He took it and half-crawled, half-scrambled out of his prison and into the free air, then collapsed face-first onto the cool, clean floor of wherever he was.
A roar behind him sent him scrambling again. He twisted around in time to see the small cavity they’d been trapped in vanish beneath a torrent of rubble.
CONCORD HQ
Special Projects
Morgan’s eyes fluttered open, revealing striking lavender irises framed by bloodshot, inflamed sclera. “Owww.”
Marlee smiled with forced enthusiasm. “I’ll bet. You took a bump on the head. Two, actually.” She pressed on the medwrap she’d positioned over a jagged cut along Morgan’s hairline to ensure the seal was secured. “One here on your forehead and one at the top of your skull. But they’re not bad.”
“Great….” Morgan weakly pushed up to a sitting position on the floor, and Marlee mourned the resulting loss of physical contact. “Stanley says my brain wants to have a concussion, but he’s doing what he can to dissuade it.” She grimaced and looked around. “Chalmun Station’s gone?”
“All but, I’m afraid. The interior space has completely caved in. But the Connexus evacuated hundreds of people, in addition to all those you brought here.”
“Good on them.” Abruptly Morgan sat up straighter. “Where’s Solstan?”
“He’s fine. He’s helping the Vigil med techs care for the more seriously injured.”
The tension in Morgan’s shoulders evaporated, and her posture sagged wearily. “He’s a stand-up guy.”
Eren came over to them and crouched beside Morgan while holding a wet cloth to the back of his head. “Damn spiffing work in there, fighter pilot. It turned a mite dicey at the end, but we got it done.” He balanced on the balls of his feet and held out his free hand. “Eren Savitas.”
“Morgan Lekkas. We met a million years ago during the Directorate War.”
“I remember. You and, um….”
From her location behind Morgan, Marlee frantically shook her head, but Eren was oblivious to the warning. In fairness, he probably had a concussion, too.
“…Captain Harper, right? How is she doing?”
“Dead. She’s doing dead.”
“Oh. My sincere condolences. I mean it. Believe it or not, I genuinely do understand what that’s like. For the record, I’m glad you didn’t follow her into the void today.”
Marlee was wracking her brain for something non-stupid to say to change the subject when Alex joined them as well. “Everyone okay?”
Eren shrugged. “We kept all our limbs, which makes it a pretty successful day in my world.” He stood and offered a hand to Morgan the same instant Marlee did. Morgan looked askance at their extended hands, then let them both help her up.
Marlee turned to Alex. “You got here in the nick of time, for which I am so grateful. But what are you doing here?”
“I was over at the Connova offices talking to Kennedy about the status of the Ourankeli weapon buildout. We had a question for Devon, only he didn’t respond to my pulses. So I came over to see if he was here, and found—” she gestured around at the chaotic lab “—this.”
“Yeah, I was just a little preoccupied.” Devon joined their growing circle. “Lekkas, if any of these people damage a single item in here, I’m holding you personally responsible.”
Some color had returned to Morgan’s face, and she seemed to be regaining her bearings. “Tell you what. I’ll work for you for free to pay off the debt. Oh, wait, I already am.”
“Damn straight you are.” Devon sighed. “Alex, what was your question?”
“More or less? Is the weapon ready to test?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Legitimately?”
“Why am I answering twice? Yes.”
Alex gazed pointedly around the room. “The Rasu are still sieging the asteroid. Let’s go talk to Mom.”
“Right now? What about my lab?”
Eren clapped Devon on the shoulder. “I know these Vigil guys. I’ll help them keep the refugees under control until you get back.”
Devon hesitated, but Alex grabbed his hand and hauled him off toward the door. “Come on. Time’s wasting.”
36
* * *
CONCORD HQ
Command
Rasu War Room
Miriam scrutinized the scans as they arrived from the forward reconnaissance unit. Chalmun Station Asteroid had never been a smooth, pristine rock, but now it resembled a spoiling blob of Swiss cheese. The Rasu attacking force was minuscule compared to what the enemy had brought to bear on Ireltse, but more than large enough to turn the asteroid into dust particles within the hour.
Fleet Admiral Jenner (AFS Denali)(Concord Command Channel): “AEGIS Attack Group #3 will arrive in the Chalmun Station system in eighty seconds.”
Commandant Solovy (Concord Command Channel): “Thank you, Admiral. Due to the unique nature of the target, negative energy weapons are authorized up to half a megameter distance from the asteroid.”
She switched comm channels. “Colonel Ettore, what’s the status of the evacuations?”
The head of AEGIS Connexus Operations responded. “We’ve secured approximately four hundred and thirty evacuees at seven different military installations. Also, I’m hearing that Director Reynolds has around forty evacuees in a Concord Special Projects lab.”
“He what?” She kept her sigh silent. “Very well. I’ll make sure they’re handled in accordance with protocols. What about further evacuations?”
“Prevo surveillance indicates the interior tunnel network has collapsed. We’ve surveyed the major gathering points, and they’ve all suffered catastrophic damage. At this time, we don’t believe anyone else is alive inside.”
“I see. So long as the asteroid remains intact, please instruct your personnel to continue to scour the interior for survivors. And thank everyone for their exemplary work today.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The door to the war room slid open, and Alex jogged in with Devon Reynolds in tow.
“Alex? Director, don’t you have some stray refugees to be keeping watch over?”
“Do I ever. But Marlee and Eren are watching them, along with a team of Vigil officers. Everything’s fine.”
“I believe I’ll be the judge of when things are ‘fine.’ Do I need to impress upon you the dangers of having a bunch of, shall we say, less-than-upstanding citizens roaming around the Special Projects labs?”
Devon grimaced. He looked exhausted, and Miriam had to wonder what the last hour must have been like in Special Projects. “Trust me, you do not. But as I said, security is watching them, and this is important.”
“Oh? What is?”
Alex rubbed her hands together, glee dancing in her eyes. Uh-oh. “This is the perfect opportunity for you to test the Ymyrath Field.”
“It’s too soon. We completed the prototype’s installation on our test vessel, the CAS Intrepid, all of two hours ago.”
“Great, so it’s installed and ready to go! Who knows when you’ll be handed a better scenario for testing.”
Miriam opened her mouth to protest further, but her daughter cut her off.
“Here’s my logic. Chalmun Station is isolated. Nothing else useful exists in its system that can catch radiation damage. And the Connexus Prevos are right—there’s no one left to save on the station. I checked, right after I dug Eren and Morgan out and two seconds before the last tunnel collapsed.” She gestured to Devon. “We both checked. And the size of the Rasu force is small enough that you’re basically guaranteed to hit them all with the full blast.”
Miriam frowned. “How do you know how many Rasu are attacking?”
“I checked that, too. I’ve been busy.”
It was a compelling argument, but prudence ruled the day when one was talking about powerful, deadly and most of all untested new weapons. “We can’t rush into things. We might only get one good chance at using this weapon before the Rasu realize we’re de
ploying it and adapt. Strengthen their radiation shields. Spread out their formations. In fact, we have to consider the possibility that after what happened at the Ourankeli’s Haafan settlement, they might already have surmised we’ll be deploying a similar weapon and have prepared accordingly.”
Alex paced purposefully around the war table. “I think it’s highly unlikely. Based on what we know about the Rasu—okay, ‘know’ is a strong word. Based on what the Asterions believe about how Rasu society, if we can call it that, operates, it’s probable these Rasu have no idea the weapon exists. There’s no reason for the Rasu who have been haranguing the Ourankeli a hundred galaxies away to be talking to the Rasu who are way over here in Concord space. They’re paranoid when it comes to control, remember? That’s why they’re trying so hard to get kyoseil to work for them.
“Also, since remote cells don’t use quantum communication to converse with one another, if we take out these Rasu today, they won’t be able to report back and raise the alarm. Not for a long, long time. And I assume we’ll atomize what’s left of them well before that time arrives.”
Miriam was forced to concede the logic was sound. Still, she ran through the variables twice more in her head. “Devon?”
“She’s right on all counts. Let’s fire up the weapon and see what it can do.”
It was impossible to resist the combined force of their unyielding persuasion. She activated the Command channel again. “Fleet Admiral Jenner, as subtly as possible, have eighty percent of your forces retreat from the battlefield over the next five minutes. Have those that remain be prepared to make an emergency departure on my mark.”
Fleet Admiral Jenner (AFS Denali)(Concord Command Channel): “I…understood, Commandant. We’ll await your order.”
Bless him for not automatically challenging her orders in the middle of battle. She sent a message to Commander Xing of the Intrepid.
I’m authorizing immediate departure to the attached coordinates for a live field test of the Ymyrath Field on Rasu forces.
Yes, ma’am. We only have a skeleton crew on board, but we’ll manage.
Thank you. Inform me when you’re in position.
A direct visual feed came in from the Intrepid when it arrived at the coordinates. The AEGIS fleet had barely had time to start winnowing down the attackers before she’d ordered their drawback, and Rasu vessels surrounded the pockmarked asteroid.
She added Commander Xing to the Command Channel.
Commander Xing (CAS Intrepid)(Concord Command Channel): “The Intrepid is in position. Sensor buoys have been distributed to measure the test results, and the weapon is powered and ready to fire on your order, Commandant.”
Alex, meanwhile, was looking far too joyful. Even Devon had perked up considerably. “Fleet Admiral Jenner, order your ships to set their radiation shielding to maximum. The instant the Intrepid fires, I want a full retreat. Don’t wait for Caeles Prisms to open up. Use superluminal to reach a safe distance.”
Fleet Admiral Jenner (AFS Denali)(Concord Command Channel): “Acknowledged. The fleet is ready to move.”
Commandant Solovy (Concord Command Channel): “Commander Xing, fire when ready.”
Commander Xing (CAS Intrepid)(Concord Command Channel): “Firing on my mark. Three…two…one…mark.”
Miriam initially thought the weapon was a dud, because there was no visual indication of it firing. Yet the wide spectrum alerts lit up at the same instant as an expanse of AEGIS warships vanished from the scene, suggesting something had taken place.
Commandant Solovy (Concord Command Channel): “Commander Xing, retreat as well. Return to Concord HQ, where we’ll begin a full review of the test results.”
She watched the visual feed from the probes left behind. “Now, we wait.”
Devon smiled. “With that powerful of a blast, it won’t be long.”
The Rasu continued their assault on the asteroid, blowing huge chunks away as the rock’s structure began to disintegrate. But after around ninety seconds, their strikes began to falter.
It took another minute before two of the Rasu vessels crashed into one another, sending one tumbling into the asteroid. Engines fired as the ships made to flee, only to sputter and die.
In six minutes, the asteroid’s vicinity was a Rasu graveyard, at least to Miriam’s eyes.
Devon lifted a fist in triumph. “See? Dead Rasu on a far larger scale than a score of negative energy weapons can create.”
“And a dead stellar system.” She didn’t care for this weapon; as much satisfaction as seeing the enemy utterly disabled brought her, the harsh reality was that a weapon such as this one didn’t discriminate between friend and foe.
“I’m going to send in a squadron of heavily shielded reconnaissance vessels to keep an active watch on the Rasu for the foreseeable future. I’m also assigning an AEGIS brigade to stand on alert and be ready to jump in and obliterate them if they so much as twitch. Personally, I’d prefer to do so right now, but I recognize we need to study the longer-term effects of the weapon.
“Director Reynolds, as soon as the Intrepid returns to HQ, I want a full post-mortem on the performance of the weapon and collateral effects. Keep the Intrepid out on the fringes of Ring 5 until we’re certain it’s not emitting radiation. Were there leaks from the weapon housing? Damage to the components? If so much as a bolt melted, I want to know about it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He headed for the door. “I’ll get right on it.”
“First, don’t forget about the evacuees you’ve got crammed into Special Projects.”
“All handled.” Devon tossed a hand over his shoulder as he disappeared through the door.
Miriam massaged at her temples. “Prevos….”
Alex just laughed.
37
* * *
ARES
Advocacy Headquarters
Milky Way Galaxy
“Thanks for the ride home.” Eren tossed a wave over his shoulder toward Morgan, then dragged himself through the wormhole into the third-floor common area of the estate. He greedily inhaled the artificially oxygenated air piped through the building to offset the thin Ares atmosphere, as his lungs still starved for nourishment.
And in the comforting peace of the inviting room, a wave of exhaustion rose up to crash through him.
He leaned on the door frame to contemplate how best to address his weariness. Crumpling to the floor and curling up for a nap would be rude, so he should try to make it to his suite before doing so. Also, his clothes were too filthy to sleep in, and public nudity would be even ruder.
Destination determined, he pushed off the wall and set off—and belatedly remembered that before the Rasu attack had scrambled his day, he’d scheduled a chat session with Corradeo in…he checked the time…two minutes.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time the man had seen him looking like he’d taken a pleasure cruise down the Styx. He grabbed some water, then trudged up to the top floor and rang the chime.
The door to his boss’ office slid open, and he made half an effort to at least lift his shoulders as he walked in.
Corradeo and Nyx were talking on the couch, but they both stood at his arrival. Nyx stared at him, aghast, her mouth curling down in distaste. “Gods, you look horrible. What hellscape did you crawl out of?”
“The Rasu blew up Chalmun Station with me in it.”
Corradeo’s expression darkened. “So it’s gone?”
“Nothing but a smattering of shattered rocks by now, I expect.” Proper greeting abandoned, he sank against the wall and actively resisted the urge to slide all the way down to the floor.
“I’d hoped Concord warships would arrive fast enough to save it.”
“Oh, they arrived with due speed. But Chalmun Station had no defense system to hold the Rasu off for even a few minutes, so I doubt anyone could have gotten there in time.”
Nyx arched an eyebrow and glared at the ceiling.
“Something you want to add, sweetheart
?”
“Chalmun Station was a shithole. Good riddance.”
He launched off the wall in a burst of indignation. “I’ll have you know that a number of the miscreants who called Chalmun Station home helped your grandfather here defeat the Directorate.”
She glanced at Corradeo, who tilted his head in concession, and her expression softened a touch. “I recognize how many of the anarchs were not luminaries of society.”
“I’m not talking about anarchs. And for the record, they were luminaries of the society that mattered. I’m talking about average, ordinary people who only wanted to be free.”
“Free to pillage, rape and murder.”
Corradeo laid a hand on her arm. “All of which remain crimes in a post-Directorate world.”
“I know, Grandfather. But you must admit, the people who frequented the asteroid were the worst sort.”
“Some of them.” He gazed at Eren in concern. “Were you able to rescue any of the inhabitants?”
“Yep. Trepenos got out, thankfully. I helped around fifty people escape, and several Prevos jumped in to evacuate a few hundred more. The tunnels started collapsing early on, though, so a lot of people never had a chance.”
“How unfortunate. One could speculate that the Rasu are attempting to clean out LMC before moving on, but we can’t count on them telegraphing their strategies. If the battle is concluded, I’ll follow up with Commandant Solovy—ah, and she has beaten me to it. A meeting is scheduled at Concord HQ in an hour.
“Nyx, I’m afraid we will have to pick this conversation back up later. Perhaps tonight. Eren, great work saving all those you did. Try to get some rest.” Corradeo grabbed his jacket from behind his desk and departed the office.
Eren promptly headed for the door as well. “I’m going to clean up and—”
“Wait a minute. You need to update me on what you’ve learned about the alien dissident groups.”
All Our Tomorrows Page 21
