For this battle he was taking six Federation battleships, ten battlecruisers, forty strikecruisers, and twelve of the Gaia class battlecruisers. In addition, Alton Admiral Cleeteus was taking twenty battleships and twenty of his battlecruisers. The Carethian fleet, which Grayseth and Admiral Calmat were in joint command of, consisted of two battleships, ten battlecruisers, and twenty-six medium cruisers. The Command AI was also committing a fleet. Sixty of the stupendous fifteen-hundred-meter warships were going as well as eighty of the one-thousand-meter warspheres. Jeremy intended to crush the Simulin fleet in the Zeta 3A Star System and then seek out and destroy any Simulin surveillance ships around the nebula.
Looking around the Command Center, Jeremy took a deep breath. By attacking the Simulin fleet, it ensured the Dominator wouldn’t fall prey to a trap when it returned from the blue-giant nebula. It would also be sending a message to the Simulins.
“Will I be allowed to fight with the Avenger?” asked a girlish voice from behind Jeremy.
Jeremy allowed himself to smile. Sometimes he forgot Ariel had originally been programmed to command a warship in battle. “Perhaps,” he answered. “We’ll see how the battle goes.” Looking over at the sensor console, he noticed the panicked look on Kevin’s face. Ariel tended to get overzealous in her maneuvers during battle, and some of her antics could be quite frightening if one wasn’t prepared. “Don’t worry Kevin, it might not be necessary.”
Kevin nodded and turned his attention back to his sensor console.
“Commander Malen, take us out,” ordered Jeremy as he settled back in his command chair. “We’ll stop just inside the outer section of corridor five and send a few ships out to take scans. Once we’ve confirmed the enemy’s location and numbers, we’ll launch our attack.”
On the main viewscreen, Jeremy watched as they began to pull away from Gaia. It would have been relatively easy to remain hidden in the nebula for years to come and stay away from the Simulins. However, to do so would be to allow the Simulins to rebuild their strength and Jeremy could not allow that to happen. No, it was time to go on the offense and take the war to them. Jeremy just hoped he wouldn’t come to regret his decision.
Chapter Thirteen
Reesa looked with boredom around the room she was imprisoned in. It had been six days since the appearance of the Originator in the museum. The being hadn’t said a word but had motioned for her to follow him. She had been taken to this room and once inside found the door locked. Twice per day a tray of food appeared in a slot on the wall.
It had taken her a while to figure out the restroom facilities as everything was designed for an Originator. Sometimes she felt like a child in an adult’s room. Even though Altons were a tall race, the Originators were even taller. She was in a suite of rooms which contained a living area, a bedroom, and a restroom. Everything was vaguely similar to what one might expect in an ordinary apartment building except larger. For instance, she could sit on the bed and her feet didn’t touch the floor. The same with the furniture in the living room. For six days she had examined every aspect of her prison, not finding any way to communicate or to even guess where she was.
With a heavy sigh, Reesa sat down in one of the comfortable chairs, which nearly engulfed her. Every day she was growing more restless and concerned. Kelnor must be highly upset with her, even more so than he had been. It seemed her enthusiasm was constantly getting her into trouble. She didn’t see how Humans handled all of these emotions without self-destructing. Most Altons were more logical, and only a fraction of the population was like Reesa. It was one of the reasons why most had shied away from the war effort.
A noise at the door drew her attention and much to her surprise, it opened. Instead of the male Originator who had brought her to this room, a female stepped inside. Reesa drew in a sharp breath. The woman was easily eight feet tall. She was very Human in form except her skin had a more bluish tone to it than did her own. Her hair was a fiery red, and her facial features seemed very normal. If Reesa didn’t know better, she would think this was an Alton, just taller with a few minor differences.
“Hello?” Reesa said, rising immediately to her feet. The woman gazed critically at Reesa and remained silent. “Who are you?”
The Originator stepped over closer and folded her arms across her chest. “Why have you come here?” she asked. “Our world is not for your kind.”
Reesa was startled as the Originator’s voice sounded very normal, even a little youthful. “My name is Reesa Jast, and I’m an Alton. We came to the Dyson Sphere to make contact with your race.”
“That is what you call the metal sphere which encloses this star?”
“Yes,” Reesa answered. “We mean no harm.”
“Where did you get this?” asked the woman, holding out the copper colored key.
“My people found it long ago in the ruins of a planet near here.”
“What is your function?”
Reesa thought this was a strange question. “I’m a research scientist specializing in the Originators.”
“That is what you call the race that built this Dyson Sphere?”
Now Reesa was feeling even more confused. “Aren’t you a member of that race?”
The woman regarded Reesa critically for a moment before replying. “No, the Originators, as you call them, died out several million years ago.”
Reesa’s eyes widened at this revelation. “Then who are you?”
“I am an AI, and this body is an avatar I use to give myself a physical form when needed.”
“An AI,” repeated Reesa, feeling stunned. It helped to explain why this conversation seemed so strange. “How long have you been here?”
“From the beginning. There are a number of us responsible for the upkeep of the Dyson Sphere. Most of us stay in stasis until we’re needed to serve some function which the regular repair robots can’t handle.”
Reesa paused as she thought of her next question. “Why was I brought here and then left alone? It’s been six days and my friends must be worried about me.”
“Ah yes, your friends in Raelen,” the AI said. “We’ve been monitoring them. We were curious as to how you gained admittance until we found a computer pass key on you.”
“The copper colored globe?”
The AI nodded. “It is surprising one survived outside the Dyson Sphere.”
“Will you take me back to the others?”
The red-haired AI gazed thoughtfully at Reesa. “We’re not sure. We allowed your people into Raelen when we realized the food resources in the small valley were being exhausted. If not for the computer key in your possession, you would never have found the technological section of the museum. We have analyzed the primitive technology of the ships orbiting the Dyson Sphere and determined the technology in that section is far too dangerous for your people. Some of it is thousands of years more advanced than what is currently being used on your spacecraft. We have locked that part of the museum down so no one else can gain entrance again, even with a computer key.”
“We mean no harm,” reiterated Reesa, feeling desperate to gain the AI’s trust. “We just want to know more about the people who built this fabulous place. There is nothing else like it in the galaxy.”
The AI slowly shook her head showing doubt. “One group of ships on the far side of the Dyson Sphere has emplaced nuclear explosive charges against the hull. That is not what I would call a peaceful gesture.”
“Those are the Shari,” replied Reesa, feeling worried upon hearing about the nuclear charges. She couldn’t believe the Shari would be foolish enough to attempt to blast their way in. “They have conquered this section of our galaxy and seek the science of the Dyson Sphere for their own ends. If they gain access, they will use your science and technology to conquer the entire galaxy and enslave every inhabited world.”
“And your people? Your ships are even more heavily armed than these Shari you speak of. We have detected antimatter weapons on board many of your starships.
What makes your people any different?”
Reesa was feeling overwhelmed. “We recently fought a war against a great enemy to free part of the galaxy. The Shari are a segment of that great enemy though not nearly as dangerous. Even now, there are others who pose an even bigger threat. They are called Simulins and come from outside this galaxy. They are searching for the Dyson Sphere as well.”
“We know of the Simulins,” the AI said with a deep frown. “They have taken over a number of the spheres, or at least managed to access the intergalactic vortexes the Originators once used to travel between galaxies.”
Reesa felt confused. “Why have you allowed them to do this? Surely it’s within your power to prevent them from using the Dyson Spheres for evil.”
“At first, we didn’t realize their intentions,” confessed the AI. “We have since sealed most of the Dyson Spheres from their use. We have also ensured they only have limited access to the ones they have gained a foothold on. Very few of the AIs in the Dyson Spheres have been trained for actual warfare or how to deal with the current situation.”
“Surely there are automatic defenses?”
The AI nodded. “Yes, very powerful ones. If the Shari explode one of their nuclear charges against the outer hull, it will trigger an immediate response.”
This concerned Reesa greatly. “What about the ships in my fleet? Will they be harmed as well?”
“It’s possible; the automatic defenses are controlled by the Dyson Sphere’s core computer system. It may not differentiate between the ships of the Shari and yours.”
Reesa pursed her lips at hearing this. Somehow, she needed to get a warning to Admiral Tolsen. There was no doubt in her mind after seeing the technology of the Dyson Sphere that the automatic defenses could probably destroy every ship in orbit.
“Is there any way I can get a message to the admiral in charge of our fleet and warn him of the danger if the Shari actually explode one of their devices?”
The red-haired AI gazed at Reesa and was quiet for several long moments. “I have spoken to several of the other AIs currently out of stasis. By consensus, we have decided to take you to one of the Dyson Sphere’s Control Centers. Once there, we will make our final decision on your request to communicate with your fleet.”
“Thank you,” Reesa said. She just hoped they would allow her to send a message and it would be in time.
-
On board the WarHawk, a new shift was starting in the Command Center. “No change in status,” reported Commander Arnett as Admiral Tolsen entered through the thick metal security hatch. “The Shari are still holding their positions and the size of their fleet has remained unchanged.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Race answered as he sat down in his command chair. Looking at the large viewscreen, he saw it was focused on one of the large circular indentations on the surface of the Dyson Sphere.
“I have Alshan Kalar on the comm for you,” reported Captain Denise Travers. “He says it’s vitally urgent he speak with you.”
Race nodded. Every time Alshan sent a message, he claimed it was vital. “Alshan, what have you discovered? Have you found another entrance into the Dyson Sphere?”
“No,” Alshan’s replied in a shaky voice. “However, we have discovered something much more important. The bowl-shaped area we have been investigating is not an airlock.”
“It’s not?” replied Race, feeling disappointed. He knew by now the odds of the exploratory team still being alive were slim. Their only hope lay in if they had succeeded in making it to the inside of the Dyson Sphere and had found a viable source of food and water. The odds of that were infinitesimal. “What are they?”
“We believe the bowl structures do indeed open, but when they do it’s to establish an intergalactic vortex.”
Race’s eyes opened wide in shock. “But some of those structures are nearly thirty kilometers across!”
“Yes,” Alshan answered excitedly. “It would allow for the movement of entire fleets at a time.”
“How many of the bowl-like structures have we detected on the Dyson Sphere?”
“Twenty-seven,” Alshan answered promptly.
“How would they be powered?” Race recalled that the AIs had built an entire series of energy collector satellites around the black hole at the galaxy’s center to power their massive vortex. Two of the surviving power satellites had been used to send the Distant Horizon to the Triangulum Galaxy in search of Admiral Strong and the lost fleets.
“From the sun inside the Dyson Sphere,” Alshan answered. “They probably only powered up one or two of them at a time but the energy they could capture from the sun would be sufficient. Depending on the size of the star inside the Dyson Sphere, they could have upwards of four to five thousand yottawatts available.”
Race leaned back in his chair and frowned. This was not what he had wanted to hear. “There has to be an entrance somewhere.”
“I agree,” answered Alshan. “We just haven’t been able to locate it.”
“Continue looking,” Race ordered. “And keep me informed of any further significant developments.”
Commander Arnett looked over at the admiral with a sad look on her face. “I spoke to Major Nolan earlier. He says if the exploration team didn’t find a viable source of food and water they’re probably all dead.”
Race knew in all likelihood the team had perished. It also was beginning to appear to him they weren’t going to find a way into the Dyson Sphere. He wondered about contacting Ambassador Tureen and seeing if the ambassador could speak to the High Lord commanding the Shari fleet. Perhaps they could come to an agreement where both sides agreed to leave the Dyson Sphere alone. He was well aware the ambassador had failed in his first attempt with the Shari Grand Council of High Lords. Perhaps now they would be more willing to negotiate in order to avoid an all out war.
If they could agree for both the Shari and the Federation to keep a small observation force in the system with open lines of communication back to their respective governments, maybe that could end this dangerous standoff and take the Dyson Sphere off the table. With a deep sigh, he leaned back in his command chair. Looking over at a secondary viewscreen, he saw the battlecarrier Hera, where Massie was. They talked every day which helped being so far from the Federation, but he knew morale in the fleet was becoming a problem. It was difficult being so far from home for such an extended period of time.
-
In the Shari fleet, High Lord Aktill gazed with concern at the ship’s main viewscreen. He had just finished speaking with Abrade, the Shari scientist responsible for the research being done at the Dyson Sphere. Once more the scientist had demanded he be allowed to set off the explosive charges so they could blast open an entrance to the Dyson Sphere. Several days before, Aktill had sent off a message to the Shari Grand Council of High Lords asking for instructions. He had also included the warning sent by the Humans. Aktill had informed Abrade no explosives were to be used until there was a response from the council.
“The fleet grows impatient,” warned Lower Lord Samarth. “Our enemy is still at the Dyson Sphere and our crews wonder why we don’t attack.”
Aktill frowned and turned toward his second in command. In recent days Samarth had become more demanding about the fleet taking a more aggressive stance.
“Look at the defenses the Humans and the Altons have set up above the portion of the Dyson Sphere they’re exploring. They have superior weapons and better energy shields. If we attack, we stand the chance of losing the majority of our fleet, if not all of it.”
“I don’t believe that,” scoffed Lower Lord Samarth. “Their vessels are just slightly more powerful than ours. The only ships we need fear are their larger ships and they only have a few of them. We have over sixteen hundred warships to attack with. If we send our entire fleet in we will overwhelm them and victory will be ours.”
“Return to your duties,” ordered Aktill coldly. Lower Lord Samarth’s remarks were bordering on insubordin
ation. “We will wait until we hear from the council and see what type of action they will demand of the fleet.”
Samarth nodded and turned away to go about his duties.
Aktill watched him leave, still feeling angry about Samarth’s attitude. It was inaction that was beginning to affect the fleet. Aktill knew it would soon be necessary to engage the Human and Alton fleets if he didn’t want his crews to begin losing their combat efficiency. Looking at another one of the viewscreens, he could see several of his battlecruisers and even a few escort cruisers. This was by far the largest fleet he had ever commanded, and he wasn’t that anxious to throw it into a battle he might not be able to win.
-
Inside the Dyson Sphere Reesa leaned back in her chair, fighting to keep her eyes open. After leaving the quarters she had been held in, the AI had led her deep underground to a massive transit system that linked the different sections of the megastructure. When asked, the AI had said her name was Leeda. The vehicle they were traveling in was very similar to a bullet train she had ridden in while visiting Earth. Only this train was capable of traveling nearly two hundred miles per second in the transit tube they were traveling through. They had been traveling for well over a day.
“We’re nearly there,” Leeda said, noticing Reesa starting to doze off.
Reesa opened her eyes and forced a smile. “Is this how you travel all over the Dyson Sphere?”
“No,” Leeda responded. “We have small flyers we can use as well as some spacecraft for longer distances.”
“How much longer until we arrive at our destination?”
“Four of your hours,” Leeda answered. “Why don’t you retire to one of the sleeping compartments and I’ll awaken you when we arrive.”
Reesa nodded and stood up. She had spent a lot of time talking to Leeda about the Originators. While Leeda was willing to speak in general terms about the ancient race, she was unwilling to reveal anything about their technology. Perhaps she would learn more once they reached the Control Center.
The Lost Fleet: Genesis: A Slaver Wars Novel Page 20
