“Anon, take the team for de-briefing,” he ordered his group leader. “I’ll follow in a moment.”
“Very well,” Anon acknowledged and walked off along with the others.
Platos then turned to greet the Supervisor. “Javon, what a pleasant surprise.”
Both then mentally acknowledged each other.
Why are you here, Javon, since the Solveron mistake has been corrected?
Javon tried to be tactful. The Chamber wishes me to make certain that the other strands intersect at the right time and place.
On hearing this, Senior Temporal Predictor Platos felt put out. Nonsense. I am in complete control, Javon. The Solverons, Crillons, and your Earthies’ are all heading in the right direction for the final conclusion.
So, it seems, Platos. And, with no deviation, all would come to a favorable conclusion.
The word, would, worries me, Javon.
It seems that Delta operator, Charlotte, may have jeopardized our end goal, Javon said.
Explain, Platos directed.
Supervisor Javon paused briefly, having noticed the impatience in Platos’s thought. Then told him why.
Apparently, operator Charlotte took two or more brain-enhancing Cryopreservation injectors from the Top-secret laboratories.
She was recorded administering one to herself, just before leaving to join the Earth Starship Scimitar.
Platos didn’t comment on this. Instead, he directed his thought to the central temporal overlay.
H’mm... I see the Garoden Homeworld strand is on target, even if it is a little foggy.
That’s true, Platos. But, if Charlotte still has the other vial. What is she going to do with it?
If she really has it, Supervisor Javon. Then that would mean that she must believe that Richardson is still alive. Platos stated.
Then suddenly realized the significance of that. Whereas our predictions and plan have assumed Richardson is dead, Platos then added.
My thoughts, exactly, Javon agreed.
Charlotte has the ability to cater for both eventualities, Javon, Platos reminded him.
Yes. But, Charlotte has become a variable. What she has in mind, is not in Delta’s plan, Javon firmly stated.
Chapter 15
The Lexington
Terrance Campbell, the Michigan’s Captain, was stunned by the size of the Carrier Lexington as it exited warp, less than five kilometers away.
“Some ship, Captain,” Michigan’s science officer, Lieutenant Paris remarked, as he studied Lexington’s specifications on his tactical display.
“Seems so… At least with Lexington, we'll now have virtually the same combat effectiveness as Jefferson’s group.”
At first glance, the Lexington was nearly twice as long, as the Michigan. And, it had a slightly bulbous end that made it look a bit like a Garoden Star Destroyer. However, that’s where the similarities ended. The Lexington had small, well-spaced blisters all over its hull. These, providing both its protective screen and weapon’s ports.
Several hanger-decks were open, and some unidentified drones could be seen within. But small flashes of light indicated that a force field protected the hanger deck openings.
“Lexington’s, Commodore Denning, is on the link, Captain,” Comms office Ensign Chapel informed.
“Lieutenant Paris, are we secure?”
Paris quickly checked for any anomalies from the ‘all-ships’ long range sensor grid, before replying.
“Yes, Captain. We are clear.”
“Put him through then, Chapel.”
With that, Commodore Lenny Denning’s smiling face appeared on the main screen.
“Are we ready to kick-ass, Campbell?”
Captain Campbell was taken aback on hearing the Commodore’s crude expression.
“When we see just what you can offer us, Commodore. Then we’ll know whose ass is going to be kicked,” Campbell replied.
“Touché, Captain,” came Denning’s jovial reply. “By the way, we’ll download any information and specifications of the Lexington, that you can’t hack in the usual way, including info on the WEP’s,” he said.
Then Denning paused, and his expression hardened. “There’s a big event afoot which we’re part of, Campbell. Once you’re up to speed I’ll go over it with the rest of you on the all ships link,” Denning told him.
“Very well, Commodore.”
“What the devil’s a WEP?” Lieutenant Paris queried after the Commodore’s image had gone.
“Don’t ask me… You’re my Science officer,” Captain Campbell sharply reminded Paris, thinking that he should have known what they were.
Then turning to look at Lieutenant Crain, asked if he knew what a WEP was.
Michigan’s weapons officer, Lieutenant Crain looked up from his station and smiled.
“Yes, Captain. It’s a sophisticated weapons platform or drone. Complete with its own independent AI… If I remember correctly, it has one ultra-high energy particle beam cannon, plus two nukes… But, no warp capability as I recall,” Crain told him.
“Full tech specs coming in now… These are right up your street, Crain,” Paris commented, as more data was received by his science station and re-routed to the other departments.
“Interesting… I see this version has stealth capability,” Campbell commented… “Its maneuverability isn't good, but the WEP is apparently, expendable.”
“I’ll bet its AI doesn't think it is,” Crain commented.
Chapter 16
A Garoden plan.
Location:
Sol 2, in the HD 75289 system. 94.4 light-years from Sol.
Most of the Garoden fleet was still located at the site of the remnants of the terrestrial planet at Sol 2. This planet, having at first been believed to be the Earthlings home world, had been destroyed by the Garoden’s multi-head planet killer missiles that had ripped apart it’s tectonic plates, causing its molten core to die.
Excellency Plank, son of Lord Dankel the head of the Garoden Space-Navy, sat in his command chair and watched from his own Star Destroyer, Z185’s bridge, as his father’s flagship, accompanied by four escort vessels, joined him.
Comms Officer, Ensign Palvric had tried to mentally warn Excellency Plank, forgetting for a moment, that he was now without a companion brain.
“Excellency. Lord Dankel is arriving,” he then called out.
“My chair only,” Plank ordered, raising an audio damping field at the same time.
Then Lord Dankel’s face appeared on Plank’s secondary screen. “I find it disturbing, having to talk to you without your companion brain, Plank… I will take over from now,” he firmly stated.
“You seem to have no logical plan, Plank. You’ve lost too many ships. And, that planet out there, is definitely not the home planet of these alien creatures.”
“That’s not entirely right, Father,” Plank defensively stated.
“Stop,” Lord Dankel thundered. “You will not call me father while on this campaign, Plank. Understood?”
“Sorry…, Lord Dankel,” he grudgingly replied. “But we’ve destroyed two of these Earthling’s ships ourselves. And, my other group has finished off at least eleven ships of this third alien race, that we believe are called Crillons.
Furthermore, the blue spherical ships home planet has been destroyed.”
“You forget Plank, that Viceroy Verice actually instigated the demise of the Solverons, not you. Whereas you have lost four of our vessels.”
“A small price to pay for the invaluable information we’ve acquired,” Plank angrily replied.
“H’mm… Maybe. But something seems wrong with the whole situation,” Dankel stated.
“Perhaps, but remember that these Earthlings didn’t appear to use their mental powers to fight us… So, maybe, they’re limited in some way?” Plank argued.
“Or, maybe they are using their powers in a way we cannot sense?” Lord Dankel suggested.
“No, my lord. Your companion brain would have regis
tered any attempt to influence it.”
“One would hope so… Even so, something appears to be amiss, Plank,” Dankel reiterated.
“For instance, why is Z231 heading back to Garoden?” Dankel queried. Paused a moment, then continued.
“Then, there’s another mystery. Why haven’t our two ships, Z187 and Z188, returned from destroying the Solveron’s home world? Tell me that, Plank?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t know the ships were missing,” Plank nervously replied, realizing too late that he should have known.
“Well, it seems to me, that there’s a lot you don’t know…Plank. Including the fact that my science department has just detected a single wormhole thread, which they believe will lead directly to the Earthling’s real home planet. I assume you didn’t know that, either, did you?”
Plank gasped on hearing this and wondered how his science team had missed it.
Then Captain Tisk nudged Plank, and surreptitiously pointed at their screen.
Plank looked and saw that it was showing four of his ships breaking out of formation. His heart sank. “Where, are those ships going, my Lord?” He asked.
“To destroy the Earthling’s home planet, of course, Plank.”
“That's a bad idea,” Plank bravely replied.
“Rubbish” Lord Dankel snapped back.
Plank looked at his screen again and saw his ships warp space, then they were gone.
“There is something else that you don’t know…Plank. Garoden Command has intercepted a hyperlinked message about a big get-together of these two alien race’s Fleets?
No doubt their commanders are planning a coordinated attack on us… However, we now know the time and location of this meeting,” Dankel added.
“Well then, if we had more ships we could destroy them all, in one go,” Plank observed while trying not to show his dismay at having failed to keep up with events.
“Quite right. I have already ordered the Seventh Fleet to Rendezvous with us within jump range of this grouping of Earthlings and Crillons.”
“Excellent,” Plank replied congratulating his father.
However, Plank was still feeling jittery over their original expedition’s encounter with the Earthlings. He was beginning to feel that there must be another, unknown race, manipulating events.
‘No,’ he thought to himself. ‘Things just don’t seem right. With ships going missing, and other strange happenings, like mental attacks.’
Then Plank thought it through again and decided that. No, he must be wrong. His father had anticipated the situation well.
Chapter 17
Who’s playing who?
Rendezvous point: 320 light years from Earth.
Nearly two weeks had passed before Illustrious caught up with the Jefferson group, and exited her wormhole from hyperspace, after safely jumping from the R2 secondary point.
“Welcome back, Captain,” Admiral Christopher Winton said.
“Thank you, Admiral,” Derrick Patterson replied as Winton’s live image appeared on his display.
“The stealth surveillance probe that we left behind, monitored your somewhat hairy escape,” Winton told Patterson.
Derrick smiled. “Yeah, hairy is the right word. I expect you saw that the two WEPs that had been left behind hitched a ride with us. So, don’t tell me they are willing to be destroyed for the cause.”
Winton hadn’t known about these two WEPs, and quickly ran Illustrious’s exit recording from the surveillance probe. True enough, it clearly showed the two WEPs diving for Illustrious as its wormhole was forming.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Winton exclaimed. He couldn’t help smiling at the sight of the WEPs dashing for survival.
“Admiral, I think it’s safe to assume that the WEPs might just hop it when things get too uncomfortable for them. Don’t you agree?” Derek asked.
“Yes. We’ll have to be aware of that in future, Captain… Anyway, log into the all-ships link and get your ship’s damage sorted, pronto, Derek. When you’ve finished, I want to speak to everyone.”
“Will do, Admiral,” Patterson replied, and his image disappeared for a moment, then could be seen on the open, all-ships link, tactical display.
Winton was now ready to talk to his captains. As soon as he was sure that they had all logged on, Admiral Winton addressed them.
“Captains. Let’s discuss everything we’ve learned so far, from the probe that is still with the Garoden fleet.”
“Are we sure the probe’s not been tampered with?” Captain Sota, of Harbin, asked. “And, are the transmissions legit, Admiral?”
“Well, Argonaut?”
“Professor Sims’ science team has confirmed that the probe is definitely ours, and it’s complete with its embedded helix encryption,” Captain Serrell answered.
“Ok… So, our probe picked up a transmission and relayed it to us using microburst technology,” Winton stated.
“It’s already been translated and authenticated by Argonaut. We believe it originated from the larger Garoden vessel in the group that were well away from the actual battle,” he then added.
Captain Tom Bridger of the Revenge then interrupted, Winton.
“Admiral, I would like Brian Walters, who was Andromeda’s encryption specialist, to look at the transmission’s original content before we act on it.”
“Agreed. Captain Serrell, please send this to the Revenge.”
“Will do, Admiral.”
“Right. We’ll continue with the assumption that the transmission is genuine. So, has anyone got anything relevant, to put forward?” Winton asked…, then paused waiting for any comments, before continuing.
“Okay. The transmitted message refers to an intercepted hyperlinked message concerning a big get-together of two Alien fleets.
It would, therefore, seem that the Garodens believe there’s a coordinated plan to attack their fleet.”
“They must be talking about us, Admiral. But, that doesn’t make sense. As far as I know, we haven’t even got a plan,” Captain Garret pointed out.
“Correct. But even so, the Garoden’s must think there is a plan, as their Command has sent details of the location and date of this, so called Meeting, to their fleet at Sol 2.
And now, one of their ships at Sol 2 has sent a message to Garoden Command itself.
Someone on the ship seems to be ordering, what appears to be their Seventh Fleet, to rendezvous with them within jump range of this get-together.”
Winton then pointed to a view on the main screen, which now showed the proposed location in space where the un-named Alien fleets were supposedly going to meet.
“Now, here is the request from the Garodens at Sol 2…to engage the two fleets,” Winton added.
Then pointed at his screen again. “See, the location of the meeting is easily within the Garoden’s jump distance.”
“As far as we know, that will also be within a Garoden surveillance probe’s operating range,” Anna, Jefferson’s AI stated.
Admiral Winton ignored the AI’s comment, knowing that that was a well-known fact.
“Which gives us a big problem,” he instead said, then continued.
“We have to assume that the Crillons, and maybe an alien race we haven’t come across, are unaware of this pending trap.
Unfortunately, we have no safe way to warn the Crillons without tipping off the Garodens.”
“That’s not correct, Admiral,” a man standing behind Captain Bridger, said. “Brian Walters, Admiral,” the man added, his face coming into view alongside Captain Bridger.
“Ah…, Yes. You were on Andromeda I understand. So?”
“Well. Crillon Commander Procard arranged for us to communicate with them, using an encrypted SAB Link.”
“I’m afraid I’ve never heard of a SAB link, err, Brian. Carry on please.”
“Luckily, I copied the encryption and decryption algorithms, so that I could continue contacting Commander Procard without the Garodens listening
in.”
“Well, that is good news,” Winton declared.
“Try and set-up a link right away,” Winton ordered. “We need to find out if there really is an organized offensive, by the Crillon’s. And, we need to warn them about the Garoden’s surprise.”
“Yes, sir. Give me ten minutes’ maximum,” Brian said and was gone.
Then Captain Sota caught Winton’s attention. “Admiral, my science team have been studying Argonaut’s shared overall temporal pattern. And, in particular, the exceptional variation in the time taken in sending and receiving messages,” he said.
“So, has anyone noticed that some of their messages are taking longer than usual to send and receive. Whereas others are unusually fast?” Sota then asked.
“No one has mentioned this to me,” Winton replied. “So, what’s your point Sota?”
“I know this may seem far-fetched, Admiral. But it’s almost like someone, or something, is manipulating time to achieve a particular result.”
“Impossible,” Winton exclaimed.
“Maybe not, Admiral,” Ned interjected. “After all, we know that Commander Frank Richardson and Susanna could mentally manipulate people, and certain other things,” he said and paused briefly.
“Whereas, Charlotte and Cindy, both stated that they came from something, or somewhere, called Delta’s Temporal Anchor. And, even more fantastic, from the year, 2725,” he finished and waited for Winton’s response.
“Charlotte and Cindy? I don’t recall them,” Winton said.
“Surely you remember the two assets that Commander Richardson duped you out of. When he sent you the two Dignitaries instead?” Ned prompted, smirking as he did so.
The Garoden War. (SpaceFed StarShips Series) Book 7. An exciting, action-packed SpaceFed Series finale that also concludes the Garoden War.: ‘Military Gamble.’ Page 8