“If it’s anything like what happened earlier, we may want to back up,” Keryn said as she backed from the blast screen. The others quickly followed suit.
Wyck retrieved a wireless console from behind him and began pushing a series of buttons. In response, the first arm lowered toward the Petri dish until it hovered a foot above the table.
“Everyone ready?” he asked. Without waiting, he pushed the release button. The arm depressed the plunger on the back of the dropper, shooting a small amount of an orange fluid into the dish below. The observers all flinched involuntarily as the Torazine struck, expecting an explosion. When nothing happened, they slowly lowered their arms and turned toward the two scientists.
“Somehow, I was expecting a little more of a world shattering kaboom,” Adam admitted.
Tora and Wyck exchanged knowing smiles. “We didn’t,” Wyck stated. “The fact is, the first experiment wasn’t meant to explode.”
“The first dish was full of an inert collection of the Deplitoxide cells,” stated Tora. “Taken straight from one of the rockets, the cells had never been introduced to a heat source. The Deplitoxide, therefore, didn’t react to the Torazine.”
“Then what, exactly, does your chemical do?” Alcent asked impatiently.
“Exactly what we promised,” Wyck responded angrily. “Torazine breaks down the outer membrane of the Deplitoxide cells, releasing the pent up superheated mass in an impressive display. No heat source equals no explosion.”
“Then the second dish?” Keryn asked, prodding the experiment forward before Alcent and Wyck entered a bickering contest.
“The second dish was introduced to intense flames and has already begun the fission process,” Tora explained. “Yes, it will explode.”
Wyck passed out shaded goggles to everyone, encouraging the observers to don them before they continued. When everyone was wearing protective eyewear, he entered his next code. The second mechanical arm lowered until it was perched above the dish. Shrinking into his chair, Wyck pushed the second button.
As soon as the Torazine struck the dish, the room erupted into bright orange flames. The fire, originating from the Petri dish on the table, rose and curled like a solar flare. Blast screens that were made to withstand the rigors of deep space rattled from the force of the explosion. Quickly, the fires died, leaving the whole room filled with a choking black smoke.
“That was more like it!” Adam exclaimed.
Alcent lowered his goggles and peered into the smoke-filled laboratory. “This is a cure for the Deplitoxide?”
“Yes it is,” Wyck said proudly.
“So we can use this to restart one of our engines should it get struck by a Terran Deplitoxide rocket?” Alcent asked, his gaze never leaving the room.
“Um…” Wyck paused, scratching his head nervously. “No, not really.”
Finally, Alcent looked away from the laboratory and stared at the young Uligart. “What do you mean ‘no’?” Alcent demanded. “What’s the point in finding a cure to Deplitoxide if we can’t use it? What would this do if we introduced it into a stalled engine?”
“The explosion would probably rip the ship in half,” Tora explained, trying to save Wyck from his berating. Noticing Alcent’s reddening face, she quickly added, “But it’s exactly what Keryn asked for!”
“It’s true,” Keryn said, placing a hand on Alcent’s shoulder. “It is what I asked for and believe me when I tell you that it is perfect just the way it is.” Turning to the two scientists, she continued. “Are you sure you can weaponize this?”
“We’ve already started some preliminary tests on a couple rockets,” Wyck said. “I’m pretty sure we can have this ready in time.”
“Don’t be ‘pretty sure’,” Keryn said. “Make sure it’s ready. Adam, take Alcent and please notify the Revolution of our requirements. I’ll meet up with you both shortly.”
Keryn left the laboratory and took the lift down to the living quarters. Walking the hall in relative quiet, her thoughts drifted back to Yen. After watching the demonstration, she was sure of two things. First, they actually had a chance to pull this off. More importantly, though, she was ready to respond to the High Council.
Entering her room, Keryn turned on her console and entered the code she had been given for High Council. As the screen changed, a small recording symbol appeared in the top corner of the screen.
“This is Captain Keryn Riddell of the commandeered Terran Destroyer Ballistae. I am responding to the High Council’s mission request.”
Keryn took a deep breath before continuing. “I firmly believe that your mission is justified. Yen Xiao has committed atrocities throughout the Fleet. Even now, one of his potential victims is living in hiding on board my ship. I have no reason to doubt that your accusations against Captain Xiao are truthful.
“I had to wonder, for quite some time, why you would pick me to complete this mission. Of all the ships in the Fleet, I couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t a coincidence that you would pick me, one of his former lovers, to be the deliverer of his death. It was while pondering the why of this situation that I realized why you picked me. It’s because we were lovers once, and that he would trust me enough to let me get close. Using his trust against him would be the ultimate karmic backlash against all his betrayals. While I may not like the task at hand, I do have to appreciate your methods.
“However, it is also your methods that I have to refute. We are getting ready to engage in one of the most difficult battles in Alliance history. This is a battle that we very possibly may not win. As such, the Fleet needs every single available ship, pilot, Crewman,” she paused, staring at the screen, “and Captain that we can find. I cannot, in good conscience, destroy the Revolution during such a difficult battle. And, unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to destroy the ship after the battle, either. Knowing that the crew laid so much on the line to save the Alliance, only to be served so dishonorable a death as payment for their sacrifice… well, I can’t be part of that.
“I want to support you in every way, but I cannot take part in your plan to kill Yen Xiao. I wish you luck in finding a Captain that will. If you decide to change your plan to spare those who are innocent, I would be happy to reassess my position. Until then, Captain Keryn Riddell, out.”
Keryn turned off the screen and tried to stifle the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. With the High Council’s plan, she knew how many innocent people were condemned to death. By leaving Yen alive, Keryn feared how many more innocent had been condemned by her inability to act.
CHAPTER 37:
“Sir,” Tylgar reported from the piloting chair, “we have a direct communication from the Ballistae.”
“Play the message,” Yen replied, knowing that the communication was a recording. Traveling at such high speeds, the relay systems on board the ships were ineffective for extended two-way conversations. Instead, one party sent their message and waited patiently for the other’s reply.
The speakers on the bridge began to crackle to life as the message played. Yen held little hope of hearing Keryn’s voice and, therefore, wasn’t surprised when a man’s voice spoke instead.
“Attention Revolution. This is Warrant Adam Decker of the Ballistae. We have completed our research into a counteragent for the Deplitoxide. Our devised chemical is called Torazine and has proven effective in laboratory testing. Captains Riddell and Alcent have also conceptualized a plan to deploy the Torazine in a battle environment, but we require two Cruisers as support in order to complete our mission. Knowing the capabilities of the communication relay, I will await your response before sending further details of our plan. Ballistae, out.”
Yen was happy to hear Adam’s voice. Since the arrival of the Ballistae, Yen had wondered if his old friend had survived his mission. Still, he yearned to trade places with his former teammate, who shared a ship with his lost love.
“Send a reply to the Ballistae,” Yen ordered. “Give them whatever they want.”
“No, Tylgar,” he answered. “I really don’t.”
Yen’s heart ached at the thought of Keryn’s name. Until he could find a way to win back her affections, he wanted little to do with the rogue Terran ship. His thoughts drifted back to the Captains’ conference. As he replayed the events of the meeting in his mind, he quickly remembered a pair of bickering Captains who had shown obvious disdain for his new mantle of leadership. A smile spread across Yen’s lips.
“Please notify the Ballistae that the Phalanx and the Defiant have been reassigned for support during their mission,” Yen commanded, satisfied at his solution.
With that completed, Yen began focusing on the one thought that had consumed him for the past few days. Somewhere, there was a man who had stolen away Keryn’s heart. Yen was not the type to take so great a theft without putting up a fight. His only mission now was to out who had that much audacity and make this new man bleed for his betrayal.
Yen sat upright with a start. For the past few months, he had focused entirely on Keryn’s return. He had completely forgotten that Adam had flown with her on her mission. They had shared untold adventures together. Yen chewed on his lower lip as he thought about the two of them spending so much time alone. Countless nights on alien worlds had been shared between Adam and Keryn. Secrets had a tendency to be shared when a soldier is confronted with the possibility of death. If anyone would know who the new man was in Keryn’s heart, it would be Adam. He would have to find a way for them to meet and discuss this further.
“Until we begin our approach on Arcendor,” Yen told Tylgar as he clambered out of the Captain’s chair, “I’ll be conducting inspections of the ship. Notify me immediately if the situation changes.”
Somehow, he had to convince Adam to come aboard the Revolution.
“I’m not kidding, Keryn,” Adam said as he and Alcent briefed Keryn. “He just sent a single reply, notifying us that the Phalanx and the Defiant were now under our command during the battle. It really was that easy.”
“I was just as stunned as Adam,” Alcent added.
“So he actually approved of our plan?” Keryn asked, surprised. Yen had seemed hesitant to release control of the Deplitoxide research to her during the Captains’ meeting. She found it hard to believe that he would simply agree to so uncouth a battle tactic.
“That’s just it,” Adam excitably answered. “He never even asked for our battle plan. We made our request for the Cruisers and he gave us two, no questions asked.”
Keryn wondered if, somehow, Yen had intercepted her transmission to High Council. Could her refusal of their request really have driven him to be so amiable toward her demands?
“Our problem now is more with Captains Nitella and Mandox,” Alcent stated. “They are both furious with their reassignment. We’ve already received numerous messages from both demanding to know what we did to Yen to make him into… I believe Captain Nitella’s exact words were, ‘our subservient little lapdog.’ Avalons always had a way with words.”
“Do we really think they’re going to cause problems?” Keryn asked. If they were not supportive or if they failed at the wrong time, it could cost the Alliance the entire war.
“No, I don’t,” Adam admitted. “They may be pissed and they may call us every bad name under the suns, but they’re soldiers of the Fleet, first and foremost. No matter how angry they are at what they perceive as a demotion in the Fleet’s pecking order, they will follow orders until the end.”
“Maybe I should talk to them,” she wondered.
“No!” they both replied, simultaneously.
“No,” Adam explained. “Right now, they both want our heads on a stick. Truth is I didn’t even let Alcent talk to them. Alcent is at least a great businessman, something you’re not. Even so, both of you have a tendency to use the shoot-first mentality when dealing with argumentative adversaries. What we needed in this case was tact.”
“And, surprisingly,” Alcent added, “Adam is full of it when he it matters.”
Keryn looked at the beaming Adam and shook her head. “Oh, I do believe he’s full of it. But good job, none the less.”
Sharing a much-needed laugh, they all felt some of the tension of the situation flood from the room.
“How much of the plan did you tell them?” Keryn asked.
“Some, but I don’t know how receptive they were at the time,” Adam replied. “I can try again now that they’ve had time to think about the new arrangement.”
“Please do,” Keryn said. “We need them on the same page when the battle starts. The last thing we need is our support Cruisers getting confused and leaving us defenseless at an inopportune time. Alcent, I’m leaving the bridge entirely in your capable hands. I’ll be controlling the more intricate plans from the control room with Wyck and Tora. Since Adam will be in the hangars, we’ll need you to let us know the second we begin our approach on Arcendor.”
“Will do,” Alcent said as he turned and left the room.
Once he was gone, Adam stepped suggestively toward Keryn. “Since we’re both going to be incredibly busy for the next couple days…” he left the statement hanging.
Keryn stepped close until her body pressed against his. “I think I might be able to do that,” she said coyly as she kissed him deeply. “Do you think you can be quick about it?”
Adam smiled. “I doubt it.”
Yen spent the next few days absently perusing his ship. Thoughts of Keryn had begun to wane as the thought of combat filled him with barely contained enthusiasm. After getting away so cleanly with the murders of Merric, Captain Hodge, Horace, and Vangore, Yen yearned to try his hand at murder once more. He knew that if he could kill so high ranking and visible targets with no retribution, it would be nothing to do so again with a random crewmember on board the Revolution.
Sadly, he had been robbed of the prey he desired most. Somehow, Iana had vanished from the ship. After the Captains’ conference, he had scanned the ship three times trying to locate her transponder, all without luck. Either she had destroyed it and remained on board, simply eluding his detection or, more likely, she had escaped during the departure of all the Captains and their entourages. With that victim taken from him, Yen set out to find another.
Finding himself wandering aimlessly, Yen was surprised when he approached the hangar bay. Though he was now the Commander of the Fleet, it shouldn’t have been so surprising to him that Yen wandered back to an area in which he had spent so much time as the Squadron Commander. The responsibilities of Commander, as he knew had been passed on to the Team leader for Team Four, a Lithid named Warrant Vicrux. Yen frowned as he stood before the hangar bay doors, which he had yet to open. Feeling conflicted, Yen realized that he would have felt more confident if Iana were in charge of the Squadron instead of a glory-hound like Vicrux. It was a shame that he wanted her dead, since Iana had consistently excelled in tactics and showed a genuine concern for pilots’ well being. Vicrux, by comparison, strove only for self-promotion, always ensuring that his actions were visible to those of higher command, even at the risk of his pilots’ lives. Team Four, under his command, had never truly exceeded Yen’s expectations and it was only by the Lithid’s seniority that he was promoted to Commander at all. Yen arched an eyebrow as he wondered if Vicrux might not be a good choice for his next victim. With Vicrux out of the picture, Command would fall to Warrant Salazar, a sheepish but quality Avalon pilot. While Salazar lacked the confidence to ever get his own command of a Cruiser, he was a solid pilot and malleable enough that Yen could control his actions and, by proxy, those of the Squadron.
By the same account, though, Yen still eyed Warrant Scyant as a potential victim as well. Her open hostility toward her new Captain continued even after his promotion and led to a drop in morale amongst the Crewmen and Warrants within the weapons bays. With them getting ready to engage the Terrans in a final showdown, that sort of behavior just
wouldn’t be acceptable. Maybe it was time for a stern talk with Scyant, much like the stern talk he had intended for Iana.
“Can I help you with anything, Captain?” a small singing voice asked from behind Yen.
He spun and noticed a youthful Avalon standing behind him, waiting patiently to enter the hangar bay. Yen wasn’t sure how long she had been standing behind him, but he also realized that he had no idea how long he had stood in the doorway reminiscing about his not-so distant days of reckless abandon. Did Captainship truly take away his opportunity for wanton murder? Would people notice his actions more now than they had a week earlier? Did he have the power to alter the memories of everyone on board the Revolution? Of course he did, Yen realized. He had enough political and psychic power now to do anything he wanted.
“Sir?” the Avalon said, beginning to show concern.
Yen flashed a disarming smile. “I’m fine. Please let Squadron Commander Vicrux know that we should be approaching Arcendor soon. Let him know that I need all pilots suited up and in their ships within the hour.”
“Commander Vicrux is just inside if you’d like to relay the message yourself,” the Avalon offered.
“No,” Yen answered. Too many people would be inside for him to do what he truly wanted to do to Vicrux. “No, I trust that you can relay my message for me.”
Yen turned and walked back toward the elevator that would take him to the bridge. If he were lucky, Vicrux would have an accident during the battle and would save Yen the effort of having to kill him personally. If he had the time, maybe Yen would arrange a failsafe to ensure Vicrux did encounter an accident out in space. Maybe that young Avalon would be a good pilot to act as his failsafe.
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