He clicked the last button on and appraised himself in the mirror. The last time he’d worn one of these, it had been a stolen admiral’s uniform. Now he had the yellow collar of an executive lieutenant. Because he’d never completed his training, he was donning the uniform against Concord rules, but Baldwin had the authority to look past it.
Lark wondered what Seda would think of seeing him in the uniform. She was close to her father, but in the later years, he’d sensed her disturbance at some of the Assembly’s actions. In hindsight, it didn’t even feel like he’d been the one making those decisions. It was like he was possessed by another man, a spirit destined for death and destruction. Time away at Wavor Manor, then seeing the Invaders had given him something else to think about.
Being here, in the heart of the Concord, made Lark realize what he’d given up on Leria when he’d elected to follow the pretty girl, rather than remain vigilant beside his best friend.
There was so much blood between Tom and himself these days that he knew their old bond would never be mended, but he hoped they could start over at some level. Forge a new relationship—at least on a professional level, if not a friendly one.
The door opened, revealing a big Tekol. “Are you ready?” It was a reminder that while he wore the uniform, Lark still didn’t have access to full computer systems, and his doors wouldn’t lock. He wasn’t quite a prisoner, and these were things he was only too happy to permit to gain their trust.
Lark was done with games and done with his internal battle. He was turning over a new leaf, and all he wanted was to be pointed to the incoming fleet so he could help destroy them.
“What’s going on?” he asked the officer.
“The admiral wants to meet with the crew.” The man spun on a heel and marched Lark through the corridors toward the bridge. They arrived a few minutes later, and Lark couldn’t shake the slightly nervous feeling encroaching over his body. His skin flushed as he entered the bridge, and it reminded him of his first day of school as a little boy: worried he wouldn’t make any friends, scared of the instructors.
Tom stood at the front of the bridge, his back to the dark viewscreen. To his left was Rene Bouchard, and Lark thought others seemed familiar.
Tom nodded to him and began to speak. “Now that we’re all present, I’d like to introduce Legacy’s executive crew. We’re about to face off against the Ugna, and we don’t have much time to acquaint ourselves. A couple of years ago, I was in a similar situation. I had only been given the command of Constantine a few hours before Admiral Hudson sent me off on a diplomatic mission to Greblok.”
Lark noticed Tom glance at a young man sitting in one of the helm positions, and Lark recognized him from the time he’d been captured. That was the kid who’d abducted Luci.
“It wasn’t long before the crew and I were thrust into another battle with the Statu, and that first mission was what bonded that very crew together. While time changes things, and Constantine is now under Captain Treena Starling’s command, we are facing something much the same. We will collaborate extensively in the next few days, and then we will fight for every single one of our Concord partners with our lives. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!” the small group echoed.
“Good. You all know me, but I will be addressed as Admiral Baldwin on this ship. Rene Bouchard will be available until Shu arrives in three days’ time to ease the transition, then she will be returning to her vessel. For now, Captain Bouchard will stay at my side.”
Tom pointed to another man near the doors, and Lark was surprised to see he was an albino in uniform. “This is Executive Lieutenant Gar Ellix of the Ugna. He will be resourceful in the coming battle, knowing the enemy better than any of us. High Elder Fayle trusts him with her life, and so will we. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Many of you recall the name, but not the man as I do. Lark Keen was an enemy of the Concord, but I have decreed him to have served his time and appoint him Lieutenant Commander of Legacy.”
Lark’s breath caught. He was shocked to hear the rank bestowed by his old friend. The others muttered under their breaths, everyone clearly as surprised as him. All eyes settled on Lark, and he managed to croak out a few words. “I’m honored, Admiral. I won’t disappoint you or the Concord.”
“I know you won’t.” Tom turned his attention to the pretty Tekol woman who always seemed to be wearing a half-smile. “Say hello to Commander Reeve Daak.”
The woman’s grin grew as she waved. “Thanks, Admiral. I may be more at home in the boiler room, but I’m sure I can do double duty while we’re aboard Legacy.”
“Everyone bear in mind, these ranks and roles are a temporary thing until the war is over. From there, the new replica ships will receive new captains and crews. Some of you might be remaining behind on Legacy when that time comes, so treat her like she’s your new home.” Tom paused and seemed to remember one more thing. “Lastly, I have the pleasure of welcoming one of our youngest crew members ever. I found Tarlen on Greblok as a sixteen-year-old boy who’d just lost everything he’d ever known. He helped us secure a few victories early on, and I will forever be grateful to him for his courage and bravery in the face of battle. This is why I am giving him a seat at the helm. Welcome aboard, Tarlen.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” the young man said.
“Thanks for coming, everyone, and if you don’t mind, I’d like a few minutes to speak with the executive crew alone,” Tom ordered, and the group of ten or so replacement bridge crew members exited with a hop to their steps.
When the doors shut once again, Tom spoke quietly. “The Ugna are close. We estimate five days. Our own fleet from Earon is on around the same schedule, so it’s going to be tight. Reeve, where are we with the En’or experiment?”
“It’s nearly completed, sir. Doctor Gaad and I have tested it a few times, and we think with a few minor tweaks, we can have something operational in…”
“I don’t want it in a testing phase. I need the entire thing done in four days, Commander. I know it’s asking a lot, but without this tool, we may not have a chance at victory. If Wylen arrives in his colony ship full of drugged-up Ugna, they’ll be able to destroy us before we can even press a button. We can’t let that happen,” Tom said.
“Yes, sir. We’ll be ready,” Reeve said, but Lark saw the doubt in her eyes.
“Good. The Ugna fleet is arriving in three days, giving us much-needed assistance. We’ve gathered another fifty personal vessels from around the Concord, with another one hundred or so expected within the week.” Tom clasped his hands together. “With the fleet from Earon and the Ugna coming from Obilina Six, along with the partner ships, we should have well over three hundred vessels in this fight, not to mention five flagships like this one. We’re not going down without a real fight, and I don’t care how many Ugna Wylen has, or how powerful he thinks he is. The Concord will roll over for no one.”
Reeve pumped a fist in the air. “Damn right!”
“Everyone, get acquainted with your spots on the bridge and discuss things amongst yourselves. We’ll dine in an hour and get to know one another,” Tom said.
The room relaxed, and Lark walked over to Reeve, setting a hand on the console beside her. “Good to meet you, Commander.”
She lost her smile, frowning up at him. “You’re lucky it’s me here and not my brother.”
“We’ve met. I don’t think he likes me,” Lark said mildly.
“Neither do I.”
“Maybe that’s something we can change,” Lark said, trying to smile. Her response was unreadable.
“Maybe.” Reeve stood, walking past him to speak with Captain Bouchard, and Lark was left out of the conversation.
Twelve
“They couldn’t have given us something from this century?” Carl asked, rapping the dash with his knuckles.
“You asked for a ship, not a nice one,” Jun joked, getting a laugh from the others.
Brandon appr
aised the compact bridge and tried to make sense of the odd layout. “I don’t know who the hell flew this thing, but it’s definitely made for an alien.”
“Technically, we’re the aliens here, aren’t we?” Kristen asked.
“I think the whole lot of them are aliens. Have you looked through the database? There’s a Concord partner race that lives underwater, and two who live in the treetops. One of them is winged!” Jun exclaimed.
Brandon had combed through some of the details, but there was just too much to read and not enough time. If they survived the coming fight, he would make the effort to learn all he could about the Concord, specifically the humans’ part in it. He still found it difficult to believe humans had abandoned Earth so long before and spread out into the stars, leaving a small faction behind on a dying world. Somehow they’d survived, and eventually began to prosper. Ultimately, the Invaders had arrived, ruining everything again.
“I used to think being oppressed by a telekinetic bunch was the strangest thing we’d ever encounter,” Val said, tying her coarse gray hair into a ponytail. “What have they instructed us to do?”
“Ask Captain Brandon,” Carl said with a hint of sarcasm. His leadership was tenuous at times, with his friend thinking he would be better suited in charge. Brandon had left it to a vote, and he’d won with a vast majority of their small group’s support. The rest of the previous Mars colonists were stationed around the freighter, trying to grow accustomed to their new surroundings.
“They’ve asked us to acclimate to the ship, and to one another, before doing a test run,” Brandon advised them.
“I think we’re pretty familiar. We did live in a colony together for a decade,” Jun huffed.
“Then get used to weapons on this heaping bucket, and we’ll be okay. Kristen, you’re on communications, and Carl will be piloting the ship.” Brandon noted the stiffness in Carl’s posture. He’d been hoping for the role.
“What about me?” Val asked. She was used to being in charge of medical and caring for their health.
“You’re my advisor, and I need you ready to patch anyone up, should we take a beating out there.” Brandon hoped it didn’t come to that. If they lost a gunfight in space, he doubted there would be anything left to bandage.
The freighter was attached and docked on a rough but extensive station arm, the third of its kind from Nolix. The planet was insignificant from here, and Brandon tried to imagine the Concord hub as he was told it usually appeared, with two hundred transport vessels coming and going, shuttling supplies and people on and off the world at all hours of the day. It was so far removed from what they knew on Earth. Mars had been a long-abandoned colony, and Saturn held a manufacturing station. With the Moon colonized, there was little else, short of mining missions to Jupiter’s moons, to travel to.
The reality of countless breathable planets out there was mind-boggling. The Invaders—or Ugna, as they were called here—were a terror and needed to be dealt with. Brandon was muttering under his breath and didn’t realize it until Kristen stared at him.
“We can’t blame the Concord, Bran.”
“What do you mean?”
“For letting the Ugna into their ranks. We did the same thing. The Invaders came with promises of a better future. FTL. Terraforming technology. We were enthralled, and they inched their way in. It was a decade before our ancestors saw the truth,” she said.
Carl spun in his seat, a frown deep in his brow. “That we were deceived? That we’d really been invaded?”
“It could have been far worse. That’s what you need to remember. They took our resources but let us live,” Val reminded them.
“The ever-pragmatic one. Is living like a slave really living?” Carl asked.
“Carl, let’s take this baby out. Get a sense of how she flies.” Brandon wanted to change the subject. There was no altering Earth’s history, but they could help its future.
Kristen sent a docking release request, and a few minutes later, they were detaching from the strong metal grip of the space arm. The bridge was ten meters across, fifteen deep, and the screen took up most of the nose of their freighter. Brandon noticed lettering on the inside walls and guessed it was the name of the business the ship had been conscripted from.
They righted themselves while Carl got used to the thrusters, and soon they were pushing away from the station through empty space, in the opposite direction of Nolix. Carl let out a whooping cheer as he kicked the engines, sending the old freighter screaming forward.
“She may be old, but she packs a punch,” Brandon said.
“Kind of like me,” Val laughed.
“Where to, Captain?” Carl asked. He finally seemed at ease and didn’t even annoy Brandon with the title this time.
“Keep moving. Let’s see how fast she goes. Maybe we can try some target practice when we’re deeper out,” Brandon ordered.
The freighter hauled it, and they went over the ship’s controls while Carl led them toward a distant planet. The radar showed five worlds beyond Nolix: two gas giants and the others uninhabitable hunks of rock and ice. From what Brandon had read, the planets were used for mining and nothing else, which surprised him. Being the center of the Concord, he expected them to have terraformed something to offset the excessively high population.
“Jun, see if you can locate any debris. There should be a light belt past the second to last planet.” Brandon had read as much as he could about the area, hoping to prepare for the coming battle. He’d use anything to his advantage out here, and from recent records, the incoming fleet would be traveling to Nolix on a path along their current trajectory.
“Looks like you’re right. Thirty-seven minutes from target,” Jun said, and Carl set course.
The world emerged on their screen five minutes later, and they grew closer by the second. It was dark, half covered from the system’s far-distant star, and Brandon had a sinking feeling in his stomach as they neared it. It looked so dead, but he could have sworn there was a blinking light in orbit. “There!” He jumped to his feet, dashing to Kristen’s console. “I saw something.”
Kristen zoomed in, and they spotted it too. “That’s a vessel.”
It was black, sleek, and long, like the enemy ships they’d been briefed on. “It’s the Ugna,” Carl said through gritted teeth.
“What’s it doing here? And only one?” Jun asked.
“Kris, send word to Nolix. We’ve spotted one of the enemy,” Brandon ordered.
“I’ve sent it, but there must be something blocking us. I’m not getting a response,” Kristen said.
For the first time in years, Brandon saw fear in Carl’s eyes as he turned. “Captain, what do we do?”
“This has to be a scout. That means they’re close.”
“Do we retreat? Return with backup?” Jun asked.
“You wanted target practice, Jun. Now you have it. We stay and fight.”
____________
“Are you certain you have everything you need, Ven?” Tom asked. Ven was acting stranger than normal, barely speaking as he loaded the last of his supplies onto the shuttle. This was the same model they’d used a couple of times before, and there was only enough Nek to bring him to the destination and back. They’d offered him spare to replenish the drive, but Ven had declined, saying the fleet ships like Legacy and Constantine needed it more than he did.
“I have what everything,” Ven said.
They were alone in Legacy’s hangar, the shuttle having been moved there the other night when no one was paying attention. They didn’t want word getting out about Ven’s side mission. They were worried a mole was feeding Wylen information, but they hadn’t been able to determine the spy’s identity. For all Tom knew, dozens of people were under Wylen’s thumb, working among them for the Ugna’s cause. He wouldn’t have believed it a month ago, but after five of their own allies had turned against the Concord, anything was possible.
“Ven, are you certain this is a real place?” Tom asked,
glancing at the door to make sure no one else was coming to hear their conversation. Fayle was supposed to see him off, but so far, she hadn’t shown up.
Ven lowered the last pack into the shuttle and faced Tom. “It has to be. I have read about it in High Elder Fayle’s journal, and she claims to have seen it with her own two eyes.”
“That’s the operative word, Ven. Claims. There’s nothing documented about the Vast stone in our libraries. A mountain that feeds the flow of the Vastness on some distant planet? It seems a little far-fetched, doesn’t it?” Tom asked.
“Admiral, a few hundred years ago, your people would have thought this was impossible, right?” Ven asked. Tom was about to inquire what he meant, when the entire shuttle lifted from the hangar floor, hovering without the engines on, ten feet above the ground. Ven had done it so easily, gazing down at Tom from the craft’s entrance. “The improbable is only that until you understand why it is not. There are far more things out in the universe that we do not currently comprehend, but one day it will be common knowledge, just like the Tekol once carved their future with the First Ship.” Ven pointed at the Concord logo on his uniform.
“Good point. If you find this and manage to turn it off, what will happen to the Ugna?” Tom asked.
“That is undetermined,” Ven said.
“No, Ven. You’ll always be unique. And with any luck, you’ll be able to turn it on again once this is finished,” Tom said with a smile.
“I am not sure that is a wise idea.” Ven lowered the shuttle and stepped out to join Tom on the hangar floor. “With access to the flow, the Ugna have become too dangerous. With power comes the thirst for more power. It is the curse of the greedy. I grew up thinking I was part of something enigmatic, but now I see it for what it was: a push by Wylen to take over the Concord. It was never for helping anyone or creating a religion that was advanced and self-contained. He has proven to be dark of heart, and nearly all our people sided with him when given the choice,” Ven said.
Tom reached out, grabbing the man by the shoulder. He stared into Ven’s eyes and saw disappointment and sadness. “You’re wrong, Ven. The Ugna can be great. I see it in you. In Fayle’s sacrifices. The people only followed Wylen out of fear, not greed. When we finish with him, they’ll happily join you and call you High Elder. I know it.”
Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series Page 149