McCollum - GIBRALTAR STARS (39 page)

“You see there,” Dos-Val said, pointing to the display screen in the Prime Councilor’s office. “The destruction of the Mining Boat
Saf
, the Hunter-Sniffer
Vaardat,
and the Avenger
Dostar’s Duty
. The weapon is the same as the one that destroyed the Pastol stargate.”

“Then it is the wild bipeds?”

“Without a doubt.”

Zel-Sen shifted position on his resting frame. “How did it begin?”

“A large explosion between the fifth and sixth planets of the Sabator System was detected by sky monitors. The local Huntmaster sent three ships to investigate. They were closing in on the remnant when the bipeds opened fire and destroyed them.”

“A biped ship exploded?”

“It appears so. It made no attempt to maneuver. We conclude that its engines were damaged. From the size of the original explosion, I cannot understand why it was not completely vaporized.”

“Yet, its weapons remained operational.”

Dos-Val signaled his assent.

“Do we know anything about this weapon?”

“It seems to be kinetic in nature. From an analysis of the flashes, we estimate the speed of whatever struck our ships as ten-twelfths the speed of light. We presume it is a missile. The acceleration rate from point of launch to target is phenomenal. We are checking to see if our sensors recorded an energy discharge along the flight path.”

“And what of this second ship?”

“It appeared a revolution later, rendezvoused with the damaged ship, then fled. We assigned two ships to pursue, but the orbital mechanics were against us. Shortly after, the first ship was vaporized by an explosion.”

“The new weapon again?”

“No, a simple nuclear device. The spectrum indicates it was efficiently manufactured.”

“And you believe these wild bipeds are moving freely about Civilization using our stargates?”

“They have certainly used the gates, Prime Councilor. We have proof that three of their ships used the gates. We suspect many more. However, I do not believe that is their normal means of interstellar travel. Their ships likely use this new coordinate transformation technology the Institute of Physics warned us about.”

“This myth of Gor-Dek’s?”

“It is no myth. My specialists confirm the theory to be consistent with modern multi-dimensional theory. They believe engines can be built that operate on this principle.”

“And these engines allow a ship to travel between stars without stargates?”

“Yes, Prime Councilor.”

“Then it is easy to see why the knowledge is forbidden. Were such a technology in everyday use, it would make Civilization ungovernable. Do you have any proof other than your supposition that the bipeds actually possess this technology?”

“We tracked the second ship until it disappeared into the background radiation. It never deviated from its outbound course. Either the bipeds plan to spend the next several generations en route to the nearest star, or they used their faster-than-light engine after we lost sight of them.”

Zel-Sen fell into a pensive silence. There was much to consider here. As Prime Councilor, it was his duty to safeguard that which the ancestors had bequeathed the current generation. Of all their gifts, the primacy of the stargate was by far the most important. Stargates brought order out of chaos. If this alternate star flight technology existed, it would have to be suppressed.

The problem was convincing the Ruling Council. He’d already warned them that a wild species was loose in Civilization. Most councilors were dubious. Now he would have to call them into session to tell them the situation was much worse than even he had suspected.

And his whole proof consisted of three bright sparks silhouetted against a star field.

#

When Dos-Val returned to the Ministry of Science, he found Kalz-Vor waiting for him.

“How was your audience with the Prime Councilor?” the younger male asked.

“Exciting. He required very little convincing. He also believes the bipeds are a grave threat. However, he doesn’t think he can convince the council with the evidence we provided. He is asking for more proof.”

Dos-Val looked at his assistant and continued, “And on that subject, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be analyzing the recording from Karap-Vas? We must know how this weapon works.”

“I have three of my best specialists doing a pixel-by-pixel review. At the speed the missile was traveling, it had to leave some trace in the interplanetary medium. They are scanning for signs of an ion wake.”

“Shouldn’t you assist them?”

 “I would, Subminister. However, I received a message from Gor-Dek. He asks that we come to the Institute of Physics.”

“Why?”

“He said he has something important to show us.”

“His experiment? Surely he hasn’t finished building his coordinate transformation generator so quickly.”

“No. They are still fabricating components.”

Dos-Val was relieved. “I haven’t told the Prime Councilor of the project yet, let alone that it has reached the experimental stage.”

“Would you like me to postpone? I can tell him you are busy with the Prime Councilor’s business.”

“No. Perhaps he can suggest something to back up our theory. Tell him that we are on our way.”

Kalz-Vor left to contact the physicist and arrange transport. Dos-Val turned to the floor-to-ceiling window behind him. Across the intervening greensward, he could see the Council Building looming over the battlements of Old City.

The sound of his office door retracting into the wall announced the return of Kalz-Vor.

“The car is here, Subminister”

Like the Ministry of Science, the Institute of Physics was located in the band of towers that encircled Old City and its surrounding parklands. Although in the same band, the two buildings were nearly diametrically opposite one another. To reach the Institute, they followed the circular highway that, along with a wall and the outer parklands, formed the physical barrier between the ring of towers and the surrounding slum where the subservients lived. When they reached the Institute, a young male waited for them at the entrance.

“Greetings, Subminister,” he said. “I am Philosopher Gor-Dek’s assistant. He apologizes that he did not come himself. His bones are causing him pain this morning. He asked that I guide you.”

Despite being subordinate to the Ministry of Science, the Institute of Physics was, if anything, even more lavishly furnished. Dos-Val thought the scientists were overcompensating for their subordinate rank, but kept the opinion to himself.

When they reached Gor-Dek’s office, they found him sprawled comfortably on a resting frame, active at his work screen. He had none of the look of an ancient about him today. To judge by the way he greeted them, he might have been a young cub.

“Welcome, Subminister. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“I understand you have something to show me?”

“I do. A ship arrived yesterday, carrying a specimen the local hunt master seized from the natives on his planet. Not knowing what to do with it, the port authorities directed it to us. I spent all last night evaluating it. I thought the reports might be exaggerated. They were not.”

“What reports? What are you talking about?” Dos-Val asked with a hint of irritation in his voice.

“It is better that you see for yourself.”

Gor-Dek climbed off the frame. His youthful demeanor vanished as he put weight on his legs. Moving carefully and in obvious pain, he led them out a second door and down a long corridor.

Dos-Val and Kalz-Vor matched their pace to that of the oldster. After they had knuckle-walked half the length of the corridor, Dos-Val asked, “Would you not feel better in a conveyor?”

“My doctor tells me that I need to exercise every day. This is me exercising.”

They reached a door with an elaborate security lock guarded by two Banlath soldiers. The Banlath were a squat, well-armored species renowned for their loyalty and ferocity. They were armed with pellet throwers.

Gor-Dek used his pass to open the door. He led them through into a maze of hallways and individual laboratories. At the end of one corridor, they passed through an airlock of the sort used to isolate hazardous microorganisms.

“Is there a risk of disease?” Kalz-Vor asked, his eyes wide with apprehension.

“No, we put it in here because this is where we have enough space to house it.”

“‘It’ is… what?” Dos-Val asked. He enjoyed mysteries as much as anyone, but this was becoming tedious.

“One more door,” the physicist replied.

They emerged onto an observation platform high above a cavernous work area. Below, a large number of technicians were clustered around an ovoid the size of a two air cars. The overhead lights glinted dully off its surface, and some of the inner mechanism could be seen through a jagged, blackened hole in its side.

“What is it?” Dos-Val asked.

“If you believe the information screen in the cabin…,” Gor-Dek replied, “… it is a fully functional starship driven by coordinate transformation engines.”

Dos-Val blinked, then emitted the noise that signified mirth among the Broa.

Suddenly, the task of convincing Those Who Rule of the danger represented by this alternate interstellar technology seemed a great deal easier!

#

Chapter Forty

The first boat from
T.S.N.S. Galahad
touched down at Brinks Base five days after the cruiser dropped sublight on the edge of the system. It carried Captain Cavendish, Lisa Rykand, and the other translators who had performed oversight at Sabator. As the small group exited the main airlock into the Brinks Arrival Hall, they were met by Admiral Landon, Mark Rykand and the admiral’s two Marine escorts.

There are military protocols for when a senior officer meets a group of mixed rank subordinates. They involve formal salutes, rigid hierarchies, and restrained expressions of appreciation and/or greeting. This particular military homecoming had none of those.

As Lisa exited the airlock, she caught sight of her husband. Emitting a high-pitched squeal, she darted, slipping and sliding, toward where he stood with his arms wide and a big grin on his face. It isn’t easy to run in Sutton gravity, but she gained enough momentum that she flew the last few meters into his arms, causing the two of them to slide backwards across the floor while barely maintaining their balance.

Neither would probably have noticed if they toppled over.

They were too wrapped up in one another to notice a small thing like gravity. Lips hungrily searched out lips, arms intertwined.  Her legs wrapped around his lower torso. They stood in the ancient tableau of reunited lovers, immobile save for their questing faces and necks in constant motion in an instinctive search for a better fit between lips and noses.

Everyone else – the two senior officers, the translators, and most especially, the Marines – stood by with silly grins on their faces, watching a spectacle that was not very military, but all too human.

When finally Mark and Lisa broke their clench to catch a breath, Lisa whispered breathlessly to her husband, “We found it, Mark. We found it!”

He reached up and put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, whispering back, “That’s supposed to be classified.”

“Classified? Why?”

“Because the Admiral wants to hear your report before everyone within earshot does, I suppose. God it’s good to hold you again!”

“Me, too,” she laughed. “Uh, you, too. Hell, you know what I mean!”

“I do indeed, my love. You gave me quite a scare.”

Something about that statement caused Lisa to begin spluttering. “
I
gave
you
a scare? You canker! What about me? It’s amazing all of my hair isn’t gray after worrying about you for a whole damned week!”

This repartee might have gone on forever, but Admiral Landon stepped forward. “If you two are ready…”

His words bore the tone of an indulgent uncle, but the stars on his shoulders said commanding officer.

They disengaged and pulled apart. Mark’s face turned red. Lisa, however, seemed nonplussed. “Sorry, Admiral. Work before pleasure.”

“I promise I won’t keep you long. I understand you have something to tell me.”

“Yes, sir. Lead the way.”

He did precisely that. They left the spaceport via the newest tunnel and then toward the underground administrative complex. It didn’t take long to realize that they were en route to the same conference room where he had briefed them on the Sabator mission.

When they entered, the room was filled with people. Most were intelligence types from Strategies and Intentions.

Mark and Lisa sat up front, with Captain Cavendish and the members of Lisa’s team clustered behind them. When everyone had taken a seat, the Admiral began.

“This is a classified briefing. Nothing said here is to leave this room. Captain Alchard,” he said, looking at the senior intelligence officer, “I want your assessment of what this means by noon tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Captain Cavendish, I assume your people have been instructed not to talk about what you found until cleared to do so?”

“Yes, sir. As per your instructions, I had the department heads relay that message loudly and a little profanely. We are delaying shore leave until we get clearance from Intelligence. I just hope it won’t be too long. My people have been through a lot in the last few weeks.”

“You can make plans to start shipping them down day after tomorrow. We should have instructions by then. Correct, Captain Alchard?”

“Yes, sir. I don’t think we care how many people out here know about
Galahad
’s discovery. My concern is the news people we’ve been getting ever since Grand Central Terminus opened. The political situation is tentative. If the news breaks at home before the Admiralty and World Coordinator have the opportunity to prepare the populace, it could prove damaging to the war effort.”

“Okay, I hope everyone is clear. No general announcements, no whispers to your lovers tonight after a roll in the packing foam, no quiet advance warning to your best buddies over beers.