Reality's Veil

by Damon Alan

  “What are you talking about?” she said, showing her laughter. “Who would go?”

  “Me.”

  “You?”

  “Me.”

  “Khala, that’s madness. You’re barely a third my size. What makes you think you’d have the energy stores for searching human space?”

  “I am plenty large enough to store the energy for several phasic trips,” he insisted. “I’m half your length and a third your mass.” His carapace lights signaled his confidence in his upcoming statement. “You are the Matriarch. You have no named offspring. The clan would be devastated if you were lost. It is your duty not to go.”

  “I would be devastated if you were lost,” she said quietly, stroking him once again.

  “I will carry your authority to arrange a safe meeting between you and a human leader, or at least one of them that can speak with the others,” he assured her. “Let any risk be mine, we can’t have another loss like Shosgawa.”

  “You would be such a loss to me,” she said weakly.

  “I will not be lost,” Khala promised. “I am careful. If I were lost, another suitor would rise to love you.”

  “Not as you do,” she almost purred, stroking him gently.

  He was distracted by her attentions; his answer was two chimindiks in coming. “No, not as I do. But this task must be done, and I am the one logical choice to go.”

  “You win,” she relented.

  “I need to know what you know.”

  “Here are the memories of the human space I visited, as well as the interface I had with Hallit.” she said as she shared them with him. “You have my authority. Go fast and return to me with success.”

  “Failing you is the greatest sadness of which I could conceive.”

  “Ingratiator. Go. Before I change my mind.”

  Khala phased out, leaving her to stare at the spinning orbs of dead stars.

  Chapter 13 - Contact

  09 Ors 15332

  “Admiral Dayson, I’m detecting combat in system,” Algiss said. “The AI picked it out of the system background noise,” he continued. “And if we picked it out, you can bet every Komi intel unit in the system has the information as well.”

  “Very well, Mister Algiss,” Sarah responded. “Mark the location and prepare to transfer us to a nearby spot. Preferably something sheltering like this asteroid you have us parked by now.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  She waited as the situation unfolded. Signs of combat may well indicate Bannick’s presence if Cothis was right about the reasons the Komi successor was summoned to this system. She needed to talk to him and arrange a transfer of prisoners. That was her priority.

  If she couldn’t save Sachelle, then she wouldn’t be able to work with the man at all. He was vermin, but if he was also stupid then it wouldn’t be a reliable enough partnership to last.

  Keeping Sachelle would be an extremely foolish move.

  This was Bannick’s first test of many she’d give him.

  “I have a fix,” Algiss reported.

  “Battlestations, set condition two, combat possible, evasive maneuvers possible,” Kuo commanded the crew as the lighting went red. “Missile batteries, set condition one. Combat imminent.”

  “Wise choice,” Sarah said, noticing his decision.

  “Just like the old days,” Kuo said. “This ship is fancier than the Teplo, however.”

  “And more dangerous,” Sarah added.

  “Agreed.”

  “Engineering, Dayson. Prepare for evasive maneuvers. Take the governors off the grappling engines.”

  “Sir?” Heinrich’s voice answered, confused.

  “You heard right, Inez. We won’t go in self-crippled.”

  “Right away, Admiral.”

  Kuo looked at her sternly, and she smiled.

  “Let’s hope we don’t need to use that capability,” Kuo complained in response.

  “Mister Algiss,” Sarah said, still smiling at Kuo. “Take us into harm’s way.”

  The asteroid they were currently hovering a few dozen meters from disappeared. A new set of stars shone on the main screen, along with a bright assortment of ships.

  Hundreds of ships. Two of which were gargantuan.

  “Holy fricking galaxies,” Algiss exclaimed. “Look at the size of those two monsters!”

  “Attention to duty,” Kuo admonished.

  “Where are we?” Sarah demanded. On the viewscreen and in three directions strange struts and girders seemed to extend chaotically around her vessel.

  “Sensor data is coming in,” Kuo said. “Old mining station, it looks like. The rock it’s attached to is more hole filled than a Komi’s addled morality.”

  Sarah grinned. “Are we visible to that fleet?”

  “No, probably not. We didn’t approach this point, we phased here. If they noticed any change it probably registered as a shift in the surface equipment. This object is almost certainly on Bannick’s system maps,” Kuo informed her.

  “Nav, launch a comm buoy we can relay a laser link through. No sense giving our position away,” Sarah ordered. “Better yet, have the adepts transfer it away from the ship so we’re not detected.”

  “Doing so,” Algiss reported. “Any combat is over, Admiral. I am detecting a small fleet of heavy freighters running away at max burn, as well as debris from three or four of them that were destroyed. Also expanding debris clouds of a whole lot of grapplers. Whoever was fighting, one side lost soundly.”

  “I think we know who that is,” Kuo observed, “judging by the fleeing freighters.”

  She nodded, then was startled by motion to her right.

  Salphan had jumped up from his station. “Emille wants me to go back to the buoy and share with her what I see so she can transfer it.” He clamped his boots to the deck and walked off, clearly excited to be doing something useful.

  Do you know where the comm relays are? Sarah asked him.

  I do. I took the information from your head.

  Salphan! You can’t just—

  Are we not mates? In my society that means shared minds.

  I can’t do that to you, she responded. It’s not a fair trade off.

  I will see if there is a way to fix that, Salphan offered. It’s just so much quicker than asking for what I need to know in words.

  Sarah sighed. Okay, but hurry.

  I’m done already, he thought back.

  She laughed. “Mister Stornbeck, lock on to the relay with a laser link and comm the large ship nearest to us. Let’s talk to our enemies.”

  “Linked now, Admiral,” Stornbeck said. “This is the OSV Sheffaris, Admiral Sarah Dayson is requesting visual contact with Lord Bannick Komi.”

  On your way back, have the marines bring Cothis to the bridge, Sarah told Salphan.

  Wilco.

  Are you learning all the lingo? she asked, letting him sense her mirth.

  The screen changed, and a handsome man filled the center. Sarah had expected a military uniform, but the man in front of her had nothing of the sort. He had a black outfit on, including his magnetic shoes. Not a single identifying mark disrupted the fabric.

  “This is Lord Bannick Komi.”

  She stood and stared a moment as she made sure she was locked to the deck, then stepped forward. “I am Sarah Dayson.”

  “Not Admiral?” he asked.

  “My rank is meaningless to you,” she replied. “And yours to me. Either we will be business partners as Cothis has suggested you might be interested in, or we will be enemies. Either way, my rank is of no consequence.”

  “I like you,” he said. “Straight to it. My people could take notice of such refreshing honesty.”

  “Your fleets invaded and conquered the space of the Alliance. Your people summarily executed citizens of Mindari, and then destroyed all life on the planet,” she growled at him. “Your people could use a lot of lessons on a lot of things.”

  “What are you talking about?” Bannick asked. “Minda
ri was fine when I left.”

  A voice behind her interrupted.

  “Lord Komi, your father sent one of the death squadrons to Mindari,” Cothis said. “The planet is dead now. If not for Admiral Dayson’s timely kidnapping of my person, I’d be dead as well.”

  Sarah considered berating the man for speaking without permission but decided better of it. He had corroborated her story, after all.

  Bannick would surely believe his own man.

  “Admiral Cothis, old friend,” Bannick said. “You are sure? Father did this?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes as Admiral Dayson’s prisoner,” Cothis confirmed.

  “Then it is so,” Bannick replied, his face angry. “Do you see why I could use your help Admiral Dayson? I am not my father. If you aid me in taking power here, I will dismantle the planet killing squadrons as part of our deal on top of what Cothis has already promised you.”

  “Admiral Cothis said you would cease hostilities with Oasis, provide us ships to fight the Hive, and any other material resources we might need. I also want to be able to recruit freely from the former Alliance planets to fill my crew rosters,” Sarah demanded.

  “Done,” Bannick agreed. “Now let’s get to the business of how to kill Urdoxander.”

  “Aren’t you worried he has ships on the way?” Sarah asked. “Your High Lord has thousands of ships in this system that he can muster. You seem to have under three hundred.”

  “It will take time to put those ships of his into fleets that could challenge this one,” Bannick assured her. “Let’s you and I conclude our business, then we will deal with Urdoxander and how you’re going to kill him.”

  “What do you propose?” Sarah asked. “A transfer of prisoners? Cothis for Sachelle?”

  “Precisely. And I’d like to meet you face to face.”

  Kuo silenced the microphone. “Out of the question, Admiral.”

  “This may be our one chance,” Sarah said. “We need Bannick to be friendly, to evacuate from the coming radiation front. We need him to see that I have no fear.”

  “I have fear,” Kuo said.

  “And I have a plan,” Sarah said. “Salphan will be with me.”

  As will I, Alarin thought to her alone.

  “And Alarin as well,” she added as she opened the mic.

  “Problems?” Bannick asked. “Your crew has concerns?”

  “No problems, and my crew would be fools not to have concerns. Just informing my XO the plan. I will meet you on your ship, and you will have Sachelle with you. I will have Cothis. He will explain to you what happens if you cross my people.”

  “No threats are necessary, Admiral Dayson,” Bannick said, irritation in his voice.

  “That was not a threat,” she replied flippantly as she closed the channel. “It was a promise.” She looked over at Kuo. “I’ll take Salphan, Alarin, the two marines, and Cothis. Have the team assembled at the shuttle with our pilot in five minutes. You are in command until I return, and if this does happen to be a trick, Heinrich is to take command of the fleet, return, and destroy this star system.”

  Cothis sucked in his breath behind her.

  “I am protesting this decision,” Kuo said, his voice cool and calm. “You are our commander. You should not be going.”

  “Has such a protest ever worked before? I’m going. And let my orders be clear. If I am betrayed by Bannick, the fleet is to return and destroy every single star system in the Komi Syndicate.” She finished her statement by slightly lifting the corner of her lip and winking at Kuo. The command was merely show for Cothis.

  To her XO’s credit he gave no indication of her duplicity regarding the order. He continued to look grim and protest her going. “I will prepare the fleet to do just that, because I don’t trust him. I don’t trust the Komi. And if they betray us, I will kill each and every one of their citizens in retribution.”

  She knew she could count on Kuo to get the message. Her visit to Bannick’s ship would show that she had absolutely no fear because she held all the real power in the relationship.

  “This is outrageous!” Cothis bellowed as he struggled against the marines. “You can’t destroy star systems because you don’t get your way.”

  “You act as if you believe Bannick might betray my trust,” Sarah said coolly.

  “I don’t think he will, no. But he has no idea the threat you pose. I’ll need to inform him.”

  “It is the threat I pose that serves Bannick’s interests. If he wants his father dead, my people are his best option,” she replied. “And I understand your House, or whatever you call it, is in this system. If you do not wish everyone you ever loved turned to molecular gas, then I suggest you make Bannick understand the severity of crossing me.”

  Chapter 14 - Admiral’s Personal Log

  09 Ors 15332

  AI Lucy82A recording, Admiral's personal log, personal archive: Galactic Standard Date 21:03:17 09 ORS 15332

  Personal log entry #1967, Admiral Sarah Dayson, origin Korvand, Pallus Sector.

  Current Location: Deep Space, OSV Sheffaris, Komi System

  I’m left in a tight spot.

  I need ships. Hundreds, if not thousands. Even with the adepts and our abilities gained by their presence, fighting the Hive is not going to be the same as smacking down a few cruisers. We will suffer large losses. To weather these losses means at least ten fully functional fleets… and possibly more.

  But I have no reason to trust Bannick. I may well be wasting my time here. The fact is, however, that Bannick Komi has the ships I need, or will have them. If I help him depose his father.

  On top of that a new player is in the game.

  I hope I don’t sound like an idiot when these logs are replayed into the history books.

  Aliens.

  My crew and I watched a single alien cruiser shrug off several nearby nukes, manually rip a Komi battlecruiser apart, then phase away. Emille says it’s not an alien ship, but a living creature. As much as I trust her, I don’t see how that can be true.

  Life doesn’t evolve in a vacuum.

  [A forty-seven second pause]

  Not life as we know it anyway. Who am I kidding? If I’ve learned anything these last years, it’s that just about anything is possible. Living spacecraft shouldn’t be even slightly shocking at this point.

  [Deep laughter]

  Cothis is another thing, and I do mean thing, that I should log about. Twenty years ago I would never have stolen the man’s humanity away by calling him a thing, but I’ve hardened. And I don’t honestly think he has much humanity to steal. I’m not sure why, but I have an inordinately strong distrust for the man. And no small amount of malice.

  [A sound AI estimates 92% likely to be opening and closing of a drawer]

  I’m going to have some chocolate, since wine is out of the question.

  [A sigh]

  I need to get back to the bridge. Morale isn’t the best it could be, although the crew is holding together like the professionals they are. Our ship has taken a beating, Captain Harmeen is dead, and we’re facing unknown events at a rate most ship crews don’t experience over their entire cruise.

  But I will hold them together. And they will hold each other together. I’ve never had faith in a group of people more than this one. And if some historian reads this someday and thinks I’m speaking my will instead of the facts… I remind you that this recording is classified and only I will hear it until this mission is over. I say what I believe here.

  [A sound AI estimates 68% likely to be a rapid exhalation]

  End the log, Lucy.

  Chapter 15 - A Curious Species

  Khala dropped into realspace near a yellow star. The radiation immediately warmed his carapace, which felt good. He wanted to study the system he was in, hopefully before the locals noticed his presence and became aggressive. Surely there was some entity here that would listen to reason.

  He extended the threads of his sensor arm as the corona of the star playe
d across his back. It was harder to concentrate with such amazingly pleasurable sensations registering on his body, but he had work to do.

  Later he’d grab Sylange and they could bask in the corona of a similar star together.

  Back to business, Khala! he demanded of himself.

  He extended his sensor apparatus into the oververse in order to circumvent the light speed limitations on incoming data. He, in essence, became aware of the star system the way he would his own body.

  This system, the only one that the Obedi knew to be inhabited by this universe’s natural sentient organics, teemed with life. There were thousands of their spacecraft plying the vacuum of space here. He pushed the sensations and sensor input from the star out of his consciousness and concentrated on the humans and their activities.

  Several concentrations of ships existed. Near the fourth planet a large number of them orbited the rocky mass. Again over the third. In short order he noticed several of the devices the humans used for FTL flight activating, and the fleets of ships they were attached to disappearing. Some moved through highspace toward another concentration of ships far out toward the perimeter of this star’s influence.

  He wondered as to the nature of the assembling flock of ships.

  It was something that he should check out. An icy body originally from the far outer reaches of the star’s gravity well was a reasonable distance from the assembly, close enough he might be able to determine their intent and whether or not they were worth contacting. He’d phase directly to the surface of the ice, which should prevent their primitive sensors from detecting him until he surveyed the situation.

  Moments later he was clinging to the ice, an unpleasant situation compared to the luxurious proximity of the star, but one he must endure if he was to accomplish the mission.

  The largest assembly of ships was nearest, the other side of that a rocky body floated, one that was heavily modified by the organics. Another ship hid in the lattice of steel surrounding that rock, apparently trying to hide from the larger fleet.

  Were these large ships enemies of the small vessel?

  An even smaller vessel moved from a location distant from either the fleet or the hiding ship. It was headed toward the larger fleet. Moments before it had not been there, Khala was sure of that. It was phased to its location, the same method of travel Khala used.