“What is that ship? Is it an old Elif ship, or something else?” Cora asked the Ambassador.
The Ambassador’s face flushed slightly, and he began blinking rapidly before answering, giving Sara the distinct impression that he was about to lie. “It is a ship from a long-dead race. Their ships are scattered across the galaxy and are a source of tech for both us and the Teifen. The race was wiped out tens of thousands of years ago, in a war that threatened the very existence of all sentient life.”
The answer was rather bland and rehearsed to Sara's ears, adding to her belief that she had just been fed a line; a thought she filed away for later.
The mission comes first.
Sara pointed to a section of the ship that seemed to mostly be in one piece. “I’m assuming this section here is where the artifact is? The rest of this behemoth seems to be in ruins.”
“Yes, this section contains the engine room of the ship. As of the last report I read, they had not been able to gain access. Believe it or not, that section still has power, and its automated defenses are still active. Our last report said the researchers were trying to cut in from the outside, but it seems like the construction was magical in nature, and is proving resistant to their attempts at using cutting torches. Our magic is not suited for delicate works of destruction—our spellforms resist destructive magic, unless it is used in an overwhelming fashion, like the Aether cannons,” Foss said, staring at the more or less complete section of ship.
Sara started to say something, but her face flushed when Cora cut her off. “Are we being asked to help in the extraction, or is this just a babysitting mission?”
“Babysitting? I suppose you could call it that. The Admiralty has asked that we do not interfere with the researchers’ work, just protect them in case they are attacked. We have been advised that the time in orbit should be used for drills and maneuvering practice. The Admiralty understands that you are still getting your feet wet with the tank system, if you will pardon the pun,” Foss said, smiling at his own joke.
Cora started to say something, but this time, Sara cut her off with a flashing look toward the ceiling, in the hope her sister caught it through one of the many cameras. “We appreciate the Admiralty giving us an easy assignment to get us started. We have a lot of work to do before we want to engage the enemy head to head. I don't want my sister to be overwhelmed in an ill-timed encounter. All our lives depend on it.”
Foss nodded with a serious face. “This is a good way to look at the situation. We don't want the jewel of the fleet to be damaged due to impulsive action on the part of her commanders.”
Sara wasn’t sure if he was talking about her and Cora or the Admiralty when he said ‘commanders’, but she chose to think he was referring to the brass. “I think we are all glad for the opportunity to meld as a cohesive unit before seeing any action that could threaten our lives.” Sara held out her hand to the ambassador. “I thank you for honoring us with your presence on the ship for the duration.” The ambassador took her hand and shook it in the human tradition. “Now, if you don't mind, I think we should get underway, if there is nothing else?” she asked, trying to gently let him know they were done.
Foss, ever the ambassador, took the cue. “Of course, Captain. If you need me, I will be in my quarters.”
Sara took her seat in the captain’s chair as Foss made his exit. She took in the bridge and the people at their stations. The auburn-haired Ensign gave her a smile that she returned.
“What is your name, Ensign?”
He stood at his station and gave a crisp salute. “Ensign Connors, Ma’am.”
She gave him a nod, “Ensign Connors, is this your first assignment?” she asked, leaning back in her chair.
“Yes, Ma’am. I was top of my class at the Pacific Academy. I won’t let you down, ma’am,” he said, his voice cracking slightly on the last ‘Ma’am’.
Sara gave him a smile as his face reddened. “I look forward to working with you, Ensign Connors. Will you start docking procedures and prepare us to leave the station?”
He snapped another salute and said, “Yes, Ma’am,” then sat down and began to furiously work the controls on his station. He quietly began speaking with the control tower on the station as they set a course and gave their clearances.
Grimms leaned in from where he was standing beside her. “Connors is new, but very good. I vetted him myself. One of the best natural pilots I’ve ever seen.”
Sara nodded in appreciation, “I have a feeling we are going to be testing that ability, Commander.”
Grimms gave her a sidelong glance, “Why do you say that?” he asked, eyebrow raised.
Sara turned and gave a half smile to her second in command. “Because the ambassador isn’t telling us everything. I know why Cora and I are here; they needed us. We are damn good at spellcraft, and this ship is going to need our talents to keep it in the sky. I’m guessing that, just like Ensign Connors, every person on this ship is elite in one way or another. I’ve read most of their files, and so far, I’m right, but I noticed that every one of them is fresh out of an academy, and only recently assigned to this ship. If I had to guess, someone up top in the Elif chain of command put this ship out faster than they had planned.”
Grimms kept his face placid as he took in her words. “Not everyone is fresh out of the academy. The troopers are hardened veterans, every one. If not hardened, then at the very least, they’ve seen enough combat not to flinch. The Aetheric rebellion was a dirty business when the Elif first arrived.”
Sara rested her chin on her long fingers. “I was too young to see that firsthand, but I read the histories and saw the vids. It’s amazing what humans will do when faced with change. An alien race comes in good faith and offers humanity fucking magic powers, and what do they do? They start shooting. I will never understand that kind of thinking.”
Grimms gave a half smile. “People are a lot of things, but deep down, most of them are just scared children who are forced to act like adults. Now that most people have been modified, or born with Aetheric sensitivity, it’s becoming less and less of an issue.”
Sara gave him a smile. “I hope so, Commander. I have a feeling we are going to need to stand united when this war spills into our territory. I honestly don't know how we are going to face an enemy that has tens of thousands of years of experience under their belt. It makes me wonder if this wasn’t a mistake,” she said, her blue eyes flashing with worry.
“Humanity being uplifted to the stars is not a mistake,” he said, taking in the forward view screen. The stars, shining brighter than any view from Earth could ever give, sparkled in his eyes. “We were meant to be out here, Captain. To see what the galaxy has to offer us. If war with an alien species is the price we must pay, then so be it. Maybe our primal nature can finally be used for something other than killing ourselves.”
“Like killing someone else?” Sara asked dryly.
Grimms chuckled at that. “If need be. It’s not like we haven’t had the practice,” he said, contemplating darker days of his own.
Ensign Connors looked up from his console. “We are green for launch, and have clearance from the tower, Ma’am.”
“Take us out, Ensign. Nice and slow,” Sara said, her face flushing with excitement.
“Yes, Ma’am. Engaging gravitic drive.”
The ship pulled away from the docking clamp with a slow, measured pace. They cleared the dock and swung out in a wide sweeping curve, the construction yard coming into view as they passed over it. The yard stretched out for kilometers in every direction, with the waning Earth looming large in the background, half in shadow.
They picked up speed as the gravitic drive spooled up. Soon, the Earth passed from view as the dark expanse of space opened to them.
“We are clear of the shipyard, and have been given the all clear for warp, Ma’am,” Ensign Connors said excitedly.
Sara smiled at his enthusiasm. “Cora? Are you ready for your first actual warp?�
�
There was a tinkling of joyous laughter. “Am I ever! This is incredible, Sara. I can see everything. I can feel the dust slipping past my hull. It’s exhilarating. I’m ready when you are, Captain.”
The corner of Sara's lip curled up in amusement at her sister’s joy. “Then to quote my favorite old TV show, ‘Engage’.”
The view of the starfield warped, making everything look squished down to a point, directly in the center of the screen. When the stars began to merge into one bright spot, the ship became quiet as the gravitic drive shut down. Then the spot began to expand once again, at an incredibly slow rate.
“Warp engaged, Ma’am. We are estimated to arrive at Colony 348 in two days and twenty-one hours,” Ensign Connors reported, then he squinted at the numbers. “Ma’am, that can't be right. According to the charts, the colony is just under fifty light years from Earth. Even the Elif’s fastest ships would take a week to get there.” He had a look of confused wonder on his face.
Cora laughed. “Welcome to the fastest ship in the galaxy, Ensign. To be honest, I took it rather easy for my first jump. I barley had to channel any Aether into the spellform at all. I feel like I could dump enough Aether into it to make this trip in a few hours.”
16
Sara was laying back on the small sofa in her quarters a few hours later, waiting for her dinner to be delivered. Alister jumped up onto her stomach and, after a few turns, snuggled down, his tail wrapped over his nose. The little stinker may be acting so cute she wanted to vomit, but she was still kicking herself for her recklessness in summoning him in the first place.
She gave him a lazy pet and tried for the hundredth time to create a simple spellform in her mind, but the shape refused to resolve. She concentrated and did breathing exercises to clear her mind, but it was as if she no longer had the ability to envision the forms.
After five minutes of mental struggle, she growled in frustration. Alister lifted his head to look at her with sleepy eyes, and growled along with her. She had to smile at that, and gave him a pat on the head.
“It’s okay, little buddy. I know this isn’t your fault. This is just another example of me diving in headfirst when I should have tested the waters with a toe.”
Alister seemed mollified by her answer, and laid his head back down without a care in the world. Sara rolled her eyes.
“You’re in just as much trouble as I am if the shit hits the fan. You know that, right?” she quietly asked the apparently sleeping cat. He didn't even bat an ear at the comment. “I know you’re not sleeping. You just laid back down.”
He flicked an ear as if to say, ‘Yes, yes, you caught me, but I really can't be bothered’.
“You little shit,” she said with mock outrage, but she didn’t stop stroking his tiny head, falling deeply into her own thoughts.
Sara picked Alister up after a few minutes and placed him on the couch beside her before getting up to pace the room. She knew she was going to have to tell Cora eventually—she may as well get it over with.
Before she could get the courage, though, she decided she needed to clear her mind a little. She began her yoga routine. She was all the way to Bakasana, her knees tucked to her armpits, and her weight balancing on her hands, when she finally found the courage to let her sister know just how screwed they might be.
“Hey, Nerd. You there?” Sara asked, on the next exhale.
“You haven’t called me a nerd in a while.”
“You haven’t made fun of me for working out, either,” Sara said, her voice slightly strained from the exertion of holding Bakasana.
Cora was quiet long enough for Sara to wonder if Cora was still there.
“Isn’t that pose called the Crane?” Cora asked.
Sara lowered her legs one at a time until she was in Plank, then moved to the Lotus position. “Technically, it’s called the Bakasana.”
“Who’s the nerd now?” Cora smirked.
Sara had to smile; Cora had set her up perfectly.
“Point to you, sis.” Sara unfolded and began pacing, “So, you know how I was worried that I wouldn't be up to the captain’s position?” she asked Cora.
There was a pause, then Cora said, “Yes. But I thought you said your connection to the Aether was getting better.”
Sara began nodding vigorously. “Yeah. Yeah, I did say that.” She took another couple of steps. “That may have been a little bit of a fib.”
“How little?”
“I can't make spellforms anymore,” Sara admitted in a rush.
“You what?!”
Cora's outburst made the sound crack from the speakers, and Sara cringed.
“I was hoping it would be better by now. Alister said it would take a few days, but I just can’t keep the forms in my mind. I can feel the spellform, but my mind rebels every time. I figured it would just take a little practice, then I would be more powerful than ever.”
“I can't believe this. Why didn't you tell me before I got into this tank? You said it was getting better.” Cora's voice was angry. Sara was familiar with that tone, and for the first time, she was glad her sister was not in the room with her.
“I’m sorry, but I didn't tell you because I knew you would have told the Admiralty, and then we would have been stuck on Earth. We just got assigned to the most advanced ship in the fleet, it’s everything you’ve ever wanted. I didn't want to disappoint you. How could I have guessed we would be shipped out on our first mission hours after getting on board?” Sara mumbled the last part.
There was a long silence as Cora contemplated Sara’s words. It dragged on long enough that Alister repositioned himself before falling back to sleep.
“What the fuck are we going to do if we encounter an enemy warship? Are we just going to run away? Because I don't know if you remember this or not, but you're the one who shields us from weapons fire. If we do run, the admiralty is going to take this ship from us, and if we stay and fight, we will be vulnerable.”
Sara hung her head. “I know, I was hoping to have the issue resolved before we got there.”
“Sara, people could die. The crew of this ship is relying on us to keep them safe while we carry out our orders.” Cora's voice was cold and angry.
“I’m sorry, Cora. I was trying to make things better.”
“Well, look how that turned out,” Cora snapped, cutting Sara deeply. “You need to work very hard over the next three days to get those abilities back. Do everything you can think of. Meditate, work out, bang your head against the wall, I don't care. You have three days to show me that you can adequately defend this ship, or I’m reporting this back to command. We cannot risk the lives of the crew because you made a stupid choice.”
Sara nodded, “You’re right. I’ll work hard. I promise.”
She didn't hear anything more from Cora for the rest of the evening, and if she was honest with herself, she was a bit relieved.
Half an hour later Ensign Boon brought her dinner. She ate in silence, drinking a glass of rather good wine with her chicken and vegetables. The whole meal had been printed in the galley, but the wine was real. She would have to find out whom she should thank for that.
She eventually fell asleep sitting on the floor in a meditative pose, Alister curled in her lap, after failing to fully envision even the simplest of spellforms.
17
Sara jerked her head up from the floor the next morning to the sound of her alarm, with a string of drool wetting her cheek. She wiped away the saliva and could feel the waffling pattern of the carpet imprinted on her face. She groaned and dragged herself into the shower.
She spent the next six hours in her captain’s chair, reviewing the night’s data and the defensive strategy she and Grimms had developed the day before. She only half paid attention to the documents, her mind wandering to her problem with spellforms.
Alister had taken up a position on the back of her chair, cycling between sleeping and attentively watching the crew.
Eventually,
Grimms came to relieve her.
Sara decided to eat lunch in the galley, hoping to connect with the crew while she had the chance. The problem was that she was the captain, and everyone treated her as such. Conversations died down once she walked in, and only slightly picked up again when they realized she was there to eat and not to check up on anyone. Sara could feel the tension in the quiet conversations around her, and she regretted her location choice.
A large dark-skinned man in black fatigues slipped into the chair opposite her, seemingly from nowhere, wearing a muted smile on his face. He had a tray full of food, and two cups of coffee to wash it all down. Sara's eyes widened at how large he was; even dressed in the unflattering fatigues, she could see that he bulged with muscle. He had a handsome face framed by stark white hair that contrasted with his dark brown skin and was trimmed short to the scalp. He was far too young to have white hair from old age, so she reasoned he must be a mage with a peculiar physical trait, not unlike her and Cora's own Carnelian red hair.
His large hand came at her, open for a shake. “I’m Sergeant Major Baxter. I lead the battalion under Colonel Grimms. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Captain Sonders,” he said formally, in direct contradiction to his easy manner and familiar handshake. The familiarity of the handshake reminded her where she had seen him before. He was the one who had given the smile and lazy salute after her speech.
Sara was so glad that someone had actually come to sit with her that she was more than willing to overlook the slight breach in protocol. Not that she gave a damn about protocol in the first place, but she had known quite a few Marines at the academy, and they seemed to eat the stuff for breakfast.
“A pleasure, Sergeant Major. How are the troops settling in to the new ship?” Sara asked as the Sergeant Major began digging into his meal.
The sergeant began to answer her question, but stopped at the sight of intense, yellow eyes regarding him.
Genesis: War Mage: Book One (War Mage Chronicles 1) Page 9
