The Phoenix Project

by Kris Powers

  “I have some information. Most of it’s classified.”

  “Tell me what you know.”

  “It’s much more decentralized like Eli said.”

  “What about those new weapons I heard rumours about?” Joshua asked.

  “I’ve never heard the term before. I think it’s called an anti—proton grid?”

  “Well, what is it?”

  “That’s a little complicated,” Elliot interjected as he rejoined the conversation.

  “Well, hello stranger,” Madison said with a smile. Elliot took a seat across from her in the booth.

  “Where did my drink go?”

  “I’ll get you another one. We didn’t think you’d be back,” Joshua replied and signalled a waiter.

  "Short meeting with the brass?" Madison asked. Another draft appeared on the table from an attendant’s quick and steady hand.

  "That’s another story."

  "So do you have some time to visit with old friends?"

  "Well, more time than you think."

  Joshua frowned and asked: “What do you mean?"

  "I've taken a few liberties with your ship.”

  "Are you going to call her in the morning?"

  "Smartass."

  “You need the ship?” Madison asked.

  “I’m now the temporary commander of the Third Battle Group, but don’t worry, this is a short assignment. I won’t be in command for very long and you’ll still have the captain’s chair.”

  “Where are we going?” Joshua asked. He got ready to use the small black bit of technology attached to his ear.

  “I have already instructed the helm on where to go. It’s just outside of the solar system. The entire battle group is leaving orbit to check on some sort of distortion out there.”

  “You need the entire group for that? Why not just send a science ship?” Joshua asked.

  “We did. The Amazon is surrounded by a group of Coalition warships. We’re going out to even the odds. But that isn’t the interesting part: the distortion may be of alien origin.”

  The couple looked at each other with wide eyes. “We know what that means.”

  “You know the way to the bridge,” Elliot said, and gulped back the last of his draft.

  Joshua and Madison led the admiral to the command center of the ship. The commanding officer on duty immediately vacated his position at the high end of the bridge and took his place at the horseshoe—shaped helm at the front. Joshua took sat down in the command chair. Elliot, knowing Joshua's possessiveness of his ship, took a place at his left.

  "Are we ready to go?"

  "Yes, Sir," the helmsmen said and gripped the navigation control stick. It resembled the joysticks from console games of the distant past.

  "The Admiral tells me the coordinates are already laid in,” Joshua said to the helmsman.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Take us to maximum FTL.”

  “Aye.”

  The stars on the monitor jumped to tiny dashes as the ship went to one thousand times the speed of light. The other thirty—nine ships of the Third Battle Group, including destroyers, frigates, and a wide carrier, followed behind.

  They spent a few minutes waiting in the rectangular command centre, shining with blinking lights and glittering consoles before the helm officer spoke again.

  “Arriving at specified coordinates.”

  “Drop into normal space,” Joshua said.

  The forty ships jumped out of faster—than—light speeds and took up positions around the blocky science vessel to protect her from the olive coloured warships of the Coalition battle group.

  "What is that?" Madison asked, staring out at what looked like a flushing toilet bowl in space. The screen showed the whole spectrum of light as well as the influence of gravity from the hole in space, allowing them to perceive the strange event.

  “Science, what are you reading?” Joshua inquired.

  “The entity is graviton based,” reported the science officer, stunned by the information he was seeing. Ahead of them in the blackness were the ships of the Coalition battle group. “It appears to be accumulating energy.”

  “What is it doing?” Elliot asked

  “I believe the anomaly is actualizing. From what I can tell it’s almost at one hundred percent!” the science officer exclaimed.

  Joshua looked briefly to Elliot, who nodded to him in confirmation of the silent question.

  "Get the battle group to a safe distance," Joshua ordered. The Alliance ships began pulling away from the disturbance. Seconds later the anomaly flashed and then smoothed itself into a blinding white light. The writhing force that had spent its time entertaining them with magical displays had become a shining emerald beam of destruction over a thousand miles in diameter.

  The great beast swallowed up the Coalition ships that had strayed too close to it and continued unabated through space. Elliot was staggered by the event and found it difficult to speak for a moment.

  “Where is that thing going?”

  The science officer shook his head and looked up from the data on his screen. “It's going to hit the Moon.”

  "What was that?" Nadine demanded. She picked herself up from the floor of the bridge. The deck plates of the Daedalus had stopped rattling now that the weapon had rushed past. Sparks flew from surrounding consoles and one of her officers lay dead a few feet away. An enlisted officer occupying a rear station of the bridge replied to the question.

  "A massive burst of energy from the wormhole. I can put it up on the main monitor."

  “Do it.”

  Nadine looked in awe at the spectacular spear of bright green energy. It flew away from the collapsing sky—blue aperture at light speed.

  "What's our status?"

  "Our sensor palettes are damaged, shields are at one quarter power, but all other systems are functioning normally,” the enlisted man replied.

  A damage control team rushed onto the bridge to attend to the fractured displays. A medical team followed on their heels to tend to the injured. Nadine realized the peril of her forces closer to the anomaly. "What’s the status of the rest of the battle group?"

  "Three frigates and two destroyers were lost."

  She cursed under her breath and looked over to another manned console. “What about that thing? Where is it going?”

  The officer's face looked pale in the dim lighting. “The beam is on a heading that will intersect the Moon's orbit.”

  “Wonderful. Communications, I need a direct link to the Council."

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “I need all information regarding that energy burst downloaded to my link now.”

  He nodded and quickly carried out her order. Nadine turned to the rest of her staff.

  "Clear the bridge."

  The damage crew stopped their repairs to cracked consoles. The medical team placed the injured crew members on stretchers and left with the rest of the bridge crew.

  The communications station emitted a faint beep. She gave a quick skim of the material on her link as she crossed over to the station and pressed the required button. The large main screen switched from the image of the retreating beam to Catherine’s wrinkled face.

  “You have broken with tradition.”

  “Prime Counsel,” Nadine nodded in respect to her mentor. “It was necessary. You told me to contact you immediately in case of an emergency.”

  “Proceed,” Catherine allowed after a pause.

  “The artificial worm hole transmitted an energy discharge of incredibly destructive power. It is on a direct heading for Earth's moon.”

  The matriarch started and Nadine heard murmuring from the periphery of the screen. The ruling member gave several curt nods to the off—screen voices and continued.

  “So this is the shining dagger!”

  “Teacher?”

  “None of your concern, child. How long will it be until it arrives at its destination?” the Prime Counsel asked.

  “Fi
fty—three hours.”

  “Then we have to move quickly. We need to conduct a short meeting. I will contact you when we are finished,” the Prime Counsel said.

  “Yes, My Teacher.”

  “Following that, Nadine, we will speak of the importance of adhering to tradition.”

  The screen returned to the midnight of space, with the beam now a bright emerald star at its center. Nadine collapsed into her command chair.

  A large screen on one of several walls went dark in the council chambers. A beam of sunlight streamed from a window in each of the twelve stone walls creating a shaft of light on each occupied chair.

  “The shining dagger?” Catherine asked a silver haired man to her left.

  “Yes. I should have known from the image of the dagger driving its edge into the heart of the moon,” Alexander said in a soothing introspective voice. The inlaid golden coat of arms of the Council sat on his breast.

  Catherine sighed in frustration. “You should have known? Your interpretation of the symbols could use some polishing, Alexander. The results of this incident directly affect everything that is to come. Nadine's role now has new meaning,” she said.

  “Clearly the forthcoming negotiations are going to be of a different nature than what Alexander had believed,” Victoria said.

  “We still need her to subvert Admiral Fredericks and be ready for whatever this dagger is going to bring,” Catherine responded.

  “There is the subject of how Nadine is to subdue him,” Cleopatra said.

  “She is a woman; he is a man,” said Catherine.

  “Seduction?” Alexander inquired.

  “Opportunity.”

  “How so?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “Why, conception of course,” Catherine said. “You are not so old as to forget those impulses.”

  The entire group, Catherine exempted, erupted into an uproar. Catherine allowed them a few moments to voice their outrage before she silenced them with a raised hand. Alexander refused to stay silent.

  “Another bastard abomination! Why stop there, Catherine? Why not breed a Coalition jackal to become its mother?”

  “I do admit our previous experiments were failures,” Catherine began.

  “They were disasters! The last half—breed crushed both of his parents’ genitals and then their hearts!”

  Catherine settled back into her plush dark chair before fixing her gaze on her adversary. “You do not need to remind me. I have firsthand experience in these matters.”

  “Apparently I do, Prime Counsel. Everyone here knew my predecessor and witnessed the sacrifice he made for you. Everyone knew what Seth was capable of and what it took to stop him. I cannot believe that you would suggest further attempts at,” he paused at the bile he tasted in his mouth, "mixing species.”

  “All of those experiments were the result of forced copulation or forced donation. All of the Defensives were given mind altering drugs to ensure their cooperation.” Catherine paused to look at the platinum ring she had taken from Aristotle’s body as a reminder of her compatriot’s words spoken only minutes before his death. “Aristotle believed it had an effect on the results. What if it was the prime cause for their insanity?”

  “What if there is no solution? Will we get another monster?” Alexander demanded.

  “We have prime material. Nadine is the best student we have seen in generations and she can still have pregnancies for another decade. Elliot Fredericks is the favoured acolyte of the Cooperative. We have a genuine opportunity to see the results.”

  “Based on orders from the Council. Nadine would have no choice in this,” Alexander said.

  “Nadine is a loyal member of MERA. She will follow our orders, as is her duty. We have an opportunity here that may never present itself again. We can gain spiritual and political control over the entire Colonized Sphere, and have an invulnerable soldier to guard it.”

  “What if the experiment fails, Catherine? It took all twelve council members to overcome the last debacle. This one, this new crossbreed, what if he becomes a psychopath like the last one?” Alexander asked.

  “We succeeded against Seth. This one will meet the same end if he is of the same breed. Believe me Alexander, it was not easy for us to create a massive heart attack in a twelve year old child.”

  Catherine regarded the shame on her colleagues’ faces. It was an expression she did not share.

  “Look at your Council, Catherine: There is no unanimous victory here. We need to vote on this.” Alexander looked in triumph at the faces around him. The Council usually deferred to Catherine’s seniority. It was rare for them to hold a traditional vote. He knew this was just such a time to incite tradition and put the first nail into Catherine’s coffin. He would take her place with patience and careful planning. He had already spoken with the other members of the Twelve behind her back.

  “Of course, Alexander. We will vote on the proposal of reopening the hybrid experiments. All of those in favour?”

  Six of the council members raised their hands to Alexander's disappointment.

  “All those opposed?”

  Six more hands appeared.

  “Then we have a hung vote. As tradition dictates, the deciding vote will be cast by the Prime Counsel.” Catherine stood from her seat and continued. “I vote in favour. Motion carried.”

  Alexander huddled in his seat. Catherine smiled at her government in victory. With a smile, she crossed the faceted circle and leaned over to Alexander’s ear with the appearance of delivering a short conciliatory message.

  “It has been too long since we had a traditional vote Alexander. Thank you for the nostalgic trip.”

  She turned on her gnarled heel and walked back to her seat.

  “Send a signal to Nadine.”

  People were gathered in small groups across the large bridge of the Endeavour. They hurried to accomplish the list of orders Elliot had given them. Two men rushed back from their individual groups and arrived at the same time to deliver reports to their superior officer. Elliot chose to take the communications officer’s report first.

  “Fleet Admiral Nelson has been apprised of the situation, he requests your immediate report,” the young Ensign said.

  “Acknowledged, Ensign. Lieutenant, your report?” Fredericks had not taken Joshua’s center seat, opting for a more observatory position from the north—west corner of the rectangular bridge.

  “The beam is confirmed at five billion megatons. The science staff has estimated an eighty percent chance the moon will be destroyed by the blast. We cannot confirm that the moon will completely dissipate the beam.”

  “Will it miss Earth if the Moon doesn’t stop it?”

  “No.”

  “Where would it make landfall?” Elliot asked.

  “It would hit the western portion of South Dakota.”

  “Captain Hubbard, I need a place to confer with the Admiralty.”

  “Yes, Admiral. You can use my office.”

  Elliot exited the bridge and took his first left into Joshua’s private office. He crossed to an L—shaped desk in the teal room and sat down at the small monitor that would link him to command.

  The screen came alive with his presence.

  “Connect to Fleet Admiral Nelson’s office.”

  “Level Ten clearance required,” an artificial voice said.

  “Clearance Fredericks, Elliot, Vice Admiral,” he responded. Hidden instruments in the ceiling scanned him and confirmed his genetic identity. The screen beeped for several seconds before the transmission was allowed. An image of an older man lit up the screen. Short brown hair streaked with grey framed a face seamed by responsibilities.

  “Admiral.”

  “The readings are confirmed. There is a high chance that the weapon will hit the moon. There is also a chance that the beam will subsequently hit Earth,” Elliot said.

  “I’ll start the evacuation of every civilian from the Moon and from the potentially affected areas as soon a
s possible. Eli, we’ve got another problem.”

  “Project Horizon,” Elliot said.

  “Yes. The weapons systems are still on the Moon. I don’t think we can lift them off of there in time.”

  Elliot sighed. “What are your orders, Sir?”

  “We are doing the best we can. Projections are that nine hundred of the weapons emplacements will still be on Luna at zero hour. We will do what we can. Eli, I’ve been given a request from your priest to call him.”

  Elliot couldn’t hide his surprise. The Cooperative rarely called through an official channel, allowing him to maintain his cover.

  “I know how you feel about them, but I told them I would give you the message.”

  “Well, given the circumstances, I’ll contact them as soon as I can.”

  “Eli, the Horizon Project may no longer be viable. I’m ordering you to use our contingency plan.”

  “The Phoenix Project?”

  “If that beam vaporizes ninety percent of our weapons systems then the vast majority of our new fleet will have nothing to defend themselves with. What other choice do we have?” the Fleet Admiral said.

  “So we abandon the Horizon Project?”

  “Eli, we’ve been over this. Phoenix was always a modification of Horizon, not its abandonment. I need someone to begin quiet preparations for Phoenix. With your past work on Horizon, you are the best person for the job,” Nelson said.

  “Sir, only an O—9 officer can administer a project of this level.”

  “I know that, Eli. Congratulations. I just wish your promotion was under better circumstances.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “Keep me updated,” the Admiral’s hand was halfway to the button to deactivate the live feed before he added: “Oh, and choose a staff. You’ll want people you can trust on this.”

  Full Admiral Elliot Fredericks watched the screen go blank. He then opened a new signal to an area of Stockholm, Sweden and waited as the tone beeped its progress towards contacting the party. Elliot took the time to remove the contacts from his eyes and placed them in a small case he carried in his back pocket. His eyes were now liquid black instead of brown. The screen came to life again a minute later.