by E. R. Torre
“I’ve spoken with O.E. Gardner,” Lieutenant Chandler whispered. “Commander Meyers’ shuttle remains still. No one has exited the craft since she docked.”
“Where did she come from?”
“Gardner wasn’t sure. She appeared on our scanners two and a half minutes before communicating with the Salvo. She might have been hiding on the other side of Davilia. But even if she did we should have had some reading on her.”
“Which means she is a stealth runner,” Inquisitor Damien said. “Black ops.”
“No doubt, sir.”
“Go on,” Inquisitor Damien said.
“She requested permission to dock and of course permission was granted. As I said before, she’s parked, sealed, and silent.”
Chandler motioned back towards Meyers.
“Who is this Commander Meyers? What’s he Commander of?”
“Alpha Squad,” Inquisitor Damien said. “It’s a special Council taskforce.”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t know. But they have proper clearance.”
“What do we do with them?”
“We do as they ask. Like it or not, Meyers is in command.”
“Are we in danger?”
Inquisitor Damien’s hand reached for the button he pressed just moments before. He nodded.
“We are,” he said and then pressed the button.
With the sonic mask off, Inquisitor Damien and Lieutenant Chandler spoke of the Salvo and her crew’s preparedness. To anyone listening from that moment on, it sounded like a typical status update.
After Lieutenant Chandler finished her report she returned to the shuttle’s cockpit.
She walked past Commander Meyers and, for the first time in a while, the man moved. He allowed Lieutenant Chandler to take her seat and, once she did, stood up. He walked to the door leading into Inquisitor Damien’s office. It remained open.
“Inquisitor?” Meyers asked.
“Yes Commander?”
Meyers stepped into the office and Inquisitor Damien closed the door behind him. Meyers sat down before the Inquisitor and eyed him with a cold, emotionless stare.
“You’ve been in the service for over twenty years,” Meyers said. “I’ve worked for the Empire far longer.”
“You wish to swap old war stories, Commander?” Inquisitor Damien said.
“When rising up the chain of command a senior officer I knew –he was a rather dramatic fellow– said that under the calm veil of our rules and order lies our true nature.”
“Which is?”
“A product of evolution. Something neither good nor evil but based entirely on survival. To that end, he took extra care in understanding the circumstances around any mission. It was only by intense preparation and control over his environment he minimized the risk of failure.”
Commander Meyers paused before continuing.
“Do as I say and, with a little luck, we end this mission as we began: Here, in the space just outside Davilia’s Displacer and with each of us going our separate ways. Fight me in any manner and I cannot guarantee you or your crews’ survival. I will not tolerate any attempts at secret conversations between you and your staff.”
“Understood,” Inquisitor Damien said.
“Do you?” Commander Meyers shot back. “You more than anyone should know there are ways of listening through sonic masks.”
With that, Meyers turned to the door leading out of Inquisitor Damien’s office.
“Commander?” Inquisitor Damien said.
Commander Meyers stopped.
“Lieutenant Chandler asked if this mission was dangerous.”
“You told her it was.”
“I did,” Inquisitor Damien acknowledged. “What I’d like to know is: How dangerous?”
Commander Meyers faced Inquisitor Damien.
“Dangerous enough to demand absolute loyalty, Inquisitor,” Meyers said.
With that, he left the office.
19
HPB SALVO, in orbit around Davilia
She lay between Davilia and, many miles above, the planet’s enormous Displacer. The Salvo was like a small, self-contained city. Her lines, like the lines of all battleships of the Phaecian Empire, were sleek and angular. Turrets, both for torpedoes and fusion cannons, were lined at her sides and afforded a 360 degree defense. On her underside were the landing bay doors. They allowed fighter craft easy entrance or exit, should the need arise. A stream of lights glowed about her, signs of the power within.
A small accelerant burst emerged from the Salvo’s side and the ship slowly turned toward Davilia’s Displacer, a rectangular wire structure with a hollow core.
As the ship turned, a small object, a shuttle craft, approached.
The shuttle was so small next to the Salvo she resembled nothing more than an ember…
The shuttle glided under the larger ship and followed the guiding lights to the landing bay. The landing bay’s outer doors slid open, revealing the large, hollow chambers beyond. A group of shuttles and fighter craft were parked within. One, a dull gray shuttle craft much larger than the others, stood out.
Within this shuttle, Inquisitor Damien remained in his quarters and away from Commander Meyers. He stared out his window and at the Salvo’s landing bay and the Goliath class shuttle Meyers’ crew parked within.
The ship was significantly larger than any of the Salvo’s shuttle crafts. It also had a far sleeker design than most Goliath vessels. There were hints of heavy modification and military grade fortifications under her smooth, dull outer shell.
Inquisitor Damien couldn’t help but wonder what these modifications were or how long this vessel lurked around Davilia.
Surely since just before the assassination of Janice Grajan.
Their shuttle parked itself as the Salvo’s landing bay doors closed.
Atmosphere was pumped into the bay and, after a few minutes, the passengers within were given the green light to disembark.
The shuttle’s outer door opened and a small group exited their vehicle. Inquisitor Damien and Commander Meyers were the last to emerge.
Their shuttle landed two bays over from Meyers’ craft. That craft was bathed in light and guarded by armed Security.
A trio of officers who exited the shuttle marveled at the size of that craft.
“When did this show up?” one asked.
“What’s that on her starboard side?” another said.
“It looks like some kind of fusion—”
Lieutenant Chandler silenced them by noisily clearing her throat.
“Get to your stations,” she said.
The officers saluted and headed to the elevators. As they departed, Lieutenant Chandler addressed Inquisitor Damien and Commander Meyers.
“Your orders, sir?”
“Go to the bridge,” Commander Meyers said. “We’ll be there shortly.”
Lieutenant Chandler saluted and joined the crewmembers she sent away. Together they mounted the elevator and were gone. Inquisitor Damien motioned to the enormous shuttle craft before them.
“Are you going to introduce me to your crew?” Inquisitor Damien asked.
“Later,” Meyers said. “First we need to get the Salvo to its destination.”
“Which is?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Meyers said. “The coordinates are locked in Davilia’s Displacer.”
“With all due respect, I must insist Commander. If we’re going into a hostile situation, I need to know how to prepare my people for it.”
Commander Meyers was silent for several long seconds before facing Inquisitor Damien.
“Very well, Inquisitor,” he said. “We’re investigating an incursion deep into Phaecian territory. The craft that made this incursion is a shuttle not unlike the smallest within your landing bay.”
“Where was this incursion?”
“In Arcadia.”
“Arcadia? Never heard of it.”
“The system was discovered by a
third generation A.I. explorer probe carrying a Displacer.”
“Third generation,” Inquisitor Damien muttered. “The probe was sent to the system over five hundred years ago.”
“It took a little over half that time before reaching Arcadian space,” Commander Meyers said. “Once there, the probe activated the Displacer she carried in tow and the RHC China was sent to investigate the system. The crew of the China found it contained three planets and one gas giant. Two of those planets were barren, irradiated, and inhospitable. Terraformation was deemed too costly and the system’s position far outside the Phaecian security perimeter made her undesirable for further exploration or habitation.”
“The third planet?”
“A jackpot,” Commander Meyers said. “It was filled with ores and possessed a breathable atmosphere. Her existence was kept secret and, we assume, a base of operations was created.”
“Assume?”
“All records of what happened after she was discovered were sealed and expunged,” Commander Meyers said. “But given the high mineral content found on the planet, we assume our forefathers created a mining operation on the planet and dug up her ores for use in creating or adding to our fleet of ships. Perhaps the Salvo herself carries Arcadian ore within her.”
“Then what?”
“Then, close to fifty years ago, the Phaecian Forces on Arcadia abandoned the planet,” Commander Meyers said. “We again are forced to make assumptions but it is our best guess the planet’s minerals were tapped and our laborers folded and crated every last bit of worthwhile equipment and abandoned the system while still keeping her existence a secret. What records we have indicate after the last vessel departed the system Arcadia’s Displacer was set to self-destruct. Arcadia, therefore, was abandoned and forgotten.”
“This was obviously not the case,” Inquisitor Damien said. “What happened?”
“A little over one hour ago an Intelligence agent stationed on Helios received a transmission from the supposedly destroyed Arcadian Displacer. A small shuttle craft activated the Displacer and emerged through it and into Arcadian space.”
“How was it activated? For that matter, how did they know the Displacer was intact?”
“Both questions have no answer, at least at this point,” Meyers said. “Whoever did this knew Arcadia’s Displacer was not destroyed. Worse, the entering vessel carried no registration markings and we could not determine her point of origin.”
“By the Gods, is that even possible?”
“In theory, yes,” Meyers said. “Phaecian Intelligence has spent considerable effort and funds investigating how to mask Displacer flights. Doing so requires an encryption system well beyond our current means. Whoever did this is not only very smart, but they have access to considerable funds.”
“You think the incursion was made by an Epsillon craft.”
“They’re our only viable suspect,” Meyers said. “But if the heathens of Epsillon discovered a way to hack Displacer programs and hide their point of departure as well as their ship’s identity, then why didn’t they do the same with their arrival in Arcadia? They all but announced they were there.”
“Perhaps they wished to rub it in our faces.”
“There is no advantage to revealing such secrets. Yet we were nonetheless informed. With the backbone of our fleet on Erebus and two days distance from here, it is up to us to investigate. We are the forces closest to Arcadia and can make that trip in a matter of minutes.”
“You think they wanted my ship to go there? My ship specifically?”
“I think it’s more than that, Inquisitor,” Commander Meyers said.
“They knew about you?”
Commander Meyers nodded.
“So it’s some kind of trap.”
“Very likely,” Commander Meyers said. “Yet one we have to investigate. These intruders have a little over an hour on us, Inquisitor Damien. The Gods alone know what they can do in that period of time and we cannot allow them anymore. Our only solace is they breached Arcadia in a small ship. A battleship the size of the Salvo should be able to withstand anything such a ship may be carrying.”
“Even the greatest ships in the fleet have their limits,” Inquisitor Damien said.
“Which is why we must move as quickly as we can,” Commander Meyers said. “We cannot afford to give our intruders any more time to prepare.”
Inquisitor Damien considered the information.
“If they can do everything you said, might they not also be able to disguise the size of the vessel they sent to Arcadia? What if it’s not a shuttle but instead a fleet of ships?”
“At this point, we can only hope they’re not that clever,” Commander Meyers said. “We go to Arcadia whether we like it or not.”
Inquisitor Damien nodded.
“I’ll make preparations,” he said
Together, they hurried to the elevators.
20
Inquisitor Damien and Commander Meyers rode the elevators to the Salvo’s bridge.
Once there, Inquisitor Damien’s attention focused on the main view screen and the status displays on it.
Four crewmen sat in their stations near the Inquisitor awaiting orders. Immediately behind him stood Meyers.
Electricity filled the area as everyone anticipated their mission.
Inquisitor Damien took his seat at the center of the bridge. He pressed a button on the chair’s hand rest and a holographic display appeared at his side. He checked the data on it. The ship was powered up and ready to depart.
Inquisitor Damien swiveled the chair until he faced the rear of the bridge and Meyers.
“We’re ready to depart,” he said.
“Then let’s get moving, Inquisitor.”
“Navigator, are the destination coordinates locked into the Davilia Displacer?”
“Yes sir.”
“Let’s go.”
The Salvo’s thrusters came to life and the ship moved forward.
On the central view screen, Davilia disappeared and, for a moment, the darkness of outer space was displayed. Soon, the Displacer’s metallic structure appeared and filled the screen’s center.
“We’re five minutes from entry into Displacer,” Lieutenant Chandler said.
Inquisitor Damien watched the Displacer slowly, inevitably, draw closer to his ship. He pressed the comm button.
“This is Inquisitor Damien,” he said. His words echoed throughout the ship. “We’ve been tasked by the Council of Twelve to undertake a potentially dangerous mission. In moments we enter Davilia’s Displacer and emerge in the Arcadia system. Those unfamiliar with this system, you’re in good company. She was abandoned years before and her Displacer thought destroyed. It wasn’t and someone made an incursion into this system. We are to investigate this matter and must assume the intruders are hostile.”
Inquisitor Damien paused for a moment to let the information sink in. He then drew a sharp breath and again spoke.
“This vessel is now on red alert.”
The Displacer neared.
The crew around Inquisitor Damien buzzed. They prepared for the trip and the possibility of facing an immediate attack.
The Inquisitor felt the faintest hints of dread coming from his crew yet he knew they were prepared for what needed to be done.
“Five hundred miles,” Lieutenant Chandler said.
“Tell Displacer personnel to activate,” Inquisitor Damien said.
Lieutenant Chandler did so.
Beyond the hollow center of the Displacer was the darkness of outer space and the lights from distant stars. Those lights blurred as the Displacer’s core energized. Wild swirls of colors and sparks now filled the Displacer’s center.
“Three hundred miles,” Lieutenant Chandler said.
Inquisitor Damien took a second to look at Commander Meyers. The man stood as he had for the past few minutes and at the rear of the bridge. His body was erect, unwavering.
“Arm torpedoes,” Inquisitor Da
mien said. “Energize fusion cannons and shields.”
“All systems ready and standing by,” Sergeant Delgado, the Weapons Ops Officer replied.
“Two hundred miles.”
“The journey through the Displacer will take twenty seven seconds.”
“One hundred miles.”
“Crew, prepare for anything,” Inquisitor Damien said.
“Fifty miles.”
“Anything at all.”
“Twenty five…”
The Salvo moved in closer and closer to Davilia’s Displacer.
Energy arcs leaped from its energized center and caressed the massive battleship’s rugged frame.
Within the spacecraft, the crew steadied themselves. Flying into a Displacer’s interdimensional core caused anything from feelings of disorientation to headaches and mental fatigue and, once through, no one could afford to be anything but sharp.
Inquisitor Damien licked his lips.
The bow of his ship touched the Displacer’s wall of energy and, a second later, the view screen went completely white.
The Salvo was inside the Displacer’s interdimensional tunnel and there was no turning back.
When they emerged from this brief journey, they would be just outside the orbit of Arcadia.
21
It floated well beyond the planet and her moon, an incredibly large halo of dark, almost black metal. A distant light, the system’s sun, created another halo of light which framed her circular body.
That body was composed of dark metals and, from a distance, appeared no thicker than a strand of rope. Up close, the illusion was shattered. The Displacer’s body, at its thinnest points, was well over five hundred miles thick. The rods were covered in a fine dust, an accumulation built up over many years. A section on its lower quadrant showed signs of a hit. Fragments of a small asteroid floated beside it.
A single light came on within the circular rod. That light was followed by another and then another. Lights along its metal edges came to life. They sparkled with increasingly heavier energies, growing brighter and brighter until, finally, one last burst of energy lit the structure’s hollow center.
