Guardians of the Galactic Sentinel 1: The Deimos Artifact (36 page)

Chapter 45.
Selection Pressure.

Voltaire Crater, Deimos, July 16, 2676.

The candidate discussion went long into the night. Several potential candidates who had not been on the original list, like Sergei, were added back. No one could think of a good reason that contact with the Custodian race necessarily constituted a negative. In fact, several people, Arnold included, actually thought it might be an advantage. In the end, a number of the Soviet and Viking crewmembers asked to be disqualified. Everyone else, including Sergei and the Professor, were to be part of the pool.

"This looks like about the best we can do with the group we have on hand," said MacPherson.

"Since we've included almost everyone, I'd have to agree," said Ariane.

"We still have more than twenty-four hours before we have to submit to this selection process," said the Professor, "I suggest that we all sleep on it and see if the plan we have still looks as good to us in the morning."

The mention of sleep brought to Ariane's attention just how tired she was. She and the others had been endlessly and circuitously discussing the pros and cons of everyone on their list of candidates for hours. She realized that continuing the discussion while she was in this state was more likely to be counterproductive than anything.

"I agree, Father. I... we need to get some sleep."

The group broke up and everyone headed for their quarters. The Soviets, with the exception of Olga, who was currently quartered on the
Capri
, bundled themselves up into their spacesuits and made the short trek over to their shuttle. After the destruction of their ship, the tiny shuttle was now their home. Holger and the other Viking crewmembers also departed for their shuttle, leaving Gertrude on the
Capri.

Zack and Ariane found themselves alone together in the conference room, standing next to one another, in the same relative positions they had been in during the seemingly interminable discussion.

"I'm with you Ariane," said Zack, as he tried to work the kinks out of his neck, "I can't remember the last time I was this tired. The best thing we could do now would be to get some rest." He turned towards her, "How are you holding up?"

She turned to face him in response, her fatigue obvious from her expression and her body language. Zack suspected he wasn't in much better shape. She looked up at him, the dark circles under her eyes giving her a hollow look, and said, "What do I do if I wind up getting picked as one of the candidates for this... process? I... I don't know that I'm up to it."

Zack gave her a long, appraising look and realized that the shared ordeal of the last several weeks had gradually brought him to a new perspective of the beautiful and intelligent officer that he had been reluctantly partnered with. That she had been the right choice to be co-leader for this mission was abundantly evident even if it was her father's expedition. She had demonstrated a consistently superb level of competence in the face of each and every one of the formidable challenges that their group had been forced to endure.

In that moment, Zack discovered that any trust issues there might have been between them had been completely forgotten some time ago. He could see that she was way overtired, concerned and, to some extent, confused. He instinctively realized that what she needed more than anything just then was some support, perhaps a few kind words.

"For what it's worth, Ariane" he said, sincerely, "you'd be my next choice."

"Thank you, Zack," she replied, her relief immediately obvious. Her lips twitched up slightly in a tired smile, "You are such a rock!"

Without even thinking about it, she took a small step up to him, put her arms around him and gave him a hug. In the same motion, she had closed her eyes, turned her head to the side and leaned it against his shoulder. Responding automatically himself, Zack wrapped his arms around her and gently hugged her in return.

Both of them surrendered to the warm security of the embrace, everything else temporarily relegated to the background. They stood that way for perhaps half a minute before Zack realized that she had fallen asleep in his arms while still standing up. He gently broke the embrace, which woke her up, helped her get to her quarters and headed over to his own to get some badly needed rest.

He was in his own bunk in record time. Just before he surrendered himself to sleep, he reflected that the spontaneous embrace with his shipmate had been nice, but it would be unwise for him to chalk it up to anything besides the extreme fatigue they were all feeling. Nor would it be prudent to pursue the matter any further. Still... Ariane was one extraordinary and very attractive woman and holding her in his arms for those few stolen moments had felt really good.

Too bad they could never be any more than friends.

***

Voltaire Crater, Deimos, July 16, 2676.

In spite of, or maybe because of, the fact that everyone had been so overtired in the wee hours of the morning, no one slept all that well. Zack, after enduring a series of pointless but disturbing dreams, got up early and went to the galley to try and settle his slightly upset stomach by getting something to eat. Just as he sat down with a cup of coffee and a breakfast bar, Cliff Bernard came in.

"Mornin', Zack," said the engineer, as he dispensed a cup of coffee for himself, "You're up early."

"I got as much rest as I could," replied Zack, "but I didn't sleep very well. This candidate business has everyone on edge."

"And no wonder," said Cliff, taking a seat across the small table, "though I hafta say it don't concern me much."

"I don't know how you can say that; you'll be considered just like everyone else."

"Think about it, Zack," said Cliff, "I'm an engineer. I know engines and jump modules and mechanical stuff but I've never had a lick of interest in politics or history or any of that rubbish. I don't have a chance in hell of gettin' picked. And if I they do pick me, I guarantee you the human race is headed for a major meltdown!"

"Don't sell yourself short, Cliff," said Zack, his pensive mood elevated slightly by the engineer's cheerful and irreverent attitude, "To tell you the truth, I don't know that I'm all that likely to be picked either. Not that I had much choice, but I've killed a lot of people over the last few years. I don't think I'm that good of a candidate myself."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," said Cliff, "though the waitin' is probably worse than the doin'."

Zack had spent a lot of time during his career as a soldier waiting for one thing or another and knew immediately what Cliff was talking about, "Yeah, the waiting is always the hardest part. Once you get to the action, you don't have time to worry anymore, you just react. I'm a lot better at reacting."

The two of them were joined by the Professor and Arnold who also went about the business of getting themselves something for breakfast.

"How's everyone doing this morning?" asked MacPherson as he took a seat at the now quite crowded table.

"About as well as can be expected," replied Zack, "I didn't sleep well and I had some uncomfortable dreams. Speaking of dreams, how about you, Arnold, did you have dreams last night?"

"All night long," replied Arnold, "They were vivid and disturbing and... conflicting. It seems like the dreams... or the visions have been ramping up since we placed the artifact. At least they have been for me. I can't speak for anyone else. Who knows what this next phase will bring? I'm really not looking forward to it."

"When you have something unpleasant or fearful to do," ventured the Professor, "often it's best to just get it behind you. Usually it isn't nearly as bad as you thought it would be."

"I hope you're right, Dr. MacPherson," said Arnold.

"That's been my experience as well," said Zack. "When do you think we should go ahead with this selection business, Professor?"

"I don't see any reason for us to delay for much longer. We have a list of candidates and we aren't likely to get any more. We might just as well go ahead and get it over with."

Just then, Ariane's voice came over the intercom, "All hands to battle stations! We have incoming spacecraft!"

"Is this some kind of joke?" asked the Professor.

"I seriously doubt that," said Zack, "We'd better get to the bridge."

Cliff dashed aft to take his position down in engineering while the Professor, Zack and Arnold headed forward and up to the bridge. As they rushed onto the bridge, they could see a very worried-looking Ariane at the command console with Gertrude at the first officer's station, looking every bit as concerned. Holger was standing next to Ariane, scowling at what was being displayed on her monitor.

"Damned Hedgies!" fumed the Viking leader, "Why would they pick now of all times to get frisky?"

"Those are Hegemony ships?" asked the Professor.

"Yes, the same idiots that you chased off from my picket ship on the way in here. How many ships, Ariane?"

"It looks like at least a dozen," replied Ariane, unable to keep the tension out of her voice.

"Against our three
Warbirds
, that makes us about even," said Holger, "I've got all three of them on high alert just in case these idiots decide to try something stupid!"

"All of the Hegemony ships have their shields up and their weapons armed as well," said Ariane. She frowned at her display, "It looks like the freighter with the Soviet cannon is one of them. They must have gotten her repaired somehow. I wonder how many more of those weapons they have?"

"We'd better hope they've only got the one," said Zack, "or this whole business could get damned ugly in a damned hurry!"

"They're hailing us," said Gertrude.

She channeled the audio to the bridge speaker. A completely bald man with a Fu Manchu mustache appeared on the viewscreen,
"This is Premier Won Ling-tsu of the Jovian Hegemony, I would speak with King Holger Tvedt of the Vikings."

"Ling-tsu himself?" said Holger, "This is something different; he hasn't left the colony on Europa for at least five years. I suppose I'd better talk to him. Put me on, Ariane."

Ariane keyed up the communications console.

"This is King Holger. What can we do for our friends from the Jovian Hegemony?"

"Always ready with a jest aren't you, Holger?"
said the image,
"Believe me when I say that this is no laughing matter. Just what is it that you're doing down there on that moon?"

"I'm not sure that it's any of your business," replied Holger.

"I have a dozen ships and three Matsukov pulse cannons that say otherwise,"
replied Ling-tsu,
"The Hegemony demands access to the treasure or whatever it is that is on that moon!"

Zack winced and his eyes grew wider as he caught Ariane's eye. He silently mouthed
, "Three?"
and shook his head slowly side to side.

"Treasure?" replied Holger, "I don't know where you got that idea. There isn't any treasure on that moon that I know of."

"You're stalling,"
said Ling-tsu,
"Provide access or we will attack. Even your ships are no match for these new cannons. You saw that a couple of days ago! The game has changed, Holger!"

During the silence that followed Ling-tsu's warning, Holger looked around him at the other people on the bridge. Arnold had been listening to the entire exchange with growing concern.

"Holger?" said Arnold.

"What is it boy? I kind'a have my hands full at the moment."

"We absolutely cannot allow this situation to escalate any further. Have your ships stand down and invite the Hegemony to join us."

"What? Never!"

"What's been happening on this moon changes everything, Holger. This isn't just about us anymore, it's about the entire human race. I don't think this Amalgamation cares a whit about any of our petty disagreements. Maybe putting all that baggage behind us starts now. We must invite them to be part of this process."

"He's right, Father," said Gertrude, "a battle over this moon right now would probably be the worst thing that could happen."

Around the bridge, everyone else was nodding in tentative agreement.

Holger looked like he was ready to implode for a few tense moments but, beneath the fiery temper and blustery manner, lie an intelligent and very competent leader. The wisdom of Arnold's words rang true within him.

He took a deep breath and said, "We'll stand down if you do, Ling-tsu. How about we both withdraw our ships to a safe distance and meet for a parley down here on this moon? We can bring you up to date on what's been going on down here."

"How do I know that I'll be safe?"

"I've done many things I'm not proud of, Ling-tsu, but have you ever known me to break my word?"

There was a short pause before the Jovian leader responded,
"No, King Holger, I have not. My ships will also stand down and withdraw."

Holger gave the order for his forces to stand down from high alert and to withdraw to well out of weapons range of the Jovian forces. He and the others on the
Capri's
bridge watched on their instruments as the Jovian ships did the same, each group of ships heading for a spot in space that put them well out of range of the other side's forces. All that remained in the space where the twelve Jovian ships had been was a shuttlecraft.