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  The more the smug man spoke, the more Avery learned. James and his associates had created the wormhole? And how did this relate to the Outer Rim Alliance? Were they one and the same?

  James stopped and stood in front of him. “We suspect you have access to a far more abundant source. Our agents tell us you’ve refined enough to build another six of those ships. With more on the way.”

  Vee remained silent.

  “Well?” Ben James prodded.

  “Well what?”

  His eyes narrowed again.

  “What is the source, Avery?”

  He racked his brain. There was only one suitable response to such a question. Pulled from a laundry list he’d memorized over the years from being around Commander Rayne.

  “The source is . . .”

  Ben James leaned forward leering. “Yes?”

  “You’ll find the source where the sun doesn’t shine.”

  There was no reaction from Ben James, only a look of confusion. Fair enough. Avery didn’t understand it when Aaron first hit him with it. “You’ll figure it out,” he said.

  Ben James stood rigid. “Have it your way. I warned you. My associates are the crazy ones. A few days with them, and you’ll wish you had chosen differently.” Ben James spun on his heels and headed for whence he came.

  Darkness—Avery’s only friend—returned to keep him.

  Chapter 15 – Stick To Flying

  “Why do I get the feeling there’s going to be a permanent target in the gym soon” – Yuri Miroslav

  Hangar deck

  “Don’t touch that!”

  Yuri froze. He looked around. “Help?”

  Corporal Ubu took the small palm sized object from Flaps—carefully—then he dropped it.

  Yuri squeezed his eyes and cringed.

  Ubu, Dawes and Chen laughed. Lee shook his head in humorous disgust.

  “Really, Flaps?” Lee said. “You think they’d let you with play an active device?”

  Sergeant Dawes picked it up. “It’s a scramble grenade,” he said. “As you know, every tech-5 and four worlds have dampening fields to drain powered devices. These little guys aren’t as powerful but at least they’re portable. The area of effect is a paltry five hundred square-meters.”

  Yuri was on Hammerhead’s flight deck when the marines and Lee intruded and began rummaging through the stored mission equipment.

  They should know by now this deck belonged to him. But as he watched them, he found himself more interested in what they were doing. Some of it looked vaguely familiar, but most of it was designed for the Special Forces.

  Now, Yuri walked down the devices lining the table. He turned over the upper section of a recon marine armor. He looked at Dawes. “Is this a jetpack?” It was designed to fit neatly into the marine armor.

  “This is a jump-pack.” Dawes picked it up. “Ordinary jetpacks burn through fuel too quickly, and are subject to dampening fields, like any powered equipment. The jump packs operate on a different principle. No powered application involved.

  “It’s based on gravity manipulation tech. It compresses gravity in varying amounts which work in synergy through these round plates at the bottom.” The little round silver objects seemed rudimentary. How could something so small manipulate gravity?

  As if reading his mind, Dawes explained. “They might not seem like much, but these things are expensive to manufacture. Exotic matter is involved in the process. That makes them invaluable. The pack is capable of pushing up to two hundred pounds, forty feet. You can adjust the compression here,” he pointed to a small lever, “to control the force. There’s no computer control.”

  Lee stepped forward and picked up one of the four next items.

  “Typical,” Yuri said.

  Lee waved the foot long blade in the air. “This is a combat plasma knife, Flaps. Sometimes called a plasma blade. A recent addition to marine weaponry. I believe it’s the first weaponized application of plasma by our research division. An ordinary combat knife couldn’t penetrate good infantry armor.” He handed it to Ubu.

  “The tech-boys infused the blade with plasma,” Ubu said. “The blade itself acts as the containment. Although it doesn’t radiate heat, it’ll melt through whatever it touches when activated. It’s perfect for impaling armor. The only downside is the plasma charge only lasts a few minutes. The suit keeps it charged when holstered.” He activated the blade and threw it at a small armor plate—a makeshift target they’d set up—twenty feet away. The blade buried up to the hilt.

  Lee nodded. He seemed to approve.

  They came to some square shaped objects.

  Chen picked up one of the boxes, no bigger than an average man’s torso and only half a foot thick. “These are deployable weapons tech and nothing short of amazing. An engineering company in the twenty-first century pioneered counterbalanced folding linkages for mobility, reliability and ease of deployment for equipment and structures. A concept intended for mobile deployment of houses, and any other conceivable structure. Way back then a small trailer sized unit could unfold into an expansive structure.”

  He didn’t have to tell them that the military of the day soon took notice and adapted the technology. Flaps visualized the endless applications. It particularly suited combat operations because the process was almost entirely mechanical, and it was supported by battery power where necessary. But a simple power drill was all that was needed for larger applications such as mobile bases. This small, light, object could unfold into a deployable turret or reinforced barricade.

  At the end of the table, Yuri picked up one of the palm-sized recon drones. A smooth, grey, circular object equipped with laser optics. These mapped out structural interiors from outside and even tracked anything inside. The evolution of a twenty-first century device which used radar to see inside buildings. The draw back was the original device had to be placed against the building while this device could perform its function well beyond its target.

  “This looks like it might hurt,” a new voice said.

  Yuri looked around. None of them realized the XO was behind them. How long had she been there? They’d been on some missions these past few months with Commander Alvarez, but she hadn’t been assigned to Phoenix then.

  She stepped forward and picked up a plasma blade.

  “Careful with that, XO. That’ll leave a mark.” Dawes stepped back. Everyone else did too. Was it even charged?

  A sudden short buzz answered that question. The blade had a slight hue. She threw it into the target, just above Ubu’s.

  The others exchanged glances.

  Yuri wasn’t amused. “Why do I get the feeling there’s going to be a permanent target in the gym soon, and you’ll have competitions?”

  Ayres smiled. “That is a fine idea, young Ensign.”

  Yuri winced.

  Lee stepped forward and hefted one of the last two knives and threw it. It embedded just to the left of the XO’s blade.

  Yuri shook his head. “Show off.” He reached for the remaining blade.

  Lee put a hand on his. “No, Flaps. Stick to flying.”

  “Why does everyone always—”

  As if on cue the marines, Lee and the XO cut him off.

  “Because it’s the only thing you’re good at.” They said in unison and began to laugh.

  Yuri stared at them. “Seriously, Lee? What stories have you been telling these fine folks?”

  He had to admit it was a good joke. They got him good.

  Ayres flipped a switch and was serious again. “Will you gents be in the crew lounge later?”

  No one gave a committed answer.

  “I know the Commander didn’t make it an order,” she said. “And it seems some of us have taken to hiding and playing with our toys.” She eyed each of them in turn. “The engineers are down in engineering this whole time, and other parts of the ship I probably couldn’t find. And you all have mostly been down here the past two days. Just another day until we reach the wormhole
and it’s all business from there.” She paused and her brow furrowed. “I think I’m going to have to make it an order . . . on the Commander’s behalf. Just in case you were all planning on hiding still.”

  Yuri answered for the group. “Who’s hiding? We were just checking out all this fancy stuff the marines brought aboard.”

  Lee gave him a “really?” look.

  “Right, she’s chiding us. I’m dense. I get it.”

  “Nineteen hundred. See you then,” the XO said.

  As the senior officer present, Lee responded on their behalf.

  “Yes ma’am, nineteen hundred.”

  Yuri wasn’t sure, and he didn’t dare bring it up. But as the XO walked away, he was certain Lee watched her as she did, and tilted his head ever so slightly.

  It must be his imagination.

  Chapter 16 – Not Just Jarheads

  “Shepherd isn’t the authority on everything” – Lieutenant Herman Zane

  Personnel Lounge

  Crew Deck

  After a while, space travel could take its toll. Starship designers realized this early and built as much creature comforts aboard line ships as they could manage. From adequate, spacious gym facilities to crew lounges and VR rooms. All designed to entertain the crew while off duty.

  The gyms were expansive and modular and could be reorganized into virtually any kind of facility they needed. Some starship crews played various sports. It was even large enough to section off, so multiple people could enjoy varying activities.

  The crew lounge had a relaxing atmosphere. Open booth seats curved around the circumference of the room against a backdrop of holo-viewers showing various displays of space.

  The holo-viewers were virtual observation ports. There hadn’t been actual observation ports on a ship since the war with the Baridian Empire. You just couldn’t make something as tough with large windows spanning several decks.

  Throughout the lounge there were tables affixed to the deck with semicircular booths on either side. A self-serve bar was located at the far end. The soft blue-green colors reflected the kind of colors you might find in a lovely orchard. The lighting was low and everything blended to create a relaxing ambience.

  It was tradition aboard Trident that the crew met together once a week in the lounge. Aaron wanted to revive that tradition if this was going to be his home for a while.

  He was the first to arrive. Ayres came next.

  He was sipping his favorite carbonated beverage when she walked—glided in. She had the grace of a dancer. Not that he was any judge of dancers, but he imagined if she danced, she was a good dancer.

  She wore skintight dark colored pants with comfy footwear and a blue sleeveless top with slim straps either side of her neck, exposing her well toned muscles. His XO reminded him of a female version of Lee. He stifled a laugh.

  She had a blank look. “Commander?”

  Aaron stiffened. “Apologies, XO. Just thinking of someone.”

  She eyed him. “Commander . . .”

  He sighed. “Remember you asked . . . you reminded me of Lee for a moment.”

  Her face twisted into confusion. “I don’t see how a woman could remind you of a man. Especially a man like Lieutenant Lee.”

  “It’s the muscles, Alana.”

  Her demeanor visibly softened at his informality.

  The whole group entered then. Sergeant Dawes followed by his corporals. Then Lee, Flaps, Max, Rachael, Garrett, Reyes and even Zane. They all came.

  When he told them to come relax in the lounge later, he didn’t think they’d taken it as an order. Yet here they were as though they were reporting for parade.

  They all approached the XO and him. This was fast turning into a parade indeed.

  “Commander . . . XO.” Dawes said. When he moved aside, the corporals did the same thing.

  Aaron held up his hand.

  “Everyone . . . I’m sorry I forgot to mention this earlier. Slipped my mind somehow. But thanks for the reminder. This is a covert operations ship. We are a covert operations crew. We’re the best of the best. Disciplined, loyal, honorable. We didn’t get here being slackers. All except for Max.” There were a few chuckles around the room. “Let your guard down a bit. You’re not on watch, relax.”

  ***

  Two hours later the lounge remained full. Full as can be expected for a skeleton crew.

  Yuri hovered from group to group, soaking up all the adventures people were willing to tell. He didn’t have as much to tell as the rest. But he’d have plenty—someday.

  The Commander was telling one now.

  “—so I left him behind,” Aaron was saying, “and finished the last leg of the triathlon. The instructor assigned to monitor our group ripped me a new one. Not in a nasty kind of way, but a condescending speech, basically accusing me of being an arrogant know-it-all.”

  Lieutenant Delaine put in a piece. “So turned out he was right after all then.”

  The Commander gave her an amused look and continued. “I thought he was an aristocratic nut with a smug superiority complex at the time. But what he told me that day, there, at the end of the exercise, really resonated with me later. I owe him a lot for forcing me to change my attitude towards many things. If you people thought I was bad now, you should have seen me prior to completion of command school.”

  Dawes asked the instructor’s name.

  The Commander rested a hand on Dawes’ shoulder. “Who was he indeed—he was none other than Li—sorry, Commander Avery ‘Vee’ Alvarez.”

  The table was silent. Wow. That ended story time while that sank into everyone. The Commander probably hadn’t meant to cast a dark cloud over the lounge, but it had that effect.

  Yuri moved over to the bar near Herman Zane, Corporal Ubu and Corporal Chen. Garrett and Reyes followed the discussion between the scientist and the marines.

  The marines had just finished telling a tale from their previous mission and asked Zane about something to do with wormholes.

  “I’m not sure you guys would understand. The science of wormholes is complicated,” he said.

  Yuri followed the exchange and raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh,” Ubu said. “So Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen’s theory regarding the transit of wormholes for faster than light travel by bombarding them with exotic matter, to create a stable event horizon and corridor is what you’re saying is beyond us?”

  Yuri almost laughed. He’d read about Einstein when Dimitri bought the computer and he perused endless datachips on the renowned and revolutionary physicist.

  Zane’s lower jaw still hung open.

  “You think we’re just jarheads or something?” Chen asked. “We might act a part, play a role and follow our time honored cultured tradition from since the inception of United Earth marines, but we’re not what they’ve called jarheads.”

  Zane caught his lower jaw. “Right, well as I was saying. Forty years ago the orbital Hadron Collider in Alpha Centauri . . . illuminated shall we say, dark matter in the Kuiper belt of the system. It took thirty years and all our advanced technology and understanding of dark energy and dark matter and their relationship with the universe to interact with and contain it.

  “More than ten years ago Fleet Research and Design began experiments with dark-matter reactors. We hoped the enhanced power output could push warp factors ten times beyond the former threshold in addition to powering a completely new range of technologies. Phoenix was the test bed for all of it.

  “The research languished because they were so afraid that the mishandling of an infinitesimal amount of exotic matter could destroy the fabric of space and time. Then someone decided that if it was going to destroy the universe, it would have done so long ago and deemed it safe to experiment with. Once we understood how to contain it and harness its power—that fear completely subsided—partly due to the fact there have been no universe ending catastrophes.”

  Chen turned several shades pale. “What would happen if this dark matter
you pulled from where you should have left it, breaches containment?”

  “If it breaches containment, nothing. It’ll just be there. The containment is part of the process by which we harness its power. However, I know the military was experimenting with weaponizing it. A kind of planet killing bomb.”

  “Why would we need a planet killing bomb?” Mick asked.

  “You know the military, Mick.” Dawes said. “We’d weaponize our mothers if we thought it could win us a war.” No one realized the marine had joined them at the bar.

  “I can’t imagine Shepherd sanctioning something like this ever,” Mick said.

  “Shepherd isn’t the authority on everything,” Zane said. “The project might come under Fleet Research, but there are other powers above Shepherd.” He had a grim look. “Way above.”

  Chen was curious. “Did they look into it as a matter of ‘we just need to know if it’s possible’ or do they really want to create this weapon?”

  Zane looked thoughtful. “I don’t have an answer to that, nor do I have any insights into their ultimate goals. Maybe it’s equivalent to the nuclear arms race. Perhaps they’d use it as a deterrent.”

  “A deterrent to what? If you threaten us, we’ll destroy your planets?” Mick asked.

  Zane shrugged. “Maybe an equalizer then. If we both have the same thing and we both know how terrible it is, we won’t use it.”

  Interesting. “Isn’t the Baridian Empire developing subspace weapons?” Yuri asked.

  They all turned to him, surprised by his sudden question.

  “I’ve read intel which suggests such,” Zane said.

  “Maybe our experimentation with a dark-matter bomb is in response to that,” Ubu suggested.

  “Maybe,” Zane said. “But what about the peace treaty? The formal peace treaty and not just the cease fire that existed for seventy years. Why would either side want such a weapon now?”

  “As with all things this complicated,” Dawes said. “We won’t end years of intolerance and distrust with some peace treaty agreed to by our respective leaders. There’s a lot of bad blood, if you will, between us and the Empire. Some worlds were more affected by the war than others. Nova comes to mind. Ask Lieutenant Delaine, she’s from Nova.”