“Drop us out of hyperspace,” ordered Kroll, leaning forward in his command chair. Could it be possible they had just found the Originators’ secret base?
The ship dropped out of hyperspace with its stealth fields fully activated. They were still several light years from the site of the energy spikes.
“We’ll stay here for twenty hours and record all the data we can,” Kroll ordered. “Then we’ll move closer to take more detailed scans.”
Kroll had to be careful. His orders specifically stated if the base was located, it was essential the Eternal battlecruiser not be detected. In order for Admiral Trope’s plan to work the Originators must not know their secret base had been discovered.
-
For hours the Eternal battlecruiser held its position and recorded the energy spikes ahead of it. The sheer number of energy spikes was shocking. There was no doubt in Kroll’s mind that whatever they had found was massive.
“This has to be the Originator base we’re seeking,” said Lazoll, Kroll’s second in command. “Nothing else would explain the amount of energy we’re recording.”
“I agree, but we must be certain. How close can we come without being detected?”
“Not too close,” replied Lazoll as he studied the sensor readings. “We know the Originators have excellent sensors. Anything closer than a light year would be risky. Particularly considering the number of energy spikes we’ve been recording.”
“Very well, take us to just slightly over one light year from the energy spikes. That will allow us to get a general idea of what’s there with our long-range sensors. It won’t be highly detailed but it should locate most of the large objects if any are present.” Kroll was feeling more confident that this was indeed the Originator base they had been searching for. Fleet Admiral Trope would be very pleased with this discovery.
-
The battlecruiser moved closer to its target. Once it reached a distance of one point two light years it dropped out of hyperspace and killed most of its power. The ship stayed there unmoving, waiting to see if the Originators had detected its presence.
After several hours Lazoll turned toward Commander Kroll. “There is no indication we’ve been detected. It should be safe to initiate scans.”
“Do so,” ordered Kroll. “But be careful. I don’t want us to be detected.”
-
For hours the Eternal vessel conducted low level scans of the suspected Originator base. At the end of that time Lazoll stood with awe showing in his eyes. “If these scans are accurate we’re looking at four Shrieels, hundreds of massive shipyards, research facilities, and nearly every supportive structure you can imagine. There are at least ten Accelerator Rings active. We’ve also detected what appears to be forty-three of their mobile battlestations. Just the manufacturing capacity here alone is immense. No wonder the Originators have been willing to launch attacks against our Empire.”
“Fleet units?”
“Unknown,” replied Lazoll. “There is so much interference from the energy being constantly released we can’t determine with any accuracy the number of ships which may be present without moving much closer.”
“Can we at least get an estimate?” Kroll knew this was important.
Lazoll turned back to the latest sensor readings. He shook his head. “Nothing is clear. I would estimate we are looking at twenty to possibly forty thousand vessels. It could be less or more. There’s just no way of getting an accurate count from our current distance.”
Kroll looked up at the tactical display. Even it was blurry because of the amount of energy being released. It did show the four Shrieels and the larger structures. “If we can conquer this base the amount of manufacturing units here would greatly offset what we lost when we lost access to our home galaxy. Admiral Trope is going to be highly pleased with our discovery. Take us back into hyperspace and set a course for the admiral’s fleet. We must report this discovery as soon as possible.”
“It will take us nearly ten days to reach the admiral’s position,” replied Lazoll.
“I’m aware of that. Let’s be on our way.”
Moments later the Eternal battlecruiser made the jump into hyperspace, fleeing this dangerous region of space. They had found what they had been seeking. Now it would be up to Admiral Trope to determine what to do with their information.
-
In one of the Shrieels an alarm sounded indicating an unexplained energy release nearby. The Originator in charge took a moment to study the release and quickly determined it was so small as not to be of concern. As a result he did not report it to his superior officer but merely noted it in the daily log.
-
Admiral Grayseth had just received word the Liberator had made the transition into the Creevak universe. Grayseth felt great pride knowing two of his children were on board the ship. Sitting in his command chair, he began to study the information from the scans of the probe that had gone to the Creevak universe and then returned.
“It appears we will have to fight a major space battle before we can attempt to rescue my clan brother.” On the main tactical display, the red icons representing the Creevak warships appeared. “We’re going to be slightly outnumbered.”
“It will be a great hunt,” replied Rastell. “Our ships are powered by dark matter converters and we have the blue energy sphere projectors. Our dreadnaughts are much more powerful than the ones your clan brother took with him. In addition, we have the Hunter and this vessel is truly powerful.”
Grayseth nodded. “It will be necessary for the Hunter to engage the Creevak along with our battlecruisers. Once the enemy fleet has been destroyed, the Hunter will drop down into the gravity field of the black hole and dock with the battlestation.”
“How long will the evacuation take?”
“That’s the problem,” admitted Grayseth, letting out a deep breath. “It’s going to take time to load over sixty thousand people plus all the AIs.”
“We could leave the AIs and just take the computer hard drive with their engrams.”
Grayseth shook his head. “No, my clan brother will never agree to that. He looks at the AIs as real people and they are. If we can rescue them we must.”
“May I make a suggestion?” asked Hamore Donne who was the male Alton at the science console. “If we link our power systems to the battlestations we might be able to extend the life of its energy shields before they collapse.”
“Is that possible?” asked Grayseth. This might solve the problem of getting everyone on board the Hunter.
“Maybe,” replied Donne. “I would have to speak with the ship’s engineer to see if it would work.”
Grayseth nodded. The chief engineer was an Alton as well. “Do so and let me know what you find out. My clan brother will be very pleased if we can rescue everyone including the AIs.”
-
In the Tower, Fleet Admiral Tolsen was taking a break from the mountain of paperwork on his desk. His sister Massie was sitting across from him with a big smile on her face.
“You’re pregnant!” said Race, grinning. “Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”
Massie shook her head. “No, I’m thinking about traveling to New Tellus and giving them the news. I was wondering if you would like to go with me?”
Race let out a deep sigh. “There is nothing I would enjoy more than watching you tell our mother she’s about to become a grandmother. She’s going to be ecstatic. However, we think the Eternals are up to something and I can’t leave the Tower anytime soon until we know exactly what it is.”
“What’s going on?” Massie had been out of touch with some of the events recently. She knew about the interdiction of the Eternal galaxy but that was about it.
“Everywhere we engage the Eternals, they are falling back,” explained Race. “Commander Zafron believes they’re assembling a massive fleet to attack us. We just don’t know where the attack is going to be or in what direction it’s going to come from.”
Massie
looked thoughtful. “Should I remain here in case I’m needed?” She still held the rank of rear admiral in the reserves.
Race shook his head. “No, Admiral Mann and Rear Admiral Cross will be handling the defense of Originator space. They’ve both been assigned two very large war fleets. I feel confident we can handle whatever the Eternals throw at us.”
“If you say so,” replied Massie. “Why don’t you come by tonight and I’ll fix you a good home cooked meal? You look as if you could use one.”
Race laughed. Massie was an excellent cook. “I’ll do that. While you’re here why don’t I make arrangements to get you back to New Tellus? I believe your old flagship, the Hera, is currently here at the hub.
Massie looked surprised. “I wasn’t planning on taking a warship. I was thinking more along the lines of a passenger liner.”
“No, there is a small chance the Eternals might attack the Federation. I would feel more comfortable if you had a dreadnaught at your disposal if it was needed.”
“If you insist,” replied Massie. Race had always been a little protective of her. “Supper will be at seven.” She paused and looked at the piles of paperwork on his desk. “Why don’t you hire an assistant to help with all that paperwork.”
Race looked thoughtfully at Massie. “Would you be interested?” He wanted someone with some combat experience.
“Maybe,” replied Massie. “If it’s only part time and I can set my own hours.”
“You have a deal,” replied Race. He was getting desperate to get out from under the daily piles of paperwork.
Massie smiled. “I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll be there,” promised Race. “I’ll contact the Hera and make arrangements to get you to New Tellus.”
-
In the Creevak universe, there was a sudden flash of white light as the Liberator burst into the space between the two black holes. The ship moaned and groaned from the stress and for a brief moment the lights dimmed as the shields fought to hold off the terrible pull of the black hole’s gravity. Several alarms sounded on the damage control console and a number of lights began blinking amber. Fortunately, there were no red.
Jason shook his head, he felt faint and dizzy. He felt as if his head had been hit with a sledge hammer.
“Take your time,’ sent Clarissa, soothingly. “I have control of the ship. We’re fine. We just have a few systems that overloaded. I’ve already ordered our AI engineers to begin making repairs.”
Jason fought to catch his breath and then his eyesight began to clear. “Oh, my head,” he moaned as he reached up and rubbed it.
“Take this,” instructed Teena as she placed a cup of liquid in Jason’s hand. The medical AI then turned and began handing more of the drinks out to other members of the command crew who were beginning to stir.
Jason took a sip of the warm liquid and almost immediately his head began to clear and his headache vanished. “I don’t know what that was but it certainly works.”
Taking several deep breaths, he looked around the Command Center. Angela and Layla were still out. “What happened?”
“The stress from the transit was much more severe than expected,” explained Clarissa. “Part of it is no doubt due to us appearing farther within the gravity well of the black hole.”
“Do you have the station on the sensors?”
“Yes, it’s right where it’s supposed to be and so are we. We should be able to communicate with it shortly.
“How’s Mitch?”
“Still out, only you and Clair are fully awake. The others should be shortly.”
Jason suddenly grew concerned. There was no doubt the Creevak ships were now able to detect the Liberator, or at the very least know that something had appeared between them and the battlestation. “Are we moving?”
“Yes, I’ve activated the ship’s gravity drive and we are moving as planned toward the battlestation. I have computed that even if the Creevak launch missiles we should be able to reach the station before they can catch us.”
“What’s our energy situation?”
“Dark Matter converters are coming back online. We’re currently using our antimatter power plant to provide power to the ship.”
Jason let out a sigh of relief. Next to him Angela began to stir. Her eyes opened and she looked over at Jason.
“Did you have to hit me so hard?”
Letting out a laugh Jason felt relief Angela was coming to. Teena hurried over and handed her one of the drinks she was carrying around.
“Did we make it?” asked Angela as she sipped her drink.
Jason nodded. “Yes we did and we’re on course for the station. We should be able to contact them shortly.” Jason hesitated and then began speaking again. “I think you should be the one to contact the station.”
-
Jeremy had been summoned to the Command Center of the battlestation. The Condition One alarms were sounding and Marines and combat robots were rushing to their defensive stations. As Jeremy entered the Command Center he saw a flurry of activity.
“What’s happened?”
“It’s a ship,” replied Rear Admiral Jones. “It just appeared between us and the Creevak vessels.”
Jeremy looked up at the tactical display, showing a red icon steadily approaching the station. Jeremy wondered if the Creevak had finally found a way to reach them. “Have we tried to contact them?”
“We’re trying now.”
“The ship has a stealth field around it,” commented Ariel as she studied the sensor readings. “It’s still too distant to see due to gravity from the black hole. I don’t think it’s a Creevak vessel. The power readings are all wrong.”
“Then what?” demanded Rear Admiral Jones, his eyes focusing on Ariel.
“I think it’s an Originator vessel.”
The Command Center became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“An Originator vessel,” repeated Major Breedlow from Tactical. “How is that possible? Any ship which appears where that ship is should have been destroyed. The gravity is too intense.”
Ariel pointed to the tactical display. “Well, it’s there and it’s coming toward us.”
-
Several long minutes passed and then a message came through.
“I have audio and visual,” announced an excited communications officer.
Suddenly on the main viewscreen a woman appeared. She was grinning broadly. “Did you miss me?”
The relief in the Command Center was massive. Jeremy stared at the viewscreen in disbelief and then began laughing. “Angela, where the hell did you come from?”
“That’s a long story,” Angela replied still smiling. “We’ll be docking with the battlestation in a few more hours. I’ll explain everything then. You might want to have Kelsey, Katie, and Kevin at the docking bay.”
Jeremy felt confused. “Why’s that?”
Angela hesitated as if relishing what she was about to say. “Because all of your kids are on board. As a matter of fact, your son Jason is the commanding officer of this vessel.”
A young man suddenly appeared on the viewscreen. “Hello, Dad.”
Jeremy suddenly found he could not speak. Tears filled his eyes. He just gazed at the viewscreen, feeling stunned.
“I think the fleet admiral is a little overcome by all of this,” said Rear Admiral Jones with a smile. “We’ll make arrangements for your docking. Angela; it’s good to see you.”
The viewscreen went blank and everyone turned to look at Jeremy.
“That was my son,” he said in a daze.
“I could tell,” said Ariel with a huge smile. “He looks just like you when you were his age.”
Jeremy stood up, still feeling shaken. “We’d better go tell the others. I know two women who are going to scream with joy.”
“They’re not the only ones,” said Rear Admiral Jones. “We have an Originator vessel getting ready to dock. The only reason to send a ship through is to give us instructio
ns about the rescue.” Rear Admiral Jones looked solemnly around the command crew. “People, we’re about to be rescued.”
The entire Command Center erupted in cheers and screams of joy. Their long exile was about to come to an end.
-
Jeremy hurried to the New Horizon where he knew Kelsey, Katie, and Kevin were. By the time he reached the ship the news had already spread that an Originator vessel would soon be docking with the battlestation.
Stepping into the Command Center he saw everyone was talking excitedly about the inbound ship.
Kelsey spotted Jeremy. “Is it true? Is it really an Originator vessel?
Jeremy nodded. “It’s true and Angela is on board. I’ve already spoken to her.”
Kelsey’s breath caught in her throat. “Angela?”
“Yes, and that’s not all.” Jeremy looked over at Katie and Kevin who were listening. “Our children are on board as well. It seems Jason is the commanding officer of the ship.”
Kelsey nearly collapsed as she sat down at the nearest console. Katie was looking very pale as well.
“A commanding officer,” said Kevin, not seeming surprised. “Sounds like he’s taking after his father.”
“But how can he be a commander so soon?” stammered Kelsey. “He’s too young.”
“We’ll know the answers to that and our other questions in a few hours. Angela wants us to meet them in the docking bay where their ship is heading.”
“I need to change clothes,” said Kelsey, looking down at her uniform. Her uniform was a little wrinkled. They had all been spending long shifts getting the ship ready.
“So do I,” said Katie as she stood back up. She was taking deep breaths. “If Jason is the commanding officer I wonder what the rest of our children are?”
Kevin looked thoughtful. “I wonder if Mathew likes hamburgers?”
A terrified look crossed Katie’s face. “I hope not. You’re bad enough.”
“Come on Katie,” said Kelsey excitedly. “Let’s go change clothes. We’re going to be reunited with our kids.”
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