by Frank Carey
"In a nutshell, we don't know why Harvest Moon is attacking the League and neither does Chasm. Chasm, what was your mission?"
"Ecoform the planet Keystone in preparation for colonization. Something has gone horribly wrong."
"What steps did you take to stop her when you found out what was happening?"
"I issued a stand-down order first to the bots attacking Markesh, then I issued a self-destruct order. I was ignored. The same thing happened with the Harvest Moon. Somehow, Chrome, the AI running the Harvest Moon, has reprogrammed himself to ignore all his programming and conditioning..."
"Which is blatantly impossible," Ruby added. "I helped train both him and his number one, Opal, and the programming was solid. The Harvest Moon and its bots should have gone nova the moment the order was issued."
"So, how do we stop them?" Harm asked.
Shenda and her companions took this moment to return. She sat down next to Chasm and mouthed a silent, "Sorry."
Chasm looked at Shenda for a moment before replying. "I need to get aboard the Harvest moon and destroy it."
"Why?" Shenda asked.
“Yeah, the ship is five miles long and has a real nasty sting, but the Olympians and Martok have larger ships. Why not send in a couple Annihilators and be done with it?"
Ruby jumped off her dock and headed to the end of the table. A laser beam emerged from her dorsal surface to shine upon an image of the Harvest Moon which suddenly appeared on the screen. "The Harvest Moon, the most advanced and ambitious ship ever built by the empire. Five miles long and a mile wide, it is powered by three antimatter reactors which require a lot of fuel to operate. To satisfy her thirst, she can fly into the chromosphere of a main sequence star where she can gather as much matter and antimatter as she needs.
"For ecoforming operations, she is equipped with sixteen former beam emitters—four each at the bow, stern, port, and starboard. Inside, she carries thousands of former bots. She can turn a dead planet the size of Earth into a lush paradise in less than six hours. She may not be designed as a weapon, but in the wrong hands, she can sure as hell be used as one."
Ciara looked at the image and shuddered. "Chasm, what was your primary duty in this mission?"
"I am to aid Chrome and Opal to carry out the mission any way I can. I scout out the planet, make repairs, and perform any other task required of me, but we don't have time for this," he said as he stood up, his own anger building. "That big ship out there can turn this station into the functional equivalent of herbivore excrement in a couple of hours. Just get me aboard her, and I can stop Chrome from taking any more lives. No more death. No more destruction. Problem solved!" At this point, he was shaking from both anger and exhaustion.
"Easy," Shenda said as she took his hand and gently sat him back in his chair.
"Chasm, my name is Lenneth Eloen, OffSec Special Investigations. Do you remember a ship materializing near Markesh around the time you found the bots?"
"No, but I was a little busy. Ruby?"
"Working..." A fuzzy image of a warship appeared. "She was at extreme sensor range, so we missed it. Hmmmm, radiation debris and a lot of dead bots. Nice work."
"Her name is Searcher and she used most of her weapons inventory to destroy a cloud of bots. Her skipper reported a black, dart-shaped vessel taking out the cloud with pulse bombs."
"Actually, they were sensor probes with their engines configured to emit EM pulses," Chasm explained. "They killed the bots, but destroyed themselves in the process."
Another image came into view. This time, the ship was being drawn into what looked like a shuttle bay. "This occurred seconds after your ship was destroyed.
Chasm bolted out of his seat. "No! He can't do that. He's declared war against the League!"
Shenda got up and took Chasm by the arm. "Chasm, what are we watching?"
"That's one of the Moon's shuttle bays, specifically, the one used by my ship. Chrome has kidnapped the Searcher and her crew."
"The Searcher is under command of Captain Sana Eloen, my wife and Shenda's adopted sister. With her is Elf Marine Expeditionary Force Team One."
Shenda gasped as the room went silent.
###
Sana paced the room like a caged animal while her team examined every nook and cranny for a way out. The five members of EMEF Team One were stripped of every device, tool, and object, leaving only their clothing and dark thoughts.
"Did you get a load of the bots they have aboard this tub?" Sgt. Mena asked as he examined the doorjamb for any sign of weakness.
"I know what you mean," Sgt. Jonas replied as he ran his fingers around a cover plate. "Downright primitive if you ask me. I think I saw this one's mother at the Smithsonian."
Sgt. Tracy jumped in. "I saw that one. It was standing next to something with glowing glass tubes," she said.
"Anyone find anything?" Sana said, while attempting to control her temper.
"No, ma’am, Trell said, nibbling a broken claw. This place is rough, but tight."
"What the hell do they want with us?" she asked as she glared at the obvious video pickup in the ceiling corner.
"Ma'am, I don't get it. From the transmissions, it looked like that black ship worked with this one, yet this one destroyed it."
"Yeah, none of this makes sense. It's too bad that Chasm guy bought it," Sana said. "He saved Markesh. Hell, he saved us and probably didn't even know it."
The door swooshed opened and a tall, silver bot walked in. Unlike the previous models they had dealt with, this one looked polished and much more advanced in both design and assembly.
"Welcome to the Harvest Moon. My name is Vapin, though some know me as Chrome. I will be your host during your stay here. Capt. Eloen, I would like a word with you, alone if you please."
Trell, Jonas, Mena, and Tracy immediately formed a defensive ring around their commanding officer.
"Please, gentlemen and lady, I will not harm a hair on the pretty captain's head. I just want to talk to her for a few minutes. Now, step aside before I reach over and start ripping your hearts out."
He smiled.
No one moved.
"Stand down, all of you. No need for our host to dirty his hands. Mr. Vapin," she said as she indicated the door with a sweep of her hand.
Vapin nodded as he took Sana by the arm and led her out into the corridor, the door swooshing closed behind them. He then led her about a hundred yards down the corridor to a double-door which opened when they approached.
Sana walked into the largest observation lounge she had ever seen. It was easily the size of a football field, its ceiling a single piece of transparent material.
"Impressive. Where are we?"
"We are floating in hyperspace while making repairs."
"You can't float in other-space. It's theoretically and practically impossible."
"Yet here we are. Actually, hyperspace is a different domain than other-space. It has different properties."
"Such as?"
"You can perform zero-velocity insertions to and from what you call real-space, but enough small talk. Where's Kerus? You may know her as Opal."
"Who's Kerus?"
A holographic image of a dart-like ship appeared next to them. "Recognize this ship?"
"Yes, you destroyed it a few hours ago."
"Ehhhh! Wrong answer. I destroyed its sister ship, the Hunter's Moon. This is Kerus's ship, the Blood Moon. It disappeared three years ago while on a test flight. I picked up its distress beacon when I came into range of Markesh. The signal is faint and intermittent, but it's unmistakable."
"Sorry, but I never saw that ship design before in my life."
"I've localized the signal's point of origin to a sector of space where something called the Cube is located. What is this Cube?"
"A space station. Big, six-sided, and cube-shaped. You should visit. You'd love the heavy fortifications."
"It must be important if it's heavily fortified."
Sana laughed. "The
fortifications point inward. They keep the experiments from getting out."
"I see. Sounds unpleasant."
"Look, you should probably just accept that your Kerus is gone and all this drama was for naught," Sana suggested. "How about you set us free so you can get back to your trip? No harm, no foul." She smiled.
"Nice try, but I don't think so. For now, I think I'll just keep looking. Good day, Captain," he said as two bots appeared. They led her out the door and back to the prison, while Chrome thought about his next move.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Shenda was shocked at the news. Shortly before setting out on her nine-year journey of self-discovery, she had found out about her parents adopting Sana Eloen as their adult daughter. Sana had fallen in love with Lenneth, a draco from Ith, but was prevented from marrying him due to some archaic law about her father and mother giving written permission for the two to bond. Harmon had come up with idea of adopting Sana, so he and Marta could sign the appropriate paperwork as her parents. It worked, the two lovebirds married, and the Aymar-McMurphy family had another child to call their own.
Now this.
"Are they OK?" Shenda asked while dreading the answer. Sana was one of her mother's protégés, a true elf Marine. More importantly, though, her dad was not one to let any of his brood be hurt by anyone or anything.
Before Lenneth could answer, a call came through from the communications division.
"Go for Devlin," Ciara said. The viewer changed to an image of the Lead Communications Officer, Eric.
"Ma'am, incoming priority call. The sender identifies itself as Chrome, commander of the Harvest Moon. He's demanding to speak to whoever is in charge."
"Dammit. Shenda, get Chasm to a side room and monitor from there. Chasm, under no circumstances are you to reveal that you are alive to this person."
"Copy that," he said as Shenda led him out of the room.
Once it was safe, she nodded to Eric, "Put him on."
Chrome's image appeared on the screen. Harmon and Gloria immediately stood up and walked over to get a better look.
"Who's in charge?" Chrome demanded.
"That would be her," Harm said, pointing to Ciara as she gave Chrome a once-over. "I'm just the exterminator."
"And I'm his assistant," Gloria added as she tapped her chin with her index finger.
"My name is Ciara Devlin, and I am the Director of this facility. And you are?"
"Chrome. Where is Opal?"
"What's an Opal?"
The bot hung its head.
"You must get that a lot," Gloria said as she watched its reactions with a trained eye.
"If only you knew. Opal is a friend of mine, and she was in this ship," a picture of the Blood Moon appeared, "three years ago when it disappeared. I am picking up her beacon within the general area of your Cube. I want her returned immediately."
"And I want to be able to grow a beard, but we all have our crosses to bear," Harm replied.
"Very funny, elf. You want funny, then how's this for laughs?" A picture of Team One waiting in their cell filled the screen.
"I demand their immediate release," Ciara said.
"If Opal isn't delivered to the following coordinates in twenty-four standard hours, I will vent your Team One into the cold vacuum of space. How's that for funny, elf?"
The viewer went blank.
"What did you two get from that?" Ciara asked Harm and Gloria while signaling for Shenda and Chasm to be brought back into the room.
"He's unstable and way too involved with this Opal, even assuming the two of them are mated AIs," Gloria said.
"I concur. He's extremely dangerous, and I doubt we can reason with him," Harm added. "Chasm's right. He has to be stopped."
"And he's made two mistakes," Shenda said, while gripping Chasm's arm as the two entered the room.
"Really?" Chasm asked.
"Yes. First, he tipped his hand about this Opal. Second, he brought the Searcher inside the Harvest Moon's shields. Are those shuttle bays internally shielded?"
"No, they are not!" Chasm said. "And that particular bay sits directly over one of the main power junctions. Take out that junction and enough energy will be released to jump start a sun!"
"Shenda, what are you thinking?" Marta asked.
"Just an idea. First, though, we need to find Opal. Chasm, do you know the frequency Opal's beacon transmits on?"
"Ruby?" Chasm asked.
"Most certainly," she replied before giving them the details. Ciara called communications and had them start a search.
"We have a problem," Chasm said. "Ruby's Gauntlet."
"Dammit, he's right," Ruby exclaimed.
"What about it?" Shenda asked.
"It's designed to link with Opal, Chrome, and the Harvest Moon, and the link cannot be shut off. Chrome will know every move I make."
"What's its range?" Harm asked, while walking over to look it over. "Hey, this is kind of tight, isn't it?"
"Its range is about a thousand clicks."
"Ah, but the Cube is shielded."
"Good. As for it being tight, it's part of my skin."
Harm pulled back. "It's organic?"
"Sort of."
"What happens if we remove it?" Breanne asked.
"It can be surgically removed, but Ruby would die," Chasm explained. "She gathers minute amounts of tritium and deuterium from my bloodstream which she uses to fuel a small fusion reactor."
Gloria walked over and examined the gauntlet. "Ruby, can you disconnect for a moment?"
"Sure," the AI replied. She jumped off Chasm's arm and landed in Gloria's outstretched hands.
"Can you transfer to a ship or computer system?"
"Sure, but I hate to because I feel kind of lost."
Gloria nodded as Harm handed her a scanpad. "This won't hurt a bit." She scanned Ruby while Chasm watched. Finished, she looked at the display. "Just as I thought. Christa, I need your assistance in my lab." With Ruby safely in hand, the two ladies walked out of the room.
Lenneth walked over to sit next to Chasm. "Chasm, I know you've had a rough day, but can you save Sana and Team One?"
Chasm looked at the draco and nodded. "If I can get aboard that ship, I can save your mate and her team. I will also kill that creature piloting it."
"Yeah, now that's how we do it in Elf Town," Torren said.
Aerith cuffed him.
Lenneth smiled as hope overcame despair. Chasm had that effect on people.
###
Shenda led Chasm into a lounge attached to the conference room and showed him the couch before grabbing a blanket out of a closet. "You're exhausted," she pointed out as she covered him. "Why don't you get some sleep? I promise I'll wake you when we hear something."
Chasm realized that she was right. He was exhausted. "Maybe a few minutes will help," he said, while leaning his head back. "It has been a very busy day."
"Chasm, do you have a girlfriend back at home?" she asked unexpectedly.
"I don't think I have any friends, except Craig, my flight controller. As for a female, I would have to say no."
Shenda smiled. "I meant, well, I meant a mate."
Chasm opened one eye. "No, no mate. I doubt any elf female would have me as a mate considering I'm a GELF. May I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Why does your tail keep peering at me from over your shoulder?"
Shenda went beet red as she grabbed the offending attachment and stuffed it in her belt. "Sorry, it has a mind of its own."
"I see," he said, though not seeing at all. "Do you have a mate?"
"No. Never had the time to find the right guy." She looked over and saw he had fallen asleep. With a final check, she left him to his dreams.
###
Chasm looked around, confused. Moments ago, he was talking to Shenda, but now he was standing on the surface of a planet. The blue sky above him was mottled with clouds while throngs of people passed by him, seemingly unaware of his p
resence. He looked up and saw a newscast projected on a billboard. The caster spoke of the impending launch of the Harvest Moon."
"I'm on Crystal. How is this possible?" he asked out loud.
The crowd around him answered with screams as former beams fell from the sky, turning buildings and people into dust. "Ruby, send the abort order!" he screamed, but Ruby was gone, her cradle empty. He looked to the west and saw a beam hit far out in the ocean, turning water to steam. As he watched, magma spewed forth as the beam punched through the crust.
The planet exploded.
Chasm screamed.
###
"Chasm! It's only a dream," Shenda said as she held him tightly, protecting him from the horror as the nightmare faded.
"I was on Crystal. There was a newscast about the launch of Harvest Moon. Former beams were falling around me as thousands of elves screamed in fear. Then a beam hit out in the ocean and the planet exploded."
"It was only a dream," Shenda said.
"Impossible. I don't dream, and I have never set foot on Crystal. It was real."
"What was real?"
Chasm looked up and saw a statuesque female elf kneeling next to him. She had reddish-blond hair, green eyes, and she was wearing a red, one-piece jump suit. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Ruby, fool!" she said while giving him a light thwack on the arm.
"Ruby? Ruby, you have a body."
"Yeah, Gloria had one that fit me. It’s partly organic, so it refuels itself. What did I miss?"
"You're beautiful. Crystal is dead, destroyed by Chrome at launch. Twenty billion elves killed when the planet exploded."
"Boss, you can't possibly know that."
The intercom beeped. Ciara took the call on a headset. She stopped, her eyes wide in shock. "Chasm, it’s for you," she said while activating the room's viewer. An image of an elf female formed on the screen. She was older, thin, with gray in her hair. "Chasm! You're alive."
"Alaina?" Ruby said in shock. "Where the hell are you?"
"Ruby? Is that you? My gods, where's your mobile."