by Marc Stevens
“I am still not ready to let her know Justice has inhabited her ship, but I will try to drop all pretense that she is not welcome to investigate the origins of the derelict ship. Once the Chaalt install the transporter on the Fury, it will be just a matter of time before Justice figures out how it works and we can put our science teams to work on the project.”
“My people will certainly have very robust security measures in place to prevent that from happening. I surmise they will take steps to insure Sael cannot give the technology away either.”
“Only time will tell, and I am pretty sure if Justice has set his sights on the transporter, there is little your people will be able to do about it. He has already shown a propensity toward taking and not asking — something, I might add, your people enjoy doing as well.”
Tria just nodded and decided the matter would settle itself. We left Felix to his work and were going to board the Legacy. As we stepped outside the building, we encountered the engineer I had spoken to earlier. He was operating a gravity lift loaded down with parts of our wrecked shuttle. I flagged him down.
“When the Coram shuttle is repaired, let it be known that it is now the personal transport of the scientists and engineers.”
The little Grawl was shocked speechless.
41
Tria and I had just stepped into the personnel hatch when Justice gave us a sitrep. “Commander, our munitions are at maximum capacity and the crew has boarded in preparation for departure. The engineers have finished the loadout for Eagle One, and as soon as Graf completes his checklist, I will load it into the shuttle bay. I have no anomalous activity to report in our star system, and we can transition once clear of Alpha base. The matrix is charged and DEHD core operations are available on your orders.”
“What is the status of my battle armor?”
“Cloaking emitter arrays have been repaired, and I have strengthened the armor sheath over the minigun ammunition feed tube. Nanite reservoirs on all armor suits have been filled and all are ready for combat operations.”
“Thank you, Justice, launch when you are ready.”
“Acknowledged.”
I went to the bridge level and found Coonts, Klutch and Xul already at their stations. Klutch was bragging to Xul how he had managed to get four prisoners on board the Legacy with no assistance from Coonts. He was rubbing in the fact he had won a thousand credits from Coonts because two of the prisoners were not wearing void suits and neither one had perished as Coonts wagered they would. Coonts turned his back on the two with a less than amused look on his face. I always wondered what that bet was about; now I didn’t. Tria sat at her station and just shook her head. Justice rescued us from any more of the mindless chatter.
“Commander, the shuttle is secured and we are ready to depart.”
“Roger that Justice, take us out and DEHD core transition us to our last transponder detection.”
Justice brought the Legacy up off the deck and rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees and had us in open space in just a few seconds. Klutch was starting in on Coonts again when the silence of transition finally shut him up. When we returned to normal spacetime we were on the edge of the devastated star system. It was such a bleak sight Klutch lost the urge to pick at Coonts and the bridge was quiet once more. Justice weaved us in and out of the massive debris and made a beeline for the only surviving planetary body.
“Justice, will our suits be enough to protect us from the high radiation?”
“Commander, your armor is resistant to most all types of radiation but they still have their limits. I recommend that you stay in the shuttle as much as possible and make your excursions less than an hour at a time. My subsystems will alert you if your exposer reaches dangerous levels. The Chaalt-designed airlock on the shuttle has efficient decontamination systems and they will suffice to clean your armor. However, you should not open the shuttle’s cargo bay unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“No problem. We are going to look around and only debark if we find something unusual. We will keep any excursions to thirty minutes or less.”
We boarded the Shuttle and Klutch took the pilot’s seat. Tria sat in the other and I stood behind her. Coonts and Xul joined us and we stared out the view screen as Justice picked the shuttle up and pushed it into the void. Justice’s subsystem highlighted the target area and Klutch nosed us over into a dive for the massive crater. The radiation quickly rocketed to crazy high levels as Klutch centered us up for an approach to the tunnel. We noticed that the mouth of the tunnel had large piping and conduits ringing the top and sides of the opening. All were sheared off clean by whatever created the gigantic crater. The tunnel must have been attached to the target of the weapon.
Klutch slowed the shuttle drastically as we entered the opening. He pushed a highlighted button on the control panel and the tunnel was flooded with bright light. There was a lot of dirt, rock and debris in the entrance, but soon it thinned to just dirt and dust. We had gone about a half of mile and the radiation started falling. It would never be a safe level, but if we decided to go for a walk, it would not involve a time limit. I was beginning to think the tunnel went on forever when it opened into a massive cavern. Klutch started skirting the edge, and it quickly became apparent we were looking at a mining operation that had been abandoned during or after the attack on the planet. There was mining equipment that at one time was actively working at different places in the cavern. We could see conveyers that had once moved the materials to the large clear storage containers we were already familiar with. Justice’s subsystem was running non-stop scans and alerted us to its conclusions.
“Commander, this excavation was for mining the materials identified by Scholar Burlor as Containium. There is approximately six hundred tons in storage crates and I have detected large veins of the material in the surrounding walls of the excavation. Most of the equipment is old but in good condition. If the tunnel entrance was properly prepared and atmospheric purification systems installed, there is no reason why this operation could not be brought back online.”
This was an interesting turn of events and not what I expected to find. Another thought occurred to me: why would the Guardian transponder point out a mining operation? What artifact in this cavern could send a signal that the transponder would respond to?
“Justice, could you show us the exact location where the thread terminates?”
A bright green line appeared on the cockpit viewscreen. It connected to the wall of the cavern. Klutch slowly maneuvered us closer and we could now see an open doorway into the rock wall.
“Klutch, find a spot to put us down and let’s go for a walk.”
“Roger that, Commander!”
Klutch swung us around and landed the shuttle just inside of the tunnel entrance.
“Justice, are you still negative on life scans?”
“No life forms, Commander. Not even rodent or insect life is being detected.”
“Alright, let’s go for a walk, and remember — don’t touch anything unless you absolutely have to.”
That last part was for Xul’s sake. The rest of the crew knew better. We jumped down from the airlock to a dust-covered floor. There were no signs that anything had moved about in the thick dust except for the occasional small crater from debris dropping from the overhead. As usual, the Troop Master took the lead and we trudged toward the cavern wall. Klutch was being overly cautious: he led us on a route that would not expose us to a direct line with the open doorway. He led us to one side of the door and held up a fist, then pulled his weapon from its clip. He stepped into the doorway, and a few seconds later, an armored hand waved us in.
We entered the door way and found ourselves in a good-sized atmosphere lock that separated the mining operation from what looked like a large open room just beyond another open door. The no light sensors in our visors gave us a detailed look at what use to be a common area and bunking quarters for the miners. We spread out to get a good look around and Coonts called
out.
“Commander, I have the skeletal remains of two aliens.”
We went to where Coonts was standing and saw two biped aliens lying in a bunk together. It was obvious that at some point in time there were, in fact, rodents or something along those lines. The faces and skulls of the bodies were chewed open, leaving a grotesque, ragged opening so the critters could eat the insides. The exposed hands were nubs missing all traces of fingers if they actually had them. One of the corpses had a shoulder bag. Coonts extended a climbing hook and carefully cut it free, pulling it from the remains. He handed it to me and I opened it. It looked like several small personal possessions, but what was really interesting was the Guardian transponder in the bottom of the bag. I pulled the device out and laid the bag back in its place. Our transponder showed us yet another capability. It could point out other transponders. Perhaps, one day, we might find one with a live recipient in possession of it.
We searched the crew quarters for anything else of interest but found nothing. Klutch led us back to the shuttle and we flew back out of the tunnel to the Legacy. Justice pulled us in with the tow beam and locked us down in the hangar. We each stood in the shuttle’s airlock and went through a decontamination process. When Justice was satisfied we were clean, he let us stow our gear. I placed the transponder on a table in the science lab and went to my quarters for a hot shower and a nap. Tria and my crewmates were right behind me. When Tria slowed to let them pass, Coonts and Klutch gave us some large eyed looks and big smiles. We could hear them snickering as they made their way down the corridor. It put a frown on Tria’s pretty face, and she gave me a quick kiss and made it a point to say I will see you in the galley later. She turned away and walked to her cabin. When Coonts and Klutch saw her coming their way they sped up and disappeared into their quarters. Justice constantly watching my interactions with Tria was annoying; apparently Tria felt the same way about her fellow crewmates.
As I stepped into my cabin, I called to Justice. “Do you have any notable updates from our surveillance drones around outpost 6854?”
“Negative, Commander. A small number of spacecraft have visited the outpost and departed. None have been Murlak, and only one was Scrun. There is a possibility our covert operation may still be linked to us even though there is no evidence supporting that theory. If Eiger is taking every precaution to avoid contact with us, he might decide to stay clear of the outpost and have his underlings transport his profits to a location of his choosing. This scenario has a high probability of being correct.”
If it was not for finding the mine and the transponder, I would say my day had turned to shit. I was no closer to finding Eiger and wondered if I should go ahead and strike the remnants of his fleet in case he decides to move them elsewhere.
“Justice, if it looks like Eiger’s assets are getting ready to move from the nebula, I want our strike package to take them out. Use everything we got. I want nothing left for Eiger to make use of.”
“Acknowledged!”
“Jump us to the Sig’s new base of operations, standard transition.”
“Affirmative, Commander. Jumping in sixty seconds.”
I took a hot shower and laid down to take a nap, wondering what Tria was doing. I woke several hours later with Justice calling to me. “Commander, I have a secure IST link coming from the Operative.”
I heard a beep in my head and then the Operative. “Nathan, the Fury is now fully operational and I thought we should take some time to talk. I have been alerted that you are not at Alpha base and seem to be jumping to obscure locations on the fringe of the galaxy.”
I didn’t know how likely it would be for the Chaalt to find the mine, and I wasn’t going to admit I found one either.
“While we were working to uncover information on Eiger, we stumbled across a star system that had been destroyed. Whole planets, moons, everything was decimated. We were close enough to the fringe to speculate it was a victim of the Prule when they first came to this galaxy. All signs of life have been wiped out and the one remaining planetary body is a wasteland of immense craters and incredibly high radiation counts.”
“Perhaps we could find the time to meet and discuss your findings. I would also like to convince you my people wish to have no more conflicts of interest with you.”
“Sael, I have a keen nose for bullshit. You have been ordered to find me and tag along until I decide to go to the derelict ship. Am I right, yes or no?”
“Why must you act like a primate when I am trying to work with you?”
“Sael, we are jumping to the Sig’s new base of operations. If you wish to talk, you can join up with us there.”
My IST beeped and the Operative went offline. I had the feeling she was pissed because she didn’t like the Sig. She needed to get used to it because they were allies that would stand behind me come hell or high water and they have yet to demand anything in return. I was actually considering taking them along to investigate the derelict ship. If we get lucky and the ship is not a pile of junk, I will offer some of the take to secure the area from any possible interlopers. A Sig fleet operating in the area would keep most races from snooping around.
“Justice, what is our ETA to the Sig base?”
“Forty-one minutes, seventeen seconds, Commander.”
There was enough time I could sit down and have a meal before I had to meet with Sael. I got cleaned up and put on a fresh uniform. As the door to my cabin opened, I came face to face with Tria. I could hear Klutch talking to Coonts or Xul somewhere down the corridor. The thought of pulling her into my cabin crossed my mind. The chatter down the way got louder and Tria took me by the hand and cancelled the thought by pulling me down the hall.
“Let’s have our meal before Klutch decides to go to the galley.”
There was no arguing with her logic, and I picked up the pace enough I was pulling her along. She thought that was funny and we ran to the down tube and dove in head first. We laughed all the way to the galley deck righting ourselves at the last second and then stepping out. I got the equivalent of soup and sandwiches and we sat at our usual places. We had little to say as we hastily ate our food. Our timing could not have been better; Klutch stepped into the galley and nodded to us. We returned the gesture and picked up our trays. This was one sideshow we would be missing. As we exited we almost ran into Coonts and Xul. They were waiting in the corridor for Klutch to pick his seat. We smiled and kept walking.
Justice alerted me of an impending call from the Operative. “Commander, the IST link is active.”
I got a secure beep and then the Operative. “Nathan, we are currently holding outside of the system the Sig base is located in. Since the Fury will be an unknown and I do not want to disclose my cloaking capabilities, I suggest you let your defective A.I. track us down.”
“No problem, Sael. I will see you when we arrive.”
I ended the call with a small chuckle. That was not the answer she was probably expecting. Her new ship may be harder to find than her old one, but with Justice onboard it will be it will be a very short search. I would call her on the IST when the time comes and that will give Justice’s subsystem a chance to send us her location piggybacked on the transmission.
“Commander, we will exit interdimensional space in thirty seconds.”
“Thank you, Justice. Alert the Sig we will be passing through the neighborhood. I would like you to prep a comm buoy with a message to Sushi. Have it ready to launch in the event we need it. I want the message to say we have made another discovery and will share the wealth if he will supply a couple of fleets for security patrols.”
“Message sent, and I am prepping the buoy. I am also detecting return message traffic cued on the local comm buoys.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Tam Lin’s voice broadcast from the overhead. “Nathan, the Zaens have launched with your new freighter. If you need anything, feel free to stop by and talk English to me. Fair skies and calm seas, my friend.”
&nb
sp; I smiled at the references to my place of birth. The Legacy and Alpha base were my home now, and it would be hard to return to what many might consider a normal lifestyle. Practicing galactic justice back on Earth would land me on everyone’s most wanted list. The beast inhabiting my mind would most assuredly get me sent to a prison for the criminally insane.
“Justice, have you got a lock on the Fury?”
“Yes. I am closing the distance now.”
“I thought you would need a signal from your subsystem?”
“It will not be necessary now that I can control the Fury’s drive emissions. It is a simple matter to introduce minute fluctuations into the drives that are easily detectable.”
“Do you think it is wise to go directly to Sael’s location? She is already suspicious as it is. I think it is a little early in the game to be tipping our hand.”
“I will ensure the Senior Operative still has her doubts about my presence aboard the Fury.”
I was starting to get a little nervous because Justice’s voice had a familiar edge to it. He usually talked like that just before I was a victim of one of his pranks. The Operative called Justice a defective machine on more than one occasion. I should probably have cautioned her against unnecessarily picking at him. I wasn’t sure of her motives other than to see him exhibit emotions rather than programmed responses. I had a bad feeling about this. Justice said we were closing the distance but it looked like we were significantly increasing speed. The stars on the view dome were now long streaks of light: this was not a good thing. Suddenly a bright blue box appeared in the center of the view screen. The Fury uncloaked and a yellow circle appeared around it. In a blink of an eye, we past just to port of it and then it was gone. My IST beeped and Sael came online and she sounded pissed.
“Nathan! What is that defective A.I. doing? You nearly collided with our shields!”
I was kind of lost for words, as was the rest of my crew. I could not think of any reasonable explanation for the crazy close pass other than spite, so I threw her a half ass excuse.