by Sarah Noffke
“So,” echoed Hatch. “Let’s say I do this, can I leave whenever I want? Do I have your assurances to drop the entire thing if I want to? If it smells funny?”
Julianna nodded. “You can do whatever you want, Hatch. I promise, I’ll make sure you can.”
“A shot at my bird again…some work that actually feels like it matters and getting top cover from a decent sort like the General,” said Hatch. “Maybe I’ll give you two a chance.”
“But?” said Julianna.
Hatch puffed his cheeks, the Londil sign for amusement. “But, I want full access to any projects I used to be a part of. The full catalogue, as it were.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m sure those idiots messed them all up,” he explained.
“Can we authorize that on the spot?” asked Eddie, looking at Julianna.
She smiled. “Teach, you keep forgetting who we work for.”
“Is that a yes?” asked Hatch.
“It is,” agreed Julianna. “Come help us punish the bad guys and you’ll get all your old toys back.”
Hatch’s cheeks puffed. “If that ain’t a way to seal a deal then I don’t know what is.”
CHAPTER NINE
General Lance Reynolds’ Office. Onyx Station, Paladin System.
Lance sat with a cigar in his mouth, puffing smoke into a special vent he’d had installed a while back. He stared at the view-screen on his desk, taking a long puff and exhaling.
The findings from the Ox King’s database were far worse than he imagined. Not only was there someone higher up the chain than Ox, but it seemed the network was more extensive than the General initially believed.
Messages between Ox and a mysterious entity known only as T detailed plans to expand and attack dozens of Federation colonies, with one goal being to seize and occupy Onyx Station. The timetable for that action was currently unknown, but the letters suggested efforts were already underway.
Onyx Station was a major political point of interest in this region of Federation-controlled space, acting as the central transport hub between at least a dozen worlds. Its creation marked the beginning of a new balance between the neighboring species, providing a neutral ground to share political and social discourse, perform trade agreements and treaties, and provide a useless Federation footing in an otherwise fringe territory far outside the core planets.
Should anyone discover this station was under threat, many would return to their home systems, and Onyx Station would lose its political significance, ultimately disrupting the balance in this developing region.
For nearly a thousand years, war had raged between Kezzin, Trid, and the Londil, but such hostility had quickly diminished after the construction of the station and the formation of the Federation. Granted, the Kezzin remained independent, priding themselves on their isolationism, but they often agreed to meet on the station, as neutral territory to discuss important matters as they related to the region and its many inhabitants. The Kezzin were, after all, spread across four-star systems.
In short, Onyx Station was an essential Federation asset; for anyone to threaten its existence was unsettling.
Not long ago, back when the Federation was still the Etheric Empire, it had vowed to its members that once the old war was over, the military would be significantly downsized. It would only be used for peacekeeping missions, and then, only within Federation space. The non-human species agreed to these assurances, vowing to come together with humanity in order to officially form the Federation.
Lance remembered the ceremony and the joy surrounding it. So many old friends and allies, brought together under a single, unified cause. He thought about those days often, and never with any regret. His daughter, the Empress herself, had given humanity a new beginning, bringing them together with the rest of the universe. It was an unparalleled feat—one that he still could hardly believe.
But that was Bethany Anne, always exceeding expectations. Always going above and beyond.
For the past couple hundred years, such tasks had been left to Lance Reynolds. His daughter had given him the tools to expand the Federation. The equipment to ensure a brighter tomorrow.
He had not let her down. He would not let her down.
Lance dabbed the end of his cigar on the ashtray, eying the screen and taking a deep breath. “T” or whatever his name was, must be the next rung on the ladder. Using his cigar, he pointed at the screen.
“I’m sending a little party your way, just to say ‘hello,’ give you a taste of how we deal with scum like you rising from the cesspool of the universe. You’ll wish you stayed on your own playground, you ass-hugging piece of shit.”
Nobody fucked with General Lance Reynolds or the Federation. That was for damn sure.
Docking Station 211, Laden City, Ronin, Behemoth System.
“You sure he can fit through the door?” asked Eddie, pointing at Hatch.
“I’ll have you know, I’m very flexible,” said Hatch, stepping onto the boarding platform. In only a few seconds, he deflated and compressed into a smaller shape, waddling through the doorway and into the spacecraft. “See?”
“That’s great, but what about when you get inside and have to sit down? Those seats are built for humans.”
“I had a special one installed while we were out,” Julianna assured him.
“Smart thinking,” said Eddie.
“The woman knows me,” said Hatch, continuing inside.
Eddie followed, waiting for the alien to take his seat, which was larger than the others and seemed to have multiple armrests all along its sides for tentacles.
Julianna sat across the aisle, similar to the last trip, while Eddie sat a row in front of her. “No getting drunk this time, Captain,” she told him.
“You aren’t the boss of me,” he shot back.
“You must not know Julie very well,” said Hatch. “She’s the boss of everyone.”
Julianna grinned. “He gets me.”
The ship ignited its thrusters a few moments later, since there weren’t any other passengers to board. As the ship lifted off, Eddie noticed Hatch begin to bloat and squeeze, changing his size every few seconds. The seat seemed to conform to these fluctuations, like it was built to deal with this. “What’s the problem?” asked Eddie.
Julianna looked unconcerned. “He can’t talk right now. The Londil don’t do well with altitude changes. They lose their ability to control their size.”
“Will he be okay?”
“It’ll stop in just a minute,” she explained.
Eddie sat back in his seat. “That’s so weird.”
“He probably thinks it’s weird when your ears pop,” she said.
“Isn’t he supposed to be a pilot?” asked Eddie.
“There’s a special flight suit they wear,” she started to say.
“We only wear it when we have to,” interjected Hatch, who had finally regained his composure. “Londil don’t like having tight fitting clothes against our skin.”
Eddie sat up and looked at him. “Welcome back.”
Hatch reduced his size and seemed to relax. “I hate traveling.”
“Well,” continued Eddie. “The good news is that you can eat or drink whatever you want on this trip. It’s comped.”
“Is that so?” asked Hatch. “How about some Ronin slugs?”
Eddie cringed at the words. “Seriously?”
“It’s a delicacy,” said Julianna.
“Not to me. That sounds disgusting.”
Julianna looked at Hatch. “I made sure they stocked up on food for you. Pretty certain I saw slugs on the list.”
Hatch’s cheeks puffed up. “You’re so good to me.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you two have a special kind of history,” said Eddie, raising his brow at Julianna.
“Oh, man, you figured us out,” Julianna said, unmoved by the accusation.
Eddie’s mouth fell open. “What?”
She laughed. “Co
me on, Teach. I’m fucking with you. Hatch thinks humans are ugly as hell.”
“It’s true,” agreed Hatch. “You all look like giant toadstools with fur on your heads.”
“Hey,” snapped Eddie. “You’re not exactly a looker yourself, you know.”
“I’ll have you know I’m quite the female magnet, kid,” remarked Hatch.
“He’s telling you the truth. Hatch has about five wives, last I checked,” said Julianna.
“Six, now,” said the alien.
Eddie’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“And fifteen kids,” added Hatch.
“You’ve got fifteen children and you’re leaving them to come with us?” asked Eddie, a look of shock on his face.
Hatch’s cheeks puffed up. “All of them are grown and on their own now. They stay busy with school and work, but I still keep tabs on them.”
Eddie sank down in his seat. “That sounds exhausting.”
“You’re telling me, kid.”
General Lance Reynolds’ Office. Onyx Station, Paladin System.
“Welcome back,” said General Reynolds as he sat behind his desk.
Eddie and Julianna sat across from him, finally returned from their trip to Ronin. “Hope we didn’t keep you waiting, sir,” said Julianna.
“I stayed busy,” said Lance. “Speaking of which, while you were out there getting drunk and spending all my money—” He paused, looking at Eddie. “—yes, I know all about the booze.”
Eddie, rather than cringe or shy away from the accusation, simply smiled.
“Anyway, while you were doing your thing, I managed to decipher the data you retrieved from the Ox King’s network database.”
He shoved a pad across the table to Julianna.
“Interesting findings, to say the least,” he added.
She took it and swiped the screen. Eddie watched her expression grow more and more intrigued as she read. Finally, her eyes widened and she seemed surprised. “Is this accurate, sir? Who is ‘T’?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, Commander.”
“’T’?” asked Eddie.
Lance motioned at the pad. “That’s the initial used to sign certain emails pertaining to attack plans and other orders given to Ox during his campaign against our Federation outposts.”
“So, that’s our man, right?”
“I believe it is,” confirmed Lance. “But the real issue is finding him. We’ll need some help decoding the source of these emails.”
“I can put Pip on that right away,” said Julianna.
“As good as Pip is, he might not be up to the task,” said Lance.
“Did you have someone else in mind, sir?” she asked.
“I did,” he confirmed. “In fact, I’d say it’s due time to introduce the two of you to an old friend of mine. I was saving this as a surprise, but maybe now is as good a time as any.”
“Sir?” asked Julianna.
Lance leaned over to his screen and tapped it, holding his finger up to the two of them. “Status check,” he said to whoever was on the other end of the line.
“Standing by as ordered, sir,” said the unknown voice.
“Right. Thank you,” said Lance. “I’ll be arriving within the hour.”
“Affirmative, sir,” said the voice. “See you soon.”
The transmission ended, and Lance turned to Eddie and Julianna. “Care to take a stroll with me?”
“To where, sir?” asked Julianna.
“I’ve got a present for you two that I think you’ll want to see. It’s parked near the asteroid belt.”
“Parked?” asked Eddie. “What the hell did you—”
“Not what,” interrupted Lance. “Who.”
Cargo Bay 06. Onyx Station, Paladin System.
Eddie stood next to Julianna as Lance shook hands with Hatch. Or tentacles, depending on your perspective.
“Good to see you again, Doctor,” greeted the General.
“Likewise,” said Hatch.
Eddie leaned over to Julianna. “They know each other?”
She nodded. “The General was the one who introduced me to Hatch. They go way back.”
“I assume you’ll want to see the Q-Ship, now that you’re back,” said Lance.
“You assume right,” agreed Hatch. “Is she nearby?”
“I’ve had both ships transferred to a new location. The shuttle will take us there in a few minutes.”
“Don’t I need to receive a security clearance or go through in-processing first?” asked Hatch.
“Already taken care of. I knew my team would go after you and bring you onboard. I was the one who planted the file for Julianna to find.”
“And you expected me to agree to help? What made you so sure I’d say yes?” asked Hatch.
“Are you saying you’d rather keep working in a garage than a starship?” asked Lance.
“Still, you shouldn’t presume to know me, Lance. I don’t care how long I’ve known you.”
“Sixty years, last I checked,” said the General.
“Holy shit,” Eddie blurted out.
Everyone looked at him.
“What? That’s a long ass time,” said Eddie.
“Maybe for you,” said Hatch. He returned his glance to Lance. “Speaking of living, I’m glad you’re still in one piece.”
“You too, Hatch,” said the General, smiling.
The shuttle was parked near the back of the bay, with only a single crew member waiting—the pilot. Eddie found this odd, since it was standard procedure to have at least two people onboard at any given time.
The four passengers took their seats, and once again, the ship was outfitted specially for Hatch and his alien physiology. Julianna and the General were well ahead of Eddie in mission preparation.
The shuttle departed through the shield and into open space in the direction of the asteroid belt. From what Eddie could tell, which wasn’t much, given how vast and dark the void of space actually was, there were no ships or other manmade vessels waiting for them.
Eddie leaned across his seat, motioning at Lance. “Hey, General, sir, if you don’t mind me asking, what did you mean when you said ‘who’ earlier?”
Lance turned to look at him. “It’s complicated, but let’s just say we’re on our way to see someone who can help. A valuable asset to the fight, so to speak.”
“Someone?” echoed Eddie.
“An A.I. with the capability to sort through the data we’ve collected. Someone I’ve known for a long time.”
Eddie squinted, trying to see through the window up ahead. “But I don’t see any ships.”
“That’s because the ship is cloaked,” said Lance.
“Like the Q-Ships?” asked Eddie.
Lance nodded. “Exactly.”
The pilot, who looked about as average and forgettable as anyone Eddie had ever seen, thumbed the console in front of him, activating the com. “Eagle One inbound for arrival.”
Eddie’s eyes perked up at the sound of the callsign. He recalled from his early training that wherever the head of the military was, if it was an aerial vehicle or spacecraft, received the new temporary designation of Eagle One, signifying its importance. He’d never seen or heard it in action, but it was a longstanding tradition going back centuries.
“Docking request acknowledged,” said a voice over the com. It was very subdued, almost relaxed. “Please proceed, Eagle One.”
The shuttle continued forward, maneuvering around one of the larger asteroids on the outer edge of the belt, heading above the ring. Eddie kept his eyes forward, trying to see what their destination could possibly be, but all he saw was darkness. No ship, no space station. Nothing at all.
He opened his mouth to ask where it was, but that was when he saw it—a slit of light in the middle of the dark, a line breaking across the void.
It opened, growing larger by the second, revealing the innards of a docking bay—of a Federation ship.
“Ain’t she a
sight?” said Lance, smiling as the shuttle entered through the loading doors.
“Sir, what is this?” asked Julianna. “From what I can see, this is a battleship. I don’t know of too many with cloaking technology.”
“That’s because we don’t have any yet,” said the General.
“Then, what is this? A secret one? Did you build this in private?”
He chuckled. “That’s not far from the truth.”
The shuttle landed and the door opened. Lance walked out onto the platform and stretched his arms. Eddie, Julianna, and Hatch quickly followed, waiting for the General to explain just what the hell was going on.
Lance held out his hands, almost in an inviting way. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you are standing on the ruins of a once-dead ship, the QBS ArchAngel, the original flagship of the Queen’s Fleet.” He grinned again. “And, I might add, your new home.”
CHAPTER TEN
Loading Dock 01, QBS ArchAngel, Paladin System.
Julianna wasn’t sure if this was an elaborate joke or the blatant truth. Based on what she’d seen with her own eyes, back when the QBS ArchAngel had been destroyed, there was no way she could be standing on it now.
But here it was…or at least, that’s what the General had claimed. How could it, though? She’d been a member of the Black Eagles during the war. Back then, the QBS ArchAngel had been destroyed, following mankind’s move through the Gate. Much of its database had been salvaged and transferred to another ship. That vessel was consequently dubbed QBS ArchAngel II in honor of the first. Even the A.I., also known as ArchAngel, had been transferred.
The whole thing was beginning to give Julianna a headache.
“Sir, can you please explain what exactly is going on? I saw the ArchAngel blow up firsthand. Are you telling me this is the same ship? Did you just rebuild it from scratch?” she asked.
“It’s the same ship,” Lance confirmed. “In fact, you’ll never guess who else is here.”
“Who else…?”
A screen lit up on a nearby wall and a woman’s face appeared on it. Her eyes were so large that they seemed intimidating. “Greetings, everyone,” she told them. “I’m ArchAngel. It’s good to meet you. The General has told me a great deal about each of you.”