Rachel looked at William and wondered at his confidence.
"I believe you," she said, and meant it.
"Rachel!" shouted a Miccvan officer. "A Human ship is exiting hyperspace! It's the Sea of Boston and they are towing a Kaitian frigate!"
William was surprised and overjoyed. "Finally! Call them and guide them directly here. Let them dock with us."
"Yes, Commander," said the officer.
William had feared that the Sea of Boston had been lost.
"Let's go and meet them," he said.
Rachel was also excited--finally they'd get their live samples and her genetic weapons research could continue. She felt her hopes lifting.
They went to the docking area and waited eagerly for Sea of Boston to dock with the Thoughtful Flame.
"Jiao!" William shouted when the admiral came on board. He couldn't restrain himself, but went on to meet her and hugged her.
"Tell me you have good news," he said.
Jiao smiled. "I have very good news, sir. Bring the prisoners!" From behind her a row of prisoners moved forward in chains.
"Ten samples," said Rachel delightedly. "I would've been happy with one. This gives us new possibilities." She grinned devilishly as she waved Miccvan guards to take the prisoners away.
"And the frigate, Jiao?" asked William. "How on earth did you do that?"
Jiao started to answer when Rachel saw the Arash colonel exiting the Sea of Boston. "William. Look."
"An Arash Colonel?" said William, surprised. "Where did he come from?"
"It's long story, Commander," she said.
"I'm sure it is. Colonel," William addressed Horacio.
"Colonel Horacio of the Auxiliary Support Regiment." Horacio saluted. "Good to see you finally in person, Commander William."
"Thank you, Colonel," said William, not knowing what he meant. "I'm sure you have much to tell us. I will assemble the Coalition Command and call you when we're ready."
"And I'll start working with the samples," said Rachel.
William called one of the Miccvan officers to escort Jiao and Horacio to a waiting room.
***
"Sentient machines?" Laura asked Milton after they'd been briefed by Jiao and Horacio, who'd told all they knew about the fusion factory, sentient machines, Kaitians, the black veil, and the nightmares on their journey back.
"You've known this and not told us," commented Laura.
"That's right, Laura," he said, and Laura made a sound.
"Perhaps we should be more open with each other," she said. "We've also found ruins in our space, and we determined they belonged to a species far more advanced than even the Hwzeenn. But we never thought of sentient machines."
"And now a fully operational factory," said William. "With a guardian, the black veil. I don't know about you, but I have very bad feeling about this."
No one said anything, but they all agreed.
"We must finish the Kaitian threat," said Laura, "and then move our focus to the sentient machines."
"Agreed," said Milton. "We finally got our samples and genetic weapons will be soon ready."
"Let's equip the Behemoths with them," said Laura.
"But that would mean delaying the counter-attack," said Milton, "and sacrificing more of our colonies."
"It your decision," said Laura. "But I'm sure you'll agree it'd be more efficient to attack the enemy with genetic weapons in our arsenal."
Milton sighed. "Of course. We'll wait for the new weapons. Admiral?" said Milton to Mr. Grey. "We'll dispatch new weapons as soon as we can."
"Thank you," said Mr. Grey. "We are preparing our defenses and we'll be ready."
"Good to hear, old friend," said Milton.
"And we'll get the new weapons for you, too, William. As soon as possible."
William nodded in thanks. He was thinking about the sentient machines and how he'd found shrapnel of a ship from Fexsol belonging to them. He found the shrapnel with Susan; he remembered that she didn't have a clue about the sentient machines.
Susan, he thought, yet another great mystery. Wherever she'd gone, he was sure they'd hear about her again . . . sooner or later.
Milton finished the meeting after they'd discussed more of the details of the coming attacks.
William was interested in speaking with Jiao and Horacio, and so went to see them.
***
"Commander!" Jeffery and Ellen both saluted.
"Commander." William saluted back and nodded to Ellen. "Private."
"Sir," said Ellen.
William passed them, but then turned around. "Commander? A word?"
"Yes, sir," said Jeffery.
"I apologize in advance for my direct question," said William, "but are you two lovers?"
"Ahem," said Jeffery, surprised by such a direct question.
"Yes, sir. We are"
Ellen smiled, blushed, and nodded.
William smiled happily. "Excellent, just excellent to find love in times like this. Please, feel free to go and stroll around the Thoughtful Flame. If anyone asks, tell them I gave you permission."
"Yes, sir," said Jeffery. "Thank you."
William nodded and walked away smiling, off to meet with Jiao and Horacio.
"Well?" asked Ellen.
"Well, what?" said Jeffery.
"Shall we go to stroll around the Thoughtful Flame?" She smiled.
"Yes, ma'am," he said. "We'll do just that."
So they went to Thoughtful Flame and took a walk around it, talking and laughing and enjoying time together.
Suddenly, Jeffery noticed a familiar place.
"I've been here before," he said. "This must be the medical bay."
Just as they were going in, a voice said. "Halt! Where do you think you're going?"
Jeffery and Ellen turned to see a woman in a lab coat.
"Sorry, ma'am," said Jeffery. "Commander Johnson gave us permission to walk around the Thoughtful Flame."
"William?" said Rachel and then looked more closely at Jeffery and Ellen. She smiled. "You must be lovers. No wonder he gave you that permission. William is in love himself, did you know?"
Jeffery and Ellen shook their heads.
"And I'm in love with him," said Rachel happily, but then turned serious. "But I am sure he didn't mean you to go in there."
Her voice gave all the hint Jeffery needed. "Yes, ma'am, we'll go elsewhere then."
Rachel smiled warmly. "I suggest our observation deck."
"Thank you, ma'am," said Ellen. Rachel smiled to them again, and went inside the medical bay.
"The Kaitian prisoners must be there." He nodded toward the medical bay.
"Let's go. I don't want to know what's going on there."
They walked to the observation deck in silence, hand in hand.
30
"We arrive at SD-9 soon," said Aileen.
"Finally," said Louis. "I don't know why, but this journey back has lasted forever."
"I hear you, friend," said Nick, lying, eyes closed, on a couch they'd carried to the bridge.
"Exit hyperspace far away from the base."
"As you say, Counselor," said Aileen, and exited hyperspace.
As soon as they were in normal space, Aileen informed them that the commander was not on the station.
"Where is he, then?" asked Nick.
"He's on the Miccvan home world," said Aileen.
"Really?" said Louis. "We can't go there with this ship."
"We don't need to," said Aileen. "I'm receiving a message from him. He's ordering us to wait here; he'll come here as soon as possible."
"Okay, then let's go to SD-9 for some R&R." Louis grinned.
"I second that motion." Nick smiled.
"Go on and dock with it, will you, Aileen?"
***
Nick and Louis were having a coffee in the cafeteria after a long evening that had turned into a long night.
For one reason or another, some of the officers stationed at SD-9 had thrown
a party and, naturally, Nick and Louis had crashed it, and stayed until they were thrown out. It was already morning, so they'd decided to skip sleep and have coffee--very strong coffee--instead. Nick yawned and stretched his hands.
"Late night, I presume," a voice said from behind them. Whoever was speaking was definitely smiling.
"You should've come here a few hours earlier, Commander," said Nick, still stretching. "Your officers threw a hell of a party."
"So I gather," said William. "There's an unusual number of drunken officers on board. They must have sensed that I was coming back."
Louis laughed. "Or more likely because it was yet another day you were not here!"
William laughed. "Probably so. But it's good to see you, old friends. Let's go to the office."
Nick and Louis stretched themselves up and took their coffees with them. As they walked to William's office, they noticed the drunken officers William told about; although most of them tried to look perfectly normal, they were all failing miserably.
After William closed the office door, he said, "The Kaitians have attacked both the Rg'Tkeen and Miccvan Empires. I expected you to warn us."
"So did we," said Nick and he told how they happened to be right in the middle of the mustering system and how they followed them.
William listened carefully as Nick told about their plan to attack the Kaitians left to guard one of the Rg'Tkeen colonies and how they decided to abandon the attack.
"A wise decision," said William. "Very wise. We can't afford to let them know what we have."
William told about the current plans to counter the Kaitian attacks and Nick said immediately, "We want to help. We'll help our fleet to defend the Ooktians."
"No," said William. "You stay here. If need arises, I want you to be ready."
"Ready for what?" asked Louis.
"I don't know yet," said William. "But I'm sure something will come up, so I need you to stay here."
"And you?" asked Louis. "Are you going to stay here? Or do you go back to Rachel?"
Nick almost laughed aloud.
"That's right." William smiled. "I'll go back to Rachel. And you can have some R&R here. I know there are some very nice lady officers here."
"You hired them yourself," whispered Louis to Nick loud enough for William to hear.
"That's right!" said William and laughed.
They talked about the station and the officers for a while. But then William suddenly turned very serious.
"What is it, William?" asked Nick.
William told them about the sentient machines, fusion factory, and the black veil.
"Wow," said Louis. "That's quite a story. Five million years ago, and ten, as you say. Does that mean that machines roamed here for at least five million years before vanishing?"
"Perhaps," said William. "Or perhaps they've been here many times. And when the war is over, and if you want, I'd like to search the galaxy for any traces of them. To find out everything we can."
"William," said Louis after a moment. "If the black veil is indeed a guardian, it must have sent some kind of message to, well . . . whatever its masters are."
William nodded; it was just what he'd been thinking.
"And their masters may respond to it," added Louis.
"That's right," said William. "And I don't like that all. We have the Kaitian war in our hands, the Strangers loom in the background, and now the sentient machines bring another mystery. We live in an interesting universe, don't you think?"
"We do indeed," said Louis.
"Right on," said Nick. "And that is finally something that I'd like to drink to."
"Ah." William smiled. "A little hangover, have you?"
"Just a little," confirmed Nick, smiling back.
"Then what are we waiting for!" said Louis. "Commander! A drink before you go to your love?"
"Sure!" said William without hesitation. "I can go to my love tomorrow!"
"Hear, hear!" said Nick and Louis laughing.
"Let's go!" William said.
The three men started their party and continued to the next morning. Then William wobbled to his ship and flew back to Miccvan home world, feeling miserable all the way.
31
"Sir," said Marya, "we are approaching the Miccvan home world."
"Great," said Bruce. "Exit hyperspace as soon as we're within the system and contact Command. I want to brief them personally."
That's what Command wanted, too; Bruce got an invitation immediately after exiting hyperspace. He was ordered to board the Thoughtful Flame.
"Bruce!" called William as soon as Bruce was out of the shuttle.
"William!" he said and they shook hands. "Good to see you, old friend."
"You, too," said William. "But how come you're here? I thought you were ordered to attack the advancing Kaitians."
"Oh, hell," cursed Bruce. "That's what we tried to do."
He told the commander how the Kaitians used AIs and how they'd beaten them. William took the news much more calmly than Bruce would've thought.
William told about their own AIs and that they were installed in Behemoths and also some fighters.
"That's great news, William," said Bruce, "but there are many Kaitians there."
"I know," said William, "but we have a chance. The Sea of Boston came back a while ago and brought back Kaitian captives. We are making genetic weapons as we speak. They managed to even capture a Kaitian frigate."
"Really? That's great," said Bruce. "I hope they tip the balance to our favor."
"So do I," said William. "So do I."
William told him about Mr. Grey and what he'd said about meeting the enemy at the home world.
"That's very risky thing to do," said Bruce. "All or nothing."
"Maybe so," said William. "But there was something in his voice that made me really believe that they can handle the Kaitians. We'll see that soon enough. But come, Bruce. I want to see the damage your Behemoth sustained. Let's go and take a look."
Bruce nodded; he understood immediately that William wanted to discuss something in private, away from listening ears.
"Well, if you want to," he said dismissively, and they went to the Behemoth with the shuttle.
"Here," said Bruce, after he'd led William to look at the cannons. They were outside of the hull; communication was done via short-range communicator so no one could overhear them.
"Direct hit," commented William. "Their AIs are very good. I hope we can match them."
William crouched to examine the destroyed cannon and touched the debris, as if to get the feeling of the enemy weapon.
"Nick and Louis came back," he said. "They found the enemy, but too late. They happened to be at the mustering system before they launched the attacks."
William told Bruce what Nick and Louis encountered, including that they were almost discovered and how they almost attacked the Kaitians.
He also told Bruce about Sea of Boston, the fusion factory and what they found there.
"Sentient machines?" said Bruce. "That's what Susan thought when the Kaitian scout exploded on Earth--the Vela Incident?"
"That's right," said William. "I don't know about you, but I'm sure we're going to meet the sentient machines sooner or later. Probably sooner than I'd like."
Bruce nodded. "If the black veil is indeed a guardian, then I think you're right. Nothing about Susan?"
"No," answered William. "Absolutely nothing. Command is actively searching for them, but no one has found any leads. They really vanished."
"That worries me," said Bruce. "We know they have their own agenda, but still I wonder why they vanished. The Kaitians should be their enemy, too, especially since they're allied with the Strangers. Defeating Kaitians should be our mutual goal."
William nodded. "I agree and, again, I'm sure we'll hear about her sooner rather than later."
William changed the subject to the war at hand. "Are you ready to join the Behemoths and go in to the fight?"
r /> "As soon as this is repaired," said Bruce, pointing to the cannon damage.
"I'll give you more than repairs." William smiled. "I have new weapons for you, the black energy rays. Straight from the research, based on the Strangers' technology. Or, rather, what Stranger weapons did to the old Hwzeenn home world."
Bruce smiled. "Really? I had no idea."
"Few know," said William. "Command decided to keep it under wrap until it had been proven. Now it has and we're almost done installing the weapons to our ships even as we speak. The Behemoths and rest of Coalition ships will get them as soon as we can deliver."
"Then we really have a fighting chance," said Bruce.
"I sure hope so," said William.
***
"Commander," said Bruce to Marya. "Is everything ready?"
There was excitement in Bruce's voice. Fifty Behemoths around them was a sight to behold. In addition, there were a lot of cruisers, frigates, and corvettes, mostly from the Miccvan Navy.
"Yes, Admiral," said Marya. She, too, was excited. They awaited the Kaitians in one of the Miccvan mining colonies.
"How soon is the enemy here?" asked Bruce.
"Less than one hour, sir," said Marya.
***
Captain Kould of the Kaitian Sword Legion felt the fire as he saw the dozens of Behemoths waiting in the Godless Others colony ahead.
"Arg!" he shouted. "The enemy has Behemoths waiting for us! Kill them all!"
The thousands of Kaitians shouted acknowledgement through the intercom. They had not forgotten how one Behemoth had killed most of the Sword Legion when it was exploded by the cowardly Godless Others. Kould himself had escaped, but only barely and not without injury. He was brought back to home world, where his wounds were tended before he was assigned to train the warriors for the next phase of the attack.
Kould was no longer flying a fighter, but he had been given command of a cruiser. He missed the maneuverability, but the firepower compensated for the loss.
He had AIs to help coordinate the thousands of ships and he ordered them all in a wedge form.
He directed them straight toward the Behemoths.
***
"Holy Hell!" shouted Marya. The wedge of the Kaitians was a terrible sight and all the Behemoths moved away from its path except one unfortunate that was destroyed in seconds as thousands of Kaitian ships concentrated their fire on it.
"Gah!" shouted Bruce. The battle had not started well.
"Hit-and-run attacks!" he ordered. "Use the AI and concentrate all weapons on a single target before moving to the next one!"
The AI responded immediately and it accelerated so fast that Marya fell, while Bruce struggled to stand upright.
"A direct hit to enemy frigate!" shouted Marya after she raised herself to her feet with a red face.