The Battle for Lashmere

by Michael Freeport

“Good news, sir. You’re going to live. You have a mild concussion. I want you to stay awake for the next six hours just to be safe. The anti-inflammatory I gave you should help mitigate most of your symptoms, but if your headache persists past this time tomorrow or gets worse, let me know.”

  “Thanks, doc,” Patho said.

  “Hop in the autodoc, and it’ll get your head wound taken care of.” Bael slid his chair back and pulled on the latch holding the machine closed.

  Patho got himself into the tight confines and waited patiently while the machine considered his injuries. It beeped, and a cool sensation spread out from where he’d hit his head. The machine then passed a small armature up outside his field of view. He felt some gentle tugging at the area, but no more pain. A few seconds later, the machine beeped again, and the clamshell popped open.

  Bael gave him a hand up and looked at Patho’s head. “You’ll be good as new in a couple of days, sir. Come see me if the wound breaks open or if you have unexplained pain in the area.”

  “Okay, doc,” Patho said and headed back up to the bridge.

  He stepped up to the command chair and said, “Report, Mister Hilleman.”

  Hilleman turned and stood from the command chair. “Sir, the Woduur are soaking up a lot of resources from the asteroid field. They’re definitely using their manufacturing rings for something, but we aren’t sure what they’re building.”

  Patho rubbed his jaw absently with his left hand while he thought about the situation. “Whatever it is they’re doing, you can be sure it won’t be something we want to see.”

  “No, sir,” Hilleman agreed.

  “What’s our ETA to the eighth planet?”

  “Another five hours, sir.”

  “How long until Admiral Stokes is supposed to make his turn towards the Ulef system?”

  “Right at four hours, sir.” Hilleman tapped at his console. “Do you think we can keep them here for that long?”

  “I intend to, Exec. We’ll hold off on detonating any more of the mines until we can use them to gain a decisive advantage. I want to stay off of their sensors if at all possible.”

  The Gorgon continued its path to the outermost gas giant for long minutes while the Woduur broke up into another search pattern. The massive dreadnaughts quickly divided the system up into areas and began a methodical search. Their ships passed back and forth, covering the area carefully.

  “Sir,” Hilleman said, “Look.”

  The plot updated to the two ring ships that were sitting by the asteroid field. A small blob of readings sprang into being around them.”

  “Analysis, Mister Guiles,” Patho said.

  “Not sure sir, but it looks like something similar to our drones. Very small point energy sources. Hundreds of them.”

  “That’s just great,” Patho said.

  “Sir! Energy reading dead ahead,” Guiles said, his voice shrill and loud. The plot updated to show the Etyrni ship coming up in front of them. “We’re getting a comm request.

  “Now what?” Patho asked rhetorically. “Put it through.”

  Ektezul’s face appeared on the plot. A smirk was on her thin lips. “You’re about to be in a lot of trouble, Captain. I can get you out of it. For a price, of course.”

  Chapter 23

  Simmons awoke with a start. She’d dreamed of being chased, and her sleep was broken several times from the troubling thoughts. She rolled out of bed and stretched. Her jaw cracked as she yawned. She rubbed her eyes and got to her feet. After going through her morning routine, she looked at her powered armor, sitting obediently in the corner. The suit was splayed open along the sides, ready for her to reenter.

  “I wonder if I should wear the armor or not.” She mused to herself. She walked over to the armor and rested her hand on the exterior surface. Netupliktik seemed willing to honor his word not to hurt her, but she was unsure of his actual intentions. Until she’d spent more time with him, she intended to play it safe.

  She got her feet into the armored boots and pulled the front up to her chest. The armor hummed to life and sealed up around her. Her ears popped as the armor pressurized and started recycling her air.

  She turned and opened the door to her quarters. She flipped the faceplate up and then changed her mind and simply removed the helmet from its locking collar. Eating with it on her head would be difficult. She entered the mess deck and saw Netupliktik sitting in a reclining position at one of the tables. He had a small device in his hands and was tapping at it animatedly.

  When he saw Simmons, he put it down and said, “Hello, Marli. Hope you slept well.”

  She smiled and said, “Thanks. Have you been up for long?”

  “No, not long.” He picked up his device and pocketed it before turning his attention back to her. He smiled. Simmons noted his canine teeth were slightly pointed. His eyes held her gaze for a long moment before she turned her attention to the food dispenser.

  “Did you find something to eat?”

  “Yes.” He shifted slightly in his seat. “Are you okay, Marli?”

  “Yes, why do you ask?”

  “You’re wearing your armor. Do you need to wear it to survive?”

  Simmons blushed at the observation. “No. I mean, I suppose I don’t have to wear it. I just wanted to…” she trailed off.

  “You wanted to make sure I wasn’t lurking out here, waiting to ambush you?” Netupliktik smirked at her, his eyes were bright.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I know you’ve told me you wouldn't attack me, and I appreciate you making that promise.”

  “Let me reassure you, Marli.” He reached over the table and picked up his rifle. He stood and held it out in front of him. “Here. Take it.”

  Simmons started to reach out to take it, but she stopped before she completed the action. “No. You’re right. You’ve given me no reason not to trust you.” She stared into the man’s eyes. His arm held out straight in front of him bulged with hard knots of muscle. She licked her lips and said, “Hang on. I’ll go change out of my armor.”

  Netupliktik nodded and said, “Okay, Marli.” He set his rifle down next to him and pulled the small electronic device from his pocket.

  She walked up to the boat bay, where the armor was supposed to be stored. She got the armor onto the storage bay and got it settled. She walked back to her quarters and changed into an underway uniform. She then pulled a heavy sidearm from her locker and strapped it to her waist. She tugged the outfit straight and brushed her hair quickly to keep it out of her eyes. She checked her appearance once in the mirror, decided it was good enough had headed back to the mess deck.

  As she entered, Netupliktik was still sitting there, playing with his small device. “What is that?”

  He turned and saw her standing a few feet from him. He gaped for a moment before saying, “I didn’t know you were so short, Marli.”

  She sighed in exasperation. “Well, I am. What is that thing?”

  “Oh, this?” he held up the device. “Just a game. I didn’t have a variety of entertainment on that station. This is all I had to keep my mind off of my execution. I guess I just got into the habit of playing it anytime I wasn’t actively doing something else.”

  Simmons nodded. “I see.”

  “So, tell me, Marli, what’s your plan for the day?”

  Simmons hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Um. I think I’m going to salvage the information from the data module that was on your station and then go over what I have to pick a new destination.”

  He smiled, showing his pointed teeth again. “That sounds good. Do you want some company?” He saw the look on her face and added, “I’ll stay out of your way, promise.” He smiled at her again.

  She bit her lip and thought that smile was going to cause her problems if he kept using it on her that way. “Fine, but I can’t promise you’ll be very entertained.”

  He pocketed his game and followed her to the lab where she’d put the data module. He sat in a chair, watching her sile
ntly while she got the module onto the bench and passed a scanner over it. The data paths were degraded, and the device might not accept any sort of input. She pulled a small power supply out, set it on the bench and powered it on. She attached a data probe to the primary power feed.

  She mentally crossed her fingers and ramped the power up to a minimum level. The device responded, she monitored the workings of the device for a few minutes and then attached a data probe. The probe fed data into the small computer built into the lab bench.

  A progress bar appeared on the screen and quickly filled up. The machine beeped at her, signifying all information had been stripped out of the data module. She quickly shut the power supply down and pulled up her decryption program to decode the information she’d recovered.

  She turned and looked over her shoulder. Netupliktik was watching her actions with alert eyes. “How’d it go?” he asked.

  “I got all of the intact information off of the module. The computer is processing it.”

  “That sounds good. What’s next?”

  “Well, I’m going to add this to my database. Once the analysis is complete, I’ll combine it with what I’ve already got and see if I find something new.”

  “What are you looking for?” Netupliktik stood and walked over to the bench.

  Simmons stiffened at the man’s close proximity. He towered over her, reminding her of the time with Aden Patho. “My people were once attacked by a disease. The people who inflicted it on us are fighting us again. I’m looking for the cure in case they try to use it again.”

  “Do you think these places you plan to go have the cure?”

  “I hope so. These ancient bases were research facilities.” Simons clenched her right hand into a fist. “They have to have had the cure. It’s the only way I can justify everything I’ve done.”

  Netupliktik gave her a concerned look. “What have you done?”

  Simmons realized she’d spoken without thinking. “Um, I meant all the time and effort I’ve spent looking so far.” She felt her face heating and realized she was blushing. “Excuse me.” She turned her attention back to the computer console.

  Netupliktik walked back over to the chair he’d been sitting on and kept watching her work. “Are you going to fix the ship?” he asked suddenly.

  Simons abruptly stopped what she was doing. She realized how unprofessional she must look by not giving priority to ship repairs. She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. “Of course I am,” she said through her fingers. She locked the computer she was working on and thrust herself out of her chair.

  Netupliktik followed her to the engineering bay and then said, “I’m going to go to the galley for a while.”

  Simmons glanced at her wrist comp and then said, “I’ll join you once I have repairs underway. It’s almost lunchtime.”

  “Okay, Marli.” Netupliktik headed off towards the mess deck.

  She grabbed a small toolkit from a locker and went to look at the navigational computer. The damage to the navigational system was an overloaded data junction near the processor. She pulled the part and brought it to the maintenance bay for replacement. She tapped in a repair sequence and turned the task over to the maintenance bots.

  She analyzed the damage to the exterior of the ship and found it was mostly superficial, with the primary combat sensors taking the brunt of it. The backups were working just fine, so those repairs could wait.

  She went to the mess deck and saw Netupliktik sitting, tapping at his game. “We should be fully repaired in a few hours. The external damage will need more work, but nothing is going to stop us leaving the system now. I meant to ask you earlier, where is it you want to go?”

  The Etyrni cocked his head to one side while he thought over his answer. “I suppose I’m just happy to leave this system for now. Once I’m far enough away, I’ll stop off at a trading hub and buy a new ship.”

  She pulled a meal pack from the cabinet and ripped it open. The auto heater caused the meal to steam, and the small tray grew too hot to the touch in her hands. She dropped the meal onto the table across from Netupliktik. “I’m going to pick my next destination once the computer is done interpolating the new data.”

  She picked up her fork and started shoveling food into her mouth. The synthetic food was almost tasteless, but it was plentiful and nutritious. “What will you do once you have a new ship?”

  He rubbed his chin for a moment and answered. “I think I’ll go back to my profession.”

  Simmons’ heart skipped a beat. “Haven’t you ever thought of doing anything else?”

  “Ice Cream? Babysitting?” Netupliktik quipped.

  “Okay, I’m sorry I said those things.”

  He inclined his head in acknowledgment. “It’s the life I know how to live,” he said quietly.

  The computer beeped and said, “Navigational system restored.”

  Simmons bounced out of her seat. “Excellent.” She headed up towards the bridge. The doors opened, and she got herself seated in the command chair. “Status of data interpolation?”

  “Data interpolation complete” the computer replied.

  “Display overlay of new data.”

  The main plot turned on and an overview of the local region around her. She checked the scale and found that the area within about a thousand lightyears was being shown. She manipulated the data for a moment and then said, “Display data point sources.”

  A speckle of locations appeared on the display. “Match current locations by previous criteria labeled Simmons filter one.” Most of the locations turned off. One changed color to bright red. “Explain the highlighted anomalous reading.”

  “Data subset extends beyond filtered timeframe plus one hundred years.”

  “Plus one hundred years?” Simmons asked the computer.

  “Confirmed.”

  “How can there be active comms from that station for a hundred years after everything else in the area stopped transmitting?”

  “Unknown.” The computer responded.

  Somehow one of the stations on her highest priority list had continued to transmit for a hundred years after the remaining bases in the area all stopped functioning, presumably because all of the people in them had died of the plague. “Distance to highlighted location?”

  “Four hundred thirty light-years.”

  “Perfect. It looks like I have a destination. Where is passenger Netupliktik?”

  “Right behind you,” she heard his voice.

  Simmons flew from her chair, her heart trying to beat its way straight up her throat. She whirled in midair as she leaped from the chair and spun to face him. She was sure her hair was all standing straight out. “How long have you been there?” she demanded. Her breath was fast, and her heart was beating a rapid staccato against her ribs.

  “I followed you up, didn’t you see me?”

  She hadn’t. “No,” she replied.

  “Ah, well, sorry I startled you,” he said. “I’ll try to make sure you see me next time I come to the bridge.”

  Simmons nodded. “Good. I don’t like being scared like that. Please try not to do it again.”

  “Okay.” He lounged against the wall, his mannerism completely relaxed.

  Simmons took several deep breaths before saying, “Computer, prepare a point to point hop to the following coordinates.” Simmons tapped out a location almost halfway to the station she’d highlighted from the data she’d just gotten.

  The drive spun up and, a few minutes later, Loki transited two hundred lightyears. She checked on the systems and found everything was functioning properly. She pulled the charts up and looked over the local area.

  She turned to see Netupliktik standing near her shoulder, studying the star chart with her. “See anything?” she asked.

  “We’ve come a great distance in a short time.” He walked up to the main plot and indicated a point. “This is where we met?”

  Simmons nodded. “Yes.”

  He n
odded and said, “There are some systems you will want to avoid as you go forward. Many of them controlled by groups of Etyrni less hospitable to outsiders.” He pointed out several systems, including the one where she was headed.

  “I do need to go to this system, Netupliktik.”

  “Hmm. I know the people of that area slightly. Unfortunately, my presence won’t help you. Those few who know who and what I am will not assist me publicly and those who don’t will either attempt to shame me publicly or attack us.”

  “Regardless of how they feel, that’s where I need to go. My stealth systems should help us infiltrate the system.”

  Netupliktik snorted. “I doubt it. Etyrni sensor systems are the best of all the races I know of.”

  “No matter what, I’m going into that system and boarding that space station. We will either sneak in or negotiate for access. Before I do that, I plan to repair the ship, rebuild the drones and get my pinnace rebuilt.”

  “Surely, you’ll need to visit a shipyard to complete all the repairs,” Netupliktik observed.

  “Not at all. These ships can rebuild themselves from a nearly destroyed state. Trust me, I know.” She gave him a firm nod. “For now, we have to wait until the system is cooled down and cycles to make another hop. It’ll be eight hours.”

  He smiled at her again. “What did you have in mind to pass the time?”

  She returned his smile. “I do have an idea I’ve been pondering for the last little bit.”

  Chapter 24

  Patho stared at the screen. “What do you mean by a lot of trouble?”

  Captain Ektezul tilted her head. Her vividly yellow eyes stared steadily back at him. She said, “The pattern they’re flying, it’s not only to search the space they move through. They are covering the area with tiny sensors and a mist that will disable any ship that attempts to fly through it.”

  Patho wondered if the point to point drive would allow him to escape. “I may have a way to get past it, but I am curious, what did you mean by help me get away?”

  Her thin lips stretched open as her smile widened, showing a gleaming row of white teeth with slightly pointed canines. “My information comes with a price, Captain. Shall we bargain?”