Remember the Starfighter

by Michael Kan

  “What?”

  The admiral solemnly nodded, almost apologetically.

  “I understand the severity of the situation,” Julian said. “But to make a deal with the Ouryans?”

  “We’ve deliberated on this matter for the past day, but it’s been decided: we have no choice.”

  “But the New Terrans,” Julian countered. “They can help us. The fleet at Amredies Prime—”

  “The New Terrans,” the admiral scoffed. “You and I both know they’re a shell of their former power. When Haven was attacked, they spared only a few ships.”

  “I still can’t believe this,” Julian said. “You can’t give up Arendi to the Ouryans. Not when we have a chance to save Haven.”

  “I apologize Julian, but I fail to see what other viable alternatives we have.”

  Colonel Righton interrupted, trying to calm the tension in the room.

  “Julian,” he said. “The Ouryans are in a far better position to research the android. With their resources—”

  “But the Ouryans will disassemble her.”

  “So what?” the colonel replied. “You’re missing the larger picture here. The Alliance is already preparing to deploy the Ouryan collapser. The Endervars will be wiped out months from now.”

  “But you can’t abandon Haven. Not when we know there are millions of people still—”

  “Julian, this conflict was out of our hands from the beginning. The android changes nothing.”

  “Goddammit Righton. I can’t believe you would—”

  “That’s enough captain!” the admiral shouted in a growl.

  Julian glared at the man, breathing hard as he stood perched before them.

  “I suggest you sit down,” the admiral said, pointing to his seat.

  Julian held in his anger, grabbing the chair.

  “I apologize admiral,” he said. “But we can’t give up this opportunity. If we—”

  “You assume humanity ever had a choice in this matter captain,” the admiral said.

  “I’ll put this bluntly,” he added. “We are hostages to this situation — we either face one Ouryan vessel bearing gifts, or an entire fleet ready to destroy us and take it by force. What would you have me do captain?”

  “Our duty is to serve and protect the people of Haven,” Julian protested.

  “I admire your idealism captain. Truly I do. But take a look around captain,” the admiral said, his voice rising. “This is all that is left of SpaceCore. Less than a dozen military ships. Our forces are so depleted, that one single Ouryan juggernaut could wipe us out.”

  “We have to face reality Julian,” Colonel Righton said. “The Ouryans will take her, whether we want to or not.”

  “You have your orders, captain. This is the end of this discussion,” the admiral concluded. “The Ouryans will arrive shortly.”

  Thinking the matter settled, the admiral and senior staff rose from their seats, ready to leave the room. “Again, captain. I commend you. But you have to trust us. This is the right decision, and the only one.”

  “I disagree,” Julian said. “If you won’t escort the android, then I will.”

  The admiral looked at him annoyed.

  “You would disobey your orders?”

  “No. My mission is with the Terran Hegemony. It supersedes SpaceCore.”

  “Julian. Listen to me,” Colonel Righton said. “This isn’t going—”

  “I have to complete my mission,” Julian shouted, standing defiantly from his seat.

  “I see,” the admiral said, staring at him from the other side of the room.

  The old commander motioned for the other officers to depart, as Righton left Julian’s side, shaking his head. In their place, two men, clad in security uniforms, entered. Julian simply glared at the admiral, both angered and astonished, at what he was seeing.

  “We will not stand aside captain, you know this,” the admiral said. The two security officers swiftly removed their sidearms, revealing a pair of pistols that pointed at Julian, preparing to fire.

  “Stand down, captain. You and I both know we can do nothing to save Haven.”

  As the admiral said the words, Julian gave a deep breath, and clenched his fists, tapping them against the conference table’s surface. His salvation had become his obstacle, his own enemy.

  “I didn’t know the SpaceCore had suddenly surrendered. I thought we were never supposed to stop fighting,” he said.

  The admiral shook his head, already tired of the insolence he saw in Julian.

  “I repeat. Stand down, and follow your orders Captain Nverson.”

  “I think I’ll see you in hell admiral.”

  For a moment, Julian thought he could reach the door, and sidestep the two security guards. Perhaps he had some ounce of luck left in him. But in an instant, Julian’s vision turned dark, his body tumbling down on the floor, the sound of razors piercing through the air. Like a fire, the sensation scorched across his chest and into his arms. He had been shot, his mind almost going blank, as he screamed out curses. He would be shot again, this time the energy discharge meant to silence him. Julian could only wonder: how did it come to this?

  Chapter 37

  He awoke and found himself alone inside the station’s brig, seething in pain.

  Breathing hard as he clutched his chest, he rose to his feet, finding that he had been lying on a metal bench. Beside him was a toilet, the stump of metal in the corner of the room.

  Julian continued massaging his chest, feeling where the initial shot had landed. Some kind of a stun beam, he surmised, the effect able to paralyze his muscles and induce severe shock. He felt his battered face, and knees, the bruises still tender from his fall.

  Glancing at his surroundings, he found that his cell was small and minimal, furnished with little else, but what he guessed was a food dispenser embedded in one of the bulkhead walls. Guarding the entrance was a force field, the layer of glassy white light acting as a transparent gate into his cell.

  Walking closer, he approached the force field wall, finding that his cell faced only a vacant room, surrounded by other holding cells that appeared empty. From what he could tell, all surveillance was managed remotely, his own bio-feed ID likely synched into the security network and monitoring his vitals.

  “Computer,” he said. “What is the date and time?”

  His words echoed in the room, but there was no answer, as he realized that even his network access had been denied.

  “I demand to speak with a military representative,” he shouted.

  But there would be no response, as a sense of despair sunk in. How did this happen, he asked, wondering if he had made a mistake. In one moment, he had returned to the SpaceCore, expecting help. Then in the next, he had been shot and sent to the brig, left to languish inside his cell without any knowledge as to what was happening.

  “Arendi,” he said, feeling both the guilt and the betrayal. Julian had vowed to protect her. But instead, his words had become lies, tainted by SpaceCore and all its twisted logic.

  “Why did we come here?” Julian said. In front of him, he stared at the force field wall, feeling the anger boil within. He couldn’t let this happen. Not to Arendi. Not when they were so close.

  Taking a few steps forward, Julian reached out to the force field wall, wanting to break it. The resulting contact, however, only electrocuted his body, snapping Julian back inside his cell. A burning heat seemed to crawl across his skin, as smoke vented from his limbs.

  ***

  When Julian awoke again, he could hear the subtle laugh echo in his cell, the amusement painfully clear. Someone was not far, standing above him, and only inches away.

  “The great Captain Nverson. I never expected we’d meet like this,” the man said in another laugh.

  Julian opened his eyes, his body still sprawled against the floor. He slowly rose to his feet, finding that on the other side of the force field wall stood a man, of similar age, his long arms folded across his ches
t.

  He was no security officer, but someone wearing a formal business suit of sorts, the slacks and jacket a glowing white. Was he a civilian?

  “I had no idea this was how the SpaceCore treated their combat veterans,” the man said in a teasing tone. “All that for nothing, it seems.”

  His brushed hair was a platinum blonde, and his skin and facial features seemingly Terran in origin. “Who are you?” Julian asked. “What the fuck do you want?”

  The man smirked. This was no bore, but entertaining — to see how crude and desperate his adversary had become.

  “This will surprise you, but we have met before, although not exactly face-to-face.”

  “I think you’re mistaken,” Julian coughed. He sighed as he felt the scabs around his hand, the result from trying to break through the force field.

  “I have to say I admire you Captain Nverson. You are resolute. Unwilling to yield no matter what. A capable fighter.”

  Julian ignored the sentiment. “Again, what do you want?”

  “Let’s just say, I underestimated you. And for that, you destroyed my vessel.”

  “Your vessel? What are you talking about?”

  “The Ouryan ship of course.”

  The man laughed as Julian finally made the connection.

  “You’re an Ouryan? The Ouryan?”

  The man — looking completely human — nodded with a slight grin.

  “Perhaps not what you expected. However, let’s just say I’ve assumed this form to make you and the other inhabitants on board this station more comfortable with my appearance.”

  Stretching out his hands, the man inspected them, both checking for any errors and marveling at the life-like replication.

  “I thought you were dead. I mean, I destroyed your ship.”

  “We Ouryans cannot die so easily. You should know that. My consciousness is stretched across countless ships and colonies. You merely vanquished a small part of me, which, very quickly, was easily replaced by the whole.”

  Julian looked away, both uninterested and perturbed.

  “I hope that doesn’t disappoint you,” the man continued. “Although I have to say, aside from the Endervars, you were the first to defeat me in battle. Obviously, I don’t recollect what you did, but the tactic you used must have been brilliant.”

  “Why don’t you get me out of here, and then I can show it to you again,” Julian quipped.

  The man smiled, realizing that Julian had much fight still left in him.

  “Very good, Captain Nverson. Resolute as ever,” he said. “To meet an opponent like you, is most gratifying. Perhaps one day you should consider joining the Union. As I understand it, your career with the SpaceCore is most certainly over.”

  “What the fuck do you want?”

  The man shrugged.

  “This may be hard to believe. But there’s even a little human in I, along with a myriad of other ‘organic’ personality. So I’m curious. Curious to know who destroyed that part of me. But I suppose my curiosity has been satisfied.”

  Turning his back, the man started to walk away, ready to depart the brig.

  “Wait!” Julian said, as he pressed up to the force field again. “Goddammit, please.”

  Stopping, the man ever so slightly turned his head in exaggerated amusement.

  “Yes, you want to know what is happening, don’t you?”

  “Please, just tell me that at least.”

  Nonchalantly, the man walked back, planting himself before Julian. Unlike before, he grew quiet and more sullen, speaking in a near hushed tone.

  “As we speak, SpaceCore is preparing to bring the android to my ship. It is what we agreed upon. In return, SpaceCore is being supplied with six dozen supply vessels, more than enough to ensure that all of Haven’s survivors will be able to live comfortably on Isen both now and into the far future. It is a generous deal.”

  “What will happen to her? To Arendi?”

  The man briefly paused, knowing the response would not please Julian.

  “She will be disassembled and her memory core will become a part of the Union. In that way, she can continue to exist, and we will be able to study all relevant data on the Endervars easily.”

  “You’re taking her against her will. She can break the shield. If she can—”

  “Captain Nverson, we will understand everything her knowledge possesses, I assure you of that. And we will use such knowledge for the benefit of the galaxy. Or at least for the benefit of the Union.”

  “But the collapser,” Julian said. “You have no intention of trying to break the shield, do you? Instead, you’re just going to wipe out the enemy, no matter what the cost.”

  The man turned his back to Julian, and began stepping away.

  “It is the cost for peace, captain. The cost for peace.”

  Not done, Julian yelled at the man, demanding he answer one more question.

  “Killing all those people still trapped on the Endervar worlds. You would really do that?”

  The man gave one final laugh, parrying away Julian’s inquiry.

  “If only you knew how little I cared,” the man said.

  To demonstrate that, the being showed its true colors. Its human skin and clothing disappeared, revealing that it was just an elaborate hologram. What showed instead was that of a robotic attack drone, similar to the one Julian had encountered on Alliance Command. Plated with armored metal and designed for destruction, it moved with deadly precision, the red light of its plasma canon beaming from its head.

  “Captain Nverson, the Endervars will be destroyed,” the Ouryan said in a low mechanical voice. “You should be thankful for this.”

  Chapter 38

  It was supposed to be simple. Simple enough that all he needed to do was give the order.

  Only three days ago, the Ouryan Union had provided the schematics, an experimental technology Colonel Righton had heard rumors about. Known as an "absorption catalyst," it would release a burst of anti-particles, sapping high levels of energy within a defined area. Alliance scientists continued to fine-tune the technology for use in conflict, its advantages obvious. One could take down entire fleets, mechanical drones or even handheld weapons, depending on the magnitude. Practically anything that operated as a machine would become devoid of power.

  Colonel Righton had studied the plans in detail, putting them into place with the use of a retrofitted particle emitter on board the station. The energy generated by it would be enough to replicate the catalyst on a small-scale, the field no larger than a few meters in diameter. Perfect for their purposes, the colonel thought.

  "All systems are ready and security teams are in place," said a lieutenant manning one of the consoles in the room.

  "Standby," Righton said, gazing over the display monitors. "We're still waiting for our guest."

  The Ouryan Union — it had been them wanting to claim her. And a representative had been sent to see it done firsthand.

  The door to the room slid open, a blonde-haired man entering the confines.

  "Colonel Righton," he said. "I take it that everything is in order?"

  The man's voice sounded natural. So genuine, it was hard to believe it was a fabrication of technology; his skin was made of light, his words were just a mechanical mimic.

  Righton acknowledged the visitor with a reluctant nod.

  "How was your meeting with Nverson?" the colonel said, trying to hide his loathing. "I didn't know you Ouryans liked to gloat?"

  The man smirked.

  "I have more familiarity with humanity than you suspect," he said. "I only wish Nverson supported the mission as you and I both do."

  The colonel stood expressionless, wanting to mask his disdain. Nverson was a good man, but now imprisoned in the brig. He looked at the reason why. The Ouryan was there, taunting him with that smile.

  "Shall we proceed?" the agent said, apathetic to Righton's concerns.

  As the plan commenced, the Ouryan took in its surrounding
s. Several SpaceCore officers were seated at the different control consoles. The room itself overlooked what was a storage bay on the station, the large windows staring down at the nearly empty facility. Through the view, the Ouryan looked below and saw a ring of monitoring stations and surveillance equipment at the center of the room. Within it, a woman-like figure was seated down next to a station computer. The blonde-haired man looked closer, and noticed that she appeared as she did in all the classified files.

  "Arendi Soldanas," he said. "How is she?"

  "Stubborn," the colonel replied. "Been trying to question her, but she wanted to see Nverson. So we gave her access to SpaceCore public flies to keep her occupied."

  "Does she suspect anything?"

  "We decided to lie to her. Told her Nverson would be arriving to see her at any moment now. It should keep her content."

  Satisfied with the deception, the Ouryan then looked to the monitors and found that the colonel had prepared more than just the absorption catalyst.

  "I see you have some doubts about this plan," the Ouryan surmised, glancing at the additional equipment below, along with the security staff on standby.

  "After I heard Nverson blew up your ship, I thought it prudent to come up with some contingencies in case your plan fails."

  The Ouryan, hearing the thinly veiled insult, parried it away with another smile.

  "Then let's put it to the test."

  Moving away from the monitors, Righton walked to the windowed wall, his face nearly pressed up toward the glass. He stared down at their target. The android was sitting silent below.

  In another moment, he would deceive this relic from Earth. There would be no refuge here. Not today, not as the Ouryans had threatened to destroy them unless the android be had. In return, the SpaceCore would be given ships and supplies, two things they badly needed.

  Righton was ready to give the order, and move on to the next mission. But as he stared at the android below, he was met with surprise.

  The artificial woman turned up to look at him; she saw his stern face behind the glass window.