RESURRECTION (RIBUS 7, #5)

by Shae Mills

  Then Chelan sat down with the two men. She was so excited, she could hardly contain herself. “So, tell me, what did you discover? And more importantly, what is the plan?”

  Chapter 26

  KORBA ROSE TO HIS FEET and hit some switches on the main control panel. Diagrams, readouts, and schematics all came to life. He sat back down with a control mechanism in his hand. “All the initial reports are here, and because I pulled crews out of the area, further analyses have been completed on new samples.”

  He pointed to a large 3-D chart. “That is the mass spectrometry readings of the material of which all our RIBUSes are structurally composed. It is an alloy containing a unique blend of metals, and one specific element found here in abundance on Cleos and her sister planets. We use it because it supplies a structural integrity like no other found thus far.” He clicked a button and another spectrogram superimposed on the first.

  Terig nodded. “And here is our mystery alloy.”

  Chelan squinted at the display as it rotated. As usual, this analysis was nothing like what labs on Earth were able to produce. The concise detail and complexity generated by Telesian technology were awe-inspiring. “It is precisely the same except for that one peak,” she said.

  Terig continued. “Exactly. And that one element is something called Zenatropium.”

  “Hmmm... Never heard of that one,” Chelan replied.

  Korba spoke. “That is because it is an extremely rare metalloid with no known uses. It was discovered long ago by the Telesians in a star system composed of several rogue planets. It is extremely hard to mine, apparently, and it exists in such small quantities that no one has bothered to use it for much of anything, at least that we know of. It has never been utilized by the Empire, nor by the Telesians. And as far as they know, until now there have never been any highly refined samples of the metal. As a result, it has never been studied by us, or by them.”

  “Uh, until now,” Chelan whispered in wonderment. She looked between the two men. “So, what you are saying is that the samples of the metal obtained from RIBUS 7 do contain pure, highly refined bits of this Zenatropium?”

  Terig smiled. “Exactly right, my Lady.”

  “I have two questions then. First, what are rogue planets, and second, do you have any idea why any of the metal is on RIBUS 7?”

  Korba answered. “Planets or whole systems are considered ‘rogue’ if they have been explored by the Empire and deemed worthy of induction for one reason or another but the indigenous beings have chosen to be uncooperative. As you know, normally a takeover is then ordered, but if it is not immediately implemented, the planetary systems are simply left to their own devices in the interim. They are still loosely considered ours, but are designated as rogue when no formal induction into the Empire has been completed.”

  “Why would the induction in this case not have been completed?” she asked.

  “The Cleosans and the Telesians, subsequent to this discovery, have gone back into the history archives and looked up the conflict pertaining to this system. It was long ago, and the Empire of the time was looking into Zenatropium simply because it was novel. The humans that inhabit some of these planets were somewhat primitive and notoriously violent, and when they discovered the Empire’s interest in the metal, they decided to put up a substantial fight, though they themselves had no use for it that the Empire could ascertain. Anyway, after initial assays were taken and the planets scanned, the resources were found to be of little significance, and so any scuffles to procure the planets into the Empire were simply scrapped.”

  Chelan furrowed her brow. “I wonder how much was actually known about the metal back then—its properties, I mean. You said it was long ago. Maybe the indigenous people knew something the Empire did not, hence their protectiveness. After all, they did mine it, right?”

  Terig’s and Korba’s eyes met. Then Korba spoke. “That is a very interesting observation. And the incidents pertaining to this group of planets were centuries ago.”

  “And there has never been any follow-up with them?” Chelan asked.

  “Not to anyone’s knowledge. Until this discovery, they have been completely off the Empire’s radar, including mine.”

  Chelan rubbed at her brow. “Was any of this ever used on any of Talon’s ships?”

  Korba hesitated, then shook his head. “Not that we have been aware of. Why do you ask?”

  “Just that Talon was in this area, where we are now, the entire time he was amassing his fleets. RIBUS 7 is also here. If the element is on our ship, then maybe it was used by others in the area, and by Talon specifically. Of course, that conjecture all depends on when the material was installed on RIBUS 7, by whom, and for what purpose.”

  Korba pondered her observation long and hard. “Normally I would have never drawn any kind of a connection between Talon and the material, but you may have a point.” And his eyes lit on Terig.

  Terig tapped his fingers on the table. “Indeed, and this is where this whole conversation gets really interesting. The Telesians managed to date the material. It has been installed since the bombing and subsequent destruction of RIBUS 7.”

  “Oh my god!” Chelan exclaimed nearly coming out of her chair. “Then people have been on her before we got here?”

  “So it would appear, my Lady,” Korba said. “But for what purpose, is the salient question. What has been done to the ship makes little sense.” And he hit another button, bringing a very large and detailed 3-D schematic of the affected areas to the forefront. “Rovers scanning the areas they have been able to access thus far, have come up with this recent depiction showing the distribution of the alloy.”

  Chelan studied the network laid out in red, the view almost taunting her. As the display began a slow rotation, she focused on the forbidden corridor and where it traversed the crew’s quarters, but there was nothing extraordinary about the location. Originally, Terig had asked her what was behind the crew’s quarters, and on one side they backed onto yet more quarters, the other side being flanked by the now highlighted transportation tube. Top and bottom decks were just more quarters. Nothing stood out. Nothing seemed pertinent.

  This particular transport chamber was just one of thousands that crisscrossed the RIBUS, a complicated network of corridors with multiple purposes. All in all, it was like a sophisticated elevator, capable of moving in all directions and to all destinations. The personal transportation pods could be programmed to travel to any part of the ship, moving the occupant or goods to the far reaches of the ship in seconds if need be. And a massive computer system kept the whole network sorted out so there were no collisions.

  Korba looked over to her. “Any other questions?”

  Chelan pinched the bridge of her nose and winced as she tried to concentrate. “This area, if I recall, was highly damaged, and it was not surveyed until late because it was an area of low sensitivity.”

  Korba nodded. “Correct.”

  “But someone not only decided to repair these corridors, they did so after obviously doing a lot of research on alloys. Plus, they would have had to have found a place to have the manufacturing done, a place of some significance and sophistication.”

  Korba nodded again. “Correct, and the Telesians and our people are scouring the galaxy as we speak, looking for exactly that.”

  Chelan stared intently at him. “Rather than going at it from that angle, why do we not visit those rogue planets and find out who they have been selling the Zenatropium to or trading it with?”

  “That has been discussed, but as mentioned before, their cooperation levels have been nonexistent in the past.”

  “Not that being uncooperative has ever deterred the Empire before,” Chelan said. “And besides, that was forever ago.”

  Terig cleared his throat. “Uh, well, there have been some recent reports from traders in the area, and they have indicated that not much has changed. For the most part, any attempted contact has been met with significant resistance.”

/>   “Recent? How recent?” Chelan asked.

  “As recently as last year. An Imperial year, that is,” Terig informed her.

  Chelan bit her lip. “Significant resistance from a primitive culture...,” she whispered. “Maybe not so primitive anymore?”

  Korba shut the displays down. “The contact was made by a trading vessel, so they were not exactly equipped for any sort of confrontation, primitive or not. Anyway, the Telesians are continuing to test the properties of the alloy, and tomorrow Terig and I are going to visit the area on the ship containing the greatest concentration of the material. After that, we will decide what steps to take, if any.”

  “If any?”

  Korba gave her a small smile. “Whoever repaired the area is gone. In the long run, it probably is of no consequence. Maybe whatever they had in mind fell by the wayside, or they decided they had to move on, or maybe they were even killed on one of their forays. Either way, our work on the ship continues, and this in now but a side project.”

  Chelan went to speak but an indicator light caught Korba’s attention. “Yes?” he called out.

  “One of the crews on board RIBUS 7 is asking if they may begin work again in the alloy area, my Lord.”

  Korba stood. “Tell them to wait. I will meet with them tomorrow.”

  “Yes, my Lord. And the Telesian Ambassador has asked if you have received the latest updates on the manufacturing schedules for Cleos.”

  “Is he still here?”

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “Tell him I will be right with him.”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  Korba looked to Terig. “I want to stop on the Bridge for a moment before meeting the Ambassador. I would like you there with him when I arrive.”

  Terig rose. “Of course, my Lord.”

  Korba bent over Chelan and kissed her on the forehead. “I shall be back soon, my Lady. I want to be with you tonight.”

  Chelan looked up at him. “I should like that, my Lord.” And she watched as he strode out of the Command Center.

  Terig bowed to her. “Well, my Lady. I too shall be on my way.” And he turned to leave.

  Chelan shot to her feet and grabbed him by the arm. “You have to get me on that ship.”

  He sighed. “You are going to get me killed.”

  “You saw the schematic. I as well as you and everyone who has laid eyes on it knows that those repairs have to be strategic. It is not which portions of the tunnels were repaired that is significant—it is where those tunnels lead to that is. And whoever did this may be gone, but they may come back.”

  Terig looked at her sternly. “And that is exactly why you should stay off her decks.”

  Chelan jerked back. “Then you have had the same thought?”

  “Yes, and so has Korba. But no alien life forms are on board her now. And if we find out the why’s behind all this, we will find out the who’s... if it even matters.”

  Chelan’s voice was a low hiss. “You damn well know it matters. Whoever went to great lengths to do those repairs was not simply some creature who wanted to have a mini-vacation on RIBUS 7’s decks while traversing the galaxy.”

  Terig’s shoulders slumped and he closed his eyes momentarily. Then he stared into her expectant ones. “Give me tomorrow to think, and we will go from there.”

  A large smile broke out across her face and she leapt at him, hugging him tight.

  His arms surrounded her, and he groaned. “That was not a yes,” he breathed into her neck.

  She squeezed him harder. “No, but it was close enough.”

  THE NEXT MORNING A large contingent of warriors was on the main flight deck preparing to take off for RIBUS 7. Chelan watched all the preparations with Marri from the private Command Center. Even Shanna, nestled in Chelan’s arms, seemed enthralled by all the activity.

  Marri leaned in close to Chelan. “If Korba had made the decision to stay here, all this extra preparation would not be necessary.”

  Chelan nodded almost absently, her eyes glued to the screen. “You mean that the Emperor of the known galaxy boarding a bombed-out, unstable hulk causes chaos not only here, but with all three battleships?”

  Marri smiled. “The security alone is a nightmare. If it was just us, that would be fine. But there are so many foreign agencies involved with us right now, all of this becomes necessary.”

  Chelan sighed. “He has always needed to do things in a hands-on manner. This is no different. Terig is actually the only one who needs to see the construction. But I suppose being by Terig’s side and being able to ask questions while being right there is best.”

  Marri chuckled and looked down at Chelan. “You have seen the holographic images from our probes, right?”

  Chelan stopped bouncing Shanna and became very still. Then she shook her head. “Well, I guess he just needs to be there for whatever reason.”

  Marri stared back at the screen as the first several hundred fighters jettisoned. “Actually, I take my somewhat snide observation back. He is playing on his sixth sense. What he feels while there could possibly tell us more than anything Terig finds.”

  Chelan finally smiled. “You are absolutely right. Besides, with no battles to fight, no planets to blow up, he needs to get out. And walking the decks of RIBUS 7 again will do more for him than anything else around.”

  Marri looked at her. “He is discontent?”

  Chelan shook her head. “Oh no. The children alone have filled his days with happiness. I just think he is almost as consumed with getting RIBUS 7 on her feet as I am.”

  Marri paused. “I know your reasons for getting her back, and I understand them. But I am not so sure putting her back in service is what you may want.”

  This time Shanna looked up at Marri too. Chelan furrowed her brow. “Why do you say that?”

  “Korba is doing this for himself as much as for you. And when she is complete, she will once again be the galactic icon she has always been. His Majesty is a warrior first, and a brutally efficient one. Do you think he is going to turn her over to just anyone and let them command from her decks?”

  Shanna peered up at Chelan as if awaiting her mother’s response. Chelan watched as the last of the fighters departed, and then she turned to Marri. “That is an interesting question.” She stared at her daughter as she pondered Marri’s thoughts. “After Talon’s defeat, Korba learned what Talon always told me, that you cannot govern and fight all the wars at once. To do so spreads you too thin. Korba knows this now, and he has told me he is happy to lay down his weapons and rule from Iceanea.”

  Marri cocked an eyebrow. “Happy?”

  “You know what I mean. He has other priorities now, and I do not mean just ruling.”

  “I hope you are right, my Lady, because I think his true promise to you was that he would never again leave you, and that was an easy promise to keep if he stayed on Iceanea and governed. But once RIBUS 7 is back in action, there is nothing stopping him from ruling from her decks.”

  Chelan stared at the now serene flight deck. Then she looked back at Marri. “You are absolutely right. And I think ruling and fighting from her decks would be what his Lordship would love and do best. But he knows he would have to take me and the children, and he also knows that I would jump at the adventure, even if it meant all of us dying by his side. I am not sure he would risk that. On the other hand, just like now, if we were to travel as a unit with other battleships, I suppose the possibilities are endless.”

  Marri straightened and smiled broadly. “Well then, my Lady. If RIBUS 7 ever regains her former glory and then some, we all may be in for the adventure of our lives.”

  Chelan laughed. “Oh, now, you mean that after you are finished with me and the children, you have no aspirations for a vessel of your own? I know you are in the running for a Commandership.”

  Marri nodded, a glint in her eye as she looked off into space. “As you know, I fought by Korba’s side during the Rigilean mission and so many others. And I was with
him practically day and night all throughout our exile. I have thought a lot over the decades about my own ship...”

  Marri hesitated and then looked down into Chelan’s expectant eyes. “I cannot possibly put into words what it is like to fight by his side, in a fighter, on the back of a Centurion, or on foot. Think of a mentor on Earth, a person you admire like no other, someone so proficient at their trade that no one else could possibly come close. Then imagine that person having the intellectual capacity of ten men, and the physical prowess of every other species built for the kill. When you put that all together... well, I do not know if having my own ship could ever compare.”

  Chelan stared at the woman. Marri’s admiration and respect for Korba was as plainly written on her features as it was eloquently spoken. Chelan took a deep breath. “I know how much you love him, Marri. I feel it every day. And I know that by Iceanean values, well, none of this is fair to you. There are times when I am just so, so sorry.”

  Marri smiled at her and shrugged one shoulder. “It is not you who have forced the unfairness of it all. His Lordship made that decision for every woman who ever desired to be with him long before you.”

  Chelan knew the truth in that statement without a doubt, but she remained focused on Marri. “Do you think your love for him is why you might choose to remain with him, under his command, rather than assuming your own?”

  Marri’s eyes widened. “Now, that is a far-reaching question.” The warrior glanced down at the floor, her brow furrowed. Then she looked back up at all the screens displaying the activities in and around RIBUS 7. Her voice was soft. “I had never let that concept enter my mind till now.” She looked to Chelan. “I would like to think that my love for him has no bearing on any of my decisions, that in my aggressive need to be one of the best, I will rise to the top no matter what my station. But I supposed that if I was completely detached from his Lordship emotionally, the pursuit of my own ship would be the unquestionable path.” She became quiet while deep in thought.