by Paul Rix
It was an attractive lieutenant that spotted Garrett's ship. Delta didn't know her name but was pleased to see that beauty was no bar to joining her protection squad.
"He's landed on Britannic's hull, next to the airlock," Stone said. "That can be no accident."
"He's gone inside the ship!" Delta exclaimed, slamming her fist on the side of her chair. Garrett was an extreme nuisance and was threatening the very success of the mission. "He's ignored my express instructions. Clearly, he's not as predictable as we thought."
"Can we fire photonic missiles from here? We’d get rid of Britannic and Garrett together."
Delta dismissed the suggestion out of hand. It was yet more evidence of Stone's lack of guile. "How many missiles would we need to pierce the outer hull when it's withstood two thousand years of space debris? The missiles would only cause Britannic to break up into large identifiable chunks. We need it atomized. We must see the original plan through."
"And Garrett?"
"Commander, we have superior numbers and weaponry. If you're worried you can't handle the situation, then perhaps I chose the wrong person to command the squad."
The color drained from Stone's face, but he maintained his authoritative voice. "He won't be a problem, I can promise you that."
"That's better. Now take us in and prepare the team. I want no more delays or unwelcome surprises."
Chapter 19
Commander Stone took the advance position as soon as the inner airlock opened, his pistol gripped tightly in his right hand and ready to fire at the first sign of trouble. Even though Garrett was likely on his own, his records showed him to be a very effective soldier and Stone didn't want to underestimate his enemy. "Finn, remain here in case Garrett returns to his ship."
A tall, fair-haired man nodded his understanding. "Do you want him dead or alive?"
Stone turned to Delta for an answer. She was at the back of the group and wearing light body armor. "I don't care. Just don't let him escape."
The group soon arrived at the hatch to the central core. "Weapons hot," Stone ordered. Delta tensed as Stone opened the hatch and floated through to the core. He paused to look up and down the main corridor, listening out for any sound that may reveal where Garrett could be lurking. Hearing nothing, he waved the squad through before checking the small digital panel on the back of his right hand.
"Garrett has been busy. Oxygen saturation at twenty percent and atmospheric pressure is within acceptable parameters." Stone resisted the temptation to raise his visor. "We should give him more respect for his ingenuity."
"What you need to do is apprehend him before he knows we're here," Delta said. "Start with the command room."
Delta's mind was racing. If Garrett had restored Britannic's atmosphere, what other systems were still functioning. It made finding Garrett even more essential.
Stone pulled his squad into a small group. "Grissom and Pascale. You cover the command hatch. Garrett could still be in there. Erikson, stay here and pay close attention to the aft corridor. I don't want any surprises from that direction." When everyone was in position, Stone floated cautiously toward the command room.
Delta waited five seconds before using her feet to propel herself in the same direction as Stone. As she reached the center of the corridor, she made the mistake of looking along the length of the core toward the front of Britannic. At that moment she was almost overwhelmed by vertigo, as if she was falling down a lift shaft. Instinctively, she fought the urge to grab anything within reach, although her stomach wanted to bring up the breakfast she had eaten two hours earlier. Swiftly recovering most of her composure, she focused her full attention on the bottom of Stone's boots less than three meters in front of her, hoping neither of the troopers had witnessed her moment of panic.
"The hatch is open," Stone warned, pointing his sidearm ahead of him. He grabbed a rail next to the hatch and waited for Delta to arrive.
Breathing heavily, she snatched at the rail next to his hand. "I don't care if you take him alive. But ensure you don't destroy the equipment. If any of the ship's computers are operational, I want to download as much information as we can before we destroy Britannic. It would be a shame for all the accumulated knowledge to go to waste."
He nodded grimly. "Pascale, you're with me."
Without waiting for an acknowledgment from Pascale, Stone used the rail to position himself as close to the hatch as possible. At the last moment, he swung himself forward and through the open hatch with Pascale at his heels.
There was a hint of disappointment as he reported back. "Garrett's not here, Your Grace. But you need to take a look."
Delta's eyes widened as she spotted the three empty pods. "This guy really doesn't know to keep out of other people's business."
"It also means that some of the crew survived in stasis," Stone remarked.
"Not all of them," Delta replied, pointing at the fourth pod. Sliding her feet into some restraints, she removed her helmet and rubbed the hair that was sticking to her forehead. The fresh cool air immediately quashed the nausea that had been steadily building.
Pointing to the name plaques attached to each pod, Delta ordered, "Find out who these three are. I doubt they're dangerous, but I want to know for sure."
"Should the men shoot on sight?"
Delta considered the question. "Not for the time being. Garrett will have told them to expect a rescue party so they won't put up any resistance."
"Why hasn't Garrett informed us that there are survivors?"
"You tell me, commander. Why do soldiers ignore orders they're given?"
Stone blushed but said nothing, instead, turning to his troops to relay more instructions.
Delta examined the command room in more detail, secretly intrigued by the archaic and basic equipment. With such simple technology, it was a wonder that any PEAs had successfully made the treacherous journey as far as the Stellar Cluster.
A brief examination of the antiquated equipment racks and consoles around her sufficed to inform her she had little idea what most of it actually did. While there was little risk in keying the wrong buttons or codes, she knew that time was a factor. Every passing minute was an opportunity for someone else to discover the PEA's existence though Garrett's meddling had done her a favor. Britannic's internal power and atmosphere were evidence that at least some ship's reactors were still online. That was all she needed to know in order to execute her ultimate orders. As for the revived crew members, they would not offer any risk in the face of her heavily armed squad. In fact, having a crew familiar with the ship would make her mission so much easier.
However, she was finding it difficult to quell the nagging doubts she was now having about the mission. She had never expected Britannic to be in such pristine condition or have survivors on board. In different circumstances, it would be a wondrous moment to step aboard a relic from Earth and to share the news with the whole of the Federation. She knew, however, that path would guarantee the collapse of President D’Angelo's rule. That colonists had survived would drive public interest to a fever pitch.
It was the colonists versus her future. There was no contest.
Chapter 20
"What is the global president doing on my ship?" Maxwell asked as she joined Takahashi next to the regally decorated pod at the far end of the chamber.
"You didn’t know he was on board?" asked Garrett.
"I would have, if he was on the approved manifest. He, along with his guards, must have been placed here at the last possible moment before Britannic broke Earth orbit. I don't understand why? Although he was highly supportive of Project Exodus, he is also the leader of Earth's government. He should have remained behind."
Garrett floated across the chamber to get a closer look at Trask's pod. "I imagine it was simply the human instinct to survive. Especially when you have the power to bend the rules as you see fit."
"In the process, he forfeited the lives of two hundred decent people and left the government
in a mess."
"That's why he brought his guards. He knew his decision wouldn't be popular with many of the colonists," Takahashi suggested.
Garrett shook his head. "There's more to it than that. Two hundred elite guards aren't just a protection squad. It's four platoons. I've led half that number of soldiers into battle. Trask is expecting a war."
"Or a rebellion," Maxwell muttered.
"That could be the plan. Stowing away on your ship may not be only about survival. He desperately wants to hang on to power. I've seen it too many times with the absconders from justice that we used to track down. The empowered officials develop a strong sense of entitlement. They feel superior and believe that laws don't apply to them. For the few with real power, that level of control over your own destiny becomes an addiction. Nothing and no one will get in the way of the next fix."
"We knew Trask was unscrupulous," O'Brien said. "Project Exodus needed someone ruthless like him to achieve what it did. Not for one moment did I suspect he had his own interests at heart."
Garrett had experienced all kinds of desperate acts from those in authority. Corruption and abuse of power no longer surprised him "Do you think this was his intention all along, from the inception of Project Exodus?"
Maxwell shook her head. "The Earth government planned and approved the project long before they placed Trask in charge. However, once he joined the project, there was no greater supporter. He made available additional resources and funding. Now I'm thinking his motivations for ensuring it was a success weren't altruistic at all."
"There's still a tremendous leap between wanting to save yourself and planning for an armed rebellion to assume power. How could he get away with it?"
Captain Maxwell sighed. "In hindsight, it would have been very easy. He had full executive control across the entire project, either directly or through the men and women he placed in strategic roles. It wouldn't surprise me if some of them are on Britannic as well. The reward for loyalty."
"And what about his guards?"
"Specially trained and extremely experienced. There are many armies on Earth. These will be the best of the best. As I mentioned, they required military force at the Exodus Facility to stamp out the violent protests. Trask ensured he had the finest elite guards to support his cause in the Stellar Cluster."
"It's more than that, "O'Brien said. "Trask oversaw the selection process for all colonists. Although the primary focus was for healthy young individuals who had the requisite blend of skills to build a sustainable colony, I doubt many former soldiers would have fulfilled the criteria. Especially not experienced military personnel."
Garrett knew that made perfect tactical sense. Know your opposition and weaken them as much as you can to maximize the odds of victory. "So Trask knew that when he arrived in the Stellar Cluster, there would be no one to stand against him. Heavily armed and well-trained elite soldiers against unarmed civilians. He'd be walking straight back into power."
"It wouldn't surprise me if Trask also rigged the lottery process," said O'Brien.
Maxwell floated back down the rows of pods containing Trask's guards. "Compare this chamber to the previous one, and I think you can see where they diverted the ship's power to. The global president ensured he received preferential treatment, even in stasis. He was taking no chances, either for himself or his security force."
"There's one thing I don't understand," said Garrett. "Success still requires someone to revive Trask and his troops. While someone may reanimate the global president, only an idiot would revive his army."
"He thought of that too," O'Brien said, pointing to some nearby pods.
Garrett frowned as he spotted that the green lights were flashing. "We must have triggered the process when we entered the chamber. Can you halt the revival procedure?"
Takahashi shook her head. "Not without killing them. We'd have to cut the power feeds."
"Let me tell you now. That is not an option," Maxwell said.
"So we're going to have a tyrant and two hundred of his best soldiers expecting to take control of Britannic and then the Stellar Cluster. They're going to be pissed when they discover they're several thousand years too late."
"Trask should be grateful that he is still alive. It's more than he deserves."
Garrett saw that an increasing number of lights were now flashing. "How long do we have?"
O'Brien glanced at the long rows of flashing lights. "Fifteen minutes for the first ones to realize their surroundings. Two to three hours for the whole chamber."
Maxwell looked nervously at Garrett. "What would you do?"
"The primary mission for the first guards will be to secure the chamber and protect Trask. They may or may not recognize you. Either way, they will consider us as a threat. They're trained not to take any unnecessary risks and will take all precautions until the global president is revived and shown to be healthy."
"Will we be safe?" asked Takahashi who was edging toward the hatch.
"We're unarmed, Sakura," Maxwell said softly. "I'm sure Trask's guards aren't cold-blooded killers."
"Lacey's correct," added Garrett. "The guards and Trask will be desperate for intel. They'd be foolish to kill anyone until they know where they are and their situation."
"The guards won't believe you, any more than we did. Trask will take some convincing too."
"You've seen the evidence on my ship that can help with that process," Garrett said. "I can be back here within thirty minutes."
He spun around and began making his way to the hatch.
"No wait," Maxwell called out. "I want you here when these soldiers wake up. Your military background may help keep the situation under control."
"I can go," O'Brien offered. "Assuming that's okay with you, Oz. I can also collect some medical equipment from the command room at the same time."
Maxwell looked questioningly at Garrett. "Yes. Bring the device I was reading this morning. It contains a full history of the human colonization of the Stellar Cluster. There will be enough information to leave no doubt in Trask's mind. I left it in the galley."
"How do I get on board?"
"Take this pendant," Garrett replied, tossing a small, matte gray, rectangular metal brick, about three centimeters long, toward O'Brien who snatched it out of the air. "The ship will think you're me and give you full access. Don't talk with the computer though. It will keep you talking for hours."
"I'll bear that in mind." And with that, O'Brien disappeared through the hatch.
Maxwell frowned at Garrett. "Are you sure he'll be okay?"
"You tell me. He seemed confident enough on the spacewalk to and from my ship."
"We were in a group."
"Have faith. I think we have more important matters to consider. Such as how to convince these soldiers not to shoot us."
"You said you were sure we were safe."
Garrett leaned in close to Maxwell so that Takahashi couldn't hear. "I lied."
Chapter 21
Delta was still inspecting the empty pods when Stone received a message from Finn.
"Your Grace. Finn has spotted movement. Someone is traveling along the central core from the rear of the ship. No confirmation if it's Garrett."
Delta looked up, subconsciously rubbing her hands together. "I want this one taken alive, whoever it is. Tell Finn to remain hidden and use the minimum force necessary. And warn Grissom."
Stone issued the instructions and waited patiently.
Three minutes later, a stunned-looking stranger was jammed into the control center.
"Who the hell are you," he said. "I didn't think the rescue team was arriving for another four days."
Delta gave the stranger her warmest smile. "We made better time than we estimated. You're not Osiris Garret though, which means you're one of the crew or a colonist. I didn't expect to find any of you alive. I have to admit you look exceedingly well for someone your age. What's your name?"
"Luke O'Brien. Britannic's medical offi
cer. And you are?"
"My name is Delta D’Angelo. You're honored, Dr. O'Brien. I am the Federation president's daughter."
"It is very kind of you to come out of your way to welcome us. But why the need for armed soldiers when you thought we were dead?"
Delta grinned, revealing her perfect white teeth. "You cannot be too careful these days. There are reports of pirates on the edges of the Stellar Cluster. Britannic and its contents would make a worthy prize."
O'Brien's eyes widened. "Space pirates! Is that really a thing?"
"Perhaps I made them sound too glamorous. These people are mere scavengers, mostly stripping derelict ships for parts. Although they have murdered or sold their victims at illegal slave markets."
"If life here is so dangerous, I'm glad you arrived so soon."
"Is it possible to meet your colleagues?" Delta asked, pointing to the empty pods. "I assume your captain is somewhere on this ship?"
O'Brien looked around him before answering. "Captain Maxwell is completing a visual inspection of Britannic. She wanted to check on the passengers and supplies before you arrived. She'll be here soon."
"And Garrett?"
"He's with the captain. Is he a scavenger?"
Delta laughed and shook her head. "I'm not sure what he's told you. He's one of the more legitimate traders, but he's only here to claim the salvage. He has no interest in you or the contents of Britannic. His only interest is receiving an enormous volume of credits."
O'Brien shook his head, cautiously. "I don't believe that. Oz has been very honest about where we are and what has happened. He told us he was a bounty hunter."
"Did he tell you why he brought you out of stasis?"
"Apparently, it was an accident. He was attempting to find a way out of this control center."
"Which wouldn't have happened if he hadn't illegally boarded Britannic. We believe his real purpose was to scout the ark and see if it was still operational. Reviving you is a bonus as far as he's concerned. An original PEA would fetch a decent reward. That value quadruples if the ark is operational. Who knows what someone would pay when an ark comes complete with colonists and supplies?"
