Nova (47 page)

The room was as pristine as the rest, featuring a work desk
with a data–station and interestingly, some sort of micro–lab set up, complete
with a cooling unit, a methodically organized sample cabinet, and an array of high
tech microscopes. With Avara standing alert and stationed to the side of the
closed door, K’llan quickly took a seat in the bright white desk chair and
started working to hack into the data–terminal.

The glimmering orange of the terminal’s holo–keypad and
displays bled into the dark office like a low fire creeping through the foundation
of a domicile at sleep, unsuspected until flame was inescapable. It was not,
Avara mused as she split her attention between K’llan at work and any potential
Karukai approach, a comforting simile.

Some twenty–five minutes or so later, Avara could feel a
spike of triumph mingled with antipathy as K’llan whispered energetically
“Avara, this facility
is not
a slave processing center. It is a cloning
research and production center!”

“
What
?” Avara responded. “I can see the research but…
production? Where? The facility is too small…”

“I… I do not know yet. But the data is clear. There are species
work–ups and samples, genetic variance and trait inheritance tables, nucleotide
and amino acid relation, resultant sequencing… All speak to the research aspect
of this facility and the need for a diverse body of well cared for sample
species. The data points to determined efforts to increase life expectancy and
physical potency of Karukai clones.”

Pausing for a moment, her eyes flying across the data–feeds,
K’llan bit her lip and then continued, “However, none of the research requires
the massive amount of power this complex generates. Or the numerous references
to ‘
product readiness’
and ‘
shipment release
.’ Plus, there are
several write–ups regarding experimental, small–batch clone outcomes and
chronologically mapped clone prototype results. Finally, all of the data is set
against mass production equations.”

“But…” Avara started, her brain working furiously as the
full suite of ramifications battered her mind like a jack–hammer. “There’s no
reason to have such a facility here, in a portion of unclaimed Black Space
that’s just a week out from Quorum territory unless…”

Effortless conjuring up maps of pertinent star systems and
planets, including the Zirgesh worlds of Moxar and Chitnai as well as the Human
planets of Xie and Abir, all of which pose such an easy lead–in to the Quorum governed
world of Avex…

“Unless the Karukai are preparing for a full–scale strike
and invasion of this sector of Quorum Space and intend to capitalize on the
Fosaki border as a closed front to safeguard their operations!” Avara
exclaimed, feeling like she’d just been smacked in the face, so significant
were the ramifications.

 “By She Who Watches!” K’llan’s snow–white skin seemed to
pale even further as her mind moved in sync with Serros’s own. “Outpost J2
signifies decades of work, Avara. Considering the risk and investment of
capital this venture represents, that means the Karukai must fully intend…”

“
War
.” The Human Shield Operative rapped out in
tandem with Z’arr. She could feel the tide of grim resolution wash over her as
the two looked at one another in perfect accord for the space of a score of
heartbeats. “Get us the Comm Hub location and download everything you can. Sync
the data to our CPAs. Additionally, find the location of the clone–tanks. We
cannot
allow them to reach maturation.”

Avara could
feel
that K’llan understood how much
Serros detested what she was proposing. In return, Avara could also sense the
Vosaia’s own keen aversion to what both now knew, had to be of
greater
importance
than escaping Dantis.

Ensuring that the Quorum was made aware of the imminent
Karukai threat and most critically, that Outpost J2 was permanently taken out
of play. In the end calculation, terminating the clone–production facility was more
important than their individual lives.

Yet despite the fact that Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr knew that
given this dire equation their live were expendable, Avara Serros felt only the
barest hesitation before the Vosaia nodded in acquiescence to all that had been
said and was left unsaid.

With a tight smile of grim acknowledgment, K’llan bent her
head down and back to the task at hand as Captain Serros kept watch.

CHAPTER 24

Exiting the
QS Excalibur’s
lift at Deck 12, Commander
Marcus Perez felt a well of excitement and carefully reserved optimism flood
through him, as he shifted his bulky frame to dodge a Mech Technician half–jogging
by towards one of the Bay’s consoles.

It had been three weeks since the
TS Ardent’s
explosion; twenty–one days since Avara and K’llan went MIA. Though the work
schedule had been grueling and tempers had run hot under stress and strain, the
starship that he and the rest of the crew called home was now entirely repaired
with all systems live.

Two days ago they had finally been able to send a status
update to the Quorum with a request for reinforcements and, having received confirmation,
knew that help was about a week out. Though a lot could happen in a week, it
was still a huge relief to know that the cavalry was on its way. More
depressing, had been the reality that despite almost a month of frantic
searching and the deployment of literally dozens of portable sensor relays and
probes spattered throughout the system, no sign or word of the missing Captain
and Lieutenant had been found.

That is, until one hour ago.

Having spied his target, Marcus forced himself to move at a
measured, albeit swift pace towards a just docked Astra
Striker S3
Class
starfighter. Deckhands and Techs were crawling all over the fighter as the
pilot worked to break free from cockpit constraints. Perez stood ramrod straight
as the fighter’s canopy popped and a helmeted, blue, black, and white skinsuit
clad pilot gracefully slid down the half extended ladder to the granulated surface
of the docking bay’s floor.

Turning to face him, the pilot pressed the helmet release
and, after it retracted into the light armor like a sort of slim torq, the
pilot offered an almost casual salute.

“Welcome back, Major King. I was pleased to receive your
preliminary report; I’d like to hear the full version now.”

“Yes Sir, Commander.”
Ghost Squadron’s
Wing–Commander
replied, a smile set across her face even as she pushed back a persistent
strand of shoulder length, dark golden–red hair that had been ruthlessly mashed
by a half–dozen hours in a flight–helmet.

“At approximately oh–nine–hundred and twelve, while
surveying Quadrant E9 of Dantis’s south–eastern equatorial region, I picked up what
seemed to be back–feed from the sensor rely I had deployed thirteen minutes earlier.
After sending a quick status update, I followed the signal trail to its source to
check it out.”

“I see.” Perez replied thoughtfully, brows knitting as he
added, “And you decided to land your fighter on a potentially hostile planet?
One that is very likely occupied by Karukai, without
first
flying to a
free communications zone for an immediate response and the deployment of back–up?”

“Yes, Sir, I did.” The Major responded.

“Because?”

“Because in my estimation, Sir, it was most important for me
to discover if the message was being sent by Captain Serros and if she was in
need of immediate rescue. If something had happened to me, the data I sent
would’ve still been bounced back to the ship, but time could have proved
critical for the Captain.”

Marcus paused a moment in consideration of the relatively
new addition to the
Excalibur
that he had, to date, interacted
relatively little with. His scrutiny of the Wing–Commander was rather intense
as he considered the Major’s words and body language. He didn’t need to have a
Synergy Enhancement to read King’s assurance in her decision and course of
action. In fact, if anything, though her lazy drawl was respectful, her tone
bespoke easy confidence and her eyes were sparkling with a sense of cocky self–surety.

“I see. Continue your report, Major.” Perez finally stated,
deliberately keeping a solid, “Commander’s mask” in place as he listened to King’s
report.

“Well, as I approached the coordinates, it became clear that
the back–feed was indeed a distress signal from an emergency beacon. I reached
its source and decided to go for a walk and take a gander.” Once more, a wide,
brash smile splashed across the fighter pilot’s face as she announced, “Well, I
found me a Karukai life–pod;
Ardent’s
missin’ Pod 4!”

Despite his determination to keep his emotions in check,
Marcus couldn’t help but issue his own answering grin to the Major. In response,
she smiled even wider, a grin that brought light to her rather attractive,
subtle eyes like sunlight brushing moss.

“And more, Commander. A looped message from the Captain and
Lieutenant! They modified the beacon to extend its range and replay the S.O.S.,
along with a report that the two were both whole and making their way to the
Karukai Outpost J2. They intend to gather intel and find a way to make it off–planet.
They listed their projected coordinates and route, and we have it all, Sir!”

Marcus couldn’t help himself. He laughed out loud and with a
swift slap on the Wing–Commander’s shoulder, exclaimed, “Well done, Major!
Anything else?”

“Thanks, Commander. Nope, I wasn’t able to find anything
else, and that’s when I felt it would be best to return to refuel and get help.
I didn’t want to miss our people or accidently stir up snake’s nest that would
put ‘em in danger.” For the first time, the Major looked uncertain, as if she
questioned choice as to continuing her search.

“I understand, and it was the right decision, Major. Now, go
ahead and get some grub and rack–time before your next search deployment.”
Perez ordered, letting the Junior Officer hear the approval he felt.

“Thanks, Sir, but if it’s all the same, I’d really like to be
a part of the next sweep.”

Perez fought his immediate inclination to answer in the negative,
catching the stubborn set of
Ghost Squadron’s
lead. It was funny, but even
though she was only a little over twelve years younger, he couldn’t help but to
think that she reminded him of himself. And, to a certain degree, of a less–polished
and much less serious, more youthful version of Avara. He knew that she was an
Arca I with a PV, meaning physically, she could handle an extra rotation with
relative ease.

And, there was something about her…

“Very well, Major. After all, seems to me that you’re
developing a habit of finding Senior Officer’s that have strayed.” He answered,
offering a smile along with the reference to her having located him and the
rest of Nova aboard the other Karukai pod weeks earlier.

“Well, I like a challenge, Commander.” King replied with a
twist of her lips, her gaze both spirited and enthusiastic at the same time.

“Then you’re on the right ship, Major. Grab some food and a
shower, then be ready to depart with a search team in thirty.”

“Will do, Commander.”

Somewhat bemused, Marcus half–shook his head as he commed
Adeline. “Adeline, organize a three group search: one shuttle and fighter per
group. King will lead the first group, and I want Ca’rrakk, Rygel, and Naxos on
the shuttles. We have a hit.”

Diana’s voice immediately rapped back “Already started
before King landed. Marcus… details?” Perez could clearly hear the contained eagerness
in his friend’s voice as she spoke.

“Avara and K’llan were both alive and well, and are making
their way to the Karukai Outpost to escape the planet. They left a trajectory
and coordinates. We know
where
they’re headed. And,” Marcus added,
hearing the exultation he felt coloring his own voice, “We know
Avara
;
she’ll make it.”

“Yes, she will.” Marcus noted that Diana’s voice, normally
so painfully proper and modulated, was no less fierce than his own.

“I want a debrief with the pilots and Nova Squad in the
Strategy Room in…”

Perez was cut–off mid–sentence as a persistent, low–toned
but demanding
ruuu–eem
,
ruuu–eem
alert sounded throughout the
Excalibur
,
notifying all aboard that an unexpected starship had just come within scope of
long–range sensors.

“Diana?” Perez asked a moment later, slipping into the lift
and quickly issuing the directive for the Command Deck.

“One vessel, unidentified as of yet, but… its scale and
early readings indicate a battlecrusier.” She coolly voiced a second later. He
could practically see her in his mind, efficiently pouring over data as her head
and hands flew through information and relevant commands to dissect what
exactly it was, that they were facing.

With a growl of seething irritation and worry laced with
furious resolve, Perez replied, “I’m enroute.”

Dammit! With Avara so close, why
now
?

There was no answer forthcoming to his query, and for the
moment, he found that all he could do was silently will the lift to hurry up
and get him the Hell to where he was needed.

 * * * * *

“Commander, ‘tis a Karukai battlecrusier… looks like an
Eclipse Designs,
Juggernaut
Class. Cannot gather specific designation as
of yet.” Lieutenant Commander Adeline crisply fired the moment Marcus entered
the Bridge.

And he could see it, on the view. A massive, blood–red
battlecruiser with thick, black outlined vermilion slashes and traced with onyx
and gold markings. It was a ship that significantly outclassed
QS
Excalibur,
with its likely complement of over fifteen–hundred Karukai. Further, only five–hundred
or so would actually be the crew; the rest would be marines and fighter pilots.
Soldiers accomplished in war, in bringing death.