A comm came in to Jasper. “Sire, there is ship movement on the other side of the rift.”
“Any come through?”
The officer shook his head. “No, Sire. However, the number of ships has grown. We count over three thousand now.”
Jasper sighed. “Thank you, Major. Keep me informed.”
The comm closed.
Mace said, “Should we check it out?”
Jasper replied, “If they haven’t come through, it doesn’t much matter.”
“Should we inform Stark?”
Jasper scowled. “That clown has his own scouts out there. He knows what we know.”
Mace called into the Rogers: “Mr. Crawford, how goes the repair of the wormhole generator?”
“We’re all set, Mr. Hardy. Will we be heading back out for more resource hunting?”
Mace thought for a moment. “No. We make a jump to Hoorka space. I want to know if they’re willing to trade diamond to us. And if so, for what.”
“Let me know if I’m needed,” said Jasper.
A short trip had Mace back on the bridge of the Rogers as she came out of the repair dock. “Mr. Hobbs, take us to Promexa.”
The Rogers was met by two Hoorka warships. “State your purpose.”
Mace said, “We would like to speak with Favia of the Higatheps of Jore.”
The Hoorka officer nodded. “I will pass on the message.”
Five minutes passed before an image of Favia showed on the display. She was adorned in jewels and wearing a feathered crown, a sign of Hoorka royalty.
Mace smiled. “Glad to see you are doing well.”
Favia replied, “I can’t begin to express my gratitude. Your gracious and warmhearted gesture of bringing me home has made all this and more possible. Our people are at peace. And I’ve somehow become the most celebrated Hoorka of our day. How could I possibly repay you?”
Mace half winced. “Well… about that. Would it be possible for us to trade for diamond? We need stones of at least five carats.”
Favia smiled. “Diamond is something I have plenty of. How many do you need?”
Mace frowned. “Unfortunately that number is probably about two thousand. You’ll have to tell us what we can trade for them.”
Favia shook her head. “Nonsense. Consider that your finder’s fee. When do you need them by?”
Mace held up a hand. “You don’t have to do that. You don’t owe us for your return. It was the right thing to do.”
Favia turned and spoke to an assistant before turning back. “And this is the right thing to do. I’ll have those stones for you in a few hours. In the meantime, could I convince you to visit me here at the estate?”
Mace smiled. “I know several people here who would very much enjoy that. They’ve missed you.”
Favia nodded with another smile. “I’ll have you brought here on a transport. You’ll have to leave the Rogers where she is. I have pull with just about everyone, but it only goes so far.”
The transport shuttle landed on a field of blue-green grass. Topiaries lined a stone path leading up to an immense four story home that resembled a stack of pancakes. As with most worlds, architectural tastes were very different from the boxy, utilitarian shapes on Earth. A moving sidewalk whisked the guests quickly up to the third floor. A grand room, with windows pulled back, overlooked a pristine lake where various waterfowl camped on the shoreline or lazily paddled about. A friendly breeze swept through the open room as Favia descended a staircase.
Jane’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “You look incredible.”
Favia smiled. “Thank you. Although I sometimes wish I could slip out of this thing for some comfortable attire.”
Jane asked, “You have to dress like that all the time?”
“I don’t have to, but I’ve been heavily encouraged to. I’m constantly in the news, partly from my wealth, partly from my age, but mostly because of my donation that made the truce possible. Everyone is ever grateful that we are at peace. Funny, it was a centuries-long war that I never knew anything about. Or I should say, slept through.”
Jenny looked over the jewel encrusted gown. “We used to see expensive gowns made for celebrities. Nothing like this, though. This is spectacular.”
Favia frowned. “I sometimes feel like a fool walking around in something that is worth more than a thousand common laborers would make in a lifetime.”
Jenny looked around. “I don’t think I could complain about this place, either. Look at that view.”
Favia pointed. “You can see all the way to Mount Ressat. The spires over there are from our capital, Helingras.”
Mace said, “The images on the walls. Were those your family?”
Favia nodded. “They are. I keep them close, as they are also responsible for getting me here. Had it not been for their sacrifices, I would have perished on the Telemunde as well.”
A tour of the estate turned into a boat ride across the lake. A case containing three thousand stones of five carats or larger was delivered and loaded on the shuttle. Goodbyes were said, as well as promises for a longer visit. A short ride had the Humans back aboard the Rogers, and a jump to Divinia had the stones in the hands of Jeff Moskowitz and the other scientists.
Jeff asked, “How is she doing?”
Jane waved a hand. “She has nothing to worry about. Wealth beyond imagination, and a people who adore her. If anything, she might feel like she’s trapped in an ivory tower due to her celebrity. She wasn’t really complaining, though.”
Two Targarians wheeled in the case.
Jeff asked, “What’s that?”
Mace said, “Three thousand five-carat or larger diamonds.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Mace shook his head.
“What did you trade for them?”
Jenny said, “Nothing. It was a gift from her for her rescue.”
Jeff smiled. “This is incredible. And good timing. We have our newest version almost finished. It’s a ground-up rebuild. We identified two mistakes we had made during assembly. If all goes well, we could be ready for testing in the morning.”
“Is this still the scaled down version?” asked Johnny.
Jeff nodded. “It would fit on the Rogers. What we don’t know is how effective it will be. The math says ‘very,’ but the real world has a way of setting you straight. The good news is we don’t need the full size diamonds to test it. We have plenty of half carat stones that will work fine.”
Jasper said, “We have plans drawn up for a station to support the full size weapon should we build it. Nothing like what the Karthians had. This would be purely to support that weapon. Maybe three times the size of one of our Collins class ships.”
Johnny laughed. “You do like to say Collins class, don’t you?”
Jasper nodded. “It has a pleasing sound, don’t you think?”
Jasper received a comm. “Your Highness, the Karthians are forming up in front of the rift.”
Jasper turned. “Ladies… gentlemen… our time of peace may be at an end.”
Mace said, “I’ll contact Stark. We need to coordinate any defense with his ships if we want a shot at stopping them.”
Jasper scowled. “Do what you have to.”
A comm was opened. “Mr. Stark, as I’m sure you know, the Karthians are forming up. We should work on a defense together.”
Stark asked, “How many ships do you have?”
Mace looked over at Jasper.
“One hundred twenty-two. Twenty-three counting you and the Rogers.”
Mace replied, “We have a hundred twenty-three.”
Stark huffed. “What have you been doing? Crocheting afghans?”
Jasper stuck his face in the camera image. “We have what we have. What are you bringing?”
“Seven hundred twenty-six cruisers. Sixty-seven radicas.”
“The domed ship?”
Stark nodded. “Yes. They were highly effective last time, until your ships interf
ered.”
Mace held up a hand before Jasper could reply. “You two can butt heads later. We should move everything we have to the rift. Maybe we can keep them from coming through by keeping them bottled up.”
Stark concurred. “That was our intent. Without the threat of the station, we can sit right in front of that rift.”
Mace turned. “Doc, how long would it take you to install that weapon on the Rogers?”
Jeff rubbed his chin. With the manpower we have, eighteen hours?”
Mace took a deep breath. “Let’s make it happen.”
Jeff replied, “It may not even work.”
Mace shrugged. “It has to, Doc. Make it happen.”
Jasper said, “You can ride out with me while they work on that if you want.”
Mace nodded. “Deal. Johnny? Wanna come with?”
Johnny glanced over at Jane before returning his own nod. “Absolutely.”
Jasper said, “Meet me on the Cave in the next twenty if you want to come.”
Jasper turned and walked off as he gave orders to his aides.
Mace looked at Jenny. “Wanna join us?”
Jenny smiled. “I do.”
Jane grinned. “See how easy she said that.”
Mace shook his head. “Not the right time for any proposals, Jane. I suppose you’re staying here with Zax and Fina.”
Jane nodded. “Go have your fun. I’ll be here to see that our little ship is ready.”
A shuttle ride and a walk had the four standing on the deck of the Organ Cave.
Jasper said, “You can sit over there if you like. If we get in a fight you’re gonna wanna be strapped in.”
Johnny replied, “Good view of the main display from here.”
“Let’s hope all we’re doing is watching.”
The Karthians had formed a column ten ships wide by over three hundred ships long.
Johnny commented, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could just blast something through at the whole lot of them at once?”
Mace replied, “That green energy weapon might have worked well for that. Wouldn’t go all the way through, but packed together like that you might have taken out a dozen ships at a time.”
A Targarian scout ship moved close to the rift, staying just out of cannon range as it performed a deep scan.
Jasper looked over the resulting data. “Hmm, these ships are new. Not in our database.”
Mace asked, “How many?”
“Twenty-six.”
Johnny said, “Too bad there’s not a way to close that rift.”
Mace replied, “We don’t even know why it opened or what keeps it open.”
Johnny gestured with his hand. “Maybe we could ring it with those nuke ships and set them all off at once.”
Jasper scowled. “Might make it bigger.”
A comm came in from Stark. “They still sitting in formation?”
Jasper replied. “They are. Where are you? I count a dozen Union ships out here.”
“We are close. I don’t want to show how small our force is. It might provoke them to come through sooner than they otherwise would.”
Jasper huffed. “Or it might make them wait longer. Your logic is flawed.”
“We will be there when needed.”
“They have a new type of ship,” said Mace. “Any idea of what that might be?”
“We believe those to have mini versions of that station weapon. I’m not currently concerned.”
“Not concerned? Did you see what that weapon did to us before?”
Stark sighed. “I am completely familiar with its lethality, or lack thereof. I suppose I could give you a small bit of my strategy to set your minds at ease. We’ve calculated that we can close off the rift with thirty of the radica ships, if backed by your Collins class vessels. From that we should be able to inflict damage on their approaching ships with impunity. Your job would be to keep those cruisers at bay with whatever that weapon is you possess. I will follow up behind your ships with support against any waves of the fighter ships they may send at us.”
Mace said, “I have to agree with Mr. Collins. I think your ships being here would be a deterrent to them starting an attack.”
Stark’s silhouette stood, shaking his head. “I believe that to be a mistake. The Karthians react to strength. At the moment, they have no idea of what forces we have. I’ve been moving ships in an attempt to keep their spies from gathering numbers. I believe that is why they have yet to move on us.”
The following morning the Rogers showed up with the new weapon aboard. In addition, the Targarian engineers had extracted the mystery wormhole weapon from the Rogers’ last encounter, adding it to her arsenal. Testing of both had yet to be done. Mace and the others transferred to their ship.
“Mr. Hobbs, where’s the nearest planet, moon, or asteroid we can target? I want to know if either of these weapons works.”
Liam replied, “Harkoza has a small moon.”
Mace nodded. “Jump us there. Mr. Mueller, line up a battery of test firings. If these weapons function, I want to know what we can expect from them.”
The Rogers hopped to the Harkoza moon and hovered a kilometer above the surface of the dull gray satellite. The quantum wave weapon was brought online first. A drone sensor was sent down and the weapon fired. A wave of green energy filled the space between the Rogers and the surface for two and a half seconds. The Rogers rocked from the spray of debris that rose from the point of impact. The dampening fields prevented any damage.
Mace turned to Liam. “Mr. Hobbs, take us up to ten kilometers. Mr. Mueller, let’s try that again.”
The test was repeated with similar results. The sensor drones sent back valuable readings before their destruction. A test of the wormhole weapon followed with little result to see.
“Did it even fire?” Johnny asked.
“Yes,” said Hans. “What we need is a hard target. That soft Earth down there doesn’t leave much of an indication.”
A thick metal plate was flown down to the surface in a shuttle and laid out for another test. After Hans pressed the button on his console, Humphrey zoomed in with the visual sensor.
“We have a two centimeter hole in the plate. I would say the weapon is fully operational.”
Mace asked, “How far out can it be projected?”
Jeff answered, “I’ve only had a short time to look it over. The energy feed dictates the range. With our current feed that range is about two million kilometers. Not a tremendous distance in space. Would be a formidable weapon in an atmospheric fight.”
“Can the energy feed be updated?”
Jeff nodded. “I believe so. That may lead to other limiting factors, which we would have to address at that time.”
“How about the size of the wormhole? Can it be scaled to create a larger hole?”
Jeff shrugged. “I don’t have enough information to offer an opinion on that. When we return from this fight, I’ll add that to my growing list.”
Mace turned. “Mr. Hobbs, take us back to the rift. Mr. Mueller, try to come up with a few scenarios where one or the other of those weapons might prove useful.”
As the Rogers came to a stop fifty thousand kilometers from the Organ Cave, Johnny asked, “So how long do we sit here?”
“As long as it takes,” said Mace.
Chapter 8
*
Five days of frayed nerves passed with no movement by the Karthian fleet. On the sixth day, starting with the back end of the column, the warships of the coming Karthian invasion turned and moved away.
Humphrey said, “It appears they are leaving, Mr. Hardy.”
Jasper came over the comm. “I’m not sure what to make of that maneuver.”
Mace replied, “Maybe they decided it wasn’t worth it. Or maybe they’re having issues on the other war front.”
Stark joined the comm. “I wouldn’t celebrate just yet.”
Mace said, “Tell us what you know.”
Stark stood
and began to pace. “We have news that another one of those stations is on its way. Our strategy of blocking the rift is no longer viable.”
Jasper said, “We got onto that station and destroyed it before. We can do that to a new one if needed.”
Stark’s silhouette stopped. “I have to wonder if we’ll have that option, Mr. Collins. When you joined the fight against my ships, you allowed the Karthians to cart off the remains of several of my radica ships. If they studied them, they may have learned of a way to defeat it.”
Johnny said, “Doc? Is there any way to collapse that rift? Could we make a bomb or something that would close it down?”
Jeff replied, “Gnaga and I studied that idea extensively, Mr. Tretcher. Our conclusion was that we had no conclusion. We don’t know how the rift was created or what force keeps it open.”
Johnny said, “Well, it’s just sitting there. Any tests we could conduct? Maybe load a nuke ship up with gatrellium and dark matter and set it off at the edge?”
Jeff shook his head. “As we discovered when we attempted to move around the opening, there doesn’t appear to be an edge. From every angle and every approach the rift looks exactly the same. It’s a mind boggling concept to think that even possible, but we experienced it, so it must be. Of course, I suppose it could also be an optical illusion of sorts.”
Johnny held up a hand. “OK then, how about we set one off in the middle? I mean, try something… anything. If they do bring another one of those stations and Stark’s domed ships no longer work, we won’t be able to get close to that thing.”
Jeff rubbed his chin. “I suppose a bit of experimentation wouldn’t do any harm. Give me a few minutes to discuss this with Mr. Klept.”
Jasper said, “Ape-man… always wanting to blow stuff up.”
Johnny replied, “I think that’s the first time you’ve called me that in a month. I’ve missed it.”
Jasper nodded. “That’s not all you’re missing. And I do like the idea of trying to close that hole. If that can be done, this Karthian issue goes away.”
Jeff returned to the bridge a short time later with Gnaga by his side. “We’ve concluded that Johnny’s idea of experimentation might be a good one. With the Karthians moving away, we have the rift available for whatever we would want to try. What we’d like to do is to set off one of those nuclear ships as Johnny suggested. We would use that instance of immense power to open a wormhole a kilometer from the rift. We don’t expect much interaction between the two, but our expectations are based on gut feeling and not science. We plan to also load the area with sensor probes, hoping to gain information about any possible interactions between the rift and our wormhole.”
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