by Ken Lozito
"Packages have been delivered," Zack confirmed. "Athena, can you put a video feed of the afflicted target on the holoscreen at the conference table?"
"Affirmative," Athena replied.
Zack stood up and went over to the conference table, where he was joined by Etanu and Hicks. Cardaleer stood up and then hunched over. The holoscreen above the conference table showed a security feed of the Gresan warship bridge. Zack saw several Gresans on the bridge and felt his stomach drop. They were dark and hairy with multiple legs, which made him feel as if there were miniaturized versions of them crawling on his skin.
"Major, I'm detecting that the Gresan warship is scanning us," Athena said.
Hicks glanced at Etanu. "Standard operating procedure?"
"They wouldn't scan us if they didn't suspect something," Etanu said.
Hicks swung his gaze toward Zack. "Well?"
Zack's shoulders became tight as his thoughts screeched to a halt. "I don't know."
"Athena, are they targeting us?" Hicks asked.
"Negative, Major. They’re just scanning the ship," Athena replied.
"I don't like this," Hicks said.
"Me either. Perhaps we should put some distance between them and us," Zack said.
Hicks frowned and shook his head. "That would only make them more suspicious. Any more bright ideas?"
"You think of something. Aren't you the cowboy? Shoot from the hip, fly by the seat of your pants, and all that crap."
"I am from Texas, but why does everyone assume I'm a cowboy?” Hicks said. “Any second now they're going to do a thorough scan of the ship and realize we're not part of the armada."
Zack glanced at the map that showed their position in relation to the rest of the armada. While they were still on the outskirts, they were very much surrounded. "What if we flew toward the space station?"
"Is this another attempt at humor?" Etanu asked.
"No," Hicks said, "that's actually a good idea. If we tried to run, that would immediately rouse their suspicions, but if we just move along, that might buy us some time."
"Athena," Zack said, "can you confirm whether the environmental system update is blocking the Xiiginn influence?"
"Unable to confirm," Athena said.
Zack blew out a breath and Hicks swore.
"We've got company. Strike-fighters are heading directly for us," Hicks said.
Zack looked at the holoscreen and saw that there was a squadron of strike-fighters on an intercept course with the Athena.
"Athena, is there anything you can do to help?" Zack asked.
He waited but there was no reply, so Zack repeated his question. He brought up the computing core utilization and saw that it had spiked to one hundred percent. He felt his mouth go dry. They were in serious trouble.
Chapter Twenty-One
Garm Antis had been conducting Confederation affairs aboard the Xiiginn Dreadnought class warship. He was, of course, on the flagship of the entire Confederation Armada, but they had thirty such ships that had been completed in Confederation shipyards. They'd already been nearing completion when the Confederation Armada had been approved. He'd often wondered how the battle at the Human star system would've gone had these ships been ready. He hadn't expected Boxan Dreadnoughts to be deployed to defend the Human star system, but his solution to that particular problem had been to make the presence of those ships irrelevant.
No fleet could match the armada in sheer firepower. While thirty Dreadnoughts wasn’t a particularly large number, each of those massive ships was almost worth a fleet in its own right. The bridge, if such a thing could be called a bridge on a ship this size, was vast and easily the size of a standard Xiiginn warship's main hangar deck. It had been built for practical purposes, but it was also designed to intimidate any species that dared to defy the Confederation. Multiple Confederation species were serving aboard the new ships, which was part of their agreement to have the ships built so quickly. There were jobs the Xiiginns simply refused to do since they were beneath their station in the overall hierarchy of the Confederation.
Garm Antis still remembered sending his warships against two Boxan Dreadnoughts, and with their Mardoxian priests, they had almost successfully stalled his assault on the Human star system. He hadn't brought enough ships, and perhaps he had underestimated the Boxans’ commitment to the Humans. Both of those things had been rectified.
"Supreme Chancellor, your Confederation Armada waits for your orders," Battle Leader Trem Nasif said.
Garm Antis felt his lips curve into a delicious smile. This was the moment he'd been working toward. They had an unstoppable fleet, and soon the Humans would learn their place in the galaxy. The Boxans were the past and would soon be forgotten. It was the time of the Xiiginns.
Runa Tane gave him an approving nod that quickly became a bow, and Garm Antis swung his gaze toward the tactical readout of Confederation space. Every ship had checked in, their presence confirmed until it seemed as if the stars themselves had aligned just for his amusement.
"Battle Leader, it's time for us to be on our way. The Humans are waiting for us to liberate them," Garm Antis said.
Trem Nasif began to issue orders that would be relayed to the Confederation Armada. Coordinating thousands of ships would have been impossible if it weren't for advancements in ship-to-ship communications that enabled them to coordinate with maximum efficiency. They would have much practice over the next few cycles as they expanded this peacekeeping force. Garm Antis was always fond of that term. So many objectives could be worked in under the concept of peacekeeping.
He looked over at Setera, who had come to the bridge for the Confederation Armada sendoff.
"Is your team ready?" Garm Antis asked.
"I will deliver the Mardoxian trait to you, Supreme Chancellor," Setera said.
Garm Antis didn't doubt her conviction. If anything, bringing her on this flagship had impressed upon her the wondrous opportunity he was giving her. She had the potential to rapidly climb what would normally take hundreds of cycles to achieve.
"The Boxan monitoring station in the Human star system could contain a way for us to unlock the Star Shroud network," Runa Tane said.
"I know, and that's why I've dedicated a portion of our forces to go and retrieve it," Garm Antis said.
He watched the coordinated effort as his orders were conveyed to the armada. The Human star system coordinates had been shared and Cherubian drives were being powered up. He felt a slight shudder go through the length of his tail, which he kept wrapped firmly around his middle. Normally, such an outward display of emotion would've resulted in him admonishing himself for his lapse of control, but given the circumstances, he felt the situation warranted it.
He watched a Gresan officer approach Trem Nasif, and the two spoke in urgent tones. Trem Nasif glanced at him with a concerned frown on his face. "Supreme Chancellor, the Boxan fleet has entered Confederation space. They’re claiming to be part of the Star Alliance."
"That is preposterous," Runa Tane said.
"I have multiple reports confirming their presence," Battle Leader Trem Nasif replied.
"We’re under attack," Garm Antis said. "The Boxans must truly be desperate to come here in force."
"Boxan ships have been confirmed, along with Nershal ships, but also Gresan and Napox ships and half a dozen other species," Battle Leader Trem Nasif said.
Garm Antis raised his chin and sneered. "They will break themselves against us. Order the attack. I want the Boxans vanquished."
Battle Leader Trem Nasif began issuing Garm Antis's orders. Runa Tane eyed him for a moment.
"No species is beyond the Confederation. If factions of Confederation species have allied with the Boxans, we’ll squash the life out of them and then journey to the Human star system. Our time is now," Garm Antis said.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kaylan had never been on board a Boxan Dreadnought before, and the Alliance fleet had more than twenty of them. The Boxan D
readnought was a flying city in space that was designed to wage war. Kladomaor had told her that these ships had been pulled from the Boxan home fleet. There was only a token force left to defend Olloron. They had flown the experimental heavy cruiser aboard Battle Leader Salevar's flagship, and he'd insisted that she be on the ship with them.
Kaylan hadn't been sure what the reaction would be once the Athena left. She'd expected outrage and multiple arguments claiming that their rash actions would be the end of the Alliance. However, outrage was expressed by only a small fraction of Alliance representatives, and it was short-lived. Kaylan had misjudged the amount of goodwill she'd collected by returning to Sethion and helping the Boxan refugees start their new lives. Councilor Essaforn's support was unwavering, and the skills Sethion refugees had acquired doing salvage runs also qualified them to fly troop carriers and strike-fighters.
Many of Sethion's refugees had volunteered to fight. Some of the Boxans were looking for a reason to strike back at the Xiiginns, while others were firm in the belief that they were fighting for a future free of the Xiiginns. Kaylan thought they were all good reasons. She had received unexpected support from Battle Leader Salevar, who had fiercely argued that they were going to engage the armada one way or another, and she suspected that the Boxan High Council had finally committed to engaging the Xiiginns. Each faction of the Alliance was fighting for their own reasons, but all agreed that they needed to prevent the Xiiginns from acquiring Drar technology. Battle Leader Salevar was a bit of a realist when it came to making his arguments. He told her that they wanted to help protect humanity, but if the Xiiginns were to get their claws on Drar technology, they would have a distinct advantage over every other species in the Confederation. That must not happen.
Kaylan was following Kladomaor and Ma'jasalax to the main bridge of the Boxan Dreadnought. The remaining crew of the Athena followed her. They hadn't wanted to stay behind, but aside from Katie Garcia, none of them were soldiers. Katie had become their self-appointed protector. She claimed it was part of the original reason she and Hicks had joined the Athena mission. Kaylan was glad to have her with them. She’d learned over the years the importance of having someone she trusted to watch her back, even among friends. The Athena crew had become family.
They entered the bridge, which was already a buzz of activity. The main bridge of the Boxan Dreadnought was actually positioned near the innermost sections of the ship. There were no grand windows or any other structural weaknesses. The bridge was the nerve center of the ship and needed to be in the most protected part, with multiple armored layers between it and the hull.
Boxans built things on a much grander scale than any other species Kaylan had encountered. She supposed she should have been used to it, having seen their homeworld, their colony, and their ships, but the Dreadnought was a step beyond anything she'd thought possible.
Kladomaor glanced back at them and noticed their awestruck expressions. "The concept for the design of this ship was based on the star carriers, which were originally built as colony ships. We've adapted them for war."
The main bridge of the Boxan Dreadnought reminded Kaylan of a military base. She supposed with a city-sized spaceship there couldn't be just one tactical officer. Rather, they had a dedicated tactical group that specialized in specific weapons capabilities. There was a hierarchy to the organization that Kaylan appreciated. The Boxans might not have always been amenable to war, but they’d certainly adapted to it.
They headed toward the commander's area and she noticed multiple Mardoxian chamber entrances behind it. Members of the Mardoxian Sect were stationed outside the entrances. They glanced at Kaylan as she approached.
Kaylan looked at Ma'jasalax. "This is how you're able to coordinate the battle groups?"
"Yes, but this ship was designed to be the heart of our military. Each of the chambers has data feeds to the computing core. This allows the Boxan inside to have a direct link to the battle groups they’re supporting," Ma'jasalax said.
"I thought there were members of the Mardoxian Sect who served aboard the actual ships," Kaylan said.
"There are, which is fine for smaller battle groups, but when it comes to fleet deployments and fighting like this, there needs to be a hierarchy. Working together, we can accomplish so much more than we can apart," Ma'jasalax said.
Kaylan looked at the Mardoxian chambers and realized that this was the first time the Boxans had brought a true offensive strategy to the Xiiginns. They'd been preparing for this for a long time.
Battle Leader Salevar greeted them. "We've just entered Confederation space. Alliance fleets are moving into position, preparing for attack."
Kaylan looked at the nearest holoscreen that showed where the Alliance battle groups were positioned. They hadn’t come out of their wormholes all at the same location. Instead, they were spread out so they could approach the armada from multiple fronts.
"Will the other species accept guidance from the Mardoxian Sect?" Kaylan asked.
"Some will, and those that refuse are given objectives to achieve," Salevar replied.
"Have you been able to detect the Athena?" Kaylan asked.
"Not yet, and the cyber warfare suite is still identifying the ships in the armada, but your chamber is waiting for you," Salevar said.
Kaylan's eyebrows pulled together and she glanced at Ma'jasalax, who nodded encouragingly. "You want me to help with the battle?"
"You’re an honorary member of the Mardoxian Sect, and a highly gifted one at that. I've seen the reports from the mission to Sethion. Your performance there rivaled that of the most gifted Mardoxian Sect member," Salevar said and gestured toward Ma'jasalax.
"It's true," Ma'jasalax said. "During the battle, your instinct came with much more clarity than mine. We need that for this battle."
"That was just one battle group. There are multiple battle groups here. I don't know if I can help with that," Kaylan replied.
"You’ve exceeded our expectations throughout your training, and I have no doubt you’ll keep doing so. We've fought the Xiiginns before, and while the Mardoxian potential gives us an edge, we’re a known commodity. You represent an unknown element, which could be the difference between victory and annihilation," Ma'jasalax said.
"Battle Leader," a Boxan soldier said, "we've identified non-Xiiginn warships and are prepared to broadcast a message to them."
"Understood. Tactical groups, continue with preparing firing solutions. We’ll need them shortly," Salevar said. He walked over to the commander's couch and began preparing his broadcast to the armada.
Kladomaor gave Kaylan a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I’ll be right outside."
Ma'jasalax guided Kaylan to a Mardoxian chamber near the commander's area and told Kaylan she would be in the chamber next to hers. Kaylan was no stranger to the Mardoxian chamber, but she had no idea how she was going to help with the battle. She calmed her racing thoughts, but her mouth went dry. What if she froze? Thousands of lives depended on her. She tried to recall what she'd done at Sethion, but it had seemed so much easier. She'd simply followed Ma'jasalax's example.
She kept the Boxan in her mind as she walked inside the Mardoxian chamber and the door slid shut behind her. Cyan lights illuminated the pyramid walls, which came to a point overhead. She sat at the designated area on the floor and felt a new interface open to her neural implants. Kaylan breathed deeply and opened herself up. Multiple battle groups registered on her neural interface. The spinning sphere in the center of the room began to glow, and she raced down the azure pathway.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Athena sped among the Confederation Armada, but the AI was still unresponsive.
"Any change?" Hicks asked. He was flying the ship and there was a squadron of strike-fighters attempting to intercept them.
"I would've told you if there’d been a change. The computing core is still at one hundred percent capacity. I don't know how any of the systems are still working," Zack said.
&n
bsp; Any ship system they directly accessed, such as flight control, was still responsive. It was as if the fact that the AI core wasn’t available didn't matter, but Zack knew better. None of their systems should be responding, but they were and he didn't have any idea why. He thought of going to the computing core and performing a manual reset of the entire system, but he wasn't sure if that would help.
"What do you think is wrong with her?" Hicks asked.
Zack shook his head and frowned. Hicks liked to ask a lot of questions, and most times it helped, but not right then. "Just fly the ship and I'll worry about the AI. I can't answer questions and try to figure out what's going on at the same time. When I know something definitive, I'll tell you."
As soon as he said it he felt a pang of guilt settle heavily on his shoulders. Hicks was just trying to assess the situation like Kaylan or Michael Hunsicker would have done. Hicks deserved better.
"You do that," Etanu said scathingly, "and while you're playing with your computer, we'll just ignore the fact that we have no weapons systems and our evasive maneuvers will only keep the strike-fighters at bay for so long."
"You guys are the pilots. Fly closer to the big enemy ships over there. They can't all know about us," Zack said.
He used his neural implants to access the Athena's systems, starting with the main systems and going down a mental checklist he had for all critical systems. He'd ruled out that the AI was stuck in some kind of malicious loop because there were too many other systems that were still working. She was doing something and couldn't respond for some reason.
He decided to try a different tactic and brought up a simple terminal emulation session on the holoscreen in front of him. He had root access to the system, and the command prompt waited for his input.
