...and they are us Homecoming

by Patrick McClafferty

  Zed stood there until the last person had exited the vast empty room. The lights slowly dimmed down to their normal operating levels as the first of the scout ships edged its way through the containment field of the main door, sliding silently to its normal parking spot.

  “Damn!” Zed’s voice echoed hollowly in the hangar. “I hate this job.” Turning his back on the incoming craft, he stepped into his living room as his neat dress uniform sparkled, to be replaced with jeans and a worn flannel shirt.

  “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day, Zed?” He started slightly at the sight of LOLA standing beside him wearing an eye-searing lime green jumper. Her hair was red today, and she reminded Zed vaguely of a traffic light. He smiled down at her.

  “I think I’ll just go up to the observatory and have a drink or three. I’m not really feeling very sociable, and the Rose is safely moored in a military dock.”

  LOLA studied him with blazing yellow eyes, enhancing the similarity to a street light. “Athena wanted me to ask you if you’d like to come over to our place.” She reached out and took him by the hand. “As a matter of fact, I think I’ll insist.”

  “Your place?” Zed frowned. “I didn’t know that you had…” The room he had been standing in sparkled and fell away.

  Athena stepped around the white marble pillar and gave him a wide smile. “Welcome to Olympus, brother.”

  In a daze, Zed took her offered hand and kissed it. “If I remember my mythology, Athena didn’t have any brothers.” Her hand was soft and warm.

  “In another life you would have been known as Ares, my half-brother.” She replied without blinking an eye.

  Zed released her hand, reluctantly, and looked around. The pillar they stood beside was one of two flanking the entrance to a stunning white temple. Sitting on the top of a green hill overlooking a verdant rock strewn valley, the building looked like what the temple of Athena must have been like, before the ravages of time and the human race took their toll. He had visited the temple in Athens once, when he was much younger. In the distance he was sure he caught the familiar glint of the ocean, but what strange ocean under what strange sun? Warm sweet scented air was soft on his cheek, and in the valley below he saw goats hopping between the stones. Somewhere someone was playing a heartbreakingly pure melody on a pan pipe. Zed smiled. “You overdid the cliché a bit, my dear. Goats AND pan pipes??” He gave her a level look.

  She gave him a cute pout. “It’s my imagination, Zed. I’ll do what I please.”

  Returning a solemn bow, Zed chuckled. “You did a magnificent job, Athena. This suits you.” He frowned. “Where is this, anyway? In some sub-processor buried under a mountain in Callidus?”

  “Actually,” She sat on a step beside him and waved to the spectacular scene. “all this is just as it seems.”

  Zed blinked and sat beside her. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. This all really exists. What is different is the universe it exists in.”

  “But…” He frowned as he thought about it. “what did you say?”

  “Without going into the math, this universe exists parallel to ours, occasionally touching ours. It is at these ‘intersections’ that you get the stories of the ancient gods and monsters with amazing powers. The gods disappeared when the intersection did, and eventually the monsters on Earth were all killed. Opening a stable intersection to this realm is actually the first, and smallest, stage of The Morrigan project.”

  “And the rest?” Zed eyed her warily, but Athena just smiled, and said nothing.

  Finally the tall woman stood and reached down a hand. “Shall we go in? Dinner and wine are ready.” Her smile faded as Zed stood. “LOLA had some input into the design of the interior, so…” Her voice faded as Zed caught the sound of music in the air.

  “Is that rock and roll?” His eyes widened.

  “Unfortunately.” Athena returned sourly.

  The passed beneath the classic Grecian lintel, and Zed stopped, sniffing. “Do I smell hamburgers and fries??”

  “Unfortunately.” Athena repeated. “It’s LOLA’s week to provide dinners. Last night we had pepperoni pizza, drank beer and watched old episodes of Hawaii Five O.” Zed burst out laughing. “You just laugh, buster. See how well you like it.”

  “Pardon?”

  Athena pointed a long smooth arm. “Your rooms are right over there, brother.”

  “Rooms?” Zed said, feeling incredibly stupid.

  “Rooms. Olympus is your home as much as it is ours.”

  “Rooms?” He repeated.

  Athena shook her head. “This way.” She led down a long ornately decorated corridor to a wide open room that could have hosted a national soccer game. Pillows and cushions were scattered about, and at one side of the room a familiar group belted out a song he recognized as ‘White Rabbit.’

  “Is that Grace Slick?” He stood frozen, more than awed as he stared at the beautiful young woman with the dark hair that cascaded below her shoulders. “And Paul Kantner and…”

  “They’re all here, Zed.” LOLA laughed, coming up beside him.

  “But…” He blinked. “What happened to the idea of heaven and hell and all that?”

  “Zed.” LOLA said softly. “Think of these performers as ghosts. In actuality, they are simply very good holograms. These groups make the party.” She rolled her yellow eyes dramatically. “Here, have a burger. You should have seen the Beatles!”

  The three sat for a long time, eating burgers and listening to the rock and roll, and finally Zed felt some of the despair melt from his soul. Athena gave him a slow smile and waved a dismissive hand. The band, food and beer were gone.

  “Do you think you’ve mellowed enough to deal with another problem?” She asked, her face serious.

  Zed sighed. “I suppose. What is it?”

  “I believe you would say that the other, other shoe has just dropped. The Creednax are back, and in force. You were right to have me set the outer sensors. There are only ninety ships coming this time, Zed, however, they are not here to capture Callidus, but to destroy it. The Creednax have sent ten battleships, ten cruisers, ten destroyers and fifty frigates. Only ten support vessels, probably carrying supplies and fuel, are with them. We have two weeks.”

  Zed was on his feet. “Athena! You should have told me earlier. I needed…”

  “You needed time to recover.” Athena interrupted. “We need you sane, not about to fly apart.” He nodded his acknowledgement. “Other remote sensors have detected another fleet heading our way, from an entirely different direction.”

  He suddenly felt like throwing up. “We’re so screwed.”

  Chapter Ten

  PREPARATIONS

  Zed sat at his couch and studied the tactical display LOLA had projected above the coffee table. His cup of coffee, only half drunk and sitting beneath the display, had long since gone cold.

  “So, tell me again Athena, exactly how much of Callidus’ defensive systems will be on-line by the time the Creednax arrive.”

  Sitting next to him, Athena crossed her legs and sighed. Although it didn’t matter to her at all, she knew of Zed’s preference to talk to a ‘person,’ rather than a disembodied voice. “In twelve days we will have all our defensive systems on-line. The magazines and energy storage will only be at fifteen percent however. That will, in itself, be insufficient to defeat the Creednax fleet.”

  Zed rubbed his stubbled chin. Now that Katherine was safely out of harm’s way, he was free to let his beard grow. “We know where the Creednax will be coming from, and how they dispose their forces when they arrive, correct?”

  “Yes Zed. The Creednax usually lead with a screen of cruisers and destroyers, followed by their battleships, and lastly followed up with another screen of cruisers to cover the rear.”

  Zed nodded, lost in thought. “Our last escapade taught us how and where to place scuttling charges on Creednax ships. Could we rig a few as mines to attach themselves to the Creednax warships as th
ey arrive?”

  Athena thought about it for a moment. “We could probable destroy a few of their warships, Zed. I doubt that we could destroy all.”

  He looked up. “We don’t need to destroy them all. We simply need to whittle them down enough to let the planetary defenses finish the job. The Rose of the Dawn can step in if that’s not enough.” He thought for a moment. “I’d have the Boston join us, but she would get pounded to scrap before she could do much good. The firepower she’s facing is just too heavy. I will, however, transfer all scientific personnel to the Boston before the battle. If worse comes to worse she can run for it.”

  “Major Flaherty won’t think much of that idea, and to be frank neither do I.” Athena replied dryly.

  Zed looked over at the image that sat beside him. “Do you have a better idea?”

  Her violet eyes glared at him. “No. But I still don’t have to like it. It’s too reckless.”

  He gave her a level look. “Ares was a bloodthirsty god of war, Athena. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent and untamed aspect of war. You know that, however, it’s what we need at this moment if we are to survive, let alone emerge victorious.” He leaned back in the couch and shut his eyes. “Please make sure that the Boston is at least minimally ready for space in twelve days, and has at least a partial fill in her magazine for self-defense.” He chuckled. “Don’t give Mike too much ammo, though. We both know that he will throw himself into the battle if he thinks he has half a chance. How many mines do you think you can crank out before the Creednax arrive?” He asked, eyes still shut.

  “One hundred pre-programmed mines. Perhaps as many as one fifty.”

  Zed nodded. “This time we just need to take out Creednax capital ships. With luck planetary defenses will take care of the rest.”

  “But what about the second wave, Zed?”

  The Fleet Captain glared at the AI image. “I just don’t know, Athena. I suppose that we’ll launch the Rose and go down fighting.”

  “To use your own vernacular Zed, that plan sucks.”

  Zed opened his eyes. “The whole damn situation sucks, Athena. I have to try and make the best of a bad situation. I hope that in the confusion of the attack we can slip the Boston out and away. With a little luck the Creednax won’t be looking for a cloaked vessel to be slipping away from the battle.” He took a breath. “LOLA, I’d like you to prepare me a list of positions you feel would be absolutely necessary to fill when we fight the upcoming battle. The rest of the people we’ll try and stuff into the Boston.

  The Loquacious Octoplex Loyalty Adaptable Algorithm wasn’t so loquacious at the moment, and the silence stretched. Finally LOLA sighed. “I wasn’t designed to feel emotions, Fleet Captain, so I’m having some trouble expressing my difficulties.” LOLA flickered into existence on the other end of the couch, and Zed blinked. The normally neat and bouncy figure was disheveled and dumpy, her drab gray dress wrinkled and plain mousey brown hair dull and uncombed. Her brown eyes were bloodshot, as if she’d been crying. “I’ll prepare you a list of positions we need filled, Zed. You do realize that the position of Captain is somewhat redundant while Athena and I are around, don’t you?”

  “Good try.” Zed gave her a wan smile. “These are my people, LOLA. I’ll fight right alongside them and take the same risks that they do.”

  LOLA looked around Zed to Athena. “I told you that he’d say that.”

  “Hush child.”

  LOLA’s eyes hardened and her jaw clenched. “Enough ladies.” Zed waded in before things got totally out of hand and wondered, for perhaps the thousandth time, how two such complex and complete personalities had ever come to exist in human created computer systems. “Neutral corners, please.” He glared at LOLA until she sat back with a disgusted little sound. “Thank you. Now, let’s remember our duties. Athena, the defense of the world, and sufficient supplies for our attack on the Creednax. LOLA, you take care of both ships and crews. Let me have the list of positions to fill and then announce a meeting for tomorrow, and we’ll get this thing rolling.”

  “Yes Zed.” LOLA replied in a meek voice that Zed didn’t for a minute believe.

  “Athena, my strategist. What have I forgotten?”

  The tall figure by his side gave him a long look. “Murphy.”

  Zed returned the look. “How does one plan for the unexpected?”

  “Very carefully.” Athena smiled. “I suggest that you withhold the Rose as long as possible. She will be our final defense, save self-destruction.”

  “Maybe not final.” He stared at the holographic image floating before him. “Withhold a dozen or so of the guided mines. If the battle goes south, release them as a kimakaze wave to cripple the Creednax. A crippled warship is a much easier target than a fully operational one. The remote controlled charges are also very small and maneuverable, thus harder for the Creednax to hit. Set them up for a number of evasive patterns.”

  Athena gave him an approving nod. “See, I knew there was a reason we selected you.”

  “You have access to the same history as I do, Athena. What I did was nothing special, and what do you mean selected?”

  “You have demonstrated the ability to make accurate intuitive leaps, with very little data to support your decisions. Based on some of your earlier comments, I suspect a more than slight prescient ability. We think much differently, Zed. To answer your other question; we could have chosen anyone on the Rose or the Boston or even on Earth to be our partner. LOLA has been looking for a long time.” Her violet eyes held him pinned. “When you died and we rebuilt you with both a physical and digital persona, that clinched the decision.”

  “Athena, I’m married. I can’t be your partner.” He replied, squirming.

  “We weren’t talking a physical partnership.” For some reason he couldn’t put his finger on, he didn’t believe her. “You’ll see.”

  “Is there anything in The Morrigan project that could help us?” He asked, changing the subject to something safer.

  “The Morrigan project has not as yet been completed. Soon I’ll let you know.”

  “Don’t wait too long Athena. There may be nothing left to help if you do.” She just nodded her acceptance of his words.

  The main auditorium on the Rose was filled to overflowing. People stood at the sides and the back, and according to LOLA, everyone assigned to both the Rose of the Dawn and the Frigate Boston were present. The mood was relaxed, and he heard laughter sprinkled throughout the crowd. He really hated to pop their bubble.

  Taking a deep breath and straightening his uniform, Zed stepped up onto the small stage. He stood there for a few moments, hands behind his back as the talking slowly faded. “The reason I’ve called you all here is to let you know that the fight with the Creednax isn’t over yet.” There was an exclamation from someone at the back of the crowd, and he didn’t blame them a bit. “Two fleets are headed toward us, and the first should arrive in about ten or eleven days.” A buzz of talk rose and Zed raised his voice. “Unlike the first fleet we dealt with, this fleet has only ninety ships.” The buzz of talk swelled, and a wash of smiles swept the room. Zed stood patiently and waited for the talk to die. “Also unlike the first fleet we dealt with, this fleet has but one purpose — the destruction of Callidus and anyone defending it. There are virtually no support ships and no tugs at all. There are, however, ten battleships, ten cruisers, ten destroyers and fifty frigates.” He didn’t have to wait for silence this time. “Because of the firepower arrayed against this world, I have decided to evacuate all nonessential personnel aboard the Frigate Boston. Her shields and weapons aren’t up for an engagement of this magnitude and her destruction would be a certainty. Departure will occur just as the battle has been joined, and the Creednax are too distracted to notice a small cloaked warship head away from the engagement.” Zed shrugged his shoulders. “It’s the best I can do on short notice.”

  Mike Flaherty stood up, his face flaming. “The Marines will not b
e sent off with the women and children in the last lifeboat.” He growled.

  Zed’s grin was half-hearted. “This isn’t the Titanic, Mike.” A large screen lit behind him. On it was written the positions LOLA had determined needed filling for the upcoming battle. “This is the list of positions that need to be filled in the Rose for the upcoming battle. Section heads will see that those slots are filled, and get back to me in four hours.” He smiled down at the petite Asian woman. “Atsuo, would you please see that the bridge vacancies are filled with our best personnel?”

  She gave him a small bow, her face grave. “As you wish, Fleet Captain.”

  “Thank you.” He looked up at Mike. “Major Flaherty. Any of the Marines are free to volunteer for one of the positions you see listed before you. In your particular case, in order for you to volunteer you will first have to find a qualified pilot to fly the Boston to safety.” Mike glared up from the audience. “Sorry, those are my conditions.”

  Arnav Kashyap, the head of Engineering spoke up in his soft Indian voice. “What are the chances, Zed?”

  Zed sat down on the single straight backed chair that was on the stage. “I’ll be truthful, Arnav. Lola, Athena and I sat down and came up with probably the only operational plan we can implement before the Creednax get here. If everything goes according to the OPPLAN, we will destroy the Creednax and survive, just barely. When we factor in Murphy’s Law…” He paused and Arnav laughed softly. He was an engineer, and was more than familiar with Murphy. “When we factor in Murphy, well, I expect that the Rose of the Dawn will be out there mixing it up at the end. If we succeed and the Rose survives all will be well. If the Rose doesn’t survive, and all the Creednax are not destroyed,” He paused, looking around at the attentive faces. “Athena will initiate a self-destruct sequence before the Creednax can send for more tugs to capture the planet.”

  Arnav nodded silently from his seat. “It is about as I thought. You will need a competent engineer aboard, so I believe that I will stay.”