Seated in a briefing room just large enough for her Banshee company, Ayliss straightened up in her seat. Jan had mentioned Varick several times in a heavily censored message, and Ayliss had already deduced that she’d accompanied her brother to Roanum on what was publicly labeled a hoax.
“You all know this clip.” Varick waved a hand at the monitor, which activated to show the image of the original shapeshifter just before it was destroyed. Standing in a vertical tube with transparent walls, the thing appeared to be a naked human female with rust-red hair. Alarm lights flashed all around her, and a mechanical voice warned that an alien presence had been detected on the station.
Foamy chemicals splashed down on the figure in the tube, burning its flesh and removing its hair. It propped itself up against the cylinder’s unbreakable wall, glaring at something outside the video frame. Its arms began to tremble after a time, and then it disintegrated into a swirling cloud of tiny, moth-like black dots.
“Stop video,” Varick ordered, in a prearranged presentation that she was delivering personally to every Banshee company in the complex. “As you know, the shapeshifter had taken the form of Captain Amelia Trent in order to infiltrate the Twelfth Corps headquarters known as Glory Main. It was incinerated inside its decontamination tube, but not before being scanned completely—including the specks into which it resolved when it abandoned its human form.
“I was present at this event, and as a result I was assigned to investigate a second contact with the shapeshifting alien race. One of their members was reported to have contacted a Holy Whisper settlement on Roanum, asking to meet with representatives of our government. You may have heard that this contact turned out to be fraudulent, but I’ve been cleared to tell you it was not.”
Varick seemed to be looking directly at Ayliss, who leaned forward with her fingertips resting on the seat in front of her.
“It was another shapeshifter, and it had taken the same form I saw on Glory Main. It not only resembled the entity that impersonated Captain Trent, but it also demonstrated detailed knowledge of the previous shapeshifter’s sojourn among us humans—including its demise. It maintained that the members of its race are indeed shapeshifters, that they are all telepathically connected, and that they infiltrate new species in order to learn more about them.
“That last part was a lie. In an unguarded moment, the alien revealed that it—and its predecessor—had one goal in contacting humanity. They want the Step. That thing told me that once they gained the Step they would send a Sim invasion force to all of the settled planets and wipe out humanity.”
Varick paused, to let her audience absorb the implications of that statement. The seated Banshees remained silent, so she continued. “Our contact with the second alien took the form of several meetings over a number of days. At the end of each encounter, the shapeshifter would walk off into what was essentially a barren desert. Orbital and aerial tracking attempted to determine where it went, but failed every time. However, on one of those occasions the heat signature given off by the alien—which matched a human heat signature—disappeared in a burst of specks very similar to the particles scanned on Glory Main.”
Varick waved again, and the monitor changed to the forbidding gray surface of the unidentified target planet introduced to the Banshees the night before.
“Long-range surveillance of the planet believed to be the source of the Sims revealed an important piece of data some time ago. After observing the latest Sim ship launch from inside the planet, scanners identified roughly one hundred more craters which could perform the same function. Those openings received special attention, and so this behavior was recorded.”
The monitor played an assortment of different tapes showing the clouds of moth-like specks emerging and then performing their arcane aerial dances over the ruins of Omega’s lost cities.
“For reasons unknown, extremely large numbers of these moth-like things left the craters simultaneously all over the planet, and then flew around in precise formations. Earlier scanning had detected the ruins of ancient cities just beneath the target planet’s soil, and each of these clouds took on the dimensions of those ruins while flying over their locations. They performed this ritual for almost an hour, and then returned to the inside of the craters.
“While we have not yet determined what they were doing, we were able to conduct detailed scans of the particles. They are an exact match for what was observed at Glory Main.”
The reaction this time was more vocal. The assembled soldiers gave off an assortment of utterances ranging from brief whistles to animal grunts and one comment from Captain Breverton that made her troops laugh.
“Got you, motherfucker.”
“Motherfucker is right. I spent a fair amount of time speaking with the alien while it was in human form, and it was exceedingly clever. It seemed reasonable and very human, until it felt it could drop the mask. It expressed a deep-seated hatred and contempt for humanity, and an intense desire to destroy us.”
“What did it say it wanted originally, Captain?” Tin called out. “Before it dropped the mask?”
“It offered to broker a peace between us and the Sims. The aliens are still the only entities that can communicate with both sides in this war, which is why it was so important to meet with this thing.” Varick raised a hand, silencing the obvious question. “I’ve been ordered not to reveal anything more about the contact with the shapeshifter, but I promise you this: I have shared every bit of information I have that has bearing on this mission.”
“Mortas.” Erica nodded at Ayliss when she joined her on the low stage. The rest of the company was leaving the auditorium, but Captain Breverton had relayed Varick’s request to speak with Jander’s sister. “It’s nice to meet you. Your brother was the other half of that mission to Roanum.”
“I’d guessed as much, from the Bounce stories and the parts of his messages the censors let me see. He’s on Celestia now, and I hear they’re even worse about controlling what gets out.”
“They are at that. I got a couple of messages from him early on, and think he got my responses. Once they pulled me into the planning cell here, it’s been a total blackout.”
“You were corresponding, ma’am?” Ayliss cocked her head to the side, smiling in insubordinate insinuation. “He didn’t tell me that.”
“I suspect there’s a lot he didn’t tell you.” Varick returned the smile. “That’s why I called you over. It didn’t seem right to be in the same room and not introduce myself.”
“How is he?” Ayliss asked, and then reconsidered her words. “I mean, how is he doing?”
The two women burst into muted snickers.
“I’m worried about him, on Celestia. Your brother’s rebellious streak could get him in hot water in a place like that.”
“If even half of what we’ve been hearing is true, he’d have good reason. But he loves the Orphans, and respects his commanders. That should keep him in line.”
“I’m not sure of that.” Varick looked past Ayliss, making sure the remaining Banshees were out of earshot. “You know that second alien I mentioned? We had it trapped in a Transit Tube, and it was laughing at us because it believed we were too junior to decide what happened to it.”
“What did happen to it, ma’am?”
“Jan was going to jettison it, tube and all, to burn up in Roanum’s atmosphere. He knew the thing would outsmart the bigwigs if it got to meet them.”
“Did he do it?”
“No. I did.”
“You’ve got a bit of the rebel in you too, eh, Captain?”
“I’m starting to see that as a Mortas family trait.”
Ayliss looked at the exit, seeing that the remaining Banshees were all gone. “I’ve got to catch up with my squad, but I’d like to continue this. Come eat with us tonight.”
“Love to. Listen, so far the attack plan hasn’t solidified—”
“Surprising, seeing how well those ground sensors were working.”
“We, ma’am? I haven’t seen many of you staff types out training with us.”
“That’s my point. They’re still deciding how to pull this thing off. One option is to blow the whole place apart, which would be my preference. But with those monitors not working, and our only other data coming from a great distance, I think you know what’s coming.”
“Somebody’s gonna have to go into those holes.”
“We have to know what’s down there. Right now the idea is to use recon ’bots, but no recon ’bot can get past a locked hatch. The aliens might have gone to a lot of trouble to keep the surface of that planet nice and dull, but I’m betting it’s very different, just below the surface.”
“Which means humans have to do it.”
“Right. That’s the reason the Spartacans are here, but they’ve only got a company’s worth trained in suit work. I think the Banshees are going to have to do the rest. And I’m not going to sit this one out up in orbit.”
“You sure that’s why you’re asking to go with my squad, ma’am?”
“What else would it be?”
“My brother asking you to look out for me.” Ayliss chuckled. “He does seem to have some kind of influence with you.”
“He didn’t ask me to do that. In fact, he offered to get me a job with your stepmother.”
“And you turned it down? You’re a good match for him—you don’t know a good deal when you see it.”
“I’m Banshee through and through. If my sisters are going into those craters, I’m going with them.”
“All right. I’ll take it to my squad leader and see what she and the others say. Come sit with us tonight.” Ayliss headed for the exit. “My partner Dellmore’s gonna like you. I can tell.”
Erica shook her head while trying not to laugh. “Fuck you, Mortas.”
“Why do I think you’ve said those words before?”
Ayliss tried not to rush, slipping through the crowded passage that led to the big dome in the middle of the complex. Each of the smaller domes was the home and training area of separate Banshee battalions, but the big work was going on in the center. Most of it was off-limits, as she and her squadmates had learned through seemingly innocent off-duty wandering, but the spaces where their suits were being overhauled were not.
Blocker stood next to a station where the separated halves of an armored suit hung from a dark frame. Deek Orton, another of Blocker’s comrades from Larkin Station who’d been forced to flee Zone Quest’s wrath, was standing next to him pointing at a handheld.
“See right here? That’s the only available space.”
“So put it there.” Blocker answered.
“But it’s gonna interfere with—” Orton squinted down the line, and then nudged the much larger Blocker. “First Sergeant, visitor inbound.”
Blocker intercepted Ayliss, guiding her away from the sparks of an overhead welding gun. Once they’d crossed a yellow warning line painted on the floor, he stopped. “This looks urgent.”
“We just got briefed on what Command thinks the shapeshifters actually look like.”
“Yeah. Big clouds of gnats.”
“How did you know that?”
“That tape from Glory Main was distributed all over the war zone almost two years ago. You don’t need a degree in astrophysics to see the connection.” Ayliss glared up at him, and Blocker relented. “Okay, I got the same briefing. So what’s wrong?”
“I talked to Captain Varick, the Banshee—”
“I know who she is. What did she say?”
“They’re cooking up a plan where Banshee teams are going inside the craters on the target planet.”
“Got to. We can’t afford to guess here. And it won’t just be Banshees. We got a specialized Spartacan outfit, and every suit-wearing special ops team, too.”
“Okay, but what about this?” Ayliss leaned in. “So far, fire is the only thing that we’re sure can destroy the shapeshifters. The only thing we know about those craters is that they make great big ships down there. So when we go poking around inside those things, something unexpected is going to happen.”
“It always does.”
“If it’s a big enough surprise, the higher-ups are gonna freak out and thermo-nuke the place. With us inside it.”
Blocker beamed at her with affection. “Look who’s developing some good strong paranoia. My Little Bear.”
“I’m fucking serious.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. If you thought of this, so did a lot of other people. Now get back to your squad.”
“Bear!” she barked. “This is Command we’re talking about. They’re stupid as hell, and they don’t give a shit. My sisters are not going to die for no good reason . . . like that doe that got killed because it ran the wrong way.”
Blocker nodded, looking solemn. “Leave it to me. And focus on your training. Concentrate on the role they give you.”
Ayliss cast him a doubtful look, and then hurried off. Blocker watched her go, and then returned to Orton.
“She onto us, First Sergeant?”
“No. It was something else.” Blocker paused, and then raised his eyes to the cavernous ceiling. “But it did give us an additional job. Where’s that thief Jerticker?”
Chapter 12
“Come on over, Jan.” Major Hatton’s voice spoke inside his helmet, calling Mortas away from the activity that surrounded him. First Battalion’s A Company had shuttled into a new position the night before, and he stood on a low hill in its center. All around him soldiers were digging in, emplacing obstacles, and performing the endless tasks of creating a defensive perimeter.
The location had little to recommend it. Apart from the small hill, it was as flat and empty as the surrounding plain, and all the materials the troops would need to construct bunkers had to be shuttled in. The position was covered by aerial drones and orbital rocketry, but as a spot to fight off a determined attacker it left a lot to be desired.
Mortas walked past a circle of radiomen who always accompanied the brigade’s commander, Colonel Watt. A mobile headquarters, they used the communications gear in their armor and helmets to coordinate with and direct the brigade’s other two battalions. Watt had come out to the new emplacement that morning, and Major Hatton had summoned Jander there as well.
The two commanders stood apart from the rest of the soldiers working on the hill, Hatton large and bear-like where Watt was average height and barrel-chested. Both men turned goggled eyes to face Mortas as he approached.
“Major Hatton tells me you received another communication from the Orange last night, Jan.”
“Hugh Leeger visited me on the Mound, sir.” Jander stood at attention, unsure how his meeting would be taken.
“Now that is interesting.” Watt slid his goggle lenses up inside his helmet, leaving the frames pressed against his dark cheeks. He looked around, squinting in the sunlight, and then noticed Mortas’s posture. “Relax, Jan. Major Hatton’s told me the basics, and you’re not in any trouble. I doubt Leeger gave you a chance to take him prisoner.”
“He walked right up to my garden, unarmed and alone. I didn’t try to capture him because I knew he’d be handed over to Asterlit, sir.”
“Not if I could help it.” Watt raised his index finger. “I’ve had to brief that guy several times, and it’s like talking to a robot. Hard to understand how someone with so little emotion can be perpetrating so much misery.”
“That was one of the reasons Leeger gave for his visit, sir. He said that Asterlit has secretly reopened several of the mines that the slaves didn’t capture, and that he’s manning them with refugee labor. He said they’re forced to work in exchange for their rations.”
“Dear God. Just when you think we’re getting somewhere with this disaster.” Watt exhaled, and for the first time Jan saw fatigue in the man’s face. The Orphan Br
igade’s commander unfastened his helmet, and motioned for the other two men to sit on the ground with him. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Sir?”
“History, Jan. As brutal as the war with the Sims has been, we forget how much cleaner it is than the wars fought on Earth. No cities, no civilians, no refugees. Just two armies going at it out in the boondocks. Heck, the way Sam dies in captivity, we don’t even have any experience running prisoner camps anymore.
“Some of those ancient conflicts on Earth got awfully nasty when you added in the civilians. Social order was replaced by roving bands of men with guns. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you sometimes had hordes of the displaced, completely at your mercy. I’m not excusing any of it, but it’s easy to see how monstrous abuse flourished under those circumstances.”
“I like to think it takes a certain kind of mindset to commit those crimes, sir.” Major Hatton offered.
“So do I. Unfortunately, the galaxy is full of people like Asterlit and the oligarchs who used to run this place. They certainly had that mindset, and the rebellion hasn’t taught them a thing. I swear, talking to Asterlit, it’s like he sees the people around him as playing pieces to be used up in a game that only he understands.”
“Leeger said that several refugee camps under Asterlit’s control had been moved to the mining areas, sir. It wouldn’t be difficult to confirm that, using our reconnaissance assets.”
“The difficulty comes after you confirm it. Every Force unit on Celestia ultimately answers to Asterlit. That’s the only way we can legally operate here, the only way we can legally have crossed the CHOP Line out of the war zone. It would do no good to report these crimes to the individual who ordered them.”
“If I may, sir? Maybe we tell someone else.”
“You remember when you reported to this brigade, Jan? The day we met?”
“Yes, sir.”
Live Echoes Page 16
