.
John?
Selize, what’s happening?
Relax, John. Everything’s alright.
But where are we? Who is she?
Selize smiled at me, mirroring the young Centaurian’s smile. It was eerie how much alike they looked.
Selize, I don’t understand.
You will, John.
When?
Soon. Very soon. It’s almost time.
My eyes snapped open. I sat up on my bed. My head was surprisingly clear. The images that had seemed so real a moment ago faded into my subconscious, like a dream in the light of day. I stood up.
Opening the door, I made my way to the medical chamber aboard the Spectre vessel. Entering the sterile white environment, my eyes found Selize. She was lying on a padded bed. The medic, the same one who had met us in the cargo hold, stood next to her.
‘How is she?’ I asked.
‘Mending quickly. Centaurians heal faster than we do. Considering also their higher tolerance for exposure to deep space, she’ll make a full recovery within the hour.’
I nodded. Leaning over, I held her hand. Selize’s eyes slowly opened.
‘John.’
‘It’s okay, you’re safe now.’
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too. Rest now. I’ll come and check on you in an hour.’
Selize nodded as her eyes closed.
‘Keep an eye on her for me,’ I said.
‘Of course, sir. But you don’t have to worry. They’ll both be fine,’ the medic said.
I froze in my tracks.
‘Both?’
The medic looked uncertain.
‘I assumed you knew, sir?’
‘Knew what?’
The medic managed to look even more uncertain as he glanced over at Selize.
‘She’s pregnant, sir.’
Not even the discovery of Founder technology inside the Proxian base could compare to my surprise at this news.
‘Pregnant? Are you sure?’
‘Yes, sir. I did a quick scan on her when we got her into the medical bay. She’s not showing yet but she will soon. Centaurians have an accelerated gestation period. You really had no idea, sir?’
I was speechless. No wonder my telepathic connection with Selize was showing me a young Centaurian. The baby was clearly developed enough to be part of our telepathic link. I smiled. Me, a father. Who would have thought?
‘I had no idea. Take good care of my family.’
‘I will, sir.’
I left the medical chamber. Walking through the Spectre vessel, I realised I was genuinely happy. A part of me realised this was what I wanted, why I had left the Space Navy. Another part of me, the part that had been trained to undertake deep cover infiltration missions, realised what I was feeling could be a part of the Centaurian bond. I should be questioning the situation, trying to ensure what I was feeling was real. But either the bond was too powerful or what I was feeling was genuine because all I could think about was protecting my new family.
‘Status?’ I said, sliding into an available acceleration couch inside the control room.
‘Sir, we’ve received word from Command. The squad sent to investigate the asteroid field came under heavy fire. They managed to destroy a wing of Kadmian Raiders.’
‘Good to hear. Did they find the gateway anchor?’
‘Yes, sir. It was unpowered but complete.’
‘Unpowered? That doesn’t make any sense. Unless …’
‘Sir?’
‘Did you manage to scan that Anubis-class ship we followed here?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Onscreen.’
A ghostly construct of an elongated pyramid-shaped Proxian vessel appeared on the view screen. It rotated slowly, highlighting different systems: propulsion, life support, weapons, gravity generation.
‘Damn, they really planned this well. Look at the power system,’ I said.
A section of the ship expanded on the screen. It showed a complicated series of power conduits running through the sides of the ship’s hull.
‘It looks like a piece of a giant conductor array,’ Captain Argus said.
‘Put about eight of those ships together and you’ll have an array powerful enough to activate the gateway anchor. This is how they’re going to power them and I’ll bet these ships are already in Alpha Centauri, hiding in dark space.’
‘Makes sense, sir. The gateway anchors would be in isolated parts of the system and the Proxians’ dark-space abilities would make them undetectable to normal ships.’
I nodded even as I remembered how Selize had been able to sense the Proxians on Proxima III.
‘The Centaurians can sense the Proxians, even when they’re in dark space. Which means those ships operating inside Alpha Centauri would have to stay away from any star ports or major shipping lanes,’ I said. ‘Then, when the time comes, they would phase into normal space, lock together to create a power conduit and activate the gateway anchors.’
‘At which point the full Proxian invasion force, including capital ships, troop transports and supply vessels can deploy inside Alpha Centauri, without anyone realising,’ Captain Argus said. ‘I’ll advise Command. They can begin sweeping for the Proxian vessels.’
‘Any update on the Proxian ships heading our way?’
‘They’re getting close. We’ll have to abandon this position very soon,’ Lieutenant Chan said.
‘What sort of intel do we have on the Proxian ships?’ I asked.
‘We’ve got specs on the majority of their fleet.’
‘Strengths? Weaknesses?’
‘Hull plating on their ships tends to be a lot more durable than ours thanks to the density of Proxian alloys,’ Captain Argus said. ‘The same can’t be said for their shields. Proxian generators are glitchy at best.’
‘Can they all phase in and out of dark space?’
‘Based on the data we have, Command believes that most of the Proxian ships, including all their capital ships, are conventional vessels. We don’t know how many Anubis-class ships they have but the gateway anchors inside Alpha Centauri will still give them a tremendous tactical advantage.’
Leaning back in my acceleration couch, my mind conjured up the image of Selize and our daughter. I smiled.
‘Sir?’ Lieutenant Chan said.
‘Yes, Lieutenant?’
‘A ship just dropped into orbit around Gamma V. It’s heading directly for the Proxian base. It must have used the planet’s gravity to mask its approach from our satellites.’
‘Onscreen.’
A stil
etto-shaped attack vessel appeared on the view screen. It was travelling at high speed through the upper reaches of the planet’s atmosphere. It was a vessel I had seen before: a Harbinger-class mercenary fighter craft.
‘That’s Lars Marvik’s ship.’
41.
I could feel the anger welling up inside me as I watched Marvik’s ship skim the atmosphere of the dusty brown planet. He was the reason Selize was injured. He was the reason her people were about to go to war. He had kidnapped Dayna, incapacitated Roger D and killed dozens of people including the crew of the mining rig Hyperion. Marvik had to pay for what he’d done.
The last time I’d faced him, he’d held a neutronium disintegrator aimed directly at me. He’d held all the cards. This time, I had the advantage, which included the best covert Spectre squad the Space Navy had.
‘Captain,’ I said, my voice dead calm.
‘Yes, sir?’
‘Advise the rest of the squad. We’re going after that ship.’
‘Seek and destroy?’
‘No. I want him alive.’
‘Understood, sir.’
Captain Argus instructed the rest of Spectre Squad Alpha. I continued to stare at Marvik’s ship. Thirty seconds later our vessel accelerated around the moon, flanked by the other four. One by one the ships re-entered normal space.
‘Sir, we’re receiving a transmission—it’s the Helios Ark free-merchant vessel.’
‘Put it through.’
‘Yes, sir.’
I hit the coms switch at my side.
‘This is Stanton.’
‘John, it’s Roger D.’
The ten-second time lag was infinitely more manageable than the one hundred and eighty second one.
‘Everything alright?’
‘We’ve lost Marvik. His ship’s gone and Horris just confirmed he left Proxima III a while ago. Horris isn’t sure exactly when but he thinks it was just after our encounter with Marvik.’
‘Marvik’s here.’
‘He’s there? What are you going to do?’
‘Apprehend him. It’s about time we got some answers.’