A Faded Star (17 page)

 “Primary function of Aeternum is as a self-sustaining
materials extractor and manufacturing platform for objects up to five
kilometers in diameter. At the time of manufacture, this size represented the
pinnacle of manufacturing technology.

 “Summary complete. Do you wish to hear a detailed
history of service actions?”

 “No, sixty-seven hundred years of assignments is
probably going to take more time than I have to listen to. Give an overview of
the manufacturing process used and materials extraction.”

 “Aeternum uses a molecular destabilization process to
break down complex materials into their constituent atoms. These atoms are
guided using a nano-manufacturing process that assembles any structure less
than five kilometers in diameter molecule by molecule.”

 Simmons felt her mouth hanging open. A manufacturing
process that allowed every molecule to be laid down in exact detail. The
implications for materials engineering was astounding. “How are-” She cut off
her question when the monitor she was watching showed Cobb on his way to the
bridge. She switched the screen to a generic ship's status display. A few
seconds later, Theo Cobb walked onto the bridge.

 “How is the ship functioning, Lieutenant Simmons?”

 “All systems are within design specifications. Faster
than light system is performing as expected and all other systems are at
standby or minimum power mode. No malfunctions noted.”

 Cobb nodded. “Good.” He turned and walked from the
bridge. The very brief conversation was no different from any other she'd had
with Cobb. He was very sparing with his words. Simmons looked at the closed
door for a few seconds more before addressing another question to the computer.
“Computer, would you prepare a summary of objects built by Aeternum over its
history?”

 Several hours later, Simmons has gained a solid
understanding of how the nano-manufacturing process worked. She left her first
watch on the bridge with something else: a list of every classified research
facility humans were using to develop advanced medical, military and weapons
tech of any kind. She hoped as she headed for her bunk she'd be able to
convince the Lashmere Naval Command of the importance of scouting them and
retrieving any advanced technology.

 The trip back to the Lashmere system passed in deep
tedium for Simmons. The watches quickly lost their interest. She'd compiled her
report by the end of the second watch, forwarded it to Kri for his input and
spent the rest of the time pacing, drumming her fingers and badgering the poor
helmsman on her watch, who, by virtue of her rank, was unable to respond in
kind.

 At each checkpoint, the Rampart was waiting, hanging
in space like a wary sheepdog waiting for a stray member of its flock to catch
up. At last, the final leg of their trip arrived. Rampart was waiting just
outside the Lashmere system.

 Simmons was inputting the course for the final leg of
the trip when a red icon appeared in the corner of her screen. She tapped it
and scrolled through the displayed information. “Oh no! Computer open a channel
to Rampart immediately.”

 “Rampart is out of range. Faster than light transit
has been engaged.”

 “How do I shut this down?”

 Cobb looked over her shoulder. “Is there a problem,
Lieutenant?”

 “I don't have time to explain now, agent. Rampart is
in danger of being destroyed. Computer shut down the defensive system
immediately.”

 “Transmitting shut down sequence.” There was a
multi-second pause before the computer said, “No response from system defense
network. Re-sending shut down sequence. Still no response from system defense
network.”

 “Lieutenant, I want an explanation.”

 “Agent Cobb, when we left the Lashmere system, we had
an odd deflection in our course at the edge of our system. We didn't know it at
the time, but we were exceptionally lucky. Apparently, the humans who left the
colony at Lashmere didn't leave us defenseless. They put in place a defensive
system of satellites that make it impossible to transition in or out of the
system at a faster than light speed. Something like a huge speed bump completely
surrounding the system. The Rampart uses a system unknown to the humans who
left us there, but it may force the Rampart into a different course as the
transit goes by this speed bump. The Aeternum has the ability to shut the
defensive system down remotely, and I've tried to shut it down, but there is no
response from the master control satellite or its backup.

 “We need to get to Lashmere now. Computer engage
faster than light transit maximum speed.”

 “Engaging.” Again, a sudden lurching feeling followed
by a slight sense of floating before the internal gravity generators
compensated for the speed. “ETA to Lashmere system eleven hours seventeen
minutes.”

 “If the Rampart crosses that defensive barrier at
speed, even in the point to point system while it's active, what might happen?”
Cobb asked.

 “It's unclear. If Aeternum tried it, depending on the
multiple of C the ship was moving at, anything from suddenly being thrown out
of faster than light travel, probably killing everyone aboard, up to the ship
being ripped to pieces by massive tidal forces. For safety, I have ordered
Aeternum to drop out of FTL at the edge of the system outside the defensive
perimeter. We can transit into the system on sublight engines.”

 “Agreed.”

 “Unfortunately, by now the Rampart has either entered
Lashmere or is about to. There's nothing we can do to help them.”

 “Keep trying to get ahold of them on the faster than
light comm system.”

 “I am.”

 Eleven hours later, Aeternum arrived at the edge of
the Lashmere system. Simmons, who had barely left the bridge during that time,
watched the stars resolve from brilliant blue points into the yellows, reds and
whites she was used to. She said, “Computer, confirm the status of system
defense satellites.”

 “System defense satellites are still operational,” the
computer said. “However, gaps exist in the defense network, most likely due to
malfunctioning units. Current approach vector is unprotected.”

 Simmons felt a knot of tension loosen in her stomach.
“Was this vector clear as Rampart approached?”

 “Affirmative.”

 “Thank goodness.”

 Cobb said, “Engage sublight engines and move us into
orbit around Lashmere.”

 As the engines came online, Rampart appeared on their
sensors. The ship moved in next to them.

 Kri said, “We're getting a comm request from Rampart.”

 The screen came up, and Commodore Stokes' face
appeared. “Agent Cobb. I've spent the time waiting for you to arrive speaking
with Lashmere Space Command. You are hereby directed to turn over command of
the Aeternum to Commander Kri immediately. Your mission has been successful,
Aeternum has arrived in the Lashmere system, and the admirals would like to see
the ship under naval control. I'm transmitting a copy of your orders,
countersigned by the counselor of war.”

 Cobb knew when he'd been outmaneuvered. He'd
underestimated Stokes from the start, believing him to be an old warhorse on
his way out. His ability to piece together bits of information around him and
reach the correct conclusion was remarkable. Somehow, before Cobb had even made
it to Aeternum, Stokes had known, or at least suspected, he wasn't who he was
pretending to be. He looked back up at the screen, Stokes' face staring at him
expectantly.

 “Confirm receipt of orders, Commander Kri.”

 “Confirmed,” Kri said.

 “Computer, transfer command of Aeternum to Commander
Halford Kri, Lashmere Space Navy. Authorization sequence seven alpha theta nine
nine two blue commit.”

 “Transfer of command complete. Aeternum now under
command of Commander Halford Kri.”

 Cobb stood and walked from the bridge. When he
approached the cabin he'd been using, he considered the seriousness of the
situation. His failure to maintain security of classified information combined
with his failure to retain command and turn the ship over to Lashmere
Intelligence was likely to earn him censure from his superiors. He packed his
bag and walked to the small craft bay. He intended to at least bring one of the
shuttles to intelligence headquarters for analysis.

 Stokes watched the main plot shift from the view of
the Aeternum bridge back to the tactical overlay of the Lashmere system. “I
have to admit, that was rather satisfying, Mister Patho.”

 Patho allowed himself a grin. “It sure looked good
from here, sir.”

 “Time to space dock?”

 “Just over two hours, sir.”

 “Since the Aeternum won't fit inside any of the
existing docks, I want you to send a message ahead. We're going to maneuver the
Aeternum to the east side of the docks until an airlock can be rigged to mate
up on one side of the ring. That way we won't have to run crew in and out via
shuttlecraft.”

 “Aye, sir.”

 The space dock ran 'east' to 'west' with the most open
area for larger ships on the east end. Command and control along with all the
shops and materials support for ship construction and overhaul were in a
central structure halfway along the series of docks.

 “Sir, we have a message coming in from Naval Command.
We're being ordered to take a shuttle to the surface as soon as we're in a
stable make orbit. We are to leave a competent officer in charge to make dock
with Rampart. We are also to bring Agent Cobb, Mister Kri, Miss Simmons and
Doctor Stapeley.”

 Very well. Prepare pinnace one for launch and shuttle
two to take Lieutenant Jensen over to Aeternum to maintain watch stations until
command sends up a crew and to bring Agent Cobb, Commander Kri and Lieutenant
Simmons to command. Lieutenant Brooks will remain in command here; have her
work out a watch rotation with the other division officers while we're on the
surface. Forward the orders to Aeternum.”

 “Aye, sir,” Patho said, working at his console to
carry out Stokes' orders.

 Maneuvering to the space dock was completed without
mishap, and Stokes boarded his pinnace to the surface to meet up with the
officers who'd been on the Aeternum. The shuttles landed within a few minutes
of each other. Stokes noticed Cobb had flown one of the shuttles he'd seen in
the boat bay of the Aeternum.

 The two sets of officers were met on the landing grid
by a very polished officer who walked to Commodore Stokes and saluted sharply.
His Karn accent came as a slight surprise to Stokes as he spoke. “Commodore, I
am Lieutenant Barnes. Admiral Vesper has assigned me to liaise with you and
your officers while you are at headquarters. A guest suite has been assigned to
you and your crew while you wait. A meeting is scheduled for fourteen hundred
hours. This should give you plenty of time to freshen up before meeting with
the admirals.

 Less than an hour later, with everyone showered and
changed into their dress uniforms, they assembled in an expansive conference
room. The room was already occupied by Admiral Vesper, Admiral Blackwood, a
slender and stern looking middle aged woman, who was the admiral in charge of
the space dock facility, and Fleet Admiral Coffee, the highest ranking military
officer on Lashmere. Admiral Coffee was a huge man who clearly spent as much
time in the gym as possible. He had heavy slabs of muscle covering an already
large frame. Everyone entered and stood to attention excepting Agent Cobb, who
merely stood with an expectant look on his face.

 Admiral Vesper stood and said, “Please be seated,
everyone. Agent Cobb, you have been invited here at the request of Lashmere
Intelligence. First I would like Commodore Stokes to provide us with a brief on
the overall mission. If you would, Commodore?”

 Stokes stood and began his brief. “Upon arrival to
Buckman's Star, we began by searching out the location of the origin signal...”
Stokes' voice carried on, giving an overview of events as they had developed
and bringing them to the point both ships departed the Buckman's Star system.

 Admiral Coffee spoke next. “Commodore, why did you
assign such a small crew to Aeternum?”

 “My thinking was that with Agent Cobb in command and
considering the age of the ship, there was a component of uncertainty. While I
wanted officers capable of completing as much research and information
gathering while aboard, I didn't want to risk a large number of individuals in
case something went wrong.”

 Coffee said, “I understand. Agent Cobb, why did you
choose to take command of Aeternum by using the classified codes obtained from
the origin tablet? We've heard Commodore Stokes' conclusions, but I want to
hear your reasoning.”

 “Admiral, my concern was mainly with the experience
Lieutenant Commander Patho has obtained thus far in his naval career. When it
became obvious Commodore Stokes intended to place a man with no experience and
who is already quite young for his rank in a position of ultimate authority
over what, to my judgment, must be regarded as the most important piece of
military technology the people of Lashmere have in their possession, I felt the
need to prevent it. I also would like to take the opportunity to apologize to
Commodore Stokes for acting in what he felt was an arbitrary manner. It was not
my intention to undermine his authority in any way.”

 “I just want to be clear, Mister Cobb. Your action was
taken out of concern for the safe return of the Aeternum to Lashmere. It had
nothing to do with Commander Patho having grown up as a Karn citizen?”

 “Absolutely not, Admiral.” Silence stretched for a
moment after Cobb gave his answer.

 Vesper spoke into the pause, “And how much command
experience do you have, agent?”

 If Cobb was uncomfortable with the pointed question,
he gave no sign. “None, sir. That notwithstanding, I felt more qualified to
take control of Aeternum than to leave it in Mister Patho's hands. I'm ten
years older than he is, and I've spent a significant amount of my time with
intelligence aboard various naval ships.”