“Affirmative, Chief,” said Bear. “Be alert for moving spider things, they are very unfriendly.”
Chapter 20
CIC, Peggy Sue
“Captain, I am receiving a communication from the alien vessel,” the onboard Computer announced. The Captain looked up from the display tank where the computer was slowly constructing a 3D model of the alien ship’s interior by tracing the movements of the boarding party members inside. “The ship, not the shuttle?” he asked. “Can you decode it?”
After an uncharacteristic pause, Peggy Sue’s computer replied. “It is in the language of the builders—the creatures that built the artifact and the ship it was aboard. Captain, it says that it is the T’aafhal battle cruiser M’tak Ka’fek—roughly translated,
Righteous Vengeance
. The author of the signal claims to be an AI and all that is left of the crew.”
“Does this AI say what it wants?”
“It wants to speak with my commanding officer, Captain.”
“Can you translate for us?”
“There is no need, Captain,” a new voice answered. “I have received sufficient data from your ship’s computer to learn your language.”
“I see,” said Jack, trying to remain calm and in control. “How should I address you?”
“Please call me M’tak, Sir.”
Sir? That sounds rather interesting coming from a supposedly dead alien battle cruiser.
Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “We came in response to your beacon and I have sent a party to board you. Would you prefer we withdraw?”
“Heavens no, Captain. I have been waiting millions of your years for friendly forces to rescue me. My crew has long since passed away and I fear that the T’aafhal are no more. My power reserves are nearly exhausted. I cannot maneuver or defend myself. I retain only enough antimatter to scuttle the ship if hostile forces attempt to take me.”
“M’tak, if you are going to scuttle yourself I would like to withdraw my personnel first,” the Captain said, trying to suppress his anxiety.
“Do not fear, Captain. I do not wish to scuttle myself. I have examined the data stored in your computer and in the damaged memory system it is attached to. The memory unit you refer to as the ” artifact” is the long-term memory store for an AI like myself. As far as I can tell, it came from another T’aafhal ship—you would call it a battleship—that crashed on your world, possibly after the same battle that I was disabled in.
“I have reviewed that ship’s actions, and the evolutionary guidance given your races. I can only conclude that you are the legitimate successors to those who built me. I would ask that you claim me or take me a prize.”
Jack’s head swam,
this ancient warship wants us to take her over? Just how do we accomplish that?
A million questions danced in Jack’s mind but out loud he said, “How do we proceed, M’tak? If you are out of power, how can we sail you away from here?”
“As with all T’aafhal ships, I am capable of self repair if sufficient power is available. Your crew on board me has discovered the auxiliary antimatter unit that I opened for them to find. I also notice that there is a standard size three antimatter container aboard your shuttle. If that container can be placed in the generator unit I can power up basic life-support and other ancillary systems.”
“Will you be able to maneuver and defend yourself once the fuel container is installed?”
“No, Captain. Returning me to fighting form will take much more antimatter than contained in a single size three container.”
“I see. Let me discuss this with my officers…”
Engineering Spaces, Battle Cruiser M’tak Ka’fek
“You want us to do what, Sir?” asked an incredulous JT. His team was hunkered down near the open antimatter storage rack, awaiting orders. These orders, however, were not what he expected.
“I want your team to remove one of the empty eggs from the open generator unit you discovered. The ship’s AI says the only active one will have a different symbol illuminated than the empties. Chief Morgan and the SEALs are bringing you a full egg to be inserted in place of the one you remove.”
“Aye aye, Captain.”
Crap,
he thought.
The last time we were stealing eggs, not installing them. Well, the Captain seems sure about what he’s doing, and there has been no sign of spider-things or other hostiles.
“You can relax, Marines. It sounds like we are going to try and refuel this beast.”
With help from LCpl. Feldman, JT managed to remove one of the spent eggs, opening a space for the new egg that was delivered by the SEALs just as they were finishing the retraction. “Somebody here order an egg?” asked PO Jones.
“Yeah, Bud. Give it to Feldman, he knows where to put it.”
“That ain’t what I hear,” Jones scoffed with a grin.
“I hope the Captain knows what he’s doing,” said Kowalski.
“Of course he does,” said Feldman loyally. “That’s why he’s the captain and you ain’t.”
The egg slipped comfortably into the empty spot in the generator unit, the surrounding material swelling up to cradle and position the fuel container. The lit symbol above the new egg switched from empty to full and seconds later things started happening.
The dim interior lighting became brighter and gravity asserted itself. Several of the expedition members fell to the deck, being caught in unstable positions. The opening in the generator unit grew shut, securing the eggs within. “It looks like the power is back on, guys,” Rosey Acuna remarked. Then a deep voice came over the radio.
“You all may want to come forward and take a look at what we found,” said Lt. Bear. “If you think Peggy Sue’s bridge is impressive, wait until you see this!”
Captain’s Sea Cabin, Peggy Sue
“It appears that the AI has been able to restore deck gravity and environmental support on the M’tak Ka’fek,” Peggy Sue’s onboard computer reported. “I sense no activation of drives, shields or offensive weapons, Captain.”
“All as the AI said it would be. Thank you, Peggy Sue,” the Captain respond. Jack looked at the people gathered in his sea cabin: Lcdr. Curtis, Dr. Tropsha, Chief Engineer Medina, from the science section Doctors Saito, Piscopia and Gupta and the incorporeal presence of Ambassador NatHanGon. “We have come to a watershed decision—do we attempt to salvage the alien derelict or not?”
“The technological advances it represents are almost incalculable, Captain,” said Rajiv. This drew agreement from Yuki, Elena and Jo Jo.
“Sir, that selectively permeable hatch is astounding enough to get my vote,” added Jo Jo. “If there is anyway we can salvage her I say it is worth the risks.”
“And I repeat,” said Elena. “that gaining access to their charts could save us decades in terms of exploration. We would be able to look for allies that helped the T’aafhal, instead of groping blindly.”
“I think we all agree that the M’tak Ka’fek represents an incredible treasure if it can be piloted to Earth,” Jack said. “My worry is what could go wrong. Ambassador, what do the Triads know of the T’aafhal? Can the AI be trusted? Can the ship be salvaged?”
“The T’aafhal ship is, indeed, far advanced beyond your present level of technology, Captain; The AI is a sentient being, possibly insane, possibly with an agenda of its own; Salvage should be possible given a sufficient supply of antimatter,” the Ambassador said. “It would greatly enhance your viability in the inevitable conflict to come; It should not be trusted without question; The T’aafhal fought the Dark Lords to a stalemate before disappearing millions of years ago.”
Jack starred down at his desk for a few moments, thoughts racing. Looking back up, he sought the eyes of his companions, saying, “everything we are doing comes with high risk and improbable odds. I once thought that the technology we inherited from the artifact had put us on a level with our prospective enemies, but the last attack on the Peggy Sue and the derelict fleet before us say that is not the case.”
“What are you saying, Captain?” asked Ludmilla, the first hint of worry in her eyes.
“I’m saying that we are over-matched by our enemies and if Earth is to survive we must double down. Attempting to salvage this ship is a gamble we must take.”
“But what about all the knowledge we have already gained? Should we risk that as well?” asked Yuki.
“Indeed not, Dr. Saito. That is why the Peggy Sue must remain outside of the graveyard, ready to flee at a moment’s notice to the transfer point back to Earth. If our attackers from Beta Hydri, or any other unknown vessels show up, or if something goes awry with the salvage that could endanger this ship, it must return to base as quickly as possible.”
“It sounds like you do not intend to be on board the Peggy Sue if and when such events transpire, Sir,” said Gretchen, concern rising in her voice.
“That is correct,” Jack said to the startled expedition members seated across from him. “Tell them why, Peggy Sue.”
“Certainly, Captain. The M’tak has flatly stated that it will not pass control to anyone other than the Captain of this ship. It is evidently honoring some chain of command protocol instituted by its builders.”
“So there it is—if we wish to salvage the M’tak Ka’fek, I must be the one who assumes command.”
King Lewnhallooshna’s Flagship
The King’s avenging fleet had finally maneuvered into a proper position and course vector to follow the Peggy Sue into alter-space. Commodore Bonnahaamshna was nervously observing the fleet’s formation, sending admonishments to those captains whose vessels strayed from position.
“Commodore! Why are we not yet in alter-space, running down the vermin who have violated my kingdom?”
“We shall be in alter-space in a matter of seconds, my King,” replied the fleet’s commander, half expecting to feel the sting of one of the King’s spines before the departure from 3-space. “Transition in three, two, one…”
The close formation of ships shimmered as one and vanished into the quantum otherness of alter-space, falling across the short distance that connected the gravity wells of Beta Hydri and Alpha Canis Majoris. “We have entered alter-space, your Magnificence. We will emerge into normal space in eleven and a half hours.”
“Excellent, Commodore. I grow evermore impatient to wreak vengeance upon the warm-life interlopers. Alert me a half hour before emergence.”
“As you command, oh Great King,” said Bonnahaamshna, lowering his spines in obeisance.
Thank the Spirits of the Void
, he thought as his sovereign left the bridge for private chambers.
If we can mount a successful attack on these vermin I may just survive my tenure as fleet commander.
Captain’s Pinnace, Spaceship Graveyard
The small shuttle picked its way carefully through the floating debris of the spaceship graveyard—flotsam, jetsam and the ruined hulks of hundreds of derelicts forming an ever shifting, three dimensional obstacle course. Piloting chores were in the capable hands of Sandy McKinnett, whose experience as a bush pilot was a definite advantage. The pinnace bobbed and weaved its way around the wreckage, threading a safe course to the T’aafhal cruiser.
On board the pinnace were the Captain, HC2 White, Mizuki Ogawa, Aput and, by their own request, the Triad Ambassador’s floating avatar. Nestled in the rear was a large antimatter storage egg. Mizuki and Aput were included at the insistence of the science staff, who argued that they might be useful in figuring out how to operate the onboard alien equipment. The Captain had flatly denied requests from the senior scientists to participate, telling them they were too valuable to risk their lives on such a venture.
Betty White was along to provide medical care if needed. At first, Ludmilla had demanded that she be included, but Jack would have none of it. “You have valuable knowledge of alien biology and environments, made more essential and unique by the death of Sally Li. And you also have still recovering patients in the sick bay,” he argued.
“Please, Jack,” she pleaded. “Do not do this, do not abandon me.”
“I’m not abandoning you, my Lady,” he replied. “But I cannot diminish Earth’s chances of survival by letting you, or the other senior scientists, risk themselves on what is arguably a military salvage mission.” The Captain’s logic could not be denied, and Ludmilla had too strong a sense of duty to not follow orders.
“If you die, Jack,” she said, her face expressionless but her eyes shooting daggers at him, “I will never forgive you.”
“Then I shall endeavor not to.” Those were the last words they had exchanged. Still troubled by their strained parting, Jack forced such thoughts out of his head, there were more pressing matters at hand.
“Captain, we’re coming up on the target,” reported Sandy from the flight deck. “We’ll be in front of the magic hatch in a minute.”
“Roger, Lieutenant. I think I need to talk with the AI before we attempt to dock,” Jack responded. “M’tak Ka’fek, this is Captain Jack Sutton, we request docking instructions.”
“Captain Sutton, the starboard side shuttle bay is open and waiting for your arrival. Welcome aboard, Sir…”