A Faded Star (16 page)

 The ships took up their starting positions and
signaled to the remaining ships in the exercise.

 Admiral Drogue said, “Begin the simulation, captain.”

 “Aye, sir. Helm, set course for the planet and take up
geosynchronous orbit for planetary bombardment.”

 “Aye, ma'am. Engaging engines now.”

 The Broadsword and Rapier moved towards the planet
while Dirk, Saber, and Poniard moved towards a small moon orbiting the planet.
The moon should give the three ships cover from an incoming force.

 The first part of the orbital assault went exactly as
planned, the simulated installation taking extensive damage from simulated
cannon fire. A hitch in the plan developed as Ktenu moved his defensive force
in for the expected counterattack.

 “Sir, Ktenu has mobilized his entire force against the
picket,” Hanlon said.

 “When an enemy is on the field, no commander can
expect battle plans to proceed uninterrupted, captain. Ktenu doesn't appear
willing to play by the rules. Signal Dirk, Poniard, and Saber to defensive
formation and retreat towards us. We will move to join them. Set up to orbit
the planet at maximum thrust. By the time we come around, we should be on a
similar trajectory and speed.”

 “Aye, sir.” Hanlon took a few seconds to work out the
variables so their ships would have a seamless integration at the rendezvous
point. “Helm, orbit the planet at an altitude of two hundred seventy kilometers
and increase our thrust to ninety-four percent.”

 “Aye, ma'am,” the helmsman said.

 “That should get us into formation with the destroyers
with only slight course corrections, sir. That's if they can hold them off for
that long, sir.”

 “We're about to find out. Time for completion of
orbit?”

 “Eleven minutes, sir,” Hanlon said.

 “Very good. Prepare a little surprise for the system
defenders. Work out the angle we need to have some torpedoes intercept them,
assuming they continue their pursuit of the destroyers. Launch the torpedoes
using their chemical thrusters only so Ktenu's formation won't detect the
launch.”

 “Aye, sir. Inputting firing order now. Miss Kelper,
launch six torpedoes in seven minutes, thirty-seven seconds, chemical thrusters
only. Set evasive seekers and short range attack envelope against Ktenu's
force.”

 Kelper tapped the simulated firing pattern into her
console. “Firing sequence locked in, ma'am.”

 “Very well, Lieutenant.”

 The minutes passed quietly, routine reports coming and
going. Ktenu single-mindedly pursued the three destroyers, inflicting a fair
degree of simulated damage. The Saber was critically damaged by the time
torpedoes were launched despite the simulation acknowledging their enhanced
hull strength. Broadsword and Rapier swung in with the crippled picket force.
On Drogue's order, all five ships swung their bows, firing simultaneously. The
five largest ships, all rated as battleships were 'destroyed' instantly, while
six of Ktenu's screening destroyers were heavily damaged by the torpedo launch
he hadn't detected. Follow-up shots from Drogue's force reduced Ktenu's
offensive capability to zero effectiveness.

 Drogue's five reduced Ktenu's twenty to simulated
wrecks in less than five minutes. Drogue lost the Saber and Dirk in the
exchange and all his ships except the Broadsword herself would have been
scrapped from the damage received.

 Watkins said, “Sir, Commander Ktenu is requesting
communications.”

 “Put him through, Lieutenant.”

 Ktenu's face appeared. He was standing quite still. If
Hanlon could have put any emotion to his expression, it would have been cold,
seething rage.

 “Admiral, your ships are clearly cheating during the
exercise. I don't know how you got the simulation computer to accept such high
defensive values and hull strength values, but they're far in excess of what
those ships are capable of. You cannot convince me otherwise.”

 “Very well, Commander. Would you prefer a live
demonstration?”

 “What do you mean, live demonstration?”

 “We've prepared a low power shot intended to
demonstrate the enhanced hull strength of these ships. We used the excess EM
field generation capacity from the demolecularizers previously installed. The
inverted field, applied to the hull provides a remarkable degree of strength
and energy absorption.”

 “How do you plan to make this demonstration? Surely
not by firing on one of your own ships with a live shot!” Ktenu's tiny,
triangular mouth was hanging open and his eyes looked ready to roll out of
their sockets. “Admiral! I protest. You cannot fire on one of your own ships!”

 “Miss Hanlon if you would have the Dirk maneuver into
position. Prepare a five percent shot.”

 “Aye, sir. Captain Hill reports the target section is
evacuated and sealed off. He will be in position in three minutes.”

 “Very well. Commander Ktenu, I would like you to take
a moment to examine your resolve and that of your people. We've run the
numbers, and a five percent shot shouldn't do much more than scorch the hull.
Against one of your ships, you would expect a breach and significant secondary
damage. The level of protection the EM field stabilized armor has is several
orders of magnitude stronger than what you currently use.”

 “Sir, weapons are charged, Dirk is in position.”

 “Signal Captain Hill we're firing in ten seconds.”

 “Aye, sir.”

 A countdown appeared on the screen next to Ktenu's
silent, disbelieving face. When it reached one, Drogue said, “Fire.”

 Broadsword's gun fired into the starboard side of
Dirk. Less than a second later, Hanlon said, “Sir, Captain Hill reports minimal
damage limited to the outer centimeter of hull and extensive scorching. Zero
internal damage.”

 Ktenu said, “Impossible! It's a trick of some kind.
You humans are just as mad as-”

 Drogue speared Ktenu with his blue eyes, hard as chips
of glacier. “As mad as what, Commander?”

 “Admiral, I am ordering you as alliance commander and
leader of the alliance command committee to never do anything like that again.”

 Drogue merely nodded from his command chair, not
deigning to respond verbally. This seemed to frustrate Ktenu as the
communication channel was closed from his end without further comment.

 “Sir, are you sure that was wise? We're here at their
sufferance.”

 “Without us, they won't even be here six months from
now. They're learning some hard lessons right now. They've had five thousand
years of peace...” Drogue trailed off into silence.

 “Sir?” Hanlon said.

 “Five thousand years. Humans have been on Lashmere for
five thousand years. Do you remember what they said about taking the
offensive?”

 “I think so, sir. Something about an enemy so bad they
tried to completely wipe them from existence.”

 “And yesterday, Ktenu mentioned we live up to our
reputations. As far as we know, humans haven't been out of the Lashmere system
for five thousand years.”

 “So unless there's another group of humans running
around that the alliance has had recent contact with...” Hanlon's eyes widened
in shock. “It can't be, sir. They must have known our ancestors.”

 “I'd like to think so, too, Captain, but there's only
one conclusion my instinct agrees with. The alliance nearly destroyed humanity
five thousand years ago. Get Watkins and his entire team on it. Find a way to
break into their database and find out for sure. We can't tip our hand now. In
the meantime, I doubt Ktenu will question the veracity of our offensive and
defensive claims. We need to find a way to dismantle the changes we've made and
make it impossible to reconstruct from sensor logs when we leave the area. I
have a crawling feeling in my gut that says we've been arming our enemies this
whole time.”

 “I'm forced to agree with your conclusions, sir. This
is getting complicated, fast. Should we engage in our exercise tomorrow?”

 Oh, yes. We'll run the exercise. Tomorrow, we'll
deliberately lose. Set up a plan with Kelper to make sure our ships maneuver
badly and expose us to too much enemy fire. Also program the simulation
computer to always assume the worst case damage from the simulated hits. Try to
make it believable for Ktenu.”

 “From Ktenu's reactions, sir, if we blow up the first
time he sneezed at us, that would be believable.”

 “Maybe for a man of his arrogance, captain, but his
sensor operators must include some competent analysts. Have Watkins take a look
at the on board computer architecture for any security weaknesses he may be
able to exploit. If we can get an uncensored look at their information
database, it would provide some much needed answers.”

 “We'll start right away, sir.” Hanlon turned from the
admiral and began giving rapid fire orders to see things done. The following
ten hours were relentless for the entire crew of Broadsword. Those not directly
involved in the data gathering effort were covering for those who were.
Everyone was stretched thin as computer technicians and systems specialists
worked on the information sharing protocols and data storage architectures.
Finally, well into third watch, Hanlon was able to report to Drogue there had
been a measure of success.

 Drogue, who hadn't left the bridge in all that time,
freeing up officers to supervise their divisions, was sitting, bleary-eyed and
slumped in the command chair.

 Hanlon entered the bridge holding a tablet in her
hand. “Sir, we've gleaned some information from Ktenu's ship. We used the
simulation network to create a data connection to the ship's database. There
wasn't a lot to find. I suspect more information may be in the base computer,
but it's too far away to try anything like this. The commander's ship is very
close by so there's no lag of any kind.”

 Drogue took the tablet. “Thank you, captain.” As he
scrolled through the information, his eyebrows shot up. “This raises more
questions than answers, captain, but it does confirm our most serious concerns.
This must be disseminated to all ships. Put me on the general announcing
circuit.”

 An attention signal played throughout the ship.
Admiral Drogue's voice, sounding tired and worn came through the speakers.
“Officers and crew of the Broadsword, we've learned some disturbing information
about our new allies. Some five thousand years ago, their alliance was formed
in direct response to human encroachment along their borders. At some point,
humans and the alliance entered into a state of war. The alliance designed and
disseminated among humans a virus that had a one hundred percent lethality rate.
The virus was meant to destroy humanity completely, but our ancestors were too
clever for them. Our colony was hidden in the Lashmere system and provided with
something the alliance wanted very badly to help us when we ventured back out
into interstellar space. The information we were able to glean doesn't specify
what this something is, but you can rest assured the alliance will be actively
seeking it, and so we must as well. We will continue our activities here, but
we'll deliberately lead the alliance into believing our military capabilities
are a result of misinformation, exaggeration, and incorrect claims.

 “At one time, the five races of the alliance agreed to
destroy us. The individuals who made that decision have long since died, but
their legacy lives on in the alliance we know today. We will not be responsible
for assisting them in learning how to defeat us. We will also not be
responsible for helping them survive without full disclosure. I intend to use
the advancements made to our ships to force the alliance to meet us on more
equal terms. We won't be the tip of their spear just to have our skill turned
against us after we defeat their enemies for them. Stay strong for the people
of Lashmere. Drogue out.”

 The circuit clicked off. Drogue said, “Captain, get
some rest. I'll need a relief in about four hours.”

 Hanlon left the bridge in a haze of disbelief. So many
things she didn't know. How many humans had there been? How far had their reach
grown before the alliance nearly destroyed them? Her mind was swirling with
unanswered questions as she lay down in her cabin to try to get some rest. Had
humanity been the aggressors or were they defending themselves when the
alliance tried to wipe them out? Perhaps most importantly, what had their ancestors
left for them?

 War. The word reverberated through the bridge of the
Aeternum. Cobb sat motionless in the central chair on the bridge with his long
fingers steepled in front of his face, elbows resting on his knees.
"Commodore," he said, "Before we can prepare, we must discover
the capabilities of this ship and how it can help us. We must return the ship
to Lashmere and use it to assist our people. This must be our top priority. We
can revisit whatever quarrel we may have once that is complete."

 Stokes hated to admit it, but Cobb had a point.
"I'll assign Miss Simmons," A relief to make her someone else's
problem for a while, "And my executive officer. He is an experienced and
competent command trained naval officer. You will need his help to control this
ship, I suspect. Miss Simmons, would you please begin looking into systems
operations and faster than light travel for the Aeternum?"

 “Aye, sir. Searching now. The user interface is pretty
intuitive, but the amount of information stored here is vast in the extreme.
This may take a little bit, sir.”

 Cobb nearly rolled his eyes and said, “Computer,
describe method of faster than light travel. Summary only please.”

 The emotionless, androgynous voice of the computer
seemed to come from every corner of the bridge once more. “The faster than
light system used aboard the Aeternum is a gravity and space/time deflection
system. The ship creates a deep fold in space/time and then travels a short hop
across the intervening space. In a technical sense, the ship never exceeds the
speed of light and actually travels through each point of the intervening
space, but because of the depth of the space/time deformation, it appears so to
objects not within the same space/time deformation. The ship then uses a
gravity distortion generator to reduce the effective mass of the ship as it
interacts with the space/time around it to near zero. This has the advantage of
creating a massive well of potential energy to use for ships systems that would
normally require the use of huge engines and/or gravity slope generators to
cause the ship to move through space.”

 “What is the expected startup time for the faster than
light travel?” Cobb asked.

 “System is ready for use. It was started along with
all other systems when you gave the startup order seventeen minutes ago.”

 Patho gasped. “Wow. The faster than light system on
Rampart takes the better part of three hours to warm up before it can be used.
Impressive.”

 Simmons listened to the conversation with half an ear
just in case Stokes wanted her to do something else. Her fingers flew through
the database, searching for the information she wanted. Ancient humans who
built this ship had a far better understanding of the universe around them than
her contemporaries did. Her search dove into the medical section and then into
a series of experimental research activities humans had been engaged in while
they were fighting the alliance. Human lifespan at the time Aeternum was placed
in orbit around Buckman's Star was roughly a hundred ten years. Scientists had
been on the edge of a breakthrough that would extend that as much as five
times. Her heart thumped so hard in her chest she was sure someone would hear
it beating as she tapped away at the console in front of her.

 “Miss Simmons? Marli? Can you hear me?”

 Simmons jumped as if woken from sleep by a loud noise,
nearly falling to the deck plates by her chair. Righting herself, she looked
around and said, “Sorry. I was engrossed in looking at the database. What did
you say, sir?”

 Stokes suppressed the urge to say something else to
Simmons. She had demonstrated some real backbone just before coming over, and
Stokes was sure she could be molded into a good, solid officer eventually. She
just needed a lot more guidance. Too soon after one scolding, another would
just seem like abuse to her mind. Instead, he said, “Miss Simmons, Are you all
right?”

 Simmons took a second getting herself righted in her
chair before responding. “Sorry, sir. I was reading the database is all. Would
you please repeat what you said?”

 Stokes nodded and said, “I'm going to assign you,
Mister Kri and eight enlisted crew to assist Agent Cobb in getting Aeternum
back to Lashmere. I will also leave Lieutenant Aves' marine detachment aboard
for security. There won't be any problems with you and Mister Kri assisting
Agent Cobb in managing the ship back to Lashmere?”

 “Of course not, sir.”

 “Good. I'll head back to Rampart and design a flight
path back to Lashmere. The faster than light drive Aeternum uses sounds like it
operates on an entirely different set of principles from the one on Rampart.”

 Patho said, “I suggest we set up a series of check
points along the path back to Lashmere where we can meet up to make sure both
ships are safe and making progress.”

 “Good thinking, Mister Patho. Computer, what is the
estimated time to transit to the Lashmere system from here?”

 “Nine point two days, Commodore Stokes,” the computer
said.

 “Miss Simmons, set up a watch rotation. I want a
maintenance and tech team over here within the hour to run a full inspection
and systems check. Once I am assured the ship is safe and ready to fly, we'll
begin the trip.” Stokes waited for a moment to see if Cobb would continue to
try interfering with his decisions. When the intelligence agent confined
himself to a nod in Stokes' direction, he continued, “Mister Kri will act as
the senior officer here with Cobb in command until Aeternum is turned over to
the Lashmere Space Navy. Does anyone have any questions?” No one spoke, so he
continued, “I will be taking the shuttle back to Rampart with Mister Patho in
ten minutes. Computer, please provide guidance for return trip to shuttle bay.”

 A path lit up silently along the floor, and Stokes
motioned to Patho. The pair strode off the bridge.

 Simmons turned back to the database console she was
seated in front of. The data entry she had been working on still sat, waiting
for further input. The inquiry input had shown her humans working on extending
the natural lifespan. She'd been sure Stokes was going to order her back to
Rampart at any moment, potentially cutting her off from the information stored
on Aeternum permanently.

 Keying a new input, she ordered the computer to
display all classified installations that were involved in advanced medical research.
Unfortunately, the computer didn't have explicit details on every operation
ongoing at the various locations. Her breath caught when she saw the number of
star systems on the list. Humanity had once commanded a truly vast empire,
spanning thousands of light years in every direction from Earth.

 Earth. The center of humanity's existence. She took a
moment to examine the planet displayed in detail. Somehow, she expected to feel
some... kinship for the planet, but she felt unmoved. Shaking her head, she
switched back to the list of planets. Adding coordinates and any details the
computer had, she downloaded the list to her tablet computer. She started on a
new inquiry but was interrupted by Agent Cobb.

 “Miss Simmons, your scientific expertise will be of
great value to me. I look forward to having your insight into this ship's
primary functions and capabilities.”

 “I'm looking forward to working on this ship, agent.”

 “Good. I want you to begin a full analysis of the
function and capabilities of the Aeternum. By the time we get back to Lashmere,
I want a full brief ready for the Lashmere Naval Command.”

 “I'll start working on it now.”

 Back aboard the Rampart, Stokes sent his tech teams to
the Aeternum. Stokes watched as the two pinnaces full of systems and operations
experts moved across the main plot. He pondered the situation. “Mister Patho,
come here. Sit in the second command chair.”

 Patho walked forward and sat down next to Stokes at the
center of the bridge. “Yes, sir?” Curiosity tinged his voice.

 “I'm promoting you to acting executive officer. The
assignment is only until we return to Lashmere, and Commander Kri is back
aboard. I also want to apologize for how Agent Cobb treated you. I wasn't aware
of the fact that your family is involved in the resistance, but you've proven
your loyalty to my satisfaction. I don't intend to allow people unable to let
go of old hatreds and prejudices besmirch the honor you've brought on yourself
with your service. No one can put the loyalties and ideals of your family
before the actions you've taken. Don't let inflexible and reactionist jerks
like Cobb bother you.”

 Patho struggled to form words appropriate to the
situation. He felt the need to be completely honest with Stokes given the trust
and support he'd unflinchingly offered. “Sir, I have to admit I have had doubts
at times. My family has been against my serving from the time I said I was
going to do it. The thing is, I can't imagine myself doing anything else.
Operating the drone system and serving in space is my first and only dream.”

 “A man living his dream is truly fortunate, commander.
I hope your doubts are few and far between. If it's of any comfort to you, all
of us doubt our chosen path from time to time. Brief your division officer and
have him take the weapons station for the return trip. You will be in Commander
Kri's position on the watch rotation.”

 “Aye, sir.”

 “Work up a return schedule and brief me in one hour,
exec. I'm going to work with ops to get a comm relay set up between Rampart and
Aeternum.”

 Patho took a few minutes to look over the projected
speed of the Aeternum and how Rampart would travel back to Lashmere. He worked
up a brief for the commodore and was ready when he returned to the bridge.

 “Any luck getting the comm relay set up, sir?” Patho
asked.

 “Looks like it's working. We're in the process of
downloading and backing up the database stored on the Aeternum.”

 “Do we have enough data storage space on Rampart?”

 “Operations assures me there is. It is a rather
remarkable amount of data, but Miss Simmons took to it eagerly. Her division
will have the entire download done in the next two hours. Once that's done,
we'll depart the system. Provided we have a flight plan, that is. Stokes looked
at Patho questioningly.

 “I have a plan I believe will work, sir. We'll make
eighteen short jumps about three quarters of a light year each. At each point,
we'll have about eleven hours cool down while we wait for the Aeternum to catch
up with us.”

 A hint of a smile crossed the commodore's face.
“Excellent planning, Mister Patho.” Stokes checked his command console and then
said, “We're scheduled to depart in one hour and fifty-three minutes.
Coordinate with Mister Kri to get the tech crews back aboard and to synchronize
the schedule with Aeternum.”

 “Aye, sir,” Patho said. “Sir, I have a question, if I
may.”

 “Of course, Commander.”

 “Will we leave Lashmere again to try to warn the
expeditionary force about the alliance?”

 “I intend to ask command for permission to do just
that. We can't remain allied with the group who tried to commit genocide
against humanity, no matter how long ago.”

 “I couldn't agree more, sir. I sure hope everyone
there is okay.”

 “As do I.”

 The two ships began maneuvering on sublight engines
less than an hour later and cleared all navigational hazards just a few minutes
after the database download was completed. Rampart moved clear and left through
a jump ring, and Aeternum vanished into a brilliant flash of light as she
transitioned into faster than light travel.

 Simmons stood on the bridge of Aeternum, watching the
Rampart leave. She turned to the assigned helmsman and said, “Engage faster
than light drive now.”

 “Aye, ma'am,” the young enlisted woman said.

 Simmons felt a gentle shudder, and all the stars
displayed on the bridge immediately became brilliant blue.

 Since it was only her and a single enlisted crew
person on the bridge at a time with another enlisted engineer monitoring the
engines from a remote station a few decks above the bridge, she felt relatively
safe making inquiries of the computer.

 “Computer, describe the primary function of this ship,
it's origin and summary of service history.”

 “Requested information is extensive. Estimated time
for a complete recital is five hours twenty minutes with stated parameters.
Shall I continue?”

 “No, give a brief summary of requested information
only.”

 “Acknowledged,” the computer's flat, passionless voice
responded. “Date of original commission was sixty-seven hundred twenty-two
years ago. Aeternum, originally commissioned as,” a shrieking and screeching
sequence of sounds followed, “by,” another, indistinguishable, series of
screeches, “as a part of their main fleet. This ship remained in service for
one thousand years, the expected lifespan for military vessels of this type.
Subsequently, Aeternum was scheduled for decommissioning and mothballing.
Aeternum remained in inactive service for one hundred ninety years when it was
captured by a race hostile to the original manufacturers, the KKTKL.” Each
consonant was an individual syllable, pronounced distinctly. “The KKTKL were
unable to decipher ships functions, and they eventually abandoned the ship.
After being adrift for three hundred, fifty-four years, it was discovered by a
human exploration vessel. Humans proved far more capable of reverse engineering
the Aeternum than KKTKL. Aeternum was commissioned into service for the Terran
Space Navy and was used as a primary manufacturing and resource extraction
vessel for the remaining one hundred, seventy-four years before being left in
the Buckman's Star system. Aeternum was retrofitted and used for its primary
purpose described in the following summary.