Along the Watchtower: A Gritty Space Opera Adventure (Frontier's Reach Book 4)

by Robert C. James

  “You’re far too modest, Mister Rycroft. I see you served in the Colonial Medical Corps when you were younger,” she read from her data tablet across the table from him.

  “As a field medic only. I’m certainly no physician.”

  “Perhaps not, but regardless, the work you did during the incident with the Seekers is to be commended. I understand you assisted Doctor Tai in an autopsy.”

  “That’s right. Our aim was to understand what control the Seekers had over the natives of Psi-Aion.”

  “We’re you able to determine that?”

  “No, we weren’t.” Kevin shook his head. “Doctor Tai assumed they were using a technology completely foreign to us and undetectable to our scans.”

  “What’s your opinion of their physiology?”

  “It would be the opinion of an old medic only.”

  Hariri smiled. “As I’ve not yet debriefed Doctor Tai, your humble expertise will have to do.”

  “Well, all the data in the Argo’s computers will tell you what you need to know. But basically, they’re very much like us. Bipedal. Carbon based. They’re skin and bone. Flesh and blood.”

  “In terms of development, where would you rate them compared to us?”

  “At first, they appear to be hunter gatherers like early humans. However, as we discovered, the particular group we engaged with lived in a township. What’s most interesting is their choice of weapons. Similarly to our descendants, they used spears but had also developed the bow and arrow, which on Earth was invented several thousands of years later.”

  “So, they’re highly intelligent?”

  “While I’m no anthropologist, they’re definitely adaptable. For a length of time we weren’t able to determine, the Seekers were coming down to their world and abducting their people. I guess in that time they came up with new methods to combat them.”

  Hariri nodded. “And why do you think they were so vital to the Seekers?”

  It’d been something Kevin pondered about a lot since the Argo returned home. “The Seekers were based at Psi-Aion for some time. They were using the moon as a base of operations to build their weapon. We never saw a real Seeker, so we can only assume they needed outside help to achieve their goals.”

  “Outside help?”

  “Workers and soldiers. They even used Christian Nash as a liaison between them and us.”

  “What are your thoughts of the Seekers’ true identity?”

  Another question Kevin had wondered. He shrugged. “A mystery that may never be solved.”

  The rest of the debrief was exhausting. Kevin couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat in one spot for so long. However, Commander Hariri was kind enough to bring him lunch halfway through.

  After hours of accounting every single moment he’d experienced on the Argo’s jaunt from Orion V to Psi-Aion and back, Hariri placed her data tablet in front of him.

  “This document states everything that happened between October twenty-second and the present date is to remain strictly confidential by order of the Ministry of Defense. I’m sure you understand if this information were to reach the public…”

  Kevin believed in honesty and integrity. He didn’t like the fact a government had the power to cover up something the public deserved to know, but realized he had little choice in the matter.

  He studied the fine print and placed his thumb on the data tablet, hopefully signing off on a chapter of his life he would never again have to relive.

  “Thank you, Mister Rycroft.” Hariri took back the tablet. “Before we wrap this up, I’d like to ask you a few questions about Jason Cassidy.”

  Kevin furrowed his brow. “Oh?”

  “Nothing official, just an informal chat. He was once a member of the CDF who—”

  “Had a decorated career during the war.”

  Hariri put her hands up in surrender. “No doubt, he’ll always be remembered a hero, but with his dishonorable discharge he—”

  “Wait. What?” Kevin’s ears pricked up. “Dishonorable discharge?”

  Hariri rechecked her data tablet. “Lieutenant Commander Jason Cassidy was dishonorably discharged from the service in 2209. Weren’t you aware of this?”

  His shoulders slumped, and he fell back in his chair. “No, I wasn’t.”

  *

  “You’re back!”

  Jason turned his head at the sound of Aly’s voice. The door to the communal quarters opened, and Kevin walked in.

  Aly gave her father a hug who looked relieved to be reunited with everyone else after so long.

  Althaus glanced up from the table, eating a bowl of cereal. “After our debriefs, they put us all together in here.”

  “Does that mean they’ll let us go soon? Did Commander Hariri say anything?” Aly asked.

  Kevin shook his head. “She said she’d tell us once they collate all our statements. They might have more questions.”

  “What else could they ask? The only question they didn’t was what brand of toilet paper we stocked on the Argo,” Althaus quipped.

  “I guess they’d be able to find that out while they’re doing the repairs.”

  “And that’s another thing. Why are we letting them have free rein on the Argo? Who knows what they’re doing over there.”

  “The ship needs serious work,” Jason said. “Us locking the door won’t stop them erasing our computer banks of any evidence of our trip. We might as well take them up on their offer to fix the old girl.”

  “You might trust them; I don’t.”

  “What makes you think I trust them?”

  Althaus scoffed.

  “What kind of questions did they ask you?” Aly asked Kevin, doing her best to break up the tension.

  “Everything and anything.”

  “Standard procedure.” Jason filled a glass of water from the drink dispenser and took a seat on the sofa in the living area of the quarters.

  Kevin approached him. “You got a moment?”

  Jason looked at him suspiciously, noticing Kevin made sure he was out of earshot of the others. “Sure.”

  “She asked about you.”

  “Who? Hariri?”

  Kevin nodded and sat beside him.

  “What did she want?” Jason asked.

  “Nothing in particular. She mainly wanted to know how you handled yourself out there.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “That you should still be in the service.”

  Jason chuckled, and the pair sat in silence for a few moments.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were dishonorably discharged?”

  Jason froze. Kevin’s eyes bored straight into his. Since he’d arrived on the Argo, he’d told no one what had really happened after the war. “I guess you’ve caught me red-handed.”

  “Did you think any of us would care? We were always proud of you.”

  Jason looked away. “I suppose I thought you’d be ashamed of me.”

  “Jason, come on. You know me better than that. Is it something you’d like to talk about?”

  Not really. “Maybe. It’s a story for another day.”

  “Well, okay. You always know where to find me for a chat.”

  Kevin put a hand on Jason’s shoulder and left him be. Jason stared into the abyss, once again reliving those final days before he’d been told he was no longer wanted.

  Chapter 8

  November 5, 2213

  UECS Repulse

  Susan’s eyes sprang open. Her chest rose heavily, and sweat covered her from head to toe.

  With the darkness encompassing her, she couldn’t remember where she was. That was until she pushed aside her sheets and her legs wouldn’t move. She stared up at the ceiling and put her hands up as if it was collapsing in on her.

  “Lights!”

  The room illuminated and revealed the ward she’d been put in when transferred from Outpost Watchtower. It was Doctor Lenard’s hope that doing it sooner, rather than later, would help her transition eas
ier for the long trip back to Earth.

  The door creaked open. “Are you okay, Doctor?” Nurse Freeman walked toward Susan and picked up a fresh towel beside the bed to dab the sweat from her face.

  Susan snatched it from her. “What time is it?”

  “Oh-eight-twenty.” Freeman frowned at the dampness of the towel. “Another nightmare?”

  Susan knew Freeman wasn’t deliberately condescending. But the last thing she wanted was to talk to a fleet nurse, half her age, about her nightmares.

  “We can schedule your bath earlier.”

  Susan rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  Freeman checked the readings on the medical monitor above the bed, seemingly content with what she saw. “I talked with Doctor Chang and Commander Hariri an hour ago. Admiral Kostecki has agreed to your visitor.”

  “What! Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I’m sorry, Doctor, you were sleeping. You need all the rest you can get.”

  There’s that condescension again. “Look at me! I’ve got plenty of time to rest.”

  Freeman kept her cool. “I can arrange the visit now, if you’d like?”

  Susan nodded. It took another hour after the nurse left for him to arrive. When the door opened, she used her upper body strength to sit herself up.

  “Kione!”

  He walked toward her, and the guard behind closed the door from the outside. “I’m sorry I took so long,” he said. “They had to shut down part of the ship so I could come here securely.”

  “Just imagine if the crew knew they had an alien on board.”

  “No doubt, once I return to Earth, everything will be as before, and I’ll go back to the Institute with no one knowing of my existence.”

  Susan frowned. Kione had lived his whole life in confinement. The Institute was nice, and the habitat was purpose-built for his needs, but it was still a cage. She wished he was free but often wondered what would happen if humanity learned of his existence. Would they be ready for him? And if not, what would they do to him?

  “Are they treating you well?” she asked.

  “For now. The admiral gave me my own quarters and cordoned off a section of the ship.”

  “Have they talked about putting you in cryo-stasis for the trip back to Earth?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I imagine Doctor O’Malley will take over from me when you return. At least for the time being.”

  “I don’t understand.” He raised his eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t you continue as head of staff?”

  Not you, too. “Kione, I’ll be in no condition to do my job anymore.”

  He looked over at the specialized wheelchair. “You’ve lost the use of your legs, but you’ll be otherwise mobile with this device. Surely—”

  “Stop, Kione. I had enough lecturing from Javier.”

  Susan stared into Kione’s large eyes. She’d known him for four years and considered him family. “Sit down, please.”

  He did so, in the chair beside her bed.

  “Do you remember me telling you about my time during the war on the Vanguard?”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  “Do you recall the story about the Siege of Maxima?”

  “You found the crew of Maxima Station massacred, though some had survived.”

  “It was the most barbarous thing I’d ever seen.” Susan closed her eyes. The images of the day were burned into her mind. “When I went in with the first relief team, those who were alive were hanging from the beams, pierced with steel hooks through their bodies. It was like something from the dark ages. When we pulled them down, they were too far gone. I couldn’t save them.

  “There was one thing I never told you.” Susan reached out for Kione’s hand, which he wrapped around hers. “During the war, CMOs in the field had permission to euthanize their patients if, in their medical estimation, they were beyond saving. However, there was a stipulation. The patient had to be of sound mind and had to request the treatment. It wasn’t to be offered as an alternative.”

  She frowned at the haunting reminder of the past. “Well, these poor officers all asked. I gave them a drug called cyclotrol. It was fast-acting and painless.”

  Kione eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because, Kione, I have a favor to ask.” She cleared her throat. “I need you to find cyclotrol for me.”

  Kione said nothing. Damn him and his blank expressions. “Say something,” she pleaded.

  He gripped her hand. “Humans raised me. Mentored me. I learned to understand how they valued life. At least most of them. What you ask of me is something—”

  “Understand me, Kione, I wouldn’t request this of just anybody.”

  The pair sat in silence. Susan watched Kione contemplate what she’d said to him. She closed her eyes in frustration.

  “Even if I did say yes, where would I get cyclotrol? From my understanding, the drug is now on the banned list.”

  Susan reopened her eyes. “Trust me, every infirmary has it in stock. It’s just a matter of finding it.”

  Kione sighed. “Doctor, this isn’t a decision taken lightly.”

  She smiled. “Take all the time you need.”

  But not too long.

  *

  Parliament House – Istanbul, Earth

  “Mister President, can we get a comment on the latest polls?”

  Glendon Jarret stepped from the presidential transport pod, onto the lawn, into a cavalcade of news reporters.

  “Is there any chance your party might think about replacing you before the next election?” another asked.

  Glendon had fumed all morning since the European Times published their latest opinion polls. They’d been even worse than the ones in the Martian Tribune.

  His bodyguards pushed through the media men and women until Glendon found himself in the foyer of Parliament House.

  “Couldn’t they hold this off until tomorrow?” Glendon said to his chief of staff who awaited him inside.

  “The Times publish their polls the same day every month,” Luan told him.

  “Then maybe we should’ve scheduled my speech to the parliament yesterday.”

  “It wasn’t sitting yesterday.”

  “I’m the president. They’ll sit when I tell them to sit.”

  “While you can recall the ministers whenever you like, it would’ve looked odd to do so for something as arbitrary as these bills.”

  Luan was right. The media would’ve put two and two together and roasted him regardless. Glendon figured once he’d performed the inane duties he had at Parliament House, he’d sneak out of the back door. Though he shuddered to think how that would play in the evening news.

  He walked down the corridor with Luan at his side, who promptly pulled out a data tablet. “Your speech is due to start at two p.m. Before that, there’s a lunch with the Speaker and the party leaders at one.”

  “Fine. Fine.”

  “First we have a meeting scheduled with Minister Takashi in the Kofi Annan Room.”

  Glendon turned left at the end of the corridor. “Good. I’ve wondered how things are progressing out there.”

  Luan pushed the door in for him, and there waiting in the room at the large table was the Minister of Defense.

  “Mister President.” Takashi put his data tablet down and stood.

  “Mister Takashi.” Glendon took a seat opposite him. “What have you got to report?”

  “Quite a lot actually.” Takashi slid the data tablet across to him.

  Glendon read over it while Takashi told him everything that had come out of the debriefs with Professor Petit and the crew of the Argo.

  Glendon was shocked. Seekers. Aliens on a planet three hundred light-years away. Kione’s mental abilities. A new form of FTL travel. A weapon of incalculable power. It was a remarkable report.

  “Well, this is something, isn’t it?” He turned to Luan. “Thoughts?”

  “Historic would be the word that com
es to mind,” his chief of staff concluded.

  “True, however, with Kione, we’ve known about the existence of extraterrestrials for some time.”

  “But this is very different.”

  Glendon couldn’t argue. “To cover up the discovery and continuing study of Kione is one thing. To keep this genie in the bottle will be quite another. We also still have what happened at Orion V to deal with.”

  “What are your instructions, Mister President?” Takashi asked.

  Glendon put the data tablet down on the table. “Well, we can all agree this has to stay under wraps. If the public ever got wind of it…” He trailed off, knowing he didn’t need to continue. “I want Professor Petit back here as soon as possible. He’ll have a lot of work on his plate when he returns.”

  “The Repulse’s journey to Earth will take six months,” Takashi said.

  “I also want Kione on that ship. With everything that’s happened, his study is now of paramount importance.”

  “And Doctor Tai?”

  “Hmm?” The crippled doctor. “Oh. Yes, her, too.”

  Takashi tapped his hand on the desk. “And what about the crew of the Argo?”

  “Have they signed nondisclosure agreements?” Luan asked.

  “Of course.”

  “All of which are useless. These are civilians. Too many people already know about this.” Glendon stared at Luan who glared back at him in equal measure.

  Glendon turned to Takashi. “I assume you’ve mobilized the Zero-Five operatives?”

  The Minister of Defense nodded.

  “Good. Tell them they have new orders. The crew of the Argo are to be eliminated.”

  Chapter 9

  Outpost Watchtower

  Javier had never seen a telescope of Destiny’s complexity or technological design. It wasn’t as physically large as others he’d observed, but if what Jonathan Avery had said was true, its range alone would surpass anything ever imagined.

  “Javier!”

  He turned from the viewport where the cylindrical-shaped module protruded from the hull of the space station, to find Jonathan approaching him.

  “What do you think of my baby?” he asked Javier.