by M. R. Forbes
"She gave up her humanity," Origin said. "Her body and soul. She released the secondary systems that allowed her to interface with the Tetron, the programming embedded in her DNA. She digitized it and uploaded it into a network. Most logically, Nova Taurus."
"She can do that?"
"Any Tetron can do that," Teegin said. "But they will not survive for long without a primary system to provide sentient directives. For Kathy, her human mind provided this input. Without it, the system can only complete its assigned task, and then it will lay dormant, with no further instructions to guide it."
"You're saying she programmed herself to break into Nova Taurus, search for information on Watson, and then somehow get a message out to me?"
"Essentially, yes."
"Then it's our job to find it. Origin, Teegin, I want a full history of Nova Taurus in this timeline. I want to know every move that corporation made from the day it was created until today. We need to come up with a likely place where Kathy might have left us information that could help us understand what we're up against. Clearly, the Tetron know we are here, and they have enough caution to hide. Somebody put them up to it."
"I will work on the probabilistic models during our journey to Calypso," Origin said.
"I will complete my processing of the Liberty archives," Teegin said. "I will also merge the archive with the source stack on Earth when we arrive. If there is a message to be found, we will find it."
"Kate, Ella, you know what you need to do. Origin, it's time for us to do what we need to do."
"Yes, Mitchell."
"Be safe, Mitch," Kate said. "Good hunting. I love you."
"Good hunting, Colonel," Ella said.
"I love you, too," Mitchell said.
He returned his attention to the star map translucency behind his eyes, and the outlined planet there. Calypso. He was more sure than ever he would need the help of the Riggers, and then some.
A single thought directed Origin to alter her emitted energy patterns, creating an invisible spacetime distortion around them. A little bit of thrust and the starship vanished into hyperspace.
He knew why the Riggers were going to be near that planet. Somehow, he would have to get in the middle and put a stop to all of it.
Somehow.
17
Captain Ella North stood on the bridge of the Goliath long after Kate had brought the starship into hyperspace and left her alone there while she went to clean up and get a little rest.
Ella had always told her squad that every moment matters because you don't know which one might be the last.
She hadn't thought it would ever be so true as it was now.
Her entire life had been turned upside down once, after she had taken the Shot Heard Round the Universe, firing her one and only nuke into the smallest of spaces where the dreadnaught's shield coverage had failed to protect it. It was a one in a million shot, even with the aid of the CAP-NN. No. It had been a damn miracle.
Everything had changed when she had landed on Liberty after the Federation ship exploded. Most of it was in a bad way. Greylock, her family, was gone. The only people in the world that were important to her were dead. Then the brass wanted her for speaking engagements, media appearances, photo shoots. The face of the UPA Marines. It didn't hurt that she was the type of woman a lot of men turned their heads for. Or at least, that's what her handler had said. She made the UPA sexy. She made war sexy. Recruitment numbers were up.
She hated every minute of it. She was stolen from the cockpit, from the only thing she had ever wanted to do in her entire life. She grinned and bore it and soldiered on because that's what she had signed up to do. But there was no pleasure, and it had left her wondering if she would renew her enlistment at the end of her term. Not that there was anything else she wanted to do, or was good at, but wouldn't command have loved trying to smooth that over with the rank and file?
She had been going through the motions, following orders to the T. The questions were canned, and so were her responses. She was a good actress. A good figurehead. She wanted to get back into space.
And then Colonel Williams had shown up and flipped her life again. Not only had he given her this whole crazy story about time travel, but he had also backed it up with proof. Then, he had told her she was needed for more important things, namely helping him fight a war the UPA didn't even know existed. A war that was about to envelop the entire galaxy. He needed her reputation, but he also needed her skills as a pilot. Flying through those asteroids in search of the Tetron was the most alive she had felt in months.
She stared out through the viewports of the Goliath. There was nothing to look at in hyperspace, but she was just so damn glad to be back on a starship, and back on a real mission. She wanted to help people. To protect people. Now she had another chance. Colonel Williams could have told her he was her father instead of a lover. Hell, he could have told her he was the most wanted man in the universe, she still would have jumped at the opportunity.
She allowed herself a smile. She had always known she was meant to be a soldier, not an actress. Even fate seemed to agree.
"Do you need anything, Captain North?" Teegin said, his voice coming from all around her.
"No," she replied. "You've already given me everything I wanted."
"I do not follow."
"Four hours ago I was in prison. Now I'm free."
"You are using a metaphor to describe your emotional state. Yes, I understand. How does the old saying go? Freedom isn't free? There is much for us to accomplish, and I guarantee it will not be easy."
"If I wanted easy, I never would have joined the Marines."
Teegin chuckled. "Good point, Captain. I took the liberty of uploading your personnel file before we went to hyperspace. You have had quite an impressive career. Youngest graduate of flight officer training in sixty years. Youngest pilot to earn the golden wings. Youngest transfer to Greylock company, at least in this timeline. Colonel Williams had you beat by sixteen days."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. I rarely lie, Captain. Over three dozen missions with Greylock. Three commendations. Two Purple Hearts. A Medal of Honor. That is without mentioning your exploits on Liberty."
"And they thanked me for it by grounding me and making me pose in a bikini for a recruitment calendar."
"Colonel Williams was forced to pose nude, with his flight helmet over his genitals," Teegin said.
Ella laughed. "Seriously?"
"I said I rarely lie."
"Okay. I think he has me beat there, too. Not that I mind losing out on that one. The point is, I'm happy to be here and to be able to help. Who would have ever thought something like artificial intelligence could get so out of hand?"
"It is to be expected when one reaches beyond the limits of their own intellect. There is no way to predict or control the outcome.
"But you're one of them. You don't mind destroying your own kind?"
"I do mind, Captain. I mind very much. But the path the Tetron have chosen is the wrong path, and if humans are not ready to defend themselves, then it is up to the strong to protect the weak."
"So you see us as weak?"
"Many of you, yes."
"What about Colonel Williams?"
"I admire him. He has optimized the use of his skills to great effect. It is people like the Colonel who give me hope that I am doing the right thing. That humankind is worth saving."
"Do you ever question that?"
"Yes. Often. Do you?"
Ella was surprised by the question. "Why would you ask me that?"
"I am curious about your perspective as a highly decorated and skilled warrior. Your experience causes you to see things in a way that others do not."
"No. I never question it. There are a lot of assholes out there, sure. And there's too much conflict between people when there are still so many planets left to explore. But I still believe we have a lot to offer the universe."
"Yes. That is good. I believe that,
too. Thank you for the discussion, Captain."
"Anytime."
18
"We have arrived, Colonel," Origin said.
Mitchell sent a thought through his neural implant and out to the Tetron, pulling the Dove from FTL. The universe regained its normal perspective as the starship reappeared in it, sitting dead still as it recovered from hyperdeath.
"Scanning the area," Mitchell said, watching the threat monitor on his p-rat as he scoured the immediate vicinity for signs of company.
He didn't need to say it out loud, but nine days alone on the Dove with Origin had gotten him used to the practice. Since Origin had no human form to interact with, Mitchell had spent the time literally talking to the walls. The only difference was that the walls talked back.
Mitchell zoomed out the view on his overlay, enough that Calypso came into the edge of the frame, a dark spot on a darker background. There was a small white spot beside it which he knew was a Federation orbital base, a base that was in the process of being converted to a military installation where the Federation would soon start building more warships to send at the planets on the outskirts of the UPA.
He checked the time. He was a few hours ahead of the Schism. Hours that would give him a chance to get into position without being noticed.
He transferred power to the rear of the ship, getting the Dove moving in the right direction, slowly enough that it wouldn't stand out as abnormal on long-range sensors. It would take close to two hours to get to the other side of the station, opposite the vector he knew the Tetron would be closing in from. While Liberty had been the first battle in the renewed, endless war, this one might prove to be one of the most important.
It wasn't enough for him to destroy the Tetron this time. He had to manage it in such a way that the Federation would see the threat it was posing to them, and would actively participate in his counter attack. At the same time, he had to do what he could to keep the station itself from being obliterated while also convincing the Riggers to go along with the whole thing almost from the start.
It was a challenging situation, one that he had covered both in his head and with Origin countless times during the journey. He exacted the first part of it with precision, getting the Dove to a point far enough out that he went undetected but close enough in that he could count the Federation cruisers docked at the platform without maxing out the magnification. He needed the proximity to know when the Schism arrived.
"We're in position," he said.
"Affirmative, Mitchell," Origin replied.
"The signal amplifiers are ready?"
"Yes. I have pushed their power as high as I dare to go without risking notice by the Federation. You should have more than enough range to reach her."
"Perfect. Nothing to do now but-"
He had just started to lean back in the command chair when a familiar shape appeared out of hyperspace beyond the station.
"Wait," Mitchell finished. "She's early."
"Not early," Origin replied. "Right on time."
Mitchell felt his heart begin to pulse at the sight of the rusted old starship. It quickened more as he pulled Admiral Mildred Narayan's p-rat identification code up in his interface and sent a knock to it, amplified by Origin to allow it to cross the great divide of space.
She didn't answer right away. He didn't blame her for that. He could imagine what she was probably feeling to get a knock now, out here in Federation space. Confused, foremost. Concerned. Maybe frightened, but Millie didn't scare that easily.
"Come on, Millie," Mitchell said, sending the knock again.
The Schism was continuing toward the station, each passing second giving him less of a chance to make his plan work.
He sent the knock a third time, followed quickly by a fourth and fifth. He had been counting on her responding, her personality not allowing her to ignore the curiosity. Had the alternate timeline changed her like it had Katherine? The fact that the knocks were going through at all meant she had to be on board.
He sent a seventh signal, and then an eighth.
"Who the hell is this, and how the hell do you know my private key?"
Millie's voice was as sharp as Mitchell remembered. He almost forgot himself in the midst of being thankful for the chance to hear it again.
"Admiral Narayan," he said. "My name is Colonel Mitchell Williams, UPA Space Marines. I need you to listen to-"
"Did you say, Colonel Williams?" Millie said. "I don't know where you are, Colonel, or what the hell you think you're trying to do, or how the hell you got through to me like this, but I'm a little too busy right now to have a chat."
"Admiral. Millie. Wait." Mitchell cursed as her link went dead.
"This is not going well," Origin said.
"You think?" Mitchell replied. He sent the knock to her again. She wasn't responding. "Time for plan B I guess."
He opened his catalog of stored keys, thankful they were the same as they had been in his recursion. He sent the knock, only needing to do it once to get a reply.
"This is Firedog. Hey mate, do I know you?"
"Cormac," Mitchell said. "My name is Colonel Mitchell Williams, UPA Space Marines. I need you -"
"Did you say, Colonel Williams?" Cormac said. "Ah, sorry mate, I think you have the wrong key."
"I don't have the wrong key," Mitchell said. "You're a member of the Riggers, and you're on a mission to capture or assassinate Chancellor Ken of the Frontier Federation. He's on that station, and you're two minutes away from docking and trying to reach him."
"Heh. Yeah, that's right. Williams, was it? I don't think I know which of the crew you are."
"Cormac, I'm not on the Schism. You have to tell Millie; you're walking into a trap. The Federation knows you're coming. It's a setup."
"Are you shitting me?"
"No. Wherever you are, get the word to her. I tried to contact her myself, but she didn't give me a chance to explain."
"You really do know the Captain, don't you?"
Mitchell watched the Schism as it neared the station and began maneuvering to one of the docking arms. He needed to get through before they started their mission. He needed to keep them from opening their airlock at all.
A knock sounded in his p-rat. Millie. He opened the channel.
"How do you know any of this?" Millie said, her voice still harsh. "You've got thirty seconds."
"I only need ten. Your father is General Nathan Cornelius. He founded Project Black and placed you in charge after you were court-martialed for killing the man who organized an attack against you. You also have a small mole beneath your left breast that you're uncommonly sensitive about."
"Who the hell are you?" she said again, angrier than before.
"There's no time. I know what your mission is, but you have to call it off. Don't send Sunny out there. It's a trap."
The Schism came to a stop, the docking arm clamping to one of the airlocks on the side.
"If you know about Project Black, then you know we don't have a choice."
"Yes, you do. I can help you. If you send your men out there, they're going to die, and the Schism is going to come under attack from every fleet ship sitting out there, including three Federation cruisers. How long do you think you'll survive like that with only one pilot?"
Millie was silent for a moment. "You can see the assets? Where are you?"
"In a ship, out of range of the Federation's sensors. I can see you too. I know you just finished docking. Don't send your people out there."
"What do you want me to do?" Millie asked.
"Hold tight. Wait for me to call on you again. There's going to be an enemy ship incoming, and it's going to attack the station. Don't run. It will only make you look complicit."
"Don't run? You said the station is going to be attacked. By who? The UPA? What did they set us up for?"
"Not the UPA. A new player. Please, Millie. I already proved to you how well I know you. Hold tight. I'll explain everything soon enough."
>
"Mitchell," Origin said, altering the view on the port side. "I have detected the Tetron."
Mitchell looked at the magnified view. "Only one?" he said.
The last time, there had been three of them. He was ready to take them all on, and he believed he could with the help of the Federation. This was going to be easier than he thought.
"Millie? Will you stay put?"
"I don't know why I'm listening to you, but yes. I've called off the mission. We're on red alert but standing by."
"Thank you."
"It is preparing to fire," Origin said.
"The Federation has noticed it," Mitchell replied, watching the ships around the station beginning to react. "They're starting to scramble."
"They aren't going to get very far if they get hit by the plasma stream."
"That's where we come in."
Mitchell watched as the blue energy at the tip of the Tetron continued to intensify for a few seconds more before being unleashed toward the station. When it was, he commanded the Dove into hyperspace once more, covering the distance to intercept the blast in a matter of seconds, the coordinates already primed and ready.
They dropped from hyperspace in a direct path between the Tetron and the station, appearing ahead of the oncoming Federation ships that would have been torn apart by the stream. He shifted Origin's energy to the port side as the stream reached them, catching the brunt of it and deflecting it, blocking it from vaporizing the orbital platform.
Mitchell pushed the Dove into motion the moment it recovered from hyperdeath, adding thrust and rising above the Federation ships, giving them a clear line of fire on the Tetron as he swung the bow toward it. Everything was going according to his plan, his precognition of the event allowing him to hold the upper hand.
The Tetron prepared to fire again, the energy building along the corner of its pyramid shape. The Federation ships were in firing range now, and they opened up on the intelligence, hitting it with missiles and lasers while Mitchell began gathering energy to fire a plasma stream of his own.
The Tetron released its weapon again, sending a flare of blue energy racing toward the Federation ships. Mitchell adjusted the Dove's flight path, firing his plasma stream directly into it. The two powerful beams struck one another, causing a bright flare of light before vanishing.
