Imperium: Contact

by Kabbabe, Malek

  “I left my only set on the outpost when I had you carry Ensign Smith in here. How is she by the way?”

  “Shut up,” said Harbid curtly.

  “And don't try to change the subject. You came to the outpost looking for two fugitives. I don't believe for one second you didn't come with two sets of binders.”

  Visha laughed.

  “My my Lieutenant, aren't you the clever one.”

  She slowly lowered one of her hands to her equipment belt.

  “Slowly,” Harbid warned her.

  Visha reached down and withdrew a thin strip of material.

  “You know,” she said conversationally.

  “If I had known you'd be this much trouble, I'd have left those binders on you and carried the Ensign myself.”

  Harbid didn't respond.

  “I suppose you want me to put these on,” Visha sighed.

  “No, I don't, at least not yet,” said Harbid.

  “Oh no?”

  “No, not while the binder's controls are attached to your wrist.”

  Visha looked down at her wrist pad.

  “I was hoping you'd forget about that.”

  “Put the binder on the floor,” Harbid told her.

  “Take off the equipment belt too while you're at it.”

  Visha did as he instructed.

  “Now move, out into the hallway.”

  They walked slowly towards the cargo bay door, Visha in the lead. The door slid open as they approached it.

  “Wow, you weren't kidding about having friends,” said Visha as she spotted the rest of the shengyet.

  Everyone in the cargo bay backed away from the procession that had just entered.

  “Stop,” Harbid ordered.

  “Now what?”

  “Take off your armor.”

  Visha didn't move a muscle.

  “Take it off, or we shoot you and stuff your corpse out the airlock,” said Harbid.

  Visha slowly turned to face them, they both brought up their weapons and trained them on her chest. She reached up and undid the locking mechanism on her helmet. It revealed a woman's face with olive brown skin and short black hair. She had a beautiful face, but her eyes made Harbid stiffen. They were completely black, except for a strange pattern of glowing green lines running through them, they looked like electronic circuitry.

  “You're, a cyborg,” said Harbid.

  Visha smiled.

  “Does that offend your sense of morality Lieutenant?”

  Her voice sounded just as artificial as always.

  “No, but cyborgs are illegal.”

  Visha laughed.

  “Oh I'm sure you can appreciate the irony of that statement Lieutenant, coming from a fugitive.”

  Visha dropped her helmet and began taking off the rest of her armor. Underneath it she was wearing a tight fitting, black body glove.

  “Now step away from the armor,” Harbid ordered.

  Visha took a few steps to her right. Darmst put down her equipment belt he’d been carrying, then tossed her the set of binders. Visha caught them and looked up at Harbid. He glanced over at Darmst, who nodded and moved forward to the pile of discarded armor. He removed the control pad from the armor's wrist and carried it back to where Harbid stood.

  “Hold out your hands, in front, not behind the back,” said Harbid.

  “What's the matter Lieutenant?” Asked Visha, smiling.

  “Don't you trust me?”

  Harbid didn't answer the question, he merely pointed his pistol at her. Visha sighed and did as instructed. Darmst tapped a button on the control pad and the binders snaked themselves around her wrists.

  “Now move,” Harbid ordered her.

  “Over there, by the airlock door.”

  Visha marched over to the spot Harbid had indicated and slid down onto the deck, leaning her back against the door.

  Darmst called out and two shengyet came over to where he and Harbid were still covering Visha.

  “They will watch her for us,” he said.

  Harbid nodded and handed his pistol over to one of the shengyet, Darmst did the same.

  “So what now?” Asked Darmst.

  “Now,” replied Harbid.

  “We get the hell out of this system.”

  Chapter 41

  The stolen Imperial shuttle rose steadily into the sky. Ensign Aziz and Lieutenant Dolohov were in the cockpit, the rest of Twilight's crew sat in the shuttle's cabin. Anna shifted her weight on the bench she was sitting on and cinched one of the straps on her quick release harness. Everyone had strapped themselves in as they made their burn into orbit. Everyone except Andrew, his armor was far too bulky for the shuttle's harnesses. Instead, he stood at the rear, one had grasping part of the equipment locker for support.

  The shuttle bounced and rattled as they hit a pocket of turbulence.

  “Twenty seconds to orbit,” Aziz announced over the com.

  Major Clark, who was sitting on the bench across from Anna, responded.

  “Copy that Ensign, Lieutenant Dolohov?”

  “Yes Major.”

  “You getting any sensor data on that fleet?”

  “That's affirmative Major, they seem to have consolidated the capital ships around the orbital shipyard. There are several fighter squadrons spread around the system, presumably on patrol and recon missions.”

  “Copy that Lieutenant,” replied Clark.

  “Ensign.”

  “Yes Major.”

  “Wait until we're on the far side of the planet from the shipyard, then break orbit and head for the edge of the system.”

  “Copy that.”

  At that moment the rocking and shaking from their passage through the atmosphere stopped.

  “We've achieved orbit,” Aziz reported.

  “Heading for the far side of the planet, ETA five minutes.”

  “What I want to know,” said Graham darkly.

  “Is how in the universe Jones managed to track us here in the first place?”

  “I've been giving that some thought myself Lieutenant,” said Clark.

  “Any ideas?” Asked Saskill.

  “A few,” she replied.

  “Unfortunately, none of them are very good.”

  “This seems like a problem for another time,” said the young woman.

  “You're right,” agreed Clark.

  “Our first priority right now is to get to Earth.”

  The Imperial shuttle floated through space, making its way to the far side of the planet.

  “Coming up on exit burn,” said Aziz.

  “Everyone brace yourselves, we'll be accelerating as soon as we break orbit.”

  The shuttle's thrusters fired and sent it hurtling off into space. Aziz cranked the main thrusters to full and they were pushed into the sides of their harnesses as they accelerated.

  “Top speed achieved,” Aziz reported.

  “Cutting main thrusters, now.”

  Anna hit the quick release and got up from the bench, the others following suit.

  “Plot a course for Earth Ensign,” said Major Clark.

  “And divert as much energy as possible to charging the dimension drive.”

  There was no answer.

  “Ensign, do you copy?” Clark asked.

  Lieutenant Graham moved to the cockpit door.

  “It's locked,” he said, pressing the door release.

  “Ensign, do you copy?” Repeated Major Clark.

  “Damn it, what's wrong with this door?” Asked Graham, examining it.

  “Sergeant, can you open it?” Asked Anna.

  Andrew didn't respond, he was still standing at the rear of the shuttle. His face and body seemed to have gone rigid.

  “Sergeant, are you alright?” Asked Major Clark.

  Still Andrew didn't respond, he just stood there, not moving a muscle.

  “Sergeant,” said Clark, walking towards him.

  “S-stop,” He croaked.

  His voice sounded st
rained, like it was costing him a tremendous effort to say this.

  “What's wrong?” Asked Clark.

  “Can't...can't control,” Andrew gasped.

  “Can't control what?” Anna wanted to know.

  Suddenly metal coalesced to once again cover his face.

  “Sergeant, what’s going on?” Demanded Clark.

  Andrew didn't respond.

  “Sergeant!”

  Andrew leaped forward and grabbed her by the throat. Anna and the others sprang back, bringing up their weapons.

  “Sergeant, can't breathe,” Clark gasped.

  Andrew held her throat with one hand and lifted her into the air. Major Clark grasped his harm, trying to free herself.

  “Let her go Sergeant,” said Graham, aiming his weapon at him.

  “Let her go right now, or we shoot you.”

  Andrew was silent for a moment, then he laughed. His voice still sounded strange, even through the armor's external speakers.

  “And what, are you going to do?” He asked mockingly.

  “Shoot me? Even if you manage not to hit the Major in the process, what good do you think those weapons are going to do?”

  “S-Sergeant,” gasped Clark, her face was starting to turn blue.

  Andrew lowered her back to the ground and turned her around to face the others. He still held a hand on the back of her neck.

  “Now,” he said.

  “You are going to stand there and do nothing until my forces arrive, are we clear? Otherwise,” he added and Clark winced as he tightened his grip on her.

  “Until your forces arrive, what are you talking about?” Asked Graham.

  Andrew burst out laughing.

  “Oh this is just too perfect,” he said.

  “Tell me Major,” he added looking down at Clark.

  “How does it feel to be betrayed?”

  “Sergeant, this isn't you,” replied Clark, struggling to get free.

  He laughed again.

  “Oh you are quite right, the good and loyal Sergeant here would never harm you, I on the other hand.”

  Major Clark stopped struggling, understanding dawning on her face.

  “Jones, you son of a bitch!”

  “Bravo,” replied Andrew.

  “I knew one of you would catch on eventually.”

  “Wait, I don't understand,” said Anna.

  “How is this even possible?”

  Andrew looked up at her.

  “Oh there are many things people don't know about the Invictus Legion,” he replied.

  “Haven't you ever wondered how its members do the things they do?”

  “I assumed some sort of genetic enhancements,” replied Anna.

  Andrew shifted his grip on Clark.

  “Oh that's part of it, but only part. You see the problem is that genetic enhancements can only get you so far. There's a limit to what a body can do, no matter how advanced.”

  The Sergeant looked around the room at the others, before shifting his attention back to Anna.

  “Well, for organic bodies at least. So it was decided to make up for the body's shortcomings, with inorganic material.”

  “Inorganic material?”

  “Yes, nanites, to be specific.”

  “So you, I mean Sergeant Williams, is just a bunch of nanites?”

  “Oh no,” Andrew assured her.

  “No a good portion of his body is still organic, but the rest.”

  “So what does that have to do with this?” Asked Anna.

  “Well, nanites can be controlled. Now normally, controlling the nanites in the Sergeant's body is very difficult. They are extremely well protected against any hacking attempt, but that didn't stop the creators of this technology from building in a back door. A safeguard, in case any of their new super soldiers decided to rebel.”

  “You still need to send the signal from a very specific transmitter,” said Clark.

  “It's only got a range of a few dozen meters.”

  “Indeed it does,” replied Andrew.

  “So how?” Asked Clark.

  “It'll be something for you to think about Major, while you sit there waiting for my forces to arrive.”

  Anna desperately looked around the cabin, trying to think of something, but there was nothing she could do. The door to the cockpit was locked and there was no way for them to get in. She didn't see or hear any signs that the dimension drive was charging. Which probably meant Aziz and Dolohov had lost control of the shuttle. How was that possible though, some type of trap? But how could Jones have know they'd steal this shuttle, much less have some sort of override controls installed in it? Not to mention taking control of the Sergeant.

  The sound of the shuttle's reactor suddenly cut out and a loud clang reverberated through the hull.

  “Put your weapons down,” said Andrew.

  No one moved, he sighed and pulled out his rifle with his free hand.

  “Put them down or I will make him kill you all.”

  “Lower your weapons,” said Anna, looking around at the others.

  “There's nothing we can do here.”

  They lowered their weapons and dropped them on the deck.

  “Good,” said Andrew.

  “Now Lieutenant,” he added, looking at Graham.

  “Go to the control panel over there and open the airlock doors.”

  Graham did as he was instructed and the outer airlock door slid open, followed by the inner one.

  “Now we're going to walk calmly through that airlock, in a single file line with our hands on our heads.”

  With Anna in the lead, they made their way through the airlock into the attached docking tube. Anna saw another set of airlock doors at the far end. When she walked through them, she found herself in the hangar bay of a ship. One of the destroyers she guessed, judging by the size. Twenty marines stood in a semi-circle around the airlock, their rifles pointed right at her.

  “Halt,” said one of them.

  Anna did as she was told. The others filed into a line behind her, with Sergeant Williams bringing up the rear. His hand was still on the back of Major Clark's neck.

  “Where are Ensign Aziz and Lieutenant Dolohov?” Anna heard Major Clark ask.

  “Shut up,” replied Andrew.

  “Sergeant,” he added.

  “Yes sir,” said one of the marines, stepping forward.

  “Have some of your men secure the remaining prisoners in the shuttle, they're in the cockpit.”

  “Yes sir,” replied the marine Sergeant.

  “Wilkins, Ramirez, Takahashi.”

  “Sir,” said three of the marines.

  “Get in there and secure the remaining prisoners.”

  “Yes sir,” replied the marines and marched past them.

  “Search these prisoners and ready them for transport,” said Andrew.

  “Yes sir,” replied the Sergeant.

  Andrew shoved Major Clark towards the others and then walked past them towards the elevator at the far end of the hangar bay. The remaining marines pulled out binders and advanced on the captives.

  “Keep your hands where we can see them,” the Sergeant ordered.

  “Sergeant,” said Major Clark, rubbing the back of her neck.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “Shut it,” he snapped.

  “I am Major Sarah Clark.”

  “I said shut it!” The Sergeant barked, advancing on her.

  “You are making a very big mistake,” Clark pressed.

  The Sergeant pulled out a stun baton and jammed it into her stomach. Major Clark doubled over and fell to the floor. Graham lowered his hands and started at him. The other marines brought up their weapons.

  “S-stop,” Clark gasped from the floor.

  “Stand down Lieutenant.”

  Reluctantly, Graham stepped back and raised his hands.

  Anna bent down and helped the Major to her feet.

  “Secure the prisoners!” Barked the Sergeant.<
br />
  “And if one of them steps out of line again, shoot them.”

  The Marines places binders on their hands, securing them behind their backs. Then, they marched them off through the hangar bay to another shuttle.

  “Get in,” said the Sergeant.

  They walked up the folded down side ramp, which lifted up and closed behind them. The Sergeant and five of his men accompanied them. They sat the prisoners down in the center of the shuttle and surrounded them.

  “Ready for transport,” he said into his com.

  “Copy that,” came the pilot's voice.

  The shuttle's engines rumbled to life and they began to move.

  “Where are you taking us?” Asked Graham.

  “And where are Ensign Aziz and Lieutenant Dolohov?” Asked Nolan.

  The Sergeant looked at them.

  “You want a jab with this thing too?” He asked, brandishing the stun baton.

  It was a very short flight, five minutes later the pilot was already cutting the engines. The shuttle landed with a soft thud, one of the sides folded down to reveal an enormous hangar bay.

  “Up,” ordered one of the marines.

  They got up and the marines marched them down the ramp and towards the nearest cargo elevator. They got in and started to ascend, coming to a halt about a minute later. The elevator doors opened and they were marched down a hallway lined with steel colored walls. They came to a halt in front of an armored door. The Sergeant placed his face in front of the retinal scanner next to the door and it slid open. Beyond it was a narrow hallway lined with bunks. The Marines removed their binders one at a time and shoved them inside. Once everyone was in, the marines marched back down the hallway, the door sliding shut behind them.

  Major Clark sat down on the nearest bunk, massaging the back of her neck.

  “I'm sorry,” she said, looking up at the others.

  “I'm sorry I got you all mixed up in this.”

  “This isn't your fault Major,” said Graham.

  Clark smiled sadly.

  “I was the one who induced Admiral Constantine to authorize this mission,” she explained.

  “I was the one who picked you.”

  “If you'll permit me Major,” said Graham.

  Clark laughed.

  “Right now I'm in no position to permit or deny anything Lieutenant,” she said bitterly.

  “Well, in that case,” replied Graham.

  “I'd like to respectfully request that the Major get her head out of her ass.”