Trail of Evil - eARC (28 page)

“Young lady, from the data we have available the expansion wave of the Chiata is clear. Granted we only have one source of data, but I have no reason to disbelieve it,” Madira said. “I have been in collusion with the alien calling himself Copernicus for a very long time and he has visited me here with other aliens from the galacitic community. Trust me, they were very alien. And not a one of them had any love for these Chiata.”

“That is my problem,” Upton said. “If all of these other aliens hate the Chiata so much so, why have they not stood up to them?”

“According to the data that I have passed along to you, they have and are.” Madira sighed as if she was growing impatient of reexplaining herself over and over again. “Copernicus expressed specifically that had it not been for the Chiata being occupied elsewhere they would have likely moved on us thousands of years ago.”

“So, we are even more in the alien’s debt,” Upton said sardonically.

“I don’t think debt is what they have in mind.” Madira nodded her head slightly and raised her left eyebrow. Her white striped bangs came untucked from behind her ear. “I think vengeance is more like their hopes.”

“Vengeance?” Moore said surprised. “We are so outnumbered in this and they expect us to exact vengeance for them? Whatever type of alien Copernicus is we have to take his word for it, but they must be far more technologically advanced than us and stand a better chance at exacting vengeance.”

“Copernicus’ people were wiped out by the Chiata. He claims that some thirty billion of the mollusk-like intelligences escaped and are hidden away somewhere. But remember that they needed some sort of other creature to bond with to carry them around. Copernicus claims there are none of them left. The Chiata knew just how to attack them. There are insufficient numbers of aliens, advanced or not, to stand against the Chiata expansion.” Madira explained. “I think numbers is what we can bring to the table. Well, that and a propensity to be stubborn as hell and to make war. Those are two things of which you excel at, son.”

“Well, hopefully, this first attack will excite more of these other aliens to join in and help us. And I don’t like the thought of helping out aliens that attach to and control other creatures. We better make a big splash and get help. Help enough so that we aren’t so devastated at the end of all this that some other alien group doesn’t take us over if we defeat the Chiata.” Upton frowned and then turned to Moore. “You better be as good as the history books say you are.”

“Ha,” Madira let out an uncontrollable chuckle. “Sorry, but from everything I’ve seen about the man he can be one big pain in the ass.”

“Madam President,” Moore said ignoring Madira’s comment. “If you don’t mind, we have a lot of last-minute prep to do. I’d recommend you snap-back to safety so we can get underway.”

Chapter 40

June 9, 2407 AD

Alpha Ursae Majoris “Dubhe”

123 Light Years from the Sol System

Friday, 4:35 PM, Expiditionary Mission Standard Time

“Planetary system here has very odd orbits. General.” The STO pointed out orbits in the DTM system view. “Dubhe is a double star system locally and a four-star system all together. There are planets scattered about, but only one fits into anything like the Goldilocks zone, sir.”

“This one here, right?” Alexander tapped at the air in front of him and one of the planets was highlighted with a see through yellow ball. “How habitable is it?”

“Not very, sir. Looks like a desert planet at best. There is a minimal amount of liquid water closer to the the poles. The equatorial regions are wastelands. No green anywhere. There are significant asteroids and several gas giants with moons,” the STO added. “One of the moons of the third gas giant out looks a lot like Europa around Jupiter. There is ice and as best I can tell now, sir, it has an ocean under the ice.”

“No intelligent lifeforms right?” Alexander decided to cut to the chase.

“None, sir. At least none that I can find.”

“Very well. XO, deploy the builder bots and let’s move on. That Europa-like moon might make for a good base since there is plenty of water there.” Alexander ordered the XO. “We still have eighty light-years to hop through.”

Moore swiped the system view aside and pulled over the QMT hopping path. There were still twenty seven QMTs left before they made it to Alpha Lyncis and the Chiata. With roughly an hour for navigation recalibration at each jump that meant sometime tomorrow they would be able to engage the enemy.

“Package is away, General,” Firestorm said. “If those little bastards are as busy as the bots we’ve been fighting for the past year there should be a Disney World finished by the time we swing back through here.”

“I’ve been to Disney World, XO.” Moore laughed. “Last time turned out to be more than I cared for. But my daughter enjoyed the hell out of it.”

“Yes sir.” the XO replied. “All ships and stations are reporting nominal status and are ready to jump whenever the Nav is, sir.”

“Roger that, Firestorm.” Moore turned to Commander Swain. “Penny? Jump us at your leisure.”

“Yes sir,” the navigation officer replied. “I’m getting the final astrogation observations fed into my AIC now. Another five minutes or so is all we’ll need before the algorithms lock onto our location. Then we’ll need another ten or so to get the rest of the fleet lined up.”

“Good. XO, you have the bridge.” Moore stood and looked around at his crew and then out the viewport at the deep-space star system. They were presently further away from home than anyone had ever gone. “I’m gonna go for walk. I’ll be back when we jump.”

“Major Moore?” Commander Buckley looked up from underneath a power coupling he was working on surprised to see the mecha jock in engineering. “What brings you to engineering?”

“Hi Commander. I know you are busy, but I need to talk with you about something.” Joe was puzzled. He had spoken to the Marine many times before but mainly in a setting where Rondi was around. The two women were friends and apparently trained hand-to-hand martial arts together. Joe had really only spoken to Deanna Moore in social settings.

“Sure thing. What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I was thinking about the upcoming mission and was wondering why can’t my AIC control when and where my mecha does a snap-back or sling-forward? I mean, why does the CDC QMT crew have to do that?” Moore asked. Joe had to think about it for second. He had actually never given any thought to the mecha pilots controlling their own QMT jumps.

Debbie? I can’t think of any physics or engineering reason, can you?

No Joe, as far as I can tell it is all in the software and protocol,
the AIC replied.

No shit?

“I suspect it is mainly because if you and/or your AIC were incapacitated some other entity would have to trigger the system,” Joe explained to Dee.

“But it is doable?”

“Uh, yeah, it’s all in the software. I’d just have to get the general’s approval for it. But I’m not sure why you’d need it.”

“That’s what I was hoping,” Dee said with a smile. “How hard would it be to give all the mecha jock AIC the ability? I mean, we’re thirty-six hours away from our target, could it be done by then?”

Debbie?

I could do it in seconds once you get approval.

Thought so.

“Yes, but you’d have to convince the general that I am overriding the current safety protocols for a good reason.” Joe sat the wrench down he was holding and stretched his neck and back. “Major, what is this about?”

“This is about winning the fight, CHENG. Let me find Daddy and I’ll get back to you ASAP.” Moore turned and hurried out the hatch.

“Hmm. Wonder what that was about?” he muttered to himself. “Oh well, back to work.”

Chapter 41

June 11, 2407 AD

Alpha Ursae Majoris “Dubhe”

123 Light-years from the Sol System

Friday, 9:35 AM, Expeditionary Mission Standard Time

Moore looked around his conference room at his team, his family. They had been on a long haul together and it appeared as though they were just getting started. In less than twenty four hours they would QMT into a star system owned by the Chiata Horde. As far as they could tell the Chiata were so far advanced over the human species that there was no real way to estimate how good or bad their mission tomorrow might go. Only time would tell.

Moore had gathered a good team. They had all been through a lot together over the last couple of years. They would do thrir best.

“Thank y’all for all the hard work you’ve put into the battle planning and the preparations leading up to tomorrow.” He nodded at the team. They all remained quiet.

“So,” Moore continued. “We have to talk about an elephant that we have invited into our living room and have seemingly ignored its presence. I’ve spoken to the president and she agrees with me on this. Admiral Walker is also on board with this and has helped in the wargaming and planning adjustments. We all need to be thinking on contingency plans in case our two new ‘allies’ decide to turn on us in the future.” Alexander let that sink in for second as he paused for a breath and to assess if the team was up to speed.

“I want to emphasize that every aspect of this attack has been precisely calculated. You might notice that the majority of the human fleet is second wave accepting for the hovertank and AEM squads. I’ll explain that in a moment.” Moore noted that Warboys and Gunny Suez had traded looks with each other. Colonel Jones made no expression changes.

“I don’t trust Sienna Madira as far as I could throw her. And I sure don’t trust the alien who is actually some sort of parasite needing a mammalian host. I’m not sure I believe it is a coincidence that Madira has been pumping out clones as fast as she can and the alien claims there are something on the order of thirty billion of his people stored away somewhere with no hosts. There is just no way I believe Copernicus is about vengeance alone. There is more to this. I can feel it in my bones. The two of them have been plotting and planning for so long together that I have to believe that every word they say, every action they take, every move they make, is all wrapped up and twisted within massively complex strategies within strategies. I simply cannot believe that we fully understand either of their motives yet.” Moore looked at his team one more time and then nodded to Walker. “Fullback, would you explain the basis of the naval plan, please?”

“Glad to, General,” Walker replied. “Madira has amassed a very large navy of clone-driven ships. We know she claims to fight the Chiata. Okay, that may be true, but what happens once we defeat the Chiata and Madira still has a navy that is ten times the size of our own?” Fullback explained through her rhetorical question. Moore was certain the same thought had been on all of his seniors’ minds. “Well, I for one don’t want to find out. This is why all the human vessels are on the second and third wave attacks. We must engage the enemy to learn who and what they are, but we will use the clones before we use our living souls and we will atrit Madira’s forces first.

“Hopefully, Madira truly has her heart in the right place, but I can’t trust that. I don’t trust that.” Moore added. “So, at the end of this mess the United States of the Sol System forces must come out with superior numbers. But for now we also can’t lose sight of the fact that it may take every last ship, mecha, clone, and human to stop the Chiata. We are literally between that proverbial rock and hard place.”

“So we fight hard, but when we can we let the clones take the most losses. Do we all understand this?” Fullback asked. There were resounding “yes ma’am” answers.

“Now to the ground forces,” Moore sighed. “Mason, Francis, Tommy, I’m sorry, but we need real intel on what these things are and what they can do. So, as usual, the AEMs and the Warlords will be the first on the beach.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, sir.” Warboys replied.

“The Marines sure as hell ain’t gonna let the Army have all the glory, sir.” Colonel Jones stated. Moore was certain that Gunny Suez was about to throw in an “oohrah” but managed to hold it back through clenched teeth.

“Thank you, gentlemen.”

“Uh, sir,” Deathray spoke up.

“Yes, Jack?”

“I know you are aware of the flight contingent battle plan. And we do plan on putting the clone mecha squadrons in first. But once we’re in the ball, we’re in the ball.” Boland said.

“We can make no mistake here. We are in a fight for humanity, so we must fight.” Moore thought his words through before he continued. “I know that none of us are against charging in and attacking this beast head on. And once the battle starts I want us focused on fighting and winning the battle. All I am saying here is that if we are in a situation where we must send troops into a projected high-loss situation and we can send the clones, we send the clones.”

“Understood, sir.” Deathray replied.

“I won’t keep you any longer as I know we all have work to do.” Moore nodded to his XO who in turn dismissed the team. Deanna and Sehera held back and waited for the room to clear.

“Alexander, mother will figure out what you are doing very quickly,” Sehera told him.

“She already expects me to do this,” he replied. “That woman is hard to outfox. But sometimes you just have to do what you can and chip away at the stone every chance you get.”

“Daddy, what about the other aliens out there? Whoever is fighting them in other places must have troops or at least tech that might help us.” Deanna asked.

“Maybe we can make a big enough splash tomorrow to catch their attention.” Alexander replied.

Chapter 42

June 12, 2407 AD

Alpha Lyncis

203 Light-years from the Sol System

Monday, 6:35 AM, Expeditionary Mission Standard Time

“All hands, all hands, battlestations. QMT to combat zone in T-minus ten minutes and counting. All hands, all hands, battlestations. QMT to combat zone in T-minus two minutes and counting.” The bosuns pipe sounded throughout the ship and across the fleet.

“Firestorm,” Moore turned his chair to the XO’s station. “All ships accounted for and battle ready?”

“Roger that, General. All one hundred ships show full battle ready.” Firestorm either smiled or snarled, Alexander wasn’t really certain. “Time to announce the presence of the human race, sir!”

“Oorah, XO.” Moore nodded and then turned to the Nav. “Penny, status of QMT?”

“Sir, we are ready to jump. The entire fleet shows coordinates logged and the sling-forward algorithm is ready to go.”

“Air Boss!”

“Aye sir?” USN Captain Michelle Wiggington answered.

“Are the jocks sitting tight and ready to go?”

“Aye sir!”

“Good. Ground Boss? AEMs and tankheads ready to go?”

“Hoowah, sir!” US Army Brigadier Gen. Tonya “Hailstorm” Briggs said. Moore chuckled proudly to himself at the former tankhead’s enthusiasm. His crew was ready to go.

“Lieutenant Brown, get me Captain Seely of the 61 UM Fleet,” Moore said to his communications officer.

“Aye sir.”

“You know, General, there is something about them clones that give me the heebie-jeebies,” Chief of the Boat Command Master Chief Jeff Coates said. “There’s just something about an empty body being driven by a computer that weirds me out, sir.”

“I know the feeling, COB,” Moore agreed. “What is the status of my boat?”

“Ready to kick some ass, sir.” The COB replied.

“Sir—” the comm officer interrupted. “Captain Seely is online.”

“Thanks, Denise. Put him on brigdewide DTM.”

“Sir.”

“Captain Seely. Moore here.”

“General. We are ready to go here.” the clone said, very deadpan.

“Good. I just wanted to make sure and to tell you and your crew good luck.”

“Thank you sir,” Captain Seely replied, with no change of expression. The lack of emotions from the clones really took some getting used to.

“Very good. Let’s move out.” Moore leaned back in his oversized seat. He was glad that Madira had designed the fleet ships so that they were armor friendly. Alexander looked around at his armored up crew and felt his gut turn over.

Abby, full blue force map on and keep it there. Give me an overlay of all systems and fleet ship locations. Keep Buckley’s AIC on an open channel just in case. And, get me a link open to Dee mindvoice only
. He thought.

Done, sir. You are connected to your daughter now.
Abigail said.

Thanks Abby
. Moore sighed and thought carefully about what to say. Once again he was sending his daughter into combat and this time they had very little idea as to what the enemy would be like.

Daddy?

Hey, princess. I just needed to tell you that I love you.

I love you too, Daddy.

Sweetheart, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. You could snap-back home right now and nobody would ever say anything about it or I’d kick their ass if they did.

Daddy! You know I can’t do that. I couldn’t leave the Archangels missing a pilot and I wouldn’t do that to the crew.

I know you wouldn’t. But what kind of father would I be if I didn’t at least try to get you to go home? You be careful and watch your six, okay?

Okay, Daddy.

And princess.

Yes.

I love you.

I love you too, daddy.

“All hands, all hands, QMT jump in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. QMT commencing.”

Moore braced for the jump. The circle of rippling light appeared in front of the ship and the fleet started disappearing through it one at a time. Over the past months all of the fleet ships had been retrofitted with QMT snap-back and sling-forward systems. Any ship in the fleet could perform jumps forward or backward to any location within three light-years. To jump very long distances it took a connection between networked QMT facilities. The
Madira
was the only one of the Penzington fleet so equipped but there were two of the 61 UM fleet ships equipped with that capability.

Moore watched as the fleet around him flashed out of reality one by one until it was time for the
Madira
to go. The bridge and the rest of the ship flashed with white light and buzzed and crackled. And then Moore was looking at a different part of space.

“Nav?” he said as the crackling subsided.

“One minute, sir.”

“Sir, I see a red star to the starboard.” The COB pointed out the viewport.

“Got it, COB.” Moore nodded. “XO status of the fleet?”

“All ships are accounted for sir. We’re here and ready to kick ass.”

“Good. Nav, what’s the holdup?” Moore asked impatiently.

“Got a lock, sir. We are exactly where we planned to be one light-year from the inner system. We’re in the Oort Cloud,” Commander Swain replied.

“STO, does it look the same as our intel?”

“Yes sir. As far as my AIC can make out this system exactly fits the intel. We have uninhabited gas giants and Kuiper Belt objects from about ten astronomical units out. There is an inhabited system on an Earthlike planet fourth planet out from the star. There is also a gas giant third out with an inhabited moon much like Ares sir.” The STO described the system as he displayed it DTM for the bridge crew.

“CO, CDC?”

“Go, CDC,” Moore replied to the Combat Direction Center.

“Sir, we have zero contacts within real-time sensor range. There are plenty of targets further in the system but, as you know due to light lag, aren’t at these locations anymore.”

“How many targets inward, CDC?”

“Thousands, sir.”

“Roger that, CDC.”

“Alright, let’s get the plan started. Snap the bots to the asteroid belt.” Moore pulled up the attack plan DTM and watched as thirty of the 61 UM ships flashed inward to the asteroid belt at about eight AUs from the star. The thirty ships were filled with buzzsaw and builder bots. Millions of them. That many bots could turn asteroids into more bots faster than anybody could attrit them. At least that was what Moore was hoping.

“Bots away, General,” Firestorm announced. “Ready for step two.”

“Right. Get me the
Thatche
r and the
Hillenkoetter
.” Moore ordered.

“Sir. Vice Admiral Walker and Captain Penzington are on line.” The comm officer replied.

“Sharon, Nancy, I guess this is it. You two are up to bat,” Moore said.

“Yes, sir,” Nancy replied.

“Looking forward to it, Alexander.” Walker showed him a big toothy grin. Even through the viewscreen the woman was large and intimidating. Even to Moore.

“Great. Godspeed and good luck.”