by Gary Caplan
The alliance between the Accad and the Varlon made the few other more senior advanced spacefaring civilizations wary. It worried most of them enough to consider working with the younger civilizations in the galaxy, such as those in the Alliance of Worlds. The group called the Hegemony, which was made up of four of the older spacefaring civilizations, was especially worried. The members of the Hegemony were considered by most to be the first alliance and included the Estrians, Karratins, Lyramenians, and the Quarran. The Varlon had never succeeded in defeating or inflicting any lasting harm to them, and as time passed the Hegemony became more secluded and tended not to interfere in the affairs of the younger civilizations. That was until the Accad and the Talcon arrived from outside the galaxy.
Commodore Sheppard looked at the view screen as he exited the command alcove to the bridge. He looked at the bridge crew hard at work; Sharon looked over and smiled briefly, then continued with her work. As Sheppard moved to the captain’s station, Wilder stood and said, “Sir.”
Sheppard looked at Wilder and replied, “Just walking and thinking—about a lot of things. For one, have communications contacted the government officials who reported the specimen loss? Until we detect incoming torpedoes, I’ll work on that project.”
Ares cleared her throat and said, “Sir, I took the initiative to make contact with the wildlife commission on Treeton Three. They’re willing to send information and even meet with us if needed.”
“Good, thank you,” replied Sheppard. “Send a copy of their reports to my station. I’ll examine that before any visit.”
“Of course, sir. Commander Taylor and I have already started looking at what was sent over,” said Ares.
“I’m curious to find out who’s responsible, and the information here could provide clues, but I have just started to look into it,” said Taylor.
Sheppard smiled back and gave a soft chuckle.
Mr. Sterling a blond-haired fellow who had traveled to or lived on several of Earth’s colonies looked up from his second-officer station. “Sirs, the third task force has arrived in the outer section and is deploying to patrol routes.”
“Good news,” said Wilder.
“Sir, I think we should deploy the remaining four starfighter wings,” said Commander York.
“I agree,” said Wilder, “and rotate the wings so that each squadron has a break. Five full wings of twenty starfighters patrolling per wing gives us a hundred small craft on patrol.”
York replied, “Yes, sir. That should provide cover for our main ships actively scanning, with the smaller ships ready for torpedo intercept, and some wings from other ships are also being deployed in planetary defense.”
Sheppard commented, “I will accept this as a status report, and it’s good to know that things are well in hand. I should to return to my office to review those documents Ares sent, and whatever task force actions Fleet Captain Sherman wants me to consider.”
He took one look around the bridge, recalling his days of bridge time.
As Sheppard left the bridge and walked back to his office, Fleet Captain Natarris entered from the aft turbolift entrance to the bridge. He was being more observant as he used a Star Knight discipline to help facilitate his cognition; it had an additional effect of enhancing his senses. As a result he was hyperaware. He approached the bridge to turn toward Commodore Sheppard’s office through the side corridor in the aft section. As he was walking, he noticed Lieutenant Commander Ares, who had seen him enter the bridge. It wasn’t her beauty but a sparkle of power he noted—a view into her “chakra,” as some humans called it.
Ares approached him, allowing him to focus on her more closely. She said, “Sir, did you get a chance to review the material sent by the wildlife commission of Treeton?”
Natarris replied, “Yes I have been able to look at most of the reports of consequence as I have no regular duties here.” He paused. “I am on my way to discuss that with Commodore Sheppard.” He paused again. “Lieutenant Commander Ares, I have a personal question.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied cautiously.
“You are from the Tyrian home world, right?”
She nodded.
“Have you had any psionic training? I would be able to help you if you wanted to learn.”
“Sir, right now I am focusing on my career here. Thank you for your interest, but I had some less-than-ideal experiences with some Tyrian telepaths on my home world.”
Natarris said, “As you wish. Perhaps when you are ready, I or Lord Garfield can try to assess your ability.” He nodded to her and began to turn away to go to Sheppard’s office.
Ares was still for a moment. Garfield. She had a great deal of admiration for him, and he treated her almost like a young sister. There were times that she believed he behaved strangely as if testing her, especially when he slipped by her using that psionic ability of his to move about. Ares watched Natarris walk down the side corridor to the command office while looking for some hint that Garfield might have also tried to slip by. Ares had always been reticent about discussing psionics. She worried about some psionic users, like the one who was quite hostile to her when she was on Tyria. She was therefore also wary of the Star Knights.
Chapter 8
Star Knight’s Meditation
To speed things up, they decided to take the transmat down to one of the planet’s surface transmat stations, a few seconds’ journey from low orbit, and then later to return by shuttle or T100 after the T50s and T100s set up additional interceptors around the capitol city. Sheppard and his investigation team would head back with the starfighters. His team included Fleet Captain Natarris, Commanders O’Brien and Taylor, and Lieutenant Pelori, who came to facilitate communications with the local government. Commander O’Brien and a few engineering officers and technicians would help with Sheppard’s investigation and then would be part of an engineering team to help set up the planetary defenses.
The transmat device was adapted from multiple technologies the Hegemony had passed along some time ago. It was one of the more advanced and energy-demanding pieces of equipment used by the Alliance of Worlds. Already waiting in the transmat chamber was the transmat engineer and those assigned to serve as assistants for the ambassador. The transmat actuator activated and then energized, creating a protective barrier for the passengers and equipment. Then the device created a temporary wormhole, a jump pocket to hyperspace, which temporarily connected or linked the two transmat platform locations. The power usage was enormous, but it did allow emergency transfer of supplies and equipment. Sheppard watched as the transmat activated and some of the defense preparation supplies and equipment were sent ahead. Just before that some operations crew had been sent over. The receiving station also had to be successfully activated to allow the short hyperspace conduit to form. Transfer usually took several seconds, and nearby atmosphere tended to go along for the ride. There was usually a short disorientation for passengers after the transfer occurred.
Sheppard stepped on the transmat platform along with a few other people, including Commander Taylor. Sharon gave him a reassuring pat on the back and one of her happy-to-be-going smiles. The actuator rings elevated with ten-centimeter intervals between rings from chamber area floor to ceiling, surrounding those to be transported. These rings formed what appeared to be a multiple-banded, semicylinder protective barrier zone around the crew and some equipment. Sheppard could feel the vibration and a metallic taste in his mouth as the transmat device set up a temporary wormhole between points, and it felt disorientating for a moment—like moving sideways.
On the planet, Sheppard was met by several officials. Sheppard’s executive staff that had arrived earlier hadn’t yet fully completed some local administrative and permitting tasks. One of the planetary officials, Miss Bain, was from the wildlife and forestry agency. To move things along Fleet Captain Natarris took charge of the specimen search mission, while Commodore Sheppard was working with the local governor’s representative and General Yao, one o
f the chief military officers. Sheppard would rejoin the research team later after coordinating some fleet business with the colony officials.
Mrs. Bain was an older human lady with white-blond hair. She was dressed for an outdoor excursion in a warm coat and hiking boots. She took the investigation crew in some transport vehicles to one of the closer sites of the animal and plant disappearances.
“We regularly monitor the areas here, and when various animals did not return to the usual feeding grounds, we investigated,” said Bain.
“Can you show us where most were before the monitors noted the loss?” asked O’Brien. “Then my engineers and I can set up some sensors and drones to do a detailed scan of the areas involved here.”
Natarris said, “I can help your team with that, in order to speed up the process.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sure we can find some enhancing devices for you to set up or move as the sensor probes travel through an area grid scan,” replied O’Brien.
Commander Taylor added, “And Lieutenant Pelori and I will get a species list and try to determine a more detailed timeline of the specimen disappearances.” Afterward Miss Bain showed them the locations, and a few were accessible only on foot. They split up into teams to complete the tasks.
“I can link to an information terminal to get the information on the local animals, ma’am,” said Pelori.
O’Brien and his three technicians worked on setting up one sensor grid after another in each of the areas where animals and some trees were reported missing. Captain Natarris worked with another technician to get some scans on some more inaccessible areas. Natarris began to concentrate for a few moments, activating his Star Knight discipline for telekinesis. He felt the tingling in the back of his head and down his spine and began to focus that energy, converting a type of biopsionic energy in his cells to move a large fallen tree and some debris obstructing the pathway so they could take additional sensor readings. Natarris also liked to observe and listen to nature sounds and had been using another discipline to enhance his sight and hearing. He noticed a small cut or chip in the tree as if it was struck somehow. This was on the side of the tree where there could have been lateral impact. Natarris began to concentrate and drew on his Star Knight training. He had trained to develop his innate genetic qualities to sense, control, and enhance his own natural abilities. He noticed tracks, using those enhanced senses, as he improved his range and focus and began to see more clearly into the infrared and near ultraviolet and even more sharply for a short time. The sharper and wider visual spectrum allowed him to discern many more details of the animal tracks and the surrounding area that seemed to now reveal more depth of information as if the creature, a split-hoofed herbivore, was startled and bolted. His mind’s eye imagined the creature and its behavior. The lateral gash in the tree seemed unnatural and could have been from a pursuing cloaked mechanism. He might not have noticed even with enhanced senses if this area was in its rainy season instead of a relatively dry autumn.
Natarris sensed someone approach when he was about a half kilometer away. He didn’t have to look with his eyes but could sense the movement and the approach of another being, a human who had not been in this area recently. As the man moved closer, Natarris resolved the man in his mind’s eye using a different Star Knight discipline to remotely sense. Concentrating on the approaching individual and closing his eyes briefly, focusing on a kind of sixth sense, he could use an inner sight or clairvoyance to determine that it was Sheppard. As Sheppard was still over a hundred meters away, Natarris had time to finish a scan and even obtained a piece of the cut bark for molecular analysis, then had the technician who wasn’t far away set up a scan grid with the probes around the tree.
As Sheppard arrived Natarris said, “Ah, look here. I think the alien collector probe may have collided with a fallen tree or perhaps caused it to fall further as the probe followed a large split-hoofed animal. I employed a few Star Knight disciplines to get that conclusion.”
Sheppard relied, “Oh, excellent work and very observant of you. I was delayed a few hours with necessary briefings and support activities. However, I see everyone here has been busy.”
As Sheppard moved to inspect the tree, he began to concentrate and ready himself to see what Natariss was talking about. Natarris continued, “I was using a sensory-enhancing discipline when I noticed the cut mark.”
“That is very good; maybe I should try that too,” said Sheppard as he began to enhance his own senses temporarily, as he first thought then said, “Or maybe a telepathic clairsentient retrocognitive inspection might provide some additional information. I have tried that process a few times before, most notably last year while aboard the Phoenix in space. This is a living forest and might give a better picture.”
Natarris replied, “You’re right in a way, although you also get more of all the other things because of the amount of life here, and you have to mentally filter that down or you can miss something.”
“Maybe we can both work together, and since you’re a master-level Star Knight, I’ll defer to your guidance,” said Sheppard. “But we have to get moving as tactical now thinks we have between a few hours to not more than a day before the next long-ranged torpedo attack occurs.”
Natarris replied, “Yes, we can both work more quickly synergistically together in parallel as that will provide some alternative detailed information, especially if we can link with nature and get a glimpse of what may have happened here to this tree in this glade.” They waited for the probe to finish its scans and then for the technician to collect the hover probe and take it to the last site to be scanned. Natarris took out a mat he used for sitting and eating his lunch earlier and sat cross-legged on the grass; he motioned for Sheppard to sit on the tree. For a moment Natarris looked at a tree and some tall bushes. Then he took out an ornate metal wheel and said, “I use this metal to anchor me as I prepare for the meditative trance. It’s best if the less experienced one is closer to the object to be viewed, in our case this gouge on the tree.”
Sheppard nodded and moved closer to the tree.
There was a crackling of brush standing not far away. Sheppard turned and saw Ares approach. She had been fairly stealthy. Natarris smiled even though he wasn’t facing that direction.
Natarris said, “Things can be influenced depending on the concentration time we spend and how much detail we can perceive.” He paused and then continued, his senses still heightened, “Please join us, Ares.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Ares. “Admiral Garfield told me you were here. He arranged some kind of portal for me through his ship and then to this area. Commodore Sheppard, he said that I should tell you that the Estrian ship captain obtained some sensor data from a substation in hyperspace. Their sensors detected the drive wake of an uncloaked Varlon torpedo. He mentioned that some of the smaller long-range torpedoes travel with only passive countermeasures in hyperspace to conserve power.”
“Where one is detected, there will be more long-range torpedoes,” said Sheppard as his hand moved to his commlink.
Ares said, “Sir, they are still inbound and will arrive in approximately three hours.”
Sheppard nodded and said, “All right, this needs to be finished soon then.” He saw O’Brien in the distance operating some scanning equipment. He called loudly, “Commander O’Brien, be ready to pack up within the hour.”
O’Brien replied, “Yes, sir” as he accessed his link.
Natarris said, “We have been warned, and that gives us enough time to still get a good reading here. Ares, you might want to watch, to keep us safe if you like.”
Ares said, “Of course, sir. What are you going to do?”
Natarris said, “We will be meditating for a few minutes using one of the Star Knight disciplines to enhance perception and link telepathically to the area while simultaneously remote sensing toward the past.”
Ares looked a bit confused, but she was a calm person. She raised an eyebrow and replied, “You can do th
at? I did not know that is something a Star Knight can do.”
Natarris nodded as if already beginning to concentrate, then took a deep, measured breath.
“Natarris is a master-level Star Knight,” said Sheppard. “There are many Star Knight psionic disciplines, and what we are attempting is difficult but can be done. Oh, and if the biosensors should set an alarm off on our monitors, don’t worry. We will both be in a deep state of trance and meditation, and that can sometimes cause alerts being sent to med-bay.”
Natarris said, “Let us begin with increasing our stages of concentration. If you could start your meditation process now, we can try to look at this and finish within the hour.” Sheppard nodded, moved to sit with his back touching the tree on the side with the mark, and took a deep breath and began to relax. He could sense a light telepathic link ready to form with Natarris. As he meditated Sheppard began to hear and then see some flashes of images. Darkness gave way to light that slowly resolved as flashes of the past came. Natarris’s anchoring presence and skill made these shared images a bit sharper than Sheppard had experienced on his own before. Sheppard could sense his guiding link through the surface telepathic connection they maintained to enhance the remote retrocognition. After viewing and for what seemed almost an hour, an image of an object striking the tree as it moved after a large herbivore, which appeared to Sheppard to be a dark-haired elk-like animal that ran away at the last moment. Another object phased into view for only a few seconds. It was a probe of some sort, made of a metallic substance, and one part was reminiscent of layered glass. Sheppard hadn’t come across such a device before. As the probe followed, trying to catch the animal, it collided with the tree already in the process of falling. It cut into the bark and pushed it over as the probe hovered up and over and then disappeared under its cloak in pursuit of the animal. There were a few more images—some interesting and mildly pleasant arboreal smells and some forest sounds—before Sheppard eased out of the meditation.