Kalian had never been taught Solar Drive at a higher level, but he knew the ship would have to be near the surface of a star in order to absorb the magnetic fields. How could any ship speed them away, if they were thousands of kilometres away from the Sun?
Now that Commander Hawkins was walking away, Kalian could see that his tattoo went all the way down his neck and into his combat suit.
“Don’t ask questions you don’t need answers to.” The Commander didn’t even look back as he said it.
Kalian looked to Li’ara to shed some light on the topic but, before she could say anything, the lift doors at the end of the hangar bay opened, revealing a small party of people. Kalian recognised Chief Commander Hendricks and Commander Barnes immediately; next to them was a man he had never seen before. The man appeared regal in bright red and gold robes that reached the floor, his hands hidden within the folds of his sleeves. As they got closer, Kalian could make out the short blonde hair that came to a point in the middle of his forehead. Kalian didn’t need an introduction to know this was Ambassador Arlek.
“You must be Kalian Gaines.” The Ambassador extended a hand from his robes to greet Kalian.
“Ambassador Arlek, I assume.” It was impossible to tell how old he was, he could have been anywhere between fifty and a hundred and fifty.
“I am sure you are eager to get to the bottom of this, Kalian. I am as curious as you are to their interest in meeting you. But we should not lose sight of the importance of this meeting. First and foremost, this is a historical meeting of two species, who knows what this might lead to for humankind. Before we approach the subject of your relevance, I think it prudent to address the concerns of Central Parliament.”
He’s good. Kalian had heard politicians talk enough on tv at home. Arlek was trying to make Kalian feel like they were familiar with addressing him by his first name. Then he tried to make them equal by highlighting similar goals. The Ambassador had been well trained in the art of debate and elocution; he knew how to make his own goals appear the most important.
Arlek might not have been as blunt as the Chief Commander, but the Ambassador had just told Kalian not to get in the way. The Ambassador didn’t wait for Kalian’s reply, his attention wandered past him towards the ship.
“So this is the Fathom...” The Ambassador looked over the ship with an inspecting eye. “Are you certain it’s safe?”
“It might only be the prototype, but it’s been rigorously tested,” the Chief Commander explained.
“I’m sorry to interrupt sir,” Commander Barnes stepped in, “but the Icarus station has been evacuated and the deadline is approaching.” He looked to Commander Hawkins, who nodded in return to his silent question. “The Fathom is prepped and ready to launch.” Kalian reminded himself to ask Li’ara about the ship later.
A few minutes later, the Chief and Commander Barnes left for central command and the four passengers boarded the Fathom. The ship was more spacious than Kalian expected, the immediate interior resembled a living space found in most homes. He noticed a room at the back with nothing in it except several racks on the wall filled with UDC weapons. There was another room next to it behind a wall of glass with a red line that ran through the centre. This room was all white and filled with compartments and a single bed in the middle.
Commander Hawkins went straight to the front of the ship and disappeared into the cockpit without a word. Ambassador Arlek took a seat on one of the sofas, wrapping his hands into his sleeves again. Li’ara sealed the door behind them, gesturing at Kalian to take a seat opposite the Ambassador. Kalian wasn’t sure what to expect from a ship with Solar Drive, would it take off like the craft that brought him here? Did they need to be strapped in or hold onto something? Rather than take the chance of asking another stupid question, he decided to watch what the others did. Neither the Ambassador nor Li’ara appeared uncomfortable; Li’ara went through to the weapons room while the Ambassador examined the interior.
Kalian heard a loud hum from somewhere inside the ship as the engines came to life. Lights on various pieces of equipment lit up and a small image appeared on the cockpit door showing Commander Hawkins at the helm. A clunking noise was audible under their feet as the Fathom’s landing gear retracted into the ship’s belly. Kalian could feel the ship ascending - how were they going to get out of here? He hadn’t seen any large hangar doors.
“Grav Enforcers coming online.” The Commander’s voice came through a speaker over their heads.
Moments later, Kalian felt that familiar pressure pass from head to toe. He could no longer feel the ship ascending. He instinctively looked round to get his bearings, but just like the craft that had brought him to The Hub, the Fathom had no windows either. Li’ara walked back into the room with a gun attached to her right thigh. The sight of the weapon reminded Kalian that Li’ara was more than she appeared. He really hoped her particular skills wouldn’t be required. He put the thought aside.
“What is it with you guys and windows?”
Kalian saw Li’ara pause and change direction, heading towards a panel on the wall. “Windows are a structural weak point, they can’t be re-enforced the same way the hull can.” Li’ara’s tone suggested he had asked another stupid question.
She thumbed the panel on the wall. The entrance to the ship and the wall surrounding it instantly disappeared. Where the wall had been was now a clear view of the outside world and Kalian was momentarily blinded by the desert sun. When his vision returned he could see they were still rising into the sky. Below the ship Kalian saw the entrance to the hangar bay closing after them; it had been on the roof. The exterior of the doors was covered in desert sand camouflaging it to conceal any underground activity.
Kalian couldn’t believe what he was seeing; there had been a wall there only moments ago. He moved forward and reached out, unsure of what he might feel. His fingers vanished from sight like a mirage in the desert heat; he felt the cold steel of the door beyond.
He looked to Li’ara for confirmation as if she could read his thoughts. She tapped on a cylindrical beam that ran from the floor to the ceiling. A thin line of bright light shone down the centre from which the image was being generated. Kalian noticed an identical beam on the other side closer to the cockpit. The image itself was the entire breadth of the wall. This technology wasn’t exactly new, but the clarity of the holo-image was so perfect he could have sworn there was a hole in the ship.
“Tiny cameras on the hull feedback images of the outside.” Li’ara’s expression suggested it was the least exciting piece of technology on the ship.
She moved away and took her seat opposite the Ambassador. Kalian was impressed; he wondered what else this little ship could do.
Commander Hawkins tipped the Fathom on its side trying to get the right angle and direction. To Kalian it appeared as though the Earth was moving around them; his brain told him he should be falling but his feet remained firm on the deck. At this altitude, they were well above the high walls that fortified The Hub. The base was spread out for miles across the desert; it was like a city in itself. There was only one building higher than the walls situated at the back of the base near the far corner. Kalian could just make out the array of antennae protruding from the top. There were several large domes scattered across the landscape in between stark white structures. Kalian had no idea what any of the buildings were for. From what he had seen, the most important part of The Hub was underground. The soldiers were starting to look like ants now as they ascended into the upper atmosphere.
The Ambassador hadn’t looked up once; the view was of no interest to him. He had a faraway look on his face, clearly lost in his own thoughts. Kalian felt it best not to disturb him.
At least I’m not here to represent the human race.
The ocean of blue sky began to fade giving way to the vastness of space and the stars beyond. It had been so long since he’d seen this view; he had forgotten how beautiful it was. As the Fathom turned towards the moon h
e could see the curve of the Earth with the Sun behind them. The beauty was undeniable. The blue hue that blanketed the atmosphere was like a protective halo. In moments, the Fathom passed over the Atlantic and across the countries that used to be part of a collective, before Central Parliament brought everyone together. Even from this distance, the Mag Hyperways could be seen connecting the continents. The underwater cities remained concealed, though some of the spires and platforms were visible. Kalian recalled the lessons he himself had taught on the subject of such aquatic habitats. They were the last constructions to be built before the move into the solar system, there really was no more space on Earth.
As they passed over the dark side of the planet, all Kalian could see were the millions of lights from the cities below. Kalian noticed how little space for greenery there was. From the images he had studied in college he knew that Earth had been blue and green in appearance. But now, where there had been so much green, was an endless sea of silver and gold glittering in the lights. What was left of nature had been placed under the strictest protection laws within giant domes, some of which could be seen from orbit. He promised himself he would see more of the world after this; maybe even visit Mars and Century or some of the moons.
“ETA three minutes,” Commander Hawkins’ voice came over the speakers again.
Kalian could feel butterflies in his stomach, his hands became clammy again. This is it. He let out a long breath.
“Don’t worry,” the Ambassador said. “Just let me do all the talking and we will be fine.” He stood up allowing his robe to fall into place.
Li’ara stood up as well, removing her weapon from its holster. She inspected each side of it making sure all the settings were to her liking. The gun itself looked quite formidable. Kalian had seen other UDC soldiers armed with the same weapon but this one seemed bigger in places. Li’ara had obviously made some modifications over the years. The top of the gun had a small screen with numbers on it, no doubt detailing the amount of ammo stored within. A bright red dot appeared from a small apparatus under the barrel. Kalian wondered how many times she’d actually had to use it.
“My God...” Ambassador Arlek had made his way over to the panoramic holo-image.
The pictures didn’t do it justice. The alien ship was immense in size. Its hull continued to shimmer and moved like the surface of the sea. The sun began to rise over the crest of the Earth, the rays of light striking the alien ship. Kalian couldn’t imagine the time it would take to build such a ship. It may have been alien in origin but its structure wasn’t dissimilar to human ships. It had been built from end to end with the engine at the back; at least Kalian assumed it was the engine. It was perhaps the most obvious feature; a giant circle of light that reached from top to bottom of the ship. He couldn’t look at it too long, as it constantly burned like a giant blue star. Kalian was sure an entire star cruiser could fit inside, with room to spare.
It was hard to tell from the constant movement on the hull but Kalian guessed its surface to be some shade of purple. Spiralling out from around the engine were arcing pillars that came to sharp points, stretching across the entirety of the ship. Somewhere in the middle, the pillars extended out again reaching the head of the ship. The intricacy was a sight to behold, at times Kalian couldn’t figure out where one started and the other stopped. As a whole, it appeared totally smooth with no visible contours. The front of the ship sloped down into a sharp point like an eagle’s beak.
“Incredible...” Li’ara could only stare at it.
Her voice momentarily caught Kalian’s attention. For an instant, he saw a very human side to her, no more the soldier, just another person humbled and awed by beauty. It didn’t last; she noticed Kalian’s brief attention and raised her chin becoming the soldier once more.
“What do you suppose they are?” The Ambassador was pointing at one of the protrusions on the alien ship.
Dome shaped structures were fitted along the edge creating a circle around the presumed engine. At first glance, they resembled the panels on human ships used for absorbing the magnetic fields of the sun.
“Maybe they do have Solar Drive technology.” Kalian remembered the Chief Commander’s concerns about the aliens’ mode of transport.
“We’ll find out soon enough.” Commander Hawkins strode into the cabin while sheathing a blade onto his thigh.
He ignored the view of the ship and went straight to the weapons room.
Li’ara tilted her head trying to take in the whole length of the ship. “I don’t see any cannons or launcher bays. You’d think on something that big they’d be obvious.” She narrowed her eyes, taking in as much of the detail as possible.
“It’s what we can’t see that concerns me.” The Commander re-joined them by the holo-image.
He had strapped a similar looking weapon to Li’ara’s onto his hip. It was the gun on his back that caught everyone’s eye.
“Are we expecting a war Commander Hawkins?” The Ambassador only glanced at the weapon unable to take his gaze off the ship for too long.
“I like to be prepared for every eventuality, sir.” The Commander reached round and placed a comforting hand on the giant barrel.
Kalian looked back towards the massive ship. “I think if this comes down to a matter of size Commander... they’ve already won.” Kalian didn’t need to look to know the commander was burning holes in the back of his head.
“When did they get here?” The Ambassador half turned to Li’ara.
“Once they received confirmation, but they started moving before we even sent them the coordinates.” She shared a concerned look with the Commander. “They knew exactly where the Icarus station was, they’ve definitely been doing their homework.”
“I wonder how long they’ve been watching us.” Kalian felt mesmerised by the sight of the ever-shifting light on the ship’s surface.
“I intend on asking them that very question, Mr Gaines.” Ambassador Arlek lifted an eyebrow at Kalian. It was another signal from the Ambassador that he shouldn’t do any of the talking.
The Fathom began to angle away on a heading below the alien ship. Kalian had the feeling he should be falling again.
“The autopilot’s bringing us into the Icarus.” Commander Hawkins checked his bracer’s touchpad to double check the coordinates. The emitters inside projected a green holographic image of the Icarus station - zooming in on a section near the centre. “We’re both docking in the executive hangar bay near the command bridge.”
It was clear to see from the design of the station that most if not all ships docked on the outer airlocks. The executive hangar must have been built to allow for immediate access to the command bridge.
The station came into view moments later. Having seen the alien ship, the Icarus station didn’t quite measure up. It was spherical in shape and made up of an outer ring and an inner ring. They were connected by long walkways that converged on a central sphere. Cutting the station through the middle was another set of rings that connected to the central sphere. From their approaching vector, the station appeared as a giant white X.
Kalian could make out the double-barrelled cannons fitted along the outer ring. It hadn’t escaped him that they were all pointed at the alien ship.
The Fathom had passed over the first ring now and was on a set course for the sphere. The entrance to the bay doors appeared open, exposing the hangar bay to the harsh vacuum of space. Contrary to its appearance the entrance was in fact sealed. As the Fathom decelerated it began to pass through the threshold and enter the hangar. The portal blurred around the edges of the ship as the membrane-like substance passed over every millimetre of the Fathom. This invisible wall of thin jelly allowed the ship to enter without breaking the atmosphere. Kalian knew the technology existed but he had never seen it. On his trip to Armstrong as a child, they had docked via one of the habitat domes on an outer platform.
He turned back to the cabin to find Li’ara looking at him. How long had she been watch
ing him? Kalian assumed she was still trying to get the measure of him. He wasn’t surprised; his part in all this was sketchy at best. If their roles were reversed he would be suspicious of her too.
Kalian heard the same noise as before when the landing gear extended from the ship and gently pressed onto the bay floor. Li’ara deactivated the holo-image leaving them blind to the outside. At the base of her back, attached horizontally between two panels of armour, was a long blade in a black sheath. Compared to the weapon attached to her thigh he wondered how useful a knife really was. He especially couldn’t imagine anything getting past that monster of a gun Commander Hawkins had.
The outer hatch opened up, rising out of view as the ramp descended to the hangar floor.
Commander Hawkins stood with one foot on the ramp. “I lead, the Lieutenant Commander brings up the rear. For your security I want you both to remain in between us at all times.” He looked at Ambassador Arlek. “You have authority in all matters sir, but if I or the Lieutenant Commander feel your safety is at risk, we will take control.”
The Ambassador bowed his head in agreement. “I wouldn’t expect any less. Chief Commander Hendricks assured me you are the best for the job.” He looked at Li’ara as well, who simply nodded in return.
They left the Fathom and waited by the main doors of the hangar. There was evidence around the room that showed workers had been interrupted from their duties. The personnel on board had been evacuated as fast as possible. Kalian noticed a cup of cold coffee sitting on a container and loose tools left where they had been dropped. He briefly examined the rest of the hangar. It wasn’t anywhere close to the size of The Hub’s. It could probably fit another three ships the size of the Fathom. Like all things UDC, it was stark white against a black floor with little thought put into appearance.
It hadn’t occurred to Kalian how the aliens would enter. It had been assumed they would land a craft in a similar fashion to them.
What if they don’t have a ship small enough? What if they don’t even use smaller ships?
The Terran Cycle Boxset Page 5
