“Officer Byron, we’ll keep several men stationed for your return,” the closest security officer called.
Nodding at the man, Byron stepped back into his ship. I’ll let you know when we leave the Rennather.
He closed the hatch and hastened to his seat. Garnce, prepare for takeoff, he informed the pilot.
Beside him, Mevine shifted in his chair, but did not speak. Byron quickly ran through the systems and lifted the shuttle into the air a moment later. He noted the departing Tgren planes as they launched into the sky and followed their trajectory toward the canyons. The traffic over Ktren was almost as congested as within the city. Sending a message to Garnce, he jumped the shuttle.
The view outside the cockpit changed and the comforting sight of the Rennather materialized. The muscles across his chest relaxed. There would be many more trips today, but his friend was safe. Once the Cassans were all secure on the exploration vessel, he would focus on retrieving one more person from the surface. Byron hoped Korden would acquiesce to his request to bring Athee to the ship.
He glanced at Mevine and the science officer met Byron’s gaze with wide eyes.
That is why I wanted you off the planet, my friend.
Checking the position of Garnce’s ship, Byron guided his shuttle into the landing bay. Once through the double set of doors, he navigated the vessel into the middle of the main bay. Setting it down with a gentle tap, Byron shut off the engines. He opened the hatch from the cockpit and the sounds of hanger crew entering the ship filled his ears. Unfastening his harness, he rose to his feet. Mevine struggled for a moment with his harness and Byron offered his hand. Pulling the slight boy to his feet, he patted Mevine’s good shoulder.
“Come on, we’ve work to do,” he announced.
“Sir?”
Byron hesitated and eyed Mevine with curiosity. The young man straightened his back, affecting a rare pose of confidence “Sir, thank you for returning me safely to the ship.”
“You’re welcome,” Byron answered, offering a brief nod.
“And I never properly thanked you for saving my life after the explosion…”
Mevine’s voice faltered. A flush of red crept across his cheeks. Byron could hear the crew moving crates out of the cargo hold. He needed to assist with the equipment, if only to prevent damage to his ship. He couldn’t leave Mevine in such a state of agitation, though. Byron approached the science officer and grasped his good arm.
“That’s what friends are for, Mevine,” he said, reassuring the lad with his thoughts as well. “Now, come on, boy genius. You’ve a code to crack.”
The young man’s eyes brightened. “Yes, sir.”
Retrieving all Cassan personnel required four shuttle trips. Garnce’s last load comprised of security officers from the city and the alien site. The evacuation was far from complete, though. Byron had time for a quick bite of food before the shuttles returned to the surface, each carrying several security officers. Korden had pledged Cassan assistance in transporting the people of Ktren to the Red Canyons. Byron hoped the Tgrens would appreciate this act of good will.
Coordinating with Ktren’s guards, the two shuttles landed near the loading planes. Dozens waited for a ride to safety, clutching sacks, bags, and small children. Byron opened the hatch and coaxed those closest to his ship to board. The men and women approached with hesitation, even with the Tgren guards encouraging them to climb aboard the shuttle. It took several minutes to persuade the first batch to enter, and longer still to stow their baggage and secure each harness. Byron realized his patience would wear thin by the end of the day. He sent a stern warning to Garnce. The last thing they needed was an incident during transport.
The larger Tgren planes were also ferrying passengers to the evacuation site. Byron selected a secure spot to emerge from their jump to avoid a potential collision. The scene below them was mass confusion as people attempted to erect shelters among the canyons. He’d noted a caravan of carts traveling toward the site as they departed Ktren and estimated their arrival would occur under the cover of darkness. He suspected the shuttles would continue to fly until nightfall as well.
The sun continued to drop and soon cast shadows across the landscape. Darkness covered the land as Byron prepared to return for one final load.
Just seven Tgrens and a small load of cargo, the security officer in Ktren informed him.
Good, because I’m beat, he thought, lifting the shuttle into the sky. Garnce, return to the Rennather. I’ve got this one.
With pleasure, the pilot answered.
Byron landed near a small knot of people, grateful for the hanger lights flooding the runway. No planes were in evidence now, although he suspected fatigue as much as inability to see as the reason. His stomach had ceased to rumble hours ago and all Byron craved was his bed.
The security officers assisted with the passengers. Too tired to do more than watch, Byron leaned against his shuttle’s exterior as the men and women entered the ship. He noticed three men from the hanger approaching the shuttle. Byron didn’t move from his position until the light revealed their identities. He stood at attention as the prefect and two guards drew near.
“Prefect Orellen,” he said in greeting, his husky voice revealing his fatigue.
“Officer Byron,” the man replied.
Now that Byron could see his face, he realized the prefect’s features displayed a similar exhaustion. The lights cast deep shadows across his face, accentuating the aging grooves in his skin. Orellen glanced at the passengers as they boarded and nodded.
“Please tell Commander Korden we appreciate your assistance with the evacuation,” he offered.
“Yes, sir. How many of your people remain?”
“Less than sixty, and most of those are guards. They are patrolling the streets to ensure no property is damaged and everyone received notification of the evacuation. I am staying until I’m certain no one remains in Ktren.”
“We’ll return in the morning to assist,” Byron offered.
“Appreciate that. Let’s hope there aren’t many stragglers,” said Orellen, his eyes on the last Tgren as he entered the ship.
His inhibitions running as low as his energy, Byron decided to make a bold move. “Sir, after the last of your people have reached the safety of the canyons, I would like your permission to take your niece to the Rennather.”
The prefect’s attention shifted to Byron. “You wish to take Athee to your ship?” he asked, his thick eyebrows poised high on his forehead.
“Yes, sir. She’ll be in no danger. The Rennather will break orbit and depart before the alien ship arrives.”
Byron waited for the man’s response. Orellen eyed him with skepticism, his hands clasped behind his back. To his surprise, he sensed acceptance of the idea.
“You guarantee her safety?”
Straightening his shoulders, Byron presented his most confident look. “With my life.”
Orellen nodded, his eyes straying to the waiting shuttle. “I’ll contact Commander Korden to ensure that happens.”
Byron felt relieved, but wanted to be sure Athee’s uncle believed him. “I promise Athee will be safe with me.”
“Of that I have no doubt, Officer Byron.” The prefect’s attention returned to the pilot, his expression somber. “We will see you in the morning.”
Byron wished the man a good evening and entered the shuttle. Checking the harnesses of his passengers, he returned to the cockpit and prepared the ship for one final flight to the canyons. As he lifted the shuttle into the air, his mind replayed the exchange with the prefect. The man’s agreement to his proposal meant he trusted Byron with Athee’s life.
Maybe I’ve finally earned his respect, he thought.
Bleary-eyed from a lack of sleep, Byron staggered out of the dining hall. In his haste, he’d hardly tasted the food. He entered the closest telepod, and his stomach continued to protest the rapid consumption of his meal. The commander would offer a sharp reprimand if he was late
to the officers’ meeting, though.
To his credit, he was not the last to arrive. The commander scanned those present, his thoughts shielded and beyond Byron’s reach. Korden began the moment Seheller slid into his seat.
“Men, the Rennather will break orbit as soon as the evacuation of Ktren is complete,” he announced, hovering over his computer screen. “We will monitor the situation from a safe distance and be prepared to jump if necessary.
“Officer Byron, how many more on the surface require transport?”
“The prefect informed me around sixty, sir,” he answered, hoping that number had not risen this morning. “We should be able to move them in three trips.”
Korden nodded and leaned on his desk. “The situation is grim,” he admitted, his brows pulled tight. “The three flagships engaged the alien vessel early this morning. I’m afraid the results of that encounter were not favorable. One flagship lost her shields completely and received substantial damage. The other two ships hope to restore their shields by the time they reach this galaxy. However, despite the intensity of the attack, the alien vessel received minimal damage and lost none of its speed.”
The weight of the news fell on the room with a nauseating thud. Byron felt sick to his stomach and wished he’d forgone food this morning. If three flagships couldn’t stop the invader, what options remained?
The commander tapped his computer pad. “A recovery vessel was also lost, but only three Cosbolts were destroyed. Either they are too small and fast,” Korden said, shaking his head, “or the alien vessel doesn’t view the fighters as a threat.”
“If the flagships couldn’t penetrate the hull, then I doubt fifty squadrons of Cosbolts could inflict much damage,” Anceptor observed.
“There is talk of loading several drones with explosives and detonating them beside the engines,” offered Korden, dropping his chin. “This tactic would have to be performed before the alien vessel reaches orbit, though.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” someone asked.
The commander raised his head and focused on his chief science officer. “That is why I hope you have some good news for us, Officer Seheller.”
The man shifted in his seat and gripped his computer pad tighter. “Sir, I don’t have a solution just yet, but I can tell you what we’ve discovered so far. I’ll begin with the data we’ve translated,” Seheller said, leaning back in his chair and licking his lips.
“It appears the Tgren race was an experiment.”
“A what?” demanded the security officer.
“An experiment? By whom?” another man asked.
Byron stared at Seheller in stunned disbelief. The entire population on Tgren was nothing but an experiment? He’d heard of other races tampering with genetics, but not on a planet-wide scale. It was beyond the abilities of all the known races.
Korden held up his hand for silence. “Elaborate.”
Seheller nodded. “The Tgrens are not indigenous to this planet. They arrived in an alien craft, the remains of which we uncovered near Ktren. Once released, the Tgrens were allowed to develop at their own rate. From what we can tell, they were one of many such experiments.”
“Were they under observation?” Anceptor asked, leaning forward.
“We don’t believe so. Not active observation. From what we’ve translated so far, it appears the race that planted the Tgrens was interested in how long it would take them to reach full development.”
“In what? Technology?” demanded the commander.
The science officer slumped in his chair. “We don’t know yet. But the device that scanned Ullen was attempting to verify that development, and the Tgren did not possess it.”
The commander’s cheeks drooped and he sank into his chair. Byron leaned back in his seat, at a complete loss for words. Had they indeed unearthed the alien device too soon? Was the Tgren race now doomed to extinction?
“We also compared the schematics of the alien site’s technology and that of the approaching vessel,” Seheller continued, his voice unusually loud in the still room. “Sir, they are of the same design.”
“Have you determined the purpose of the alien ship?”
The man straightened his shoulders, his eyes on the commander. “The sensor data that we’ve collected indicates that the ship houses a device similar to the one on Tgren. We believe its first course of action will be to scan the area around Ktren for the appropriate level of development.”
Korden drummed his fingers on the desk. “And if it doesn’t find what it seeks?”
“My people are still working on the final translation,” Seheller offered, swallowing hard. “But we think it might consider the experiment either tampered with, or a failure, and shut it down.”
“You mean annihilation?” demanded Anceptor.
“It’s a possibility,” the science officer conceded, his voice low.
As voices rose, protesting this development, the commander called for silence.
“Seheller, it’s imperative that your team discovers what this ship seeks,” Korden stated, his deep voice overriding all others. “I want a brief report I can forward to the flagships immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed!”
The men rose to their feet and Byron sent the commander a private thought. Sir, if I could have a word before I depart?
Officer Byron, I need to speak with you as well.
Commander Anceptor and the security officer lingered, asking questions. Byron waited with a growing sense of impatience. He was pressed for time, but refused to leave without stating his plea for the removal of one Tgren from the planet. He hoped Orellen had conveyed his request, which would validate Byron’s proposal to ensure Athee’s safety. If Seheller’s assessment proved correct, he was not about to leave her on the surface to face certain death.
As the two officers exited the room, Byron approached the commander. “Sir, I’d like your permission to grant Athee sanctuary on this ship and remove her from Tgren before the alien ship arrives,” he said in an urgent voice.
“Officer Byron, I received a similar request this morning from Prefect Orellen,” Korden stated, gazing at his computer screen. “Considering her importance, I am inclined to accept “Officer Byron, I received a similar request this morning from Prefect Orellen,” Korden stated, gazing at his computer screen. “Considering her importance, I am inclined to accept his request.”
A weight lifted from Byron’s shoulders. “Thank you, sir.”
“You have your orders. Dismissed.”
Chapter Fifteen
Notifying Garnce of their departure, Byron dashed to the hanger. The two shuttles launched a few minutes later and teleported to the surface. The sun had cleared the mountains, filling the valley with bright rays of light. The clear morning was a sharp contrast to the darkness approaching Tgren, and Byron felt his chest tighten. Why did the morning have to be so bright and cheery while those inhabiting the planet were on the brink of destruction?
Sixty-three people remained in Ktren. He and Garnce performed two trips to the canyons and returned for the final load. The prefect greeted him as the hatch opened.
“I believe this is everyone, Officer Byron,” he announced as he entered the ship. “I sent word for Athee to meet us upon our arrival.”
Byron ushered the man into the cockpit while he secured the other passengers. Confirming Garnce’s readiness to leave, he lifted the ship into the air. The prefect did not speak during the short flight. Byron had detected his heavy mood the moment the man entered his ship. Orellen might be unaware of the approaching ship’s purpose, but he knew the situation was grim. Byron didn’t voice his concerns. The Tgrens didn’t need to know today might be their last.
As he set the shuttle down on the dusty canyon floor, Byron caught sight of Athee among those waiting for the prefect. He shut off the engines and opened the hatch by remote. Tossing aside his harness, he turned to assist Orellen to his feet. The man grasped his forearm, fo
rcing Byron to meet his eyes.
“You keep her safe,” he ordered, his voice but a hoarse whisper. “And if something happens…”
“I’ll keep Athee safe. And we’ll find a way to defeat this enemy,” Byron answered, mustering conviction he did not feel.
Orellen nodded and released his arm. The prefect exited the shuttle and was greeted with a firm embrace from his niece. The man stepped aside while the other passengers disembarked, maintaining his hold on Athee.
Byron confirmed nothing remained in the cargo hold before returning to the open hatch. He caught the Tgren woman’s distress at once. She struggled in her uncle’s arms, wiggling in an attempt to break free.
“Uncle, I’m not leaving you!” she cried.
“Athee, I am ordering you to return with Officer Byron to the Cassan ship,” he responded.
She continued to squirm, pulling away from the prefect. Alarmed she might break free, Byron trotted down the ramp and placed his hand on her shoulder. Athee flashed him a desperate look, her face twisted with agony. Determined her anguish wouldn’t sway him, Byron presented a firm expression. His thoughts enforced his resolution to take her to the Rennather. Uttering a desperate cry, she faced her uncle again.
“I can’t leave you now,” Athee cried.
“You have to go.”
She attempted to break free, but to no avail. Uttering an anguished cry, she threw her arms around Orellen’s neck. Byron released her shoulder and stepped aside. The prefect hushed Athee, his eyes closed.
“You go with Officer Byron,” he said in a soothing voice. “You’ll be safe with him, understand?”
“What if I never see you again?” she gasped. “You’re my only family!”
CassaFire Page 20
