“Easy now Major, you're going to have to take it slow for a while,” he said gently.
Major Clark looked surprised but grateful.
“Thank you Saskill,” she said.
Then, switching on the com, she asked.
“Lieutenant Graham, what is our current location?”
“The Kathol system Major.”
“What's our status?”
“Green, Major. All systems at one hundred percent efficiency.”
“And the shengyet fleet?”
“They seem to be in relatively good shape, given the age of their ships,” replied Graham.
“Thank you Lieutenant, hold position and await further orders,” said Clark keying off the com.
“Chief Saskill, is there anywhere nearby we could drop you and your people?” She asked turning to him.
“Hmm, we don’t have any bases or hideouts in the Kathol system,” replied Saskill scratching his lower jaw.
“My crew and I have a mission to carry out,” Clark explained.
“A rather dangerous mission and one that we can’t delay.”
“I see,” said Saskill.
“Are there any habitable planets in the system?”
Major Clark keyed the com again.
“Lieutenant Graham, are there any habitable planets nearby?”
“One moment Major, checking Imperial records.”
The com was silent for a moment, then.
“Major, this system has an extensive asteroid belt between its first and second planet. There is a small bessra mining operation in place there. Several of the larger asteroids have been hollowed out and turned into living quarters for the miners. The sixth planet of the system is a gas giant with several moons that are technically habitable. The extreme cold of those moons however, means that no one could survive on them for long without sufficient equipment and supplies.”
“Thank you Lieutenant,” said Clark.
“I don’t think your people could survive for long on those moons, that leaves only one option.”
“I agree,” replied Saskill.
“But what about the bessra miners? I doubt very much they will appreciate having a clan of shengyet on their asteroids.”
“That is indeed a problem,” agreed Clark.
“But perhaps there is a way around that.”
Turning to the com once more she keyed it on.
“Lieutenant Graham, I want you to get in touch with whoever is in charge of that mining facility. Once we’re in real time communications range, patch them through to the briefing room's main view screen.”
“Yes Major.”
Major Clark slowly got to her feet and carefully sat down at the briefing room table. She seated herself facing the large view screen in the center; the com beeped.
“I have administrator Quillick waiting on channel one,” Graham reported.
Major Clark reached out and tapped a control next to her.
An alien face appeared on the view screen. Like all bessra, his face was covered in soft brown fur. The shape of the face was roughly human, with the exception of the nose, which looked like a thin, short snout. The bessra’s eye’s were a dirty yellow and fixed with a look of surprise on Major Clark.
“Administrator Quillick I presume?” Inquired Clark.
“Yes and whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?” Replied Quillick in a surprisingly soft and melodious voice.
“I am a Major in the Imperial Intelligence service and that is all you need to know for now,” said Clark.
Quillick visibly stiffened.
“What can I do for you Major?” He asked nervously.
“I need one of your habitable asteroids administrator.”
This was clearly the last thing Quillick was expecting to hear.
“I beg your pardon Major?”
“I need one of your asteroids,” snapped Clark.
“I see Major, I would like to help you. However we only have a small number of habitable asteroids-”
“I really do hope we can come to an understanding,” Major Clark interrupted him.
“I would hate to have to send in a few of my troops to take one from you.”
“N-no that really won’t be necessary Major,” stammered Quillick.
“I’m sure we can spare one of our asteroids,” he continued hastily.
“Glad to hear it,” said Clark dryly.
“I will expect you to send the exact coordinates of an asteroid you have evacuated of all your people, in shall we say ten minutes and make sure you tell no one else about this.”
“Ten minutes but that's hardly...” Quillick began, but trailed off at the sight of the Major’s icy stare.
“Ten minutes it is then, Quillick out.”
Major Clark exhaled.
“Well I think our friend Quillick fell for my bluff,” she announced.
“Yes indeed,” agreed Saskill.
“How long will it take for your people to get settled on that asteroid?” Asked Clark.
“Not long Major,” Saskill assured her.
“But Major, my people won't be able to stay on that asteroid indefinitely. Sooner or later someone will figure out they're there.”
“I know, but that can't be helped right now. As soon as we accomplish our mission I will make arrangements to have your people moved.”
“Thank you.”
“Permission to speak freely Major,” Sergeant Williams spoke up suddenly.
“Yes, what's on your mind Sergeant?”
“Major, what if one of those bessra spots who is coming aboard the asteroid and panics. What if they inform the Imperial fleet that a group shengyet pirates are in the middle of their mining operation?”
“That's why I told the bessra to clear out before any of Saskill's people land on that asteroid,” replied Clark.
“Yes Major, but it's still possible that they might find out, particularly after we leave. There is also the matter of that Fleet chasing us. They have no way of knowing where we went after we jumped, but what if they're listening for any unusual activity in the area? If they're after you specifically, they might find out you were here at one point and then come to investigate?”
Anna stared at Williams for a moment.
“Since when do you care what happens to these shengyet? You had no problem killing them earlier,” she snapped.
The Sergeant's face remained expressionless.
“Major Clark wants them to survive. It is my duty to give the Major advice when I deem it pertinent,” he said simply.
“I hadn't thought of that Sergeant, you're right,” Major Clark cut in.
“But I can't really see any way around the problem. The next part of our mission will take us into an area of space considerably more dangerous than where we are now.”
She turned to face Saskill.
“They're your Clan.”
Saskill thought for a moment.
“I do not like it either, but I cannot see any alternative.”
“Very well then,” said Clark.
“At your convenience we will transfer you and John to the steroid.”
Saskill hesitated.
“Anna will be going with you on your mission?” He asked.
Major Clark took a deep breath and turned to face Anna.
“I am in no position to force her, but I do still need her help.”
Anna looked up at the Major. True, she had been planning to leave the Imperial fleet at the next opportunity. Then again, Clark had just saved Anna's brother, father and the rest of her family, she owed her. Anna nodded.
Saskill cleared his throat.
“In that case, I would like to accompany you on your mission Major,” he said.
Major Clark's eyes widened.
“I would have thought you'd want to stay here and look after you're Clan.”
“My presence here will make no difference to their safety,” replied Saskill.
“Besides,” he added looking at Ann
a.
“Part of my clan is going on this mission.”
“No!” Anna protested.
“Saskill I can't let you do this, what if something happened to you?”
“I could make the same argument Anna.”
“I'm coming too,” interjected John.
Anna whirled around to face him.
“No,” she began.
Major Clark raised both her hands.
“I agree with Anna,” she said looking somberly from Saskill to John.
“From a tactical standpoint it makes no difference whether you come or not. The mission is classified at the moment, but by the time we get back, the entire fleet will know about it.”
She paused.
“It will however, be exceedingly dangerous.”
The entire room was silent for a moment, then Saskill made a soft throaty sound and grasped Anna's arm. Anna smiled despite herself and stared into those smoldering red eyes. John stepped forward to stand next to them.
“You don't think I'd let you two go on this mission alone,” he said softly.
“You'd be helpless without me.”
Chapter 12
Vice-Admiral Marcus Jones stood on the bridge of the Imperial Dreadnaught Emperor's Fist. He stood with his arms held behind his back gazing out at the Eridanus Five system. At the point where the Twilight had made its escape through the dimension vortex. The Admiral's outwardly calm demeanor was misleading. Inside his head, a tempest of anger and frustration raged.
Major Clark had escaped and there was no way of tracing her vector after the Twilight had jumped. He had been surprised to learn that the ship had been spotted in the Eridanus Five system. He had expected Clark to head for the system where the Dominance had been lost, however that didn't seem to be her objective. Why had she come here anyway? There was nothing remotely interesting about the Eridanus Five system. There had also been a number of other ships with the Twilight. The brief sensor contact they had had with them, was enough to tell him they were a motley collection of ancient transports and light fighters. The ships had risen from a small planet the Twilight had been orbiting.
Extensive sensor sweeps had revealed nothing but a few rusted buildings. Admiral Jones had sent re-con teams to search the planet's surface. That had been over an hour ago, what the devil was taking them so long? Captain Gerard walked the length of the bridge and snapped to attention in front of him.
“Vice-Admiral, report from the reconnaissance teams,” he said briskly.
“About time,” Jones replied.
“And, what did they find Captain?”
“Sir, the recon teams report a large underground complex beneath the buildings we spotted from orbit.”
“An underground complex, have they discovered its purpose?”
“Yes sir.”
Gerard hesitated, then said.
“It appears to be a deserted shengyet base.”
Vice-Admiral Jones was silent for a full three seconds.
“Are you sure?” He said finally in a soft and deadly voice.
“Yes Admiral, much of the equipment down there is used exclusively by shengyet pirates. We also found a dead shengyet in the base. It appears he was killed by several blows to the head and upper vertebrae.”
“Well shengyet brutes killing each other is nothing new,” scoffed Jones.
“No sir, the medical scanners confirm that his wounds were inflicted by a human.”
“A human killed a shengyet in hand to hand combat, in the middle of a shengyet base no less,” Jones remarked.
“Very impressive. That however raises the question of why those shengyet ships didn’t attack the Twilight? Presumably the only humans on this planet were Major Clark and the Twilight's crew. If one of them killed a shengyet, I can't imagine why they wouldn't retaliate.”
“I have no idea sir.”
Admiral Jones thought for a moment. What in universe was Major Clark up to? That was a question he needed answered and the only way to do that, was to find her.
“Captain Gerard, prepare the fleet for departure.”
“Yes sir, what course shall we set?”
“Several Captain, we will split up our fleet,” he explained in response to Gerard's questioning look.
“Have the carriers dispatch all of their long range fighters.”
“Yes sir.”
“What is the maximum range a ship like the Twilight can achieve in one jump?”
“Hmm, a Stalker class stealth ship,” replied Gerard wrinkling his forehead.
“From what I remember, it's about five hundred light years.”
“All right then instruct the fleet to scatter and search every system between here and the Twilight's maximum jump range. They are to rendezvous here in six hours with their findings.”
“Sir,” protested Gerard.
“To search every system in a five hundred light year radius, would take a fleet of thousands several months.”
“Well Captain,” snapped Jones.
“We don't have thousands of ships and we certainly don't have several months. We will just have to do the best we can, won't we?”
“Yes sir,” replied Gerard and hurried off to give the appropriate orders.
Jones stood on the bridge staring into space. He would find out what Major Clark was up to. If it was the last thing he did, he would find out.
Chapter 13
The Twilight slid forward and into the newly created dimension vortex. A second later the ship was hurtling through the swirling tunnel of light. Everyone aboard the ship was gathered around the bridge's main view screen, with the exception of Major Clark who stood next to a small computer console. She carefully pulled out a data chip and inserted it into the console, a message appeared on screen.
\ FILES ON THIS CHIP ARE CLASSIFIED
\ WARNING! FAILURE TO PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION WILL RESULT IN CHIP SELF DESTRUCT //
Major Clark spoke clearly and deliberately.
“Level one authorization; five, five, two, six, green. Major Clark Sarah, fleet service number; zero, zero, one, nine, two, four, eight, zero.”
The console beeped again.
\ IDENTITY AND AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMED //
\ PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE //
Major Clark typed in a few commands and an image of a solar system appeared. An average sun at its center, with five planets orbiting in close proximity. The image zoomed in and showed a frigate, dark and lifeless, a giant hole running clean through her.
“This,” said Clark indicating the image.
“Is the frigate Dominance, the ship is obviously crippled and dead in space.”
“In other words someone attacked it,” interrupted Saskill.
“Yes.”
“Well I can see the Fleet Admiralty not being too happy about the loss of a ship,” said Lieutenant Graham.
“But they're making an awful fuss over one frigate.”
“It's not the Frigate that's got the Admiralty worried,” explained Clark.
“It’s what the attack represents. Our analysts have determined that the damage caused to ship, was done so in one single shot.”
“Damn, that must be one hell of a weapon system,” said Graham softly.
Andrew felt a strange sense of foreboding. Graham was right, although human frigates were the smallest capital ships in the fleet. They were still over thirty meters in length. Thirty meters of nanite armor and inner decks, and this weapon had punched clean through all of it.
“Our mission,” explained Major Clark.
“Is to investigate the wreckage of the Dominance, we are to gather all evidence and information possible and hopefully discover who it is we're dealing with. This mission has the personal approval of Admiral Constantine, all of you will report to me and I report directly to the Admiral. No one else knows about this mission and you may all consider yourself outside any other chain of command.”
“Permission to speak Major?” Asked Williams.
“Go ahead Sergeant,” replied Clark.
“Well Major it appears there is someone else in the fleet who does know about our mission.”
“Yes it does appear that way,” conceded Clark.
“I'm quite sure I know who the person chasing us was and I'm sure he would do anything to stop us.”
“Wait a minute,” interrupted Lieutenant Dolohov.
“If your mission has the blessing of Admiral Constantine, why is someone in the Imperial fleet chasing us?”
Major Clark sighed.
“Because they do not want this incident investigated.”
“Who is this person anyway?” Interrupted Ensign Aziz.
“Uh, if I may ask Major,” he added hastily.
Major Clark seemed to consider her answer before she spoke.
“I don't have any hard evidence but I'm willing to bet it was Vice-Admiral Jones.”
“Marcus Jones?” asked Graham his eyes widening.
“Yes, when I proposed this mission to the military high counsel, he as good as accused me of treason for even suggesting it.”
“But if Admiral Constantine has given this mission his blessing,” said Anna.
“I mean what does Jones possibly hope to gain by this?”
“The Twilight isn't the only ship the counsel is sending to investigate,” replied Clark.
“What do you mean?” Asked Saskill.
“Admiral Constantine will eventually have to send a fleet to the area, a show of force in order to save face politically,” explained Clark.
“That was the option Jones was pushing for in the first place, in sending us ahead of the main fleet, Admiral Constantine is attempting to find a peaceful solution to this incident.”
Clark paused for a moment.
“Admiral Jones,” she continued.
“No doubt would prefer a very different solution.”
The bridge was silent for a while, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Anna broke the silence.
“So we have to get there and back before the Admiral is forced to send in half the fleet.”
“Yes,” replied Major Clark.
“And preferably with as much information about who destroyed the Dominance and why as possible.”
“What happens if, when we get there, whoever destroyed the Dominance is waiting for us?” Asked Saskill.
Imperium: Contact Page 10