“We can’t.” Zolin’s voice was small. “Because we don’t have any more processed Greblok ore on hand.”
____________
Treena stood in the center of the bridge as the last warship exploded. The three youths were on their feet, cheering and hugging. Treena watched them smiling and pumping fists in the air, and she wondered if she’d ever seemed so young.
“Captain, we did it!” Neve said, rushing to her side to hug Treena.
“It’s Commander… never mind. Great work, you three. I see we have three of the Concord’s finest in our midst,” she said, and their faces all lit up at the praise.
The celebration was short-lived as Blanche noticed the wormhole no longer existed.
“No…” Treena walked toward the viewer, where the young girl had changed the image, zooming on the rift’s previous location.
“Everyone, we seem to be missing something,” Treena said. As thrilled as she was to have defeated the Statu, they were now stuck far from home.
She didn’t think about all the losses they’d suffered this day, because there would be time for that later. Much later.
Bouchard spoke first. “We just made it. Our shields are at two percent. Thank you for helping us. On behalf of the entire crew, we appreciate it.”
“Think nothing of it,” Brax’s voice said.
“Where’s Baldwin?” Treena asked.
Brax’s voice was strained. “He went after the warship.”
Treena hung her head, her chin resting on her chest. “Then he may be lost to us.”
The wormhole was to be destabilized if a warship emerged, and since one had, Tom was likely chasing behind it. Meaning that not only was Tom possibly dead, but the rest of them were trapped in the Statu system.
____________
Reeve kept her mind occupied by working. Two days passed quickly as they set to repairing the remaining fleet. Out of the thirty legacy fleet ships and the dozen Ugna, only fourteen retired vessels and four Ugna were left in the aftermath of the final battle. Even though the odds told her they should have suffered an even worse fate, that did little to ease her heartache.
“I’m sorry, Tom,” she whispered as she stared into the Star Drive. She’d refused to leave the boiler room since it happened, and even Harry had managed to sneak away a few times to eat and sleep. Reeve was content to stay below, napping in her office when necessary.
For the time being, she was alone, the rest of the crew given some time off to rest. Footsteps carried across the room’s floor, and Reeve recognized the sound of her brother’s march right away.
“Brax, if you’re coming to lecture me, I told you, I’m fine,” she said, spinning in her chair to face him.
He looked tired, and he displayed a few days of stubble. He leaned over, pulling her into a hug. She had no choice but to stand into the embrace, and he squeezed her tight.
“We almost didn’t make it,” he said.
“You don’t know that,” she told him.
“I saw it. I felt the loss coming. I was in the fray, and I stood on the cliff of the Vastness, Reeve. It was close.” Brax let her go, and his arms fell to his sides, like he didn’t know what to do with them. “It’s been too long. You need to meet with us.”
“I have work…”
“Stop it, Reeve. I know you. You’re mourning Tom and the others, but you can’t stay isolated forever. You’re one of the best minds we have here, and you need to meet with the executive teams so we can discuss what our next steps are,” he said.
“You’re right.” Her shoulders slumped, and she grabbed her tablet, following him from her boiler room. “You did a good job up there, Brax.”
Her brother stopped at the elevators and craned his neck to look at her. “You think?”
“I know.” She patted his back as they stepped on, and Reeve finally felt ready to face the rest of the ship. It had taken her twin’s presence to snap her into reality.
The elevator paused, opening one deck early, and on walked Nee, with Tarlen on his tail. The kid lit up at seeing them.
“Doctor, are we safe to be out and about?” Brax asked Nee, and the Kwant gave him a patented handsome smile.
“My friend, you were never in danger from it as a Tekol now, were you?” Nee said, and Brax shrugged.
“You know what I mean.”
“The virus is dealt with, and if it resurfaces, I have plenty of medisprays loaded with the synthesized cure.” The doctor turned from them as the elevator opened, and their group moved for the ship’s largest meeting room. Reeve noticed Rene Bouchard pacing in the corridor, and she braced herself for what was going to become a very interesting conference.
____________
Treena Starling was in charge on Constantine, but there were still three others in the board room that outranked her, making her role precarious at best. She was entitled to her opinion, but that didn’t mean anyone would heed her advice.
The admiral seemed somewhat amused that Tom had nearly kicked Captain Bouchard off her own command. The rest of the executive crew from Shu was present, minus Cedric, who’d died on Casonu Two in the fighter. She knew Reeve and the other Tekol had been through some sort of a checkered relationship, but it was clear the chief engineer was upset at the loss.
Admiral Benitor sat at the head of the table with Prime Xune beside her, both of them appearing calm and composed. The remaining four Ugna captains were present, each of them on board Constantine for the first time. Two were male, two female, and each of them were tall and albino, but none were bald like Ven. They hadn’t spoken a word yet, and Treena wondered how they were taking the losses of so many from their fleet.
Treena sat next to the Prime, Brax and Ven beside her, followed by Reeve, Tarlen, and the doctor. She’d been the one to invite Tarlen, and he sat there quietly, his big brown eyes wide.
“We’re in a bit of a bind, aren’t we?” Prime Xune asked. He wasn’t quite as charismatic as Shengin, but he was a capable leader as far as Treena was concerned. He’d also stuck his neck out as he’d climbed into the fray of the final battle, and that made him even higher in her esteem.
“That’s for sure,” Brax said.
“The main thing is, we won. And I don’t think we’re understanding the value of our recent sacrifices.” Admiral Benitor sat upright in her seat, her gaze moving from one to the next.
“The wormhole is gone, and we have to assume that Tom didn’t make it,” Treena said stiffly.
Reeve shook her head. “We didn’t test opening and closing the wormhole as we should have. All we knew was that we had the power to activate or destabilize it. There’s a chance that Tom made it, and that the Concord destroyed the last warship. They might find a way to return to us.”
Treena hoped the chief engineer was right, but at that moment, it felt like a dream to think that possible.
“We have to prepare for the worst,” Rene said. She was looking far better than before, her hair braided from the top of her head into a long ponytail. “We have supplies, but for how long? We have ships left, but we also lost a lot. We’re going to have to head to the twin worlds.”
“They’re Class Zero Nine planets,” Brax said. “We’ve been to Casonu One, and I’m confident we could find sustenance and water.”
“But to build a new home? Do we risk it with the Statu possibly still out there?” Kan Shu asked.
“Are you suggesting we didn’t finish this war?” Benitor asked.
“We can’t be sure,” Kan said.
Ven finally broke his silence. “I think we’re done with them. I suspect we’ll not find any more of their warships. This was their last effort. They put everything behind it.”
Brax leaned forward, his fingers intertwined as he rested his hands on the table. “I agree with Ven. If we find any, we kill them and move on.”
“What about their slaves?” Tarlen asked, speaking for his people. Treena had almost overlooked them.
“And the girl, Ina? Do we trust
her word any longer? Can we?” This from the Prime.
“I don’t see how we can. She lied to us repeatedly. She brought a virus to us, trying to kill our crews,” Brax said, his anger obviously still fresh.
Treena wanted to calm the room. “Let me speak with her. She was born into a life she didn’t choose. No one deserves to be punished for things out of their control.”
“Let’s not forget she came clean with us, and her analysis helped me figure the whole virus issue out,” Doctor Nee told them.
Rene Bouchard tapped her fingers on the table and sighed. “Why does this victory feel like such a loss?”
Treena knew. It wasn’t because they’d been left years away from reaching Concord space; it was the fact that Thomas Baldwin may have been lost forever. The others had to be feeling the same way.
“We must remain vigilant. We sent many to the Vastness today, from both sides, but we are yet to make the trek. We have to cling to the flame and find our way. And I suggest it begins with scouring the twin worlds, seeking lives to save, and perhaps a place to call home for the time being,” Prime Xune said.
Treena warmed at his words, passing him a small smile. “I agree with the Prime.”
Captain Bouchard frowned, but relented. “I agree as well.”
The Ugna looked from one to another, and the shorter of the female captains spoke for them. “We support your plan.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll remain here for one more day, then move on,” Admiral Benitor said.
Twenty-Two
Ina felt her world caving in. She’d never meant to harm anyone, but now, she felt the truth behind the Adept’s words. He’d deceived her, and she’d been too simple to realize it. Her mother had fought them but had died for it. Perhaps Ina should have died as well, rather than go against her own people.
The door slid open, drawing her attention as a pretty blonde woman entered; her uniform was crisp and her face stoic. “I’m Commander Starling.”
“I remember,” she said, having met the woman before.
“Good. Can I sit?” the commander asked, motioning to the chair across from the bed where Ina sat.
“Please.” Ina was nervous, and she felt like this meeting was going to decide her fate. “Where is the captain?” She’d liked the man. He’d talked to her like a person, and it was easy to sense his passion.
The commander didn’t answer; she changed the subject instead. “Ina, we’re going to Casonu Two.”
Ina nodded, surprised at the news.
“What will we find there?” Treena asked.
Ina had to be truthful. “I grew up on the other world, underground. We lived in Groups, each in a different section of the city below the surface. Once in a while, we’d be given work duty above, and those were my favorite memories. I only saw the Adepts’ planet for a short time, but it was terrible. There were what you call warships everywhere, thousands of slaves.”
“Ina, we’ve defeated the warships. None of them survived,” the commander said, and an immense weight lifted from Ina’s shoulders. She folded over, head resting on her knees, and she cried.
“Are you sure?” the girl asked.
“We’re sure. What will we find on Casonu Two?” the woman asked her again. This time, her voice was less friendly.
“I don’t know. I think all of the warships will have been used. I also suspect the people I saw were on the ships you destroyed,” she said, seeing the effect it had on the commander’s expression. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to blame you for their deaths.”
“But some might linger there, correct? It’s worth checking?” Commander Starling crossed the room and came to sit right beside Ina.
“Yes. There might be more left behind,” Ina told her.
“We understand why you did what you did, Ina. And we’re going to give you the benefit of the doubt. The others from your ship haven’t shown the same remorse. I’m sorry, but we can’t let them stay.”
Ina understood what this meant. They would be killed.
“We’ll scour your old home, and if we deem it empty, we’ll drop them off there to live out their days,” Treena said, her voice soft and dripping with compassion.
“Why?” Ina didn’t comprehend the words. “Why would you let them… us… live?”
“Because the war is over, and we’re not animals. We’re the Concord.” The commander frowned, and Ina could think of nothing to say. “Would you like to join them, Ina? On Casonu One?”
She considered this and shook her head. “Not if it means living underground. I need something more.”
“Then we’ll discuss that at another time. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to remain confined to your room,” Commander Starling said.
“I don’t mind.” It was the truth. It was far better than she deserved.
____________
Casonu One had clear skies over the region where Brax had been imprisoned a couple months ago. The probes had shown no warship activity; neither did the radar, and there wasn’t so much as a Tuber flying within the atmosphere.
Brax guided a lander to one of the slave encampments he’d visited with Penter and exited the ship, carrying his PL-30 at his side. He didn’t wear armor, just his uniform, and as he stepped from the vessel, the hot air clung to him instantly. It was quiet here. Gone were the sounds of machinery or revving thrusters. A multitude of insects chirped from the safety of the treeline as he walked to the stone structure he’d slept inside when Reeve and Starling had arrived to save them.
The beds remained, some overturned, and there sat the rotting corpses of the Statu guards. There was nothing here for him, and he returned to the lander to make his way to the next site. Basker was doing the same in his fighter, and Rene Bouchard had taken it upon herself to scour in Shu’s expedition craft.
The process took hours, and by the end of the day, as the sunlight was waning, the three met near the ocean, landing on a flat spot overlooking the wavy water.
Brax was there first, and he watched as Rene climbed from her ship, her hair messy, her eyes sunken from exhaustion. Basker acted like he’d been having fun all day, and for a pilot stuck in a hangar most of the time, Brax suspected he’d enjoyed the freedom of his compact fighter.
“Well? We good?” Basker asked, his hand acting as a visor from the bright sun that was threatening to cross the horizon at any moment.
Brax pulled a tablet, checking on the drones. “Looks like our drones covered every square inch of this underground city, and they found some bodies, but no one alive. I guess Ina was correct. They took them all to the other planet and shoved them in the warships.
“Lieutenant Commander Brax Daak to the bridge,” he said, using his communicator on his wrist.
“Go ahead, Lieutenant Commander,” Darl said.
“We’re awaiting the return of the drones, and then we’ll be heading away from the planet. We’re all clear down here.” Brax ended the communication and found himself glad they’d encountered nothing out of the ordinary. He assumed there would be some pockets of resistance on the world’s twin, but it was controllable.
“This is where Yephion and the others originally came from, is it?” Rene asked. She walked toward the cliffside and stood near the edge, Brax and Basker coming to join her.
“This is it. You can look at the drone footage of their city afterward, if you like,” Brax said.
“The planet is beautiful. Why would you hide below the surface?” she asked, her voice whimsical.
Brax grunted. “Probably because of what’s out there.” He pointed up. “There are days I wish I could hole up some place too.”
“I doubt that, Lieutenant Commander.” Captain Bouchard met his gaze. “You did a hell of a job this week, Daak. With the others running around, I hear you were confident and in charge.” She rubbed her throat, staring at the ocean as the sun finally crested the distant skyline.
“You did well too.”
“I wonder if Baldwin made it through.” Rene turn
ed from the water, facing Brax and Basker. “You know, I always thought your captain was a bit of a blowhard. He’s way older than I am.” She paused, as if Brax was about to call her on that fact. The truth was, she was younger, but not by as many years as she claimed. “When he secured that position on Cecilia, I was crestfallen. I’d been going for the same role, and not only did he get it, he climbed to the executive team, then to commander, within a few years.”
“Is that what happened between you?” Brax asked, knowing he was overstepping the line.
“No. Too many drinks is what happened between us. A part of me did admire him, though, and I only wish I could have spent more time around him. I may be the captain of a cruise ship, but I don’t feel like I’ve earned it yet. Not like Tom did. I hope he made it, Daak.”
“So do I,” Brax said, turning to see the first of the hunter drones arrive. It had thrusters and lowered to the ground, its six long metallic legs clicking as it walked toward the cargo trailer attached to his lander.
“If I know the captain, there’s a very good chance he made it through that wormhole alive,” Lieutenant Basker said with confidence.
Brax cleared his throat, watching as the last of the drones entered their temporary home. “Time to go find out what’s left for us on Casonu Two.”
____________
“A month! You’re telling me it’s going to take a damned month?” Tom paced the room on Earon Station, not willing to accept the news. “We have no idea what might have happened to them over there. They were in the midst of battle when I left. I need to reach them, Zolin. Yephion, there has to be another way.”
The two engineers sat still, unwavering in their lack of emotions. “We have done all we can. The shipment needs to be processed. We have the ore, but there are steps that must be completed to utilize it for the purpose of the wormhole generator,” Zolin said, not for the first time that day.
Tom rubbed his head. “Why didn’t you have more prepared?”
Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series Page 81