“Sure, it’s just through the air lock. You go first,” Kim said.
Several of Blane’s companions snickered behind his back, earning a frosty glare from Kim.
“Hey, no need to get nasty. I’m just trying to be nice.”
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Kim said. “Forget it. Uniforms do nothing for me.”
“How about guns?” Blane asked. “Are you interested in firepower?”
“I’m interested in eating my meal without being bothered,” Kim replied.
“Corporal, find someone else to flirt with,” Major Le Croix said.
“Yes, sir,” Blane said, getting quickly to his feet and stepping over the bench. “See you around.”
He winked at Kim, who sneered in return.
“I’m sorry if he was out of line,” Le Croix said.
Kim was surprised the major had come up behind her without making a sound. His prosthetic legs were as quiet as bare feet on the metal decking.
“No problem,” Kim said.
“Would you like to join us, Major?” Nance asked.
“Oh, sure,” Le Croix said, sitting down with his own plate of food.
Kim felt a little guilty that she hadn’t noticed he was holding a meal. She had been distracted by his missing legs.
“So what happened?” Kim asked.
“Pardon me?” Le Croix said.
“Your legs,” Kim said, ignoring the incredulous looks from Nance and Magnum. “Training accident? Step on a land mine?”
“Oh,” Le Croix said, his face reddening a little. “I was hit with cannon fire on Bisbee Six. A rebel artillery unit was dug into some old cliff dwellings. We couldn’t hit them from the air without destroying the historic buildings.”
“And they shot you?” Kim said.
“Wrong place at the wrong time, I guess,” Le Croix said.
“What happened to them?”
“To who?”
“The rebels?”
Le Croix looked away. “How long have you been flying?”
“All my life,” Kim said. “I started on training sims when I was barely big enough to walk.”
“Really?” Le Croix said.
“I’ve always loved it.”
“I can tell from the videos.”
“What videos?” Kim asked, suddenly suspicious.
“We have footage of your ship in action from the Bannyan system and on Torrent Four. That’s where I first saw you.”
“You were on Torrent Four,” Magnum asked.
“I was in charge of the commando team shadowing you there,” Le Croix said.
“You saved our lives, then,” Nance said.
“We did what we were ordered to do,” Le Croix said.
“Why didn’t you just take us out?” Kim said. “If you had us surrounded and outgunned, you could have taken the ship while she was still on the ground.”
“I was following orders,” Le Croix said. “Perhaps it was fate.”
“I don’t believe in it,” Kim said. “What’s your first name?”
“Luc,” the major replied.
“Luc Le Croix, that has a nice ring to it.”
“And you are?” he asked in return.”
“Don’t you know that already?” Kim asked.
“No,” he said. “We got facial recognition of Ben Griminski and Magnum Wallace, but nothing on you two.”
“I’m Kim Beaudry, and this is our computer genius, Nance Josslyn.”
“I’m officially pleased to meet you,” Le Croix said. “You really are a talented flyer.”
“Thanks,” Kim said, suddenly embarrassed by the major’s sincere praise.
“Why were you ordered not to take us out on Torrent Four?” Magnum asked.
“I don’t suppose it matters much now,” Le Croix said. “But the admiral general was planning to make an example of you.”
“By blowing us to smithereens when we reached orbit?” Kim asked.
Le Croix nodded.
“I told you they were pushing us off world,” Kim said to Nance.
“That was one hell of an escape act,” Le Croix said. “I’ve never seen anything shrug off firepower from battleships the way you did.”
“The Echo is special,” Kim replied.
“Think she’ll be able to do that with the aliens?” Le Croix asked.
“She already has,” Kim said.
“The grappling arms that captured General Pershing’s ship when they went through the wormhole,” Nance explained.
“She said you all saved her life,” Le Croix said.
“I’m still trying to decide if we did the right thing,” Kim joked.
“Our shields held off the grappling arms,” Magnum added. “But they didn’t fire conventional weapons at us.”
“So maybe it works, maybe not,” Le Croix said.
“Talk to the professor,” Kim said. “He knows more than we do.”
“He’s an interesting guy,” Le Croix said. “I’m not sure if he’s a mad scientist or a legit genius.”
“Probably a bit of both,” Kim said. “He’s was on your side until he got kicked out of the academic world for having wild theories.”
“My side?” Le Croix said.
“Well, he was in the Royal Imperium system,” Kim added. “He only threw in with the Confederacy because they supported his research.”
“What about you? Why’d you join the rebellion?”
“We didn’t,” Nance said.
“We’re not soldiers,” Kim said. “No offense.”
“None taken. But you worked for the Confederacy.”
“We were just trying to get off Torrent Four,” Kim said. “The Imperium made that next to impossible for us.”
“You couldn’t just buy passage on a transport?” Le Croix asked.
Kim rolled her eyes, and Magnum chuckled.
“What?” Le Croix asked.
“You obviously don’t know much about visas and travel vouchers, do you?” Nance asked.
“I guess not,” Le Croix said.
“You can’t just buy a ticket and go wherever you want,” Kim said. “Not from a restricted world like Torrent Four.”
Nance started to explain, “Without the right connections and money—”
“A lot of money,” Kim interrupted.
“You can’t get permission to leave,” Nance continued. “Ninety-nine percent of the people on Torrent Four live in poverty with no hope of ever getting off world.”
“That’s terrible,” Le Croix said.
“Yeah, you were there,” Kim said. “It’s not exactly a vacation spot.”
“So you stole a ship?” Le Croix asked.
“We didn’t steal it,” Kim said, slightly offended that the major would jump to such a conclusion.
“Ben found it,” Nance said. “He was just a kid in the salvage fields. He’s spent most of his life rebuilding her. I was on the run from some Scalpers when he found me and hid me in the ship. It’s the one place I feel safe.”
“Ben rebuilt the ship systems, and Nance got the computer system up and running,” Magnum explained.
“So you run the computer systems,” Le Croix said to Nance, then turned to Kim, “and you’re the pilot. What does he do?”
“He hurts people that ask too many questions,” Kim joked.
“We’re all outcasts,” Nance said. “Magnum helped Ben fight off some Scalpers and now he’s our security expert.”
“You have training?” Le Croix asked.
“Some, nothing formal,” Magnum said. “Not really.”
“He’s also a gunsmith,” Kim said. “We all wear a lot of hats.”
“I can see the appeal,” Le Croix said. “Go where you want, when you want. And you’re always home.”
“Sure, if you can get work,” Kim said. “And stay off the Royal Imperium’s radar. We’re not so good at the last part.”
“No, you’re really not,” the major said. “But here you are. So you’re e
ither really lucky or...”
“We’ll stick with lucky,” Kim said. “Things could have been different. We could have been killed so many times I’ve lost count.”
“In my experience, survivors always find a way,” Le Croix said. “In combat, some people die quickly, and others survive engagement after engagement. No one can explain why.”
“Is that why you volunteered to lead this mission?” Kim asked. “Are you a survivor?”
“I led eleven mission and never got hurt worse than a few scratches or a rolled ankle. Then on number twelve, I lost both ankles,” Le Croix said. “The military gave me new ones, but then forced me into an administrative post. But I didn’t join the service to polish a seat with my ass. I’m a hard charger, will be until the day I die.”
“Which could be today,” Kim said in a chipper voice that was the opposite of the grim fact she was pointing out.
“Maybe, but at least I’ll die doing something noble,” Le Croix said.
“What? Rescuing the royal family? I’d hardly call that noble,” Kim said.
“Some people are born in poverty on Torrent Four,” Le Croix said. “Others are born in the royal family. Maybe it’s all a crapshoot. I don’t see much difference between one or the other, but saving them is just part of the job. Showing a group of aliens that they can’t just skip into our galaxy and do whatever they want is another. A lot of our people died when they opened that wormhole. I plan to make sure they know we aren’t willing to let bygones be bygones.”
Kim looked at the major for a few seconds. She could see that he really meant what he was saying. He believed that he was doing the right thing. It made her think of some of the rebels she had met who felt just as strongly that they were doing the right thing too. She didn’t know who was right and who was wrong anymore. All she could do was try to stay alive long enough to figure it all out.
Chapter 12
Grubat stood on the bridge of his starship, the Nog’Deit, looking at a plot display that was projected on the large transparent wall. Ahead, the darkness of space was clear, yet the plot showed his ship and the space station behind them. In between, nearly a dozen warships were following him.
His ascendance from chieftain to warlord was nearly complete. All he needed was a successful raid through the ring of fire. Once his followers saw how he enriched them through conquest, they would brag of their good fortune and his fame would spread.
Beside the Krah chieftain, a light flickered, and a hologram showed the image of the high priest from the Algonny Outpost. He was floating in midair, most of his body covered in metal. His long, pointed mask made the priest an imposing figure, as did the long tentacles writhing from his back.
“An auspicious beginning, Chieftain,” the hologram said.
“The gods favor us,” Grubat said.
“Indeed. Word is already spreading of your find. Soon we shall feast on the riches of a new galaxy. Your name shall be remembered.”
“If that is the will of the gods,” Grubat said, trying to keep his irritation from showing.
All his life, Grubat had worked tirelessly to better himself. His father had never been more than a mere trooper, but Grubat was fearless in battle. He had built his ship over decades of unrelenting raids, chasing his prey for millions of miles through space. While others bemoaned the rarity of enemy ships to capture, Grubat had chased every rumor and clue to find the dwindling resources needed to elevate his stature. While others had noticed the power spike that drew Grubat to the ring of fire, their lack of initiative had cost them, so that they were now his followers. It seemed to Grubat that the gods had very little to do with his success. In fact, they cost him much more than they provided. Ceaseless sacrifices to appease the gods and their insatiable priests had doubled the length of time it had taken Grubat to build the Nog’Deit and the En’Galla. And the high priest’s uninvited presence, even in holographic form, on his ship was annoying.
“I look forward to hearing of your many victories upon your return,” the priest said.
“I look forward to sharing them with you,” Grubat said.
He knew the priest wasn’t interested in his success beyond what it meant for his order. The sacrifices and offerings made to the Algonny Outpost temple would enrich the priests. And if the ring of fire was truly a bridge to a new galaxy, the outpost would soon become the most important station in the entire empire.
“Very well,” the priest said. “Blessings be on you. May your strength prevail.”
The hologram flickered, then vanished. Grubat breathed a sigh of relief. The more important he became, the greater his obligations, but he was still just a raider at heart.
“Activate the faster-than-light engines,” Grubat ordered the Yarl operating his ship at the moment. “And give me a time estimate.”
“We are three hours from the anomaly, Chieftain,” said the Yarl behind him.
Grubat spread his headdress tentacles out, scanning the air around him, taking in the mood of his subordinates. They were anxious, mostly eager, but Grubat could taste a hint of reservation. He understood it. Fear was not an emotion that tainted his ambition, yet the En’Galla’s prolonged absence made Grubat worry. It was possible that whatever technological marvel opened the ring of fire to a new galaxy was also capable of crushing the entire Krah Empire. Nothing was certain, but his son’s absence gave the chieftain pause. It was also possible that on the other side of the portal, there was nothing but empty space. The En’Galla might have to travel for days just to reach a settlement in the new galaxy.
The unanswered questions hung like a nebulous fog around him. He needed clarity that could only come from traveling through the ring of fire. After scouring every star system in the galaxy for a worthy foe, Grubat felt hopeful that at last they had found an enemy that might actually challenge him. If not, his name would be remembered as the fool who squandered one of the few remaining starships by giving his captured prize to the priests.
Hours passed and Grubat stood before the large windows, staring into space. Patience was a necessity in space combat. Grubat, like all Krah warriors, loved nothing more than unarmed combat, but he had come to appreciate the intricate tactics of space warfare as well. It was a mental game, without the urgency and physical nature of a fistfight. But the victory was just as satisfying and often much more financially rewarding.
When the ring of fire finally came into view, he felt a shiver of excitement pulse through him. The others would see it. They would know he spoke the truth. And once through the portal, they could search for starships to plunder and worlds to pillage. His ascendancy to warlord was nearly complete.
“Orders, mighty Chieftain?” Yarl Hassik asked from behind Grubat.
“Proceed through the ring of fire,” Grubat said. “Send word to the other vessels to spread out and do likewise. I will lead the charge into the unknown.”
“As you wish,” Hassik said.
Grubat still didn’t move. He stood by the windows, ready to face whatever lay on the other side of the mysterious portal. If his son had been captured in the En’Galla, a thousand warships could be waiting on the other side of the portal to blast him to bits. But Grubat was of the Warrior caste, a chieftain in the Krah Empire. He would not shrink from death, but charge ahead, singing his death song for his enemies to hear.
Chapter 13
The Modulus Echo came out of hyperspace just within the heliosphere of the Celeste system. At top speed, it would take hours to reach the wormhole, but General Pershing didn’t want to give away their presence too quickly, and Ben thought her idea of coming just to the edge of the system was wise.
“Set a jump to take us in system,” General Pershing said. “Your computer can do that, right?”
“Yes,” Nance said. “I’m calculating now.”
“Should we fire up the flux shield?” Kim asked.
“Not until we get the commando team out of the ship,” Ben said.
“Will your containment system
work?” General Pershing said.
“Computer testing says it will,” Ben said.
He had hung a large sheet of plastic near the rear hatch of the ship and sealed it with foam. The commandos were already in full armor on the other side, between the plastic and the hatch. Ben had connected a simple air pump to create a vacuum between the plastic sheeting and the hatch. According to his calculations, with help from the ship’s computer, they should be able to open the rear hatch without a sudden change in pressure that would suck everything out the opening.
“And plastic will hold up against the pressures of hard vacuum?” Pershing asked.
“Yes,” Ben said. “As long as we have the pressure equalized, we’ll be fine. The earliest spacecraft had sections that were no thicker than sheets of aluminum foil.”
“Fine,” Pershing said. “But I want everyone to suit up. Whatever happens in system, I don’t want anyone taking unnecessary chances.”
Ben, along with the rest of his crew, were in their space suits. He lifted his helmet and settled it over his head. Raising his arms up made his wounds ache, but he was much more worried about what they might find near the wormhole.
“General, I’m not getting any major energy readings,” Nance said.
“Will the cameras reach that far?” Pershing asked.
“No, I’m sorry.”
“We can’t afford to wait any longer,” the general said. “If there were more enemy ships, we should get sensor readings. Is the jump set?”
“Almost,” Nance said.
“Should we bring up weapons?” Ben suggested.
“No, we need stealth, not strength,” Pershing said. “I want to get into the system without being seen. We’re here to rescue the royal family, and we can’t risk a fight without putting them in danger.”
“Jump is set,” Nance announced.
“Major Le Croix?” Pershing asked over the com-link.
“All set, General,” Le Croix said.
“Do it,” Pershing gave the order.
“Here we go,” Kim said.
The jump happened so fast that all Ben felt was the prolonged feeling of time stretching. They weren’t even in hyperspace long enough for the display screens to show the swirl of luminous fog. One moment they were at the very edge of the star system, the next they were in the planet Gershwin’s orbital plane.
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