Dark Rivals: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Uprise Saga Book 4)

by Amy DuBoff

  What’s that supposed to mean?

  >>That you’re no longer an anonymous telepath working with a small team in the FDG. Some members of the broader Etheric Federation have taken notice.<<

  Like wh—

  Ava’s private conversation was interrupted by Captain Vera returning to the center of the room with Kurtz.

  “Transit time to intercept is thirteen hours,” Vera was saying. “You’re welcome to get settled in while we get underway.”

  Ava looked down at her travel bag in hand. She was coming up on a full day without rest, and the prospect of sleep was tempting.

  Kurtz picked up on her cue. “You go on, Lieutenant,” he said. “The captain offered me a personal tour of her ship, so we’ll be out of pocket anyway. Sleep well, and I’ll see you when we arrive.”

  “Yes, sir.” Considering what they’d be up against when they arrived at their destination, Ava needed to be as sharp and rested as possible.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Between a tour of the Hellfire, a nap, and his general excitement, the thirteen hours of transit time flew by for Kurtz.

  As they made the final approach for the intercept with the Dyon ship, Kurtz settled into the command chair at the center of the bridge, with Captain Vera to his right and Ava to his left. The lieutenant still seemed mystified about being at the center of the action, but Kurtz couldn’t imagine having anyone else along. If the op went sideways, he wanted to have the one person who’d ever initiated contact with the Dyons at his side.

  The overlay on the viewport at the front of the bridge was set to a magnified image of the void ahead. At the limits of visual range, a dull, spherical mass was coming into view.

  With minimal light of its own and no stars nearby, the sphere would be almost invisible, were it not for the enhancements offered by the holographic overlay.

  “Well, it doesn’t look so bad from this distance,” Ava quipped.

  Vera chuckled. “Yeah, wait until we’re right up next to it.”

  “I have no intention of getting that close, after what happened to the fleet in Gidyon,” Kurtz stated, standing up. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Lieutenant Landyn, see if you can make contact.”

  “We’re kind of far out, sir,” she replied. “But I’ll try.”

  Ava focused ahead at the image of the Dyon ship, getting a faraway look in her eyes.

  It’s amazing how she can do those things, Kurtz thought from the seat next to her. We’d be lost right now if it wasn’t for her.

  After a minute of intense concentration, Ava’s attention returned to the inside of the bridge. “I dunno, sir, it’s weird.”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “Eh.” Ava frowned at the image of the Dyon ship. “I didn’t exactly get through to them, but it wasn’t a lack of contact, either. The easiest way to describe it is that they were ignoring me. But… the presence wasn’t like I experienced before, on Gidyon.”

  Kurtz’s brow knit. “What do you mean?”

  “There were more of them.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not the right way to put it. Communicating with Reya or Nox was like talking with a single presence. The contact on Gidyon was like hearing a chorus—distinct voices speaking together. But this ship here… it’s like there are layers. I guess the best analogy would be a song. They were contributing to the same piece of music, but playing different parts in the harmony. Players, instrument groups, sections, all adding up to one orchestra. Only it was out of tune.”

  “In that case, is there a conductor?” Kurtz asked.

  “Not that I’ve been able to identify. Everything I’ve observed indicates that they’re falling into whatever role is necessary. Even though there are individual minds, they work together as one, which means they must have some sort of brain. We saw that central column thing in Gidyon, so I can only imagine this mammoth thing has something like that, too. Target that regulating hub, and the orchestra won’t know what song they’re supposed to be playing.”

  “We’re almost in firing range,” Vera interjected. “Did we come here to study them or destroy them?”

  Kurtz hesitated. If there’s a way to get through to them and open a dialogue, this is a chance to learn about a fascinating culture unlike any other.

  He caught Ava’s gaze, bidding her to open a telepathic link.

  “Sir?” she questioned in his mind.

  “Is there any chance of making meaningful contact? Do they just need time to warm up to you?”

  “Sir, my honest assessment is that they think we’re a lower lifeform unworthy of their attention. I don’t think any amount of outreach will make a difference,” Ava replied in his mind. “I’m also painfully aware of the ticking clock while this system-killer ship marches toward my homeworld.”

  “We won’t let it get there.” Kurtz broke eye contact to sever the connection.

  “We’re in range,” Vera stated.

  The spherical target took up half the front viewing area without artificial magnification. They were twice as far back as the FDG fleet had been from the dwarf planet in Gidyon; Kurtz hoped it was far enough.

  “Target the Arti-Sun at the Dyon ship’s main tower,” he instructed the weapons tech.

  “Aye,” the young man acknowledged. “Ready on your mark, sir.”

  Stars, let this be the right move. Kurtz nodded. “Fire.”

  A shudder rippled through the ship as the death ray shot toward its mark. At that distance, it would only take one second for the beam to strike.

  The beam shot extended as a bright light against the black of space. Kurtz watched it, heart in his throat.

  This is the only way.

  He braced for the impact.

  The beam simply fizzled out of existence. No explosion, no vaporization… nothing. The Dyon ship was unscathed.

  “What happened?” he demanded.

  The weapons tech stared at his console, his face contorted with confusion and concern. “The weapon fired to specification.”

  “Traces of radiation near the target impact site,” the scan tech said.

  “Was it a shield?” Vera speculated.

  “No, ma’am, I don’t think so,” the scan tech replied. “I think the structure… absorbed the blast.”

  Kurtz’s stomach dropped. “What?”

  “The radiation is now dissipating around the outer shell of the ship. I’m reviewing the readings from the moment of impact, and it’s like the shell is modulating to an opposite frequency to cancel out the energy beam. That, or…” She faded out before gathering herself. “Another possibility is that it somehow diffused the blast to the Etheric plane.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Ava muttered, slumping in her chair.

  Kurtz wished he could join in her reaction, but he was the commander. “Fire again. It may only have been a one-time trick.”

  “Aye, sir,” the weapons tech acknowledged. “Firing.”

  Another shudder rocked the ship as the ray fired for a second time.

  This has to work…

  Kurtz’s chest constricted when the second beam fizzled out.

  “Looks like we can add ‘death-ray-proof’ to the list of ways the Dyons have made life miserable for us,” Ava stated.

  “Fire a volley of torpedoes,” Kurtz ordered. He suspected it would be useless, but they needed to try.

  Half a dozen trails raced across the magnified overlay on the viewport. Upon impact, a tiny explosive plume erupted and was immediately extinguished.

  “Damage assessment?” he asked.

  “Negligible,” the scan tech replied. “It’s almost like the ship is healing itself.”

  “Would you like to try a plasma beam?” the weapons tech questioned.

  “No.” Kurtz returned to his seat. “We’re going to need another approach.”

  * * *

  Well, that was anticlimactic, Ava said to Ruby while the colonel fumed in his chair.

  >>This is highly concer
ning.<<

  Ava sighed wistfully in her mind. You dream of firing a death-ray all your life, and then it doesn’t do a damn thing. That sucks any way you look at it.

  >>I’m failing to see why you’re making light of this situation, Ava. The Alaxar Trinary is in grave danger.<<

  It’s my own bizarre way of coping. It’s either use humor, or lose my mind from worry and fear.

  >>This explains your sarcastic streak,<< Ruby observed.

  Mystery solved.

  When Kurtz made no further comment about the thwarted attack on the Dyon planet-ship, Ava spoke up.

  “I think we need to go on board, sir. Rather, I need to.”

  Kurtz scoffed. “Enough jokes, Lieutenant. We need an actionable plan.”

  “I’m serious, sir,” she insisted.

  He looked like he was about to dismiss the statement again, then nodded. “Captain, is there somewhere the three of us could talk?”

  “My office is right off the bridge.” She rose from her seat. “Colonel, I recommend we withdraw and follow the Dyon ship on a parallel course.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Quinn, set in our new course and await further instruction.”

  “Aye ma’am,” the helmsman acknowledged.

  Vera directed Ava and Kurtz to a door in the center on the starboard side of the bridge.

  The room was furnished with a couch, a desk, and four chairs. Vera extended her arm for Kurtz to take first pick.

  He sat down in one of the chairs with view of the door, and Vera took an adjacent seat, leaving Ava the couch along the wall.

  “Now what was this insane notion of yours?” the colonel asked Ava.

  Great vote of confidence, Ava thought to Ruby.

  >>Can’t say I blame him,<< the AI shot back.

  “It’s not as crazy as it sounds, sir,” Ava began.

  “I don’t see how it’s not.” Kurtz crossed his arms. “For starters, that structure is large enough that it would take days or weeks to get anywhere on foot.”

  For a normal person, maybe. Ava leaned forward with her elbows on her thighs. “That’s assuming the destination was somewhere deep inside. I’m not suggesting I go in to plant a bomb at the center, just find an access point where I can interface with the structure to disable whatever is keeping the Arti-Sun beam from doing its thing.”

  “If I may interject,” Vera said, steepling her fingers, “why would you volunteer yourself for such a mission? Sounds more like a job for a team of warriors.”

  “Ava has certain… augmentations,” Kurtz replied on her behalf. “But, all the same, they’ve been able to grab you before. I saw the first mission recording from Gidyon—you barely made it out.”

  “That was before we knew about the disruptive frequency,” Ava said. “That’s not something they can adapt to, like the beam weapon. They need it to survive. It’s their weakness, and we need to exploit it.”

  “You want to do what you did in Gidyon?” Kurtz asked.

  She shook her head. “No, that took everything I had and it was a fraction of this size. And there’s no way we could get enough chemicals. What I was thinking for this is to create a temporary vulnerability so we can follow through with the Arti-Sun plan.”

  “How?” questioned Vera.

  “If it’s like the dwarf planet, there will be significant defenses,” Kurtz added. “You’d be stuck in a matter of minutes, and we’d have no way to rescue you.”

  “I don’t have the specifics worked out, just a general idea,” Ava replied.

  >>Oh boy, this’ll be good…<< Ruby said in her mind.

  “It would have to be me alone, because I’m the only one who’s been able to stand up to telepathic control,” Ava continued, undeterred by her AI companion. “The part about the particles being able to form bonds is a problem, but not if we can figure out a way to disrupt the frequency—maybe by charging the skin of a suit.”

  “Assuming that works, isn’t there still an issue of how long it would take to get anywhere, once inside the ship?” Vera pointed out.

  Ava looked to Kurtz. “That might not be an issue.”

  The colonel nodded. “Captain, perhaps it’s time I fill you in on exactly what it is Ava can do.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Once Captain Vera got over the shocking revelation about Ava’s Hochste state, she’d quickly changed her tune regarding the viability of Ava’s proposal.

  >>I still think it’s madness, probably because I have to go along for the ride,<< Ruby said when they returned to Ava’s temporary quarters.

  I won’t force you to do this. If you don’t think there’s a chance this could work, I won’t go.

  Ruby was silent for several seconds. >>I believe that the risk to the Alaxar Trinary outweighs the risk to us as individuals. Provided you can establish a sufficient safeguard against being grabbed, I agree that we should proceed.<<

  Are you sure about this, Ruby? Ava asked. Once we’re committed, there’s no turning back.

  >>Ava, when Colonel Kurtz and Major Widmore were interviewing me about a potential pairing with you, I told them that if I must lose my life to give others a chance, it would be a sacrifice I would gladly make. Now, faced with that reality, I stand by my word.<<

  Ava smiled. No wonder they recommended you.

  >>I wish we’d had the chance to get to know each other before our pairing, but it has been a pleasure spending this past month together. All the same, I’d like to look back on this and laugh about ‘that time we did a crazy thing that saved the day’.<<

  We will, Ruby.

  With her AI committed, the next step for Ava was to get the remainder of her team in place. She sent a message to Major Widmore requesting a meeting with Nick, Samantha, and Edwin at the top of the hour.

  When the designated time arrived, Ava settled in front of the computer terminal in her quarters for the teleconference, which would be relayed through the Annex Gate.

  “Hello. Thank you for meeting on short notice.”

  “Was the explosion spectacular?” Edwin asked, stars in his eyes.

  Samantha punched him in the shoulder. “Do you think she called us here to talk about what an awesome view it was? The plan didn’t work, obviously.”

  Widmore cast them a stern look across the conference table. “Ava, please fill us in.”

  She nodded. “You’re right, Sam, the plan was a bust. Turns out the Dyons figured out a way to absorb the weapons fire, maybe by venting it into the Etheric.”

  Everyone on the other end of the conference call leaned forward, eyes wide.

  “Nothing has ever stopped that weapon before,” Widmore murmured.

  “Needless to say, it caught us by surprise,” Ava replied. “We don’t know the ‘how’, but the Arti-Sun may as well have been a flashlight, shining into a black hole.”

  “Well, fuck.” Nick crossed his arms.

  “Pretty much. So, new plan,” she continued. “I know you’re not going to like it, but I want to go into the ship to access its central systems. I can plant a device to allow you to tap in remotely. You hack it, disable their defenses, and we blow them up. Simple.”

  Her team stared at her blankly.

  “You do realize you’ve lost your mind, right?” Nick said. “Go onto the ship… alone? Not a chance.”

  Widmore shook his head, clearly agreeing with the candid assessment.

  “I’ve thought it through,” Ava countered. She gave them an overview of her plans for a suit design to make herself untouchable.

  By the end of the explanation, only Samantha looked semi-convinced. “There’s still any number of ways you could be captured or incapacitated. It’s not worth the risk of going in alone.”

  “Going in with a team is a bigger risk,” Ava insisted. “While I have a chance of making it through, it’s a certainty that you would fall under telepathic control. Not worth it to even make an attempt.”

  “I don’t like it,” Nick maintained.

  “You
don’t have to like it. I need you standing by to execute a remote hack. You and Sam are the best. With your skills and the Hellfire’s weapon, the Dyons don’t stand a chance.”

  “There’s one part you haven’t covered,” Widmore spoke up for the first time since the beginning of the conversation. “What’s your exit plan?”

  “That will be a moving target,” Ava replied.

  “We never send a team in without an exit strategy,” the major stated.

  “We won’t even know the way in until I find it,” Ava replied. “Can’t really plan a way out until we know where I’ll be coming from.”

  He shook his head. “Unacceptable.”

  >>He’s right, Ava,<< Ruby said in her mind. >>It goes against military procedure for us to go on this mission without having an exit.<<

  What if it had to be one-way?

  Ruby considered the question. >>I would still join you—but I don’t think it’s necessary to take that approach. There’s a strategy for us to succeed and still live to fight another day. We just need to figure out what the way is.<<

  Things are pretty awesome right now. I guess it wouldn’t be fair of me to break Luke’s heart a second time.

  >>No, it would not.<<

  All right, let’s go over the schematics again and see if we can’t make sense of this planet-ship.

  Ava returned her attention to the conference call. “Okay, let me get your thoughts about this beast, and see what we can figure out.” She shared a three-dimensional model of the Dyon ship, based on what the Hellfire’s scan suite had been able to piece together, combined with the preliminary survey data.

  Several details that had been missing from the long-range scan they’d viewed in headquarters changed their impression of the ship’s operations. While the specifications about the cylinders remained unchanged, the information regarding the configuration of protrusions and the central tower-like structure had taken on significantly more detail.

  What had previously looked like a solid tower was, in fact, a tower with an opening at the base. That opening had allowed the scan to get a better look inside, which had revealed a series of passageways, leading to a cavernous space, twenty-three kilometers below the tower.