"We can't do it," Dean said.
"You said we had to do it," Chavez argued. "You said there was no other choice."
"But there might be," Dean said. "If we can slow the ship down. If we can take control of it."
"That's bullshit man, you can't gamble with a whole planet like that," the HA corporal said angrily. "I've come around and given you the benefit of the doubt, LT. But now you're talking crazy. All the power has gone to your head."
"You can that shit right now," Staff Sergeant Mercer said. "Or I'll kick your ass right out the airlock myself."
"Settle down," Dean said. "Here's what we do. Staff Sergeant Mercer will take the platoon to find the power plant. Rig everything and stand by for my orders. If you don't hear from me in one hour, get back to the Valkyrie and finish the mission."
"That's not how we operate in Force Recon," Ipsish said. "We don't leave people behind."
"Platoon," Dean said trying to mask his fear and doubts, "we're between a rock and a hard place. If the system is lying and the ship is going to crash into Earth, we have to stop it. But if it's not lying, and there really is another race of intelligent space-faring beings intent on controlling the galaxy, we have to stop them. Perhaps we can do that, but it is very unlikely if they have advanced technologies that we don't possess. Now, none of us can argue that I'm wrong. So what do we do?"
"Only one thing to do," McCal said. "We cover our bases and do everything in our power to get the technology without endangering Earth."
"I agree. So, while you complete the original mission, I am going to find a way to stop this ship."
"And if you fail?" Chavez said.
"Then you can pull the trigger, Joaquin. Everything we've done has been to protect humans. We both want to do that now, just in different ways. We don't have to be at odds. You do your part, I'll do mine."
"What about the vice admiral?" Mercer asked.
"Leave the Wizard of Oz to me," Dean said. "Our time is running out. Let's do our jobs and find a way to live another day."
"You heard the man," Staff Sergeant Mercer said. "Pincer, Chevron, Safety, move out."
"Wait a second," Dean said. "Berg 78615, can you show my platoon the way to your power plant."
"Of course, Lieutenant Dean Blaze."
A plot of the ship's interior suddenly appeared on Dean's TCU visor, with a green navigation line showing their position and the way to the gravitational control center at the rear of the ship.
"You have access to my Tactical Control Unit?" Dean said.
"Yes," the ship said, with no sign of smugness or vanity.
"And you know what we're here for?"
"Of course. Your platoon was sent an Emergency Action Message, which I also received. You are here to plant explosives to destroy Berg 78615 before I can enter Earth’s orbit and carry out my prime directives."
"And you aren't going to stop us?" Dean asked.
"I have no ability to stop you, Lieutenant Dean Blaze. I am not a physical being. I merely control the systems on this ship. Your battle armor would keep you alive if I vacated the air supply. The gravitational manipulation that would stop your efforts would at the same time tear the vessel apart. If you choose to destroy Berg 78615, I will not stop you. But it is a mistake."
"I don't think so, perra!" Chavez said defiantly.
"Carry on, Staff Sergeant," Dean said, transferring the plot to the battle helmets of his platoon. "Berg 78615, please show me the way to your control center."
"What control center would you like? Navigation? Life support? Gravity generators? Weapons? Archives?"
"Navigation," Dean said. "I have to stop this ship before it’s too late."
Chapter 45
"Wolf Pack to Control. Do you read, over?"
"We have you, five by five, Wolf Pack, over."
"I'm making my way to the control center of the Urgglatta. The ship appears to be unmanned. It claims it was sent to warn us of the Kroll Empire, a space-faring race that has recently captured the Urgglatta home world and is stealing their technology."
"Wolf Pack, what is going on? Stop with the fairy tales and give us a mission report, over."
"That's exactly what I'm doing, Commander," Dean said. "My platoon is on its way to the gravitational control center of the Urgglatta ship. I am on my way to its bridge. It is my hope that I can find a way to stop the ship before it reaches Earth, over."
"That is not your mission, Lieutenant," VA Hamilton snarled. "You do not make up policy on the fly, over"
"I can't take a chance that the ship is being honest with us. I have to try, over."
"You are relieved of command, Lieutenant. Return to the airlock and await instructions. Staff Sergeant Mercer, you are now in command of Recon platoon Wolf Pack. Get your explosives set and report. Is that clear, over?"
“Yes, ma’am," Mercer said.
Dean could hear the staff sergeant's teeth were clenched.
"Well that's a big damn relief," the VA said. "I want status updates every -"
Dean cut the feed from the Valkyrie command channel in his TCU. He didn't want to hear the vice admiral berating his platoon. In a way he felt better, but he also felt guilty, like he was slinking away to avoid a teacher's angry rant while his friend bore the brunt of his insubordination.
He had to shake those thoughts away and focus on the task at hand. The Urgglatta ship was large and Dean was jogging down the long corridors but eventually he came to a circular room that didn't look all that different from the bridge on the Valkyrie.
"This is the Navigational Control Center, Lieutenant Dean Blaze. How may I assist you," said the computer-generated voice.
"Bring up the navigational plot," Dean said.
A green line through the solar system appeared on a large screen. Dean recognized each of the planets even without the system labeling them for him.
"At what point will the ship use its gravity drive to slow down?"
Another point appeared on the screen.
"Can you send me the technical explanation for that maneuver and the specifications of your gravity generators?"
"Yes," said the voice.
Images began to appear on Dean's TCU visor. The first few looked like computations in a math that was much higher than his own skill level. Then came schematics for the gravity generators and page after page of printed readings for all kinds of specification.
Dean opened a private channel to Captain Dante.
"Esma, do you read me, over?" he asked.
"Yes Dean, I'm here. You sure started a shit storm, over."
"I'm trying to divert this ship," Dean said. "I'm sending you readings from the ship's navigation system. I need to know if it’s possible to stop a ship like this using the technology it’s claiming to possess, over."
There was silence on the comm link for a few minutes and when Dante finally spoke up there was resignation in her voice.
"I can't help you with this, Dean. It would take a team of scientists days to run these numbers. I'm sorry, over."
"It's okay," Dean said. "I'll just have to try another tactic. Stay on the line as long as you can, over."
"Roger that, over."
"Berg 78615, how do the Urgglatta control this vessel."
"With verbal commands."
"Good, I was hoping you would say that. I want you to slow down your approach to Earth right now."
"I cannot do that, Lieutenant Dean Blaze."
"Why not?"
"My primary directive is to reach Earth’s orbit as quickly as possible."
"But you do realize that if you don't slow down, you will be destroyed."
"That fact does not negate my primary directive."
"Dean," Esma's voice was as clear as if she were in the room with him, "what are the other directives, over?"
"Berg 78615 repeat your primary directives again, please."
"Of course. My prime objectives are as follows. One, reach Earth’s orbit in the Sol system of planets
in as little time as possible. Two, transfer the archived data from this vessel's memory banks to the people of Earth as efficiently as possible. Three, assist human engineers and scientists to reverse engineer the technology on this vessel."
"Dean, tell the system that if it doesn't slow down it will not only fail in its first directive, but it will fail all three, over."
"Roger that, over," Dean said. "Berg 78615, you do realize that if you fail to decelerate now, you will be destroyed and fail all three of your primary directives."
"This is true, but unavoidable."
"Actually, it is avoidable," Dean said. "Prove to us that you can slow this ship down and you will be able to carry out all three objectives."
"That premise is false. By slowing down, I will fail my primary directive."
"Is the primary objective more important than the other two directives?" Dean asked.
"All three directives are of equal importance."
"Is it not better to have sixty-six percent completion than zero?" Dean asked.
"I'm afraid my directives are in conflict, but it is not within my power to change or dismiss my given directives. I will continue on to Earth at the fastest rate possible, even if that results in total destruction."
"She isn't much for reason, is she Captain, over," Dean said on the private channel.
"I think you might be wrong, Dean. Maybe the ship isn't planning to stop at all."
"I can't take that chance, Esma. I have to try, over."
"Even if you die trying?" she asked.
"I took an oath. I have to honor it. If I die, my only regret would be not getting enough time with you."
"Do what you have to do, Dean. I'm right here with you, over."
He could hear the distress in her voice, but he had to shove his feelings away. He needed to find a way to stop the ship and he couldn't do that if he were worrying about dying or feeling bad for Esma.
"You can't stop the ship," Dean said out loud. "But can I?"
"Yes."
Dean's heart flipped.
"Can you show me how?" he asked.
"Slowing the ship requires firing the retro gravitational field, which is controlled in the Gravitational Control Center. Bringing the retro generator online takes four minutes. The field it produces can slow the ship."
"Can it stop the ship?"
"Yes."
"Will you help me do it?"
"I am programed to help humans, but I cannot act in contrivance to my prime directives. I'm sorry, Lieutenant Dean Blaze. I cannot help you."
"Can you send me the control schematic to the retro generator?"
"I can," the computerized voice said.
"Do it, and show me the way to the Gravitational Control Center."
Dean started running through the ship. He was breathing hard, his heart racing, when suddenly the vice admiral's voice broke into his TCU.
"Lieutenant Blaze, I order you to stand down," she shouted.
"Commander. I can stop this ship. I just need a little more time, over."
"No, you are in direct violation of a superior's orders. You must cease and desist all activities immediately or I will have you shot."
"Well, if you're going to kill me, let me tell you that you're a real grade A bitch."
Dean heard the gasp from the vice admiral, but he ignored her outrage. It wasn't until he reached the gravitational control center that he stopped running, and her angry commands registered in his brain. The gravitational control center was close to the power plant where his platoon had set up explosives that would destroy the Urgglatta spaceship.
"Kill him now!" Hamilton shouted as the other platoon members formed a straight line across the corridor in front of Dean, blocking his path to the gravitational control center. "He is not your lieutenant. He is a criminal who is endangering the entire planet."
"You know that's not true," Dean said. "I can stop this ship. I just need a little time."
"There is no time. You are approaching Mars' orbital plane, you fool. If you don’t blow that damn ship up now, the pieces won't disperse enough to miss Earth."
"Trust me," Dean said to his platoon. "I'm not undoing your work. I'm not asking you to assist me. I just need a little time."
"Kill him!" the Vice Admiral screamed.
"Platoon stand down," Staff Sergeant Mercer ordered.
Ten specialists moved against the wall, making way for Dean to do what he had come to do. Only Chavez stood in his way.
"Please," Dean begged. "If we don't do this, we'll be slaughtered by the Kroll."
"You don't know that," Chavez said. "You can't know that. No one can."
"My job is to keep you alive and fulfill my mission objectives. Stopping this ship does that. Blowing it up kills us all."
"I'm not afraid to die, jeffe."
"No, you're one of the bravest men I've ever met, Joaquin. But right now I need you to think. We can't take a chance on being wrong. Stopping the ship gives us the best strategic chance of survival."
"And what if you're wrong?" Chavez said. "How can we take that chance?"
"You can't!" VA Hamilton snarled. "Kill him now!"
Chavez's utility canon swiveled toward Dean who spread his arms wide to show his Heavy Armor corporal that he wouldn't fight back.
"I won't stop you, Chavez. I can't promise you anything. But I would trust this platoon to accomplish any mission, any time, and anywhere."
"You bastard," Chavez said.
"Kill him now!" Hamilton screamed.
Chavez reached up, unlatched his helmet, and pulled it off. He ran his hand through his hair and grinned.
"I can't stand that bitch's voice," he said.
Dean wanted to hug the HA corporal. He also wanted to laugh hysterically. But he held back both emotions and rushed instead into the Gravitational Control Center. The room was filled with four large cylinders. The room was absolutely quiet.
Dean dashed toward the first giant mechanism, circling it, studying the markings. He couldn't read anything that was printed on the huge machines. The next device was the same and he felt despair rising up and threatening to engulf him.
"Berg 78615, which one is the retro generator?"
"I cannot help you, Lieutenant Dean Blaze."
"Damn it, why?" Dean shouted. Then a thought struck him. "Which generator isn't online at the moment?"
"Only the retro generator."
"And how do I tell which one is online and which ones aren't."
"The readouts on the generator display."
Dean felt another wave of fear, and anger. He had searched the machine and found no controls, no displays. The generators were sealed inside massive housing units with no visible way to get inside or control them.
"Dean," Dante said as she gasped for breath as if she had been sprinting just before getting back on comms, "look on the floor. The Urgglatta are bovine, their natural line of sight is down in front of them."
Dean heard scuffling on the comm link but couldn't worry about what it might mean. He dashed back to the first mechanism and circled it again. He found a readout on the floor as he passed by one section. It looked like numbers, but he couldn't read them.
"Can you display the reading in English?" Dean asked.
"That would be counter to my prime directive."
Dean wanted to curse but he saved his breath as he dashed to the next device. He circled it slowly but there was no display on the floor. He stopped at what looked like a label on the huge device and thought hard. How would a cow operate a machine, he wondered. Then, on a lark, he tapped his foot on the floor. Nothing happened. He raised his foot and swiped it across the floor. Still nothing happened. In a last-ditch effort he raised his foot and stomped on the floor.
Lights came on under his feet. He screamed in triumph. The entire Recon platoon was in the room with him and many of them shouted as well.
"It takes four minutes to power on." Dean said. "Then we can slow it down."
"And if
you're wrong?" Chavez said.
"Then we blow it up."
"It will be too late," Hamilton snarled. "You stupid fool you've insured the destruction of Earth and nearly twelve billion souls."
"Don't listen to her," Esma said. "You can do this."
The four minutes counting down on his visor was agonizingly slow. The tension in the room was thick, the way Dean imagined it might feel standing before a firing squad. If he was wrong... he couldn't let himself go there. The consequences were too high. And what did he really have to go on for believing the computer on board the alien ship? It was nothing more than a gut feeling. Could it be a ruse simply to keep him from destroying the Urgglatta vessel? Anything was possible, he knew, but it made no sense. The Urgglatta weren't hostile. In nearly forty years of space exploration not one Urgglatta ship had fired on another vessel, or tried to take over a human colony. If the Grays had sent a ship, he would expect them to lie, but the Urgglatta had no motive to trick him.
He had done what was best in his opinion. He was trying to ensure that humanity had a chance to survive. He had weighed the odds, and done what his gut had told him to do. The four-minute mark passed and Dean toggled his comm link to the command frequency.
"Command, this is Wolf Pack. Retro gravity should be firing. Do you recognize deceleration in the Urgglatta ship, over?"
"Negative, Wolf Pack. The Urgglatta ship isn't slowing, over."
Dean's mind felt as though it were going to explode with anger. He had trusted the computer and it had lied. It had said the ship would slow down, but it wasn't. It had tricked him. He had gambled all of humanity on one throw of the dice and he had lost.
He ran back over to the readout and stared down at the foreign digits. He needed to turn the gravity up, but he didn't know how. He stomped on the floor again but nothing happened. He wanted to scream, to cry, to pull the ship apart bit by bit, but there was nothing he could do. He stomped again, slamming his foot down so hard he slipped. His boot brushed across the indecipherable digits on the floor as he tumbled forward. And when he looked back, the digit was different. He jumped back to his feet and began pawing at the numbers with his foot. Each swipe changed the display.
We Are The Wolf: Wolfpack Book 1 Page 25