Pearl of the Stars

The rest of the Fleet on her tail, the Pearl of the Stars jumped to FTL, the Galahad star system her destination. The jump was much shorter than the previous two, and it would only be a matter of hours before the Fleet arrived at Galahad. Even so there was a great deal of work to do. The Fleet had to be ready for any trap the enemy fleet may have lay. Not only that, but Major Hynes was due to brief Captain Ifhans about Herbert’s activities since his release from custody.

Grace hated to think about it but there really was no denying the facts. Someone within the Fleet, more than one someone most likely, was prepared to do anything to ensure the failure of the mission. Captain Grace Ifhans thought it likely there was more than one Others spy within her own fleet, and following the events of the previous engagement it was very possible there was an alien spy too.

Major Hynes was already present when Grace arrived at the meeting room and as she took a seat opposite to him, he offered her a cigarette, an offer she gratefully accepted.

“So Major,” she said having lit the cigarette. “What news?”

“I honestly do not have a great deal to report I’m afraid,” Hynes replied as he lit a cigarette of his own. Grace noted that he struck the match towards him, rather than away from the body as she did. “Herbert did send a dozen or so messages through the Fleet’s internal electronic mail, nothing out of the ordinary though.”

“Tell me about these messages.”

“There were a couple of quite interesting, graphic communications to one of the catering girls on the Acquiesce, both returned with equally graphic content.”

“A girlfriend?”

“It seems so, yes,” replied Hynes with a shrug. “The rest were tech messages sent Fleet wide.”

“I see,” Captain Ifhans replied, pausing for a thoughtful moment as she inhaled deeply upon her cigarette. “And it is your professional opinion that none of those messages warrant further investigation?”

“With all due respect Ma’am, I am not an amateur. One of my marines on board this very ship happens to be a rather handy technician. I have him going over the messages with a fine tooth comb as we speak.” Hynes was not offended in the slightest, for he knew full well that Captain Grace Ifhans was in an extremely difficult position, and he thought she was doing a very good job indeed. “If there is even a hint of hidden code in there, my man will discover it.”

“Thank you Major, my apologies,” Grace bowed her head gently. “It was not my intention to imply that you do not know what you are doing.”

“No apology is required Ma’am.”

“Regardless, my apology stands,” said Grace before moving on. “What are your thoughts on the Galahad system. Are we likely to encounter this alien race?”

“I believe we would be fools to think otherwise Ma’am,” Hynes replied.

“As do I,” the Captain replied. “As soon as we drop out of FTL I will be putting the fleet on high alert, evasive manoeuvres as standard.”

“I think that to be a wise decision,” said Hynes, stubbing his cigarette butt in the ash tray and immediately lighting another, again striking the match towards his body. “If I might make a suggestion Ma’am?”

“Please do so.”

“Have the deck chief prepare half our fighters before we arrive at Galahad, just as a precaution.” It was a excellent suggestion, and something Grace herself had not considered. “I would also have Razor’s unit run at a quarter the speed of light to the closest military installation, which if memory serves orbits the ice moon of the third planet.” The word ′planet′ might have been a little hopeful. The Galahad star system was barren to say the least, its four planets nothing more than large asteroids attracted by the stars rather weak gravitational influence.

“Thank you Major, I shall take those suggestions under advisement.” Grace stubbed her own cigarette in the ash tray and stood from her chair. “I’m sure you will understand my cutting this meeting short James, but I have much to do before we drop out of FTL.”

“Of course Captain.” Hynes stood and saluted as Captain Grace Ifhans marched smartly from the room.

***

The Fleet arrived in the Galahad system, dropping out of FTL with as little ceremony as ever.

“Issue a Fleet wide Code Red, Lieutenant,” Grace barked the order. “All vessels to follow their pre-assigned tracks.”

“Aye Ma’am,” the Lieutenant replied before he quickly busied himself doing as instructed.

“Report.”

“Nothing on radar yet Ma’am,” another Lieutenant shouted across the bridge. “We’ve got a third of the system covered.”

Grace watched the radar as Razor and her unit broke from the rest of the Fleet, making a run for the military installation. The planet around which it orbited was yet to appear on radar as it was halfway through its own orbit around the star. It had a relatively short orbital period though, and Razor’s current course would intercept in a little over three hours.

“We’re clear!” The first Lieutenant yelled, but his delight was short lived.

“What is it Lieutenant?”

“Nothing Ma’am, it must be an error.”

“Don’t tease me Lieutenant, what appears to be the issue?”

“The radar shows all three military installations have been destroyed Ma’am,” the Lieutenant replied nervously. “We’re picking up evidence of a sustained nuclear bombardment.”

“Fick! The security detail?” Every Council star system, regardless of human population, had a small but powerful security force.

“Wreckage Ma’am.” The Lieutenant furrowed his brow. “It would appear the security detail was chasing down the fleet but were destroyed close to a jump point.”

“Which jump point Lieutenant?”

“I’m afraid I do not know the answer to that Ma’am, it is not a jump point of which we were previously aware.”

“That’s very fickling worrying,” Grace said quietly. The Fleet were still deep in Council controlled space, with six or seven jumps to No Man’s Land, depending upon the route. How could it be that there was a jump point with an unknown origin? “I’m tasking you to discover anything and everything about that jump point, Lieutenant. Consider yourself relieved from all other duties. Do you understand?”

“Aye Ma’am, understood.”

“Good, get to it.” Grace flicked her communications to Fleet wide. “This is Captain Grace Ifhans. We have a lot of work to do here, and I do not want to be in this system for any longer than is absolutely necessary. Imperium, take your unit to investigate the wreckage around the unknown jump point. Rose of Sharyn, head to the installation closest the star. Acquiesce and Guardian of Asgaard take the middle. The Pearl of the Stars will rendezvous with Razor at the outermost military installation. Treat any survivors with great care, nuclear fallout protocol.”

“Urgent message from the Panzer Ma’am.”

“On screen,” Grace ordered. Almost immediately, the image of Panzer’s captain appeared upon the screen in front of Grace. “Captain..?”

“Dihou, Ma’am,” the woman replied. It appeared to Grace as though she had been expecting to introduce herself. She was after all the Captain of an MRV, extremely low in the pecking order. She was rather attractive though, and Grace wondered for a second if an MRV had been her first choice for command.

“Captain Dihou, how can I help you?”

“It’s about technician Herbert Ma’am,” Captain Dihou replied slowly.

“What about him?”

“He’s dead, Ma’am.”