Behemoth: Rise Of Mankind Book 1 (20 page)

              Clea watched Redding and Tim work in tandem, each entering in their consoles. Their voices betrayed their fear, even though they showed no other outward signs. These were serious professionals, despite their lack of advanced technological experience. After all, their actions may well destroy the entire ship. They carried such a heavy responsibility gracefully.

              “Two…”

              Gray reached over and patted her arm. He meant the gesture to be reassuring but she took it otherwise. He never would’ve shown concern in a physical manner, not if he didn’t need the contact himself. If Captain Atwell was afraid, then he knew the possible consequences of what they were about to do. At least he didn’t take it lightly.

              “One…”

              A mere second away from the largest step in human history: true faster than light travel. What a marvel…and a terrible reason for having to try it on such short notice.

              The air crackled around her and the hull hummed with a low vibration. She watched the screen, adopting an impassive expression, one which betrayed far more than such a placid look might on a human being. She confined herself to hope but also, a sense of inevitability. Whatever took place, if they lived or died, they saved Earth and that meant a great deal.

              “Engaging!” Redding shouted and hit a button.

              Everything seemed to freeze around them. Sound, motion, sensation and even the air. A half a second of nonexistence settled over them like a heavy shroud of winter’s snow. Clea saw it on Earth in the mountains. Great blankets of white, frozen water piled high. The sky and clouds stretched on forever, disappearing into a vast expanse of nothing.

              The air in her lungs felt heavy then, as if she tried to breathe while submerged in the sea. Her eyes watered and skin tingled from the biting chill. Gray stood with her then, watching as she smiled at the sensations washing over her. The two of them had been friends for over a year during that trip and he promised to show her something new.

              All these thoughts drifted in and out of her mind before a painful rush of existence descended upon her. Computers beeped, the hull groaned and gasps of shock erupted all around her. The suddenness of it all hurt her ears and she leaned forward, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands. People spoke around her but she couldn’t understand the words.

             
We survived
.

              “We made it!” Tim’s voice was the first she made out and he hooted with excitement. “We’re barely ten kilometers off our target! Way to go, Redding!”

              “Couldn’t have done it without you, partner. Good work!”

              Gray stood from his chair and stretched before stepping forward. “Everyone, excellent work.” He tapped something on Paul’s console and they saw the enemy vessels on the screen. Hardly five seconds passed before they both exploded in two spectacular green orbs. Everyone looked away as the light faded, leaving behind empty space and debris.

              “Excellent work, sir.” Everly approached Gray and shook his hand. “You handed the enemy their asses here today.”

              “Only sort of,” Gray replied. “We had a lot of help and some good fortune. The loss of those ships is going to be painful but at least we came away with something. Bodies from the invasion for one, the Tam’Dral for another and all that debris we might be able to salvage something from.”

              “We’ll have to get crews out here before it drifts too far,” Everly said. “I’ll work with Ensign White to coordinate it.”

              “Get the Tam’Dral on coms as well.” Gray returned to his seat. “We’ve got some people to bring aboard and a whole crew to revive. I think it’s high time those people get on with their lives.” He turned to Clea. “How’re you doing there?”

              “Your hyper jump test was quite successful.”

              Gray grinned. “Vague answer to my question. You look moved.”

              “Did you feel anything during the jump?” Clea asked. “Anything at all?”

              “Truth be told, I don’t hardly remember it.” Gray shrugged. “What about you?”

              “I…was back on the mountain during our leave time, do you remember?”

              “Like…you had a vision of it?”

              Clea nodded. “Sort of. I remembered the feeling on my skin and lungs, the view…Not the smell, though. Just the rest. Then we were back here. I’ve never had such a sensation during a hyper jump before.”

              “We do it special here on Earth?” Gray joked but his expression sobered. “Maybe you should visit the medical bay. Or maybe you’re just exhausted. It’s been a long day.”

              Clea nodded. “It has…full of emotion and stress, I agree. But I’m sure I’m fine. I’ll see the rest of this through before I head to my quarters.”

              “Very good.” Gray turned away. “Tim, set us a course for home and have the Tam’Dral rendezvous there. Redding, full speed once you have a heading. Then I want you all to take your relief. This was the busiest shift of our lives and you all deserve some downtime. Thank you again for a job well done.”

              Clea sat back in her seat and let herself relax. She felt honored to be part of their crew, to sit amongst them in their moment of triumph. They struggled, lost and won a great deal that day. Their species knew they stood a chance, proved to themselves their capability to survive in the larger, galactic theater. This point in history would be remembered for lifetimes to come and Clea along with it.

              Finally, she knew she’d done her family name proud.

              Gray reported to Earth command and gave them all the data they recovered. Doctors were dispatched to assist with the revival of the Tam’Dral crew. The shuttle which was used to penetrate the Behemoth hull was taken by technical crews to study and observe along with the bodies of the fallen. They would begin reverse engineering it all soon.

              Clea prepared a dispatch for her people including everything they discovered. The Protocol Seven was not sent along but she alluded to it. They would need to come to Earth or vice versa to pass it along. Such information proved to be too valuable to risk it falling into enemy hands.

              Salvage crews collected more rare materials from the combat zone than mining operations had managed in two years of constant work. Efforts toward building a second Behemoth were forwarded considerably and many of the roadblocks they faced were overcome. Instead of years, engineers believed they might have the ship operational in mere months.

              Fatal casualties numbered low but a few good soldiers did not survive the engagement. Two of the marines died later from the intruder attack and several pilots also gave the ultimate sacrifice. Countless injuries would heal but many were effected by those they lost. Gray wrote letters to their families, condolences and explanations for how they served their people.

              Olly and his crew received commendations for their work on the alien vessel. What they accomplished went well beyond anything anyone expected them to be capable of. They entered an unknown situation and wrangled it to their will through nothing short of genius work. All five of them became stars aboard the ship, at least for a little while.

              Repairs to the Behemoth would not take long. Most of the work was to be done by Higgins own engineering crew. Most of the effort required environmental suits and time spent outside with pulse welding torches and new sheets of metal. Even so, they’d be combat operational inside three weeks, not a bad time frame considering all they’d been through.

              Meagan Pointer received a commendation for her part in the conflict. Her wing, suffering the loss of one of their own, also received medals. The call went out for a new pilot to take Brian’s place and they received over a hundred applicants. Everyone wanted in the hero wing and they all stood prepared to take their place amongst them.

              Clea remained out of the spotlight, enjoying the successes of the others from afar. She read the tech briefs, watched the media outlets discuss their victory and quietly congratulated them individually. Whatever happened next, the Behemoth proved itself ready to fight. Her people placed their faith in the correct species, a once primitive group now proving their honor and nobility.

              As she stood on the bridge of the Behemoth waiting for their orders, Gray nudged her arm as he came to stand beside her. She smiled at him, shoving him with her elbow. They stood in silence for several minutes before the Captain finally spoke, leaning so he might keep his voice down.

              “You look just as somber today as you did back when we won the fight.”

              “Maybe that’s just my resting face.”

              “Not when you beat me in chess,” Gray replied. “I seem to recall every time that happens, you glow like your lottery numbers were called.”

              “Some victories are sweeter than others,” Clea turned to him, admiring his face for a long moment. “Do you think of those we lost in the battle? The men and women who sacrificed their lives for the cause?”

              Gray nodded. “Of course, I’ve never forgotten a single person I lost under my command. There’s a weight to leadership not everyone’s cut out for. If you can’t live with what happens, you won’t be successful.”

              “I wonder if I might have it in me to be the type of leader you are. To understand my responsibilities to such a profound degree and live with those decisions.”

              “You might have the chance to find out someday,” Gray replied, “but you won’t know until you try. If I was you and an opportunity presented itself, I’d take it. I know I’d follow you into battle any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”

              Clea rolled her eyes. “You’re giving me a hard time.”

              Gray shook his head. “Not for a second.”

              “Everyone on this ship would follow you to the gates of hell themselves if they had to. What must that responsibility be like?”

              “As long as you earn that trust, it’s not a burden. And note, I’d have to be heading to the gates of hell for them to follow me. That’s why they have my back. Because I won’t ask any of them to do something I’m unwilling to do myself.”

              “Of course, like your Thermopylae example. King Leonidas leading his noble three hundred.”

              “With less attitude, I hope.” Gray grinned. “Anyway, what’s going on with all your heavy thoughts? Are you okay?”

              Clea nodded. “I’m simply…self reflective, I suppose. Analyzing my own performance in the engagement.”

              “You helped Paul get Protocol Seven installed faster. If you’d done nothing else, I’d say you did your part.”

              “I appreciate that.”

              “You’re welcome then.” Gray motioned with his head. “Come on, I believe I have a chess match to win. It was my time, remember?”

              Clea gave him a wide eyed, innocent look. “I was merely trying to spare your feelings.”

              Gray laughed. “Oh, we’ll see about that.”

              He turned and left, Clea following slowly behind. She nodded her head, finally finding a smile. “Yes, I suppose we will.”