“You should have been there, in the shuttle,” said Thomas, glancing up sharply and studying his brother’s face. “There were at least four or five thousand capital warships on patrol in that star system. Hundreds of them are committed to protecting the central star alone – they are arrayed in a tight formation surrounding it in a carefully planned, geometric pattern. They can intercept and shoot down any attacker well before he can hope to pull into firing range.” He shook his head with disgust. “The sight of it really pissed me off! They’ll let people quash away, taking it out on any star in the Wasteland except theirs.” He continued watching Adam for a reaction. “Are you seriously planning on taking just two ships in there?”
“You’re familiar with the plan,” said Adam with a wry smile. “We only need one. And unless your software code fails to work, we’ll be successful. Don’t worry about it Thomas… Noah has agreed to help us.”
“Our motion sensors detected more than fifty thousand Kuth fighters flying patrols,” continued Thomas as he returned his attention to the laptop and its keyboard. He began typing again. “Those are just the ships we had time to count from our observation points, the total number that were in flight during the time we were there. The exact size and composition of their entire fleet remains unknown, since the majority of their ships are no doubt grounded on many of those planets.”
Adam pointed toward the hatchway he had just used only minutes previously. “I just listened to President Kaufield,” he told his brother sternly. “He gave me an order to relax, and that’s what I’m suggesting that you do too. That is, unless you want me to call him up here…”
“I am relaxed,” insisted Thomas forcefully. “I’m as calm as anyone can be, given the circumstances.” He looked back toward his brother again, this time with a bit of puzzlement. “It’s hard to imagine what you’ve gone through out there,” he continued, watching his brother curiously. “You’ve changed Adam. You sound a lot more like Kaufield now than my brother. Is the grouchy, civilian Hardware Specialist in you gone for good? Are you just some sort of military jarhead now?”
“No,” Adam chuckled dryly. “I have every confidence that, once there is time for me to wind down a bit, I will one day return to my old, cynical civilian self. And when I do so, I will once again visit upon you, my younger brother, countless jibes and witticisms created by a fascinatingly intelligent mind. I will once again take cheap shots at you, criticize your skinny nature and make fun of your comic book collection.”
“Hey!” Thomas interrupted suddenly, holding up a stern finger for emphasis. “Let’s leave the comic books completely out of this discussion, okay?” Then he smiled and found himself calming down. “I knew you were in there somewhere.”
“We’ve just got to clear one last hurdle in this race of ours,” Adam reminded him. “It’s a big one, but it’s going to help countless people and preserve billions of lives.”
“Then it’s worth the effort,” concluded Thomas. “Regardless of what happens to us.”
“Nothing is going to happen to us,” promised Adam. “I’ve seen the schematics on the enhancements to the Pathfinder. You and Glen have converted this ship into a real beast. It’s a dragon just waiting to pounce.”
“That’s right. She’s a fire breather now, in every sense of the word.”
Aboard the Ali Rinai…
After returning to his own ship, Adam located Snee Vasten in the Mess Hall. The Zaketh leader appeared genuinely pleased to see him, pushing aside his empty plate and turning his chair so that he was facing his Captain. “You should have brought that fancy ship of yours into the Wasteland days ago,” he told Adam with a sly smile. “The food on this ship has improved by leaps and bounds.”
“We’re about to start another war,” Adam told him, deciding to be honest and blunt. He held up the tips of his forefinger and thumb less than an inch apart. “A really small one.”
Vasten nodded in acknowledgement. “I expected as much. How soon?”
“As soon as my people can relocate the majority of this ship’s crew complement back to the Proteus galaxy,” stated Adam informatively. “Even the prisoners are going to get a new home, albeit their new lifestyle will be slightly tougher than they’re used to. We need to drop this ship’s crew complement down to a bare minimum as soon as possible so that we can move them over to the Pathfinder. I figure we’ll keep the three Crasel along with that Dru Gadin fellow who does so well up in Command. Kra Wonin will want to retain a couple of his own trusted officers, and we’ll also accept anyone else you deem necessary.”
“With respect Captain, that isn’t a lot of people even if they’re only acting as advisors…”
“Your caution is noted. However, all we’re going to do is basically ride the Pathfinder straight into the heart of hell and hold her on course until it’s time to leave,” Adam told his friend emphatically. “I’ve already notified Wonin about the personnel changes, and he’s very pleased that many of his best people are about to be relocated. They’re going to their new home, with many more soon to follow. Things are about to change for the better with the other clans too, including yours.”
Studying his expression closely, Vasten nodded with resolve and determination. “Okay. But if we rocket toward this foothold star system that the Kuth value so greatly…” His eyes met Adam’s to seek confirmation that this was indeed what they were going to do. Adam acknowledged the gaze with a firm nod. “The Caucus is going to send everything they have available out to stop us.” His eyes ran up and down Adam’s tall frame, appraising him. “I know from experience that you can survive virtually anything, even a walk in deep space. The rest of us, unfortunately, are not nearly as durable.”
“The Pathfinder is strong enough now to hold them off long enough for us to make a difference,” Adam continued with a confident grin. “We need to create a distraction that lasts just long enough to complete our primary objective, nothing more. Don’t underestimate the Pathfinder. She’s sporting some brand new weaponry with punches even more powerful than our shuttles.” His smile widened. “She’s just like me now, equipped with advanced weapons tech and ready for action. Except that she’s the ship-sized version.”
“Even that may not be enough,” grumbled Vasten warily. “Your brother sent over details regarding the images and motion sensor readings they captured during their scouting mission to the foothold system. There is basically a huge armada in there, ready to fight and piloted by Kuth who are very angry with us.”
“We’re going to use that to our advantage.”
“May I ask how?”
Adam smiled in response. “Do you remember that small PTP system you took out of Captain Barrek’s escape pod before we used it to return the dead Kuth to that convoy?” he inquired curiously. “Have you installed it on the supply ship yet, as you were planning to?”
“No.” Vasten almost looked taken aback by the question. “There has been so much going on… I’m sorry Captain. If that’s a priority in all of this, I’ll get someone on it immediately.”
Adam held up a hand and waved it casually. “No… not necessary. Don’t sweat it Mr. Vasten. I don’t think a small transit device like that is large enough for the supply ship, anyway.”
“It’s really not,” Vasten agreed instantly. “The pod, once ejected, is meant to take a series of short hops in quick succession, placing it far enough away from a battle zone to allow its occupants the time they need to wait out a lost battle. Once the fighting concludes and the area is safely vacated, a distress signal can be transmitted by the officers aboard. After that, they simply wait for a rescue and subsequent reassignment.” He smiled dryly. “Obviously, the Yakiir make certain that their highest ranking officers and Kuth operatives have an escape hatch. After all, we know from experience that they do occasionally lose a fight.”
“That’s what I was hoping for,” noted Adam, clearly pleased by the analysis. “I need a device that will be able to transit across smaller distances at a
faster than normal pace.” He stood up and waved to his friend. “Will you assist me?” he asked. “I want to attach it to a piece of Yakiir hardware.”
“Of course,” Vasten said. “Do we need anyone else?”
“No,” replied Adam. “We’re going to have to load some new software, but Thomas is going to send us an upload as soon as he’s finished writing the new routine.”
Together the two of them left the Mess Hall and headed out into the adjoining corridor.
PROJECT WASTELAND
Pathfinder Series: Book Two
Chapter XVII: Kicking Over Anthills
Aboard the Pathfinder…
Wearing his old Captain’s uniform – which somehow, inexplicably felt just a little bit more tight around his waist after ten years – President Dennis Kaufield stepped into the Command Dome on board the very same starship that had saved most of Earth’s surviving population. This time the stakes were just as high but their efforts were aimed at an entirely different group of people. Well, I guess humans are humans wherever they might live, Kaufield thought calmly to himself. Then he remembered Adam’s strange conversation with the surreptitious David. Others would argue that sentient beings are sentient beings, wherever they might live. He walked down toward the central ring of computers and seated himself at his normal station. Mary Hastings was right next to him, and he noticed that she had arrived early, in time to set up and activate his Point-to-Point touchscreen laptop, the tool used by Kaufield whenever the Pathfinder needed to move very swiftly through multiple transit hops.
Mary didn’t look a day older than the last time they had sat together at these very same stations, during that long ago time when they first landed on the planet Tranquility. Is she dying her hair to keep the gray out? Kaufield wondered curiously, running a cautious hand through his own graying locks. Maybe I should do that, except that it’s traditionally a female thing and Presidents are supposed to look older and wiser than everyone else around them. He smiled at her attractive features before shifting his gaze to her husband Glen Fredericks, the broad shouldered, square jawed man sitting across from him. “I take it that Adam won’t be joining us on this occasion?” he asked inquisitively, watching Glen shake his head negatively.
“He’s busy helping his brother finish setting up the enhanced communications center,” replied Glen with a wry smile. “Apparently, there aren’t enough computer tie-ins on the console up here, which is perfectly fine with me. Thomas and I are finished adding things to the outer hull, our Lab Wing is gone, and we’re looking to pitch in and help too.” He smiled his friendly smile. “The CAS system is totally contained in the old cargo bay, so there’s no need to monitor it remotely… our power source is even less exposed and safer than it’s ever been. Unless you have any objections, I’ll be filling in for Adam over here and keeping an eye on things.”
“Good to know,” nodded Kaufield, studying the standard computer screen next to the laptop. He brought up a series of coordinates and star maps, looking specifically for the detailed images of the newly discovered, foothold star system that contained the central Kuth Caucus. “Things are going to get dicey again for a while, Mrs. Fredericks.”
Mary smiled in response. “Understandable. There are a lot of lives at stake,” she replied in her soft, professional manner. “However, you gentlemen will have to speak up when issuing orders, as I seem to be the only one without an implant to rely upon.”
“Trust me, you’re not missing much,” Glen told her. “Somehow my wife having access to all of my thoughts and memories doesn’t sound like the greatest idea in the world…”
“Adam and Noriana seem to have made it work.”
Glen chose to ignore his wife’s comment, sparking a light laugh from Kaufield. The President took one last look around the Command Dome, at all of the new specialists that had come aboard in response to the Pathfinder’s weapons upgrades. The starship boasted several new departments as a result, along with several large teams of rail gunners working on the upper and lower decks of the ship. “I was hoping that Nori, at least, would be here,” he stated with mild disappointment. “We don’t need her to fly a fighter this time, but her tactical experience is certainly useful at times like this.”
“She’ll call if we make any mistakes,” Mary said reassuringly. “Now that Adam is back aboard, she wants to spend as much time with him as possible. The Roh brothers are working hard to make certain that they successfully transfer the AI program back from the Ali Rinai. It has literally learned how to behave like a Yakiir warship and so they need it functioning at one hundred percent accuracy once this mission begins.”
“What about weapons?”
“Unless we choose to turn control over to the AI, we can run weapons from up here. Thomas and Adam will execute the rest of the project from below.”
“Forgive me if I appear a bit nervous. We’re about to become the focal point of an all-out attack,” pointed out Kaufield. “We worked hard to learn things and it ended up pissing off the Caucus something fierce. They’re going to be looking to take a very large bite out of us.” He opened a comm-channel to Adam Roh. “Are you folks ready down there?” he asked casually, knowing full well that they were literally crawling around amidst all of the technology located one deck below, in a large chamber directly beneath his feet. The ship’s mainframe was down there, linking all key shipboard functions together.
“We’re ready when you are, Captain,” Adam replied enthusiastically, his voice simultaneously echoing in Kaufield’s mind. “Thomas has identified the first set of planets, and we’re planning to transit directly in close proximity. Since they’re obvious, key targets there are large numbers of enemy ships protecting them. At that point we’ll be counting on the Pathfinder’s defenses to keep us safe just long enough to complete our mission. It won’t take long. Once we’ve identified the local area, we can populate a map of the rest of the solar system using the data gathered on Thomas’ and Noris shuttle mission. The only wild cards will be the ships comprising the enemy fleet since many of them will have shifted positions since the initial survey.”
“I’m looking at Thomas’ data now,” acknowledged Kaufield. “We’ll do our best to program evasive patterns that will shield us from most of the human vessels, since our primary beef appears to be with the Kuth Caucus. But make no mistake; this is going to be yet another bloody day in the long history of bloody battles. There is no way to avoid it, they’re going to do everything in their power to try and stop us.”
“Kra Wonin plans to do all that he can to talk the commanders of the human vessels out of joining in,” said Adam in response. “However, he is uncertain as to how many Yakiir will believe him, given the fact that communications are easily faked. He’s got several private codes that he hopes will verify his identification and therefore assist us, but there’s no way to tell for certain. If the Yakiir ships get in the way, you’re going to have to shoot back.”
“Let us worry about that,” Kaufield declared, glancing toward Mary. “Lt. Fredericks will give you specific parameters on our CAS drive. We’re shrinking the singularity even farther than normal, so it will eat more fuel and produce more power than ever before. As soon as you signal ready, Mary will give the AI-program complete control of the CAS system. That will allow it to auto-adjust the fuel supply as our weapons systems temporarily draw more power than we’ve ever needed. This is the first time that output will exceed what our batteries can handle, so whenever weapons fire terminates we’re going to need an almost instantaneous reduction in the fuel’s flow rate.”
“Acknowledged.”
Noah appeared suddenly, stepping through the open hatchway leading into the Command Dome, moving immediately toward Kaufield. “The transceiver array aboard my shuttle is ready,” he informed the President. “It has connected to your mobile device and is ready to transfer control of the force shield that Adam requested I create. All he has to do is define a perimeter for us, and we’ll proceed. The bubble will la
st until he requests that we shut it down.”
Absorbing the new information silently, Kaufield studied the two computer screens in front of him before tapping the open comm-link. “We’re ready Adam… stand by for transit in thirty seconds.”
For a brief few seconds, an awkward silence reigned.
Finally… “This is going to be tough to pull off, even with every technological edge on our side,” Glen declared anxiously. “Are you sure Adam knows what he’s doing?”
“I’m reasonably certain, which is why we’re doing this now,” growled Kaufield in response. “Before I have time to change my mind.” He gritted his teeth and studied the countdown clock, watching additional precious seconds tick away. “I hope you Roh boys are ready,” he stated bluntly. “Ten seconds.”
“We’re ready too Captain,” replied Adam confidently.
The countdown hit zero and immediately the overhead monitors surrounding the central computer ring lit up with a bright emerald flash nearly as explosive as the similar, brief bursts of light in the Command Dome’s circular ring of windows. Alarm klaxons blared instantly as the Pathfinder arrived at her destination and the starship’s comprehensive motion sensor grid promptly detected multiple targets surrounding them. Glancing over at the side panel, Kaufield took careful note of the graphical, three dimensional image of the space surrounding them, specifically the hundreds of moving red dots that indicated enemy vessels. I’ve never seen so many targets in one place in my life, he thought wildly. And these are just the ships currently in flight… in one small area of a much larger star system!
The Pathfinder Trilogy Page 74
