Annals of the Keepers - Deception

by Christiaan Hile

  Right now, the launch technicians were readying each pod.

  Kason waived to the operators in the control room behind the glass partition. The control room safely monitored the launches out of the chamber. The launch chamber would build up massive amounts of kinetic energy before the pods were catapulted through space.

  Kason and his team walked up to the edge of the launch rail platform.

  Five Reaver pods lay abreast, one next to the other. Five other pods lay behind the first wave, and five more behind those.

  The Flashpoint was capable of launching five Reaver pods at a time, with two other waves following in five second intervals for a total of fifteen pods launched. In comparison, Kason thought, the Orion’s Rage could launch one hundred Reavers with ten launched at a time.

  The Reaver pod launch system was at the heart of an intricate attack strategy. Command cruisers, carriers, and battleships carried the Reaver launch systems onboard.

  Kason smiled at the thought of such tactics, for it was Commander Shenta Parejas who thought up the system when he once held the Reaver Lead position.

  The team approached the suspended walkway near the rails.

  A catwalk scaffolding rose above and behind the pods. The Reavers would make their way up the short steps and walk to each pod.

  Kason stopped next to Ramek.

  The largest Reaver had paused on the walkway, “You okay, Ramek?”

  “Back to business, boss?” Ramek asked.

  “Back to business, big man.”

  “It just doesn’t feel the same.”

  “How so?” Kason asked.

  “Jens. It doesn’t feel the same without him. Maybe we should be going to get him instead of chasing green space ribbons.”

  Kason chuckled, “In time, Ramek. One mission at a time. Let’s just do what we do best. That’s what Jens would want.”

  “I just miss the idiot’s witty comments. That’s all.”

  Kason laughed, “Let’s get ready.” Kason patted him on the back.

  “Aye, aye, boss,” Ramek acknowledged, continuing to his pod.

  Kason watched his teammate go, “Watch your ears when you step into the pod now, Ramek.”

  Kason could hear a low audible laughter in his comms piece.

  “Thanks, boss,” Ramek said.

  “Anytime, big guy.”

  The pod’s top-rear cockpit hoods were opened forward. Each Reaver would walk on the scaffolding to the rear of their pods. A small step would lead down to the seat in the back. They would step off the ladder and settle down into the seat. Once in the pod, the hood would lower down and latch shut.

  If there were other Reavers besides Kason’s team, the scaffolding would roll back behind the next set of pods, and the entry sequence would begin again, completing the loading of all pods.

  A technician would follow along the catwalk to each Reaver pod. They would check the external hood light to make sure it was closed and secure. They would then look through the top viewing port, giving the Reaver a thumbs-up. The Reaver in the pod would return the signal if the internal light was also showing sealed.

  Once all was checked, the technicians would return to the safety of the control room while the top launch rails descended from the ceiling to make contact with the top of the pods, readying them for launch.

  Kason brought the pod’s systems to life. Lights blinked on. Holo-screens parted open. The other pods began to link with his. All read-outs were up and the status was a go.

  The team now lay in their cocoons, waiting for the orders to launch.

  Data Cell 35

  “The unknown ships have stopped their scans, Commander.” The Flashpoint’s ensign reported.

  “Any insight gained from our own scans?” Takkar asked.

  “Yes, sir. We have a breakdown of their shields and some of their hull layout, along with engine emissions.”

  Takkar got up from his command chair, walking towards the bridge’s front window, “So, what does it look like?”

  The ensign pulled up a schematic onto a large holo-screen, “The readings show a seventy-one percent chance it’s Gashnee in nature. It matches the energy emitted from the wormhole and our own drive signature matrix.”

  “Then why haven’t they communicated? Have they forgotten their initial contact with our race all those years ago? Well, if they hate the Kryth, they can’t be all that bad.” Tallis thought for a moment before giving his order, “Send contact protocols one more time, Ensign, and–” He was cut off.

  “Sir, two of the ships have turned towards the nebula. They are on a direct course towards the Kryth frigate. The last ship is still holding position.”

  “Interesting. Never a dull moment, Ensign.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I would assume they’re going to greet their long-time friends and have a little chat. This should be fun. Someone get me some more coffee.”

  Takkar moved back to his chair, “Fire Control, have all weapons online and firing solutions based on the information we have so far on these ships. We may have had contact with them once, but that was long ago.”

  The officers behind the commander’s chair acknowledged, “Commencing now, Commander.”

  Takkar activated his comms to the Reaver launch room, “Kason, we have an unfolding situation here. We’ll continue to feed your team the information as we get it. Prepare to launch on a moment’s notice. Takkar out.”

  The commander sat there for a brief moment, contemplating the situation before him, “Ensign, signal Ordinance Command.”

  There was a moment’s pause before the ensign responded, “Sir, our signal is being jammed.”

  “What?”

  “We have an unknown field around us. It’s coming from the ship near the wormhole.”

  Takkar stood up, “Not around my ship, there isn’t. Send a one second secure pulse burst communique. That should get through.”

  Takkar clenched his fists, “Ballsy little kizards.”

  “The burst went through, sir.”

  Red lights flashed on the console, following a warning beep.

  The ensign gleamed over the data coming through, “Sir, the unknown ships are engaging the Kryth frigate.”

  “Who fired first, Ensign?”

  “The unknown ships.”

  “If it’s the Gashnee, it looks to be payback time. Ensign, set our crew condition to one,” Takkar ordered as the bridge hued red with the all other lights dimming out.

  Ensign Hynes spoke up from his console, “Should we help them, sir?”

  “I thought about that for a nanosecond until my coffee arrived. Thanks.” Takkar took the cup from a crew member who approached his chair, “Let’s just watch and see what develops, shall we?”

  “Sir, we have an incoming transmission from the one ship near the wormhole.” The ensign turned to look at the commander, “It’s already been translated for us.”

  “Well, it’s about time. Let’s hear it.”

  The speaker came on. The background hum of interstellar noise surged throughout the bridge and then silence. The recording played.

  “One. . . In. . . . The. . . Time. . . Many”

  The transmission ended.

  “Is that it?”

  “Yes, sir,” she said.

  “And that means . . . nothing to me. What’s the situation on the Kryth ship?”

  She turned back to her console, “The frigate’s shields are failing. The Kryth ship doesn’t stand a chance, sir.”

  “This isn’t our fight. Set course to Mydian. One-third back. Let’s show them we mean no harm before maneuvering out, Ensign. Send friendly comms one more time.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  The Flashpoint moved backwards away from the unknown ship before her. It’s always wise to play it safe with the unfamiliar before you act aggressive and receive it back in kind, Takkar thought. His thought only lasted a brief moment before that saying was thrown out of the bridge hatch.

  “Sir, we ha
ve an energy build-up from the ship.”

  “Prepare Q-Jump maneuver.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  The unknown ship was facing the Flashpoint as it was backing up. Its triangle, forked tip glowed a brilliant light before it launched an energy beam directly at the Human battleship.

  The beam struck the shield of the Flashpoint, which absorbed its destructive force. A second one fired immediately after the first, again striking the Flashpoint’s shield.

  “Engage Q-Jump now, Ensign.”

  Before the unknown ship fired its third beam, the Flashpoint vanished in a blink, jumping into hyperspace for a mere tenth of a second. The Q-Jump allowed a sudden jump to a point behind an enemy. It was usually used in as an offensive move to gain a strategic position on your attacker. The Flashpoint reappeared behind the unknown ship at a distance of one hundred kilometers.

  The enemy ship’s third beam only found unoccupied space where the Flashpoint had once been.

  “Get us turned around. All weapons target that ship. Activate the vapor rail gun. I want those barrels melting down as soon as their shields drop.”

  The vapor rail gun was Takkar’s favored weapon platform on his ship. Mounted center and underneath the battleship’s hull, the four kinetic rails were massive. The system was wrapped in a large pod attached to the bottom of the ship. When engaged, the protective housing would roll back, exposing the mounted gun that was able to swivel in a three hundred sixty degree horizontal and a one hundred eighty degree vertical, enabling it to reach any object underneath the ship and to her sides.

  “Lined up, sir.”

  “Fire.”

  The Flashpoint lined up first, as the enemy ship was slow to react to the unexpected maneuver. The Flashpoint released two quick pulses of her ion barrels, which contacted the enemy shields, sending electrical tendrils tangling around the enemy fuselage.

  The enemy ship finally turned and got off several energy blasts, striking the Flashpoint.

  Next, were the Flashpoint’s rapid-fire plasma coils. Ten shots strafed the length of the enemy as it passed on her port side. Following up, were the multiple pulse batteries along the hull line of the battleship. Dozens of bolts lashed out, continuing to fire as the enemy flew past.

  The enemy ship fired a targeted, solid-beamed weapon, like a great, lasered knife, slicing along the length of the Human battleship.

  Each ship passed and vied for position to re-attack.

  “Commander, shields down to eighty-four percent.”

  “Make the next pass high and launch torcon torpedoes.”

  The Flashpoint had turned sooner than the smaller enemy vessel. She was known for her maneuverability in the offensive line of battleships.

  The volley of plasma coils fired continuously at the oncoming ship, followed by a barrage of twelve massive torcon torpedoes. The plasma coil rounds impacted the shields, splashing outward into circular, blue waves. The torcons were next. Rapid and massive explosions engulfed the entire enemy ship, consuming it in a bubbling wave of fire from the impacts.

  The enemy only got off four energy blasts, three of which struck the Flashpoint in a blaze of light.

  “Enemy shields down, Commander.”

  The Flashpoint rolled by above, letting the enemy ship pass beneath her. Everyone could see the smile on Takkar’s face as the vapor rail gun opened up.

  A blaze of four squared, kinetic energy projectiles railed off from her gun tubes, followed every second by four more. Each of the dense metal square rounds were sixty centimeters in diameter.

  The kinetic rounds shredded the side of the enemy vessel in a long strafing motion as it passed. The gouges in the side were wide and destructive, peeling back not a metal hull, but an almost organic skeleton. Metal blocks fired at dizzying speeds can turn most any unshielded object into powdered rubble.

  The vapor gun tracked and continued firing at the target until it was out of range, maneuvering out from under the Flashpoint.

  The enemy hull darkened around the holes punched through its skin as if it were dead. There were no lights present around the sunken holes left by the rounds, unlike the rest of the ship from bow to stern. The material looked decayed and burnt.

  “Commander, the other two ships have broken off from the Kryth frigate and are en route.”

  “Did they destroy it?”

  “No, sir. It’s drifting in the nebula.”

  “They’ll go back to finish them off after they try and take us out. So they think. I want one final pass, four torcons on the target. What’s our shield status?”

  “Down to seventy percent.”

  “Strong weapons for a small ship. Start the rapid grid repair to the Flencer shields, Ensign. I want them up to maximum capacity before the next round,” Takkar ordered and opened up comms to Kason and his team, “Lieutenant Bender, we have two enemy ships approaching. We will target the lead ship and launch your team towards it. We are sending all system information we gained from the first ship we are about to dispatch. Good luck, Reavers. Takkar out.”

  The Flashpoint made its last turn to destroy the enemy ship it had engaged. The two enemy ships inbound would be their next victims, Takkar hoped.

  Data Cell 36

  I just got us into a fine mess. Literally. The rubble from the blast triggered by the Comondons littered the corridor. The dust that was kicked up was just settling to the floor. I cleared my eyes and coughed.

  That would only hold them at bay for a few hours or so.

  Time to see if the Cuukzen knew the way out.

  “Okay, shorty, your turn. Which way is out?”

  “I need the marker-light, Rels.”

  “Have at it. I’ll wait right here.”

  “I’ll start with this column.”

  Mistuuk began looking at the different black, metal symbols embedded into the stone pillar next to me; at least, the ones at his height.

  “Rels, what symbol is that above your head?”

  I pointed to a bird of some sort in the shape of a triangle, “An upside-down duck.”

  “An upside-down. . . what’s a duck?”

  I wasn’t going to be taking a Rorschach test here, “That’s what it looks like to me. Some type of bird.”

  Mistuuk thought for a moment. A puzzled expression came over his face then, “I know, now. It’s a wangsonker. It is a bird, Rels. Nice work.”

  I could go so many places with that.

  “Can you touch it for me, Rels? Just touch and release.”

  “Touch the wangsonker?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Why not. I wasn’t going anywhere soon. I touched the metal symbol and released as he said.

  I heard a click.

  “Did you hear the click, Rels?”

  “I see it.”

  “See what?”

  Coming towards us from the other end of the long chamber were multicolored lights. They were getting brighter as they got closer.

  I pointed, “That.”

  Mistuuk beamed, “Yes. It’s Blink, Rels.”

  “Great. Now we can leave.”

  “Not yet, Rels.”

  “Why not? Didn’t Blink come through the exit?

  “No. She came through a vent. Just like the one Kayasa came through. They are littered throughout the structure, Rels.”

  “Oh, good. Now she can watch us die in here.”

  Mistuuk laughed, “No, no, no. I need her to help me find the other forty-nine symbols.”

  “Why can’t we go out the vent?”

  “It’s too high and way too small for you, Rels.”

  “Wait, what? Forty-nine? Why are we searching for forty-nine wangzonkers?”

  The little guy looked up at me, “They’re not all wangsonkers, Rels. Some could be tribes, letters, numbers, plants, or more animals. We have to touch them in the correct order to open the secret shaft to get to the exit.”

  “Secret shaft?” I was dumbfounded.

  “Yes. It’s our way out.”


  “And how do you know about this secret shaft exactly?

  “I like ruins, Rels.”

  “Right.”

  A noise came from the tunnel behind us. The Comondons were removing the fallen stones that lay in their path. It wouldn’t take them long now.

  “Well, you don’t have much time. Take the bot and find the exit.”

  They moved off, pillar-to-pillar, searching for the symbols. I was searching for the answer to this little guy. There was something about him. For his nonchalant demeanor, he sure always came through in a pinch. And, he knew who that Vrae assassin was. I didn’t even know who she was. Who was helping who here?

  After a while, I heard stone and metal grinding together, followed by a bright white light.

  “Over here, Rels.”

  I followed the path through the stone columns to the burst of light.

  Off the last row of pillars near a wall was an open column. The center section was rotated out with an inner tube of light.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “It’s our way out.”

  Blink just flashed her lights.

  “So how does it work? It looks like a lift of some sort.”

  “We get in and it takes us to our exit.”

  I wasn’t going to ask any more questions. The Comondons should be coming through any moment. “Let’s go.” We all got in the tube.

  The inner white surface didn’t look metal. The light emanating from its shell was almost translucent and moving underneath a thin layer. I touched it. The wall of light flexed and swirled.

  “Is this thing alive?” I asked the bounty hunter of information.

  “It’s a Trandeshion tube, Rels.”

  “Oh. That answers my question. Good to know.”

  Mistuuk activated a control panel that was flush with the surface near the entrance. The door rotated closed. The light inside intensified and then there was a blinding flash. The light in the tube subsided and the door reopened.

  “What just happened?” I asked.

  “We’re here, Rels.”

  “‘Here’ where?”

  I stepped out of the tube.