DogForge (29 page)

“A way or a weapon?” the marshal from Forge asked in a deep bass voice.

“Marshal Cerro,” Captain Maya saluted the Forge born, “your presence—”

“Don’t flatter me, answer the question.”

“It’s a weapon.”

“Stolen from the engineers?” the mop haired marshal said.

Captain Maya turned to Denali. “Come, tell them.”

Denali walked to the center of the room. She kept her eyes locked on Captain Maya and was suddenly afraid that her mouth was too dry to speak.

“This is Denny Forge.”

“She’s not from Forge,” Marshal Cerro mumbled.

“Raised on Forge, born on Flavius.”

Marshal Cerro rumbled and settled down onto the floor. “Flavius was a failure.”

“She carries inside of her a consul of Man. Cicero.”

The marshals looked skeptical.

Marshal Denoit perked up and yawned. “Cicero! Dead over a thousand years ago, crashed onto Forge, come now, Captain.”

“We have the analysis of her blood, and we also retrieved the remainder of his neural core.”

“Can he speak?” Marshal Denoit asked as he struggled to his feet.

“Yes.” Captain Maya nodded to Denali.

To speak before a crowd... such is beautiful.

Denali felt every single eye upon her. The glances were curious, questioning, and for the first time in a long time she felt like an outsider.

“What do you intend to do, oh Cicero?” Marshal Denoit asked.

I intend to finish what I started.

“He intends to finish what he started, Marshal,” Denali said.

“You failed once, will you fail again?” Marshal Denoit snapped back.

“You are a soldier, not every battle goes as planned,” Denali said. She felt warm in the face and wanted to pant. Questioning a marshal was stressful.

“Marshal,” Captain Maya said. “Caesar acquired a neural core from the Kadas.”

“I know what he has,” Marshal Denoit said. “I read your report.”

Denali watched Marshal Denoit, and saw that everyone else did too. He was it, the key, the one who mattered. He was so old he looked to barely stay awake but he spoke with a conviction, an inner force. She knew she’d follow him into battle, and could tell that everyone else would too.

“Then you know the danger,” Captain Maya said.

Marshal Denoit sighed and looked to Denali. “What will Cicero do?”

“
Finish what I started.”

“If we wait,” Captain Maya said. “Caesar will sterilize planet after planet before mankind can bring a fleet to bear. This isn’t a military operation, this isn’t for the race of dogs, this isn’t to protect a border. This is,” she swung a paw out, ”is genocide.”

Denali felt the anger stir inside of her. The genetic duty to serve was deep, but the genetic code to protect mankind was even deeper. Something tugged at heart, her very soul, at the most basic of levels.

“What will you do?” Marshal Denoit asked Captain Maya.

“Insert a team into the core and deploy Cicero’s weapon.”

“He will retaliate with his Praetorians, he’ll deploy those ancient robots, you’ll have no chance of getting into the core.” Marshal Denoit replied with a growl.

Marshal Cerro chuckled, a dark rumbling sound, “and that’s why we’re here? To hold the monsters while you do the impossible?”

Captain Maya shot Marshal Cerro an angry glance.

“Your goal is noble, but we have our peace, we serve Caesar, and so it is. What different will it be if we serve men?”

Who says you must serve at all?

Denali cleared her throat and spoke. “Who says you must serve at all?”

Marshal Denoit cocked his head and peered at Denali.

“Does freedom scare you?” Denali asked.

Careful...

“I stood on the line when the Loviatian tanks rolled through it. I stood when the Q’Tang betrayed us. I stood and held my Legion when they overran Cistu, I stood when all others failed. Don’t speak to me of fear.”

“Then make another stand.” Denali felt the heat of Denoit’s gaze. She stared back with as much conviction as she could.

The room balanced on the edge of a knife. Marshal Cerro held his breath. The old dog narrowed his eyes and looked to be deep in thought. He closed his eyes for a moment then snapped them back open.

“Marshal...” Captain Maya said but stopped when Marshal Denoit raised his head.

Denali wanted to scream out, to tell them all that they needed to act. This was it! Do it! Do it! She looked at each of the marshals and felt despair. They all watched Marshal Denoit.

Marshal Denoit looked up at Denali. His eyes, old and worn, blinked back tears. He didn’t speak, but just studied Denali and seemed to be in the midst of a terrible dilemma. Finally he spoke. “Much rests on you young lady, never before has one dog stood for so many, the pack will be with you, but can you do it alone?”

Denali’s heart raced and she felt excited and dreadful all at once. The bridle of duty settled onto her shoulders. “Yes.”

“Can we trust Cicero?” Marshal Cerro growled.

I wondered when they’d ask that.

“We are under the yoke of one master, what different would it be with Cicero in command?” Marshal Cerro stood and walked to Denali. He leaned down to her level. “What good would do to replace a known tyrant with an unknown monster?”

Denali stared back into his black eyes. Was he right? Would Cicero? A fear of being the betrayer ran through her and she shivered.

I stood against Caesar, the last to stand that day. Had I succeeded, Caesar would be dead.

“I stood against Caesar, the last to stand that day. Had I succeeded, Caesar would be dead.” Denali tried to mimic Cicero’s confidence.

“Tell me of this weapon.”

Denali described it as Cicero told her. It would destroy the personality of Caesar, nothing would remain but the core functions and the technical duties.

“And what of yourself?” Marshal Cerro asked.

I too, will die.

“
Cicero will die,” Denali stated. She took a sharp breath.
Gone, after so long, he’ll be gone.
It chilled her inside.

“The Praetorians? The skelebots, what of them when Caesar is dead?”

I know not.

“
He doesn’t know.”

“So we’ll still earn our freedom yet,” Marshal Cerro said and walked back to the others.

“Enough talk, we put this to a vote. I stand with the Consul,” Marshal Cerro rumbled.

Denali watched Marshal Denoit, as did every other Marshal in the room. Only Marshal Cerro did not, his gaze was upon Captain Maya.

Marshal Denoit stepped close to Denali, his nose almost touching hers. Denali turned away, just slightly.

“Look me in the eyes,” Marshal Denoit whispered.

Denali turned her head back and stared into the milky orbs. Her back legs shook and she fought every urge to look away. His eyes darted between Denali’s. Tears rolled down.

“They say that men gave us our minds, but we yearned to cry, to mourn, so they gave us tears as well,” Marshal Denoit whispered as he gazed into her soul. “I say we learned to cry because we had to.”

Finally he turned away and limped across the room. He sat down next to Marshal Cerro and nodded. “I too stand with the Consul.”

One by one the marshals stood, and every single one chose to strike. The marshals stood silent, only the engines thrummed. It was as if no one wanted to be the first to speak, for then the course was set.

Denali could feel Cicero inside of her, he was beyond excited. It was a sense of anticipation, a chance to finally set things right.

“We strike the moment we drop out of warp,” Captain Maya said.

The marshals streamed out, silent and grim. Denali waited until the last departed. “You looked surprised to see Marshal Cerro?”

“Yes,” Captain Maya said, “those from Forge have been the staunchest supporters of Caesar.”

“Can we trust him?”

“He’s the one who I’d trust the most,” Captain Maya muttered.

“Who do we trust the least?”

Captain Maya shrugged and walked out.

“W
e’re coming out of warp! Get suited up!” Captain Maya barked. She sprinted through the room and leaped onto the X. The robots danced into action and the suit took shape.

Denali took one last glance at the ship’s schematic and lined up behind Til. She’d spent the last few hours staring at plot after plot of the ships internals trying to memorize passages and ventilation shafts.

The one spot that troubled her was the core itself. The console didn’t have a single schematic for the command core, the thing that was Caesar. All routes ended at airlocks. Cicero filled in the rest of the blanks, but even he wasn’t totally sure.

Garlan paced behind Denali. “They’re not designed for plasma cutters.”

“It’ll be fine,” Denali replied.

“They’ll only cut for a few seconds, they’re not strong enough,” Garlan said. “They can’t get through plate, they have to cut the bolts.”

“I know, Garlan!” Denali yelped. Ever since they fought the Kadas, Garlan went from aloof and arrogant to close and mothering.

“Just point, and they’ll cut. Got it?”

“Got it,” Denali said, and stepped forward.

Wiss was next. The heavier panels of the assault armor grew slowly until she was encased in sheets of synthweave and armor. The faceshield engaged and she was the visage of death, a great gaping maw snapped close and she stepped away.

Denali stepped onto the X with Garlan still chattering behind her. It made her feel a bit better, but it was hard to push the fear away, so much rode on her. She could feel the weight, she could sense Cicero’s excitement, but most of all she saw the way the others looked at her. She was different again.

To be part of a pack, her only desire, and again she was the outsider.

The first layers of synthweave wrapped tight and she felt a twinge in her stomach. The wound still touched her deep inside. The robots added the stripped down command console, the fusion lance and the mono-filament blades.

Remember Til has to preload the updates.

“
I’ll ask,” Denali mumbled.

You know I’m actually nervous. I haven’t felt nervous in twelve hundred years. I wasn’t even this nervous the first time I tried to kill Caesar
.

“Me too,” Denali confided. She liked talking to Cicero in the armor, it was her alone time. Did the others talk in their suits?

Her suit chimed that all systems were operational and Denali stepped off the X. She glanced back and it hit her, she might never set foot there again.

Til suited up last, working at her console until the moment the robots suited her up. She was a ball of energy, racing from console to console. The core floated in a bath of nanite salts, it was the only way to upload that much information.

“Almost!” Til barked and sprinted across to another console.

Denali watched as everyone else suited up, loaded up, geared up. The only thing she needed now was inside that cracked little tube. At least this time I won’t have to carry it in my mouth.

I don’t taste that bad.

“You’re an acquired taste.”

Charming.

The room shuddered and the distant thrum of the engines changed tone.

“It’s time!” Captain Maya barked. She walked into the center of the room wearing a full kit of assault armor.

“Two minutes!” Til cried out.

“Now,” Captain Maya growled.

Til sighed over the comms and popped open the nanite tank. The cylinder bobbed to the surface and she plucked it up with an augmented arm. “I hope it works!” She tucked it into Denali’s cargo pouch and sealed it tight.

Denali felt the weight on her side and wiggled to adjust it.

“Let’s move!” Captain Maya snapped and sprinted to the door.

The squad streamed out behind her with Denali sandwiched in the center. Wiss was in the lead, Captain Maya just behind her, Kane loped beside Denali with Til and Garlan behind. Belle covered the rear, her sniper rifle bouncing as they ran.

Denali remembered the last time she ran to a battle like this. Forge, or just home then. Petty warlords all turned out to halt Samus for some pointless skirmish, a grab for power in a place that didn’t matter. It all seemed so important then, now just a memory. A memory she was ashamed of.

She watched Wiss and remembered Grat. Did he survive? It pained her that she didn’t know, he wanted only the best for her, risked his life for her, and she wasn’t his real daughter. Denali sighed and vowed that someday she’d return to Forge, they had to know the truth. But most of all she wanted to put this all behind her and see Barley, Grat and the pups.

“First hall! Keep it tight,” Captain Maya said.

Denali perked up. The hallway spread out and they were into the main passage. Dogs watched as the fully fit combat squad sprinted down the hall.

Alarms rang. Lights flickered and the thrumming sound of the engines halted.

“Captain?” Kane asked.

“Ship combat alarm, not us.”

Captain Maya halted at the edge of a bulkhead and peered around the corner. They were nearing the center of the starship. The hallway beyond was wider and snaked near to the core.

“Still clear, keep moving,” Captain Maya said and continued on.

Denali watched for the other legions but saw nothing yet. She felt a tightness of worry, a touch of anxiety, but pushed it away. She knew if she let a seed of fear grow, it would blossom into something she couldn’t control.

“Cerro is almost in position, he’s waiting on us,” Captain Maya said to the squad.

They passed through the greater hall and held on the edge of the great concourse. Denali huddled with the squad and recognized the ventilation layout. There, on the opposite side, she could see the destination. It was a dirty old grate, low to the floor, caked with an age of dust.

“We ready?” Captain Maya asked.

“Let’s do it!” Wiss barked.

Denali’s heart thumped and the adrenaline crested. She focused on the destination, so close. All she needed to do was get in. Garlan’s drones would burn the airlock. Til would hack the access doors to the core. Then all Denali had to do was climb in and deploy the weapon.