The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3)

by Vaughn Heppner

  “You should explain what you mean,” Ludendorff said. “I can make nothing of these strange allegations. What ghostly vessel are you referring to?”

  Maddox gave the professor a quick rundown of the magnetic storm, the ghostly vessel, the hole, the last pulse and the jumpfighter winking brightly near the strange craft before it disappeared.

  “You have me at a grave disadvantage,” Ludendorff said. “These things are fantastic and inexplicable. I can do many things, but I am not a techno-wizard able to conjure explanations out of the air.”

  Maddox decided to try one more time. “Why did Gorgon free Per Lomax?”

  “I have no inkling, Captain. The idea seems as preposterous as your shots against me.”

  “You’re lying.”

  Ludendorff scowled thunderously. “You young pup! I demand an immediate apology. How dare you accuse me so slanderously, especially after stunning me twice?”

  “That is how you should react if you were innocent,” Maddox said. “I applaud your performance, Professor, but I do not accept it as legitimate.”

  “After all that I’ve done for you and Star Watch, this is how you repay me?”

  “You’re welcome,” Maddox said.

  “What?”

  “I am repaying your former help by letting you live. Otherwise, I would have already killed you as a dangerous traitor.”

  “Bah!” Ludendorff said. “What nonsense. You’re one of Brigadier O’Hara’s coldblooded hounds. I know your type. You think you know everything. If I—”

  Maddox raised the stunner for a third shot.

  The professor fell silent.

  “You’ve clearly decided to maintain a role of innocence,” Maddox said. “That leaves me with no choice. Good day, Professor.” The captain backed toward the door.

  “Wait,” Ludendorff said.

  Maddox paused, with the stunner aimed at the man.

  “You haven’t told me who killed Sten.”

  “That’s true, I haven’t.”

  “I see. You want to play it that way, leaving me in the dark. Am I under arrest?”

  “Good day, Professor.” Maddox backed away, slipping through the hatch and closing it. “Galyan,” the captain said. “Lock the professor’s hatch, and keep it locked until I say otherwise.”

  The lock clicked shut.

  “What did he say, sir?” Riker asked.

  Maddox stared at the hatch. He had purposely told Ludendorff as little as possible. The man was too bright. The less the professor knew, the less he could use in some devious manner later.

  Finally, the captain held the stunner butt-forward to Riker. The sergeant hastily drew Maddox’s gun, and they exchanged weapons.

  “The professor claims innocence,” Maddox said.

  “Do you think he is?”

  “Most certainly not.”

  “Could you be wrong, sir?”

  “That is what I want to determine. Come with me, Sergeant, and be ready to draw and fire at my command.”

  -5-

  Maddox located Doctor Dana Rich in the main engine room. Giant cylinders of antimatter cyclers purred smoothly.

  “Captain,” Dana said, turning to greet him. Riker remained outside in the annex.

  Doctor Rich wore a white lab coat, with her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. She was older than Maddox and beautiful by any standard, with brown skin and dark eyes. Born on Earth in Bombay, she had emigrated to the Indian Brahma System long ago.

  The doctor had a checkered history involved with the Brahman secret service against the Rigel Social Syndicate of a neighboring star system. Dana had been a clone thief, caught by Star Watch and sent down to Loki Prime, the worst of the prison planets. Maddox had rescued her because he’d needed her services. For what she had done to help bring back Victory from the Beyond, Star Watch authorities had pardoned her of all crimes.

  She had led the science team in the Oort cloud studying Victory. After the professor, Dana knew more about the ancient starship than anyone else.

  “You look troubled,” Dana said.

  Maddox gave her a quick rundown of the situation, including the stun shots against the professor.

  The doctor listened, her features hardening into an increasingly serious mien. She was a solemn person by nature, driven to excellence and hard work. Maddox believed it bothered her that others considered Ludendorff the cleverest person in existence. Dana wanted the title for herself.

  “You stunned him?” Dana asked, as if wanting clarification of a delicious fact.

  Maddox nodded.

  “I would have liked to see that,” she said, with the ghost of a smile.

  Those were rare. Dana appeared to believe she had to save smiles for special occasions, as if she only had a limited supply and had to stretch them for the entirety of her existence.

  “I doubt he admitted to any wrongdoing, though,” Dana said.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “The professor is always right. Haven’t we heard him say that enough times so it’s become a divine fiat?”

  Maddox had never heard the professor claim perfection, although, to be fair, Ludendorff had never admitted to being wrong, either.

  “I’m curious,” Maddox said. “How were you able to mutiny against Ludendorff in the Adok System?”

  “Why ask me that now? It happened a long time ago.”

  “Indulge me, Doctor.”

  Dana’s features tightened as she became thoughtful.

  Many years ago, Ludendorff had led an expedition into the Beyond, searching for a legend. That legend had been Starship Victory, although no one had known the vessel’s name then. All anyone knew—or said they did—was that a lonely alien warship guarded a destroyed star system. It turned out the ancient Swarm had attacked the Adoks over six thousand years ago. The Swarm had advanced at sub-light speed, knowing nothing about Laumer-Points or star drives. The battle had left every planet in the system as shattered rubble, with thousands of drifting, useless space hulks. Ludendorff’s team had found the “lost” star system and witnessed Victory making its rounds through the debris. The professor had wanted to board the ancient warship. Dana had led others in a mutiny, escaping the star system before the ancient vessel could kill them.

  “We’re in the middle of an emergency,” Dana said. “If you’ve seen a ghostly vessel—and Per Lomax sought to reach it—we must concentrate on that, not on my past.”

  “I’m talking to you about your past precisely because of the ghostly ship,” Maddox said.

  “I fail to see the connection.”

  “Ludendorff found the ancient Adok System,” Maddox said. “He succeeded where everyone else had failed.”

  “We don’t know that’s true. Others likely succeeded in reaching the star system and died to Victory.”

  “You’re missing the key element,” Maddox said. “Ludendorff hunted for an ancient alien starship. The ghostly vessel in the ion storm would indicate there’s more than one such ancient craft in existence. The reality of Kane’s silver pyramid—the Nexus—proves other artifacts are sprinkled throughout the galaxy. If anyone should know about ancient vessels, it would be Ludendorff.”

  “So why ask about my mutiny?”

  “To learn more about Ludendorff,” Maddox said. “I know he fixates on ancient aliens. He was on Wolf Prime studying Swarm relics. What motivates him to do that?”

  “Curiosity,” Dana said.

  “Why such fixated curiosity over ancient aliens? There are many other things in existence to be curious about.”

  Dana tilted her head as if thinking deeply. “You’ve jumped to a conclusion I’m not sure is correct. Why do you believe the ghostly vessel is ancient?”

  Maddox had been waiting for the question. “Have you ever heard of such a ship before?”

  “No.”

  “If the New Men had the ghostly vessel, wouldn’t they have already employed it against Star Watch?”

  “That seems reasonable, I sup
pose.”

  “If the Wahhabi Caliphate owned such a ship, they would have used it against the New Men. The same holds true for the Windsor League and the Spacers. That Ludendorff clearly knew about the ship and its appearance in this star system—”

  “Wait,” Dana said, sharply. “You’re leaping to far too many unsubstantiated conclusions. I understand the desire to stun the professor, but if this was your reasoning for doing so, I have to say I find it riddled with—”

  “Doctor,” Maddox said, interrupting her. “Gorgon helped my prisoner escape. That is an inescapable fact. The jumpfighter left the hangar bay during the height of the magnetic storm. It seems increasingly likely that Per Lomax piloted the craft.”

  “That seems obvious to me,” Dana said.

  “It’s also obvious that Gorgon did not work alone.”

  “I see. That’s what you’re seeking from me. You desire to know the intricacies of my mutiny in order to judge Ludendorff and his closest aides.”

  “Correct,” Maddox said.

  Dana turned away and folded her arms across her chest. Soon, she shook her head. “I’m not proud of my mutiny. I broke my word to Ludendorff in order to commit it. I found that difficult to do. Stark fear motivated me back then. I was certain we would die. Ludendorff struck me as too reckless. You’re right about his chief aides, though. None of them ever made a move without his leave. If Gorgon helped Per Lomax escape, it was definitely at the professor’s orders.”

  “How do you think Ludendorff first learned about the Adok System?”

  “That’s an interesting question,” Dana said. “I’m sure—”

  Galyan appeared before Maddox. “I am finished with my search, Captain.”

  The doctor turned with a start. Her gaze darted from Maddox to Galyan.

  “Go ahead,” Maddox told the holoimage. “Tell me your finding.”

  “I have searched every nook aboard the starship,” Galyan said. “Per Lomax is not aboard. I also analyzed the outer hull. The New Man is not there, either.”

  “Thank you,” Maddox said. “I’d like you to return to the bridge and inform the lieutenant to head to our Laumer-Point on the double.”

  “At once, Captain,” Galyan said, before vanishing.

  “I’m curious,” Dana said, ignoring Galyan’s interruption. “Why do you think Ludendorff helped Per Lomax reach this ghostly vessel?”

  Maddox began to pace as he ignored the doctor’s question. Per Lomax was gone, freed by one of the professor’s slarn trappers. The New Man had definitely used the jumpfighter in an attempt to reach the gigantic ship. The captain stopped abruptly and stared at Dana.

  “I need your help, Doctor. How could Ludendorff have timed Victory’s appearance near the spatial anomaly?”

  Dana patted her hair. “It seems obvious to me. There must be an override code in the AI.”

  “How would it have gotten there?”

  “Easily enough,” Dana said. “Ludendorff often worked alone when we flushed the Swarm virus from Galyan. He could have installed it then as a form of insurance for himself.”

  “Then we’re Ludendorff’s captives,” Maddox said.

  “I don’t think so. You stunned him twice and left him locked in his room. As long as you keep Galyan from speaking to him again, we should be okay.”

  Maddox became thoughtful. “If Ludendorff had control of the AI, why did he allow me into his room?”

  “Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Dana asked. “Ludendorff’s overconfidence is his weakness. He believes himself so brilliant that sometimes he misses the obvious. It’s how I managed to stage my mutiny against him many years ago.”

  “I don’t understand. Why did he fix the disruptor cannon several weeks ago, helping us defeat Oran Rva’s armada? And now, he aids the New Men?”

  “I’m not sure he did aid them,” Dana said.

  “Per Lomax is no longer my prisoner.”

  “You’re looking at this as a binary situation, Star Watch versus the New Men. The professor views himself as important as any political entity, no matter its size.”

  “You’re saying Ludendorff has his own agenda?” Maddox asked.

  “Precisely.”

  “Do you care to speculate on what it might be?”

  “Captain, I’ve been speculating on that for a long time, and I still haven’t come to a satisfactory conclusion.”

  “Thank you for your help,” Maddox said.

  “I don’t know that I did much.”

  “Thinking of the professor as a third party is illuminating. It might help me understand him.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  Maddox nodded before heading for the annex to collect Sergeant Riker.

  ***

  Maddox, Riker and Galyan stood on the bridge. At the captain’s orders, Valerie had left. She’d been dog-tired and needed rest.

  Victory headed for the nearest Laumer-Point. The ship would use it to reach the next star system. Laumer-Point jumps were the normal method of interstellar travel, linking star systems in a connect-the-dots fashion with jump routes or “tramlines”. A vessel with a Laumer Drive pinpointed the wormhole and opened it so the ship could enter. Seconds later, the vessel popped out in a new star system. During those seconds, the ship traveled light-years. Moving to a new Laumer-Point in the new star system often took days of acceleration and deceleration.

  “At least we know Per Lomax isn’t about to personally attack us,” Riker said.

  Maddox glanced at the sergeant. “What if the New Man successfully gained entrance to the ghost ship? Maybe he could command it to reappear and attack us ship-to-ship.”

  “Possibly, sir,” Riker said, who didn’t seem convinced. “Why do you think the ship was ghostly?”

  “It appeared ghostly,” Maddox said. “Do you have any ideas about that, Galyan?”

  “None at present,” the holoimage said.

  “Could the ghostliness have been a result of the ion storm?” Riker asked.

  “Possibly,” Maddox said. “I wonder why the magnetic storm end once the ghost ship disappeared into the opening.”

  Riker snapped his fingers. “Maybe its opening was like a Laumer-Point.”

  Maddox stared at the sergeant. That was an excellent comment. He should have already seen that.

  “Galyan, are Victory’s sensors back on line?” Maddox asked.

  “Affirmative.”

  “Can you pinpoint the spatial coordinates where the ghost ship disappeared?”

  “Do you mean the center of the former magnetic storm?” Galyan asked.

  “That will do for now,” Maddox said.

  “I have it.”

  “Use all the ship’s sensors. Study the area. Do you sense anything unusual there?”

  “Negative,” Galyan said.

  “Maybe you should sweep for a longer length of time,” Maddox suggested.

  “Give me the duration that will satisfy you,” Galyan said.

  “Make it a minute.”

  The holoimage stood perfectly still as they waited. After a minute, Galyan turned to Maddox, “I detect nothing unusual.”

  “Maybe what you’re looking for can only be seen up close,” Riker suggested. “Maybe it’s like a Laumer-Point wormhole. The Laumer Drive has to be right next to one for it to appear on our instruments.”

  “True,” Maddox said.

  “Shall I return to the location?” Galyan asked.

  Maddox considered going back. They would have to decelerate first and then accelerate back to the area. That would take time.

  “No,” the captain said. “We have to reach Earth as fast as possible. We need to inform High Command about our victory over the New Men. Besides, I don’t know that I’m the right person to keep Ludendorff. Brigadier O’Hara must have more pertinent information about the professor.”

  Riker glanced at Maddox with surprise.

  “Is something bothering you, Sergeant?”

  “Yes, sir,” Riker said. �
�I’ve never known you to admit failure in a case or to admit someone might know more than you do. We should squeeze Ludendorff. He knows why he did what he did. Let’s make him tell us.”

  “There are three considerations hindering me from doing exactly that,” Maddox said. “One, the professor is unbelievably sly. He tricked the New Men. It’s more than conceivable he can trick me. Two is the stakes involved—control of Victory. This is a reckless place to practice the questioning, especially as he’s already sealed away.” Maddox had given Galyan orders to stay out of the professor’s room. “No. I’m thinking of putting the professor in stasis and—”

  “Negative,” Galyan said.

  Both men stared at the holoimage before exchanging glances with each other.

  “Could you expand on your comment?” Maddox asked Galyan.

  “I cannot allow you to place the professor in stasis,” the holoimage said.

  “Do you have a reason?” Maddox asked.

  “Negative,” Galyan said.

  “That’s illogical,” Maddox said. “The law of cause and effect dictates you must have a reason for saying what you did.”

  “Nevertheless—”

  “Let me rephrase the question,” Maddox said. Speaking with the ancient AI could be challenging at times. “What compelled you to say what you just did?”

  “I do not know,” Galyan admitted.

  “Do you plan on freeing the professor or speaking with him?”

  “Negative.”

  “Will you head straight to Earth as I’ve ordered?”

  “That is affirmative, Captain. I am under your command.”

  “Just not if I attempt to put Ludendorff in stasis,” Maddox said.

  “That is correct.”

  Maddox eyed the holoimage, finally motioning Riker. The two of them walked away from Galyan.

  “What do you make of that, sir?” Riker whispered.

  “Dana guessed it. The professor did something underhanded while ridding the AI of the Swarm virus.” Maddox spoke louder. “Galyan, can you pinpoint the moment the professor instructed you to shift your star drive jump so we appeared where we first did in this system?”

  “I do not understand the query,” Galyan said.

  “How did we arrive by the magnetic storm when we did? It wasn’t a coincidence. Do you recall the professor making any adjustments to the flight path?”