“Look at you, Admiral,” Hunt replied, snickering. “They’ve made a quartermaster out of you.”
They both chuckled. It was good to laugh; it broke up the tension they had been feeling. Halsey knew the loss of Hunt’s ship and a lot of his crew had been tough on him, but it had been tough on her as well. She’d lost nearly four thousand people under her command in the last five days—that was more than any military commander had lost since the end of the Great War over fifty years ago.
Halsey turned serious. “When you return to Earth, Miles, you need to make sure the politicians and the brass back home understand how deadly it is out here. These Zodarks are playing for keeps, and they’ve been a spacefaring nation far longer than us. We have no idea how big their empire is or how many ships they have.”
Hunt nodded. “I know. I’m confident that case has been made. Our com drones with the footage of our attack should have made it back to them by now. I’m sure they’ve seen what happened and know about the loss of the Xi and the Rook.”
Halsey sighed, then turned to look out the window in her office. She’d ordered the blast door retracted since they didn’t appear to be in any more danger. The window showed her a view of the planet below, and a couple of ships nearby.
“The Columbus will start construction of the space elevator later tonight,” Halsey informed him. “They tell me it’ll be operational in thirty days.”
“That’s good. It’ll speed up the transfer of resources from the surface and of our equipment from orbit,” Hunt replied as he too looked out at the planet and the ships nearby. It was still awesome to see, even if they had seen it a million times before. Something about being in space and looking down on a planet from a starship produced an awe that was beyond words.
Captain Hunt leaned forward in his seat. “Admiral, about the Zodark ship we captured—I understand a few of our Sumerian allies have some experience with them. Have they been able to help us understand their navigation system or how the ship in general works?” he asked. “Is there a way we can salvage anything from it or ship it back to Earth?”
Halsey reached for her tablet, opened a folder and searched for a file. When she found it, she opened it up, and an image immediately displayed through the small holographic display unit in the center of the small table between the two couches.
Hunt furrowed his brow. “What am I looking at?” he inquired.
“The biggest intelligence discovery we’ve made thus far,” she replied.
Hunt reached one of his fingers out and touched a small hexagon that said, “Rhea system.” A line immediately connected to another system some hundred plus light-years away. His eyes went a little wide as he realized this was a navigational network.
“If you deselect our system, you’ll see the other one it connects to,” Halsey explained.
“I’m not sure I fully get this,” Hunt said with a grunt. “I can see that each of these systems is somehow connected because of these lines. But what are they connected by? A wormhole of some sort? Is this what the Sumerians were telling us about?”
Halsey took a deep breath in and let it out. “I’m afraid we don’t fully know yet. They could be wormholes that connect one system to another, or they could be stargates. Remember when we first met the Sumerians a few years ago? There was a Sumerian named Hosni. That guy who said he’d been a slave to a Zodark NOS. He mentioned something about their ships traveling through these great stargate contraptions. This is probably what he was talking about.”
“Do we have any idea where these portals are or how one uses them?” Hunt asked next. She could see more questions were starting to form in his eyes as he looked back at the star map.
She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, Miles. I’ve been reviewing Hosni’s information. He said a star system would usually have one and possibly two gates. He did say some systems had as many as four, but he wasn’t sure if any had more than that. From what we’ve been able to learn from the Zodark prisoners, their ships essentially travel up to the gate, and then it’s like it goes through a wormhole and gets deposited on the other side. They couldn’t tell us how long it took to travel between gates, other than to say that some gates are farther apart from each other, and those jumps tended to take longer.”
Shaking his head in amazement, Hunt sat back on the couch, looking at the information in a whole new light. “This is incredible, Admiral. Do you realize how many star systems are navigable? There appear to be hundreds of them on this map.”
“Actually, there are five hundred and eighty-seven star systems connected via these stargates, at least according to this star map,” Halsey clarified. “What the map doesn’t tell us is how many planets are in those systems, but it has to be in the thousands.”
“I don’t mean to be cliché or repetitive when I say this, Admiral, but this changes everything. If we could get the Sumerians to help us understand what systems the Zodarks are in or where all these stargates are located, we could navigate them. We need to send out scouting vessels to locate and tag as many of these stargates as possible.” Hunt spoke excitedly about the new possibilities.
Halsey smiled and let him talk for a few minutes. This was exciting, indeed. She was thrilled to share this discovery with a friend and confidant. The two of them spoke for a bit longer as they developed a plan for what should happen next, now that they had a better picture of what was going on around them.
They also plotted out some topics Captain Hunt should bring up and suggestions he should make during his meeting with Admiral Bailey and the others back on Earth. It was imperative that they get this system secured. They needed to find the stargate connecting this system and fortify it. Once they had a working idea of where they were and where the Zodark-controlled systems were, then they could build the system up and liberate the other human worlds out there from the Zodarks.
Chapter Seven
The Belt Grows
Gaelic Outpost in the Belt
Non-Aligned Space
Liam Patrick stood in the hangar bay with his partner and station manager, Sara Alma, as they waited for the Republic destroyer to finish docking. This entire visit had come out of the blue. No one had expected the governments of Earth to give them any sort of recognition, let alone legitimacy. They were Belters, pirates, nonconformists to the central government. Yet here they were, in charge of a station with one hundred and fifty thousand residents, and the fleet admiral was paying them an official visit.
The minutes continued to tick by until the outer door opened with a slight hissing noise. A handful of military members got off the ship and fanned out. They weren’t acting in a threatening manner—they weren’t armed—but they were observant of what was waiting for them and going on around them. Then three senior officers strolled down the walkway and headed for Liam and Sara.
As they approached, Liam immediately recognized Fleet Admiral Chester Bailey. The two other individuals, he didn’t know. They stopped a few feet from them, extending their hands and offering a greeting.
“Mr. Patrick, Ms. Alma, it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I’ve looked forward to talking with you both for quite some time,” Admiral Bailey said. Liam looked at Sara; she was clearly in the same state of shock he felt like he was in.
In his thick Irish accent, Liam replied, “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person as well. Please, if you will, we’d like to give you a short tour of our station and then we can talk in a private setting at our residence. It’s quite secure, and it’s quiet.”
The Republic delegation followed as Liam and Sara led them through the station, giving them a full tour of the facility. It had taken them more than fifteen years to build it and turn it into what it was—a floating home, nestled far away from the rest of the Earthers.
Liam and Sara already had their eyes set on two other massive asteroids they planned on turning into floating stations like this one, although this wasn’t information they planned to share today. They also had dreams
to build a larger structure that would eventually connect all of these asteroids together and essentially combine them all into one interconnected city.
An hour into the tour, Liam could tell Admiral Bailey was getting a little anxious. He was obviously interested in what they had built and asked a lot of excellent questions, but Liam sensed the man was very concerned about what he wanted to talk with them about next.
Liam eventually led them up to his and Sara’s penthouse suite so they could have their private conversation. It was, after all, why Admiral Bailey had traveled out to visit them.
Once the door had finally closed, the group of five took a seat at the main table in the living room. Liam opened the conversation. “Admiral, I am pleased that someone of your stature has come to visit our station; it truly means a lot to the people who call this place home. During our tour, I could sense something was troubling you. I suspect it has something to do with why you’re here. So please, let’s dispense with the niceties and get down to business. What has brought you out here to talk with us?”
Smiling at the bluntness, Admiral Bailey replied, “I heard you were direct and to the point—I like that. It saves us a lot of political double talk that just wastes everyone’s time. So, right to it, then—I’m here because I need your help, and I’d like to make you an offer if you’re willing.”
I knew it! They want a favor…, Liam thought. He fought to keep his facial expression as neutral as possible.
Sara spoke before Liam had a chance to. “Admiral, while we appreciate the thought that we could somehow help a great power like the Republic or the TPA, we are but a small station tucked away in the Belt. What could we possibly offer that would be of value to you?”
“Sara, is it?” asked the admiral, seemingly trying to make the conversation more familiar by using her first name. “I understand you are the engineer and station manager that is largely responsible for this facility, is that right?” he asked.
Sara nodded.
“Then you also understand the technical challenges involved in building something massive. I’m here to ask you a favor. We need your help. Rather, Earth needs your help. This isn’t for the Republic or the TPA—this is for humanity.”
“Whoa, hold up there, Admiral,” Liam interrupted. “Before you go any further, we built this station and welcomed anyone to it because we’ve sought to create a refuge away from the powers of Earth—not become entwined in its politics or conflicts.”
The admiral held his tongue as he let Liam finish. “I understand your point, Mr. Patrick, but I don’t think you understand mine,” he countered. “For better or worse, we have encountered the Zodarks. These are horrific alien creatures that, unbeknownst to us, have enslaved more than one world of humans, which may somehow be descendants of humans from Earth. Anyway, regardless of how humans came to be on these other planets, the Zodarks have enslaved them. And now that they’ve learned of our existence, they have set their sights on us. These beasts pose a threat not just to Earth, but to all of Sol. As humans, we need to unite for the common good to defend our species from this new enemy.”
“What exactly is it you want from us, Admiral?” Sara demanded.
Admiral Bailey smiled. “We want you to help establish a shipyard out here—another location far away from our main yards in case the Zodarks eventually find our system and attack it. We need to make sure a single attack can’t destroy our ability to defend ourselves or result in the enslavement of humanity.”
Liam and Sara stared silently at the Earther for a few seconds before Liam ventured to speak. “OK, suppose we go along with this request. What’s in it for us?”
Admiral Bailey leaned forward as he replied, “Full recognition from the Republic and TPA as a separate people, country, and government. To sweeten the pot, we’ll also allow every tenth warship built at the new yard to be designated for use by your government. That’ll enable you to build a navy at absolutely no financial cost to you. We’ll even train your crew through our own training program if you’d like.”
Liam was about to jump at the deal when his better half replied, “We’re going to need more than just recognition and a ship from time to time, Admiral; we want technology. We want an agreement for long-term, continued trade anywhere in Sol and elsewhere. As you can see, we can only fabricate in our station with the resources we’re able to mine and procure in the Belt. We need to be able to import equipment and components we can’t create here.”
The admiral nodded as he moved his hand up to his chin. He made it look like he had to think about this deal for a moment, but when Sara had laid out these other demands, Liam could tell the admiral had expected them.
Admiral Bailey looked Liam in the eye, then Sara. “Agreed,” he said.
Liam turned to Sara, who gave him a sheepish smile. She should be excited—this was a massive opportunity for them and their people.
Sara then leaned forward in her chair as she asked, “Admiral, the Zodarks…how bad of a threat are they? I can’t imagine you cutting a deal like this with us if things were going well. What’s transpired out there that’s caused you to reach out to us?”
Now the admiral squirmed a bit in his chair as if unsure if he should tell them the truth and, if he did, how much he should share. He motioned for one of his aides to hand him the case he was carrying with him, then opened it up and placed a holographic projector on the center of the table. He made a few taps on his tablet, and then an image was projected over the center of the table.
“What I’m about to show you needs to stay between us for now. Although, it won’t do you any good to share it around the system; it’s going to be widely shared in the coming days. Two weeks ago, we got a com drone back from our fleet in the Rhea system. I’m going to play for you a time-compressed battle that took place,” Bailey explained, and then the group watched the battle unfold.
Liam watched in amazement at the real, honest-to-goodness space battle taking place. This was not one of the little shooting affairs he’d participated in as a pirate in the Belt—it was a real fight between massive warships slugging it out. When some of the smaller destroyer-class ships were blown apart, Sara covered her mouth with her hand.
The large Republic ship spearheading the attack was aggressive—far more aggressive than Liam thought it should have been, but then he saw the ship’s weapons open fire. It was almost like watching one of those old black-and-white vids from the Second World War more than a hundred years ago. The Republic warship unloaded on the Zodark ship with the largest magrail guns Liam had ever seen. He watched those massive projectiles reach out and plow right into the Zodark ship. He found himself rooting for the Republic ship despite them having been his adversary most of his life.
Then the large enemy ship spat out wave after wave of smaller ships.
“Fighters,” one of Bailey’s aides commented. As they got closer, the Republic warship erupted in smaller anti-spacecraft fire. It was something Liam hadn’t expected to see. He had no idea they had integrated something like this into their warships. It was incredible how fast the ship could spit out slugs at the incoming enemy fighters. Vast swaths of them were wiped out. Then they took evasive maneuvers.
Soon, he saw little projectiles fire from the fighters. They sailed toward the Republic warship like a swarm of angry bees. Liam figured they’d get destroyed by the anti-spacecraft fire, and they mostly did, but some of them converted into something he had never seen.
“What the hell is that?” he finally asked.
Sternly, Admiral Bailey responded, “That, Mr. Patrick, is a plasma torpedo. The Republic ship you’re looking at is the Rook. They took two hits from them, nearly destroying the ship. Had those destroyers and the Voyager and Xi not intervened when they did, chances are the Rook would have been destroyed. It was a close battle: one we nearly lost.”
At this point, Bailey turned the video off. “We’re releasing this to the public in a few days. We want them to understand what we’re facing. We need
everyone to put aside our past animosities and work together, or we’re all doomed. We can’t fight these creatures on our own. That’s why I’m here. I know we all have a past and I know we haven’t always been friends. But I want us to bury the hatchet, so to speak, and find some common ground.
“At the end of the day, Mr. Patrick, you are responsible for these people now. They’re going to look to you for leadership, for protection. None of us, including your people, are going to have a future if the Zodarks invade. That is why I need to know if we can count on you to help us out by allowing us to set up a shipyard here and leverage your people to help build the warships needed to defeat this new enemy.”
Liam sat back in his chair as he shared a nervous glance with Sara. She had a look of fear on her face, something he seldom saw. He knew if she was scared, he needed to take action. He couldn’t piss away this opportunity.
Nodding, Liam at last looked at the admiral, the man who had once been an enemy. Liam stuck his hand out. “OK, Admiral, for humanity’s sake, I’ll agree to allow you guys to build a shipyard out here. But you need to recognize our own sovereignty over this area,” he said, leaning forward, emphasizing the point to make sure the admiral really understood the terms. “We’ll work with you, we’ll build you your ships, but we want to remain independent. When this whole conflict with these Zodarks is over with, we might even want the ability to populate our own world out there in the vastness of space. Is any of that going to be a problem?”
Admiral Bailey smiled as he extended his hand. “We have a deal, Mr. Patrick, we have a deal.”
*******
Rhea System
In Orbit near New Eden
Halsey turned to find Captain Erin Johnson, her XO, “Captain Johnson, please send a message to Hadad and tell him to report to the bridge. I’d like to speak to him.”
Moments later, the Sumerian came up to the bridge. Upon entering the nerve center of the ship, he made his way over to Admiral Halsey, bowing slightly when he reached her. “Admiral, you requested my assistance?” he asked respectfully.
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