Imperium: Contact

by Kabbabe, Malek

  “So where are we headed?”

  “To a system a few dozen light years away,” replied the young woman.

  “It is uninhabited and no one will be able to find us there for the time being. Once we arrive, we will be able to plan our course of action from there.”

  “Your people managed to follow us into the dimension vortex last time,” said Andrew.

  “What makes you think they won't this time?”

  “With the modifications we have made to this ship, it now travels differently through the vortex,” the young woman explained.

  “It also travels much faster,” she added.

  “We should arrive at our destination in about a minute.”

  Anna turned to Major Clark.

  “So I'm assuming once we get there, we're going to take the Twilight close enough to the nearest Imperial communications relay and contact Admiral Constantine?”

  “Yes, that was what I had intended on doing,” agreed Clark.

  She addressed the young woman.

  “Do you know how far this system we're headed to is from the nearest Imperial communications relay?”

  The young woman shook her head.

  “Well that'll be easy enough to figure out once we come out of the vortex and get the navigation system going,” said Aziz.

  A low soft note emanated from, it seemed like all around them.

  “We are approaching our destination,” the young woman announced.

  A second later, the endlessly swirling vortex gave way to the black night of space, punctuated by tiny glowing stars. Anna looked at the main view screen, now displaying a yellow and green gas giant off in the distance.

  “Navigation systems coming back online,” announced Ensign Aziz.

  Navigational data appeared on the main view screen.

  “System RS35,” read Lieutenant Graham.

  “You weren't kidding about the uninhabited part,” he added, turning to the young woman.

  “The nearest inhabited system is roughly two hundred light years from here,” said Ensign Aziz.

  “And the nearest Imperial communications relay, is nearly double that distance,” he added.

  “Where?” Asked Major Clark.

  “The Borealis system,” replied Aziz.

  “Borealis?” Asked John.

  “It's a danek mining colony,” explained Aziz.

  “Danek?” Asked the young woman.

  Major Clark turned to her.

  “You're not familiar with their species?”

  The young woman shook her head.

  “They're cave dwellers,” explained Clark.

  “Their home world's surface is extremely hot and bathed in radiation due to the massive sun it orbits. Beneath the surface however, there are many naturally occurring caves and tunnels, on account of the underground rivers and lakes that crisscross the planet. As a result, the danek evolved to be relatively short, but very strong and quite comfortable in tight confined spaces. As one might expect, they have an affinity for making tunnels through rock and extracting resources underground. Traits that make them excellent miners, a fact not lost on the Empire.”

  Major Clark paused for a moment.

  “When their home world was conquered, they were offered the opportunity to work in Imperial mining operations in exchange for certain considerations.”

  “And there's an Imperial communications relay at this mining colony?” Asked John.

  “The colony mines rare metals that are used in nanite fabrication,” explained Clark.

  “If I remember correctly, there are several nanite factories on the planet and also a major Imperial shipyard in orbit.”

  “Imperial Shipyards are heavily guarded,” remarked Saskill.

  “True,” agreed Clark.

  “But we’re in an Imperial ship and they have no reason to be suspicious of us.”

  “What about the modifications your people made to the Twilight?” Andrew asked the young woman.

  “Will their sensors be able to detect those?”

  The young woman thought for a moment.

  “I believe not,” she replied.

  “If we were to engage the shields however, their sensor scans would be deflected or absorbed.”

  “Which would seem more than a little strange,” said Anna.

  The young woman nodded.

  “But as long as we don't activate the shields, the Twilight will look just like an ordinary ship to them?” Asked Major Clark.

  “Yes.”

  “Very well,” said Clark.

  “Ensign.”

  “Yes Major, plotting course now,” said Aziz.

  “So, umm ship?” He added a bit hesitantly.

  “I'm going to need a jump to the coordinates I just entered, please?”

  Everyone on the bridge looked at him.

  “What?” He asked defensively.

  “I'm new at this okay? I mean is there some sort of etiquette to asking a ship to plot a dimension jump for you?”

  Chapter 31

  Lieutenant Harbid sighed and jabbed at the communications panel once more. The face of yet another bessra appeared on the view screen.

  “How may I help you?” Asked a melodious voice.

  “You can help me by not transferring me to another official,” he said irritably.

  “I've already been transferred five times, your outpost isn't that big, how many customs officials could you possibly have?”

  “Four,” the bessra replied in his melodious voice.

  “Wait, if you've got four officials and I've been transferred five times, who are you?”

  “I am the official you spoke to the first time.”

  “Oh, ah right,” said Harbid awkwardly.

  He glanced over at the co-pilot's seat, to see Katie grinning. She had replaced Darmst as his co-pilot to sell the illusion that they were simply an Imperial shuttle looking for a place to dock.

  “Look, before you ask me, we've been over this four times now,” said Harbid.

  “My co-pilot and I were attached to the Emperor’s Fist task group. We suffered a malfunction with our engines while deployed and could not make it back to the ship without a tow. Unfortunately, the task group was called away on urgent business and could not wait for us.”

  The bessra's face remained impassive.

  “You have my sympathy,” he said.

  “However there is nothing we can do for you. None of our personnel are qualified to repair Human Imperial craft, nor do we have the spare parts to do so.”

  “I see,” replied Harbid.

  “And instead of towing our shuttle to your outpost, you'd just like to leave us out here until another Imperial ship shows up, is that it?” He snapped.

  This time the bessra's face betrayed a bit of emotion, his fur twitched.

  “No I didn't mean,” he began, but Harbid cut him off.

  “Ensign Smith,” he said, turning to her.

  “When the Emperor’s Fist and the rest of the task group returns, remind me to give a full report to the Vice-Admiral on how we were treated. That the bessra who run this outpost apparently prefer to leave Imperial ships stranded out in space, instead of helping.”

  “Lieutenant,” said the bessra hastily.

  “Please forgive the delay, of course we will send out some ships to tow you into a docking bay immediately.”

  “Thank you,” Harbid replied coldly and switched off the com system.

  “Bureaucrats,” he said shaking his head.

  Katie laughed.

  “And next time, could you perhaps try to help instead of sitting there grinning?” Harbid asked her irritably.

  “What, you think I like dealing with bureaucrats any more than you? Besides, you looked like you were handling it,” she added.

  Then her face turned serious.

  “You think they bought it?”

  Harbid shrugged.

  “I guess we'll find out.”

  At that moment the cockpit
door opened and Darmst stuck his head through.

  “I got your all clear signal,” he said.

  “I assume everything went well?”

  “Well enough,” said Harbid, turning in his seat.

  “How's it going with the engines?”

  Darmst cocked his head.

  “I managed to create a small radiation leak, enough to make them think they might be damaged.”

  “As to how effective it will be at also masking any shengyet life signs, that really depends on how good the bessra's sensors are.”

  “It should be enough,” said Katie.

  “This is just a trading outpost, I doubt they have any kind of sophisticated sensor equipment here.”

  “I hope you're right,” said Darmst.

  A beeping from the shuttle's instrument display interrupted the conversation.

  “Looks like our tow is here,” said Harbid, looking at the view screen.

  Two bessra cargo transports were approaching the shuttle.

  “I'd better get back to the others,” said Darmst.

  “Tell them to get ready,” replied Harbid.

  Darmst nodded and the cockpit door slid shut again.

  The two transports had now gotten within a dozen meters of the shuttle. The com beeped, Harbid turned it on to reveal another bessra face.

  “We are here to assist you, if you activate your tow latches, we can take you to the outpost.”

  Harbid reached out and flicked a switch that caused two hatches right above the shuttle's cockpit canopy to reveal the docking mechanisms they had been concealing.

  “Tow latches ready,” said Harbid.

  “Please stand by,” came the bessra's response.

  A moment later, the two bessra ships maneuvered themselves, so that they were above and to either side of the shuttle's canopy. They maneuvered closer, until they were only five meters away. Both ships released a maintenance drone that pulled a long metal cable attached to the underside of the transports. There was a loud clang that reverberated through the shuttle's hull as the drones made contact with the tow latches.

  “I'm reading solid contact on the latches, please confirm,” said the bessra on the com.

  “Confirmed,” replied Harbid.

  “Beginning tow,” said the bessra.

  Harbid felt a slight jerk, as the transports started pulling the shuttle forward. Slowly, they made their way towards the bessra trading post. As they approached, Harbid could see it growing larger on the view screen. It was an enormous, metallic gray cylinder, dotted with what appeared to be thousands of tiny glowing lights. As they moved closer, the lights resolved themselves into portholes through which light was pouring.

  Harbid could now also make out many thin, long docking tubes, emanating from different parts of the station. It was towards one of these tubes, that the two transports were towing them. As they approached, the com beeped once more.

  “Do your maneuvering thrusters still work?” Asked the bessra.

  “Yes.”

  “You will need to maneuver your outer airlock hatch to line up with the docking tube,” the bessra explained.

  “It does not have to be perfect, just get it close and the magnetic grapple will do the rest.”

  “Copy,” replied Harbid.

  As they approached the docking tube there was another loud clang and the tow cables detached. They were now drifting towards the station one pure momentum. Harbid engaged the shuttle's chemical thrusters and angled the its airlock towards the docking tube. As they drifted closer, Harbid and Katie felt a sudden pull on their seat harnesses as the docking tube's magnetic grapple activated. The shuttle slowed and adjusted its alignment slightly. The docking tube made contact with the shuttle's outer airlock door and the magnetic grapple switched off as the physical locks engaged.

  Harbid and Katie unbuckled their seat harnesses and made their way into the rear compartment. Darmst and the rest of the shengyet all stood up as they entered.

  “You clear on the plan?” Harbid asked.

  “Yes,” replied Darmst.

  Harbid looked past him, at the rest of the shengyet.

  “Be ready,” he told them.

  “We'll get you out of here, I promise.”

  Katie opened the inner airlock door and they both climbed through. She handed him one of the two breather masks she was holding. They both put them on and after checking to make sure they were fully charged and functional, Harbid pushed the button for the outer airlock door release.

  There was a slight hissing sound as the different atmospheres of the airlock and docking tube mixed. The bessra home world was similar to Earth in size and density. As a result, its atmospheric pressure was also quite similar. However, where Earth's atmosphere consisted of mainly oxygen and nitrogen, the bessra’s home world was quite different. Although it contained a large amount of oxygen, it also consisted of much higher concentrations of argon and carbon dioxide, with hardly any nitrogen at all. This made it highly toxic to humans and the same was true of Earth's atmosphere for the bessra.

  As the airlock doors opened fully, they revealed two bessra, both wearing red and gold uniforms. Lieutenant Harbid noticed the side arms strapped to their waists, the bessra's hands were hovering near them. He tried to arrange his face into an annoyed expression.

  “What do you two want?” He asked coldly.

  “I'm sorry sir,” said the bessra on the right.

  “But we will have to verify your identification before allowing you entry to the rest of the trading post.”

  Harbid and Katie looked at each other, then back at the two bessra. Harbid was sure they were both thinking the same thing. If Jones was looking for them, the last thing they needed was their official Imperial military ID's being scanned. Showing up in the outpost's registration logs, would lead his agents right to them.

  “Is that really necessary?” Asked Harbid.

  “It's obvious we're Imperial pilots.”

  The two bessra each placed a hand on the butt of their side arms.

  “I'm afraid it is sir,” said the one on the right.

  “Oh very well,” replied Harbid, trying to sound annoyed.

  Both he and Katie reached into the front pocket of their uniforms and pulled out their IDs.

  “How long is this going to take?” Asked Harbid, as he handed over his ID.

  “It shouldn't take long sir,” the bessra assured him.

  Harbid looked down and tapped a few buttons on the communicator strapped to his wrist.

  The bessra on the left took out a small scanning device, he was about to insert Harbid's ID chip, when his eyes widened with surprise. He dropped the ID and whipped out his side arm. His partner followed suit, both of them aiming at something behind Harbid and Katie.

  They both turned in time to see Darmst stepping through the outer airlock door.

  “Hold it right there!” Snapped one of the bessra.

  Darmst let out a low hiss and grinned, showing his glistening white fangs. The two bessra were completely focused on the approaching shengyet. Neither of them noticed the two small, fist sized drones that had detached themselves from Lieutenant Harbid's belt and were now floating towards them.

  “Don’t worry,” said Harbid.

  “He's not dangerous, he's actually quite sweet and cuddly once you get to know him.”

  “Wha-”, the bessra's question was cut off in mid sentence.

  The two drones had reached their targets, there was a soft hissing sound and the next second both bessra crumpled to the floor.

  Harbid tapped his communicator again and the drones drifted back onto his belt.

  “Cute and cuddly?” Asked Darmst.

  “I think we've got a galactic first here, I don't think anyone has ever referred to a shengyet as cute and cuddly before.”

  “Well maybe you're the first shengyet who really is cute and cuddly,” replied Harbid grinning.

  “Like a bunny.”

  “What's a bunny?” />
  “Little furry creatures, we have back on Earth; long ears, short puffy tails, twitching noses and they sort of hop from place to place.

  “Seriously, their noses twitch, all the time?”

  “Yeah as far as I know,” said Harbid.

  “Are their noses itchy?”

  “No idea, it’s possible I guess.”

  “Look ladies,” Katie interrupted.

  “Much as I hate to break up the fascinating discussion about bunnies and cuddly things, we really need to get moving. I doubt the absence of these two will go unnoticed for long and the dose of sedative from those medical drones won't last forever either.”

  Lieutenant Harbid and Katie made their way through the rest of the docking tube without incident. At the far end they came across a set of sliding doors with an ID reader to one side. Harbid took one of the ID cards they had taken from the bessra and slid it into the reader, it beeped and the doors slide apart. As the doors parted they revealed a long, wide corridor, almost like a street. Except this one had a ceiling and seemed to curve out of sight in either direction. Harbid guessed it ran all the way around the station. Beings, mostly bessra, but also a few humans, were walking along in both directions. Occasionally some would stop to look at the display window of one of the shops or businesses that lined the corridor.

  A few of the passers-by threw a quick look in their direction before continuing on their way. Harbid wasn't surprised they were drawing attention. All the other humans here were merchants, independent pilots or explorers. Their black and gold Imperial uniforms were very noticeable amongst all the civilians.

  “We need to hurry,” Harbid muttered.

  “Agreed,” replied Katie.

  “Every second we spend here, is one more for the wrong person to spot us and report back to Jones.”

  They both melded into the oncoming foot traffic, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

  “We need a way to access the central computer system,” said Katie.

  “That will give us access to what type of ships are docked here and where on the station they are.”

  “Great, any ideas how we do that?” Asked Harbid.

  “We just need to find an access point into the station's network, I should be able to take it from there.”

  “You sure?”