by John Walker
“We are in a better position to negotiate than you are.” The voice hesitated before continuing. “You have little time to decide.”
“Our fighters are overhead,” Desmond said. “We can have them attack your positions or even go after your downed vessel if you want to play games but honestly, it makes no sense. Work with us. I guarantee you the results will be far more positive than if we pursue further conflict.”
“We believe we hold the upper hand.”
Desmond sighed and muted the line. “Salina, get Mustang to hit these guys hard. They should coordinate with Fielding to ensure we remove the threat.” He brought them back online. “We will not be surrendering so I guess you’re going to have to see what happens if you pull that trigger out there.” He killed the connection and stood up. “Do we have our turret still?”
Zach sucked a breath through his teeth and shrugged. “I’m seeing enough power for a few shots … but not much more. The power generators will take a big hit.”
“I think this is what we’ve been saving them for,” Desmond replied.
“Begging your pardon,” Zach said, turning to Desmond, “but I was thinking we were saving the guns for whatever brought us down here.”
Desmond paused for a moment to consider his point. Whatever alien race dragged them to the surface didn’t have to be impatient. They would show up when the power was fully drained, not take a chance that a few sparks remained for firearms. No, they needed to defend themselves in the present, not worry about a potential future.
“I doubt it will matter,” Desmond said, “especially if those guys tear the Gnosis apart with those heavy weapons.”
Zach nodded. “I’ll begin targeting now.”
“Work with Mustang and the marines,” Desmond added, turning to Salina. “They’re all weapons free. Tell them to do whatever it takes to drive these maniacs off. Pilots are free to hit their base. We might as well give both ships a serious beating since neither side feels inclined to take on a partner.”
***
Captain Ulian Hataran of the Pahxin vessel Stalwart, sat in his quarters looking over his reports. He was tasked with checking in on the Gnosis, who was overdue for a check-in by several hours. They should’ve arrived in the system they were heading to and sent a message but neither Earth command nor the Pahxin defense ships had received such a communication.
After working closely during the diplomatic mission to bring the humans together with their culture, Ulian had a vested interest in helping the Gnosis. Their ship was not built for war but they fought with the spirit of true warriors, making the best of their equipment. He respected their captain and their people. They had proved themselves in many ways.
He hoped to find the Gnosis in the midst of some kind of interference or with a communications failure. Any other option would not be fair considering what the humans had survived to that point. A Tol’An raid on their home world, multiple large ships in a massive attack, Kalrawv opportunists and even making friends with the Pahxin government.
Humanity’s foray into space had turned eventful quickly.
Establishing diplomatic cooperation had seemed impossible to Ulian when they’d met up. Had the Tol’An not interrupted the meeting and kidnapped the delegates, any treaty might’ve taken months to complete, if not longer. Combat solidified their bond, violence to rescue their people. It was a camaraderie Ulian understood.
Once the diplomats settled affairs and finished ratifying a formalized document for collaboration, the Pahxin sent multiple ships to Earth. They were there not only to provide some support for their smaller, less advanced fleet but also to help them finish another, more combat oriented vessel.
When they completed the ship, they could replicate it quickly enough. The next big step involved giving their population the full story. They leaked it by degrees, building it up over the course of a couple weeks. Following the mindset of their entertainment, they established interest then divulged details until they fully came out to say humanity was working with aliens.
Ulian had seen two other cultures go through similar growing pains. The general people often became paranoid, especially when they saw that the Pahxin looked much like they did. The human government did a good job of fully informing people of what was happening and granting them the details needed to process the information.
This didn’t stop fringe groups from worrying about it though. Apparently, a couple of conspiracy theorists brought others together to speak of the dangers of collaborating with alien forces. The last report suggested they had yet to listen to reason. Even if the Pahxin were there to take over the planet, humanity could do little to stop them.
Perhaps they’ll see reason when they finish a couple ships and more of their kind venture into the stars. It’s easy to be close-minded when you’re stuck on one planet. Travel broadens the imagination considerably.
“Sir,” the computer’s voice piped through the speakers on his desk. “We are rapidly approaching the entry point into the system. Defense systems are online and weapons are at the ready. Do you have any further orders before we emerge from hyperspace?”
“No,” Ulian replied. “I will be on the bridge momentarily. Thank you.”
Ulian paused to look over his computer screen for just another moment, frowning at the coordinates they were approaching. Pahxin intelligence labeled this particular system as hazardous ages ago but there was no information as to why. It wasn’t forbidden and civilian ships passed through frequently.
Of course, none of them were looking for artifacts interesting to the Tol’An. Why did those zealots mark this location as so strategically important to them? Surely, they didn’t have the peace of mind to create false intelligence within their network on the off chance someone would steal it? Such a trap seemed unlike them and far too clever.
I will not believe them capable of something so devious. They never imagined we would find their secret base. This tip was a good one and the Gnosis followed a solid lead. When we arrive, we’ll probably learn why they wanted it so badly and also discover why they did not have it yet.
Ulian left his quarters and headed down the glistening, silver-walled corridor to the elevator. Crewmen moved about him, rushing here and there as they came close to leaving hyperspace. A general tension filled the air. Everyone knew they were about to emerge into a potentially dangerous situation.
Most of them were veterans, the type of men and women who knew how to handle themselves in the toughest of circumstances. They’d been through real fights, and a couple of small skirmishes that others would call wars. Ulian watched some of them grow from fresh recruits into the capable, experienced soldiers they had become.
And we might need all their skills in this endeavor. This isn’t hitting an outpost or a straightforward sweep of pirates. Trundling into the unknown tends to be the worst kind of exciting and I suppose that’s what the general tension is all about.
Ulian boarded the elevator and a moment later stepped onto the bridge. The screen was still down and the ship’s hull vibrated ever so slightly as they continued on their course through hyperspace. He sat in his chair, logging into the terminal attached to the arm. Once he had full control, he established a shipwide communication.
“Stalwart Crew,” Ulian said, “we are about to emerge from hyperspace to check on the human ship Gnosis. We do not know exactly what we will find their but it is important to note that we may find an attack force or some sort of alien technology preventing communications. I ask of you to perform at your best and ready yourselves for combat.
“I do not rule out the possibility that we will be stumbling upon a large combat force. Do not be alarmed. If I deem our vessel incapable of handling the odds, we will have a course plotted back out of here so we can establish reinforcements and return. However, something tells me we can handle ourselves. I am sure you feel the same.
“Our greatest strength is one another and the skills we have all developed to the point of expertise. I
believe in you and know you will do your best in this mission and whatever crops up to challenge us. Stand firm, do your duty and we will all return home with another successful operation in our records. Thank you.”
Ulian’s bridge crew worked with him on three different ship assignments, coming out to five tours of duty. They were a finely honed unit and became close friends as well. When heading into battle or especially the unknown, he felt all the more confident in their survival having them on board.
Erda Walar worked as the helmsman, in charge of weapons, piloting and navigation. He was a shorter man with jet black hair and excessively pale skin. Even on shore leave, he rarely got outdoors much. His family served on a space station where he was born and he never felt the pull to planet side life that other people might’ve.
Tech and coms were handled by Viran Des, a genius with computers who graduated in the top three percent of his class. Tall and spindly, he wore his blond hair practically shaved and tended to be introverted during social functions. One would never know he kept quiet while he worked on the bridge. He and Erda operated together on several assignments.
Morala Crelden acted as Ulian’s first officer. She carried herself in a stern way, acting as the liaison for the other departments throughout the ship. Her previous assignment had been as a ground soldier and when she accepted the promotion and change of venue, she brought considerable discipline to the role. She was red-haired, blue-eyed and usually all business.
Ulian had seen her cut loose a couple times but it tended to be rare.
“Emerging from hyperspace,” Erda said. “Count of three … two … one …”
The ship hummed around them for the briefest of moments before the screen flickered on. Viran tapped loudly at his terminal while Morala received reports from the rest of the ship. Ulian waited patiently, peering at the emptiness of space before them. They were on the edge of the system, far enough out that most of the planets would be small without magnification.
Viran said, “Sir, I’m picking up a large ship not even ten-thousand kilometers away.”
“Is it the Gnosis?” Ulian asked.
“No, sir. It seems to be …” Viran paused. “Of alien origin. I have no matching silhouettes in our database. It appears to be powering up.”
Ulian tapped the arm of his chair thoughtfully. “Continue your scans for the Gnosis but also get me a full reading on that ship. Erda, put our shields up and bring the weapons online. I’d rather be safe than sorry. Pilots at the ready. Hold on launching the fighters until we know they’ll be effective.”
“Am I holding here, sir?” Erda asked.
“Yes. We’ll let them come to us.” Ulian leaned forward. “Viran, hail them when they close in. Will that give you time for the scans we need?”
“They’re automated and running. When the results are back, I’ll be warned.”
Morala leaned close. “All stations report functional. Engineering is on standby if we go to battle. Pilots were already in the hangar and are boarding their ships now. They should be ready in less than ten minutes. I’ve taken the liberty of having our ground forces assemble in the event we need to go down to a planet for the humans.”
“Thank you,” Ulian said. “I believe we have a plan. Time to see what comes of it.”
Chapter 7
Cassie followed the marines, giving them a good ten feet of room to move. She held her scanner high with her left hand and wielded her pistol in the right. Passing over the threshold, a cool breeze struck her as if the room were being bombarded by a powerful air conditioning unit. Outside, it was thirty degrees celsius but just inside, it dropped to eighteen!
Vincent visibly shivered at the transition and she sympathized. The sweat on her body instantly chilled and her ears ached within moments. Cassie wondered if the place became progressively colder the deeper they went. If that happened, the room with the power source might be well below freezing.
I’m jumping to conclusions, Cassie reminded herself. This is more likely an environmental control long ignored. I’m sure it’s totally fine. Amazing that it still works so well, but otherwise nothing to be concerned about.
Gorman took up the rear and when he crossed the threshold, they heard a deep hissing sound. The doors slid shut behind them, barely tapping as they met in the middle. Heat moved back to Gorman, examining the door before turning on the other marine with a scowl. “What the hell did you do?”
“Me?” Gorman looked at the door then back to Heat. “Walked over it? Seriously, I didn’t do anything.”
“How’d it know to close when all of us were in?” Heat turned to Gil. “Any ideas?”
Gil shrugged. “Sensor equipment I suppose. Though since it did not open when you approached, I am guessing there is more to it than that. We will likely need to find the control room to open the door and leave but we might as well focus on the task at hand. After all, leaving is less vital until the ship can depart.”
“I don’t like being trapped,” Heat said.
“Calm down,” Vincent interjected. “This place is huge and I’m sure there are plenty of ways out. We haven’t explored a single room yet so we can’t jump to the conclusion that we’re stuck in here. Let’s do as the Doctor says and make the mission our top priority. Cassie, can you guide us?”
Cassie turned away, shining her light about the room. The space was empty with a stone floor beneath them and a ceiling so high, her light wouldn’t penetrate the gloom. The walls were made of the same substance as outside but darker in color. They hadn’t been hit with the elements.
She tried her communicator, attempting to establish contact with the Gnosis. Static came through her earpiece and she sighed. The scanner still worked and insisted they needed to go to the left. She turned to the others and contemplated exactly how she should explain their current situation.
“Okay, so good news. I know we need to go to the left. That’s where the signal’s coming from. The flashlight won’t get through the dark all the way to the wall but if we stay close to this one, I’m hopeful we’ll be fine. I’m not picking up any mechanical items right now so if there are traps … Well … I don’t want to speculate because that’s all I’d be doing.”
“Great,” Heat grumbled. “What’s the bad news?”
Gorman frowned. “Why do you assume there was?”
“Because no one says ‘good news’ if there’s only one kind of news,” Heat explained. “Agent Alexander?”
“Heat’s right,” Cassie replied. “I can’t raise the Gnosis from within here. The metal in the walls must be interfering. We’re totally cut off from them at the moment … which will likely give them some anxiety.”
Gil turned to Vincent. “When will they send another party?”
“I don’t know,” Vincent said. “The clock’s ticking for them so we need to get moving if we want to avoid them risking anyone else.”
Heat stepped over to Cassie. “We’ve got this. Everyone else form up.”
“I didn’t …” Cassie bit her tongue. “Okay, yep. We’ve got this.
She didn’t want to plunge into the darkness first but fear wasn’t an option. All of them were in it together and they shared the risk. As they moved out, Cassie’s heart pounded harder in her chest and she had to take a couple calming breaths to settle down. If they encountered trouble, she couldn’t be in a state of panic.
I’m here for a reason. My training and my abilities might be tested but I will prevail. We’re all going to be fine. This is merely an ancient ruin, like an archaeological dig site.
The thought soothed her somewhat but only briefly. Cassie knew they were standing in a fully functional facility. The capability to pull multiple starships down to the surface meant this place could be one of the most dangerous places they encountered to date. Whatever unknown culture dwelt there in the past left behind mysteries to unravel.
Their footsteps died in the darkness, not even echoing off the ceiling high above them or the walls some distance off.
Cassie scanned the floors and walls again, finding that they were treated with some substance not in their databases. It appeared to have a sound cancellation quality, like a hyper advanced acoustic foam.
We thought this looked like a temple, Cassie thought, making some notes in her tablet. Perhaps this was a room for worship and they wanted to keep things silent. She turned back to Gil. “Do you see what this structure is made of? What the stone is treated with?”
“I do,” Gil replied. “It can be adjusted with the right energy pulse. We are in a silent phase right now but if for some reason they needed it to bounce sound about, it would. I have encountered many religious sanctuaries in my time and this one follows closely to the established norm by our archaeological survey departments.”
“Only this religion,” Gorman said, “likes to drag space ships to the surface for Sunday mass.”
“That’s not necessary, Sergeant,” Vincent said. “Please refrain from color commentary.”
Gorman sighed. “Yes, sir.”
Cassie opened her mouth to speak again but stopped as the wall they were approaching appeared in the light. She picked up the pace then really examined the surface, running her light along a good five feet. There were no grooves, no marks, no signs of wear or abuse. The stone was perfectly intact likely in the same condition as it was erected.
“This is amazing,” Cassie said. “The place must be ancient but they kept it up to this standard?”
“It would not be hard,” Gil replied. “The composition of this structure suggests it is self-healing. The same substance that kills sound can essentially patch cracks and maintain this perfect state you see. We have such technology ourselves and we employ it for buildings in our cities and homes.”
“Sounds nice,” Heat said. “Maybe we can get in on some of that.”
Vincent sighed. “Gentlemen, let’s stay focused. We need to find some kind of door to get through here. Come on, pick up the pace and hope that wherever we need to go next is as obvious as the front doors were.”
