The Decade Worlds

by Patrick McClafferty

  Mairi’s eyes were wide. “You’re going to use the same trap again!”

  “Exactly. This system should throw a wrench in their plans of domination in this sector.” He leaned back in his chair. “So, can you do it?”

  “I wasn’t designed for this sort of thing.” Shyrrik grumbled.

  Gareth snorted. “Bullshit! You were in charge of the lunar base, and that was no more than one big con. There were running gunfights on luna, so you can’t say you weren’t involved. You also said that you were designed to handle a battlecruiser.”

  “I wasn’t involved directly on luna, and the battlecruiser was never commissioned.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You are involved directly now, so I ask you again; can you do it?”

  “Yes.” Shyrrik replied in a very low voice.

  “What sort of a timeframe are we looking at?”

  “If I send out both drones immediately, the defense systems should be partially operational in a week, or at least the repair drones that were designed to maintain this system should be working. They can take over the task of repairing the system defenses after we are gone.”

  “That should work. See if the drones can upgrade the defenses a little. We don’t want to give this system away without a fight.” Gareth frowned. “Did the surface party pick up any damaging radiation?” He asked, his eyes flicking involuntarily to Shaw.

  “The away team are just fine Gareth.” Shyrrik’s voice was calm. “We might have had a concern if they were there for months, but the effects of a few hours exposure are negligible.”

  “Good. Get right to repairing those defense systems. While you’re at it, set the transportation gateway on this world to receive only. Expedite things as much as possible.”

  Shaw gave him a long look. “Do you have insider information?” Her voice was flat, and Gareth knew that she was referring to Athena.

  Gareth frowned. “No… it’s just a feeling.” He shrugged. “Shyrrik, will you please send the results of the data crystal tests to the Science and Assistant Science Officer?”

  “As you wish.”

  Gareth looked at the other faces in the room. “If that’s it then…” He stood when no one answered.

  Mairi caught him on the way back to his small office. “Did Athena tell you something?” She whispered, holding his arm.

  “Athena has never once told me anything more than the bare facts I need to know.” He chuckled, and then began in a mocking voice. “Gareth, I want you to save the world… How?? Sorry, I can’t tell you. You’ll have to ask the Eye of Zuebrihn… Where is that? Sorry I can’t tell you that either, but I can tell you that everyone will die if you don’t do this, and it’s all your responsibility… Can I reconsider? Sorry, no.”

  Mairi snickered. “I hope it really wasn’t like that.”

  He turned to enter his office, and stopped. “I’m afraid it was, my dear. I feel like I’ve been stumbling from one disaster to another for the last several years, and I’ll admit that I’m getting very tired of seeing people I care for die. I really do understand where your mother is coming from when she says that she doesn’t want to see any more death.”

  Mairi’s face had gone pale. “Has it all been that bad?” Her voice was very small.

  Gareth touched her cheek. “Not at all. I’ve met some terrific people along the way… you for instance, and Lyndra and Chiu, and her parents. There are all the folks at the Caravanserai of the Seven Sisters. Then there is always Captain Evvos and his band of pirates, and of course the Steward, Head-Cook and Bottle-Washer I’alen, although I believe he’s a shapeshifter.” Mairi smiled, and Gareth looked thoughtful. “It’s curious, if you think about it. I lost my family and came here and found you. You lost your family and found me.” He gave his daughter a warm hug. “Now WE are a family.”

  Mairi sniffed, and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Damned Skippy!” She muttered using his own expression, and hugged him back. Gareth glared at Mairi. “Fine… I’ll watch my language.” She sighed, a small smile still tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Are you coming to lunch?”

  Gareth rolled his eyes. “I have to speak to someone first.”

  “I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

  “I’ll be along shortly.” Gareth replied, smiling at her fondly. With a sigh he opened the door to his office.

  Athena, we need to talk. He sent out as soon as the door closed.

  You know how to step, dear one. Her thought was teasing. You can just as easily come to me.

  You know how I feel about that stepping business. I’m not a god, or a superman.

  “You are going to have to start using it eventually.” Athena murmured from the couch. Gareth had to pull his eyes from her long legs. “Just as a child eventually has to learn to walk.”

  “Why?” He asked in a voice that was harsher than he intended. “What am I to you, exactly?”

  She leaned forward, but her face was serene. “Right now, you are the best tactical weapon I have, and I am using you to resolve a strategic problem.” She smiled at him. “You’ve forgotten your mythology, my Gareth. To the Greeks I was known as the Goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare.”

  “I thought that was Minerva.” Gareth murmured grinning despite himself.

  “Minerva was my Roman name. I told you before that I’ve been known by many different names.”

  Gareth shook his head. “What’s going on, Athena? I feel edgy, like a storm is brewing. I need to know if things are going to hell back home.”

  “You know that I can’t tell you, Gareth. These are problems you have to solve yourself. I have to commend you, however, on your handling of the Zokhath incursion. By the time the Zokath recover from this little setback humanity, and I’m speaking about the people you saved, will be a well-established fact in this arm of the galaxy.”

  Gareth frowned at the woman sitting on the couch. “They’re called the Zokhath?” She gave a small nod. “Which setback are we talking about; the invasion fleet or the trap?”

  “Yes.” Athena smiled smugly.

  The gears whirred and meshed in Gareth’s mind. “I had to come this way, didn’t I? If I hadn’t come this way an alien war fleet would soon be advancing on the Decade worlds, and humanity wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it. By the time the aliens get to us now, they will have to deal with us as equals.” He looked up at Athena with a grudging respect. “How many irons do you have in the fire at the same time?”

  She laughed lightly. “More than you could count.”

  “Fine.” He rumbled. “I’ll do what you request, but I ask only one thing in return; and that is for YOU to ensure the safety of my daughter; and you will NOT delegate this responsibility.”

  “Done!” Athena replied immediately, her classically beautiful face serious. From her tone and expression Gareth knew that he’d walked right into what she wanted him to do in the first place.

  “Thank you, I think.” He muttered darkly. Athena laughed lightly, stood, kissed him lightly on the cheek and vanished. Gareth wondered if he had just advanced or retreated in his dealing with Athena.

  “All systems are go for departure, Captain.” Shaw murmured at his side.

  He swallowed a small smile as he turned to the blue form of the AI. “Take us home, Shyrrik. Best speed. Departure angle on view screen.” Behind them the beautiful trap of Trilan dwindled astern until it became a single dot in the vast sparkling skies, and disappeared. “View ahead.” The view obediently shifted to the oncoming stars.

  “Engaging Slipstream Drive.” Shyrrik said softly. The stars lost their crisp edges, blurring slightly. “ETA Terran system, eighteen hundred and forty two hours.”

  “Thank you Shyrrik.” Gareth replied, watching the stars flow by. In the ten days prior to departure it had been decided by consensus to begin referring to Earth as Terra, rather than Earth or Eldenworld, and humans on said planet as Terrans. He admitted that it was going to be a long time before he would be
able to think of himself as a Xolian, or Vurean, or Grocean, although he could probably shorten it to Groc. He shuddered at the thought and decided to remain a Terran. “I believe that I’ll hit the galley for lunch. First Officer, you have the con. Please set up a watch schedule, if you would.”

  “Yes Captain. Shyrrik has already spoken to me about mandatory classes on the return journey.” Shaw’s eyes were sparkling. “I’ve taken the liberty of scheduling you already. Your classes begin at zero seven hundred hours tomorrow morning until eleven hundred. From eleven thirty to twelve thirty you have hand to hand training in the gym.” Gareth winced, but knew that a regular exercise routine was mandatory for people in space, and hand to hand training with the marines was more enjoyable than a boring hour on a treadmill or weight machine. “Your watch is from fourteen hundred until twenty-two hundred hours. I’ve sent your schedule along to your PDA.”

  “Thank you for being so efficient.” Gareth replied dryly.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Captain.” Shaw returned with a wide smile.

  “Good day, Captain.” The neutral voice said out of the black serving window in the galley. “What would you like today?”

  “Can I get a six ounce filet-mignon, rare, with salt, pepper and a small amount of garlic on it, broiled mushrooms on the side, with a small green salad with Italian dressing? A roll with butter and coffee, black.”

  A tray bearing Gareth’s food winked into existence before him. “Your meal, Captain.”

  “Thank you.” After three bites of what had surprised him as a particularly good steak, Gareth found that he wasn’t hungry any longer as he recalled his wife’s carnivorous appetite. As a shapeshifter who preferred the shape of a cat, the carnivorous feline appetite tended to run across whatever shape Chiu chose. He recalled that she would regularly finish his steaks, no matter how large. Keeping the coffee, he whispered a word and the tray disappeared. He looked up as Mairi slid into the seat beside him.

  “You don’t eat enough.” She said in an imperious tone. “I miss Mother too, but not eating won’t help things at all. You are still way too thin for your height.”

  Gareth chuckled. “Are you my doctor?”

  Mairi didn’t blink. “Not yet. I am taking courses in medicine, and hope to be well on my way to being a full-fledged doctor by the time we reach Terra.”

  Gareth blinked. “A doctor?? I am very impressed and proud of you, young lady.”

  She blushed prettily, and looked at the table. “Thank you, Father. Now, what would you like to eat?”

  Gareth gazed up wistfully. “I would absolutely love a Supreme Pizza, and a cold beer, but…” The mug of coffee disappeared, and a steaming forty centimeter pizza was sitting on a metal tray before him. Beside it was a brown beer bottle, condensation thick on the chilled glass. He looked at his daughter with wide eyes. “Did you…” He let the sentence trail off when he saw her face. “Thank you, Athena.” He said very softly. One wide slice of the pizza suddenly disappeared, and the level of beer in his bottle dropped by three centimeters.

  “That’s actually quite good.” A feminine voice said from the air. “First there was the Mona Lisa, then Mozart, and now this. I may decide to save the human race after all.” Mairi snorted a laugh.

  “Before more of it disappears,” Gareth said quickly, “computer, make a copy of this food in front of me. Label it, Supreme Pizza Hot, with beer, cold.” The food sparkled briefly.

  “Copy completed. I notice that one sixth of the Pizza is missing. Would you like me to replace it?”

  Gareth almost said yes. “No. The missing slice will always remind us of where our food comes from, originally, and who we have to thank for it.”

  A soft “Oh dear!” Came from the air, and Mairi looked on Gareth with surprised eyes.

  “What??” He rumbled, embarrassed. “Just because I’m a soldier doesn’t mean I don’t have faith, if not a definite religion. I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have if I didn’t have faith.”

  “I’m not complaining, daddy.” Mairi murmured, holding his arm tightly. “I’m not complaining at all.” At that instant a second piece of the pizza disappeared, and Gareth’s beer dropped another three centimeters.

  “Eat up Mairi, before our mysterious benefactor devours it for us.” He chuckled as he snatched up a piece of pizza. His appetite was suddenly back.

  The level of excitement on the starship was high as they approached Sol. On the bridge there was a light chatter, and the occasional laugh. Gareth didn’t discipline his assorted crew for the minor infractions of decorum, however. Most of the bridge staff and crew in general were civilian volunteers, and Gareth had to keep that fact firmly in mind.

  “We will be dropping from Slipstream Drive in a few moments, Gareth.” Shyrrik said in a neutral voice.

  While smiles were dotting faces around the bridge, Gareth was frowning; a nagging worry sitting just out of his reach in the back of his mind. “Thank you. Engage stealth systems.” The smiles of the bridge staff faltered, and heads turned in his direction. Gareth gave them a level look. “Sound General Quarters Shyrrik. This is not a drill.” When the alarm echoed down the corridors he turned to Shaw, but pitched his voice to carry to the rest of the bridge staff. “I have a feeling about this.” He explained. “If I’ve made a mistake, I’ll apologize later.”

  Shaw opened her mouth to make a comment, looked into Gareth’s eyes and decided against it. “Aye, aye Captain.” She said softly. At the Science Station, Mairi had gone pale.

  “Entering normal space in three… two… one… now!” Shyrrik commented in a flat voice. “We are just passing Jupiter on our port side, and should arrive in Terran orbit in no more than…” She stopped suddenly. “I am picking up heavy weapons discharges across Terra, Gareth. The fighting seems to be centered on the gateways.”

  Gareth felt a knot in his stomach. “Flank speed to Terra, Shyrrik.”

  “Flank speed, aye, aye.” The voice of the AI whispered. The Frigate USS Maine leapt forward like a wolfhound on the hunt.

  “What more can you tell me?” Gareth asked, leaning forward in his seat.

  “It appears that The Yeugate is under attack by one of the combat shuttles.”

  “Scheiße! Scheiße! Scheiße!” Garteth growled. “Send a message to Ell, and tell her that help is on the way.” Where are you Chiu? He asked himself. And what the hell has happened?

  “Charge weapons systems.”

  Terra looked very much the way they had left it as the USS Maine swept by where the moon should have been. “Captain, I detect Ecothiax designed weapons in use at high power!”

  “Where?” Gatreth snapped.

  “Shsa-Tirion.”

  “Nun ist die Kacke am Dampfen.” Gareth hissed in German.

  “It has indeed hit the fan, Captain. What are your orders?” The others on the bridge were staring at him.

  “Let’s put out the major fires first, Shyrrik. Take us on a low pass over The Yeugate.” He glanced at Mei who was sitting at her weapons console, pale faced. “Take out that shuttle, Mei.”

  “Are we taking prisoners?” Her voice was surprisingly steady.

  “No.” Gareth snapped. “Then head for Shsa-Tirion, but for god’s sake keep us invisible. I suspect that one of those Ecothiax weapons would damage us, and we still have a lot of work to do. After that we’ll…”

  “Where the hell have you been??” Ells voice boomed out of the bridge speakers.

  “Out in the middle of nowhere trying to prevent an alien invasion.” Gareth replied dryly. “We’re going to take out that shuttle that is pestering you, and then we’ll help Thomas over at Shsa-Tirion. How is Iona in Brivrelsea?”

  “Surviving, barely. You said an alien invasion?” Ell sounded impressed.

  “She’s number three on my to-do list then, and yes I said alien invasion. If you can talk to Iona, tell her help is coming and to select a few choice targets for me.”

  “I can do that, but where the hell are you? My se
nsors can’t pick up a thing.”

  “Shyrrik has us in full stealth mode.”

  “Cool…” Ell whispered. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “I never leave friends behind.” Gareth replied, although he didn’t have the courage to ask about Chiu.

  Mei looked over at him. “Big bang or a little bang, Captain?” Her face was angry, and Gareth knew she had friends in The Yeugate.

  He gave her a level look. “Make it a big bang. I want to send a message to those who would hurt my friends.” He chuckled. “Ell, prepare for a big bang.”

  “Oh no!”

  “Fire as you bear, Mei.”

  “Aye, Captain.” Her finger touched a single key, and ten kilometers from The Yeugate, on an attack run at Mach three, a small sun grew where the combat shuttle had been, wavered for a moment, and dwindled.

  “Good job.” Gareth commented dryly. “Shyrrik, take us to Shsa-Tirion.” The view screen banked as the huge frigate turned and accelerated for the other gateway.

  Sitting in the northern quadrant of the Shattered Plain, the former Great City of Shsa-Tirion was surrounded by swirling hordes of raiders, as well as packs of vicious three-legged dogs know as Ups. Smoke curled from holes in the exterior of the half kilometer wide, regular dodecahedron, where energy bolts from the Ecothiax based weapons had struck. Gareth glared down at the confusion. “Get me Thomas, if you please Shyrrik.”

  “Finally.” A cultured baritone voice said from the ceiling. “I was beginning to worry.”

  Gareth chuckled. “I see that you invited too many guests for the party, and you probably ran out of canapes.”

  “They were understandably upset, Sir.”

  “Are there any good guys out there?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. A last caravan was attempting to get in the North gate when the attack came.”