“I have it!” Ludendorff shouted. “I know what struck me as odd. The mind-meld entity or massed thought came from out there.” He pointed. “It didn’t come from there.” He pointed in the other direction.
“What does that mean?” Maddox asked.
“The massed thought did not come from Earth?” Galyan asked.
“Exactly,” Ludendorff said.
“But if it came from out there—” Galyan threw up his ropy holographic arms. “That means the thought mass came from the direction of the Moon.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Ludendorff said, clapping his hands together, wincing worse than before. “That makes perfect sense. The Liss cyber didn’t go to ground on Earth. It went to the Moon. It must be somewhere on the Moon.”
“Stokes faced one of the creatures in Montana,” Maddox said.
“That doesn’t matter,” Ludendorff said. “It’s where the mass is that counts. Galyan, begin analyzing the Moon for locations. You know what to look for.”
“Captain?” Galyan asked Maddox.
“Scan the Moon,” Maddox said. He swiveled around to face the main screen. “There’s something I’m not getting. Star Watch is far too complacent concerning our latest actions, at least a Star Watch run by those enslaved by the Liss. Why is the Liss letting us do all this without reacting to our moves?”
“It did react,” Ludendorff said. “I struck back, stunning it. Now, it must be gathering its forces for its next move or attack.”
“Valerie,” Maddox said. “Are any warships gathering?”
The lieutenant studied her board. “A jumpfighter just appeared near the Alexander. There are the battleships heading from Earth orbit, but they’ve slowed down. The nearest warships are the three Conqueror-class battleships.”
“Uh-huh,” Maddox said, thinking. “How many ships are in front of us, blocking the Moon?”
“Several attack cruisers in Luna orbit,” Valerie said. “There are Luna batteries and missile sites on the Moon.”
“There are also three strikefighter bases,” Keith said.
Ludendorff looked up from a panel where Galyan was quietly explaining a mini-screen image to him. “It would be best if we didn’t have to fight our way to the Liss caverns,” Ludendorff said.
“That would be best,” Maddox agreed. “But, so what? That’s likely not what we’re going to get.”
“We have the alien stealth vessel,” Ludendorff said. “It clearly has transfer capabilities. Maybe we could use that to our advantage.”
Maddox stared at Ludendorff. “Could you find and learn how to use the transfer tech fast enough?”
Ludendorff grinned. “It’s always up to the professor, eh? Very well, I’ll go there if you’ll come with me.”
“Certainly,” Maddox said.
“Good,” Ludendorff said. “Galyan, keep explaining this to me while we head for the hangar bay. Captain, I think we’d better get to the stealth ship at once. If I’m correct, the Liss mass-mind is going to make its move soon.”
“Right,” Maddox said. “Riker, go the professor’s lab. Grab the headbands. Are they still there, Professor?”
“They are indeed,” Ludendorff said. “And I agree. Once we figure out the transfer technology—”
Maddox was up out of the command chair, reached Ludendorff and grabbed an arm. “No more chitchat, Professor. Let’s go!”
-10-
Becker was only vaguely aware of what was happening to him. He’d raced to the local spaceport and found an ace to pilot his jumpfighter. They’d launched, rocketing for orbital space. Once they’d reached it, the jumpfighter had folded to the Alexander.
The fold was the problem. The drug Becker had injected, or the process of the fold itself, had affected his big brain. He’d never folded before with his enlarged cranium and even larger, denser brain. The process was nauseating and pulse-pounding.
“Please, sir,” said an Alexander-based nurse, a beefy man. “You must relax.”
“The captain, I must speak to the—” Becker rolled to the side and vomited onto the floor. It was the sixth time he’d done so.
“He needs an injection,” a doctor said, an older lady.
“No,” Becker gasped, “no more shots. Get me to the captain.”
“Sir,” the doctor said. “You’re in no condition—”
“This is an emergency,” Becker said, before he dry-heaved and rolled onto his back. He felt horrible. It was so damned hard to think, but he’d better think. This was it. He had to get a grip or Nostradamus would do it for him. This time, the Liss would do more than just castrate him.
“Is the shot ready?” the doctor asked the nurse.
“No!” Becker said, struggling up, trying to focus his eyes. The Medical chamber swam before him.
The beefy nurse walked toward him, holding a hypo.
“Inject yourself,” Becker snarled, glaring at the beefy nurse.
The man halted.
“What’s the problem here?” the doctor asked.
“Do it,” Becker hissed.
The nurse stared into Becker’s eyes. With a sudden jab, the man pressed the end of the hypo against his neck and injected himself.
The doctor backed away from the nurse.
“No!” Becker shouted, glaring at the doctor. “Stop!”
The doctor’s eyelids fluttered.
“Stop,” Becker repeated.
The nurse collapsed. A second later, the doctor collapsed beside him. The nurse snored heavily. The doctor had stopped breathing, her heart having stopped beating. She jerked and twitched several times before lying as still as death.
Becker slumped back on the Medical cot. He felt more drained and more disgusting than ever. That had cost him. He was too weak. The anti-jump drug, or the fold, had played havoc with his wonderfully big and heavy brain. He should have known something like this was going to screw him.
“No, no, no,” Becker whispered. He forced his eyes open. He had to get to the captain. He had to get this ship—he didn’t have an exact plan. He was going to have to play this by ear.
His stomach dry-heaved again. He trembled afterward, and he realized if he fell asleep, he would lose to Nostradamus. He couldn’t remember the other name just now.
Becker frowned. He’d used anti-jump drugs before. He’d gone through Laumer Points, which was quite similar to jumpfighter folds. So, what had really happened to his mind?
Becker, a faint voice said.
“Nostradamus,” he whispered.
You can finally hear me. Why did you leave Geneva?
Becker knew growing panic.
Have you betrayed me?
“That’s absurd. I’ve been trying to reach you. I don’t know why I couldn’t reach you.”
You’re lying. I can tell, although I can’t read all of your thoughts. You’ve grown. I’m impressed.
“You’re weaker,” Becker said.
Not so weak I couldn’t insert fog into your brain.
“You did this to me?”
I will win. I will win because I’ve prepared for every eventuality. Don’t think you fooled me. I gave you extra leash to see what you would do with it. I also tested my predictions concerning you.
Nostradamus was lying to him. The Liss cyber would never give him extra leash to do the things he’d been doing. In fact, Nostradamus should reprimand him for having these thoughts.
“What do you want me to do?” Becker asked.
Destroy Starship Victory, Nostradamus said. Use these three battleships to do it.
“Why not use the strikefighters on the Moon?” Becker asked. “Fire up the defensive batteries on the Moon, as well.”
Are you telling me my business?
“No,” Becker said. “I just don’t know why you need the battleships to do your dirty work?”
You will cease arguing with me.
“Yes, Nostradamus,” Becker said. “Would you please de-fog my mind so I can think properly?”
There was no rep
ly.
“Nostradamus?” asked Becker.
There was nothing.
Becker concentrated. He didn’t sense the alien presence, and he did feel marginally better. He was wobbly and physically weak, but it didn’t seem as if he was going to dry-heave again. That was good. He hated vomiting, had desperately hated it as a kid.
Becker slid off the cot and exited his cell, passing medical personnel glancing at him. He went to a washbasin, scrubbed the vomit off his chin and hands, and used a damp cloth to wipe away any stains on his uniform.
Someone screamed. They must have found the dead doctor.
Becker left the wash area. A large attendant hurried after him. Becker turned.
“Excuse me? Can you explain the dead doctor?” The attendant inched closer, looking threatening.
“The doctor died of natural causes,” Becker said, dominating the other. His mental abilities were flooding back. “Tell them I’m on an emergency mission. Only I can save the planet from its coming destruction.”
The attendant’s right hand flew in front of his mouth. He turned, stumbling away, racing back to no doubt tell whoever had sent him the news.
Becker departed Medical and started for the bridge. Had Nostradamus truly fogged his brain? That meant the Liss cyber mass-mind was gathering its powers. Becker was going to have to decide whether he should throw in with his Master, or if this was still his narrowing window of opportunity for the whole ball of wax.
-11-
Ludendorff, Maddox, Meta and Riker wore battlesuits inside the stealth ship. Gravity had returned some time ago when the other ship systems had restarted.
Each battlesuit carried extra weaponry for extended fighting—not that any of them planned to fight in the stealth ship.
The idea had coalesced during the shuttle journey from Victory. Via comm, Valerie had informed them of strikefighters lifting off from the Moon bases. They were forming up, getting ready to challenge Victory, no doubt. Equally as troublesome, Luna silos were readying to launch antimatter missiles and heavy disrupter batteries were warning up.
“It’s called Fortress Luna for a reason,” Maddox had said.
“That’s why we’re racing to the stealth ship, my boy,” Ludendorff had hastened to say.
As they marched down the corridors, Maddox did some heavy thinking. Victory had Mary O’Hara aboard. He couldn’t risk her, and he couldn’t risk the dedicated crew that had served with him for so long. This was different from his other missions. Those were Star Watch fighters and defensive batteries out there. Nearby warships would join in; the attack cruisers in orbit around the Moon were already maneuvering into blocking positions.
If Maddox won, he didn’t want hundreds of destroyed strikefighters on his conscience. He didn’t want hundreds or maybe thousands of dead Star Watch personnel to account for. If he fought massed Star Watch battleships, Victory would cease to exist. Galyan would cease. After all this time, Maddox didn’t want it to go down like that.
“Galyan,” the captain said.
“Here, sir,” the holoimage said, appearing in the corridor with them.
“Listen,” Maddox told the professor, his wife and his sergeant, “we four are expendable. Meta, I wish you hadn’t come. But you did. We four are going to buy the farm in the next hour. That doesn’t have to mean the end of Victory. Galyan, you’ll inform Lieutenant Noonan that she must star-drive jump out of the system. She should go the Tau Ceti System and hook up with Cook there.”
“I am sorry, sir,” Galyan said. “But I do not understand.”
“You sorry excuse for an AI,” Ludendorff cut in. “Don’t you know what your captain is saying? We’re heading for the transfer unit. We’re taking a one-way ticket to the Moon caverns.”
“You know the location of the hidden Liss?” Galyan asked.
“I have a few guesses,” Ludendorff said.
“Why would you go yourself, Professor?” Galyan asked.
“Confound it, my boy. I love humanity. I want Star Watch and the human race to expand for eons. That means we have to destroy this Liss cyber monster. It’s wormed its way among us. I weakened it a little. Now, I’m joining the di-far for our death march to save Earth while we can.”
“I have miscalculated your personality,” Galyan said. “I am finding your action today admirable.”
“I have no doubt that’s true, my boy. I’m feeling pretty good about myself today, too. This is a new feeling. High nobility: I think it suits me just fine.”
“We haven’t done a damn thing yet,” Riker growled. “Are you sure you know how to use the transfer tech?”
“Don’t need to know,” Ludendorff said. “I’ll figure it out on the spot.”
“That’s just great,” Riker muttered.
“Enough,” Maddox said. “Professor, I want you to be one hundred percent sure about the alien cavern.”
“Can’t, my boy, as such a thing is impossible at this point. I’ll have to give it my best shot. But don’t worry, my best is superlative.”
“I don’t see why we don’t just transfer antimatter bombs through,” Riker said.
“Lives,” Maddox said. “I’m not wiping out Fortress Luna to save our lives. We’re Star Watch people. We’ll go in there ourselves and get the job done.”
“Bravo,” Ludendorff said.
“What’s gotten into you, Professor?” Meta asked.
The professor shrugged his battlesuited shoulders, and then he found himself saying, “The Bosk hitmen almost killed Dana. She’s gravely hurt, and it happened because of the Liss monster hiding in our Moon. I want to kill it myself for Dana. I’ve wanted that ever since leaving the Brahma System. This is personal.”
“You finally told us the truth,” Riker said. “That must have been hard for you.”
“As the captain is fond of saying,” Ludendorff replied, “there’s no more time for chitchat. This is the chamber, I’m sure of it.” The professor pointed.
Maddox used his battlesuit’s exoskeleton power, kicking the metal hatch, after three hammer blows, causing it to rip out and fly back.
“Careful, my boy, you’ll ruin the equipment.”
Maddox poked his head in, shining his helmet lamp. The metal hatch had sailed over massed equipment to spear into a bulkhead, impaling itself there.
“Maybe I’m too old to understand these kinds of things,” Riker said.
Ludendorff hurried into the chamber, heading to what looked like the main control panel.
“But how is this thing going to solve all our problems?” the sergeant finished.
“You know the warriors and my grandmother used an arch to transfer back to this ship,” Maddox said.
“I was briefed,” Riker said.
“There was a second report, an earlier story,” Ludendorff said. “Galyan discovered it while hacking Star Watch computers. Similar warriors used a portal to appear in the Ardennes Forest, trying to kidnap Captain Becker.”
Riker’s battlesuit stood as if frozen. “So why didn’t these guys use a portal to grab the Iron Lady from the East Antarctica center?”
Ludendorff had already begun manipulating the main panel, turning on the equipment. “Good question, Sergeant. I’ve been asking myself that ever since studying Galyan’s findings. I suspect it has to do with the ship’s stealth field. Use the outright transfer tech, with the midair portal, and the stealth ship becomes visible. I imagine the ship could only project the midair portal a short distance away from itself. Use the transfer tech with the arch, and the stealth field can keep the ship invisible, and maybe they can transfer farther from the ship that way. Consider. Star Watch guarded the East Antarctica facility heavily. They would have immediately stopped a visible alien vessel. The first time, I suspect the stealth ship had landed somewhere near in the Ardennes, hiding in the forest, so to speak, when it used a midair portal.”
“You sure that’s the reason?” asked Riker.
“I give that a seventy-five percent probability,”
Ludendorff said. “There could be a different answer, one I’m not presently seeing.”
Riker grunted.
“Satisfied?” asked Maddox.
“No,” Riker said. “But at least that sounds plausible. You spoke about a short range using the midair portal. We’re going to have to get awfully close to the Moon to employ it then.”
Ludendorff’s battlesuit straightened. “Confound you, Sergeant. Your negativity is driving me crazy.”
“Is he right?” asked Maddox.
“Up to a point,” the professor said, as he studied the main panel, pressing a switch here and then there. “We must move closer to the Moon, but not as close as one might think. I can extend the midair portal range to a degree by hotshotting the equipment. That will burn it out, though, meaning there will be no transfer off the Moon for us.”
“That changes nothing,” Maddox said. “We’ll pilot the stealth ship closer to the Moon. Can you regenerate its stealth field?”
“Just for once,” Ludendorff said, “I’d like our plans to work smoothly, like clockwork, instead of all these problems popping up. Can you pilot the ship, Captain?”
“I’m on my way to the bridge,” Maddox said, his battlesuit already picking up speed as he headed for the exit.
-12-
On Battleship Alexander, Becker made his choice. It was obvious once he thought about it long enough. The race to the bridge had given him the time. Nostradamus would never trust him after this. The Liss cyber mass-mind would surely study him in detail and at its leisure once this episode was over, once Earth obeyed its new master.
That meant this was his closing window of opportunity. He had to grab it with both hands and give it a shot. Nothing else made any sense.
Thus, upon reaching the bridge, Becker strode in importantly. “Captain Henderson, I’d like a word with you in your ready room.”
The bridge personnel had whirled around at his entrance. He could sense their thoughts concerning his overlarge cranium. He hadn’t taken his concealing hat, which might have been a mistake. He didn’t radiate at them, saving his semi-exhausted mental energies. He’d used up too much these last few hours. Just like a biceps muscle, a brain could strain and pull if overworked.
The Lost Intelligence (Lost Starship Series Book 12) Page 31