“Why are you here early?” Dewis asked again.
“Your command council contacted us and apprised us of your intended arrival time to the gate. We increased our speed to join you and begin the joint operation early.”
Jacob looked at the captain with a “I-told-you-so” look.
“Vori Tretridic, thank you for the clarification,” Dewis said. He had sent his updated mission plan report to TERRA. He never thought they would communicate that information to the alliance ships. “On behalf of the SOLARA crew, I welcome you.”
“Let us know when we can come on board your vessel to discuss the mission,” Tretridic requested. “We will standby until then.”
“They’re disengaged communications,” David reported.
“Deactivate weapons and lower shields,” Jacob ordered as he turned back to the operations table, disgusted by the captain’s behavior.
“Shall I prepare security for the guests’ arrivals?” Michelle asked Dewis.
The captain was still caught off-guard by this unexpected development and didn’t reply right away. Jacob was inclined to answer for him but elected not to. Let him figure it out.
“I’ll be in the science lab to see how they’re doing,” Jacob said to no one in particular as he left the command deck. He didn’t even look at Dewis when walking out. He was too mad at the captain for behaving so ignorantly. It was people like him that would spell the end of the alliance before it even had the chance to flourish. He was certain that Captain Dewis would corner the commander alone later and read him the riot act. Let him. Jacob was more than prepared to reply in kind to him.
Dewis made no move to stop the commander from leaving the command deck. The captain got up and made his way over to the navigation station. “We’ll hold our position here.”
Nalus couldn’t hold it in. She had to say something. “You’re not going to let him get away with what he said, are you? What he implied…”
Dewis cut her off. “It’s not your concern, lieutenant.”
“Captain…”
“I mean it. We have a mission to complete. Focus on that.” Dewis gave her a comforting look. “Don’t worry about the commander. What’s important is the mission. I can handle our XO.”
“Yes, sir.” Nalus got back to work as Dewis stepped away from her station. She couldn’t understand why the captain allowed the commander to get away with such mutinous words. Commander Diego should be thrown into a cell for the rest of this mission. Defying a ship commander in front of the crew was simply unacceptable, but the captain appeared to be letting it go.
Captain Dewis wished his hands weren’t tied. Commander Diego had demonstrated he was not above questioning him in front of the crew. Dewis wished he could relieve him of duty, but any such action would be scrutinized by the council, and they would undoubtedly side with the commander. As distasteful as it was to admit, unless Commander Diego committed an action that was blatantly disobedient, the captain was stuck with him.
CHAPTER NINE
Because the SOLARA’s staff meeting room was limited on space, it would not be able to accommodate the entire senior staff and visiting alliance commanders. It was decided that the SOLARA would be represented by Captain Dewis, Commander Diego, Lieutenant Walters, and Fotell. Lieutenant Gimron would remain on the command deck, along with Lieutenants Nalus and Block, coordinating security procedures and commanding the ship during the meeting.
Jacob was responsible for putting together the itinerary for the mission briefing. Protocol dictated that he would go over the agenda in person with the captain, but the commander just sent him a copy with a notation to contact him if he had questions. He was still mad at the captain’s behavior and wanted to avoid as much contact with him as possible. Apparently, the captain felt the same as Dewis never reached out to Diego with questions prior to the meeting.
Jacob arrived at the meeting room as soon as Michelle contacted him and told him the alliance officers were on board. He timed his arrival so that only seconds would pass before the guests arrived. When he entered, he found the captain with Walters and Fotell already seated. Jacob merely nodded to the others before taking his seat next to the captain.
“You’ll take the lead on all the agenda items,” Dewis instructed Jacob without looking at him.
“Yes, sir.” Hopefully, that would mean the meeting would go smoothly without any more embarrassing incidents. Still, Diego secretly hoped the captain would make an ass of himself in front of the alliance commanders.
The meeting room door opened, and a security officer entered, followed by an Onixin, and then a Senfo and one of his officers. Everyone stood up as they came in.
“I’m Captain Dewis and would like to welcome you to the SOLARA.”
The reptilian Onixin put his hand on his chest as the two Senfo tipped their hats. Jacob looked over to Fotell. “Open the communications channel to the VFLEP,” he said, referring to the Quix starship.
Fotell quickly activated the link. An image of a slug-looking Quix appeared over the table. Jacob motioned for the Onixin and Senfo to take their seats. As soon as they did, Jacob began the meeting.
“Some introductions are in order. Representing the SOLARA is Captain Dewis. We also have our chief engineer, Lieutenant Jonas Walters, and our senior operations officer, Fotell.”
The Senfo ship commander addressed Fotell. “It is agreeable to see a fellow Senfo working with the humans. I have read about the liaison program and am most impressed. Revib for your contributions to the alliance.”
Fotell tipped her hat. “The words of a commandrant is always received with gratitude. Revib.”
The commandrant looked to the other attendees. “I am Commandrant Zuwelic of the dregot ISQUIS. My collab besides me is Orti Pudrig.”
“Collab is the equivalent of a TERRA executive officer,” Fotell clarified to the human officers. Orti is his official title.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Jacob replied as he moved his attention to the Onixin.
“I am Vori Tretridic.”
“Vori,” Jacob greeted. He turned to the holographic display of the Quix. “It’s an honor to meet a fellow member of the protectorate.”
“The honor is mine,” the Quix replied. “I am Cadri Sasasaduigriganabasas of the VFLEP. However, you may all address me as cadri as I am aware your species do have difficulty with Quix names.”
“We appreciate your accommodation,” Jacob replied as he sat back down. “Let’s all take a seat and get started. I sent all of you a copy of the meeting itinerary.”
“The priorities outlined for the mission are sound,” Zuwelic started. “Determining how the gate functions, if it still functions, and any data its computer system may contain.”
“My crew have been analyzing the data already provided by your PHOENIX starship,” Tretridic revealed. “We believe n’quadrin can be used to power the gate to gain access to its systems.”
“My fellow protectorate here on the VFLEP concurs,” Sasasaduigriganabasas added.
Dewis then asked a most unexpected question. “Could we power the gate enough to use it?” His question caught everyone off-guard. No one considered activating the gate. This mission was to study it in detail and try to access its computer system, not to use it.
Sasasaduigriganabasas was the first to speak up. “To what purpose would we activate the gate?”
“To see what’s on the other side,” Dewis replied.
Tretridic looked around. “I was not aware this was considered an option.”
Jacob was quick to clarify the intent of this mission. “It’s not. Using the gate to travel to another galaxy is not part of the mission. Our only objective is to study it and learn what we can about how it operates.”
Dewis had his own ideas about the mission. “I disagree. We’re in possession of a very advanced piece of technology. If we’re to learn all we can about it, we need to activate it and send a ship through. The data collected could yield enormous information that we
can use to further our technological development.”
Zuwelic was not enthused about the captain’s proposal whatsoever. “We would be exposing this galaxy to a potential threat greater than the Screen. They came here to escape an oppressive race that had enslaved them. We all suffered from what the Screen did to each of our races. Do we want to face something worse than them?”
Sasasaduigriganabasas was receptive to Dewis’s idea. “It is a dangerous proposal; however, Captain Dewis does make a valid point. We could learn much more if we used the gate.”
“Whoever the Screen escaped from never used the gate to follow them,” Jonas pointed out. “How do we know they’re not waiting on the other side for someone to turn on the gate at this end.”
“Is it possible there is no gate structure on the other side?” Tretridic asked.
Jonas shook his head. “Unlikely. Humans developed a gate system once.” He was referring to the mission of the HORIZON back in 2073. That ship was to use a jumpgate to travel outside the solar system. The HORIZON never had a chance to use it as it was destroyed by the Screen. The chief engineer took the opportunity to read up about that technology for this mission and was surprised to learn that the HORIZON jumpgate was not based upon DuBois physics like hyperdrive engines. Instead, the International Space Agency (ISA) that handled the mission used the HORIZON to secretly test wormhole technology. The information was still classified; luckily, Jonas was given access to the files for this mission.
The chief engineer continued. “Analysis done on the gate we developed shows a stable structure is needed at the origination point to handle the quantum fluctuations of generating a stable wormhole. To have two stable points, a second gate needs to be established; otherwise, there’s a greater risk of the exit aperture appearing randomly anywhere throughout the galaxy.”
“Our scientists would concur. Your chief engineer makes a good point,” Sasasaduigriganabasas said. “It is odd the Screen oppressors have not used the gate on their side to come here.”
“They may not know of the gate’s location,” Fotell postulated.
“Maybe they concealed it somehow or put security locks in place to prevent them from using it,” Jonas added.
This discussion was moot to Jacob. “Regardless, it’s too great a risk. For the Screen to go through extreme measures to escape their masters indicates they could be far more dangerous than the Screen themselves.”
Zuwelic was in support of the commander’s stance. “I agree. Our worlds are just recovering from living under the Screen. We should not risk inviting another aggressor here. We have potential threats here that we may have to deal with. The Cresorians, the Io…”
Dewis had made up his mind and wasn’t interesting in dissenting opinions. “I won’t let fear dictate our actions. You can stay here and conduct all the studies you like, but we have a rare opportunity to test this technology and conduct exploration of another galaxy. I intend to take SOLARA through the gate to see what’s on the other side.”
Jacob couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They had made valid points as to why the gate should remain off. “Captain, maybe we should discuss…”
But Dewis cut him off. “I understand your reluctance in using the gate. There’s risk, but also a great deal of benefits. If Captain Roberts didn’t take the risk of stealing PHOENIX from TERRA and searching out the Screen, none of us would be here. We’d still be stuck on our homeworlds living in fear.”
Jacob found it insulting that Dewis would talk up the PHOENIX in a positive tone just to further his agenda. The captain was being an opportunist, no doubt to increase his profile with TERRA. The first captain to travel to another galaxy would certainly get people’s attention.
“You have a point, Captain Dewis, but I still cannot agree to your proposal. It is too great a risk,” Zuwelic stated.
Sasasaduigriganabasas was still open to using the gate. “The chance to witness this gate in operation is intriguing. If we have proper safeguards in place, we can minimize the risk. What say you, Tretridic?”
The reptilian Onixin vori leaned back in his seat. “I do not relish encountering a species more harmful than the Screen. If we took all necessary precautions, such as knowing how to shut the gate off, and coming up with a method of destroying it if need be…I believe it is a worthy proposal.”
“I suggest you all return to your ships and come up with procedures to activate the gate and travel through it,” Dewis offered before Jacob could say anything. “We should start our surveys of the gate so we may learn how to control it.”
“Let us reconvene then in dogught,” Sasasaduigriganabasas suggested.
Jonas used his DAT to translate the time measurement. “Twenty-seven hours.”
Dewis nodded in agreement. “That sounds good.”
Jacob tried to restrain himself from jumping up and yelling at the captain, but he didn’t want to make a scene in front of the alien commanders, especially since they were receptive to his proposal. No, Jacob would wait until he got him alone.
“We will send you data as we begin collecting it,” Tretridic promised as he got up. The Senfo hopped out of their seats, saying nothing.
Jacob looked at the SOLARA staff. There was nothing he could do now except appear to agree with Captain Dewis. “You have your assignments. I’ll check in with you later.”
Jonas and Fotell followed the others out of the meeting room. As soon as the door closed, Jacob laid into the captain. Protocol and respect be damned at this point.
“What the hell are you thinking? You’re gambling with the lives of all the races in this area. We don’t know what’s on the other side, and we’re not prepared or equipped to conduct a mission through the gate.”
Dewis just looked calmly at his executive officer. “Watch your tone, commander. I expect you to respect my decisions.”
“When they make sense. This doesn’t. This goes against all our training.”
Dewis had no qualms justifying his position. “If we pull this off, we can obtain so much information about how the gate operates. Think of the implications for us. We can apply it to our own space travel, energy production, weapons…”
“At the risk of alerting the Screen’s masters to us,” Jacob countered. “It’s not worth it. Like Zuwelic said, we’re just moving on from the Screen. None of us have the appetite to handle another race that may be just as hostile.”
“How is what I’m proposing different from PHOENIX’s mission?” Dewis asked. “That ship has left to explore unknown space. They’ll undoubtedly encounter many hostile races in their travels. What I want here is no different.”
“There’s a huge difference and you know it. PHOENIX is a massive starship brimming with more weapons than the entire fleet combined. We’re a small ship. Even with our new armaments, we couldn’t even go toe-to-toe against an alliance ship. We’re not equipped to conduct a mission of exploration. We don’t have the scientific equipment, weapons, or even personnel. We’re nothing more than a patrol ship.”
“We’re more than that,” Dewis insisted. “SOLARA has been in service for a long time. It’s capable.”
“Excuse me, sir, but this ship couldn’t even actively participate in the battle against the Screen in the solar system. You had to sit back and let the alliance fleet do all the fighting while the Ni protected you and the other capital ships.”
Jacob knew that remark would sting, and he was right. The captain said nothing. His body language indicated those words did affect him. He said nothing for a long time. The commander followed up with another argument.
“What would happen if something went wrong and the Screen’s masters got through the gate? Do you think the alliance would protect us? They’d recall their ships home to fortify their own systems, leaving TERRA with five ships to defend the solar system.” Jacob didn’t believe for an instant the alliance would abandon humanity, but he wanted to feed into the captain’s belief that the Onixins, Senfo, and Quix were self-serving races in
terested only in themselves. Whatever argument he could throw out to get the captain to abandon his idea of traveling through the gate Jacob would use.
Finally, Dewis replied. “My decision stands. We’ll be taking the SOLARA through the gate.”
Jacob had hoped to make the captain see the error of his decision. The commander had one more card to play. “Captain, what you’re proposing needlessly endangers the crew. This is grounds for me to remove you from command.”
Dewis laughed loudly. Jacob didn’t expect that sort of reaction from him. He found it odd to see the always composed captain let loose such a burst of emotion.
“You really think you can remove me from command? Go ahead and try. Most of this crew has served under me for years. They’re loyal to me. As for you, they barely tolerate you. You think they’d let a traitor to TERRA take command?”
Jacob realized the captain had a point. He didn’t have the support of the crew to take control of the ship. It’d probably result in Jacob himself being thrown in the brig. That was something he couldn’t risk happening.
Dewis stood up in his seat. “Like I said commander, I’ve made my decision. If you want to recuse yourself from your position, I’ll simply tell the crew you weren’t up to the executive officer role. Otherwise, I expect you to carry out my orders.”
The captain left the meeting room. Jacob felt trapped. All his training and experience told him this course of action was wrong, but he was powerless to stop it. The captain fully intended to go through with this and he held all the cards to make it happen. Jacob might get Jonas and Michelle, possibly David, on his side, but four of them against a crew of over 500? No, he was stuck. He had no choice but to go along with the captain’s idea.
********
The rest of the day seemed to run like a blur for Jacob. He tried to focus on his duties, but his mind kept going back to Captain Dewis’s plan to take the SOLARA through the jumpgate. How was he supposed to go along like everything was okay? As executive officer, he was to point out any decision that the captain made that could be detrimental to the crew. Jacob did that, but he was still struggling to figure out if he could have done something more to change the captain’s mind.
The Jumpgate Page 9
