Atlas: Infinity Verge Trilogy: Book II (2 page)

“Sorry, Sir. She insisted that I be there as well, as an--” he paused obviously not wanting to say what he had been told. “As an escort. Sir.”” Six said then held his breath. Abel could see he was uncomfortable with the assignment.

“I see. Lead on then Master Chief,” Abel pulled his coat ends together; they met with a metallic cling and sealed without a seam. He marveled at the ingenuity of the design.

If only Earth and those in the Sol system had perfected something like this long ago
, he thought.

Abel shook his head as he followed Six. The man was assigned as the lead engineer aboard the TP-D. Abel tried to like the man, but he was too uptight. At least when Zee was uptight he could still laugh.

What does it say about a man that a Quintarran had a better sense of humor?
Abel thought. He followed the Master Chief down the long corridor. The man before him was, at least, fifteen years his junior.

He’s barely out of diapers,
Abel thought.

Six Remington walked with a stiff step and rigid back. He had been brought up in military fashion, as a true child of the EFNF. Abel wasn't sure about having such a staunch supporter of the True EFNF on his crew, but he had little choice in any of it - crew or otherwise. The whole mess made him want to turn in his rank and steal the first ship bound for anywhere but here. He stowed his feelings. Zee had died to bring him and Echo to Quintar IV into the capable EFNF hands. Now, he wasn't so sure it was a good thing.

“Six, did the Fleet Admiral give any indication of what she wanted to discuss?” Abel asked as they continued down the dimly lit hall. The walls were made of some sort of metal alloy. Abel guessed that the walls bore traces of titanium and modified aluminium. He considered the alloy as they continued towards the Fleet Admiral's office.

“Ship specifications, if I recall correctly. Sir,” Six replied in a formal tone. The boy had grounded upbringing in the military. This fact further distanced Abel’s desire to spend any time at all with Six Remington.

So,
Abel thought,
they’re actually going to ask for my input.

He found the sudden interest in his opinion odd, to say the least. The EFNF had been direct enough in curbing his involvement with the TP-D.

Now, I’m being summoned?
It did not make a whole lot of sense, but he would play their game.

“So is this more than ship specifications or is this an introduction session?” Abel speculated.

“I couldn’t say. Sir,” Six replied.

“I suppose you couldn’t. That’ll be all Master Chief. Continue,” Abel switched the address as he noted they were approaching the office of the Admiral. If she wanted to be formal and militaristic, he could play along. Truthfully, he enjoyed the challenge.

“Sir,” Six said as the two of them faced forward and continued walking towards the Fleet Admiral’s office. The door to the office was ajar and Abel could see more than a few people milling about the Fleet Admiral’s foreboding presence. As they entered, Six Remington stood at attention and saluted.

“Captain on deck!” Six called out announcing Abel’s arrival. Abel cringed at the crisp formality. This was not his style and if he couldn’’t break the boy of this habit, it was going to be irritating. Abel gave Fleet Admiral Clark a pained look.

Andromeda Clark was a middle-aged woman if one considered middle-aged around fifty or so. Her dark brown eyes stared into the well-lit doorway and met Abel’s blue-green. To his credit, he did not stare, but he did appreciate the older woman’s lithe frame. Despite her age, Andromeda Clark was a fine looking woman with delicate high cheekbones and soft features. Abel smirked as he noted the stern expression on her face. She had caught him admiring.

“At ease Master Chief,” Andromeda said in a melodic - if aged - voice. “There is no need to stand on formalities here. Is there Mr. Cain?”” She intentionally left out Abel’s commissioned title.

“Certainly none for my sake Ms. Clark,” Abel said, adopting the Fleet Admiral’s informality. “I understand you asked for me?”

“You and your crew Mr. Cain. It has come to my attention that you are feeling sour about being left out of the planning of the TP-D,” She maneuvered with her words.

Abel apprehensively darted a look to the corner of the room. He was certain Echo sat back in the dark. Abel glanced towards her, but the look in the Fleet Admiral’s eyes gave him pause.

Something felt off. Something was itching at him. Instead of keeping his tongue, he spoke, “I am a bit
sour
,” he emphasized the word. ““I was a major part of planning the
Kodiak
and I knew every nook and cranny of her. Closest relationship I would say I ever had,” Abel smirked. That drew a stare from Echo. He could see her now, she was in the corner.

Fool man
, he thought to himself,
try not to get yourself in trouble
.

“So I understand," Andromeda stated. “Ms. Shade has made quite the case for pulling you and the crew, into this. I cannot say I agree completely, but since we’re pinning a lot on your abilities, I think she may be partially right, at the least.” Andromeda gave Abel a knowing stare and for a brief moment he saw something of himself in the woman; that made him cringe.

“Have you brought the schematics? I don’t see them.” Andromeda probed.

Abel gulped, he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable under Clark’s stare and he could feel the sweat beading on the back of his neck. He stood up straight and steeled himself.

“I did not. I assumed that you would have your own.” He said almost challengingly. Echo gave him a look that could freeze fire and he swallowed his pride. “Apologies. It has been a trying few months. The loss of the
Kodiak
and of Zee has been …”

“No need to disseminate Mr. Cain. I am not here to scold you. As I said before, I am somewhat in agreement with Ms. Shade. What
suggestions
do you have?” She emphasized her words. Abel understood that, however acquiescent, Fleet Admiral Clark was no tool to be maneuvered.

Abel cleared his throat and approached the table in the center of the room. It was as if he had just noticed the attendees in the room whereas before it had been Clark, Shade, and himself. The office was larger than it needed to be with a single stone formed desk in the left corner. He scrutinized the desk for a moment before moving on; it was too similar to Quintarran design for his liking. Strewn about the desk were a number of data-films and a stylus. He noted several others in the room; Lieutenant Andrew Boulson, Ensign Krat, Six Remington, Chief Petty Officer Astra Martinez, and two airmen whose names he had not learned. The two new recruits were supposed to be his gunners, but he was not sure about them.

Krat, the only Quintarran in the group, would be his co-pilot and navigation officer. He had insisted on a Quintarran co-pilot. His request for a liberated Quintarran was met with distaste. However, after Zee, he understood the benefit of an intensely logical thinker handling navigation, if not direct combat piloting. Lt. Boulson would be handling defense and weapons. Six, he noted again, was his lead engineer and Astra Martinez would be the secondary. He examined the new recruits and decided that he could utilize them in a better capacity than combat gunners. If he had his way, the laser turrets would be computer operated on near automation anyway.

No
, he thought,
the Airmen are not going to man the guns, not when my life is on the line.

“Fleet Admiral Clark,” he began. “Essentially, I want to redraw the entirety of the plans. The forward cockpit design is pure folly.””

He ignored her angry stare at that, “It is so distinctly human in design it belies the arrogance of our race.”

She did not like that either, “To ensure an advantage of visibility over using sensors, I think we should put the command deck at the top of the ship, instead of at the prow.”

Abel was just getting started, “The aft thrusters have too much lift, and not enough thrust and the engines - port and starboard - don’t have adjustable nacelles. I suggest that we give a ninety-degree rotation to the port and starboard engines to give the needed lift and put all the power into the aft thrusters for thrust, versus lift. This accomplishes two things. It allows for inter-atmospheric maneuvering and if needed a landing. This does, however, change the weapons configuration slightly.”

“That will be quite enough Mr. Cain. We’re not rebuilding the URSA GS-I, this is an entirely different vessel with different mission parameters,” Andromeda cut him off. ““We are not planning on infiltration and precision assault tactics. This is a destroyer, Mr. Cain. A destroyer with the singular purpose of hunting and eliminating the EXO Prime. In its current configuration, the TP-D will be a match for the Infinity.”

“Alright. It’s a destroyer but let's, at least, explore using aggregate alloys. Specifically a Titanium-Lead-Aluminium alloy,” Abel conceded.

“What are you getting at Mr. Cain?” the Fleet Admiral was losing patience with his vision.

“Similar to the alloy I used on the
Kodiak
when it was cooled and magnetized it created a powerful quantum field that I was able to use to lock maneuverable plates into place,” he explained.

“What are you talking about? We never saw any such modification on the URSA GS-I. The wreckage suggested an odd combination of metals, but nothing that wasn’t already being utilized. What do you mean to lead? How is that going to help?””

Echo stood, “It is slaked off in the process of making the alloy,” she interjected. “However, it adds a minimal amount of conductivity to the alloy as a whole. The cooling is more responsible for the magnetization. I do not think the quantum plating is necessary for this design.”

Abel gave Echo a pained look. She had just stolen his thunder. Despite her untimely intervention Abel continued, “Trust me. This increases the strength of the armor and lightens it,” he said giving Echo another pained look.

“As far as the quantum locking, you are going to have to take my word on it, the
Kodiak
had quantum locked plates and it saved that gunship more than once. Just ask Echo, she saw it, she can testify to its utility.”

Echo looked away. Something in Abel was infuriated by that. He turned back to the Admiral, “It will take a few more lines to process it and make it work, but it will be well worth it.”

“I will not have untested science aboard the TP-D. You may be the Captain of this vessel, but I am still the Fleet Admiral,” Andromeda exchanged looks with Echo and with Abel.

The subtle exchange between Echo and the Fleet Admiral sparked Abel’s ire. He could not contain his rage any longer.

“Damn you foolish woman!” Abel blurted, “Do you know how tested quantum locked shields are!? Huh? Have you ever even been to Dark Space!? Flak you! I’’ve been there and if you are going to be sending me after the EXO Prime like I think you are, I am going to determine what kind of shielding MY ship has!” Abel was fuming, his face had gone red, but it paled in comparison the look of indignation on the Fleet Admiral’s face.

“You stupid boy! Get the flak out of my sight. If you think for one minute I am going to let a child tell me what is best for the safety of the EFNF you have another thing coming. Get the flak out!” she screeched.

“Very well,” Abel said, coldly. His voice took on the calm that came before the storm, “I’m out. Find another Captain to fly your Toilet Paper Dispenser,” that last he knew was a stretch, and foolish to boot, but he did not care.

2:
EXIT VECTOR

EFNF Controlled Space - TP-D Class Vessel

2973 ESD - Monday, April 19th 13:00 hours

The Titanium Plated Destroyer class vessel loomed in Quintar Prime space within the orbit of Quintar IV. The massive destroyer was surrounded by a squadron of EXO Vulture BAA-Courier class ships - colloquially called Vulture Backs. The larger ship was outnumbered twenty to one, but valiantly it held on. The vessels surrounding the destroyer zoomed and encircled the ship.

"Evasive action!" Captain Echo Shade demanded. The TP-D banked hard to the port side as it narrowly dodged an incoming asteroid. The EXOs had pinned them down just outside of Quintar IV and they were desperately trying to get home. The asteroid belt surrounding Quintar IV was a massive jumble of space debris. Centuries ago Quintar IV had three moons, two of which collided to form the belt around the planet. The EFNF had chosen Quintar IV because it was surrounded by the ring of asteroid debris.

The result of the collision left large chunks of rock orbiting the planet and made it a nearly impenetrable fortress. Unfortunately for EFNF vessels, it was just as impossible to make a quick entry and escape pursuing enemies. Normally, a ship approaching the home of the True Exodus Fleet Naval Force would wait for an approach vector through the breaks in the ring. The breaks - made by the existing moon intersecting the ring - were wide swaths of smaller debris and thus less threatening to an approaching ship. The problem with utilizing these cleared areas was that they changed regularly as the planet's gravity managed to capture new debris in its orbit. Quintar IV was an ideal location to avoid incursion, but it made it difficult for their own to come and go. Echo learned this firsthand when Zee, Abel, and herself crashed the
Kodiak.