by Gary Caplan
Garfield said, “I have not heard of any unofficial actions, and the methods used to collect the specimens here at the Starcity are not the Betellians’ usual collection methods. The only other interesting information came from my contact on the Rhyns’ flagship, the Trebor. My contact mentioned that the Rhyn had noticed a loss of animal and plant specimens on one of their carrier ships a few months after Commodore St. John and the Alliance of Worlds forces helped the Rhyn escape their well-defended but besieged home system, which had survived being surrounded by the Varlon for decades.”
Ares said, “Sir, the Rhyn are very cautious, so these perpetrators were clearly technologically sophisticated enough to escape with the specimens.”
Garfield said, “Yes, and my contact, I should say, is Minister Nombrin. He was mildly displeased with the loss. None were irreplaceable since they had their own gene bank. He indicated they had detected some unknown cloaked ship as it escaped. They detected a power surge. I did not inquire many details. However, I could tell the intrusion, more than the loss, disturbed him.”
Sheppard looked around the room and said, “Well, that leaves us with some useful information from our investigation, but not who.”
Natarris looked at Garfield and asked, “Do you have any ideas about who could have done this?”
Garfield considered and then replied, “There are only three elder civilizations in this galaxy with the necessary technology: the Myroid, the Thurians, and the Calyx. A group of Betellians could have probably pulled something like this off, but I believe Admiral Wiesse, that they did not. Lastly, the Jiyharr, who are here supporting the Accads, also have the necessary superior technology to do some kind of stealth operation using phase cloaks or some form of transdimensional shifters. A possible but less likely outlier might be one of the more powerful of the Starlords of the old empire in the Gamma Quadrant.”
Natarris said, “I heard one or two of the Starlords are collectors of sorts, but it would be a brazen step for one of them to go after this many animals without some type of joint agreement between them.”
Garfield nodded in agreement. Sheppard also nodded thoughtfully and looked around the room, realizing there was still more work to do. “So now, in order to show our Talcon allies—or at least their leader, Prince Kyr—our friendship and good will, we have to further investigate who really did this.”
Dr. Grey said, “We have looked at this seriously now, and I know enough about our Alliance of Worlds regulations that at least two flag officers need to be in agreement to authorize resources to further investigate something of this scope. So as a two-star-cluster commodore, I agree with you, and we can pursue this as a secondary mission.”
Sheppard smiled. “Good, so now all I have to do is persuade Fleet Admiral Peregrine that this is a good use of our resources.”
Garfield said, “I can help with that at least, being the most senior allied science officer.”
Sheppard asked as he looked at Natarris, “Did your Star Knight order provide you with some documents or data we can review?”
Natarris replied, “Yes, I have some reports that confirm what’s going on in other star systems, and the information from the limited investigations that have been conducted. I can provide you with that information.”
“Thanks, Torlin. I know you’ve taken some leave to investigate this yourself,” said Sheppard, “but for now I would like you to work with these officers to attempt to determine where we can begin to look for the individuals responsible. As we discussed earlier, this may become Star Knight business.”
Dr. Grey said, “Well if it’s the Jiyharr, then the Accads could be responsible for developing or maybe testing some bioweapon, and then that would involve more than the Star Knights.”
Natarris said, “You’re right, and Commodore Sheppard and I have briefly discussed a possible Accad-Jiyharr involvement.”
Sheppard’s commlink chimed, and he glanced down at the screen. Orders for ships and task forces were coming in from Peregrine. Sheppard took a more formal tone. “All right, it looks as if we might have received some orders for the Sixth Fleet. This issue can be evaluated some more with the new information provided by Fleet Captain Natarris. If we can get more information from the planets that were affected, maybe a timeline can be drawn up as to when this started.”
Natarris said, “Yes, maybe there is a pattern, or perhaps a course can be reverse plotted to their origin site. I will help your science and security officers to evaluate that.”
Sheppard said, “Good thinking, and I’ll see if I can send some ships to scout and investigate the disappearances from a few selected worlds. Maybe then we can determine more about how and what is going on.”
Ares said, “I would be interested in helping solve this mystery. Fleet Captain Natarris, I can arrange quarters for you while you’re aboard the Phoenix.”
Natarris smiled and said, “Thanks.”
Dr. Grey said, “Maybe someone can contact the three other groups Lord Garfield mentioned. I’m not sure the Alliance of Worlds even has contacts for them.”
Natarris added, “They are not the most forthcoming of the elder civilizations, but they are probably the most advanced.”
Garfield said, “I think between myself and Ambassador Kalst, we can contact them and see what information we can get through polite requests.”
Sheppard said, “That sounds like a plan for this. We can convene later in smaller groups in my office as more information is gathered.”
Sheppard stood up, as did most of the others. He thanked the officers for their presentations. He smiled briefly at Sharon as she glanced at him while she prepared to receive a transmitted copy of Natarris’s relevant data files. As Sheppard was leaving the briefing room, he met his task force coordination officer, Fleet Captain Sherman. Sheppard said, “Phoenix is out of the Talcon stardock. Now we need to see what the task forces in the Sixth under my command will be doing.”
Chapter 6
Colony Attacked
It was a sunny day on Treeton III.
Patrol officer Grell moved toward his grav-tank to join his crew. He kept looking up at the blue-green sky. They were waiting for an attack. They were there to fire interceptor missiles at any enemy missile or torpedo they could detect. Their equipment was set up in a field on a farm. Grell looked over and could see the two famers who held this homestead, who were in another section overseeing the planting operation, when a blast rocked the ground several miles away. In the distance a white blast dome formed as the energy from the explosion moved across the land, incinerating some near the zone and blasting trees from the ground, roots and all.
Grell ran for the grav-tank and its protection. As he got in, his weapon tech, Dana, raised the shields and moved the tank to bunker mode just in time. The blast wave hit them. Grell looked over at the famers behind them. They would not get to any significant cover or shielding in time.
Dana said, “I think the blast is interfering with communications.”
Grell said, “Dana, this must be the first wave. Can you target any missiles at the incoming enemy weapons?”
“I am trying sir. Their chameleon fields are working well,” she said. “I might—scan for well, there was a heat signature trail from atmospheric reentry I can try to lock weapons on, but it’s too late to intercept now.” Another blast occurred miles away in a different direction.
“Can you get the next one?” asked Grell.
“I think maybe,” said Dana. The missile launched and headed skyward. Several seconds later the blast wave from the second one hit.
Grell used the control panel to reinforce the shields as winds howled outside the grav-tank.
Dana said, “Our missile left to track the next one before this blast wave struck.”
Grell looked outside using the view port. Winds and fires had started. “Lucky it rained only a few hours ago.” There were smoking zones where the fire smoldered.
Dana said, “I think the missile found its targ
et.”
Grell said, “Keep sending them out even if you are not sure; we have to intercept some.”
Dana launched another and another. “Let’s hope for more intercepts.”
Grell noticed the communication channel was on again, and the Planetary Space Patrol’s auxiliary satellites had come on line. A bulletin message was now active.
A voice said, “This is a notification from orbital command station alpha. The system is under attack. Proceed to underground bunkers.”
Grell said, “We may need to move to a new position to intercept the incoming.”
Dana replied, “Let’s hope we don’t get too close to an impact ourselves. This tank won’t be able to protect us from that intense a blast.”
In orbit, the planetary defense systems had been recently activated as ultra-long-range torpedo weapons were detected coming out of jump. On board the Space Patrol’s orbital base, Lieutenant Zenold said, “Sir, the evasive nature and the stealth ability of these torpedoes allowed them to clear the outer ring of sensors.”
“Well, that is typical for Varlon weapons,” said Captain Haret, who was now in command, as Fleet Captain Fisk was on the Patrol cruiser.
Zenold said, “Initially none of the planetary sensor array alarms sounded any alerts.”
Captain Haret looked at her command terminals. “So now the inner-ring sensors noticed one and sent an alarm.”
A computer voice sounded. “Varlon torpedoes detected.” The warning was sent out to multiple locations.
Haret had survived something similar before, and said, “There were always several cloaked torpedoes involved.”
Zenold said, “Sir, several cruisers from Eleventh Fleet were in the vicinity and have responded to shore up our local planetary defenses.”
Haret said, “Well, now some of the Varlon Weapons will determine that those cruisers are a threat and target them.” Haret knew that Treeton III had been provided with the multiple defenses because it was located located close enough for a probable Varlon attack.
Haret said, “Some of the enemy torpedoes had the chameleon field for defense. So our antitorpedo missiles and beam weapons are having a difficult time locking on to target those with the chameleon.
Zenold had read through his link. “Sir, there are some nonchameleon cloaked weapons of enemy torpedoes that went on evasive courses toward their targets while others sped up and took the shortest route to strike our missile defenses.”
Haret looked at the sensors. “Some uncloaked torpedoes are headed toward the cruisers and also this station. Ready interceptor missiles and order the starfighters to intercept.”
Zenold replied, “Yes, sir. Defense systems are firing interceptor missiles, and we have several particle defense cannons ready as second line if our interceptors don’t get the enemy torpedoes.”
After a minute or so, a few of the enemy weapons struck the orbital station. Minor quakes shook the station as one antimatter torpedo that had been cloaked hit the defense screens, pushing and overloading that section and vaporizing the hull and a port section of the station. The section was significant, and the orbital base shook as explosive decompressions occurred. Haret, Zenold, and the small bridge crew lost balance for a moment as the station’s orbital position changed due to the energy of the impact. Haret grabbed a handhold just in time as one nearby crew member flew over two consoles and landed awkwardly. Zenold took a shock to his hand as his console overloaded. He was able to activate the magnetic section of his boot and secured himself as the automated stability thrusters repositioned the station. He still had to move to a new operations console as his shorted down due to power fluctuations. A few other operations stations had similar overloads.
As Haret got back on her feet, she said, “Having those cruisers stationed here will probably make the difference, resulting in less damage, as only a few of those long-range torpedoes will make it through to actually hit the planet. The problem is this was only the first strike.”
As they looked they realized this wave was over, and Haret sighed as she looked at the sensor reports and saw that Fleet Captain Fisk’s ship had been hit as well and appeared to have taken more than moderate damage.
On Alliance Headquarters facility Star One, Commodore Brandon Avery, who was in line to receive a promotion to vice admiral, was about to contact his friend Robert Sheppard when his door chime opened, and his adjutant, Commodore Terez, walked in, as disturbing alerts crossed his terminal.
“Brandon, planet Treeton Three has been attacked,” said Terez in an anxious voice.
Avery looked up at Terez and at his terminal, his interlink obtaining information for his brain to process. “That makes the colony of Treeton Three the latest victim of the Varlon long-range torpedoes.” After read the summary through his interlink, he knew he had to get some more starships involved in planetary defense. “We had better be able to suggest to the higher admirals what ships we can deploy.”
Terez said, “Our forces are stretched thin defending probable worlds the Varlon or Accads might attack.”
Avery replied, “I agree. The forces are stretched thin defending probable worlds that might now even be hit by some Accadian long-range stealth torpedoes that could have been set up.”
Terez said, “There are only some sections of the Fourth, Ninth, and Twenty-third Fleets near enough to be of help to that colony.”
Avery said, “Yes, but the Sixth had most of its forces presently on reserve working with the Talcon Starcity.” Avery thought Sheppard had been willing to help before. “After all the Sixth Fleet has some new temporary members from the Hegemony and other elder civilizations.”
Terez said, “Hopefully some additional aid could be pulled from the Sixth Fleet now that the Talcon fleet had been mobilized and established defense positions themselves.”
Avery added, “The Talcon moving about has caused some other concerns. However, that does free up some Alliance of Worlds ships. I think I need to get Commodore Sheppard to help, and you can contact the Twenty-Third, Fourth, and Ninth and see what they can spare if Sheppard can only send a small expeditionary force.”
Terez left, and Brandon Avery began to try to locate Sheppard.
The crew and officers on the bridge were in final preparation for hyperspace translight jump.
Captain Wilder said, “Set course for the Fabrini sector.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Commander Darani. “Course set.”
Wilder looked at his first officer and asked, “Any excess traffic along the course route?”
After a few moments, First Officer York said, “Course vectors verified clear via COMNET.”
Darani looked at the first officer, who nodded for her to proceed. She activated the jump and waited a few moments. The hyperspace jump window the Phoenix generated showed briefly like a whirlpool of light just before they passed through. There was a short translation effect that felt as if one was being pulled forward initially; it was briefly disorientating, like falling for a few moments. Then they were traveling in hyperspace, and things returned to a more normal condition.
Sheppard had walked out onto the bridge from the command alcove as the Phoenix was moving through the entrance whirlpool of light into hyperspace. He still liked to walk onto the bridge occasionally rather than just sit in his office. He watched as several other starships entered a similar hyperspace course. A large portion of the Sixth Fleet was organized into a sizable expeditionary fleet that had been ordered assembled by Fleet Admiral Peregrine. The Sixth Fleet, like the other fifty fleets in the Alliance of Worlds, originally had two hundred and fifty capitol ships in its armada. The capitol ships were of several classes, from the largest Galaxy-class dreadnaughts spanning over five thousand meters down to the smaller Waterway-class light cruisers that were just over eight hundred meters long. In between were the Constellation-class battle carriers that were close to the Galaxy class in size, only they had more starfighter craft. Next were the battle cruisers, and there were three major typ
es, the Legendary class, the Oceania class, and the Pegasus class. These ships were named respectively after legendary places or things, large planetbound bodies of water, and flying creatures. The battle cruisers ranged in size from just over two thousand meters to over about sixteen hundred meters in length. The next type, the Heroic-class heavy cruisers, were named after heroic or notable citizens or ancient persons of the member worlds. Heroic-class ships were usually twelve hundred meters in length. The final class of capitol ships was the Waterway-class cruisers, with ships named after notable waterways and rivers of the member worlds.
Sheppard noticed that the communication officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Nya, was giving a shift-end report to Lieutenant Junior Grade Pelori, who had taken on further duties outside navigation, including communications duties, with her promotion. Nya had begun to give an accounting of the information they had received on the entity that had attacked a planet close to Alliance space. Nya said, “According to what I read from the Hegemony information, the entity absorbs certain kinds of energy, and it devours life energy, and it’s from another dimension.” Sheppard’s attention drifted over to what was said about the space entity.
Pelori said, “I find it hard to believe that a living thing of such immense size could exist.” She looked over the report over the link. “This status report is not complete, Lieutenant Nya.”
Nya replied, “Well, we still don’t know what happened to this Nahalion entity. It was being chased by unidentified classes of spacecraft of two of the elder civilizations. The COMNET did not provide information yet on whether the thing was destroyed.”
Sheppard said, “I was informed the Hegemony or the others will intercept the Nahalion. I don’t know what they’ll do with it, but if we don’t get some kind of update or report in the next few days, I’ll ask.”