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

by Raymond L. Weil

  “I concur with Kazak’s data,” Andram said. Kazak had sent him the results of the scans the military AI had made of the exploration vessel. “The power source is undoubtedly an antimatter chamber which is still functioning. It’s operating at a very low level, probably putting out just enough energy to sustain the chambers. It’s also on its last legs. I would estimate it has at a maximum another five thousand years of power.”

  “So there must be some Originators in stasis,” said Kathryn, her brow wrinkling as she thought of the ramifications. “I think it would be wise to send a message to Admiral Jackson at Ornellia and have him use the Accelerator Ring to contact Bartoll and let him know. I don’t think we should make the attempt to awaken any of them unless Bartoll gives his approval.”

  “He might want to be here,” suggested Camlin. “In all the adult Originators and the children we awakened, there was some confusion and disorientation due to so much time having passed. It took some of them a number of days to make the adjustment and accept the fact of what happened to the Originators who were once in all the Shrieels.”

  Kathryn looked at the viewscreen and the three mining ships. A large pile of rubble was now visible on the moon where two of the ships were using tractor beams to place the mined material. “Is there any sign of the tunnel the exploration ship used to get itself so deep inside the moon?”

  “Not really,” Andram answered. “We’re talking about several million years and on a moon as small as this one with all the asteroid collisions, it’s not very stable. I still find it hard to believe the ship managed to survive all of this time.”

  Looking toward the communication console where Captain Travers was, Kathryn instructed him to send a message to Admiral Jackson along with a data pack containing the most recent scans. Admiral Jackson would, in turn, send the information to Bartoll at the Communications and Transport Hub. The Distant Horizon was close enough to Ornellia that normal hyperspace communication was possible.

  -

  It was late the next day when Lontor contacted the Distant Horizon. “We’ve penetrated to the chamber where the exploration vessel is located. It’s in an artificial cavern just barely large enough for it. We’ve sent in probes, and the ship seems to be intact.”

  “Admiral,” Capitan Travers said. “Commander Zafron and Kazak want to take a small shuttle and fly down the tunnel to the ship so they can inspect it.”

  “Would that be safe?” asked Kathryn, looking concerned.

  “Lontor says it would,” Captain Travers answered.

  “In that case, I’m going with them,” Kathryn said as she stood up and stepped away from the command chair. “Clarissa, why don’t you and Andram come along?”

  “I would like to go as well,” said Camlin.

  “Very well,” replied Kathryn. “Major Weir, have Sergeant Schneider meet us in the flight bay with a squad of Marines in full armor.”

  Commander Grissom looked surprised. “Expecting trouble?”

  “I hope not,” Kathryn replied. “But I’m not taking any chances. We don’t know what might be on that ship or in that cavern.”

  -

  An hour later the two small shuttles flew down the tunnel. It was six hundred meters in diameter with the sides perfectly smooth. Whatever the mining ship had used to cut the tunnel it had done a flawless job.

  “Twenty kilometers,” said Andram as he gazed at the distant tunnel wall as the small shuttle flew deeper into the darkness. The walls were dimly lit by the running lights on the outside of the shuttle. “I would never have expected to find a ship buried so deep. It’s quite remarkable.”

  Camlin turned toward Andram. “There are still a lot of unknowns about this ship. Why was it following the Dominator, why did they bury themselves so deep, and what was the reason for keeping their presence a secret?”

  “Perhaps we’ll know soon,” Clarissa said as the small shuttle slowed and entered the cavern containing the Originator exploration ship.

  Kathryn leaned forward, looking out the front viewports of the shuttle. With the forward lights turned on bright and between both shuttles the cavern was lit up. There in front of her was the ship, all two thousand meters. She was amazed at how close the roof of the cavern was to the vessel. In several areas it was almost touching.

  “Amazing,” said Andram as he gazed at the Originator vessel. “It looks remarkably well preserved.”

  The two shuttles flew along the vessel’s hull inspecting it for damage. The hull looked intact, and there were only a few signs of damage from its long stay underground.

  Clarissa turned away from the small sensor console in the shuttle. “The hull integrity seems sufficient for the mining ships to use their tractor beams to pull the ship out. The few damaged areas only extend into a few compartments.”

  “Admiral,” said the copilot. “Commander Zafron reports he has found a hatch he can dock to and would like to go on board the ship.”

  Kathryn frowned and looked over at Andram and Camlin. “Is that safe?”

  “It should be,” answered Camlin as she gazed at the ship through the viewport. “The only part of the ship that has any power is the stasis chamber. We could go aboard and check out the Command Center. I believe Kazak brought a small portable power source. We could access the ship’s computer and check its logs. It may reveal why the ship was following the Dominator. It might be wise for us to do so before we wake any of the Originators on board.”

  Kathryn hesitated. She would feel better if the ship was out in open space where it could be observed by the Distant Horizon. But she also understood the importance of not losing any information contained in the ship’s computer banks. Moving it might cause some damage. “Very well. We’ll dock both shuttles to the ship and go onboard. We’ll meet in the Command Center.” Kathryn turned toward Camlin. “I assume you know where the Command Center is located in this type of vessel.”

  Camlin nodded. “Yes, it’s very similar to the Dominator. It’s deep inside the vessel in the forward section.”

  -

  The two shuttles docked and soon Kathryn was standing inside a darkened corridor. She was wearing an Alton environmental suit, which was lightweight and offered the maximum amount of protection. Activating the lights on the suit, she gestured for Camlin and Sergeant Schneider to lead the way. The sergeant had brought four Marines in full battle gear with him, which had made the small shuttle very crowded.

  It was eerie as they walked through the empty and dark corridors. The floors and walls were spotless, and it seemed as if a member of the crew could step out of an adjoining passageway or an open hatch at any moment. As they walked down the corridors, Kathryn poked her head in several open compartments. They were all empty but completely spotless as if the crew had only left a day or two ago. As they walked, there was total silence as the interior of the ship was in vacuum.

  “Why is there no air?” asked Sergeant Schneider.

  “To better preserve the ship,’ answered Camlin. “The crew must not have known how long they would be in stasis and even an Originator vessel with its energy screen down would be subject to deterioration after the passage of so much time.”

  They continued through the corridors climbing stairs where necessary until they reached the command level. Looking ahead Kathryn saw a light coming out of what she assumed was the Command Center. “Commander Zafron?” she said over the comm which connected all of them. She had heard him speaking earlier.

  “We’re in the Command Center, Admiral,” he responded. “Everything seems to be intact.”

  The two leading Marines and Camlin entered the open hatch followed by Kathryn and the others. Stepping inside they found Kazak and Commander Zafron standing near what appeared to be the ship’s computer console. Kazak was attaching a small cable from a portable power source he had brought.

  “This should allow us to power up the Command Center,” said Kazak as he saw the admiral enter. “It should only take a moment or two and we will be able to ac
cess the consoles.”

  Kazak finished attaching the cable and then stepped back to the power unit, turning it on.

  For a moment nothing happened and then the lights flickered and slowly began to brighten. Across the hatch, a dim glow appeared.

  “What’s that?” asked Sergeant Schneider concerned, his hand going to the firearm at his waist.

  “An atmosphere retention field,” answered Commander Zafron. “It will be much easier to work in here if we have an atmosphere and some heat. Just don’t anyone step through that field without your environmental suit closed up. It’s still a vacuum out there in the corridor.”

  Camlin stepped over to the communication console, which was beginning to light up. “Once this station is fully activated I can access all the messages the ship sent and received.”

  “Make sure you record any you find,” ordered Kathryn. “It might tell us who this ship was reporting to and where they went.”

  A few more moments passed and then the lights came on fully and all the consoles began to activate.

  “Kazak, bring up the main computer and see if you can access its files,” ordered Commander Zafron. “Make a copy of any pertinent information on the lost Originators and this ship’s mission.”

  Kazak began to do as ordered and then stopped with a deep frown appearing on his face. “There seems to be a power drain. Something is siphoning off some of the power from the Command Center.”

  “What about the computer information?” demanded Commander Zafron, anxious to find out where the rest of his people might be hiding.

  “There are a number of encrypted files,” answered Kazak. “I’m copying all of them. They’ll have to be taken back to the Dominator or the Distant Horizon for decryption.”

  Several minutes passed as the files were copied. Camlin found the same problem with the communications system. All of its records were encrypted as well.”

  “Admiral!” called out Sergeant Schneider as he drew his weapon and pointed it toward the hatch. At the same time Clarissa stepped over to Kathryn partially shielding her.

  Kathryn turned and was startled to see four combat robots step through the hatch followed by an Originator AI. It had to be an AI as it was wearing no protective gear. The combat robots were similar to the new ones being built back at the Communications and Transport hub but these were squatter and bulkier.

  “Albate,” said Kazak, stepping forward with his hand on his holstered weapon.

  The other Originator AI hesitated as his eyes focused on Kazak. “Kazak,” he said. “So you found us. If you attempt to use your weapons, my combat robots will fire on you.”

  “Who is Albate?” asked Kathryn, growing alarmed as she gazed at the AI and the four robots. Clarissa was now standing directly between her and the combat robots.

  “Another Military AI,” answered Camlin. “We thought he had been destroyed in the war with the Anti-Life.”

  “Not quite,” Albate responded. “You have no right to be on board this ship. It is under direct control of the Originators, and I only take orders from them.”

  “Where did you come from?” asked Kathryn. She shook her head slightly at Sergeant Schneider, not wanting him to take any action. At least not yet.

  Albate turned toward Kathryn looking confused and then his eyes focused back on Kazak. “Why did you allow other life forms to board this ship? They will be terminated.”

  “I don’t think so,” said Commander Zafron, stepping forward in front of Kazak. “Albate do you know who I am?”

  Albate seemed to freeze upon seeing Commander Zafron and then he spoke. “You’re Second Officer Zafron of the Dominator. But that’s impossible! You were suffering from the pathogen.”

  “We have the cure,” replied Zafron. “Now order your combat robots to step outside into the corridor. We have much to discuss.”

  Almost in a daze Albate did as ordered. A short, terse command and the combat robots left the Command Center to stand outside in the corridor.

  “Where did you and the combat robots come from?” asked Commander Zafron.

  “Near the stasis compartment. There was only minimal power left and we were in shutdown mode. When you activated a power source in the Command Center part of the energy was siphoned off and we were brought back to life. I never expected to find an Originator.”

  “What happened to your crew?” asked Kazak.

  “Many of them are in the stasis compartment,” Albate replied. “As they came down with the pathogen they were put in stasis.”

  “How many?” asked Kathryn. She didn’t know if Albate was talking about a few dozen or several hundred.

  Albate turned toward Kathryn with a frown. “Who are you and why are you with Commander Zafron and Kazak?”

  “Times have changed,” answered Kazak. “This is Rear Admiral Kathryn Barnes; her people have allied with us against the Anti-Life.”

  “The Anti-Life,” repeated Albate, his eyes widening. “They’re imprisoned in their galaxy.”

  “Not anymore,” Commander Zafron replied. “They escaped over one thousand years ago. They are currently rampaging across the universe conquering galaxy after galaxy.”

  “How many of the crew of the Dominator survived?”

  “Nearly three hundred,” answered Commander Zafron. “What of your own crew?”

  Albate hesitated for a moment and then answered. “There are six hundred and twenty-seven stasis chambers in operation. All contain Originators infected with the pathogen. Do you really have a cure?”

  “Yes,” Zafron replied. “However, before we furnish your crew with the cure I would like for you to answer some questions.”

  Albate nodded. “I will do as you ask.”

  “What was the mission of this ship and why was it following the Dominator?”

  Albate looked deeply concerned. “Some of that information is restricted, and I cannot give it out without permission of one of the ship’s officers. If they were all dead then I could do so. I can tell you we were ordered to follow the Dominator to see if a cure was found and then transmit the information back to the Originators who sent the ship.”

  Kazak looked intently at Albate. “We know somewhere there is a large group of Originators, probably in stasis waiting for this cure. Where are they?”

  “I don’t know,” Albate answered. “Only the commanding officer and a few others have that information.”

  Zafron looked frustrated. “What is the name of your ship?”

  “The Seeker,” answered Albate.

  “Very well. We’re going to take the Seeker back to the Communications and Transport Hub where we will awaken the Originators on this ship and give them the cure.”

  “They intended no ill will,” Albate said. “They believed the Commanding Officer of the Dominator had strict instructions not to share the cure with other Originators if one was discovered. That is why we were following you.”

  “Is that possible?” asked Kathryn, looking over at Zafron and Kazak.

  Zafron had a strange look on his face. “It might explain a few things. I always felt Commander Martly was not being completely truthful at times. Then there was all the weapons research being conducted. As much as I hate to say it, there might be some truth in what Albate is saying.”

  Kathryn nodded. “Let’s get the Seeker out of this cavern and back out into space. I think it’s time we returned to the Communications and Transport Hub.” Kathryn knew Bartoll would be enthusiastic when she informed him of what they had discovered. At the very least they were bringing six hundred and twenty-seven more Originators back home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Admiral Race Tolsen breathed a sigh of relief as the WarHawk dropped out of hyperspace in the outskirts of the system containing the Dyson Sphere. On the main viewscreen was a large blackness. The Dyson Sphere was dark in color and completely surrounded the system’s sun. Not even starlight reflected from its surface.

  “We’re receiving a warning message from the
Dyson Sphere,” reported Captain Travers. “We’re being told to leave immediately or we will be attacked.”

  “Send the message we put together earlier,” ordered Race.

  The message explained the threat of the AIs and their goal to take over the Dyson Sphere and use its advanced technology to conquer the galaxy. It also contained detailed videos of the recent battle that had been fought in the Melsberth System. Race hoped this would be sufficient to allow them to stay. The message also stated they were here to defend the Dyson Sphere if necessary.

  Commander Arnett looked over at the admiral as they waited for a response. “Should I take the fleet to Condition One?”

  “No,” answered Race, shaking his head. “I don’t want to appear threatening. Keep our shields down and our weapons on standby.” Race had witnessed the power of the Dyson Sphere’s black sphere weapon and had no desire to be on the receiving end. There was no doubt in his mind the Originator AIs inside could destroy his fleet in an instant if they so wanted.

  Several minutes passed and then the communications console lit up with an incoming message. “I have an Originator AI on the comm,” reported Captain Travers excitedly. She listened intently for a moment and then turned toward the admiral. “He says they can handle the AIs. We may stay and observe, but as soon as it’s over we’re to leave and not return.”

  “Friendly bunch, aren’t they?” commented Colonel Cowel.

  “I have the AI battle spheres on the long-range sensors,” reported Captain Davis. “They’re coming fast and will be here in twenty minutes.”

  “Should I raise our shields?” asked Major Daniels.

  “No,” Race replied. “We’ll wait and see where they drop out of hyperspace. If it’s close then yes, raise the shields. But I suspect they will drop out as close to the Dyson Sphere as possible.” Race knew the Command AI’s goal was to reach the megastructure. It wouldn’t want to become involved in combat with Race’s ships so close to its goal.