"You've already shown a certain tendency to get the Cluster's attention,” said Eva. “Let's hope this enhances it."
Kirsten stood up. “Mark, don't you think we should talk about this a little more?"
He was already rolling up his sleeve. “Unfortunately, it's a race. It's a race to get there before the Cluster finishes its project at the center of the galaxy and it's a race to see if I can talk to the Cluster before G'Liat finds a way."
Kirsten tried to think of something more to say. Instead, she stepped over, took Mark's right hand and kissed him as Eva applied the hypo-spray to his left arm.
* * * *
Maria Gonzalez paced back and forth in Tim Gibbs’ apartment, talking to other resistance leaders around Earth. She worried that their numbers were shrinking so fast and she worried about what the Proxom injections were going to do to those people who received them. Some speculated it would revive them. Others speculated it would kill the bodies while leaving their minds trapped in the Cluster. Either way, she hoped the resulting confusion would do more good than harm.
She raised her finger to the earpiece as the signal came in and pointed to Swan. “Get ready,” she told him. “All teams are in position.” She signaled the Legacy and told them to stand by.
Just then, the door flew open and two Rd'dyggian warriors stepped into the room. The shorter one, in more traditional Rd'dyggian robes, leveled a weapon at Swan.
"Drop the hypo-spray,” called the tall one, dressed more like a human—wearing a black turtleneck shirt and slacks. Maria couldn't help noticing that he didn't wear a translator box. Swan looked at her, then looked at the two Rd'dyggians, evaluating them for a moment. At last, he dropped the hypo-spray, apparently deciding that there was no action he could take without getting one or both of them shot.
"Legacy fire in five,” called Maria.
She raised her hands as the tall Rd'dyggian crossed the room in five steps. He patted her down, found one hepler pistol, dropped it to the ground and stepped on it, crushing it under his weight. He examined the headset with his pitch black eyes, but let her keep it. The tall Rd'dyggian said something to the other in their native language just as he left the room.
"On the couch, both of you,” said the remaining Rd'dyggian, gesturing with his weapon.
* * * *
"Gonzalez's signaled from the ground, ‘fire in five,'” reported Anne McClintlock from the computer console, her hand to her own headset.
"Set five minute countdown,” ordered Ellison Firebrandt. “Roberts, do we have a targeting solution yet?"
Roberts changed the view in the hologram. The Earth was replaced by a close-up view of the Cluster in orbit. “Since the Cluster doesn't have a radio per se, their transmission isn't a particularly tight beam. Also, we don't want to scan actively since active scans have been known to trigger attacks.” Roberts floated into the holographic tank and changed the light frequency displayed. Most of the Cluster was a dull red, but one orb stood out in bright green. “This orb,” he said, pointing, “seems to be emitting in radio frequency. I'd focus the attack there."
"Very good,” said Firebrandt. He stood at the wheel console and checked the readouts. They were coming within firing range quickly. Roberts drifted out of the holo tank.
"Three minutes,” said Anne McClintlock.
"Give me a forward view—real projection,” ordered the captain. In the holo tank, the magnified view of the Cluster was replaced by a view of Earth. The Cluster could be seen in the distance, ahead and below the ship. Firebrandt adjusted his course, then looked over at the gunners’ rigs. He saw Juan Raton, his shirt torn, sitting at one rig studying the display. Roberts floated forward to the modified rig and activated the guns.
"Mark the target orb on the display,” ordered the captain.
Anne typed in a command on the computer console. The orb in the display glowed green; the other orbs mostly obscured it. Firebrandt started bringing the ship around so that the target orb was directly ahead.
"One minute to firing time,” reported Anne.
"Acquiring target,” said Roberts.
"I'm getting it, too,” said Juan.
The target orb was now centered in the display. Firebrandt applied a gentle thrust and brought the ship steadily, but slowly closer. Anne started a ten second countdown. Roberts and Juan reported they were both ready. When Anne reached the end of the countdown, the captain growled, “Fire."
All of the guns on the Legacy opened fire. The Cluster absorbed all of the energy from the hepler guns. However, the overlay of false-color that indicated the radio frequencies faded away. “Cease fire,” called the captain.
"I'm not reading any EQ or radio emanations from the Cluster,” said Anne.
Firebrandt brought the lateral thrusters on-line and turned the Legacy to starboard, getting her away from the Cluster as fast as possible while simultaneously praying for deliverance and cursing the powers that kept his ship from jumping away from danger.
* * * *
Immediately after Eva Cooper gave Mark Ellis the injection, he didn't feel much of anything, other than a little annoyance at the pain in his arm. “It'll take a few minutes to take effect,” explained the doctor. “Maybe you'd better sit down."
Mark nodded and Kirsten led him over to the big armchair and he sat. As he looked around the room, his eyes fell on the kitchen area and he grew annoyed at the clutter in the sink. “Why hasn't anyone cleaned that up?” he asked irritably.
"We haven't exactly had time,” said Kirsten. Her eyes narrowed. “There's been a lot going on, especially with Coffin's death this morning."
At the mention of Samuel Coffin, Mark's eyes grew wide. “Why wasn't I here?” he asked. “He was my father's best friend and I wasn't here to say good-bye to him. What kind of friend am I?"
"You're a very good friend,” said Kirsten, kneeling down next to the armchair. She took Mark's hand and began patting it. “Coffin would have wanted you to talk to Richard—it was what you needed to do. Without the information you gained, the Earth had no hope."
"Does it have any hope, now?” asked Mark, despondently. He waved Kirsten away from him and the corners of his mouth turned down. “What kind of hope does the human race have if we can't even take time to say good-bye to our friends? Coffin taught me so much ... so much...” Mark put his face in his hands and unrestrained tears began to flow.
Eva knelt down next to Kirsten and helped her to her feet, then saw the moisture in her brown eyes. “It's the drug,” whispered Eva, reassuringly. “Mark can't control his emotions. They'll be a constant flood until it wears off and his amygdala takes control again.” Eva led Kirsten away.
Feeling otherwise helpless, Kirsten nodded and stepped into the kitchen where she began gathering plates and glasses and placing them into the cleansing unit. She then turned her attention the rest of the living room and kitchen area, looking for plates that had been neglected. As she did, she chewed her lower lip and wondered whether this was the wisest way to try to attract the Cluster.
When Mark hadn't raised his head in five minutes, Eva knelt down and checked his pulse. She lifted his head with her finger and looked into his eyes. His breath caught as he saw her and it started coming rapidly. Afraid he was going to hyperventilate, Eva stood to get her medical kit. Mark reached out, grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. Wrapping her in a bear-like embrace, he drove his lips into hers, forcing his tongue into her mouth.
Kirsten turned and gasped. The plate she was carrying fell from her hands and shattered on the hardwood floor.
* * * *
G'Liat returned to Tim Gibbs’ apartment within a matter of minutes carrying a case. Swan recognized it as the same traveling bag that the warrior had in the apartment before. He opened the bag and revealed an almost perfectly smooth machine, shimmering like mother-of-pearl. Without looking at the humans, he started making adjustments.
"What's going on here?” asked Maria looking from one Rd'dyggian to the other. “
We're trying to stop the Cluster. If we don't there's going to be a shock wave that's going to destroy all life in the galaxy—Rd'dyggians included. You should be helping us, not stopping us."
G'Liat spun on his heel and inclined his head. “Our aims are the same, young woman,” said the warrior. Swan noticed that his Rd'dyggian accent was more pronounced than before. He took a step toward the couch, his hands clasped behind his back. “However, your plan will, at most, delay the Cluster for a short time—and I suspect will have rather devastating consequences. If successful, my plan will rid us of the Cluster permanently, and no one will have to be harmed."
"What exactly do you plan to do?” asked Swan. He looked from one warrior to the other, trying to find an opening—some way he could attack the one without being blind-sided by the other.
"You shall see soon enough,” said G'Liat.
Maria inclined her head as she started receiving reports from other resistance cells. She put her hand to her mouth and shook her head. “What's the matter?” asked Swan.
"They're dying,” she said. “All those people that have been injected with Proxom—they seem to stir into consciousness for a short time and then they die. Its as though they have no will to live any longer."
G'Liat sneered smugly. “Then it would seem quite likely that I saved your friend's life,” he said, gesturing to the unconscious form of Gibbs. “Let's just his hope his mind is still alive inside the Cluster.” The warrior turned and began to make more adjustments to the brain scan device.
* * * *
Captain Ellison Firebrandt held onto the Legacy's wheel console and watched a set of numbers floating in the holo tank as they slowly increased. They were putting distance between themselves and the Cluster, but not quite fast enough for his liking. “Mary, can Junior give me any more power at all?"
"Any more, and he says she'll blow apart,” said the technician, “especially with the hull rupture."
"Captain, we may have a problem,” called Roberts. He changed the display at the front of the battle deck so it displayed the Cluster in ultra-violet light. Several of the orbs were glowing a bright purple at that wavelength. “They're either getting ready to pursue or fire. I don't know which."
"Any suggestions,” called the captain. “We're running from them as fast as we can and I don't think there are any evasive maneuvers that will do us any good."
Roberts put a plot up on the viewer. “There's an old satellite debris field twenty-two degrees from our present course.” An arc appeared from the plot of the Legacy to the position of the debris field. “If we get in there and shut off our engines, they may lose us."
"You don't sound too certain,” said the captain as he began making the course adjustment.
"I'm not,” said Roberts, matter-of-factly. “But, it's the best option we've got."
The numbers that showed the Legacy's distance from the Cluster continued to increase while a second set of numbers that showed their distance to the debris field appeared and began decreasing. “I'm shutting down the engines,” said Firebrandt. “We should drift right into the debris at this point. We'll just need a slight reverse nudge to stop."
"Oh my God,” said Anne McClintlock. “They've fired."
Firebrandt looked up in time to see a red beam emerge from the Cluster. At the same time, something slammed into the back of the ship and threw him headfirst over the wheel console. The last thing he remembered were all the lights going out and the sound of screams from throughout the battle deck.
* * * *
As soon as the Nicholas Sanson jumped into Earth's solar system, Simon Yermakov ordered Natalie to activate the holo viewer. All they saw was a distant view of the Earth. Laura Peters activated thrusters and accelerated to full speed. Right behind the Sanson, dozens of black, cylindrical war ships jumped into normal space and activated their own thrusters. Almost unnoticed in the pack was a silver egg-shaped craft piloted by Arepno.
"Simon,” said Natalie, looking back toward the command chair. She saw Simon Yermakov in the captain's chair with Suki Firebrandt next to him. “I'm detecting one Cluster in orbit and ... I think there's an Earth ship running away from it."
"Let's see it.” As Simon stood from the command chair, Manuel Raton emerged from the captain's office at the back of the deck.
"I'm picking this up on a satellite relay,” explained Natalie as the view in the holo tank suddenly shifted. Instead of seeing Earth from a distance, it now appeared that they were in near-Earth orbit. They could make out a black ship silhouetted against the blue of Earth moving away from one of the Clusters.
Simon stepped closer to the tank and pointed to a fuzzy patch that didn't seem well-resolved in the view. “What's that?"
"I think it's a satellite debris field,” said Laura, squinting at the tank from her station.
Fire stood and stepped next to Simon, her head inclined. As she studied the ship, her eyes grew wide. “That ship's called the Legacy,” she said, reading the name from the hull. “That's the name of my father's old privateer vessel."
Manuel moved up next to Fire, also studying the image. “I think that is your father's old privateer vessel.” He stepped into the tank and pointed to patterns of light and shadow on the hull's surface. “You can see where the adobe part of the homestead discolored the Erdonium hull."
"It can't be,” said Fire.
Just then, there was a bright flash of red and Manuel threw his arm up over his eyes and staggered backward out of the tank. The beam came from the Cluster and caught the Legacy on its EQ generator and sent the ship into an end-over-end spiral.
"Oh my God!” called Fire. She reached out toward the tumbling hologram, as though she could stop the ship by stopping its holographic image.
"I've got a fleet-wide signal,” said Natalie. “I'm putting it on speakers."
"This is Commodore MacPhearson of the Astrolus,” came a gravely voice from the intercom. “We have a ship in trouble near the Cluster. I want the Bismarck and Yamato to get in there between the Cluster and that ship right away. Sanson, you're the third fastest ship, do you have medical personnel?"
Simon nodded to Natalie who responded, “We don't have any doctors, but we have two emergency medical techs."
"That'll do,” said MacPhearson. “Get in there, get that ship stabilized and help out anyone that's injured. All other ships, prepare for attack plan delta..."
Simon made a cutting motion across his neck and Natalie turned off the speakers. He nodded to Laura who adjusted course for the spiraling Legacy. He stepped back to the command seat and Fire followed on his heels. As he sat, he ordered the EMTs to the launch.
"May I go over there with them?” asked Fire.
Simon rubbed his hands together and looked at his console, deliberately avoiding Fire's gaze. “We don't know what we'll find over there."
Fire knelt down and looked up into Simon's eyes. “I have a pretty good idea my father's over there—alive or dead. Either way, I've got to go over."
"Well someone's alive over there,” said Laura.
Grateful to look away from Fire's eyes, Simon looked up at the holo tank. Fire turned and stood to watch as well. They saw that the Legacy was firing thrusters, slowing her spin. As the ship straightened, two star cruisers blasted by the wounded ship and positioned themselves in front of the Cluster. Fire sighed relief.
"We'll be in range to send out the launch in two minutes,” said Laura.
Simon ground his teeth, then looked up at Fire. “You and Mr. Raton get down to the launch bay and see what you can do to help."
"Thank you,” said Fire, as she sprinted toward the elevator with Manuel hurrying to catch up.
"Tell the launch crew to wait for Dr. Ellis and Mr. Raton—but have them launch as soon as they're aboard and secure,” ordered Simon.
Natalie carried out the orders and on the screen, they saw the Cluster fire again. This time the beam hit one of the two ships that had positioned itself between the Cluster and the Legac
y. They saw a burst of fog-like atmosphere that indicated that the ship's hull had been breached, but the military crew locked down the breach almost as fast as it appeared.
"The launch says that Suki and Manuel are aboard. They can go any time,” said Natalie.
Laura nodded ascent. “We're in good position, they can go across to the Legacy when they're ready."
"Tell them to launch,” said Simon. He put his hand on the back of Laura's chair and continued to watch the holo tank.
More ships began to form up between the Cluster and the Legacy. The Cluster fired again at the ship it had first hit. The ship spun away from the others and exploded. Two ships moved in and filled the gap made by the lost ship.
The Sanson's launch could be seen on the screen, making its way to Legacy.
The Cluster fired again at two other ships. Simon stepped closer to the tank and looked carefully. He was pretty certain those ships had sustained damage also. The Cluster continued to fire as more Alliance and Colonial ships formed up. Another Earth ship exploded in a blinding flash.
"The launch reports it's docked on to Legacy. Someone opened the airlock for them,” said Natalie with a faint smile.
Simon nodded, not taking his eyes from the holo tank. “Put on the fleet signals again,” he said, almost dreamily.
"All ships in position,” came one voice from the speakers.
The Cluster fired at another ship.
"This is the Witch of Endor, we've sustained heavy casualties and may have to withdraw."
"Stick with us for a few more minutes."
"All ships report target lock."
"This is Commodore MacPhearson. All ships ... Fire!"
Natalie quickly dimmed the intensity of the holo tank as all of the ships in the fleet simultaneously opened fire on the Cluster. The Cluster got off another shot and the ship that had identified itself as the Witch of Endor vanished in a flash. It fired again and destroyed another ship.
"Maintain firing solution,” called MacPhearson.
Simon reached back and gripped Laura's console. The pilot looked down and noticed that her own knuckles were white. She looked down at the display. “The Legacy has moved into the satellite debris field."
Heirs of the New Earth Page 24
