by Kip Hartzell
“Yes, the Destroyers may not want a confrontation on their doorsteps.”
“May not,” Maya blurted out.
“I think this is our chance. We are going to take it,” John sounded optimistic.
“How are you going to convince that arrogant Admiral to take us there?” Draco sullenly added.
“Barter system. I’ll contact Chrysalis, and update them and have the rescue party stand by.”
The day was calm and bright. John emerged first from a side hatch, and looked around at the contingent of Marines with their weapons leveled on him. His dark blue E-suit had the shape of a military uniform, plane, with only black swirls on the sleeve to signify his command rank. Athene-A’s jumpsuit was a reminder of the past, also dark blue with red swirls on her sleeves. Xen pushed back his long black hair. He had slacks and his flannel brown shirt. Jay came out in his customary civilian attire of jeans and a polo shirt. Rhe-A followed with a utilitarian jumpsuit with white swirls on her sleeves. Her black hair pulled back in a bun to reveal a confident and calm facade. Shelly stepped out in a skin tight, thigh length, white dress. Her lips bright red with white matching earrings, wide rimmed white framed sunglasses, and a matching clutch. Jay thought she looked like a movie star stepping off a plane for a USO show.
All the males on the deck stared, slack jawed at the sight.
“Stand down, Gentlemen. They are our guests,” Hernandez said, and then moved toward them in his white uniform with gold shoulder boards, silver anchors, and two stars. He had his Second in Command in tow. Two Marines followed one step behind them, one on each side.
John wasn’t sure about the military protocol greetings, salute, a hundred different ways, bow, or just a, how do you do. Before he had to make a decision, Shelly stepped in front, brushing her golden hair out of her face from the light wind.
“Admiral,” she said, while holding out her hand. He abruptly stopped. “I’m so pleased to meet you.”
“Ms. Masters, good to see you again. You probably don’t remember me, you couldn’t have been more than seven years old, when we met at a military ball your parents brought you to. You look a lot like your Mother, now. I hope your disposition is better.”
“I do remember, vaguely, and my disposition is better. My Mother can be...intense, at times. Please, let me introduce you to my shipmates. For security purposes, we’ll only do first names for most.” She moved in close and took his huge arm, and stepped toward the odd group. This is Captain Athain.”
John stepped forward and was met by a huge hand. He took it and shook. “Nice to see you in person,” he said, letting go of his hand. “Beautiful ship you have here.”
“Good to finally meet you. Your ship is very...unusual.”
“That she is.”
“And this is Athena,” Shelly continued, in order to keep things short and vague. Athene-A stepped forward and shook his hand without comment. “This is Xen.” He did the same. “This is Rhea,” she quickly said, and moved on. “This is my close friend, and colleague, Jay Rodgers.” He just waved from the back of the group.
“This is my First Officer, Captain Shelby.” The tall red haired man just nodded his head. “Just the bunch of you run this ship?”
“Uh,” John started, “I have three other crew, one is injured, and the other two are affecting repairs.”
“Should I have my surgeon take a look at your crewman?”
“Not necessary, his injuries are not life threatening.”
“So,” the Admiral said, putting a hand on top of Shelly’s, “can you tell me why I just sunk one of our own ships?”
“Admiral,” Shelly replied, looking up at him, “I’m famished.”
“As you wish my Dear, if you all will follow me to the mess hall.” He gracefully swung Shelly around, and started for the closest hatch. He snuck a look back at Andromeda.
The group followed closely, glancing about, as the Marines gawked, with their weapons ready.
They walked into the large mess hall, where sailors stood by to serve their guests. Hernandez went to the head of the rectangular metal table. First Officer Shelby sat to the Admiral’s right. Hernandez smiled and pulled a chair out for Shelly to his left. The others mingled.
John strolled by Jay, and quietly asked, “Do you see any Destroyers?”
“No, none, but I still can’t tell if anyone has been influenced, or not.”
“Very good. We know they have a limited range. Keep an eye out.”
“Understood.” Jay moved up next to Shelly, and sat down. Rhe-A took the seat next to Jay.
John made his way to the other side of the table and sat.
“I was informed, some of you are vegetarians,” the stocky female Master Chief said. Her demeanor denoted she was all business. “I’ve had salads prepared, for the rest, roast beef, or chicken.”
“Thank you, Cookie. You know what I’ll have,” Hernandez said, without even looking up at her.
She made a motion with her hand, and the sailors quickly moved around the table, taking orders. They quickly disappeared into the galley, John could sense the three armed Marines nearby.
Admiral Hernandez put his elbows on the table, and coupled his fingers into a fist under his chin. “Why did I sink a Destroyer?”
John mimicked Jay, by putting a napkin in his lap. “We were on a training mission, when we were attacked by the rogue Destroyer. During the battle, we received intel, that the Captain had been compromised. He knew our location and sought to capture Andromeda for her technology. We believe he enlisted help from mercenaries. I don’t believe there were any sailors on board. It left port without them.”
“So, if your ship is so advanced, how did a mere sea vessel almost capture you?”
“They employed a new counter measure we were unaware of. We are studying its affects, now.”
“I can understand technology secrets, cloak and dagger missions, government agendas, and need-to-know, but, what I can’t fit in, is, why two unknown, unpublished archeologists are involved. I think the real answers lie there.” John looked at Athene-A, who, looked back. The rest of the group quieted. “Yes, that’s what I thought.” Hernandez said, unfolding his hands and leaning back in his chair.
“He reminds me a lot of Augustus,” John said to Athene-A.
“Yes, he does. Maybe we should have him tested.”
John smiled, and turned back to Hernandez. “That’s classified.”
Jay breathed a sigh of relief. “I assure you, Admiral, what we do is for the security, and benefit of our country.”
“I truly want to believe you Mr. Rodgers, but, all of you are to be detained until identification, and all security measures have been met.”
They sat stunned. The sailors came in with the food and drink. They momentarily broke the tension.
Shelly put her hand on the Admiral’s arm. “Rafael, is all this military, muckity muck really necessary? I mean, my Mother gave us the okay, right?”
“While I’ll admit, you are a thousand times easier to deal with than your Mother, she’s not here, and I have to answer for a sunken ship.”
Shelly pulled away, sat back, and pouted. “Trust me, Admiral, for your own sanity, you don’t want to know what’s going on.”
“That makes it even that much more intriguing.”
She rolled her eyes. “I warned you.”
“Admiral, I cannot allow you to detain us. I’ve told you all I can,” John pleaded.
Hernandez waved a finger, and the Marines stepped out with weapons drawn.
“Admiral,” John said, without looking surprised, “I can also assure you, violence is not needed. Shall we eat?” John calmly picked up a fork and started to eat. “This is actually pretty good.” The others stuttered, but followed suit.
It was the Admiral’s turn to be surprised. He waved off the guards.
“My compliments to the Chef,” John said between bits, looking up at the stone face of the Master Chief, who stood stoically behind the Admiral
. “I don’t know if this is the appropriate time.” He took a piece of paper out of his breast pocket. “Could you take us to these coordinates?” He slid the paper across the table.
Hernandez was surprised, again. He didn’t like surprises. He laughed a burly laugh. “Very good, Captain. Keep your enemy off guard, guessing.”
“Admiral, you are not my enemy.”
He leaned further back in his chair, and folded his arms. “Ah, very good. You have peeked my curiosity.” He picked up the piece of paper, and glanced at it. “Of course,” Hernandez sarcastically said.
“If you take us there...I will tell you all I can.”
Hernandez looked John in the eye. He leaned forward. “If this is a hoax, or a trick, I will do everything I can to take you down.”
“Understood.”
“First Officer Shelby!” He started, and then slid the piece of paper to him. “Take us to the center of the Bermuda Triangle.”
A full day at full stream, brought the fleet close to their destination. Only vertical lift aircraft were allowed to take off due to Andromeda taking up so much runway. Its crew worked on countering the dampening field that hampered their technology. Constant communication with Chrysalis, had ships standing by to assist.
John met Hernandez, and his entourage at the hatch. “Admiral, you are punctual.”
“Alright, Captain, cut the crap, you’re stalling.”
John smirked, wondering when he figured it out. “Would you walk with me, Admiral?”
He waved off his escort, and they strolled across the deck, out of earshot. The wind was still calm. The movement of the ship was only noticeable by the movement of the horizon. The light blue sky was accented by the dark blue water.
“Admiral,” John started, “there is a force out there, so terrible that it can annihilate this world, and the solar system. Can you fathom that kind of destructive power? We have resigned ourselves to stopping it.”
They kept walking. “Captain Athain, the world is on the brink of destruction every day. That’s why I’m here.”
“See, that is the limited thinking that stunts you. I’m talking about enough power to destroy this solar system.”
“That kind of power would take a super nova.”
“Precisely.”
“Who has that kind of power?”
“An entity that can possess humans, take over their bodies.”
“You mean demons, or ghosts. Ha.”
“They have been called many things over time. I would say more extraterrestrial in nature.”
“Ha, Ha, somehow I knew aliens would come into the conversation sooner or later; advanced technological ship, possessions, Bermuda Triangle.” He shook his head. “You’re not going to talk me out of what you promised.”
“No, I’m trying to prepare you. Mostly, because we will eventually need help in combating this menace.”
“You’re serious, or crazy.”
“A little of both. But, we believe the Captain of that Destroyer ship was a possessed individual.”
“What did they hope to gain by attacking you?”
“They are after our classified power source, which would benefit them greatly. I am here to prevent that from happening. What I’m trying to say, is, they are just a detachment, and they are dangerous. More dangerous to you; then you are to yourselves. As for you, what you see on that ship will change your life forever, and the more prepared you are-the less mad you might think you are. Still want to go through with it?”
“With a story like that, oh, hell yah.”
John shook his head. “As you wish.”
They walked back to the shuttle. John reached for the hatch, and it slid open. “The deal was for you only, Admiral.”
“Sir,” the First Officer jumped in, “I can’t let you go in there alone.”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Shelby. Give me your sidearm. I’ll be fine.”
The First Officer unbuckled the belt, and handed it over.
“That is really unnecessary, Admiral”.
“It will make my crew feel better.”
“Alright.”
They entered the short hallway that doubled as an airlock. The hatch made a light hiss as it sealed. John waved the next door open and led the Admiral through. Walking into the bay, the first thing he saw was the car, which should’ve been a boat. Holograms whirled at different locations, lights softly blinked, most of the crew were standing around the battle table. Jay and Shelly moved to intercept, thinking their presents may make things easier.
“Admiral, welcome to Andromeda,” Jay proudly said.
Hernandez was so intrigued, he barely noticed the duo. Shelly took his arm, making him jump. “Let me show you our research center.” She led him to a row of computers. “Here we can tap into all computer systems.” She pulled up a holographic image, and then manipulated items until she came to a satellite feed. It showed the naval fleet. She zoomed in on the aircraft carrier. His mouth was open.
“Where’s Andromeda?”
“We are able to manipulate data streams, almost instantaneously. A type of stealth technology. We are there, just not visible to computers.”
“This, itself, could be a manipulation.”
She let out an exasperated breath, and then moved some more items around. The carrier’s comm Officer popped up in 3-D. “Call him.”
“How?”
“Just speak.”
“Ensign Spiegle, this is Admiral Hernandez.”
The sailor jumped, looked around, spotted his half headset and put it on. “Sir, is that you?”
“What’s our heading, Ensign?”
“Still on course, Sir.”
“What happened in the mess hall three nights ago, that had everyone laughing?”
“Uh, Lieutenant Daniels dumped his plate of mac and cheese in his lap, Sir,” he said, looking confused at the question.
The Admiral was astonished. “Uh, I’m fine, steady as she goes. I thought Akerman was on duty?”
The Ensign looked around as if being watched. “Uh, he swapped shifts with Peterson, Sir.”
“Very well, stay on alert. Hernandez, out.”
“Aye Sir, GW out.”
Shelly poked at the air, shutting off the display.
He stood up straight, as if realizing, for the first time, that this was all real. He looked around, hungry for more. He stopped his gaze on the car, realizing, where would they put a boat.
“Over here,” Admiral,” John said, looking over the battle table. It displayed multiple topographical areas around the world, and some off world. John waved a hand, it showed a town. He zoomed in on it to show a house, and children playing in the back yard.
Hernandez walked up to the table, and put his hand on it to steady himself. “That’s my Daughter’s house, my Grandchildren.” The view became three-dimensional from a horizontal point of view. “How...?”
“We tapped into the security feeds, and all other computer generated items. The computer programs correlate all this information, and fills in the blanks to give us a finished product. Would you like to speak to them?”
He starred. “No! turn it off.” The scene shut off on his command. He began to pace. “This is alien technology?”
“From your vantage point, yes,” John said.
He rubbed his face with one hand.
Aidan stepped out of a control room, and said, “All systems are optimal, repairs are complete.”
“Uh, oh,” Shelly said, and gracefully moved away.
Hernandez looked up at the seven-foot-tall bull man, and froze.
“Uh, sorry Captain, too soon?”
The Admiral unstuck his brain, and pulled his weapon. He backed up frantically, waving the pistol around.
“Admiral, calm down. We are not the enemy. Please,” John said, with his hands up.
Maya was right next to him. He pointed the gun at her. She instinctively went on the defensive, by showing her red eyes and fangs. He jumped and stumb
led backwards, trying to put something between him and the aliens. “You’re the aliens, you’re the monsters.”
“Rafael relax, if we wanted you dead, you would be. There’s no need for violence.” John moved closer to him. “Please, put the weapon away. It’s not needed, you are safe.” Hernandez was aiming at John’s chest.
Shelly giggled. “I told you so. I tried to warn you.”
“Maya, put your fangs away, Ms. Masters, shut up.” John turned his attention back to Rafael, while Shelly puffed out a bottom lip. “If you wish to shoot me, then go ahead. No one will harm you, I promise.” John stepped closer and put his chest against the barrel of the pistol. The Admiral’s eyes began to focus, John could see him accepting. He slowly lowered the weapon. “Excellent, now, just put it away, take a deep breath, and we can talk.”
“Okay...Okay,” he said, slowly slipping the pistol into its holster. He wiped perspiration off of his forehead, and took the deep breath. “I’m better, sorry.”
Aidan stepped forward and stuck out a massive hand. “I am Aidan, it is an honor to meet you Admiral Hernandez.” He shook his hand with his mouth partially open.
Jay moved up next to him. “Rafael, it’s going to be alright. We are the good guys.”
“Hum,” Aidan started, “he has the same look Colonel Masters had.”
“Another good sign,” John concluded, “That, and you haven’t gone insane.”
“Yet,” the Admiral quipped. The group snickered, making him feel even more uneasy.
Apollo came out of the medical bay, and said loudly, “So, when were you going to wake me, the next millennia?” everyone jumped at the distraction. “Oh, I was unaware we had company. Welcome aboard, I think. John, where are we?”
“Near power point eighteen.”
“Oh...If you need me, I’ll be in my quarters-catching up.” He left as quickly as he had arrived.
“That would-be Apollo, and she, would be Maya. Now, Admiral, if you will observe the battle table.
He shakily looked down, as he leaned on it for support.
“Contact Colonel Masters,” John said to the table. Her 3-D image popped up. She was sitting in her office. “Colonel, good to see you again.”