by Chris Fox
Mendez left the bridge, ducking instinctively as he passed through the hatch. Older vessels were tight enough that you'd bang your head otherwise, but these newer models were a different story. He didn't need to duck, or scrunch sideways while making his way down the smaller corridors.
Mendez headed for his ready room, sitting down at the desk. He withdrew a cigar from the drawer, but didn't light it. He rolled it between his fingers as he considered. If Chu was unwilling to come aboard the Juggernaut, it would mean only one thing: that he was a traitor. If it came down to a fight, Mendez had no doubt he'd win. He knew that Chu knew it was well. The Juggernaut would overwhelm the Ghost.
Would Chu run? Mendez had no idea. All he could do was wait--so that was what he did. Long minutes passed, but Mendez didn't allow himself any distractions. He didn't surf the Quantum Network, or even light the cigar. He sat in silence, contemplating. It was a ritual he'd perfected over the years. Total focus was vital when dealing with a canny opponent, and he had a feeling that was exactly what he was about to do.
"Sir?" the ensign's voice echoed over the comm.
"Go ahead," Mendez said.
"Admiral Chu's shuttle has docked. Would you like him brought to your ready room?"
"Yes. Have a pair of Marines escort him. They'll be required for the duration of the encounter," Mendez ordered.
"Yes, sir," the ensign said, then the comm went dark.
Mendez waited. A few minutes later, the door slid open and Chu stepped inside. His hat was tucked under one arm, and his uniform had been pressed that morning. He was only one shade away from parade dress.
"Sir?" one of the Marines said through the doorway.
"Wait outside," Mendez said, waving in the Marine's direction. The door hissed shut and Mendez turned to Chu. "Have a seat, Admiral. Welcome to the Juggernaut."
"Thank you for agreeing to a face-to-face," Chu said. He set the hat down on the table, the brim facing Mendez, then deposited a data pad next to the hat. "You'll find the details of project Eradication on that tablet. Give it a look, and you'll see why this is such a grave matter."
Mendez set down his unlit cigar, and reached for the tablet, then recoiled when a jet of green gas shot from the brim of the hat. A foul odor washed over his face, and he instinctively inhaled as he pulled back. Mendez stood, sucking in a breath to call for the guards. Then his body betrayed him. He slumped back into the chair, his arms flopping down next to him. His attempt to yell for help came out as a low wail.
Mendez tried to stay calm. He could move his eyes, but nothing else. He tried to understand what was happening, looking for an angle that could save him.
"You're no doubt looking for a way out of your predicament," Chu said, leaning across the desk until his face was mere inches from Mendez's. "You're wondering what I dosed you with, and how long it will last. If you could just move your hand, you could tap the alarm on the bottom of your desk, or maybe knock something on the floor to get the Marine to poke his head inside."
Mendez thrashed weakly, but that was the limit of his defiance.
"I wasn't lying, Admiral," Chu said, giving a slow smile. He pushed the tablet a little closer to Mendez. "The details of Eradication are on that tablet. I also wasn't lying when I said that I was confident you'd do the right thing once you knew the truth."
Chu reached into the jacket pocket of his Fleet uniform and withdrew a tiny vial, no longer than his thumb. He unscrewed the top, then moved around the desk to stand next to Mendez.
Mendez tried to thrash, to struggle wildly. His body twitched, but he couldn't force it into any coherent action. Chu easily restrained him, cupping Mendez's chin in one hand. "Don't struggle, Admiral. This will be over in a moment."
Chu upended the vial into one hand, then pressed his hand against Mendez's cheek. Something cold and slimy began to inch its way across Mendez's face. It crawled toward his nose, ever so slowly.
"I know you're a man of logic, Mendez," Chu said, stepping back around the desk. He watched Mendez impassively as the creature inched toward Mendez's left nostril. Mendez could see its terrifying grey form out of the corner of his eye, its antenna twitching as it crawled still closer. "You want to know what's happening. The Gorthian larva will connect to your brain stem. When its work is complete, you will be a new man. You'll finally understand the truth, and you'll see what needs to be done."
Chapter 13- Decision
"So what's our destination?" Kathryn asked as she settled into the pilot's chair.
Nolan considered his options one last time. The smart thing to do was still to go back to Admiral Mendez. They could get a detachment of Marines to help them, or just turn over the entire matter. The problem was that in this case the smart thing wasn't the right thing. If they went back to the admiral, odds were good the Coronas 6 would be gone by the time whoever they alerted arrived.
"Plot a course for Corona 6," Nolan ordered.
"Aye, sir," Kathryn replied, without her usual mockery. She gave him a half smile as they powered into the Helios Gate. There was a moment of weightlessness, then they were on the other side.
Kathryn smoothly guided them into the star's core, and they waited for long minutes while the vessel pushed toward the surface. If not for the inductive field, their ship would have been incinerated in an instant. The field drew upon the star's own power, which protected the vessel as it passed through one of the hottest, densest places in the known universe.
The Sparhawk finally emerged into the sun's corona, an undulating field of towering flares. Kathryn expertly guided them higher until they broke free of the sun's gravity well. They powered toward a tiny silver speck on the edge of a vast field of asteroids. At this distance, it was indistinguishable from the last station they'd visited.
"Em, are you picking up any comm chatter?" Nolan asked.
"Yes, Commander," Em confirmed. "The station's Quantum Lite network is active. At least one member of station personnel is broadcasting."
"Okay, let's see if we can mobilize this station," Nolan said, turning to Kathryn.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked, blinking.
"If we're right, then odds are good this Captain Edison will be invading with a squad of Marines," Nolan said. He gave a heavy sigh. "Resisting that kind of firepower will be tough, but we may have the advantage of surprise. You're more experienced at field work. Do you have a suggestion?"
"A few, but I need to know what we're dealing with first. Let's alert the station, then we'll see what we have to work with," Kathryn said.
Chapter 14- Coronas 6
The large gunmetal door slid up into the ship, and Nolan's ears popped as the pressure between the sealed airlock and the Coronas 6 station normalized. An oily little man stood waiting, his dark hair styled into something approaching a horn. He rubbed his hands together nervously, giving them a wide and obviously fake smile.
"Welcome to Coronas 6. I am Administrator Bock. So, uh, what brings such esteemed agents to our little station?" Bock asked. His nasally voice added to what Nolan's father would have called a 'very punchable' face.
"I'm Commander Nolan of the OFI," Nolan said, stepping forward and holding up his ident badge. "This is Lieutenant Commander Mendez. We have reason to believe your station is in danger. Do you have somewhere we could discuss this privately?"
The airlock opened up into a docking bay where ships could unload cargo. Nolan realized that at least half a dozen miners were peering at them. One of those miners strode up to the administrator, a shotgun resting on one shoulder as she approached. She wore dirty leather pants, matching boots and gloves, and a jacket older than Nolan.
"Something going on that we need to know about, Bock?" the woman asked. She leaned forward, her eyes locked on the weaselly little man. She spat a gob of something dark near his feet.
"Not at the moment," Bock said, taking a half-step back from the woman. "Annie, as you can see, I need to assist these fine people. Why don't you track me down after--"
; Bock trailed off as Annie's free hand shot out and wrapped around his throat. "You wouldn't be trying to put me off again, would you, Bock? You promised me payment, and I ain't seen it for the last two shipments."
"A-are you sure you won't accept Coronas scrip?" he choked out.
"I told you I ain't accepting that pink toilet paper. I want real credits," the miner growled. She released the administrator, but still loomed over him. "Now, you deal with these fine people, and then you come find me. If you don't, I'm going to come find you, Bock."
Annie turned on her heel and strode out of the dock, up one of the airlocks to where Nolan guessed her ship was still docked.
"Please excuse the interruption," Bock said, withdrawing a clean blue handkerchief from the pocket of his vest and mopping at his brow. "If you'll follow me, I'm happy to discuss whatever business brought you to the station."
Bock turned from the airlock and hurried up a metal stairwell that led to the station's next level. Nolan and Kathryn followed him into a small office, with an appropriately-sized desk just large enough for Bock to squeeze behind. There wasn't enough room for Nolan to sit, so he and Kathryn stood as the door hissed shut behind them.
"Now, what is this danger?" Bock asked. His eyes were wide, and he looked like he desperately wanted to be elsewhere.
"We have reason to believe that a rogue vessel may dock at your station in the next twenty-four hours," Nolan began. He paused, trying to decide how much to reveal. Too much, and Bock might break down. Not enough, and he might underestimate the threat. "We expect a team of Marines to break into your facility. Their likely aim is to abduct all station personnel."
"That's awful. What is the OFI going to do about it? I hope you're not all the help they're sending," Bock said, his voice getting faster and rising half an octave by the end. His eyes were like saucers now.
"We're it, I'm afraid," Nolan said. He glanced at Kathryn. She gave a reassuring nod. Nolan turned back to Bock. "Do you have any weapons? Are any of the miners experienced in combat?"
"Coronas policy doesn't allow us to stock weapons," Bock said, apologetically. His obsequious nature reasserted itself, seemingly mastering the fear. "The only person who might be able to fight is Annie. She spent time in the infantry, and as you can see she's armed."
"Is there anyone else who can handle a weapon if we provide them?" Kathryn asked. She looked at Nolan. "I have a small armory on the Sparhawk."
"There might be a few people," Bock said.
"Gather your personnel," Nolan ordered. "We're going to return to the Sparhawk, but we'll be back with all the ordinance we can muster."
Chapter 15- How Many Rounds
"Annie, I want you to take charge of the station personnel," Nolan said, holding Annie's gaze. "Can you handle that?"
"They'll listen to me," Annie said, nodding once. Her tone was loud enough to carry, and she gave a booming laugh. "Firing one of those dinky little handguns you brought ain't that tough. They'll do just fine." Annie's tone dropped to a near-whisper, and her smile faded. "That'll only last until the first one drops. Then they'll scatter like collision debris. You got a plan for when that happens?"
"No," Nolan said, glancing at Kathryn. She was instructing a small cluster of miners how to fire the pistols they'd brought from the Sparhawk. Nolan had even given up his sidearm, and was now using a TX-30, the assault rifle of choice for Fleet Marines. He'd never fired one, but he was fairly sure he could figure it out.
Boots pounded down the metal stairs behind him, and Nolan turned to see a young teen sprinting up to Annie. "Ma'am, we got a ship emerging from the Helios Gate. Just left the sun. It's a Vegetable class, like you told us to watch out for."
"Good boy, Tim," Annie said, mussing the boy's hair. "Get back to your quarters, and stay put. Don't come out till someone comes to get you."
Nolan waited until the boy was gone before speaking. He walked to the center of the dock, sucked in a deep breath, then used his best parade voice. "Everyone, listen up."
Miners all around him stopped what they were doing. Kathryn lowered the pistol she'd been holding up for the few she was training. Even Annie stood at attention.
"We've got confirmation that a vessel is inbound. That vessel has nasty intentions for everyone aboard this station," Nolan boomed, turning in a slow circle. "They're going to be well-armed, and some of us are probably going to die. I know that's hard to hear, but you need to be ready for what's about to go down. If you break, if you run when you see someone get shot, then these bastards are going to kill us all. We need to stand together. We have the higher ground, and we have the element of surprise."
"I'm not going to die to protect Coronas equipment," a man called. He was tall, hairy, and not overly acquainted with hygiene.
"You're not hearing me," Nolan said, raising the volume of his voice back to parade level. "These people aren't coming for your ore. They don't care about this station. They are here for you. We don't know what they intend, but our suspicion is some sort of genetic experiment. Do you really want to find out?"
Dead silence.
Nolan began to turn again, his gaze touching every miner, one after another. "Screw Coronas. Are you ready to defend your lives?"
"Yes, sir," Kathryn boomed. A chorus of miners echoed her.
"Now get to your assigned position," Nolan said, resting the barrel of his assault rifle on his shoulder, just like Annie was doing. "Let's give these bastards hell."
Chapter 16- Complications
Delta rubbed at the scar on the back of his neck, then stopped the instant he realized he was doing it. It happened often, whenever he was about to do something that would have horrified him back when he was allowed to have a name. Like he was doing now.
"Winter, dock on the lower ring, right next to that Photos class ship," Delta ordered. He turned to Reid, who was consumed with his comm. The doctor scrolled though data feeds, ignoring everything around him. "Doctor Reid, we have a situation."
Reid finally looked up. He blinked owlishly, then pasted the usual sneer back in place. "I don't employ you to bring me problems. You exist to solve those problems. So, whatever it is, solve it."
"Doctor Reid," Delta said, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's an OFI boat parked at the station. There's no way that's a coincidence. Someone knew were coming. We could be walking into a fully-armed Marine squad. At the very least, the populace has been alerted. We won't be able to take them while they're sleeping."
"What are you saying, Delta? That you can't do it?" Reid said. He rose to his full five foot seven, somehow managing to look menacing. "Storm the station. Kill the defenders. Bring me every last person onboard. Or die in the attempt."
Delta considered arguing. He considered asking Reid to be content with the stations they'd already collected. He didn't, and the reason shamed him: he was afraid. If he argued, then Reid would use the chip, and Delta wasn't sure he could take that again.
"Yes, sir," Delta said. He turned to the three cyber Marines. "Martel, Davis. Heavy load out. If it shoots back, I want it dead."
The two Marines didn't respond, instead turning wordlessly and heading for the armory. Their lack of emotion, or of thought, terrified him. The chip had broken them, and it could break him too. Maybe Reid was giving him a way out here. If he died, he'd be free.
Chapter 17- Chaos
Nolan stared down the sights, aiming the barrel at the airlock door. It wasn't hard to see, as the only light was centered around the airlock. One of Annie's ideas had been to turn off most of the lights. They could see their foes, but their foes couldn't see them. In theory, at least. Marines were canny opponents, and would almost certainly have night vision goggles available.
Metal pinged and popped on the other side of the airlock as the Venerable class docked. It went on for long seconds, and Nolan didn't realize he'd been holding his breath until the sounds finally stopped. He released his breath, trying to focus.
"Get ready," he called, softly. It carried i
n the gloom. People scuffled around him as they found final cover. He couldn't see them, but hoped they all had their weapons trained on that door.
The station door began to rise, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. It took perhaps two seconds, and the instant the door disappeared hell began. Three grenades came sailing into the darkness, each emitting a hypersonic tone. Nolan scrambled up the stairs, rolling over the top a split-second before the pulse grenade detonated. Those around him who hadn't moved as quickly slumped to the deck, unconscious.
"Incoming," Annie yelled.
Sporadic gunfire came from the miners. It was answered by concentrated fully automatic fire from within the airlock. Three miners dropped, their bodies jerked about like rag dolls as they fell limply to the deck. Two Marines came striding into the room, both using single shots from their rifles to take down any miner with a gun. If the lack of light hampered them in any way Nolan couldn't see it.
"We have to get out of here. We can make the Sparhawk," Kathryn panted, sprinting up beside Nolan. She dropped into a crouch next to him.
"You're right," Nolan said, sizing up the battle. Annie's shotgun had stopped firing, but he couldn't see her anywhere. Everyone else had broken, or been gunned down. "But we're not going to try for her."
Nolan raised his assault rifle, sighting one of the Marines. The deck provided great cover, shielding his profile from the his target thirty feet below. The weapon kicked hard, three times. The rounds took the Marine in the face, and he slumped soundlessly to the deck.
"You're crazy," Kathryn said, but she pivoted to stand on the opposite side of the stairwell. "Lay down a cover burst, and I'll try to take out the second one."
Two more Marines burst from the airlock. They carried weapons, but weren't firing. Nolan had just enough time to wonder why, but then they dropped out of sight.
