“How long before we start our return trip to Ornellia?”
“Within the week,” Bartoll said as he stared at the viewscreen. “We will need to update a few ships to transport your people as well as begin constructing suitable cities. The cities will be ready before you return.”
Kathryn nodded. It was strange to think of no more war.
-
Two days passed and Kathryn was summoned for a meeting with Bartoll and the Originator AI leaders. She assumed it was to discuss moving the survivors from Gaia to one of the Dyson Spheres.
Stepping into the large room, Kathryn saw Bartoll and all of the other adult Originators who had been on the Distant Horizon. Four Originators had stayed on board the Dominator to look after the stasis chambers containing the children.
“Thank you for coming,” Bartoll said standing up. “We have much to discuss.”
Camlin indicated for Kathryn to take a seat next to her. With relief, Kathryn saw that while her chair was as tall as the others, it had been modified so she wouldn’t feel like a child sitting in it.
“We are in agreement in bringing your people to the Communications and Transport Hub,” began Camlin. “Your Marines will be needed to clear the Shrieels of Simulins and their Conqueror Drones. Currently Captain Brenda Wilde is going through training on the best methods to accomplish this. We are convinced this can be achieved with minimal casualties.”
“I’m sure that can be worked out,” answered Kathryn. “My people will be thrilled to come and live on one of the Dyson Spheres where they will be free from war.”
Bartoll looked down at the table and then at Kathryn with a sad look in his eyes. “I wish that were true, but we may need your people for another reason.”
“I don’t understand,” said Kathryn, feeling confused. She thought everything had been settled. “What other reason?”
“As you know several million years ago, well before we were faced with the threat of the life extension pathogen, we fought a war against the Anti-Life.”
“Yes, I’ve been told about that,” answered Kathryn, looking over at Leeda. “The war lasted a very long time and eventually the Anti-Life were driven back to their home galaxy. Your people erected a series of hyperspace interference stations to lock the Anti-Life out of ever using any hyperspace bands to escape their galaxy. They’ve been trapped there ever since.”
A distressed look passed over Bartoll’s face. “I wish that were true. When I first arrived here, I went to a secure room that only Originators can access. It receives regular reports from the interference stations to determine if any attempt has been made to leave the Anti-Life galaxy. In the past, this facility always had Originators present.”
“Something’s happened,” guessed Kathryn, feeling an uneasiness grow in her stomach. Bartoll looked so serious.
“When I entered the room, a warning alarm was going off. The interference stations went offline simultaneously over one thousand years ago.”
Kathryn’s eyes widened at this revelation. She looked over at Camlin and Leeda. “Has there been any sign of any of the Anti-Life in the galaxies where your Dyson Spheres are?”
“No,” Leeda said, shaking her head. “There’s been no evidence of any interference from the Anti-Life. We were not aware of the facility that monitored the hyperspace interference stations. Even if we had been, we would have been powerless to do anything.”
Kathryn looked back over at Bartoll. “Where are they? Why haven’t they made their presence known?”
“I think I can answer that,” Nomar said with a deep and regretful sigh. “I’ve spent some time running simulations on one of our main computer cores. It believes the Anti-Life are staying away from galaxies where there are Shrieels. It presumes that out beyond the galaxies we explored there is a war raging. The computer predicts with a 98 percent certainty that the Anti-Life are free of their galaxy and are building a massive empire across much of the known universe.”
The room was quiet as everyone thought over what this meant. Nomar’s announcement had even caught some of the other Originators off guard.
Kathryn didn’t know what to say. She had thought the Simulins were dangerous with their conquering of numerous galaxies. This sounded a thousand times worse. “Is there anything you can do?”
Marisa slowly shook her head. “There are too few of us, even after we awaken the children. Using the birthing chambers in the Shrieels it will be generations before there are enough of us to even think about interfering with the Anti-Life.”
“Then what’s to be done?”
Bartoll took a deep breath. “All the Shrieels’ defenses are programmed to resist the Anti-Life, so an attack against any of them in the immediate future is unlikely. In the Shrieels we have thousands of warships which have been kept in stasis. However, we only have a few military AIs and none like Kazak.”
“You could build more,” suggested Kathryn. “They could fight against the Anti-Life.”
“We could and we will,” responded Bartoll. “However, the military AIs are designed to operate with a full crew of Originators. It is done that way to prevent the military AIs from making catastrophic decisions such as when Kazak destroyed those six Simulin worlds. A demonstration of the power he possessed would probably have been more effective.”
Kathryn still felt confused. “Then what’s the solution? Someday the Anti-Life are bound to come after the Dyson Spheres and the galaxies they reside in.”
Bartoll looked at the other Originators at the long table. Then he spoke again, his eyes settling on Kathryn. “I am uncomfortable asking this considering all your people have been through but we see no other options. We can’t stand by and let the Anti-Life enslave vast regions of this universe. At some point, they will become so powerful that not even our ships will be able to stand up to them.”
“We need living crews in order to resist the Anti-Life,” said Marisa. “Living officers that can tell our military AIs what to do in some situations.”
“You want us to fight for you,” guessed Kathryn as a cold chill swept over her. They had just finished one war and now the Originators were asking them to fight another, one that would be much more dangerous with even more severe consequences if they failed. How could she go back to Fleet Admiral Strong and tell him this? “You need our people to be your crews.”
“Yes,” Bartoll answered uneasily. “We need your people. We have discussed this situation seeking another solution, but we have found none. We realize this is a heavy burden to place on the shoulders of your people but we have no other viable choice. Do you think Fleet Admiral Strong will agree? We will update your ships with Originator technology and furnish all the AIs necessary to teach your people how to operate them.”
Kathryn knew Jeremy well enough to know he wouldn’t tell the Originators no, not with what was at stake. She could also tell the Originators were backed into a corner and would most likely agree to anything due to the threat from the Anti-Life. If they were going to fight a war, she wanted as many concessions from them as possible.
“I don’t think updating our ships is the solution,” Kathryn said, placing her right hand palm down on the table. “If we’re going to fight a war we will need new ships completely based on your most recent technology and the weapons research done on the Dominator. If you agree to this, I feel certain Fleet Admiral Strong will consent to help.”
Several of the Originators looked concerned but didn’t voice a counter opinion.
“We will discuss your request,” Bartoll said. “We may also be able to create enough military AI so we can activate our ships in stasis. These ships could operate under the command of one of your officers from a fully crewed vessel.”
“How effective will this be? What happens if the crewed vessel is destroyed?”
“Not very,” admitted Bartoll. “As I said earlier all of our warships were designed to be operated by full crews of my people. There are not enough survivors from Gaia for that to be a reasona
ble option. We’re talking about tens of thousands of warships.”
Kathryn leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. “What if we ask the Federation for help? They have the population base and even trained crews to help fight this war.”
“No,” replied Marisa, shaking her head. “It would involve furnishing the races of your home galaxy with Originator technology and weapons. In the end, that could be more dangerous than the Anti-Life.”
As much as Kathryn hated to admit it, Marisa was right. What if the Shari, the Borzon, or the Ralift learned of this technology? In their hands it could be devastating.
“If only we could bring more of your people here,” said Marisa. “We can control the proliferation of the technology here at the Communication and Transport Hub. Is there any way to contact enough of your people in your home galaxy who would be willing to move to the Shrieel we’re preparing?”
“Not without the secret getting out,” Kathryn replied. She also doubted the Federation Council or Fleet Admiral Nagumo would agree to such a proposition without some Originator technology being turned over. Then Kathryn’s eyes widened as she realized there was a possible solution. One she had been overlooking. “Do you have the capability of moving several million people at once?”
“Yes,” replied Bartoll. “We have some very large ships which can be used for that purpose. Why do you ask?”
With a smile, Kathryn began explaining the plan she had come up with. After much discussion even the Originators thought it would work.
Now she just needed to talk to three other individuals to see if they would agree. Unfortunately those three were not here; they were all back in the Milky Way Galaxy. With a pleased smile, Kathryn knew she was going to see her father again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Rear Admiral Kathryn Barnes watched expectantly as the Distant Horizon dropped out of hyperspace twenty-six light years from Earth. They were just on the outskirts of the Human Federation of Worlds. Kathryn stood for a long moment gazing at the viewscreen. For a long time, she had believed she would never return home or see her father again. The screen was full of unblinking stars. She knew that some of those stars held Human inhabited worlds.
“Distance to the nearest star?” asked Kathryn. She could sense the excitement in the Command Center at once more being in the Milky Way Galaxy.
“Six point two light years,” Sible answered. “We exited in a very sparse region of space.”
“Confirmed,” added Captain Reynolds, looking up from his sensors. “Detecting heavy space traffic but none in our immediate vicinity.” The Distant Horizon’s long-range sensors could reach out thirty light years all around them. “I don’t believe we have been detected.”
“Stealth shield is up and operating normally,” reported Major Weir.
“All systems are operating within set parameters,” said Commander Grissim. Anne looked at the viewscreen. “It feels good to be back home.”
“Construction ships are dropping out of hyperspace,” reported Captain Reynolds. On one of his sensor screens, six large Originator construction vessels exited hyperspace. On the tactical displays, they appeared as very large green icons as each was over five thousand meters in length.
“Stealth shields?” asked Kathryn, looking over at Captain Reynolds. It was essential they not be detected.
“Up and operating,” he replied.
Kathryn breathed out a long sigh of relief. Looking at the large viewscreen, she saw twelve ten-meter globes exit the large flight bay of one of the cylinder shaped construction ships. The globes sped away until they formed a sphere one hundred kilometers in diameter. Then they activated, creating a stealth field that would shield everything within from detection.
-
“We’re going home,” said Commander Grissim, gazing at a specific star visible on the large viewscreen. “I didn’t think this would ever happen.”
The star she was gazing at held Earth as well as Ceres. It seemed so long ago since she had left. She had been a colonel in military intelligence and had joined the StarStrike as part of its command crew. It had been a privilege and an honor to serve with Fleet Admiral Hedon Streth.
Anne felt excited and anxious about returning home to Ceres. They all did. She just hoped she could spend some time with her family.
-
“How long will it take to build the accelerator ring?” asked Kathryn addressing Camlin. They would need the accelerator ring to expedite moving ships and material between Ceres and the Communication and Transport Hub.
Two weeks,” answered Camlin. “This one isn’t as large as the ones back at the hub. Once it’s done we can send the request for the transport ships. Four weeks from now we can begin moving people.”
“If I can talk my father and several others into supporting my plan.” Kathryn wondered what her father would say when he found out she had returned. She wasn’t certain, particularly because of what she was going to ask of him.
“He’ll agree,” Clarissa said confidently. “The people of Ceres have never hesitated in providing assistance when needed. They’ve even gone against the wishes of the Federation Council several times.”
Kathryn knew Clarissa was right. If they hoped to find help anywhere, it would be on Ceres.
-
Three days later, satisfied that everything was going as planned in constructing the accelerator ring, Kathryn ordered the Distant Horizon to head for the Sol System. It was time to pay her father a visit.
Due to the speed the Distant Horizon traveled in hyperspace, the trip was relatively short. In fourteen minutes the exploration dreadnought was dropping out of hyperspace inside the Sol System just two million kilometers from Ceres. A special dampening field was used to reduce the energy flux created by the ship’s exit vortex.
“Jump complete,” reported Sible.
“Stealth shield online,” added Major Weir.
“I don’t believe our exit vortex was detected,” reported Captain Reynolds. He leaned back and shook his head. “I thought space traffic was bad last time I was here, but look at it now.”
On one of the tactical displays, thousands of green icons appeared. Many were cargo ships or shuttles, but there were also a large number of military ships. The orbit around Earth and Mars was packed with green icons of arriving and departing vessels. It also showed the large battlestations in orbit above Earth as well as the massive shipyards.
Kathryn spent a moment studying the deployment of the fleet warships in the system. She wanted to avoid them to reduce the chance of accidental detection. If the Distant Horizon were detected, then their clandestine mission would fail.
“Sible, take us to Ceres on our gravity drive. Put us into orbit at ten thousand kilometers.”
That was as close as she dared take the ship. The space around Ceres was heavily defended and crowded with particle beam satellites, Type Two battlestations, Indomitable Class battlestations as well as offensive and defensive sites on a number of small asteroids orbiting close by. Even by using the stealth shield it would be difficult to get by all the detection equipment.
“Yes, Admiral,” Sible replied as she concentrated, sending orders to the ship’s computer activating the gravity drive.
Kathryn took a deep and steadying breath. She was almost home. If everything worked as planned, she would take a small shuttle that had a special stealth shield. She would use it to enter one of the asteroid’s large airlocks when a cargo ship entered and then set down on the far end of the spacedock. She had a unique spacesuit she would wear which had a refraction field that would bend light around it, making her invisible to the casual observer. With any luck, she should be able to make it to her father’s office undetected.
-
Two hours later Kathryn sat nervously in a small shuttle as the pilot carefully threaded its way through the defenses of Ceres. Reaching the planetoid, the pilot patiently waited until one of the large airlocks opened, allowing a cargo ship inside. The pilot dropped the s
huttle in directly behind the cargo vessel and followed it down the long tunnel until they passed a second set of airlocks and through an atmospheric retention field. They were inside a large spacedock where dozens of cargo ships and even a few warships were docked. Dock workers and spider robots were everywhere loading and unloading cargo as well as servicing the warships.
“Set down on the far side over there,” ordered Kathryn, pointing to a small empty loading dock. It looked as if it had been shut down for repairs. This would be an excellent place to hide the shuttle. A special refraction field had been activated which bent light around the shuttle, making it invisible.
Kathryn put on her special suit and exited the airlock. She paused and looked around, savoring the moment. She was back home! Taking a steadying breath, she began making her way through the dock and toward her father’s office. Her father’s office was in the Aquarian habitat. Occasionally she passed a dockworker or one of the spider robots. No one seemed to notice her. Feeling more confident, she began moving faster. It was going to take some time to make it where she needed to go.
-
Ceres Governor David Barnes was walking down the hallway which led to his office. It had been a long day and he only had a few more issues to resolve before he could go home and rest. These last few years had been especially lonely and he was considering not running for reelection. Maybe he would spend some time visiting some of the newer worlds joining the Human Federation of Worlds. Already there was talk of changing the name to just the Federation since a number of alien races were now members.
Reaching his office, he told his secretary to see to it that he wasn’t bothered. Opening the door, he stepped inside. With an icy chill running down his back, he became aware there was someone else in the room. For a long moment he stood there staring in shock, even dropping the papers he had been carrying in his left hand.”
“Hi, Dad,” Kathryn said with a broad smile. “I’m back.”
“Kathryn,” Governor Barnes said in a stuttering voice suddenly feeling faint. He had never expected to see his daughter again. “Is it really you?”
The Lost Fleet: Search for the Originators: A Slaver Wars Novel Page 33