by Chris Burton
Alpha One
The Kryl Queen
By
Chris Burton
Credits Page
Eternal Press
A division of Damnation Books, LLC.
P.O. Box 3931
Santa Rosa, CA 95402-9998
www.eternalpress.biz
Alpha One: The Kryl Queen
by Chris Burton
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62929-087-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-62929-088-1
Cover art by: Dawné Dominique
Edited by: Kim Richards
Copyright 2013 Chris Burton
Printed in the United States of America
Worldwide Electronic & Digital Rights
Worldwide English Language Print Rights
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Dedication page
To Ness and my boys.
One day all this writing will end. Until then, thank you for your timeless patience and support.
Part One
Prologue
It was unlike any other Kryl ship—larger than a cruiser and yet, still dwarfed by the Queen’s ship. There was no trademark red glow beneath its belly and no cohesive flowing lines. This was the Tathos ship.
Just as the new Kryl Governor of Earth assumed control, the new Tathos Commander, Sorgan ordered pursuit of a large Alpha Cruiser, whose course took it away from Earth at high velocity.
Where is the Alpha ship going? She is in contravention of the Agreement. We will follow her discretely.
Sorgan made his own rules. He was not constrained by hierarchy. He did not report to the Kronan. His sole responsibility was to the Queen. He was briefed to seek out and locate rogue Earth vessels, determine any risk to his sovereign and take action he deemed appropriate. On this occasion, he would just observe. What are they planning?
“My Commander, the Alpha Vessel has joined two others. They are travelling away from Earth. We should take action to prevent them from escaping.”
“No! We will follow. They may join others. If there is another Alpha fleet, we will find them.”
* * * *
Commander Wesley Smith just ordered the release of the waste and junk holds as his ship and the two other cruisers, to which he now commanded, prepared for the jump to high velocity stellar speed. They were on route to the Styros Cluster to join Alpha’s Contingency fleet.
“Scan short and long range. Make sure we are alone, before we establish our course correction and prepare the Pantheon for long haul.”
Smith did not know for certain why they were ordered to travel so far away from Alpha’s central domain. Nor did he understand why other Alpha vessels were recalled and his ship was not. He had an idea some form of secret fleet was in preparation, but his orders were simple: proceed to the Styros Cluster and await further instructions. He, his crew, and the other two Alpha cruisers had no way of detecting the huge Kryl cruiser following close in their wake.
“Scans are clear, Commander.”
“Excellent…take us out, helm. This is going to be a long journey.”
Chapter One
The First List
The Administrator worked carefully through the error transcript. Twenty-five pages long; these were the names of those selected whose details were misplaced, misspelled, or where information was absent. These were the few from the list who, without complete information, would fall through the net and ironically would be saved from the Kryl’s clutches. Any entry where the information could be verified would then be added back to the database. It was a laborious task, but the Administrator was a professional. If this had to be done, it had to be done accurately.
The computer generated database was full. Five hundred million names selected at random from the ECG Central database, all with the same unique characteristic; every person on the database was over sixty years of age and as such they were all eligible for selection.
“Okay. My checks agree with the team. There are no further persons from the error list to be added to the main database. If we are all in agreement, we can proceed to the next stage.”
They had received instructions to build the database just fifty-four hours ago and Colm Mackenzie quickly gathered his senior team, cancelled all leave and pulled in supplies for an in house sit in; their brief to generate and circulate the list within seventy –two hours.
There was little time to question the rationale behind what they were doing. No one could quite believe how things had come to this and yet they were just the administrators. They played no active part in the selection process. Mackenzie was circumspect in his initial briefing. He saw how horrified his team members looked when he explained the task ahead, but reasoned they were removed and that he would ensure none of his team were personally affected.
This was a breach of his brief, but how else could he justify the process when each of them could be sending those close to them to their deaths?
In the last few days, there had inevitably been protest, but despite his own deep misgivings he had pulled his team back together again and they had continued their task. Now was one of those times and despite his own thoughts battling and conflicting inside him; he prayed there would be no further interruptions. He did not know how much longer his own conscience would allow him to continue.
On this occasion, there were no further protests and Mackenzie and his team continued with their task.
The next step was to place an algorithm filter on the list to identify those who had family links, be they children, or grandchildren. Any individuals filtered out would then be moved to a reserve list. Their immediate fate put on hold. For those with no family connections, a further filter would clear a list of one hundred and fifty million names and it was these individuals who would form the first sacrificial humans who would be delivered to the Kryl.
Six hours later, Mackenzie completed his final scrutiny of the latest error list. The task was done and a list of names had been generated within the stipulated three day deadline. The final stage of the process was to deliver the “collection” statement to each individual. The statement already drafted and uploaded. The prescribed wording was brief and to the point:
Under the powers bestowed on me, by the Kryl/Earth Agreement, you have been randomly selected for Kryl processing. You must deliver yourself to the nearest collection center within twenty-four hours of this notice. Failure to comply, will lead to the serving of an arrest notice.
The collection centers will filter those selected to the final processing list. Those selected will then be transferred to a national collection center for further processing. Those removed by the filter, will be allowed to return home. Once selected and removed from the final processing list, you will not then be eligible for reselection.
His team’s work was complete and it was his responsibility to deliver the merged message to the selected persons. This was not an unusual process; his team had been tasked with generating hundreds of databases for a range of different reasons. He reminded himself that despite its size, this was no different from an administration perspective, although morally it was very different.
/> Now, all he had to do was to give the ‘send” command to his workstation and his job was done…but he needed a little more time.
“Okay, everyone, that’s it for today. Get yourselves home and get some rest. I don’t expect you in tomorrow. When we return we will move on to another task…”
His team left in silence. He waited patiently for the last team member to leave the access portal, before turning his attention back to his workstation. He took another few moments to compose himself, turning away from his desk as he contemplated the enormity of his next actions. What was he about to do? This list was about to condemn one hundred million people to their deaths and he had generated the list. Was he complicit in this crime…a crime against humanity? He took a deep breath and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. At least this way I know my loved ones are safe. If I leave this to someone else, then I cannot protect them. This final thought drifted through his mind as he turned once again towards his work station.
“Send merged messages.”
This simple voice command confirmed the action and within milliseconds one hundred and fifty million people would know their fate. Mackenzie’s task was done.
Chapter Two
New Horizons
Jake Carter was taking a late meal. He was alone and took a table by the viewing window. The familiar flashes of light passing by; an illustration of the illusion of distance and time as light and the star systems through which they passed blurred into one. Jake was happy to stare into space. He had a lot on his mind.
“Jake Carter.”
Jake looked up and a familiar figure stood before him.
“Maria…I didn’t realize you were posted to the Halo. How long have you been aboard?”
“Long enough to know you have been causing quite a stir, since you came aboard. And look at you now, a bridge officer no less.”
Jake smiled. “You did not answer my question.”
“I’m sorry. I was posted here from graduation. I am shadowing the XO; at least I am supposed to be. I have spent most of my time in engineering.”
“How the hell did we miss each other for so long? It’s been weeks since I first came aboard.”
“As I said…I noticed you. I guessed you were shying away from confrontation. We didn’t exactly part company as friends.”
Maria Shavenosky was Jake’s former girlfriend. Their relationship broke up just before he and Carla had finally gotten together. Jake enjoyed her company and the sex had been great, but she was beginning to become a bit too clingy before their bust up.
“I have to say I am genuinely surprised to see you. I thought you would have taken a staff posting on Alpha 2.”
“No. I opted for the “big life”. I was offered the shadow post and, , there really was no decision to make. It’s really good to see you, Jake. Can I join you?”
“Yes…take a seat. To be honest, I could do with the company. I need to be taken away from my own rather complicated reality.”
Jake and Maria took their time and enjoyed several glasses of wine before they finished their dessert. They did not talk about themselves and avoided discussing the unfortunate end to their relationship. They were both happy to see a familiar face and to remove themselves from their own complicated lives and the disaster that was taking place on Earth.
“Do you want to join me in the officer’s mess for a final glass?”
Jake was enjoying himself, but he pulled back. A few more glasses and he could well end up doing something he’d regret.
“I think I’ll pass, Maria. We can always do this again. We would seem to have plenty of time on our hands.”
“Are you sure I can’t tempt you to one more glass or perhaps a coffee in my quarters?”
Jake smiled. It would not have been difficult to say “yes”. She was beautiful and great in bed…but he was with Carla now. “Thanks, Maria; but lets keep the past in the past. It’s been good to spend some time together, let’s just keep it plutonic.”
They parted on good company and Jake headed back towards his quarters.
It was still early…too early to turn in. His shift did not start until nine the next day.
He needed to sober up a little, perhaps take a shower but he decided first to compose a message to Carla. He knew she would not get it, not yet anyway, but he missed her and he wanted her to know.
Hi Carla,
I am in my quarters just forty-eight hours after you sat here with me. I know our time together was brief and the events leading to it were traumatic, but at least we did spend some time together. I don’t know how long it will be until we get another opportunity.
I know you will not get this, probably for many months, but I needed to tell you how much I love you and that in spirit and in mind I am there in your head and in your dreams as you are in mine.
So much has happened since, you and I first came together. As you fell under the Kryl’s influence, you were taken from me for the first time. Then I came through the blue wormhole, slayed Winterburn, and rescued you. We returned to the Academy to graduate and to help Steve confront his demons and graduate too and for what? Now he is gone…I know how much that hurts. It hurts me too; Steve Costello was my friend and his loss still feels very fresh. And now this. Our planet has been invaded and our people are being executed in their millions.
I am not allowed to talk about what we are doing. All I know is that it could be many months before I see you again. I know you can look after yourself, but please, please, stay away from trouble. I know that is a contradiction, as trouble tends to follow you and me around, but I am just going to get my head down now and develop my career. Next time you see me, you could well be saluting me!
Keep safe.
All my love,
Jake
He paused before storing the message. He wanted to talk further about his mission, but knew the content would never clear the Halo 7’s comms firewall. For now that was enough.
Jake stored the message, with an advance notice, that would automatically send when the next open comm.link became available. He sat back and drank his coffee.
Maria had been right. He had done well to find himself on the main bridge behind the weapons console. He now had experience of two of the three main bridge command stations and, assuming he rotated to Helm within the next few weeks, his bridge command training would be nearing completion. He was on path for his own cruiser within a couple of years. But to what end? The Kryl Queen had been quite specific. “We will meet again one day.” Surely, he would not be as fortunate a second time?
Any thoughts Jake had for his future with Carla and or as an Alpha Commander were tainted by the very real prospect that if he met the Kryl Queen a second time, she would surely not let him escape again.
Actually Jake had failed to escape from this paradox a thousand times over. He should not have been able to escape from the Queen’s ship when he was lead there by Morvalt yet somehow he did escape and from the clutches of Morvalt again. Surely it was inevitable he would meet the Queen again. What was uncertain was how it would come about and how it would end? For now he would try to progress his career and Carla and the Queen would both have to wait for him. It was time to turn in; he had a weapons station to command in the morning and he needed sleep.
* * * *
“Ah Mister Carter. Nice of you to join us.” The ships commanding officer Jonathan Hoskins did little to hide his feelings, when a bridge crew member was late for a shift.
“I am sorry, sir.” Jake glanced at his watch. He knew better than to try to explain the reason for his lateness.
“Don’t let it happen again Jake. There are many others who would be glad to assume your position as Weapons Officer.”
Jonathan Hoskins had taken the Con just thirty minutes earlier after a restless night sleep as he tried to unravel
the complexities of his life here and the one he had left behind. At home, were his wife and infant son; protected by the CIC himself, but nonetheless far from safe and here he had his ship, his status as effective number two to the Contingency Fleet Commander. Then there was Obeya, with whom he now found himself hopelessly in love. There was no longer a conflict in his mind over who he would rather be with. He loved his wife, yes, but only because she was the mother of his child. He would dearly love to spend time with his son, but present circumstances prevented and in any case, if he could help bring salvation to his loved ones and the people of Earth, he needed to be here. And just then, he was back in the here and now.
“Jean-Luc,” addressing his first officer.”We need to catch up with the main body of ships. Speak to engineering and ask them to prioritize the drive repairs; I want SD 6 cruising velocity as soon as possible.”
“Sure Jonathan. I would suggest we moved on this anyway. We also need to start setting up remote comm.stations. If we are going to use these to transmit data to and from Earth, we need to ensure that we never get out of range.”
“That’s a little sensitive Jean-Luc. Let’s continue this in my ready room.”
Both Commanders left the bridge and entered the commander’s ready room. They sat down before Hoskins spoke.
“We need to make sure we are well out of range before we set up our remote sites. We need to be at least three hundred light years from Earth before we can set up the first station. That’s about sixteen days travel or another two weeks at least.”
“That means there will no link between us and Earth. I understand we are being careful; how are we going to know when it is the right time for the contingency fleet to strike?”
