Vanguard

by G. P. Hudson

  “The initial attack took place on the UHSF battleship Hammurabi,” AI said. “A Kemmar insurgent entered through a Marine’s jump portal and activated the bioweapon before getting shot. A hazmat warning went out and the area was quarantined, but the bioweapon still managed to spread throughout the ship and infect every member of the crew. The weapon is not hindered by quarantine or protective outfits like hazmat and combat suits. Captain Valenza recognized the threat and locked down the ship, preventing anyone from leaving, or coming on board.”

  “Then how did it spread to the other ships?” Jon said.

  “It appears that the bioweapon was simultaneously released on the planet by the insurgents. Initial analysis indicates that the bioweapon incorporates nanotechnology to help it replicate and spread at inexplicable speed. Within days of the Hammurabi’s infection, our people on the planet’s surface began experiencing the same symptoms. The working hypothesis is that the bioweapon was brought on board by infected ground personnel.”

  “This is unbelievable. What about our people on the planet? You said they were experiencing the same symptoms.”

  “That is correct, Admiral. Every human on the planet is now either dead or are dying due to infection from the bioweapon. The planet has been quarantined and is currently off-limits to UHSF personnel.”

  “What of the Kemmar?” General Tallos said from the wallscreen. “Have they been infected?”

  “No General,” AI said. “The Kemmar appear to be immune.”

  “Then this weapon has been engineered to affect humans and not Kemmar?” Tallos said.

  “That is correct, General. It appears to identify its target through their DNA.”

  “You’re saying that the Kemmar, the species we defeated a decade ago, somehow engineered a bioweapon that is light years ahead of anything we’ve ever seen?” Jon said.

  “No,” Tallos said. “I believe it was engineered for them.”

  “By who? The Juttari? They don’t have anything like this, or we’d have seen it already.”

  “The Juttari don’t, but the Erinyie might,” Tallos said.

  “The Erinyie? They’re gone. As are the Antikitheri,” Jon said.

  “Not necessarily,” Tallos said. “The Antikitheri visited me on Diakus. They offered to help me rebuild if we agreed to worship them as gods.”

  The statement stunned Jon. “And what was your answer?” he said, dreading the answer.

  “I declined. The Antikitheri did not help Diakus in its hour of need. They do not deserve our worship.”

  Jon nodded, relieved. “Okay, but I still don’t understand how they’re getting away with this.”

  “They said that while they could not intervene, they could assist. Their interpretation of the treaty is that so long as they do not physically intervene, that they are free to take an advisory role.”

  “Like they did in the past.”

  “Yes, but they demand worship in return. It is possible that the Kemmar have had a similar offer from the Erinyie.”

  “You think the Kemmar agreed to worship the Erinyie like the Juttari do, and in return the Erinyie gave them this weapon?”

  “Precisely, although I think it is more accurate to say they advised the Kemmar on how to make the weapon.”

  “You know what, Tallos? I think you’re right.”

  “Okay, suppose he is right,” Vice Admiral Kevin St. Clair said. “What do we do about it?”

  “We could scorch the planet,” First Colonel Brock, leader of the Chaanisar, said. “High yield nuclear weapons should eradicate the threat.”

  “That’s genocide,” Jon said.

  “Yes, but what will happen if that bioweapon finds its way to Sol, or the colonies?” Brock continued. “The Kemmar were not concerned with genocide when they nuked New Byzantium during the war. Neither were the Juttari when they did the same to Earth. Why do we think differently?”

  “Because we’re not the fucking Juttari, or the fucking Kemmar. That’s why,” Jon said.

  “That may be, but I believe we are in a no-win situation otherwise,” Brock said. “The Kemmar possess this weapon. That much is certain. They may not have the capability to deliver it to one of our planets right now, but that reality may change. They also should not have been capable of building such a weapon. That means they have hidden laboratories on the planet. What else have they hidden from us over the years?”

  First Colonel Brock was making a lot of sense, and Jon hated that he found himself agreeing. But something still nagged at him. “If the Erinyie gave the bioweapon to the Kemmar, then glassing the planet won’t help us, because the Erinyie will give the weapon to the Juttari too. That is the real threat. I am confident that we can safely blockade Kem, but we cannot do the same with the Juttari.”

  “That does create a significant complication,” Tallos said. “AI, you mentioned that the bioweapon uses nanotechnology to spread itself. Does it use nanotechnology for anything else?”

  “Yes, General,” AI said. “It would be more accurate to call it a nanoweapon, than a bioweapon. While it does contain organic material, it uses nanotechnology for most of its processes.”

  “Like our medical nanobots,” Jon said.

  “That is an accurate comparison,” AI said. “Where the medical nanobots are used to heal someone, this nanoweapon kills.”

  “But we’ve seen things like this before,” Jon said. “How is this weapon different?”

  “It is different in that it behaves like an airborne virus, albeit at a significantly accelerated pace. Unlike a normal virus, this nanoweapon is not stopped by air filtration systems like those found in a combat or hazmat suit. Once it infects a host, it reproduces and destroys the host’s cells much faster than even the most aggressive virus. The host’s immune system is helpless against it, and the host dies within hours of infection. But the evidence indicates that it can also pause its activity and wait until some point in the future. In that way, it could go unnoticed allowing it to spread to others.”

  “That’s probably how it got onto the other ships,” Jon said.

  “That is a reasonable hypothesis,” AI said.

  “If this nanoweapon were released on a human planet, the result would be apocalyptic,” Kevin said. “This is an existential threat.”

  “Agreed,” Jon said. “AI, I assume you are studying the weapon.”

  “Yes, Admiral,” AI said. “I am utilizing the equipment on the Hammurabi to analyze and reverse engineer the weapon.”

  “Do you think you can come up with a defense against it?”

  “Perhaps, but it will take time. This weapon is very advanced. As I said, it combines technology and organic, living matter.”

  “It is like the Chaanisar,” First Colonel Brock said. “But on a microscopic scale.”

  “The Erinyie’s specialty,” Tallos added.

  “That’s a good point,” Jon said. “AI, were there any Chaanisar on board the infected ships?”

  “No, Admiral.”

  “What about the planet. Any Chaanisar on the surface?”

  “No Chaanisar were on the surface either.”

  “First Colonel Brock, the Chaanisar have been augmented in a way that protects them from illness, isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, Admiral. That is accurate.”

  “Many of you have been around for centuries.”

  “Yes, I am one of the oldest of the Chaanisar and have been alive for close to five-hundred years. Are you suggesting that we may be immune to the nanoweapon?”

  “You might be, although I wouldn’t want to risk any of you to find out.”

  “There is another risk,” AI said. “Even if the Chaanisar are immune, they might still become carriers if exposed to the weapon.”

  “I suggest using a volunteer to test the hypothesis,” Brock said. “If the Chaanisar volunteer does become a carrier, he can be quarantined until a solution is found.”

  “What if we don’t find a way to counter the weapon?” Jon sai
d.

  “Then that Chaanisar will die with honor.”

  Chapter 13

  Miira again sat at the helm of her small spacecraft and headed toward the massive portal before her. The last time she had done so, Jon had sent her back to Dvorkan space to convince Emperor Kriss to make peace. That time, the Dvorkan military took her into custody, and the AI copy had threatened her with execution. Now, she was returning to human space flanked by two Taymati warships and an offer of peace.

  In between those two flights she had been rescued from execution by the Emperor and watched the Empire descend into civil war. The main instigator of that war, the AI copy, had been destroyed, but that did nothing to stop the fighting. Kriss had to defeat his enemies at home, and for that he needed peace with Jon. So, Miira found herself playing the role of Ambassador once more.

  “I don’t know when we will see each other again,” Emperor Kriss said from Miira’s comm display. “I will send for you once I’ve defeated my enemies.”

  “How long will that be?” Miira said, unsure if she could bear being apart from Kriss for very long.

  “I promise to vanquish my enemies as fast as possible,” Kriss said with a smirk.

  “Thanks, I think.”

  “Don’t worry, it will all work out. In the meantime, it will be safer for you to stay with the humans.”

  “I understand.”

  “Good. I must go now. Two Taymati battleships will escort you the rest of the way.”

  “Be safe.”

  “You too.”

  The Emperor, her love, vanished from the comm display and Miira turned her attention back to the great portal before her. Her ship rapidly approached until its shimmering field filled her display. Then they were through, appearing in a star system more than a thousand light years from their last location. They would now need to use their jump systems to make a few more jumps before arriving at the first Diakan system, some two-hundred light years away.

  As in the previous system, this one was littered with the debris of battle. The Emperor’s Taymati had again proved themselves the superior fighting force, and their warships now ruled this region of space. How many more battles like this one would there be before everyone came to their senses? If it continued for much longer, the Empire would end up destroying itself from within.

  A comm request appeared from one of her Taymati escorts. She accepted, and the stern blue features of Captain Teev appeared.

  “We will begin our jumps shortly,” Teev said. “Please confirm that your jump system is still synchronized with ours.”

  Miira double checked her instruments. “It is.”

  “Then we will activate our cloaks and begin the jump sequence.”

  “My ship does not have a cloaking device, Captain. It is a civilian vessel.”

  “I see,” Teev said, barely hiding his annoyance. “No matter. We will escort you with our cloaks engaged.”

  “Is that necessary?”

  “Of course. It gives us the element of surprise if we must do battle. Surprise is a vital advantage in any engagement.”

  “I understand, but I doubt you will have to fight anyone.”

  Teev studied her with cold eyes. “I understand that you are a scholar.”

  “I am.”

  “Have you ever served in the military?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Then you must have studied military strategy.”

  “No, Captain, I have not. But I get your point. Forget I said anything. I’ll leave the military aspects of this journey in your capable hands.”

  “We will jump momentarily,” Teev said and terminated the connection.

  That went well, Miira thought sarcastically. Neither the exchange nor Teev’s condescending attitude phased her. She had dealt with Dvorkans like him her whole life. They were all generally arrogant and convinced that they were right. Emperor Kriss, however, was cut from a different mold. He was the most powerful man in the Empire, yet never looked down on anyone, especially not her.

  Even her own family behaved as though they were embarrassed of her. She had wished she could have spoken to them while back in the Empire but could not reach them due to the civil war. Despite their differences, she still loved them and hoped they were safe.

  The Emperor had assured her that they were not caught up in any of the purges and the only threat now was the civil war. They were merchants, though, and if she knew her father, he would be looking for ways to profit from the conflict rather than choose sides.

  Her father was not a scholar like her. He was a shrewd businessman. He understood people and never missed an opportunity to make a profit. It was why he thought her studies were a waste of time. “Do your books tell you how to spot someone’s point of leverage?” he often asked. “Will the Antikitheri divulge the secrets of how to profit from both a rising and a falling market?”

  There was no doubt her father was good at what he did, but like most Dvorkans, his success gave him an exaggerated opinion of himself. He thought that because he knew how to make money that that made him an expert on most matters. She often tried to explain to him that it only made him an expert at making money, but he dismissed her as a foolish child. He said she knew nothing of real life and the affairs of the galaxy.

  Miira wondered what he would think now? She had visited the Andromeda galaxy and witnessed the inexplicable powers of the Antikitheri, Erinyie, and Cenobi. She had met impressive other species and their leaders, like Jon Pike. She had acted as Dvorkan ambassador and had become romantically involved with the Emperor. Would he still think she knew nothing of real life and the affairs of the galaxy?

  “I am still a child seeking my father’s approval,” she said to herself. Funny how such things stayed with you. No matter what she accomplished in her life, deep inside she would always be that bookish child craving acceptance.

  Her instrument panel notified her that they were jumping, and she looked to her main display where the surrounding Dvorkan warships and debris disappeared. A quick glance at the data told her they had jumped fifty light years. Captain Teev wasted no time and initiated a second jump, followed by a third, and a fourth.

  Teev again appeared on her comm display. “We have traveled two-hundred light years from our portal which lands us in Diakan space. This part of the journey will be more precarious as we are still technically at war with the Diakans and the humans. We will keep our cloaks activated. Your ship is a human design, however, and we do not expect the Diakans to fire on you.”

  “That is comforting,” Miira said. “What happens once I make contact with the Diakans?”

  “We will monitor your communications. If the Diakans behave aggressively toward you, we will intervene.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “I am a Taymati Captain, not a Diakan psychologist. My orders are to protect you, not to explain the actions of alien species.”

  “I understand.” Miira tried hard not to roll her eyes.

  “We expect that the Diakans will allow you to continue to your destination, probably under their escort. Under those conditions, we will leave and return to the Empire.”

  “I’m sure there won’t be any problems. The Diakans are a logical species.”

  “We shall see,” Teev said and terminated the connection.

  Miira settled back into the over-sized pilot’s seat Jon had built to accommodate her eight-foot frame, and took control of the vessel, directing it to push deeper into Diakan space. She wondered why she had not seen any Diakan ships so far. They had entered the outer reaches of their space, but considering the recent battles with her people, she fully expected to find several ships stationed here, guarding their borders.

  The answer to her question soon appeared when a Diakan battleship materialized directly in front of her. Her sensors then went nuts confirming multiple weapon locks. Miira stayed calm and hailed the Diakan battleship. “Diakan warship, my name is Miira Kev. I am Admiral Jon Pike’s ambassador to the Dvor
kan Empire and am returning to Sol after negotiating a peace treaty with the Dvorkan Emperor. As a diplomat, I request safe passage through your space.”

  Time passed, and Miira waited for a response. The battleship kept its weapons locked on her and Miira grew increasingly nervous that Captain Teev would do something drastic. She felt that the Diakans were likely verifying her story. Once they received confirmation, they would let her pass. When a comm request from the Diakans finally appeared, she let out a sigh of relief and opened a channel.

  A Diakan appeared on her display wearing a military uniform. The Diakan possessed the same unblinking eyes all Diakans were known for, as well as the green scaly skin. “I am Captain Nattos. We have researched your claims and have found no evidence of your status as ambassador.”

  “No evidence?” Miira said. “Clearly there is something wrong with your information. Contact General Tallos. He will corroborate my claims.”

  “I will not disturb General Tallos over some Dvorkan criminal in a stolen UHSF ship. You are an enemy of the Diakan state and will be treated as such. Your ship will be confiscated, and you will be taken into custody. If you wish to appeal your incarceration, you can do so through the normal Diakan channels.”

  “This is outrageous-”

  Suddenly, Captain Teev appeared on her comm display. “I am Captain Teev of the Taymati Imperial Guard and Miira Kev’s escort. Our cloaked warships have locked weapons on your vessel. Be advised that any hostile actions against our diplomat will be met with deadly force.”

  “You dare enter Diakan space making demands?” Nattos said. “Do you think we are like the hapless Juttari you defeated?”

  “We are merely an escort and do not seek confrontation,” Teev said. “But we will also not flinch from our duty.”

  A message flashed on her panel indicating that the Diakans were flooding the space around her with ionizing radiation. Clearly, they wanted to take down Teev’s cloak. As expected, the radiation effectively disabled all cloaks in the region, and Miira gasped.