Shroud of Eden (Panhelion Chronicles Book 1)

by Marlin Desault

  “I know you aren’t supposed to say, but just supposing you ran into aliens. Who might they have been?”

  Emeka considered the remark for several seconds, and decided the name wouldn’t mean anything to the yard boss. “Just supposing? We know them as Khepri.”

  The chief shook his head. “What the hell is a Khepri?”

  “It’s a scarab, a beetle.”

  The chief’s brows pinched in astonishment. “Are you serious? They look like beetles?”

  “No one has ever seen them, so we can’t say,” she replied. “We have the name from our intercepts of their communications. They use the symbol of a scarab in their communications, so everyone just calls them Khepri.”

  “Captain, I wish you luck when you get there. Looks like you’ll need it. From the damage you suffered, these Khepri must be tough in battle. What makes you think you’ll fare better next time?”

  “We have a new flagship, the Aurora, and she reportedly has some type of new weapon. I’ve already said more than I should. No more questions. Just make sure Vesper is at peak performance for the trials.”

  “You’ve got it, Captain. I’ll personally see to it.”

  Vesper

  ~~~

  Captain Kamau assembled her crew in the hanger deck. “Officers and crew of the Vesper, we have our operational orders. Now that we’ve completed our trials, I can tell you what those orders are. We return to Coma Berenices, and yes, we’ll likely be back in combat.” Emeka cast her gaze over the assembly. “We run the rest of our shakedown while underway. You will check every system on this ship. In seven months, when we go back into battle with the Khepri, I want this ship in top fighting condition.”

  A muted cheer rose from the crew.

  Emeka continued her speech. “You know well enough what happened in our last encounter with them. This time we will prevail.” She stood a bit taller. “We join three other cruisers, one of which is the Aurora with a new, more powerful weapon, one that reportedly can outclass anything the Khepri have. And now, to your stations.”

  The dismissed assembly broke up with officer and crew alike muttering to one another.

  With all systems confirmed operational, Emeka stood ramrod straight in her immaculately tailored, silver-tan uniform. With arms akimbo and feet apart, she surveyed the screens and instruments on the combat deck. The mighty ship sped past the Oort Cloud and on toward the warp-space transition point. Her demeanor reflected her determination. Her ship would acquit itself well in the coming battle.

  Her implant came alive. “Captain, we’ve just received word from ECCO, Plexaure and Targelion will transition out of warp-space in four months at the Khepri frontier.”

  “Damn, three months ahead of us. We’re not going to be left behind in this action,” she bellowed. “Navigation, put the spurs to this ship. Flank speed!”

  Rally Point Bravo, Star Cluster Coma Berenices

  -

  Aurora

  ~~~

  “That ship in the display is the Targelion,” Tanner remarked. “Didn’t you serve on her at one time?”

  Scott approached the display and studied the image. “Yes. Tiago da Silva skippers her now. Good man. He served under me when I was her captain.”

  “When she’s in range, I’ll ask him to shuttle over, so we can present him all the reasons why he should join us in our nefarious venture.” Tanner glanced at Scott, looking for a facial tell.

  Scott nodded his approval. “You’re right. Better that we deal with the Captains one-on-one. Now that he’s here, let’s see if we can bring him to our side before Plexaure arrives.”

  “Makes sense.” Tanner took a step back and turned toward Scott. “Plexaure won’t arrive for another two days, and at last report Vesper won’t get here for another three months.”

  Tanner returned to his command station and traced his message in the air above his input panel. When he finished, he called up communications. “Comm, I just put a message for the Targelion in your send cue. Bump it ahead of everything else and transmit it as soon as your link is free.”

  Targelion

  ~~~

  Captain Tiago da Silva relaxed in his cabin, working out scenarios for the coming battle with the Khepri, when his implant pinged a soft tone.

  “Captain,” the metallic voice of the comm officer sounded in his ear. “We just received a text from our flagship. Captain Tanner requests you join him on board the Aurora.”

  “Signal him that I’ll be over shortly, and tell the duty officer to ready the shuttle.”

  At da Silva’s command, his warship sidled up alongside Aurora, five hundred meters away. Fifteen minutes later, Targelion’s shuttle glided across the gap between the two warships.

  Aurora

  ~~~

  Targelion’s shuttle docked with Aurora, and da Silva stepped briskly down the ramp. Tanner extended his hand in greeting.

  “Poland,” da Silva said. “Good to see you again. Looks like we’ve got a real battle brewing.”

  “You’ve got that right.” Tanner motioned his visitor down the corridor. As the two strode to the wardroom, he chatted up his guest. “Vesper engaged the Khepri four months ago and took a major hit, damn near didn’t make it back. We hear she’s out of the Ganymede repair yard and scheduled to join us in a few months.”

  “From the battle assessment, the Khepri put up one helluva fight,” da Silva remarked. “Do you think it’s true? Do the Khepri’s directed energy weapons outgun us?”

  “That’s what the reports say.”

  They entered the wardroom and sat down.

  “When we engage them this time,” Tanner said, “the outcome will be different. We’ll have a four-ship fleet and a weapon they’ve never encountered, and if it makes any difference, we also have a corvette.”

  At the mention of the corvette, da Silva’s brows pinched in a puzzled look, but he focused the conversation to the problem at hand. “I’ve heard of this weapon.” He tilted his head back and lightly stroked his black chevron mustache. “Prometheus, I think you call it. I just want to know one thing: will it out-shoot the Khepri?” he asked with a look that deepened his already dark visage.

  About to share his secret, Tanner flashed his best Cheshire cat grin. “Damn right it will, both in range and power.”

  “I’ll accept your word for that,” da Silva said, eying Tanner as he put his elbows on the table. “But your ship is the only one with this weapon. What about the rest of us?”

  “We have a plan. I’ll explain it to you later, but first I want you to meet someone.” Tanner stood and made his exit. He reentered with Scott just a moment later. “I think you two already know each other.”

  Da Silva jumped to his feet and rushed over to his former captain. “I’ll be damned, Scott Drumond, you old shellback! Last I heard you were cashiered and living a cushy civilian life on some planet in the Hyades Cluster. What in the name of the eternal universe are you doing here?”

  “It’s a long story, but I’ll give you the short version. You won’t be surprised to hear that when Camus established his New Imperium, I was one of the first ones on the sacrificial alter. Bad blood between him and me is no secret among the fleet.”

  “Yeah.” Da Silva nodded. “I remember some years ago you disobeyed his direct order to save your ship.”

  Scott paced around to the opposite side of the table. “Admiral Delmar took a chance, gave me a corvette, and sent me on an exploration mission. In the process, we found the lost Themis survivors, along with a long-forgotten technology. Tanner and I decided we could best use it to defeat the Khepri, and then to restore the elected Senate and President.”

  “Whoa, that’s a tall order, Amigo,” da Silva mused. “Despite this super weapon, you’re only one ship—one ship against Camus’ entire fleet. You must be out of your mind to think you can stop Camus that easily. Understand, I don’t hold with him or what he has done. My ancestors were some of the first to pioneer the Martian settlements. We still r
emember the bitter battles fought against the Panhelion during the settlement fight for independence.”

  “Before we continue the discussion, there’s someone else you need to meet.” Scott went to the portal and motioned Klaas to join the group.

  Da Silva did a doubletake. “Klaas Van der Meer, landsman! You too? You’re part of this crazy scheme? I might have known.” Da Silva shook his head in disbelief as a broad grin formed on his lips.

  Klaas clasped da Silva’s arm. “Mensch, you should see the power we have with this Prometheus. It’s unbelievable. None of Camus’ ship can touch us.”

  Scott invited da Silva to sit. “Tiago, we’d like you to join us, to help us bring down Camus.” He sat and put his open palms on the table.

  “With two hardheaded off-worlders from the Martian settlements, you’d have a good chance,” da Silva quipped. “All right, suppose I’m in. What would you want me to do?”

  Tanner stepped forward from the corner of the room. “First, we need your help in persuading Rigus Bauer and Emeka Kamau to join us.”

  Da Silva rubbed his chin. His dark eyes glowered for a moment. “Emeka’s from the lunar settlement. They’re bitter about the way the New Imperium treats them. You might persuade her. Rigus? I don’t know. He’s a belonger from Earth,” he said, using the pejorative reserved for those with a long Earth lineage. “And from what I know of him, he holds back until he sees a clear political trend. Only then does he make his move.”

  “Thanks for the insight, Tiago. It may come in handy when the time comes to tell the others. But Rigus will be here in two days, so we need your decision before then.”

  Da Silva stood, paced to the end of the table, then spun on his heel and threw his head back with a roguish grin. “I may well regret this but, okay. Count me in as one of your merry band of scoundrels.”

  All three in turn shook hands with da Silva, and they rasied coffee cups all around.

  Two days later, Captain Rigus Bauer arrived to a warm welcome on the Aurora. “Tiago, Tanner, I can’t think of any two captains I’d rather fight the Khepri with than you,” he said, his mouth spread in a broad grin.

  Tanner slapped Bauer on the back. “Let’s all go to the wardroom and talk over some old times.”

  Bauer walked through the door first. When Scott stood and faced him, Bauer froze in his tracks. “What the... Scott Drumond? Didn’t Camus boot you out of the service months ago? What the hell is going on here?”

  Scott said, “The fact is, I’m here as a civilian, along with a Niobian, to help with Prometheus. You’ve heard of it?”

  Bauer eyed Scott. “Sure, who hasn’t? It’s supposed to be the super weapon that’s going to defeat the Khepri. That explains why you’re here, except I’m sensing something besides a battle with the Khepri is afoot.”

  “It is,” da Silva said. “Sit down. We’d like to talk to you about the New Imperium.”

  Bauer flinched and complied. “The Imperium? It’s not to everyone’s liking, but it is the authority on Earth right now. Why do you want to talk about that?”

  Scott returned to his chair as well.

  “Have some coffee.” Tanner pushed a cup in front of Bauer. “We’ll give you the lowdown. Scott, you want to begin?”

  Scott set his cup down and folded his hands in front of him. “Camus took control of the Senate by force. We intend to restore the Panhelion by force. We’d like you to help us. It’s that simple. We have Prometheus. We intend to defeat the Khepri, and then take the fleet to the solar system, where we will put the duly elected Senate and President back in power.”

  Bauer frowned and angrily scanned the room. “I don’t like it when the military goes political. No good can come from it.”

  Scott stared across the table. “Rigus, you know Camus already used the military to take over the civilian authority. We think it’s only proper to return that authority to the electorate.”

  “I see.” Bauer shifted his gaze to da Silva. “Tiago, are you part of this conspiracy?”

  “I am,” da Silva shot back.

  Bauer stood and trudged to the far side of the room. “If Prometheus has the power I’ve been told it has, and with a three ship fleet, you stand a chance of pulling off this palace coup, but I think it’s still a long shot.”

  “Then you’ll join us?” da Silva asked.

  “I didn’t say that.” Bauer returned to his seat and put his head in his hands. “I can’t be part of this.”

  Scott glanced at the other officers sitting at the table, then returned his gaze to Bauer. “Your refusal places us in an awkward position, Rigus. Now that you now know of our plan, it’s not in our interest to let you return to your ship.”

  “I suggest you rethink that, Scott. You need me to fight the Khepri. However, don’t take my answer to mean that I’m not sympathetic to your cause. I am. I just can’t go into battle against my own people.”

  “Are you suggesting an alternative to joining us?”

  “Yes, I think so. I’ll fight the Khepri with you. After all, it’s in defense of our star system and our humanity. After that, I’ll stay neutral. I won’t join you, but I won’t do anything to stop you.”

  “You won’t inform Camus or anyone else?”

  “On my word as an officer, I promise my silence on this.”

  Scott turned to his co conspirators, each of whom nodded in turn. “Fine. You may return to the Plexaure. We’ll meet with you again to plan our battle strategy before we take on the Khepri. We’re counting on you to be true to your word.”

  “My word is my honor.”

  Three months later, Vesper appeared on Aurora’s long-range display space.

  Da Silva maneuvered Targelion to the stern of Aurora, and Vesper took her place alongside the flagship. Plexaure tagged behind in the final position.

  Tanner, along with Scott and da Silva, greeted Captain Emeka Kamau at the airlock in a now familiar ceremony.

  “Emeka, you know Tiago and Scott Drumond?”

  The moment she recognized Scott, Kamau’s head jerked back.

  Tanner noted her reaction. “Don’t look so shocked. Drumond is here to assist us with a new, more powerful weapon. Please join us in the wardroom. We have much to discuss.”

  “We certainly do, and I’m eager to hear about it,” Kamau said over her shoulder as they trekked the corridor.

  Coffee service for all sat in the center of the table.

  “Why isn’t Bauer here?” Kamau asked.

  Tanner hesitated, then spoke. “He has already heard everything we intend to discuss, and he begged off this meeting in order to prepare his ship for battle with the Khepri. He’ll join us later when we plan our tactics.”

  “I see.” She took the offered seat and rested her elbows on the table. “This is your show, Tanner. Go ahead. Enlighten me.”

  For a few seconds, Tanner locked his gaze on her eyes. “Emeka, we want to talk about the Imperium.”

  “If you’re going where I think you’re going, you’d best be careful engaging in that sort of discussion.”

  Undeterred, Tanner continued. “The people in this room think it’s an affront to human dignity and must be stopped.”

  Kamau went wide-eyed. “Captain, that remark dangerously skirts sedition. Why are you telling me this?”

  Scott stood and moved to take the chair next to her. He turned his gaze on her and said, “Sedition is an ugly word, but even ugly words sometimes point to an honorable path.”

  “Look, I don’t like Camus or his methods, but I’m sworn to uphold the Panhelion.”

  “The Panhelion no longer exists. This New Imperium bullshit is a sham for Camus’ dictatorial ambitions. Your oath doesn’t bind you to that.”

  Without a word, the captain of the Vesper leaned back and clasped her hands on the back of her head.

  Everyone sat silently, waiting for her to offer the next words.

  After several minutes, she spoke. “What do you want from me?”

  “First, we
want you to know we have Prometheus, and next, we want you to help us remove Camus from office. His fleet, while a powerful force by Earth standards, is no match against us.”

  “He’s got more ships than you. He’ll make up for Prometheus with his numbers.”

  “Three ships put the odds in our favor, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, but you don’t have three ships. Wait, don’t tell me.... Tiago, you’ve joined these renegades?”

  “I prefer to call them patriots. If you join us, you’ll be part of our great crusade,” da Silva said with a flourish.

  “Incredible! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but supposing, just supposing, I threw in with you, how would you pull this off?”

  “First, we defeat the Khepri. Then we return to Earth and present Camus with a choice: either he resigns his regency, or we reduce his fleet to orbital debris. After we restore both the Senate and President, we install Admiral Delmar as Commander-in-Chief of a joint Defense and Exploration Command.”

  Emeka drew her eyebrows together. “What about Rigus Bauer? Has he joined in this foolishness?”

  “Not yet, but he’s assured us he’ll stay neutral and silent. He’s offered to help defeat the Khepri, and to remain silent about our intentions. If he’s true to his word, our four ships and Prometheus will be enough to force the Khepri back to their planet. Then, if Rigus still refuses to join us, we dispose of Camus with the three ships we have. Emeka, we need your support both to defeat the Khepri and to dispose of Camus.”

  “No problem in the fight against the Khepri, but a rebellion? I have to talk with Rigus. Not that I don’t believe you, but the stakes are rather high. I want to hear him give his word of neutrality and silence in person.”

  “In the morning, he’ll attend our tactical session in preparation for the Khepri battle. You can hear all he has to say then.”

  Emeka studied the expression on Scott’s face. “This weapon... Prometheus? Is it as powerful as you say, because this whole operation depends on our ability to outgun both the Khepri and Camus? If not, we’ll say our goodbyes to each other just before Camus strings us up on a gibbet.”