“This was a bad idea,” Kim whispered as Pershing led them through a hanger and toward a covered walkway between buildings.
Ben glanced over his shoulder and saw soldiers carrying provisions into the open cargo hold of the Echo.
“They wouldn’t be loading the ship with supplies if they meant to kill us,” Ben whispered back.
“Unless they plan to take the ship,” Kim said. “What would stop them?”
Ben felt an icy tremor spread from his stomach through his arms and legs. He wanted to believe General Pershing was a woman of her word, but he was suddenly feeling very foolish.
The general led them into a building where more soldiers were waiting. Ben wasn’t familiar with military insignia, but it seemed clear that the room was full of officers. Pershing wasted no time as she moved to the front of the room.
“Tell me everything,” she ordered.
A man with artificial legs stepped forward. He was thin, with blue eyes, and kept his military beret folded in his left hand as he saluted. Ben could only see the lower portion of the artificial legs, the part that curved out to form feet. He wore no boots and kept his fatigue pants neatly rolled and tucked around the metal where his calf should have been.
“Welcome home, General,” Major Le Croix said. “You know about the attack on the fleet. Evidently, some sort of portal has opened. We have reports of an unidentified ship coming through.”
“Yes,” Pershing said. “Go on.”
“Well, reports are still coming in,” the major replied. “But it’s believed at this point that the unidentified ship attacked a transport leaving Gershwin. It used some type of grappling system and after breaking the commercial transport ship in half, carried a portion of it away.”
“Back through the portal?”
“That hasn’t been reported,” Le Croix said. “Most of the ships in the system were on their way out when the attack occurred and didn’t stick around to see what happened.”
“Why do you look so nervous?” Pershing asked. “What aren’t you telling me.”
“We can’t confirm it yet, but I believe the royal family was on that transport,” Le Croix said. “They were evacuated from Gershwin only to be attacked before they could jump to hyperspace.”
Pershing showed no emotion, but Ben could see her mind calculating the possibilities. Kim seemed to stiffen beside him, and Jones muttered something under his breath.
“You have a plan in place?” Pershing asked.
“We have a team ready,” Le Croix said. “With your permission, I’d like to lead them myself.”
“You know the admiral general’s stance on officers with injuries being removed from the field,” Pershing said, and for just a second Ben saw a look of frustration cross Le Croix’s face. “But the admiral general is dead, and I do not share the opinion of a commander in chief who was never in combat. Permission granted, Major Le Croix.”
The man’s face lit with enthusiasm. Ben couldn’t imagine being happy about volunteering for combat, but it was obviously the case for the major. The meeting went on for nearly an hour. Pershing ordered word to be sent out across the galaxy that Yelsin Prime was the de facto HQ for all Royal Imperium military operations. Ships were to report in, and ground forces were to be mobilized.
When the meeting broke up, Pershing sent the officers away except for Major Le Croix. Then she introduced Ben and his companions.
“They represent the crew of the Modulus Echo,” Pershing said as she turned to face Ben. “Did you notice that no one mentioned the cause of the attack?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Ben replied.
“Everyone is focused on the aliens,” Pershing went on. “It’s plausible that they opened the portal and attacked our fleet.”
“The survivors are blaming the Echo,” Le Croix said.
“But no one has any proof that they destroyed the fleet,” Pershing continued. “I’m proposing a trade. I want your ship to act as my flagship while we engage the aliens. We don’t have the time or resources to replicate your flux shield.”
“Wait,” Kim said. “What are you getting at?”
“In exchange for your service during this crisis, I’ll support the idea that the aliens opened the wormhole and destroyed our fleet.”
Ben’s mouth was suddenly dry. His heart was beating fast and he felt a little light headed. He looked at Kim, who seemed speechless.
“But the wormhole is my life’s work,” Professor Jones said.
“Once the alien crisis is over, you can publish your data,” Pershing said. “In fact, we need you to find a way to close the portal.”
“What about their actions before the crisis?” Le Croix asked.
“I can’t expunge every crime,” Pershing said. “But your help against this new threat will go a long way in your favor.”
“I’ll have to talk to the others,” Ben said. “We make decisions as a crew.”
“Fine, but understand this,” Pershing said. “Once I’m on board your ship, I’m in charge. You will serve at my command. If you fail to carry out orders, I will assume you are mutineers and have you removed.”
“Give me half an hour,” Ben said.
“Good enough,” Pershing said.
Chapter 7
“This is unbelievable,” Kim said as they hurried back across the empty hanger toward the Echo.
“Do you ever feel like someone else is writing the story of our lives and we’re just along for the ride?” Ben asked. “This craziness just keeps happening.”
“I know. I feel like I’m running a race and can’t stop,” Kim said.
“I think perhaps it would be better for me to stay here,” Professor Jones said.
Ben and Kim stopped in the middle of the cavernous hanger. They turned and looked at the older man with surprise.
“You want to stay here?” Ben asked.
“With the Imperium commandos?” Kim added.
“You have become like family,” Jones said. “And I will cherish your contribution to my work. But I have so much more to do and I feel that I would not be of use on the ship.”
“That isn’t true,” Ben said. “You’re the only person who knows anything about medicine.”
“And trust me,” Kim said. “Once you leave the Echo, all you can think about is getting back.”
“They have more resources here,” Jones said.
“So we make that part of the deal,” Ben said. “Make a list of what you need and what we need in the sick bay. You can spend all your time working on your research unless someone gets hurt.”
“Besides, if we’re going back to the wormhole, you might need the data for your research,” Kim said.
“She has a point,” Ben said.
“And you don’t think I would be in the way?” Jones asked.
“Never,” Ben said.
“Like you said, you’re family,” Kim said.
“Alright,” Jones said. “I am glad to be part of your crew.”
“So let’s go tell the others,” Ben said.
“And see what the Royal Imperium set us up with,” Kim said.
They got to the ship and found Magnum waiting near the rear hatch. He had an unusual smirk on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Kim asked.
“Nothing,” Magnum said.
“Are we loaded?” Ben asked.
“You tell me,” the big man replied.
Ben walked up the ramp that led into the cargo hold and stopped suddenly. There were pallets of food—protein bricks, nutrient powders, vitamin syrups, and high-quality meal flavoring packets. There were vegetables in biodegradable packaging, canisters of beans, rice, and other dry goods, including cases of individually packaged candy bars.
“This is amazing,” Kim said.
“It pays to work for the bad guys,” Ben said.
“That’s not all,” Magnum spoke up. “We have twelve tanks of Zexum gas.”
“Twelve?” Ben said in shock.
�
�That’s all they could safely store in the engineering bay. I had to pull out most of the spare parts you had stored in there.”
“I’ll find a new place for it,” Ben said.
“So what does this all mean?” Kim said. “Are we part of the Royal Imperium now? Will they let us keep all of this if we say no.”
“Say no to what?” Magnum asked.
“I’ll explain upstairs,” Ben told him. “Nance should hear this too.”
They went up to the main deck. Nance looked at Ben with a rare smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m getting a full upload of the Nav Network,” Nance said. “The latest information, including updates from the Celeste system.”
“I think I know why,” Ben said.
“The Royal Imperium is trying to buy us,” Kim blurted out.
“General Pershing has offered to help us,” Ben said. “In exchange for giving her control of the Echo, she’ll spread word that the aliens opened the wormhole that resulted in the destruction of the Royal Imperium Fleet.”
“What?” Nance asked.
“It’s a bribe,” Kim said, dropping down into her pilot’s seat and flopping one leg over the armrest. “She says she’ll lie for us, but how can we trust someone who’s offer is based on lying? What’s to say she isn’t just lying about helping us? And we don’t even know if the ship we saw was an alien. It could have been a new Confederate ship for all we know.”
Professor Jones was sitting at the communications console. He looked up when the conversation turned to the alien ships.
“Granted I didn’t get a full scan, but none of the star positions matched our galaxy,” he explained. “And with General Pershing’s knowledge of ships, I’m inclined to agree with her.”
“She was right about what we would learn once we got here,” Ben said. “She said the alien ships would attack and they did. They captured a transport carrying the royal family.”
Kim was her usual grumpy self. “And don’t think our first mission won’t be to go straight back to the Celeste system to rescue the very people who have held the entire galaxy in virtual slavery for decades.”
“Maybe she’s right,” Magnum said. “Do we want to help rescue the royal family?”
“It could go a long way to clearing our name,” Nance said. “It might be the only shot we have of living a normal life.”
“Or we might get killed working for the Royal Imperium,” Kim said. “I’m not sure if that’s irony, or fate’s sick, twisted little joke.”
“The general is offering to help us,” Ben said. “We stay on the ship, but she’ll be in charge.”
“Because of the flux shield?” Nance asked.
“That’s right,” Ben said. “They can’t build them for their own vessels any time soon.”
“What choice do we have?” Magnum asked.
“We could fly away and hope no one ever finds us,” Ben said.
“The odds of that are incredibly slim,” Jones said. “And I would be forced to stay and continue my research here.”
“They have been generous so far,” Nance said.
“Can we really be bought with a few pallets of food and some Zexum gas?” Kim said.
“You don’t think we should do it?” Ben said.
“I don’t like the idea of anyone else being in charge of what we do on our own ship,” Kim said. “General Pershing is a fighter. She’s going to want to be in the thick of things. Her offer sounds good, but it’s our necks on the line.”
“But if we don’t do it,” Ben said, “we’ll be fugitives, with every bounty hunter in the galaxy looking for us. We’ll never feel safe for the rest of our lives. Even if we find a backwater world and hide the Echo.”
“I get that,” Kim said. “And I won’t vote against it if you all want to do it, but I don’t have to like it.”
“If those ships really were aliens,” Magnum spoke up, “I vote we do what we can to help—with or without the rewards.”
“I don’t feel responsible,” Nance said. “But I think we have to accept the general’s offer. It’s the only shot we have at getting clear of the destruction we’ve caused.”
“That destruction was never our intention,” Kim said. “They sought us out, remember? They treated us like criminals when all we wanted to do was live free.”
“We can’t really say no,” Ben said. “There are just too many reasons to help. But no one has to stay on board with the general calling the shots. If you want to get off, I’ll make our help dependent on getting you transport to any world you want.”
“You know I’m not leaving,” Kim said. “I made that mistake once. But I don’t trust General Pershing. She could turn on us whenever she wants.”
“I could build a fail-safe into the computer system,” Nance said. “Beyond the usual password protections. If something happens to us, it would wipe out the computer system and render the ship powerless.”
“I like where’s she’s going,” Kim said.
“And we can hide weapons in strategic places around the ship,” Magnum said. “Just in case she does turn against us, we’ll have a fighting chance.”
“Then we’re agreed,” Ben said. “We’ll help the Royal Imperium.”
“As long as they’re paying, I’ll fly them wherever they want to go,” Kim said. “Let’s just hope it’s not straight to hell.”
Chapter 8
The temple was full. Grubat had made a sacrifice of the entire alien ship, which he had captured outside the ring of fire. The priests accepted his offering and promised blessings on his Thralldom. The fact that Grubat didn’t yet have enough followers to constitute a Thralldom was of no concern. The priests had seen his prize, and so had the dozens of other Yarls and shipmasters on the Algonny Outpost. Once the ceremony was complete, Grubat knew the others would line up to pledge their strength to him.
Smoke rose from an altar where coals burned. Fragrant Oonee powder had been added, so the temple’s grand chamber smelled like a world that no longer existed. The Krah had arisen from Terrlic, but that world was lost in the fighting to dominate the galaxy. Centuries had passed since the Krah Empire had defeated their enemies and laid claim to the galaxy at large. Enemies had become harder and harder to find. A full warship capture was exceedingly rare, and word of Grubat’s conquest would spread rapidly.
“Mighty Grubat,” came the booming voice of the high priest who was descending from the temple’s elevated chambers. The priest had no legs and floated on electromagnetic repulsers that had taken the place of lower extremities. “The gods have shown you favor.”
Grubat bowed slowly to show his reverence for the gods and his submission to the high priest. The high priest drifted down slowly, passing through the clouds of fragrant smoke, his mechanical eyes glowing red. There were horrific scars and tattoos covering the high priest’s bald head, and he wore a long, pointed mask.
“The Krah Empire is once again at war,” the priest continued, his voice amplified by the mask and echoing around the temple. “Our new enemy has technology we have not yet encountered.”
“Blessed be the gods,” chanted the chieftains and Yarls assembled in the temple. Outside the hallowed walls, hundreds of troopers and their lowly Yorts listened as hidden speakers around the outpost projected the high priest’s sermon.
“They cross galaxies,” the priest continued. “Opening a fertile new feeding ground for the empire’s needs. Destiny calls us to follow them. Glory awaits our arrival. We shall smash their defenses, capture their treasures, and enslave the species on a thousand worlds.”
There was cheering and chanting. Grubat let the excitement wash over him and tried not to think about what would happen if the portal closed. He wanted the priest to release them so he could return to where his son’s ship, the En’Galla, had crossed the threshold into a new galaxy. If Grubat could summon enough ships to his Thralldom, and cross over to the other side, even if the portal closed, they could wage war until they l
earned of the strange magic that opened portals to new galaxies. It was the next step in their conquest to bring the entire universe under the control of the Krah Empire.
“The gods have decreed the time of our ascendancy,” the priest continued. “Our patience has not gone unnoticed. The universe is our reward. We are masters of a thousand worlds. We shall be the overlords of millions. Blessed be the gods.”
The priest waited for a moment as the assembled warriors bellowed out the expected reply.
“We serve at their pleasure!”
“The next steps are a test of our courage,” the priest continued. “What hardships we face will be the test of our resolve. Some will die. Others will falter. Some may urge us to return to our own galaxy rather than face the horrors that await. But we must be strong. We must dash every doubt and crush every temptation. The gods are always watching. Their surveillance is eternal; their stamina, never ending. We must emulate them if we hope to fulfill our destiny.”
There were shouts and more chanting. Priests appeared and urged the assembled warriors into a frenzy. Grubat had never felt the emotional pull that some Krah did regarding the gods. He made his offerings and respected the power of the priests, but he was a warrior and preferred the challenge of a strong enemy to the emotional outbursts in response to the priests’ sermons.
He slipped out the back and checked his communicator. There was still no response from the En’Galla. It was a troublesome omen that meant whatever lay on the other side of the portal was exceedingly dangerous, or the conquests were rich indeed.
Yarl Hassik approached without a sound, but Grubat’s personal sensors that lined the headdress tentacles picked up the warrior’s approach. The temples were sacred ground, and Grubat had no fear of being challenged. He turned to face his subordinate.
“The ceremony could go on for hours,” Hassik complained.
“I must stay and receive the pledges that will surely come from the other Yarls and chieftains,” Grubat said.
Modulus Echo Page 4