The Hidden Ship

by Mark Wayne McGinnis

  “Hmm . Maybe just one thing . . .”

  “Yeah? And what’s that?” I asked.

  “Me sitting there with you . . . on your lap.”

  I liked the sound of that—

  “Incoming!” Came Yeager’s booming baritone voice.

  I scanned my HUD and, sure enough, we had incoming bogies not only coming from Earth, but up here in space. Well, it was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time.

  “Talk to me Mike, what’s their ETA?”

  “You’re pretty much looking at the same thing I am. The little general here says we all need to throttle all the way forward. We may be able to maintain our slight head start.”

  We all did as suggested and our individual spacecraft shot forward. The subsequent g-forces pulled me hard back into my seat.

  I saw that Vogthner was hailing me. Out of habit I said, “Go for Polybius.”

  I saw the Chancellor standing within the crowded hold area. Bodies huddled in close all around him. He shifted his position and the Maiden Sow came into view behind him. She was speaking to a group of five Marshals—their rapt attention, more like infatuation, made me smile.

  “The Maiden Sow has relayed to me she is feeling a little ill. She’s requested we alter course for the nearest Situational Command Ship . . . so she can deal with some, um, personal issues.”

  I noticed that the other Humans there in the hold were giving the female Earupitan a wide birth. Clearly, the oversized gasbag was making the air in that hold toxic. “Tell her you asked and I, apologetically, had to decline the suggestion.”

  He nodded.

  “I’m fairly sure you knew what my answer would be. Was there anything else, Chancellor?”

  He nodded. “Perhaps this plan of yours is . . . not a sound strategy.”

  “And why is that?”

  “You must have already considered the fact . . . you will, most certainly, fail. Any attempt on the females aboard that habitat . . . Brian, the wrath you will incur—”

  I chuckled at that. “Either way, we would die. What difference does it make?”

  “You are correct, Brian. Death would be the end result for you and this attack force, me and my marshals included. But I assure you, harm any one of the females, and it would not be quick. Remember, my kind is well versed in the application of pain. Unimaginable pain.”

  “I’m aware of that, Chancellor. As I’m sure my brother was, too . . . during the long hours of torture he endured prior to his own execution. I’m not going to ask if you were there, or if you were the one responsible. Knowing that would mean I’d have to kill you. Both Donny and Matt, there with you in that hold, would leap at the opportunity to carry out my orders. But you still might be useful to me.”

  I killed the Chancellor’s channel and tried not to think about failure. His use of the word plan gave far more credence to our actions than they deserved. I’d been pretty much winging things since the start, making decisions based solely on my gut. Plan? What plan? What were we going to do once we got to the habitat vessel? Saddle up to the front door and knock? Ask to come in for tea and crumpets?

  Mike’s face popped into view on my HUD. “Two things, no wait, three things . . . first, a fucking armada of warships is closing in on us as we speak. Second, critical levels of methane are making the air in the lower decks unbreathable. And three, none other than his Eminence, Overlord Skith himself, is on the line waiting to speak with the commanding officer of this squadron.”

  “You could have led with that last one, Mike. But this is good; I’ve been waiting for him to make contact. Go ahead and put him through.”

  “We all want to see this,” he said.

  “That’s fine,” I said. “Put it on an open channel.”

  It took a few moments and then there he was, the most powerful individual in all the Earupitan Empire. He spoke first. His English was impeccable. “Ah, so you are the one they call Polybius.”

  “That’s right, Overlord . . . nice to make your acquaintance.” I could see he was barely holding it together. Seething. While Human faces flush pink when they seethe, Gap faces, instead, turn a factor of shades of darker green. That and his breathing looked forced—was labored. He was clearly about to blow a cork.

  He said, “A fleet of Earupitan warships is nearly upon you. You will not achieve your goal . . . to come anywhere close to our sacred Solaris Habitat. Halt your progression now . . . while I am still feeling amiable and willing to discuss things.”

  I furrowed my brow—making an exaggerated thoughtful expression. “Well, . . . I don’t really think I want to do that. I figure we’re all dead anyway. We’ll just continue on our way and see what happens.”

  “Do you know how easy it would be . . . destroying you, your little convoy of stolen ships?”

  I shrugged. “I imagine, pretty damn easy.” I snapped my fingers. “That’s how quick.” I looked at him. Can your kind do that, snap your fingers?”

  “Do not play with me, Human. I assure you, Captain Brian Polk, you will not win. You will be made to regret all your actions moving forth.”

  I had to smile at that. “The thing is . . . your Eminence, to play this game you actually need to have something to bargain with. Look at my face. Hell, look at any Human’s face today. We’ve lost everything. You’ve taken our loved ones from us, our friends and family. You’ve taken our fucking planet from us. So we’ll be satisfied with something relatively inconsequential.”

  He raised his nose and waited for me to continue.

  “We’ll be satisfied hurting you. You, individually, and, if possible, your kind . . . collectively.”

  He scoffed at that, waiving a dismissive hand in the air.

  “Say, Mike, can you provide the overlord that feed of the hold area? Let him see his wife, his Maiden Sow, being seduced by more than a few, highly infatuated, EMS marshals?”

  “You got it, boss.”

  The now split screen feed showing the hold area was perfect. The Maiden Sow seemed to be holding court to no less than twelve marshals. I let him glare for several more moments before saying, “My plan is to raffle her off. Do you have such a thing where you’re from . . . a raffle? You know, where some lucky bloke’s name is drawn from a hat—”

  “I know what a raffle is, Captain Polk. Harm her, and I will make your last moments alive—”

  “Yeah, I got it, beyond agonizing.”

  I looked up and around, surprised to see we were quickly closing in on the Moon. There were hundreds of vessels keeping pace with us. True warships—big substantial starships—undoubtedly each with countless canon muzzles directed toward us, toward me.

  “What’s it going to be, overlord? And by the way . . . she’s been asking for you. Doesn’t seem to realize the gravity of the situation. Maybe I should just tell her. Tell her that she’s just not that important to you? That she, unfortunately, along with the rest of us, will soon to be blown to—”

  “What exactly do you want?” He yelled.

  His eyes were wet with brimming tears. His face looking resigned to whatever I would ask. But I knew her lone life would not be enough to get these fucking lizards off our world.

  “We’re approaching the habitat,” Mike said in my ear.

  I took in the massive vessel. And it was truly beautiful. Clearly a feminine design. A wispy rainbow of variant undulating hues. Soft pinks and baby blues beneath flowing bands that were as bright and golden as our sun. Contours of the habitat were comprised of gentle lines—never a harsh angle. We moved ever closer while the armada only seemed to grow in numbers.

  “What I want, Overlord Skith, is entry into that habitat.”

  “That . . . is impossible. Will never happen . . . not ever. So do as you will with my wife. Which pains me to say. But even if I gave the command to allow such a thing, it would be ignored. For right there li
es the very future of our species.”

  Mike said, “Um . . . Brian, I’ve found the front door. A kind of flight bay entrance.” As the somewhat spherical shaped structure revolved on its axis, I saw what Mike was referring to. A rectangular opening large enough to receive twenty XL5 ships simultaneously. It shimmered a bright aqua blue—glowed as if it were electrified.

  The overlord said, “That access portal you are scrutinizing is, of course, shielded. It is an impregnable energy field . . . one capable of withstanding more firepower than this entire armada could produce. An energy field that can only be disabled from someone on the inside.”

  I didn’t doubt everything the overlord was saying to me was anything but the truth. So I looked elsewhere. Interestingly, as much as the structure looked almost ethereal and not solid, I saw, now being in such close proximity, that it was an illusion conjured artificially by use of projected imagery. An elaborate light show. Hull plates comprised the outer skin of the structure. Hard to see, sure, but there were cable runs, and junction boxes, and antenna arrays—all the kind of advanced and intricate technology any space vessel of this complexity would require.

  “So we are at an impasse, Captain Polk,” the overlord said. “I am not without sympathy for your species’ plight. Yes, the Earupitan’s have made mistakes. We are responsible for unspeakable acts of cruelty. Brian, I assure you . . . none of you will be harmed if you surrender—”

  “Save your breath, your eminence. Let us in to that habitat, only then can we talk.”

  Karen said, “Brian, he is right. This is a standoff and how long can we sit here? Another ten minutes I’ll be peeing my pants. Maybe we make a run for it . . . head back to Earth? Hide?”

  But I was still looking at all the little inlets and outlets—all the many contours that made up the outer surface layer of the habitat.

  “Mike, ask whoever is at the helm right now how close he can get that XL5’s starboard hull to the habitat.”

  Chiv himself got back to me. “Right up to it . . . but why bother? The habitat structure is shielded in its entirety against incoming fire. Missiles, lasers, plasma bolts, all would be thwarted.”

  “How about something moving a whole lot slower. Like an assembly bot?”

  chapter 47

  General Chiv stared back at me expressionless. Then he said, “The shielding may not attempt to repel such an action, especially since the robot is, essentially, the same Earupitan technology. I imagine similar bots are used for ongoing hull maintenance processes or necessary repairs.”

  “Look, General. You’ve been far more helpful than I could have expected you to be. You more than proved that down in that Cuban cave. So I just want to assure you, I have no intention of hurting the females of your kind inside that structure. That is not my intent, far from it.”

  “I believe you. It would be impractical for me not to. I completely understand the concept of . . . a bargaining chip. But I am not assisting you out of the goodness of my heart. Or any kind of new found morality. No, you made me a promise, Captain Polk. One that I expect you to keep. Remember . . . the wife of my choosing among any of the one million females aboard this habitat.”

  I heard Karen murmur something undecipherable in my ear. I’d forgotten I’d been talking on our squadron’s open channel.

  “No . . . that wasn’t the deal, General,” I said emphatically. “What I said was that you would be guaranteed a spot in line for the females to consider, not guaranteed a female of your choice.”

  I turned my attention back to the issue at hand. “Mike, there’s what looks to be some kind of large access panel about twenty yards to the left of the flight bay access.”

  “Okay . . . yeah, I think I see it. Maybe fifteen feet by fifteen feet . . . a square.”

  “That’s it. Have Chiv position the ship right in front of it.”

  It took a good five minutes for Chiv to get the XL5 properly oriented then slide in close like a boat drifting into a dock.

  Mike looked nervous. “This little stunt of ours has caused every one of those warships to power up their weapons systems. And his Eminence . . . he’s back on the line, demanding to talk to you.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, they’re being extremely careful not to fire directly toward the habitat. Let’s just hope it stays that way. Go ahead and put the overlord through.”

  “You are playing a dangerous game, Captain Polk,” the overlord spat. Your close proximity to the habitat is unacceptable! Move that Crusher vessel away and do so now!”

  “I assure you, my intentions are guileless. Look, exposing one flank to the enemy is far preferable than exposing both. Or have you forgotten about your wife’s safety so soon?”

  “Do not test me, Polk! You have one minute before I commence firing upon your vessels.”

  “Fine, I’ll speak with the captain of the Crusher. See if he can push us off a bit.” I muted the connection to the overlord.

  “Mike . . . how fast can you get that robot dispatched onto the outer hull of the habitat?”

  “Already on it. Getting the big guy dispatched, as you put it, is mostly an automatic affair. I’m watching as that block of metal is sliding out on guide rails right now.”

  I watched from the cockpit of my Shredder. Hopefully, there was no way anyone would be able to see what was happening on the other side of the XL5.

  “Thirty seconds, Captain Polk . . . do not force me to fire upon you.”

  “You do know, your Maiden Sow has a gun pointed at her head. You fire, we fire.”

  Mike said, “Okay, the headless monstrosity is unpacking himself. Appendages are extending.”

  “Can’t you move the thing along faster?” Karen interjected.

  “No, it goes at its own speed.”

  In a brilliant flash of light, something exploded nearby.

  “Shit! We just lost Shredder Eleven,” Mike said. “Marshal Pierce was the pilot.

  “Connect me to the overlord,” I said forcing myself to stay far calmer than I was actually feeling.

  Before he could respond I said, “You reptilian fuck . . . I want you to watch as I have your wife’s two front appendages blown off.”

  Back came the split-screen video feed with the view into the hold. “Donny . . . go ahead and shoot her front legs off!”

  “No! Please . . . I am sorry we fired upon your vessel. But please . . . back your Crusher away from the habitat. That is all I ask. Then we can resume constructive negotiations.”

  “So . . . you want me to hold off on shooting the worm lady, Brian?” Donny asked.

  I let out a long over dramatic breath. “Have you ever heard the phrase, an eye for an eye? Or a tooth for a tooth, Overlord?”

  His mouth opened but no words escaped his lizard lips.

  “A dear friend of mine just went up in a ball of fire. The loss I’m feeling . . . there needs to be reconciliation.”

  “So you do want me to shoot her legs off?” Donny said.

  “No!” the overlord screamed. “Please tell your man NOT to shoot. Please!”

  Mike said in my ear, “Bot’s having a tough time opening that access hatch. Are you sure it even is a hatch?”

  I wasn’t sure at all.

  Overlord Skith was practically rambling now. “. . . you have to understand, nothing will keep my forces from defending this habitat. Defending the one million precious beings held within. I did not order that Shredder to be fired upon. Just have your captain ease away from the structure. That is all I ask. And please. Do not fire upon my wife.”

  Another bright flash and another Shredder was destroyed. Cold fear ran though my veins. I swung a look over my shoulder to see if Shredder Three was still there—if Karen was still alive.

  “Oh, god . . . that was . . . pilot Wright’s Shredder,” Karen said barely holding back a sob.

  �
��Fuck it, I’m taking the legs,” Donny said. I saw two bright flashes within the hold’s video feed. I knew Donny well enough he typically didn’t bluff. And he very much did know what an eye for an eye meant.

  Overlord Skith was screaming now. His words no longer coming out in English, but in high-pitched Earupitan gibberish.

  I said, “I didn’t give that order to fire. You see, my men will do anything to protect their own. I think you know what I mean, don’t you, your Eminence?”

  Mike cut in on my comms, “He’s in.”

  “Repeat that . . .” I said.

  “The headless horseman is inside the habitat. I’m controlling him remotely as we speak. Any idea where the switch for the Bay’s force field is?”

  I had no idea. Above the continued blathering of the overlord, I heard Mike asking the others there within the Control Center. No one had any clue. Shit! Shit! Shit!

  I said, “Mike, go ahead and get that ship pulled back a bit from the habitat. I don’t want to lose anyone else out here.”

  “Copy that.”

  “And get me a feed from that robot.”

  “Copy.”

  I now had multiple video feeds coming into my HUD: the XL5’s Control Center, the hold, the overlord wiping tears from his eyes, and a jittery front view perspective of the robot.

  “Thank you for repositioning the Crusher,” the overlord said in a barely audible, raspy, voice.

  “You’re welcome, Overlord Skith. How about I check on the condition of your wife?”

  “Oh, yes, please.”

  “Donny’s smiling face came into view within the hold’s feed.” I shook my head, asshole.

  “My man is a renowned terrible shot, Overlord Skith. I believe your wife is fine.”

  I watched the robot’s continued search—more accurately Mike’s continued search.

  There was sudden movement within the Control Center’s video feed. Another large Gap had entered the compartment. I watched as the Gap physically shoved Mike right out of his seat—hard enough that he went sprawling onto the deck. There was distorted yelling back and forth.

  “What the hell is going on!?” I barked aloud.