The sentinels had been waiting at the edge of the system, monitoring and protecting the colony since the seeding. Forty thousand cycles they had waited, watching the initial deployment, the failure of technology, the fall to barbarism, and the climb from almost failure back to the beginnings of technology once again.
The inhabitants of the third world of this system called themselves humans. Now in their nuclear age, still unstable from the onslaught of technology, they were beginning to act as a community, though there were still rebel elements among them. These humans were reaching for the stars, though the effort was still sporadic, suffering from the limitations of their independent governments.
And they were noisy. Little known to them, something other than their parent civilization had now taken notice because of that noise. Something malevolent.
Sentinel-9 broke its orbit just after the alien probe left the system. It folded space and went home, bringing news of the colony’s discovery by the ancient enemy.
Captain Cassiopeia Timone stood watch on the bridge of the Coalition destroyer Achilles. She and her crew had just pulled another of a long series of boring patrols.
Gods, still a captain after all these years. And on a destroyer no less. It may be time for the youngsters to take over. I’m still a young woman. She sobered. But space is all I know. Maybe I should become a ship’s captain of my own! At least the paperwork would be lighter. A smirk escaped as she dove back into yet another of the endless stream of reports. The admiralty must be drowning in these.
Cassie was not quite middle-aged as Xandarians lived well over 200 revolutions. Still slim and spry, she was in her sixtieth cycle, though somewhat petite for a Xandarian female topping out at a little over two meters. Cassie was the best of the small ship captains. She was in a position to be promoted some day to the next level. Someone would have to die first, though.
Like all military organizations that were not at war, the navy had become top heavy, with the old timers hanging on, trying to feel useful. The Coalition Navy had been her chosen path, though. Her father and grandfather had been admirals before her and had served with distinction.
******
The frontier had been quiet for over eighty revolutions. Still, the old destroyer and her sisters maintained their vigilance. Leftovers from the last Drakken/Coalition war, these ships hit hard, fast, and decidedly. Living up to the standards of the old fleet, they had an impressive array of offensive and defensive capabilities. Equipped with particle beam cannons and jump missiles that went superluminal just after launch, they were designed as first strike weapons. Along with those powerful weapons, they were equipped with a squadron of Scorpios strike fighters with atmospheric capabilities and a powerful laser down the centerline to slice up their victims. With rail guns for point defense, they were formidable indeed, a match for most cruisers except in armor. All that plus a ZPED (zero point energy drive/device) that gave them unlimited range and power. They were fast and highly maneuverable.
Captain Timone watched the old hands instructing the new on the bridge, two divisions into the watch, little knowing that the boring part was about to change.
******
Technician Tiber, one of the contingent of Sartorians, had just assumed the watch when the sentinel appeared, blaring its urgent warning in the display. The small azure telepath reported.
“Captain, I have a deep space signal from a sentinel class probe in octant eight,” Tiber announced.
A sentinel? That can only mean trouble! thought Cassie as she thought back to the reasons a sentinel would return.
“Put it on my display,” Captain Timone said calmly, “Launch ready fighters and recovery drone for intercept. Set condition one. All hands to battle stations. Report to Commander Nicar when at stations.”
Cassie listened and watched with satisfaction as the destroyer came to readiness and all stations reported clear for action within two centons.
The ships shook lightly as the ready fighters cleared the launch tubes two centons later, forming up off the port bow. In an instant, the squadron disappeared in a flash of blue to the coordinates of the probe.
Commander Nicar reported, “Ready for action ma'am, all stations manned, blast doors closed, engineering reports damage control teams at standby.”
“Very well Commander. Helm plot course to intercept. Engage on completion. Drop out at 1000 kilometers. Communications, connect me to ready one after the local jump.” Two blue flashes and the ship was on station.
“Connect to ready one, aye ma'am,” Lieutenant Scolari replied. “Ready one on coms, ma’am,” a cent later.
“Wing Commander Alton, do you have the probe in sight?” Timone inquired.
“I do, ma'am, recovery operations commencing in fifteen cents. Visual on probe indicates it is from an outer arm colony. It is ancient, ma'am. The probe is waiting authorization for data dump.”
“Do not authorize until probe is aboard and in quarantine. We’ll let security handle the download to a secure database. Hold station at 1000 km until the probe is shepherded aboard. Full decontamination of the recovery sentinel when they arrive.”
“Understood ma’am. Alton out,” Alton replied.
“Ship at station keeping at 1000 km relative, ma'am,” Ensign Obi reported.
“Very well ensign,” Captain Timone smiled at how well the crew had responded. The smile turned to a frown. She said, “Something doesn’t feel quite right. Nicar, report to the recovery bay for the rest of the operation.”
“Understood, ma’am,” said Nicar as he sped from the bridge.
“Lt. Commander Archon, go active on long range scanners. Look for subspace anomalies close by. Something smells,” commanded Timone.
******
Nicar reached the recovery bay at almost the same time as Lieutenant Valerion, the science and security officer. Both of them were cursing the slowness of the ancient destroyer’s lifts as they stepped out from their respective doors.
“I hope the next refit will do something about these things,” muttered Valerion as she freed herself from the clutches of the transport.
“You and me both,” chuckled the Nicar as he escaped the lift.
“Excuse me sir, I didn’t know that you were listening,” exclaimed Valerion, slightly embarrassed by the breach of protocol.
“No apologies necessary, Lieutenant. I was thinking the same thing. Let’s get out of the way.”
Both moved to safety and turned as the recovery probe and sentinel were brought into quarantine. Techs in contamination suits started the decontamination process and hooking up cables as the machines set them into their respective cradles.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a sentinel that old, sir.” Said Valerion, as the sentinel was laid in. “This thing is ancient!”
“Neither have I, Lieutenant. I wonder what secrets it holds… Something triggered its return trip,” said the Nicar softly.
“We’ll have the answer shortly, sir.” Valerion logged into the computer and started downloading the memory of the sentinel to a secure database.
“See what the recent records say. We can work back from there,” Nicar ordered. “We have to know why it returned. Report as soon as possible.”
“Aye, sir.” Valerion got to work.
“COMMANDER NICAR, TO THE BRIDGE! BATTLE STATIONS! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! BATTLE STATIONS! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!” blared the ship’s announcing circuit.
Nicar raced to the bridge, while Valerion sought a secure station to continue. She suspected that the alert was because of something in the download.
******
Nicar stepped on to the bridge and relieved the second officer, Lt. Commander Orion at Tactical, so that he could man the secondary bridge.
Archon called out, “Ship coming out of distortion at thirty-seven degrees azimuth by negative twenty two point five degrees elevation (37:-22.5:125.37 in shorthand), range 125.37 kilometers and closing. Power readings as Drakken cruiser class Wyvern!”
“Nicar, snap shot on particle beams, lead target by three degrees, snap shots on missile tubes three through nine. I want six birds in the air now, standby point defenses, reloads with bomb pumped lasers immediately! Shields up.” The Captain hardly raised her voice. “Helm, as soon as our missiles are away, turn us bow on to the target to bring our laser into play. Nicar, fire laser as soon as target acquired. Helm, evasive plan Beta after laser discharge. Alton, target on your starboard quarter. Incoming weapons hot. Clean up our mess if there is anything after the first wave.”
“Understood, Captain. Cleanup after the first wave. Alton out,” replied Alton.
Achilles rocked as the jump missiles fired, going superluminal as they cleared the tubes, only to drop out five kilometers from their target. Before the enemy cruiser had their sensors on line, the particle cannons ripped into her, with the missile’s bomb-pumped lasers a cent behind. The cruiser came apart before the laser aligned; an explosion marked its passing.
“Sensor sweep, Lieutenant Commander. Any other anomalies?” asked the Captain.
“No other distortions, ma’am. Sensors are clear, except for the debris field,” said Archon.
“Very well. Remain at battle stations till next watch. Begin cleanup, then stand down to condition two. Senior officers to the war room at turnover. Land ready flight,” said Captain Timone. “Nicar to my ready room. Alton, to my ready room on acquisition. Archon, you have the bridge.”
******
Alton stepped onto the deck of the hangar bay, tossed her helmet to WO5 Ajax, the deck officer, then took off running to the transporters. “Take care of the birds, please.”
Ajax nodded and gave her a thumbs up as she dashed off.
******
While they waited on the wing Commander, Captain Timone, deep in thought, asked, “Well XO, why do you suppose the Drakken would break the truce over a sentinel probe? It makes little sense. What does that thing contain that would give them reason to go to war, again?”
“Lieutenant Valerion is working on the problem now. I asked her to give us a report as soon as the data was decrypted,” replied Nicar.
The door to the ready room opened. Both Alton and Valerion entered, stood at attention, and saluted.
“Reporting as ordered, ma’am. Valerion has her initial report,” panted Alton.
“At ease. Have a seat, both of you. What do you have, Valerion?” asked the Captain.
“I’ll make it brief, Captain. The probe is from a system about a third of the way up the Orion spiral arm. The system has four gas giants, an asteroid belt rich in minerals, two planets in the habitable zone, and one that is inhabited. Specifically, the sentinel has information about the third planet in that system the locals call Earth. This is a colony planet of ours that was seeded forty thousand revolutions ago and that is again on the cusp of space-faring, after a time of barbarism that almost destroyed them. Nearly seven billion souls inhabit the planet. The return of the probe was sparked by an exploration vessel of Drakken origin that discovered the system and its inhabitants. It was sent to warn us of the intrusion.”
The Captain and XO took a moment to absorb the information that Lt. Valerion had given them.
“Captain to bridge. Set course for home. Communications, get me Admiral Antilles on a secure connection. Lock down all other outgoing communications from this ship. The ship communications are on lock down until further notice.” The Captain paused. “How many others have heard the information that you have just given us?”
Valerion answered, “Just those of us in this room, Captain. As soon as I realized what was at stake, I encrypted the entire database and hustled up here with my report.”
“Excellent, Lieutenant. No one else is privy to this information until we dock at Titan base. Understood? Lieutenant, step outside for a centon please.”
“Aye, Captain.” Valerion headed for the door.
After the door closed, Captain Timone started. “Well, we have a fine mess here, don’t we? We just destroyed a Drakken ship that was infringing on our small piece of space in pursuit of a probe of ours from a colony of ours that’s from a distant point in their space. In addition, pending further development of the database, we can almost assume that our lost colony has either developed nuclear weapons or is developing them and is on the verge of interplanetary space flight. Add to that everything that we know about the Drakken empire, including their propensity for eating our young when they aren’t enslaving us, and we have the beginnings of our next war with the Drakken. Does that about sum it up?”
Before her officers could give any input, Lieutenant Scolari interrupted. “Captain, I have Admiral Antilles on a secure SULCOM connection. Do you wish to take it in your ready room?”
“Put him through, Scolari.” It took only a cent for the ready room monitor to reveal the face of the admiral. “Good day, sir. I wouldn’t have disturbed you if it wasn’t important,” Timone reported.
“I’ll be the judge of that, Captain,” said Antilles. “What have you got for me?”
Captain Timone briefly outlined the skirmish and the report that Lt. Valerion had given them. As she proceeded, the admiral’s face slowly turned a ghastly shade of white. Completing the report, the admiral realized the implications and said, “Captain, you are to proceed directly to Titan base. Your ship will be quarantined until further notice. No one leaves except for you, Commander Nicar, and Lieutenant Valerion. You will report directly to my office upon arrival. Wear your dress uniforms. You will report directly to the council in a closed door meeting. Lieutenant Valerion will prepare a complete report of the sentinel’s database. You will prepare a complete action report for me as will Commander Nicar, pending a board of review. I will contact the Hercules to cover your patrol area. There will be no need for you to supply details. Hercules will not contact you. That is all. Antilles out.”
Timone sat back in her chair. “Bring in Valerion please XO.” She waited until the Lieutenant was seated before proceeding. “It will take us two divisions in fold space to reach Titan base. Lieutenant, you have two divisions to go through the database and put together a report. XO, you heard the man. He wants an action report independent from mine when we arrive. I also want a copy of all the ship’s logs to accompany us. No one has violated our truce with the Drakken for at least forty revolutions, hence the board of inquiry after our reports. We might have started a war with our old enemies, and I want all the evidence available on request. Commander Alton, your report, along with all the watch officers, will also be required. I suggest that you all snap to and get them done. I will talk to the bridge crew at once. Reports on my desk in three watch rotations. Dismissed. Lieutenant, stay, please.”
The XO and Commander Alton left, leaving the captain and lieutenant in silence. Finally, the captain rose. “I could use a cup of java. How about you, Lieutenant?”
Valerion replied, “Yes ma’am.” Still deep in thought.
While they waited for the steward, the captain began. “Jyl, can you do a complete report of the database, given the constraint in time?”
Surprised the captain had addressed her by first name, she answered as truthfully as she could. “Given the time constraint, I can probably have a decent report ready to go in a couple of divisions at the outside. But it will be short on detail, as there are over 40 thousand revolutions of information in it. Over 40 terabytes to filter through.”
A knock came at the door. Timone called out, “Enter!” and the steward entered with refreshments. The steward smiled as he poured, stirring in cream and sugar to the liking of Lieutenant Valerion. He left it black for the captain. “Thank you, Petty Officer Rogers. That will be all for now,” Timone said.
“A pleasure, ma’am. A pleasure, Lieutenant.”
“Likewise, Rogers,” said the Captain.
Rogers left the ready room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
“Continue please.” The Captain picked up her cup and blew on the hot liquid.
“How deep do you want me to delve into the database, ma’am?”
“Frankly, I don’t think that you’ll hold the attention of the council for more than about half an hour, so I think that a basic coverage up to the last 200 revolutions, starting in depth from that point on, should suffice. If you find something major in the past, be sure to bring it up, but I’m sure that the council will be more interested in the planet’s capabilities at this time.”
“The inhabitants of the planet call it Earth, ma’am. I think I can do an adequate job given the constraints that you have outlined. We also have languages from the transmissions to use as a reference. One seems to be the language of their sciences, and is used vociferously on many bandwidths. It appears to be the one of choice for scientific communication. Assuming we aren’t in quarantine very long, I think I can establish a translational program for us to talk to them.”
“One thing at a time, Jyl. I admire your enthusiasm, but don’t let it impede the initial report. Making that clear, concise and to the point is our first goal. After that, the rest will come if we stay within the bounds given to us by the council and fleet. Finish your java, then get started. I have to get back to the bridge. Thanks for your candor, Lieutenant.” Jyl stood as the Captain took her leave, finished her drink, and left for her lab shortly thereafter.
******
The Captain stepped through the hatch and watched her crew going about the ship’s business with practiced precision. Before resuming the watch, she toured the bridge, talking to each member of the alpha watch. Finally, stepping up to the big chair, she received a turnover from the XO. “I relieve you,” she said. The XO replied, “I stand relieved.” It was hard to believe that only three divisions had passed since alpha watch had assumed control.
“Helm, ready to go to Titan?” she asked.
“Ready, ma’am,” replied Ensign Obi at the helm.
Obi nodded at the XO. “All stations, prepare for fold space!”
“All stations report ready for fold space, Captain,” reported the XO two centons later.
“Very well, XO. You have the call, Ensign. Countdown from five cents. Time to leave.”
“I have the call,” replied Obi. “Five, four, three, two, one. Entering fold space.”
A brief blue flash encompassed the bridge as the ship entered fold space.
“All stations report safe transition, ma’am,” reported the XO.
“Set condition three throughout the ship. XO, let’s get back to normal routine.”
“All stations, set condition three. Alpha shift has the watch, set condition three.”
The sound of blast doors opening relaxed the crew as the beta, gamma, and omega resumed their normal routines throughout the ship. Three divisions at battle stations had left its mark on the crew. And more than a few were talking about how well they had performed in what was, for most of them, their first engagement. The crew had melded into one unit, with Captain Timone as its head.
******
“Watch relief at the normal time, XO. We’ll maintain until our relief eats. Keep it simple until Beta shift comes on. Get some chow and stretch a bit, XO. I have the watch.”
Smiling, Nicar went to his quarters for a quick shower, change of uniform, then off to the wardroom. He found the wardroom a jovial place; a camaraderie visible that wasn’t there before. He mused on the change. The crew has been blooded and has come together. That is good, but what have we done?
******
Over the next eight watch rotations, the ship settled into the normal routine. Alpha shift had the watch one hour prior to fold space emergence, Captain Timone in the big chair, thinking. Eight rotations, two shift cycles. Not fast enough. I hope the eggheads get that new drive in operation soon. While the past two divisions had gone quickly, the last one had dragged as the ship set up for emergence.
At fifteen centons prior to emergence, the captain turned to Chief Aidan. “Anything on the sensors, chief?” asked Timone.
“No, ma’am. Tiber hasn’t found a thing.” He smiled. Tiber was good, very good and if he had found nothing, she was confident that there was nothing to be found.
“Very well, chief. XO to the bridge. Set condition two, all stations,” ordered Timone.
“XO to the bridge, set condition two all stations, aye ma’am,” echoed Lt. Commander Archon.
He made the announcement over the ship’s announcing system, the 1MC. Commander Nicar was on the bridge within thirty cents, with the ship reporting at condition two within a centon.
Nicar relieved Archon at tactical while Archon manned communications. The alpha watch was set. Three centons to go.
“XO, set condition one, go to battle stations.” ordered Timone. “Ensign Obi. You have the call. Countdown from five cents.”
“All stations set condition one. All hands man battle stations. This is not a drill,” Nicar announced over the 1MC. “Set condition one. All hands man battle stations, this is not a drill.”
The XO silently went through the checklist as each station reported in. When the last reported, he reported, “All hands at battle stations. All stations report ready for action.”
“Very well, XO. And with a centon to spare. Very good,” Timone responded.
“Emergence in five, four, three, two, one, now!” reported Obi, as blue light washed over the bridge.
“Sensors show all ships clear of emergence zone. 1000 km from Titan,” said Chief Aidan.
“Clearing emergence zone now, Captain. Turning ninety degrees, maintaining station keeping, awaiting approach vectors from Titan,” reported Obi from the helm.
“Sending transponder codes and identification now,” called Archon.
“Very well,” replied Timone. “When the approach vectors are received, plot course to Titan. Same rules as before, no communications out until secure link established at the station. Then only with command approval.”
A centon later confirmation of their identity and approach vectors were received aboard the Achilles.
“Secure from battle stations, spin down all weapons, maintain condition one until docked.” ordered Timone.
“Secure from battle stations, spin down all weapons, maintain condition one until docked, aye, ma’am,” repeated the XO.
As Nicar made the announcement, the captain turned to Ensign Obi. “Take us in, Ensign. Easy does it.”
“Take us in, aye, ma’am.” Obi nodded and set the course.
The ship approached to within 10 km when local control took over and docked the ship automatically. Obi fidgeted during the process, ready to take over at any point. A loud clang announced their arrival as the docking clamps locked onto the destroyer.
“Maintain condition three watches,” ordered Captain Timone. “Keep the reactors hot until we return from the admiralty. Mr. Archon, you have the watch. No one leaves or boards this ship until I give the order, understood?”
“Aye, aye, ma’am, understood,” Lt. Commander Archon replied.
“Also, station marines by the airlocks. This ship is in quarantine until further notice.”
“Aye, ma’am.” If Archon wasn’t confused before, he was now.
“Don’t worry, all the security will be explained later, I hope. For now, just maintain. XO, we have a meeting with the admiralty. I hope you pressed your dress grays. Airlock one in fifteen.”
Nicar turned over tactical and followed the Captain off the bridge. Exiting, they each went to their quarters to change.
Lieutenant Valerion met the Captain and XO at airlock one. Valerion had a data pad in her hand, while the Captain and XO had tucked away crystals with their reports and copies of the logs. The information on all three records was classified ultra secret, necessitating hand delivery to the admiral himself.
The trio cycled through airlock one and were met by marines who conducted retinal scans and DNA samples to confirm their identities. Upon confirmation, they passed through the gauntlet to Admiral Antilles’ secretary, a commander with gold braid on her shoulder signifying Staff Officer. Her name tag read Andromeda. She joined the three officers on their silent procession to the admiral’s office.
There, marines put all four through a second identification gauntlet. Once through the hatches of the airlock, Commander Andromeda indicated seats for herself and the others in what passed as a waiting room. The wait was not long. Andromeda spoke after answering the intercom on her desk.
“The admiral will see you now.” Andromeda escorted the three of them into his office. All three stood at attention. A tall, well-built, muscular Xandarian in a fleet admiral’s uniform slowly turned from the view port, inspecting them. He had a shaved head and a bushy mustache, with a face that seemed predisposed to scowling.
“Please be seated.” He waved them to three chairs. “Crystals, please,” he ordered. He took both Timone’s and Nicar’s crystals and read through their reports. After a few centons, he looked up. “Captain, what possessed you to go to battle stations after the sentinel dropped into normal space?”
“Admiral, given that sentinels are set in systems to warn of a calamity or an unrecoverable situation, it seemed prudent to take action to defend ourselves and the sentinel until recovery. At the time, I didn’t know that there was a cruiser in hot pursuit.” Captain Timone stopped, not wanting to say more until asked.
“Commander Nicar, what was your take on the situation? Your report is pretty dry reading.” Antilles gave no hint of what he was thinking on his poker face.
“Admiral, may I speak freely?” asked Nicar.
“Of course. While this isn’t an official inquest, I want your thoughts and reaction to the situation.”
“Sir, I can see nothing different that I would have done. If the Captain had hesitated and not put us in position for a fight, we would probably not be here and would have lost the probe as well. Our destroyer took out a ship with twice our capability without the loss of one life or damage because of her quick thinking. I would sail with her anytime, anyplace,” Nicar concluded.
“My thoughts exactly, Commander.” The admiral beamed a broad smile. “Because of your actions, Timone, I am recommending your ship and crew for a Battle Cross. I don’t know of another captain that would have done as well in such circumstances. Congratulations to you and your crew.”
Admiral Antilles addressed Lieutenant Valerion. “I hope that you have a great presentation, Lieutenant. The next part is a little harder. We will address the admiralty and the council in a few centons in the war room.” He faced all three of them. “The impact of your discovery can not be overstated. If the Drakken ship had disseminated a message before its destruction, we would now be in a state of total war with that species. Again. How one of our colony ships wandered that far away from home, we’ll never know. There is no record of the colony anywhere within our space. However, it might be in the forbidden zone between our two nations. There was a hall of records buried in a planetoid orbiting Cygnus major before the war. Knowing that the hall might have fallen into Drakken hands, I shudder to think what other secrets might be held in that vault. But back to the original problem: the rest of the admiralty is developing a plan to include that system in our Coalition. It will be risky, and will probably lead to war, but seven billion of our people are worth it. We can not let the Drakken take the system. Period.”
Commander Andromeda opened the door. “Admiral, the council and the admiralty have gathered in the war room. All are represented, either by secure SULCOM or in person.”