by P. C. Haring
Perhaps that was how they had survived the Ralgon.
Rashar shuddered at the thought of another civilization almost decimated by those monsters. They had almost annihilated the Verasai, would have annihilated the Remali had it not been for their defensive technologies and had dealt significant destruction to this Alliance. Yet, the Alliance had managed to survive. Yes, the Verasai and the Remali had been fighting longer, but the Alliance had found a way to do it better and more efficiently and it left the Remali General wondering if going it alone had been the flaw all along. The Alliance was not just one race, but a collection of multiple races working together. Something about that, her instinct told her, had made the difference and learning how was worth the inconvenience these people presented.
The truth would come out. They were not stupid, so the fact they hadn’t asked the obvious question of her by now meant they were either showing courtesy, or trying to find the answer on their own. But eventually, she knew, they would learn the truth about the Remali and the Ralgon.
What happened then could not be predicted. It would either go badly, or it would go very badly. All she could do would be to strengthen the relationship as much as possible, learn as much as possible, and when the truth did come out, do whatever she could to control the narrative.
If she couldn’t, then her race would not survive another generation.
October 25, 2832
Deep Space
SCHRIDER WAITED IMPATIENTLY as the communications terminal hunted for an appropriate carrier frequency cycle. Channeling the signal through the white noise of the Mjöllnir’s engine output had proven an effective means of smuggling a signal to Ares, who would then relay it. But now, with the presence of the Remali, that proved more challenging. There was no way to tell if they’d detect the signal where the Mjöllnir would not. But then again, the Remali would not know what to look for. Not that Schrider had a choice; the new development needed to be reported.
The lights dimmed to their backlit configuration as the frequency cycle locked in and synchronized. The silhouetted image of the handler appeared on the screen. “Your scheduled check in was not for another three days. Why have you broken protocol?”
Schrider expected this and swallowed in preparation to answer: “It could not be helped. There has been a development of which you need to be aware.”
“Go on...”
“It would seem that contact between Amado and the Remali remains peaceful. They are seeking an alliance with one another.”
For the first time since being given this assignment, Schrider smiled at the stunned silence on the other end of the conversation. After a bit, the handler responded, “How did this happen?”
“Amado did not attack the Remali, but sought a diplomatic solution.”
The contact growled. “You assured me the Remali and Alliance would fight one another. Are you incompetent or just stupid?”
Schrider kept cool. “Neither. Amado’s diplomacy left no room to act without being compromised. The current parameters of the mission do not permit actions that would expose me. Further Amado’s diplomacy included veiled threats of war and the truce remains uneasy. Destroying it will not be difficult when the time is right. Until then, the Remali are escorting the Mjöllnir to one of their bases which will only deepen the betrayal once I act.”
“Who leads the Remali?”
“Rashar.”
The handler heaved a sigh. “We must tread carefully. If the Remali and the Alliance become entrenched in peace with one another, our objectives are at risk. You know the penalty for failure.”
Schrider knew all too well, having witnessed Prime destroy others mercilessly who had failed to complete their objectives.
“I will not fail.”
“See that you do not.”
The screen blacked out, leaving Schrider alone in the dark. Logic was an ally in this matter. Having waited decades to bring the plan to fruition, Prime was not one to act hastily. Although Schrider remained cut off from Prime this far out, it stood to reason that Prime would approve of a slower more tactful execution than a quick thoughtless action that would compromise cover and give their enemies a point around which to rally and unify. Schrider had to act carefully and had the agent still been connected to the hive, Prime would agree. But as Schrider manipulated the torso, waist, and legs to stand, the Agent realized that without a direct connection, there could be no certainty. Without that, Schrider would need to take precautions.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
November 2, 2832
07:30
Mjöllnir - OpCom
CODY AMADO HUNCHED over the central display scrutinizing the readouts. They held position at the coordinates General Rashar had provided a few days ago, before she had broken formation and changed her ship’s course. The General cited being needed elsewhere, and had sent her second-in-command, who also served as Colonel Labonne’s counterpart as commander of the Remali fighter squadron. Valeer had been reclusive since his arrival, though Amado had come to understand that Colonel Valeer spent most of his time on Labonne’s flight deck. Apparently, they worked quite well together.
“Analysis?”
He waited for the briefest of moments while one of the sensor controllers routed the data down to the display. It appeared next to the hologram of the star and his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the data in front him.
“Are you detecting anything else?” he said.
The sensor operator just shook his head.
Cody rapped his fingers on the console as he considered the circumstances. After a moment, he perked up and turned to Cassie. “Find Colonel Valeer. I’m not convinced we’re at the right location.”
“Actually, Captain, you are.”
Cody turned as Valeer strolled in. This had not been the first time he had seen the Remali, but to tell the truth he was not sure if he would be able to recognize him without the appropriate introduction. Behind that mask and cowl they all looked so damn similar. His uniform was not as ornate or decorated as the General’s, which came as no surprise. But even when he stepped close enough for real visual scrutiny, Amado could barely tell the difference. Even their eyes looked identical.
“Colonel, glad you could make it. I’d like you to double check your coordinates. Besides the star, it’s radiation pulse, and a lot of interference, we’re not detecting anything.” New data appeared on his display. “Oh, and long range sensors are picking up a rogue planet.”
Valeer looked over the readouts and for a moment, the thought that he should call the ship to general quarters struck him as a decision so obvious, his failure to do so ranked about as brilliant as a first-year cadet on first maneuvers. This would be the perfect place to lay a trap for them. With the radiation pulse, communications out of the immediate area would be difficult at best. Yes, there was a Remali on board, but who knew if they placed the same value on their lives as the Alliance did. For all they knew Valeer served as some sort of Kamikaze.
“Don’t worry, Captain, you’re where you need to be and I’ll be happy to explain. Before I do, however, what I am about to tell you is to be considered classified. It is our preference that only your senior officers and anyone else who strictly needs to know be given access to this information.”
Amado scrutinized Valeer, but could find no breaks in his demeanor. Either he was a damn good liar or he was about to give them something important. If the former were true it might already be too late. For now, he would play along. He nodded.
With that understanding between them, Valeer turned back to the display. “We are holding position here.” He pressed a button on the console and a small spherical marker appeared on the holographic map. “Just outside the perimeter of Surahan Station’s defense network. This station, settled in close orbit of the Surahan star, is our destination.”
“We don’t show any station on our scanners,” Cassie said.
“I would be worried if you did. Just like any other stellar pulsar, the radiation co
ming from the star has a dampening effect on ship scanners.”
Valeer must have anticipated his question as the Remali put up a hand, silencing Amado before he could utter more than a syllable. “The Remali have developed a way to filter the radiation out, but even so, the station is so close to the star itself that unless you know exactly where it was, you wouldn’t be able to detect it unless you were right on top of this. Long story short, if you didn’t know how to look for Surahan, you would never find it.”
“Why keep it hidden?” Cassie asked.
“You can’t hunt what you can’t find.”
He felt his tension ease at that. The argument held merit. History had shown the effectiveness of stealth based assets. Even so, he could not ignore the risks. Just because they weren’t necessarily going to be ambushed here, did not mean they couldn’t be ambushed closer to the pulsar. Still, for now he could humor this.
“We’re also showing a rogue planet in the vicinity. What do you know about that?”
Valeer gave the readouts another look. “We’ve been tracking it for some time now, Captain. We project its course will put it in proximity to the star within the next few days, but we don’t expect the gravity from the star affect its trajectory by any significant measure.” He removed an Alliance tablet from his pocket. “This handheld, Captain, contains the modifications you need to make to your sensor grid to filter out the interference and navigate to the station.”
He started to reach the device towards Melor’s station, but was intercepted by the quick hand of Commander Amado. Valeer passed it to her and she began to scrutinize it.
“Well?” Cody asked after a minute.
Cassie continued reviewing for an extra moment before turning to respond. “I don’t pretend to understand all of it, but it appears harmless enough.”
Seeing no other alternative, Cody nodded towards Melor. Cassie followed through and Melor went to work.
“Lieutenant, take your time with that. If you see anything even slightly out of place, let me know.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Melor went about her work and after ten minutes she reported the modifications as ready to be brought online.
“Go ahead, Lieutenant,” he said, ignoring his own hesitation.
Melor keyed her console and the hologram of interference faded down, but the path towards the star, from the perimeter remained unclear. Hundreds, if not thousands of objects moved about the spherical perimeter almost at random, the nearest of which came within one kilometer of the Mjöllnir’s forward sections. Cody’s eyes widened at the realization of what they were.
“Why the need for mines?”
Valeer smirked, “In case anyone tries to enter uninvited or without the sensor filters. We can’t take the risk they find the station by accident.”
“How do we get through the minefield?”
Instead of responding directly, Valeer turned to Melor. “Lieutenant, you should see a section on those modifications marked as a second step. If you would be so kind as to execute the instructions contained therein.”
She waited for Amado’s approval, which he offered. Valeer turned back to Amado as she worked.
“The set of instructions that your engineer is implementing now, will cause your sensors to send out an identification signal that will indicate you are not a threat and cause the mines to both ignore and avoid the ship.”
“We’re ready, Captain,” Melor reported.
Valeer stepped next to the Captain and keyed a course into the console. A linear representation appeared in the holographic display leading from the Mjöllnir’s current position towards the center to where the station lay. “This is your course, Captain.”
Amado scrutinized the display. “Full scanners, please. Are you detecting anything out of the ordinary?”
Valeer’s brow furrowed but Cody ignored it.
“Captain, I am detecting some sort of large mass at the center of the cloud of mines. Even with these filters, I can’t give you a positive identification, but I do know it is large.”
“Large enough to be a station?”
“Definite possibility, Captain.”
In a sense, he regretted asking the question. Just because it could be a station, did not necessarily mean it was and for all he knew, there was a fleet of ships waiting for him. Next to him, Valeer seemed calm and patient and did not strike Amado as the demeanor of a person who knew he was about to die. Even so, the Remali had not exactly been straightforward in the past and trusting them on faith alone would be a stretch. But they had come this far and to call it off now would prove only to be a waste. Still, they would not go in unprepared.
“Astrogator, lay in this course. Pilot, take us in nice and slow,” he paused. “Mr. Aler, take us to condition three, if you would.”
The orders were executed, and the Mjöllnir pulled forward. Cody watched the display for any signs of duplicity as they entered the minefield and proceeded on the course. But as had been promised, the mines steered clear of the Mjöllnir’s way. Otherwise stationary placements thrust away from the ship as it approached, and the warheads that had been set to drift about randomly suddenly vectored away any time they moved within ten meters of the hull. It was as if the Mjöllnir were a magnet with the same polar alignment as the mines.
Ten minutes after Amado had given the order to proceed on course, the sensor station alerted a warning that new contacts had been identified. The holographic display updated in real time, but the image of the station remained fuzzy, obscured by thousands of smaller energy signatures in orbit, circling like a swarm of insects around a hive. Data points appeared and disappeared seemingly at random as the sensors locked onto a specific target and gathered data only to lose its lock in the swarm and find a different ship to highlight.
“What...is...all...”
Proximity alarms and warnings shattered the relative silence and cut Cody off mid-sentence as OpCom erupted with responsive activity. On the display, seven frigates had separated from the swarm and bore down on the Mjöllnir at high speed.
“They’re weapons hot, Captain,” Aler reported.
“Battle stations!”
The betrayal had come. The tactic had been sloppy. They should have waited longer, waited for the Mjöllnir to get closer to the swarm and then wear them down. Separating like this overextended the attacking vessels. Unless they didn’t expect the Mjöllnir to put up much of a fight.
To his left, Valeer held his place, unflinchingly. It was as if he were waiting for something. Some signal. No matter. He would not allow his OpCom to be sabotaged.
“Guard!
Two armored marines stepped up behind him. Valeer paid him no mind, his eyes focused on the readouts.
“Captain...”
Valeer nodded to the display. Cody followed his gaze.
The seven Remali ships had backed off. More than that. They had broken formation and had assumed an escort position relative to the Mjöllnir. The guards stepped forward to take Valeer into custody, but Cody put his hand up to stop them.
“What is this, Colonel?”
Valeer pointed to the display drawing Cody’s attention to the far side of the station. There, in a parking orbit sat a ship, transmitting the IFF signal of the Battlefield Valor. “The pulsar’s radiation emissions interfere with long range sensors. We can’t see out any better than someone else could see in. It took a little longer than expected to identify this ship as a friendly. I apologize for the confusion, Captain. But in this part of our space if you’re not a known friendly, you’re assumed to be hostile.”
“I see,” Amado said, trying to save as much face as he could. Had he let his paranoia get the better of him? No, that was not the case. He had been acting in the best interests of his ship and crew. The Remali would have to understand that. If they didn’t, that would be their problem. “Stand down from General Quarters. Set condition three throughout the ship, please.”
A familiar beeping from the communications
station drew the attention of the command staff. Amado didn’t wait for the report from his officer. “Put it through on center, please.”
The officer acknowledged his order and in seconds, the holographic face of General Rashar appeared.
“Captain Amado. I’m glad to see you made it. I trust your trip was uneventful?”
Amado smiled. “Good to see you too, General, and yes, our trip was without incident. Your Colonel Valeer has proven to be very interesting guide. Thank you for sending him to us.”
“Glad to hear it, Captain. Your ship has priority clearance to the station. Docking port four. We’re clearing traffic and uploading vectors to you now. You are free to approach at your discretion.”
“Thank you, General.”
The hologram winked out, and the overview of the sensor returns enlarged to fill the projection area. Without a word, Amado waved to the pilot and navigator, indicating they could execute the course. He watched as the holographic Mjöllnir continued its approach as the seven frigates broke off. The swarm surrounding the station continued moving in its lazy orbit, but broke apart as though a fissure had opened. The corridor widened and as it fragmented, he noticed, for the first time that what he had originally thought a swarm, was in fact a dense collection of ships. Any single one was but a fly when compared to the station, the Valor, or even the Mjöllnir, but their sheer number defied comprehension. More ships fragmented off as they moved to clear a path for the battleship. As he watched, he noted their disarray. Most ships looked to be junkers, falling apart or cobbled together in a patchwork of spare parts and hull fragments. Where the Valor was beautiful in its gleaming streamlined hull, these ships looked barely functional.
“I thought...” Cody started, but paused as he considered his words. “I thought this was a military outpost.”