Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  Here in the company of my best friends. Beings I considered closer than family.

  Krabbel, Mao, Elfi, and the rest were beings I would not hesitate to lay down my life for, but Narth, Shea, and Har-Hi transcended friendship by magnitudes that could not be described or put in words, and I realized just how deeply I loved these three.

  Har-Hi and Narth decided to return to the ship so Elfi and Mao, who had stayed behind, could go. Regulations required that the Conn of a Union ship was occupied, regardless of the ship’s location.

  The ship could only be completely abandoned if it was decommissioned.

  So, with no particular goal, in no hurry to be anywhere, I strolled with Shea down the main concourse. I did not notice at first that we were holding hands.

  This was not Richter Base with a crooked base commander, but an efficient, secret Union outpost with an efficient commander.

  We noticed that even here was a small civilian population, most likely family members of service personnel and shopkeepers.

  We walked past a Project-A sign that hung over a row of concourse-facing windows and sliding doors. The sign read Union School Neb 2 and through the windows we saw Klack, Ult, Spindlars, two Blue, several Hmans, and a Takkian sitting in neat rows before a Shail on a hoversled facing that class.

  Shea said, “Even here, deep in hostile space and underneath the surface of a sun, there is orderly Union life. I think this is the real secret of Union success.”

  “Yes, I think so, too.”

  Now I consciously noticed her hand in mine, and I loved how it felt.

  She looked at me. “I would have loved to go to a school like that. The Sojos and especially Mother Superior did the best they could, but that seems such a nice way to learn.”

  “School was a wonderful escape for me, to get away from the Burg.”

  We went on and slowed down at the window of a fashion store, displaying dresses and other fashion items. She pointed at a dress and said, “You know, we could go in. This time, you don’t have to hide anything.”

  She wanted to say something else, but she stopped and then she looked at me. “Something bothering you? Your eyes would usually light up seeing things like that.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Everything seems perfect. There is a Union School, shops, officers’ club. Our crew is enjoying their first shore leave, and we are safe inside a Union station. The Admiral of the Fleet himself is on his way—”

  She said nothing and kept looking at me, waiting for me to say more.

  I sighed. “I can’t put it in words. It is like something just outside my field of view. I guess it is nothing really. I can’t put my finger on it but we have an old saying on Nilfeheim. ‘There is something rotten in Denmark.’ I looked past her down the corridor. “Something just doesn’t feel right.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Ah, it is probably nothing. Yes, let’s go in and buy that dress. It will look lovely on you.”

  “Is it because we are in a sun? As unusual it might be, it is not the only construct the Union operates near or on the surface of a star. Sol Castle has existed for nearly 1,000 years now and Bright Star City has been there almost as long. Sol and Bright Star are much hotter and more violent than this old red star. Besides, I saw four Wurgus engineers just a few moments ago. That means they most likely worked on the design and keep it all running; there is no species with more experience in such things.”

  “No, that is not it.”

  “Do you have doubts again because of your gender?”

  “No, I am quite content right now, and I haven’t even thought about it recently.” I looked down the concourse once more that circled all around the equator of the station and for many kilometers. There were trees, isles with grass and benches. People of various species strolled like us. Others sat on the grass or on chairs before cafés. “It’s nothing.”

  Just as we entered the small fashion boutique, I noticed 20 men in black uniforms marching in perfect military precision down the main corridor. Again, there should have been nothing unusual about a group of soldiers or navy personnel aboard a secret military base, but they were all Human and all appeared to be of the same height. Their bodies in peak physical condition, they all had short almost white-blond hair and looked very much alike. Their faces had a stoic quality. Just a troop of soldiers or navy personnel, I told myself, yet for some reason, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

  I tried to ignore it, and we went in the store. We weren’t the only shoppers; a Stellaris, and two Humans were also browsing. A fourth, very fragile-looking woman with very large eyes stepped around a clothing rack.

  I stopped in my tracks. “Galmy?”

  Chapter 4: The Bowels

  It could have been any Maltyrian but I was certain it was Galmy. At the same time I said her name, I realized she would not recognize me. She still had these inhuman big eyes and that translucent complexion. Her hair was the same midnight black as I remembered.

  She said, “You know me, captain—?” Her eyes scanned over my uniform blouse, looking for my name tag. “Captain Olafson?”

  She was out of uniform so I could not see what rank she had attained since I’d seen her last. “Yes, I know you, Lilliam Dilucca Galmy of Maltyr.”

  “There are not that many who know my full name and I know only one person with the name Olafson.” She stepped back, looked me up and down, and said, “So, you did follow your heart, after all, and you made captain already!” She then flung herself at me and gave me a warm hug. “This is not very Maltyrian, I know, but I could never thank you for saving my life.”

  I was a little surprised that she recognized me. I said, “The last time I saw you, you were carried away by medics, after that bastard Stone shot you. How in the world did you recognize me?”

  “You look exactly how I thought you might look as a girl and your eyes haven’t changed either. We Maltyrians first identify others by their eyes. Considering the huge ocular organs nature planted into our skulls, this should not be a surprise.”

  “You are not surprised to—well, that—”

  “Captain Olafson, we Maltyrians developed out of an old Saresii colony, I am a fair telepath and an excellent empath. While I can’t read a thing now, you were an open book for me back then. Remember when we went to Perryton together for our first R&R? While the others went into the Data Head shop, you and I walked through the mall. Your thoughts looking at shops like this were quite strong.”

  I blushed. “I think the only one thinking this was a secret was me.”

  Shea giggled. “Yes, it seems that way.”

  I turned and introduced Shea to Galmy and Galmy to Shea. Then we went to a café across the store and sat down to catch up a little.

  Galmy was an ensign now and had chosen Xeno engineering as a specialty. She told me that she was sent to this secret star base to help analyze and catalogue the artifacts and tech items Chimera units brought in, mostly from little-known cultures and societies of the Downward sector.

  Despite her being a friend, I could not tell her what we did exactly, but she understood. This was a clandestine base, after all, and she didn’t ask for details.

  Just as I started on my second cup of coffee, Elfi appeared and smiled at us. “Captain, Shea, you need to go into that little boutique over there. Despite the fact that it is in a super-secret NAVINT base and far from Union Side, it has a very neat selection of really nice outfits. There is a dress I think would be perfect for you, captain. The blackest velvet, silver embroidery, and a very daring bodice.”

  Shea pushed the plate with Andorian cookies she had ordered across the little table so Elfi could reach for one and said, “I saw it, too, and we almost bought it but the captain ran into a friend.”

  I was about to introduce Elfi to Galmy when I saw a walking mountain of packages and shopping bags; it had chrome metal legs.

  Shea saw it, too, and said, “I think we need to get a bigger ship. Circuit went shopping.”

  I
had forgotten the strange feeling I had earlier and completely enjoyed the company. We did shop and it was great fun to try on dresses and things. I almost forgot that we were inside a star and inside a super-secret NAVINT base.

  The base commander confirmed that the Chimera unit was on schedule and that the admiral would soon arrive.

  I had delivered my weekly report and decided to enjoy some R&R myself, out of uniform. I even had the opportunity to call home. The base was equipped with much stronger GalNet/GalCom equipment or perhaps used a similar secret communication relay chain.

  After talking to Elena and my family back on Nilfeheim, I joined my friends at the marvelous, real-looking beach. The simulated horizon in the distance, where an azure ocean met a pastel-blue, almost cloudless sky made the illusion complete. It really felt as if we were at the beach and the shore of a beautiful ocean. They were all there and the scene reminded me of the time aboard the Devi, just before we left for Newport.

  With no pressing chore or duty looming, I spent a long time in the water. It was, of course, a tad too warm and all the sophisticated simulation techniques could make me believe I was swimming in a real ocean; it still tasted like ocean water. It was about as perfect as an afternoon could be.

  After swimming for more than an hour, I joined my friends and crew.

  Once more, Hans was grilling meat. This time, however, Mao was helping.

  A group of palm trees, one growing in an odd angle, provided some shadow. The Golden was resting in a flimsy-looking hammock made of Archa spider silk.

  Krabbel, who had made the hammock for our newest crew member, did not, as usual, hang from a thread but actually had his belly turned up and all but one of his legs spread out, wearing his eight-lensed plastic sunglasses, enjoying the warmth of the simulated sun. In his last leg, he held the rest of an ice cream cone waffle.

  I was about to relax when I noticed Narth and Circuit kneeling in the sand. Both were working with plastic tools, digging.

  “What in Odin’s name are you doing?” I asked.

  Narth directed a floating plastic bucket with water and said, “We are engaged in a beach essential activity called sandcastle building. Objective of this Human-invented recreation activity is to form three-dimensional structures using sand that is moistened so it will temporarily retain shape. Circuit suggested that a Narth could not build a sandcastle for we lacked the skills. Now we are engaged in recreating the shape of a Nilfeheim Burg. It is a fascinating activity, especially since I am prohibited from using telekinetics. An integral part of this challenge is to use my hands.”

  I pointed at the floating bucket. “And this?”

  “This is peripheral, of course.”

  Shaka shimmered and gleamed like polished Obsidian as Elfi applied lotion on his back. She said, “If anyone had ever told me I would be part of a group that included a sandcastle-building Narth, I would have called that person insane.”

  ***

  Commander Shadrach arrived at The Bowels, which was the unofficial nickname for a facility far beneath the main segment of the secret NAVINT station, hidden inside a sun. The very existence of the base was technically illegal because it violated the Freespace Treaty.

  While NAVINT operations were sanctioned by the Assembly and the Security Council had approved this base, what was going on here, just above the massive Gravo anchor that kept the station where it was, defiled every Union law. He was sure if it ever became known, everyone involved would be hanged or executed.

  The Bowels could only be reached by a secret InterStation Transport tube, camouflaged as an energy conduit on the station’s engineering systems and construction records. Not even NAVINT command knew this facility existed.

  Shadrach did not know the identities of the beings working down here. He no longer wore his uniform, but a white lab coat over a gray jumpsuit void of any markings or rank insignia. His face was hidden behind a bio-flex mask, like everyone else down here wore.

  He passed through an airlock chamber that somehow checked and verified his authorization to proceed. He did not know how it was done; he knew, however, anyone not accepted by that system would never be seen again.

  Behind the second door that just opened for him and let him enter stood an older-looking Saresii. Silver hair, female appearance and yet in this case, even an uninitiated observer would have seen the male features in that face. Just like him, the Saresii was not wearing Fleet or NAVINT uniform, but a plain white scientist’s coat over a mandarin-collared velvet-like purple jumpsuit.

  The commander said, “The Tigershark is here and so is Captain Olafson.”

  The Sarsii displayed no noticeable emotion. “What do you make of her?”

  “It is hard to evaluate her as I met her only once. She seems young for being in such a position, but there is a strange quality to her I cannot put in words.”

  “The Tribunal has reason to believe she might be an Immortal. Cherubim was overheard while she was talking to Olafson, voicing her suspicion that Olafson is indeed such an entity.

  He had traveled to Coven, by invitation of Lichfangh herself. Right after his visit, the Coven joined the Union. Not to mention that he is the high representative of the Narth and rumors persist that he is not just Human but also Narth. The Narth Supreme himself traveled to Richter base to affect his recovery from a Wurlag sting.”

  The commander agreed. “This is indeed a strong indicator that this being is more than just a Neo-Viking, but could it not simply be explained by his friendship to the first Narth that chose to join the Fleet?”

  “This is, of course, a possibility, but we know that Egill Skallagrimsson, the representative of his world, not only exceeded the average Human lifespan by a good 400 years, he did it without any Union med science but by repairing his own cells by psionic means. There are less than maybe five Sarsii in the entire known history of that species with such incredible psionic control. The Leedei know of only one such individual in their history.”

  “I never heard of a psionic ability that would allow an individual to halt the aging process, and I consider myself an expert in that field.”

  “Precisely, and this Egill became friends not only with Alegar but with the current Narth delegate to the Assembly. Of course, you know of the three wise men.”

  “Yes, I think almost everyone in the Union knows of them.”

  “The Tribunal does not believe this to be a chain of coincidences and does not believe Egill, who exceeds the Heidelberg Psi Index of any Human ever measured, has been born on Nilfeheim. He is also calling Eric his grandson.”

  “Eric?”

  “Eric is now Erica Olafson, the captain of the Tigershark. His gender change is part of his file.”

  The commander walked alongside the Sarsii, who, of course, was disguised like him and perhaps not even Sarsii, as they made their way to the holding section of this ultra-secret facility.

  He was digesting what he’d just heard. “What is the opinion of the Tribunal or what conclusion is drawn?”

  They had reached a massive door; the Sarsii stopped and said, “There are no viable speculations at this moment, but it is felt that there are forces and powers at work with an agenda that has nothing to do with the Union or any known civilization.”

  “But not beyond the Tribunal?”

  The massive door opened almost silently, revealing just how thick it was. A purple energy screen that secured the now-open passage flickered off. They both went in and entered an almost featureless white room.

  In its center sat an examination table and on it, a Human male. He was completely naked and he appeared to be dead.

  The Sarsii answered while approaching the table. “I do not know what or who the Tribunal is and because of this, I know as much as you about their capabilities.”

  “What are my instructions regarding Olafson?”

  “For now, there are none. We might add someone to the crew who will be the eyes and ears for the Tribunal.”

  The Sarsii poi
nted to the Human body. “I came also to see how far we are on this project?”

  “The previous batch is performing above expectations, but this is the latest result and close to the desired result. The most advanced Humanoid clone ever created, highly intelligent, utmost loyalty and with a programmable personality to fit any mission need.”

  “What about psionics?”

  “Each clone has a HPI of 1,000, their true nature and instructions are not mentally based but incorporated in their DNA. There is nothing even a Narth could read in its mind.”

  “Perfect.”

  ***

  Admiral McElligott had arrived and after he had done an inspection of the secret base, he met with us aboard the Tigershark.

  He stopped dead in his tracks as he walked through the access doors and entered the former hangar.

  “St. Andrew, sweet mother of god!” He gasped and then grinned. “Pure dead brilliant, lassie. That’s what I call a pirate’s den.”

  He joined us at the big table, and I repeated my report on the things we had done and seen so far.

  After I was done, he said, “Our decision to send you out here seems one of the best we made. You’re doing a good job so far and now that your ship is fully stocked, mail has been delivered. Go back where you left the Mighty Nine and proceed with your mission. Oh, and I brought you a few more crew members as well.”

  I sighed. “I hope I am going to make it to Brhama Port this time.”

  He got up. “If not, the reason will most likely be a good one. God’s speed and good hunting, captain.”

  ***

  The admiral’s visit was actually quite short. Only a few hours later, Har-Hi reported that all new personnel and equipment had been transferred. Departure orders had been received moments ago and the strong tractor projectors of the secret base pushed us past the swirling energies.

  My bridge crew needed no detailed orders and knew what to do, so I leaned back and watched.

  Har-Hi glanced at me from the side. “This was a nice little diversion, and you even met an old friend of yours. Everything went fine. The crew is in exceptional good spirits and yet I have the distinct feeling something is bugging you.”