The man sitting in the captain's chair in the center of the room laughed. Slowly he got to his feet, hands raised in the air in surrender as he turned around revealing his grinning face. A face that looked like it belonged to the late Vice President Landry.
Noticing the marines shock, the man spoke. "Over? It's only just begun.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Lebrea Sector
Bridge, NECS Endeavor
Tegan rested her ear against the door and listened for noises coming from inside the room. The sounds of the massive engines made it difficult to hear anything over the constant hum. She held her blaster against her chest and leaned against the wall.
"Hear anything?" Wilson asked.
"Just the damned engines."
Wilson sighed, then nodded. "How are we going to do this?"
Tegan thought for a moment. She'd been so concerned with their trip to engineering she hadn't put any thought about what they'd do once they got there. It wasn't like her to not focus on the task at hand. Then again, it wasn't like her to be holding a gun.
But things had changed.
People had changed.
The Mythrar's influence had penetrated the highest tiers of both the government and the military forcing everyone to question their friends.
Was this how the Mythrar worked? Sow distrust and hatred in a species before moving in to destroy the pieces. Or was it more convoluted than that? Perhaps seeding enough Mythrar loyalists to allow them to take over a ship once an anomaly was in place.
"Same way we came. Work our way through the room with care, using whatever we can for cover as we do."
"What if we find them? Can we shoot them in there? Won't it damage the engines?"
Tegan shrugged. This is where she wished Richards was with them. While his specialization was computers, you had to have a rudimentary understanding how the ship's systems worked to get the position. At least enough to know how much punishment they could take before going critical.
"No idea," she replied. "So try not to miss."
"Try not to miss? You have any idea how often I've even held one of these things? If I'd known I'd be expected to use a blaster, I would've spent more time at the range."
Tegan grinned. "That makes two of us. Still, do your best. As long as we don't damage any critical components, and Vaughn is still alive, I believe we'll be fine."
"I hope you're right."
Me too, she thought. "Ready?"
He nodded.
She keyed in the command on her datapad, giving her full access to the engineering terminal. Normally her level of access would not let her enter this part of the ship, but with Richards' program, she could go anywhere. Within seconds the door beeped followed by the mechanical whir as the doors slid to the side.
The two of them burst into the room and off to the sides, using crates to give them cover. They held the position for a few seconds while the doors cycled shut then waited a few more for good measure. Tegan was about to poke her head out from behind the crate when she heard a commotion from the back.
"You hear that?" she mouthed across the room. Wilson nodded.
She signaled for Wilson to hold his position while she peered out from behind the crates. As she did, she noticed two of the three marines standing in front of a third person. Was it the last marine, or an engineer? Without getting closer, she couldn't tell.
She held two fingers up, indicating the two targets in the back of the room. Wilson peered out and confirmed.
"You hit the left, I got the right," she whispered. "Tell me when you're lined up."
While she waited for his response, she lined up her own shot, opting to aim at the man's torso instead of the head and held it there waiting for Wilson.
"Good," he replied.
She held her blaster steady for another moment, then pulled the trigger. The white-hot beam exited the barrel at supersonic speeds, crossing the gap in an instant. It caught her target in the back, ripping a hole through flesh and fabric as it tore through the marine.
Wilson pulled the trigger a half-second later, his shot tore through the marine's arm and tore the appendage free. He screamed in pain and dropped to the floor giving Tegan a clear view of the third man, Commander Vaughn.
She opened her mouth to tell them he would be safe when she noticed the blackened metal of a blaster peek out from behind a crate. Before the marine could take a shot, she ducked back behind the crate hoping it was enough.
Wilson wasn't as lucky. Caught out in the open, Wilson lowered his weapon and darted for the safety of the hallway. Shots peppered the wall as he ran, each shot coming closer to hitting its mark.
Steadying her nerves, Tegan lifted her head just over the edge of the crate. The marine focused his attention on the fleeing Wilson while ignoring her. Not wasting the opportunity, she leveled her blaster again, focusing her aim on the bulk of his chest. The marine turned his head in time to notice Tegan's stance but wasn't fast enough to avoid the shot as the beam ripped clean through his torso and into the wall behind him.
"Vaughn, you OK?" she shouted louder than she'd intended. Likely due to the massive sound of the blasters in an enclosed environment. Or perhaps because of the thrumming of the engines.
"I'm fine. Can't say the same about them. Two dead, the last wished he was."
Two shots.
Two kills.
If only she had the same precision with her bird. Then again, she'd take the element of surprise over massive amounts of firepower any day of the week.
"Wilson?"
The Lieutenant leaned against the rear wall, panting. "I'm fine," he said through shallow breaths.
Tegan held her weapon towards the crates, ready in case the last surviving marine had anything planned though his screams and moans suggested he'd had enough.
"Glad you two got here when you did," Vaughn said as she cut him free from his restraints.
"Pure dumb luck. Bremerton sent us down for something else. Something about restoring communications on the ship."
Vaughn nodded. "Figured as much. I've been working on that since the first jump hours ago."
"Any luck?"
He shook his head. "It's either communications or the jump drive. There's no middle ground."
"He was afraid you'd say that," Wilson said as he crossed the room. "In that case, he wants you to install a failsafe. Something to cut off the jump drive if we get into combat."
"When," Tegan interrupted. "When we get into combat. You don't chase a ship through three sectors of space if you don't intend to stop them when you do."
"In that case, we need to get back down to the flight deck. I'll have to install the disconnect there since that's the only place I know it's connected." Vaughn rubbed his wrists, exposing the red marks the restraints had left on his skin.
"What about the radiation?"
"There's no other choice. We either head down there and install the disconnect, or we tell Commander Bremerton it can't be done. If you believe we're about to enter combat, then I suggest you help me suit up."
"What about him?" Wilson asked, directing his weapon to the injured marine.
"Take him back to the brig. Lock him up in a cell by himself. I'm sure the Admiralty will have a few questions for him."
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Lebrea Sector
Bridge, NECS Endeavor
The familiar wave of nausea punched Bremerton in the gut as the ship materialized after the jump. He gripped both armrests tight enough to turn his bare knuckles white as he forced himself to endure the sickness.
A few jumps in and the crew had a different reaction to the jumps. Instead of dizziness and constant vomiting, they were instead just showing signs of discomfort. Perhaps it had something to do with spilling the contents of their stomachs so many times already. He hoped with enough time the crew would adjust. As long as they could perform their jobs once they arrived at the scavenger, he would be pleased.
"Midshipman Ritter, status
of your most recent scan."
"Picked up the scavenger immediately. By my preliminary calculations, we should intercept the vessel in two more jumps."
"Two more jumps? That's great news." In two more jumps, this all would be over. He could have the anomaly disconnected, the captain on the ship, and Sergeant Walker rooting out the troublesome marines in one fell swoop. They could have their ship back to normal. As normal as a ship can be without working main thrusters.
"Sir, there's something else. I'm picking up the transponder signal of another ship. A heavy cruiser."
"Is it one of ours?" Bremerton asked, strolling over to her station.
"Definitely not one of ours. Possibly an EU vessel or a corporate ship."
"I doubt it's a corporate ship. They wouldn't risk taking their heavy cruisers away from their precious stations. It's more likely it's an EU ship on a patrol mission. Keep scanning and see what you come up with."
Still, a heavy cruiser this close to New Earth couldn't be good news. The tensions between the NEC and the EU were so tense that a single military vessel in the other faction's space could lead to a costly war. Extremely costly considering both sides were already fighting on the same front.
"Lieutenant Richards, a question. Does the communication blockage on the ship stop our ability to put the ship on alert? Hate to send the crew into combat without warning them."
"Give me a moment." Richards logged into his terminal and brought up the schematic of the ship. He focused his attention on the wiring diagram of the primary alarms to see how they were installed into the ship. He saw that while the systems used the same sets of conduit to run the wires, they were separate. "Can't make any promises, but it should work."
Bremerton nodded. "Then sound the alarm. Hopefully, that gets the crew where we need them to be." Everyone but the pilots anyways. They were still spread across the ship covering security detail, not that they could get back into the fighter bay. Radiation levels would have to be reduced before that became a possibility.
"Sir, you'll want to see this," Ritter said, face grim.
"What's wrong, Midshipman?"
"The other ship. The heavy cruiser…"
"Spit it out."
She swallowed and nodded. "The transponder signal belongs to the EUS York."
"The same EUS York we battled at Atroxxin?"
"Yes, sir."
"What is its current heading?"
"Stationary sir. Our current trajectory will intercept them in two jumps as well."
"So, our scavenger is running back for protection. I hope Vaughn can restore our communications; otherwise, this might be a very short fight."
"Maybe not," Richards said. "I might be able to reroute the weaponry up here, assuming gun crews can't hear the alarm."
"That would at least get us full control over the lasers."
"And the first magazines of gauss cannon fire," Richards added.
"Very well. See what you can do. Maybe we won't be as helpless as we appear."
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Unknown Space
Bridge, Scavenger
"Landry? You're supposed to be dead."
"Clearly you are mistaken."
Impossible. There's no way in hell Landry was still alive. He'd been onboard New Earth station when his corpse was pulled off the ship. There when Admiral Flannigan lifted the cloth, exposing the cold dead body of the vice president. He'd seen the two-inch hole in the middle of his forehead. There was no way anyone was coming back from that, him least of all.
Yet here he was, commanding a smaller ship of his own. A ship as full of the alien Klyptons as the Providence had been.
"Not mistaken in the slightest," Walker mused, weapon aimed at Landry's head. "I put the round between your eyes myself. Watched you bleed out on the floor. I assure you, you aren't the same man I killed on the Providence."
Landry smiled and bowed. "In that, you are right. I am not the Landry you killed back on the Providence. That Landry has gone back to join the collective. To be reborn once more."
"Sounds like some fancy New Age bullshit," Walker replied. "The only thing keeping me from sending you back to your collective is the fact you are unarmed."
"Honor," Landry laughed. "The desire to uphold it is a weakness in your people. One you must overcome if you wish to join the collective."
"Who said we wanted to join the collective?"
"Those you left behind on Earth. Those souls fortunate enough to be present when our masters arrived. They have freed us from our mortal bonds. Allow us to live many lives. Be many places at the same time. All in the service of the collective."
Hands still raised, Landry traipsed towards Wellard. Wellard noted the calm, collected demeanor the man had as he crossed the room. It was if the man had nothing to fear. As if there was nothing any member of his crew could do to pull him out of his mood.
Wellard had heard stories about the devout, but never once thought he'd meet one in person. It was clear the man believed everything he was saying or had practiced it enough to make it sound sincere. But there was something he was missing. Something that made this one different from the rest.
"You speak as if there are more of you out there. Are each of you related? Part of the same whole?"
"Of course. What one knows, I know. What one sees, I see. Most importantly, when one dies the rest become aware. They say the feeling is strong enough to make those of us nearby lust for revenge. While the sensation is intense, I can't say I agree with that assessment."
"Imagine that. Funny how staring down the barrel of a blaster changes things." Walker grinned as he glanced over at Wellard, never once moving the barrel of his gun.
"The blaster changed nothing. If I wanted you and your people dead, you wouldn't have made it this far. You are here on the bridge for a purpose. One you will understand soon."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Landry smiled. "Such a thoughtful surprise. Hate to spoil it when it's so close to coming to fruition."
"Sir, detecting movement down the hall. One. Two. Make that six new contacts." Talbot tapped his datapad for confirmation. "Possibly more. Something is interfering with the signal beyond ten yards.
"Set up a defensive perimeter using the doors as cover. If anything, and I mean anything, moves down that hall, you gun them down. Am I clear?"
"Sir." Two marines took up positions on either side of the door, one kneeling with the other standing close behind. The remaining marines kept their weapons trained on the bridge crew.
"I don't know what you're up to Landry, but you best give it up."
"Fine." Hands still raised, Landry turned towards his captain's chair and took a seat. "Rollo, please show our impatient guests their surprise."
"Yes, sir. Initiating in three. Two. One."
Wellard's stomach lurched as the ship jumped. Walker and half the marines doubled over in pain. The ones that didn't, struggled to keep their weapons readied against the immense pressure of the jump.
Struggling against the pain, Wellard glanced up at the viewscreen. A large ship replaced the view of the stars. Sheets of off-colored metal covered what could only be large gouges in the ship, while thousands of smaller holes were left unfilled. It didn't take a genius to realize the ship had been in combat. Likely the last few months as the temporary patches had started showing their age.
As the scavenger drew closer, he caught a glimpse of the markings on the hull. Markings denoting the ship as the EUS York.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Lebrea Sector
Bridge, NECS Endeavor
"What do you mean the hazmat suits are gone?" Vaughn slammed his fist against the wall.
"Sorry, sir. They came up and got them a while ago. Something about working down on the flight deck?"
"Of course," he replied. "And just our luck communications are down so I can't call and have them bring them back up."
"I'd recommend a flight suit, but we'd have to deal with
the radiation to get to them," Tegan said.
"I'm not sure I'd want to trust them for more than a few minutes of exposure. At least, not to the extent the anomaly is throwing off rads." Vaughn turned and strode towards the hallway with Tegan following close behind.
"We don't have another choice. Use a flight suit and risk the exposure or try to find another way to disable the device."
She was right. They were closing in on the enemy ship with each passing second which meant they needed to find a fix, and fast. Either risk exposure installing a disconnect on the device, or risk death when they enter combat and the crew couldn't coordinate the attack.
"Fine," he relented. "Richards and I left two suits in the sick bay annex on thirteen. We can take the main lift and get those."
"The main lifts are down," Tegan replied. "And besides, as far as we know those suits have already been taken. It would be much faster to get new ones down below."
"There's no way we can survive long enough to recover one from Valarie's office." He paused after saying the words. It was Tegan's office now. But to her credit she nodded and continued along. "Not only that, she didn't have any helmets in her office if we did."
"We don't need to go that far. They keep our quarters one level away from the flight deck so we can get down there in a hurry. All we have to do is secure two suits from there."
"There's no way we can get down there. We had to block off access for three levels either way to be safe. We have to treat that level as hazardous as well."
Reaching the staircase at the end of the hall, they made the descent towards the flight deck. Considering the malfunctioning main lift, the stairwell was remarkably empty. Perhaps it had something to do with the radiation down below. Or perhaps it was a sign of something far more dire.
He couldn't allow himself to consider that as a possibility. Everything happening on the ship was still under their control. The lack of activity likely just meant the crew was unaware of the risk to the ship, both from outside and within.
Infamy (The Mythrar War Book 2) Page 19
