Cradle of War (A Captain's Crucible Book 3) (10 page)

Chief Galaal pressed his lips together behind his faceplate, then turned toward Helium. “Come on.” The pair walked back to the shuttle, lowered the ramp, and went inside. They emerged a moment later without the weapons, which they’d obviously stowed in the Dragonfly’s armory. However, Jonathan suspected the pair had hidden smaller pistols somewhere underneath their harnesses while in there.

A hatch opened in the nearby bulkhead.

“This way,” Barrick said, stepping into the yellow-hued cylindrical passage beyond. The two Raakarr joined him.

Six robots formed up in pairs before Jonathan and the other humans, while another six took their places behind the group. The remaining four Centurions assumed positions around the Dragonfly to guard it and its important cargo.

In the passageways beyond, Jonathan noted that more of those glowing filaments lined the metal bulkheads, placed between strange symbols.

The human, alien and robot party proceeded through those convoluted passages and compartments.

Jonathan transmitted over a private line, excluding Barrick.

“Keep your mapping programs active,” he said. That would ensure their aReals recorded a blueprint of every compartment or passageway observed by their external cameras.

“Captain, drag position,” one of the Centurions transmitted.

Jonathan glanced over his shoulder. Two more black mists had shown up, and followed behind the rearmost robots.

“Why do I suddenly feel like a prisoner?” Captain Rodriguez said.

“I almost think it would have been better to stay in the hangar bay,” Rail added. “At least then we’d know we had only one bulkhead separating us from freedom. A few blasts from the Dragonfly’s lasers and we’d be out.”

Jonathan didn’t answer, but he was experiencing similar doubts.

Don’t tell me I’ve given the aliens seven high ranking officers as hostages, just like Miko predicted. Was I wrong to trust them?

In that moment he was very glad he’d taken along so many combat robots.

So far, it seemed Barrick was leaving their minds alone, so the psychic shielding in the suits must have been working. Then again, if a psychic attack was taking place, Jonathan likely wouldn’t know it.

Bridgette had reported that Barrick was able to transmit full sentences into her conscious mind. That he had not yet done so to anyone present was a good sign. Of course, the telepath might be holding back, merely pretending he couldn’t penetrate the shielding.

What a quandary we find ourselves in.

In time the group arrived at a dead end. A hatch opened, and the Raakarr waited outside while the party entered. The hatch sealed behind them, and the yellow fumes vented until the air was clear. An inner hatch opened, and Barrick gestured.

“After you, Captain,” the telepath said.

J
onathan stepped beyond the inner hatch and found himself inside an expansive compartment with a low overhead.

“Look familiar, Captain Chopra?” Jonathan asked.

“It’s similar to the holding compartment they arranged for us on their prison ship, T300,” Sil Chopra answered. “A bit
too
similar for my tastes, actually.”

Chief Galaal gave her a concerned look from behind his faceplate, but Sil was careful not to glance his way, Jonathan noticed.

“The air is safe to breathe,” Barrick said casually.

“I can confirm,” Connie said. Even without her scanner and full scientific equipment, the spacesuits had built in atmospheric samplers that constantly monitored the external environment.

Jonathan checked his own readings. Sure enough, the air was safe.

All eyes turned to the captain. They wanted to test the air, Jonathan knew, yet he suspected a trick on Barrick’s part.

He wants us to remove our helmets so he can get into our heads...

Jonathan switched to a private channel that excluded Barrick. “I want you to set up one of the tents, Connie.”

“Aye Captain,” the chief scientist returned. She lowered her backpack and removed the frame rods.

Barrick stood there with a knowing smile the whole time she raised the portable shelter, just as if he knew precisely what the tent was for, and thought it useless against him.

When Connie was done, Jonathan switched back to the main channel and said: “Barrick, get in there.”

The telepath smirked and then shrugged. He crouched and entered the tent.

“Seal it behind you,” Jonathan instructed.

He saw the zipper close as Barrick sealed the entrance flap from the inside.

Excluding the telepath from the channel, Jonathan said: “Connie, are we safe?”

“His psi powers should be shielded,” Connie said. “It shouldn’t matter whether he’s on the inside of the tent and we’re on the outside, or vice versa.”

“All right,” Jonathan said. “Any volunteers?”

Chief Galaal glanced at his LPO. “Helium, care to do the honors?”

The MOTH LPO removed his helmet and abruptly wrinkled his nose. “Gah! Smells like something died in here!”

Jonathan removed his own helmet. It indeed smelled like death—the scent of rot and putridity was almost overwhelming.

“Why would it smell like this?” Chief Galaal said. “There were no captured humans held here.”

“As far as we know,” Jonathan said. “Which is very little. We never did recover all the prisoners that were taken from the
Selene.
”

Beside him, Sil seemed visibly ill.

“I think it’s more likely they penned up some of the Raakarr from the opposing faction here after the uprising. At least for a little while.” The chief nodded toward one corner. “Those look like bloodstains to me. Who wants to hazard a guess what they did to the rest of the crew...?”

“I’m liking this mission less and less by the minute,” Rodriguez said. “Tell me again why I volunteered for this?” He glanced at Jonathan. “Oh yeah. To save your wrinkled behind.”

“If these are going to be our quarters, you’d think they could have taken the time to air the place out,” Rail said. “It would be the hospitable thing to do. Barrick, tell them I want this place fumed out and meticulously scrubbed immediately.”

Barrick’s muffled voice came from inside the tent a moment later: “I seem to be having trouble contacting them, at the moment.” That was a good sign that the psi-shielding was working. Assuming he was telling the truth. “But they told me earlier that your quarters were provided ‘as-is.’“ He sounded slightly tinny, which meant he still wore his helmet, and his voice was coming from the external speakers.

“
As-is?
” The disgust rolled off Rail’s tongue. “Surely they can afford to send in some cleaner robots?”

“I don’t think they have anything like that,” Barrick replied. “At least nothing I’ve seen. They have machines of course, but most are restricted to surgical or construction roles.”

“Tell them to bring some sanitation equipment then,” Rail ordered. “And we’ll do it ourselves.”

“I’ll see what I can get them to drum up later,” Barrick said.

“All right, people,” Jonathan said. “Helmets back on.”

When everyone had replaced their helmets, Jonathan switched back to the private channel that excluded Barrick. The built-in noise cancelers of the helmet ensured that without the external speakers turned on, the sound of his voice wouldn’t penetrate to the outside.

“Stay in the tents at all times when you take off your helmets,” Jonathan said. “We don’t need any psi interference from the telepath, or the aliens for that matter.” Switching back to the general channel, he said: “Barrick, you can come out now.”

The telepath unsealed the flap and emerged, all smiles behind his faceplate.

Jonathan removed his backpack and set it down against the bulkhead. “When will I be given access to the bridge?”

Barrick seemed puzzled. “Captain?”

Jonathan had trouble keeping his voice under control. “Again, I thought we had an understanding that I would be given access to the bridge. I need to be present when we enter United Systems space to ensure no misunderstandings occur between human vessels and the
Talon
.”

“Ah, yes. A moment.” Barrick’s eyes defocused. Then: “Valor is intrigued by you, Captain. He says he was impressed with the strategies you threw at the Raakarr in the last battle.”

“It was only partially me,” Jonathan said. “Most of the credit goes to my tactical officer, and the
Callaway’s
AI.”

“Even so, he admires you,” Barrick said. “And believes you are a great tactician. As a show of goodwill, he wants to offer you a place on the bridge as an observer.”

“That’s mighty kind of him,” Jonathan said, his voice oozing sarcasm. “Considering that we already
agreed
I would be given a place on the bridge.”

“Yes,” Barrick said. “Do you wish to come now, then?”

“Obviously,” Jonathan said.

“I’ll go as well,” Rail said.

“Me too,” Rodriguez stood eagerly. “It’s better than staying locked in this dreary compartment playing VR games all day.”

“Count me in,” Chopra said.

“Well if you’re going...” Chief Galaal said.

Barrick raised his hands. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid Valor’s invitation extends to Captain Dallas alone.”

Rodriguez frowned in disappointment.

“This is an outrage,” Rail said. “We’re all of equal rank here.” She glanced at Connie and the MOTHs and sniffed. “Most of us, anyway.”

Barrick regarded Jonathan with an expression that seemed uncertain. “Captain? Do you want to come alone or not?”

“Tell your friend Valor we deserve better than this,” Rail said. “And we’re going to inform the fleet about our treatment when we arrive.”

“I shall,” Barrick told her.

“Sorry, people,” Jonathan said. “I’ll have to agree with Valor on this one. If it was my bridge, I wouldn’t want too many nonessentials standing around, either.” He turned toward the Chief. “I need to borrow two of your Centurions.”

“Alpha one and two, with the captain!” Chief Galaal ordered.

The specified robots formed up on either side of Jonathan.

Barrick gave him a look of surprise.

“You don’t expect me to travel this ship unescorted, do you?” Jonathan said.

“I suppose not,” Barrick said. “I’ll have to clear it with Valor.”

“You’re in charge in my absence, Captain Rodriguez,” Jonathan told the man. Excluding Barrick, he added: “I’ll grant everyone full remote viewing access to my aReal. You’ll see everything I see, hear everything I hear. We’ll maintain radio contact at all times.”

“It’s a big ship, and we don’t have HLED lights in the overhead to retransmit our packets,” Captain Rodriguez said. “How do we know the raw signal will pass through all the bulkheads in between our positions?”

“You forget that we have signal boosters,” Jonathan said. “The
Talon
contains an active comm node, previously captured from the
Selene
. And three more, if you include the comm nodes aboard the shuttle and the telemetry drones. Our aReals would have automatically logged into all of them by now. I didn’t see a ‘credentials refused’ message pop up anywhere on my HUD, so I know we’re using them all.” He passed his gaze over the other members of the party. “Any other concerns?”

There were none.

Jonathan turned to Barrick. “Let’s go.”

He soon found himself following Barrick and two Raakarr guards through the yellow-fumed passageways beyond; one Centurion marched directly in front of him, the other directly behind.

He switched to a private line with Barrick, excluding even Robert. His next words were for the telepath alone.

“I want to make something clear,” Jonathan told the telepath. “I don’t trust you, and I never will. I can’t forgive you for what you did. Bridgette almost died because of you. You could have kidnapped someone else. Anyone. But you chose her.”

“There is a specific reason I chose her,” Barrick stated flatly.

“Really? And what is that?”

The torso of Barrick’s spacesuit swiveled and the telepath glanced at him sidelong. “I can’t reveal that to you, unfortunately.”

“When you released her from the ship while we were in orbit above the star, did you know she would survive?” Jonathan asked.

Barrick turned away. “In some futures, she died during the crossing between the ships. In others, she died shortly after retrieval. But in most of them she and her child lived. And they were strengthened by the ordeal.”

Some futures. He kept talking as if he’d seen multiple branches of the future. In her debriefing report, Bridgette said he had claimed something along those lines.

“So you didn’t know then, you’re saying,” Jonathan pressed. “Not for certain.”

“No, I did not,” Barrick admitted. “How is she, by the way. Bridgette?”

“She’ll live,” Jonathan said. “We think. No thanks to you. But the doctors don’t know if her baby will survive.”

“Did Bridgette tell you why I tried to take over the
Callaway?
” Barrick asked.

“Something about... you thought you were trying to save us.” Jonathan said.

“That is correct. There was a man aboard the prison ship, T300. An Artificial, to be precise. A prisoner taken from the
Selene
.”

“You’re talking about the Phant?” Jonathan said.

“So you know,” Barrick replied. “Good. Now you understand why I wanted to destroy that ship. He is the greatest threat to humanity.”

“But you were making us target the
Salvador,
” Jonathan said.

“She would have gotten in the way,” Barrick told him. “Once the
Salvador
was disabled, I would have concentrated fire on T300. And eliminated the Phant. But I failed.”

“You talk as if the Phant is still alive,” Jonathan said. “Even if it survived T300’s destruction above the subgiant, its body will be on a decaying orbit with that star. The Phant will never escape the massive gravity on its own. It is a threat to no one.”

“You’re wrong,” Barrick said. “Somehow the Phant always escapes the destruction of T300. Sometimes it stows away in the lifepod I take with Valor to the
Talon
. Sometimes it sneaks aboard Bridgette’s Dragonfly.”

“What are you talking about?” Jonathan said. “He’s aboard the
Talon?
Or the
Callaway?
Why didn’t you warn us before?”

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Barrick said. “I tried that, in some iterations of the future. Didn’t help. The Phant always goes into hiding, surfacing again only near the very end. The Phants, they are a very long-lived, very patient race. It is not beyond them to plan the downfall of a species for millennia.”

Jonathan wasn’t sure what to believe. In any case he unmuted Robert and said: “Commander, I want you to perform a full sweep of the
Callaway
. Apparently there is a chance the Phant is still aboard.”

“I’ll get on it,” Robert replied a few seconds later.

“While you’re at it,” Jonathan added. “Have every ship in the fleet perform a similar sweep.”

“Will do,” Robert returned.

Jonathan turned back toward Barrick and switched back to the private line. “Some iterations of the future... you keep saying that, or variations on the theme, anyway.”

“And so I do.”

“How did you get this ability to see these different futures?” Jonathan asked.

“Do you remember the Raakarr we captured?” Barrick said. “When I linked with him, he used my mind to unveil humanity’s paths and way points.”

“So the Raakarr can see our future, too?”