The Phoenix Project

by Kris Powers

  “I have closely reviewed the evidence of this case and I have come to a verdict,” the judge said. Maria’s stomach tightened as she waited for him to continue. “Admiral Peterson, please rise.”

  She and her lawyer stood up and gazed at the high perched judiciary.

  “Although the prosecuting council has built an impressive case against the defendant, I find the accusations against you to be filled with supposition and speculation. Nowhere in this action could I find any proof of any malicious or ambitious intentions on your part. Your strategy appears to have been sound and your actions appropriate when the field of battle had changed unexpectedly.

  “The loss of the AWS Excalibur, although tragic, appears to have been necessary. Your crew has corroborated enough of your testimony to lend sufficient credibility to your story, convincing me of its validity.

  “Admiral Peterson, the only evidence I have found indicates that your actions were justified. You are to be commended for your quick response and intelligent thinking in this matter.

  “I find for the defendant in this case. All charges are dismissed,” he said. The judge got up from his chair and exited the room as Myers stared after him. Maria nearly collapsed into her chair in relief.

  “I told you we had a good case,” Ben Dixon said to her. For the first time in weeks, Maria smiled. Dixon returned the smile and offered her his hand. She graciously took it, shaking it emphatically.

  “No offense, but I hope I never see you or this courtroom ever again.”

  “Likewise,” Dixon said, and crossed to the deflated Bernard Myers still sitting in his chair.

  “Will you appeal?” he asked. Maria peaked around his figure to the prosecutor.

  “No. What’s the point? I don’t have any new evidence and what I have isn’t enough. I should have had my lackeys dig deeper, but it’s too late for that now. Congratulations,” Myers mumbled.

  “Thank—you, Counselor.”

  He turned back to Maria with a broad grin on his face.

  “We’re done. I think the Fleet Admiral is anxious to talk to you,” the Commander said with a motion of his hand to the man standing at the back of the room.

  Maria approached him cautiously. She wondered if she would be commanding a desk again after this informal meeting. He shook her hand immediately with a broad smile on his face.

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank—you,” she said with one natural eye narrowed at her superior. “Tell me, you took time out of your busy schedule just to see me and tell me what my fate is?”

  “You are a member of the admiralty. I have to make a good show for the cause.”

  “Are you going to tell me to take some shore leave after my ordeal?”

  “Ah no. Have you been watching the INN?” Nelson said as he showed her out of the courtroom.

  “Not really. I’ve been occupied with a trial. You may have heard about it.”

  “Cut the sarcasm, Maria. Are you aware of the Ferine inquiry that’s in progress?”

  “Yes, I’m aware of it. I just haven’t been following it very closely. Aren’t they releasing their findings soon?”

  “You’d better believe it,” Nelson said as they left the building on the coast. They walked towards a sandy beach a ways away.

  “What’s going on?”

  “We believe the inquiry will find against the Ferine in one way or another. I’ve convinced the Prime Ministers to refuse any extradition request made by the Coalition. Everyone is saying that a war is likely and I need my Second Battle Group Commander back.”

  “Aren’t you afraid I’ll blow up another ship?”

  “Well, it’s good to know some of Maria is still in there,” he replied.

  “I’m merely pointing out that the Second Battle Group is one cruiser short right now,” said Maria.

  Nelson turned towards the view of the serene beach visible in the distance. Turquoise waves crashed on white sand cooling some of the afternoon heat.

  “I know. We’re short on ships at the moment, but we are rushing one into service. I intend for you to command it as the new flagship of the Second Battle Group.”

  “One of the new battleships?”

  “No, it’s more of the prototype for them. It’s smaller and we never thought to use it for actual duty but she is space worthy.”

  “Really? Where is it?” Maria asked.

  “Meet me tonight at eighteen hundred hours at the Mars Fleet Yards, Dry—Dock Three.”

  “Yes Sir,” Maria replied in earnest. Nelson nodded to her and walked off towards the administrative wing of the Honolulu base. Maria stood looking at the beach, experiencing exhilaration of her absolution at the trial and the news of her continued command of the Second Battle Group. Adrenaline pumped through her body at the thought of commanding a new, cutting—edge warship.

  Maria wouldn’t need to start her journey to Mars for at least a couple of hours. A smile crossed her face and she began a casual walk towards the beach.

  Dozens of boisterous conversations combined to make a loud background hum for the Ferine and their assigned delegates seated at the front of the room. It was five o’clock in the evening and the panel had recalled them with an announcement that they were ready to release their findings. The two Ferine looked around the room nervously, feeling like trapped animals surrounded by hunters.

  “Don’t worry. Whatever happens I won’t allow anything to happen to you,” Nadine said.

  “I’ve received word from my superiors that, regardless of the findings of this panel, we won’t release you into Coalition custody. You can stay aboard the Endeavour as long as you like,” Elliot said.

  “Thank—you,” Lathiel said.

  “We’ve been talking about a more secure location for you and Ranik. Our base on Black Hills Island has been completed and brought online. The place is a fortress. I would suggest you allow me to transfer you there, but it is your choice.”

  “I will leave that up to you. I know you have our best interests in mind, so whichever you believe is safer is fine with us.”

  “I’ll bring you to Phoenix Base as soon as the meeting is over.”

  “I’m coming,” Nadine said. “I am still their liaison.”

  “Restrictions on you will be much harsher at the base,” Elliot said.

  “I’ll live with it.”

  “Then I’ll make sure there’s room on the shuttle.”

  “What about my luggage on the Endeavour?” Nadine asked.

  “We’ll have it brought down with Lathiel and Ranik’s things.”

  “There are security concerns, Admiral. I have equipment that can be moved only by me or other Coalition soldiers.”

  “I’ll make arrangements for you to return to Endeavour then.”

  “Thank—you,” Nadine said. The four of them looked to the twelve empty chairs at the panel’s table and waited for them to enter. Background conversation dimmed and allowed Lathiel and Ranik a brief reprieve from the stressful uncertainty of the results.

  The door at the side of the court finally swung open on its brass hinges, allowing for the entry of the Coalition and Alliance dignitaries making up the board of inquiry. The murmuring crowd found their seats while the panel filed in.

  “Board of Inquiry, Section Forty—Two, Final results,” the speaker said. “I turn the findings over to panel member Philip Bell.”

  Philip Bell leaned towards the microphone and spoke into a tiny steel plated device the size of a match.

  “I will start by saying that all delegates testimonies and closing statements have been of great influence to this panel. Specifically, the statements by General Hanover and Admiral Fredericks were particularly enlightening. Lathiel and Ranik, these hearings have found that there is no cause to bring the Ferine as a race to trial by a vote of ten to two.”

  A great swelling of conversation, both negative and positive, crackled across the courtroom.

  “However,” he said, loudly. The conversation halted as
everyone waited for him to continue.

  “We can, by a vote of seven to five, bring anyone in the Ferine delegation to trial for crimes against humanity and have chosen to do so. Ranik we can find no link between you and these deplorable acts against our race. Lathiel, you have admitted to your role in the repair and activation of this weapon that was used against our people. We have, in the interest of cooperation with our Alliance counterparts, agreed to allow you to remain with their forces while you attend trial. You will be expected to testify in one month’s time.

  “We have acted on our own to take necessary measures to secure testimony from other relevant witnesses.”

  The captain of the Ferine science ship, Explorer ignored the monitor at the front of the bridge showing some forty Coalition warships. They had been waiting at the edge of the now non—existent wormhole taking in the regular reports from Lathiel and waited in silence for his report.

  He sat on a couch at the side of the circular bridge nearly identical to Lathiel’s except for the crimson upholstery on his seat. Captain Danniack didn’t notice three Coalition warships turn on their axes to face his ship.

  “Captain,” a colleague asked, “what are they doing?”

  “What?” Danniack asked, startled from his perusal of a copy of one of Lathiel’s historical perspectives on ancient times. He stood up and saw the ships facing his.

  “Signal them. Find out what’s going on,” Danniack said to the head of communications. She pressed several buttons on an amber pad before shaking her head.

  “Nothing,” she said. Concern marked her bronze flecked, slit eyes. Their questions were answered a moment later.

  “They’re powering weapons,” the science head said from his console.

  “All power to shields!” Danniack barked a split second too late.

  A series of emerald bolts flew from the prows of the olive warships and hit both Ferine vessels, scarring their hulls. The weapons were not set to destroy or puncture the science ships’ protective skins but to damage its internal systems. The science console on Danniack’s bridge erupted in a shower of sparks. The head of the department jumped from the overloaded instrumentation.

  “God above! What are they doing?”

  “What is the damage to the ship?” Danniack demanded.

  The engineer was the only one to reply.

  “Our sub—light engines are down, so are shields and weapons.”

  “What about the fold drives?” Danniack asked.

  “We’ve still got them.”

  “We are in the process of taking the other two Ferine ships outside of the system into our custody. We do not do this to fly in the face of this inquiry. We do not do this to impugn the Alliance or the Ferine Assembly, but we do this in the interest of justice. We are merely exercising our rights and the public’s right for a speedy outcome to trial proceedings. It is for this reason that the Coalition has unanimously decided to take the Ferine into our protective custody.”

  “Plot a course!” Danniack yelled at the helmsman while more shots shook his ship. The Explorer’s sister ship appeared to be attempting the same maneuver which would allow it to escape into fold space.

  “Where?” the helmsman asked.

  “I don’t care where we go! Just get us away from here!” Danniack’s helmsman hurried to use directional jets on the ship to allow their escape. He was ready to leave the system and began to power the graviton emitters that would allow the ship to fold space. The pair of emitter lenses mounted on each of the upper wings shone with a mounting white light. More shots of green energy from the Coalition warships aborted the effect and punctured them. Flashes of white light crossed the emitters before they went dark.

  Both Ferine ships were incapacitated and floated adrift in space. The Coalition ships stopped their assault. One of them launched four large troop shuttles from its hangar. They paired off, each taking an access hatch on either side of the alien ships’ hulls.

  “The Alliance still have the crew of the third Ferine ship to do with at they please,” Bell continued while he read from a prepared statement. “We can assure the public of both nations that the Ferine in our custody will be treated with all fairness, consideration, and respect due them.”

  A small rectangular hatch on the third deck of the Explorer exploded into a coral blue corridor. The flash of light at the seams caused the few Ferine in the hall to back away reflexively. They weren’t injured when the hatch dissolved under concentrated fire. Upon seeing a small crowd of soldiers rush into the corridor, they froze. Shock and fear overwhelmed their tall bodies when PBRs were leveled in their direction.

  Pulses of jade colored energy shot out from the ends of the black rifles and hit all three in the center of the chest. They slumped to the floor, paralyzed by the blasts. All they could do was stare at the floor as they glimpsed military boots and camouflage fatigues bound past them.

  The third deck was captured by the Coalition in a matter of minutes. The soldiers split into two groups and proceeded to the upper and lower decks of the ship looking for any signs of movement.

  People cheered, applauded, or remained silent as Bell paused for reactions.

  “To all my brothers across this planet and our colonies, we will have justice. Every Ferine Being involved in this abominable act will be punished to an extent appropriate to their level of involvement. We expect full cooperation on the Alliance’s part. When we require testimony from a member of the Ferine race in their custody, they will be required to produce that witness.”

  Danniack locked the doors to the bridge himself.

  “That won’t hold them long,” his science office said.

  “It will give me some time to think. How far have they gotten?”

  Danniack’s Head of Science, Brendle, bent over the Ferine’s shoulder at the communications station and found the information.

  “They’ve got decks two through five and have taken most of this one. They should be here any minute.”

  “God Above, what do I do?” he wondered aloud. The double doors to the bridge shifted as blasts from a PBR emptied into it.

  “Brendle, shut down the main computer and lock it out.”

  Brendle nodded and entered a flurry of commands into a panel at the communications station. The doors crumpled under another blast. The consoles on the bridge went dark as the first Coalition soldier stepped in.

  “Stop what you’re doing!” the man barked at the science head. His work done, Brendle backed away from the console with an obedient nod. “Everybody stand up and move away from the stations.”

  The half a dozen Ferine on the bridge immediately obliged.

  “Hands up!” the soldier said as more troops poured onto the bridge. The Ferine looked at each other in confusion. The soldier let out an exasperated sigh at the uncomprehending, wide eyed stares. “Raise your arms up. Hands above your heads.”

  The six Ferine on the bridge complied. Soldiers pushed them to the center of the room, while other troops took over their stations.

  “This is a warship?” the senior officer of the group asked as he entered behind the man issuing orders. The officer deferred to his authority and shrugged at the comment. “Who is the Captain?”

  “I am,” Danniack replied after a moment’s hesitation.

  “You, your crew, and your ship are under Coalition supervision until your involvement in the recent destruction of Earth’s moon can be determined. You are all to be tried in a court of law. An attorney will be appointed to represent you.”

  “I understand,” Danniack said with his arms raised.

  “Get them out of here,” the officer said to one of his subordinates. A dozen of his troops escorted the Ferine off the bridge.

  “Sir,” a soldier said from the helm.

  “Yes Corporal?” The senior officer crisply walked to the free—standing console.

  “Nothing’s working. There’s power to the station, but the screens are all blank.”

  “They shut of
f the computer. Communications!” he exclaimed to a woman nearby.

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “Contact the Hamburg. Tell them to get an engineer over here to try and bring the computer back up and tell them that we need a tow.”

  Moments later the free—floating Ferine science ships were grabbed by grav beams emanating from a couple of large cruisers. They were pulled towards the Coalition warships until they were close to their bellies. With the cruisers clasping the small Ferine ships in the artificial gravity they had created, the battle group jumped past the speed of light towards an unknown location.

  “Thank—you for your attention. I will now pass the floor over to the Speaker,” Bell said.

  “This inquiry has completed its investigation. These proceedings are finished. We are now adjourned,” the speaker said. The twelve panel members rose to leave the room. The five Alliance members shared disappointed looks while the Coalition members had stony faces intent on tasks to come in their near futures.

  “What are we going to do?” Ranik asked Nadine.

  “I’ll look into this and see what I can do. Believe me, I didn’t know they were going to take your people or your ships.”

  “I believe you Nadine, but that doesn’t change our situation.”

  “I know, I promise I will do whatever I can on your people’s behalf.”

  “Thank—you,” Ranik said.

  “I’ll get you to Phoenix right away,” Elliot said to his Ferine associates. He leaned forward in his chair to speak to his counterpart at the end of the table. “Nadine, I’ll see you to your shuttle.”

  “No, Elliot. I need to look into what’s going on here. I’ll contact you when I’m ready to join you.”

  “Be careful.”

  “You too, and keep these two safe.”

  All four of them rose from their chairs. Nadine hurried off through a set of double doors at the right of the courtroom, giving one last glance to Elliot, Lathiel, and Ranik.