Ghosts of Lyarra (31 page)

“Reactors?” both Lyxia asked. “You mean there are two jump-space
reactors?”

“Three actually.” Sara
replied.

It was an answer that drew a gasp from both Iana and Lyxia, while intriguing Aen and Caretaker to learn
more.

“One to create the sub-space field to make the jump, the second to power the ship faster than ever recorded through jump-space itself, and the third and smaller reactor to supercharge the second reactor in the case of emergency. Theoretically, the Zeus could jump from Earth to Havyiin in five days; or
less.”

“Impossible.” Gasped
Iana.

“
Quite the contrary
.” Chimed in Caretaker. “
The fact that the humans, who have had access to jump-space theories and technology for such a fraction of time versus the rest of the Imperial ship designers, have thought of this before the Guild has is most fascinating. What I wouldn’t give to see this creation of yours Sara Foster. Does it
work
?”

“There is the part that’s embarrassing.” Sara grumbled. “It works in theory, but not in reality. We are close, but Zeus is still a year or so away from being ready to fly. The others are complete and ready; in fact, I believe the Aries was launched to keep an eye on the Dark Light and the incoming traffic
too.”

“
I believe I can help them in getting the engine problems solved
.” Caretaker spoke eagerly. “
With my guidance I can cut the preparation time down to six months; or
less
.”

“That won’t be happening!” Iana protested. “Such a machine of malice must be dismantled at once; it threatens the very peace we so enjoy now throughout the Empire. Too many have sacrificed themselves for such an abomination to ruin it
all.”

“Funny, that’s what many of the Council have said about me.” Aen snapped back. “And this is one demand I will not let be carried out, your highness. Your precious time of peace is just a fallacy; a shroud your enemy has used to hide behind as they wage an unseen war on everything you hold dear. When this Myril takes power, it won’t be to maintain the status quo; she has placed her pawns carefully and strategically throughout the Empire and will use them to usher in a new age upon us all. This is what the Prophets showed me; the age of darkness and destruction is at our very doorstep. Will you greet it with subservience or fight back for all you hold
dear?”

Aen looked at each one of them, staring deep into their eyes before moving on to the next. He had to know if they were all on board for what was coming; he told them all the truth may be more than they can handle. Sara was the first to nod in agreement and support, then Lyxia, and lastly Iana with much
hesitation.

“The Zeus must be completed; and stay as secret as it is now.” He added. “Our enemy doesn’t know about me yet, but as this chapter plays out they will. They cannot learn of the Zeus until its shadow is cast over them and catches them off guard. Caretaker will get his wish, and then they will wait until we call for them before
launching.”

“I’m not sure the old man will go for that.” Sara
quipped.

“Then you and I have to pay him a visit to convince him otherwise.” Aen
smiled.

—
Inner System Solar Power Relay Station; Project Olympus

Patterson finally got in touch with Council Foster after a few days of unanticipated radio silence, and much to his surprise he learned that she was on her way to personally discuss what she had learned with him; aboard Zeus. She had only visited once before, and that visit had been the most uncomfortable he had ever been in the company of an official. Sara Foster despised him because of his involvement with Starchild; so if she was coming to see him in person, he knew it was something
urgent.

He watched as the ship neared the docks of the solar power plant that hid the entire Olympus project behind its mighty arrays of solar cells. To this day it had amazed him that no one was questioning why the station only produced half its expectant power collection; Zeus cast one hell of a shadow in the light of the sun. This was one of the few times he had left the mighty vessel, but her assurances that everything that had been happening planet-side was settled, relaxed his over anxious demeanor. Patterson felt the thud of the shuttle securing to the dock and the hiss of pressurization; his guest had officially arrived and it was time to greet
her.

“General.” Sara acknowledged him as she cleared the
airlock.

“Council.” He returned the cold greeting. “To what do I owe this face to face meeting that you wouldn’t discuss over the
comms?”

“Not until we reach your office on the ship.” She said cautiously; eyeing up the many guards around the facility. “What I have to say is definitely on a need to know
basis.”

Patterson noted the look in her eyes, but couldn’t match it with either fear or anger; either way, the Council was definitely out of sorts. The two walked towards a waiting golf cart-like vehicle and climbed aboard in silence as the driver sped off towards their destination. Through the station windows, Zeus loomed large and seemed to be just another part of the massive installation, yet everyone here knew different. He felt more uneasy than usual at her silence, and his feeble attempts at conversation during the journey were met with glares that could freeze a polar
bear,

They reached the Zeus’ airlock and cycled through its multiple chambers before driving through the other end a few minutes later. The ship’s size meant that traversing her length was achieved by these electric vehicles which meant the ride from hell wouldn’t be over for a bit longer. Even the driver cleared his throat a few times in an attempt to break the unnerving silence, but the frost queen kept her
cool.

At last, they arrived at the officer’s wing and the two entered the elevator that led up to Patterson’s office. As the doors began to shut, the General noticed the look of relief on the driver’s face that his part was over so Patterson flashed him the finger before the doors shut completely. At least he could tell a private to fuck off to alleviate some
tension.

“Are there cameras and microphones in your office?” she asked him out of nowhere; catching him off guard as he had been humming in his head along with the horrible elevator
tunes.

“Not that I’ve ever ordered.” He answered, a bit confused. “Do we have a problem with spies? What did that bastard Jyn spill before he
died?”

“There is a bit of a spy problem I’ve uncovered, but not out here.” She reassured him. “I am more concerned about our conversation staying off the record and let’s just say you don’t have the best track record with me
personally.”

Mercifully, the elevator reached their floor and the doors opened with a chime. Patterson nearly darted out to escape the crushing tension inside and led the way to his office at the end of the hall. As he opened the door for her, he turned back to address her last words to
him.

“No bugs, no cameras, just you and me.” He smiled at
her.

“Not quite.” A voice from inside called out, as she smiled a devilish grin in passing him to enter. “But let’s hope for your sake you are right about the first
part.”

—

It was the second time he had cornered the old General and caught him off guard; a fact that made Aen feel a bit more pleasure than it should. He had shifted himself from the shuttle as it docked and waited in the office for them to arrive, having found the proper place to wait from the plans stolen by Caretaker. Aen waited impatiently, but had perked up as he heard the elevator arrive and even resisted the temptation to light one of Patterson’s precious cigars to add to the already shocking scene that awaited the old
man.

Sara pulled the stunned senior into the room and shut the door quickly; locking it behind them to ensure they wouldn’t be disturbed. Patterson looked terrified and confused all at the same time, and Aen revelled in
it.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost General?” he poked at the stunned
man.

“You… you…
you’re….”

“Dead?” Aen finished his sentence. “Been getting a bit of that lately. Don’t think your man Wilson quite understood it either before he
died.”

“He’s the one?” Patterson gasped at Sara. “The one behind all of
this?”

“Your part in this, is to listen.” She said pulling out a chair for him. “Sit down and shut up. There’s a lot to cover and less time to do it
in.”

As he did, Aen began to go over what was transpiring throughout the Empire and the uncovering of the plot to take the throne; though he strategically left out any mention of Iana being alive or involved in any part of it. Over the next ten minutes, Aen laid down what he thought the General needed to know to be involved as an ally to the cause. It wasn’t easy to sway him, especially when Aen discussed the usage of the Zeus in the
plan.

“Not gonna happen.” Patterson pouted. “This ain’t your personal ship, boy; despite all that’s been done to you, we don’t owe you that much. This ship is far too important to be lost in a fight that don’t involve us way out
here.”

“Then you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” Aen fired back. “Everyone in the damn galaxy is involved, whether they want to be or not. Once Myril sits on the throne, how long until she turns her attention to the wealth of riches in the Sol
system?”

“Even if all this hubbub and nonsense is true,” Patterson whined in protest. “The ship ain’t ready and probably won’t be for a few years. We can’t get the damn engines working; fucking scientists don’t know what’s wrong and can’t get their heads out of their asses to figure it
out.”

“That’s where my bargaining chip comes in.” Aen smiled and placed a four inch opaque crystal cube on the
table.

“What in Sam Hill is that shit?” the General
barked.

“The AI from the Amarra.” Aen answered, leaning in. “Knowledge and computing power beyond your wildest dreams; a way to make this ship become more than it was intended to
be.”

“That little thing is the Caretaker?” Patterson laughed. “I call bullshit on you son! Nice bluff but you got no cards to play
here.”

“
A poor analogy
.” The AI spoke, startling even Aen. “
And if you want to continue the poker tribute I would say that we have all the chips in our favor
now
.”

“How is it talking?” the General demanded. “Is this some kind of
trick?”

“
My you are a dull one
.” Caretaker quipped. “
Your desk is an interactive computer display and the instant my core matrix made contact with it I bypassed your sorry excuse for a security system and entered Zeus’ system. At present time I have downloaded over half of your files and corrected one hundred and seventy four critical software errors in thirty eight different systems; including a fatal flaw in the long term feasibility in your life support
system
.”

“It’s been on that table for less than a minute and it is gone through half my ship’s
system?”

“
To correct you, General Patterson, I have complete autonomy throughout the entire ship now; so to dumb it down for you I am one hundred percent in what I would say, is more MY ship then yours
now
.”

“Get it out of there!” he scowled at Sara as he stood above her in a threatening
manner.

To Aen’s surprise, Sara didn’t take the bait and stayed calm despite the General lording over her. She simply smiled at him and turned back to
Aen.

“Told you.” She chided
Aen.

“Sit down Patterson and listen.” Aen ordered. The old man pondered his position and after a moment did as he was told. “I am not taking over your ship, but I do wish to count it in my arsenal when all hell breaks loose. If those reactors can do what Sara says they can do, then it won’t be gone long from Earth and will be back before they could miss
it.”

“
Interesting
.” Caretaker interrupted. “
I believe I found the reason for the engine malfunction. It lies in an algorithm error and a slight structural oversight; at best guess we could have it online in nine months, twenty-two days, eighteen
hours
…”

“We get it.” Aen stopped it from
continuing.

“You mean to say that this computer solved in five minutes what the best minds of our planet couldn’t in over a year?” Patterson was shocked to
ask.

“
Technically it was four minutes and seventeen seconds
.” The AI snipped back proudly. “
I could show you the errors but according to your file the equations are far beyond your
comprehension
.”