Legions of Orion (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 1)

by Michael G. Thomas

  Colonel Daniels tapped the screen and zoomed the image back out.

  “I don’t see the problem here. This territory is being officially claimed by the Alliance. If we want this place for our own, then we need to establish a presence at any potentially useful site. I have two ships’ worth of marines, nearly a thousand marines at my command, and ready to perform any operations deemed necessary by Alliance High Command. On board ANS Dragon, I have Vanguards, mules and drone carriers. We are well armoured and proof against pretty much any environment. I can drop a small recon team in, get your recce done, and secure the site for further evaluation.”

  Commander Blackford lifted his hands in the air as protest. Though he was part of the Alliance military, his primary job was physical science in the advanced research programmes on Prometheus.

  “Sir, is it really necessary to deploy ground forces? All we have so far is a repeating signal on a moon and some orbital debris. My recommendation is to release more drones into the system. Until we have more to go on, it might be unwise to risk sending people to the surface.”

  Commodore Lewis paused and looked back around the CiC. Only the senior officers were present, and every one of them was busy scanning and analysing the data coming directly to the flagship. He looked back to the main display and the image of the debris field.

  “Look, nobody expected to find a signal here, let alone any other kind of artificial construction. I need information, and I need it fast. Get every drone and reconnaissance vessel we have into space and scanning. I want the derelict investigated thoroughly, but more importantly, I need to know about the source of the signal.”

  He then turned to Colonel Daniels.

  “I’ve been given full authority to secure Orion. Colonel, I want you to send a small team to the surface to perform a full surface scan. I need this information fast. If anybody has been here before us, we are going to need to make decisions before things could potentially escalate.”

  Colonel Daniels looked a little surprised at his order.

  “Anybody? You think there could be signs of life down there?”

  Commodore Lewis smiled at him.

  “Colonel, we’ve seen Biomechs, artificial creatures that can talk and machines powered by AI cores. I’m leaving nothing off the table. If life exists on seven star systems in the Alliance, and we can create life ourselves, then why not somewhere else? Hell, knowing our luck, we’ll find an Echidna Union facility waiting for us.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  With the contract won at Epsilon Eridani, the APS Corporation finally supplanted Alpha Company as the most profitable security and paramilitary company in the Alliance. With their purchase of the four ex-Confederate Navy frigates, a civilian transport ship and a squadron of landing craft and shuttles, they offered a military capability second only to the Alliance Navy and Marine Corps.

  Private Security Directory

  The Senate was in full session, but this happened to be one of the rare occasions when cameras were not allowed. Most sessions held in this ancient and impressive structure were now broadcast in real-time by making use of the Interstellar Network. It allowed citizens in the many disparate parts of the Alliance to watch their representatives on Terra Nova and feel they had a part to play in their democracy. Though similar to the previous Confederacy, the new Alliance was based upon firmer ties between the colonies and greater central control from the centre. Stood on the raised podium was the lithe form of the aged Maria Hobbs, President of the Centauri Alliance and the supreme commander of all her citizens. She waited patiently as the Council Magistrate called the session to order.

  Senator Broby Ramir watched the proceedings with interest from his position in the second row directly opposite the President. As one of the newest senators, he was still getting used to the system and ever watchful for information that could help his own citizens back on Centauri Prime. His career had included a stint as soldier with the New Carlos Militia in the War, and it had been his impeccable service record that had helped to propel him so far into this arena. He was a young man in his later forties and well below the median age for senators. Even so, after six months of being in office, it was only his third visit to the Senate Building and now, as on the previous occasions, he wondered if he was the right man to be listening and making such momentous decisions.

  It took several seconds before the chattering and complaining settled down. Even though this was an emergency closed session, it seemed to do little to encourage those senators present to act with even a little decorum. Broby watched with a mixture of dismay and apprehension as each of the senators returned their attention to their elected leader. Once satisfied, The President nodded and then spoke.

  “Senators of the House. In the last hour, a confidential newsflash has arrived from Admiral Anderson, the commander of Prometheus Research Station and leader of our experimental rift generator project. You may have heard rumours, but so far nothing has been confirmed or denied. The press will be informed within three hours, however, and the news is momentous.”

  She paused for a few moments to ensure she had the attention of every single senator in the House.

  “With the construction of our Interstellar Network, we have enjoyed a period of fruitful peace and trade, the like of which hasn’t been seen since the early decades of colonisation. Just three days ago, the rift generator experiment at Prometheus was activated. I know this is probably the worst kept secret in the Alliance, but behind this lays a hidden truth. By a stroke of luck and ingenuity, our engineers have managed to create a stable Spacebridge to the Orion Nebula and have sent both equipment and people through!”

  The senators could no longer contain themselves, and a great crescendo of sound rippled though the building. The President lifted her hands to the air as if appealing to some great deity. Some stopped but most continued talking.

  “Senators, please keep quiet, there is more and time is limited!”

  The noises abated enough for her to continue.

  “The Spacebridge has by some miracle, created an exit point near a resource rich star system of ten planets. Several have atmospheres, but all are within our grasp. I have already issued orders to our military and scientific departments to start a complete and thorough examination of the system, with a view to settlement, mining and exploitation. Senators of the Centauri Alliance, today we are no longer a people of seven stars. We have moved on from the Solar System to include Proxima Centauri, these twin stars of Alpha Centauri and our three most recent acquisitions, the research and mining operations at Epsilon Eridani, Gliese 876 and now Procyon.”

  Senator Broby Ramir’s secpad lit up with a series of documents from the office of the President. Her words had indeed sounded fine, but he knew only too well that of those stars, only the two-dozen worlds orbiting the triple stars of Alpha and Proxima Centauri had any real significance. The three new stars were nothing more than outposts and mining stations. Useful as they were, they were nothing compared to the core planets. Even Sol, the old solar system, from which they had all originated, was little but a charred shell of its former self. For some reason, a Spacebridge had only recently been constructed that led directly to the red planet of Mars. The over mined and heavily polluted Earth was slowly being reintegrated into the community of planets, but few wanted to trade or even travel there anymore.

  This Orion could be very interesting though.

  He thumbed through the details while the President continued her plans for the star system. As he looked through, he couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious at the destination. No scientist, but he knew the odds of pinpointing a star at random were almost impossible, let alone one with planets. He could only assume the Alliance scientists had been able to isolate or lock onto something at that great distance. He looked up and listened to the end of her speech.

  “With this news will come many opportunities for our citizens. Work for industry, the sciences and even for yourselves. Orion is the new frontier, and it is
my intention to open it up to any of our people that wish to go.”

  A cheer of approval rose in volume, but Broby was well aware something was missing. They wouldn’t have been recalled unless they were required to debate and vote on something. The President had the authority to make short-term decisions, but ultimately, they had to be ratified by the Senate.

  What does she want our support on?

  “But before a single civilian can take a ship into this new land, it will be necessary for the House to read, digest and vote upon my actions. Even now, our military and science vessels are exploring the near moons and planets of the star, and the astronomical society have name New Charon, in honour of the ancient ferryman of Hades, and in honour of the many that have lost their lives in pursuit of this technology.”

  The mention of the military reminded him of the decision the Senate had taken whilst he was still serving. He had seen at firsthand the disbanding of the colonial militias and even the abolition of the Army. To replace it came an enlarged Marine Corps, though still smaller than the earlier numbers of ground troops available in total. All regular troops were now based on ships or stations, and no units were allowed to remain on the colonies for more than six months. It was a vast change, but even then it had required a unanimous vote from the Senate to push it through.

  “Senators...” she called out one last time, “I call upon you to ratify my intention to designate New Charon as the eighth star system of the Alliance. By doing this, we are announcing our intentions to secure the star, its neighbouring world and its limitless resources to the benefit of our people.”

  The sound of chattering senators once more filled the House, but Broby was left with a hollow feeling. It wasn’t the exploitation of something so recently found that bothered him. No, it was the language she was using. Quite why the Alliance needed to announce anything seemed absurd to him. They were the only sentient beings discovered other than the most primate of microbes and planet life; such as those found on worlds like Terra Nova and Hyperion so many hundreds of years earlier. He shook his head and stood up, much to the surprise of the other senators and the President.

  “President Hobbs, I have one question regarding Orion!” he called out over the din.

  She lifted her hands for silence as before, and the sound dropped as they spotted him standing. It was against protocol to interrupt an announcement, particularly when it was the President. Even so, she nodded but remained standing.

  “Very well, Senator, one question.”

  Broby cleared his voice and turned to see so many pairs of eyes staring at him with a mixture of interest, irritation and boredom.

  “We are the only sentient beings ever discovered. Quite why do we need to declare this territory for the Alliance? In the past, we have simply sent ships to an area and then exploited it in whichever way we felt was necessary.”

  The President said nothing for a few seconds, and this short pause caused a reaction like that of an electric shock through the senators. Like most politicians, each was keen to watch their own backs, and the mere hint that something was being kept from them finally grabbed their attention.

  “President, has something been found on New Charon?”

  The look on her face answered the question, and what had started as a loud outburst, turned into shouting and even screaming in the great building. Broby watched in surprise as the formal facade of the Senate Building turned into nothing more than a common crowd. It took almost a minute for the senators to quieten down, and for the President to indicate for him to sit back down. He could feel the anger emanated from her eyes and wondered if perhaps he should have kept quiet.

  “Senators, I have just received information from the Defence Secretary that a small number of our ships are investigating a moon orbiting the second planet in New Charon. The information is subject to more work, but initial signs indicate that at some point in the past it has been inhabited. I can confirm to you all that Alliance military forces have encountered the signs of sentient life almost fourteen hundred light years from Prometheus.”

  * * *

  Spartan’s family arrival at the Prometheus Seven Trading Post was less auspicious than he might have hoped. They stepped onto the station to find only their own APS representative waiting for them. Angela Brevik had served in the Marine Corps a decade before the struggles with the Zealots. Though now slightly overweight, and with more than a few grey hairs, she was both quick minded and physically strong. On more than one occasion in the last year, she had been forced to rely on her own martial skills.

  “Spartan, Ms Morato,” she said politely and then looked past them both.

  “Where is Jack Morato? I understood he was coming as well.”

  Spartan moved up closer to her and shook her hand.

  “Ms Brevik, good to see you again. Jack will be joining us shortly, but he has business to attend to with...” he noticed Teresa twisting her head discreetly at him.

  “...the station’s security chief.”

  Teresa then shook her hand and indicated for them to move inside the station.

  “Where are the Alliance security forces? We expected to be met by them.”

  Ms Brevik glanced around and motioned for them to continue inside to the main corridor. It was a wide space, and its sides filled with glass. A number of civilians moved about, but every one of them looked like they were in a rush. They moved a little further until reaching the main foyer area.

  “Ah, this takes me back,” Teresa said to Spartan.

  He smiled at her, remembering that her only ever visit to this station had been back in the War when he had been a prisoner on the planet below. Teresa and a small team had come to the station seeking information.

  “I seem to recall you had a little fun on your last visit?”

  Teresa tilted her head as they moved out into the open area. It was a massive with a circular floor and mighty marble staircases moving up to the higher levels. In the centre was a great sculpture of a man digging into the ground. It all brought back memories of the place, few actually being ones she wanted to remember, especially the arms fair they had come to infiltrate. The thought reminded her of Bishop and Kowalski, her old friends that she’d worked with.

  “Not quite the way I remember it,” she said seriously.

  Scores of people moved about, and most wore suits or uniforms, a far cry from the mercenaries and traders that used to inhabit the site. Spartan looked about the vast open area and recalled the plans he’d seen when discussing the security arrangements with Alliance security several years earlier. APS weren’t providing station protection like they usually did, but they were involved in ship loading security, as well as personal protection on the site itself. Both he and Teresa had pushed Admiral Anderson, the man in charge of the station, for a larger contract, but this was the best he could manage. They took a few more steps before a man in naval uniform appeared from one of the side doors and intercepted them both. He stopped and saluted.

  “Sir, Lieutenant Commander Sanlav Erdeniz. I’ve been sent by the Admiral to bring you down to the research lab. He requests your assistance with a pressing issue.”

  His name meant nothing to Spartan, but Teresa appeared to recognise something about him.

  “Erdeniz? Aren’t you the young officer that worked with Special Agent Johnson on Kerberos?”

  Sanlav looked at her in surprise.

  “Yes, Ma’am, you know him?”

  Teresa nodded but said no more.

  The Naval officer indicated for them to follow him to one of the doorways guarded by two armoured marines. They stepped inside but stopped when Angela Brevik tried to enter.

  “Sorry, this is for cleared personnel only,” said the taller of the two marines.

  Spartan looked to the Lieutenant Commander, but he shook his head apologetically.

  “Sorry, Sir, you know how it works.”

  Spartan sighed and stepped back to Ms Brevik.

  “This won’t take lon
g, so get a video conference ready in one hour. I’ll need to speak with all company directors.”

  Ms Brevik nodded and made to turn, but Spartan stepped in closer.

  “Get me in touch with Governor Gun on Hyperion. It’s time we had a chat again.”

  “Understood,” she replied and moved away and into the crowd.

  They followed the Lieutenant Commander further into the Naval part of the station and past a number of secure laboratories. Spartan noted the number of marine guards stationed at different points, quickly working out that this was one of the most secure sites he’d seen in some months. They reached a final open space, behind which lay two large glass doors. The officer stopped and looked back at Teresa.

  “How is Johnson? I’ve not seen him since the rebuilding of Kerberos, and that was more than a decade ago. He’s the Director of Alliance Intelligence, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, he is,” answered a firm voice as the door opened.

  Intelligence Director Johnson appeared, along with Admiral Anderson and a small group of high-ranking military officers. For the briefest of moments, the man forgot military procedure and stepped forward to shake Johnson’s hand. An agent moved quickly between then to block his path. Johnson waved him off and took his own step closer to shake his hand.

  “Sanlav, it’s been a long time. Slightly nicer setting than the Kerberos Underground, don’t you think?”

  The Naval officer smiled but quickly stepped back, remembering military protocol. The Admiral indicated for them to step inside the room where a projected model of part of ANS Beagle filled the room. All along the one side was a massively reinforced window that gave them a perfect view of the entry point to the Spacebridge. The Admiral indicated to the object. Spartan spotted a group of Marine Corps officers, and he was sure he recognised one before the Admiral caught his eye. He looked impatient and a little irritated by the wandering eye of Spartan.