Slipspace: Harbinger

by P. C. Haring

  Miresh swallowed, her eyes locked onto her wide. For the first time in her life, Vivine saw fear in her Mother’s face. There was no telling what drove that fear, but her mother’s silence gave her the answer.

  “Viv.”

  Her mother’s arm on her shoulder pulled her back as she started to turn away. Before she could react, she found a small device pressed into her hand.

  “Take this. I’ll always be here if you need me.”

  Miresh’s hand pulled away, revealing a transponder.

  She pushed down the bile in her throat. Was her mother about to let this ship fly into hell while at the same time providing a lifeline reserved just for her? If push came to shove, could she use it? But if she refused, it might make matters worse.

  “Thank you,” she said, breaking the silence. “I wish you a safe trip home.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  October 15, 2832

  18:30

  Mjöllnir – Engineering

  MELOR HEAVED another sigh of relief at the computer’s call. Although her mother was long gone, and the distance of that distraction grew by the second as the ship traversed Slipspace, there remained one problem she could not distance herself from. Aler meant well, she knew that. But he apparently did not understand that she wanted to be left alone to churn everything over. She would work through it in time, she knew. But for now, she just needed some space and his constant check-ins with her were growing more and more tiresome. Any fabricated excuse she made would have been met with skepticism. The legitimate alert drawing her back to work came as a godsend and she had wasted no time in excusing herself. There was just something about the Verasai data on the Remali that she couldn’t leave alone.

  She had reported what she had discovered from her mother to Captain Amado and he had taken it to the Admiral, but the orders stood and the Mjöllnir had gotten underway a couple of hours ago. Still, that did not mean she couldn’t do her own investigating while they were en route. Melor keyed into her office and turned her attention to the computer monitor on her desk. As expected, it had finished the decryption process and had tangible data results to display. The engineer called them up.

  The Verasai had recorded an energy pattern which their records had identified as Remali. However, when correlated against the unknown signal the Mjöllnir had detected when it first arrived, there had only been an eighty-five percent correlation. That had been deemed good enough by Central, but not for Melor. From what little she knew of the Remali, an all-out attack made no sense.

  She pulled up the data she had run a few days ago, correlating the unknown signal in the system to the database. That analysis had provided a sixty-one percent correlation to known Ralgon energy forms.

  But if her mother was to be believed, the Verasai had been hunting the source of this energy signature. They had been tracking it for days, if not weeks, and their sensor data was likely far more detailed.

  It took the better part of an hour for the computer to run its correlative analysis between the Verasai sensor data and the Mjöllnir’s database. The one saving grace she did enjoy in this process was that she had targeted the analysis against one specific comparable, not the entire database. Even so, she had more than enough time to attend to the administrative side of her duties as she reviewed the stacks of reports that had piled up on her desk over the past days.

  When the system alerted her to its completion of the request, she wasted no time. The energy signature appeared, superimposed over the database control she had run the comparison against. Data points showing commonalities between the two samples appeared onscreen in far more abundance than she would have hoped and before the final correlation number appeared, Melor knew she had already found her answer. She sat there frozen, her thought process ground to a halt as she came face to face with a blinking correlation of 98%.

  October 16, 2832

  19:30

  Mjöllnir – War Room

  SINCE HE HAD TAKEN COMMAND, Cody Amado had held several meetings in the ship’s war room. None of them had been good. In the brief time the ship had been in service, this room already felt like a crypt, a medical waiting room in which doctors delivered perpetual bad news to patients and their families. This moment was no different. His officers were silent as they assimilated the news. In their own way, each of them had already fought this war and the prospect of returning to it did not sit well with any of them. The looks on their faces told him everything. How could he ask them to take up arms once more? He held his silence as he looked each of them in the eye. They wore the tired worn out looks just as easily as their uniforms. At least the latter had been chosen voluntarily. No one had anticipated this, how could they?

  They still accepted the risks.

  “Melor’s analysis was confirmed by independent review,” he reported. “The Leviathan is Ralgon in origin.”

  “If we can trust the Verasai data,” Cassie offered.

  “We found no evidence to indicate the data has been tampered with,” Aler responded. “Putting the Alliance’s historical trust issues with the Verasai aside from the moment, the presumption of innocence does factor here.”

  Nira sat forward. “What does this mean? Are they back? Are we at war again? Why are they exterminating entire planets now? Why are they attacking again after six years of peace?”

  “The answer to all of those questions is quite simply, ‘we don’t know.’”

  Everyone’s attention was drawn the display where the image of Admiral Marr sat as he monitored the briefing. “We didn’t even know this thing existed until it attacked Artez.”

  “What do we do about it, sir?” Foster asked. “Is there another war coming? And what about these Remali?”

  Cody turned to his marine battalion commander, “Again,” Amado responded, “we don’t know. Given the correlation between the Verasai’s scan of the Leviathan’s energy output and what they know of the Remali, we cannot discount the strong possibility that they are somehow linked.”

  “But nor can we be one hundred percent sure the Verasai analysis or their raw data is accurate,” Cassie interjected again.

  “In fairness, no, we cannot, but either way, we won’t be taking any chances,” Marr responded. “Which is why I have ordered a fleet-wide general quarters. Every alliance ship, outpost, station, colony, and planet will be on a standing condition three. I will pull together as much of our fleet as I can. I’ve got a half-dozen ships in the construction yards, whose launch schedules we can accelerate, including your sister ship.”

  Amado’s face lightened. “The Gungnir is ready?”

  “Just about, Captain. We’ll have several more ships ready in the next few days and she’ll lead the fleet while the Mjöllnir is on mission.”

  Cassie’s head cocked as the Admiral spoke. “While the Mjöllnir is on mission.... We’re not rallying with the rest of the fleet?”

  “Negative, Commander.” Cody responded. “Our mission remains the same. The Alliance needs hard intelligence on this thing. We are to proceed as instructed, make contact with the Remali, and learn what we can about the Leviathan and their connection to it. Everything we find, we send back home. We will maintain condition three, all defensive batteries will be manned, the fighters will be spun up and ready to launch on a moment’s notice. All ship’s personnel will be issued side arms and both our security teams, as well as Foster’s strike marines will set up and maintain around the clock security sweeps.”

  Cody’s officers nodded as they were given their orders. On the display, Admiral Marr spoke up. “I’m also tasking you with securing any allies you might find. Assuming you find a link between the Ralgon and the Remali, we will need all the help we can get.”

  “Of course, Admiral.” He turned back to the crew. “Aler, once your teams are in place, and sidearms issued, I want you running tactical simulations. Given what it did here, I’m under no illusion that it could take us out just as easily in a direct confrontation. I need tactical scenarios that avoid ope
n, direct engagement and maximize our chances of evasion if it does turn into a shootout. Melor, get this ship optimized for combat. Any questions?”

  “Captain,” Aler said, “what about these Remali? Assuming the worst for the moment, we have no data on them so my simulations can’t account for them.”

  Amado turned to the screen. “Admiral, any chance we can petition the Verasai for what they have on the Remali?”

  Marr nodded his head. “I’ll see what I can do. But that will probably take time we don’t have, so don’t count on it.”

  “Understood, Admiral.” Cody returned is attention to Aler. “Do the best you can. If you can find any data in the Verasai logs that might help you, incorporate it as best you can. We’ll refine our models as we gather more intel.”

  “What about me,” Nira asked.

  “Pray that we don’t need your services too heavily.”

  He looked around, and saw no other questions waiting for him. “Get to it, then”

  The crew filed out, leaving Cody alone in the room with the Admiral on the screen. The Captain turned back to his commanding officer.

  “Allies, Admiral? Does that mean you’re sending me representatives from the diplomatic corps?”

  Marr shook his head. “The nearest available ambassador needs a week to get here.”

  “What about the Fens?” Cody asked. “When Nira last spoke with them they were on Halem for vacation. We can easily drop out of Slipspace and let them catch up to us, shouldn’t delay us by more than a few hours.”

  “No, Captain. Between you, your wife, and your sister, there’s already too much nepotism on board that ship for my liking.”

  Amado frowned. “With all due respect, you gave me Commander Amado’s name.”

  “I didn’t expect you to take her.”

  “Well, Admiral, I did, and you approved her assignment.”

  Marr’s expression hardened. “Watch yourself, Captain. I do not appreciate your tone.”

  He put a hand up. “I’m sorry, sir. I meant nothing by it. “I’m just not sure why you are now concerned by Commander Amado’s presence, given that you recommended her. In short, what’s changed?”

  “What changed, Captain,” Marr interrupted, “is that I have a colony destroyed, a fleet on alert, potential Ralgon involvement, and a lot of nervous people back home who need to know that those of us on the front lines have this under control, even if we don’t.”

  Amado stiffened. He knew where the Admiral was going with this, and with his wife and sister on board ship, there would be no room for error or ineffectual leadership. If he was going to command this ship, he needed to make sure that he and Cassie remained beyond reproach. Any sign of failure might see either of them reassigned.

  “I understand, Admiral. You need not worry about my command structure.”

  “I hope not, Captain. If I have to babysit you on this assignment, I will be most displeased. Marr out.”

  The screen blacked out, leaving Cody alone in the war room, another meeting having come to an abrupt end. The Admiral had a point. He would be on the front line of this investigation, search, war... whatever it ultimately turned into. Cassie and Nira needed to know that even the perception of something going wrong at the command level would find one or all of them yanked and replaced. He would not let them down, would not abandon them. Cassie had lost so much, and at his hands. Even if the decision was tactically sound, he regretted it and he would be damned if he would do that again to her. No. He would be perfect. He would cross every T and dot every I. He would not allow another war to start on his watch. Not if he could help it.

  October 16, 2832

  22:00

  Mjöllnir – Captain’s Quarters

  FOR THE FIRST time in several days, fatigue hovered over Cody Amado. For the first time since all hell had broken loose, he actually looked forward to his bed. Nira’s presence had been soothing for him and ever since he had confided in her, the nightmares seemed to be kept at bay. Which seemed to be a good thing. His mind raced with the implications of the Admiral’s orders, and even his behavior. Marr had never been so short or curt with him in the past, especially not when they had worked so closely together in the final weeks leading up to the ship’s launch.

  Nira called to him as he secured the hatch behind him. She sat curled up on the couch, dressed for bed, a tablet in her hand, and a steaming cup of tea on the coffee table.

  “What’re you reading?” he asked as he tried to stop himself from staring at her.

  “Sinclair’s newest book. It’s pretty good. I think you’d enjoy it.” She looked up from the tablet. “You okay? You look like you’ve got a question.”

  He caught himself staring and forced his eyes to meet hers. “I’m trying to understand why, given just how sheer that gown and shawl is, you even bother wearing it at all.”

  Her face flushed as she broke into a smile. “It’s comfortable,” she cooed, as she pulled the shawl tighter over her shoulders. “And it leaves just enough to the imagination.”

  Cody chuckled and undid his uniform jacket. Never mind the fact that at this point in their relationship, there wasn’t much about her body that he needed to imagine. Which might have been her point in the first place.

  “You look like hell, Cody. Come sit with me.”

  “I’m fine,” he lied. “Just tired.”

  She put the tablet down and exchanged it for a quick sip of her tea. “Come on,” she said as she repositioned herself, shifting to one side. She leaned back in her place, her hand resting gently on her thigh, patting it slowly.

  Accepting the invitation, he slid onto the couch his head resting comfortably on her lap.

  “I wish you wouldn’t lie to me, Cody. I know tired and you’re not showing me tired. You’re showing me worried.”

  “Well, I am tired,” he countered.

  “I don’t doubt it. But you’re more worried right now. Talk to me.”

  Her hand fell on his shoulder with a gentle, smooth rub. His hand found her wrist and together they sat in silence while he struggled to find the right starting point. He remembered back in his youth when he had been seeing a therapist to deal with some issues he was having at the time.

  Just start with whatever comes to mind, he had offered. The rest will flow from there.

  “I have no idea what we’re walking into, Nira.”

  She gave a soft ‘mhmm’.

  “These data matches linking the attack to the Ralgon and now the Ralgon potentially to these Remali...” He trailed off, his hand rubbing her wrist where he held it. “We barely survived one war and here I am leading this ship, this crew, you...into a black hole that might destroy us all.” He took a breath. “And might just tip off another war... one that we won’t be able to win.”

  “That’s not your fault, Cody. You didn’t do this to the colony.”

  The reassurance came as unnecessary comfort. His guilt did not come from a sense of responsibility over Artez. But rather...

  “But if I fail this mission, if I get you, Cassie, or anyone on this crew killed due to my failure—that is my responsibility and my fault.”

  “Why do you think you’ll get us killed?”

  “No Alliance ship has ever reported an encounter with the Remali. Which means either no one has ever encountered them, or no one who has encountered them has survived to report back.”

  “I see.”

  Nira only said that when she didn’t know what else to say and didn’t want to sound judgmental.

  “And not only am I taking this ship headlong into this nightmare, on intelligence we can’t even be fully confident of, but I’m dragging you and Cassie along and putting the people I love most into the line of fire.” His voice fell off again. “Just like I did during the siege.”

  The tears he hadn’t known were welling in his eyes flowed over and began their steady stream down his temples. He put his free hand up to cover his eyes, to protect them from her seeing, but his breathing betrayed
his emotion.

  “Shhhh,” she cooed. “This is different. We’re here, with you. We’re here to support you and we know what the risks are and we chose to accept them. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”

  He felt the air leave his lungs as he deflated even further. If he could have sunk through Nira’s lap and into the couch, he would have. Nira wouldn’t even be here if he hadn’t pushed her into signing on. He had assumed she would come along as the Captain’s Wife, but now that he looked back on it, he had made one critical error.

  “I never even asked you if you wanted to come aboard. I just took it for granted that you’d join me. It was selfish of me.”

  “Yes, maybe a little, Cody.” She offered him a reassuring smile that fell flat. “But if I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be, and it wouldn’t matter what you may or may not have assumed.”

  He gave her a weak nod; it was all he could muster.

  “And no one,” she continued, “no one could have predicted this was going to happen. Our being here is not your fault.”

  “I know, Nira. I know.”

  “Even if we had known, Cody, where do you think I’d want to be? Back home on some tenured hospital position where almost nothing happens or out here putting my knowledge to practical use in a way that matters?”

  “Your work at Lumo Central mattered, Nira.”

  “I know it did, babe. But there are hundreds of physicians on Lumo alone who could do that work. Out here, that talent pool is far smaller.”

  Had he been feeling more like himself, Cody might have cracked a joke about Nira’s assessment of her own skill

  “Why did you ask me to take this assignment? Was it because I am your wife?”

  “That didn’t hurt your case,” Cody conceded. “But as I said when I first asked, you are the most qualified.”

  “So,” she offered, her voice turning a bit firmer. “You ‘dragged me along’ because I have a professional record of being damn good at my job and you decided that I was the most qualified to do the job you had available.”