“Captain,” Granger said, sounding impatient, “back to the tablets … the prophecies. They speak of the final rising of the Sahhrain and bringing forth, from the spirit world, their great Sachem, Rom Dasticon, the most powerful force in the universe.”
“Come on … that’s just elaborate fables … it was a different time … you can’t take everything to be—”
Granger cut back in, “They speak of a mysterious ‘chariot in the sky’ that will deliver this most powerful force, this Rom Dasticon, from an alternate dimension … alternate universe. At face value, sure, this does sound like a simple fable, but considering the Minian has that same unique capability, to traverse into the multiverse, we must consider that Lord Vikor Shakrim may be coming for this very ship … his mysterious chariot in the sky … to thus deliver forth his all-powerful Sachem.”
Jason said, “Well, that may be a stretch … if he even knows about the Minian.” But he started to wonder—was it possible Shakrim did possess knowledge of the Minian’s capabilities? Was there really some omnificent power, residing somewhere within another realm … in some alternate universe? If so, wouldn’t the Minian be the perfect vessel to deliver Shakrim to that reality, making the Sahhrain virtually undefeatable? He didn’t think so, but now, thinking more seriously about it, he wasn’t completely certain.
“Captain, I implore you to keep the Minian as far away from Lord Shakrim as possible,” Granger reiterated. “You need to get this ship out of this sector at once!”
“No, Granger … I’m not going to hide from Lord Shakrim, or anyone else, for that matter. In fact, we’ll be taking the fight right to him. Our Star Watch armada will join with the Blues … with Aahil and his fleet of sixty warships.”
Aahil said, “We have a limited amount of time to catch Lord Shakrim, who’s currently away from his fleet. Our sources tell me he, along with his personal guard … a force of twenty-five Sahhrain warriors called the Chosen Spears, are in the Dacci planetary system. He’s there obtaining an exotic mineral, called Glist, for manufacturing even more powerful enhancement shields for his forces. Apparently, it’s an operation he’s taken personal control over. While he’s on the surface, his fleet, consisting of five hundred warships, is on standby in Dacci space. If there ever was the right place and time to take down Lord Vikor Shakrim … it would be there, on the planet near those deep Glist mines.” Aahil nodded toward Boomer, who nodded back to him.
Jason didn’t want to think about Boomer facing off against Lord Shakrim. To him, the idea was still preposterous. But he also knew that getting close enough to confront Shakrim, with his unique powers, not to mention his Chosen Spear warriors, would require a more drastic approach.
Billy said, “I still don’t get why we don’t just take out the whole Sahhrain fleet. Hell, we can get enough Allied ships here within a day or two, then send an army down to the surface to neutralize Lord whatever his name is.”
Jason thought about that for a moment and then thought about his father’s explicit directives. “That’s not what we do now, Billy. That’s not the directive for Star Watch. No one wants another war, and we’re not here to start one. No … we need to cut the head off that serpent and hope the Sahhrain fleet, with a little prompting from our combined forces in space, will return home—their tails between their legs.”
Billy said, “And this Lord Shakrim? He’s just one guy … right?”
“Hardly,” Aahil said. “In the past, with his highly acute intuition … he’s always avoided personal attacks. No matter how many teams are sent to remove him from power, he’s gone, like smoke in the wind, long before our forces are close enough.”
“So he’s a coward?” Billy asked.
“No … not a coward. He is a great warrior … unbeaten, in fact. Again, his highly acute intuition makes him extremely lethal in combat. His physical size … his unmatched prowess with an enhancement shield, makes him a formidable—”
Jason cut him off, “And you want me to put my daughter up against that?”
“Who else but a little girl could get close enough to engage him? He would simply evade another assault team. Captain, all we ask of Boomer is to temporarily constrain him … paralyze him … just long enough for us to move in to capture him.”
Frustrated, Jason turned toward Leon: “How about you? You on board now to do your part?”
Leon returned Hanna’s direct stare and slowly nodded his assent. “I suppose … what is it you’d need from me?”
“You say you have a ship … something a typical space trader might possess? Maybe even the kind of spacecraft an interstellar pirate might own?” Jason asked.
Leon smiled. “You could say that. It’s fast and it’s got all the bells and whistles one would need to avoid certain … situations.”
“Like getting caught by those you’ve ripped off in the past?” Hanna asked flatly.
Jason didn’t give him time to answer. “We’ll need two things from you … first your ship, then you need to make friends with Stalls. Stalls will need to feel comfortable with you.”
Leon’s brow furrowed.
“We’ll put a team together to accompany you into HAB 12, where Stalls is currently imprisoned.”
“It’s not HAB 12, anymore, Dad,” Boomer corrected. “Here on the Minian it’s HAB 331.”
“Fine, then, HAB 331. Hanna, Leon, and Bristol, all of you will go … and I’ll assign an assault team to accompany you, for your protection. I’m hoping your combined family bonds will help motivate Stalls to assist with this mission … that, and we’re providing an opportunity for him to get out of that hellish habitat … even only temporarily. You’ll bring back Stalls and, upon your return, prepare for the next mission into Dacci space.”
Jason looked back down at Boomer. “In the meantime … you have a lot to prepare for yourself, little one. There’s not a lot of time.” Jason turned his gaze toward Capri and then toward Aahil.
Capri said, “She has progressed significantly with her training. We will need more time with her, but I promise you, Captain … Boomer will be ready in time.”
“When did you say we’d get my ship?” Leon asked.
“As soon as you get back from that habitat. By the way, where is it … is it relatively close?”
“Relatively,” Leon replied. “Hidden here within the sector. I’ll provide you with the exact coordinates.”
“Good. When you return from HAB 331, we’ll fetch it,” Jason said. “You’ll be piloting the mission that will get Boomer in close to Lord Shakrim.” Jason glanced down at Boomer and let out a breath. “That team will include Capri, Boomer, and Captain Stalls, along with someone highly competent to watch over him. Remember, Stalls will be your ticket in … without him … without his connections with the Sahhrain … there’ll be no way to safely enter Dacci space.”
Granger continued to glare at Jason. Ignoring him, Jason looked down at Ricket. “You have been uncharacteristically quiet during these proceedings, Ricket. What are your thoughts?”
“I’d like to see the tablets Granger speaks of.”
Chapter 30
Dacci System
The Minian, Bridge
_________________
Ensign McNeil, at the Minian’s helm, calculated that the safest distance away from Dacci space and the Sahhrain fleet would be some fifteen light-years from their current position near the planet Trom. Seaman Gordon, at the communications board, made the necessary requests for an interchange wormhole.
Jason, seated in the command chair, reviewed his virtual notepad and the ever-accumulating requests from other sectors within the galaxy for the assistance of Star Watch—reiterating the need for their new interstellar policing services. The admiral had been right on, foreseeing the need for this kind of rapid-response force … but would their current armada, small as it was, have sufficient power and might? Especially since he didn’t see the Sahhrain being curbed or defeated easily, as the Pharloms had just been.
“Cap
tain, the wormhole has stabilized,” McNeil said.
“Go ahead, take us in, Ensign.”
Jason stood and looked up at the wraparound overhead display. Before them sat the looming mouth of the wormhole. He turned and saw the distant planet of Trom, now fading behind them. It would be years, maybe decades, before the Tromians recovered, rebuilt, from the devastation incurred from the Pharloms’ invasion. Jason wondered how many similar scenarios would unfold like the destruction on Trom, now that the Craing weren’t around maintaining restrictive order.
“Entering the interchange wormhole now, Captain.”
Jason sat back down and brought his attention to what lay ahead. The Minian entered the wormhole first, followed soon afterward by the reduced armada of six Star Watch warships.
They exited the far side of the interchange wormhole into complete darkness.
“Status, Gunny?”
“Captain, we’ve entered one of the least celestially-populated zones in this sector … or in the galaxy, for that matter.”
Jason peered up into the near-total blackness. Usually, there were thousands, millions, of tiny, flickering pinpoints of light nearby. Sure, off in the far distance, starlight was seen—but nothing even remotely nearby—except for a bright solitary, lone star system.
“We’re well outside normal sensor range, Cap,” Orion said, “but the Minian’s sensors, which are extremely sensitive and sophisticated, are picking up numerous warship signatures—over five hundred of them. Most definitely the Sahhrain fleet, and probably the much smaller Blues fleet, too.”
“Seaman Gordon, hail the Blues … have them provide us coordinates to intersect with their fleet.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Please bring up the logistical view, Gunny.”
A new segment was added forward, on the overhead display, providing an icon-based representation of the only nearby star system. He saw the distant position of the Blues’ fleet, set somewhat away from the much larger Sahhrain fleet.
Ricket broke the silence. Jason hadn’t seen him enter the bridge. “As you can see, there are actually three separate star systems there, Captain … although, from this distance, there seems to be but one. You have the Sahhrain system, furthest away from us, with five planets, circling a burnt-out sun. Their only heat and light comes from the two neighboring solar systems … their world is not as warm as Earth, but surprisingly habitable … say, similar to the state of Alaska on your planet.”
“And the other two solar systems?” Jason asked.
“The Blues’ system is nearest to us, at our present position, but the furthest from the Sahhrain. Technology-wise, the two are comparable. Militarily, they’re almost comparable … although it seems the Sahhrain are on the verge of changing that. A buildup of many new warships, the recent siege into the centermost part of the Dacci solar system, and the plundering of Glist, on the planet Dacci. The Dacci star system, Captain, is considered the center of the galaxy and the oldest planetary system known.”
Jason looked at Ricket, standing at the side of his command chair. “What do you know about the Blues?”
“Captain?”
“How did they know Boomer was on board and that she was the one … the one who’s mentioned in the prophecy? And how could they possibly know the Minian had a Zoo habitat portal into that dreary world of theirs?”
Ricket contemplated that for a moment. “I too have wondered those things, Captain. It is why I want to see those ancient tablets firsthand. That planet, which is actually called Harpaign, lies there, within the Blues’ solar system.”
“I didn’t realize that … but why not just access the planet directly from our HAB 7?”
“Captain, Zoo habitats are, in all actuality, alternate, typically small, several hundred-square-mile multiverse representations of the actual planet, in its own dimensional reality. Each habitat is typically set at a different, much older, point in time than our own.”
“So, you’re saying, in order to ensure we’re dealing only with their true reality … we need to go directly to Harpaign?”
“I would say so … Captain. But there is something else … something I have not yet figured out.”
“What is that?”
“Prince Aahil Aqeel and Capri Sharan and the other nomads … how did they enter HAB 7? Remember … only through a portal does one access one of the Caldurian closed habitats.”
“That’s an excellent question, Ricket. One … we need to ask them as soon as possible.”
“They are no longer on the Minian, Captain. I ventured into HAB 7 right before coming here. I walked amongst the ruins. I found the gap and the subterranean room, but there was no sign anywhere that anyone had actually been in there for hundreds of years.”
Jason froze. “That’s not possible.” His thoughts flashed to Boomer. “Minian … locate my daughter.”
“Boomer is no longer on board the Minian, Captain Reynolds,” the AI replied.
Jason stood. “What was her last known location and who was she with?”
“Within the Zoo habitats … she was located directly outside of Habitat 7. She was accompanied by Prince Aahil Aqeel and Capri Sharan, as well as her droid … Dewdrop.”
Damn it! They’d taken her to complete her training. But why take her away from the Minian or HAB 7? At least she had her droid with her. He’d often witnessed its loyalty for her wellbeing. Boomer had proven herself remarkably capable, surviving situations against near-impossible odds. Okay, Boomer … I have to trust you know what you’re doing. You just better come back safe … and soon.
Chapter 31
Dacci System
The Minian, the Zoo
_________________
Leon stood at the back of the bustling crowd of crew personnel within the Minian’s Zoo corridor. He marveled at the vast compartment’s collection of alien world habitats. He looked over to several nearby near-transparent portal windows. These strange environments held hundreds of alien worlds—bizarre alien species. A few of which were currently staring right back at him.
Hanna joined him at his side and smiled. “Pretty cool, don’t you think?”
“Huh? Oh … yeah, I guess. But I think more than a few creatures are sizing me up as a potential meal … it’s kinda creepy.”
Hanna laughed at that. “Thank you again for doing this, Leon. It means a lot to me. I know this little excursion isn’t just for me … Stalls will potentially be their passport to enter into Dacci space. But I do need to find my missing husband, too, so I hope, with Bristol’s help, Stalls will be willing to help me.”
“Why wouldn’t he? You are his sister … right?”
“Stalls is an opportunist and a psychopath, among other things. We were never close … he’s always been abusive … even when younger. He’ll only help me if there’s something in it for him.”
“Sounds like a terrific fellow.”
“Anyway … thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” Leon changed the subject: “The way Ricket explained it, we should be able to get in and out of there in a matter of hours. That new little ship looks more than capable of getting us where we need to be.” Leon nodded toward the highly streamlined craft, taking up much of the corridor in front of them. He was impressed, not only with its size, but how it was manufactured—right here on the Minian, apparently, and all within the past twenty-four hours. Ricket explained earlier that this was the third such craft he’d manufactured—this one the most advanced and his favorite; for that reason he’d christened it the Charm.
“We’re all going to fit inside that thing?” Hanna asked.
“With room to spare,” a voice countered back, from the group of military people standing at the side of the Charm. “Hi … I’m Lieutenant Commander Grimes,” she said, approaching them. “I’ll be your pilot today.”
Leon took in the small-framed, compact fighter pilot, guesstimating her to be no more than five foot two. She wore her hair short, in a bob style, with bangs�
��cute. She looked highly competent. Some vulnerability showed, though, in her expressive brown eyes. They held each other’s stare for a fleeting moment. Leon felt Hanna stiffen at his side.
“Why not just do that … phase-shifty thing?” Hanna asked.
Grimes smiled at the question. “The habitats,” she gestured with her hand to the surrounding portals, “these environments are replicas of various planet surfaces. They exists within the multiverse … they’re not actually residing on the other side of the windows. You can’t phase-shift from the Minian’s Zoo into a habitat. Once inside that’s a different story … your battle suit has an actual reference point.”
“That makes sense … and why so many people to pick up one marooned pirate?” Hanna asked, surveying the six or seven armed men standing nearby in their battle suits.
Grimes said, “It’s always better to be prepared … this particular habitat has a most-unfriendly environment. Too many Serapin Terplins.”
“Serapin …?” Hanna asked.
“Serapin Terplins … think Jurassic Park raptor. Then add on a foot or two in height and color the beasts bright blue. They communicate with each other and, from what I hear, there’s even a few that fly.”
One of the battle suit-clad men approached. Leon recognized him from the sky-port back on Trom. “We’re ready, if you are.”
“Thanks, Rizzo,” Grimes said. “Rizzo is leading our assault team. They’ll keep us safe and make sure Stalls doesn’t try any funny business.”
Rizzo smiled and nodded, first at Leon, then Hanna. Hanna smiled back and pushed her hair away from her face. Leon noticed Hanna was still watching as the young SEAL returned to his men.
A voice came from behind. “What are we waiting for?”
Leon turned around to see Bristol walking toward them, eating what looked like a slice of toast. His eyes were on the Charm. Grinning, his mouth full of half-chewed bread, he said, “Cool … he built another one.”
Star Watch Page 17