Redemption Protocol (Contact) (53 page)

“Quite,” Darkwood said.

Karch pointed at the screen.

“That gold cloud in the image. You’re saying that's the weapon released by the honey trap?”

“One of them,” Touvenay said.

They contemplated the image in silence.

Weaver’s eyes narrowed.

“And the cloud in that clip is being sucked into a single point.”

“That’s right,” Darkwood said.

“As if by some kind of gravitational beam.”

“Indeed,” Touvenay said.

“Which could end as a gravitational anomaly if the process continued...” Weaver said.

Darkwood’s eyes widened.

“By thunder. I see what you’re saying.”

 109. 

Havoc stood, faintly illuminated by the glow from the altar above, as Abbott directed his question at the light.

“If we release you, what would you do?”

“Do?”

“What actions would you want to take?”

“I would live.”

“Could you please be more specific?”

“I would eat and drink and search for my fellow people, wherever they might be.”

“Didn't you say your species was destroyed?”

“The systems that were targeted were destroyed. Our civilization was destroyed. I hope some of my people survived. Nothing is certain.”

“Could you tell us about the system that you come from?”

“I would rather not until I better understand your intentions. Please explain them to me.”

“You are a multi-system species?”

“Yes.”

“I know this must be difficult, but to help us avoid a similar fate, could you tell us what happened?”

“You mentioned the gravatic beam before.”

“Yes. Is the beam a weapon?”

“It can be. But it is what the beam conceals that is the far greater weapon.”

“Something is
inside
the gravitational anomaly?”

“A weapon.”

“Inside the gravitational anomaly?”

“You wish me to repeat it?”

“No. No. What kind of weapon?”

“A self-replicating dissembler. Are you familiar with this technology?”

“Perhaps. Could you explain it?”

“Yes. The Diss can be controlled from the
Eliminator
. Or from anywhere else, if the controls are taken.”

“Can you tell us more about the Diss weapon? And their controls?”

“Yes, but not at this time. Please release me. You are clearly a species based on exchange. I am concerned by the prospect of a sequencing error. If I answer your questions you may leave me here. If you release me, I will still be in your presence. So I will tell you what we have agreed. This is logical.”

The horror of what the alien had said sank into Havoc. What the hell was a 'self-replicating dissembler', if not some kind of super-weapon? A new human arms race may have just started, prompted by this conversation. If one of the other civilizations heard about such a technology there would be chaos in the system.

“If you release me I can explain to you the energy source, the gravatic beam and the control of the Diss.”

Havoc grimaced at the magnitude of the carrot being dangled in front of Abbott. With the fanatical Gathering outside and the other civilizations nearby – especially given the technology that was on offer – Havoc knew that Abbott would try and reach an agreement with the alien. And when you make a deal with the devil, he always collects.

Jafari came on the line.

“Code five, visitors have arrived.”

Translation: the Gathering is here, things do not look good and I need you outside, right now.

 110. 

Novosa struggled on, lost in her own world. She wasn't human any more; she was a writhing, squirming animal that was hell bent on nothing but dragging itself forward.

Left arm, pull, right arm, pull. Repeat.

The wind whipped at her. Her vision was slowly deteriorating despite her augmentation.

She hauled herself up another low dune. As she crested she saw on the horizon the large dune that marked the end of the desert. The upper part of the pyramid loomed over it, dispassionately marking her advance.

She looked back at the dirt.

Her entire world was the single square meter in front of her. An ever shifting, ever changing, completely uniform conveyor belt of dirt that determined if she was going to live or die on this God forsaken rock on the far side of the universe.

Left arm, pull, right arm, pull. Repeat.

She swam in an abstract world of hytelline, dancing around barefoot as a little girl, walking purposefully along the lines of the pavement, left foot, right foot, tilting from side to side. She was on a boat as a cadet, far too drunk, swaying up and down as the deck undulated beneath her. She drifted on, the suit taking the strain and pulling her forward, knowing all she had to do was hang on. The suit was damaged so she couldn't target it on her destination. The suit would read her neural impulses and move her, but she had to stimulate the movements consciously.

Sleep beckoned her as she swum through her anesthetized world. A nap. A break. Just to relax for five minutes and drift away. Everything felt so remote. The sensation of her breathing was silly. A little break was irresistibly tempting. Too much hytelline, she thought, abstractly. She rolled onto her side, intending to pause for only a moment.

She floated in warm eiderdown, enveloped in its velvet touch.

Surely she could nap for just a little while?

 111. 

Havoc emerged from the pyramid’s entrance field.

A Gathering party marched toward the pyramid led by the giant black and gold suit of Arzbad-Framander Zuelth, Sword of the One True God, et cetera, who was, to Havoc, deeply unwelcome in this place, on this day, at this time. Jafari hurried alongside Zuelth, though he was dropping off the side like a fishing boat swept aside by an advancing formation of battleships. Jafari gestured helplessly.

“They want in.”

“Uh huh.”

“They won't stop.”

“Ok.”

Havoc strode toward the Gathering as the rest of the Alliance team emerged from the entrance field behind him.

“Jafari, where is Novosa?”

“She’s off grid. There’s a lot of jamming to the south.”

“Flyover and make contact, please.”

“Will do.”

The Gathering party was still in open water, so to speak, though they were closing rapidly with the cabins clustered near the pyramid entrance. Havoc didn't want them to get that close.

The thudding fire from the static defense station scattered dirt a few meters in front of Zuelth. The Gathering halted abruptly and Zuelth’s eyes lit up.

“How dare––”

Havoc cut Zuelth off as he marched forward.

“You are trespassing. You are breaking the terms of our agreement.”

“I demand to––”

Havoc strode straight past Zuelth.

“You will walk with me now to the edge of our encampment, away from our buildings, or I will remove you. Once you are there, I will see if Ambassador Abbott is available to meet you.”

Havoc ignored Zuelth’s explosive reaction and marched on. Abbott and the others watched by the entrance. Havoc reviewed the battlespace. The Gathering deployment around the western entrance of the pyramid suggested imminent action. He cast to the
Intrepid
.

> Yamamoto we have a situation with the Gathering. Can you do a sensor sweep with the Hel and ensure the
Glorious Messenger
is aware you have eyes on.

> Ambassador Abbott?

> I support John’s course of action.

> Sensor sweep underway. I’ll confirm eyes on the
Glorious Messenger
with Whittenhorn.

Havoc felt the none-too-subtle sweep of the
Intrepid’s
phase array from space as the Gathering party stood grumbling amongst themselves. The Gathering party looked at the static defense stations then reluctantly followed Havoc. A kind word and a gun beat a kind word alone, he thought.

> What’s going on, Havoc?

> One minute, please, Mr Whittenhorn. We have hostilities imminent here. Please let the
Glorious Messenger
know the
Intrepid
has eyes on.

Havoc raised a hand to stop any protest as the Gathering party approached.

“Arzbad-Framander Zuelth, you have my respect but today you have had poor advice. The security situation is delicate enough without unnecessary provocation. Please ensure that in future, if you wish to visit, your security staff speaks to us beforehand. Now, by your leave, I will request that our Ambassador come and speak to you.”

“No need, John, thank you.”

Havoc stepped back as he deferred to Abbott, who stood to one side of the Gathering party.

“Ambassador.”

Zuelth half-spun and gesticulated wildly at Abbott.

“We know you've found someone in the pyramid!”

Abbott stared at Havoc. Oh shit, Havoc thought. Abbott spoke slowly, his brow deeply furrowed.

“Arzbad-Framander Zuelth––”

Jamming surged on the western side of the pyramid. Alerts triggered in Havoc’s mind’s eye as his battlespace showed Gathering soldiers swarming through the western entrance. There was a crack and the rolling thump of a detonation.

The Gathering team stepped back into a hostile stance. Havoc did the same. He readied their platforms. Where the fuck was Novosa? Had they taken her out? Fire erupted from the far side of the pyramid. They were right on the brink. Havoc cast to Abbott.

> May I?

> Go ahead.

Havoc spread his hands, palms upward.

“Arzbad-Framander there are heavy munitions, static defense stations and mines all the way to the center of the pyramid. I know your men fear nothing from death, but still their deaths will be pointless.”

Havoc and Abbott stood facing Zuelth and his party, each buffeted by the wind. Zuelth stared at Havoc, his features impassive. Zuelth genuinely didn’t seem to care.

Abbott cast to Havoc instantaneously.

> Have they penetrated?

Havoc had no idea. What was happening inside the pyramid was frustratingly unclear given the total block caused by the pyramid entrance fields.

> I don’t know for certain. It’s unlikely they’ll get through the entrance hall.

> I don’t want a war, John.

Havoc tried to conceive of a reason for the Gathering to cease their incursion.

“There are layers of defense stretching along the tunnels for kilometers, Arzbad-Framander. The nuclear munitions could destroy the entire building. Don't commit your men. Don't damage this place or anything that might be inside it.”

Abbott stepped forward.

“I would add that we are urgently considering your earlier request and the best way for you to join us in exploring the pyramid.”

“You will allow us inside?”

“We are considering how best to facilitate some type of joint access.”

Zuelth, head of what now appeared to be a diplomatic diversion, turned and looked at the man next to him. They nodded to each other and presumably one of them radioed to pull their men back as Havoc could see the Gathering soldiers retreating from the western entrance on his feed. He nodded at Abbott.

> They’re pulling back. Looks ok.

> I just hope no one is critically injured or dead.

Havoc didn’t share Abbott’s sense of optimism.

Arzbad-Framander Zuelth looked satisfied.

“That is excellent, Ambassador Abbott.”

“I hope no one was hurt, Arzbad-Framander Zuelth.”

Zuelth smiled.

“God smiles on us this day.”

Havoc breathed a sigh of relief.

“We are pleased to hear it, Arzbad-Framander,” Abbott said.

Zuelth nodded.

“We are truly blessed. Five of our brothers have passed through the gates of heaven and entered paradise.”

Havoc raised an eyebrow. Abbott took a moment, presumably to allow his perplexed reaction to Zuelth's comment to subside.

“I commend you on your restraint, Arzbad-Framander.”

“I look forward to hearing of our arrangements for access within the next two hours, Ambassador.”