Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  “Thank you,’ Commander Jon Greene replied, returning the salute promptly, but not too promptly.

  The rating relaxed subtly, as if the precise timing was what she had expected, and he smiled inwardly. Without a single glance back at the scout ship now being swarmed over by a crowd of technicians for its courtesy checkup, he strode off behind his guide.

  Greene surveyed the various work-stations they passed, glancing at the hands, and then at the eyes of the crew working at them. Each person, as he met his or her eyes, straightened up involuntarily, and went back to the task at hand with renewed energy. As Admiral Barnstable’s personal assistant, he represented Spacedep command in the flesh, and expected efficiency and the stiff-backed respect of inferior officers.

  Greene himself had come up through the ranks. By virtue of sheer efficiency and drive, he became indispensable to his varied superiors, working his way up to a position of trust, where he was empowered to carry Out ordered tasks that required strategy and thought. By making his commanders look their best, he acquired a vicarious importance.

  In time, he had managed to ingratiate himself to the new head of Spacedep, Admiral Barnstable. Greene was an ambitious man, and hoped to go higher still in time.

  Who knew what might await him in the future? The chairmanship of Spacedep? A seat on the Amalgamated Worlds Admin Council?

  The Admiral was presently on Doona for the purpose of attending a conference to gain a Spacedep niche in the proposed space port and negotiate other details of interaction between the two races. The Admiral was an adequate administrator, and spoke only passable Middle Hrruban, but he was a better negotiator than anyone in the Spacedep hierarchy. Greene knew his own talents would be employed there, as an adjunct delegate, speaking for the rights of those governed by the Amalgamated Worlds Council, to facilitate Barnstable’s agenda. Greene was not anti-Hrruban per se, except where the goals of the Hrrubans interfered with what was properly due to Humanity.

  Barnstable recognized Greene’s talents, and made use of them. He trusted Greene to carry out on his behalf missions like this one. It was ostensibly a courtesy call, allowing Greene to visit the captain of the Spacedep cruiser which was passing through Doonan space for the purpose of asking her to join him at the negotiations. His visit had its sub rosa purpose: the Admiral suspected that Hrruban warships would also be in the area, and Greene’s primary mission was to find out what they were doing. If they were behaving in a suspicious manner, the Admiral wanted to be informed as soon as possible, so that he could take appropriate manoeuvres. Barnstable wasn’t an isolationist, but he firmly believed that good fences made good neighbours.

  Greene and his escort passed into the rear of the bridge area and skirted the main dais, heading towards an alcove facing it on the left.

  The officers of the current watch on the bridge glanced up only briefly at the visitor and his escort. No inefficiency here. Greene nodded approval.

  Overt curiosity in a fleet officer was a fault.

  The metal door slid away into a recess as he approached it. The rating stopped at the threshold to announce him.

  Beyond the door was a utilitarian metal desk behind which sat a short, muscular woman with ice-blond hair and direct brown eyes that arrested Greene on the threshold. She looked up from her desk monitor as the young spacer performed the introductions. Greene felt a tingle at the back of his spine as she summed him up with a glance.

  A most attractive woman and, by her expression, not unpleased by what she saw. By her record, she was also a successful, intelligent officer, on track for flag rank. A good person to get to know. He smiled.

  “Captain Grace Castleton, I bring you greetings from Admiral Barnstable,’ Greene began, very formally approaching her. “I am Jon Greene.

  Castleton stuck a hand out over the desk, clasped Greene’s, then released it and indicated that he should sit down. Her deep eyes were frank and full of concern.

  “Good to see you, Commander. That’s quick work! We only just heard the alert.”

  “Alert?” Greene gawked blankly, and the captain frowned at him.

  “Yes, alert! You’ve come about that orbiting monstrosity out there, haven’t you?” Castleton swivelled her miniature viewscreen towards him. On it was the image of a hovering hulk. Shock hit Greene in the pit of the stomach. The odd-shaped vessel was huge. “The system perimeter alarms went wild! Can you make anything of it?” The outline, a long, irregular cylinder like a tree trunk, was somewhat familiar to him, but he couldn’t place it.

  Greene made a point of familiarizing himself with all makes of spaceships, naval, civil and private. And he had seen one like this recently, too. He concentrated on plucking the circumstances out of his memory.

  “Not the usual design of Hrruban warships, is it?” he murmured, struggling to grab the evasive recall. With a deft tapping, he brought up the computer telemetry statistics and studied the image, trying to identify it.

  “Can’t be Hrruban,’ Castleton snapped immediately.

  “Furthermore the ship doesn’t answer any communication signal we’ve thrown at it, and I know all the Hrruban codes. It’s heading for a high orbit around Doona. We’ve our weapons trained on it, though it hasn’t offered any overt threat. But then, how could it?” And her grin was ironic. “It’s not carrying any heavy armament.”

  “None at all?” Greene demanded. “Ridiculous.”

  “Look there,’ she pointed at another shape on the screen, so far in the background that it could have been painted on the starry backdrop. Statistics, expressed in hot yellow numbers, inscribed themselves on the screen around it. “See? There’s the biggest registered Hrruban ship, armed to the nines, right where the Admiral thought it’d be. That one set off my weapons sensors all right.

  High-grade radiation, well shielded but still detectable.

  Bastard’s not supposed to be there, but I guess they don’t trust us completely either, with one of their High Council members down there. The way they’re hanging off the stranger, they don’t know where it came from, either.” As if in corroboration with Castleton’s assertion, the intercom rang through. “The commander of the Hrruban ship,’ a voice said.

  “Put him through.” The images faded, to be replaced by the face of a middle-aged Hrruban. “Zis is Captain Hrrrv. Your other ship refuses to answer our hails.”

  “Captain Castleton here. It’s not one of ours.

  Can’t you identify it for us?” Castleton asked, pointedly.

  “One cannot identify what one has never seen beforrre!” the Hrruban said, snapping his jaw shut.

  “Then, something new? A Doonan dreadnought built in secret? It would be within their philosophy to build a ship without guns,’ Greene murmured softly, knowing he was not in the intercom’s audio range. The instant he realized that Captain Castleton had heard it and was glaring at him, he gave her a facile smile as if he’d meant to be facetious.

  Castleton was not stupid and, while she couldn’t express political opinions, she was unlikely to have anti-Doona leanings.

  “I doubt that very much,’ she said drily. “Doona has no heavy metals resource to produce a ship that big, much less a space dock that could construct one.”

  “Then where is it from?” Greene asked. His inner agitation increased.

  Of all the possibilities he could have anticipated in coming to Doona for this conference, the incursion of another alien race fitted none. Another race of aliens becoming involved in the already complicated political dance between the Humans and Hrrubans would not please Admiral Barnstable. A new variable in the equation would be the last thing he wanted. And the faint familiarity Greene felt for the ship on the screen plagued him.

  “I’d sure like to know,’ the captain replied, staring at the screen, “but I’m rather short on answers and I’ve initiated all the approved procedures for contact. Captain Hrrrv shall we pool our readings?”

  “You have obtained some, Captain?”

  “I’m seeing the
same thing you are, Captain.” Castleton shook her head slowly from side to side. “Science officer, have you anything to report?”

  “Proceeding with routine scans, sir.” Even over the intercom, his voice betrayed a significant lack of conviction of success.

  The outline of the massive ship, Greene decided, attracted the eye. It was such a peculiar shape. A central tube pierced through an almost globular centre section.

  From the upper and lower parts of the tube, smaller clusters sprouted, almost like tumours in a tree. It looked harmless, but so did a land mine, the commander thought.

  “We have life-form readings, sir, but, sir,’ the science officer hesitated again. “I think there must be something wrong with our instrumentation or the stranger is somehow scrambling them.”

  “How so, mister?” Castleton asked.

  “Too big. Neither Humans nor Hrrubans grow “em that size, sir.” “Captain Hrrrv, do your life-form readings concur with ours?” Castleton asked. “Patch readings through to Captain Hrrrv.” The next moment, Hrrrv nodded solemnly.

  “Let us report the presence of this vehicle and its anomalies to our superiors immediately. Over and out.” As soon as the Hrruban’s image had faded, Castleton called for her communications officer. “Get Admiral Barnstable on the horn.” She frowned as Greene raised a hand for her attention. “Belay that. Yes, Commander?”

  “He’s in the middle of a conference with a number of civilian officials, Captain. “Noted, Greene,’ she said, crisply, but she smiled to take the sting out of her brusque reply. “Use Command Code, Barnet.”

  “Admiral Barnstable,’ the Treaty Island aide said in a low voice, bending down to the Admiral.

  “Message from Captain Castleton, Command Code.” The old man looked around for the audio pick-up. “Can you pipe it in here, son? Don’t care to leave my present company even for a Command Code!” He gave a snort.

  “Whatever is up Castleton’s nose now?”

  “Admiral?” A woman’s voice, sounding agitated, echoed from the satellite feed. The pick-up was audible only to those nearest the Admiral.

  “Yes, Captain. Nice to hear from you. Something go wrong between you and my envoy?”

  “There’s a matter of extreme importance “Well, Grace, spit it out,’ the Admiral insisted.

  Her words pinged crisply from the speaker. “There’s an intruder, a huge ship beginning entry into distant orbit around Doonarrala. I’ve never seen anything like it in space before. It’s seven times the size of Spacedep’s largest flagship! Captain Hrrrv can’t identify her either. I’d appreciate it if you’d come upstairs and take a look, sir.” At such information, those who heard erupted into surprised protest and consternation. In a few seconds, everyone knew the substance of the message. Second Speaker glared nervously around him, as if expecting the intruder to appear in the room. A young Hrruban wearing the single bandolier belt of a Treaty Island employee ran into the room and slid to a kneeling position on the polished wooden floor beside Hrrestan. The aide began to whisper urgently in the leader’s ear. Hrrestan’s eyes narrowed, and he rose to address the gathering.

  “Zat was confirmation, my friends, if we needed it.

  An unknown ship of great size entered our system over three hours ago, and it has made full orbit. Ze space centres are on rrrred alert.

  Until we know more, I think we may consider zat we are being invaded.” “Why do we have to assume,’ Todd asked in a low angry voice as he and Hrriss ran for the nearest commlink terminal in the corner of the room, “that we’re being invaded just because it’s a strange ship?”

  “Because it’s big,’ Hrriss murmured, inserting his sleek body into the chair before Todd could, “and no one recognizes it.” His long fingers flying over the keys, his partly bared claws clacking. Using an entry code, Hrriss hooked directly into the computer net used by the three Doonan space centres. Panting, Ali Kiachif peered over his shoulder.

  “That,-‘ Todd exclaimed with awed respect as the scan started, “is truly one big mother!” Castleton hadn’t exaggerated: the stranger was approximately seven point four times the size of a Spacedep flagship, and of no configuration he’d ever seen before.

  “Do we classify zis scan?” Hrriss asked, his talons flexing slightly in and out over the keys.

  “Let’s just hope that we’re not too late,’ Todd said, “and that someone isn’t linking into the net right now. We don’t need a panic.

  Classify it, need-to-know clearance only.”

  “Just what I was about to suggest,’ Admiral Barnstable said, dropping a hand on Todd’s shoulder.

  “Hrrestan?” Todd looked up from the stranger on the screen to his co-leader. Barnstable might suggest but he was outside his jurisdiction right now. Hrrestan nodded agreement, and pulled Barnstable back a little way.

  “Ze knowledge will become common soon enough,’ Hrrestan said with a little sigh of regret. “It is for ze leaders to preparrre others to receive it. In ze meantime, we will be gearrring ourrselves forr whatever may follow.

  “And if the intruder is hostile! Who will protect us?” other delegates demanded. Kelly stood, watching, her arms wrapped around herself but showing no sign of fear.

  “Zere is no need to assume ze worrst,’ Hrriss said resolutely, echoing Todd’s feelings, “before all facts are known, is zere?”

  “We don’t have to assume,’ Todd added, supporting Hrriss, “that a stranger, any stranger, comes only with hostile intent.”

  “That big?” Tanarey exclaimed. “What else could it have?”

  “I’ve got a fully armed ship on alert upstairs,’ Barnstable was saying at the same time. “It’s ready in case of any emergency.

  “We don’t know if we have an emergency yet, Admiral,’ Todd said.

  “We have a visitor, not a proven enemy. Hell, it isn’t shooting at us, is it?”

  “Enough of this,’ Barnstable said, firmly. “I want to see this mystery visitor, -“ and he shot Todd a sardonic look, “with my own eyes. I’m going up to the Hamilton immediately. As head of Spacedep, I need to be where I can make informed decisions as soon as sensor data is received and analysed.”

  “As planetary administrator,’ Todd said instantly, “I need to be on hand for any decisions that affect Doonarrala.” Barnstable gave him a long measuring look, then nodded his head sharply once.

  “Zis surprise arrival affects more zan just Doonarrala,’ Hrrto said, promptly. “I must be present, as well.”

  “I go, too,’ said Hrriss, glancing at Todd who nodded agreement. Their estrangement over the space port was momentarily forgotten in this new crisis.

  “I must accompany the Speaker,’ Mllaba said, glaring at Hrriss as if he had usurped some perogative of hers.

  “Hrrubans on a Spacedep military ship?” Barnstable said with sudden pompous suspicion.

  “Zese are exzraordinary circumstances,’ Second Speaker said urgently, his tense stance suggesting he would brook no refusal.

  “Dammit, very well! Come along! But let’s get a move on!” the Admiral barked.

  “We don’t know that anything’s wrong, love,’ Todd whispered to Kelly when he gave her a quick farewell hug. She held up her head defiantly and nodded, her bravery and her faith in him shining in her eyes. “Don’t panic when there’s no need.

  Kelly let her head rest briefly on his shoulder as if memorizing his touch and scent, then pushed herself firmly away. “I’ll wait with Nrrna and the kids.”

  “Thatta girl,’ Todd said almost flippantly.

  “Don’t I always come back to you?” She caught herself about to give way to the very panic he had mentioned and stood away from him.

  “Just don’t take any unnecessary chances.

  “Me? Never!” He gave her his most charismatic grin and then turned back to the emergency before him.

  “AliI believe that the Admiral’s shuttle is already on the Hamilton. Can you get us another one?”

  “No tussle, trouble or toil there,�
�� the Codep captain said, cheerfully, “providing we don’t get shot out of space on the way. Follow me, all.”

  Chapter 2

  KIACHIF TOOK THE SKIFF OFF IN A FAST-CLIMBING ORBIT, cleaving the atmosphere. Crowded into its forward cabin behind Kiachif and Hrriss in the pilot’s couches were Barnstable, Todd, Second Speaker and his assistant, Milaba, Hrrestan, Barnstable’s personal aide-de-camp, and Jilamey Landreau, who squeezed on board through the closing airlock before he could be stopped. Rather than waste any more time, he was allowed to remain.

  Below them, the vivid blue of the Doonan sky glowed, illuminating the nearside of vessels hovering in local space above. Communication satellites, merchant ships, and beacons went by unheeded. As soon as the skiff attained its first looping orbit, the unknown ship, a virtual leviathan, came into view, watched cautiously at a prudent distance by the Spacedep and Hrruban Space Arm vessels.

  The invader had made no overt movements, either hostile or friendly. It just hung there in space, circling the planet at a distance. Everyone stared in turn at the screens and the forward port, as if to make certain what they saw in the screen existed in real space.

  “Where did that large leviathanic liner come from?” Ali Kiachif demanded. His eyes gleamed. “I’d powerful like to take her for a test spin, make no mistake about that.

  Wonder what fuel she runs on?”

  “Brr! It looks dangerous,’ Jilamey exclaimed, “all those sticks and pieces sticking out. Surely that’s not good design.” The visitor plunged into the nightside of Doonarrala, making it a sinister shadow against the stars.

  “Isn’t that a breakaway orbit?” Kiachif asked, checking his sensors. “Is she doing a spit, split and ffit if anyone so much as says “boo” to her?” Todd scrutinized the outlines of the ship as it reached dayside again. The vessel was slowing down.

  “Seems to be settling into a stationary orbit, Ali,’ he said.

  Details were hard to pick out on the black hull.