The Complete Void Wraith Saga

by Chris Fox

  “Not as of yet,” Dryker admitted. “Our scans show that thing is teeming with some sort of theoretical element we’ve never encountered, but I have no idea what it is or what the Void Wraith intend to do with it. I guess that doesn’t much matter, though. Whatever they want, we should oppose.”

  “We will destroy it,” Khar said, clenching his fist and exposing his fangs.

  “Mighty Khar, more ships are emerging from the Helios Gate,” the comm officer’s tone was shrill now. She sounded close to breaking.

  “Ident?” Khar said, standing slowly from his chair. He was favoring his right leg.

  “They’re human vessels sir, OFI ident,” the comm officer said. Khar moved to stand next to her, placing a comforting paw on her shoulder.

  “It looks like four destroyers, and two capital ships,” Dryker said, squinting at the screen. “I think that’s the bulk of the seventh fleet.”

  “Then victory is once again within our grasp,” Khar said, laughing. He turned to Dryker. “I will put you in contact with them so you can coordinate the battle. Comm, open a channel to the lead human vessel.”

  “They’re ignoring our hails, Mighty Khar. The human vessels are moving to interpose themselves between us and the large Void Wraith vessel,” the comm officer said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “Treachery,” Khar roared, slamming his fist into the view screen. A sharp crack spread from the impact point. Khar rounded on Dryker. “What is the meaning of this?”

  “I can only guess,” Dryker said, the exhaustion whispering a siren song: Just lie down. Just give up. “I suspect that the spies in my government have dispatched forces loyal to them. Forces that work indirectly for the Void Wraith. The same forces that tried to keep your fleet away from this system.”

  68

  Primo Online

  “Lena, can you access communications?” Nolan asked. He limped over to the black platform, his breathing still ragged from the fight with the Judicators.

  “Any of us can,” Lena said, rising to her feet. “This VI will obey any of us.”

  “That is correct,” the VI said. Its bulbous head turned to face Nolan. “I have complete control of Communications. What do you wish to know?”

  “Monitor all communications in this system, and play them here on the bridge,” Nolan ordered. “Can you give us a visual as well?”

  “Of course,” the VI said, as if insulted. A holographic display sprung up near the west wall, covering it from floor to ceiling. It showed a massive battle, which Nolan could barely get his brain around.

  “What the hell?” he whispered.

  “It looks like the Fourth Claw disobeyed the dictates of War Commander Mow,” Fizgig said. Low, powerful purring came from her chest. “A large portion of our fleet has come to do battle on our behalf.”

  “Who are they fighting, though?” Hannan said, resting the barrel of her assault rifle on her shoulder as she took a step closer to the holo display.

  “That’s the seventh,” Nolan said. “Oh, God. The seventh is loyal to Admiral Mendez. Kathryn warned me that he’d been compromised. Those ships work for the Void Wraith.”

  “Audio is now available,” Primo interjected.

  Static crackled across hidden speakers all over the bridge. That static resolved into a cacophony of voices.

  “—main engines. Going critical,” came a deep Tigris voice.

  “—need to reach whatever that big ship is. It’s making for the Helios Gate.”

  The overlapping voices were almost impossible to decipher, but Nolan could see from the disposition of the battle what was happening. The outnumbered and outgunned Tigris were trying to stop the giant ship from making it to the Helios Gate. They were failing.

  “There are two potentially lethal situations you may wish to be aware of,” the VI said pleasantly. “Would you like further details?”

  “Yes,” Nolan said, almost instantly.

  “First, two Void Wraith vessels are attempting to dock,” the VI said.

  “Uh, Virtual Intelligence,” Nolan said. “Can you engage this ship’s cloaking device?

  “Affirmative,” the VI confirmed.

  “Do that, then get us away from the two vessels attempting to dock,” Nolan ordered.

  A low whirring came from the bowels of the Void Wraith vessel. “Cloaking engaged. We are moving away from the two Void Wraith vessels, and they appear unaware of our current location.”

  “What is this second lethal situation?” Fizgig demanded, moving to stand next to Nolan.

  “This vessel contains data regarding the massive structure moving for the Helios Gate. Using that data I have extrapolated the true purpose for the weapon,” the VI said. The holographic display changed, now displaying an unfamiliar system. That system was dominated by a large G-class star, and was taken from the perspective of a vessel orbiting the third planet. Countless other ships, vaguely Primo ships, were arrayed in a defensive perimeter. “This is a record of the first major battle in the final war, the battle that guaranteed the Primo could not win.”

  The color of the sun began to change. It went from yellow to a more pure white, then to blue. Then the star began to expand. At first that expansion was slow and measurable, but it rapidly increased. The time index shifted forward, showing a time lapse of the nova. It washed over the system, destroying most of the ships docked there. The ship doing the recording retreated ahead of the nova, presumably to carry the recording they were viewing.

  “What happened?” Izzy asked, raising a paw hesitantly toward the hologram.

  “The vessel you see moving towards the star is, in essence, a bomb,” the VI explained. “It contains a massive quantity of a heavy element, more dense than anything found or manufactured in our galaxy. This element is designed to cause an accelerated reaction inside a star. Once that reaction reaches critical mass, the star will go nova. The Void Wraith used just such a bomb to wipe out our home world, and a large portion of our fleet. It crippled us, ensuring that we couldn’t mount an effective defense. Then their fleets began to pour through, attacking us everywhere at once. We were naked before the storm, unable to defend ourselves.”

  “They’re bringing it to Primo space,” Fizgig said. She was no longer purring. “If they detonate that in the Theras system, it will wipe out the bulk of the Primo navy.”

  “Then we need to stop that ship,” Nolan said.

  69

  Down With the Ship

  “Damage report,” Khar croaked from his chair. He began another fit of coughing.

  Sparks flew from some terminals, while others had simply gone dark. Dryker felt relatively safe in the corner of the bridge—well, as safe as one could be on a critically-damaged ship. He looked at the ops station, and realized the comm officer was dead.

  Dryker leapt over the railing, moving as swiftly as he could to the Tigris panel. OFI officers had been required to learn Tigris during the war, so he had no trouble deciphering the data feed. It wasn’t good.

  “All three launch tubes have been destroyed,” Dryker called to Khar. “We’ve lost all decks C and below. Most of B deck is depressurized. Armor on the stern is non-existent. If we take another serious hit from anyone, we’re going to come apart.”

  “That leaves only one course of action,” Khar said, coughing. He held a paw to his side, but was failing to staunch the flow of blood. The few surviving bridge personnel looked around at at each other. They all knew what Khar was going to say. “Plot a course toward the largest human vessel. Accelerate to maximum velocity.”

  Khar leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. Dryker could see his chest rising in short, shallow breaths. The Tigris desperately needed a medic. Unfortunately, the ship’s schematics showed that the bridge was cut off. There was a large depressurized section between them and the few surviving areas. The four of them were on their own.

  “Course set, Mighty Khar,” called a white-furred Tigris, from the pilot’s chair. She strongly resembled Izzy—a
littermate, most likely.

  The OFI carrier Adar loomed larger and larger on the view screen as they picked up speed. The carrier was currently engaged with another Tigris vessel, though it was clearly winning that exchange. That left it vulnerable, though. It was pinned in place by the first Tigris vessel’s harpoons, which meant it wouldn’t be able to dodge. If they could accelerate enough, they’d obliterate the carrier. With any luck, they’d be leaving the human fleet leaderless.

  “Void Wraith vessel de-cloaking off starboard,” the white-furred Tigris yelled. “Orders, Mighty Khar?”

  Khar didn’t respond. Nolan took a closer look, and realized that he could no longer see Khar’s chest rising and falling. Either he was dead, or he was close enough that it didn’t matter. Dryker looked around the bridge. None of the three remaining Tigris seemed willing to take charge.

  “Evasive maneuvers,” Dryker barked, infusing his voice with as much authority as possible. “Try to get some distance from the Void Wraith, but keep us aimed at that carrier. If we’re going down, we’re taking them with us.”

  “Aye, Mighty, uh, Dryker,” the white-furred pilot said. “The Void Wraith vessel is hailing us.”

  70

  Promoted

  “Primo, can you hail the Claw of Tigrana?” Nolan asked, studying the battle playing out on the holographic screen.

  “I can, but to maximize efficiency I’d recommend appointing a captain,” the VI said. “Otherwise, it is possible for conflicting orders to be received from multiple sources.”

  “Fizgig,” Nolan said, turning to face the Tigris commander. “You’ve followed me this far. Will you keep following me if I assume command of this vessel?”

  Hannan and Izzy tensed, both sensing the possible conflict for command. Nolan ignored them, staring hard at Fizgig. It was her opinion that mattered, after all. If she acquiesced he’d be in charge, if not…well things would get very interesting. There was a time just a few weeks back he’d have relinquished command to the venerable Tigris, but he was a different man now. He had a responsibility to see this through, and to keep his few remaining men alive.

  “You’ve proven capable,” Fizgig replied. She gave him an appraising look. “I will follow you into battle, as will Izzy.”

  “Lena?” Nolan asked, turning to face the scientist.

  “I’d be dead if not for you. You have earned my trust, Nolan,” Lena said, giving him what was probably meant to be a warm smile. It was more than a little creepy, with so many sharp teeth.

  “Hannan?” he asked, turning to face the petite Marine.

  “I told you when we first met,” Hannan said, shooting him a lopsided grin. “I’m tactics. You’re strategy. Captain suits you, sir.”

  “Primo,” Nolan said, facing the VI. “Register me as ship’s captain.”

  “Done,” Primo responded instantly. “What are your orders, sir?”

  “Hail the Claw,” Nolan commanded. He waited patiently for several seconds.

  The holographic display shifted. Half still showed the battle, but the other half now showed the bridge of the Claw. It was a mess. A haze of smoke covered everything, and most of the crew was either dead or unconscious. Only the pilot’s chair and the ops station were occupied. The Tigris in the captain’s chair wasn’t moving. Nolan recognized him immediately. It was Khar.

  “Nolan, is that you?” Dryker’s voice called. He stepped away from the ops station, and into the center of the view.

  “Yes, sir,” Nolan said, grinning. He couldn’t believe Dryker was alive. “Mission accomplished. We’ve seized control of the Void Wraith vessel.”

  “Sit rep?” Dryker asked. He looked pale and exhausted, but his face was etched with grim determination.

  “Dire,” Fizgig called, stepping up to join Nolan. “I see you’ve commandeered my ship.”

  “I’m sorry, Fizgig, but after Khar went down there was no one else,” Dryker said.

  “It’s understandable, especially with your own vessel destroyed. The Johnston was a fine ship,” Fizgig said, giving a respectful nod.

  “The very best,” Dryker agreed. He gave a sad smile. “She died well. We have a saying, one that dates back to the earliest human navies. ‘A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what a ship is made for.’ Johnston was a destroyer, and she went down swinging.”

  “Sir,” Nolan interrupted. “We don’t have a lot of time. That big vessel powering for the sun? It’s a bomb, and we believe it’s headed for Primo space.”

  “What do you plan to do about it?” Dryker asked. His bridge shook again, and a wave of sparks erupted from a nearby terminal.

  “We’re betting it’s headed for Theras Prime,” Nolan said. He glanced at the battle map, then back to Dryker. “It looks like you can circle wide, then make for the Helios Gate.”

  “You want me to retreat?” Dryker said. His expression turned sour. “I’m not even sure this ship can survive passage through a sun.”

  “We don’t have any other choice,” Nolan protested. “We need someone to warn the Primo, and you’re the only vessel that can make it through the Helios Gate in time. The rest of the Tigris are engaged and being overwhelmed. This fight will be over in minutes.”

  “There is another vessel that can do it,” Dryker shot back. “Yours.”

  “We’ve got a cloaking device, sir,” Nolan said. He took a deep breath, realizing in that instant that he wasn’t going to take orders, not from Dryker or anyone else. He knew what needed to be done. “I’m going to stop that bomb, or die trying. You’re going to warn the Primo in case we fail.”

  Dryker’s face was stony for a long moment, then he gave an affectionate smile. “You’re becoming a hell of a leader, son. We’ll do our best to reach the Helios Gate. Dryker out.”

  71

  Nolan

  “Captain, there is an event occurring you may wish to be apprised of,” the VI said, mildly.

  Nolan closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how many more “events” he wanted to know about. “What is it, Primo?”

  “Two Harvester-class vessels have de-cloaked and are moving to intercept us,” Primo replied.

  “Cloak us,” Nolan shot back. “Now.”

  “They must have detected us when we de-cloaked to speak to Dryker,” Fizgig observed. She folded her arms, studying the holographic battle map.

  “Lena, we need a way to disable that bomb. What can you give me?” Nolan asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Lena said, her tail swishing. She looked at Primo. “Can you bring up a schematic?”

  “This is the approximate makeup,” Primo said, and a corner of the holographic wall showed a cutaway of the bomb. Data scrolled by next to it, a series of numbers and metrics that was gibberish to Nolan.

  Lena moved closer to study the schematics, so Nolan turned back to the battle. The Tigris were losing, badly. Only two of the human ships had been disabled, and three Void Wraith vessels were operational. At least the Claw had made it safely away. It had reached the safety of the sun’s corona, and disappeared.

  “I can’t see a way to stop the bomb,” Lena said, eyeing Nolan soberly. “This new element isn’t explosive on its own. It’s designed to work with a star’s core, and is basically inert until that point.”

  “We could attempt to destroy the thrusters,” Fizgig mused, studying the schematic with those unreadable eyes. “They’ll likely destroy us in the attempt, unless we do it ourselves by ramming the bomb.”

  “I doubt that would work,” Nolan said, sighing. “We might temporarily disable the engines, but the remaining vessels could tow the bomb into the sun. We need a more permanent way to stop it. Lena, what about the Helios Gate itself?”

  “That might work,” Lena said, blinking. “A Helios Gate can only sustain one wormhole at a time. If we open a connection to some other star, then the Void Wraith can’t take the bomb to Primo space. They’d have to let it detonate here, or in the star of our choosing.”

&
nbsp; “If we keep the connection open,” Izzy said, hesitantly joining the conversation. “Wouldn’t both stars go nova?”

  “I hadn’t considered that,” Lena said, smiling at Izzy. “You could be a scientist, sister. If we open and sustain the connection, then the reaction would spread to both stars. This system and the destination would go nova.”

  “They’ll try to stop us from keeping the connection open,” Fizgig said. Her tail swayed back and forth. “I’ve never done battle in a Helios Gate. It will be tricky. If our shields drop, we’ll be incinerated instantly.”

  “That will be true for the enemy as well,” Hannan said. Nolan had almost forgotten she was in the room. “We could set the connection, go through, and then ambush anyone who comes through and attempts to sever the connection.”

  “That’s workable,” Nolan said, nodding. “Lena, how long will this reaction take?”

  “I’m not sure.” She turned to the VI. “Primo, when the bomb detonated in the final war, how long did it take?”

  “Our measurements weren’t precise, but given the data from that explosion and from this bomb I’d postulate that twenty minutes would be sufficient for the reaction to begin,” the VI said. “Once the reaction begins, there is no way to stop it.”

  “So if we can keep the connection open for twenty minutes, then we win,” Nolan said, smiling for the first time in what felt like days.

  “There is a further consideration,” Fizgig said. “What about us? Both systems will be destroyed.”

  “If we’re fast, we might be able to outrun the nova,” Nolan said.

  “That still leaves us stranded,” Izzy pointed out. “If the Helios Gate is destroyed, we’ll have to use sub-light thrusters to reach another Gate. That could take years.”

  “Primo, locate two Helios Gates in close proximity. Ideally, within a light year of each other. Closer is better,” Nolan ordered.