“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
A smile, a breath, a touch of a hand. It seemed miracles were alive and well in Amaranthe.
“The truth was—” Miriam sat up straight, nudged David back and held up a finger to preemptively silence everyone. A frown replaced mirth to overtake her expression as it became clear that the war had come to claim their peaceful interlude.
Abruptly she stood. “Run your alcohol neutralization eVi routines and meet me in the conference room. We have a problem.”
“Where’s the tracker now?”
Caleb paced along the length of the table, cognizant that soon enough the conference room would be too crowded for him to do so, and soon after that he would be expending the pent-up energy in more consequential actions. “About four hundred parsecs away, orbiting a red dwarf in an uninhabited system. I’d have destroyed it, but I didn’t want them to be alerted to the fact that we’d found it.”
Before Miriam could respond, Jenner rushed into the meeting room. The brigadier instantly opened an aural and slid it down to Miriam. “This is a sequential list of everywhere the Saratoga or the transport module has visited since arriving in Amaranthe. Unfortunately, the list includes almost seventy percent of our missions. The only locations where either have landed, however, are Post Epsilon, Post Alpha and Exobiology Research Lab #4.”
Caleb paused his traversals long enough to drum his fingers on the table. “The odds of catching a tracker this small while in space are extremely low. I’d put my credits on the lab being the source, for one basic reason: if the Directorate had spies on the ground at either of the anarch posts, they wouldn’t need the tracker.”
“Unless they were searching for the fleet.”
Caleb barely managed to stop himself from whirling in surprise. It was damn strange to hear the accented voice, to see David Solovy walking and talking among them. “Then they should have found us days ago. Why haven’t they attacked us yet?”
Miriam eyed them both as she opened a new holo interface and Nisi appeared—Corradeo, Caleb reminded himself, though few in the room knew it. He’d shared the Sator’s true identity with Alex, and they’d agreed that Miriam should be told, but Caleb didn’t intend to out the man to the world unless circumstances demanded it.
The anarch leader was studying a screen and didn’t greet them at first. In the brief lull that resulted, David spread his arms dramatically in response to Caleb’s question. “Why haven’t they attacked at all yet?”
Nisi looked up to respond. “Multiple scramblers are in place in the region surrounding each post. The tracker’s signal would have dropped twelve parsecs before the transport reached any of our locations. Best case: they assumed the tracker was discovered and destroyed, and they gave up. Worst case: They continued to investigate, which means they needed to search multiple nearby systems for evidence of our presence. Unless they got very lucky, this would take time. They might have failed entirely, as our posts are well camouflaged.”
Miriam shook her head. “We nonetheless must act under the assumption that they did not fail and any or all of the AEGIS fleet, Post Alpha and Post Epsilon are subject to attack at any time. The fleet has been placed on full alert. Sator?”
“I have informed the respective Administrators of the increased danger, but there is little ‘alert’ status to activate. The perimeter defenses are always active. Beyond that? To move every resident to an alternate post via the teleportation gates will take days. To put them on ships is more efficient, but there are not so many ships, thus it will still take days. We need to determine whether such drastic action is warranted.”
Alex hurried through the door then. The look on her face as her eyes found him—before they found her father, and he should not take such pride in it as he did—suggested she was up to speed on the situation, which of course she was. Even apart from the quick message he’d sent her, word would’ve traveled through the Connexus into the larger Noesis and to every Prevo in seconds, if it took that long.
Jenner stepped into the brief disruption Alex’s arrival created to answer Nisi directly. “AEGIS personnel are all being recalled from Epsilon as we speak. Sator, Ambassador Requelme is en route now to Post Satus to act as a liaison during this crisis.” He pivoted to Miriam. “Commandant, I recommend we split the fleet—leave half here to guard Epsilon and send the other half to Alpha. Rather than evacuating and abandoning the locations, we should defend them.”
It was an unusually assertive move on his part, Caleb thought.
Miriam hesitated for less than a second. “Agreed. Thomas, distribute orders to implement the directives that follow, authorization AFX-21X93 Alpha Zulu Mark 3.4.”
‘Acknowledged.’
“Brigadier Jenner, you’ll lead the forces at Post Alpha.”
Jenner drew up in surprise. “Ma’am, with respect, I don’t deserve the assignment. This is my fault.”
Ah, so this was the reason for the earnestness. Caleb considered remaining silent…but it had been a good day. “No, it’s not. Only Praesidis and Kats—and me, I guess—can detect anything less than a substantial concentration of diati, and it took a fraction of that amount to mask the tracker’s presence. Unless we want to enlist a cadre of Kats to scan every one of our ships in addition to their own—and maybe we do—there is no realistic way to detect the presence of a tiny, hidden tracker like this one.”
Bastian snorted, despite the fact he’d only arrived a minute earlier. “What about when it was placed? Or preventing it from being placed?”
Caleb kept his attention on Jenner. “Were the transports under guard while they were at the lab?”
“Every second.”
“Then there’s nothing else you could’ve done to prevent it. I assume a Praesidis Inquisitor or Vigil agent was onsite. They must have stealthed to place it, and in an environment you didn’t already control, you couldn’t guard against invisible—that’s why we use Veils so frequently.”
Alex reached his side and squeezed his hand.
You’re acting kind to Malcolm. What gives?
I’m feeling generous.
Miriam nodded in agreement. “Now is not the time for rashly assigning blame, though I suspect Caleb’s analysis is the correct one. As for more rigorous preventative measures, those considerations will also need to wait for the aftermath. We need—”
Nisi cleared his throat, somehow managing to project such gravitas through the holo with the simple act that the room instantly quieted. “Discussion has become moot, and our course is set. I’ve just received a priority notification of Machim vessels inbound to Post Alpha.”
Miriam sighed. “Belay my last, Thomas. Marshal Bastian, the SF Southern Fleet formations will remain at Post Epsilon in case of an additional attack there. The rest of the fleet will proceed immediately to Post Alpha under my command. Thomas, direct the AFS Keswick to move the Caeles Prism into position and the fleet to escalate to Level V Threat Status.”
She glanced back at Jenner. “Sorry, Brigadier. Next time.”
9
CHIONIS
ANARCH POST ALPHA
MILKY WAY SECTOR 59
* * *
FELZEOR SOARED HIGH ABOVE the snow-capped-and-coated mountains that all but encircled Post Alpha. The arctic air frosted the porous feathers of his face and outstretched wings to the brink of freezing, but it wasn’t so much colder up here than on the ground, where the chill from the snow crept into the walls and floors of the post.
In a grudging allowance to the frigid temperatures, he wore a thermal vest around his chest that Cosime had designed for him. ‘To keep your heart warm,’ she’d said. Wearing clothes felt so odd, and he suspected it interfered with his aerodynamics a bit, but it did help keep him warm. His chest anyway, which held his heart. This should make Cosime happy.
He canted his wings to drop into a valley between two peaks and raced a few meters above the ground up the steep angle of the next pe
ak until he reached a zenith in unobstructed sky. Only then did he tuck his chin and level off parallel with the jagged horizon. What fun!
The terrain surrounding Alpha was interesting, challenging and exquisitely pretty; he just wished it wasn’t so cold. But Thelkt and Cosime were here now, and often Eren, too, so he tried to get by. He loitered around the thermal vents a lot.
Of course, he could go spend some time at Epsilon with Caleb and Alex and Valkyrie…unless they didn’t stay put there. He bet they didn’t stay put there. For like him, they were happiest when they were flying. Post Charlie was tropical, which sounded fabulous…but he didn’t really know anybody there. He preferred to be among friends whenever possible. Friends were worth a spell or two of frigid air.
The transmitter embedded beneath the skin of his neck broadcast his ‘friend’ designation as he flew past one of the perimeter turrets built into the mountainside. Cosime would probably fuss at him for venturing so far from the post…so he wouldn’t tell her! She was adventurous, too; she simply got a little overprotective of him sometimes. And of Eren. Especially of Eren. Which didn’t make much sense since Eren couldn’t die. It must be because she loved him?
He crested an even higher peak to greet the morning sun, and for a brief span the air felt almost warm. He cooed to the sunrise and swept into a wide circle to fully enjoy the almost-warmth.
As he came back around, a sharp glint of light flared off to his left. But he was above the tallest peaks, so there shouldn’t be anything nearby for light to reflect off of. He didn’t know about all of the secret defenses Alpha used, but he did know they were sure to be hidden, not out in the open where they might reflect light and draw attention to themselves.
He dipped his wings to veer in that direction—and the glare shifted away to reveal a row of Machim fighters speeding barely above the peaks of the mountain range. Though still well outside Post Alpha airspace, their heading would bring them directly to its location in minutes.
They knew where it was!
He plummeted into a near-vertical dive through the nearest valley, out of sight, then sped as fast as he dared, skimming dangerously close to the snowy, rocky ground.
Felzeor: Xanne! Administrator Hano! Machim warships are on approach from the northwest! They’ll be at the post in less than five minutes!
Eren threw a leg over one arm of the chair opposite Xanne’s desk and slouched against the other. “If the reports I’m getting are to be believed, three regional hubs have seen their operations completely shut down and another four are being repeatedly disrupted. The MW Sector 18 and Andromeda Sector 2 Administration stations were taken over by anarch forces for multiple hours, and SMC Sector 1 Administration is still under anarch control.”
“Are they?”
“Are they…?”
“The reports—are they to be believed?”
He glared at Xanne in borderline annoyance. Ever the pragmatist, she certainly knew how to deflate a pleasant high when reality required it. He laughed under his breath at the recognition that he’d been high on the gratification success brought rather than, well, high. It felt good—or at least it had before Xanne doused it with a bucket full of skepticism.
“Is something amusing, Eren?”
“A bit. To answer your question, on average the reports are probably inflating the level of success twenty percent or so in an attempt to impress us—to impress the anarch leadership, that is. And for the most part, failures never make it to reports, as there’s no one left to do the reporting. But I’ve solid confirmation on—”
The emotions abruptly springing to life on Xanne’s face stopped him cold. His feet landed on the floor, ready to vault him into action the instant he gave them a destination, or just a direction in which to move. “What’s happened?”
“We’re about to come under attack.” She opened three different displays and entered a multitude of commands. Sirens began to peal through the hallway behind him and many hallways beyond.
“Defenses are active. Sator Nisi has requested for me to report to Post Satus and assist him from there. There’s no time for flight evacuations, so Administrator Hano is beginning an evacuation of the most essential personnel, followed by the most vulnerable, through the teleportation gate to Post Charlie.” She paused her frenetic work long enough to check him. “Eren, you should get to Post Charlie.”
She was telling him he was ‘essential.’ He got that. All the more reason to stay. “Not a chance. I’m fighting. If nothing else, I’ll buy time for people to evacuate.”
She nodded as if she’d expected the response. “Empty the armory and don’t hold anything in reserve. Good luck.”
“See you on the other side.” He hit the door running.
10
CHIONIS STELLAR SYSTEM
AFS STALWART II
MILKY WAY SECTOR 59
* * *
THE WORMHOLE EXITED into normal space a scant three megameters above Chionis. With no time to waste, Miriam had set the destination at the minimum safe distance.
The instant they arrived, every formation engaged the attacking Machim fleet.
A scan of the tactical map as it populated with data revealed a full third of the Machim vessels deployed in defensive rearguard positions. AEGIS’ arrival had been expected, or least their appearance was not unexpected.
That was fine. She, too, had come prepared, despite being given only a few minutes warning. Most of being prepared involved having the right standing orders in place when the pivotal moment arrived.
She stopped herself from glancing over at David, who stood off to her side. She didn’t need more than her peripheral vision to observe that he was as comfortable on the bridge of a ship as he’d ever been. But it was the first time he’d stood on the bridge of her ship while it entered combat. The sudden desire to impress him that welled up shouldn’t be a surprise, but she couldn’t afford to indulge it.
Commandant Solovy (AFS Stalwart II): “SF Northern Fleet, focus on the Machim defense line. EA SE and SW fleets, spread out and protect our flanks. EA NE and NW fleets, form a defensive perimeter around the remainder of the planet to prevent additional forces from reaching the surface. AEGIS ESC flights, trench a line of negative energy mines between the enemy defense line and the vessels actively attacking the planet. Cut them off from one another. AEGIS Assault brigades, get yourselves past the defense line and engage the forces attacking the planet in full.”
“Thomas, flash analysis. What do you see?”
‘Our arrival was anticipated, and a portion of the enemy vessels have been tasked with waiting for us, then engaging us when we appeared. The enemy fleet is outsized for the target, however, even by Machim standards and even accounting for the additional ships required to engage our forces. Speculation: they expected Chionis to have a level of planetary defenses that it does not possess.
‘Given the number of Machim ships present, the post should be obliterated several times over by now, irrespective of the high percentage of vessels tasked with defense. Yet it is not. I’m receiving information confirming communications are still transmitting from the ground. Fragmented and disjointed and providing negligible actionable intel, but communications nonetheless.’
She sensed David draw closer. “Your Artificial would make a decent battlefield commander.”
“He is a decent battlefield commander.”
‘Thank you, Commandant.’
Miriam studied the tactical map more closely as the conflict began to take shape. Separate and apart from the rearguard that had been waiting on them, a hefty chunk of the Machim forces held stationary positions on the far side of the battlefield, closer to the planet. They weren’t attacking the surface, however…in fact, it sure looked as if they were protecting it.
Commandant Solovy (Stalwart II)(Command Channel): “Commander Lekkas, leave the mine placement to your Eidolons. I need eyes in the sky down there. Something isn’t right up here, which I suspect means something isn’t right on th
e ground.”
Commander Lekkas (AFS MA-Primary)(Command Channel): “On it.”
AFS MA-PRIMARY
Morgan hardly noticed the buffeting of the atmosphere against the sleek adiamene hull of her ship as it left space behind and dove toward the surface, primarily because she’d put the ship on autopilot to leap ahead in sidespace and survey the scene. Once she was flying within sight of the ground, there would be no time to loll around contemplating strategy. She wanted to figure out now where to go once she got there.
What she saw sent her consciousness slamming back into her body. She disengaged the autopilot and increased her speed to tear through the balance of the upper atmosphere.
Machim fighters buzzed high in the skies above Post Alpha, shooting out the few remaining defense turrets and shield generators and patrolling the perimeter of the site, presumably intending to shoot anyone or anything that tried to arrive or flee. A small squad of fighters fired on the structures of the post, but only until the edifices fell, after which they moved on to the next. All moved prudently and gave the craggy mountains a wide berth, with good reason. But they weren’t her.
She slowed and descended as low as she dared, stealthed or not. Her custom ship was the most advanced fighter-type craft ever built by humans, and she wore it like a second skin. Flying this low to the ground, surrounded by steep mountains and narrow crevices, took unparalleled agility and quick reflexes—luckily her ship had one and she had the other. She tipped the wings and slipped through a gap to get a closer view of activity in the distance, past what remained of the clustered structures.
A large Machim transport vessel hovered above a comparatively level area of the steep terrain, beyond the southernmost boundary of the post. A wide ramp had been lowered from its fuselage, and out of it poured an army of massive, hulking creatures.
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