The Lost Fleet: Into the Darkness

by Raymond L. Weil

  Jeremy looked back over at Shilum. “You mentioned we might not need to travel to this galaxy’s black hole; where else can we go?”

  “There is an area your people have designated as NGC 604. It’s located northeast of the central core and is quite close,” she replied.

  “We observed it in the Distant Horizon on our trip to the rendezvous point,” Andram said, recalling what the Astrometrics department had reported to him. “It is an H 2 region with a diameter of fifteen hundred light-years and contains several hundred massive blue giant stars ranging anywhere from twenty to sixty solar masses. The entire area is in a nebula containing ionized hydrogen.”

  “Would it be safe for our ships?”

  “With the proper precautions,” Shilum replied. “We would have to travel slower in hyperspace and avoid the denser regions, and the blue giants would serve as an anchor for the vortex generators. We’d also need to find an area of open space free of the ionized hydrogen.”

  “There should be several areas like those close to the stars,” Andram pointed out. “Once there it wouldn’t take long to set up the vortex generators and power them with the Fusion Five capacitor stations. I think this would be much better than traveling to the black hole.”

  Jeremy turned toward the Command AI. “I would like for you to accompany us with four of your ships. We have some upgrades that will need to be addressed so your ships won’t be detectable in hyperspace. We’ll also be installing the stealth energy shield on all vessels.”

  “I will go,” the Command AI responded. “I assume you will want several of my science AIs who are versed in capacitor stations and the vortex ring?”

  “Yes,” Jeremy answered with a nod. “You have more experience using spatial vortexes which are capable of reaching another galaxy. That experience might come in useful in our attempt to send the probe back.”

  “I’ll speak to the Astrometrics department on the Distant Horizon and pull up our scans of the blue giant region,” Andram said. Turning toward Shilum, he added. “If you will give me the specifications needed for the gravitational anchor for the spatial vortex I will search the scans for an acceptable star.”

  “You might choose several,” suggested Shilum. “We don’t know if the Simulins will be active in that region of space. We’ll also have to ensure the nebula is thin enough in that area to allow the vortex to function properly.”

  “We’ll base our plans with the assumption the Simulins will be in the area,” Jeremy said. “I need to know how long it will take to launch the probe once we arrive at our target star.”

  “I can get that information,” Ariel said. She looked over at the Altons. “If you will transmit the necessary data to the computer core here on the Avenger I’ll run simulations on the quickest and safest method to send the probe back to our home galaxy.”

  “Very well,” Jeremy responded, satisfied the meeting was going as hoped. “I have a few more items I want to discuss while we’re all together.”

  Once this meeting ended, he was considering flying down to Gaia to meet Kelsey. He needed to speak with General McGown over the defenses he was setting up to protect the two cities on the surface. He wished he could spend more time with his wife, but the weight of protecting the people under his command was a heavy burden to carry. Perhaps sometime later in the future he could set up some leave and spend some quality time with his wife at one of the beach resorts. He was just grateful she understood what he was going through.

  Chapter Four

  Admiral Race Tolsen let out a deep breath as the WarHawk exited the spatial vortex near Sagittarius A, the large black hole at the galaxy’s center. The main viewscreen quickly darkened to shield the viewers from the harsh light given off by the accretion disk of the all-consuming maw of gravitational attraction.

  “Status on sensors?” asked Race as he leaned back in his command chair and tried not to think about what had happened the last time he was here. That had been the great battle, which saw the defeat of the AIs and the loss of a major portion of the Human Federation of Worlds’ fleet.

  “We’re ten million kilometers from the capacitor station,” reported Lieutenant Brent Davis. “I have the Dauntless showing up on the sensors as well as two battlecruisers, four strike cruisers¸ two battlecarriers, two fleet repair ships, and several supply vessels.”

  Race nodded. The Dauntless was Admiral Jackson’s flagship. “What about Alton vessels?”

  “Four battleships, ten battlecruisers, and four science vessels,” replied Davis.

  “It seems both fleets have been substantially reinforced since the Distant Horizon made their transit,” commented Commander Arnett.

  “What about the other two damaged capacitor stations?”

  “This is strange,” said Davis as his long-range scans found and located one of the two stations in question. “One of the two damaged stations is only twenty-two million kilometers distant, and I’m not detecting the other one. It’s too far away and our sensors can’t get past the radiation the accretion disk is giving off. From older scans, the station I’m detecting should be much further away. It’s been moved!”

  “Any ships around it?” asked Race, keeping his voice neutral. He knew who had ordered the station moved and that order had come from the planet Maken.

  “I’m picking up another fleet repair ship and an Alton science vessel,” answered Davis.

  Commander Arnett looked over at Admiral Tolsen but said nothing. There had been a lot of secret meetings and discussions over the last several months.

  Race turned toward Navigation. “Plot a course to the Dauntless; I need to meet with Admiral Jackson as soon as possible.”

  “I have Admiral Jackson on the comm,” reported Lieutenant Travers.

  “Inform him I’ll be coming over to the Dauntless as soon as we make rendezvous,” Race ordered. “We have a lot to discuss.”

  -

  High Lord Commander Aktill of the Shari gazed at the dark purple colors of hyperspace flashing across his flagship’s main viewscreen. “How much longer until we arrive at the AIs’ Great Project?”

  He had been sent by the Shari High Command to find out if there were any truth to the rumors of the humans and the mysterious Altons destroying the AIs and their precious project. After reporting back to command the results of his battle with the human fleet there had been much conjecture about the possibility the humans had spoken the truth about the defeat of the AIs. Nowhere in Shari space was there an AI sphere. They had vanished and if the humans’ story was true, there was a possibility they were no more. If this were so, it would remove a major obstacle to the Shari developing more modern and powerful warships.

  “Two days,” reported his second in command. “We should exit hyperspace one hundred and ten million kilometers from their ring of constructs around the black hole.”

  “If the constructs still remain,” responded Aktill, folding his arms over his chest. All they had to go on were speculations of what the AIs had been building.

  “You think the rumors of the humans defeating the AIs can possibly be true?”

  “It’s been years since we last saw an AI ship,” Aktill replied. “We know the Hocklyn Empire fell to the humans and their allies. It’s possible the AIs have also been defeated.”

  “I find that hard to believe; the AIs are too powerful.”

  “Perhaps,” Aktill said. “We shall find out shortly.”

  -

  Race was shown to one of the briefing room in the Dauntless where Admiral Jackson and several Altons were waiting for him.

  “Greetings, Admiral Tolsen,” Jackson said, coming forward and shaking Tolsen’s hand. I want to introduce you to Shay Mele and Pelel Maz. Shay is the one in charge of repairing the stations and Pelel is our hyperspace specialist.

  Shay was a tall female Alton of middle age and Pelel was a male Alton slightly older.

  “Ambassador Tureen has instructed us to repair the capacitor stations as requested by Fleet Admiral
Streth,” Shay said, nodding at Admiral Tolsen. “He was very vague as to why. Are we planning on launching another rescue mission?”

  “Not at the moment,” Race replied. He would get into that shortly. “How are the capacitor stations?”

  “Station One was never damaged and is fully charged,” Pelel replied. “Station Two is sixty percent repaired and will be ready for full operation in approximately five to six more months. Station Three has had only minimal repairs done and is at least one to two years away from being able to hold any type of an energy charge.”

  “We could proceed faster if we had a few more fleet repair vessels,” Admiral Jackson said. “New Providence sent a ship a few weeks ago with additional personnel to help. I wish others would do the same.”

  Race nodded, it was about as he expected. He reached into his pocket and slid a small computer flash drive over toward Pelel. “That’s from the computer core on Astral. We believe the very fabric of space where the white vortex formed has been severely degraded. Alban Donalt put together the research on the drive.”

  “I know Alban,” Pelel said as he reached out and took the flash drive. “I have wondered myself if the energies released might have caused an anomaly in that area. I’ve requested some scientific measuring equipment in order to scan the vicinity where the vortex formed. It should be arriving shortly.”

  “There is a danger,” Race said, looking over the group. Admiral Jackson had been briefed about the possible Simulin threat shortly after the Distant Horizon had gone through the vortex. At the time, it had seemed like only a remote possibility.

  “The Simulins,” said Admiral Jackson, looking thoughtful as he realized what Admiral Tolsen was implying. “You’re afraid they’re going to come through where the vortex was? That’s why my fleet, as well as the Altons’ have been substantially reinforced.”

  “Yes,” Race answered. “Fleet Admiral Streth feels the Simulins will make an attempt to conquer our galaxy. If they do, the most likely area for them to appear is here where the vortex has substantially weakened the fabric of space, making an intergalactic vortex easier to establish. The Altons at Astral have confirmed that belief based on their research.”

  Shay looked confused and then spoke. “Then why are we repairing the capacitor stations? I thought we were going to try to send help or another rescue mission to find the Lost Fleets and the Distant Horizon.”

  “We are,” Race replied. “If the Simulins are going to be stopped it will have to be done in the galaxy where Admiral Strong and Rear Admiral Barnes are. They’re going to need help to do that and that’s why we’re repairing the stations.”

  “If they’re still alive,” commented Admiral Jackson with a worried frown on his face. “We only have Fleet Admiral Streth’s word they still live.” He’d been told about the fleet admiral’s premonitions.

  “That’s good enough for me,” Race replied. “I think we have no choice but to act on what Fleet Admiral Streth believes to be true, particularly after what he’s done for the Federation.”

  “With the ships we have now we’ll never stop these Simulins if they come through in force,” said Admiral Jackson worriedly. He leaned back in his chair and looked pointedly at Admiral Tolsen. “Do we know what type of weapons they have? Does Fleet Admiral Streth have any idea of what we may be facing? Is there any information available on Astral that might indicate how powerful these Simulins are?”

  “Research into that is still on going,” Race answered. He realized there was a lot they didn’t know and it was a growing concern. “At the moment what information we have is very sketchy.”

  “When will more ships be arriving?”

  “My fleet will be here in another two weeks,” Race informed the other admiral. “I’ve also asked for additional reinforcements to stop the Simulins. As far as their weapons, we have to assume they’re more advanced than the AIs and possibly on a comparable level to the Altons.”

  “Crap,” muttered Admiral Jackson, taking a deep breath. “If they’re as advanced as the Altons we could be in for one hell of a fight.”

  “There may be a solution,” Pelel said. He had been scanning the data on the flash drive on a small handheld computer pad he always carried. “If we can locate the damaged area of space, we could place our warships around the perimeter and destroy the Simulin ships as they come out of the vortex. If their ships are like ours, it’ll take a few seconds after transit for their shields and weapons to become fully functional. That might give us the opportunity we need to destroy them.”

  “More violence,” said Shay, shaking her head with a sad look in her eyes. “Why does everything involving humans always seem to end in violence?”

  Race had read up on Shay and Pelel before coming over to the Dauntless. Shay was a pacifist, as were most Altons, whereas Pelel was more willing to accept that sometimes violence was a viable solution.

  “I wish it didn’t,” Race said with a sigh. “But the universe we live in is much more violent than any of us would like. Perhaps someday things will change, but for now I plan on doing whatever it takes to keep the Human Federation of Worlds and its allies safe.”

  “Let’s just hope they don’t come through before we’re ready,” commented Admiral Jackson with a heavy frown.

  “The capacitor stations have no armaments,” added Pelel. “They would be quite easy to destroy. If we lose one of them, it would be difficult to ever launch a major rescue operation or attempt to reinforce Admiral Strong.”

  “Then our first priority must be to protect the stations,” said Race. Once his fleet arrived, he would place it around the former location of the white vortex once the weakened area of space was pinpointed.

  “I’ll check on my equipment to see when it will be here,” added Pelel. “Once it is, I should be able to pin down the exact area of space which has been affected.”

  “Let’s keep our repair work on schedule,” ordered Race. “With any kind of luck Third Fleet will be here before we have to worry about the Simulins, and perhaps by then your equipment will have arrived and we can pinpoint the damaged area of space.”

  -

  The meeting lasted for several more hours and ended with Race taking a quick tour of the first capacitor station. It was one hundred and twenty kilometers in diameter and covered with giant energy collector dishes. Part of the inside had been modified to allow human and Alton technicians to work in comfort. When the work had first begun to allow the Distant Horizon to make transit there hadn’t been a breathable atmosphere on the station. While Race was there, Pelel played a video of the Distant Horizon entering the spatial vortex created by the ring of small vortex generators.”

  “A small piece of debris hit the ship,” Race said in disbelief, gazing over at Pelel. He knew the odds of something like that occurring were one in a million. “How did that affect their transit?”

  “Unknown,” Pelel answered. “It could have been anywhere from a few kilometers to hundreds of light-years. If the area in space where the Lost Fleets exited was also damaged by the runaway vortex, then the Distant Horizon in all likelihood still exited the vortex there. If the vicinity was not significantly damaged, then they could have ended up anywhere.”

  Race wished he knew what happened after the Distant Horizon reached the Triangulum Galaxy. Fleet Admiral Streth had indicated he was certain Rear Admiral Barnes had found the Lost Fleets. Race just prayed the fleet admiral was right.

  Once his inspection was completed, Race finally returned to the WarHawk and made his way to the Command Center.

  “How was the meeting and tour?” asked Commander Arnett as she stood up from the command chair.

  “I didn’t realize just how big those capacitor stations were,” Race replied. “It’s hard to imagine there used to be over twelve hundred of them in orbit around this black hole.”

  “So, what do we do now?”

  “We wait,” answered Race, folding his arms across his chest. “We wait for Third Fleet and who ever
else might be coming.” Looking at one of the tactical displays and the few green icons being displayed, Race couldn’t help feeling worried. If the Simulins came through before Third Fleet arrived, he would be helpless to stop them.

  -

  Race was in his quarters working on a report he intended to send to former Fleet Admiral Streth as well as current Fleet Admiral Nagumo. He was greatly concerned about what would happen if the vortex reopened and a massive Simulin fleet made transit. With the forces he currently had at his disposal, there would be no choice but to withdraw and leave the enemy in control of the area around the black hole as well as the three capacitor stations. He also wanted to send a personal message to his parents on Ceres as well as his sister on the battlecarrier Hera.

  A knock on the hatch to his quarters drew his attention and, reaching forward, he pressed a button on his desk, which caused the door to slide open.

  “Admiral,” said Colonel Cowel. “May I come in?”

  “Certainly,” Race answered. He maintained an open door policy for all of his officers. He gestured for the colonel to take a seat in front of his desk. “I’m just finishing up a report to send back to fleet command as well as a few personal messages. What can I do for you?”

  “It’s about these Simulins, Admiral,” Colonel Cowel began, arching his eyebrow. “It’s been several thousand years since they tampered with the AIs’ Master Codex. Surely if they were going to return to our galaxy, we would’ve seen some sign of them by now.”

  “Admiral Streth feels they’re a viable threat,” Race reminded the colonel.

  “Premonitions,” replied Cowel, shaking his head doubtfully. “I’m sorry, Sir, but I just don’t believe in them. It just seems we’re about to put a lot of time and effort into defending this space around the black hole. Those fleet resources could be better used keeping an eye on the Shari and Borzon.”