by Chris Burton
Chapter Forty-Five
Obeya
She was drifting in and out of consciousness. She could tell she had been moved to the medical center and she saw from the look of concern on the medical staff’s faces that things did not look good.
* * * *
The Chief Medic Lieutenant Commander Sharon Reagan was concerned. The CAG’s complex biological makeup was confusing her medical telemetries. Surgery was the only clear answer, but it was complex and beyond her in the current environment. She needed a major head trauma team, who also happened to be specialists in Barcudian and Dactorian physiology. Without surgery, she doubted her patient would make it. Did she risk it or should they consider tryplasmic freezing?
The CO had just joined her.
“I don’t think we have much choice. She suffered major head trauma and her biological make-up is a mix between Barcudian, Dactorian, and Human chromosomes. There are too many imponderables for me to consider operating here.”
“If we freeze her, how long can she stay in cryogenic stasis?”
“Indefinitely. The problems arise when we bring her out. Her body could quickly deteriorate. Do we need to consider, what Commander Hoskins wants?”
“No…well, not officially. The “Admiral” asked me to take care of her and to deliver her back to him in one piece. I don’t think this is quite what he meant. If this is the only way to achieve this, then we will have to go for the freeze option. How quickly can you arrange it?”
The Chief Medic knew this was a difficult one. The relationship between Lieutenant Temsouri and Commander Hoskins, as he was ranked when he commanded the Halo 7, was well known. Temsouri was a popular member of the crew, despite her perceived “mistress” status and most people considered her Jonathan Hoskins’s long term partner. If Hoskins lost her, he would be devastated.
“I have another three patients who are borderline Tryplasmic freeze cases. We are reviewing in the next hour and will set up the freeze chambers after that. Maybe four hours. We can maintain her until then.”
“While all patients must be considered equally,in the world of Alpha some are more equal than others. I suggest you bring forward your assessment of the other patients and get them all in stasis as soon as possible.”
Commander Jacques left the medical center, passing Jake Carter as he entered. Jake headed straight to Obeya’s cubicle and was joined by the Chief Medic.
“How is she?”
“Not good Jake. She needs surgery and I cannot give it too her. Remarkably she is having periods of consciousness. But she is non compos mentis. The decision to freeze has already been taken.”
“Isn’t that a little risky given her genetic makeup? Do we know for sure how her body will cope?”
“No. I need to spend some time researching before we commit. I wish I could help her, but the decision has been taken out of my hands. The CO makes the final decision; even if that is contrary to the patients wishes.”
Jake nodded his head.”Okay, I will stay with her for a while if I may?”
The Chief Medic smiled and left him to it.
Jake took a seat by the bed and sat in silence as he contemplated the events that had lead to Obeya’s injury. Was he in any way to blame for her condition?
“What’s on your mind, Jake?”
Jake looked up and was surprised to see a smiling Obeya Temsouri looking up at him
“Well, you seem to have made a very fast recovery. Just as well as they were considering tryplasmic freeze stasis for you.”
The Chief Medic overheard the conversation as she passed by and entered the partitioned cubicle. She leaned over Obeya’s bed and took a brief view of the schematics. She look puzzled.
“Lieutenant Commander, I am not sure how you are able to talk, much less coherently. By rights you should be comatose or worse. I need to ask you to refrain from talking, your vital signs are still suggesting major head trauma and your position could deteriorate at any time.”
“Then what? Are you planning to place me in the big freeze?”
Sharon Reagan looked at Jake as if to enquire why she knew about the stasis but spoke to Obeya instead.
“We cannot operate because of your physiology. Tryplasmic freezing is really the only choice.”
“No,” Obeya said firmly. “I will not be frozen. Why can’t you just monitor me and if my condition changes place me in a medically induced coma?”
“Your injuries are severe and in any other circumstance I would have operated already. I am not prepared to risk surgery and comas are too unpredictable in battlefield conditions. The tryplasmic freeze chamber is the only viable solution. I am sorry.”
Obeya looked ashen. She could not move and Jake sensed if she could, she would have been challenging the chief medic face to face. She was not someone you would seek to cross in a hurry, but right now she was defenseless.
“But…” She grimaced in pain. “I don’t feel unwell. I can talk. I am thinking coherently.”
“Yes. Your vital signs are being sustained; including your synoptic and brain activity. Our systems are keeping your thought process intact; but it is very tiring. You are going to need to get some rest Obeya. We can talk more, if your feel up to it in a while.”
Jake took this as a hint that Sharon Reagan wanted Jake to move on.
“Yes, Obeya. You do look tired and you need to keep your strength up. I will come and see you a bit later.
Jake was about to exit the medical center, when he was called back.
“Lieutenant Commander Carter. I believe you came here for a post mission scan. Park yourself in the second cubicle on the left. I will attend to you personally.”
“I am grounded anyway Doctor. I do need to get back to my CAG responsibilities, so if we can make this quick.”
“Just a quick scan and then you can be on your way.”
He lay down on the couch and watched as the holographic scanner commenced a full body scan. He had been here many times before. He doubted there was much wrong with him.
“Physically you are fit; but you must now take an eight hour break minimum before you start work again. I am a little concerned about these Psych test results. I am going to run a few more intensive stress tests. Lay still for a few minutes longer.”
What was going on in his mind then? He felt perfectly normal; maybe a little more stressed than usual. He realized the medic spoke again.
“You do seem a little over tired today, Jake. Your stress readings are on the high side. I suggest you take twenty-four hours and then come back for a re-test.”
“I am already grounded. I have been given the job of putting the hanger deck back together. It is kind of urgent.”
“I can’t tell you not to work…but I can ask the XO to sign you off. At least take the eight hours.”
Jake sighed but agreed to take a break. He left the medical center, pausing briefly to check on Obeya and headed back to his quarters. He was tired and a few hours rest would help, but he needed to speak to the XO, to advise his status. Then after a few hours he could get back to the hanger bay. For now that meant, deploying the remaining Jump Ships to the smaller rear hanger bay, while extensive repairs were carried out in the main bay. A resupply of Rapiers was on its way from fleet and until the main bay was ready there was no where for them to go. A tough task…made easier when he was feeling fresh.
Jake arrived at his quarters and lay down on his bed. He was asleep within seconds.
* * * *
“Obeya’s situation has deteriorated, sir. I don’t think we have any choice now.”
“Has she been conscious again?”
“Only briefly…the matter is urgent. We either operate, which I don’t feel happy about, or tryplasmic freeze.
“Okay. Make the preparations to freeze her, Sharon. I want t
o be there when you commence the process. Might be an idea to get Jake Carter down here too.”
* * * *
Jake Carter stood with Commander Jacques and the Chief Medic in front of a two meter long rectangular container within which Obeya Temsouri’s naked body had been lowered. The container was empty other than Obeya’s body. It was a simple casket.
The tryplasmic compound was in a gaseous state in a small pressurized flask, which Reagan had attached to one end of the container. Once the angle of the flask was correctly aligned, she moved to the other end of the container and attached a small bio scan reader. Reagan stood back.”We are now ready to commence freezing.”
“Proceed Lieutenant Commander.”
“Okay. As I open the valve, the high density gas will quickly populate the container. It will solidify almost immediately. Obeya will not feel a thing.”
Reagan opened the valve and a light mist began to disperse from the flask. Within a few seconds the container was obscured by a blue haze as the physical reaction began to take place. As the mist cleared, the gas had indeed solidified. The container was three quarters full and Obeya’s body was completely covered in a block of frozen tryplasma. The block was already hard to the touch but now it darkened, quickly obscuring the outline of Obeya’s naked body.
Reagan moved back to the rear of the container and analyzed the bio scan data.
“The process is complete and Obeya survived the experience. Her body is in stasis. Everything is effectively frozen in time.”
“What happens to her now?”
Jake said nothing since he joined the CO and the chief medic at the containers side. What he just witnessed had been horrific.
“She will be taken down to the bespoke storage chamber on deck one. The containers are stored in reinforced body holders.”
“That’s the morgue!”
“Yes, Jake. You have to remember your history. Cryogenic freezing has been around in one form or another for over two hundred and fifty years. It is only very recently that it has been used as a medical device. Death certification was mandatory up until about fifty years ago; even though many “patients” were unfrozen and cured of their injuries or ailments. The morgue is a on the same deck, but the storage room is a medical facility. We also have two labs down there, including of course the pathology department.”
“Well, I think we should leave Doctor Reagan and her colleagues to finish off. There is nothing anyone can do for Obeya now, until we reach the fleet. Jake, walk with me.”
The two men left the medical facility and headed back up the gently sloping main corridor to the bridge deck.
“We had no choice Jake. This way she stands a chance.”
“I know, sir. But she was adamant that she should not be frozen. I guess ultimately it wasn’t her decision.”
“No. You have to remember that Alpha commanders have the final say, because personnel are in the context of war, for example; a commodity. In the case of Obeya, her experience and abilities place her above others and beyond her own feelings on the matter.”
“And not forgetting the influence from above. I presume that Admiral Hoskins has had his say?”
“Your cynicism will be the death of you, Jake. Yes, Jonathan asked me to look after her, but I have not spoken to him directly on the subject. In any case, his influence remains significant. Remember he asked me to look after you too.”
“Yes, sir. About that?”
“It is not negotiable Jake. You are on a flight ban and for now I need you to manage the CAG operations. The Rapier fleet will be here in a few days and we need the main bay up and running. You can revert to your Bridge Command responsibilities once the new CAG arrives.”
Jake wasn’t happy, but realized he had been a little too confrontational. Commander Jacques was quite easy going, but he did not want to overstep his rank.
“No, sir. I understand. I guess the extraction fleet will arrive within a few days too?”
“Yes. Then we begin the radiation extraction in earnest, secure it, and head for Earth.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Kryl High Command—Earth
Safrec stood as he addressed his senior commanders. He was angry and he wanted his subordinates to know.
“Alpha must have facilities on Earth beyond what we know. We must find them and destroy them. We cannot allow yet another species to get out of control. Position your ships and your garrisons at all the main cities and ports and stamp out any insurrection before it starts. And the Alpha Fleet…take your ships and find it. If they have a weapon which can hurt us…we need to deal with them now. Do not fail me. If we loose control of Earth, we may not find another planet before it is too late.”
Safrec dismissed the commanders and returned to his sanctuary. He was disturbed by the reports suggesting Alpha was constructing a weapon and infuriated that he had not been able to extract further information from President Roslyn personally. Maybe it was time to probe the Earth leaders mind properly. However, to do so could kill him and run the risk of jeopardizing the whole agreement.
He was a politically astute Kronan, who knew all to well the importance of continuity and cohesion. All the while the humans cooperated, the supply of fresh relief for his people would be easy to come by. If they revolted, the mass extinction of the species would do little to aid the relief of his dying people and he doubted whether a new species of the right type and number could be found before the Kryl as a race entered a terminal decline. He would not preside over the death throws of his people.
For now, he would maintain governance, while his commanders sought out Alpha and destroyed them. He would concentrate on what he was good at and indeed the pursuit of his Queen. He was her suitor, the chosen one and it was high time she began to realize that she could not rule their people without him.
“My Kronan…”
His quiet thought process was interrupted by an aide.
“What?”
“You shuttle is ready, my Kronan. Did you wish to go straight to the Queen’s ship?”
Safrec’s mood suddenly brightened, but his scheduled meeting with the Queen was still some hours away and it irritated him that his aide should assume he would want to leave so early.
“What makes you think I need to go anywhere else?”
“You mentioned visiting the site where the recent ground battle with Alpha took place; General Jadros is already there.”
Safrec spoke to Jadros separately before the meeting with his other commanders. When his Kryl division had stormed the underground cave base some weeks ago; the general was left with the feeling the job was incomplete. The suggestion had always been that Alpha had a more comprehensive underground facility in place, probably in the area surrounding the cave and Jadros took an artillery division back to the site to try to route out the hidden base.
“Of course. Yes. I shall board immediately. Advise General Jadros that I shall be with him shortly.”
* * * *
The short planetary hop from his current location off San Francisco Bay to the arid Arizona desert was over quickly and Safrec disembarked from the shuttle and was greeted by a rush of warm air from the powerful burning midday sun. Jadros was waiting for him.
“What have you found, Jadros?”
“We are scanning to a depth of two thousand nartes in a square two hundred nartes area. There is nothing tangible as yet; but the process is ongoing my Kronan.”
“Can you show me the original cave?”
“Of course.”
Jadros led Safrec inside the nearby cave and through the system of tunnels and caves. As they walked, Jadros explained where the main skirmishes took place. Eventually the tunnel led to a dead end.
“There is nothing further.”
“Have we deep scanned from here?”
“Only to a depth of two hundred nartes, my Kronan.”
“Then bring your scanners in here and scan again. This is the most logical place to start surely?”
* * * *
Six hundred meters below the Kronan and General Jadros, the residual Alpha defense force already detected activity on the surface. They were a substantially reduced force, with the main body including Alpha’s commander in chief, his command team and his aides already moved on through the network of tunnels to a new site some ten kilometers south east of their current location. The new site was over a thousand meters down and sat below a large lake. Detection there would be almost impossible.
The residual team were tasked with shutting down the old facility and making absolutely certain that the main Alpha forces could not be followed. Major Tsake was the man in charge.
“If they do deepen their scanners they could well still pick us up. Do we move on, wait and defend ourselves or come out fighting?”
“Lieutenant O’Hara. If we draw attention to ourselves they will find us, the tunnels and then the perhaps even the main alpha team. We have to maintain silence and hope they go away. If not then we are tasked to defend ourselves and this position. To the last man if necessary.”
“There could be hundreds of them!”
“Then we’d better hope they don’t find us!”
* * * *
“My Kronan. We have picked up a heat anomaly three hundred and fifty nartes down. It may be nothing, but geologically it is inconsistent.”
“I don’t need to tell you how to do your work General. It is highly likely Alpha are still there, cowering beneath the ground. Set your charges, access the hidden tunnel which will lead you to them and kill them.”
“Yes, of course, my Kronan.”
Safrec’s mind was on other things and he left immediately, returning to his shuttle. It was time for his meeting with the Queen.
* * * *
The Queen was alone, when Safrec entered. She was sitting at her throne and as he approached. It was clear the rumors were true, she looked ill. Was she suffering from the sickness now?
