The Jumpgate

by Robert Stadnik

  The creature screamed as it looked at the petrified officers. It walked towards them, its powerful legs pounding the floor as it took each step in slow, deliberate motions.

  “Open fire!” an officer yelled. A barrage of distorted energy beams burst from the group’s guns and struck the creature. The energy bursts did nothing. The creature seemed unfazed by the pulse weapons.

  “Jokabi…” the alien hissed as it got closer to the group. They continued firing at it, but, try as they might, there seemed to be no stopping it. It continued to walk towards them.

  Morrell could only watch helplessly as the officers’ attempts to stop the creature failed. The alien’s sheer size made it impossible to take it on physically. “All of you, retreat!” Morrell looked at his nurse. “You too. All of you out of here!”

  The officers complied and headed out, rushing past the doctor. Doctor Morrell remained at his spot. He refused to abandon his patients. He stood up and faced the creature as it approached him. Fear began creeping up within him, but he refused to be overtaken by it. He was a TERRA officer. He would stand his ground.

  The alien seemed to sense the doctor’s defiance. “Jokabi,” it said again. It lowered its head and studied the doctor for a moment. Such an insignificant creature, yet it wasn’t running. The creature ignored the injured officers who were clamoring to get away. Its only interest was the doctor. The creature leaned in, its head close to the doctor. “Jokabi.”

  Despite the situation, the doctor’s head was clear. Somehow, he knew negotiating with the alien was futile. “You won’t win. We will fight you.”

  The creature screamed again, frustrated that its appearance wasn’t eliciting fear from this insignificant life form. “Jokabi!” It thrusted its claw through the doctor’s mid-section, killing him instantly. It roared in its victory and turned its attention to the injured officers. It began slaughtering them, one by one. Suddenly, a barrage of pulse energy beams struck it.

  The creature turned around to see a group of officers in the distance. Leading them was Commander Diego. He arrived in time to witness Doctor Morrell’s death. He never asked for any officer to join him. When the fleeing group watch as the commander headed towards danger, many of them turned to join their leader.

  “Jokabi!” the creature screamed as it made its advance towards Diego and his officers.

  Diego’s mind raced. It was apparent their pulse weapons were ineffective. He looked at the creature’s body for a weakness. There had to be a way to stop it. It was wearing nothing but the black mask over its mouth…that was it. Without saying a word, the commander fired on the mask. It took a few shots, but he eventually broke the straps apart. The alien screamed in pain as it clutched its head. It began smashing itself against the walls, as if it was suffocating. It still tried to approach the officers, who wisely moved away from it. Eventually, the creature slowed its movements before collapsing on the ground. They heard its last gasp. “Jokabi…”

  Diego and his officers looked at the creature for a few minutes, not convinced it was dead. But it didn’t move at all. Eventually, the commander was certain it was dead.

  “Secure the area,” he ordered his men. “I want this place sealed off in case we have to vent the area.” He could only stare at the creature. Was this what the Screen had escaped? This alien seemed so primitive and seemed to lack any sentient thought in its behavior. The commander could only believe this creature was some sort of lacky for the Screen’s true masters.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Vori Tretridic was on the VFLEP’s bridge consulting with Sasasaduigriganabasas. Both ship commanders waited for any word from the SOLARA. They felt an obligation to help their fellow alliance ship, but they were under explicit orders from their respective leaders not to traverse the jumpgate. Despite the orders, they still discussed options for trying to help the SOLARA, from sending out weaponized drones to automated transport shuttles with weapons. But the Quix and Onixin leadership were on the same page as TERRA: absolutely nothing was to be sent through the gate. They were under orders to hold position in case they needed to destroy the gate. Last sensor data check showed the SOLARA still had no hyperdrive ability.

  Their last transmission from the SOLARA reported they had been hit by a projectile launched from the planetary station and that it contained a hostile alien. Both Tretridic and Sasasaduigriganabasas had their science officers analyze the data. It seemed this hostile alien could not handle an oxygenated atmosphere. Unfortunately, its biology was so unusual they couldn’t ascertain what sort of environment it needed.

  After consulting with his scientists on the BEUSMIC, Tretridic joined Sasasaduigriganabasas by the window of the VFLEP’s bridge. “We have been unable to obtain any new significant data from the information the SOLARA sent us.”

  “My protectorate has told me the same,” Sasasaduigriganabasas confirmed. “We will need more sophisticated equipment to analyze the data.” Sasasaduigriganabasas put his hand on the window. “It goes against my training to remain here. We should be assisting the human vessel.”

  Tretridic concurred. “I agree. However, both our governments made it clear we are to remain here. As distasteful as it is to say, Captain Dewis was not truthful with us. He violated the orders of his command chain taking SOLARA through the gate.”

  “Where were you during the Screen rule of our space?” Sasasaduigriganabasas asked the Onixin.

  “I served on a land patrol group protecting one of the continents on Plein,” referring to the Onixin homeworld. “When we began rebuilding our space fleet, I was assigned to one of our first military starships. The BEUSMIC fought the Screen at the human star system.”

  “I have served as cadri of the VFLEP for felsa. When we became free of the nebula, I wanted to make the Screen suffer for the many cycles they kept my people trapped. When it came time to face them at the human star system, my ship was assigned to stay and protect Forn. I did not like the feeling of remaining behind and doing nothing while others fought.” Sasasaduigriganabasas looked at Tretridic. “I have those same feelings now. The SOLARA is on the other side, crippled and facing a superior force, yet we are made to remain here. It is not right. They are part of the protectorate. It is because of humans that we are free to explore space.”

  “I share your sentiments,” Tretridic agreed. “But we are under orders to remain here. The gate must be destroyed if a hostile race attempts to traverse it.”

  “It is rare for a member of the protectorate to question their queen. In this instance, I find I do not agree with her order. You are correct that we cannot allow the Screen masters, or any hostile race from Triangulum, to come through the gate. Despite the threat, I do not feel it is right to sacrifice the SOLARA for our protection. They deserve better.”

  Tretridic felt the same as his fellow alliance commander. The SOLARA chose to explore the other side of the gate, despite the risks and against orders. Tretridic, and he suspected Sasasaduigriganabasas, would not have been willing to take their ships through the gate. Despite the many cycles under Screen oppression, the humans were not willing to hide in fear of the unknown. Tretridic was certain it would be humans who would take the lead of space exploration for the alliance.

  One of the VFLEP’s bridge officers called out to Sasasaduigriganabasas. “Cadri, we are picking up a vessel inbound to our position. Readings indicate it is a Senfo vessel.”

  The news was confusing to both the Onixin and Quix commanders. “Why would a Senfo starship be coming here?” Tretridic wondered. “They voluntarily removed themselves from this operation.”

  “It is the IQUIS,” the bridge officer clarified. “Commandrant Zuwelic is hailing us.”

  “Open a channel,” Sasasaduigriganabasas ordered. “This is Cadri Sasasaduigriganabasas. State your intentions.” He was worried that maybe the IQUIS was ordered back to ensure the destruction of the gate.

  “This is Commandrant Zuwelic,” the Senfo captain responded. “I need to confirm the status of th
e SOLARA.”

  “The human vessel is still in the Triangulum Galaxy,” Sasasaduigriganabasas replied.

  “Be advised I will be taking the IQUIS through the gate.”

  The IQUIS’s appearance was surprising; they’re intentions…even more so. “This is Vori Tretridic. For what purpose?”

  “I intend to bring the SOLARA back to our galaxy.”

  Both the alliance commanders were stunned. “Commandrant, we are under orders by all our governments not to go through the gate. We have not been apprised in a change of stance by the Senfo Commonality.”

  “The Commonality has not changed their order; however, I have changed my mind. It was humans who brought us together to defeat the Screen. They have put themselves in danger for us time and again. I will not allow the SOLARA to remain in danger if there is something I can do to help them. These humans have proven their courage time and again. It is time for us to mirror their examples.”

  Zuwelic’s words resonated with Tretridic and Sasasaduigriganabasas. It was because of humans that they were here now. It was because of humans that the alliance even existed. In their quest to be free, the humans helped other races, even at their own risk.

  Tretridic and Sasasaduigriganabasas both nodded in agreement to each other. Zuwelic was right, they couldn’t stay here and do nothing. Orders be damned. “Commandrant, how can we help?” Tretridic asked.

  “As I have already committed my ship to go through the gate, your vessels should remain on this side as backup. If the gate is being monitored, we do not want anyone on the other side seeing various ships coming through.”

  “Agreed,” Sasasaduigriganabasas said. “We will monitor your progress from here.”

  “Have you apprised the Commonality of your intentions?” Tretridic asked Zuwelic.

  “No, we have been having problems with our long-range communications emitter.” Zuwelic was taking a page from the humans, saying one thing but meaning something else.

  Sasasaduigriganabasas didn’t pick up on what she meant. “Commandrant, we are showing no issues with your communications emitter system.”

  Zuwelic leaned in close to her display console. “We are having a problem and the emitter is down. Until we can bring it back online, we will be unable to contact the Commonality or anyone else in the alliance. Understand?”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas still wasn’t getting it; luckily, Tretridic picked up what the Senfo commander meant and interjected. “Understood, commandrant. Our ships have been having the same issue. We will apprise you when we get our long-range communications system back up as well. VFLEP out.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas was completely confused by Tretridic’s statement but couldn’t say anything to Zuwelic as the Onixin commander ended the transmission. “You never indicated the BEUSMIC was having problems with its communications equipment.”

  “It has been acting up since the SOLARA entered the gate,” Tretridic stated. “It was around the same time your vessel was experiencing similar issues.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas pulled up the status of the VFLEP’s communications system. “It is operating at normal parameters. Did one of my officers tell you it was malfunctioning?”

  Tretridic realized he was going to have to explain it to Sasasaduigriganabasas outright. He motioned for the tall Quix cadri to lean down so the Onixin could speak to him without being overheard by anyone else.

  “The communication system on the IQUIS is not damaged. Zuwelic made that statement over an official communications channel as it being the reason they did not apprise the Commonality of their plan to return here.”

  “But their long-range system is functioning properly,” Sasasaduigriganabasas pointed out.

  “Yes.”

  “They made that misstatement on purpose.”

  “Yes.”

  “To conceal their intentions on returning here.”

  “Yes.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas’s body vibrated when the realization hit him. “They are lying so that the Commonality cannot order them to return home.”

  Tretridic nodded. “Yes, and we must do the same.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas was shocked at the notion. “You are asking that we lie to the Queen? It is ookputi for any member of the protectorate to conceal the truth from their queen.”

  “If we notify our governments that the IQUIS is planning to traverse the gate, they will order us home. Worse, they may even order us to try and stop them, which could jeopardize the alliance. We both want to save the SOLARA. The only way is to ensure the IQUIS goes through the gate without any of our superiors knowing about it.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas considered what Tretridic said. He couldn’t recall anyone in the protectorate lying to the Queen. Yet his Onixin comrade did make a good point. None of them wanted any harm to come to the humans and the Senfo commandrant was willing to put her career on the line for them.

  Sasasaduigriganabasas went over to his command console and inputted some commands. A few seconds later, one of his officers spoke up.

  “Cadri, you have initiated the self-destruct of the communications system.”

  Sasasaduigriganabasas acted shocked. “Did I? Fusiskix! I meant to run a check on the system. I must have accidentally entered the self-destruct code. This whole situation has affected me more than I thought.” He looked over to Tretridic, who nodded with approval.

  ********

  SOLARA continued its long trek back to the jumpgate. Lieutenant Walters’s teams had sealed off the sections where the alien object was embedded. The ship’s sensors couldn’t penetrate the interior of the object and there were concerns that something else might be hiding inside. Rather than taking a chance, they sealed it off from the rest of the ship. Several bots were also stationed around the alien projectile to monitor it and alert the crew if anything else emerged from it.

  Commander Diego couldn’t shake the image of the creature from his mind. He never saw anything like it in his travels on the PHOENIX. The Screen seemed tame in comparison. If this thing was part of the Screen’s oppressor species, he could understand why the Screen escaped from this galaxy.

  “Jokabi,” Jacob muttered. Was that the name of their species, or some proper name that the micron couldn’t translate?

  “What?” Chief Gimron asked.

  “Nothing,” Jacob sat up in the command chair. “What’s our distance from the gate?”

  Jonas shook his head. He was with Lieutenant Nalus at the navigation station. “Way too long, and we have a problem. The projectile severed a bunch of power conduits to the hyperdrive. I’ve been trying to fix it, but there are no viable conduits left to reroute power. We’re slowly losing power and momentum.”

  Jacob feared what that meant. “Are you saying we won’t reach the gate?”

  “We’ll make it, but it’ll take hundreds of years instead of decades to reach,” Nalus replied.

  “I’m not dying of old age on this ship,” Michelle remarked sarcastically. Not that it would happen. They would run out of food and water long before any of them reached old age.

  Jacob felt defeated hearing the news. “Is there any way we can boost power to keep the ship going?”

  “I’ve gone through all the possibilities,” Jonas replied. “There’s just too much damage to effect repairs ourselves to restore power. We need a shipyard.”

  “Or a new ship,” David muttered under his breath.

  There was only one solution left. Jacob looked at Chief Gimron. “The Interceptors can hold two people each. We’ll launch them and pack our shuttles with as many personnel as possible and send them towards the gate.”

  “They’ll only carry about a hundred people,” Gimron said. “How do you propose who goes?”

  Before Jacob could answer the question, the operations table beeped an alert. Fotell checked on it. “Commander Diego, sensors have picked up a fleet of ships that have appeared outside the nearby star system.”

  Jacob jumped back into the command chair to chec
k the readings. He did not like what the data was telling him. “Am I reading this right, Fotell?”

  “Yes, commander. Sensors show uinop denalop vessels.”

  “How many is that?” Michelle asked, unfamiliar with Senfo metrics.

  “1,724 ships,” Jacob replied.

  Everyone on the command deck looked at each other in disbelief. They were all thinking the same thing. It was over. There was no way they’d reach the gate in time. It was impossible for SOLARA to defend itself against such a large armada.

  “Isn’t that a bit of an overkill?” Michelle questioned. “They have to know we’re no match for them.”

  “We’re getting a transmission from the fleet,” David announced.

  “Put it through,” Jacob ordered.

  Some static came over command deck’s speakers as David put the transmission on. “Foreign galgauca, you have violated territory of the Jokabi. You will submit for yuni and be processed as ol’rewde. Do not attempt to pezuxi. Our vessels are superior to yours.”

  Despite the dire nature of their circumstances, Jacob wasn’t going to roll over and admit defeat. They would fight to the bitter end. “Battle stations.” Suddenly, the lights on the deck’s computer consoles began flickering off and on. “What the hell?”

  Fotell was the first to check what was going on. “Our systems are being penetrated with the same type of beam the probe attacked us with.”

  “They’re accessing our computer systems,” Jonas added. “They’re pulling all our files.”