“What was it you wanted to show me?”
Bloch pointed to one of his monitors. “Look at this.”
Erik grabbed an empty chair from the adjacent station and took a seat next to him.
“These readings have come through from our satellite in orbit to Orion VIII.”
The tracking satellite was the facility’s quasi-early warning system to incoming ships entering their area of space. But the question was: why was he looking at it? Erik only saw an empty screen. “And?”
“Watch this.” Bloch pressed in a few keys, and a small blip appeared on the outer edge of scanning range. Then just as it appeared, it disappeared. “This came across our scanners two hours ago. And then this thirty minutes ago.”
He brought up another reading of the blip showing up again at the edge of scanning range, but in a different position. It promptly disappeared. “Both sets of coordinates are just on the outer edge of the Orion System.”
Erik furrowed his brow. “It seems to be little more than a blur.” He moved over to the monitor on the wall near the door. It had a list of outgoing and incoming ships scheduled for Orion V in the next three months.
“We don’t have a supply ship due for three weeks, an ore transport two weeks after that, and the Vanguard’s still eight days away. What the hell could it be?” Erik pondered. “A glitch perhaps?”
“It’s possible.”
Erik returned to Bloch who replayed the scans on the monitor. “It could be Marauders.”
His assistant brought up a file on his monitor. “The last reports we received from the CDF did indicate heightened Marauder activity about two light-years away near the Collus System. Would they venture all this way?”
“We’d be a tempting target,” Erik said. “Would they be ballsy enough to hit us?”
Bloch shrugged. “If it is Marauders, I’m glad the Vanguard isn’t far away.”
Erik nodded. “Okay, keep an eye on it. If you pick up anything, let me know.” He patted the young man on the shoulder and headed out of the operations center.
As Erik made his way toward the elevator, he couldn’t help but think back to a year ago to when his team in Worksite Fifteen found the… thing. The secretive project beneath the surface had taken its toll on him and all his people. The last thing he needed was Marauders knocking on their door.
Twelve
Cargo Ship Argo
Jason lay on his bed, staring at the same stain on the ceiling that’d been there since he was a kid. Even back then he’d never been able to figure out what it was. Apart from the odd blemish and smells of the old ship, he was astonished at the condition of the Argo and how it was still hauling cargo after so many years.
He wanted to get up, but he’d been feeling lethargic the last few days. Six months was a long time. He never remembered being exhausted when he was in the service. Perhaps it was because he was always doing something. Like staving off a defeat from a Centauri battle squadron.
Jason looked over to his bedside table where his unopened bottle of Blue Jacket bourbon sat. He’d be lying if he hadn’t had a drink since he’d come aboard, but he hadn’t drunk to excess. No wonder I’ve been having all these sweats. He’d been tempted more than once, but his mission was far too imperative not to be at his best.
“Bridge to Jason,” Kevin said over the intercom.
Jason whacked the terminal on the wall beside his bed. “I’m here.”
“We’ve reached the coordinates.”
He dragged himself up and leaped off the bed like a tiger, hurrying out the door and taking the elevator to A Deck. Suddenly he didn’t feel so tired anymore.
On the bridge, Tyler was sitting in the center seat tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Disengage the FTL engines,” he instructed Kevin.
Jason strapped himself in at the operations station, and Kevin pushed in the commands at the helm. The old ship groaned, pulling out of FTL and going to sub-light speed.
Tyler turned to him. “Frontier’s Reach.”
Jason unbuckled himself and stepped toward the viewport at the front of the bridge. It was often said the Reach felt more vast and mysterious than anywhere else. There was a darkness about it that was indescribable. “Here be the dragons.”
“What now?” Tyler asked.
Jason surveyed their position on the scanners at the operations station. They had indeed arrived at the coordinates transmitted to him by David Ortega. “Now it begins.”
With the first initial sweeps of the area on the scanners completed, data rolled in. Space was a vacuum, but it was filled with all kinds of matter that scanners could detect when so charged to do so. When the minutes started stacking up, he realized there was no sign of what he’d come for.
“I’m not detecting any Iota particles.” Jason didn’t let it phase him, though. “We need to start a concentric search pattern.” Forgetting himself, he glanced at his brother. “With your permission, of course.”
Tyler gave the go-ahead, nodding toward Kevin to plot a course. Within moments, the Argo was on the move.
Tyler peered over Jason’s shoulder. “Don’t forget we’ve got a consignment to deliver. I doubt we’ll get another extension. You’ve got forty-eight hours.”
Jason nodded, keeping his eyes firmly on the scanners, while his brother left the bridge.
“The helm’s on auto.” Kevin got out of his chair. “You might have to make an alteration here and there. If you need anything just—”
“I think I can still remember the buttons.” He smiled at his first flight instructor. “Thanks.”
“Good luck.”
Jason hoped it wasn’t needed.
The minutes turned into hours. Aly came along with some coffee. Then some cookies. Then some lunch, all the while seeing if he’d had any progress. Kevin even dropped by from time to time, to check on the Argo’s course. But Jason knew he was really coming to check on him to see if he hadn’t lost his mind. He knew they saw his frustration mounting while the clock continued to tick. As long as there was still time, there was hope.
“Any luck?”
Jason looked up to Tyler standing by the hatchway. He readjusted his eyes after straining them for so long.
“Not even a bite.” Jason frowned. “I now know why this area of space has been left for so long. There’s just nothing out here.”
“Well, there’s still time,” Tyler said, appearing upbeat. “I know you’re pretty focused up here, but I thought you could use the company.” From behind the door, Tyler revealed their father’s acoustic guitar. “You told me you wanted to learn how to play.”
Jason chuckled.
Tyler walked over the threshold and took a seat on the captain’s chair. He strummed the guitar. “I can show you a few chords. We’ll start with the basics.”
“I’m probably a lost cause.”
“That I already know,” Tyler said, tongue-in-cheek. He put the guitar beside the chair and threw a deck of cards at Jason from his pocket. “Poker then.”
“All right.” Jason opened the pack and shuffled. He dealt three cards to Tyler and three to himself. “Okay, this is difficult without chips, but you’ll get the idea.”
He spent the next few minutes going over the basics of Cerberan Poker and then began.
Tyler glanced at his cards. “I know it’s probably not something you’ll want to discuss, but have you thought about what you’ll do if you—”
“Don’t find anything?” Jason looked at his three hidden cards. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, to be honest.” He placed the two community cards in the middle on the command console between them. “I’m broke, but I guess I’ll head back to Odyssey Station. I still have business contacts who could find me work to tide me over.”
Tyler studied the community cards. “So, this is the point where we can either keep our cards or replace them, right?”
Jason nodded. Tyler mucked one of his cards, and Jason handed him a replacement. After viewing his cards
again, Jason decided to keep them all. He had a flush draw.
“It doesn’t seem like you’ve planned this out.”
“I guess not.” Jason put the third community card down. “You probably think I’m nuts.”
Traveling halfway across known space to find a particle that may or may not have something do with a friend’s death. I don’t think nuts is quite the word for it.”
Jason scowled. “You wouldn’t understand, the man was like a brother.”
Tyler glowered at him. “Is that the kind of lengths you’d take for your own family?”
It was only in that moment that Jason realized what he’d said. A lump formed in his throat and he dealt the last community card. “I’ve traveled to Frontier’s Reach for my best friend. If it were you, there’d be no ship fast enough to take me where I’d need to go.”
Tyler’s mouth gaped open, but no words came out.
“Just because I left, didn’t mean I ever gave up on my family,” Jason continued. “Cassidys all the way. Right?”
A small grin formed on Tyler’s face as they both looked down at their cards.
“Now if both of us would have bet to this point of the game and not out-bet each other at this round, we’d have to flip our cards. What have you got?” Jason asked.
Tyler revealed his hand. He had two tens, which matched up to one other on the board. “Are these trips?”
“Beats my nothing,” Jason said, revealing his four clubs. He raised an eyebrow at his brother. “You sure you don’t know how to play this game?”
Tyler smiled. “Shut up and shuffle.”
Thirteen
UECS Vanguard
The Vanguard disengaged its FTL drive and smoothly entered sub-light. Nicolas checked the scanners on the central command station satisfied with the efficiency of the new navigational computer. They’d dropped outside the gravitational field of Orion V, just as planned.
He turned to the helm. “Ensign Worthington, plot a course toward Orion V and commence orbital insertion.” With a touch, he activated the ship’s intercom. “Engine Room, shut down the FTL engines and let them cool off.”
“Gladly, sir,” Chief Engineer Devers replied from below decks.
“Approaching orbit, sir,” Worthington said, as the ship moved toward the deathly cold orb of Orion V. “Orbital insertion in five seconds.” The young ensign deactivated the maneuvering thrusters and let gravity do its thing. “Orbital insertion established.”
“Thank you, Ensign.” Nicolas turned to Commander Perera joining him in the pit. “Are our guests ready?”
Perera nodded. “Doctor Tai and the Marines are on their way to the hangar deck with the package as we speak.”
“Good. Ensign Xeh, open a commlink to the mining facility.”
She keyed in the command. “Commlink open, sir.”
“This is Captain Marquez of the UECS Vanguard.”
“Welcome to Orion V, Captain Marquez,” came the voice from the planet below. “This is Administrator Koeman. I trust your journey was a pleasant one.”
“It was… long, but uneventful. Thank you, Mister Koeman.”
“How soon can we expect you?”
“We’ll be down within the hour.”
“Good. I understand you’ve been instructed in the correct protocol regarding the container’s transportation to the surface.”
“The Marines will escort the container to the surface along with Doctor Tai. Only I will accompany them.”
“Very good. I’ll see you when you arrive. Koeman out.”
The commlink ceased.
Perera pointed down at the surface scans on the monitor. “I hope you packed warm.”
“Lucky for me I have no plans to go for a stroll outside.” Nicolas made his way out of the command pit. “The Vanguard is yours. Don’t break anything while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.” Perera gave his CO a casual salute.
After taking the elevator through the heart of the ship, Nicolas arrived on the hangar deck, where Deck Chief Klapecki was waiting for him.
“Is everyone aboard?” Nicolas asked him, looking at the transport pod sitting in the middle of the deck.
“Yes, sir.” Klapecki handed him a large blue jacket.
“Where would I be without you?” Nicolas put on the thick jacket and zipped it up. The heat of the thermal packs lined inside it instantly warmed him up.
“Maybe HQ could pick a tropical planet for us to visit next time,” Klapecki quipped. “Big sun. Big mai tais. Big b—”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He walked into the rear airlock of the pod and passed by the Marines who were buckling themselves in. He squeezed past the container and took a seat next to Susan at the helm.
“You want to take the stick, Doctor?” Nicolas said with some amusement.
She had all her piloting certifications. He knew because he’d been the one to give them to her. Though he wondered how long it’d been since she’d last flown.
Susan looked at him with a deadpan expression and pushed in a series of keys on the console in front of her. All the helm controls transferred to her station. “Ready to go when you are, Captain.”
Nicolas smiled and turned to the Marines in the rear of the pod. “Are we ready back there?”
Major Ripken, the team leader, checked over his men and gave Nicolas a nod to the affirmative.
“Well then, let’s go, Doctor.”
Susan put her hands on the controls, and the pod lifted off. With a push of a button, the landing struts retracted. She fired the rear maneuvering thrusters and launched the small vessel out of the hangar deck’s large external door. She strafed the pod over the dorsal hull of the Vanguard and descended gently toward the planet.
The dark-gray clouds lining the atmosphere below caused Nicolas to shiver and the lightning made him want to reconsider why he was going there in the first place. Luckily for the team on the pod, the weather appeared clear toward the mining facility, which was just north of Orion V’s equator.
Susan skillfully controlled the pod’s drop. Breaking through the upper atmosphere, a slight vibration reverberated through the hull while the planet fought against them. A deep-red warmth emerged on the ventral heat shield, taking the brunt of the descent. After smashing through the worst of it, Susan leveled off, dropping the pod through the cloud cover.
The main rectangular-shaped building of the facility rose from the ground in the middle of a broad valley. It was only three stories tall, but it branched out like a spider beneath the ground, with an extensive network of subterranean rail joining up several worksites to the central location. It was an incredible feat of construction so far from civilization.
The landing pad on the roof of the complex became apparent the closer they got and the retractable ceiling opened welcoming them in. Susan slowed the pod’s descent and aimed for the guidance markers. She fired the ventral thrusters and extended the landing struts. With a gentle thud, the pod landed without even a scratch.
“You’ve still got it,” Nicolas said to her, impressed.
She did her best to hide her smile, waiting for the retractable ceiling to close above them. “It helps to have a good teacher.”
With a hiss, the atmosphere recirculated, and a green light gave them the go-ahead to depart. Susan flicked the switch on the airlock, and it burst open. The Marines got out of their seats first, unlocking the container from its harness and walking it out onto the landing pad with the help of a hover lifter. Nicolas and Susan followed, a chill hitting them before the facility’s climate-control pumped the landing pad with warmer air.
A door opened at the side of the building and a man dressed in olive-green coveralls stepped out. “Captain Marquez, welcome to Orion V,” he said. “I’m Erik Koeman.”
They shook hands.
“This is Doctor Tai.” Nicolas gestured toward her, adjusting his collar.
“Welcome, Doctor. I hope the trip down wasn’t too uncomfortable. Orion V
can be a navigational nightmare.”
“It helps to have a skillful pilot.” Nicolas glanced over at Susan.
“Excellent.” Koeman motioned toward the door. “Would you follow me, please?”
The Marines, led by Ripken, took the container inside the facility on the hover lifter and Koeman directed them toward the elevator at the end of the corridor.
Susan stopped while the others went on without her. “Well, I guess this is it.”
“I guess it is.” Nicolas frowned. Koeman stepped back, seemingly wondering what was going on. “I didn’t think this would be so difficult.”
She chuckled. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Marines waited in the elevator, but all turned their heads the other way when Nicolas glared at them.
“Well, Doctor, it’s been a pleasure having you aboard the Vanguard,” Nicolas said in his most official tone.
“Thank you for the safe journey,” Susan countered, equally as formal.
“Perhaps when the stars align, we’ll see each other again.”
“It’ll be your turn to bring the McKinley Oak.”
“I’ll make sure I stock up.” Nicolas pulled Susan in, and the two hugged. “Goodbye, Susan.”
“Goodbye, Nicolas.”
They shared one last glance before Susan walked into the elevator, the doors closing behind her.
“Well, Captain,” Koeman said. “It’s not normal for us to get visitors, especially from the CDF. I’d offer you a tour of the entire facility, but unfortunately we’re a little stretched for time due to some production issues.”
“That’s all right,” Nicolas said.
“You’re welcome to stay for lunch. One of my assistants could give you a tour of our operations center if you’d like.”
“Well, I’ve come this far. Lead the way.”
Fourteen
Cargo Ship Argo
Frontier's Reach: A Space Opera Adventure (Frontiers Book 1) Page 7
