War Ring (Canaris Rift Book 6), page 28
Rendezvous Nine, on the way, Owami replied.
#
Rendezvous Nine was an arbitrarily selected location. Owami was pleased to see that Carol’s Ring Neff was already in place. Each Ring was one thousand and twenty-four Jewels, each more than forty kilometers in length, making the whole Ring with a circumference of forty thousand nine hundred and sixty kilometers — enough to easily slip around most planets. Each had a minimum crew of ten thousand, giving each Ring a minimum crew of ten million, two hundred and forty thousand. As each Jewel could easily accommodate two hundred thousand personnel, each Ring could easily be the home to over two hundred million people.
I’m coming over, Carol told Owami.
I’m on the way, Owami replied, rising from her command chair and making her way to the lift.
Side party for the Fleet Admiral, Owami thought to Elle Manning, her Ring captain.
I heard, miz, Elle replied crisply. Do you want me to —?
No, I need you up in Science, analyzing what we got from our sensors, Owami told her. I want numbers and sizes, even if they’re just SWAGS. SWAGS was the acronym for Scientific Wild Assed Guesses.
On it, Elle replied. Should have a first level approximation in twenty.
You got five, Owami replied. The lift doors hissed open and Owami strode to Receiving — the name given to the specially coded and numbered arrival point for SCs — which was pretty much everyone, these days.
“Fleet Admiral arriving!” A crisp voice called out. An alert bosun piped Carol Grek aboard even as Owami rushed into place to salute her.
“Good, good!” Carol said, returning Owami’s salute with a wave to the air above her head. “Let’s get going.”
“Elle’s in Science, they’re analyzing the data,” Owami said.
Carol cocked an eye at her. “How long did you give her?”
“She asked for twenty so —”
“You gave her five,” Carol finished with a grin. She waved toward the lift doors — they were in the same location on every Jewel. “Let’s see what we can learn.”
They entered the lift and Owami called out their deck. The doors closed and they started moving. “What got me was that we were seeing an increase in mass.”
“Yeah, I noticed that, too,” Carol said in a rough tone. “What do you think?”
“They’ve got a wormhole,” Owami said with a sinking feeling.
“They’ve got a wormhole,” Carol agreed.
The lift stopped, doors opened, and they stepped through briskly, Carol in the lead.
“First left,” Owami said.
“Really?” Carol raised an eyebrow. “Mine’s on the right.”
“I think Science should be sinister,” Owami deadpanned.
Sinister was Latin for left, Five supplied. And it’s not a wormhole. It’s worse.
What could be worse than a wormhole? Carol asked.
“A gate,” Owami said out loud. “A multi-wormhole.” She raised her arms and spread them, fingers wriggling. “Get help from everywhere.” She pulled her hands into one tight ball.
“Oh shit,” Carol said. They entered the Science Hall. Elle Manning was there waiting for them.
“It’s confirmed,” she told them. “We had multiple masses being added to the local gravity field.”
“How many?”
“Hundreds of thousands? Millions?” Elle said. “Enough that we could detect it at the edge of the system.”
“And the Gate?” Owami asked.
“The Gate and one hell of a station,” Elle said. She flicked her wristcomm toward the display on the left wall. An image formed was enhanced and then zoomed again. “This is the mother of all stations.”
“Coordination for the whole galaxy,” Owami guessed.
“You know,” Carol mused, “if we could take it out —”
“Unless you get the Gate… you’ve done nothing,” Owami said, shaking her head. “We’ve got to get them both.”
Carol turned to her. “You want to close a multi-point wormhole?”
“We closed the wormhole at Canaris,” Owami replied.
“Uh, actually, the current thinking is that we merely destabilized it,” Elle reminded her reluctantly. “That it’s still there and… ‘healing.’”
“Yeah, but it’s still closed,” Owami said.
“This one is much bigger,” Elle replied. “Like the black hole at the center of a galaxy.”
“Which is probably what they started with,” Carol guessed. “So, with this Gate, all they have to do is cry for help —”
“And we’re doomed,” Owami finished. “And it looks like they cried for help.”
Carol shrugged. “So we have to close the Gate, destroy the Terminus — because that’s what that station has to be — and die happy.”
“How?” Elle asked.
We got it! Auggie cried triumphantly.
What? Carol and Owami asked in unison.
You’re not going to like it, Auggie added. I lost the toss, that’s why I’m telling you.
Spill, Carol replied.
Throw a sun at it, Five thought. It’ll be massive enough to destabilize the Gate and if you send it close enough to your Terminus, it’ll fry it.
Close, sprout, but no cigar, Auggie replied.
Why ever would I be desirous of a cancer-causing smoke hazard? Five asked indignantly.
Your answer is almost right, Auggie told her. Your mass is wrong.
What’s bigger than a sun? Five asked. Oh! But… hmm, it can be done. Barely. And we’ll have to — start with Canaris. It’s closest. Then Candica and then Ordmire-312.
Those are all black holes! Carol replied.
Yup, three at once, in parallel just a few milliseconds apart, that should do it, Émile Hoban agreed.
And if they don’t?
If they don’t, the aliens won’t know what hit them, Queen Rochelle thought, which might give us some time for another plan.
Three black holes will do it, Émile replied. Especially if we throw them. They haven’t counted on SCs.
What about my bugs? Vicki asked.
That’s secondary, Carol Grek told her. When we close the Gate, that’s when we use them. She paused. When will they be ready?
About three more weeks, I’m afraid, Vick replied.
Five, can you coordinate all this? Owami asked.
Not just me, Five replied, the implants as well. They’ll have to tie in. We’ve never tried to get a million people working in four coordinated groups.
Four?
Three to launch, one to aim, Five said. The latter will be Rings.
All of them?
Not all of them — three, Émile Hoban reiterated. This is going to require control that is very precise. If one of the black holes isn’t targeted just right — it could bounce off, bounce back or fly past the target.
What sort of precision are we talking about? Carol wondered.
Nothing too difficult, a matter of meters, Émile Hoban replied.
How soon can we start? Owami asked.
Now might be too late, Five replied. A moment later, she added in a quieter voice, The Mohs have committed themselves.
Owami and Carol exchanged looks. The last time that platoon — the originals — had been committed against the aliens, they had all died.
Clio? Alara? Niktali? Lux? Queen Rochelle thought.
They need to stay here, they’re going to be the pitchers, Five replied. Queen Clio, can you go to Canaris? Niktali, we need you at Candica. You, too, Alara. And Lux —
Ordmire-312, Lux guessed. We’re on the way.
The Smileys should be kept in reserve, Five said.
Hey! June Smiley protested.
Queen Rochelle, do I have your permission to commence this mission? Five asked formally.
Do it, Chelly thought.
It’s your ball game, Carol Grek affirmed.
Five was quick. She hadn’t heard the term before but she had a computer for a brain and she used it.
Batter up! She cried.
#
Miz President? Five called to Buttercup’s President Busquis.
Yes?
We found their main base, Five told her. It’s in front of a wormhole gate —
Oh, gods!
Our plan is this… Quickly five outlined her plan.
Yes, we’re behind you one hundred per cent! Marie Busquis replied. What do you need?
This is going to be hard, Five replied. We’re going to coordinate with Rhein and together your two populations will pick up Canaris and throw it into the other universe where Owami and Morgan Branford along with Queen Rochelle on their Rings will catch it and guide it toward its final destination.
And that will be enough?
No, we’re going to throw Candica-289 and Ordmire-312 as well. The timing has to be perfect, we’ve got milliseconds or it won’t work.
Return To Sender! I love this plan! Marie replied. When are we doing it?
Now, Five replied. If you don’t object, I’ll talk directly to all the implants on Buttercup and give them the images required.
And then all we need is to mentally hold hands and toss!
More than that, I’m afraid, Five replied. This is the most demanding mission we’ve ever considered. Your people will be completely drained after this, defenseless.
I see, Marie Busquis replied thoughtfully. And if we don’t do this?
The aliens will reinforce themselves from multiple galaxies —
Then there is no choice, Marie interjected. Execute.
Marie Busquis felt a strange itching, burning sensation at the back of her head. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw to keep from screaming. And then her implant invited her participation, Marie relaxed and opened her mind fully to Bly, her implant.
“Oh!” Marie cried aloud. The beauty, the terror, the magnificence — Buttercup! We’re going to end this war! On me! On Bly! On Five!
Billions of people responded to her call.
#
Prepare for temporal-spatial displacement, Five warned the stationers orbiting the black hole Canaris Prime.
On it, aunty! Elena Vasquez replied immediately. Linking!
Five had just enough time to send a happy thought to the youngest Vasquez before she forged the gestalt.
And in that instant, Five Evers-Branford was the strongest, most powerful entity in two universes. She felt her heart falter, then recover as the immensity of the power crushed down on her.
NOW!
#
We have to find her! Vicki screamed in Janis Semovich’s head.
Five?
Who else? Vicki replied.
Is she in distress?
Crash cart! Mina added. Coordinates! JUMP NOW!
#
Incoming! Five cried in Owami’s mind. Target and launch… NOW!
Klaxons blared loudly and red lights flashed throughout Owami’s command Jewel, Union.
“Tracking! We’ve got a — by the gods! We’ve got a fucking black hole inbound at c-fractional speeds! It’s warping —” Commander Xiochitl Diaz broke off and turned, wide-eyed to her Admiral.
Sorry, shoulda warned you! Owami apologized briefly. All hands! All hands Union! On —
My orders, Curveball! A new voice spoke up. Owami turned to see Princess Rory Beaumont smile up at her as her implant, Freya, continued. Execute!
Owami joined hands with Rory and added her strength to the push. And gasped in pain as Freya pulled from her, pulled from Xiochitl, pulled from everyone in the entire Ring.
They all felt it as Freya guided their strength with a gentle precision that bent the path of the black hole of Canaris toward the right edge of the wormhole Gate, veering close enough to collapse the alien’s immense station into a lifeless mass which the black hole sucked up like a quick snack as it continued its near light-speed dive.
“Shields!” Owami roared as she felt the impact of the black hole on the edge of the Gate. A moment later, even with shields, the light from the impact flooded the Combat Information Center.
ONE! Five cried in exultation. Owami grinned but suddenly felt a weight on her arm. She reacted like a cat, jumping out of her seat and pivoting to catch Rory before her head could hit the ground.
Sorry, Freya said in a tiny voice.
All around Owami, people collapsed in their chairs or fell to the ground as the immense mental effort drained their bodies completely.
“Sick Bay! Code Yellow!” Owami called. “Triage by function!”
#
TWO! Five called, sending her image to Morgan’s Fay.
Got it, Freya replied laconically. And slow down, little sister! Slow down!
No time! Five replied. Lux, are your people ready?
In place and ready! Princess Lux, Lady Kelvin, replied immediately.
Throw! Five called. She had just time to notice something out of the corner of her eye when she felt something very cold wrap around the back of her head and shoulders.
“She’s spiking!” Vicki’s voice cried.
“Intravenous attached,” Janis replied tersely. “We’ve got the —”
“I’m here!” Mina said, moving to touch Five’s shoulder. “We —” Mina turned to Janis. “Why isn’t she responding?”
“She’s busy,” Vicki replied, “trying to get herself killed.”
“It seems a trait of your genetics, you know,” Janis said.
Three, Five whispered in their minds. You’ve got to do three. Or we’ve lost.
“Breathe, damn you!” Vicki cried. She glanced around anxiously as she caught Five’s collapsing body. “I need a bed! I need — where’s the defibrillator?”
“No pulse! Heart’s stopped.” Janis reported.
MOHS! Mina cried. Here NOW!
An instant later they were surrounded by alert, ready marines. Four of them were medics and they moved instantly to help Janis and Vicki with Five.
Oh, gods! Alara Koenig cried as she jumped to them, Clio at her side.
Here! July Smiley added as she stepped into view.
That’s enough, Janis called. The room is full. Medical on standby alert. Prep cryo-chamber.
On it, Ira Lux replied.
“Brain activity — look at it!” Little Inna Moh, one of the two Moh medics cried, pointing to the portable display.
“You are NOT going to die on me!” Vicki, Clio and Mina cried in unison.
“Mina, you have to take the last shot,” Janis said to her. “Move aside, let the others work. Coordinate with Emma and Ophelia, if they’re able.”
“That’s the kill shot,” Clio said, looking up from the group surrounding Five’s unmoving body. She stepped out of the group, dragging Alara with her. “We’ll help.”
The last shot is MINE! Queen Rochelle called out. Throw it when ready, my implant and I will put it in the hoop.
Hoop? The thought was weak, thready, but very clearly Five’s.
Candica is in, Morgan’s Freya reported in utter exhaustion.
“Five?” Vicki cried, bending over her clone sister.
“She can’t hear you,” Janis told her softly, he steered her body toward the portable display. “She can’t.”
But she’s TALKING to me! Vicki cried.
An echo, Five returned. In the computers. This was a high probability. With QE, I understand it now — I could put a full copy of myself up here. Inkin says I can stay.
NO! Vicki and Janis cried together. No, please! Mina added.
The damage to the body is too great, Five’s echo replied. I cannot inhabit it any more, I’m sorry.
Ordmire-312 is sent, Lux reported before her voice faded out.
Chelly, this is all yours, Five’s echo called.
Got it, Queen Rochelle replied. And, thank you, Five.
#
One final black hole shot out into the alien universe, through the remains of crushed Planet Killers, Battleships, freighters — all the wrecked enemy armada — and into the center of the wormhole Gate.
And nothing happened.
On Ring Henri, Queen Rochelle looked up at her displays with growing despair.
From Ring Belle, where Owami had laid Rory in the command chair and was seeing to members of her command, a small light blinked and Owami looked at it, frowning.
On Ring Union, Morgan Branford roused herself and issued crisp orders to medical personnel, pulling the thousand-ship fighting Ring back into action.
What went wrong? Chelly asked.
Nothing, Five’s echo replied. Check your readings.
Chelly moved to the tactical section, gently laying out the commander who had fallen out of his chair, and sat in his place, slowly keying up displays. She frowned for a moment then —
Everyone out! Out NOW!
Belle, JUMP!
Union, JUMP!
Henri, JUMP!
Come on, we’ll help you! Niktali Night and Marcie Holmes added as their implants — Ni-ni and Mars — fed power and location to the three giant Rings.
And then there was only floating wreckage, no sign or signal of life.
A fraction of a second later, the black hole shimmered… and grew. Its mass increased and it engulfed everything within a light-year radius. Light and radiation emitted from its newly enlarged event horizon, irradiating everything in a two light-year radius.
E
pilog
December 18, 211 AF – 55 weeks later
“It’s time,” Janis Semovich said as he looked up from his wristcomm. Victoria Branford nodded and rose with him, putting her breakfast dishes on the counter for the cleaner to find.
“Let’s go,” Vicki said.
They took the lift and met Mina Branford-Evers as the doors opened. Vicki led the way to the lab and the replicator waiting inside. She turned to Janis, “Are you sure? Sure this is going to work?”
