Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (7 page)

BOOK: Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga)
11.19Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

The Cuukzen twitched.

Mistuuk thought for the briefest of moments about conjuring up a lie but soon condemned the idea back down into his conscience on the key words, ‘Aythra and entrails’.

Mistuuk began his story.

“Two weeks ago, I had information regarding the new Legion Flag command ship that the Kryth were fielding for test runs near the Conaten system. A Vrae client wanted this data, as you could imagine. He paid a pretty
Tanar
for it, too. I mean, credits were no issue when it came to stealing new Kryth secrets. You know those Vrae really despise you Kryth? Did you know that?”

Lintorth placed his hand on the side of his face, not pleased with the Cuukzen’s filibustering. “Please continue. I’m starting to get bored.”

Mistuuk continued. “Right, where was I? The Legion Flag test run. So I picked up its hyper-space signature within minutes because you Kryth didn’t try and hide it well. Then, several days later, I picked up what I thought was the Legions Flag’s matrix, but something was different about this signature. The small, almost untraceable signature jumped out at me. I had never seen such a residue layer within the space-time before. Just as I was about to try and relocate the Legion, this unknown ship jumped into the system. This thing was huge! And it was awesome. It was defiantly not a Kryth ship because it was awesome. It wasn’t Vrae either and definitely not a Cuukzen ship, as again you could imagine.”

A malicious grin now creased Lintorth’s face. “How did you forgo being detected by this ship?”

Mistuuk’s ears and eyes peaked at the look that came over Lintorth’s face. His face surveyed just like the Aythra did at his cell door; wide eyed, ready to devour its meal.

Mistuuk continued clearing his thoughts.

“I have a small ship with an even smaller… well you know... class-three shrouding device. And I was next to a large asteroid to add for masking of course.” Mistuuk grinned and continued. “The ship didn’t stay in the system for long as it exited and jumped into hyper-space. I continued on my way trying to track this nameless vessel, forgetting about my bounty of information on the Legion Flag. My client would have to wait. He would be an unhappy Vrae for sure as again you could imagine. So, I was tracking it towards the Sol system for several days when I lost the trajectory. I decided to resupply at Dalyth Point, and the rest, you already know.”

Lintorth measured his new friend for a full breath before he questioned, “And how did you escape the outpost?”

“You know this part; with a life-pod. I teamed up with a Fossari. Did you know Fossari are a troublesome people?”

No response issued back from Lintorth.

“Okay, moving forward. I was in my room when the particle wave hit. Lucky, I have no hair or it would have been an amusing sight to behold, all of them standing at attention. Anyways, I pulled out my light-bend-bag and hid inside under a desk. I assumed the creature didn’t detect me since it passed by the room. Once it left, I found the nearest pod to escape. End of story.”

Lintorth rose from his seat.

He approached the window, arms folded behind his back.

“As a bounty hunter of information, I assume you get paid well for said information.”

“Quite so,” Mistuuk eagerly replied.

“So, you would have saved this data gathered on the residue matrix from the unknown ship and then would plan to sell it to the highest bidder. Do I assume correctly?

Mistuuk didn’t hesitate to answer the question. “But of course,” He placed his hands over his mouth as to acknowledge to Lintorth that he still had said information.

Lintorth turned to his guest. “Good. Now we can discuss the outcome of your life for said information.” Lintorth gave a broad smile to the little Cuukzen.

Mistuuk’s ears drooped behind him as his lips released a low inaudible sigh.

Data Cell 10

The silent mag-lift
came to a stop.

Keeper Alon stepped off the doorless lift with eyes surveying. He had just entered the bridge of the
Orion’s Rage
for the first time.

She was the pride within the fleet, the first command ship of the mighty
Rage
class to be produced. The Keeper displayed no emotion, but a vanity-filled shiver went up his spine. This was one of mankind’s greatest achievements; a ship unlike any other and second to none.

He had arrived from the starboard side of the bridge noting another lift directly opposite his location on the other side of this room. The room was massive, at least from a mere glance, he surmised, about 20 meters across with a total length of 60 meters from his centered position. The black metal surface of the floor reflected back a soft light from the seamless ringed white lighting on the outer perimeter of the ceiling. The lights gave off a warm hue--just enough to know there was a surface to walk upon without being distracting. 

As he walked within the center section, he observed it was laid out into three sections. The first one he was standing in was sunken from the two others, which were fore and aft of the great ship. The others were raised a little over a meter and were ascended by steps. In the center was a circular platform rising two meters off the deck, again with steps ascending to a chair, Commander Parejas’s seat to overlook the entirety of the bridge. There were also work consoles with a dozen individuals working them. Holo-monitors raised from each console as did massive dimensional holo-projections descending down from the raised ceiling to be at eye level with the command chair.

Alon caught the eye of Droe Temin seated at the right front console as he entered.

She swiveled in her chair.

A smile crept over her face before she spoke. “Welcome, Keeper Renske.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander Temin. I have no words to describe the magnificence of this ship.” He paused, still admiring the scope of what he viewed. “I usually have nothing but words to give. I am simply awe-struck.” He continued to glance around at the marvel before him.

“Oh, you will lose that feeling quickly enough when minutes turn into hours and hours turn into days, from working in the same seat.”

Alon laughed at her comment. How true her statement was, he thought.

Alon knew, as a Keeper, that’s all he did was write out the Annals of man from the same seat for hours.

Droe turned to motion Alon with her arm. “Come. I’ll show you to your position.”

Droe guided Alon to the left side of the command chair.

“You will work here. This should give you an excellent observation of the entire bridge,” Droe said.

“Thank you Lieutenant Commander Temin.” Alon nodded his appreciation.

Droe smiled, returning to her seat as Alon looked over his console.

He was still amazed by the ship and the bridge.

Alon could remember when her hull was first laid during a ceremony at the Tyr shipyards back in 58 PE Even though the ship had been complete for the last eight years, he hadn’t been on it since her commission. He was unfamiliar with her nomenclature, but then again, he had no need of military knowledge as a Keeper.

Alon was curious, though.

He punched up the detail on the
Orion’s Rage
.

His security clearance beeped level (4), one shy of full access. He was fine with this since Commander Parejas had full discretion to allow access to whom he chose.

The holo-image of a spinning schematic of the
Orion’s Rage
came up.

He touched it with his finger and the information scrolled out in front of him.

 

Designation: Orion’s Rage CCR-1

Command: Commander Shenta Parejas

Type: Capital/Command

Class: Rage

Length: 3482 Meters

Built: 258 PE Tyr Shipyards/Sentinel 10 Construction Facility

Propulsion System: Classified Level (5) Access

Shield Systems: Classified Level (5) Access

Armaments/Offensive: Pulse Batteries, Torcon Massive Fire Torpedoes, Main Hull Gun Bolts, Field Spread Ion Barrels-All others classified.

Armaments/Defensive: Auto-Lock Eliminators, Shield Barriers, Constellation Camouflage Screen, Energy Dispensing Unit, Ranclair-Fused Reactive Hull-All others classified.

Crew: 3000

Fighter Complement: 500

Reaver Regiments: Classified

               

As Alon read the tech specs, he soon realized why he hadn’t looked at them before. They didn’t interest him -- fascinating to someone else maybe, but not his cup of tea.

Alon closed the file.

He looked past Droe’s position towards the forward-viewing platform.

He got up and approached her side. “May I?” He asked gesturing beyond her to the fore deck.

“Well, of course. You don’t need my permission, Keeper. You can come and go as you please,” she said.

“Thank you again,” he said as he walked towards the massive forward windows on the bridge.

Alon ascended the five steps that traversed the width of the bridge to the fore-deck above. In the center of this section was a circular protrusion coming up from the floor, about two meters in diameter, with an identical one above on the ceiling.

It wasn’t the round object in the floor that garnered Alon’s attention but the spectacular view from the front portion of the bridge. Each side had two long rectangular viewing windows. To the front, there were three. It was the center viewing port where he noticed Commander Parejas standing in the shadows of the area, his form silhouetted among the backdrop of stars.

Alon approached the side of Parejas as a brighter light, one more brilliant than the surrounding stars met his gaze.

There beyond the crystal-spun glass was the G2 spectral class star of the Sol system.

Alon paused next to Parejas, taking in for the first time, the sun of the planet Earth.

Without moving, Shenta spoke. “It’s much different when viewing it in person compared to a data cell image.” He turned towards Alon. “Wouldn’t you agree, Keeper?”

Alon nodded as he observed the splendorous sight. “And I thought it was hard to come up with words to describe this bridge but this, this is truly grand.”

“This is why I wanted your position to be stationed here on the bridge,” Shenta said, looking back towards the sun. “To sequence the emotions of this moment as we take back what is rightfully ours. The position here onboard the
Orion’s Rage
,” Parejas’s words now measured, “will allow you to record the matters of fact regarding human events within the Annals.” He paused, drinking in the spectral shards of light radiating from the center of the system. “Take this down, Keeper.”

Alon was documenting everything through his mental training as a Keeper, able to use all six senses to record every detail surrounding the two men to include every word. The training at the Keeper Adytum didn’t stop at flash-image memory skills, varying martial art styles, and counseling. Words and emotions were easy to capture and memorize.

Shenta Parejas continued.

“Today we have taken the first step of a long journey in putting Mankind’s history back in order. Today will be remembered by Human and Kryth alike. The difference will be felt by the Kryth as it’s time for them to find unyielding answers. We will continue to remind every species in every sector in every system that massacring 22 billion humans will not go unanswered. Their lore kin will feel the repercussion of their actions for centuries to come.”

Shenta Parejas finished and walked off towards the command platform.

The Keeper knew the time was approaching to retake the Earth, as the remainder of the command staff exited the bridge lift for a last-minute update to the mission.

The command staff arrived and met the Keeper up on the forward viewing platform.

Alon noticed Kason and Commander Jeson Takkar chatting as Nevlen followed from behind.

“Hello, gentlemen.” Alon nodded at the men.

Kason was first to acknowledge his friend. “Hello, Alon.”

Commander Takkar was next followed by Nevlen, who seemed agitated as they greeted the Keeper. 

“These last-minute mission adjustments are getting annoying and in the way of my final preps,” Nevlen complained.

Commander Takkar just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head at Nevlen’s comment.

Alon jumped in. “I believe it to be important, or your superiors wouldn’t have called you at this last minute,” Alon said.

“We shall see how important, Keeper,” Nevlen said.

A flash of light, the hum of electronics, the holo-projectors activated and came to life. The circular raised disk protruding from the floor and ceiling beamed the image of the Earth, moon, and Kryth military holdings as if they were in the room all viewing from a distance.

Each officer began to study the image.

Commander Parejas approached.

“We have an update on the Retribution mission.” Parejas circled his index finger near the image of a large Kryth space station around Earth.

A highlight circle appeared where he touched; he pulled his hand wide, zooming in on the space station, which was the primary target for the mission.

The commander continued. “Over an hour ago, we received intel from our imbedded surveillance drones around Earth. They detected another gift from the Kryth.”

Each man looked at the ship that was docked near the station.

Jesan Takkar spoke first. “Is that what I think it is?”

Parejas acknowledged, “Yes, it’s the new Legion Flag command ship. She’s on her shake-down run and showed up the last hour unannounced.”

Parejas expanded the image out to full view to show all Kryth assets around the Earth.

“Have they been alerted to our presence?” Nevlen said with an accusing tone.

“No. So far, the Kryth home worlds are just receiving reports from the survivors from Dalyth Point and every sign shows they are still confused.”

“Does it include the Kryth around Earth? What about them?” Nevlen shot back.

“The constellation camouflage screens are still giving their sensors the impression that all is right aboard Dalyth Point. You, Commander,” looking at Nevlen, “should have more confidence in our abilities,” Parejas said.

Jesan spoke up to avoid any tensions that may be brewing. “This would be a great asset to capture.”

“Agreed, Commander Takkar, this is why an adjustment to the mission parameters has been made and the reason all of you are called here now,” Parejas said as he continued on with the briefing. “Kason’s Reaver team will enter here aboard the Legion Flag and disable the reactors.” He motioned on the holo-projection to the massive Kryth station the ship was docked at. “Nevlen, you and your troops will take the far end of the station and work your way to the center and hold, awaiting Kason’s team meeting you half-way.”

Nevlen interrupted. “Wouldn’t it be easier for my troops to take the whole station while Kason’s team took the ship?”

Parejas adjusted the holo-image to close in on the ship docked around the station.

“A legion of Si Troops is posted at this end of the station near the docked ship. They arrived with the Legion Flag. We do not know their contingency size. We considered that approach, Commander Nevlen, but figured it best to divert their attention to Kason’s team aboard the Flag, while your team takes the station up to this point.” Shenta knew Nevlen wanted to interject, but continued before he could utter another word. “The Kryth may send more troops your way, with Kason’s team disabling the reactor they will then proceed to clear and meet you in the middle section here. This will pinch the Kryth until further back-up arrives,” Parejas finished.

“With all due respect Commander, my troops are quite capable of taking the whole station without any support. I want to make this clear for the record,” Nevlen said.

“Your troops are capable, Commander, but this is the strategy we will implement. And Commander,” Parejas looked at Nevlen, “it’s clear for the record.” Parejas continued. “Commander Takkar, your fleet will engage all the Kryth vessels including a large service platform off away from the station.”

“Understood, Commander. What of any other ships not of Kryth origin? What shall we do with them?” Takkar asked. 

“You are not to attack unless engaged upon. Our fight is with the Kryth. I will leave it at your discretion on what is considered a threat.” Parejas then turned to Kason. “Captain Bender, your team will have limited information on the Legion Flag. The reactors are upgraded versions of the ones found on
Exendoth
destroyers. We have updated your tactical profile on the vessel. Have your team read up on what we have. Our goal here, gentleman, is to disable and capture the Legion Flag, station, and as many assets as possible.”

Commander Parejas looked over each of his officers.

BOOK: Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga)
11.19Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

The Love Object by Edna O'Brien
Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park
Angel Fall by Coleman Luck
Anton's Odyssey by Andre, Marc
White Satin by Iris Johansen
Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek
Dead in the Dog by Bernard Knight
Recalled to Life by Reginald Hill
Widowmaker Jones by Brett Cogburn