The Wrong Side of Space (TCOTU, Book 3) (This Corner of the Universe)

by Britt Ringel

  “We’ll be in missile range much sooner than that,” Brewer stated.

  Heskan turned to face Brewer, who had seated himself in Heskan’s first officer chair. “I won’t kill them if they agree to return to the orbital, Mr. Secretary. There’s been enough death for one day.”

  Brewer pointed at Bayless on the tactical plot and said, “Those people have already shown their unreliability to the Republic. They may need to be removed.”

  Heskan shook his head forcefully. “With all due respect, the orders said to prevent their escape from this system and that’s what I’m going to do and nothing more.”

  Brewer glared darkly at Heskan. “Your orders may change, Lieutenant. We will do our duty to Bree. The stakes are too high for the Republic for anything less than a total conclusion to this event. Orders, like fortune, may change… Captain.”

  The look sent chills down Heskan’s spine as he reminded himself that Brewer was one of just three assistant secretaries, second only to the Minister of Intelligence herself. The man would barely have to twitch a finger to send my career into a tailspin. He could even have me drummed out of the Navy in a heartbeat. Besides, Garrett, we’re doing the right thing; we’re protecting the Republic. He gave the man an enigmatic nod, hoping the vague gesture would be enough for now. “Navigation, move Derringer onto an intercept course for Bayless, maximum speed.”

  “Aye, sir,” Carroll responded.

  * * *

  One hour into her pursuit, Derringer was racing at .24c. Her chief engineer, Lieutenant Joanne Colt, had promised Heskan the standard frigate could maintain the incredible speed for at least another hour, far longer than would be necessary to catch up to Bayless. In the past sixty minutes, Derringer had closed the distance to the science vessel to just over 5lm. The outcome of the hunt had truly never been in doubt once Derringer had accelerated to nearly twice the science vessel’s speed.

  “Twelve more light-seconds until we enter missile range, Captain,” Dunn announced.

  During the entire chase, Heskan had stood either by the captain’s chair or next to the seated secretary, holding hushed conferences. As they closed on the vessel, Heskan’s repeated comm messages ordering Bayless to heave to had gone without reply. The lack of response was eerie. Are they already dead? Heskan wondered. He was vaguely aware that some of the deadliest strains of viruses could render a person unconscious in hours.

  Putting the thoughts aside, he walked across the bridge and sat at the weapons station. Heskan’s practiced hands glided over the panel as he entered the console into SSM-mode and trained his targeting sensors toward Bayless while simultaneously linking the director computer to missile stations MS-One and MS-Three. Derringer had been at battle stations for the last twenty minutes and the missileers at those stations were waiting for their target. Heskan had discussed his “plan of last resort” with his bridge officers and the weapons crew of those two stations to ensure everyone understood the sequence of events that would play out if firing upon the Bayless became necessary. Secretly, Heskan had used the discussion to confirm that his crew would follow him. He could not shake a nagging feeling that his control over Derringer was tenuous despite having the legal authority for his actions. With his sickened feelings over West’s and Erickson’s deaths, his precarious position atop the ship’s command structure and the nerve-wracking presence of Secretary Brewer, the ethical question of firing on the Brevic civilians had receded from his view.

  Heskan’s console achieved a solid lock on the schooner-sized science vessel and his missileers reported ready for launch. Both ports would launch twice. Heskan reasoned that the quartet of missiles would easily destroy an unarmed vessel the size of Bayless. His eyes glanced to the range indicator on his panel. Thirty seconds and the nightmare will be over.

  His weapons station went dead.

  Heskan raised his hands from the controls briefly in surprise as he stared blankly at the panel. He then tapped several commands into the console without effect. “Joyce, is your panel working?” he questioned the operations section head.

  “Yes, sir,” she answered in a confused voice.

  What the hell? Heskan unsuccessfully attempted to reboot the console. Finally, he pounded his fists on the panel once in frustration and stood. “Get mine fixed, Lieutenant Howell!” he snapped angrily at her.

  “I—I don’t understand, sir,” Howell answered from her operations station. “Power to the WEPS station has been interrupted at its source.”

  Heskan’s eyes darted to Engineering’s representative on Derringer’s bridge. The young ensign turned in his chair and nervously cleared his throat. “Sir, it is my duty to inform you that your actions to assume command are contradicted by the Republic’s constitution and are illegal. Lieutenant Colt and Engineering will not be part of this mutiny.”

  Heskan moved toward the ensign, intending to slap the man, but stopped when he reached the captain’s chair. Seeing it still had power, he stabbed at the comm controls. “Petty Officers Clark and Gibson, assume local control over your missile ports. You have your target, I order you to launch when within range.”

  The answer came back quickly. “Sir, we’ve lost power to the missile launchers. We’ve been trying to contact you but it looks like your station is disconnected too. Aux Con and the CIC aren’t responding either.”

  Heskan killed the channel and opened a comm request to Engineering when the chair arm console went dark. “Nell, One-MC at your station, now,” he growled.

  “You’re on, Captain.”

  Heskan waited a beat to try to compose himself. “Dammit, Joanne, restore the power now or…” He trailed off. The nasty tone of his voice surprised even him as it carried through the entire ship.

  A voice quickly responded over the ship’s public address. “Or what, Garrett? You’ll kill me like you killed the captain?”

  Heskan recoiled. Oh God, it’s out now. “I didn’t kill the captain, Joanne,” Heskan replied. Technically true, he rationalized even as his head shook in self-disgust.

  The chief engineer’s voice taunted him from every speaker on the ship. “Then put him on, Garrett. Let’s see what he has to say about your mutiny.” Heskan could only stare at where West’s body had once lain.

  Lieutenant Dunn broke the standoff from her SENS station. “Derringer is within missile range now, sir.”

  Heskan glanced toward the sensor officer and asked, “How long until Bayless reaches the tunnel point?”

  “A little over sixteen minutes.”

  It will take nearly ten minutes for my missiles to close the five light-minute gap which gives me about six minutes to solve this, Heskan thought.

  Colt’s mocking tone rang through the bridge. “I can’t hear him, Garrett. Can you tell the captain to speak up?”

  Heskan looked at Knight as he walked to the sensor station. “Sid, I want you to assemble a team to regain control of Engineering while I go down there and try to talk some sense into Joanne.”

  Knight nodded as Secretary Brewer gestured for the marine to use his comm console.

  Heskan pushed the 1-MC controls. “Joanne, I’m coming down to talk. I don’t like this situation any more than you but we’ve got to resolve this.” He closed the channel and started for the bridge door but stopped as Brewer’s hand reached out to grab Heskan by the arm.

  “Captain Heskan, you have the full authority of the Republic to use any means necessary to regain control of your ship. Bayless cannot be allowed to dive into Elara. The threat must be contained here.” A hint of apprehension in Brewer’s eyes was the only contrast to his foreboding demeanor.

  Heskan gratefully left Brewer, and the bridge, behind. As he walked the corridor to the deck’s central elevator that would take him to Engineering, he felt the oppressive atmosphere lift from his shoulders. I really shouldn’t have left the bridge but it sure is nice to get away from that man. Oh, Joanne, why are you making this so difficult?

  Heskan mentally rehearsed what he would say t
o Lieutenant Colt as he made his way toward the stern of the ship. He was still confident in resolving the misunderstanding between him and the engineering officer despite her obstinance. Joanne Colt was normally an easy-going and pleasant person. Her harsh, biting words over the 1-MC had been a rude shock as Heskan considered her. Even during our most heated arguments, she’s always been reasonable. Yeah, she can be passionate but this abject defiance isn’t like her at all, Heskan thought. Is there some kind of lingering resentment stemming from when we had to break it off after I became the first officer? Heskan shook his head reflecting on their relationship. It seemed unlikely. We both knew that was necessary. But if not that, what has changed her so much that she’s completely set against me? Joanne is the person I thought would support me the most.

  A squad of eight marines led by Staff Sergeant Ferguson greeted Heskan. Behind them, the portal to Engineering was sealed. Heskan noted the team was geared for an assault, including a forced entry kit carried by Corporal Timmel. The staff sergeant nodded grimly to Heskan and said, “Sir, we’ll be ready as soon as Timmel has the F-E-K on the door. I recommend you stay in the passageway until we give the all clear.”

  Heskan held his hand up. “Hold on, Sergeant. Let me try to talk to her first. I’m sure we can do this without destroying the door and hallway behind it.” Heskan walked to a wall panel near the passageway intersection and pressed the comm button. “Engineering, this is Heskan. I need to speak with Lieutenant Colt.”

  “I’m standing right on the other side of the door, Garrett, but what’s left to talk about? You killed Captain West. Do you even understand that or have you gone completely insane?”

  Heskan fought a wave of guilt as he replayed the moments of his mentor’s death. “I didn’t want that to happen, Joanne. You know what he meant to me. More than anyone, you know. But dammit, we can’t just pick and choose the orders we’re willing to follow.”

  “We have to pick and choose the orders we follow,” she implored. “Otherwise, we’re just the strong arm of a dictatorship.”

  “They’re legal orders, Joanne. Ask the Assistant Secretary.”

  “There’s more to legality than just being told what to do by a higher authority.” Colt’s voice faded but the disappointment and regret in it came through loud and clear. “I thought you understood that.”

  Heskan’s datapad chirped and Brewer’s voice sounded through the tiny speaker. “Captain Heskan, do I need to remind you that you’re running out of time.”

  Heskan pressed the wall comm controls again. His voice trembled at the sobering words as he all but pleaded, “Joanne, I have the marines out here and they’re ready to breach the door. You can’t win this. Get away from the door. Please don’t force me to…” His voice caught, unwilling to finish the sentence.

  Colt’s voice was pure conviction. “I won’t budge, Garrett. I’m not afraid to die protecting civilians. I just hope you can live with yourself after killing them.”

  “Send in your marines now, Captain,” Brewer’s voice commanded. “Do. Your. Job.”

  “Another entry point?” Heskan questioned Brewer feebly.

  “There’s no time, Lieutenant,” Brewer explained. “If you had positioned more than one squad, maybe, but you’ve got to get control of the ship back or millions of innocent people will die in Elara!”

  And if the disease spreads from there…, Heskan thought to himself. He pressed the comm button in resignation. “Joanne, I’m sorry. I...” His finger slid off the button. Heskan closed his eyes, rested his head against the panel and whispered, “Do it.”

  * * *

  Heskan sat in the captain’s chair. To his right, the acting weapons section commander, Lieutenant, junior grade, Keller announced, “Missiles are away and tracking, sir. Nine minutes, twenty-three seconds until impact.” During the time needed to regain control of Engineering, Bayless had sailed to within 77ls of the tunnel point and Derringer to within 3.5lm of the renegade ship.

  “Time to Bayless’ dive?” Heskan asked without emotion.

  Lieutenant Dunn answered immediately, “Ten minutes, forty-one seconds, sir.”

  Brewer smiled at the young commander. “You did it, Captain. You’ll get a medal for this, even if we won’t be able to officially say exactly why, of course.” He placed a supportive hand on Heskan’s shoulder.

  The scarlet medal, Heskan thought bleakly. Bits of this will leak out and without all the details; I’ll be a pariah. Face of stone, Heskan asked, “Nell, still nothing from Bayless?”

  She shook her head and silence pervaded the bridge for several minutes. The missiles streaked toward the science vessel with a .38c closure rate. As the missiles were breaking inside of 2lm, Dunn’s surprised voice shattered the quiet. “Bayless is launching a shuttle, sir.” Dunn zoomed the SnapShot optical on the object departing the ship as her console lit up. “We have an incoming message from that shuttle.”

  Brewer commanded immediately, “The message doesn’t matter. Nothing they say can justify placing the entire Republic in jeopard—”

  “Play it, Nell,” Heskan interrupted.

  No picture accompanied the message but an anguish-laden voice made a desperate plea. “BRS Derringer, this is David Reed from the Bayless. Our ship’s communications aren’t working. We can receive but not transmit. Thank God, Peter thought to use the shuttle’s equipment before it was too late. We are not infected, Derringer. We are not infected! Abort your missiles!”

  Brewer snarled, “That’s a lie. Lieutenant, stop that transmission.”

  Reed continued, “We carry the research of a weaponized version of the R3A2 virus. The Praxidike orbital isn’t what you think it is, Captain West, but it’s time to tell the truth to the Republic. Please, give us a chance to tell Bree and let the people decide for themselves what’s right.”

  Brewer bellowed even as the message ended, “Lieutenant Heskan, stop that transmission of lies or make way for a captain who won’t hesitate to protect the Republic!”

  Heskan turned to glare directly at Assistant Secretary Brewer. The men’s eyes locked and neither would concede the contest. “Lieutenant Keller,” Heskan said, still staring at Brewer, “if we self-destruct those missiles, will we have time to fire a second salvo if necessary?”

  “No chance, Lieu—, er, Captain.”

  Brewer said rapidly, “Captain Heskan, those people will say anything to escape. You’ve done your duty admirably and I know it’s come at great sacrifice. Don’t let the lives lost be meaningless by allowing those people to escape and cause unimaginable damage.” Although stress etched Brewer’s face, his practiced voice carried a deep reassurance. “They carry a disease that will spread across the Republic and cause the deaths of countless citizens. I swear this to you. You’ve done so much, Garrett, now all you have to do is nothing.”

  Who’s right? Heskan questioned. I’m already in so deep.

  Lieutenant Keller spun to look at Heskan from his weapons console. “What should I do, Captain?” His finger hovered over the self-destruct command control.

  Chapter 1

  The dim starlight translated through the wall screen to light the cabin with an eerie glow. Filling the dark chamber far better than the faint starlight, Lieutenant Commander Garrett Heskan’s sudden, short gasps resounded loudly in the room as he shot upright in his bed. Covered in a sheet of sweat, he tried to forget the clouded memories that had plagued his dreams over the last four nights. He had not been sleeping well since Kite’s dive toward Perdita.

  Glancing at the chronometer on his datapad, he realized he still had several more hours before he was due on the bridge to oversee Kite’s scheduled dive out of tunnel space and into the Perdita system. Sighing with resignation, he entered an all too familiar command into his datapad and changed the wall screen’s starscape to a layout of the frontier system. One M-class star and four dead planets, not much to it, Heskan thought as he looked upon the system for close to the hundredth time. Without thinking, his eyes focused
on the system’s other tunnel point, seventy light-minutes from the first. It led to the Iocaste star system. Named but unexplored, Heskan dreaded being on the first Terran ship to enter it. What will we find there? A dead end? The aliens’ home world?

  A shiver passed through him despite the sheen of sweat that remained on his body. The aliens had appeared in Kale from a tunnel point leading to unexplored space. They had been chasing a decimated Hollaran fleet and had roared through Heskan’s own fleet with nearly unstoppable force when the combined human fleets had tried to stave off the invaders. Both fleets took heavy losses, Heskan reflected. Nearly every ship that was boarded ended up being destroyed. A second shudder passed through him as his mind replayed the desperate communications with Eagle’s bridge officer moments before the light carrier had self-destructed. Preceding the critical Brevic asset’s obliteration, Lieutenant Kelly Gary had sacrificed herself and her ship, Aspis, to prevent its capture. With more alien ships pouring into the system and giving chase, Heskan and Hollaran Komandor Podporucznik Isabella Lombardi had been forced to seek escape in the form of the nearest tunnel point. The tunnel led toward their imminent destination, the last explored system in the northern part of the Brevic-Hollaran Disputed Zone. Are we just sailing into the lion’s mouth?

  At least we know a little more about the aliens now than we did at Kale, Heskan thought with mild consolation. Kite’s chief medical officer, Lieutenant Commander Ivan Thomas, had his department hard at work, researching the salvaged alien corpses. The marines had been typically efficient in their eradication of the small, insect-like creatures that had miraculously maneuvered their cutter-sized vessels to board Kite at speed, but some partial remnants were recovered. The aliens were certainly parasitic in nature, even lacking most of the organs humans thought were required to sustain life. Thomas theorized the aliens must possess some method of storing energy that supported them while not attached to a host, but the partials his team had examined did not reveal such an organ. What they had discovered was a life form with over two-thirds of its internal structure devoted to its nervous system. If an intact alien parasite contained the same percentage of neurons and axons as in their partial specimens, the creatures were destined to have the highest percentage of body mass devoted to neurons in the known galaxy.