Harvest End

by Max Dane

  The next hour passed very slowly for Finn. The ship was flying at one hundred and twenty percent of normal drive, and the hull temperature had risen to twelve percent above the specified hull tolerance.

  “Captain, our scanners show that one of the pursuing ships has fallen behind; they’re dropping out of firing range.”

  Micha said, “As far as they know, they’re winning; why would they quit?”

  Finn smiled, “Maybe they damaged their engines trying to keep up. It takes a lot of energy to maintain that speed, and power those forward lasers at the same time.”

  “The loss of their ship has bought us some time, Finn,” said Alex. “I show a reduction in heat energy along the port side.”

  “Confirmed, I show that too,” said Micha.

  “Captain,” said Mr. Eton, “the remaining enemy ships will close to within optimal striking distance in two minutes.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Eton. Alex, prepare to activate the singularity drive.”

  Finn leaned forward, “Mr. Keating, how long until we reach the end of the detour and hit the final straightaway?”

  “Captain, we need another thirty-three minutes.”

  Finn sat back. It was going to be close, but they had a chance.

  “Only one minute until they are within striking distance, Captain.”

  Finn nodded at Eton, and said, “Alex, activate the singularity drive.”

  Alex nodded, and instantly the space around the Athena became distorted. Gravity waves within the field made the running lights of the ship appear to melt and twist in unnatural lines.

  Barely seconds later, the Athena was barraged with enemy laser fire. The dissident ships couldn’t hope to out-run her, but for the next thirty minutes, they would be close enough to hit her at full power, squarely in the midsection. The temperature alarm sounded immediately, and water was flushed through ducts inside the hull in an attempt to transfer heat away from the hull plating.

  In thirty minutes, the Athena would pull away again.

  They needed to make it that long.

  “Alex, report; what is the effect of the singularity drive on the incoming laser fire?”

  “Damage from laser fire is at seventy percent effectiveness.” Alex looked up from his readout, “It seems, Captain, that Dr. Nath’s idea is working.”

  “Captain,” said Micha, “Another of the enemy vessels has dropped out of formation.”

  “On screen,” said Finn instantly.

  The three capital ships were close enough now that he could make out their shape. As he watched, their lasers crossed the gap to strike the Athena repeatedly. They moved constantly, crisscrossing the hull with the promise of silent death.

  “Watch the one on the right,” she said.

  He could see it growing smaller as it fell behind. Suddenly it exploded, sending hull fragments like shrapnel, mixed with super heated plasma, forward into the second of the three ships. Together the two warships blew apart, briefly becoming twin stars as their gravity drives flared before collapsing in.

  Now only one remained, and slower than the Athena, it was steadily falling behind. ‘You must realize this is over. You can’t catch me before the jump, and you’d be a fool to follow me through,’ he thought.

  But they would not give up, and the race went on until the final ship had fallen far enough behind that their lasers were no longer effective over the distance between. Finn watched the gap grow and breathed a sigh of relief. Once through the jump, he’d take up position behind it. From there, he could begin repairs and easily defend the jump point.

  Finn took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Grinning broadly, he said, “Well done, people, we did it.”

  “Captain,” said Eton, “Our sensors show that they’re still following us.”

  “That’s all right, Mr. Eton. They won’t reach us before we jump.”

  Finn looked over at Alex and said, “We have to remember that trick; it saved the day.”

  “Yes, but it doesn’t hurt that three, of the four ships chasing us, blew apart en route.”

  “Harvesters?” asked Finn.

  “Yes, that’s what I was thinking. In fact, if the first three are anything to go by, I’d wager the fourth won’t last much longer.”

  Finn studied the screen, but nothing appeared to threaten them. “I would love to stop for repairs, but if they catch us when we’re unable to maneuver, they could make short work of the Athena with those rockets.”

  “I agree; let’s jump and make repairs on the other side,” said Alex.

  “Exactly, what I was thinking. Mr. Keating, reduce speed to three quarters, and take us to that jump.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Micha, start asking for damage assessments. We may have limited time to make repairs, so we should begin prioritizing. And I want that shield back up.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Finn relaxed; there was nothing on the screen behind and nothing ahead.

  ‘Not a bad ship,’ he thought, ‘not bad at all.’

  When they finally arrived at the jump to the Deneb system, Mr. Keating brought the Athena to a halt, into position at the mouth of the differential.

  “All stop; we’re here, Captain.”

  “Very good, Mr. Keating, hold position.”

  Finn glanced around the bridge to make sure everyone was present. Alex was back at the station next to him, and Julian at the science station.

  “Okay, let's talk about what to expect. It is possible that dissident forces are in Deneb, just as they were here. The existence of the enemy fleet we just passed, suggests a base nearby, or even a colony. I think there may be an unmarked jump point somewhere in the system that the dissidents have been using. I don’t want to be surprised again, so watch your scans, and keep the sensors on full range. Stay on guard, another fleet could appear.”

  Finn leaned forward to the pilot and navigation stations. “Mr. Keating, do you remember the defensive, jump-maneuver we practiced in the Ajax?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “I want to do that again, but I would like for you to pre-program it. Mr. Eton, you will activate it on entry.” Hearing the odd request, both Keating and Eton swiveled around, “Captain?”

  “Mr. Eton adjusts to the jump disorientation more quickly than anyone else on the bridge. I want him to activate the maneuver.” Keating glanced at Eton, before returning to his console to create the routine. Mr. Eton looked very pleased.

  Leaning back again to address the science station, “If we find that the space there is clear and safe, we will remain in position behind the jump point, and affect repairs. While we’re doing this, Julian, you should begin your analysis of the cloud around Lester’s Colony. However, it is imperative that your group assists engineering with the repair of the field generator. We must have the barrier field back in operation.”

  Julian nodded at Finn. “Yes, I understand, Captain; I’ve already split my team into two groups. They will begin as soon as we’re through.”

  “One last thing, Mr. Keating, during the last battle, the Commander fired our new plasma-lance, laser platform. It was very effective; be ready to use it again.”

  Keating turned back around to talk to Micha. “Commander, I’m not familiar with it yet; what power level did you use, in the engagement?”

  She looked up from her console with a feral grin, “All the way.”

  Finn laughed, “It was a good setting, Mr. Keating.”

  “Very well then, if everyone is ready, Mr. Keating, please take us through.”

  Keating nodded and activated the jump sequence. “Attention, crew, we are entering the jump to the Deneb system in three, two, one- ”

  When Finn came to his senses, the bridge was quiet, and Eton was studying the screen. “Mr. Eton?” he whispered, as his vision cleared.

  “Captain, we have arrived and have taken up position behind the gravity differential. Scans show no dissident warships in striking range, and I’ve already initiated ou
r long-range scans. We will know more momentarily.”

  He nodded and rubbed his eyes, still trying to shake it off.

  “Julian, get started.”

  Julian nodded and made his way carefully off the bridge.

  Micha was on the comm, “Engineering, begin repairs immediately.”

  Finn stood up and stepped close enough to grasp Keating’s shoulder, “Daniel, watch the jump; if anything comes through, shoot it.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Alex, monitor the repairs to the barrier field. I want status updates every half hour.”

  “Very good, Captain.”

  Finn returned to his chair, half expecting the dissident capital ship still following them, to appear from the jump. If it did, it wouldn’t stand a chance between the jump disorientation and the Athena’s plasma lance, assuming everything performed as it should. But nothing ever seemed to.

  So they waited.

  Nearly an hour had passed when Lieutenant Banton said, “Captain, Dr. Yates is asking for you.”

  “Put him on, Lieutenant.”

  “Finn, our astronomy labs are complaining about the gravity differential. Apparently, our position behind it is distorting their data. We need a clear line-of-sight of the harvester cloud.”

  Finn rubbed his hands; they were sweaty. He didn’t want to leave this position.

  “Julian, this is a very strategic spot. Is this really necessary?”

  “I’m afraid it is, Finn. Our results will be worthless if we stay here.”

  He sighed and sat up, “Very well, Doctor. Mr. Keating, alert engineering to pause their repairs. Then take us to the far side, but turn the ship around; I want a clear firing solution on anything coming from Bunda.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Moments later, the Athena left the protection of the jump point and moved into open space, with a clear view across the Deneb system. On the big screen, Finn could see the Lester Colony. As the others before it, the planet was engulfed in the translucent blue of the harvester cloud. Undulating and snaking its way from the planet out into space, it was a constant reminder of the real enemy. They needed that barrier field up again. “Alex, the repair status; report.”

  “Yes, Captain. The top field-generator was struck a glancing blow from the rockets in the initial engagement. There is a ring that spins around the edge of the generator, and it was apparently deformed in one place from the explosion. If we were in a shipyard, they would simply remove the top of the generator and replace the fatigued component. But here our engineers don’t have anything big enough to do that. So they are trying to heat the edges of the piece and re-shape it. They seem optimistic, but are estimating another four or five hours for completion.”

  In the distance, Finn couldn’t stop watching the cloud moving around the planet.

  “Keep them moving, Alex.” He looked over at Mr. Eton, “Please switch the view to the jump point.” Eton nodded and adjusted the main view screen so that it displayed the empty space around the jump. Instantly he began to feel better.

  Julian had already finished directing the repair of the field generator, and identifying the necessary steps to get it up and running again. Working in the ship’s laboratory, he was settling into the analysis of the cloud around Lester’s Colony. His staff was still collecting data to nail down the vector of its movement, but some of the numbers were already trickling in. Excitedly, he entered what he could, into his galaxy model and watched as more stars were eliminated as possibilities for the alien home world. The swath of potential candidates was less than two percent of the galaxy now, all clumped around the constellations of Ursa Minor and Draco. He was so close; they just needed a little more data.

  Nath walked in and looked over his shoulder at the holographic model, “Julian, how is your search progressing?”

  “Very well, Dr. Nath,” he said without looking up. “The search has narrowed again, revealing that the alien home world is either in Ursa Minor or Draco. With a little more data, we should be able to identify the constellation and the specific star.”

  Nath nodded, “You have done well, Julian, better than I would have thought possible. Under different circumstances, I would have enjoyed working with you as colleagues.”

  Julian glanced up, “But we are colleagues, Dr. Nath, in the middle of the first collaboration between our peoples. Don’t forget that we’re using your design for the EM mask, and it was your idea of employing the gravity drive in that last battle. You are a part of this mission.”

  Nath forced a smile, “Yes, of course, thank you, Julian.”

  “Ah, look, Dr. Nath, more numbers are coming in.” Julian rapidly studied them and began entering what he could into the model. So intrigued by the data he was, that he didn’t notice Dr. Nath turn resolutely, and quietly leave the room.

  On the bridge, Finn was starting to believe that no one was going to follow them through the jump. Feeling a sense of relief, he said, “Micha, I think we may have gotten lucky; there’s been plenty of time for that last capital ship to arrive, but so far nothing.”

  “Maybe they- ”

  “Captain,” said Alex, his voice full of concern, “I’ve been monitoring the field generator and the EM transmitters since we arrived. Something has just happened to the EM mask. It flashed for a moment and then changed.”

  “Changed? What do you mean, Alex?”

  “I’m trying to get a good reading, Finn. It looks as if it is no longer broadcasting the EM signature for hydrogen, and now it is broadcasting the EM signature of an isotope, iron-57. Someone has changed it from the most abundant element to one that is quite rare.”

  Finn jumped up, “Quickly, show me the harvester cloud.”

  Mr. Eton scrambled to change the view on the main screen. Instantly it reverted to the image of the Lester Colony and the cloud surrounding it. As they watched, the cloud deformed, sending a new tentacle out. Unmistakably, it was inching its way to the Athena.

  Finn spun around, “Alex, we need to- ”

  But Alex was gone.

  The door to the bridge closed with a soft whir.

  “Get me Julian on the comm, now!”

  Seconds later, he responded from the lab, “Yes, Captain, I’m in the middle of some complex equations right now. Can we talk when I- ”

  “Julian, listen to me; the EM transmitters have been re-programmed. They are attracting the harvesters to us.”

  “What?”

  “WHERE IS NATH?!” Finn yelled into the comm.

  “He’s in the lab; I was speaking with him just a little while ago,” said Julian alarmed. “Finn, I don’t understand; what’s happening?”

  “Julian, we need to shut down Nath’s EM mask. Stay there, I’m sending help.”

  Finn closed the comm to the bridge and said, “Commander, get security to the labs, now. Send a second group to Nath’s quarters; find the assistant he came with.”

  Running out the door, she nodded as she called the ship’s security team.

  Meanwhile, from his research module, Julian jumped up and walked quickly through the lab looking for signs of Nath. Calling out he said, “Doctor Nath, there must be some mistake. Where are you?”

  Over the laboratory communications system, he suddenly heard, “What does it matter if I tell you; we are doomed now.” The oddly placed accents and long syllables were unmistakable; it was Nath. “I am in the harvester modules. They are the reason I came, and they are how I shall die.” Worried now, Julian changed direction and sprinted through the lab modules.

  “Doctor, what are you talking about? We’re very close to learning the truth.”

  “I know, Julian, and that is why you must be stopped.”

  Throwing the doors open to the containment facility, he found Nath standing with his back to the sample rooms of the harvester research suite. He was pointing a weapon of some sort, one that Julian didn’t recognize.

  “You didn’t bring that on board; where did you get it?”

  N
ath smiled, “This? A toy I constructed while working on the EM transmitters. A bit primitive really, but completely adequate for defending myself while we wait for the scourge to come.”

  On the bridge, Micha said, “Finn, they found the assistant in Nath’s quarters; he’s dead. It looks like suicide.”

  Finn looked back at the cloud, approaching steadily. “Mr. Keating, prepare to move us back towards the jump point.”

  “We can’t move yet, Captain; the engineers have set up repair platforms across the port side of the shield generator. They have men out there working.”

  Finn sat down heavily, “How many?”

  Julian took a step closer, “Doctor, you can’t mean to do this; we were working together.”

  “You misunderstand, Julian. I have enjoyed working with you very much. But I already know the nature of the scourge. I watched as it destroyed my worlds, one after the next. I have come to realize that this is meant to be.”

  “Doctor Nath, I don’t understand.”

  Nath took a step back, still pointing the weapon at him, “Please don’t come any further, I don’t want to add your death to my list.” Imploring him, Nath continued, “Please listen, Julian. We have sinned; humanity has sinned. This is a plague sent from God, sent to destroy us. And when it is complete, the survivors will begin anew. It will be a glorious and humble beginning.”

  Suddenly, Alex appeared from between the sample rooms. Looking as if he intended to hug the doctor, he wrapped his arms around Nath, shoving both of them into the sample room behind. Tangled together on the floor, Nath quickly raised his weapon, only to watch helplessly as Alex deftly grabbed his wrist and twisted until it broke. The weapon dropped to the floor, and Alex kicked it out the door. With lightning-quick jabs, he struck Nath several times in the chest and head, before jumping up to search through his clothes.