Logos (Link Book Three), page 18
Black emerged from the cell with a grimace. “I’ve got it.”
Cal had only listened to the human side of the conversation. “What did you learn?”
Black leaned on the wall. “Primum, why don’t you tell them?”
The cloned Locus blinked as the door shut. “They’re coming for Earth.”
Calvin’s heart thudded in his chest. “The entire fleet?”
“No. Cadre Lance.”
“Who are they?” Cal asked.
“One of the younger Cadres, according to them.” Black jabbed a thumb toward the cell. “It consists of twelve Zen-Class cruisers, like the version in our possession. Speaking of, the hull has been repaired and we can begin testing.”
Jane was still gone.
“Did you hear me, Admiral?” Black asked.
“Yes, sir.” Calvin couldn’t let the fear of the unknown rattle him. “What about Earth?”
“They can handle themselves. My… counterpart will be ready for an invasion, especially one as small as that.”
Cal didn’t believe twelve massive alien vessels appearing in the Sun Colonies should be considered small. “What about the Hiphol loose on Ethos?”
“They aren’t sure where their allies went, only that the Starline was connected to a remote base,” Primum said.
“We have drones in the air searching for their nest. I will find the Hiphol and send the Automatons.”
“How many robot soldiers are in our possession?” Cal asked.
“About a thousand,” Black estimated.
He’d initially balked at the idea of using Automatons in his army, but they’d prove valuable if the Hiphol reached ground level on Ethos. With Amazonis, the gigantic weapon on Selene, Cal didn’t expect the fleet to gain access into their atmosphere, at least not without mass casualties.
“What are you doing with the prisoner?”
“He can rot in here for all I care.” Darius Black stormed down the hall and was quickly replaced by two of Henry’s Automatons to guard the cell.
“Are you okay, Primum?” Kaze asked the clone.
“Yes, Father.” Primum gazed at the door, then marched after Black.
Kaze stood still.
“He’s doing what he’s asked.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Kaze said.
Calvin didn’t stick around to find out what Kaze meant. He had a mountain to climb, and not enough days to crest the peak. He exited the dome and searched for Sanya on his Slab. Her icon blinked as she flew overhead in a fighter. She was training the fleet with suborbital maneuvers today, in case the fight came to Ethos.
They sliced through the air, flying too close to the city for his liking. Residents gazed at the display, and Cal hoped they would never experience the real thing.
The colony was coming together quickly. It was strange seeing so many people in one area. Link Station only had a thousand full-time occupants, and they were spread across the massive base. He watched the action while waiting for Sanya to complete her run, then waited at the landing pad on the south edge of the city, where the colony ships had settled.
She got out of her fighter, tossing the helmet aside, and it was obvious she was upset. When Sanya noticed him, she swore under her breath.
“Problem?”
“Where do I begin? These damned squadron leaders can’t obey a simple command. If the Hiphol showed up tomorrow, we’re as good as dead.”
Calvin had been too distracted of late, being dragged into the drama with the prisoner. Worrying about Jane, Lois, and Curtis wasn’t helping either. “We’ve confirmed the Hiphol are also targeting Earth.”
“Also?”
“The captive claims they’re sending a full Cadre to the Sun Colonies. We can’t even get word to Ambassador Gaines.”
“Black predicted this, which is why only half our fleet came to Ethos.” Sanya frowned as the squadron continued running a training session above the colony. “Cutter missed his mark again. I’ll kill him.”
“Captain…” Cal snapped his fingers. “We have a few weeks, but I need you to get Barker on these routines. I have another job for you.”
“What kind of job?” Sanya asked skeptically.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you were the best choice…”
“You’re not selling this, Calvin.”
“Operation Cadre is in full motion.”
“You’re kidding.”
Cal shrugged. “It’s not the worst idea.”
“Flying a Zen-Class cruiser into danger when the enemy fleet arrives isn’t a bad idea?” Sanya asked, then smiled. “Could be fun.”
“That’s the spirit. Let’s go.” Cal motioned to a Rover, and Sanya hesitated before hopping into the passenger seat.
“You’re not even giving me a chance to shower? I’ve been sweating in a cockpit for seven hours,” she complained.
“I can hardly tell.” Cal wrinkled his nose, and she punched him in the arm.
“I wish Jane would show up,” Sanya said, breaking the moment of levity.
Cal parked by the alien vessel, which had been moved to the far side of the colony. The sounds of construction continued to rumble through town, but progress was slowing down as they completed the most important efforts first.
He pictured dozens of the giant triangular ships approaching Ethos, with their fleet defending the colony world. It would be a bloodbath.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Sanya asked as they walked to the ramp.
“Probably.”
“Let’s not tell the troops that their admiral and captain are certain we’re going to lose,” she said.
“Good call.” Calvin motioned to the ramp. “You first.”
“When do I get to meet the crew?” She started up, entering the cruiser from the ramp rather than the breach in the hull like before. William Trellis had full access to the alien network, and with Socrates’ help, the computer system had been translated and altered to make sense to a human pilot.
“How about now?” Cal asked as they got into the large hold to face two hundred Locus.
Sanya reached for a gun that wasn’t there.
“Relax. This is your crew,” he said. They wore Hiphol uniforms, perfectly recreated in the production facility down the street.
Sanya moved between the lines of Locus soldiers. “Clones?”
“That’s right.” Cal had been told about the project, but to see so many clones in one space was unsettling.
“They all look like Primum,” she said.
Two aliens stepped out of line. “That is because we’re cloned from the same sample.”
“An army of clones… at my disposal. Maybe this will work,” Sanya commented.
“You’ll meet the fleet when they arrive where you’ll tell them of a base on the fourth planet. We’ll spring a trap when they send a Cadre to investigate,” he said.
“Gotcha.” Sanya stood with the duo at the front lines. “Secundo and Tertius, right?”
“Yes, Captain,” they said in tandem.
“How would you two like to be my bridge officers?”
“I accept,” Secundo answered hastily.
“What other harm can be done behind enemy lines?” she asked.
Cal could see the gears moving in his captain’s mind. “Maybe a squadron of fighters?” he offered.
“That’s a death sentence.” Sanya met his gaze. “I won’t survive this.”
“You don’t have to accept, Captain Levine.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised I made it this long. Promise me one thing, Admiral.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t let these bastards get Ethos.”
“I’ll do my best.”
The mirth from her voice vanished. “That’s not good enough, sir.”
“I won’t let anything happen to Ethos or Earth.”
“Then we’re good.” Sanya clapped her hands. “What’s next?”
Calvin’s Slab beeped, and he checked the incoming message. He read it twice, his pulse speeding up. “She’s here.”
“Who?”
Cal showed his tablet to her. “Jane’s back.”
He ran down the ramp and raced to the fighters in the Rover. Instead of taking the J-1E, he opted for the Locus ship, given how fast it could fly across Ethos. Calvin gave his clearance to the Automaton protecting it and hurried into the circular platform where the sphere of light glowed. It took a moment to acclimate to the sensation, but soon he lifted off, using his mind to control the craft.
Cal couldn’t wait to see Jane. The trip was over before he knew it, and he landed in the barren landscape, discovering ten figures near the opening into the underground base.
He raced to the surface, finding everyone in long, flowing green robes. Jane’s eyes widened at the sight of him, and Cal broke into a run, then gathered her in his arms. “Are you okay?”
Wet tears dampened his collar. “Yes.”
“Thank the stars,” he said.
He’d been so preoccupied with Jane, he hadn’t noticed the seven Locus around them. “You brought guests.”
“Admiral Calvin Brooks, I’d like you to meet Tellan, the current leader of Yezon. His father passed away recently, and the Locus have agreed to aid our mission. They want to reclaim their place on Caelum and help us defend against the Hiphol,” Jane said.
After all this time, they had someone watching their backs.
“Thank you, Tellan. I am sorry for your loss.”
“They don’t do that,” Curtis whispered.
“Should we get a translator?” Cal looked around, realizing they had no assistant robots with them to help.
“I have learned your language,” Tellan said.
“That should make things easier.” He gestured to the robes. “What did I miss?”
“Maybe you should bring us to the colony and you two can catch up.” Lois winked.
One of the Locus had a palm on the hull of the alien ship.
“Would you like to fly it?” Cal asked.
Tellan repeated the question. “He says it would be an honor.”
Everyone filed on board, and Cal protectively put an arm around Jane while they returned to the colony site. “You did what Henry failed to when we visited Yezon,” he told Jane.
“All it took was a little charm,” she said.
Having the real Locus on their team changed everything. The moment they landed, Calvin contacted Cunningham, Abimbola, and Black.
We need to talk.
SIX
Luke walked between the crates of ore, eying the contents. They’d done a scan, ensuring the air wasn’t contaminated. Whatever the mined goods were, the radioactive material clinging to it hadn’t leaked through the containers.
More patrol vessels had been sent from Ivoth, but now that the freighter was being dragged by Valentina’s ship, they’d have a hard time catching up.
Lilly seemed like her old self with her injuries healed. She didn’t even wear a Patch, and the bags under her eyes were a distant memory. The lingering cough he’d heard at Zenoh was also gone.
“Tell me everything,” he said. They’d barely spoken about their lives in the chaos since their reunion.
The rest of the people were crammed into the front section of the ship, eating and drinking. Luke hadn’t brought up the fact they didn’t have enough food and water to sustain this many for any sort of duration in the Link.
Lilly sat on a crate, and he joined her, letting his legs dangle off the edge.
“It wasn’t easy. Kennedy was only seven when I got the call to evacuate Red City. We were rushed onto the dropship. Everything was a blur, Luke. I guessed we’d been shot at first, because the gravity cut off and I floated against the seat straps. Then we slammed down, and our pilot hit his head. He died on impact.”
“You don’t have to go into detail,” he said.
“No, this is good for me. Once we landed on Ethos, we didn’t have a free second to dwell on the past. I haven’t thought about that day for ages. It used to haunt my dreams in those early years. You’d visit me in my sleep, urging me to keep going.”
“Meanwhile, I was being a fool in the Sun Colonies.”
Lilly didn’t comment, and dove into her previous story. “In the first moment, lights swirled in the viewscreen, and someone, I think it was Seye Abimbola, predicted that we’d entered a wormhole. No one knew where we’d be spit out. Food was scarce, and we rationed as best we could. People got sick. Mean. One man was restrained for being violent and ended up…” Lilly went quiet. “Once the dropship made it out of the wormhole, Kennedy was so excited. Klem believed it might be Ethos, since it was the only planet anyone had heard of being connected to the Sun Colonies. The dropship landed… where you found it, I’m assuming.”
Luke nodded, recalling watching the footage that proved his wife and daughter were alive and had made it to Ethos.
“Survival was a struggle. We learned what to eat, often the hard way. Ten were lost in the first year, but that slowed once we understood what it took to exist on our own. I cared for Scout from the start. Sara was a nurse, and she gladly shared the burden, but Scout grew up thinking of me as his mother. Kennedy loved Scout… loves, I mean.”
“How could you let her join a Cadre?” Luke asked, and quickly regretted it.
Lilly slid off the crate, crossing her arms. “Let her? If you think I can tell a spirited twenty-three-year-old what to do, you’re delusional. She’s a replica of you, Luke. All strength and heart mixed with a confidence that might get her killed.”
“I missed everything.”
“We’re together now,” she said softly, walking closer. He wrapped his arms around her, wishing he never had to let go. “What about you?”
Luke had been bracing for this part. “My soul was torn from my body with the news. I was inconsolable for an entire year. Hell, I hardly remember it at all. The war was over, the Deniers crushed at the Mercury Massacre.”
“What happened there?”
“Calvin Brooks figured out a way to shut down the enemy ships. The Deniers’ fleet was made up from decommissioned military ships and logistic vessels. A certain generation of them had self-destruct codes. It was a precautionary measure implemented by a fearful government on Earth when the mines first began. They wanted a way to protect themselves against potential coalitions, or to stop any incoming alien viruses from reaching our home planet. Cal used this knowledge and basically killed thousands within minutes.”
“He’s a hero,” she said.
“Yeah, then I ended up joining the Deniers in the aftermath. I was in a dark place. They knew that.”
“I forgive you,” she said through tears. “We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.”
Luke didn’t deserve this. “I can’t believe I found you.”
She looked up at him and laughed. “I knew you would.”
“Seriously?”
“Maybe not for real, but I always expected I’d see you again somehow, even in the afterlife.”
Luke wasn’t sure he believed in that, but he wasn’t about to admit it now. “I wasted fifteen years.”
“You didn’t waste anything. You needed to grow.”
“I will find Kennedy,” he said.
“How?” Lilly asked. “We’re in a Hiphol mining hauler with no supplies. Even if we enter the Link, there’s no guarantee where it brings us.”
“If I have to die, I choose to do so free.”
Lilly rolled her eyes at him. “Luke Dalton, do you always have to be so dramatic?”
“Apparently.” He jumped down. “Let’s check on the crew.”
They walked hand in hand, fitting like a glove.
Scout smiled when they entered the cabin. “I have an idea.”
Luke noticed everyone seemed energized. “Go on.”
“We need supplies, right?”
“Yes.”
“There’s an outpost between us and the Link,” Scout said. “I spoke to Val about it.”
“Is that so?” Lilly asked.
“We already visited the patrol base… they had crew quarters and a kitchen, remember? All we require is enough water and food for a couple months.”
“What if it’s longer?” Luke watched the tired and malnourished humans. Their time in captivity, while short-lived, had taken a heavy toll. If he hadn’t intervened, he supposed the group would have actually bent their knees to the Hiphol and joined like the other races eventually had.
“Then we deal with it!” Scout yelled. “Luke, we have to get back and help fight!”
“The kid’s not wrong,” Luke told Lilly.
“Fine.”
Luke smiled and used his Slab to contact Valentina. “Change of plans.”
“I’m already en route to the outpost,” she said from the other bridge.
“Of course you are. When were you going to fill me in?”
“Captain Brooks says it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.”
“I think I’d like this captain of yours,” Lilly joked.
“He’s okay.” Luke searched over the group, wondering who to enlist for the dangerous mission. Klem was older, but in better shape than most of the others.
“Aren’t we going to suit up?” Scout asked.
“You?”
“Who else?”
Lilly nodded. “He’s smart and fast and hasn’t been working in the mines for the last two months.”
With few better options, Luke agreed. “You listen to me.”
“No sweat.”
Luke tapped his earpiece. “Val, can you give me a visual on the station?”
“Coming through.”
There were no screens or portholes within the freighter to let them see beyond the interior of the hull. It disturbed Luke, though that was usually how he’d traveled during the Solar War. The infantry always sat in the back of the transports, waiting to be released to the surface of whatever battlefield they were heading to.
Like the previous charging port they’d visited before the mines, they found two alien structures on the surface of the moon. A planet was close by, but judging by the hazy yellow color, it was nothing but ice and gas. He remembered something about an abundance of ammonia or hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. None of that mattered now.
