“Of all the inhospitable places in space I have seen, I think they’re onto something.”
With the rapid speed of the Deveron, it was a matter of hours before they reached L2. As they approached, they could see the twenty ships of the Battlegroup orbiting the station. Ryan gasped as he saw the Washington. It was the first time any of them had seen the latest flagship of the US Navy. It looked just as it was, a hybrid of human and alien technologies.
“What a beauty,” Taylor said.
Every ship of the Battlegroup dwarfed the Deveron. Every one of them was newly manufactured or extensively re-fitted.
“It used to take three years to construct some of those ships.”
“War can be a rapid catalyst for change, Captain,” replied Taylor.
“One day I will command a ship like that, but I do not begrudge Admiral Huber’s task here.”
As they approached the dock, a signal came into the bridge. The Admiral was projected before them all.
“Welcome to the fleet. You will all know that there is no time to waste. The fleet is ready to embark, are you clear and ready to join us?”
“This is Major Taylor. That is affirmative, Sir.”
“Good, then have your captain dock with the Washington as we depart. Huber out.”
The projection disappeared, and once again they could see out to the vast Battle Group.
“Dock? With that?” asked Taylor.
“I am informed the Washington carries three of this craft and has further docking facilities for two more.”
Taylor shook his head in astonishment at the vast carrier. He could make out a dozen fighter bay doors on three levels of the port side that they were approaching.
“Then take us in, Captain.”
The vast engines of the carrier roared to life, and it soared forward with the rest of the fleet surrounding it as they approached. Their pilot took them in on the landing procedure to dock with a bay that would half conceal the Deveron with the superstructure of the Washington.
Ten minutes later, the Major stepped out to be greeted by the XO, Captain Vega. He led Taylor to the bridge while other staff established the companies on board the vast carrier.
As he passed through the Washington, Taylor was astonished at quite how utilitarian it was. The armour plating was thick, and there were no windows in sight. Much of the interior was bare metal and had yet to see a coat of paint or other finish. There was not a hint of luxury. The Washington was a ship built in haste to serve only one purpose — war.
“Not quite the luxuries of home, Major?” asked Captain Vega.
“Actually a reassuring sight. Our armies and navies had become soft over generations of peace.”
The bridge lay deep within the bowels of the carrier, far from the gun batteries and aircraft hangars. From approaching the ship, he had expected to find a luxurious and lavish bridge, but what he discovered was as utilitarian as everything else he had seen. The XO introduced him as he entered. In the centre lay an operations table where the Admiral stood. The bridge was manned by just fifteen crewmembers and was a far cry from anything he’d been accustomed to in the Corps. Colonel Chandra and four other officers stood next to the Admiral.
“Welcome aboard, Major!” Huber said enthusiastically.
Taylor saluted and approached with a smile. It was good to see Chandra again, and he already liked Huber’s approach to running his vessel. Mitch and the XO joined the others at the operations table.
“I am sorry to say there isn’t much to tell at this stage. We have plotted a course to the destination that our experts have been given, based on the intelligence you gathered. It’ll be a two-week journey at the very least, assuming we hit on it first time. A space gateway, I hear this thing called. A year ago, I would have called the whole thing nonsense, but we have all learned to be a little more open minded.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I have already arranged to have your Battalion billeted here on the Washington. Make it your home.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“It’s an honour to have you aboard, but news of the two aliens among your ranks has already spread like wildfire throughout the ship. The fact you trust them goes a long way with me, but let’s not be in any doubt, we still understand little about this alien race. They must prove themselves to me before I will place my trust in them. Many of the crew will be uneasy with their presence. It is a fact we will all have to weather.”
“Understood, Sir.”
“Good, square your kit away, and see to your marines. Tonight, after you dine, you will all join me for a drink in my quarters. That’ll be all.”
Chandra and Taylor stepped off the bridge together.
“You’ve been causing quite a stir,” she said.
“Nothing new, then.”
She smiled.
“And you get to continue the war you wanted,” he added.
She stopped him in his tracks.
“I never wanted a war. I never wanted to continue fighting. I only knew it wasn’t over. I wasn’t willing to lay down my weapons, knowing that there was more to come. I will rest easy when I know we have truly won and made our homes safe.”
“And when will that be?”
“When the enemy can no longer present a danger.”
Taylor shook his head. It was hard to believe now that it could ever be a possibility.
“This space gateway, or whatever it is. If we can destroy it, we may cut off their route to Earth for hundreds if not thousands of years.”
Taylor nodded in agreement. It was an appealing idea.
“Let’s not speculate just yet. I’d like to know exactly what we’re dealing with before coming to any conclusions.”
That evening the Marine and Army officers gathered at Huber’s quarters for the drink he’d invited them for. The only other Navy officer was Captain Vega. He welcomed them in and sat down at a dining table, barely large enough for them all to fit. His quarters were spacious but hastily prepared. In the corner was his private office. It was decorated with naval weapons and particulars from hundreds of years gone by.
The dining table was of thick varnished hardwood; an antique and decadent feature, contrasting heavily against the rough welded and riveted structure and interior of the vessel.
“Good Evening to you all,” greeted Huber. “I know several of you have not met.”
He point around the table.
“Colonel Chandra and Major Taylor of 2 ^nd Inter-Allied. Colonel Hicks of 2 ^nd Marine Division, Major Klimenko of the 874th Naval Infantry Battalion, Major Warren of 42 Commando, and Colonel Chen of the 55 ^th Infantry.”
Taylor nodded in greeting to Chen, who he’d last seen during the battle for the Moon. Admiral Huber continued.
“As you all know, this is a fact finding mission, but with the possibility of an engagement of the enemy. This new ship is a boon to the fleet, but let us not be in any doubts, space combat is something that is in its infancy for the human race. This should be a predominately Naval operation, but we still have no idea of what we will find out there. No ship which has headed for Mars since the war began has made it back.”
“What exactly are our orders, Sir?” asked Chandra.
“To investigate for any evidence of an enemy gateway into our Solar System. We are to seize control of any assets if the opportunity presents itself.”
“Sir, if this gateway does exist, it threatens the safety of Earth for every moment it is allowed to remain.”
“That is a consideration, Colonel. The possibility of destroying the enemy’s access point into this system is one that was discussed, during a remote emergency summit held with world leaders just last night. I am in favour of doing such, but many within the Navy feel we should not destroy a major asset.”
“Major asset? It might as well be a doomsday weapon if it allows the might of the enemy forces to be on our doorstep in a matter of days,” replied Taylor.
Huber nodded in agreement.
> “As much as that might well be true, we cannot make any decisions without the facts before us. It is also not our decision to make. It is a joint operation of Earth forces, so our elected leaders must decide on this.”
“Surely this is a military matter, Sir,” Chandra added.
“Ordinarily, yes, but there is no precedent for such an event. They will have competent military advisers to hand and can make their decision based on the information we provide.”
“And if the enemy engages us?” asked Hicks.
“We can defend ourselves without recourse,” replied Huber.
Taylor shook his head in disbelief.
“I wasn’t aware we had to adhere to the rules of engagement against this enemy.”
Huber took a calm sip of his drink and sat back as he eyed up the Major, evaluating everything he saw.
“It is not for the enemy which we follow our rules of engagement. We are going after a device that is completely unknown. We must know what we are dealing with before we make any brash moves.”
Taylor rested back in his chair and knew that the Admiral was right. He could not bear the thought of another alien invasion, but also knew that haste could be the end of them all. Huber continued on.
“Colonel Chandra, your Battalion has been assigned this carrier. You will work in close correspondence with me, and I believe Major Taylor and your two alien marines could be a great resource to us. You will remain in an advisory position, as well as fleet defence, should we be at risk of boarding action. Keep your people sharp, and be ready for anything. We’ve probably got an uneventful couple of weeks ahead of us, but we are going into the unknown, so keep your guard up.”
As the evening came to a close, Taylor finally made his way to the individual quarters that had been assigned to him. As he turned a bend in the corridor, looking for the number of his door, he stopped at the sight of Eli sat against the wall and clearly waiting for him. She looked tired and must have been there for more than an hour.
“I don’t want to fight with you anymore,” she whispered.
He nodded in appreciation.
“You’ve put your trust in me before, so do it now. I trust Jafar and Tsengal with my life, as much as I trust you with it. You must do the same. Inter-Allied is more a family than we ever knew in the Corps.”
She did not disagree. He could see she had come to the realisation that she must put her past scruples behind her. He strode up to her and slumped down on the floor of the hard metal corridor.
“So did you learn anything interesting?” she asked.
“Not really. Only that Admiral Huber seems a good man and a good leader.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“I know. I don’t hate all of our Generals, just the idiots and bastards.”
He got to his feet and hauled her up to him. He passed his ID card through the lock of his quarters and entered to find it was barely bigger than a closet, but at least he had a bed. They collapsed together and enjoyed the new peace they had found.
Ten days passed quickly with regular drills and exercises carried out on the Washington. Taylor had got into such a routine that it almost made him forget they were in space and hunting down alien positions. He had spent many years on board seaborne carriers and smaller vessels.
On the eleventh day, Inter-Allied was digging into their breakfast when red beacons began to flash and sirens rang out. Everyone froze, looking around for some explanation. A voice came over the intercom. It was Huber.
“This is the Admiral speaking. We have just received confirmed reports from the Kittyhawk that enemy positions have been identified. We are presently changing course and making an approach with caution. All personnel are to go to combat stations. All advisory staff should report to the bridge.”
The room erupted into action with Navy, Marine and Army personnel quickly responding to the order. Taylor rushed to Chandra’s side as she strode quickly for the armoury where their gear was stored.
“Huber seemed pretty insistent that we should join him now.”
“And we will,” she replied, “but not until we are appropriately equipped for any eventuality. We were placed here not just as advisers but also as protection for this carrier. We cannot provide that protection unless we are ready for action at a moment’s notice.”
“No arguments here.”
As the two of them pulled on their exoskeleton suits, they watched Jones and the other company leaders organise the troops.
“Strange, isn’t it?” said Taylor.
“What?”
“Not going with them. We are field officers. Our job is out there at the front.”
“I’d be careful what you wish for, Major. We could yet have to get our hands dirty in this affair.”
Fifteen minutes later, they reported for duty on the bridge. Huber initially looked up at them in an agitated fashion because they had taken so long. He calmed down when he realised he now had the protection they needed. He beckoned for them to come forward while looking in astonishment at the two towering aliens following them. The security detail initially stopped their entry and looked to the Admiral for clarification.
“Let them through!” he yelled.
The Navy guardsmen looked up in awe as Jafar and Tsengal strode past.
“You must all appreciate how unorthodox this is; armed soldiers from different nations, and aliens among them on the bridge of the capitol ship of the fleet. We live in a new age where such things change.”
Taylor nodded in agreement and appreciation that they stood with such a forward thinking leader. He drew their attention to the display on the operations table. Chandra gasped at the sight of what she could see. Taylor stepped up to her side, and his eyes widened too.
Despite the enemy ships between them, it appeared to be what they were searching for, and they could make out the shape of the gate. It was a vast octagonal structure floating in space. Blue lights pulsed around the rim, and the framework expanded back as if presenting an entrance. Yet the gate was hollow at its core, and they could see nothing but space beyond.
“Christ. How big is that thing?”
“Five kilometres wide,” replied Huber.
“Fuck me,” whispered Taylor.
“Then Tartaros cannot have come through here,” Chandra said.
“I would not jump to any conclusions just yet, Colonel. We all saw the expansion of that vessel when it reached Earth. There is no reason why it could not have been brought through in a series of parts.”
“It would make sense,” Taylor agreed.
Huber looked up at the two aliens stood on guard behind Taylor.
“You two. Step forward and tell us what you know about this.”
Without hesitation, they both took several paces forward to the edge of the table.
“This is the gateway we came through.”
“Are there more like it?”
“A few, but not in this Solar System.”
“That’s a relief,” replied Taylor.
They were all quiet for a moment as they stared at the vast and terrifying structure they approached.
“Something of this magnitude must have required years to build, and God knows how to reach this place.”
“Our ancestors set off with these gateways hundreds, and some thousands of years ago from our homeworlds. We only know they have reached their destination of the gate in Tau Ceti, which they are connected to and is activated.”
“Fascinating,” he replied.
“And your race did all this to find the perfect world?” asked Chandra.
Tsengal shrugged his shoulders.
“We did it because we were told we must and that it was our duty. I can tell you no more,” replied Jafar.
Lights flashed on the live display below them that caught all of their attention. They looked down to see engines firing up on multiple ships between them and the gateway.
“Looks like they’ve spotted us,” said Huber.
“
What do you want to do?” asked Chandra.
“Nobody touches the gateway.”
He tapped a display on the table beside him, opening a channel to the fleet.
“This is Admiral Huber. Commence attack vector Alpha. Do not, I repeat do not, fire upon the gateway. If you discover gun batteries enclosed with the gateway, you are to withdraw out of range and continue to engage enemy craft. Proceed with caution, and good luck to you all.”
He ended the transmission and turned to Jafar.
“Anything you can add here?”
He looked over the map.
“I know little about these gateways, but I can tell you that each of those ships will have two hundred soldiers aboard, with detachments of either fifty or a hundred in each of those smaller vessels.”
“Bloody hell, there must be more than two-dozen of the larger craft,” stated Chandra.
“But no capitol ships, so they have comparatively little firepower.”
“What will their tactics be?” asked Huber.
“The ships are mostly intended for deploying infantry. They will not run. They will try and board us.”
Huber turned quickly to the pilot. “How far out are we?”
“Twenty kilometres, Sir.”
He quickly looked back to the map.
“Our guns are accurate up to almost ten, and they are based on enemy technology which is similar from what we have seen. Bring us to a halt. If they want to close the distance, we will not do half the work for them!”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
He opened up a channel to the fleet once again.
“The fleet is to hold position. Launch fighters, fire when in range.”
“If they jam our signals, which they are sure to, what is the procedure?” asked Chandra.
“Fleet officers have already been briefed on the protocol for such an event. We stand and fight. No one is to withdraw unless we lose forty percent of the fleet, or are in immediate danger of doing so.”
A grim outlook, but its also a sensible contingency. Taylor thought.
“Weapons are charged and ready, Sir. Fighters are launching in thirty seconds.”
“Fighters in space? Not something we’ve ever seen,” whispered Chandra.
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