Imperium: Contact

by Kabbabe, Malek

  Then he saw it; a thin, long groove in the dusty floor. Andrew knelt down for a closer look, carefully he brushed some of the dust away. The groove he had spotted connected to three more to form a large rectangle. Andrew pulled out his knife and stabbed it into the groove nearest him. Part of the blade slid down and underneath the rectangle. He pushed down on the knife’s handle and a rectangular metal plate popped up.

  Andrew pushed it aside, it revealed a narrow staircase leading down and out of sight. Slinging the R6 rifle over his shoulder, Andrew activated the light source built into the knife's handle, then deactivated it again. The light would probably give him away to any potential guards. Slowly, he made his way down into the pitch darkness.

  The staircase wound its way down for a full five minutes. Finally Andrew saw a faint flicker of light coming from just around another turn. Bringing up his rifle, he crept forward. The stairs ended in a wide hallway that led to a large set of double doors at the far end. Light was spilling out underneath them and he could hear muted voices on the other side. Shengyet voices and by the sound of it, there was a heated argument going on in there.

  As Andrew approached the doors, he noticed a thin wire grill in the wall to the left. Passing his hand over it, he could feel air flowing. This had to be some sort of air-duct. Andrew examined it more closely; it appeared to be made of thin aluminum wire. There were no alarms on it either; whoever was in charge of security down here had seriously slipped up. Using his knife, Andrew had the wire cut in a matter of seconds. If anyone took a closer look at the vent, they would know it had been tampered with but there was nothing he could do about it now.

  The vent was narrow and Andrew had to push the rifle and his equipment pack in front of him. After a few meters the vent made a sharp right turn. The sounds of the conversation faded away. Up ahead he could see another wire grill, this one looking down. Quietly pushing his equipment past it, Andrew peered through the grill. Below him was a cavernous room. The doors he had passed must have had more stairs leading down, because he was now over fifty feet in the air.

  Far below him Andrew could make out some of the shengyet fighters, resting on what appeared to be landing pads. Along the sides of this massive room, rings of metal walkways climbed up to the ceiling. One of these passed just below the air-duct a few meters back the way he had come.

  Andrew grabbed hold of his equipment and started back. When he thought he’d gone far enough, Andrew pulled out his knife. Just like the wire grills, the duct itself was made of aluminum. It was substantially ticker though and took some work cutting through. Pulling the square sheet of metal he had just cut back into the duct, Andrew peered down. He wasn’t exactly above the center of the walkway but it would do.

  Dropping down his rifle and the pack, Andrew squeezed through the opening. Landing in a low crouch he surveyed his surroundings. What he had thought to be a room was actually an enormous vertical tunnel, presumably leading to the surface. This must be some type of subterranean docking bay. Below him he could see a large group of shengyet standing in between the landing pads.

  They were in a rough semi-circle, all of them staring at a communications display. What looked like one of the largest shengyet stood a little closer to the display, apparently talking to someone. Andrew was too high up to make out who the shengyet was talking to but this conversation made a very handy distraction.

  There were stairs connecting the walkways to one another. Creeping forward so as not to make the rusty metal beneath him creek, he made his way down. Once he got down there he’d need to somehow get his hands on one of those fighters. He’d also need to prevent the shengyet from giving chase once they figured out one of their ships was missing. There was undoubtedly some type of control mechanism for the landing bay doors leading to the surface. Where it was or even what it might look like he hadn’t the faintest idea. Well, that could be easily remedied. He would simply use the fighter’s weapons to blast open the doors, provided they weren’t too thick.

  Now that he thought about it, that might be a real problem. If he did manage to steal a ship he’d need a fast getaway and if that door was too thick... Andrew shifted his equipment pack into a more comfortable position. The pack! The pack with the three canisters of Tritium. If he could get his hands on some type of remote detonator, two of them should be able to handle those doors, no matter how thick they might be. If he could also rig the third canister to blow up the landing pads down there, he’d have a pretty good escape plan.

  Chapter 8

  Anna stared into Saskill’s face, the other stared back and for a couple of seconds neither of them spoke. Then remembering why she was here, Anna began.

  “Chief Saskill of the Saskill clan of the shengyet, I am here to broker an agreement between you and the Human Empire.”

  She tried to sound formal but it was hard. Saskill’s glowing eyes narrowed.

  “Really and what sort of agreement is that?” He asked.

  Major Clark cleared her throat and stepped forward.

  “If I may introduce myself, my name is Major Sarah Clark. I believe that there is something I want on your planet. I would like your cooperation in retrieving it.”

  Saskill folded his arms across his chest.

  “I’m listening human.”

  “Thank you,” replied Clark.

  “As I said before, there is something on your planet that I would like to retrieve. I ask that you allow us to conduct our search.”

  “I see,” replied Saskill.

  “What is it you hope to find?”

  “I would prefer not to go into more detail until we have come to an agreement Chief Saskill,” said Clark.

  Saskill snorted.

  “You must think me an utter fool, you expect me to let you retrieve something from this planet without even telling me what it is?”

  “I am sorry Chief Saskill, but that is the way it must be,” replied Clark politely.

  Saskill let out a mirthless laugh.

  “As it happens Major, I already know what it is you are searching for.”

  “Really”, said Clark lifting her eyebrows.

  “And what might that be?”

  “One of your soldiers.”

  “I see and how do you figure that?”

  “A human freighter was shot down and crashed on this planet, when I sent two scouts to investigate the sight, they never returned.”

  “What would a soldier be doing on a cargo freighter?” Clark countered.

  “I do not know Major,” Saskill snapped.

  “But the scouts I sent were two of my best. I do not think a freighter's crew could have killed them.”

  “Very well,” said Major Clark.

  “Let's suppose you are right and there is an Imperial soldier on this planet and supposing that's what I'm here for. What will it take for you to help me find this soldier?”

  Saskill seemed to ponder the question for a few seconds.

  “I'm not sure you will be able to give me what I want in return Major,” he said finally.

  “Try me.”

  “This system is now in Imperial control, my Clan and I have no hope of escape. If you will arrange for our safe passage out, I will help you find your missing soldier.”

  Anna closed her eyes, there was no way Major Clark would agree to that. The Empire never let pirates go, especially shengyet pirates. Major Clark however, nodded.

  “That won't be a problem,” she assured him.

  “So, do we have an agreement?”

  Saskill considered the Major for a moment, then he turned to Anna.

  “Will Major Clark honor her word?”

  Anna didn't know what to say, especially with Clark standing right next to her. In all honesty, she didn't know what to think of the Major. Clark wasn't what Anna had expected, but she was still a Major in the Imperial Intelligence service. Which meant she would probably do whatever was in the Empire’s best interest. Then again, Anna couldn't see another way for Saskill and the
rest of the Clan to get out of here alive.

  “Yes, I believe she will,” she said finally.

  Saskill stared at her for a moment, then turned back to Clark.

  “Very well Major, I accept your proposal.”

  Major Clark looked relieved.

  “All right then,” she said, now sounding business like.

  “If you don't mind Chief Saskill, I would like to start by meeting with you face to face, so we can discuss the most efficient course of action.”

  Saskill's eyes narrowed.

  “I would have thought that you would want to investigate the site of the crashed freighter?” He asked suspiciously.

  Major Clark shook her head.

  “Your scouts have already done that, I doubt very much that Sergeant Williams will have remained with the wreckage.”

  “I see,” said Saskill coldly.

  “You'll forgive me if I sound rude Major, but there is absolutely no way I'm going to give you our exact location.”

  “May I ask why not?” Inquired Clark.

  “Because, it would make it exceedingly easy for you to just call in an ion-beam strike on our location,” replied Saskill.

  “I thought you would believe Commander Jackson that I am true to my word?” Countered Clark.

  Saskill looked at Anna once more, holding her gaze for a few seconds.

  “I believe that to be her assessment of you Major, but I will not bet the safety of my Clan on that alone.

  “Fair enough,” agreed Clark

  “May I suggest a compromise then. I will have my ship land by the crash site, Commander Jackson and I will then come alone to meet with you.”

  Saskill’s eyes widened in amazement.

  “You and Anna would come alone?” He asked skeptically.

  “Yes.”

  “It is agreed then Major, a vehicle will meet you in fifteen minutes by the crash site.”

  And with that the display snapped off.

  The entire bridge was silent for a while, then Lieutenant Dolohov cleared her throat.

  “Excuse me for saying so Major, but I think your proposed course of action is not advisable.”

  Dolohov's voice was hard and she was staring at Anna with cold contempt in her eyes.

  Major Clark turned to face the Lieutenant.

  “You don’t trust Saskill to live up to his side of the bargain?” She asked mildly.

  “No I don’t Major”, replied Dolohov.

  “I think it much more likely that he will take you hostage and use you to try and secure his people’s safe passage that way.”

  “That’s a chance I’ll have to take Lieutenant,” replied Clark calmly.

  “But I’m betting that Commander Jackson will be able to convince Saskill that this deal is the best chance his people have of getting out of here.”

  Dolohov paused for a moment, as if struggling with a decision.

  “Major, permission to speak freely.”

  “By all means Lieutenant.”

  Dolohov stared at Anna, the look of contempt now more pronounced than ever.

  “I’m not sure you should trust Commander Jackson,” she said flatly.

  The fear and anxiety Anna had been feeling for the past couple of hours spilled over. In truth, she couldn’t’t care less what the Lieutenant thought of her, but she was itching to release some of her built up tension.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Anna snapped.

  “Enough!” Major Clark cut in before Dolohov could reply.

  “I have made my decision, now concentrate on the task at hand.”

  Chapter 9

  Sergeant Andrew Williams crouched perfectly still behind an equipment crate, breathing as slowly and quietly as he could. He needn't have bothered; the shengyet technician walking by paid no attention to his surroundings. He walked straight towards the machine shop at the other end of the landing bay. Andrew caught what he thought were a few choice curses the tech was muttering to himself.

  No wonder he was swearing, he had just discovered the bit of sabotage Andrew had done to one of the fighters. He had disabled the craft’s magnetic plasma containment system. The system used finely balanced magnetic fields to keep the fighter’s engine plasma from melting the craft. The complex electronics controlling the magnetic fields were notorious for breaking down.

  Which meant the tech would think it had merely failed again, rather than being deliberate. Fixing the problem would require hours of diagnostics and delicate repair work. This meant it would be quite some time until anyone expected him to be finished and noticed his absence.

  Staying in a low crouch, Andrew snuck up behind the technician. A quick open palmed strike to the base of his skull and he crumpled to the floor. Dragging the body behind the crate, Andrew set to work. He removed the tech’s equipment belt and put it on. There was also a key card, this was what Andrew wanted most. The machine shop was locked; he could have probably picked the lock or forced his way in. It was possible however, that the shengyet had some type of alarm set up and he had no desire to bring the whole base down on his head.

  There had to be something in there he could fashion into a crude detonator. The group of shengyet he had seen earlier, had disappeared through the door leading back the way Andrew had come. No doubt they were going back to the surface. To continue looking for him or some other purpose, he didn’t know. All he did know was that he had to get out of here as soon as possible. For the time being the shengyet seemed to be disinclined to use their fighters or leave the planet. That could change however, and if he wasn’t gone by then he’d be stranded here.

  The Twilight’s hull glowed a dull red as it streaked through the planet’s atmosphere. Anna and Major Clark stood waiting by the rear cargo hatch, waiting to disembark and meet a group of shengyet who were the only family Anna had left. Speaking to Saskill over the com had been hard enough, but she dreaded meeting him face to face. Not that Anna was scared, she knew Saskill regarded her as his daughter. He would die to save her if he had too. It was her guilt she dreaded, hot sick prickling guilt in the pit of her stomach. Guilt for leaving them, guilt for ever having joined the Imperial Navy and guilt for what her race had done to the shengyet.

  The deck beneath them jerked and bounced once, they had landed. Ensign Aziz's voice came over the com.

  “Sensors picking up three all-terrain vehicles approaching. They're punctual, I'll give them that,” he added.

  “Very well Ensign,” replied Major Clark.

  “The Commander and I will disembark, Lieutenant Graham?”

  “Yes Major.”

  “You have command of the ship while we're gone. If we're not back in three hours you are to take off and inform the task force commander of the situation.”

  “Major, we couldn't just leave you here,” protested Graham.

  “You can and you will,” Clark cut him off.

  “No heroic rescue attempts, is that understood Lieutenant?”

  “Yes Major.”

  “I also want you to keep the sensors on full spectrum sweep,” added Clark.

  “Just in case the shengyet try to board or disable the Twilight.”

  “They're welcome to try,” said Graham.

  “No, they are not,” replied Major Clark

  “If you detect a threat, you leave the surface and go for help, understood?”

  “Yes Major.”

  Clark switched off the com.

  “You ready Commander?” She asked.

  Anna nodded and snapped on her breathing mask. Major Clark did the same and then opened the hatch.

  They had been waiting for no more than a minute when three dust trails appeared on the horizon. Another minute later the three ancient all-terrain vehicles crunched to a halt in front of them. The door of the middle one opened and out stepped Saskill followed by another shengyet and a young man, with the same black eyes and hair as Anna's.

  “Anna!” He exclaimed running up and throwing his arms around her.


  Anna hugged him back and for a moment they just stood there. Then pulling back a bit to get a better look at her, he smiled.

  “Father told me you were coming, but I didn't really believe it until I saw you. How are you?”

  “I'm all right John,” she replied.

  “But how are you? I heard you were captured by Imperial Intelligence and they....” She trailed off.

  Suddenly and uncomfortably aware of the black and gold uniform she was wearing.

  John grinned.

  “It never was much of an interrogation, they didn't have time. I was rescued before they really got started.”

  At that moment Major Clark stepped forward.

  “Chief Saskill, it's a pleasure to meet you,” she said extending her hand.

  “ Likewise,” Saskill replied coldly.

  He too extended his arm and engulfed Major Clark's hand in his massive, scaly green one. Her hand twitched but she didn't withdraw it. Saskill let go and gestured to the vehicles.

  “If you will follow us back to our camp, we can begin the negotiations,” he said.

  “Very well Chief Saskill”, replied Clark.

  The ride to the shengyet camp was bumpy and uncomfortable. When they finally reached it, Saskill led them down the hidden trap door to the underground facility. No one had spoken a word since they had entered the vehicles. The noise of the engines had made that impossible. Not that there was anything Anna wanted to talk about. Her insides were churning with a strange mixture of guilt and awkwardness that made it hard to look at John or Saskill, let alone talk to them.

  Saskill led them through the underground launch bay to a side room. It was small, in the dim light Anna could make out an old table with chairs set around it.

  “Please be seated,” said Saskill indicating two of the chairs.

  Major Clark and Anna sat down.

  Saskill, John and the other shengyet whom Anna didn't know, sat down across from them.

  “So, Major Clark,” began Saskill.