by T. R. Harris
“You have?” said Admiral Mark Proctor. “We’ve already begun full-scale production of the stealth devices. We can’t afford the time to shut down and refit.”
“Forgive me, Admiral, but this feature will be simple to add-on. And it goes to answer Mr. Keller’s first question: How will this tech be implemented?”
Cross took another break, even having the nerve to take a drink of water before continuing. Angus almost laughed. He knew David Cross was a REV and as much of a Delta REV as he. His body didn’t need a drink; he was doing it just to heighten the suspense.
“This new development came only after the failed attack on Voris. From data received during and after the operation, we began to look into the so-called jump-ships of the Azloreans. We weren’t sure if what we were seeing was simply another level of stealth technology or some form of teleportation. After studying the gravity waves in the region, we concluded that it wasn’t teleportation but rather a radical—yet isolated—warping of space. The jump-ships have a way of compressing space down to only millimeters thick before allowing it to rebound. Our gravity drives do essentially the same thing but not to such a degree. Space in the forward motion of the spaceship is drawn into the singularity and then rebounds when the next black hole is created, taking the vessel with it. The Azloreans do the same thing, but only across a few thousand miles. It’s enough to make it appear as though they are jumping from one point to another.”
“You’ve figured out how to do that?” asked the Admiral. “How we can do it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s very interesting, Doctor,” said the civilian Keller. “How will this ability fit into our overall defense plan?”
David Cross stared into the camera with steely grey eyes, a thin grin coming to his face. “To be quite honest with you, Mr. Keller, it doesn’t.”
Chapter 4
“But what it does do,” David Cross continued, “is it puts us on the offensive.”
There were murmurs coming through the speakers from those in attendance.
“Please explain, Dr. Cross,” said Leona Bick.
“Gladly. Although we have solved the residual trail component of the Seken stealth tech, there is still a limitation; A vessel can stay cloaked only to within a thousand miles or so of the target. After that, it becomes visible through mass detectors and other active sensors, including heat and even visual. Although we would now have the ability to sneak up on a Seken mothership, they would know we were there by the time we got within weapons range. The jump ability of the Azloreans takes us that extra step, allowing us to approach the enemy ships literally to within arm’s length.”
“So we can plant explosives!” said someone on the link, the enthusiasm evident in his tone.
“Or launch missiles,” said another.
“Both are viable possibilities, although approaching a vessel moving at light-speed would require a live operator to make the necessary course corrections,” Cross stated. “But I have a better idea.”
Again he grinned.
“Let me back up.”
Angus almost heard an audible moan through the speakers as the attendees collectively thought, Dammit, just get on with it!
“We know what the Seken look like, and we have a pretty good idea as to their physical strength and tenacity. Although no one has fought a Seken and lived to talk about it, we believe they are not any stronger than we are—normal Humans—not without their battle armor. It’s their technology that sets them apart.”
“And you’ve found a way to overcome that?” someone said.
“We have always had that ability,” Cross replied. “The problem was getting it on station. Ladies and gentlemen, I think it’s time we turn the tables on our adversaries. With the new jump technology, we can now dock with an alien warship, effect entry, and then unleash a team of REVs to destroy the cancer from within.”
“Boarding parties?” Admiral Proctor asked. “To take over the ships?”
“If possible, Admiral. Imagine if our fleet had a couple of dozen Seken motherships under our control. We not only use their technology to board their ships, we then turn their own weapons against them. It could make a significant shift in the balance of power. And a couple of dozen REVs making controlled Runs within the confines of an enemy vessel would be unstoppable. The Seken battle armor is not designed to be used in the close confines of the starship.”
Angus felt the Rev in his system perk up. The idea of rampaging through an enemy ship with a team of REVs was like cat-nip to him. He hadn’t seen much hand-to-hand combat in a while. Perhaps I could find a way to lead a team…
“Unless the Seken destroy the ship rather than let it be captured,” a voice said, piercing the rising noise of the attendees.
On second thought…
Cross shrugged. “If that happens, and the REVs are killed, at least there would be one less enemy ship to contend with. This is war, after all. There will be casualties. But overall, think of the possibilities. The boarding ships can be piloted by Vees—normal Humans. And the strike force can be made up of any natural REV, be they Zetas or Alphas. The only limitation would be the number of raiding units we can assemble. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of the Zetas at Voris.”
“How many are left,” Bick asked.
“I have four hundred Zetas on Enif, and General Diamond has two thousand Alphas on Crious.”
“Shouldn’t that be enough?”
“I would think so if they are deployed properly and if we have the jump-ships fully integrated into the attack strategy.”
“Excuse me, doctor, but is this jump technology fully developed and tested, or is it just a theory, something that’s possible, with enough development?” asked another civilian. “Didn’t we just learn of it ten days ago?”
“I have six fully-operational starships using both the stealth and jump units at the base on Enif.” Cross had the expression of a wolf in the hen house. “You have to admit, my REVs have done yeoman’s work on this project; however, we still have the unknown ingredient to consider: the Azloreans.”
“Explain,” Bick ordered. “Didn’t you just say you solved the mystery of the jump-ships?”
“The jump-ships, yes. But we’re still uncertain what new tech the Azloreans will bring to the table beyond that. We’ve only seen their small attack fighters, but not any big capital ships. And we’re still working on countermeasures to both the stealth and jump tech. That’s taking time.”
“Countermeasures, doctor?” asked Keller. “I don’t understand.”
Cross shrugged again. “We may get a jump on the Seken—and possibly the Azloreans—with our innovations, but all it will take is for them to either capture one of our ships or study the data long enough to figure out what we’re doing. Then they can copy us, using our strategy as their own. If they do this, then all bets are off. We’d be back to square one and facing an enemy with overwhelming force. Because of that, we need a way of countering everything we’ve just developed, just in case.”
“So, you’re working on ways to defeat your own technology?”
“In a word, yes.”
Admiral Proctor waved his hand. “That can wait, David. I need you to get me everything you have on this new jump technology. We have hundreds of manufacturers already working on getting the stealth units built and sent out into the fleet. I want the jump tech integrated as soon as possible.”
“Admiral, you do realize the jump ability is only for a few thousand miles. It doesn’t mean we can jump across light-years. I think it could be best used in limited applications.”
“I’ll take what we can get at this point, David. And now, Ms. Bick, about what we discussed earlier. I think this answers the question.”
“I agree, Admiral. I’ll order all our forces to fall back to the Grid boundary. We’ll establish a defensive line there—”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Angus said. “But you’re abandoning the Outer Reaches?”
“That’s right
. Even if we had the forces ready to go today, it would still take four months or more to get them on station. And I don’t think the enemy is going to give us that time. By reinforcing the Grid, we’ll only need a month to deploy our forces.”
“And the Seken would only need a month to reach Earth if they break through.”
“True, but thanks to Dr. Cross, the chances of that happening have been greatly reduced.”
Angus had to agree, but that was cutting it awfully close. There would be no room for error. And he was also thinking about Zac. Although everyone else had given up hope of saving him, Angus hadn’t.
“I want to thank everyone for participating in the conference call,” said Leona Bick formally, ending the meeting. “I think we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, let’s get to work.”
She had a cautious grin on her face when the screen in Angus’s cabin went black.
Chapter 5
Darion Crolous watched the video playback twice just to make sure she heard what she thought she heard. She was tempted to play it a third time, but the thought frightened her to the core. The message was clear, the facts undeniable.
Azloreans in high government had allowed the Human massacre to take place. They had condoned the killing of millions of their fellow species and all for political maneuvering.
More than most, Darion could detect the truth in the words spoken, particularly by the Human Zac Murphy. She was a Level Seven security agent with ten years in the service. She had served in many capacities, including a stint as an entry and exit official for vessels in the Voris system. For over a year, she operated out of a space station set at the system’s outer perimeter, keeping track of all vessels that came and went. She was shocked into reality when the Human sarcastically asked, “Did you not see a thousand-ship fleet approaching your system? Did you think we were coming here on a trade mission? With a thousand warships?”
Yes, the fleet had to be seen, and long before it reached the system. But the alarm was never raised. Could the authorities have mistaken it for a Seken fleet? Even so, that many ships approaching—by any race—would have set off alarms across billions of miles of space. And yet, the Humans were allowed to not only approach but also come within several hundred thousand miles of Voris, close enough to launch their surprise attack. In truth, there was nothing surprising about it. And the Human was also correct, that when the Azloreans responded, the threat was eliminated within minutes.
Darion’s hands trembled, and her four eyes watered, the tears following through drainage creases down to her reclamation glands. She had the video, but what was she to do with it? She spent three hours in agony, contemplating that question before reaching a decision.
She would show it to her first-companion and get his input. He would be home any minute, at which time both of their lives would change forever.
Skor Vonet was her third first-companion; the first one ended by mutual agreement at the end of the session, and the other moved to the second stage before they also dissolved the relationship prior to the procreation period. Looking back at the other two relationships, the system worked; she would have never mated with the other two, committing to twenty years after the youngest was born before having the opportunity to dissolve the union. Each trial session lasted two years, allowing couples to have intimate relationships before moving to the next stage. There were two of these sessions before the pair was deemed compatible enough to have and raise children to adulthood. Although Darion had yet to reach that stage, she was surprised to see that over half of the mating pairs chose to dissolve the relationships after the third stage. But it made sense. They had raised their children, and now it was time to go out on their own again, possibly engaging in a series of first- and second-stage relationships with little commitment.
Darion was sure she and Skor would move to the second stage. They were quickly approaching the date and had discussed it already. And for her part—unless things changed—she was committed to moving to the procreation stage with him … if he agreed.
But now, she was about to reveal to him not only shocking information but from data she had stolen from her work facility. She trusted that he would not report what she had done; there were constraints placed on revealing confidential information during a mating stage. But this information was beyond the pale. It had the potential of bringing down the Azlorean government. Or for getting both of them killed.
Skor noticed the tears the moment he entered the home. He came to her, feeling the trembling in her body.
“What troubles? Please tell me. I can help.”
Darion shook her head. “This is not something you can solve, not on your own. But, Skor, I must warn you: this will cause as much anguish in you as it has me. Please sit. I will prepare the presentation.”
She was right. After only one viewing, Skor trembled as much as she, although his tear ducts were not so overwhelmed. For her part, Darion stepped into another room until the playback was complete. But when Skor asked for a repeat, she bravely sat next to him, holding his hand in hers as they watched.
“Where did you get this?” he asked.
“I removed it from my station. I was tasked with monitoring the meeting for security purposes to ensure the Human did not attack the Inquisitor. If so, I was to activate the collar. My view was visual only, not audible. But after watching the sequence of events, especially when the Antaerean reentered, I had to hear what was said.”
“You stole the file? Will the theft be traced?”
“I made a copy. There was no particular security placed on it; whoever set the protocols did not know of the possible ramifications. I also used a secondary access code to log in, one that cannot be traced to me.”
Skor relaxed. “Then you must destroy the recording, on the off chance that it will be traced to you.”
Darion leaned back on the lounge. She wasn’t shocked or insulted by the proclamation; she had been expecting that would be his first reaction. It was hers, too. But just as she had done, the expression on her first mate’s face changed. The fear was still there, but now it was visited by anger.
“Yes,” Darion said, reading his handsome face. “The realization is coming to you, just as it did to me.”
“We know people who died; six on my side, three on yours,” said Skor. “But that pales in comparison to the billions of others who have threads to this tragedy. Is there any chance this could be wrong, that we are interpreting it incorrectly?”
Darion shook her head. “The facts are incontrovertible, not only with regards to the arrival of the Human fleet but also directly from the words of Nassmar and the Antaerean.”
“Do you know this Inquisitor?”
“I have seen his name. He is very high in the government.”
“How high?”
“High enough for me to believe that those behind this conspiracy have the power to manipulate events.” She squeezed his hand tighter. “Should we release it anonymously? Let the impact of it filter through society?”
“If this conspiracy is as widespread as you suspect, nothing may come of it. And if it is released, there would be denials, claims of altered production.”
“But can we then do nothing, destroy it as you requested?” asked Darion.
“And then let our people go to war with an alien species on fraudulent grounds?” Skor asked. “You work for the government; I do not. However, I hold no animosity toward the institution. At least I didn’t until now. There is injustice here.”
“The Humans attacked Voris—”
“They were simply the tools used by others. If you believe the words of the Human, they were deceived by the Antaerean.”
Darion snorted. “I have seen him in the halls of government, acting important. Now I know why. But, Skor, think of what is about to happen. Millions of others will die in this war. I was at the arena, and you watched it on broadcast. Although they claim these Humans are primitive, they are much stronger and tougher than we. A
nd they came in warships from two thousand light-years away. They are primitive only because they have not developed the technology we have. However, their genetic advances far surpass ours. They will not be easy to kill, as witnessed by Commissioner Crooark. We are going to war because of the deaths of millions of Azloreans. If we do nothing, millions more will die. Our world will be consumed by conflict, with the traces of such lasting for generations to come. And just so the government can build a stellar empire. We could do that without the bloodshed. It would be more lasting and beneficial if we do. This is not the way to do it, with death and subterfuge.”
“I agree, Darion. So, what do we do? I suspect that is why you revealed this to me so that we could make a decision. I want to help, but I know not the proper path.”
“I must speak with the Human.”
Darion’s response caught Skor by surprise.
“Why? Can you even?”
“I can,” she answered. “My division controls the security collar. I am a supervisor. I have access to our device at all times.”
“But why would you want to? You have seen how dangerous these Humans are, especially this breed.”
“He believes he has an ally in Torin Nassmar. That will keep him quiet. Perhaps if he knows better, he will continue telling his story until someone else listens, someone who is not part of the conspiracy. At that point, we could release the video to lend credence to the claims. All we need is an advocate in the media to spread the word.”
