The Crucible- The Complete Series

by Odette C. Bell

  I was stunned. Floored. I was so unsettled that a mere breeze could knock me to my knees.

  “That’s where you say thank you,” Williams encouraged.

  I cleared my throat. “Thank you?” At first I couldn’t make eye contact, then I let my gaze drift up until it locked on Alyssa.

  She nodded. Turned, and walked towards the door. “We have a lot to plan.”

  Half of my mouth crumpled into a smile.

  I followed.

  …

  Lieutenant Commander Nathan Shepherd

  Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to convince the Captain. Perhaps she, more than anyone else on this ship, understood how precarious our situation was.

  The Star Forces would come after the Ra’xon with everything they had. They would not let the resistance continue to keep one of the galaxy’s most powerful vessels.

  The Captain didn’t even bother to take this matter to the rest of the resistance. This, after all, was her ship.

  I was currently standing in my quarters, facing the window beside my bed, clutching one hand into a fist and letting it go every few seconds.

  A few minutes ago I’d received word that the Ra’xon had finally received the sensor data from the rest of the fleet.

  We were currently scouring through it, and the Captain had assured me that within an hour or two we would find the Miracle.

  And it would all begin.

  I was so uneasy, there were no words to describe how I felt. Nerves cascaded up and down my back, sinking deep into my heart, feeling like they would tear my flesh in half.

  I was barely breathing, nothing more than a shallow pant that left my extremities tingling.

  Sweat covered my top lip, and with a shaking hand, I groped it away.

  Then I closed my eyes and tipped my head back slowly as a wince crumpled my face.

  This would all come down to me. I would have to convince the Star Forces that I was still on their side.

  I wanted to tell myself it would be hard, but would it?

  I’d been Star Forces since the day I was born. I knew every protocol, every tradition. What’s more, I understood how they thought. Their strengths and their weaknesses.

  Still, we’d be flying by the seat of our pants.

  Anything, anything could derail this mission.

  Or make it succeed.

  I shook my head, clenching my teeth, pulling my lips back, and hissing in pain.

  Suddenly something beeped.

  It was a message from the Captain.

  I knew what it was long before I cleared my throat and accepted it.

  “We have the location,” she said curtly, snapped voice echoing around my room.

  My heart skipped a beat. I nodded. “Where?”

  “The Mari Sector.”

  “… What?” That triggered something. It took a few seconds, but suddenly I remembered what it was.

  Christ, that was the same sector where Ensign Weatherby, my best friend, had been killed.

  I felt my cheeks paling, felt a cold rush of fear trace down my back.

  “We are approximately 78% sure of our assessment,” she continued.

  I locked a hand over my mouth, pressing my sweaty fingers into my lips, eyes opening wide as I stared across the room.

  What the hell was going on here?

  What with one thing and another, between Alyssa and the resistance, I'd almost forgotten about the death of my best friend. The sorrow had still been there sinking through my heart, but the reality of the situation had been swept away.

  Now it struck me head on like a bullet right between my eyes.

  Something big was happening in the Mari Sector. Something big enough that the goddamn Miracle would be there.

  There was a pause. “I've looked back at the report you filed with the resistance,” the Captain continued, “and you mentioned the Mari Sector in the death of your friend. It has not escaped my attention that it is significant for the Miracle to be there.”

  You could say that again.

  “Significant, and dangerous,” she added.

  I understood her point implicitly. Not only was there something going on in the Mari Sector, but whatever it was, it appeared the Star Forces considered it important enough to have their most secret and valuable flagship attending to it.

  More than that, however, it meant it would be far harder to enact our plan.

  I doubted the Miracle would be the only heavy cruiser in the sector.

  As if reading my mind, the Captain continued, “long-range scans indicate that there are approximately four other vessels in the sector, all within close distance of Moon Alpha 78.”

  I closed my eyes, wincing. I let out a silent swearword, too, lips jerking swiftly around my teeth. “Christ, what do we do?”

  “I don't think the mission is lost yet.”

  “There's no chance the Ra’xon can take on five vessels,” I stuttered.

  “Indeed. But indications suggest that the Miracle does not keep stationary orbit around Moon Alpha 78. Historical scans of the area indicate that she is often stationed much further back into the sector.”

  “… As if she’s scared of something,” I suddenly supplied, words springing from my mouth before I'd had a chance to filter them.

  “Yes. It would seem that the Miracle only comes close to Moon Alpha 78 when necessary. It would seem… there is something quite considerable down there. Dangerous and yet enticing enough for the Miracle not to leave the sector and yet not keep continuous orbit around the moon.”

  I shivered. It was an uncomfortable move, maybe one of the most uncomfortable of my life. It felt like every single muscle was plunged into cold water. I closed my eyes, squeezing them as tightly shut as I could. “What the hell do we do?”

  “We regroup and re-plan. If we can catch the Miracle when it is stationed further into the sector, we can pin her down.”

  “But help will be close at hand,” I countered immediately.

  “Only if the Miracle can signal for help.”

  “… What?”

  “If we can block the Miracle’s transmissions before she has a chance to get off a distress call, we may have a chance.”

  “But those other ships around the moon are going to be able to pick up on our presence.”

  “Not, as I have already said, if we're careful. The Mari Sector is full of spatial anomalies. If we can alter the Ra’xon’s engine output to match one such spatial anomaly, the other ships in the Mari Sector may not detect us.”

  I shivered again. It felt like every muscle in my back would tear away from my spine. I pressed my sweaty hand further and further into my brow, feeling my fingernails indent and drag across the flesh. Finally I replied, “that's a lot of maybes. This mission is now way too dangerous.”

  “And far too important.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Whatever is on Moon Alpha 78 is so significant that the Miracle has been diverted to it. So significant that a whole scout ship was wiped away to keep this secret. Whatever is down on that moon, the resistance could no doubt use it to further our fight against the Star Forces.”

  Her words washed over me. Strong and poignant like always, they had the same ringing authority I was used to.

  Still, I couldn't deny the unease twisting its way around my gut, tighter and tighter, like a hangman's noose.

  “Captain, there's too much that can go wrong.”

  “Lieutenant Commander, I appreciate your assessment, however I fear now is the only opportunity we will have. The Ra’xon has been lucky so far in avoiding Star Forces contact. Our luck will not continue. We have a narrow window to attack. That window is now. And there's only one target worth going for. The Miracle and whatever is down on that moon.”

  I stood, stiffly, closing my eyes slowly. I took in her words.

  As uncomfortable as it was to admit, she was right.

  Still, I couldn't face this situation without fear stabbing through my heart.


  There was so much that could go wrong.

  “Sometimes peace requires sacrifice,” the Captain suddenly replied.

  I winced again as if I'd been struck.

  “We're not guaranteeing this will work. But it is the only option we have.”

  “… Aye, Captain,” I managed.

  “We will meet in approximately half an hour. We will go through a final briefing. Once preparations are made, we will alter our course to the Mari Sector. By the Chief's current analysis, it will take us approximately a day and a half to reach it. That will give you and Alyssa plenty of time to go over the plan.”

  I nodded. It was a jerky, frightened move, and I was suddenly very thankful that the Captain couldn't see me. Taking a deep breath, I calmed my nerves sufficiently to say, “aye.”

  “That will be all,” she said.

  I listened to the silence.

  Then I turned. Moves jerky, sweat slicking down my shoulders. But I still moved. Forward. Towards an uncertain and dangerous future.

  Chapter 8

  Alyssa Nightingale

  I faced the Captain. We were in the discussion room. Thankfully this was a pared back briefing. Only those who would be directly involved in the mission were present. That meant Lady Argoza was nowhere to be seen.

  I still didn't know what her secret was. Despite everything that was going on, I wanted to find out.

  Though I couldn't really imagine that she was a spy, I could bet something else was going on.

  “We must go over every single detail,” the Captain said as she sat back in her seat, her towering form casting a long shadow across the table.

  Everyone in that room was tense, yet had the training to push past their fear.

  I felt it again. That sense of connection. That sense that we were all working towards the same goal. And even though it might seem impossible, it didn't matter. We’d win by sheer passion alone.

  “Don't worry, Captain, we will,” Shepherd assured her. “But everything is going to be dependent on how I sell this to the Star Forces.”

  The Captain turned her attention on him. “I have every faith in you, Lieutenant Commander.”

  Shepherd gave an uncomfortable swallow, but appeared to be able to control his expression long enough to offer a stiff smile. “Still, there’s a lot that can go wrong.”

  “Undoubtedly,” the Captain agreed, “that's why we need a backup plan.”

  “Sorry?” Shepherd and I asked immediately.

  We made brief eye contact with each other before turning our attention on the Captain.

  “If the unthinkable occurs, and for some reason the Star Forces do not buy your story and attack you and capture Alyssa, we must have a backup plan.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Shepherd asked as he flattened a hand on the table, pushed into it, and tilted his head further towards the Captain.

  “Even if the Ra’xon falls, we must take down the Miracle.”

  “… A suicide mission?” Shepherd's voice dropped low with uncertainty.

  The Captain nodded. “The Chief Engineer has been looking over all available data on the Miracle. Though there is barely anything in the Star Forces databases, over the years the resistance has acquired slightly more information on this ship. And with Alyssa's help, the Chief has been able to come up with a plan.”

  “What kind of plan?” I asked, mouth dry for some reason.

  “Due to the specialized nature of the Miracle’s quantum drives, under certain circumstances they can be made to explode.”

  “What?” both Shepherd and I asked at once.

  “If the Ra’xon rammed the Miracle, and we were to time a burst from our primary shields, we could create a feedback loop with the Miracle’s own shields that would lead directly into their engines and cause a catastrophic meltdown.”

  “But that would kill everybody on board,” Shepherd pointed a stiff finger at the table, “the Ra’xon would be destroyed too.”

  The Captain nodded, the move stiff but still full of authority. “Indeed. But it would be a move worth the cost. The Miracle is too important to the Star Forces.”

  “… Captain, there has to be some other way,” Shepherd managed. I could see the tension shifting across his face, crumpling each feature and narrowing his already scrunched up eyes.

  “There is another way. You and Alyssa must succeed with the original plan. But this is a backup. A necessary backup.”

  I sat there and digested what she'd said.

  To be honest, it didn't shock me like it appeared to shock Shepherd. Instead, it gave me immeasurable comfort. It let me know that even if I failed, I wouldn't go back to Professor Axis. Instead, I'd be destroyed along with the Miracle and the goddamn Farsight Program.

  I shifted my attention to Shepherd, just as he jerked his gaze over to me.

  I felt myself smile. It was a natural spontaneous move.

  At first I thought he would turn away and continue to question the Captain. He didn't. His gaze lingered on my smile.

  “The decision is made,” the Captain said firmly. “Now we must hope that you will succeed and provide you with every resource you need in order to do so.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Shepherd managed.

  The Captain rose. “We will arrive at the Miracle in approximately 26 hours. The Chief and her team will work on all the details required to keep the Ra’xon out of sensor range. All you two need to do is go over your plan. Make it work.” She rapped her large knuckles on the table once, turned sharply, and walked from the room.

  Shepherd sat back, locking a hand on his mouth as he tilted his head and appeared to stare at the ceiling.

  “… It will work,” I said. Though my voice was quiet, it didn't lack confidence.

  When Shepherd didn't move, I whispered again, until finally he let his head drop down and he flicked his gaze towards me. “Believe you me, I want it to work too, but…” he trailed off.

  “No buts,” I said. Then I rose. And I did something strange. I reached a hand out towards him. We were sitting on opposite sides of an enormous table. Even if he’d thrown himself onto the surface of the polished wood, he would have been unable to reach my hand.

  Still, I didn't drop it.

  His gaze flicked down to my hand nervously, a confused smile rumpling his lips. Then he rose. And he nodded. “Alright. I trust you,” he said. It wasn't a throwaway comment. From his look to his body language, he meant it.

  With a nod towards the door I started to walk, and he shifted around the side of the table until he joined me.

  Just before the door opened, we shared another smile.

  Then we walked forward.

  It was time to claim the resistance’s first true victory.

  Chapter 9

  Lieutenant Commander Nathan Shepherd

  So this was it.

  Everything would come down to the next few hours.

  The 26 hours since the briefing had gone in a flash. I'd managed to secure a measly four hours of sleep, but it would have to do.

  The rest of the time I'd spent going over the plan with Alyssa. No detail was left out.

  There was something I was starting to realize about her. That sense of humor – the one I'd seen on that footage from her first day of the Academy – it was still there. Just under the surface.

  And she was changing too. I could see that. Opening up. She’d just needed the chance. The resistance had given it to her.

  … And maybe I had, too. If I'd never shown an interest in Alyssa, neither of us would be here right now.

  It's funny to think that something as small as that can change your life in such a massive way. If I hadn't crossed paths with Ensign Jenks, if she'd never been transferred aboard the Godspeed, I would not be here today.

  That statement rang and rang in my mind, twisting around like an atom at high speed.

  A yellow alert blared through the ship, the klaxon echoing down the hallways, lit strips of yellow light blinking in each room.


  This was it.

  This was it.

  The Ra’xon was about to enter the Mari Sector. We were travelling at beyond-light-speed, and couldn't be tracked until we dropped to normal speed.

  We had to plan our re-entry into normal space perfectly. With the same precision that had accompanied our entry into the resistance hangar bay, we had to arrive at a precise set of coordinates. They would coincide with a pre-existing spatial anomaly, and as soon as we dropped into normal space, the Chief would jettison field probes into space that would create an obstruction field that would help mask the Ra’xon’s presence.

  Then it would be up to Alyssa and me.

  Just before we broke into normal space, both Alyssa and I would have to exit the Ra’xon – whilst at beyond-light-speed – in a small shuttle.

  It would be suspicious, after all, if the two of us suddenly appeared right out of a spatial anomaly.

  I'd already contacted the Star Forces. Not with the Ra’xon's communication system, but with a separate system that could mask its origin.

  I'd sent my carefully constructed message, detailing that I’d joined the resistance under false pretenses, never forgetting my original mission to infiltrate them. It also mentioned that in my time at the resistance I'd managed to capture a high-level telekinetic warrior. Alyssa.

  I hoped there were enough hooks in my message that the Miracle would accept me with open arms.

  It all depended on whether this Professor Axis was as arrogant and greedy as Alyssa suggested he was.

  I'd never been more nervous in my life. It felt like somebody had stuffed live wires into my nervous system, and every limb tingled with a nasty bite.

  I kept blinking, too, repeating every step of the plan over and over again in my head.

  At least I had armor. It was nothing too fancy, or at least wouldn't appear to be anything too fancy to the Miracle’s scanners.

  In reality, it was the toughest armor the Ra’xon could produce.

  It wouldn't be a touch on what the elite forces wore – the Ra’xon didn't have access to their prototype plans. Plus, we’d only had a few days to manufacture this armor.