Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series

by Hystad, Nathan

  His desk alerted him of a message, and he checked, finding one from High Elder Fayle. He read it, seeing her suggestion, and wished it had come sooner. It was dated six hours ago.

  The door opened to reveal a haggard Prime Xune. He was always so composed, the opposite of the skinny, sickly man beside the elderly but red-cheeked Jalin Benitor. Her ridged forehead cast shadows over her eyes as she lingered under a light, and even though she stood a good foot shorter than their Zilph’i leader, she looked like the one really in charge.

  “Admiral Baldwin, we have much to discuss,” Benitor said.

  “Cutting it a little close, aren’t you?” Tom asked, motioning to the two empty chairs.

  He poured them each some water and watched Xune closely, without making it obvious. He seemed different. “Prime, are you well? Should I call for Nee—for a doctor?” Tom had forgotten Doctor Nee was stationed with Rene on Shu; otherwise, he would have been with Treena on Constantine, not on Legacy with Tom. The missions and ships were a blur under the current strain.

  “No, it’s nothing. Tell us what’s occurring,” Xune said.

  “Isn’t it obvious? Wylen is almost here, and he’s bringing a huge fleet of angry, En’or-fueled Ugna with him to kill us all,” Tom said plainly.

  “What’s his goal?” Benitor asked calmly.

  “What are you asking?” Tom demanded. “You know as well as I do that he wants control of the Concord. He’s already managed to convince five of our partners to turn on us, and can you imagine what happens if he sits on a throne in Nolix? We’re done with.”

  Xune pulled a tablet out, using it to shoot a projection over the desk. “We have three hundred ships in system, with Shu, Legacy, and these two new replicas. Where is Constantine? Shouldn’t she be here by now?”

  “Starling is out defending our people. Another trick of Wylen’s to distract us from the main goal. I haven’t heard word yet, but I fully expect Treena to arrive at any time,” Tom said, extending the truth. He was worried about Treena and the crew, considering how long they’d been gone on this mission. He could really use her problem-solving skills today.

  “What are you doing with the replicas now? I saw they were being modified,” Benitor said.

  Tom leaned in. The EN-01s had been as confidential as they could make them. He squinted as he stared at Xune, then at Benitor. They’d been working closely since his quick rise to power. Tom hated being paranoid, but everything he’d learned about the Ugna since meeting with the leaders at Aruto had made him uneasy. The Ugna had unmatched bargaining skills. They’d managed to gain footholds in areas they shouldn’t have been able to, and Tom hadn’t figured out their methods.

  “Baldwin, now is not the time to hoard mysteries. Divulge what your plan is,” Benitor said, raising her voice.

  He had to tell them. “We teamed up with Aimie Gaad of R-Emergence and created a means to dissolve the En’or from an Ugna’s bloodstream.”

  The room was silent, Xune leaning forward until his knees were touching the far end of Tom’s desk. “You did what?”

  “I just told you. We can remove all of the drug, leaving them frightened and ineffectual,” Tom said firmly.

  “The ships will still operate, correct?” Jalin Benitor asked.

  “Sure. But the real threat was their ability to kill within a certain range. We have twenty ships outfitted to mitigate that threat, giving us not only have a chance, but an advantage.” Tom gauged their non-verbal response, but couldn’t read either of them. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

  Xune’s hand covered his mouth, and for a second, Tom expected their leader to strike him. He pictured Xune’s lean features flashing angrily, his eyes turning red, his feet levitating. “This is great, Baldwin. You’ve outdone yourself.” Just like that, the Prime seemed five years younger, and some color returned to his face. “Do you have a strategy prepared?”

  Tom nodded, showing them the fleet’s formation plans, and what they anticipated from the Ugna fleet. “They won’t know about our secret weapon, but as soon as they see the drastic power, they’ll do anything to prevent us hitting them again. We want to attack as decisively as we can.”

  “What of the others? These Protectors? I’ve checked the probe feeds of the coming fleet and don’t see them,” Benitor said.

  “We have President Gordon Basher on board as we speak,” Tom told them, forgetting they weren’t aware of this.

  “You’ve captured the Invaders’ leader?” Prime Xune smiled, the look unsettling.

  “We have. And he’s willing to convince them to side with us instead of the Ugna.” Tom let the news sink in before speaking again.

  Benitor took the bait. “And how did you manage this?”

  “Lark Keen arrived with him in a Nek-modified shuttle. The very same one that went missing three months ago between Leria and Earon. He managed to kidnap the Earth president and bring him to me.”

  “Keen is here? Did you send him to Wavor?” Xune asked.

  Tom almost laughed but contained himself. “You’re going to find this amusing.”

  “What have you done, Baldwin?” Benitor asked.

  “Lark Keen is just outside those doors. I’m surprised you didn’t see him. He’s acting Lieutenant Commander of Legacy.” Tom waited for them to explode on him, but neither did.

  “Perhaps that’s for the best. You can keep an eye on him and fill a role. Quick and decisive thinking, Thomas. I knew I chose you for a good reason. What of Fayle?” Benitor asked. “She was in your charge.”

  Tom remembered the message Fayle had sent him and knew they’d never get another attempt like this. There were numerous options to initiate this battle, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to see if they could turn the fleet before using the EN-01s. Time was of the essence, and winning the first ten minutes was imperative.

  “High Elder Fayle suggested something. She interviewed the two Ugna captains from the scout ships we captured with the help of the Earth humans, and they both admitted they would have sided with her and the Concord if they’d known she was still alive. Wylen had told his people the Concord killed Fayle as a traitor.” He paused, drinking some water. “The bastard told his million followers that I saw her death through on Xune’s order.”

  The pair in Tom’s office both leaned away in their seats at the same second, almost like it had been choreographed. “Then what’s her idea?”

  “She can communicate with each ship at once. She wants to reach out before they arrive and plead her case to them. She thinks many will turn on Wylen and join us,” Tom said.

  “And what do you think? Should we risk waiting?” Prime Xune asked, once again deferring to Tom’s judgment. Tom didn’t know if he should be flattered or not.

  “That’s the million-credit question.” Tom glanced at the screen on the wall. The Ugna were close. Another thirty minutes and they’d be within range.

  “This communication, why can’t she do it now? Before they show up?” Admiral Benitor asked.

  “She’ll be able to in about ten minutes, at the same time we’d send the EN-01 vessels against their front lines. We can target specific ships without being linked if we’re within range, leaving out their massive lead ship with Wylen.”

  Xune nodded. “I trust you to make the right call. You have my support.” He rose, helping Benitor to her feet.

  “Where are you two going? Safe house on Nolix?” Tom asked.

  The old Callalay admiral shook her head, pointing at the screen. “I heard your replica ships are undermanned. We will each take one of them, adding what assistance we can to the crews.”

  Tom rose, dumbfounded. “You’re going to fight with us?”

  “That’s right. We’re in this together, Baldwin. Win this day, and we’ll rebuild the Concord, stronger than it’s ever been. One year, we’ll regard this moment as the building block to success. We’ll smile when remembering the Incursion at Nolix.” Prime Xune’s voice was powerful, even motivational. Tom almost believed
him.

  “Then I better not waste any more time,” Tom said. He opened his office door, the raging alarms a constant buzzing, and he noticed Keen glancing at the Prime as the pair ushered themselves from the bridge. “Tarlen, get Fayle on the line. Tell her to go ahead with her plan. If it doesn’t work, we’ll be right behind.”

  “Yes, sir,” the young Bacal officer said.

  Tom blinked his eyes a few times, feeling the exhaustion trying to seep through his mind.

  “Captain, look!” Reeve pointed at the viewscreen, displaying a ship identical to theirs in the middle of their fleet, nearly sideswiping an Ugna craft. Constantine threw her reverse thrusters on, narrowly avoiding a serious collision.

  “What in the Vastness has them so worked up?” Tom asked, sending a communication to Treena.

  She appeared on screen, her expression dire. Tom noticed a body on the ground, and blood on Conner Douglas’ face. “Tom, the Ugna are everywhere. They’ve infiltrated us. We’re all compromised!”

  ____________

  The five mountains were as described, but one of the peaks had slid over the years, crashing in a pile along the expansive courtyard’s edge, creating a giant rocky terrain. Ven landed on the opposite side of the destination and suited up before exiting the shuttle. He hadn’t worn a spacesuit in some time and had to check the vitals a few times before trusting it was operational. Out here, no one could assist him should something go wrong.

  He was alone.

  This system appeared uninhabited by lifeforms, and from the look of things, there weren’t any other living beings for a few light years from his current position. This was oddly calming to Ven as he stepped onto the rocky surface.

  Ven tried to forget the impending war. If he thought too much about Nolix and the Ugna, it rattled him, distracting him from the mission at hand. He sought the Vast stone, and nothing could prevent him from completing this pivotal task.

  The ground was strangely devoid of dust or dirt, but the wind was strong, buffeting him from behind, explaining why the stone surface was polished smooth. Centuries of resistance would wear anything down. It reminded Ven of the Ugna. Years of being on the outside looking in, feeling resistance at every step of the way. He didn’t necessarily blame Wylen for everything. It was all a matter of perspective.

  That being said, the man still needed to die.

  Ven took a long inhale, hearing the helmet’s air filter hum. Green lights blinked beside the edge of the helmet’s built-in display, and he disregarded the notification as he glanced around the courtyard. From here, the five mountains were immense, monoliths blocking the star’s light from his right. They stood kilometers high, and the wind sent thin clouds through the peaks, cutting the white mist in half.

  He continued staring at the points for a few minutes before returning his gaze to the center of the courtyard. Fayle had assured him there was a hidden entrance, but from this vantage point, the entire flat platform of stone was smooth and devoid of anything. He guessed the area was at least five kilometers across and used his zooming feature to scan the middle of the courtyard, observing nothing but more polished granite.

  Ven grabbed the PL-30 from his hip, checking it was fully charged, and started forward, his pack of supplies slung over his shoulder. He clasped it to the suit, hoping his meager rations would be sufficient. The liquid food could be dispensed directly into his body by the suit, but it was something he hoped wouldn’t be necessary. He tended to avoid doing anything related to eating inside the airtight outfit if possible.

  Gravity was strong here, each step testing his muscles more than he was used to. Ven plodded on, one foot in front of the other, moving slowly toward his target. The mountains seemed to grow as he progressed, and minutes turned to an hour before he decided he was halfway across the courtyard. The light had faded, and Ven used his suit’s illumination features to guide his way. If there was anything watching him from the peaks, he’d stand out like a beacon. Ven took another look around, slowly rotating in a three-sixty circle, but saw no evidence of observers.

  A shiver tingled down his spine nonetheless. He was being watched, but maybe not by a living creature. Ven held his arm up, using the screen on his sleeve, and turned on the map. His probes had relayed a scan of the courtyard to him, and he used it to determine the halfway point from each of the mountains. The epicenter would be his destination. He found he was a good third of a kilometer away and took the next ten minutes to trek over there, his leg muscles burning by the time he arrived.

  “Fayle, it is empty.” He spoke to comfort himself and could almost hear her voice within his head. You are near.

  Motivated, Ven scoured the ground. After a while, he flicked off the lights and turned on his HUD’s green night vision feature, wishing he’d done this earlier. He quickly noticed a change in pitch of the ground and saw it spanned out in a smooth oval shape. This was it.

  Ven walked to the middle of the ten-foot-wide oval, crouching to touch the stone. His gloved fingers swept over the smooth rock, and it began to descend. He fell to his rear, hands softening the fall beside him as the section of stone lowered into the courtyard like an elevator without walls.

  It continued to sink, and Ven’s heart sprinted as he saw the expansive cavern under the earth. The platform settled a hundred meters below the starting point, and Ven stepped off, hoping the elevator stayed in place. Otherwise, he’d never be able to escape, but it remained there, waiting for his return.

  The ground was much more uneven here, and he peered over the edge of a cliff face he stood perched on. It was difficult to make out what was below with the infrared vision, and he tapped it off, opting for his searchlight instead. He nearly stumbled at the sight. The rock spread apart below him, a deep crevasse that appeared to go on until the core of the world. He assumed that if he could smell it right now, he would notice a hint of magma.

  Ven began walking, climbing down a steep decline to land on a more stable section. He was so fixated on his footsteps, it took a while to spot the soft light ahead in the underground valley. It was at least two kilometers away, and he took one more step toward it before the Vastness returned to his mind. Dancing spots wavered in front of his vision so powerfully, he staggered, nearly toppling over the edge of the pathway into the open gorge. Ven fell to the ground, pulling himself to safety. As quickly as they came, the signs vanished.

  The light was his purpose. He was almost at the Vast stone.

  Ven climbed to his feet, starting forward again.

  He hoped he wasn’t too late.

  Seventeen

  “What do you mean, we’ve been infiltrated?” Tom asked, and Treena almost laughed. They’d been through so much these past few days, and she couldn’t believe they’d made it right in time. She saw the fleet of Ugna swarming into their range. The battle hadn’t started yet, and that was the good news. The bad was still to come.

  “The Ugna,” she said, trying to maintain her composure. “Pol’s aide was one. She killed Lieutenant Darl and injured the others. Tom, you might have one on your ship as we speak. We all could!”

  Tom didn’t seem to comprehend the gravity of the situation. “Slow down, Captain Starling.”

  “No. Time to listen. If they have someone set on each of our ships, ready to sabotage us, we’re in serious trouble.” Treena tried not to glance behind her to where they’d dragged Darl’s body.

  Tom nervously glanced over his bridge. “There were no signs she was Ugna?”

  “None. She was with him before he was assigned to us. It was planned. Right, Commander Teller?”

  Pol used Conner’s headrest to steady himself. “She’s correct, Admiral. She was at my side for some time, and I wasn’t the wiser. They could be anyone.”

  Treena went over a list of the crew members on Constantine and thought about Legacy. “Baldwin, you tossed a crew together quickly. This was the perfect time for the Ugna to sneak on board. I guarantee you have one or more on your ship. You need to warn the ot
hers. I met with one of the Alixes, who swore their leader was an Ugna. They’ve been setting this up for a long time.”

  Tom nodded thoughtfully and grinned through the viewscreen. “That’s it. I have an idea. The EN-01. Reeve, advise Rene to aim the beam at us. Do the same to Shu. We have ten minutes before they’re in range of Fayle’s communication. If there are any Ugna aboard our fleet, we’ll wipe their En’or before they have a chance to react. Don’t tell anyone what’s happening—just do it, and as quickly as possible. Send word to every damned ship with the EN-01 devices.”

  Treena watched as Reeve sent the message from Legacy’s bridge. “Once they catch wind, they’ll turn on us.”

  Tom sighed, showing Treena how exhausted he was, and this was before the real battle started. “Then we’d better hope we’re faster.”

  “Be steadfast, be vigilant, be strong. The Vastness welcomes all,” Treena said somberly.

  “Until we meet in the Vastness,” Tom replied, ending the communication.

  “They’re moving,” Conner said, pointing at the screen where Shu flew in front of Legacy. A moment later, a beam pulsed from the flagship, pouring over the duplicate vessel. Others moved through the formations as the Ugna raced toward them from forty thousand kilometers away. The process was duplicated over and over, each pulse session lasting about two minutes before they continued to the next vessel in line.

  Treena was surprised at the speed at which the EN-01s acted, and she thought they might have a real shot today.

  “I can’t believe they managed to finish the devices and apply them to the fleet so quickly,” Brax said.

  “That’s your sister, big guy,” Conner told him.

  “They’re coming here.” Treena held her breath as Shu turned her EN-01 attention on Constantine. The AI appeared, standing beside her as the pulsing beam spread over them.

  Missy cried from the ground at the rear of the bridge, her body convulsing, her arms secured behind her back. She’d been sedated, but clearly she was reacting to the En’or vaporizing from within her. A second later, her struggling limbs went slack, and she was out again.