Galyan nodded.
“What secret clearance code?” Maddox asked a second later. “I don’t remember—”
Galyan was glancing sharply sideways at the doctor.
“Ah,” Maddox said. “Yes. Is anyone else in Star Watch seeing this cloaked ship?”
“I do not think so, sir. Valerie is highly agitated. She is not used to doing the things you routinely…”
Maddox noticed the doctor’s attention to Galyan’s words. His mind was fuzzy, but he slid off the cot anyway. “Is Riker nearby?”
“Outside waiting,” Galyan said.
“Tell Valerie I’m coming upstairs. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Sir,” Galyan said, disappearing.
The doctor opened her mouth to protest.
“I’m fine,” Maddox said, wobbling as he headed for the door. “You did well. I’m pleased. Now—”
The captain staggered through a hatch into the waiting room. Riker jumped to his feet.
“Follow me,” Maddox told him.
Riker looked dubious, but he followed the captain through Medical and into a regular corridor.
“Hurry here, Sergeant. Lend me a shoulder, would you?”
Riker rushed up as Maddox laid an arm on the man’s shoulder, putting his weight on the sergeant. The captain actually groaned.
“Is this wise, sir?” asked Riker. “Maybe you should stay in Medical for once.”
“I can’t. My grandmother…”
“Right you are, sir. Let’s get you into your command chair. Don’t worry. I’ll help you to the bridge.”
Maddox didn’t nod. Instead, he concentrated on putting one foot ahead of the other. By what Galyan had told him, Valerie with Andros’s help was trailing the kidnappers or the ship that had launched the kidnappers in the fireball-like vehicles. Now, what did medieval-style warriors imply? What did the fireball shuttles mean? What kind of technology was that? Was Lisa Meyers behind the attack, or was this an entirely new enemy?
No. Not entirely new, Maddox decided. The enemy had used neuron rays upon his grandmother. They’d gotten her to go to the basement and thus she’d survived the fireball strike. Maybe Chom knew something more about all this, a something he hadn’t shared. What was Nostradamus thinking about all this? Why hadn’t the Liss reacted?
The ship corridor shuddered. Maddox stumbled and might have tripped. Riker wheezed keeping him up.
“Sir,” Galyan said, appearing. “There was some kind of hidden space mine in our path. It just exploded.”
“And?”
“We survived it. Unfortunately, the Lord High Admiral has begun hailing, ordering Victory back to Earth. I am afraid that Valerie is going to listen to him.”
“How close are we to the stealth ship?”
“I think we could use tractor beams to lock their ship in place and board them.”
Maddox dragged his arm off Riker’s shoulder. He lurched forward. Alien kidnappers possibly belonging to Lisa Meyers had his grandmother. Maddox lowered his throbbing head. Then, he broke into a staggering, stumbling run, beginning to pick up speed as he went, trying to get to the bridge in time.
-2-
Maddox stumbled onto the bridge. An agitated but ailing Lord High Admiral stared at him from the main screen. Fletcher looked horrible, with bags under his bloodshot eyes. The right side of his face had stiffened even worse than earlier.
Valerie looked back from the command chair and jumped up with obvious relief. She was pale and actually trembled as she headed for her normal station.
Maddox heard Fletcher speak, but couldn’t understand the words. He panted and his sweat was cold.
Fletcher spoke again.
Maddox held up a hand, reached the command chair and collapsed into it. He looked up at Fletcher and attempted a smile.
“You dare to mock me?” Fletcher asked angrily.
“No, no,” Maddox wheezed.
“Then, obey my order.”
“Uh…just a moment, sir.”
“None of your games, Captain. I know how you operate. Director Chom has given me a file on you and shown me your patterns. You delay—” Fletcher blinked rapidly before scowling. “Having me argue with you is part of your delaying tactic. Turn your ship around immediately.”
“Sir, I’m tracking Mary O’Hara’s kidnappers as per my original orders.”
“You’re doing nothing of the sort. You tried to thwart my orders earlier and nearly ruined everything. Fortunately, the kidnappers succeeded as planned. Now, you’ve found a stealth vessel and you’re roaring down on them to attempt tractor beaming would be my guess. That is not the plan. Obviously, you’re getting ready to storm and board them in direct disobedience to your mission orders.”
“Sir, the stealth craft has highly advanced technology. If they are Lisa Meyers’s agents, as you believe, we should grab this tech while we’re able. We may need it later when facing her next attempt. We could also interrogate the crew and find out if the Methuselah Woman is really behind all this. I don’t see a downside to what I’m doing.”
Fletcher glanced to the side, and his mouth opened. The Lord High Admiral closed it with a snap. He faced the screen. “Now, you listen to me, young man. I will not argue with my starship captains. Return to base immediately. That is a direct order. I’m ordering a different vessel to track the stealth vessel. You’re officially off the mission.”
Maddox’s head throbbed. He was tired and still healing from the recent head injury. His normal calm in these situations deserted him for once—maybe worry for his grandmother added to that. Anger crossed his face as he leaned toward the main screen.
“You permitted a Liss monster to fiddle with the Iron Lady’s mind. You knowingly programmed her as an assassin, and without her permission. Is that even legal? Is it moral? Do you even have any free will left, you old coot?”
Fletcher grew pale as red spots appeared on his cheeks. “How dare you? How do you know about the Liss? Tell me this instant.”
Maddox didn’t respond as he struggled to contain his anger. The head injury—he inhaled, practicing the Way of the Pilgrim.
“Won’t answer me, eh?” Fletcher said. “Then, hear this, Maddox. You’re relieved of command. Lieutenant Noonan, you will—”
Maddox clicked an override switch. The main screen went blank. “Galyan,” he said.
The holoimage appeared before him.
“Block all incoming calls,” Maddox whispered.
“Done,” Galyan said, his eyelids flickering.
Maddox swiveled around to see Valerie staring at him.
“The playacting is over,” Maddox told her, told the rest of the bridge crew. “This is all part of Nostradamus’s elaborate plot. First, we free Mary O’Hara. Then, we start hunting for Nostradamus in earnest. Any questions?”
“No, sir,” Valerie said.
“Let’s do this, sir,” Andros said.
“It is do or die time,” Galyan said. “Should I tell the professor he can come out of his science lab?”
“Yes,” Maddox said. “We’re not going to worry about the political commissar anymore. We need the Methuselah Man’s help.” Maddox took a deep breath as he looked at his people, his beloved crew. “Right,” he said. “Let’s grapple this stealth ship with tractor beams.” He clicked an armrest control. “Lieutenant Dain,” he said.
“Here, sir,” a Space Marine answered.
“Prepare a three-shuttle boarding party. You’re going to storm and secure the stealth craft and rescue the Iron Lady.”
“At once, sir,” Dain said.
Maddox clicked the armrest comm off.
“Just to let you know, sir,” Galyan said. “I am maintaining heavy jamming to keep any outside Star Watch orders from reaching anyone on the ship. I may not be able to maintain that around the three attack shuttles if they move too far from us.”
Maddox nodded.
“We’re almost in range,” Andros said from the science station.
“Good work,” Maddox said softly. Did the stealth craft have his grandmother or not? The kidnapping team and O’Hara had gone somewhere through the arch. He was betting they’d teleported or transferred to that ship.
“Sir,” Galyan said. “I should point out that the enemy warriors have shown they will self-destruct rather than allow themselves to be captured. They may cause the stealth ship to self-destruct in the event of capture.”
“I know,” Maddox said. “That’s what has me worried.”
“I spoke to the professor,” Galyan said. “He has been monitoring the situation from his lab. He suggests we should take a leaf from Strand’s book. He reminded me that Andros has worked on a modified stasis field.”
“Yes!” Maddox said, swiveling around to Andros. “Do you have an operational stasis-field generator hooked to the ship?”
Andros Crank looked up anxiously from his station. “A stasis field is tricky, sir. People die in them. I’ve practiced with it, an experimental model, you understand—”
“No more excuses, Chief Technician,” Maddox said. “Is it set up?”
“I’m afraid not, sir.”
“I am sorry to disagree with you, Chief Technician,” Galyan said. “But Professor Ludendorff informed me that he hooked it directly to the ship systems.”
“When did he do that?” Maddox asked.
“After the Political Commissar came aboard,” Galyan said. “He told me he needed something to do and suspected we would need the stasis field before this one was through.” Galyan turned to Andros, “If you will click on the ‘A’ Panel sub-route 3…”
Andros turned to his board and did so. He looked up in surprise.
“The stasis field generator follows your experimental model,” Galyan said. “The professor has improved on it a little, however.”
“Andros?” asked Maddox.
The Chief Technician manipulated his board, nodding afterward. “It should work, sir. Strand’s did, and I imagine the professor knew how Strand’s stasis field worked.”
“I agree,” Galyan said.
Renewed hope surged through Maddox. “We’ll try it. We’ll do it. Tell Ludendorff to get up here on the double.”
Galyan disappeared.
“Screen on,” Maddox told Valerie. “Let’s grab this stealth ship.”
-3-
From where Becker sat, he swiveled the Lord High Admiral’s desk screen so he could see what was happening. Victory accelerated, leaving Earth behind, heading in the direction of the Moon.
Fletcher sat glumly, looking away. Earth Defense Central had just informed him of heavy jamming around the ancient Adok starship. The three nearest Conqueror-class battleships had veered away from it a while ago.
“Call the Alexander,” Becker said. “Ask why they veered away.”
“I’ll need my screen back for that,” Fletcher pouted.
Becker turned the screen back to the old man. Then, he got up, walking around the desk, staying to the side so no one else could see him over there, but he could see them on the screen.
A moment later, the Alexander’s captain appeared, a large man in his forties with a gray crew cut. Captain Henderson informed Fletcher about the coded clearance.
That told Becker Maddox had broken Larick. Frankly, that stunned Becker. He hadn’t thought anyone could break the Neptunian wrestler. He’d wanted Larick with him on the trip to the Erill System. Well, if Larick was still on Victory…
“Should I track the starship?” the Alexander’s Captain Henderson asked.
“Just a moment,” Fletcher said, turning to Becker.
“No,” Becker said. “The three-ship flotilla should wait for further orders.”
Fletcher passed that along.
Becker groaned as a grim alien presence slid into the office. He’d been worried about this. The Prime Saa—Nostradamus!—must have been monitoring the situation.
What is this I find, Becker? Why are you allowing Victory to get into tractor-beam range of the stealth ship?
“Excuse me for a moment, Nostradamus.”
“What?” Fletcher asked.
“You will not remember this conversation,” Becker told the admiral.
A blank look swept over the old man’s features.
“What did you say, Nostradamus?” Becker asked.
You must prohibit Victory from chasing the stealth ship. I wish to locate Lisa Meyers’ secret base and the stealth ship will lead us to it. If that doesn’t work, Mary O’Hara is primed to act as our agent, informing us of the location once she has an opportunity.
“Believe me. I’m trying to implement your plan, Master. The starship is presently jamming all incoming calls.”
Why did the three battleships turn away from it?
Becker explained about the clearance code.
Computing, computing—I will check this out myself. The grim alien presence departed.
Becker wobbled back to a chair and carefully sat in it. This was far too frightening, too intense. There were too many elements in the air. Certainly, the Prime Saa was going to win. It had all the firepower on its side. It knew what was really taking place. If it seemed as if Maddox was going to pull another rabbit out of the hat at the last moment, the Prime Saa merely needed to tell him to tell Fletcher to let all Star Watch warships near Earth to converge on Victory and commence firing.
Becker shoved up to his feet, coming around the desk again. He ignored Fletcher sitting there like a lump of dull clay. Becker studied the screen. What would the Prime Saa—Nostradamus! I need to think of him as Nostradamus at all times. What would Nostradamus do to do the crew of Victory? If Nostradamus nearly had the power to control all the humans on Earth, surely he had enough to control Maddox’s crew.
Becker stared at the image of the ancient Adok starship. Was there a way to gain Victory for himself and race away to the Erill System? What had Maddox learned there that Nostradamus wanted to know? Whatever the answer, it must be worth much.
Becker found himself chewing on his lower lip, desperately trying to come up with a plan that would give him the upper hand for good.
-4-
Aboard Victory, Ludendorff worked tirelessly in his science chamber, adding the final touches to a strange and bulky machine.
The Methuselah Man had been alone these past days, making sure he didn’t bump into Lieutenant Commissar Larick or any of his military police assassins. He’d been planning for this day ever since the Bosk hitmen had nearly slain his beloved Dana. Ludendorff hadn’t been completely candid with Maddox or the others when he’d joined them in the Erill System. There was nothing new in that. Ludendorff usually had ulterior motives in anything he did.
The difference this time was the objective. He was sick of Maddox getting all the credit all the time for saving the human race. Even in the Alpha Centauri System, when he’d built the weapon to face the Ska, Maddox had taken the weapon and driven the ancient spiritual entity away. People in the know had lauded the captain’s courage and self-sacrifice. It had nearly driven Ludendorff to despair. That had started the mess with the Bosks and Draegars and the beginning of the end between Dana and him.
That wasn’t going to be the case here. Ludendorff hummed to himself, half driven to despair knowing what should be happening very soon indeed. The Bosk hitmen had informed Ludendorff far more than anyone would have expected.
But then I’m the greatest mind in Human Space, Ludendorff told himself. If anyone can take facts and extrapolate the future from them, it’s me.
He’d turned the tables on the Bosk hitmen, and he’d interrogated them thoroughly. They’d told him strange tales. Those tales had sparked an ancient memory in his fantastic Methuselah Man brain. That was the trouble with knowing so damn much. It got lost in the maze of his old brain. He’d forgotten more than some civilizations would ever know. Plus, there were hidden Builder-formed memories stuck in odd places in his brain. Those inserted memories would bubble up at the weirdest times.
Take this
Paranormal Brain-wave Tracer Generator Pulsar Machine. It was unique, and he was the only one who could have built it. That was why he’d been so late getting to Victory in the Erill System. He’d taken a long side-tour to a Builder asteroid with the schematics to this thing. He’d memorized the layout, the construction—
A light on the main panel began to flash.
“Hell’s Bells!” Ludendorff shouted. “I’m not ready yet.”
Despite that, the Methuselah Man put on a helmet with many sprouting antennas over his head. Wires attached the helmet to the PBWTGP Machine. He made furious adjustments to the machine—
The panel light flashed a final warning.
“I know, I know,” Ludendorff muttered. He hesitated to flip the final switch, though. Maddox had taken ghastly soul-wounds from using this kind of technology. Would using this injure his incredible intellect?
There was a high probability of that.
Ludendorff sighed. The Bosk hitmen had severely wounded Dana, nearly killing her. He’d vowed to track their master and make him pay. Here was the opportunity. Dana had pleaded with him to remain at her side. She’d even promised to go away with him once she got better.
Ludendorff had been unable to do that. He loved Dana. He hated seeing her helpless and possibly crippled for life. He knew he couldn’t stay around if she remained a cripple. He needed a lusty partner. The excuse to hunt the brain behind the hitmen that might have permanently maimed Dana—
It had been as good excuse as any, but he’d actually meant it, too. After this was over…
Ludendorff flipped the final switch. The PBWTGP Machine fully activated with a low hum. The ancient Methuselah Man grunted as his normal vision wavered. He saw splotches, growing crystalline worms—
His vision faded, and he saw paranormal brain-wave activity as a great yellow cloud with slit eyes peering out of it. That cloud hovered at the edge of Victory, attempting to break through the heavy jamming.
Ludendorff chuckled to himself. He’d added a few touches to the jamming mechanism, making it more formidable to such a brain-wave-generated assault.
The Lost Intelligence (Lost Starship Series Book 12) Page 28
