Ilox Saga 1: Eris Monroe: More Than Human

by Bruce Adams

  “Give me all available information on the corporation Dynamic Space Development and the target,” ordered Marcus. He was determined to take maximum advantage of the next forty-eight hours. As his executive officer complied, Marcus felt the data flooding his cortex. It would take many hours to collate and file the details into anything that could be useful, but his neural implants were extremely effective and would handle the load efficiently. He had become a captain by following orders precisely and having a little luck. Showing outward confidence to his crew was not hard for he was a very confident man. He became less confident over the coming hours as he pored through every bit of data concerning the target he had been ordered to destroy. The DSD station was buried deep inside an asteroid six kilometers across. The weapons his small fleet of powerful ships could bring to bear would be sufficient to fragment the target into a million pieces, though it would take some time, approximately thirty minutes or so to reduce the large asteroid into smaller chunks of asteroid.

  The Alliance Admiralty board had been explicit in their instructions – they wanted the outpost completely vaporized with nothing left but bits of rock no bigger than a fist. Marcus never questioned his orders and like a good soldier he intended to carry them out to the utmost of his abilities. The two days it took to travel to the target system flew by and the group of fourteen vessels and dropped from FTL velocity only a few million kilometers from their target – an impressive feat of the principle navigator onboard Blackrock.

  What happened next was decidedly unexpected. His fleet was greeted with the sight of the DSD base under attack by two alien vessels of gargantuan size. Marcus took pride in the fact that Blackrock was a battle-cruiser with hardened durasteel armor plating and heavy kinetic shields. She was also over two hundred and sixty meters in length. The alien vessels made her seem like a toy in comparison. Pulsating violet energy beams lanced from the huge ships repeatedly striking the asteroid base and slicing into the stone and iron composition of the six kilometer long oblong shape.

  “What the hell? Give me readout on those ships! I want to know who and what they are.” Marcus sank back into the comfort of the captain’s chair to watch the main viewscreen of the bridge with apprehension. His adjutant, Roland Warren, rushed up to him with a datapad in his hands. Sweat was visible on his upper lip.

  “Sir! Ladar signatures indicate alien vessels are one kilometer or larger in length. Each ship is using directed energy weapons against the station…they’re tearing it apart.” Marcus Griffon had to make a snap decision faced with the uncertain scenario playing out in front him in real time.

  “Helm - bring us about, emergency jump out of system!” His voice had risen higher than he wanted.

  “Destination, sir?” The young pilot at the helm station was barely twenty years old and seemed shaken by the sight of the destruction.

  “Get us anywhere but here!” Moving capital ships was a slow process. They did not have maneuverability like smaller destroyers or fighters. It took time for them to build up speed. As the corporation owned asteroid base was quickly destroyed by pair of giant alien ships, Marcus had a sick feeling creeping up from the pit of his stomach. He ignored it and concentrated on the situation. Blackrock was still on combat alert; every man was at his post, ready to fight and they were waiting on his words to reassure them.

  Like prowling beasts, the two alien ships sensed new prey and sprang towards the far slower Alliance battle group of fourteen ships. They closed the distance surprisingly fast, easily moving four times faster than anything the Alliance could field. The first destroyer, Able Lancer, was split in two at a distance of over two hundred thousand kilometers by two scintillating beams of violet energy that pulsed from the alien ships in a burst of destruction. The resulting primary fireball and secondary explosions from the destroyer were spectacular and beautiful to look at.

  They weren’t going to make it. His instincts had never failed him until this single point in his life. Anti-gravity engines were too slow to get them out of danger in time – there were no nearby jump points and the FTL engines took time to warm up…over five minutes. The unknown had a way of destroying plans – he knew nothing of the alien vessels…except that they had a devastating power like nothing he had ever witnessed.

  With rapid precision, Captain Marcus Griffon fired off commands to his subservient escort vessels. “Our shields and armor are nothing to this enemy…but we can still give them a fight! Engage at will.” He saw with satisfaction as his small task force expertly turned at various degrees throughout the battle space. The faster and more nimble destroyers sped to the sides to attack the enemy in flanking positions while the heavy cruisers took the fight straight to the behemoths rushing at them.

  Phenomenal, Serenity and Takaras - heavy cruisers that carried smaller armor plating and had fewer weapons and hardpoints than Blackrock were the first to engage the strange enemy ships. Blackrock was just behind them. The captain of Serenity, Allton Broadmore, was a close friend to Marcus. His face filled the tactical holoscreen.

  “Captain Griffon, our main weapon is primed - they will be in range in seconds. A coordinated attack from all three cruisers should destroy at least one of the enemy ships…”

  Holographic images above the tactical display showed three beams of energy from the primary weapons on board each heavy cruiser striking the closest alien vessel simultaneously. There was a blinding flash…and a moment later, sensors showed debris expanding from a hole in the alien ship, but it did not slow down and was not destroyed. Heavy cruiser Takaras suddenly blossomed into an expanding cloud of vaporized durasteel, plastics, and human flesh from its crew of six hundred souls. The enemy vessels had turned their attention to the on-coming cruisers and were ignoring the smaller destroyers, which seemed to have no success at penetrating the shields and armor of the alien war vessels.

  Blackrock fired its main weapon, a tachyon particle beam that accelerated the exotic particles to near-light speed and impacted with tremendous kinetic energy. Much like the strikes from the heavy cruisers, this too had an effect on the alien ship. It penetrated the shields and armor, but hit nothing vital.

  A few seconds after Blackrock had fired its main weapon, both of the remaining heavy cruisers, Phenomenal and Serenity, exploded in huge fireballs – twisted hunks of scattered debris blowing outward in a pyrotechnic display that was both spectacular and terrifying to watch. The sheer energy output of the enemy’s directed firepower was like nothing Marcus Griffon had ever seen. The pride of the Holdfast defense fleet was fast becoming a smoking ruin.

  “Send out a recording beacon. I want to make sure the Alliance has all the data possible on these…ships…before this is all over,” Marcus ordered. His staff quickly prepared an automated beacon for launch.

  “Sir, it’s still possible we can maneuver and get out of the system before…” His executive officer trailed with a glimmer of hope in his voice. No one wanted to die. As officers and men of the Alliance, they had been told for a decade they were better than everyone else. The propaganda was intense – they were to be the saviors of mankind. The Alliance symbol - a shield with a sword beside it, was portrayed as a bulwark against the chaos that the alien races represented. Yet, here on the bridge of the most powerful warship the Alliance had created, they knew the truth. They would all be dead in a few moments.

  Blackrock shuddered one final time as the lethal beams of destruction found her in the glittering star field void of space. Captain Marcus Griffon died on his bridge, as a true officer of the Alliance would have wanted. With the larger more dangerous Alliance warships dispatched, the enemy vessels turned their attention to the final remaining destroyers. Of the remaining nine, only two managed to activate their FTL drives to escape the destruction. The Fast Attack Group of the Holdfast Alliance had been annihilated in a matter of minutes.

  CHAPTER 25

  She had been briefed by Arnav Malik during the trip back on the Starlifter. Eris was glad that Arnav and his team had ma
naged to escape – the tale he told of the changed miners matched what she had encountered and it sent shivers up her spine. She was also glad Arnav had survived and not been hurt. She cared for him.

  Lia Xinhao had also looked Eris over to make sure the wound she had suffered was well treated and healing. Synthflesh was just one of many treatments the doctor had available in her advanced med-kit, and it was extremely effective at sealing wounds and stopping blood loss. It was a stroke of pure luck that they had found the Arrasian scientist when and where they did. Eris spent most of the forty-five minute trip back into orbit quietly talking with him. She discovered that he had been investigating Valdren dig sites in the Ekaph system when he heard about the outbreak of sickness that the humans could not explain or control. He told her he had begun an investigation that lasted for weeks and finally determined that the probable cause of the disease was the Valdren device he had named ‘Precursor’. As the Starlifter docked, Eris spoke to Gelkar.

  “Professor, I want you and Doctor Xinhao to collaborate. She has some fascinating information you would love to look at – and I’m sure your expertise on the Valdren will thrill her.” Eris glanced at Lia who was sitting opposite from her. Doctor Xinhao smiled and nodded.

  “Yes, Professor Ruz’zel, I’m keen on getting to the bottom of what caused all of those mutations. I think working together we should be able to positively identify what occurred.”

  “I look forward to it,” stated Gelkar with admiration.

  During the short trip from planet-side to a far circling orbit, Kyle Arneson never broke radio silence. Eris did not want to offer the possibility of them being detected, but the downside was they didn’t know what had happened to Sparta in their absence. Once the Starlifter docked with Sparta and the ramp at the back of the craft opened, Eris was greeted by Hasephrey Saephan the moment the airlock door fully retracted. The large Orvod was grim faced and his head tattoos were all lit up in divergent colors and moving erratically. That usually meant he was agitated by something. If he was disturbed by the sight of the Arrasian scientist Gelkar Ruz’zel or Sev Tariv being led away in handcuffs by several of the crew he did not show it.

  “Captain, we engaged Alliance cruiser little over two hours ago...disabled their power - but am sure they sent distress signal. Sparta must leave this system at once.” Hasephrey did not become calmer after delivering his news.

  “Casualties?” Eris did not want to hear any bad news. Not after the shit-storm that had just happened on Furnace.

  “None for Sparta…some deaths for them am sure. Stealth system works to specifications, but I am certain that Alliance must now know we exist.” He exhaled loudly. “Or…that technology to cloak a ship from their sensors must exist. All technology advantages are fleeting and brief.”

  “Why did you engage a cruiser?” With one eyebrow raised, she pierced the giant Orvod with her blue eyes. The alien shrugged his shoulders and simply stared at her.

  “They were bombarding planet…causing mass death and destruction to outpost that Arnav Malik was sent to investigate…I deemed it wise to make them…stop.” The logic of his statement was flawless.

  “Very well…Chief Engineer - make sure your full report is sent to me by 1800 tonight.” She paused and looked at T’sell T’savri who had resumed her disguise as Trafelle. Eris nodded to the Zari woman who sent a message which touched her mind.

  I will interrogate Sev Tariv and let you know what I find. Lia Xinhao should help me…her knowledge of pharmaceuticals would be useful in making Tariv more susceptible to my telepathic probing.

  “Doctor, you should go to your lab as we talked about. I’ll catch up with you later,” Eris ordered the diminutive woman.

  “Of course, Captain,” returned Lia wearily.

  Eris began walking away from the Starlifter, and all of her team followed except for T’sell, Lia and two marines who were escorting Sev Tariv to the only brig on the ship up on deck two. As she moved, Hasephrey and Arnav walked to her left and Kyle walked to her right in the relatively spacious docking bay of the fifth deck of the Sparta. Gelkar Ruz’zel and Eli Bowman followed close behind. They were attentive to everything Eris said as she addressed them.

  “Even though our mission on Furnace was successful, we still have more work to do,” stated Eris plainly. “Whatever plans the Alliance had concerning that particular piece of Valdren tech – we stopped them.” She continued speaking as she reached the central elevator of the ship. “I want to see all officers in the QC briefing room in ten minutes.” As the doors to the elevator closed, she closed her eyes and imagined Kyle holding her. She could feel his eyes upon her. She wished she could run away from all of her responsibilities. She wished she could just have a normal life – far away from death…destruction…and loss. The elevator was swift and less than a minute later the doors opened to a busy scene in the command information center of the ship. Personnel were hastily moving back and forth, but all of them paused when Eris stepped onto the bridge and stared at her and the group with her. All of them stopped what they were doing, saluted and waited. Eris pulled herself up and saluted back smartly. She wanted to get out of her combat armor, but that would have to wait.

  She whistled using two fingers. A moment later Sif came bounding down the corridor and across the open space of the CIC and leaped up into Eris Monroe’s arms. The dog licked her face. Eris smiled and scratched behind her ears.

  “Home?” said Sif with a low growl. Eris knew what she meant. The keen intelligence of the genetically engineered puppy was astounding and Eris hugged her tight then set her down.

  “Yes, I’m home now. Go back to your room,” Eris said and chuckled as Sif raised her left paw and whined, then turned and trotted back the way she had come. “Good girl!” As much as Eris wanted to snuggle with her dog, there was pressing business to attend to. There was always business… She turned to Kizzara who had swung her pilot’s chair around to face Eris.

  “Kizz, bring the ship about and plot a heading to HGC-57.”

  “Aye, aye Captain,” replied Kizzara. The Evene woman worked at her controls with precision – her clawed fingers moving rapidly over the holographic keyboard. “Course plotted and ready to execute,” she looked at her Captain with anticipation in her green eyes. “Sparta should reach the system in slightly under thirty-eight hours.”

  “Proceed,” ordered Eris. As the ship began the process of changing course and speed, Kizzara stood and stepped away from the pilot station. Another crewman took her place. Kizzara walked with Eris, purposely slowing her loping stride to match the slower pace of her Captain.

  “You wanted me with you in the briefing room?” Kizzara asked. The Evene was puzzled.

  “As one of my officers, there are things you need to know.” Eris stopped, reached out and put her hand on the Evene woman’s shoulder briefly before moving on.

  Kizzara smiled and her tail began twitching happily.

  Eris and Kizzara walked together down the nearest gangway to deck three and then along a sparse and empty corridor until she arrived outside of the comm room, also known as the briefing room. An armed guard stood at attention. It was one of the marine’s under Arnav’s command, Matt Sekibo. Eris returned his salute.

  “Carry on,” she said as Sekibo opened the iris door leading to the conference room. She and Kizz entered together and Eris made sure the door behind her was secured. All of her officers as well as Eli Bowman were waiting, seated, in the comm facility.

  “Now that you’ve destroyed the Valdren device, and that mission can be counted as a success, where are we heading?” Arnav was the first to speak as Eris sat down at the head of the large conference table. The black polished surface of the table reflected their images with a dull sheen. Executive officer Arnav Malik was seated just to the right of Eli Bowman. Chief engineer Saephan was seated opposite those two next to Kyle Arneson. Kizzara sat down next to Kyle. With the exception of Lia Xinhao and T’sell T’savri all of her senior people were present. She wo
uld have to wait on the interrogation and hope that T’savri could extract useful information from her murderous subordinate Sev Tariv.

  “As you all know, Sev Tariv tried to kill me a few hours ago - just after we discovered the Initiator. Whether he was trying to take the Valdren device or just kill all of Alpha squad I don’t know. He’s being interrogated as we speak.” Eris looked at each sentient being in the room. “It is possible that our enemies know everything about us and our intentions. I’m not going to take the chance that Tariv didn’t expose our plans or our stealth technology. So we are going to a system that is not known by Dominic Gray or anyone at DSD.”