The Trilisk Ruins
Page 38
Chapter 25
Captain Relachik stared at the alien base rendered in the tactical map by the ship’s sensors. The general shape of the base was known, but the interior remained mostly blank. Only a few outer regions and corridors were part of the view, places where a few teams had attached sensor drones and managed to report back despite the alien EM scrambling.
“Download what we have to orient the ARs,” Relachik said aloud and simultaneously transmitted over his command link.
He wondered if he was about to commit his child to death. The assault robots were not known for their finesse.
“I want the alien and the smugglers alive, if possible. Make sure the controller teams are on top of that.”
There, maybe I’ve given her a chance.
“Aye, sir,” came the reply from the officer next to him, Colonel Baker.
Baker handled the AR teams and would coordinate with the Seeker’s assault shuttle crews to deliver the deadly arsenal that the scout ship held in her metal belly.
“Prepare to launch within the hour,” Relachik ordered.
So far the encounter had been a stalemate. The scout ship’s sensors were almost blinded by the amazing electronic warfare capabilities of the alien base, but they had managed to figure out that the outpost had been damaged in some previous battle.
“Send Lieutenant Hartlet into operations,” he ordered over the command link and walked into a glassed-off side room of the bridge.
Most of Relachik’s officers now believed that the base they had found had been crippled to the point where it had no external weaponry it could bring to bear on the Seeker. Relachik wasn’t so sure. He thought that they might be right, or perhaps the aliens weren’t so hostile as to attempt to destroy the Seeker on sight. He also knew that his daughter had been seen consorting with a live alien, a shock that took a while to fully absorb.
My daughter.
Telisa had been more on his mind these past few days than at any time since her childhood. Part of him wanted to forget about her. She had chosen her own path. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that she was his daughter. He’d try to save her now. Then, he’d hunt her down next time he got back to Earth and try to set her straight. But she’d gone so wrong this time… was she beyond saving? He ground his teeth in frustration.
Joe Hartlet came in and saluted. The captain returned his salute and pointed him at a chair.
“Are you ready to join the action, lieutenant?”
“Yes sir. We’re making an incursion on the alien base?” Joe asked.
“We’re conducting a probe to gather information, learn more about the base. Ideally we’ll find the alien, and perhaps the smugglers, and bring all of them aboard the Seeker.”
“I have reason to believe it’ll be very dangerous. In my report—”
“Yes. It’ll be dangerous, but this is vital to our future. These aliens have technology that we need to learn more about. Having the first live alien ever would of course come in handy as well.”
Relachik watched Joe consider objecting further.
“I can guess what you’re thinking. But given that the base is not responding to our efforts to communicate, and appears largely inactive, we think it may be deserted. And you’ve already come under hostile fire in the installation.”
“But that could have been from some other alien culture,” Joe said. “I don’t know who it was that destroyed my escort. Also, given the programming of the robots, it could have been a misunderstanding.”
Relachik steepled his fingers and leaned back.
“It’s pointless. The order has been given. The UNSF is prepared to accept the risks to this ship and the marines in order to learn more about an advanced technology in the hands of a race that could still be in existence.”
“I see, sir. Then I hope we can find some valuable items or information.”
“You’ve been assigned to Major Franks’ personal squad. They’ve targeted a sector of the base that looks particularly promising,” Relachik said.
He sent Joe’s link a pointer, indicating the area on their electronic master map of the outpost.
“Will I have any responsibilities with regard to the… combat effectiveness of the unit?”
“No. Which isn’t to say you won’t be armed… but the assault robots bring to bear more than ninety percent of a squad’s firepower. Your primary task is to lend us any additional thoughts your particular perspective may offer on the base, since you have been in this creature’s environment before. Assuming, of course, that the theories you put forth in your report prove correct.”
“Of course I welcome the opportunity to accompany the probe.”
“There’ll be more than one boarding party. Someone’ll come up with something.”