by Alex Kings
“Good,” said Agatha, and cut the connection.
Millicent sat back. Only now did she realise how fast her heart was beating.
Sabotage.
In principle, that was easy. The problem came with trying to do it without Mr. Pierce noticing. He seemed to be keeping a closer eye on what was happening now, and if he did find out, he might replace and fix whatever she'd done. Given his present state, he might even kill her.
She sighed and started running through her options.
Chapter 69: Indomitable
The Anti-Dominion fleet gathered a light-day away from the inner system, preparing for their final jump. Hanson stood at the command console.
“Well,” came Admiral Chang's voice, “let's see what they have in store for us.”
Long-range telescopes focused on the inner system.
There they were. All eleven Ancient ships. One each over Earth and Mars. The other nine orbited in a rosette around Jupiter. Supporting them were swarms of hundreds of human and Albascene ships around all three planets.
“Jupiter's their stronghold,” said Chang.
“As expected. That's where their ship forge is,” said Hanson. “We'd have a better chance going after the stragglers around the inner planets, but that just gives them more time to get the forge running.” He frowned. “Sir, I advise going straight for Jupiter. It'll be difficult but our best shot.”
“Agreed,” said Chang. “Hold on.” There was a pause for a few seconds, then he returned. “The Tethyan Admirals concur. We attack Jupiter. We have to sterilise the upper cloud layers.”
With their plan agreed, the fleet began high-precision jump calculations to bring them as close to Jupiter as possible without ending up inside it. The crews went through drill after drill, mapping out every contingency.
A couple of hours later, a bulkwave transmission came in from an Albascene outpost.
It was preceded by a short message from Agatha. “This might come in handy.” That was all she said. Everything else was intel about the Dominion.
When Hanson first saw it, his throat tightened. But he didn't let anyone else see how he felt. Now wasn't the time.
In his ready-room, he talked with Chang again.
“Given the circumstances, we can save awkward questions about the source of this intel until later,” Chang said. “It's useful. We can't guarantee its trustworthiness, but there's enough here to help us regardless. Weak points of the Ancient ships. Distribution of nanites in Jupiter's atmosphere. It'll be easy to verify, and it'll stop us from shooting blindly.”
Hanson nodded. “I agree, sir.” As much as he opposed Agatha's strategy, it would be foolish to turn down something that could help them win the battle.
*
It was time. The jump calculations were complete.
“You were the first to go after IL,” Chang had told Hanson earlier. “I think it's only right you should address the fleet.”
So now Hanson stood on the Indomitable's CIC, standing up straight, hands behind his back.
“Ready to broadcast, sir,” said Miller.
“Do it,” said Hanson.
The light turned green.
“Make no mistake, these could be the final hours of galactic civilisation. Today, we defeat the so-called Terran Dominion, or we lose everything we have fought for. I won't lie to you. We're facing impossible odds. That shouldn't worry you. Look around you, at the men and women you'll be fighting alongside. Look at the ships that stand beside yours.
“We fight beside the Tethyans, who until last year stood aloof at the top of the ladder. We fight beside the Varanids, who once tried to shut themselves off from the other species. We fight beside the Glaber, who we used to think of as the criminal dregs of the galaxy. We fight beside the Petaurs, who used to be a slave race to be pitied. And – we fight alongside the humans, who used to have no concern in the affairs of others.
“So if you worry about the odds, look to all the impossible things we've achieved already, just by being here today, and understand that we're not finished yet.
“Philip Pierce has taken our home. He thinks he owns us. We are going to show him he's wrong. He cowers behind Ancient technology. We're stronger because we have each other. If we win, we will be able to say we stood our ground and faced down the most fearsome threat the galaxy has ever known. And if we lose, he will know we went out uncowed. He will know we went out spitting in the eye of those who presume to rule us without our consent.
“Now let's give him hell. Prepare to jump.”
Chapter 70: Jupiter Ablaze
Jupiter filled half the sky, an immense plane of red and cream bands, roiling clouds, 300-kph winds, and storms the size of continents extending from horizon to horizon. The sun was a distant point of light directly overhead.
The Ancient ship silhouetted against its surface seemed insignificant in comparison. But on the approach, its true size became evident. It was a hoop of hundreds of gnarled, ragged spines, with flashes of blue lightning leaping between them. It seemed to crouch like a panther, full of tightly constrained power to be released at any moment. Albascene ships sharing its orbit swarmed like gnats.
Jupiter's surface seemed to ripple in a hundred places at once as wormholes opened in the foreground. Ships poured out, arranging themselves into arrowhead-shaped formations. They were rendered tiny by the Afanc itself, bigger even than the Ancient ship.
The Ancient ship swung aboard and hurtled towards them.
Aboard the Indomitable, Hanson said, “Sit rep.”
“Ancient ship directly ahead,” said Dunn. “Others are coming around the planet to intercept. Albascene fleet are in attack formation.”
“Send the sterilisation wings down to the surface. Everyone else, deploy chaff and attack.”
“Yes, sir.”
*
In a dark chamber aboard the Afanc, Yilva, surrounded by a group of Petaur, Unity, and Sweetblade engineers, gestured at the console. “Send it!”
“I have a reply,” said the Afanc. “Adapting now.”
The Ancient ship shuddered and froze.
*
Aboard the Indomitable, Hanson said, “Fire.”
Hundreds of silvery threads emerged from every ship and converged on the frozen Ancient ship. Gouts of white-hot vapour erupted from its surface.
Hanson gripped the edge of the command console, watching intently. How long would it take? According to the information Agatha had given them, their target was a primary control nexus, a weak spot.
*
At the same time, two arrowheads peeled away from the rest of the fleet and dived down towards Jupiter. They spread out slowly. In moments they ships behind them looked like specks of dust. They fired the monopole cannons into Jupiter.
At first, the planet's bulk seemed to swallow them. After a few seconds the clouds began to billow, and glowing spots lit up the atmosphere.
The Albascene fleet flew towards the attackers. The Glaber, Sweetblade and Unity fleets responded. They bore down on one another like two tidal waves. They peppered space between them with kinetics and lasers and missiles. The two fleets converged seconds later, merging and spreading out and dissolving into a chaotic mass of dogfights. Nuclear warheads flashed. Ships lit up in orange flame and collapsed in on themselves
A crater emerged on the Ancient ship, still spitting glowing plumes.
*
Millicent sat at her control console, watching the battle unfold. The unfamiliar weight of a pistol, taken from the guards, pressed against her lap.
There was no way the attack fleet could win. Even with all their clever tricks, there were just too many Ancient ships.
She'd left it as long as she could. Now, if she could send a few ships away, the attack fleet might just have a chance.
And she might just have a chance to see Emily again.
She called up a new window and began to type orders to the Ancient ships.
She'd barely begun when the door to Pi
erce's quarters slid open.
Not now, you bastard!
She hid the pistol and closed the window just in time.
Pierce came up to stand behind her, looking over her shoulder at the screen. “Finally,” he said. “Let's put Hanson out of his misery, shall we?”
“Yes, Mr. Pierce,” said Millicent, trying to stop her voice from cracking.
*
Hanson watched the command console. Three Ancient ships were bearing down on them from east, west, and north, and would be there in seconds. He hit the comms. “Yilva, stop the ship coming from the east,” he ordered.
“Yes, Captain!” said Yilva.
Hanson switched his channel to the rest of the fleet. “Attack wings one and two, position your ships to the Afanc's west. Wings three and four, do the same to its north.”
Orange light bled out from beneath Jupiter's clouds, casing patterns on the undersides of the battle.
As soon as they were in range, the Ancient ships began to fire. The easternmost faltered and shivered as through it was stuck in molasses. The others glided onwards.
Ripples of space shredded the craft that served as chaff. Even in their weakened state, they tore great chunks out of the fleet. A Varanid dreadnought broke in half under two successive blows. An Alliance frigate with most of its outer hull scoured off kept firing its monopole cannon until it exploded.
A blow kicked the Indomitable. A boom like thunder up close echoed through the CIC. Hanson felt the sound as much as heard it, the command console buzzing under his hands.
“We've lost starboard laser turrets, shield generators and laser turrets,” reported Dunn.
“Monopole cannon?”
“Still active.”
“Keep firing.”
The CIC shuddered under another blow.
A segment of the Ancient ship's hull collapsed where the monopole cannons converged. Glowing white cracks spread across it, meeting at the far end. It shattered a moment later.
“It took one minute, forty seconds,” reported Dunn.
Hanson smiled with satisfaction. That was a definite improvement. “Turn all fire on the easternmost ship.” He hit the comms to the Afanc. “Yilva, freeze the one to the north.”
“Sir,” said Dunn. “The other Ancient ships are about to come into range. Those over Earth and Mars are coming to join the battle.”
Five masses of black spines emerged from over the horizon in all directions, already firing. Their attacks tore into the chaff, into the fleet, into the Afanc's flesh. One dived down towards Jupiter to chase after the sterilisation wing.
Ships shattered, billowed white-hot vapour, exploded. Great, ugly divots were torn out of the Afanc's flesh.
“We're losing chaff rapidly,” said Dunn. “There's not enough to protect the fleet.”
“We've lost a third of the sterilisation wing,” said Miller.
“They're killing the Afanc!” cried Yilva over the comms.
Hanson thought desperately. There were just too many.
Chapter 71: Diversion
Jupiter's surface had become a lake of fire, stretching from horizon to horizon. It cast an infernal glow on the battlefield, outshining the sun.
Ancient ships converged from all directions. There were too many for the Afanc to handle, too many for the chaff to protect against. The attacks swamped the fleet. The Afanc spilled oily black blood into space from where one of its tentacles had been torn off.
“Draw in the entire fleet around the Afanc!” Hanson shouted.
“It won't be enough,” said Dunn.
“It's better than nothing. Do it!”
The CIC boomed. Hanson could hear bulkheads squealing and giving way.
The command console chimed. A jump-in. Twenty. Fifty. A hundred.
Space seemed to ripple with them. Bizarre creatures covered in tentacles came through. They looked like an unholy cross between jellyfish, squid, and shrimp.
“What the hell?” murmured Dunn.
“Shadowwalkers,” said the Firmament's Admiral over the comms. Its voice seemed filled with pride. “I am directing them now.”
The Shadowwalkers split into two groups. Monopole cannons emerged from each of them, harrying the closest Ancient ships. The Ancient ships twisted away, and tried to shoot back, but the Shadowwalkers were too agile. They danced and swarmed, evading their attacks.
“How are we doing?” Hanson asked.
“They've taken some of the heat off,” reported Dunn. “But we've already lost a quarter of the fleet.”
Hanson hit the comms. “Yilva?”
“The Afanc is badly hurt,” she reported.
“Can you keep going?”
“I think so.”
Another ship lined up and fired at the Afanc, right where it tentacles met. A hole in the chaff left the spot unshielded.
The Firmament leapt in the path. The rippling projectile tore open its hull. Boiling water poured out. A second shot tore it in half before it could move away.
The second Ancient ship shattered under their fire, its fragments lit into hellscapes by Jupiter's light.
Hanson picked out the next one on the command console. “Keep going,” he said.
The Ancient ships continued to attack. The chaff was nearly exhausted. Even with the Shadowwalkers' help, he realised, they weren't going to win.
*
Millicent sat at her console, looking at Pierce.
“What are those things?” he muttered, looking at the new creatures joining the battle. He shook his head. “They're too evasive for the Ancient weapons. Send the Albascene after them. Concentrate our fire on the Afanc.”
“Yes, Mr. Pierce,” Millicent said, her voice tight. She put the orders through on the console.
Pierce nodded. “Good. The battle is still in our favour.” He straightened up and turned to the window. It showed nothing but an irregular black wall. They were once again hidden inside an Ancient ship, safe – for the most part.
Millicent checked to see if he was looking away, then sighed. There wasn't time to be subtle about this. She'd just have to push forward and hope for the best.
She swept her previous window away and started typing in new orders. There was no time to try and justify the bullshit she was coming up with. She just had to rely on the willingness of Pierce's underlings to obey surprising orders without question.
To ship 6: Battle is a diversion. Jump to Alpha Centauri immediately to save secret project.
To ship 7: Battle is a diversion. Jump to Tau Ceti immediately to save secret project.
To ship 9: Battle is a diversion. Jump to Barnard's Star immediately to save secret project.
To ship 10: Battle is a diversion. Jump –
“Millicent!” Pierce's hand landed on her shoulder and pulled her around. “What are you doing?” he roared.
Millicent stared up at him. His face has lost all traces of compassion and composure. The gaze seemed to last forever, but a moment later she pulled free and made a final gesture at the console, sending the orders.
“No!” said Pierce. He pushed her back and went to the console.
Millicent kicked the bottom of the terminal, knocking a lower panel off. She drove her heel through the computer crystals inside, shattering them. The screen went dead.
Chapter 72: Why?
Ships flared into prominence and guttered out, leaving husks lit by Jupiter's light. Ripples of space continued to bite into them. An Ancient ship shattered under the Shadowwalkers' fire. The chaff was all but depleted, and the Afanc was struggling.
“Three of the Ancient ships are moving away,” reported Dunn.
“Where?” said Hanson.
“They're ... jumping.”
Giant wormholes fluttered and inflated in front of the ships, swallowed them, and vanished.
Hanson scanned the command console. That left just four Ancient ships in the playing field.
The ship they were holding down exploded under monopole cannon fire.
> Make that three.
“Freeze the next ship,” he ordered Yilva.
The ship continued to fire at them.
“It is not working,” said Yilva.
“What?”
“It is ignoring our signal. I do not know why.”
*
Pierce stared at Millicent, his breathing ragged. “Why?” he asked.
“For Emily,” she said.
He ran at her. She leapt out of her seat and dived away. He approached her again, almost blinded by anger, until he saw she had a pistol pointed at him.
He fell back. “You've destroyed us,” he said coldly.
Millicent nodded. “You've changed!” she shouted, her voiced raised at him for the first time ever. “You were always ambitious, I knew that. But you could also be kind, warm, funny. You were my boss, but I also thought you were my friend. Now all that's gone.”
“Millicent –”
“I look into your eyes and see nothing but cold ambition. You couldn't be bothered to look for Emily because it wasn't part of your great plan.”
Pierce found he had no reply. He stood watching her until she took a step back.
“Don't follow me.” She turned and ran down the corridor.
Pierce could hear her speaking into a recording device. “This is Millicent Dawes. I sent away the three Ancient ships. I ask to be taken as a prisoner of war according …” Her voice became inaudible. A few seconds later a clang echoed through the ship's hull as a shuttle detached.
Pierce fell back. He knew she was right. He had changed, and he hated what he'd become, what the Oracle had made him. Even now, he was trying to think of a way out, a way he could turn this situation to his advantage like he'd done so many times before.
But white noise flared in his skull, and voices returned, drowning out his own thoughts.
One path remains.
“No!”
