The Vorian Incursion: The Swallowtail Voyages, Book 2

by Trip Ellington

  “My sister, Dai, will take us to where the Vorian Resistance is currently quartered.” Commander Bradley nodded and then turned to Skye and Bharat. “It is not far from here. You can set the T.A.S. to begin printing while we travel there if you wish.” Bharat looked to the T.A.S. and sighed.

  “A problem, Chief?” Commander Bradley asked.

  “I’m afraid that if we were to activate the T.A.S. out here, we would risk detection from any low-orbiting Drekynn satellites with its Spacewing energy signature.

  “What’s your suggestion?”

  “V’ktal, I’m guessing the Resistance is located underground? There aren’t really many other options for hiding out here in the rocky desert.” Skye withdrew a scanner from her utility belt and began analyzing a human-sized boulder.

  “That’s correct, engineer Bharat,” V’ktal answered. “It is a large area, though wouldn’t it be simpler to find another way to mask the signature instead of moving the T.A.S. itself? How would you plan on powering it once it is inside?”

  “It would take me several hours to mask the signature,” Bharat said. “We can take more than enough energy modules to power the T.A.S. as long as we use an anti-grav dolly.”

  “These boulders have high concentrations of golemite, Commander,” Skye said. “More than enough to mask the energy signature of my T.A.S.” Bharat raised an eyebrow in surprise.

  “That settles it,” Bradley said. She gestured toward Skye and Bharat. “You two grab the T.A.S. so that we can immediately start stockpiling resources for the Resistance. We’ll have to wheel it to the headquarters of the Resistance.” The two nodded, walking back to the Swallowtail. V’ktal tapped his webbed fingers over his gills and they puffed slightly.

  “Mal, can you open the back hatch, please,” Skye instructed, and the back hatch opened with a hiss, a loading dock ascending from the opening. Without speaking to each other, Skye and Bharat each took an end of the T.A.S, lifting it onto an anti-grav platform dolly and then wheeled it out through the back of the Swallowtail. Skye ran back inside and grabbed two of the energy modules from just behind where the T.A.S. had been attached and placed them on the dolly as well.

  Chapter Five

  When they hit the hard-packed soil of Vorian, the going became tough, even with the dolly relieving the bulk of the weight. They could barely keep up with the quick scurrying pace of the two Vorians.

  The group walked in silence, heading for a strange rock formation. It resembled the webbed fingers of a Vorian hand. The ground shook and a large boulder at the base of the formation rolled away as they approached.

  “Oh, that’s genius,” Mal said. “Hiding in plain sight. Do you see how it looks like a Vorian hand? It’s like the Resistance is waving to the Drekynns. Absolute brilliance.”

  “If you say so,” Skye said. “It seems a bit brazen to me.”

  “What did you say?” Bharat said in between gasps for air. Though he tried to sound intimidating, it was clear that he was out of breath from pushing the bulky T.A.S. His face was bright red, and he seemed to be struggling.

  “Mal thinks that this is a good hiding place,” she said. Bharat frowned.

  “It’s the most obvious,” he said.

  “That’s what I said,” Skye replied, a little relieved that she and Bharat had finally agreed upon something. It was a start, but to what, she didn’t know. She didn’t feel comfortable around him knowing how he didn’t approve of her very existence.

  Another Vorian exited from behind the rock. The three Vorians spoke for a bit, gesticulating wildly with their wide hands. V’ktal walked back toward them.

  “You may enter now,” he said. “They are quite surprised that anyone has come to their aid. Things have gotten quite bad here.” Skye and Bharat pushed the T.A.S. toward the opening but couldn’t fit it through.

  “Commander, the T.A.S. won’t fit while it’s on the anti-grav dolly,” Bharat said, drawing in an exasperated breath.

  “This area is hidden, you can leave the T.A.S. here until we have greeted the Resistance inside. They can assist you with moving it inside,” V’ktal said. He turned to Bharat and Skye “Of course, the two of you can remain outside to watch over it while we perform our customary greetings.” Bharat and Skye looked to Commander Bradley.

  “I appreciate the gesture, V’ktal. If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to leave Bharat outside with the T.A.S. until we can return with others to help transport it inside.” Bradley answered. She turned to enter the structure, but stopped when Bharat huffed over the com.

  “Sure, leave me out here to melt while she gets to go inside,” Bharat crossed his arms indignantly.

  “You’re the one who looked like you needed the rest, Chief,” Commander Bradley said. “I think some cardiovascular training sessions are in order once we’re back aboard the Artemis.”

  “No, no,” Bharat said, waving them along. “I’ll be just fine out here. Just don’t forget about me and try not to take too long with these customary greetings.”

  “You know as well as I that welcoming procedures must be followed very closely or we may risk offending other cultures.” Commander Bradley laughed. Leaving Bharat huffing next to the T.A.S., Skye and Bradley entered the cavern.

  Just as they cleared the large doorway, the boulder rolled back into place, pinching out the bright light that illuminated their way inside. Skye struggled to see in the dim light that remained.

  “Activate my nightvision, Mal.” Skye said. Skye’s HUD erupted in a green glow.

  The cave was much larger than Skye would have guessed from the rock formation’s appearance from the exterior. The walls were dark brown and dripped with cool condensation. The floor beneath their feet was smooth rock; it was completely different from the loosely packed soil outside. The burbling voices of the Vorians echoed throughout the cavern.

  Skye could see the other side of the cavern; it was about one hundred meters long and fifty meters wide. It looked as though the Vorians had carved it themselves, as the walls had distinctive lines that traced along the entire smooth exterior.

  Set up in little clusters throughout the cavern were groups of domed structures made out of the same dun-colored material that Dai wore. Skye saw other Vorians also wearing the same material.

  A few fires burned brightly within the clusters. Skye imagined that if she had her helmet off, she would smell the scent of something delicious roasting on them. She gazed upward to see that the ceiling was high above them, several hundred meters at least. There were holes carved into the ceiling to let the smoke from the fires out.

  “Wouldn’t that alert the Drekynns to your headquarters?” Skye asked Dai, who shook her strangely shaped head.

  “With the height of the ceiling, the smoke dissipates to untraceable levels by the time it exits,” she said with a heavy accent. V’ktal had obviously had more contact and gained more fluency through his interaction with humans. “It is necessary to keep us from suffocating. Everyone has a set time for cooking so that the cavern does not become unsafe.”

  “I see,” Skye said, studying the female Vorian. She had slimmer, more delicate features than V’ktal, with her eyes more almond-shaped, with long, dark lashes that rimmed the dark pools.

  The three humans found themselves surrounded by an ecstatic group of Vorians. They pressed in tightly around the humans, talking in a mixture of their bubbling language and broken Standard.

  “Oh my,” Mal said. “It’s just like being a rock star from Mars.”

  “A rock star? Mal, I don’t think stars could really be considered rocks, even neutron stars,” Skye said. Mal sighed.

  Skye smiled at the Vorians as they approached her and patted at her arms. She reached out and took the strange, fan-like hands of the Vorians in her own. They nodded their heads, making the same contorted smile as V’ktal did earlier. However, behind their smiles, Skye could see a deep sadness. How difficult their lives must be, living under constant fear and without the necessities of life? Hundreds
of Vorians took turns flocking to Skye and Commander Bradley. Skye began to notice the subtle differences in Vorian features, noting how thin and pale some of them appeared in contrast to others. Commander Bradley finally made a gesture for silence after it seemed that most of the Vorians in the complex had come to see the new visitors.

  “Greetings, members of the Vorian Resistance,” Commander Bradley began. “V’ktal brought us the news about the terrible conditions in which you live. It’s important that you understand why we are here.” There were murmurs among the crowd. “As you understand, the Council and Spacewing are bound by a treaty not to interfere with Vorian, so it is vital that you understand that our presence here today doesn’t mean that the Council is sending military support, nor are we even here as representatives of the Council. However, unofficially, we are very moved by your situation and want you to know why we are here. Though the Council cannot interfere with your occupation directly, we are here independently to provide you with several months’ worth of food and medical supplies.” Her announcement was met with loud cheering from the Vorians along with lots of chatter as her words were translated to those who weren’t as familiar with Standard.

  “It warms my circuits that we are able to help these people,” Mal said. “See how excited they are?”

  “I know,” Skye answered. “Unlike a lot of my missions, this one actually feels purposeful, like I’ll be making a real difference.” The commander again raised her hands for silence and scanned the room.

  “We cannot stay here for long, so I need to ask for some of you to help us move our T.A.S. inside so my engineers can begin creating your food and medicine.” Several Vorians burbled and flared their gills before scurrying to the entrance. Commander Bradley nodded her head for Skye to follow and they pushed through to the front of the group as the boulder again rolled away, pouring in blindingly bright sunlight from the outside. Skye drew in a sharp breath at what she saw.

  Bharat was sprawled face-down on the ground and the T.A.S. was nowhere to be seen.

  “Help me pull him inside so we can check his status!” Bradley ordered. “Where’s V’ktal?” Skye rolled Bharat over, revealing a blaster mark on his suit. She grabbed him by his shoulders and helped the commander drag him inside. He blinked in confusion and began speaking silently.

  “Commander, he’s saying something, but I can’t hear him!” Skye said frantically. She inspected his suit where he had been shot. It appeared to been a low-intensity blast, just enough to incapacitate him.

  “The blast must’ve knocked his com line out,” Bradley replied. “Skye, get his com back online while I try to get some answers. And be ready to run, we aren’t safe here.” She stormed off toward the group of Vorians.

  “Oh my,” Mal said. “Skye, try re-oscillating the com integrator circuits.” Skye opened the com module at the base of his helmet and used the magno-coupler from her toolbelt to reset the integrator circuits that had reversed in polarity. She worked in a fevered pace in a numbed disbelief. The T.A.S. was gone.

  Skye could hear Commander Bradley began yelling for V’ktal’s sister.

  “-not here! It was V’ktal!” Bharat’s voice boomed over the static of the com. “He’s heading toward the Swallowtail!”

  “He’s trying to steal the ship as well?” Bradley said. “I don’t believe this.” Skye was speechless. Bharat turned to her.

  “We need to know if he’s reached the Swallowtail. Ask Mal!”

  “He has,” Mal said sternly. “I have a message.”

  “He’s reached it,” Skye said, relaying the substance of Mal’s words. “He’s just given Mal a message.” Skye tapped on her com module. “Here, I’ll give Mal control over my com.”

  “What is it?” Commander Bradley asked.

  “He wants you to know that he is a counterspy for the Drekynn Empire.” Mal said to the group. “He has taken the Swallowtail, along with the T.A.S. The Drekynns are looking for you, Skye. They want the technology involved with the Swallowtail Network and our AI capabilities. They are demanding that you surrender yourself, Skye,within two hours, or the others will be killed. Most importantly, however, a fleet of Drekynn destroyers has landed by the headquarters of the Resistance. You need to vacate the premises immediately.” After he finished, Skye reactivated the com line for her helmet.

  “Can’t Mal lock him out of the controls?” Bharat asked.

  “Tell him that I’m afraid that isn’t possible, Skye,” Mal said. “He’s used some kind of Drekynn override algorithm.”

  “Mal says that isn’t possible. What we do need to do is get out of here,” Skye said. “The Drekynns are already on their way.” Dai approached the group and Commander Bradley turned to her.

  “V’ktal is working for the Drekynns,” she said. “Did you know?”

  “What? My brother, a traitor? How could he do this to us? After everything we’ve worked for.” Dai’s face was filled with shock.

  “Yes. He’s taken the T.A.S. and stolen our ship to give to the Drekynns.” The information served to harden the Vorian. She nodded.

  “He is dead to me then.” Her gills puffed in what Skye guessed was a gesture of deep anger.

  “You need to get your people out of here,” Skye said. The Vorian nodded, and then handed the commander a bundle of the sturdy brown cloth that matched the robes that she was wearing. Commander Bradley nodded, handing a robe to Skye, and another to Bharat. They slipped them on over their suits. Dai spoke in a small, broken voice.

  “There’s another way out of this cave back here,” she said, pointing to a section of wall at the other side of the cavern. “We dug it only yesterday, so V’ktal would not have known of it.”

  “Thank you,” Commander Bradley said, and she, Skye, and Bharat raced toward the back of the cave. They were only just over halfway to the other side of the cavern when they heard screaming. Skye looked back.

  “The Drekynns are inside!” she yelled.

  “Hurry,” Commander Bradley said. They went into a dead sprint as the Vorians began to swarm about the cavern, also heading for the newly-constructed exit. The three reached the opening with the sounds of blaster fire behind them. The opening was very small. They escaped, one by one, and rolled into the crunchy soil of the outside.

  “Let’s make for that rock formation,” Commander Bradley said, pointing to a long, low mesa about eight hundred meters off. Without speaking a word, Commander Bradley and Skye each took a shoulder from Bharat and ran.

  Upon reaching the mesa, they stopped to catch their breath. Peering around the corner, they saw the Drekynns about three-hundred meters away. The Drekynns carried long black tubes.

  “Mal,” Skye said. “What are those things that the Drekynns have?”

  “According to my records on the occupation, they are plasmathrowers. They are quite outdated compared to blasters, but their goal isn’t efficiency in this case.”

  “How so?”

  “Instead of a quick, painless end, those weapons emit a large blast of ionized plasma, causing the victim to burn slowly in excruciating pain.”

  “That terrible,” Skye said.

  “What?” Bharat said tiredly.

  “The Drekynns’ weapons are plasmathrowers.”

  “This isn’t good,” Commander Bradley groaned, her hands on her hips. “Tell me, was there anything else to V’ktal’s message? I need to know the Drekynns’ plans a bit better before deciding how to proceed.”

  “That was it, they’re after the Swallowtail Network’s technology,” Skye said, meeting Bradley’s gaze. “They’re after me. He gave me two hours to surrender myself to them.” The commander’s face was grim as she considered the implications.

  “We should do it,” Bharat said. Skye and Commander Bradley looked in his direction, shock on their faces. His eyes seemed to be gleaming in desperation. He had a feverish grimace on his visage.

  “What?” Commander Bradley looked as though she could not believe what he was saying.

&n
bsp; “Give her to the Drekynns, and then they will let us go back to the Artemis,” Bharat said.

  “I will never surrender one of my teammates to the enemy,” the commander said. “Who knows what they plan to do with her and the Swallowtail Network.”

  “Her time is limited anyway,” Bharat snapped. “Without control of the T.A.S., she has no way to sync this instance of herself back to the network anyway. If the Council wants to reply on disposable humans, then by all means, serve her up. I’d be more worried about their plans to reverse engineer the T.A.S.”

  “He’s right,” Skye said in a small voice. “Without the T.A.S., this instance of me will die in less than forty-eight hours. She had never felt so…sad. It was a wholly new emotion.

  “We’re not surrendering you, Lieutenant,” the commander told her, placing a comforting hand on Skye’s shoulder. Skye nodded in thanks. The commander then looked sternly at Bharat. “End of story, Bharat.”

  “Then what are we going to do?” Bharat’s voice was testy. “Because there is no way that I am going to end up a prisoner of the Drekynns. Do you have any idea of what they do to their captives?”

  “Some,” the commander said. “It’s not pretty. We’re going to find a place to hide until the next contact time with the Artemis.” To prevent their discovery, the Artemis remained obfuscated within the nebula during the mission and only exited at predetermined times to establish a comlink. “Then Skye can use Mal to contact Captain Zonta to request that they send a rescue crew in for us.”

  “How long until the first contact?” Skye asked.

  “We have four hours,” Commander Bradley replied. Skye could feel her time running thin, but she nodded and said nothing. “There is a Vorian city not far from here. We can hide there until we make contact.”

  Chapter Six

  The three members of the team walked through the Vorian desert. They made sure to hide behind rock formations, so that they wouldn’t be spotted by the Drekynns. The wind blew the dust in circles; tiny tornadoes that swirled about their feet. In the distance, the Vorian city slowly came into view. It was made of tall, blocky towers that were the same dun color of the soil.