Star Watch (21 page)

The others, too, were coming around. Granger was the first to speak. “Captain … you must be very careful how you proceed from this point on.”

“Yes, Granger we will—”

“No!” Granger interrupted. “What I’m saying is there’s more to this than you know. More than visions—or the knowledge that was imparted … conveyed to us … from them.”

Jason waited as the Caldurian assembled his thoughts.

“My people … the Caldurians … were not unaware of the risings of Sahhrain. We were there to help bring them down the last time … sent the few that remained into hiding. Captain, you should have informed me of this situation as soon as you first became aware of it.”

“Why … what is it you know?”

All eyes were on Granger, watching as his agitation grew. “The
Minian
’s Zoo habitat … HAB 7 … in there lies the ancient ruins of the Blues.”

“I already know that.”

Granger glanced over to the prince. “The Blues and the Sahhrain, their cultures are a tangled web going back several millennia or more. What you do not know is that for many generations it was the Blues who were the dark force … the Sahhrain, their tortured slaves. There, beneath the sands of that world within HAB 7, are stone tablets, many feet tall. They tell the story … the story
and
the prophecy.”

Capri said, “He’s right, Captain. The Blues … my people … have indeed had a dark past.”

Jason noticed Capri Sharan no longer looked like a human from Earth. Her auburn hair was now black and her skin tone as blue-tinged as Prince Aahil Aqeel’s. Apparently, she too was capable of changing her appearance, or at least others’ perception of her appearance, at will.

Both Leon and Hanna exchanged baffled looks.

Capri continued, “The Blues have evolved over two thousand years. We wanted to make reparations for our ancestors’ actions toward the Sahhrain. The Blues traveled to, and colonized, other planets … more livable environments, compared to the harshness you see within HAB 7. They, the Sahhrain, of course were freed … given their own world to inhabit, along with access to our own advanced technologies. But the more kindness and reparations we offered, gave them over lifetimes, the more profound the Sahhrain’s hatred toward us, and others, became.”

“And so today we have the Sahhrain … this time they’re more capable than they’d ever been in the past … and they are hell-bent on moving farther out into the galaxy?” Jason asked.

Capri and Aqeel glanced at one another. Aqeel said, “What you do not know is that the Sahhrain now have control of a Craing Loop wormhole which is located there in Dacci space. It will only be a matter of time before they figure out how to reconfigure it for their own interstellar travel.”

“That cannot be allowed to happen,” Jason said flatly. Although Jason knew the Craing’s previous method for traveling out to hundreds of light-years’ distance, it would only be to fixed, other Loop wormhole, locations. Nothing that provided the kind of travel flexibility that their own interchange wormhole travel provided. But still … the Sahhrain would possess a new means to spread their darkness … like a deathly plague spreading across the galaxy.

“Captain,” Granger said, sounding impatient, “back to the tablets … the prophecies. They speak of the final rising of the Sahhrain and bringing forth, from the spirit world, their great Sachem,
Rom Dasticon
, the most powerful force in the universe.”

“Come on … that’s just elaborate fables … it was a different time … you can’t take everything to be—”

Granger cut back in, “They speak of a mysterious ‘chariot in the sky’ that will deliver this most powerful force, this
Rom Dasticon
, from an alternate dimension … alternate universe. At face value, sure, this does sound like a simple fable, but considering the
Minian
has that same unique capability, to traverse into the multiverse, we must consider that Lord Vikor Shakrim may be coming for this very ship … his mysterious
chariot in the sky
… to thus deliver forth his all-powerful Sachem.”

Jason said, “Well, that may be a stretch … if he even knows about the
Minian
.” But he started to wonder—was it possible Shakrim did possess knowledge of the
Minian
’s capabilities? Was there really some omnificent power, residing somewhere within another realm … in some alternate universe? If so, wouldn’t the
Minian
be the perfect vessel to deliver Shakrim to that reality, making the Sahhrain virtually undefeatable? He didn’t think so, but now, thinking more seriously about it, he wasn’t completely certain.

“Captain, I implore you to keep the
Minian
as far away from Lord Shakrim as possible,” Granger reiterated. “You need to get this ship out of this sector at once!”

“No, Granger … I’m not going to hide from Lord Shakrim, or anyone else, for that matter. In fact, we’ll be taking the fight right to him. Our Star Watch armada will join with the Blues … with Aahil and his fleet of sixty warships.”

Aahil said, “We have a limited amount of time to catch Lord Shakrim, who’s currently away from his fleet. Our sources tell me he, along with his personal guard … a force of twenty-five Sahhrain warriors called the
Chosen Spears
, are in the Dacci planetary system. He’s there obtaining an exotic mineral, called Glist, for manufacturing even more powerful enhancement shields for his forces. Apparently, it’s an operation he’s taken personal control over. While he’s on the surface, his fleet, consisting of five hundred warships, is on standby in Dacci space. If there ever was the right place and time to take down Lord
Vikor Shakrim … it would be there, on the planet near those deep Glist mines.” Aahil nodded toward Boomer, who nodded back to him.

Jason didn’t want to think about Boomer facing off against Lord Shakrim. To him, the idea was still preposterous. But he also knew that getting close enough to confront Shakrim, with his unique powers, not to mention his Chosen Spear warriors, would require a more drastic approach.

Billy said, “I still don’t get why we don’t just take out the whole Sahhrain fleet. Hell, we can get enough Allied ships here within a day or two, then send an army down to the surface to neutralize Lord whatever his name is.”

Jason thought about that for a moment and then thought about his father’s explicit directives. “That’s not what we do now, Billy. That’s not the directive for Star Watch. No one wants another war, and we’re not here to start one. No … we need to cut the head off that serpent and hope the Sahhrain fleet, with a little prompting from our combined forces in space, will return home—their tails between their legs.”

Billy said, “And this Lord Shakrim? He’s just one guy … right?”

“Hardly,” Aahil said. “In the past, with his highly acute intuition … he’s always avoided personal attacks. No matter how many teams are sent to remove him from power, he’s gone, like smoke in the wind, long before our forces are close enough.”

“So he’s a coward?” Billy asked.

“No … not a coward. He is a great warrior … unbeaten, in fact. Again, his highly acute intuition makes him extremely lethal in combat. His physical size … his unmatched prowess with an enhancement shield, makes him a formidable—”

Jason cut him off, “And you want me to put my daughter up against that?”

“Who else but a little girl could get close enough to engage him? He would simply evade another assault team. Captain, all we ask of Boomer is to temporarily constrain him … paralyze him … just long enough for us to move in to capture him.”

Frustrated, Jason turned toward Leon: “How about you? You on board now to do your part?”

Leon returned Hanna’s direct stare and slowly nodded his assent. “I suppose … what is it you’d need from me?”

“You say you have a ship … something a typical space trader might possess? Maybe even the kind of spacecraft an interstellar pirate might own?” Jason asked.

Leon smiled. “You could say that. It’s fast and it’s got all the bells and whistles one would need to avoid certain … situations.”

“Like getting caught by those you’ve ripped off in the past?” Hanna asked flatly.

Jason didn’t give him time to answer. “We’ll need two things from you … first your ship, then you need to make friends with Stalls. Stalls will need to feel comfortable with you.”

Leon’s brow furrowed.

“We’ll put a team together to accompany you into HAB 12, where Stalls is currently imprisoned.”

“It’s not HAB 12, anymore, Dad,” Boomer corrected. “Here on the
Minian
it’s HAB 331.”

“Fine, then, HAB 331. Hanna, Leon, and Bristol, all of you will go … and I’ll assign an assault team to accompany you, for your protection. I’m hoping your combined family bonds will help motivate Stalls to assist with this mission … that, and we’re providing an opportunity for him to get out of that hellish habitat … even only temporarily. You’ll bring back Stalls and, upon your return, prepare for the next mission into Dacci space.”

Jason looked back down at Boomer. “In the meantime … you have a lot to prepare for yourself, little one. There’s not a lot of time.” Jason turned his gaze toward Capri and then toward Aahil.

Capri said, “She has progressed significantly with her training. We will need more time with her, but I promise you, Captain … Boomer will be ready in time.”

“When did you say we’d get my ship?” Leon asked.

“As soon as you get back from that habitat. By the way, where is it … is it relatively close?”

“Relatively,” Leon replied. “Hidden here within the sector. I’ll provide you with the exact coordinates.”

“Good. When you return from HAB 331, we’ll fetch it,” Jason said. “You’ll be piloting the mission that will get Boomer in close to Lord Shakrim.” Jason glanced down at Boomer and let out a breath. “That team will include Capri, Boomer, and Captain Stalls, along with someone highly competent to watch over him. Remember, Stalls will be your ticket in … without him … without his connections with the Sahhrain … there’ll be no way to safely enter Dacci space.”

Granger continued to glare at Jason. Ignoring him, Jason looked down at Ricket. “You have been uncharacteristically quiet during these proceedings, Ricket. What are your thoughts?”

“I’d like to see the tablets Granger speaks of.”

Chapter 30

Dacci System

The
Minian
, Bridge

_________________

Ensign McNeil, at the
Minian
’s helm, calculated that the safest distance away from Dacci space and the Sahhrain fleet would be some fifteen light-years from their current position near the planet Trom. Seaman Gordon, at the communications board, made the necessary requests for an interchange wormhole.

Jason, seated in the command chair, reviewed his virtual notepad and the ever-accumulating requests from other sectors within the galaxy for the assistance of Star Watch—reiterating the need for their new interstellar policing services. The admiral had been right on, foreseeing the need for this kind of rapid-response force … but would their current armada, small as it was, have sufficient power and might? Especially since he didn’t see the Sahhrain being curbed or defeated easily, as the Pharloms had just been.

“Captain, the wormhole has stabilized,” McNeil said.

“Go ahead, take us in, Ensign.”

Jason stood and looked up at the wraparound overhead display. Before them sat the looming mouth of the wormhole. He turned and saw the distant planet of Trom, now fading behind them. It would be years, maybe decades, before the Tromians recovered, rebuilt, from the devastation incurred from the Pharloms’ invasion. Jason wondered how many similar scenarios would unfold like the destruction on Trom, now that the Craing weren’t around maintaining restrictive order.

“Entering the interchange wormhole now, Captain.”

Jason sat back down and brought his attention to what lay ahead. The
Minian
entered the wormhole first, followed soon afterward by the reduced armada of six Star Watch warships.

They exited the far side of the interchange wormhole into complete darkness.

“Status, Gunny?”

“Captain, we’ve entered one of the least celestially-populated zones in this sector … or in the galaxy, for that matter.”

Jason peered up into the near-total blackness. Usually, there were thousands, millions, of tiny, flickering pinpoints of light nearby. Sure, off in the far distance, starlight was seen—but nothing even remotely nearby—except for a bright solitary, lone star system.

“We’re well outside normal sensor range, Cap,” Orion said, “but the
Minian
’s sensors, which are extremely sensitive and sophisticated, are picking up numerous warship signatures—over five hundred of them. Most definitely the Sahhrain fleet, and probably the much smaller Blues fleet, too.”

“Seaman Gordon, hail the Blues … have them provide us coordinates to intersect with their fleet.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“Please bring up the logistical view, Gunny.”

A new segment was added forward, on the overhead display, providing an icon-based representation of the only nearby star system. He saw the distant position of the Blues’ fleet, set somewhat away from the much larger Sahhrain fleet.

Ricket broke the silence. Jason hadn’t seen him enter the bridge. “As you can see, there are actually three separate star systems there, Captain … although, from this distance, there seems to be but one. You have the Sahhrain system, furthest away from us, with five planets, circling a burnt-out sun. Their only heat and light comes from the two neighboring solar systems … their world is not as warm as Earth, but surprisingly habitable … say, similar to the state of Alaska on your planet.”

“And the other two solar systems?” Jason asked.

“The Blues’ system is nearest to us, at our present position, but the furthest from the Sahhrain. Technology-wise, the two are comparable. Militarily, they’re almost comparable … although it seems the Sahhrain are on the verge of changing that. A buildup of many new warships, the recent siege into the centermost part of the Dacci solar system, and the plundering of Glist, on the planet Dacci. The Dacci star system, Captain, is considered the center of the galaxy and the oldest planetary system known.”