by Ken Lozito
“Acknowledged,” Colonel Douglass said. “Tactical, is our target in place?”
“Yes, Colonel. The broadcast beacon has been checking in for the last half hour.”
Noah looked over to see who was working the tactical workstation and saw Caleb Thorne.
Noah glanced back at the colonel.
“Go ahead, Captain.”
“Yes, sir,” Noah said. “Tactical, I’m showing HADES IV-B missiles are in tubes one through five. Can you confirm?”
“Confirmed. Ready for launch,” Thorne said.
“You’re go for launch,” Colonel Douglass said.
“Yes, sir, HADES away,” Thorne said.
Noah watched the data output as the five missiles successfully launched from the tubes—not surprising because all they’d done was add a few more systems on top of the existing missile structure.
“Targeting package has been beamed to the missile group alpha. Target reference is zeta,” Thorne said.
Noah waited for the status update to be sent back from the missiles. “Showing that all five missiles have good connections.”
Confirming the successful network connections between the missiles was the first step. The real test would come after the first waves of countermeasures were launched.
“Missiles locked on target, Colonel,” Thorne said.
Colonel Douglass stood next to Noah, watching the holoscreen. “Deploy countermeasure package bravo and have zeta move to coordinates beta.”
Thorne confirmed the command and executed. There was nothing for them to see other than the data on screen, but Noah tried to imagine the missiles barreling toward their target and the bright flashes of countermeasures being fired to thwart their targeting systems. This, of course, was completely inaccurate as to what was truly taking place. Standard ship countermeasures were for blinding sensor arrays, with broad-stream lasers designed to sweep the area the missiles were coming in from.
“Missiles still on target,” Thorne said.
“Launch second set of countermeasures and have zeta move to the next series of coordinates. Proceed on automation, initial time interval fifteen seconds,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah watched as the missiles continued to close in on zeta, but after the third set of countermeasures, they failed to update their trajectory to align with zeta’s new position.
“Confirm the secondary targeting computer has been brought online,” Noah said.
The missiles were moving at a fraction of the speed that was possible, which made it possible for them to manually execute the test and monitor the engagement. Otherwise, the engagement would be over in only a few seconds or less at this distance.
Noah hardly dared to breathe. This was a crucial step in the test and would happen almost simultaneously. The missile track showed a change in course toward zeta, but Noah knew the countermeasures would be fired more frequently, attempting to blind the missile systems. The duration between updates became shorter, and those in the cradle watched the mock battle unfold on the large main holoscreen.
Noah pressed his fist to his lips as he watched. The targeting updates showed the zeta darting to a predetermined set of coordinates and the missiles course-correcting as they closed in. The blips seemed to spontaneously move about the screen until the zeta ceased to report its position, followed by the confirmed detonation signal sent from the missiles.
Noah felt a wide smile spread. There were cheers from those CDF personnel working in the cradle, and Noah turned toward Colonel Douglass.
“I see the general’s confidence in you is not misplaced in the slightest. Amazing thing you’ve done,” Colonel Douglass said and looked at Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly. “I want all the HADES IV missiles modified as soon as possible.”
“I’ll put four teams on it, sir,” Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly said.
Colonel Douglass turned back toward Noah. “I don’t think you fully realize what you’ve accomplished.”
“But the impact to range. There’s got to be a way to maximize that deficit,” Noah said.
“Oh I’m sure there is, and I know Major Roberts is more than up to the task. I’m sorry to see you go,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah felt a mix of pride and a growing lump in his throat. He wanted to request that Kara return to New Earth with him, but he knew that not only was it not appropriate for him to make the request but when Kara found out she’d be livid with him. Noah believed she wanted to come with him, but her sense of duty would win over and she’d remain here on the station.
Noah glanced around, trying to find Kara, but she was nowhere to be seen. More than a few people came over to congratulate him. Noah returned to Caleb Thorne, who had his hand pressed against his ear so he could hear someone else on his comlink.
Caleb glanced over at him and jutted his chin up in greeting.
“I think you owe me a beer, or three of them,” Noah said.
“You’re the man of the hour. In thirty minutes, I’m buying,” Caleb replied and then frowned as he looked away from Noah. “Seriously. I’ll put it on screen.”
Caleb made a quick swiping gesture toward the holoscreen and all the data was swept away. Noah watched as a live feed from the PRADIS console came on. The console showed multiple groups of unknown ship signatures.
“Multiple contacts, Colonel,” Thorne announced.
Colonel Douglass turned from the conversation he was having and glanced at the screen. A hush swept over the CDF personnel in the cradle.
“Action stations. Set Condition One throughout the station,” Colonel said.
Months of training drills kicked into gear. Noah went back to his workstation and waited for orders. Klaxon alarms sounded in the Command Center and Noah knew they could be heard throughout the station. CDF personnel ran to their posts.
“Colonel, we have multiple contacts showing in delta quadrant. At this range they could be fleet groups bunched together to hide their true numbers,” Thorne said.
Noah brought up a PRADIS feed on his own console. At least the unknown contacts weren’t coming from gamma quadrant, which was the direction of the deep-space buoy network.
“Ops, run a diagnostic on PRADIS. I want to know if the system is malfunctioning,” Colonel Douglass said. “Comms, prepare to beam open hails on my command.”
Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly came over to Noah’s side. Not sure what else he should do, Noah started to surrender his workstation.
“You’re fine right where you are, Captain,” Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly said.
“Colonel, PRADIS is functioning normally. Signals are good,” Lieutenant Gabriel said from the Ops work area.
“Acknowledged. Start recording the engagement,” Colonel Douglass responded. “Comms, send our standard hails to them in the open channels. See if we can get a response.”
Noah swallowed hard. He kept watching PRADIS, hoping that there was some kind of glitch in the system and those ships . . . contacts . . . would disappear. Contacts didn’t become ships until they were confirmed.
“Comms, what’s the status of our hails?” Colonel Douglass asked.
“No response, Colonel,” Lieutenant Foster said.
Colonel Douglass rubbed his chin in thought and glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly.
“Wrong quadrant,” Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly said.
Colonel Douglass nodded. “Comms, authorize first-contact communications package.”
Noah’s mouth hung open. First-contact protocols were only used if they suspected they were encountering an alien species—something that had never occurred on Earth, but they had nonetheless established a standard protocol for the situation.
“Colonel, they’re still heading right for us,” Thorne said.
“Acknowledged,” Colonel Douglass said. “Comms, still waiting on that first-contact communications package.”
Noah watched as Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly walked over to Lieutenant Foster’s workstation. The frazzled lieutenant was having troub
le finding what she was looking for and Lieutenant Colonel Donnelly leaned down to help her find it.
“First-contact communications package has been sent, Colonel,” Lieutenant Foster said.
“Now, we wait,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah’s heart thumped in his chest. He didn’t know how the colonel could be so focused. Who or what was heading for them? What did they want? Did they know they were here?
“Colonel,” Lieutenant Foster said, “judging by the distance, the unknown contacts should have received our first-contact communications package.”
“Acknowledged,” Colonel Douglass said. “Tactical, I want firing solutions on unknown contacts ready to go.”
“Colonel, do you want to give them a warning shot or an all-out assault?” Thorne asked.
“I want solutions for both, Captain. Authorize HADES IV in available tubes. I want half of those tubes loaded with the HADES IV-Bs,” Colonel Douglass said.
“Yes, sir. I’ll have firing solutions for you in sixty seconds,” Captain Thorne said.
Noah glanced back at the colonel.
“We might get to do more than test the modified missiles,” Colonel Douglass said.
Not knowing how to respond, Noah merely nodded and his mouth went dry.
“Computer, open a broadcast channel to the entire station,” Colonel Douglass said. “Titan Space Station, we have unknown contacts showing up on PRADIS. We’ve attempted to communicate with them using open hails and I’ve authorized the use of first-contact protocols. If we don’t get a reply, we’ll fire our weapons at them. Our mandate for this station is quite clear. We’re the first line of defense for the colony. If these are hostiles, they’ll know we’re not an easy target. If we’re wrong and this is an unknown alien species coming to make first contact, the responsibility is mine. Given the status of the deep-space buoy network and the fact that there was a catastrophic event on Earth, I’m not inclined to let any species just waltz their way here unopposed. Douglass, out.”
Colonel Douglass closed the broadcast channel. “Comms, send a data burst back to New Earth with our current status.”
Noah glanced at the PRADIS console. The unknown contacts were now well within their long-range missiles.
Colonel Douglass looked at the main holoscreen.
“HADES IV and HADES IV-Bs loaded in all available missile tubes, Colonel,” Captain Thorne said.
Noah couldn’t believe this was happening. Just a short while ago they’d been running a proof-of-concept test and now they were about to open fire on an unknown enemy.
“Fire alpha salvo, and I want bravo ready to go,” Colonel Douglass said.
Silence dragged throughout the normally lively Command Center for Titan Space Station.
“Confirm missile launch, Captain,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah swung his gaze toward Caleb Thorne, who was frowning at his output. “Colonel, I don’t understand. I submitted the command as you ordered, but the system won’t take it.”
The edges of Colonel Douglass’s lips pulled upward. “Stand down, Captain. Comms, open a channel on CDF-encrypted ship channels.” The colonel waited a few moments for the channel to connect. “General Gates, did we pass your test?”
There were a few moments of silence.
“With flying colors, Colonel Douglass. Please extend my congratulations to the CDF personnel on Titan Space Station.”
“As you wish, General.”
“Did I get you worried even a little bit?”
“You had us worried there for a few minutes, and then we were going to unleash holy hell on you,” Colonel Douglass said.
“I can see that. What are HADES IV-B missiles?”
“I’ll tell you about it when you come aboard, General,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah blew out the breath he’d been holding.
“Understood,” Connor replied. “For the record, Wil wanted me to authorize a covert ops team to take the Command Center.”
Colonel Douglass chuckled. “You tell that slippery little twerp that any time he wants to receive a good ass-kicking he should go ahead and try to sneak aboard my station.”
Noah heard muffled laughter on the comlink. The unknown ships on PRADIS disappeared and were replaced by CDF transponder codes along with the cargo carrier.
“Colonel, I have the cargo carrier Chmiel requesting to dock with the station,” Lieutenant Foster said.
“Permission granted,” Colonel Douglass said.
Noah felt the tension leave his shoulders. He could use a hot shower and something to eat. He wondered where Kara was since she hadn’t shown up for the missile test. He thought about reaching out to her through his comlink, but she likely just wanted some space, so he resisted the urge. Noah logged off the console and stepped away from the workstation. A comlink wouldn’t do for what he wanted to ask Kara anyway. Knowing Connor Gates, he wouldn’t be at Titan Station for very long before returning to New Earth, which meant that Noah had twelve hours max to find Kara and personally ask her to come back to New Earth with him. She might say no. She could be stubborn at times . . . well, most times. He smiled. He just knew that asking her to change her life for him was better handled in person than on a comlink.
Noah was about to leave the cradle when he heard Caleb Thorne call out to Colonel Douglass again.
“Colonel, I have multiple unknown contacts again, this time on the fringes of PRADIS,” Thorne said.
Noah looked at the PRADIS output, which was still on the main holoscreen. This grouping was in a different quadrant than before. Noah’s gaze slid down to the quadrant’s designation, and his brows pulled together as he read.
“It’s gamma quadrant, Colonel,” Thorne said.
Noah went cold and then pressed his lips together. “Is this another drill?” He’d voiced his question aloud without thinking about it.
“Open a comlink to the Vigilant,” Colonel Douglass ordered.
“Comlink ready, Colonel,” Lieutenant Foster said.
“Vigilant, this is Titan Space Station. PRADIS is showing us multiple unknown contact groups at the edge of its range coming from the gamma quadrant. Can you confirm the drill is over?” Colonel Douglass asked.
Noah hardly moved while they waited for a response.
“The drill is over. Those contacts are real,” Connor replied.
Colonel Douglass frowned. “Shit,” he said.
“You got that right,” Connor said.
A grim silence took hold of the CDF crew at the Command Center. The drill had been gut-wrenching, and it hadn’t even been real. Noah felt something cold seize his stomach. The contacts were real, and they were heading right for them.
Chapter Fourteen
Connor stood on the bridge of the Vigilant. Several bridge officers turned in his direction, awaiting his orders. He had no more training drills planned and they all knew that whatever was being detected on PRADIS was a true anomaly.
“Tactical, can you confirm anomalous detection on PRADIS?” Connor asked.
“Negative, General. They were there and now whatever it was is gone,” Lieutenant LaCroix said.
Connor pressed his lips together in a tight frown. He activated the comlink to Titan Space Station. “Titan, the anomaly has disappeared from our PRADIS. Can you confirm whether it still appears on yours?”
“Confirm, the anomaly is gone from our PRADIS. We’re running a diagnostic on the PRADIS system,” Kasey said.
Connor gave Vladimir LaCroix a meaningful look and the tactical officer began running diagnostics on the Vigilant’s PRADIS system. After a few moments, he looked over at Connor and shook his head.
“Go to a private channel, Colonel,” Connor said.
He used his implants to authorize a separate encrypted communications link with Titan Space Station.
“Ain’t this a pickle,” Kasey said.
“I don’t like this at all,” Connor said.
“Agreed, and I don’t believe this is just some s
ystem glitch,” Kasey replied.
“Suggestions?” Connor asked.
“Monitor and see if it shows up again. At that range, it could be nothing,” Kasey replied.
Connor muted the line. “Nav, I want a course plotted to put us in better range of the anomaly so we can get a better PRADIS detection. Just send the plot to my terminal.”
Connor walked over to his terminal and unmuted the line to Kasey. “I was going to come aboard and pay you a visit, but I think I’ll stay right where I am.”
“I could send a shuttle out to get you,” Kasey offered.
“It’s not that. We’ve got a bit of a situation here on the Vigilant,” Connor said and told Kasey about Colonel Howe and Major Hayes.
“Are they the only ones who got sick?” Kasey asked.
“No, there are some others. So I need to stay because I don’t want to run the risk of spreading whatever this is to the space station,” Connor said and rubbed the tips of his fingers together. If he had an actual fleet of ships, he’d send a taskforce to investigate. “Let’s continue to monitor and alert me if you detect anything. I’ll have the crew of the Vigilant do the same.”
“I do have an update for you that you’re going to like,” Kasey said.
“I’m always ready for some good news,” Connor said.
Kasey told him about Noah’s upgrade procedure for the HADES IV missile and how it vastly increased the missile’s targeting systems.
“I told you that kid was something. That’s why I snatched him up when I first got here,” Connor said.
“There’s no shortage of bright spots in the colony, but I’ll admit Noah is brighter than most, just a bit rough around the edges on some things. Speaking of which, he didn’t seem particularly keen on leaving here,” Kasey replied.
Connor felt his eyebrows rise. “He wasn’t excited to go to Titan either.”
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with Major Kara Roberts, a lead engineer here,” Kasey said.
“What is it with these guys? Someone turns their head and suddenly they won’t do what we need them to do,” Connor replied.
“They’ve been very professional. Honestly, situations like this in the CDF are becoming more frequent. It’s not like the Alliance,” Kasey said.
