“You’ve grown...more serious.”
He tried to smile, but his expression was more of a grimace.
“The schedule has changed, and I need your officers with me in the lower landing dock.”
“Anderson?” she asked.
Johnson merely nodded in agreement.
“I take it you received the flash communication? We have to keep this quiet as long as possible. Are you ready?”
Teresa indicated with her right hand for the others to come with her. Johnson looked at them and finally smiled.
“No matter what rank you reach, you are always surrounded by the oddest of people.”
She looked in the same direction as him but saw nothing more than a small group of Alliance officers and a large number of Jötnar. She looked back at him.
“They are coming too?”
“Just the officers.”
Teresa began to speak with Olik, but he was already explaining to his own people before joining the party. They moved away and left that part of the vast underground base and exited via a pair of guarded glass doors. As soon as they were through, the doors were clamped shut, and more guards took up opposition around them.
“So, Intelligence Director. Do you intend telling me what’s going on?”
They didn’t stop moving as he answered.
“Teresa, we intercepted and deciphered part of the Biomech’s transmission. It wasn’t an escape attempt. It was an intentional lapse of security. We gave it the opportunity.”
She grabbed his arm as they continued on.
“I saw a casualty list of nearly a hundred personnel.”
Her friend closed his eyes briefly and took in more air.
“I know. It was a high price.”
He stopped for just a few seconds, and the others carried on.
“You know the position we’re in. The Alliance is spread out, the Helions are fighting themselves, and the Biomechs, well, wait till you see what we’ve found.”
* * *
Teresa had expected to find people and machinery at their destination, but the smaller of the landing docks contained just a single transport. She suspected it wasn’t a ship that was being worked on, as it looked older and smaller than anything similar on the base. As she moved closer, she found her eyes were drawn more to what was missing than what was present. The cargo sections were of a normal size, yet she could see where ribs and plates had been fused to close them shut. It was as if the ship itself had been closed up in numerous places to create the equivalent of a space-worthy security safe.
This is weird.
Her gut instincts were rarely wrong, and each extra second she spent staring at the thing merely added to her suspicions. Her quick estimation was that it could hold something about the size of the Tamarisk, the deadly Q ship that she had arrived at Prometheus on so long ago. Just that thought alone made her think it might be a ship designed for a similar purpose. Teresa spotted Director Johnson looking at her, and for some reason that made her uncomfortable, but only for a moment.
“So, this is it? An old space freighter?”
Johnson said nothing and looked away before turning his attention back to her. His expression looked as if he was questioning her observational skills. He looked at her face and saw right through her and smiled. He then looked back to the ship and pointed at the narrow ramp leading inside.
“You’ll find answers to your questions inside. Follow me.”
Teresa and her officers moved in single file to the ramp while watching several dozen engineers fitting additional ribbing on the large blast door that marked the entrance to the dock.
“Looks like they intend on staying,” suggested Olik.
Teresa looked at the exterior but didn’t recognize the design. As far as she could tell, it was a generic transport, one of a thousand designs that plied the trading lanes of the Alliance. The only giveaway that it was even an Alliance vessel was revealed as she moved nearer. The outer hull plates were actually a multi-layered mesh that extended out several meters ahead of the outer skin.
Layered armor to catch and explode mines and low-tech ordnance; she’s a blockade runner, not a transport.
That was even more interesting to her. Admiral Anderson wasn’t just the commander of the Admiral Jarvis Naval Station. He was also commander of the outer territories and regional governor, yet he had ventured away from his territory to bring back this deadly machine while using a heavily modified civilian transport.
What is he playing at? Why not use a conventional Alliance ship?
The hull itself was heavily scored, and she could see dozens of markings that could have been caused by anything from high-velocity dust, to weapons fire, or landing in dust storms.
“I don’t get this, Colonel. Why is the Admiral not preparing the outer territories for the war?” asked Captain Rivers.
It was a simple question, but one she was beginning to worry about, too. By traveling back to this part of the Alliance, the Admiral had left a large swath of territory without a commander.
“Captain, I really do not know.”
Teresa looked at the ship and thought back to what she knew of the colonies and bases on the border. The bulk of Alliance controlled systems was based around Alpha Centauri and the stars within a four light year radius. Anderson had full control over the Alliance operations at Prometheus that operated as the gateway to the Orion Nebula. It was there the massive Rift control station and apparatus had been assembled in a project that had taken years. He was the senior Alliance officer on the other side of the Spacebridge, effectively a military governor of the entire T’Karan system, and of operations beyond the borders of the Alliance.
“Follow me,” said Director Johnson from the top of the ramp.
He disappeared inside, but not before giving Teresa the oddest of looks. The others followed him into the dark and cavernous interior. It took nearly four minutes to navigate their way to the centre of the ship. Rather than many small compartments, this vessel was equipped with a single circular storage section of a size large enough to contain a full company of men. They moved to the wide gantries a third the way up the compartment and spread out to face the Director. The globe of shinning metal looked more like a sculpture than a cell, and in front of it waited a group of officials. Teresa moved closer and stopped upon seeing another familiar face.
“Admiral Churchill?”
The aged former commander of the 7th Fleet nodded and gave her a gentle smile.
“None other. I’m retired, of course.”
He twisted about and pointed at the sphere.
“Not quite what you were expecting, I suspect?”
Teresa nodded in agreement.
“I thought you had moved into politics?”
“Yes, well, politics is not for everyone, and Admiral Anderson needed somebody with a military background to assist in the interrogation of this specimen. You’ll recall the incident with my ships back in the War?”
Teresa could do much more than just remember what ships he had commanded.
“Admiral, it was surviving ships like the Valiant and the Ark Royal that allowed us to turn the fight to the enemy in the War. The 7th will never be forgotten.”
Teresa could see the thanks in the old man’s eyes. He and Anderson had both done their part in the War, but she couldn’t imagine the damage the losses of so many at the start of the War must have had on the Admiral. From memory, she was certain he’d left the military not long after she had. Like many other officers, the War held bitter memories, and there were more than enough citizens waiting to point the finger of blame on the soldiers of both sides. She could see how time had taken its toll on him, yet also how this new project of Anderson’s had revitalized him.
“Admiral, you look more alive than I’ve seen you in a long time.”
“You’ll see why in a moment.”
He indicated for the almost two-dozen officers to look at the sphere.
“Admiral Anderson has s
ent me back to Prometheus for one reason, and one reason only. We have to keep this machine as far from the frontline as possible. We cannot risk the enemy finding it, and with war coming to our borders, it needed a new home.”
“Why here, on Prometheus?” asked one of the engineering captains from the station.
Admiral Churchill licked the side of his mouth before replying.
“We’ve obtained substantial information from this...thing...to suggest the enemy want to locate it. It is not just a soldier of theirs; it is one of their leadership, the master race if you will.”
“And us?”
Teresa extended her hands to encompass her captains. The old Admiral shook off a twitch in his cheek and cleared his throat.
“Teresa, your task force’s mission was kept a secret, even from your commander. We have intelligence from this thing that a rescue party was coming from somewhere near the Terra Nova Rift.”
Director Johnson indicated for the two to come nearer to the side of where the metallic sphere took up so much space.
“Teresa, your ships were bait. We copied the communication coding from the machine and directed it at your force.”
He saw the look of anguish on her face but kept on, wanting to give her as much information as he was allowed. He tried to speak, but Teresa grabbed his hand.
“Wait. You pretended this Biomech was in our fleet? You know what happened, don’t you? We lost the entire force with the exception of Dreadnought.”
Johnson lowered his head. Teresa could see he was hurting, but it wasn’t enough. A vast number of naval personnel had been lost, for just one machine. Teresa shook her head bitterly.
“I was brought into this project to manage the research of this thing, and to protect everything we know and might learn from it in the future. Things are getting a little wild out on the border, and Anderson recommended a move to Prometheus. It is the gateway to Orion, and if the Biomechs want him, they will have to get past Anderson and his forces first.”
He turned and faced the sphere and then spoke quietly to Intelligence Director Johnson. They seemed to disagree about something, and their conversation dragged on for almost a minute before the Admiral look back. Teresa found herself unable to speak, the weight of the news that so many had died for this still stunned her.
“You are the first to see this outside of the AJ Station.”
All it took was for both him and Director Johnson to place the palms of their hands onto a console in front of the sphere. Almost instantly, a pattern of sparks and flashes rippled around the sphere. With a groaning sound, like that of a heavy stone object being dragged across sand, it moved open. When the sound finally stopped, a bank of floodlights flickered on all around the prisoner. Everybody, including Teresa, had to cover their eyes for a moment while they adjusted to the conditions.
“I give you the Biomech regional commander of T’Karan, known as Krani to his people. He is one of less than a thousand of his race still alive.”
Teresa stood completely still as she looked across at the dormant Biomech commander. The last time she’d faced the thing had been during its capture and defeat, yet even in this motionless state it appeared just as deadly. Even now she could visualize its destructive power and capability, and it sent periodic shivers through her body. There were differences now though. Its limbs were encased in multiple rings of metal, and arcs of electricity flashed about it as a series of powerful nodes kept it effectively asleep. Johnson looked to Teresa and gave her a grim smile.
“The enemy knew we had him captured, and thanks in no part to the brave sacrifice of our marines, we have brought it here undetected. The temporary collapse of the Terra Nova-Prometheus Rift destroyed a number of our own ships, but it also eliminated the entire Biomech rescue party.”
Admiral Churchill took over.
“This Biomech commander has given us privileged information, and it is imperative that we retain control of it. That is why you were sent here, and not to be sent to the Helion meat grinder. No, your job is to help fortify this entire sector. Prometheus is a tough nut to crack, and if it were ever to fall, we would lose our link to the Orion Nebula as well as our new allies. The 1st Heavy Strike Group is already here, and we have reinforcements from Hyperion coming.”
That sent a murmur of surprise through the small cadre of officers.
“That’s right,” said the Admiral, “We have an entire battalion of Jötnar en route. Prometheus will be our bastion, the buffer between Orion and us. I want this sector of the Alliance to become a rock, the strongest defensive location ever built.”
He was greeted with a deafening silence.
“What about T’Karan? Surely we should spend our efforts building up our defenses there?” asked Teresa.
Admiral Churchill nodded in agreement.
“That is a good point. Admiral Anderson is commanding the border and all territories outside of our own area of control. The Orion Nebula is his domain now. It falls to us to protect our heritage, these core worlds of Alpha and Proxima Centauri, and our other colonies just a few light years apart.”
He looked directly at Teresa.
“Colonel. You will take temporary command of the ground forces on this fortress. This comes directly from General Rivers.”
She nodded in agreement but found herself unable to speak. Olik pushed forward and pointed at the Biomech.
“So, you’ve brought it here and you’ve been studying it. What do you know?”
Director Johnson smiled.
“Captain,” he started, for a second unsure as to the correct position of Olik in the military structure. He looked at his secpad and checked the security access for those assembled in front of him.
“You are the senior officers responsible for the defense of this fortress. Access to this Biomech and any intelligence learned from it are expressly for command level officers only.”
Olik in particular seemed unimpressed at this.
“Then why show us?”
Johnson was surprised at the speed and authority in his voice.
“A good point. We have shown you to ensure you understand the significance of this place. Prometheus is not just a foundry and research site. It is now the single most important location outside of the Orion nebula. While we hold this leader, we have a bargaining chip worth more than an entire planet to the Biomechs. That is all for now.”
The more junior officers were politely escorted from the ship, with just Teresa, Admiral Churchill, and Director Johnson remaining. They waited until everybody else was off the vessel before Johnson spoke.
“Information from this enemy operative is limited. We want the enemy to know their commander is here, but nothing more.”
Teresa looked at him, carefully examining his face and the lines running down to his mouth. She’d known him a long time, but this almost callous attitude to people and resources had taken her very much by surprise.
“You just explained this to a group of officers, many of which are my own. And you expect this information to be leaked somehow?”
The Admiral tried his best to look conciliatory.
“Teresa, with the best will in the world, when information is shared so freely, it will work its way into the open. It might take a day, maybe a week, but I can guarantee that in less than a month the enemy will come knocking. And we will be waiting for them.”
Johnson pointed to the machine.
“What we’ve learnt in the last few months would shock you to your very soul, Teresa.”
She looked at him with a whimsical expression on her face. She looked up at the machine and shook her head with amusement.
“Really Johnson? You think you can shock me?”
Johnson’s expression remained the same.
“Frankly, yes I do.”
“Well, come on then, what is it?”
He paused, and for a moment it looked like he might say nothing. He looked past Teresa and checked once more that the others had gone. Then he winked wi
th a single eye.
“They have no idea we have their commander on this planet. Anderson is laying a trap for them at the AJ Naval Station. He’s got the place rigged with charges and over a hundred ships hidden in orbit.”
Teresa was confused.
“I don’t understand. In the briefing, you said we were converting Prometheus into a fortress. Is that not true?”
Johnson leaned in closely and spoke even quieter.
“We will be, just not yet.”
He squeezed her arm for some unknown reason and then stepped back.
“We’ve lost dozens of ships in a matter of weeks, and it’s getting worse. We cannot support the Helions and defend our own territory with these kinds of losses.”
The Admiral looked at Johnson and nodded in agreement.
“It’s true. Over the next two weeks, we’re pulling back from Orion and fortifying at the AJ Naval Station. It’s going to be a few weeks, but we are already assembling assets to ensure the Prometheus-T’Karan Rift is secure on both sides. Helios is a lost cause; they will have to defend it themselves if the fight with the enemy fails.”
Teresa looked up to the machine and tried to fight back the fear she could feel in her bones. Jack was in the Helios system, and no matter what these men said; she knew he was in serious danger. Deep down she knew they were lying. It was a show to misinform the machine, or at the very least designed to instill a sense of urgency to the situation. Their story had a ring of truth to it though, and that was what concerned her most. She’d always heard that the best lies were those based upon truths. Teresa closed her eyes for a moment and then looked up to where the sunken black helm of the machines head was.
“And what about him? Shouldn’t he be brought back to Terra Nova, for safekeeping?”
Johnson looked up at the machine and then to Teresa.
“Why do you think we brought him to the best research and manufacturing stations in the Alliance?”
Teresa thought about it for a few seconds. She knew everything the two men were saying was being put on as a show; she just didn’t know whom the intended audience was. A slight crackle of light around the head of the Biomech machine caught her eye’s attention, and then she saw it, the glimmer of movement in its frame.
Star Crusades Nexus: Book 06 - Call to Arms Page 7