by Chris Fox
"Too much risk," her father said, flicking a silver lighter. He puffed at the cigar. "Kelley is--was--paranoid. Reaching him with a larva presented too many chances for failure. Discovery or, worse, the destruction of a larva."
"You're right," Bruce said. "Any word from our Tigris counterparts?"
"They've kept the Leonis pride focused on the Johnston, and away from Ghantan. That's worked for now, but you know how difficult the cats are to control," her father said. He took a long draw from his cigar.
"True," Bruce replied. He waved a hand in front his face, as if warding off the pungent smoke. "What about the Primos?"
"Our Primo allies have had much better luck, though there is a wrinkle. That's why I called you," the admiral said. A note of discomfort entered his expression.
"Wrinkle?" Bruce asked. The word was emotionless, but the color drained from Mendez's face.
"The Johnston docked at a Primo library," Mendez admitted. He paused, setting the cigar in an ashtray. "They had an artifact with them. A VI extracted from the ruins on Purito."
"They have a VI?" Bruce roared. "How could you let this happen, Mendez? You assured me the Johnston wouldn't be a problem."
"And it won't," Mendez said, raising both hands placatingly. "The Johnston took severe damage fleeing the Primo system. They're being hunted by the Tigris, and they can't return to our space or they'll be picked up immediately. It doesn't matter what they find. If they pause to tell anyone they'll be shot down. The library was destroyed before it could transmit the data cube to Theras Prime."
"You'd better hope that's the case, Mendez," Bruce growled. He rose to his feet, positively looming over the admiral, and placed both hands on Mendez's desk. "Our masters are not forgiving. Deal with this wrinkle, or they will deal with you. Do you understand?"
"I understand," her father said, weakly.
"Good," Bruce said. Then he turned on his heel and headed for the door.
Kathryn leaned forward, trying to peer through the ventilation grate. She couldn't quite make out the man's face. Her movement caused the panel under her midsection to buckle slightly, and the noise caught her father's attention. The admiral looked up, face knotted with suspicion.
Kathryn shrank back against the grate, holding her breath. It felt like the admiral was looking right at her, but after a moment he returned his attention to his desk. He picked up his cigar, taking another puff. Kathryn relaxed a hair.
This was big. Too big. Kelley was about to be assassinated. Multiple admirals were working for an outside force. Apparently, parts of the Tigris government and the Primo government had been compromised as well. What the hell was a larva?
She had to get word to Nolan.
Chapter 36- Licking Wounds
"Show me this VI, and make it quick. I've got about four hundred other things to deal with," Captain Dryker said as he ducked under a bundle of exposed wiring, and into what passed for a conference room aboard the Johnston.
Nolan was seated at the far side of the table, staring intently at the crazy contraption Lena was working on. She'd constructed a small black box, with a number of wires extending from the side. Those wires wrapped around the cube they'd liberated from Purito.
"I just need one more minute," Lena said, without looking up from her work. She connected a final wire to one of the cube's facets, then soldered it into place. "There we go. I can turn it on whenever." Lena blinked up at him, using a paw to smooth her golden fur.
"Do it," Dryker said, settling a hand on the grip of his sidearm. There wasn't any threat here, but turning on an alien artifact didn't seem like a good idea, no matter how badly they needed the information.
Lena pressed a button on the side of the black box, and it began to hum. A moment later multicolored light burst from the top of the device. It coalesced into a holographic figure, roughly two feet tall. The figure was dressed strangely, but it was undeniably Primo.
"Welcome to installation 419," the figure said, bowing. "I am Ducit Alba. How may I be of assistance?"
"Do you know where you are?" Dryker asked. He released his weapon, crossing his arms.
"I do not," the hologram said. It looked around the conference room. "This architecture is strange. Have I been removed from installation 419?"
"Yes," Nolan said. He met Dryker's gaze, then raised a questioning eyebrow. Dryker nodded, and Nolan continued. "You're aboard a human vessel. Roughly twenty-six millennia have passed since you were left in installation 419."
"Calculating," the hologram said. It flickered briefly. "A complete galactic rotation has occurred. If our theories were correct, the Eradication has begun."
"Eradication?" Dryker asked. He dragged a chair to the side of the table closest to the VI, then sat down.
"I was created during the final war, along with many others like me, to serve as a record. When victory became impossible, we shifted the focus of our efforts. If we could not defeat the Void Wraith, we hoped to ensure that our offspring would have the necessary tools to do so when they came again," the VI explained.
Dryker was silent for a long moment as he considered. "What can you tell us about this final war?"
"Prior to the war, our civilization spanned the bulk of this galaxy. We'd colonized over four hundred worlds, and used our Helios Gates to travel between them. Our empire existed for over ten millennia." The VI flickered again, and the room began to smell of ozone. Lena knelt next to the box and began fiddling with it. "Then the Void Wraith arrived. First, they came in secret. They built fleets in the corners of our empire, and used stealth to grow in strength. Colonies were attacked without warning, disappearing without a trace.
"Our government was slow in responding. We could not agree on the source of the attacks, and by the time we learned the true nature of our adversary it was too late," the VI said. "Hundreds of fleets had been built, and they roamed our space at will. We won battles, but no matter how many Void Wraith we stopped...there were always more."
"Where did these Void Wraith come from?" Nolan asked.
"Unknown," the VI replied.
"Why did they take your colonists?" Dryker asked.
"Unknown," the VI replied.
"Okay," Dryker said, heaving a sigh. "What can you tell us about the Void Wraith technology? Do you possess weapon schematics?"
"Yes," the VI said. "We identified several models. We named their shock troops Judicators. They appear to be independent cybernetic units that answer to some sort of collective intelligence. They use high-yield particle weapons, and self-destruct if captured or incapacitated."
"And their vessels?" Nolan asked.
"We named their ships Harvesters, as those vessels harvested our colonies," the VI explained. "We never captured one, so our knowledge was limited."
"Can you tell us anything else about the Void Wraith?" Dryker asked.
"I can tell you a great deal, but without refining your query I do not think you will find the information useful," the VI said.
"Okay, turn it off," Dryker ordered.
Lena flicked a switch on the black box and the VI disappeared. Dryker rubbed his temples as he considered his options.
"What now, sir?" Nolan asked quietly.
"Now," Dryker said, looking up to meet Nolan's questioning gaze, "we decide how to fight back. We know that the Void Wraith are a threat. If they're operating like they did 26,000 years ago, then their top priority is building a fleet. Perhaps they're using our colonists as slave labor to do that. Regardless, we need to find that fleet."
"Even if you find it, what will that do?" Lena asked.
"On its own, nothing," Dryker admitted. "But it's the next step. If we can find the fleet, we have hard evidence. Evidence the OFI can't ignore."
"So how do we find that fleet?" Nolan asked.
"That's the real question," Dryker said, rising from the table. "I'm leaving you two to do that. Lena, I want you to interrogate the hell out of that VI. Find out everything you can about the Void Wraith. How did they
build their fleets last time? Nolan, I need you to contact Lieutenant Commander Mendez. She's high enough in the OFI command structure that if they know anything about a possible staging area for these Void Wraith she might be able to find it. It's possible OFI already has the data they need, and just don't know what they're seeing. Get her working on a solution."
Nolan grimaced, but nodded. That pleased Dryker. He knew Nolan's history with the Lieutenant Commander had left a scar, but it said a lot that Nolan was able to compartmentalize his feelings. The commander understood that his duty came first, and that was a rare thing in the officers who generally found their way to the 14th.
"What about you, sir?" Nolan asked.
"We took one hell of a beating in that last fight," Dryker said, patting the wall. "The Johnston is tough, but she's hurting. I don't much like hiding out in an asteroid field, but I don't see much choice. We need time in dry dock, and since that isn't going to happen I'm going to see what we can do on our own. You two will have twelve hours to work. That's the length of time I'm giving our techs to get the Johnston back on her feet. After that, we'll reconvene and decide what to do next."
Chapter 37- Reconciliation
In his quarters, Nolan picked up his tablet, took a deep breath, and dialed Kathryn. It wasn't as hard as it had been the last time, though his pulse still quickened when the connecting icon flashed. Then her face appeared.
"Nolan," Kathryn said, blinking. She glanced over her shoulder, then back at the tablet. "Give me a second."
The line went staticky for a moment, a sure sign that she'd engaged additional countermeasures. OFI calls were hard to track anyway, but almost every former operative had cooked up their own additional encryption. It wasn't just smart; it was a survival mechanism.
"I'm glad you called," Kathryn finally said. Her expression softened. "We haven't really had a chance to talk."
"Now isn't the time, Kathryn. Hopefully that time is soon, but we've got bigger concerns right now," Nolan said. It was only partially to dodge dealing with his feelings. "Listen, I need to know if anything hush-hush is going on with the brass."
"You have no idea," she said, glancing down at her wrist. "We've only got about two more minutes before the line isn't safe. My encryption should hold that long. I'm going to have to report this call to the admiralty, but I don't have to tell them what was said."
"They're watching you?"
"Closely," Kathryn replied. She reached out to touch the screen with her fingertips. "I'm sorry about how all this went down, Nolan. I wish I could change it."
"Two minutes?" Nolan said, raising an eyebrow. Kathryn wasn't normally sentimental, and it surprised him that she was so distracted.
"I'll give it to you straight. The admiralty has been infiltrated somehow. My father is working for someone, a man I don't recognize," she explained, glancing furtively over her shoulder again. "They're hanging you out to dry, which I know you're already aware of. It goes deeper, though. They're trying to keep attention off something they called 'Ghantan.' I think that's the name of a system, but I couldn't find a record of it anywhere. I don't know what they're hiding there."
"How do you know they've been infiltrated?" Nolan asked. He'd gone cold. This confirmed suspicions he already had, and raised new ones.
"They were open about it. It's worse, though. Admiral Kelley's body was found this morning. Heart attack."
"Shit," Nolan said. Admiral Kelly had been a good man, and heart attacks were a signature of OFI assassins. "You're sure this line is secure? What's to stop them from coming after you?"
"It's secure, but there's nothing to protect me, Nolan," she said, wrapping a lock of hair absently around one finger. "Like I said, I'll report the call. I think my father expects you to contact me."
"Probably a good plan. Tell him we're trying to hide from the Primo and the Tigris while we repair the ship. It's the truth," Nolan suggested.
"I'll do that," Kathryn said. Her eyes widened. "Oh, one more thing I thought you'd want to know. My father talked about agents among the Tigris, and among the Primo. Whatever this conspiracy is, it's bigger than just the OFI."
"Jeez," Nolan said, leaning back in his chair. The news hit him like a hammer. "Thanks, Kathryn. If you find anything else, use one of our drops. I'll do the same, and I won't contact you directly again."
"Be careful, Adam." Kathryn's expression was somber. She stabbed the disconnect button, and the screen went black.
Kathryn had only used his first name once before, and he knew why she'd done it now: it was as close as she could get to expressing her feelings. Nolan shook his head, suppressing that part of the conversation. He had more important things to deal with.
Chapter 38- Aha
Nolan waited for the tech to finish with his welder before stepping around the man and into the conference room. The Captain and Lena were already seated. Lena's strange contraption was scattered all over the table, but the VI was off at the moment.
"Come in, Commander," Dryker called, gesturing to the seat opposite him. Nolan dropped into it, setting his coffee on the table next to him. It was all that was keeping him going.
"Did you learn anything useful?" Nolan asked Lena.
"Not really. I've compiled all the data I could glean into a directory on the Johnston's main drive. I've sent you a link," Lena explained. Her fur was unkempt, and her normally alert gaze was vacant. Not surprising, since the entire crew had spent the last twelve hours working feverishly.
"What about you, Nolan?" the Captain asked. He looked more awake than Nolan felt. Maybe the Captain had found time for a nap.
Nolan certainly hadn't.
"I spoke to Kathryn, and she's given me one hell of a revelation," Nolan explained. He sipped his coffee, and considered how best to explain. "The admiralty has been infiltrated somehow. What's more, she believes that both the Tigris and Primo have been infiltrated as well."
"I expected as much," the Captain said. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair, and gave a deep sigh.
"You knew?" Nolan asked.
"Suspected," Dryker said. He shook his head. "It makes too much sense. We've been yanked around, and the admiralty has made no move to solve this problem. I first suspected something the last time I spoke to Mendez. He's changed, and not in a good way. Hanging out a Fleet captain as a scapegoat? That never would have flown with him a few years ago. The final confirmation was the Primo blowing up their own library. Someone high in their command structure wants to cover up what we've found."
""Something the VI said got me thinking." Nolan looked from Lena to the Captain. "Remember when it said that the Void Wraith were careful to keep hidden until it was too late? What's the best way to keep hidden?"
"Hiding in plain sight," Lena said, blinking.
"Exactly," Dryker confirmed. "If you plant agents within any government capable of reacting, you can ensure that your activities remain unnoticed until you no longer care about their discovery."
"So what do we do about it?" Lena asked.
"I have another piece of information that might give us an answer," Nolan said. "I probably should have led with it. The admiralty is trying to keep attention off something they call 'Ghantan.' Kathryn ran a search, but couldn't find a reference to it. She guesses it might be a system."
"I haven't heard of it," Dryker said.
"Neither have I," Lena said.
"What about the VI?" Nolan asked.
"Good point," Dryker said, smiling grimly. "If you're a long vanished race, what's the best code? Terms from an empire that no longer exists."
Lena pressed a button on the side of the black box, and a moment later the holographic display flickered to life. The Primo VI appeared, giving them a bow as it resolved. "How may I serve?"
"Are you familiar with the Ghantan system?" Dryker asked.
"The Ghantan system is the largest producer of varentium ore," the VI explained. "It supplied Fleet operations for nearly two centuries, until the final war."
<
br /> "How do we cross reference the location with modern star charts?" Nolan asked.
"I have an idea for that," Lena said. She picked up a silicon chip, and inserted it into the side of the black box. "This will link the VI to the Johnston's mainframe."
"Is that a good idea?" asked Dryker. "What if this thing tries to take over the ship?"
"It can't," Lena said. "The data bandwidth from this connection is minimal, and I can terminate it at any time."
"Ahh, so much data," the VI said. It flickered briefly. "I've accessed your star charts, and have overlaid our own. Given the stellar drift, the most likely location of the Ghantan system is here."
A star map shimmered into existence above the black box, replacing the VI.
"That's in Primo space," Nolan said, leaning closer. "We can be there in three Gates."
"Emo, this is the captain," Dryker said, speaking into his communicator. "What's the status of repairs?"
"We're a mess, Captain, but engine two is back on line. We're missing a lot of armor, and down two turrets on starboard," Emo said.
"It will have to do. I'm forwarding a course to you now. Fire up the engines, and make for the Helios Gate," Captain Dryker commanded.
Chapter 39- Scout
"You have the bridge, Commander," Captain Dryker said. The words caught Nolan off guard, and he didn't react immediately. He glanced at the view screen, then back at the captain.
"Are you sure, sir?" Nolan asked. The view screen was a mass of red, showing the undulating layers of the star's core as they pressed through to the surface. In a few minutes they'd emerge into the Ghantan system.
"I'm sure," Dryker replied, rising from the Captain's chair. "I'm tired, son. You're capable of handling this, and part of being in command is knowing when to delegate."
Nolan watched as the Captain ducked through the hatch and out of the CIC. The bridge crew shared looks, and Nolan could tell they were concerned. They placed their collective faith in the Captain, and that faith had just been shaken. The Captain had revealed weakness, and at a critical time.