Formation: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The Ghost Squadron Book 1)

by Sarah Noffke

  “Captain Teach,” said ArchAngel, her face appearing on the television in front of him.

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “I wanted to let you know, Pip and I have decoded the first segment of data you collected. We have something to share when you’re ready.”

  Eddie sat up. “What did you find?”

  “There appears to be a short correspondence between the leader of the outpost you attacked, a man named Commander Orsa, and an anonymous contact located somewhere in the Pal System.”

  “Anonymous?” asked Eddie. “You don’t know who it is?”

  “The transmission appears to be partially redacted. Certain information is beyond retrieval, but there’s enough here to warrant an investigation.”

  “It’s not much, but it’s a start.”

  “Indeed, sir,” agreed ArchAngel. “I’ve already forwarded this information to General Reynolds, but he asked that I share all my findings with you directly.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes, sir. You are, after all, the acting captain of the ArchAngel.”

  Eddie nodded. “Right. How long until we arrive at the station?”

  “Three hours,” answered the A.I. “I suggest you rest until then.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  The screen clicked off and Eddie leaned back, sinking into the couch. He kept forgetting how much responsibility he now carried on his shoulders. He never pictured himself in charge of an entire battleship, but he’d acclimate in time. The general had given him a great responsibility and he would honor that trust with hard work.

  He took another swig of the Coke, finishing the can and tossing it into the nearby wastebasket.

  Now that ArchAngel and Pip had discovered their next target, it wouldn’t be long before Eddie was back in action. One way or another, they’d find the people responsible for the attacks and make them pay for what they’d done.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Captain Teach’s quarters, QBS ArchAngel, Paladin System.

  “Captain,” said a voice from the intercom. “Captain, are you there?”

  Eddie opened his eyes, groggy as hell, but awake. It took him a moment to gather himself. “Who…?”

  “Sir, it’s Pip. Commander Fregin wanted me to inform you that we have arrived at Onyx Station.”

  Eddie blinked with burning eyes, twisting in his bed, he threw his legs out. His feet landed on the floor with a thud, and he pulled himself upright and staggered across the room, grabbing a clean towel hanging over a chair nearby. He wiped the sweat from his cheeks. “Tell her I’m coming.”

  “Yes, sir,” said the E.I. “But she’s already on her way to your quarters.”

  He got to his feet and stumbled over to the clean-shower. “Why’d you bother me if she’s on her way here?”

  “So you could be awake when she arrived.”

  Eddie turned the knob and started the cleaning process. Unlike the showers he was used to, this one didn’t use running water. Instead, it used sonic vibrations to eradicate filth from the body, providing better results than a traditional soap-and-water experience. Eddie wasn’t a huge fan, but he accepted that it did the job better, and it was faster, taking only a few seconds. Eddie was a creature of habit, but he could make adjustments when he needed to.

  But that didn’t mean he had to like it. He enjoyed standing under a hot shower with water raining over his head.

  He slipped on a clean shirt and finished getting dressed. Right when he was about to tie his second boot, he heard a knock at the door.

  Julianna was framed in the doorway when he opened it, looking pristine and well-rested. Then again, she always looked like that. Maybe it was the genetically modified body or perhaps she’d always been the kind of person who needed less sleep, but she never appeared to be tired or overworked.

  A good thing, too, because it meant she’d stay reliable and efficient. Eddie couldn’t have asked for a better partner on this assignment.

  “Fuck, you look rough,” she said when he opened the door.

  “I’ll be fine when I get some caffeine.”

  “Here,” she said, tossing him a small green pill. “Take this.”

  “What is it?”

  “For energy, but it’s not addictive or a crazy drug. It just helps the brain feel like it got enough rest. Totally healthy, unless you take them every day for a month. That’s when you get problems.”

  He tossed the pill back and swallowed. “General Reynolds gave me a pill for hangovers and now you’re giving me one for lack of sleep. Does the Federation have a pill for everything? Why haven’t I heard of this?”

  “That pill was created six months ago in a lab specifically for combat situations where the soldiers had to stay up for days. It’s not meant for casual consumption.”

  “And the hangover pill?”

  “They sell those all over the Federation now. You just missed them because you were gone. Stick around and you’ll find that we’ve got the best technology.”

  Having flown the Q-Ships more than a few times by now, he had to agree. The technology in the Federation was far and away the most advanced available.

  The two made their way through the halls towards the docking bay. “Lars and Hatch not coming?” asked Eddie.

  “They’re already on the station. Hatch said he wanted to spend some time with our new friend and show him around, but I got the impression he wanted to grill him with questions. I told him to bring Lars to the General’s office in thirty minutes for the debrief.”

  “Isn’t Reynolds worried about a Kezzin running around the station?” Eddie asked.

  “He’s got eyes all over Onyx station.” They stepped off the loading dock of the QBS ArchAngel and onto the ramp leading into the nearby terminal. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the old man wasn’t watching us right now.”

  Eddie raised an eyebrow and looked curiously around the station. “Seriously?”

  She laughed, but didn’t answer, and then continued walking toward the bustling promenade.

  ***

  Eddie was surprised to find the General standing outside his office when the two arrived. “Welcome back,” said Lance. “And good job to both of you.”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Julianna.

  “Before we get on with it, we need to discuss your extra passenger. Teach, what can you tell me?”

  “Well, we were placing the bombs around the wall, following the plan, but near the end of it, Lars overheard us. I guess we were making too much noise. Anyway, he managed to—”

  “Pip filed a report on the details of your mission, Captain. I know the basics. Tell me why you brought him back with you.”

  “Oh,” muttered Eddie. “Well, sir, he couldn’t stay there. He betrayed the Brotherhood to get us out of the base. I couldn’t abandon him at that point.”

  “I understand, but how did you know he wasn’t playing you?”

  “Sir?”

  “How did you know he wasn’t pretending to be your ally, only to betray you later?” asked Lance.

  “Frankly, sir, a man doesn’t shoot his own people, crawl through a sewer full of shit, get shot at, and help destroy a cache of weapons if he’s just faking it.”

  “Could have been an ultra-elaborate ruse to get inside the Federation. At the cost of one weapons cache, and by the way, did you see the weapons actually get destroyed? You still can’t be sure, can you?” asked Lance.

  “No, sir. I can’t, but at a certain point, don’t we have to take that risk?”

  “What if he betrays you? What if everything he says turns out to be a lie?”

  “Then it’s something we’ll have to live with,” answered Eddie. “But I won’t live my life expecting the worst in people. I can’t.”

  Lance smiled. “Good. That’s very good, Captain.”

  Eddie raised his brow. “Sir?”

  “The Federation was founded on the belief that all people, not just humans, deserve a chance to be happy, to live and
let live. If we turned this Lars fellow away just because of where he came from, we’d be fools and liars. My source on Kezza tells me that Lars was speaking the truth before about his family. What he told you about how he was recruited was true, as far as our Kezzin spies tell us.”

  “You have Kezzin spies working for you?” asked Eddie.

  “Of course, I do,” said Lance, as though it should be obvious. “Not in the Brotherhood, but I have a few on Kezza.”

  “Lars took his brother’s place?” asked Julianna.

  “Indeed, he did,” answered Lance. “An honorable sacrifice, if ever I heard one. That’s exactly the kind of person I wanted you to find, Teach, and you delivered.”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Edward, still unsure of where the conversation was going. He thought he’d been on trial, but he was getting commended?

  “Now, if the two of you are ready, I’d like to discuss our next mission.”

  “Is this about the information ArchAngel and Pip deciphered when we were en route?”

  Lance took out a cigar and lit it, taking a short puff. “That, and a little more. They had most of the puzzle, but—”

  “You’ve got the rest,” finished Eddie.

  Lance grinned. “Right you are, Captain Teach. It just so happens the Pal system listed in that coded transmission is also home to a prominent merchant known as Val’Doon Sarnack. He’s so rich he owns a small fleet of unmanned ships, dozens of which exist solely to protect that system.”

  “Sounds dangerous,” said Julianna.

  “Only if you’re not prepared,” said Lance.

  “Which we are,” added Eddie. “Right?”

  Lance smiled at the two of them. “Oh, yes.”

  ***

  Hatch escorted Lars through the shopping plaza in the promenade while the rest of the team met with Reynolds. Lars had come aboard with nothing but the clothes on his back, so he’d need his share of items if he planned on sticking around. “There’s a shop that caters to your kind,” Hatch told the tall, red-skinned fellow as they passed a human bathroom.

  Lars looked at him. “My kind?”

  “Kezzin,” explained Hatch. “Or are we ignoring your species for the sake of political correctness?”

  Lars grunted. “Fine.”

  “Reynolds told me you’re going to be a member of the team. I hope you’re ready to work your ugly ass off.”

  Lars said nothing.

  “Feel free to tell me how ugly you think I am, too. I know you’re thinking it.”

  Lars couldn’t deny it. He’d never seen an alien like Hatch, with eight tentacles and a body that inflated and deflated on command. It reminded him of a slimy balloon. “I would never say such a thing.”

  “Well, I think you’ve got a face like a scab,” said Hatch. “You look like a pile of volcano ash with eyes.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me, but don’t feel ashamed. To most of these people, I resemble a monster. The humans say I look like some kind of animal back on Earth. Something called an octopus.”

  “Is there a point to all this?” asked Lars.

  “Yeah, drop the wall and stop being so damn guarded and polite. I can see it all over your ugly face. You think you’re a guest here. You think you’re not wanted. But let me tell you, kid. Strangers are polite. People you meet on the street that you’ll never trust or care about are polite. But you and me, that’s not going to be our thing, buddy. That’s not how we’re going to do this” Hatch raised his tentacle and stuck it close to Lars’ face. “You see the way Julianna and Edward are with each other? How they are with me? If you plan on sticking around, you’d better learn to relax and say what you think.”

  Lars blinked at the tentacle, surprised by Hatch’s frankness. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because,” Hatch went on. “You saved their lives, and that not only makes you an ally. It makes you a friend. And buddy, I don’t let my friends bullshit me. Do you understand?”

  “I think so,” said Lars. “You’re saying I should tell you that you’re ugly.”

  Hatch puffed his cheeks. “That’s right, because I know that’s what you’re thinking, and don’t be afraid to say it more often. Be honest with yourself, and be honest with us. If you do, you’ll find more than allies here, kid. You’ll find friends.”

  Lars listened to the words with some appreciation. He’d only met a handful of aliens in his lifetime, but never one like Hatch. He was blunt and somehow likeable, despite all the insults and the attitude. Lars couldn’t help but respect him, the same way he respected Edward and Julianna.

  Could Lars truly find a place among these aliens? He liked to think so, given their determination. “Do you think,” began Lars, turning to look at Hatch. “Do you believe Captain Teach will be successful in his mission to stop the Brotherhood?”

  “Do you think I’d be here if I didn’t?”

  “A fair point,” acknowledged Lars. “I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Yes, we will,” agreed Hatch. “But for now, let’s find you some new underwear. I’m sure you can use them.”

  ***

  Hours later, after a few beers, Eddie returned to the ship with Julianna and the rest of the team. They convened in the conference room near the bridge.

  General Reynolds stood beside him, waiting for the others to take their seats.

  Once they had, Eddie turned to the screen behind him. “ArchAngel, we’re ready when you are.”

  “Acknowledged,” said the A.I., and suddenly the image transformed to show a star system.

  “This is our target,” Eddie said, motioning to the screen. “The Pal System.”

  “It is well-guarded,” began ArchAngel. “There are three dozen drones patrolling it at any given time. Combined, their firepower is very capable.”

  “Still, no match for the Q-Ships,” said Hatch, confidently.

  Eddie nodded. “Not in terms of firepower, but there’s one problem.”

  “What problem?” asked Hatch.

  “The base is outfitted with a shield. It allows their ships to pass through, but any unauthorized vessels that come into contact with it are disabled. We can get close, but even with our cloaks raised, we can’t pass through.”

  “A shield?” asked Hatch. “I haven’t heard of anything like that.”

  “That’s because we didn’t know it existed until last year,” interjected Lance.

  “Why wasn’t I informed?”

  “You are now. We had no idea until yesterday that Sarnack was the one responsible for the Brotherhood’s attacks on our colonies,” explained Lance.

  “Who?” asked Hatch.

  “I’ve never heard of such a person,” said Lars.

  “That’s because he’s not Kezzin,” explained the General.

  Lars tilted his head. “The head of the Brotherhood isn’t Kezzin? How can that be?”

  Eddie shook his head. “We’re not sure, exactly, but it’s true. The data we pulled from your old workplace pointed here, and the General filled in the rest. This guy’s bad news, and it won’t be easy to get to him.”

  “What information do we have about this shield of his?” asked Hatch.

  Lance looked at the screen behind them. “ArchAngel, can you send all the data we have about that directly to Dr. Hatcherik?”

  “Certainly,” agreed the A.I.

  Hatch glanced at the pad in his hand, watching as the information appeared before him. A second later, his cheeks puffed. “Ah, well, this is most interesting.”

  “Does all that make sense to you?” asked Lance. “Feel free to tell the rest of the class.”

  “The shield has six emitters, it looks like, spread across the six moons surrounding this planet. If we can disable them, we’d have a far easier time of it, but there’s a problem, which I’m sure you already know.”

  Lance nodded. “The generators are inside the field.”

  “Right, exactly. We’d have to get inside first an
d disable them.”

  “How do we do that?” asked Eddie.

  Hatch rubbed the side of his cheek with his tentacle. “Well, the only way I can think of is to steal one of their drones, but based on what I’m seeing here, they don’t go outside the field unless provoked.”

  “Which we can’t do without setting the entire system on high-alert,” said Julianna.

  “No, I don’t suppose we can,” agreed Hatch.

  “Anything else?” asked Eddie.

  Hatch raised his eyes to the others. “There’s one, but I don’t want to suggest it.”

  “Why’s that?” asked Lance.

  “Because,” Hatch explained. “It would mean using one of the Q-Ships, possibly destroying it, and they’re too valuable.”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Eddie.

  “The engines use a very specific type of gravitic energy. I could configure them to ignite a feedback surge through the field to disable it, although doing so would fry most of the ship’s system.”

  “We have a few more Q-Ships sitting in storage. I could have them delivered in a few short days,” suggested Lance.

  “No, that won’t do.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Because, General, only one of the ships uses the design I mentioned.”

  “Only one?” asked Eddie. “You don’t mean the original, do you?”

  “I do, indeed,” said Hatch, glancing back at the pad. “The very first one. None of the other engineers who came after me decided to keep my design, which means none of the other Q-Ships are worth a damn.”

  “What’s different about that one? I don’t understand,” said Eddie.

  “The newer models make use of a more constrained gravitic engine. It’s the same one used by the rest of the Federation, but I created my own custom design for that first ship. It’s unlike anything else.” He paused. “It’s unique.”

  Eddie considered his friend’s words carefully. “Is there a way to make another machine that can do the same thing as that engine?”

  “Of course, but that would take time,” answered Hatch.

  “How long?” asked Lance.

  “If we assume a team of a dozen engineers working around the clock, maybe a month,” said Hatch, pausing a moment. “Could be less if everything goes well.”