Legacy of the Argus
Page 23
“We lose her if we do,” Inquisitor Raven muttered. “Seal all bulkheads in this section and prepare to transfer control of the ship to Engineering.”
“Yes sir,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Around them they heard the sound of automated doors sealing.
“Chief Muses, do you read me?” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Yes sir!”
“You see what’s happening?”
“I… I do Bill.”
“We’ve got seconds left,” Inquisitor Raven said. He felt an eerie calm in the face of certain death. “Guide the Cygnusa and Wake into the Displacer. Get both ships to safe—”
There was an incredible burst of light and the bridge crew were temporarily blinded.
For a moment they thought that was it, that the gravity hook slammed into the bridge and these were their last moments of consciousness as they were crushed and sucked into outer space.
The light was gone and, when those in the bridge again looked, they found the Gravity Hook had splintered into hundreds of smaller pieces which rained down upon the bridge. Some were large enough to crack the tinsel glass which protected them from outer space. None were large enough to destroy the structure.
“What happened?” Inquisitor Raven said.
“The Wake blasted the Gravity Hook!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Inquisitor Raven activated his communicator.
“Thank you, Wake,” he said.
“Don’t mention it, Inquisitor,” Lieutenant Daniels replied. “It’s a good thing our fusion cannons hadn’t melted from firing at the incoming ships.”
“I owe you.”
“First round’s on you, the second and third will be on me,” Lieutenant Daniels said. “Now how about we get the hell out of here?”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Inquisitor Raven said. His attention returned to Lieutenant Sanders. “How are we doing?”
“Wake’s speed is approaching ours,” she said. “Bringing her alongside the Cygnusa. Now!”
There was a rumble as the Wake settled beside the Cygnusa.
“Our speed is equal!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Thrusters at full!” Inquisitor Raven ordered.
The massive ships’ hulls were so close they scrapped against each other as they moved.
“What about the alien vessels?”
“They haven’t gone anywhere.”
“Time to Displacer?”
“Fifty nine minutes,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Sir, look at sector 3!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
On the main view-screen the sector was highlighted.
A radiant light appeared between the battleships and the Displacer. It was an interdimensional corridor and, through it, another of the Prototype’s alien crafts appeared.
“They’re directly in front of us.”
“Sir, we can’t turn and we can’t stop.”
Inquisitor Raven knew this all too well.
“Continue forward,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Best speed.”
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The ships closed upon each other.
The alien vessel didn’t move away and the Cygnusa and Wake couldn’t move away. Their collision appeared inevitable.
And then, The Field’s ancient Displacer, the Cygnusa and Wake’s escape route, suddenly shut off.
“What happened?” Inquisitor Raven yelled.
“Sir, they’ve… they’ve shut the Displacer!”
The Prototype ship blocking their path moved to the side.
“Incoming message,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “It’s from… from him.”
Inquisitor Raven drew a deep breath.
“Put it on screen.”
For the second time the Prototype appeared on the communicator monitor.
“This is your final chance, Inquisitor,” he said. “Tell me where Vulcan is.”
“I don’t know,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Please, we’re nothing to you. Let us—”
The transmission abruptly cut off.
“Sir, the ships…!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
The alien vessels altered their positions. The lights from their weapons grew brighter and crackled with energy.
The bridge grew silent as they drew a bead on the fleeing ships. The communicator came to life and Lieutenant Daniels spoke.
“Any ideas, Inquisitor?”
“We’re not done yet,” Inquisitor Raven said. “We—”
“Sir?” Lieutenant Sanders said. “I’m detecting something…”
Inquisitor Raven spoke into his communicator.
“Hang on, Lieutenant Daniels,” he said.
Though the alien vessels’ energy weapons crackled and their targeting systems locked on the fleeing vessels, they abruptly turned away.
“What is it?” Inquisitor Raven asked.
“I’m not certain,” Lieutenant Sanders replied. “But I’m picking up new energy readings from within The Fields.”
The linked ships moved closer and closer to the deactivated Displacer as the minutes slowly passed.
“Look, back there!” Lieutenant Sanders suddenly said.
The six Saint Vulcan vessels present in Erebus materialized behind the ships meant to destroy the Cygnusa and held steady, their weapons pulsating with energy.
“We’ve got another transmission!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Put it on.”
On the screen appeared Saint Vulcan. She was seated in a dark room.
“Here I am, Prototype,” she said.
“Where is that signal coming from?” Inquisitor Raven asked.
“Sector twenty five,” Lieutenant Sanders said. She zoomed in on the location. “It’s one of the heavier radiation zones. It took seven minutes for the transmission to reach us.”
On the screen, Saint Vulcan continued talking.
“You want me?” she said. “Come.”
Saint Vulcan’s six vessels opened fire on the ships surrounding the Cygnusa and Wake.
Two of the Prototype’s ships suffered direct hits and crumbled to ash while the remaining vessels moved away.
Another cloaked vessel emerged into view and rammed into one of Vulcan’s ships. Other flashes of light appeared, electrical blasts similar to, but not, fusion energy.
More of Saint Vulcan’s forces appeared in the distance. They attacked the Prototype’s fleet and for several minutes a fierce fire fight lit up the darkness of the Fields.
The fighting grew and grew, until the Fields was a whirlpool of destruction.
Discarded waste flew in all directions while vessels crumbled into dust and flew at each other.
The Prototype’s warships no longer paid attention to the Cygnusa and Wake and, for that, Inquisitor Raven was thankful.
“Get the Displacer reactivated,” he ordered.
“Working on it,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
The two Empire battleships were on the edge of a violent whirlpool, desperately trying to escape while in the landing bays, crew quarters, and medical rooms all eyes, scavenger and crew alike, were on the many monitors available to them.
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Despite the incredible distances between the vessels and the short time since their engagement, the battle proved one-sided. The Prototype’s forces were overwhelming Saint Vulcan’s far smaller fleet.
“You better have more ships than this,” Inquisitor Raven muttered.
He chewed his upper lip while watching the monitors. On the main view-screen, the skeletal circular frame of the Displacer loomed.
“How long before we reach her?”
“Thirty minutes fifteen seconds,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“This will be our one and only attempt,” Inquisitor Raven said. “We can’t turn around and try again.”
“Understood, sir,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
More minutes passed and the Displacer remained inert.
“Inquisitor Raven.”
To Inquisitor Raven’s surprise, the voice of
Lieutenant Daniels was transmitted through the Phaecian Empire’s private military communication line and directly to the microchip in his ear. Inquisitor Raven turned away from the bridge and her crew and whispered:
“How did you get through this line? Hades, how did you know it existed?”
“That’s unimportant,” Lieutenant Daniels said. “We can’t waste any more time. General Jurgens told me you were carrying a couple of Saint Vulcan’s agents. Is that true?”
Inquisitor Raven hesitated a moment before saying:
“Yes.”
“Use them,” Lieutenant Daniels said. “They might be able to get the Displacer working.”
“Saint Vulcan created the Prototype and put us here,” Inquisitor Raven said. “How do we know this isn’t some elaborate charade between them?”
“At this point, they’re all we’ve got.”
Within the Engine Room, Chief Muses stood before his monitors.
His hands worked the computers, pressing buttons and activating sub-routines. The officers around him marveled at his ability to work so quickly on his computer without making any errors.
Chief Muses paused for a moment and listened to the hum of the engines and the conversations around him. He then closed his eyes and concentrated. When he opened his eyes, he motioned for one of the officers to take his place.
“I’m going to the Bridge,” he said. “I’ll be more useful there.”
“More useful than the engine room?” the officer asked.
“The Displacer isn’t working,” Chief Muses said. “Maybe I can get her online.”
The officer nodded.
If anyone could work that type of miracle, it was Chief Muses.
The Officers in the Security Cells received Inquisitor Raven’s message. They opened two doors and motioned for Catherine Holland and Sergeant Delmont to come with them.
Without saying a word, they complied.
Chief Muses arrived in the bridge and found himself subjected to confused stares.
“Carlos, what are you doing here?” Inquisitor Raven asked.
“The engines are in good hands,” he said. “I came to look into the Displacer. I understand its offline.”
“It is,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Maybe I can get her working again,” Chief Muses said.
“Are you sure?” Inquisitor Raven said. “Do you know enough about it to—?”
“It doesn’t hurt to try,” Chief Muses said. “Give me a chance, Bill.”
Inquisitor Raven looked deep into Chief Muses’ eyes and saw the determination in them.
“Welcome to the bridge,” he said, and motioned to a computer station.
Without saying another word, Chief Muses sat before it.
Catherine Holland and Sergeant Delmont arrived on the bridge less than two minutes later. On the main view-screen, they saw the approaching, yet dark, Displacer.
“How long?” Catherine Holland asked.
“We’re down to twenty two minutes before arriving at the Displacer’s core. Can you get it activated?”
Catherine Holland looked at her partner and then Inquisitor Raven.
“We’ll try our best,” Sergeant Delmont said. He pointed to the computer station next to Chief Muses. “May I?”
Inquisitor Raven remained in his chair, alert yet stiff, his eyes alternatively upon the view-screen and the readouts.
The ship’s computers identified most of the ships within augmented visual range and it felt odd watching such a heated battle while remaining on the sidelines.
Sergeant Delmont sat before the computer next to Chief Muses. He furiously worked the keyboard before him. Chief Muses, for his part, now and again took peeks at the Sergeant’s monitor. Standing behind them was Catherine Holland.
The Displacer drew nearer while the battle between Saint Vulcan and the Prototype seemed at its end.
“Did Saint Vulcan underestimate the Prototype’s forces?” Inquisitor Raven wondered.
“I don’t know,” Catherine Holland said.
Inquisitor Raven shook his head.
“Either way, if we don’t get the Displacer working, we face the Prototype all by ourselves.”
“One crisis at a time,” Catherine Holland said.
The Cygnusa and Wake drew even closer to the Displacer.
Behind them, the many energy bursts faded.
“Five minutes and twelve seconds to Displacer,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “If we don’t get the Interdimensional Corridor going in the next couple of minutes, she won’t be up to full power by the time we get there!”
“Understood,” Sergeant Delmont said.
Chief Muses no longer worked on his computer. His gaze was entirely on Sergeant Delmont and the commands he was typing.
Sergeant Delmont casually looked away from the computer and caught Catherine Holland’s eye. She nodded.
Inquisitor Raven noticed the silent exchange.
“What’s going on?” he said and walked toward them. “What are you up—”
What followed was a furious whirlwind of movement.
Catherine Holland lunged at Inquisitor Raven and tackled him to the ground. Even as he fell, Inquisitor Raven was shocked to see Sergeant Delmont dart from his chair and wrap his beefy arms in a deadly choke hold around Chief Muses’ neck.
Chief Muses’ eyes filled with terror as he was violently lifted from his chair.
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Sergeant Delmont held Chief Muses tight.
“Bill, somebody, help me!” the Engineer cried out.
Inquisitor Raven fought Catherine Holland but her grip on him was very strong and she kept him down. He was about to order his security into action when, to his and everyone else’s shock, Chief Muses’ arms and legs bent back and toward Sergeant Delmont. They bent as if they were made of rubber.
“Stay back,” Sergeant Delmont yelled.
Upon seeing Chief Muses’ body move in such an alien way, the officers and security of the bridge did as told.
On the ground, Catherine Holland released Inquisitor Raven and, without saying another word, ran to the computer Chief Muses was working on. The security guards raised their weapons.
“Hold your fire,” Inquisitor Raven barked.
“What in Hades is happening?” Chief Muses cried. “Bill, help me!”
Chief Muses’ face remained filled with shock and surprise even while his rubbery limbs lashed out violently against his attacker, snapping and slashing at Sergeant Delmont’s body. Finally, his legs wrapped themselves around Sergeant Delmont’s legs while his fingers sharpened until they were spikes. They stabbed Sergeant Delmont’s sides over and over again.
Despite the vicious attacks, Sergeant Delmont held him tight.
“Someone do something!” Chief Muses pleaded.
But other than Catherine Holland furiously working the computer, no one moved.
With his free hand Sergeant Delmont twisted the Chief’s head until it faced him. That action should have broken the man’s neck but Chief Muses remained very much alive and his face continued to reflect extreme shock.
“Why are you doing this to me?” he said.
Sergeant Delmont reached down and pulled one of Chief Muses’ hands from his side. The vicious wound on the Sergeant’s body produced no blood and Chief Muses’ hands were no longer recognizable as such.
“Time!” Catherine Holland yelled.
Lieutenant Sanders, snapping from her own shock, peeked at the timer on her computer.
“Thirty seconds.”
Catherine Holland took a moment to look at her longtime companion. His movements were slowing.
“Stay with me!” Catherine Holland said.
She pulled her left pant leg up and exposed her artificial limb. The skin over her calf opened. She reached into the opening and produced a microchip. She pushed it into a slot in the computer while Inquisitor Raven approached her. The material on the chip was downloaded into the ship’s computer and, on her monitor, an in
credible amount of information appeared.
“What in Hades was that?”
“A variation of an old program,” Catherine Holland said. “Lemner’s Passkey. It should crack the Displacer’s virus. It should also clean up whatever nasty surprises Chief Muses hid in the Cygnusa’s computer systems.”
The seconds counted down.
“Fifteen seconds!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Sweat formed on Catherine Holland’s forehead.
“Ten seconds!”
The computer monitor continued showing thousands of lines of information. At Catherine Holland’s side and too near to her, Chief Muses’ body once again twisted and bent. He tried to reach out and grab her, but Sergeant Delmont held him steady.
“Five seconds!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Got it!” Catherine Holland yelled.
She pulled the chip out of the computer and jumped from her chair. Everyone on the bridge, everyone but Sergeant Delmont and Chief Muses, stared at the main view-screen and, to their relief, saw the first signs of life in the Displacer’s hollow core.
“We’re going to make it,” Catherine Holland said.
She looked back at her longtime companion.
Sergeant Delmont’s face was pale. He was weak from the multiple stab wounds.
“I knew… knew you could,” he said.
“What did he do to you?” Catherine said.
“I’ve been… infected,” Sergeant Delmont said. “When he… stabbed… me…”
“You can fight it,” Catherine Holland said.
“No…”
A smile appeared on Sergeant Delmont’s face.
“Don’t,” Catherine Holland said.
Sergeant Delmont shook his head.
“I’ll miss you,” he said.
His body suddenly heated up and it was Inquisitor Raven’s turn to pull Catherine Holland back.
A violent electrical charge pulsed through Chief Muses and Sergeant Delmont.
Their bodies caught fire and burned.
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The bridge filled with smoke and the acrid smell of burnt flesh and plastic.