The Originator Wars: Universe in Danger: A Lost Fleet Novel

by Raymond L. Weil

  “Should we remain at Condition One?”

  “No, take us to Condition Three so the crews can get some rest,” ordered Jeremy. “There is no obvious danger and Ariel can take both fleets into hyperspace at a moment’s notice if necessary.”

  Commander Malen spoke over the ship’s comm and then transmitted the orders to the other ships. Once she was done, she turned toward Jeremy. “Condition Three has been set across the fleet.”

  Looking at the large viewscreen and the thousands of stars that filled it, Jeremy wondered what awaited them in the star cluster. In the back of his mind, he felt uneasy. They were going up against a lot of unknowns. While Aaliss felt the technology of the Originators was on a comparable level with the Eternals, Jeremy wasn’t so certain. A lot of time had passed while the Eternals’ galaxy was enclosed in the hyperspace interference field. Time they could and should have used to advance militarily while the Originators slept. Granted the Originator AIs had continued with many lines of research, and the advances in the military research found on the Dominator were substantial, the science and abilities of the Eternals were still an unknown factor.

  -

  Four hours later Jeremy returned to the Command Center. Ariel had informed him they now had the location of possibly eight target systems.

  “There has been a lot of traffic in and out of the cluster,” she reported as Jeremy sat down in his command chair. “Our long-range sensors have detected over one hundred and twelve ships either entering or leaving in the last four hours.”

  “Isn’t that a lot of ships?” Kevin asked suspiciously.

  “Unknown,” replied Ariel, looking over at Kevin. “We have no idea how heavily populated this star cluster is, and a number of those ships could be going back and forth between major mining operations.”

  ‘How many Eternal ships did you detect?”

  “Fourteen,” Ariel replied. “All are similar to the ones we destroyed outside the galaxy. I did manage to get several decent scans on four of them.”

  “If this number of ships going to and from this star cluster is an indication of the rest of this galaxy, it is very disconcerting,” said Aaliss with a worrisome look in her eyes. “It would indicate at a minimum the presence of tens of thousands of Eternal vessels.”

  “This is also the nearest galaxy to Originator space,” spoke up Ariel. “It may explain the hyperspace detection ring we ran across in intergalactic space as well as the one on the periphery of this galaxy. The Eternals may be expecting if there is a return of the Originators, the most likely first point of contact would be here.”

  “That would explain the large fleets,” replied Jeremy as he gazed at the tactical screen and the red threat icons showing.

  “Or it may not,” said Kevin, with a deep frown etched across his forehead. “The Eternals have had over one thousand years to spread across numerous galaxies. Even if they just moved into one galaxy per year that’s an astonishing number they may have under their control. We must also remember they spent several million years trapped in their home galaxy. What type of forces could they have built up in that time? We could be looking at hundreds of thousands of vessels or even millions!”

  “It is unknown,” answered Aaliss, sounding deeply concerned. “We don’t know what happened in the Eternals’ galaxy once we sealed it off. The Anti-Life are known for strife and fighting for dominance over each other. Doubtlessly there were wars between different factions for ultimate control of their galaxy once they realized they could not escape.”

  Jeremy looked at his command crew. “There’s only one way to find out. We must enter that star cluster and see what the Eternals are doing. Send Grayseth his list of four systems to investigate; we will check the other four. All ships to rendezvous here in forty-eight hours. Stealth shields are to be used at all times and all ships are to remain at Condition One.”

  “Message sent,” replied Lieutenant Lantz from Communications. “Grayseth says he’s prepared to depart on the hunt whenever you’re ready.”

  “Remind Grayseth to be careful and not take any unnecessary risks,” added Jeremy. He didn’t want the large Bear to get carried away and engage any Eternal ships.

  Lieutenant Lantz sent the message and then turned toward Jeremy. “He says he understands the importance of remaining undetected. The time for battle will be later.”

  “Lieutenant Striker, set a course for the first target system. Lieutenant Lantz, inform Grayseth he can jump at his discretion.”

  “Activating hyperdrive,” reported Lieutenant Striker.

  “All ships are at Condition One,” confirmed Commander Malen.

  “Weapons are online and ready to fire,” said Major Preston.

  -

  On the large screen, a swirling blue-white vortex appeared directly in front of the Avenger. Other vortexes were also appearing in front of the other ships of the fleet. The Avenger accelerated forward on its gravity drive and dove into the vortex. The rest of the ships of the two fleets did also. In moments the small star system was vacant as the vortexes collapsed upon themselves, leaving no sign of anything ever being there.

  Unknown to the two Originator fleets, they had been detected. An Eternal reconnaissance vessel decloaked within just a few thousand kilometers of where the two fleets had been. It was still maintaining a minimal stealth field to prevent detection. In believing the Eternals had never developed a high level of stealth technology, the Originators were incorrect. It had been developed to a very extreme level due to the conflicts in the Eternal’s home galaxy. Spying and laying traps for opposing fleets required the development of stealth fields and superior cloaking technology. Entire fleets would lay in wait beneath cloaking fields waiting for their unsuspecting enemy to appear. They would then descend on them, destroying their vessels before they could raise their energy shields.

  This method of combat had lasted for hundreds of thousands of years in the Eternal’s galaxy until one group finally overcame all others and established dominance. Control had quickly spread across the galaxy to the point they were able to disable the hyperspace jamming field, which had kept them trapped for several million years.

  The Eternal vessel quickly sent a message informing its superiors of the presence of the strange vessels and their current courses. The appropriate forces would be waiting for them when they reached their destinations in the star cluster.

  -

  Jeremy gazed at the tactical display with growing concern. Since they had entered the star cluster, there were hundreds of vessels now showing on the display as red threat icons.

  “Ariel, what’s the breakdown on those ships?” Jeremy couldn’t help feeling he was overlooking something, some key piece of data that was just at the verge of his consciousness but kept slipping away.

  “Thirty-two confirmed Eternal warships and the rest are different types of cargo ships and other vessels which I can’t identify.”

  “I’ve calculated the location of at least fourteen more target systems,” reported Kevin. “I don’t know what’s going on in this star cluster, but there are a lot of ship movements.”

  “Could be a number of large mining operations,” suggested Aaliss as she gazed at the tactical display. “This cluster might be rich in natural resources and the Eternals are exploiting it.”

  “Or it could be the home to a major starfaring race which the Eternals have conquered,” suggested Commander Malen. She was standing at her command console with her hands on her hips studying the latest tactical data.

  “In either case I suggest we proceed with caution,” said Jeremy. He was deeply concerned about entering this star cluster. He could feel the anxiety deep within. “Ariel, I want you to monitor those long-range sensors for any sign we’ve been detected. We’ve made several assumptions based on the Eternals not being able to detect our ships through our stealth shields. We could be completely wrong about that.”

  Ariel nodded. “I’m watching everything within thirty light years of the fle
et. If there’s anything suspicious, I’ll know about it.”

  This helped to reassure Jeremy. Ariel was capable of using every system on the Avenger to its maximum potential. It also still greatly bothered him how easily the Eternals had destroyed two of his dreadnoughts in the original encounter. What if they possessed ships more powerful than those?

  -

  The fleet moved steadily deeper into the star cluster and finally dropped out of hyperspace at its first destination. It was a K class star and one capable of supporting life.

  -

  “Damn!” exclaimed Kevin as his sensors lit up with numerous contacts. The long-range sensors had already detected a number of contacts in this system but nothing like what was showing up now. “There must be over six hundred spacecraft moving about. Why didn’t more of them show up on the sensors?”

  “A number of them are in close orbit around the fifth planet,” Ariel replied. There were fourteen planets in the system. “It seems to be inhabited, and there are several large orbital structures.”

  Aaliss took a minute to study the data. “There are several large mining operations ongoing. The system has a huge asteroid field, and there are a number of big mining operations on several of the larger planetoids. The same is occurring on a number of the moons of the outer planets.”

  “Picking up a number of Eternal vessels,” warned Commander Malen as she checked her command console. “Seventeen so far.”

  Jeremy took a few moments to study the tactical display. None of the Eternal vessels were close to his fleet’s position. “Lieutenant Striker, take us in closer on our gravity drive. I would like to get within ten million kilometers of the inhabited planet. That should allow us to take the scans we need in order to determine the current status of this system and the role of the Eternals.”

  “That’s easy,” said Kevin, shaking his head. “It’s been conquered and is being exploited. From the looks of what’s going on with the mining operation, I would say the Eternals are stripping this star system of its resources.”

  “I would have to agree,” added Aaliss with a look of grave concern. “I am also fearful the inhabitants of the fifth planet are being used in the mines and whatever other operations the Eternals are running in this system. They are a very heartless race.”

  Jeremy took a deep breath. “We’ll know more when we get closer to the inhabited planet. Once we’ve completed our studies of it, we’ll do the same for the mining operations in the asteroids as well as those on the moons.” Jeremy recalled how the Hocklyns had exploited slave planets; he strongly suspected they were going to find the same thing or even worse going on here.

  -

  The fleet used its gravity drives and quickly closed to within ten million kilometers of the planet. Closer scans revealed two large orbiting stations and several smaller ones. Numerous ships were docked to the two larger ones and the planet was obviously densely populated. The night side was lit up by the lights of numerous cities.

  -

  “Remarkable,” said Aaliss as she studied one of the two large orbiting structures visible on the viewscreen. The screen was capable of showing a highly magnified image. “Those two stations are obviously processing facilities for the minerals being mined throughout the system.”

  “What about the two smaller ones?” asked Commander Malen. “What are they being used for?”

  “While we’ve been moving toward the planet several large shuttles have come up from the surface and docked with the two smaller stations. Other shuttles have left the stations heading toward the surface. I would surmise the two smaller stations are receiving manufactured materials from the planet.”

  “Kevin, can we see the surface of the planet?”

  Kevin reached forward and adjusted the view on the screen. The planet suddenly appeared and then swelled as Kevin zoomed in on it. At first it appeared as a blue-white sphere, normally associated with an inhabited planet. However, as Kevin zoomed in, the atmosphere surrounding the planet looked wrong.

  Jeremy gazed at the planet and then turned toward Ariel. “What’s wrong with the planet’s atmosphere?”

  “Pollution,” responded Ariel with a deep frown. “We’re detecting a large number of factories on the surface which are slowly poisoning the planet’s atmosphere.” The view of the planet swelled again until it showed an industrial area. Huge plumes of smoke rose from dozens of large smoke stacks.

  “What’s the population of the planet?”

  “Over four billion,” replied Ariel. “Though from the conditions of some of the cities I would estimate at some time in the past the population was closer to six billion. There are some sections of the cities with very few inhabitants.”

  “The planet can no longer support as large a population as it could in the past,” Aaliss explained with a sad look. “The pollutants in the atmosphere are beginning to create a greenhouse effect. There are areas on the planet where a lack of rainfall has already caused a shift in the population. Viable cropland has also been substantially reduced.”

  “Are we picking up any communication signals from the planet?” asked Jeremy, looking over at Lieutenant Lantz.

  “Yes,” replied the lieutenant, as she adjusted her communications console. “There are hundreds of stations broadcasting, including some video stations. The ship’s translator has already finished translating the language.”

  “There are regular media stations similar to Earth’s with a wide variety of programming,” reported Commander Malen who was listening to some of the broadcasts. “However, nowhere have we recorded anything negative about the Eternals. Every station does seem to have some Eternal propaganda promising a better future and the importance of working for that future, though what that better future might be is never mentioned.”

  “Any idea how long the Eternals have been here?”

  “There are a number of ruins indicative of nuclear strikes in the past,” answered Ariel. “From the half-life of the atomic isotopes used in the nuclear weapons, I would say they were destroyed over seven hundred and twenty years ago.”

  “What is the current level of the culture on the planet?” This sounded a lot like what the Hocklyns had done to the worlds they had conquered and enslaved.

  “Mid-twenty-first century when compared to Earth,” Ariel replied. “Though there is evidence their planet was more highly advanced in the past.”

  “It makes sense,” Aaliss said, her eyes focused sharply on the viewscreen and the industrial site. “The Eternals must desire to keep planets under their control at a particular level of civilization. They would want planets capable of producing highly technical items so a certain level of advancement is necessary. They would also want to deny a planet from advancing to the point it might become a danger sometime in the future.”

  -

  For the next several hours they observed the planet, uploading a trove of data on the inhabitants and the Eternals. It was clear it had been thoroughly indoctrinated to work for the Eternals for a dubious future never explained. The indoctrination process started in the planet’s school system where children were divided into classes based on their intelligence. From a very young age they were trained to do specific jobs once they reached adulthood. For the most part art, music, and even literature were nearly nonexistent. The few entertainment programs being broadcast by the planet’s media station were simple and unimaginative. Many of the local media broadcasts dealt with factories reaching their production goals and farmers achieving the set yields for their crops. It was very disheartening to listen to.

  -

  “I believe we’ve gathered as much data as we can without actually landing on the planet,” Commander Malen finally said. “It will take us a few days to analyze what we have.”

  Jeremy nodded. He was still feeling anxious as if a disaster was imminent. He recalled Fleet Admiral Streth reportedly had visions of the future. He wondered if he was experiencing something similar. “Lieutenant Striker, set a course back out
of the system but close enough to the asteroid mining operations and several of the moons so we can take some closer scans. Once we reach the outer system, we’ll jump back into hyperspace and proceed to our second target system.”

  A few moments later Lieutenant Striker reported the course was set and he began accelerating the Avenger using its gravity drive. The other ships in the fleet followed suit.

  -

  Behind the fleet and undetected by the fleet’s sensors, four Eternal reconnaissance ships followed. Using highly advanced sensors, they were probing and studying the twenty-nine dreadnoughts. They were concerned as the energy screens of the ships were stopping the scans just short of the ships’ hulls.

  “Definitely highly advanced,” commented an Eternal who was operating the sensors in one of the ships. “Our computers predict a 92 percent probability we are looking at Originator technology.”

  “After all of this time,” said one of the others in the small Command Center. “Did they actually find a cure for the pathogen?”

  “Unknown,” the commander replied. “This could be their AIs investigating on their own.”

  “We must destroy them,” said the tactical officer in a cold and calculating voice. “They must not be allowed to return with the information they have gathered.”

  “Steps are being taken to accomplish that,” the commander replied evenly. “None of those ships will return to the Dyson Sphere they came from. We will continue to follow the fleet until such a time as we are told to attack.”

  -

  Aboard the Avenger, Jeremy watched as a blue-white vortex formed in front of the ship. The scans of the mining operations had shown they were being operated by the inhabitants of the planet and not in the greatest of working conditions. They were scheduled to rendezvous with Grayseth in less than forty hours and they still had three more systems to investigate. After what they had just seen, it wouldn’t be necessary to spend as much time in the others. They would jump in, take some quick but thorough scans and then jump back out again.