The Raygin War

  “Let’s move out,” said Mac.

  As they began their hike, Mahpee walked up to Mac. “We have much to talk about. I regret our first meeting was not on better terms.”

  Mac tilted his head as he looked at Mahpee and thought about their future. “Yeah, I have to admit, I didn’t care for the way it went down, but I’m sure everything will work itself out. I heard you have a high-tech shipbuilding planet. Tell me. How far away from Rayne is it?”

  “We estimate we are about thirty-five days from Orenda, our shipbuilding planet. Why?”

  “Its too far for us to use,” said Mac. “We will make the mods we can while heading to Esharra. I know you need to go back to Nokomis, but before you do, can you share some of your upgrades with us?”

  “Yes, I will…”

  The viewer in Mac’s backpack sounded an alert tone interrupting Mahpee. “Sorry, I have to take this.” Mac pulled out the viewer and read it. He walked over to Mahpee while calling Captain Cutter and Tews to come over. “You all might want to watch this with me. It’s a vid from one of my escort ships called Dagger.”

  The odd-looking team huddled around the view screen as they watched the boarding vid. Mac stopped the vid several times to enhance the display to get a better understanding of what occurred. When Wineena appeared he replayed the event over and over.

  “I suspected the bugs had help,” said Mac. “They just didn’t act like an advanced race.”

  “It troubled my thoughts too,” said Mahpee. “When we dissected the Raygin bodies we found soft webbing linking different parts of their brain. It is similar to what your team found on the human children. Without a live subject, we didn’t know its purpose. I fear the doctor on the boarding team is right. The webbing must help control the host’s mind.”

  “I agree with the boarding party,” said Tews. “It appears the webbing links the brain’s different parts. It’s more than a receiver. Look at where the connections occur. My bet is they flood the brain with repeated thoughts for the same task. See the loop?” Tews pointed on the enhanced image of a child’s exposed brain. “Humans require some kind of reward to focus on completing a task. I’ll bet that’s what this link does. The other connections allow them to use their creativity to complete a task. They can deviate from the primary objective to avoid danger, or to save the individual. Amazing technology. To change the primary goal would require transmitting a new simple order to the loop.”

  “They have to have transmitters somewhere. Could they be on the Ogarii ship?” asked Mahpee.”

  Captain Cutter looked at Tews. “Didn’t you say you and Spaz found some kind of transmitter in the vent near the bridge?”

  “Yeah. We thought the bugs wanted it hidden from the crew for some reason. If we assume the Ogarii created or modified the Raygin ships, it all begins to make sense. What better location to hide a transmitter or relay than in the ship’s vent system? It would channel the signal throughout the ship and the Raygin wouldn’t even be aware of its existence.”

  Tews asked to use Mac’s viewer. He found an engineering program and began to draw. As everyone watched a picture begin to take shape. Tews drew a transmitter, wiring harnesses, a power supply, and an antenna. He made the drawing to scale as best he could, knowing it would help the engineers.

  “There. This is what we found tucked in the vent shaft cubby hole near the bridge,” said Tews.

  The picture was forwarded to Admiral Harding. They also sent their speculations about how mind control hardware might work. The group was so focused on discussing possibilities they didn’t realize Tinker and the rear guard had caught up with them.

  “Mac, we didn’t expect to see you here. Is everything okay?” asked Tinker.

  “Yeah, we have a lot of new information, but it’s way too much to share right now. I’ll give everyone a briefing when we get to the Wasp. Don’t you think it’s odd the bugs haven’t followed us? If I was them, I would have been hot on our trail.”

  “Yeah, it’s like they want us to escape.”

  The team started moving again. Tinker hid their trail and wiped out any evidence the humans had come this way. First platoon hung back again, keeping a close eye out for bugs. It wasn’t long before Mac and his group caught back up with the main body of survivors.

  “We need to discover how their mind-control works,” said Mac. If we could find a way to destroy or disrupt the link, we can disrupt their military. Wineena was hiding something important on the Raygin ship. Could it have been the mind controller?”

  Hearing Mac talk about disrupting the enemy’s com link to the Raygin, Mahpee remembered the children from Imperial Station. “Mac, some children trapped in the swimming pool area on Imperial Station noticed an unusual occurrence. Every time a bug walked thru the door leading to the pool, it started making clicking sounds, and became disoriented. The dazed bug always stumbled back into the passageway confused. They never returned. The staff on the Constellation is evaluating all the data.”

  “Well, we have a test subject, so let’s use it to test some of our conjectures. We also have a spy loaded with information we may be able to use. As our ships travel, we need to update our weapons, shields, and drives. If the entity known as your grandfather…”

  Mahpee gave Mac a stare.

  “Or whatever you want us to call him. If it has any recommendations to improve our computers, we’d appreciate the information.”

  “I’ll ask it. I can also send you the specs on the graviton detector. It’s how we tracked the Raygin ships. It’s also how we discovered the cloaked Ogarii ship during he battle.”

  “You mean like the ship carrying Wineena off?”

  “No, it was several times larger. While cloaked, we hit it with several weapons, destroying it. The cloaking process must use a lot of energy making their shields weak.”

  “I’ll be damned, I missed the whole evolution. Did they fire at you with any weapons?”

  “Yes, they hit us with an energy weapon that chased us down and covered our whole ship. Luckily, our modified shields held long enough for the weapon’s energy to dissipate.”

  “Do you know how much energy in joules per second hit your shields?

  Mahpee began to realize, amongst everything else, Mac knew weapons. Only an engineer would speak in joules per second. He remembered Nashta making a big deal about it. “I believe the number Nashta reported was 4.1X1015 Joules, but you need to ask him to be sure.”

  He whistled. “That’s stronger than anything we currently have.” Mac smiled and added, “We are working on a new weapon we hope will cause a self-perpetuating fusion reaction.”

  Mahpee looked at Mac in surprise.

  “Yeah, I know, it’s a planet destroyer. It’s supposed to be able to convert a planet to a small star by circumventing the proto star phase. The device forces the planet to enter the main sequence phase of a newborn star. A Laser creates plasma and initiates a fusion reaction. It begins burning hydrogen and trace amounts of helium in the planet’s core. The nuclear fusion process, once started will last for several hundred years. In time the mini star will blow off its outer surface and become a miniature white dwarf. In a short time the tiny star will burn itself out and become a ball of iron. At least that’s the theory.”

  Mahpee pictured the total destruction such a weapon could cause. “I hope I never become your enemy.”

  “Last I heard we are a long way from a deliverable system.”

  “Speaking of deliverable systems, you do know Ayashe is a war strategist? Trained by our best admirals.”

  Mac laughed out loud. “It’s funny how you worked that into our conversation. She is a bit raw, and too willing to take risks, but I could tell she had some top-notch training. Before you go on, let me tell you what I’m thinking. We are one according to your laws, correct?”

  “Yes. It is the equivalent of what you call marriage.”

  A smile broke out on Mac’s face. I still can’t believe how my life has changed since meetin
g her. He looked into Mahpee’s eyes. “She signed a binding contract with the military, but we can work around it. I don’t want her to go back to Nokomis…

  Mahpee gave Mac a stern look. The chief began to open his mouth to protest.

  “Let me finish. I don’t want her to go back to Nokomis… right now. I figured you would be leaving, but what if you left her with me? I’d remove her from the military ranks and make her the People’s Nation liaison. Not working under me, but with me, on behalf of your people and the war effort. Hell, one day I want to go to Nokomis. First I need to build up my body’s ability to move in your strong gravitational field. I would prefer not to look like a clown in front of your people.”

  With a quick move Mahpee stepped in front of Mac. Spinning towards him, he pinned his arms in a massive bear hug, and lifted him off the ground. Mac didn’t understand what was happening, He didn’t want to fight Ayashe’s father, so he waited for the hammer to fall.

  Hovering near the two trying to eavesdrop, Ayashe saw her father make a move on Mac and lift him into the air. She ran to his aid screaming. “Father let him go! Put him down! What are you doing?”

  He grinned at his daughter while still holding Mac in the air and said, “I think I got you a big raise.”

  She stepped back and realized her father had Mac in an embrace. One such as a family member would give another family member on Nokomis when they are happy. She smiled at her father. “That’s not how their military gives raises, father. Now, put him down and tell me what’s going on.”

  He put Mac back on his feet.

  “Fishman, take over for Dreng,” said Mac.

  “Aye sir taking over for… Ayashe.”

  Mac looked at Ayashe. Dreng. Ayashe. This was going to take some time to get used to. “Ayashe, you are relieved of duty.”

  “Wait a minute, I don’t know what kind of plan the two of you concocted, but I didn’t agree to anything.”

  “Mahpee, do your people have any laws that say when joined, the woman is to obey the man?”

  Mahpee and his daughter both started laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” He asked.

  “You have dug a deep hole you must place your body into,” said Mahpee.

  “What?”

  “Forgive my father Mac. He doesn’t understand some of your sayings. He means you’ve dug yourself into a deep hole. You see in our society, it is the woman who is the head of house and makes all major decisions. Now, tell me what’s going on?”

  Her father and Mac both started going over the agreements they had discussed. She would be responsible for war planning while Mahpee went back to Nokomis. Now she understood why her father hugged Mac. Besides allowing her and Mac to stay together, it also allowed her to continue to learn from the best. She would hold a war council position between the two peoples.

  She hid her excitement. It meant she would become the second most powerful person in the People’s Nation. Her father did not see the link between her new position and the prophecy. If he had, he would never have approved. Mahpee always avoided any discussions about the ancient prediction. She guessed he thought if he didn’t talk about it, it wouldn’t happen. So, she kept her mouth shut and said nothing. In time, she planned to explain it all to Mac, but not at the moment.

  Dwain reported they were minutes away from the Wasp. Mac stopped walking. The surroundings looked a little familiar. He began to look for his trail markers. There they are. They were very close to the underground water cavern.

  “Tews, tell me, how long do you think it would take the bugs to reach maturity, and where might they build their nests?”

  “When we were on the ship, I hoped to find their nest during our vent searches. There is no way to know their life cycle without seeing the larva and pupas. I couldn’t even make a wild guess until I have more data. A typical nest would contain beetles in all stages of life. It would be underground near water and food sources. In the larva, and early pupa stage beetles are easy to kill. It’s why they always have a few adults tending the nest.”

  “Is it possible to stop their development somehow?”

  “I don’t think so. Until they begin to grow their exoskeleton as young adults they are eating machines. The brain hasn’t had the chance to develop higher order functions yet. We learned a lesson with human babies. If you put them into cryo sleep at too young of an age, their brains will not develop when they exit sleep.”

  “I was afraid that might be your answer. Well… I guess I need two volunteers to go on a little sortie with me. I need someone who can shoot, and I need a bug expert. Any idea where I can find humans with those qualifications?”

  “Why do you need them?” asked Spaz.

  “When we landed I saw an unusual outcropping of rocks. I started to explore the area, and I found a cavern containing several pools of water. Before I could investigate the cavern, the bug ships arrived and changed all our plans. We are about twenty minutes away.”

  Spaz gave Tews a look. “Come on Tews, it will be like old times.”

  Tews looked at Mac. “Alright, but no one leaves me alone. Right commodore?”

  Spaz laughed, “Never. Not unless we have to.”

  Tews’s eyes opened wide.

  “I promise, I won’t leave you,” said Mac as he patted Tews on the shoulder. “Does that mean you’re going?”

  “Yes. I’ll go. In case you haven’t noticed, I am not an athletic person, nor am I brave. You’ll have to keep an eye on me, but I hate the Raygin. I wouldn’t mind killing a few more of them for what they did to my family.”

  Mac nodded his head. “I can relate to vengeance. It motivated me for many years. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to do this. You both have earned your keep. By crawling through the Raygin ship, you have saved thousands if not millions of human lives. After fighting in several wars, I know it’s not brave people that accomplish great feats. It’s the everyday people who see the need and perform the task required of them.”

  “A kind statement,” said Tews, “But I know you are trying to build up my confidence. Can I have about 5 minutes to gather up some supplies?”

  Before Mac could respond, Spaz said, “Besides being an entomologist, he’s also a psychiatrist.”

  Mac chuckled then said, “Now I understand. He’s over analyzing everything.” Before Tews could refute the statement, Mac said, “Get going Tews. Meet us back here in ten minutes. Spaz, come with me.”

  Mac and Spaz held an impromptu meeting with Mahpee, Ayashe, and Tinker. He explained his concern and plan. There was a chance they would exit the cavern hot if what Mac suspected turned out to be true. Tinker needed to get the ground pounders to set up a first line of defense. They needed to be ready in case the returning explorers needed cover fire.

  Much to Ayashe’s displeasure, Mac took her laser rifle from her. A smile crossed her face when he gave it to Spaz. He also gave him a condensed thirty-second training session on how to use it. No one could have wiped the grin off Spaz’s face as he caressed the rifle.

  “Who’d thought a piss ant ground pounder like me would be handling an elite rifle used by spec ops?” said Spaz.

  “It’s not so much the weapon as it is the person wielding it,” said Mac. “Let’s find Tews.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Infestation

  The Ogarii crew knew they would have to be visible for a moment as they maneuvered through the debris field. There was no way around it. They needed the power for their shield to avoid damage from the small pieces of wreckage, which would act like meteorites. The sleek ship started to move through the rubble so their computer could find a path out. Once it did, they engaged their ion drive. As soon as they intercepted their exit route the ship turned on it’s cloaking system. The enemy ship disappeared from the human monitors. It left traveling in a series of unsystematic course changes. It was impossible for the humans to obtain a firing sequence or to track it.

  The unforeseen human engagement near Rayne caught both Ogarii and R
aygin crews by surprise. How did the humans find them? Wineena wanted answers. Both the Ogarii computer and their intel failed. Nothing indicated humans possessed this type of advanced capability. Could this technological leap be another anomaly? Wineena’s instincts told her no. The computer had missed something important in forecasting human development.

  She recalled the events from twenty-five years ago. The Ogarii were on the verge of invasion into human space. The Ogarii ruling caste known as the Varn received a message from a single scout ship: Humans are using singularity drives. Portus, the Ogarii self-thinking computer, stopped the assault. Wineena couldn’t believe it. The giant computer believed its original war analysis could be wrong. By its calculations the humans should have been a long way from discovering wormhole engineering. Let alone already using it! Not wanting to risk losing the war, the computer requested more data.

  Later she discovered Portus did predict a possible irregularity event in human evolution. It knew it was possible for them to stumble across wormhole technology. She felt better to learn the computer didn’t miss the event’s likelihood altogether. The hitch was the probability was so low it did not warrant modifying the Raygin fleet. Portus accounted for the low probability event within its battle plan. Prior to the invasion the computer had the Raygin fleet deploy a contingency of scout ships. They probed the fringes of human space. Their job was to identify any unanticipated event.

  Finding unexpected results, Portus stopped the attack. It calculated every possible scenario based on the new information. There were situations in which the Raygin fleet lost several significant battles. The loss of major battles caused the prediction of a prolonged war. In too many prolonged war scenarios the odds shifted in the human’s favor. The invasion was put on hold. Portus dispatched additional scout ships to obtain more data. It also ordered the Raygin fleet to be refitted. Wineena could still remember how angry she had gotten. She submitted a protest to the Varn. It was a waste of time. They sided with Portus.

  Portus, for some reason, decided to refit the Raygin fleet in the Naktu solar system. It sits within the universe’s second ring. The shipyards were not even built yet. The misspent use of time enraged Wineena. Her eyes smoldered flicks of orange as she recalled finding out about Portus building a parallel brain for itself. Of all places, the computer chose a good for nothing planet named Tik. It is the second planet from the sun in the Naktu system. Coincidence? She doubted it. The computer made a strategic move without oversight approval. It also convinced the Varn they too needed to move to Tik.