Cora led the way out of the cabin with Sara close behind. Alister ran from the table and, in a single leap, landed on Sara’s shoulder, balancing himself as she jumped at the move.
“Jeez, Alister, give a girl a heads-up next time.”
Alister cocked his head and licked her cheek.
“Ew, gross. Don't lick my face. I’ve seen you lick your butt with that tongue,” she said, wiping at the spot with the back of her hand. Alister just started purring.
Cora laughed. “I still can't believe you conjured a cat-ish thing from nothing.”
Sara smiled and nodded, “Did you ever hear that having a cat on a ship is good luck?”
The look on Cora's face told her that she had not, but Grimms, who was waiting patiently along the wall of the corridor, came to her rescue. “That’s actually true. I think the British Navy started the tradition.”
“Huh, the more you know,” Cora said, indicating that Grimms should lead the way.
They made their way through the ship, the white corridors seeming slightly claustrophobic to Sara, though they were quite expansive, in reality. The ship felt large from the inside despite its relatively small stature, and it took them almost five minutes to reach their destination at their leisurely pace.
The wide open engine room held two of the four fusion reactors that ran the ship’s systems, while the other two took up half of the docking bay, which had been converted for additional mechanicals when the ship was redesigned. The tank was between the humming reactors, with people running tests and diagnostics on the equipment around it.
The tank itself was approximately four meters high with a diameter of two meters, and was filled with a clear liquid that shimmered blue on the edges. Several stations were set up around the tank’s base to monitor Cora and help with power distribution. A man and a woman, both in black and red coveralls, were at the two stations with their heads down, the man reading off a checklist to the female.
“Oxygen?”
“Levels green. Check,”
“Temp?”
“Check.”
“Aether conductivity?”
“I’m showing ninety seven percent,” she said, her southern drawl subtle but undeniable. “Well above the minimums.”
“Reactor supplemental power?”
“Running at one hundred percent, check.”
The male technician turned to see the three standing to the side, and a big smile split his face as he approached, hand extended to Cora. “Captain Sonders, it’s wonderful to meet you. My name is Randal Teichek, and this is Caroline Green.” He indicated the blonde woman who looked up from her station and approached. “We will be your lead technicians while you’re in the tank. There is a smaller crew seeing to a few last-minute things, but one of us will be on to oversee you at all times. Well, almost all times, but we will be on call, day and night.”
Cora shook the offered hand then took Green’s and shook hers as well. “It’s wonderful to meet you both. I guess we’re going to be spending quite a lot of time together.”
The tall, black-haired man nodded and smiled along with the pleasantries. “That we will, Ma’am. Caroline and I here were pulled in from the private sector for this mission. My PhD is in mechanical engineering, and I have a second PhD in molecular biology. Dr. Green has her PhDs in Aetheric theory and bioengineering. You’ll be in good hands with us, seeing as we have all the bases covered for this project.”
“You two are not in the Navy?” Sara asked, stepping forward to take each of their offered hands.
“No, Ma’am,” Caroline said, shaking Sara’s hand. “The Elif recommended that the team have in-depth knowledge of the tank’s processes. The Navy decided they would err on the side of caution and go with academics. We have a two-year contract, and are technically ranked as Lieutenants for the duration, but we’re really just here for Captain Cora.”
Sara nodded along with the blonde woman. “Well, I’m very glad they are taking my sister’s well-being so seriously. What can we expect from this new control system?”
Teichek brightened up and dove in. “This system is remarkable. Absolutely remarkable. Everything that takes Aetheric power will flow through the tank and Captain Cora, giving her a level of control that no ship to date has ever seen. Even the Elif’s own ships don't use the system.” At the look of concern from Cora and Sara, he quickly explained, “The Elif are unable to utilize the system due to physiological effects. They are a very social group and cannot abide working on their own. But beyond that, the quality of their spellforms is too soft to properly utilize the tank. We humans can make our spellforms sharp and direct, while they are more fit to make spellforms that are round and slightly amorphous; the tank doesn’t seem to know what to do with those ambiguous spellforms.”
Caroline broke in, this touching on her expertise. “You will need to make your spellforms more like orders. They need to be precise and direct, or the tank system will try and draw power for effects that you don't want. For example, if you were to round your edges too much when firing the Aether cannon, the tank would take the rounded edges to mean you want to soften the blow, and therefore it will take far more of your Aether to accomplish the feat. Unlike the Teifen and Elif, humans have the ability to form either sharp or round spells. This gives us a huge advantage, now that we have the tank system.”
Cora nodded, “I read the provided manual and have been practicing with the spellforms. I focused on theory in the academy, so I know what you’re talking about when you say I need to make them like orders. How will the tank affect my Aether well? I feel like I will run out rather quickly. I wouldn't want to leave the ship without weapons or propulsion.”
Teichek fielded the question. “That’s what makes this system so much better than the current system. The controllers in the current system are supplemented with additional mages who pour their power into a form while the controller directs it. This takes power from the controller, who will eventually run out of Aether and cause the system to fail. The other mages can't step in to take their place because they are not of the twin set. When the twin set is broken, without the second ‘contact point’, the captain is then unable to perform any defensive magic. With this system, there are no other mages feeding Aether into the forms. This lowers the raw power available to the controller, but the tank connects them directly to the Aether, which continually fills their well. You will run out eventually with sustained use; however, the tank should keep up with the draw under normal operations with no problem. It would take a decent amount of time to drain your well, even in a battle.”
Cora wore a half smile. “Good. My sister can be demanding in battle; I wouldn't want to run out of power,” she said, elbowing Sara in the ribs.
Sara gave a chuckle. “Demanding, maybe, but I’m good.”
Cora looked to her. “That you are, but be careful; the paint isn’t even dry yet. Let’s try and take it a little slower than usual.”
Sara grabbed her sister up in a fierce hug. “I’ll be careful, but you let me know the second it becomes too much. You can be stubborn too, you know.”
Cora patted her on the back. “I will. Don't worry, I’ll be right here whenever you need to talk.” She pulled back and gave Sara a kiss on the cheek. Then turning to the technicians, she said, “I’m ready. What do I do?”
Caroline and Teichek turned to their monitoring stations and began flipping a few switches. Soon there was a hiss, as the top of the tank split open, allowing both sides to fold up, and a semi-clear liquid was revealed, the surface as still as a reflecting pool.
“This is where it’s going to get a little weird for you, Captain. If you just take those steps to the left, you’ll find a platform that you can use to lower yourself into the focusing liquid,” Caroline said, indicating the metal stairs.
Cora gave Sara's hand a last squeeze and climbed the stairs to the top. She sat on the edge of the tank and slowly lowered her bare feet into the solution. Sara could see Cora’s legs thr
ough the glass, the refraction of the light making them look like they were detached from the rest of her body.
“Now you will need to lower yourself in until you are completely submerged. The hard part is that you will need to take the solution into your lungs. It is a highly oxygenated fluid, and you will be able to breathe it—however, your instincts will fight against the initial act of inhaling. The fluid is thinner than water, but it will take a little more work to take it in. The process will become easier, though. I know this is a big step, but you’re just going to have to trust me,” Caroline said, a look of compassion on her face.
Cora took a few breaths and stared into the fluid, working herself up to literally take the plunge. After a few seconds of indecision, Sara saw the resolution lock onto her sibling’s face, and Cora pushed herself from the ledge.
There was a splash as her body submerged, and everyone could see her floating in the middle of the tank. She was still holding her breath, her features washed out and almost gray as the fluid filtered out the light. She and Sara made eye contact, and Sara mimicked breathing in deeply. Cora flipped her the bird, and closed her eyes. Sara began to sweat with nervousness at her sister’s plight, and she wrung her hands; she could even feel Alister's claws dig into her shoulder as the cat watched Cora intently.
“Come on, Cora,” she said quietly in encouragement. “Come on, breathe.”
“You need to breathe, Captain. I know your instincts are telling you not to, but trust me, it will be fine,” Caroline said into a microphone at her station.
Cora nodded without opening her eyes, but she held onto her last breath with a stubbornness Sara was far too familiar with.
Just when Sara was sure Cora would push out of the liquid to take a breath of air, she opened her eyes again and looked directly at Sara.
They held each other’s gaze, and in that moment, Sara understood how much her sister was counting on her to be ready and able to command this ship. She could see the demand that she do better, and at the same time, Cora’s worry that she couldn’t. And deep in the back of that gaze, Sara also saw Cora’s disappointment, waiting for the opportunity to rear its ugly head.
Then Cora opened her mouth.
A rush of bubbles floated to the top of the tank as she breathed out. Her eyes widening, she sucked in a lungful of the fluid, and immediately began to cough.
Alister's nails bit even harder into Sara's shoulder, but she hardly noticed.
“Don’t worry, she needs to get the rest of the air from her lungs. It’ll take a few seconds for it all to escape,” Caroline said to assuage Sara's obvious concern.
After a few seconds of coughing and some thrashing, the bubbles stopped, and Cora seemed to settle down. Sara was sure her twin would be crying from the coughing fit, if not for the fact she was underwater. Or whatever it was she was under.
A look of wonder came over Cora's face as she breathed the fluid in and out. She smiled and gave the room a thumbs-up. Sara laughed out loud at that and ruffled Alister's head as he calmed down.
The tank suspended Cora's body in the center, her hair fanned out around her head. She calmed further and took a more relaxed posture.
“Very good, Captain. We’re going to bring the connections online now. You’re going to feel a bit of a rush, and then your senses are going to be transferred to the ship. This will be a little disorienting as you become accustomed to your new surroundings, but I’m told the sensation passes quickly,” Teichek said.
Cora gave another thumbs-up, then closed her eyes and waited.
“Bringing on the sensor connection now,” Teichek said, pressing a button.
Cora spasmed, then settled into a completely limp posture. Caroline looked at her readout and nodded to Teichek, who spoke into the air, “Captain Cora, can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can hear you,” a voice said from the speakers. It was similar to Cora's, but sounded slightly off, almost as if it was a representation of what she thought she sounded like, versus what other people heard.
“Excellent,” Teichek proclaimed. “We are going to have to bring the systems online one at a time, but you should be able to adapt very quickly.”
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” Cora said through the speakers.
Sara felt as if a chunk of herself had been taken and stored in a closet, locked away, and left calling to her.
She knew this would be the most difficult part of the whole tour: the separation from her sister.
15
Sara was on the bridge with Commander Grimms an hour and a half later, going over the orders sent in that morning.
Their review of options for engaging the Teifen was interrupted when the bridge doors opened. Sara noted the guard on duty snapped to attention at the newcomer.
A tall, brown-haired Elif man in robes of office entered. He was not military, but he was obviously not a civilian, either. Grimms turned at the intrusion and stood a little straighter, then stepped forward to take the Elif’s hand.
“Captain, let me introduce you to Ambassador Foss. Ambassador Foss, this is Captain Sara Sonders. The Ambassador is here to report on the new controller system and how we implement the changes. He will also act as our direct liaison with the Admiralty,” Grimms said, standing between the two as they shook hands.
“A pleasure, Ambassador.”
“Likewise, Captain. I hear good things about you. Your final exam was quite impressive—I am, however, hoping we don't need to go to those lengths on this particular mission,” Foss said, a genuine smile on his face.
Sara smiled back. “I hope not, Ambassador.”
“Please, call me Foss. ‘Ambassador’ is such a mouthful. I am here at your disposal, if you need me, otherwise I will just be taking notes. Nothing to worry you, my notes are about the efficiency of the new systems, that is all. Please don't think of me as a watchdog.”
“Wouldn't think of it, Foss. This is a new adventure for us all. Nothing like the tank system has ever been tried, and I for one am glad to have the opportunity to prove its efficacy.”
Foss gave a knowing smile. “Yes. We, too, are eager to see what you and your sister can do with the tank system. The Elif Empire is counting on this trial to turn the tide of the war.
“Has Captain Cora been able to integrate with the systems?” Foss asked, looking around the bridge, as if to see Cora there.
“I have, Ambassador Foss. We will be able to get underway anytime. This system is wonderful, if not a little mentally taxing,” Cora said, seemingly from the Aether itself.
Ambassador Foss’s thin eyebrows raised in surprise, and a smile split his young-looking face. “Captain Cora, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I think this double Captain thing is going to get a little confusing; please, call me Cora,” she said, and Sara recognized the smile in her voice. She seemed to be thrilled with her position, and taking to it well.
“Cora, please, you may call me Foss.”
“Hello, Foss. I hope your time with us is a pleasant one. I see that we have the details of our first mission in the system. What can you tell us about this colony we are visiting?”
Foss smiled and gestured to the holo display. “If you would, Ensign, please bring up the system map for Colony 348.”
A young man with auburn hair and a freckled face began inputting commands to his station. After a moment, the display put up a 3D rendering of the system. There were twelve planets revolving around a large star that gave off a bluish light. The system revolved at an accelerated rate, and was obviously enhanced beyond scale for better viewing. The six of the seven outer planets were gas giants similar to the size of Jupiter, and the seventh was a brown dwarf giving off a small amount of light in its relatively weak fusion reaction. The inner planets were rocky, and two of them had visible water and weather systems. The furthest of these rocky planets was a reddish color, with poisonous gases that swirled amongst the clouds of their atmosphere.
The target planet was
Earth-like in composition, with fluffy white clouds swirling around it; though land masses were far more brown and the water was a yellowish color due to high mineral content in their shallow depths. The two suns in the system shone on the planet, even if the light of the brown dwarf was only slightly brighter than that of a full moon on Earth.
Foss adjusted the view with the controls on the side of the display and zoomed in on the planet, rotating it until a particular spot, surrounded by a flashing green symbol, faced them. He then zoomed in further until a mountain range became visible on the boarder of a vast desert. The vegetation was very sparse, held to small clusters where there were visible bodies of water. In the center was the wreckage of an ancient ship, surrounded by dunes of sand for dozens of miles. The image became so clear that they were able to view a cluster of small buildings amongst the wreckage.
Foss gestured at the discovery. “This is the research colony. Actually, ‘colony’ is too grand a word. It is more of a research outpost. There are just over two hundred scientists and soldiers on the ground, and a great many of them are only here part of the time. Regular transport ships come in to the planet and go out again to take findings back to the capital. They have found what they think is an intact core of a ship—something that has never been seen in all the time we have been exploring these old ruins, and it’s an incredibly valuable find. The researchers asked for assistance, after their passive sensors near this system’s Oort cloud picked up a Teifen ship nearby. They believe the ship took no notice of them, but they are worried that there might be a Teifen Raider on the way to the system. They want to extract the core and evacuate the base as soon as possible.”
Cora spoke up before Sara could ask her questions, making Sara frown slightly at the breach in protocol. She was going to have to have a talk with her sister if they were going to make their reversed roles work. Alister’s fur bristled slightly at Sara's mood, making her raise an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn’t realized the familiar could feel her emotions. There was so much she didn't know about the little cat.
Genesis: War Mage: Book One (War Mage Chronicles 1) Page 8