Hunt for the Saiph (The Saiph Series Book 3) (26 page)
Read Hunt for the Saiph (The Saiph Series Book 3) Online
Authors: PP Corcoran
"The PAD contains a Presidential Finding that Seaton Anderson presents a clear and present danger to the state and authorizes the Secretary of Defense to take executive action against Seaton Anderson at the earliest opportunity."
Olaf raised his eyes from the PAD and into those of his president. His own eyes hardened as he saw the steel will behind hers. It was not the first time Olaf had held the fate of a man in his hands. He had spent virtually all his adult life in the navy sending men and women under his command into battle. This, though, was something else; but his president was giving him an order and he would carry it out, so he answered in the only way he knew how to:
"Aye-aye, Madam President."
EDGE OF THE ASTEROID BELT - SOL SYSTEM
"Sir, there it is again. I know we're flying awfully close to some of these rocks but I would bet my last credit that what I'm seeing is not a sensor ghost, it’s a ship hiding out there hoping the metal in the surrounding asteroids will hide it from us. They must be operating on minimal power. Our passives aren't detecting any unusual electromagnetic radiation so I'll bet they’re using only their passive systems just like us. They probably have no idea we're even here."
Lieutenant Commander Celene Yasuda and the destroyer TDF
Tiger Shark
had been doing a routine clearance patrol of the asteroid belt four million kilometers from Gateway Station when the Tactical Station alerted her to what they first designated a sensor ghost. Yasuda was under strict orders to investigate every anomaly, so
Tiger Shark
cautiously entered the asteroid field and began its search. Seven hours later, it looked like she was coming to the end of her hunt.
"Very well. XO bring the ship to battle stations. Tactical, let’s light everything up, go active on all sensors." The battle station’s alarm whooped through the destroyer as, from the fire control systems, tens of thousands of watts of energy poured out, blanketing the surrounding asteroids.
"Target identified! Bogey One. Small craft low on the starboard bow. Range... 700 meters... Power spike! Computer is calling it weapons coming on line."
Yasuda struggled to keep the excitement from her voice as her brain involuntarily ordered the dumping of adrenalin into her system. "Arm forward plasma cannon and fire as she bears!"
"Target acquired... Firing... A hit! Power readings dropping. Bogey One appears to be tumbling out of control sir."
"Cease fire. Navigation brings us alongside. XO let’s get the magnetic grapples ready, we'll drag the ship clear of these rocks and see what we have here."
The operation to tow the damaged ship clear of the asteroid belt was a precarious and time-consuming one, which called for all the skill of the
Tiger Shark's
navigator. Five hours of gentle nudging and pulling saw the
Tiger Shark
and her prize floating freely in open space, allowing the XO and his salvage team to don armored space suits and carry out a much more detailed, hands-on inspection of the little ship. Yasuda sat nervously in her command chair, her eyes glued to the holographic projection floating in the center of the bridge as it relayed what the XO's helmet cam was seeing.
"There's a lot of damage to the outer hull, Skipper. Looks to me like our cannon most likely impacted the asteroid they were hiding on and they were hit by flying debris. From the number of strikes, I doubt very much if any of the crew survived."
The damage the XO was referring to was obvious on the camera view. The matte-black, once-smooth surface of the craft was now torn asunder by hundreds, probably thousands of high velocity impacts. The hull had taken on the consistency of a good Swiss cheese.
"Have you identified a hatch yet, XO?"
The camera panned to the left and another space-suited figure came into view a few meters more to the rear of the ship. The figure was bent over a blinking control panel and was working away with a cutter.
"Chief Santos thinks she’s identified an airlock and reckons it’s still got some power flowing into it. Perhaps from some emergency backup, because we're getting minimal power readings. If she can get it working, we can avoid cutting our way through the hull."
"OK, XO, let’s see if the chief can get it open. If not, we go back to Plan A and cut our way in."
Chief Santos was as good as her word and only minutes later the hatch she was working on slid smoothly aside to reveal an airlock just big enough for two space-suited humans. The XO and Chief Santos squeezed in and the outer door closed, but the inner door stayed resolutely closed as well. The chief worked her magic again and the inner door opened to give them their first view of the cramped interior of the small craft illuminated by the bright lights mounted on the spacesuit helmets. Here and there the occasional panel flickered with the last gasp of power.
"This corridor appears to run the length of the ship, Captain. We're going to follow it and see if it leads to some sort of cockpit or bridge."
As the XO and the chief advanced steadily down the narrow corridor, Yasuda caught glimpses of what could have been a galley and sleeping accommodation.
This ship was definitely not built for comfort,
thought Yasuda.
The corridor came to an end and another sealed hatch faced them. Chief Santos bent to work and after a short time, the hatch began to move, only to halt after a few centimeters. Yasuda watched as the XO and the chief managed to get their armored fingers into the opening and through the bridge speakers came grunting sounds as the two suited figures pried the door open with sheer muscle power. As the gap slowly widened, a dark object floated through from beyond the door, startling the two humans who jumped back in surprise. Yasuda was on the edge of her seat as she strained to make out what it was.
The XO stepped forward, his helmets harsh lights bringing the object into stark relief. It was a body. The XO slowly spun the body until the camera was able to get a clear image of the face. A face covered in light brown fur, two round eyes set in a slightly pointed heads with the ears mounted higher up the head than a human’s. The mouth and nose protruding slightly. A short thick neck leading to a barrel chest. Yasuda knew that her mouth was agape with total astonishment but right now she did not care if anyone saw her. If she had taken the time to look, she would have seen no one on the bridge was paying her any attention. Every eye was fixed on the holograph as it showed the image of a body of a member of what humanity thought to be a long-dead race. The Saiph!
#
CENTRAL COMMAND - MONT SALÈVE - EARTH
President Rebecca Coston and Admiral Ai Jing sat in silence as the video recording from the
Tiger Shark
replayed for the third time. As it reached its conclusion and the corpse of the dead Saiph was replaced by the steady image of the Terran Federation flag, Rebecca absentmindedly rubbed her eyes.
"There’s no doubt?"
Patricia Bath, standing off to one side, answered the president’s question. "None, Madam President. DNA samples are a 100 percent match. The three bodies recovered are Saiph."
The room lapsed back into silence as the president struggled to assimilate the new reality. The race that had been responsible for ensuring every member of the Commonwealth and the Alonan Empire came to be the top of their planet’s evolutionary chain was still out there amongst the stars. Those same benefactors were responsible for the deaths of the colonists on Balat, the destruction of Dagger Station, and attacking the Turak in the Selene system. The same two questions kept coming to Rebecca. Where have they been and why come out of hiding now? No matter how hard Rebecca wracked her brain, the answers would not come to her.
"Madam President. The Saiph ship has been shipped to Zarmina, hopefully Doctor Moore and his team will be able to shed some light on this mystery. The ship did suffer extensive damage, but we hope to be able to recover some useful data from the undamaged systems. At this point, anything which may be useful in combating their ships would be invaluable."
Rebecca spun to face Jing. "You really think it is going to come down to a shooting war between the Commonwealth and the Saiph, Admiral?"
Jing kept his face impassive and his tone neutral. "I would say we were already in a shooting war, Madam President. The attacks on Dagger Station and the Turak had to have been coordinated. They were obviously designed so the Turak would think we attacked them while we were meant to believe the attack on Dagger Station was the Turak. Tensions were already running high in both camps. It would only require a single spark for the whole border area to burst into flames."
"I don't see how Balat fits into it. The Alonan Empire is 60000 light years away, what possible gain would they reap for destroying an Alonan colony?"
The admiral shrugged his shoulders. "To draw off resources. Make us station ships around Waypoint 4 for fear the Empire decide to blame us for Balat and retaliate. Whoever is in charge of these Saiph is obviously attempting to start a three-way war between the Commonwealth, the Empire, and the Turak. When it’s all over, the Saiph can just roll in and take over."
"You really think it’s that bad?" Asked Rebecca, knowing she was not going to like the answer.
"Madam President, the Saiph took out Dagger Station with one missile. One! The Turak at Selene didn't even scratch their paintwork!"
"But the Garundans destroyed one of their cruisers."
"Yes they did, Madam President. With the combined fire of a dozen or more grazer platforms. We have to face facts. We have nothing in the fleet that could stand toe-to-toe with them and come out on top."
Rebecca felt the clouds of despair enshrouding her. "Worse case, Admiral. If the Saiph arrived in the Sol system today, what are our chances?"
Jing did not answer immediately as he ran the numbers in his head. With a barely noticeable clearing of his throat, he faced Rebecca. "Our system defenses are the strongest in the Commonwealth and I am confident if a force equivalent to what the Garundans faced were to attempt to engage Gateway Station, then we could defeat them."
Rebecca’s mind’s eye saw the first rays of sunshine break through the clouds, until Jing spoke again.
"But that would not be enough, Madam President. Earth can't just hide behind its defenses while the rest of the Commonwealth and our colonies burn. We need to meet them on the field of battle and defeat them. Prove to our people, the Commonwealth, the Empire, and the Turak that the Saiph are not almighty. We need to take the fight to them."
"We need to find them first, Admiral." Patricia’s comment was followed by a stony silence, she saw Jing ignoring her and keeping his eyes locked on Rebecca. The president gave the admiral a slow nod before Jing turned to face Patricia.
"Doctor. What I am about to tell you is highly classified. Some months ago, the navy began a covert operation which we called Project Bright Star..."
#
TDF TYCHO BRAHE - INTERSTELLAR SPACE - 900 LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH
Lieutenant Terrance Wilson sat patiently as the inbuilt encryption program on his terminal decoded the latest coded message from Central Command. The ready tone sounded and Terrance brought up the message:
'From: Chairman, Combined Joint Chiefs of Staff
To: Lieutenant Wilson, TDF
Tycho Brahe
Message begins:
Project Bright Star is now the priority. Cease all other activities until mission objective is achieved.
Message ends.'
TDF CUTLASS - SELENE SYSTEM - 272 LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH
TDF
Cutlass
emerged from fold space at the outer fringes of the Selene system and broadcast its hail. Nicholas Schamu understood the risk in sending a Commonwealth cruiser into the system but he agreed with Aaron Beckett, in all likelihood the information held on the PAD, resting in the inside pocket of his impeccable tailored suite, contained the last and best chance of avoiding war.
“Turak ships exiting fold space at 186 mark 4 distance 15000 kilometers, Captain. Its four heavy cruisers, sir, and their weapons are,” the tactical officer scanned his screens, “ coming online.”
“Keep a cool head, Lieutenant. Double check our sensors. I don’t want us transmitting a single erg which may be mistaken for a fire and control system,” spinning in her command chair an anxious Denise Parks faced Nicholas, “all yours Ambassador, if this doesn’t work they’ve got us cold.”
Nicholas gave a small cough before depressing the stud on his chair which activated the voice link. “Turak vessels, this is Ambassador Nicholas Schamu. I carry important information concerning the identity of those who are responsible for the attack on your ships in the Selina system, which I wish to share with you. I am transmitting the data now.” The data flew across the empty void and Nicholas prayed the Turak would take time to review the data before blowing the
Cutlass
out of space.
Interminable seconds passed and became minutes while Nicholas and the crew of the
Cutlass
held their collective breaths. After an eternity a single word response arrived.
“Standby.”
#
The bridge crew fiddled and fussed over their terminals. Captain Parks browsed the ship’s daily reports, although, Nicholas noted, the same static page displayed on the captain’s screen for the last fifteen minutes. Even Nicholas, a life-long diplomat and used to hours of patient waiting neared the end of his tether. An over five hour standby tether.
The comms officer broke the monotony. “Incoming signal, Captain. It’s a set of coordinates and instructions to fold immediately.”
“Show me the coordinates,” Parks squinted at the main holo display, “mmm... must be almost 150 light years from our current location which takes us well inside Turak controlled space. Navigation, any idea what’s at the coordinate’s location?”
The navigator ran through the star charts and found the correct system. “The coordinates are a match for system 90159. It’s a star much like our own sun but older. That’s all, Captain, no further references found in either the Saiph or Commonwealth databases.”
Captain Nicholl wrinkled her nose as she often did when faced with a difficult decision and, after glancing once more at the holo cube, she turned to face Nicholas, “Well, Ambassador, it’s your call.”
Nicholas ignored the ominous wrinkle, not one to squander his invitation to begin dialog with the Turak he said, “Captain, we should comply with the Turak request.”
“Folding 150 light years further into space,” her wrinkle deepened, “held by a race who threaten to destroy us if we infringe their territory,” she shifted in her seat, “Ambassador, I’m far from happy, but that’s why we’re here.” She spun her seat forward. “Navigator, plot the coordinates and fold when ready. Let’s do this.” The
Cutlass
surged forward into fold space and disappeared from the Selene system.
“All stop!” called the captain as the ship blinked back into existence 150 light years away, in the heart of system 90159.
“All stop, aye.”
“Tactical. Let’s scan the area and see where they’ve brought us.”
Sensors gathered data at lightning speed, passed the information to the ship’s computers for parsing and projection to the main holo cube.
In all its glory, the surrounding space revealed a sheer cacophony of energy and mass returns which brought silence, broken only with gasps of surprise from the bridge crew. The tactical officer broke the temporary quiet.
“My god! This has to be one of their main worlds. Check out the shipping! I don’t remember seeing the space around Earth being so busy. I’m reading a mix of civilian and military ships. Computer has identified three of the monsters the Persai observed in the Selene system, after the black ships attack, holding station amongst a number of smaller ships. Ha! And by smaller I mean Bismarck class battleship size. This suggests a major fleet base, excluding the space stations orbiting the nearest planet, two of them make Fortress Command resemble a kid’s toy.”
Captain Parks hovered on the edge of her seat as she sucked in the information displayed in the holo cube. “Tactical, concentrate your efforts on the warships. Let’s get as many passive scans as we can, if the ambassador’s mission fails we may be fighting these guys pronto.”
“Please, Captain, let us not be so pessimistic at this early juncture.” Nicolas said.
“Captain,” The comms officer halted what would have been Parks’ snappy return. “Message from the orbital station, we’re being ordered to approach the station and dock.”
“Very well. Navigator, take us in nice and steady. I suggest you get your First Contact Team ready, Ambassador, your wish for face-to-face talks with the Turak is granted.”
Nicholas acknowledged his captain’s words with a nod and a smile then slipped from his seat and strode from the bridge to gather his team
while the
Cutlass
continued its journey toward the orbital station.
Cutlass
slipped silently passed imposing ranks of Turak warships. On their final approach the true scale of the construct became apparent. The station resembled a giant spinning top, approaching 1500 meters at its widest point and slightly under one kilometer from top to bottom, rotating above a planet the
Cutlass’
sensors deciphered as heavily industrialized.
Nicholas did not doubt his tactical officer’s veracity when he identified this planet as a major Turak world and not a startup colony. The infrastructure alone must have taken decades to establish, maybe more.
The navigator identified the correct docking port and as they closed in, the captain called up the view from the outside vid cameras allowing an impromptu examination of the hull of the impressive station.
Struck with an oddity Denise switched from camera to camera and confirmed her suspicions. Each of the view ports were closed and sealed denying the humans a tantalizing glimpse of the space station interior.
These people sure appreciate their privacy! Well, won’t be much help when the ambassador enters the station and sees all... assuming they allow him to enter the station.
“Mooring clamps secure, Captain. The Turak are extending a personnel tube it will mate with Airlock 14 on Deck Three.” Said the navigator.
“Very well. Comms, my compliments to Major Flynt, detail a couple of marines to escort the ambassador. Mention this to the major, if the ambassador argues, the marines are to remind him of my orders in regard to his safety from Admiral Papadomas.”
#
Two conspicuous marines dwarfed Nicholas Schamu and the other two members of the First Contact Team as they stood in the airlock. Stripped of their ubiquitous Wraith suits, the marines stood at the ready with PEP pistols holstered at their waists.
No doubt Major Flynt has a whole marine company on standby in full armor and ready to move at a moment’s notice
, Nicholas sighed and waited for the airlock to complete its cycle.
He heard the invisible locks clunk and on release, the whole door swung open to one side, allowing him his first view of the Turak - a solitary squat figure dressed all in scarlet.
An enclosed full face helmet rendered the Turak’s head barely decipherable, although, two pinpricks of glowing red hinted at a pair of unblinking eyes. A matching form fitting body armor enclosed the torso and two arms hung by the Turak’s side. Nicholas’ eyes followed the length of the armor covered arms which ended, unsurprisingly, with armored gloves. Nicholas’ eye’s widened as he drank in the shape of those gloves. Two thick sausage like fingers topped with a smaller thumb.
No Saiph meddling here
!
The Turak carried no weapons, at least none Nicholas discerned.
A good sign? Perhaps the body armor is the formal uniform of the Turak
?
A speaker mounted in the Turak armor crackled to life. “Human, follow me. Do not deviate, if you do not comply, you die.” He turned on his heel and set off.
Nicholas hesitated for but a millisecond before he adhered to the stark orders and followed the scarlet clad figure down a corridor. His companions followed in his wake.
Nicholas’ longer stride meant he caught the Turak posthaste, though, he made no attempt to introduce himself. Nicholas read nonverbal communication as well as the next man. No insightfulness was required to understand this particular Turak’s lack of interest in speaking to humans. His job, if he was a he, was to deliver them... somewhere.
They passed many closed hatches along the corridor until after a short distance the group reached a set of double doors. On their approach the doors swooshed open and revealed a bijou carriage equipped with up to a dozen seats.
The Turak entered the carriage, took a seat at one end and poised his fingers over the nearby compact panel. He waited for the humans to comply with his silent request. The humans read their cue and each grabbed a seat while the Turak entered a series of key strokes in the control panel. The doors closed. Moments later, Nicholas saw doors flash by the carriage windows. They were moving, but at such velocity he lost count of the flashing doors and became almost dizzy.
A short time passed before the carriage slowed and came to a halt. The Turak stood as the carriage doors opened and he strode off as fast, as his short steps allowed, down another deserted corridor. They walked in silence for another few minute until their unwilling guide reached a doorway covered in ornate gold motifs. The symbols reminded Nicholas of ancient Nordic runes.
The doors slid open and the scarlet clad Turak stepped to one side. “Enter. Approach the clan lord, human. Be respectful or face the wrath of Clan Orlak.”
Nicholas, now used to such threats, did not bat an eyelid. He and his party entered.
Wow!
There was no comparison to the sterile corridors they had just walked to get here. A marine let out a low whistle at the sight of the opulent state room. Decorated in exquisite rugs and throws, gold, platinum and rare gems glinted and sparkled, lit only by secreted wall lights. Equidistant along the walls stood statuesque Turak, dressed in distinctive scarlet body armor and hung across their chests they carried an ugly rifle type weapon with a wicked, half meter long blade attached to the barrel.
Eyes drawn to the center of the room Nicholas drank in the view of an imposing lone high-backed chair upon which sat another Turak, adorned in the now familiar figure hugging armor, topped with a gold embellished helmet and a matching gold sash fitted snuggly around his waist.
At last
!
Perhaps now we can get to tal
k.
“Human, share this information and leave the space of Clan Orlak and all Turak.”
Perhaps not
.
Nicholas surmised this race to be a subset of the Turak,
Clan Orlak? Is this the chief?
“Clan Lord. I am Ambassador Nicholas Schamu and…”
The Turak half rose from his seat, “Who you are is not my concern, human!” His deep voice echoed around the room. “Do not waste my time. Give me the information you say exonerates your puny Commonwealth of the murder of my clansmen.” He returned to a seated position and gestured towards Nicholas. “Give the information to me! Then leave before my goodwill is exhausted and I extract it from you and return your lifeless body to your master.”
In unison the marines’ hands dropped to rest on their PEP pistols in their holsters. The clan lord inexplicably let out bellowing laugh. “Humans with fighting spirit? I will see what sort of warriors you are. Come! Battle with me!”
Nicholas stepped in. He had no wish to witness combat and much preferred diplomacy to war. He slipped the PAD with the recordings from the Selene system and the vid images of the recovered Saiph ship from his suit pocket. “Clan Lord, the evidence showing The Commonwealth did not attack your clansmen in the Selene system is held on this device.” He pulled the recordings on the PAD and got ready to play. ”We too, were attacked by those ships and many of our own are dead. This device,” he held the PAD out towards the clan lord, “also holds a video recording of the interior of a ship belonging to our attackers which we recovered. We identified the crew of this ship as a race we know as the Saiph…”
This time the Clan Lord rose to his feet and he pointed at Nicholas. “Lies! The Saiph are dead! Their world is gone. You waste my time. How can dead Saiph do these things?”
The clan lord’s words startled Nicholas, the Turak had knowledge of the Saiph!
“You say you suffered at the hands of these black ships? I will do your dead the honor of reviewing this information, but, you must return to your ship and leave our space! I will refrain from extracting my clan’s vengeance until I am satisfied of the origins of the black ships.”