by Richard Fox
“It is a Dyson sphere,” she said. “The circumference roughly equal to the orbit of Saturn.”
Someone rose in the auditorium and shouted, “How the hell are we supposed to fight that?”
“At ease!” Garret thrust his pointer at the speaker.
“Destroying something of this size is difficult, I admit,” Stacey said. “Also difficult is getting to the Apex, as Malal tells us we can’t actually reach intergalactic space from our Crucible once it connects to the network.”
Grumbling came from the audience.
“I said ‘difficult,’” Stacey said, raising a finger in the air, “not impossible. Don’t wet the bed just yet.” A few chuckles helped her confidence.
“Once our Crucible is complete and it gains full access to the Xaros network, we can send a fleet to Sletari, seize control of the gate there and then launch an attack on the Apex.” She flicked her fingers in the holo and it zoomed in on Sletari. A hazy outline of a Crucible gate appeared, but this one had multiple rings of thorns radiating away from its center.
“The Qa’Resh captured this image some time ago,” she said. “Wormhole travel to and from deep space is an order of magnitude more difficult than what we’ve experienced. We believe this is why so few of the Xaros leadership caste operate within the galaxy. Only a few of their photonic-based life forms can translate back and forth to the Apex at any one time. But once we have control of this Crucible, code named Key Hole, we can send the Apex a special delivery.”
The holo shifted to a wire diagram of an arcane device.
Captain Valdar let out a curse.
“This is a jump engine,” Stacey said. “It can open a wormhole to another point in space within the limitations of gravity fields, dark-matter charge, etc. This Qa’Resh technology wasn’t shared widely. We couldn’t build another one if we wanted to. The Qa’Resh kept a close hold on this because of the very real possibility that a malfunctioning device could open up the same quantum tear that destroyed the Xaros’ home galaxy—the same reason you don’t let toddlers play with nuclear warheads. So once we secure the Key Hole, we will send a hacked jump engine to the Apex and destroy it.”
“And why won’t this bomb blast come through our galaxy?” Garret asked. “Like what happened to the Xaros’ home worlds?”
“Because the Apex surrounds a captive star, there’s a concentration of dark energy for the tear to feed on,” Stacey said. “The dark energy fades to nothing in the intergalactic void, which is why the annihilation wave that destroyed the Xaros won’t erase the entire universe. The bomb’s effects won’t reach our galaxy. Almost certainly it won’t. We are very sure it won’t.”
Stacey heard officers shifting in their seats and she wished that the probe masquerading as her grandfather had briefed this part as well.
“The thing is,” Stacey continued as she wiped a hand across her brow, “to keep this from becoming a suicide mission, we need two jump engines. Thankfully, there’s another one here in system. Septon Jarilla?”
The Ruhaald stood up. He held his tentacle hands in front of his chest and formed them into a steeple as he bowed slightly at the waist.
“I render appropriate greetings,” Jarilla said. His words came from a voice box on his shoulder as bubbles rose from his feeder tentacles. “My queen will give you the jump engine within the Forever Tide as a gesture of our goodwill and to atone for our actions. We were misinformed as to Earth’s intentions, which led to our poor choice in allies. Your fight against the Xaros is our fight.”
The Ibarra hologram appeared next to Stacey.
“Also,” the probe said through Marc Ibarra’s form, “controlling the Key Hole will require a significant source of computing power. A Qa’Resh probe should be able to gain control and send the bomb to the Apex.”
“But if you send the probe in our Crucible, the Xaros will swarm the Earth in an instant,” Valdar said. “Will the Qa’Resh on Jupiter make a new one?”
“The probes are some of the most intricate and sublime devices in all of recorded history,” the hologram snapped. “They cannot be mass-produced on a whim.”
“Stacey, tell Jimmy he’s bombing. I’m an asshole, not a prissy little blowhard,” Ibarra said through her earpiece.
Stacey pointed at Ibarra and shushed him.
“There is another probe,” Jarilla said, “on Ruhaald Prime.”
“Which you’ll hand over to us as well?” Valdar asked.
Jarilla’s two enormous squid eyes flicked from side to side, independent of each other. “I am sorry, but that is not my queen’s to give. That will be a decision for the high synod.”
Stacey touched her control screen. The holos disappeared and the lights rose slightly.
“Which brings us to the next phase,” Stacey said. “The Ruhaald fleet will leave Earth space and return to their home world…along with a diplomatic mission consisting of myself and the Breitenfeld to secure the second probe.”
Chapter 8
Stacey walked along a thorn the width of a football field. The slight thump of her footsteps against the basalt-like material echoed through her helmet as the Crucible shifted around her. The thorns had to keep moving to keep the quantum field through the solar system out of balance, preventing the Xaros from making a sudden advance toward the Earth. The probe assured her pathway would remain steady and pose no risk.
Still…the thought of being crushed beneath the massive thorns like a bug against a rolling pin unsettled her.
“Would that even kill me? I got stabbed on Bastion—didn’t bother me a bit. Course being flattened out into a Stacey-tortilla isn’t within the design…why am I talking to myself?” She quickened her stride, mag-locking the soles of her suit against the thorn with each step.
The vac suit was an affectation; she understood that. She’d been through hard vacuum, exposed to the insane winds and radiation of Jupiter with no ill effects. A nigh-immortal body was no match for her spacer instincts, which demanded the same precautions as her old, fragile body.
Stacey touched her chest, feeling a phantom pain from the bullets that led to her unnatural state.
“Won’t hurt to ask…”
The end of the thorn unraveled into loose honeycomb stalactites. Glowing omnium cubes floated in a net attached to the unfinished edge where Torni—in her drone form—worked feverishly with her many stalks to convert omnium into the remainder of the piece of the Crucible.
“Not so different, she and I…” Stacey’s eyes traced the long arch of the Crucible, trying to remember just where she and Torni had landed all those years ago when Earth’s last surviving fleet attacked the Crucible.
A vibration travelled up Stacey’s legs. She took a half step back, hands raised to fight as Malal floated up from the construction effort and stopped level with her. The ancient entity’s face was blank, gentle fractal patters rolled across his surface.
+Your soul is cold.+
Stacey felt Malal’s words as a tiny thrum against her body. She matched it to send, +Will she hear us?+
+No. You’ve chosen to ascend from your primitive form. Curious.+
+This wasn’t a choice, Malal, and the more I think about it, the more I wish…you don’t even care. That’s not why I’m here. The Qa’Resh have run tests on your codex, the data we recovered from your vault. There’s an issue.+
Malal bobbed ever so slightly.
+We can use it to access the gateways,+ Stacey said, +but not the drones. If we destroy the Apex, it won’t amount to much if all the drones across the galaxy keep to their base programming. The drones will broadcast any and all evidence of intelligent life to each other and attack until xenocide is complete. They self-replicate faster than damn rabbits too.+
Malal didn’t respond.
+The Qa’Resh would appreciate your input,+ Stacey said. She peered over the edge to Torni.
+That one is broken,+ Malal said. +The kill function she carried is gone. You would still sacrifice her if you could, wouldn
’t you? My…those of your kind carrying the name ‘Ibarra’ will grow to rule much, if you survive at all.+
+Being aware of a course of action is not the same as taking it,+ Stacey snapped. +The Qa’Resh think you might have a solution.+
Malal turned and floated away.
+Your bargain was to help us defeat the Xaros, Malal!+ Stacey’s words were enough to stop Malal in his tracks. +If we go extinct in the next year, or the next thousand years, it doesn’t matter. The Qa’Resh won’t keep their end of the deal.+
Malal’s body twisted inside out, his blank face swarming with fractal patterns as he came straight for Stacey.
+You think yours is the first to try to hold leverage over me? You think the Xaros are the only empire I’ve had to wait out? The Fa’lun Hegemony crumbled to dust as I watched. I sat back as a memetic virus corrupted the hive minds of the Obernalli androids and drove all nine quadrillion of them into insanity. The Xaros will come and the Xaros will go. Don’t think that you are my last chance at revenge.+
+But you’ve never been so close to that revenge, have you?+ Stacey asked. +We have your door, your last step to ascension. But if you want it, you’ll have to help us destroy the drones and the Apex.+
Malal waved his hand toward the thorn next to Stacey. Dust rose and whirled around Malal’s palm. It formed into a small city of gleaming spires connected by a spider web of crystalline bridges.
+There was one…more talented than I. She led the campaign to have me exiled after I laid the groundwork for our immortality. She was the only one that ever beat me,+ Malal said.
+We really don’t have time for another snipe hunt, Malal. The Xaros will be here in months and—+
+Your very narrow path to survival leads here. Bring me to this city and I will have the tools I need to end your fear of the drones. You will take me to the door before I hand over that power.+
+What are you talking about? The Qa’Resh said they will—+
+I will go to the Sletari with you. I will obtain what you desire. Then you will take me to my reward without delay. Then our bargain will be complete.+ Malal reached toward her and his fingers passed through her visor and caressed her cheek. +Earth will know what you did. They will know your crimes, all of your sins.+
Malal withdrew and sank back toward Torni.
****
Captain Valdar leaned back from the holo tank on his bridge and crossed his arms over his chest. The Ruhaald ships moved one by one through a cordon of human warships to the center of the Crucible. The alien vessels took void anchor only a few tens of yards from each other.
“Rail batteries one and two locked on,” Utrecht said from the gunner’s station. “They step out of line and they’re fish in a barrel. Macro cannons on Luna’s Grimaldi crater have their finger on the trigger as well.”
“They’re getting off easy,” said Ericson, the ship’s executive officer. “Show up, destroy our ships, threaten our cities and our families. Then we practically give them a pat on the back on the way out.”
“Politics makes for strange bedfellows,” Valdar said. “War, stranger still. The three Chinese pilots we picked up after that skirmish worked out well enough.”
“At least the Chinese are people. What’re the Ruhaald? Shrimp or something?” Ericson asked.
“More like squid…but with arms and legs,” Valdar said. “Amphibian squids that can walk around and—sometimes I miss fighting the Chinese. I admit it.”
A hologram of Marc Ibarra popped up in the holo tank.
“Wormhole gate to Ruhaald Prime will form in twenty minutes. Please take your assigned position within the iris,” Ibarra said and vanished.
“Not much for banter,” Valdar said. “Conn!”
“Aye aye, sir!” Ensign Geller said.
Valdar felt a rumble as the Breitenfeld’s engines came to life.
“XO, set the ship to battle stations once we’re in position,” Valdar said. “We’ll maintain that until we’re sure the Ruhaald welcome is as pleasant as promised. I’m a little short on trust these days.”
The main door to the bridge opened and Hale, clad in his battle armor, entered, followed by Stacey and an armed Ranger with his visor down.
“Stacey, always a pleasure to have you aboard,” Valdar said with a tight jaw. A chill went through his body as she neared. Valdar looked closely at her face, his brows furrowed in confusion at her appearance.
“Yes,” Stacey said, “I’m a little different than normal. This,” she said, tapping a fingertip against the side of her head with a slight clink, “is how diplomacy happened on Bastion. An elegant solution to many different problems.” She gave Hale a quick glance. “I’ll be back to normal once this is all over.”
“And how exactly will this diplomatic mission play out?” Valdar asked. “Different from sneaking around Nibiru to assassinate an alien leader, one hopes.”
“The Ruhaald aren’t a mono-culture like humanity became after the Xaros invasion,” she said. “There are many different factions on the planet that work together only for issues of common defense. The Ruhaald ambassador on Bastion and I had a good working relationship until—”
“Soldier, get your finger off that trigger,” Hale said to the Ranger.
The Ranger glanced down at his gauss rifle where he did indeed have his finger on the trigger. Hale knew that proper trigger discipline was ingrained into every soldier, sailor and Marine before they ever touched a weapon. How is an elite soldier like the Ranger making this mistake?
“Your weapon is off safe as well,” Hale growled and reached for the Ranger. He clamped down on the soldier’s wrist then pulled his hand back with a yelp. Hale shook his hand quickly and hissed through his teeth.
“He’s cold,” Hale said.
The bridge crew had their eyes on the altercation; more than one had hands on their side arms.
“Perhaps your ready room?” Stacey asked.
“Follow me,” Valdar said as he backed toward the small door at the rear of the bridge. He walked quickly into his office and stood behind his chair, drawing his pistol and keeping it hidden from Stacey and the Ranger as they entered.
The Ranger held his rifle out to Hale, who snatched it away, removed the magazine and tossed it onto a slim bed against a far wall.
“I told you this getup was a mistake,” the Ranger said to Stacey. He removed his helmet with a quick twist, revealing a middle-aged looking Marc Ibarra within.
“Ibarra,” Valdar said.
“In the flesh. Such as it is.”
Valdar snapped the pistol over the chair and aimed it at Ibarra’s forehead.
“Now, now, don’t be hasty,” Ibarra said. His eyes darted to the side and saw Hale’s pistol also aimed at his head. “Your bullets won’t accomplish much other than go bouncing willy-nilly, and that will be bad only for the two of you.”
“Captain,” Stacey said as she held her hands up to try to calm the two men, “this isn’t going to help our mission.”
“Son of a bitch, you’ve got some nerve stepping foot on my ship after what you’ve put us all through,” Valdar said. “How long have you been walking around? Got tired of hiding on the Crucible where no one could get to you?”
“Times change. Things don’t work out as you like,” Ibarra shrugged. “Neither Stacey nor I want this setup, but here we are. This wasn’t by choice—believe me. If I go walking around Phoenix like this, half the people will react just like you did.”
“My wife,” Valdar said, tapping the side of his thumb against his pistol to set it to HIGH power, “my children. They’re dead because you left them behind on Earth for the Xaros.”
“I had the chance to save the human race at great cost,” Ibarra said. “I was on Earth when it ended. I heard the screams. Saw the Xaros burn through every last city but Phoenix. My wife and children died and then I…passed on. I’ll get what I deserve one way or another. For the sake of our mission, let’s not forget that the Xaros are coming again and our best hope
for survival means going to the Ruhaald and playing nice. Put that gun away.”
“Why are you on my ship?” Valdar asked, keeping his pistol leveled at Ibarra.
“I’ve been stuck inside that probe for thirty fucking years.” Ibarra pointed at a wall. “Now here’s my chance to go see something other than the inside of the Crucible and I think I’ve earned a hall pass.”
“And all the doughboys on the Crucible would try to rip him apart at first glance,” Stacey said. “Our appearance is so off that it triggers their aggression response.”
Valdar lowered his pistol. Hale followed suit.
“This is my ship,” Valdar said. “You will follow my orders. Now get to your assigned quarters and don’t come out unless I say otherwise.”
“But when we—”
“My ship!” Valdar slammed a palm against his desk. “You comply or I’ll have you thrown out of an airlock with a propellant gun and you can float back to your hole on the Crucible.”
“Fine.” Ibarra waved a hand at the rifle Hale’d taken from him. “Give me back that gun.”
“No,” Hale deadpanned.
“Can we at least keep my presence here off the books?” Ibarra asked.
“Put that helmet on and keep your head down for the rest of your stay.” Valdar pointed to the door.
“Captain,” Geller said through an intercom, “we’re in position. Void combat conditions set in two minutes.”
“I’ll be right out.” Valdar jammed a finger at the door again.
Ibarra donned his helmet and gave Valdar a bent-handed—and very wrong—salute.
Chapter 9
Valdar squeezed his eyes shut as the blazing light of the wormhole faded away. He opened an eye as color returned to his bridge. His crew, who’d been through more than one wormhole, recovered quickly and gave updates through the bridge IR system.
“All weapons batteries fully charged and awaiting instructions.”
“Flight deck reports ready condition one. Birds in the void within thirty seconds of release.”