Void Wraith (The Void Wraith Trilogy Book 2) (10 page)

"What the hell is that?" Dryker asked.

Nolan glanced up, and realized Dryker was looking at Edwards.

"That's Private Edwards, sir," Nolan replied. "We have a lot to catch up on."

"Clearly we do. Let's keep this short. We need to meet. Can you make best speed to the Enduria system?" It wasn't really a question. Nolan heard the order, but for the first time he didn't blindly obey. Nolan would do what Dryker asked, but because it was the right thing...not because he was following orders.
 
The distinction was subtle, but powerful.

"We'll do that," Nolan replied, nodding. "See you in a few hours."

Chapter 23- Arrivals

"Captain, we are clearing the sun's corona," Ship said, rousing Nolan from his data pad.

"Activate holographic display," Nolan said, rising from the stiff metal chair. He stretched, watching as the space before the wall filled with color and light. It resolved into a star field, but Nolan noticed something missing immediately. "Ship, where is the Primo library?"

"There is a debris field matching known Primo construction," Ship supplied. The holographic display zoomed in, showing hunks of floating metal rotating slowly. "It is likely the library has been destroyed. However, I am picking up a number of vessels in system."

"Show me," Nolan ordered.
 

Hannan and Izzy strode onto the bridge, chatting in low tones. They quieted when they saw Nolan, and he ignored them. Annie filed in a moment later, still brushing her teeth.

The holomap displayed a cluster of capital ships. Six Primo carriers, and one much smaller Tigris warship. "Ship, can you get me an ident on that Tigris vessel?"

"The ship is registered as the
Claw of Tigrana
," Ship supplied.

"The
Claw
survives?" Izzy said, blinking. Then she gave a very toothy grin, and turned to Hannan. "Mighty Fizgig must be told. Mighty Nolan, your permission to fetch her?"

"Granted," Nolan said, though he didn't see the need to grant her permission.

Izzy sprinted from the bridge, her tail held high behind her.

"Captain, we're being hailed by one of the Primo vessels," Ship said, a little more urgently.

"On screen," Nolan said, mostly out of habit. The harvester didn't have a screen, per se.

The hologram resolved into an unfamiliar room, all blue metal and elaborately decorated walls. A cluster of Primo stood in the background, but it was the figure in the foreground that drew Nolan's attention. He looked a little older, and more tired than Nolan had remembered, but he was alive.

"Hello, Captain Dryker," Nolan said, giving a warm smile. He wished the man were close enough to hug.

"Hello, Captain Nolan," Dryker replied, his leathery face splitting into a grin. "It's damned good to see you alive. Is that Hannan in the background there?"

"Hello, sir," Hannan called, giving a lazy salute.

"What say we meet face-to-face?" Dryker asked. "We have a lot to catch up on."

"Agreed," Nolan said, nodding. "We'll dock with you. Fizgig, Hannan, and I will be coming over."

"Great, see you shortly. Dryker out."

"Annie," Nolan said, turning to smile at her. "How do you feel about shuttling us over to that carrier?"

Chapter 24- Shuttle

The ramp squealed loudly as it closed behind them. Nolan looked around the cargo hold of the
Tibs
, but there was no way he was going to be able to find a place to sit. Junk covered every surface, from half-repaired holorecorders to discarded food containers. It looked like Annie probably lived in her pilot's chair, as Nolan didn't see any place for her to bed down.
 

He picked his way through the junk, hiding a smile as he passed Lena. She'd plastered herself against a corner, staring at the shuttle in horror. To someone of Lena's upbringing, the lack of order here was probably physically painful. Neither Izzy nor Fizgig seemed perturbed by any of it. Fizgig stood stoically near the cockpit, and Izzy was a half-pace behind, trying to mimic Fizgig's stance.

"Best secure yourselves," Annie called over her shoulder, flicking a couple switches then seizing the yoke. She guided the shuttle off the deck with a shudder, and it rose shakily toward the wide bay door.
 

An electric tingle passed over Nolan's skin as they passed through the harvester's protective membrane, and into open space. Annie guided the shuttle down and away, circling wide as they approached the group of Primo carriers. It was the first time Nolan had been this close to their vessels, and he leaned forward, drinking in every detail.

"Look at the size of those things," Hannan breathed.

"They're works of art," Fizgig said, giving an approving purr. "The Primo understand how to produce a truly formidable weapon of war."

"Not formidable enough to keep from getting their tails kicked, from the look of it," Nolan said, pointing at the furthest carrier. "Look at the plasma leaking from that one. The rest of them have taken battle damage as well. They've been through combat, and whoever they fought gave them one hell of a run for their money."

"Sir?" Hannan asked, turning the co-pilot's chair to face Nolan. "Did you happen to spot Mills with Captain Dryker? I didn't hear anything about him in Ghantan. I just wanted to know he was all right."

"I didn't," Nolan said, a spike of guilt shooting through his gut. He hadn't even thought about Mills, or about most of the
Johnston
'
s
crew. Granted, he'd only been assigned to her for a few weeks before she was destroyed, but he still should have shown a bit more compassion. He put a hand on Hannan's shoulder. "I hope he's all right. If anyone could have gotten him out, it's Dryker."

"Holy crap on a stick," Annie said, drawing Nolan's attention back to the screen. They were close to the carrier where they'd been told to dock, and Annie had come around to one of the docking bays. Inside, they could see row after row of fighter drones. Each was larger than the
Tibs
, bristling with plasma cannons. "I really don't want to see whatever tangled with these guys and won."

Annie guided the shuttle into the bay, and Nolan clutched at the wall as they lurched to a halt on the deck.

Chapter 25- Comparing Notes

Nolan was a bit surprised by the reception when he entered the Primo vessel. Twenty Primos stood at attention, each holding one of their ancestral war staffs. They offered a salute as he, Hannan, Lena, Izzy, and Fizgig filed past them.
 

"I don't know how the old man pulled it off, but he's got the Primo bowing and scraping," Hannan said, giving Nolan a sly grin. "You're getting better at this command stuff, but the old man is still the master."

"That he is," Nolan said, allowing another smile. The stresses of the past few days wore heavily on him, but he reminded himself there had been victories too. They'd stopped the Void Wraith in the Ghantan system, and they'd find a way to stop them again.

Their delegation was led into the most massive chamber Nolan had ever seen aboard a starship. He wasn't positive, but odds were good the
Sparhawk
could have fit into this chamber, with room to spare.

"Welcome, Captain Nolan," a clear voice rang out, echoing through the chamber. Nolan looked up to see a figure floating above, sitting atop a golden throne. She was a Primo, with light blue skin, dressed more elaborately than any of the others they'd seen so far. "I am Celendra, the Voice of the
First Light
. Welcome to my vessel."

"Thank you for allowing us to board," Nolan said, giving a stiff salute. He wasn't sure what the decorum was for boarding a Primo vessel, so he stuck to what he knew.

The Primo in the crowd behind Celendra seemed to appreciate the gesture, and Celendra gave an approving smile. "Please, be seated."

She gestured at a set of thrones very much like the one she sat in. One of those thrones was already occupied, and as Nolan approached, Dryker rose to greet him. Nolan reached out for a handshake, but the old man swept him into a hug.

"I'd feared the worst. It's good to see you, Nolan," Dryker said, giving him a tight squeeze, then releasing him. "Hello, Fizgig, I'm pleased to see you survived."

Fizgig and Izzy had moved to greet a male Tigris. It took Nolan a moment to recognize the Tigris as Khar. His face bore several new scars, but his fangs and claws were just as intimidating as ever. He wore a massive smile, his tail swishing back and forth behind him.

"Dryker," Fizgig said, turning from Khar and moving to stand next to Dryker and Nolan. "I am pleased to see you survived. Your new allies are...impressive."

"Yes, they are. Thanks to them, we were even able to save your ship," Dryker said, offering his hand to Fizgig.

"The
Claw
is my ship no longer," Fizgig said, accepting the captain's hand. "It rightfully belongs to Mighty Khar."

"For the moment. Challenge, and I will yield, Mighty Fizgig," Khar rumbled, swaggering his way over to them. He clapped Nolan hard on the shoulder, giving him a rather intimidating smile. "It is good to see you, Nolan. You have accomplished much since we battled the Void Wraith on the bridge of the
Johnston
."

"Captain?" Hannan asked quietly, stepping up Dryker. Her eyes shone, and Nolan could tell she was struggling to get the words out. "Sir, did any of the crew survive? I don't see Mills."

Dryker's shoulders slumped, and for a moment he seemed to age decades. Then he straightened, resolve reentering his gaze. "I'm sorry, Hannan. Mills died getting us off the
Johnston
. He died the same way he lived, a Marine doing his duty."

Dryker reached into his pocket, withdrawing a clump of dog tags. The sheer number made Nolan wince. Dryker fished out a specific one, then handed it to Hannan. She took it wordlessly, giving Dryker a nod that somehow conveyed the depth of emotion she labored under. Then she turned and headed off the dais to stand near Annie.

"Apologies," Celendra's voice interrupted. All eyes rose to to the Primo. "My species prides ourselves on taking deliberate, slow action. Yet Dryker is teaching us the value of haste. Might we begin? There is much to discuss."

"Of course," Nolan said, taking a seat on one of the thrones. The others did the same.
 

Nolan inspected the device, noting a small array of buttons on the right arm of the throne. He couldn't read Primo sigils, but the icons seemed simple enough. He tapped the one on the top, and unsurprisingly the chair began to rise. Dryker's rose next, then Fizgig's. Within moments all of them hovered in the air near Celendra.

Below them milled something close to a hundred Primos, more than Nolan had ever seen in one place. He glanced up at Celendra, waiting for her to begin.

"We've gathered to discuss a course of action," Celendra called, her gaze sweeping the assembled Primo. "The Void Wraith have infiltrated our ranks. Even now, there could be spies among us. No race is safe, and it seems clear that the Void Wraith seek to wipe us out. Their motives remain unclear."

"Pardon, Celendra," Nolan interrupted. He waited for her to acknowledge him with a nod before speaking. "I can shed some light on their motives. The troops they use are created using our own kidnapped citizens. Judicators--their line troops--have the nervous system and brain of humans, Tigris, and Primo. They are, quite literally, turning our people against us. Their aim seems to be building a massive army, though the purpose of that army is unclear. We have evidence that this isn't the first, or even the second time that they've invaded the Milky Way. They show up on some sort of timetable, harvest our galaxy, and then leave us to rebuild."

Whispers rippled through the room, and Celendra looked visibly distressed. "That is troubling news, though the fact that you've puzzled out some of their motives is encouraging, at least. What else can you tell us of these Void Wraith?"

"We have detailed schematics of their weaponry, vessels, and line troops," Nolan explained. "Their technology is too similar to your own for it to be coincidence. The Void Wraith use technology that Lena guesses was pioneered during the first of three Primo empires."

Outraged shouts came from the crowd, most coming from older Primo. Celendra raised a hand, and most fell silent. There were still grumbles. Nolan saw Fizgig shifting back and forth on her throne, mouth turned down into a feline scowl. He'd seen that before, and knew her patience was wearing thin. At least her outburst, if it came, wouldn't be directed at him this time.

"Three?" Celendra said, looking deeply troubled. "I do not wish to doubt you, Captain, but this flies in the face of tens of thousands of years of history. Do you have proof you can submit? My people will demand it."

"I'll have that proof forwarded to you as soon as I return to my vessel," Nolan said, nodding. "It isn't conclusive, but there's enough to show that earlier empires did exist."

Fizgig leaned forward in her chair, drawing Nolan's attention.
Here it comes
.

"The motives of the Void Wraith are irrelevant, as is the history of your race," Fizgig boomed, drawing all eyes. She stared hard at Celendra. "A war rages between my people and the humans, a war based on a lie. Our priority is ending that war. We must convince both sides to lay down arms, and to unite against the Void Wraith. Every moment we spend debating minutiae, they draw the noose tighter around our necks."

Chapter 26- Decisions

Fizgig was not pleased. It was all well and good that Dryker lived, and made allies of these Primo. Yet it changed nothing. Her people were hurling themselves into combat, dying while killing those who should be allies. It was maddening, especially because she was trapped here, unable to intervene.

She glared at Celendra, daring the Primo to take issue with her words.

Celendra blinked twice, then spoke. "I sometimes forget that Tigris are even more blunt than humans. You are not wrong; the issue of the war between your peoples must be addressed. Yet our own interest in this matter--"

"Your own interest?" Fizgig interrupted, leaning forward on the throne. She stared hard at the alien, nose twitching at the woman's odd scent. "It is exactly that kind of language that has made it so easy for the Void Wraith to infiltrate our ranks. If we are to survive, we must work for the benefit of everyone. We no longer have the luxury of our own self-interests."