Crossroads of Fate (Cadicle #5): An Epic Space Opera Series (13 page)

“All right, Primus Squad, move into position. Prepare for a dimensional jump on my mark,” Wil ordered, holding the three planes in his mind. Around him, his officers were telepathically linked, seeing Wil’s visualizations through the Conquest’s interface.

“Primus Squad in position,” Ethan confirmed, both out loud and in Wil’s mind.

Wil focused on the rift in his visualization of the planes. Suspended at a distant vantage, he watched the mock Bakzen ships darting the TSS targets. Two squadrons of enemy jets were en route to the simulated TSS base.

“They’re going to emerge any second,”
he relayed to Ethan.
“Hold your position…. Jump, now!”

In an instant, the Primus Squad passed through the dimensional veil and opened fire on the Bakzen jets. Caught off-guard, the Bakzen jets broke formation. The second wave of TSS forces was waiting. The team relayed their precision commands, quickly eliminating the final Bakzen forces.

“End simulation,” instructed Wil. He withdrew from the state of simultaneous observation.

Everyone removed their hands from the interface podiums.

“I may be speaking too soon, but I think we have the hang of this,” Ian commented.

“We do,” Wil agreed. “Rianne, take us back to H2.”

“Aye,” she acknowledged.

The two weeks of practice had certainly paid off. Commands and reactions were seamless, and every member of the team trusted the others. All that remained was putting their skills to the test in a real battle setting.

I hope we can hold it together when it’s not just pretend anymore.
Wil focused on the satisfied expressions of those around him—so much optimism and eagerness. With any luck, there would be enough to carry them through to the end.

The Conquest completed the short jump from the training area to H2 and docked in its reserved berth connected to the central ring of the massive space station.

Wil stretched his arms and back as soon as the docking clamps locked onto the hull. “Good work today, everyone.”

“Same drill tomorrow?” Michael asked.

“I think we’re now to the point that it would just be more of the same. I’ll send you a message later once I figure out how to proceed.”

His friend inclined his head in acknowledgement and exited the Command Center with the other officers.

Saera hung back with Wil. “There’s nothing more to practice.”

“No, there really isn’t.” He held out his arm, and she came toward him for a hug. “It’s been so much anticipation—”

“We’ll all do just as well with the real thing,” Saera assured him. “Come on, let’s go get some rest.”

They secured the Command Center and headed toward their quarters. As they neared the door, Wil’s handheld buzzed. There was a text message from High Commander Taelis: “Meet me in my office.”

Wil groaned and showed the message to his wife. “Sorry. Hopefully this won’t take long.”

“See you soon.”

The trek from the Conquest to the High Commander’s office was frustratingly long due to the scale of H2.
Why can’t he ever come to me
?
When Wil finally arrived, he found Taelis was seated behind his desk.

“Hello, Wil.”

“Sir, what can I do for you?” Wil took a seat across from the High Commander, thankful to be in a chair where he could recline a little to rest his back.

“Your reports over the last couple of weeks look promising.”

“Yes, we’ve made good progress. The new interface works just like we wanted.”

Taelis paused in thought. “What more do you need?”

“Nothing,” Wil admitted. “We’re ready.” He had to force the words, knowing what came next.

“Then I’ll make the final preparations. You’ll move to the frontlines next week.”

“Well, there is one more thing.”

The High Commander tilted his head with expectation.

“I’d like my men to officially graduate. They need to hold the proper authority over the veterans.”

Taelis nodded. “We can do that.”

“Are the facilities here sufficient?” Wil asked.

“We’ll need to borrow the testing sphere from the main Headquarters, but our simulation chamber has all the necessary measurement capabilities.”

“Good, so it won’t be too disruptive.”

The High Commander folded his hands on the desktop. “Testing that many in rapid succession will be a logistical challenge, but we’ll make it work.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’m not your superior, you know,” Taelis said after a moment. “The ‘sir’ is unnecessary.”

“I didn’t want to be too informal or impolite,” Wil replied.

“Wil, you’re in charge now. You can call me whatever you’d like.”

“Okay.”
He might not like some of the nicknames that have occurred to me over the years.

“You did very well with them—the Elites,” Taelis continued. “They’re fine officers.”

“They are.”

“I appreciate everything you’re doing for us.”

Wil shrugged. “It’s my job.”

“But you do whatever needs to be done without hesitation. That’s the mark of a true leader.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

Taelis pushed back from his desk. “Anyway, I’ll see to it that we have an official graduation for your men before you all head to the frontlines. Relay your strategic preparation needs to me.”

“I will, thank you.” Wil rose.

“Good luck.”

*       *       *

“I’m glad to hear everything is going well,” Banks told the other High Commander over the viewscreen. Hearing promising reports from the rift was one positive after his own unsettling discoveries of late.

Taelis nodded. “So well, in fact, that Wil has requested a formal graduation for his officers.”

“I don’t disagree with his sentiment. I think it would send a strong message.”

“I concur. I’ve made arrangements for a make-shift CR test using one of the spatial awareness chambers.”

Banks nodded. “Excellent.”
I’m curious how they’ll score. After the surprise with Saera, I can only imagine their abilities have been elevated, as well, after spending so much time with Wil.

“The only equipment that we can’t readily provide is the testing sphere,” Taelis continued.

“The most important part.”

“It’s nice to know the other benchmarks, but you’re right—that straight measure of raw power is what we really want to know.”

“I’ll make arrangements to have it sent over right away,” Banks told the other High Commander. “I’ll come later for the graduation. It’s a good opportunity to tend to some other overdue administrative business.”

“The matter of command?” Taelis asked.

“Indeed. It’s a fitting occasion.” Banks paused, the end of the conversation in sight. He didn’t want to let another opportunity slip by. “Erik, if you have a moment, there is something else we should discuss.”

Taelis tilted his head. “Yes?”

“What do you know about the TSS application procedure?” Banks asked.

The other High Commander raised his eyebrows with surprise. “Not very much, to be honest. That’s your domain.”

“Well, apparently I know far less about it than I realized.”

“What do you mean?”

Banks took a deep breath. “I’ve made an unsettling discovery. A large percentage of Agent applicants have received an auto-rejection.”

Taelis frowned. “With our staffing so tight? There has to be a mistake. We’ve needed every person we could possibly get.”

“My thinking, as well,” Banks said. “I’ve completed a thorough investigation, and I can draw no conclusion other than that the Priesthood has been intentionally keeping otherwise excellent female candidates out of the TSS with the express purpose of maintaining a higher reproductive pool of those with telekinetic abilities in the general population.”

“That’s completely crazy!”

“Is it, though? We both know the lengths the Priesthood goes to achieve their ends—even if we don’t know what goal they are working toward.”

“Just because someone doesn’t express abilities in a given generation, that doesn’t mean their line has lost the abilities. Only Generations 8 through 12—”

“Of course,” Banks cut in. “But we also know that the abilities have completely faded from some lines. Someone expressing active abilities is the only clear indication that a line is still viable—no other genetic test is reliable during the dormant stages.”

Taelis considered the position. “You have evidence of these candidate rejections?”

“Years’ worth, back to well before I was High Commander.”

“Then my advice to you is to forget you ever saw those files,” Taelis cautioned. “No individual is in any position to stand up to the Priesthood. They have their reasons, I’m sure. Leave well enough alone.”

“How can you say that? They’ve been keeping people from you that could have turned the tide in the war long ago.”

Taelis shook his head. “That’s in the past. Now we have Wil and the war will end either way. You have to look out for your own well-being.”

“This can’t continue!”

“The Priesthood will continue on in whatever foking manner they want. Let it go, Jason.”

Banks stared at the side wall and tried to keep his inner frustration from boiling over.
I shouldn’t have expected any other reaction from him.

“No talk of this while you’re in H2, understood?” Taelis said. “The Agents have enough to worry about here.”

“This stays between us,” Banks agreed.

Taelis nodded. “I’ll see you soon.”

Banks ended the transmission and disabled the jammers that prevented the Priesthood from listening in on his private calls. Now more than ever, he couldn’t be too careful.

*       *       *

For being a rushed exercise, the CR testing of the Primus Elites had gone quite smoothly, as far as Wil was concerned. One of the spatial awareness chambers in H2 had been equipped with the necessary holographic projectors and sensors for the main test, and the sphere from his home Headquarters had been brought over for the definitive strength assessments. It had taken two days, but all the examinations were finally complete and the results synthesized.

Wil examined his men’s aggregated scores on the viewscreen in the observation room, and he couldn’t be more proud of the results. He beamed at Saera. “All above 9.0. It’s hard to believe.”

“You really do have an effect on people,” his wife replied after completing her own review of the results. “But, they always were supposed to be the strongest.”

“Not nearly as strong as you.”

Saera flushed. “Well, I’m bonded to you. I’m sure that had more impact than just spending a lot of time with you.”

It’s strange to think that just being in my presence could change how someone else’s abilities are expressed.
“Either way, they’ve all justified placement in senior officer positions.”

“Without a doubt.”

The door to the observation room slid open. Taelis entered.

“Hello,” Wil greeted. “The testing is complete.”

“I just finished going over the results in my office. Impressive,” the High Commander replied.

“I’ll sign off on whatever documents are required to make the graduation official,” Wil said.

Taelis nodded. “Yes, my assistant is working on that now. No need to avoid all the formalities, though—we have arranged for a brief ceremony.”

Wil’s eyes narrowed behind his tinted glasses. “I appreciate the gesture, but is that really the best use of resources?”

“It isn’t just for them. Don’t forget the morale component,” Taelis countered.

“I won’t argue that,” Wil yielded. “But when? We’re heading to the frontlines in the morning.”

“Now,” Taelis revealed. “We were just awaiting the final results. Come with me.”

Wil tried to shake off his shock. “Where?”

“The main mess hall. This way.” Taelis set off into the hallway.

Saera flashed Wil a look of surprise, and they followed the High Commander.

The mess hall was in the second ring from the bottom of H2, above the hangar. To Wil’s relief, it was clear from the moment he walked through the door that little time had been allocated to preparing for the event. The rows of tables and benches were still in place, but a podium had been placed near the right wall of the room. Crowds of soldiers were filing into the room and taking seats at benches built into the tables, all facing the podium. Behind the tables, equipment was set up for what appeared to be a live video feed.

Why would they broadcast this graduation? Is it for back at Headquarters?
Wil was about to ask Taelis, but he was distracted by the Primus Elites, still dressed in dark blue, waving at him from the front benches. To his surprise, he noticed that High Commander Banks was seated with them. “Banks came all the way here?”