Mako (The Mako Saga: Book 1)

by Ian J. Malone

  “In addition,” Reiser continued, “Caldrasite is a very rare commodity in this part of space. We’ve got just enough left on Aura to serve our needs for the time being, but nowhere near enough to sustain ourselves for the indefinite future.”

  “I take it that’s what was found on Kendara?” Lee deduced, drawing a nod from Reiser.

  “It was far and away the single richest find in the history of either of our worlds and with it, Aura had a source of energy that could power not only our ships, but our entire civilization almost indefinitely. After news of the Kendaran find reached Alystier, they demanded that we share it with them, but the mine was clearly in our space so they had no real claim. In the interests of maintaining the peace, President Wylon proposed a trade agreement that would’ve given them some access to the mine, but at far less capacity than their original demands had dictated. Needless to say, High Chancellor Zier decided in his infinite wisdom that his people should command the lion’s share of the mineral, and since they had no legal claim to make such a demand based on our existing treaty with them, they simply decided to take it. After diplomatic talks were officially called off, war was declared, and as you say, the rest is history.”

  Lee sat back, in awe of what he’d just heard.

  “Wait a second,” Danny grumbled. “Earlier when you talked about this mineral stuff…”

  “Caldrasite.”

  “Yeah, whatever. You said your tech operated on some kind of blend because it couldn’t handle the power… until very recently. If you guys have figured out how to use this stuff in its purest form, why not supercharge your fleet and go wipe the Alystierians off the map? I mean, if it’s as powerful as you say, they’d be no match for you, right?”

  “Caldrasite is a very delicate substance,” Reiser explained. “It’s easily tainted and once that happens, it’s all but unusable. As such, the refinement process is extremely tedious and time consuming, and it would take the better part of a decade to prepare the amount needed to do what you suggest. Plus, every vessel in the fleet, from carriers to fighters, would need to be extensively modified to be able to handle such an augmented power supply, and in the case of the older ships, a retrofit of that size isn’t even possible. However… and very few people know this… the ASC science division, in partnership with my company, have developed a new strain of the mineral that, in conjunction with the right hardware, can be used at full-rich, without blending.”

  “Along with the Mimic project and Earth, this is one of Aura’s most closely guarded secrets,” Noll said firmly. “No one—and I mean, no one—outside of the president and the admiral knows of this. Three months after we left Aura for your world, the ASC science division was in the process of finalizing plans for development on the first ever, full-rich, Caldrasite-powered craft…” He paused and looked straight at Lee. “A fighter.”

  “The Mako,” Lee guessed—his pulse quickening.

  “Correct,” said Noll. “According to the last report, the project has already reached the end of the prototype phase and is undergoing final tests now. If successful, the Mako could prove to be the launching platform for an all-new fleet that would be powered exclusively by this new technology. Then,” he concluded, looking back to Danny. “Then, we contemplate ‘wiping the map’ of Alystier.”

  “Until then, we need more time,” Reiser added. “Time to refine the formula. Time to develop the technology. Time to mass-produce both and deploy them throughout the fleet. Time… The one thing we don’t have a lot of.”

  “So that’s why you need us,” Link surmised. “You’ve got to find a way to replenish your numbers long enough for the new fleet to be commissioned.”

  “That’s correct,” said Reiser. “We have the means to replenish our supply of ships as they get destroyed in the field, but we’re running out of boots on the ground. At the rate we’re losing, or so it was when we left for Earth, we simply can’t train soldiers fast enough to get them into the field with the proper skills they need to be effective.”

  “Enter the Mimic Technology,” noted Lee.

  “Precisely,” exclaimed Reiser. “If I can perfect the program, it should, theoretically, buy us the time we need to stay in the fight long enough to upgrade the fleet; and if that happens, this war will be over in weeks, if not days.”

  “That’s just great,” Danny muttered to Link. “Experimental soldiers for an experimental fighter, powered by an experimental fuel. Could there possibly be any more straws to grasp at this point?”

  Noll turned an agreeable eye to Danny, an exchange not lost on Lee.

  “Sir, I take it that you don’t share the doctor’s optimism over the project’s potential?” he asked.

  This earned a sigh from the sergeant major. “Dr. Summerston,” Noll began, draping a careless arm over the back of his chair. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no scientist. I’m a military man who, as you put it, was trained in the old school that believes there is no substitute for experience when it comes to making a good soldier. I’ve served in the Auran fleet for 27 years—the last five of which have been under Admiral Katahl himself on board the Praetorian, and while I fully realize that Aura simply has no other alternative at this point, you’ll excuse me for being a little skeptical that a recreational game can prepare men for war.” He gestured back to Danny. “How about you, Mr. Tucker? Could a video simulation prepare someone to track a serial killer, or be shot at in the line of duty?”

  Danny shook his head, no, and Noll settled back into his seat, confident he’d made his point and visibly grateful that at least one of them understood it.

  “Listen, far be it from me to tell you guys how to fight your war,” Link added, “and maybe this is a stupid question, but your people devised a weapon capable of wiping out an entire planet to end the occupation of your world, right?”

  “That’s right,” Reiser responded, aware of where this was going.

  “Well, excuse me if this is overly bold, but why not just nuke ‘em and be done with it? I mean, if these people are threatening your very existence, how does that make them any different from the aliens who invaded you all those years ago? Build another weapon, smuggle it onto Alystierian soil and detonate the damn thing—game over, man.”

  Noll shook his head. “We could probably do that, but it’s not an option.”

  “Why not?” Link argued, drawing a look of contempt from the sergeant major.

  “Because like it or not, those people are our brothers and sisters,” Noll declared, “and to commit an act of virtual genocide against our own blood…” He winced. “Let me put it to you this way, I’ve taken my fair share of Alystierian lives on the battlefield and even I don’t want that on my conscience.”

  Reiser wholeheartedly agreed. “You also can’t forget that while Alystierian culture revolves around the military, there are still tens of thousands of civilians on their world.” He stopped and looked to Lee. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but many years ago your country unleashed a weapon of mass destruction on a warring nation, and if I’m not mistaken, you never have again, correct?”

  “No, that’s very much true,” Lee said somberly.

  “Hey, don’t misunderstand me,” Link persisted. “I’m all for world peace and all that happy hippie horse crap—and believe it or not, I can totally respect the nobility of your stance on this. But just out of curiosity, what’s to stop them from pushing the button on you guys? Since that bomb was designed before they split for their own world, don’t they have access to the same plans?”

  “Odds are that they do, but High Chancellor Zier would never allow that to happen,” Noll assured them.

  “Yeah, you mentioned him earlier,” Mac pointed out. “Is that the same guy who led the Imperialist Party’s secession from Aura 80 years ago? How old is he now, anyway?”

  “No, that was Clayton,” said the doctor. “He died about a decade ago, and according to Alystierian law, the chancellorship is passed to the commandant, the supreme head of
their fleet which in this case, happened to be Zier’s son, Lucius.”

  Hamish’s expression twisted. “Keeping it all in the family, huh?” he huffed. “I bloody well hate that kind of politics.”

  “Zier is the least of our worries right now,” Noll scowled. “At least he has some semblance of honor in combat, which is why he’d never use the bomb against Aura, because his pride won’t let him. Zier believes in a very strict military code of conduct whereby the rules of engagement are to be respected at all costs, no matter the prize, and such an act would be considered an egregious act of cowardice to him. The new commandant, on the other hand…” Noll’s fists clenched in front of him. “Well, he’s something else entirely.”

  “I presume this is Masterson we’re talking about?” asked Mac.

  “The one and only,” Noll grumbled. “Alec Masterson is a thug and a sadist—pure and simple. Have no doubt about it, he’d launch such an attack in a heartbeat if it were up to him, but being the commandant means he’s next in line for the chancellorship, and defying Zier’s orders on such a cataclysmic scale would almost certainly result in his total banishment from Alystierian society. I’ve heard horror stories of this guy unleashing his goons on female prisoners until they gave up the information he needed, and even then there were no guarantees he’d make it stop. He’s butchered entire families in the name of victory, and then slept well that night after doing so.”

  Lee felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to rise. Alec Masterson had historically played the role of “the Big Bad” in Mako Assault, but he was rarely actually seen. Rather, Masterson was always that shadowy nemesis in the distance, pulling the Alystierian strings from on high while other, less distinguished soldiers pulled the actual triggers. Now, however, hearing Reiser and Noll describe him, Lee’s mind harkened back to his studies, and to names like Alexander and Bonaparte—or worse, Hitler and Stalin.

  “I’m telling you right now, people,” Noll declared, “I’ve been to many worlds in many galaxies, and I can promise you this without hesitation: you will never find a more ambitious, not to mention brutally ruthless son of a bitch in this universe than Alec Masterson. What’s even worse? The guy’s nothing short of a brilliant strategist—a real prodigy—which is why he’s shot through the ranks to commandant. He’s never lost a campaign that he’s personally overseen, and between his record and his fiery, charismatic style, the men under his command follow him without question. He promises them glory and immortality through victory in combat, and they eat it up like sheep.”

  “Sounds like Masterson has more of a following than the chancellor himself,” Lee noted. “That can’t sit well with Zier.”

  “There have been rumors circulating for quite some time now of a growing rift between the two,” said Reiser. “But you know how it goes with rumors. Even if they did have a falling out, it’d be a hard sell in the press for the chancellor to replace him as head of the fleet. The fact of the matter is, Zier needs him. Code or no code, Masterson gets results and the Alystierian people, not to mention his men, love him for it. Zier might not always agree with his methods, but the commandant is their best shot at reaching Kendara.”

  As Ensign Marell began to make his way around the table, collecting the dirty dishes and shuttling them off to the galley for cleaning, the crew rose to their feet as the evening inevitably wound to a close.

  “Alright, everyone, lights out in 30, so get ready to bunk in, and we’ll see you all in the morning,” Noll called to the kitchen staff as Lee and the others rose from their seats.

  “I’d like to get an early start in the morning, if you don’t mind,” Reiser said to Lee, who extended a hand. “Get some rest tonight. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.”

  ****

  Later on that evening, as darkness fell over their quarters on C-Deck, a restless Lee laid awake in his bunk, unable to sleep as expected. Bored—his mind still racing with all that he’d learned at dinner—he raised his hand into the air and examined it in the brilliant blue glow of hyperspace that poured in through a porthole across the room.

  “Does anybody else think we just might be in a little over our heads here?” Danny’s voice called out.

  “Amen to that,” Link answered from the bunk above Danny.

  “Honestly, fellas, I’m sure every recruit in military history, be it in our world or theirs, probably felt the same way after his first day in boot camp,” Lee reminded them. “Just remember, they were there to fight. We’re not.”

  “Riiiiiight,” Danny countered. “I don’t know, bro. From the sound of it, they need all the help they can get, and I’m here to tell you right now, I want no part of it. Hate to be that way, but you heard what they’re up against, and this Masterson guy doesn’t exactly sound like somebody I want to screw with, in any capacity.”

  “I’m with Lee on this, lads” Hamish called from across the room. “Granted things have changed a wee bit, but we were brought in to be consultants, and madness as it may sound, that really hasn’t changed if ya stop and think about it.”

  “I won’t lie to you, boys,” Mac said from the bunk in the corner. “Dinner tonight was one massive eye-opener, but crazy as it was, I’m with Lee and Hamish. Let’s ride this out and see where it goes. Don’t forget, we were the best at what we did back home, and if even half of that can translate into something that these people can use, then I’m glad we’re here.”

  “Well, ladies and gents,” Danny said through a yawn. “I guess starting tomorrow we’re gonna find out just how good we are. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to bid you all a good night.”

  “‘Night,” the others responded.

  It took a while for Lee to fall asleep after that, but eventually drowsiness found its way to him. Before it could take hold, however, Lee heard a familiar gruff snicker slip through the darkness as his nostrils flared with the stench of digested garlic and herbs.

  Danny Tucker exploded. “Link, you rotten-ass little twerp!”

  Chapter 17: Arrival

  The next two weeks were a whirlwind of activity while Reiser prepared the group for the rigorous training that awaited them on Aura. As 14-hour days in the cargo bay quickly became the norm—splitting time between flight simulators, the virtual firing range, and the occasional dash to the mess hall for a meal—the friends scrambled to familiarize themselves with everything they could before arriving at their final destination. During the rare occasions when they weren’t stuck in the bay, they were usually locked away in their quarters (or “after-school detention,” as it soon became known) boning up on their reading materials—which Reiser typically assigned by the volume.

  On the morning of their arrival into Auran space, Lee leapt from his bunk and headed straight for the showers to begin his daily routine. Like the others, he was excited to finally have the chance to get to work, if for no other reason than to step foot into some place other than their cabin or the cargo bay. Brushing his teeth in front of the mirror as the others got ready around him, Lee listened as Noll’s voice called across the comm.

  “Crew members, take your stations. Hyperspace exit will occur in five minutes.”

  Running a set of fingers through his wet hair, Lee tucked in his shirt and bolted for the door as the others fell in line behind him—each of them anxious for a glimpse at the planet they’d heard so much about over the last six months. As the lift came to a halt on A-Deck, the steel doors swooshed open to reveal a massive, bi-level room that, for all intents and purposes, served as the operational brain of the entire ship—the bridge.

  Stepping off the lift onto the balcony, Lee observed for a moment as the ship’s senior staff scrambled around him to their stations—their faces awash in the dancing lights of the chirping consoles at their fingertips—each of them understandably excited to finally be returning home to their families and loved ones after well over a year. Mindful to stay out of their way, Lee shifted toward the railing and traced his hands along the banister as down below, si
x more officers manned their stations in front of a large, rectangular viewscreen, which, at present, showcased the luminous blue tunnel outside. Finally, at the center of it all was Noll, sitting quietly in his captain’s chair—his attention focused on a report while his crew worked hastily around him.

  “Hyperspace exit in 15 seconds, sir,” said the helmsman to Noll’s left, and like clockwork, the view ahead dissolved abruptly from blue to the endless black void of open space.

  “I don’t know if that’ll ever get old to me,” Mac murmured to Lee, both of them still in awe of their surroundings in spite of having been in them for nearly 15 days now.

  Tracking the star patterns from left to right, Lee thought he could almost pick out the subtle differences between this system and his own, though his attention was soon lost to the crystalline majesty of the streaking comet in the distance. Feeling the ship circle around to its designated course, the group watched through the viewscreen as a large, blue sphere of striking familiarity came into focus.

  “Auran Cruiser, this is ASC Command,” an unfamiliar female voice called through the speakers above them. “Please identify yourself.”

  “Command, this is the AS-Milky Way, requesting permission to dock with Praetorian,” said the sergeant major, punching a button on his chair.

  After a few moments of static, another voice responded. Unlike the female, however, this voice—deep and rugged—couldn’t have been more familiar.

  “Milky Way, this is Praetorian,” the man said. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Far too long, Admiral Katahl,” Noll answered with relief. “It’s good to hear your voice again.”

  “Likewise,” said Katahl. “I’ve been following the progress of your mission through the reports, and I understand it was a success.”

  Noll smirked a reply. “We’ll find out soon enough, sir, but we’re heavy five passengers on the return trip, anyway.”

  “Fair enough,” said Katahl. “You’re cleared for docking on Hatch 11. Proceed on your current heading, and I’ll see you onboard shortly.”