Third Player

by Warren James Palmer

  Moss nodded, visibly relieved. What Jenson thought meant a lot to him. He’d always looked up to the fighter pilot and ex-resistance leader. ‘Okay,’ he agreed.

  ‘Besides,’ Jenson continued with a grin. ‘We’re still officially the same rank, so you can’t tell me to jump when you say so—at least not just yet! Now, what’s the game plan? How are we going to tackle the problem of the Dyason and the Heligsion?’

  Moss got up and began to stroll down the path back toward the woods. Jenson walked at his side. ‘I don’t think we’ve got any option but to take Excalibur to Heligsion and see for ourselves what’s happened there. Dauphne is adamant that there may be groups of survivors that need our help. She was all for taking Valvia back there, but that would be suicide.’

  ‘I agree,’ Jenson said nodding his head. ‘It’s vital that we find out what happened to her home-world. We need to find out if the threat of these “Devil Creatures” she talks about is for real. The Valvia only has half a crew, even with some of our technicians on-board. This ship isn’t ready for another voyage, especially if it has to go into combat. So it had to be Excalibur and what’s left of our Flyships.’

  Moss shuffled awkwardly then looked at Jenson. ‘I’m glad you’ve arrived at the same conclusion,’ he said unsure how to tell his old friend what he had to say. ‘But look Paul, I…we, need you to stay here on the Valvia. I want you and Sandpiper and a few others to stay behind.’

  Jenson stopped in his tracks and turned to face Moss. A multi-coloured insect landed on the shoulder of his flight suit, but he was unaware of its presence. ‘Why?’ he asked.

  ‘Because there’s a very good chance that the military junta may attempt a last-ditch operation against the Valvia. Chelekov and his cronies had their minds closed to Jennifer, Dauphne and myself. Their mental barriers are probably something they’ve learned to develop after dealing with Nimue for so long. I couldn’t read their thoughts without them being aware of it, but I still got the impression that they were busy hatching some plot or other. They came to that meeting to gain information, not to agree to any of our terms.’

  ‘I would have thought they’d be too busy dealing with the rebellions that are springing up all over the planet to worry about what we’re up to. Their space fleet is a shambles. They only have a few obsolete shuttles, cruisers and a handful of those snub-fighters left. As a force they’re spent. What threat can they be to us?’ Jenson asked.

  ‘The Imperial junta are desperate Paul,‘ Moss answered. ‘They might try anything. Now they know that there’s the technology on-board these starships to save their environment, it’s my guess they’ll try to get their hands on it. If they had access to that technology they could use it as a bargaining tool against the rebels. The Heligsion have no concept of deceit, lies and subterfuge, all of which the Dyason are masters at.’

  ‘I understand that. But couldn’t we just leave a few marines and a couple of Flyships to protect the Valvia? What about our cruiser the Elgin? Can’t she stay as an escort?’

  Moss shook his head. ‘The Elgin will have to return to Earth. We need to get all the information about what’s been happening to the WDF. We’ll have to build up our defences and fleet back home in case Dauphne’s aliens head for Earth.’

  ‘You take that threat very seriously don’t you Moss? Why?’

  ‘That’s what we’re going to Heligsion to find out,’ came the reply.

  ‘Okay. Han and I will stay here and keep an eye on our new friends. Can we have a flight of Flyships for protection?’ Jenson finally agreed.

  ‘We lost a lot of fighters in the last conflict Paul. We can really only spare Han’s and your personal ships. We can spare two squads of marines though.’

  ‘Well it’s not ideal, and I hate not going with you to this other planet lad,’ Jenson said with another sigh. ‘But I guess your plan is sensible. Han and I will manage.’

  They finally stepped off the woodland path and into the turbo-lift that took them back towards the Valvia’s bridge. As they did so, Jenson finished by saying, ‘What’s really out there Moss? Who, and what, is really after our blood?’

  ‘I don’t know boss,’ Moss replied as the doors shut. ‘But I get the feeling we’re about to find out...’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Derelict

  What do you mean we’ve lost them?’ Brabazon called out in alarm, looking up from the viewer on his laptop computer.

  ‘I was talking to them on the visual comm link one moment, the next it just cut,’ Anderson the marine captain told him from where he was floating just above the helmsman’s workstation. ‘They said something about being drawn into the planetoid and that was the last I heard.’

  ‘Shit!’ Brabazon swore. Rapidly his fingers flew over the laptop keyboard as he conversed with the shuttle’s on-board mainframe. Lights flashed up on a workstation next to him and he called Colmarrie over. ‘I’ve got the shuttle computer to route its sensors to this workstation. Can you make a sweep of that planetoid while I download these logs?

  The mutant woman propelled herself over to the workstation and glanced at the unfamiliar layout. ‘I’ve never used one of these units before, but I think I can do what you ask friend Josh,’ she answered beginning to tap at the keypads. She pressed another key and the whole unit died. ‘Oops!’ she said, quickly switching the unit back on.

  ‘You’ll manage I’m sure,’ Brabazon murmured not even looking up from the screen of his laptop. ‘I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s happened to Dominator and all these other ships. It’s all in these logs, but I need the proof from those scans you’re doing to confirm it.’

  ‘Hang on!’ Anderson called out. ‘Surely, we should be getting back on the shuttle and searching for the Dominator, rather than wasting time here?’

  ‘I think not Captain,’ Colmarrie answered mildly. ‘Gulag is quite capable of looking after himself. There is no point in us being absorbed by that planetoid as well. That would achieve nothing. Besides, you are forgetting that Josh, Gulag and myself are telepaths. If Gulag really needs us, he will call. My guess is that he’s a little busy right now. The best thing we can do is as Josh suggests and gather as much information as possible.’

  ‘Ah, I must admit, I didn’t think of that,’ Anderson replied sheepishly, drifting over to Colmarrie and examining the data being fed to the ancient workstation from their shuttle. ‘Here, let me help.’

  ‘Brabazon, Colmarrie, are you there?’

  ‘Go ahead Gulag,’ Brabazon responded to the mental call. ‘We can hear you. What’s going on? Where are you?’

  ‘The planetoid drew us inside,’ came the strained response. ‘Dominator is inside some sort of huge cavern in the heart of the construction. The entrance looks to be sealed behind us. The flight systems have closed down completely and we’re still locked out of the controls. However, there have been no hostile moves against us yet.’

  ‘If whatever is in control of that thing wanted to destroy us all, they could have done it long ago,’ Colmarrie said logically. ‘My guess is that our host is curious and wants to know what we are all about before it decides what to do with us.’

  ‘You’re probably right Colmarrie, not that it makes me feel much happier knowing that. Have you managed to access the data-banks of that derelict yet Josh? We badly need information.’

  ‘The main computer banks have been corrupted,’ Brabazon telepathed the clone. ‘However, I’ve managed to access the captain’s personal logs. I’ve been busy collating and translating the information for the past few minutes. The voice recordings are being translated by the shuttle’s computer, it’s about to complete the process right…now!’

  ‘Okay Josh, can you let me into your mind so that I can view the logs with you?’ Gulag asked urgently. He knew he could force himself into the Terran’s mind if he had to, but even in these circumstances his growing sense of morality precluded him from doing that.

  Brabazon hesitated for a moment. He still hadn’t fully
recovered from his encounter with Dominator’s computer and he was reluctant to let his mental shields down once more. But he realised how important it was for the clone to see these logs. He was just about to let Gulag into his head when to his surprise Colmarrie dropped her shields and telepathed. ‘Josh needs a clear head to access these logs. I suggest you view the proceedings from my mind.’ Then she mentally made room so that the clone could view the ancient logs as they were projected on the tablet screen. Somewhat surprised, Gulag shared the mind and view of the derelict’s bridge with his old enemy.

  Anderson and his marines gathered around the console Brabazon had strapped himself to, suspended weightless. Spellbound the group watched in silence as the face of the ancient starship’s captain was displayed for the first time in eons.

  A very humanoid face appeared on the laptop screen. Her strong but handsome features gave her the appearance of a woman in her mid to late thirties. Her dark flawless skin was off set by bright green eyes and fair close-cropped hair. The log had been recorded while the captain sat at her central workstation, and the rest of the bridge crew could be seen working in the background. To Brabazon’s eye, the scene was no different from that on-board the Excalibur, except that the uniforms were different. It occurred to him that all the traditional theories on the evolution of mankind, had just gone completely out the window.

  Log date—3373/67/95 034.68

  ‘The commonwealth starship “Gallagic” arrived in star system 37/59.003 at 056.29 ship time this morning,’ the captain said in the first log displayed. ‘Work on the new outpost appears to be progressing as planned. There have been the usual occasional faults with the robotic construction teams, and some of the manufactured materials have failed the stringent standards test. However, this is normal for such an ambitious project so far from the central colonies.

  ‘There is excitement among the crew at being right at the edge of known space and we are all looking forward to exploring new territories once the outpost has been completed. The Starweb Computer Corporation are currently installing their latest system 2323 sub-ether network into the outpost. This latest generation bio-electronic computer will be linked to the starwide-web [nearest comparable translation]. This means that the entirely automated outpost will always be in instant communication with the rest of the commonwealth, despite the huge distances involved. At over three hundred light years from the heart of the commonwealth, it takes over forty days [computer date, time, translation] to reach the outpost at the Gallagic’s maximum speed. Connection to the Starwide Computer Web, will vastly reduce the need to visit the outpost, just to carry out routine maintenance.

  ‘We will spend three days at the outpost making further checks on the construction before continuing on our voyage. We shall then return to system 37/59.003 at the end of our patrol in this sector.’

  Log date—3373/79/106 123.03

  ‘Gallagic has returned to system 37/59.003 at the end of our six month [nearest comparable computer date translation] patrol. Progress with the outpost now named Extremity Station [literal translation] has proceeded well in our absence. The Starweb 2323 bio-computer has been installed and is now fully operational. Communications with the rest of the starwide computer web have begun.

  ‘The technicians are making final software adjustments to the system before they leave the 2323 to complete the station’s construction on its own. The 2323 series is the fastest artificial intelligence computer in the commonwealth. This particular example is programmed not only to run Extremity Station, but to study the star systems beyond known space. The 2323 will be able to make intuitive decisions about the information it receives and compare notes with other computers on the Starweb network. Once fully operational the outpost will become an invaluable starting point for the exploration of the new territories.

  ‘Gallagic will remain at Extremity Station for the next week [nearest translation] until the software adjustments have been made. Then we shall return to the Home World, taking the last of the workforce back with us.

  ‘Colonies in this sector are already using the outpost as a centre of trade and commerce. It is expected that the amount of traffic arriving and leaving the outpost, will expand rapidly, now that the construction is nearly complete.

  ‘The officers and crew are looking forward to making good use of the outpost’s leisure facilities before setting off for the long journey home.’

  Log date—34827/84/107 0456.54

  ‘Our visit to the colony of Shelk in the thirteenth sector has been cut short by new orders from fleet command. It appears that there may be problems in the nineteenth sector, near or at the location of “Extremity Station”, the new automated outpost.

  Sub-ether communication has been lost with several freighters and cruisers due to rendezvous and dock at Extremity Station. The 2323 computer reports, via the Starweb, that none of the missing vessels arrived at the outpost. An incredible nine ships are now overdue and all attempts to contact the missing craft have failed.

  ‘Gallagic, along with the battle-cruiser Normovic, have been ordered to make for Extremity Station at maximum speed. Once we arrive there our orders are to begin a search for the missing merchantmen. The Normovic will arrive at Extremity Station in twenty-four days [computer date translation]. Gallagic will dock at the outpost some ten days later.

  Taking into consideration the fact that Extremity Station has only recently been completed and inspected by ourselves, it seems unlikely that there is a problem with the automated outpost itself. In the sixteen months since completion, the 2323 computer has behaved impeccably and supplied vast amounts of information to the Starweb about star systems in the new territories.

  Without further information we can only speculate about the fate of the missing merchantmen, but we cannot rule out piracy, or attack from a race, or races unknown.’

  Log date—34827/102/156 1108.12

  ‘Having arrived at the Extremity Station outpost, we have discovered the fate of the missing merchantmen and the cruiser Normovic which arrived here a few days before us,’ the captain of the Gallagic began in her second to last log.

  ‘What we have discovered seems even now, to be incomprehensible, even impossible. But there can be no doubting the evidence,’ she continued pulling her hands through her close-cropped hair in an agitated fashion. ‘As soon as we entered star system 37/59.003 our sensors picked up the signatures of all the missing vessels. They were all in close proximity to the outpost. We tried hailing the merchantmen, but to no avail. Nor was there any response from the Normovic or the outpost itself.

  ‘Our main computer was in contact with the Starweb and the 2323 system on Extremity Station. Our first real indication that something was seriously wrong came when the 2323 computer denied any knowledge of the merchant vessels orbiting the outpost. I ordered our gun ports to be opened and main armament to be primed. However, the Gallagic’s main computer ignored our orders. Our flight control systems then stopped responding to the helm and it became obvious that the computer had locked the crew out of all manual inputs.

  ‘I suspected that the 2323 system on the outpost was somehow interfering with our ship’s computer and we attempted to cut the link with the Starweb. However, this also failed and we found ourselves being drawn toward the outpost.

  ‘All attempts to reverse our course and regain manual control of the ship have failed. We have no control over the Gallagic. As we near the outpost our sensors show that all the merchantmen and the Normovic have been attacked and breached by a beam weapon of unprecedented power! There is no sign of the ships crews and all the vessels are lying dead in space. I can only presume that a similar fate awaits us. I have given the order to abandon ship, but even the lifeboat launch systems are inoperative. There appears to be nothing more we can do except wait and pray!’

  Log date—34827/102/156 1128.34

  ‘This is the final entry of Captain Halawie of the colonial starship Gallagic,’ the captain began again some minutes later,
her face now a picture of utter dismay and disbelief. Brabazon, Colmarrie and Gulag watching the log centuries later immediately noted the look of shock and horror on the captain’s face. Her calm, professional demeanor was gone. Now she was obviously confused, unsure what to do, and more than anything, scared.

  ‘Our engines have been shut down and we’re dead in orbit around the outpost. A few minutes ago we were attacked by a beam projecting from Extremity Station. More potent that anything we’ve seen before, it breached the hull of the main body, cutting all the way through to decks seven and eight. We have managed to seal those decks, but casualties ran to over one hundred. A few moments ago the life support systems were shut down. There appears to be no way of getting them back on again without the assistance of the ship’s computer.

  ‘The 2323 computer on Extremity Station has spoken to us via our ship’s mainframe. It appears somehow to have become sentient—how, I have no idea. The message began with some sort of religious fervor, about the beauty of the universe being defiled by the impure biology of us—the people that created it!

  ‘In making the 2323 system capable of learning for itself, the Starweb Computer Corporation have bred some sort of paranoia into it’s creation. Now it appears to be turning on it’s creators. This madness, this…virus, has spread to our ship’s computer via the Starweb network. If this virus spreads to the rest of the network, the consequences for the entire colonial federation is too much to comprehend!’

  With a sigh Captain Halawie stared into the log camera with gritty red eyes, a look of infinite pain and sadness on her face. ‘The 2323 computer has ordered my crew and myself to board robot shuttles being sent from the outpost ,or it will completely destroy the ship and let any survivors suffocate to death. We have no choice but to comply with its wishes.