“Glad you could join us,” said the director.
“What did I miss?” Test asked.
The holographic projection transformed from a hovering image of the UNE flag, into a top down view of the Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri systems. “We have reason to believe EDF-2 and several others have gone missing, and have been for a year.”
EDF, it was a term Test had not heard in a long time. The Extrasolar Defense Force or EDF was a Special Forces group established to look out for Earth’s interests beyond the solar system. It was formed after humans that fled Earth during the Hashmedai invasion arrived at Radiance-controlled colonies in Alpha Centauri. A handful of the personnel had been a part of the military, including a team that bested the Hashmedai command ship that was in orbit around Earth.
“A psionic telepathic communication from Radiance claims that a Radiance ship they were operating on conducted an operation on the outskirts of Proxima Centauri,” said the director. “They also claim to have evidence of an unknown ship either heading to or arriving from the direction of the Sirius system.”
“Have we verified their claims?” asked the agent.
“The data gathered thus far has been transmitted to us,” the director explained. “But as we know, it will take another four years before it reaches us. However, Radiance claims that the mysterious ship in question may hold the answers as to what happened to them and the Radiance ship they were operating on.”
“Proxima Centauri is Radiance territory, so I think it’s safe to say if there were unknown ships operating in that system Radiance would have found it by now,” said Test.
“Which means said ship is on a course to Sirius,” said the agent. “That’s where the Carl Sagan comes in.”
Test crossed his arms and grunted. “This ought to be interesting.”
“The EDF teams vanishing isn’t new, at least for the higher-ups,” said the director. “Contact with them was lost in July of last year along with dozens of Radiance ships. Radiance sent ships in from Alpha Centauri four months later, the approximate time it takes to fly between those two systems.”
Test winced as he put two and two together. President Mariana Salamanca was elected that past November, the month Radiance would have discovered the fiasco that went on in Proxima Centauri. “That’s exactly when President Salamanca was elected and made the decision to keep going with the Carl Sagan rather than scrapping it and building a new warship,” he said.
“She knew what was going on and knew that we needed to get our eyes in that system ASAP,” said the director. “A trip from Proxima Centauri to Sirius will take a little over eighteen years and Earth to Sirius seventeen years.”
“If we launch a ship soon we could rendezvous with them as they arrive . . .” said Test.
“It will also give us a chance to investigate a theory. You are aware of the Celestial Order correct?”
“Yeah, insane cult of fanatics from Radiance, right?” said Test.
The director nodded. “Captain Vaughan was a US marine that participated in destroying the Hashmedai command ship, in her report she claimed that a member of the cult was working with the Hashmedai commander who was in charge of the invasion.”
“Of course, our intelligence operations have been limited to the Solar system,” said the agent. “So, we haven’t been able to learn a lot about Hashmedai working with the Celestial Order, or if it’s even true to start with. But what we do know is that the HLF is growing in strength. And that two people recently recruited to join the crew of the Carl Sagan happened to be living in Red Zones.” The hologram changed into ID portraits of Dr. Travis Pierce and Jasmine Rivera, two persons of interests in EISS. The agent continued. “If the Celestial Order has Hashmedai members that were part of the invasion, then there’s a good chance some of those members might also be part of either the HLF or the Hashmedai community living on Earth.”
Test closely examined the hologram and the biography of the two newly recruited crew members. If EISS theory was correct, then the Carl Sagan could be hand-delivering deadly cultists into the Sirius system, only to meet up with a ship that may be under the influence of Celestial Order members, bad news to the colonists. Even if they were wrong, the Carl Sagan may be carrying personnel who might have HLF links though nothing was 100 percent confirmed, after all living in a Red Zone didn’t make you a terrorist per se. But, if one were to be affiliated with them, then they would have come from those regions, no questions asked. HLF members were primary concerned with defending Hashmedai communities worldwide. Green Zones such as Geneva were devoid of Hashmedai.
“I see where you’re going with this,” Test said as he looked away from the holograms.
“And that’s where you come in, I need you on that ship,” the director said to him. “If you’re up to the task.”
3 CHEVALLIER
ESV Wilfrid Laurier, Captain’s mess
Earth orbit, Sol system
March 5, 2033, 18:02 SST (Sol Standard Time)
Mathilda Chevallier sat at a circular dinner table located in the captain’s mess. She became lost in thought as she looked out the window and took in the majestic sight of Earth in the background and multiple ships in orbit around it. Some ships were human-built, the rest were alien; part of the Radiance fleet that stood watch over Earth, protecting it from future imperial attacks while the young human fleet grew stronger in numbers.
The Wilfrid Laurier was one of six warships built to serve in the growing UNE navy. Using technology provided by Radiance and reverse engineered from downed Hashmedai ships, the UNE quickly adapted the technology from the two sources while enhancing it with human ingenuity. Rotating habitat rings located at the rear of the ship generated artificial gravity, and housed crew quarters, and the mess hall amongst other things. The rest of the ship was subject to the weightlessness of space, while the bridge had gravity, generated by a Radiance psionic with their psychic powers.
Mathilda barely touched her meal of savory pork chops with roasted fennel. Her mother and Captain of the Wilfrid Laurier, Agatha Chevallier, sat with her alongside the XO Commander Martin Xavier. Mathilda had green eyes, short auburn hair, dyed of course, as her mother’s hair was black and slowly fading into grey. Xavier’s hair and beard were in the process of making the grey transition as well. Agatha and Xavier spent most of the evening talking as per usual; they meshed well together given their backgrounds.
Xavier was a young officer in the Royal Navy during the war, while Agatha was an officer in France’s navy. Both fought the Hashmedai the best they could, given the limitations they were faced with at the time, and then fought for survival when their ships sank. Today the two were among the most talked-about, high ranking officers in the UNE navy, navy personnel from the old world that made the transition to space. A shining example of lucrative career opportunities that awaited those who enlisted.
“That was a mighty fine meal,” Xavier said after wiping his mouth clean with a towel.
“I was lucky to personally know the Chef prior to being assigned this position,” Agatha said then turned to face her daughter. “Mathilda what do you think?”
Mathilda looked down at her half-eaten pork chop. She quickly bit into it and projected the fake sense that she enjoyed it. In reality of course it had long gone cold, and it was the source of her misery. Dining with her mother and XO wasn’t part of her agenda; drinking and partying were.
“It’s OK,” Mathilda said.
“Hopefully you will be able to feast on meals this good in Sirius,” said Agatha.
Xavier looked out the same window that held Mathilda’s attention not long ago. He cocked his index finger toward the Carl Sagan as it appeared over the horizon. “That’s it over there, right?”
Agatha and Xavier got up from their seats and stood in front of the window to stare at the newest exploration ship. It looked different to the warships: two habitat rings, a smaller bridge, fewer weapon ports, and no nuclear missile launchers or fighter bays.
It was a design Mathilda didn’t agree with. Should a ship like that come across the empire in deep space, they were finished. She often wondered how a ship would defend itself with only forward rail guns and two plasma missile launchers.
“That’s it, fresh out of dock,” Agatha said.
Mathilda remained sitting at the table in front of her half-eaten meal, uninterested in looking at the Carl Sagan. She had viewed enough of its designs with her data pad. “Guess I should get my things,” Mathilda said.
“We still got time before the launch,” Xavier said to her.
“Xavier’s right, and knowing the fleet, its launch will be delayed for another day,” said Agatha.
Mathilda stood up and slowly headed for the exit. “Is that what you know or is it wishful thinking?” she added.
“You’re my only child, the longer they delay this, the longer I’ll be able to see you.”
She stood before the sliding doors, grinned, then faced her mother. “I’ll be back one day.”
“In what? Thirty-five years minimum? Do you really think I’ll be around by then?”
“People are living longer lives thanks to Radiance medical tech.”
“Only by a margin, and should the empire return to finish what they started—”
The intercom beeped as a bridge officer announced. “Captain Chevallier to the bridge.”
Agatha sighed. “Oh, what is it now,” she said, then addressed her XO. “Xavier?”
“I’ll handle it, ma’am.” Xavier stepped away from the window and exited the captain’s mess. He stopped briefly and spun around facing Mathilda and offered a handshake. “By the way Mathilda, congratulations on the promotion, Master Chief Petty Officer.”
Mathilda looked back and saw her mother had remained at the window, looking off into space, as Xavier left. She figured her mother would be doing a lot alone once Mathilda departed for Sirius and goes to sleep for seventeen years. She joined her at the window. Two pairs of stunning green eyes gazed at the star filled void.
“I didn’t want you to go at first, truth be told,” Agatha said in French. “But our family line is going strong here on Earth all things considered. But out and beyond? It’s nonexistent.”
“I have no plans on having kids,” Mathilda replied in French.
“I said the same thing when I met your father. With that said, make sure your children take your name.”
“Oh, please.”
“I never took your father’s name and neither did you. Keep those traditions going in Sirius, who knows, maybe that will be commonplace there.”
Mathilda arrived in her quarters an hour later to pack up. Only one duffel bag was needed: clothes; data pad; music player; videogame console; and most important of all, a pack of Cuban cigars. Everything else was irrelevant. She picked up her data pad and winced at the flashing red icon of a new message notification. She tapped the touch screen while her eyes skimmed the contents of the message, it was another invite for her to attend a going-away-party with many drinks.
She groaned as she tossed the data pad in her duffel bag. She didn’t want to go to Sirius. She didn’t want to be cut off from the rest of the human race or the galaxy, she didn’t want to make Sirius her new home until the Carl Sagan was ready to return to Earth, whenever that was. Her antics brought this on herself and created headaches for her mother.
Mathilda was the daughter to the great Captain Chevallier. Because of who her mother was, she was rarely punished for things she did or trouble she got into, and oftentimes didn’t get passed up for promotions. It would have been bad press for the UNE navy to do otherwise, they needed people like her, her mother, and Xavier to encourage recruitment and strong morale. Xavier had his adopted daughter, Jessica Davis, rising through the ranks, Agatha had Mathilda.
Mathilda enlisted in the navy to make her mother happy, but her attitude toward her superiors did the exact opposite. Mathilda’s forced assignment to Sirius would deflect flak from her mother and help keep Mathilda from a court-martial, one that was a long time coming. One that would have brought shame to her mother and ruin the poster child image the navy wanted to project.
Mathilda leaving Sol however, it was great for the press, daughter of the famed Captain Chevallier who will travel to Sirius and lead the UNE navy personnel attached to the ship. Her mother in the end would be happy and proud while growing old, and dying never knowing this was not the life Mathilda wanted for herself. Never knowing this was Mathilda’s attempt at saving her from more embarrassment due to her actions.
Sirius was the rug, and Mathilda was set to be swept under it.
4 WILLIAMS
Radiance Embassy
Kingston, Earth, Sol system
March 6, 2033, 17:00 SST (Sol Standard Time)
The Caribbean was one of the few places on Earth that lacked the scars of war from the invasion. It was deemed tactically unimportant at the time to the Hashmedai fleet, not to mention its warm climate deterred them from sending ground forces to raze its cities. Today, most members of Radiance could be found living on one of the many islands, as warm, tropical temperatures are highly sought after amongst Radiance, standard room temperature for Radiance was around thirty degrees Celsius. Needless to say, the primary Radiance Embassy on Earth was located in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, with its warm tropical weather.
The Embassy was also the primary location where Radiance psionics were recruited. According to Radiance myth, their gods, who uplifted the Aryile race, gifted them with various forms of technology, such as interstellar ships and the ability to create psionics. If a person with potential was found, they underwent a special type of therapy that enhanced their brain processing power, giving them access to skills such as telepathy, telekinesis, and extrasensory perception (ESP.)
With the aid of advance cybernetic augmentation and years of training, a psionic could further develop their powers to not only augment their basic gifts, but gain access to the ability to teleport themselves or others around them, from one location to another, harness psionic power and convert it into deadly projectiles, control electronic equipment by thinking about it, or conjure a protective barrier for defensive purposes. Psionics were an essential member of a ship as they were able to sense what existed around the ship faster than its sensors which traveled at the speed of light. If there was an incoming asteroid forty light minutes away, it would take forty minutes for ships sensors to scan it, and another forty minutes for the data to return to the ship. A psionic could sense it instantly and relay that information so its crew could adjust course.
The Carl Sagan was going to be all alone in Sirius so a shipboard psionic was going to be mandatory to have along for the ride as humans were incapable of developing psionic powers according to recent studies. There have been wild conspiracy theories that a top secret UNE outpost on one of Saturn’s moons was conducting research into the development of human psionics.
Commander Dominic Williams entered the lobby of the Radiance Embassy and marveled at its crystal-like interior and high, hanging ceiling. Holograms replayed messages written in their language; important notifications he figured. He saw various members of the Radiance collective scurry about and speak with humans that were there. Many of them were of the Aryile race, humanoid creatures with scales on their arms and the sides of their necks, possibly other areas as well. They had reptilian eyes and took great care to ensure their hair was styled elegantly.
Javnis were a purely reptile species with green, leathery skin, four eyes, and a bad sense of humor from what Williams recalled from his early encounters with their kind. Rabuabin were an interesting bunch, they had catlike ears and tail, but also had ram like horns on their heads. Most of them had tanned skin though Williams suspected it was due to having to live on planets with lots of sunlight as the union favored colonies there.
The physical appearance of the Linl was indistinguishable to humans. It was the Linl race that pushed for Radiance to make contact with humanity when Radiance
first discovered Earth, as many people in their society thought there was a link between humans and Linl. Of course, no such link had ever been discovered, as countless genetic tests had shown. Humans and Linl, outside of physical similarities, were two wholly different species.
Williams stood at the reception desk and saw one of the rarer species of the union, the Vorcambreum. They were a short race of people who were no taller than four feet in most cases. They had grey skin, yellow eyes, and large ears that sagged down toward their shoulders at times. They almost always sat on a booster chair that prompted laughter that Williams had to hold back every time he saw them.
“Greetings human, what can I do for you?” The Vorcambreum receptionist said to him.
“I’m Commander Dominic Williams.”
“Ah, yes, we’ve been expecting you.” His tiny Vorcambreum hands offered Williams a Radiance data crystal. “These are the psionics that are available for your expedition.”
Williams pulled out his data pad and loaded the crystal into a small slot on the bottom of it. The contents of the data crystal began to load and to his surprise showed only the dossiers of two Radiance psionics.
“That’s it? Just two?”
“You must remember you will be in stasis for many years, on a voyage to a system that even our people have never been to,” said the Vorcambreum. “Most of us came here to aid your kind not explore the unknown.”
Williams examined the list closer, he had to choose between a young and inexperienced Aryile shipboard psionic and an experienced Javnis combat psionic. It wasn’t an easy call.
Williams grimaced at the thought and asked. “Can I get back to you on this?”
“Yes of course. But if you want my suggestion? Invest in the Javnis, you never know if you’ll run into trouble out there.”
It’s a tempting thought, but at the same time, the Carl Sagan wasn’t a warship. They needed a shipboard psionic, not a combat one and taking the two was out of the question as Radiance only allowed one of their kind to serve on Earth ships.
The Siege of Sirius: A Splintered Galaxy Space Fantasy Novel Page 3
