Jason shook his head. “What events?”

  “The Craing. Six fringe planets have come under attack within Allied space: Lapoine, Coral-19, Halperon, Vori, Lear-Escott, and Jhardon.”

  Jason stood, feeling his pulse quicken. “No! Don’t tell me they’ve been destroyed.”

  “All but Jhardon, but there are casualties there on a massive scale. The others are gone. Disintegrated to space rubble.”

  “How is that possible? Destruction of a planet …?”

  “A Craing fleet of six dreadnaught warships. We’ve heard rumors about them, but never knew they were anywhere near … what you refer to as … Allied space. They’re known as the Vanguard fleet.”

  “They destroy planets? That’s their objective?” Jason asked incredulously.

  Ti nodded. “What’s special about these warships, similar to Craing dreadnaughts, is that each carries a large, ultra-powerful plasma cannon, specifically designed for extended long-range bombardment. Take in mind, Captain, the Vanguard attack as a group, single out one planet at a time, and together concentrate their plasma beams on it. The result is nearly always the same—complete and utter planet annihilation.”

  Jason brought the conversation back to Jhardon. “Have you talked to Admiral Reynolds? What’s being coordinated to rescue survivors there?”

  “Captain, we have problems of our own—our own survival being the most relevant. Yes, we have talked to the admiral—in fact, pleaded with him for assistance. Carz-Mau is, most assuredly, the Vanguard fleet’s next destination. Like those six planets, we lie directly within that same directional course. I’m sorry, but all Mau vessels have left the Allied fleet. We’re currently en route to Carz-Mau, to protect our home world.”

  Jason nodded in understanding, but was distressed four hundred-plus advanced warships had left the fleet.

  “Captain, others within the fleet have also left … some were too afraid to go up against the Craing; others left, as we have, to protect their home worlds. The Lilly may have the capacity to go up against this Vanguard fleet. Captain—Jason, we desperately need your help. That’s why I’ve contacted you directly.”

  Jason needed to talk to his father. “Give me some time. Let me come up to speed. I’ll do what I can, Ti, I promise.”

  Even before Ti’s face disappeared from view, another face popped up on another display segment.

  Jason said, “Dad! What the hell’s happening?”

  The admiral looked terrible, his face flushed and sweaty, and some kind of commotion was taking place behind him. “What’s going on is fucking mayhem. Five planets have been demolished—”

  Jason cut him off. “I heard. So what’s happening now? What’s the situation with the Allied fleet?”

  The admiral looked angry and ready to explode. “Allied fleet? What fucking fleet? The Mau just hightailed it back to Carz-Mau; the Malgos have officially revoked their membership, hoping they can get back in the Craing’s good graces, and we’re facing massive desertion on board fleet vessels. Three ships are verging on mutiny. Pure and simple, everything we’ve accomplished over the past year is coming apart—going to hell in a hand basket.”

  “Okay, take it easy, Dad. You don’t look so good. What exactly do you want me to do?”

  “My first impulse is for you to bring The Lilly to the Allied worlds, or head off to intercept this Vanguard fleet.”

  “I can do that.”

  “No! Just be quiet! I’m still thinking out loud.” Then the admiral spun around and reprimanded someone behind him. “Hold on … Give me a God damn second, will you?” He turned back to face Jason. “What’s left of the fleet is scattered. Over the next twenty-four hours we’ll regroup and converge back in Allied space. I’ll do what I can to help Jhardon.”

  “So you want us there—”

  “Look, the successes we’ve had defeating the Craing over the past year haven’t gone unnoticed. The Craing are mobilizing fleets brought in from multiple sectors—we’re getting reports of Craing warships converging at two locations. The first is within an area of Orion’s Belt—more ships are arriving there every day. They’re also converging in the Craing worlds. A multi-pronged attack is coming. Some kind of sweep … Earth … the Allied planets. Hell, these might be just the tip of the iceberg. My guess, they’re cleaning house within the entire sector. They’re looking to make an example of us. Look at what they did to those six outer-fringe planets? We’re talking about mass destruction on a whole different level.” The admiral took a breath and wiped a hand across his chin. “Add in the present spate of Allied worlds withdrawing from the Alliance and we’re in serious trouble. Acquiring the Minian is more important than ever. I’m serious, Jason. It just might be the differentiating factor between survival and extinction of the human race. Complete the original mission and get me that damn ship!”

  Chapter 17

  Ricket and Gaddy were the first to arrive at the emperor’s personal dining hall. Gaddy had hand selected suitable attire for Ricket and told him how handsome he looked. The table was long and narrow. Ricket counted the empty chairs around them. Twenty-two. Were twenty-two guests joining them for dinner?

  Ricket felt awkward in social situations. Yes, physically, he was now a one hundred percent living, organic, being. The problem was he’d spent close to two hundred years as a functioning, highly effective cyborg, not having to deal with the constant confluences of emotion and ego. Ricket was so out of his comfort zone, and he wondered if it was obvious to those around him. His analytical mind was constantly monitoring his every movement: Should I smile or look more interested? Where do I put my hands? Am I communicating correctly or being too introspective? He was currently thinking about something Gaddy had repeated more than once—just be yourself. Terrific. So, who am I?

  They’d been at the Emperor’s Palace for two days now. Other than a quick meet-and-greet the day he and Gaddy arrived, they hadn’t spent more than a few fleeting moments with the acting Craing Emperor, Lom. That was about to change in the next few minutes.

  Gaddy reached across the white tablecloth and took one of Ricket’s hands in both of hers.

  “Relax, you look nervous.”

  “I’m not nervous, I’m uncomfortable.”

  “Same thing,” she said. She leaned forward and pulled Ricket in close. “Have you spoken to anyone?”

  She was referring to anyone on board Her Majesty. That was another thing—Ricket’s total lack of progress with the mission so far was hanging over his head like a bag of rocks.

  “I’m due to contact Her Majesty with an update,” he said, trying to match her smile. Ricket sat back in his chair, letting his hand pull away from hers. Wait staff were bustling around behind them. He heard distant sounds of kitchen activity—clanging of metal pans and pots, excited voices, the sound of meat hitting a red-hot grill.

  “Isn’t this beautiful? Look at those tapestries. That one there,” she said, pointing past the far end of the table. “Close to two thousand years old. Those are my ancestors, battling the Micronials.”

  Ricket thought their illustrated depictions looked almost cartoon-like. All the Craing warrior faces were almost identical. Hundreds of ornately dressed Craing—riding atop galloping Serapins—arms raised, swords pointing skyward, while the poor Micronials ran about naked, weaponless, and cowered in a nearby forest.

  Ricket didn’t hear the acting emperor enter the room. Dressed in a long, green silk robe, he now stood between the charging Craing and the fleeing Micronials. Gaddy was out of her seat and running into Lom’s outstretched arms. As he embraced her, his eyes never left Ricket.

  Lom looked the same as Ricket remembered. Beneath the arrogance, gaudy robes and jewelry, was the same deceitful, cowardly Craing leader. Ricket watched Gaddy, almost beaming and acting childlike. She’d retaken on her persona of years past—acting just as Lom would remember her. Ricket wondered if she’d forgotten her recent days as a student dissident—the fearless young Craing who helped Captain Reynolds and his team bring down the wormhole loop on Halimar, and who’d escaped into HAB 12. But as Gaddy returned to her seat, Ricket knew in a glance. Her eyes were cold and lifeless. She truly hated Lom.

  Ricket stood and placed his own palms against the acting emperor’s waiting palms. Both bowed their heads while maintaining eye contact. Lom was the first to step away. He took the seat at the head of the table, sitting where he had their first time together.

  “This is so nice, but I must apologize for the little time I’ve had to spend with you both. I’m not normally so busily engaged, but amazing things are happening within the empire that will guarantee a most brilliant future for my beautiful niece.” Lom reached out and placed his palm against Gaddy’s cheek.

  Lom turned his attention back to Ricket. “I must say, I’ve been racking my brain where I’ve seen you before. So familiar. It will come to me … I have a near perfect memory.”

  Ricket saw Gaddy’s eyes lock on her uncle, her easy smile looked forced.

  “I must have sent you a picture, Uncle. Isn’t Nelmon handsome?” Gaddy asked.

  Lom continued to look at Ricket, still trying to place where he’d seen him. “Gaddy tells me you’re a post-graduate student, is that right? Information technologies … computer programming?”

  Ricket glanced at Gaddy and then nodded toward Lom. “I’m about ready to publish my doctoral thesis.”

  “Really? What area are you most interested in?”

  “Artificial intelligence, sir.”

  “He’s an amazing scholar, Uncle. I’ve never met anyone so ridiculously smart,” Gaddy said with bubbling pride.

  There was a commotion at the other end of the room. A young and pretty hostess was leading a large party of individuals into the dining hall. Wait staff pulled chairs away from the table and gestured for the guests to sit. Lom stood and, with open arms, greeted the newcomers. “Welcome … welcome all of you. Tonight a feast awaits you.” Lom turned toward the chef who now stood near his side. “Tell us, Posh-hok, what are you preparing for us this evening?”

  As the chef continued on about the culinary delights in store for them, Ricket was having a hard time keeping his eyes off one of the recent additions to the table. Granger, sitting tall and confident, sat four seats across the table from him. His eyes left the yammering chef and locked on to Ricket. In that instant, Ricket was almost positive the Caldurian knew exactly who he was. A bead of sweat trickled down Ricket’s cheek. He swiped at it with his napkin and looked nervously toward Gaddy.

  Eventually the meal was served, all five courses. Ricket picked at his food, not hungry in the least. Conversations stayed light and removed from anything remotely controversial or specific to the Craing Empire’s expansion movements—that is until two of the Caldurian guests talking with Granger in hushed voices turned angry. Granger never lost his composure, even as they abruptly stood, threw their napkins onto the table, and stormed out of the dinner hall. Ricket assumed they were emissaries from the nearby Crystal City ships.

  The night was winding down and Gaddy was clearly getting impatient. More than once she had attempted to bring the conversation back to more relevant issues: What was going on with the new warships in Craing space? Who was her uncle meeting with this week? But Lom would have none of that, casually smiling and waving away her inquiries as tedious business he’d like to forget for the night.

  One by one, guests thanked their host and adjourned to their quarters for the night. Ricket watched as Granger stood. Thinking he too was leaving, Ricket was surprised when he moved closer and sat down to Gaddy’s right.

  Lom made the introductions. Granger was charming and at ease. He asked Gaddy about her life at school and then turned his attention to Ricket. Soon the conversation turned to the specifics of his doctoral program.

  Never one to consciously lie or even embellish, Ricket was forced to pull from real life experience and knowledge. Without a doubt, acting-Emperor Lom had Ricket completely checked out upon their arrival. Subsequently, prior to coming to the planet, Ricket had hacked into his cover alma mater, the Craing Empire University’s student database, and inserted not only the name Nelmon Lim as a graduate and postgraduate student there, but also technical details of his abstract research. Research, Ricket speculated, that was far more advanced than that of any of the scientists currently working on the Minian would be able to match.

  This area he was conformable with. The more technical Granger’s questions were, the better, more confident, Ricket started to feel.

  “I’m impressed. Highly impressed.” Granger and Lom exchanged eye contact. “Nelmon, I am not an engineer by any stretch; I’m what you’d call an implementer. I’m meeting here with Emperor Lom in that capacity. With his approval, I’d like to show you something you may find quite fascinating.” Granger looked as if he was holding back great inner excitement.

  “I think my niece and her young suitor would enjoy seeing what you have to show them,” Lom said, standing up from the table. “Unless you two are tired and would rather adjourn to your rooms for the night?”

  “Are you kidding? We’re young and ready for anything,” Gaddy said enthusiastically.

  * * *

  Ricket and Granger walked together along an enclosed temporary construction causeway while Gaddy and her uncle followed close behind. It had taken them about fifteen minutes once they’d left the palace, boarded the emperor’s space yacht, and flown up to the space platform they referred to as Ion Station. Craing security was tight and Ricket saw emperor’s guard soldiers wearing green battle suits stationed throughout the station, as well as guards moving about on continuous patrol. Considering her importance, Ricket understood why there was an even larger security force guarding the Minian. That could be a problem, later.

  As tall as a human, but brandishing features that were more Craing-looking, Granger led Ricket and the others through a maze of winding turns. Their visibility to see far ahead was curtailed by temporary high-reaching barricades. It was only when they’d reached the farthest boundary of the construction zone, and passed through another heavily guarded checkpoint, that Ricket could confirm to himself where they’d been led. Through a temporary way station of sorts there was now an unobstructed view of space beyond.

  The Minian was secured several hundred feet out from the platform by two sturdy-looking, metal, cross-beamed scaffolds. They seemed to secure the vessel in place and had more of the same enclosed causeways, like tunnels, leading to the ship’s starboard egresses. Another potential problem—dismantling the scaffolds.

  Ricket was reminded how similar the Caldurian vessel looked to The Lilly—though closer in size to a Craing dreadnaught … no less than a mile in length, from bow to stern. Then his eyes took in what lay beyond the Minian, farther out in open space. There was a tight formation of parked dreadnaughts. Hundreds of them—maybe thousands.

  Granger looked down, watching Ricket’s expression. “Magnificent, wouldn’t you say?”

  Both Lom and Gaddy joined them and also took in the spectacle suspended before them.

  “She’s beautiful,” Gaddy said.

  “I’ve never seen anything like her,” Ricket lied.

  But Lom's attention was elsewhere, his eyes scanning an area of nearby space. Then suddenly, looking furiously toward Granger, he said, “The Crystal ships! They're gone … what did you say to them? Tell me, where have they gone, Granger?”

  “Just as I recently have, they too were informed about your plans … regarding the Great Space.”

  Lom’s expression said it all—something clandestine, something Lom wanted kept secret, had been discovered. Ricket watched the exchange between them and put two and two together. The pair of Caldurians that abruptly left the dinner table were actually from the Crystal City ships. Whatever this secret Great Space plan was about, it was enough to cause the Caldurians to quickly flee to their Crystal City ships and leave Craing space.

  Lom tore his eyes away from Granger and, with more than a little effort, composed himself. “How would you like to come aboard?” Lom asked, already maneuvering to the front of the group. “This way. Careful, this is a construction zone—watch your step there.”

  The trek across the scaffolding took several minutes. By the time Ricket reached the Minian’s forward starboard hatch, he was already initiating his new, recently added, nano-devices to talk to the Minian’s AI.

  “Looks like this ship is being modified, maybe retrofitted?” Ricket asked Granger.

  “This is a Caldurian Dartmouth-class ship. Perhaps she’s one of the most sophisticated space exploration vessels in existence. With that said, Nelmon, much of her technology is beyond me. It just so happens a major stumbling block for us is the AI. We’ll need a much better understanding of that technology before we can even think about reproducing and incorporating it on new Craing vessels.”

  They entered the ship and Lom continued on for Granger: “What’s happening here is basically investigative work. Reverse engineering is a slow and complex process. From the advanced propulsion systems in engineering, there’s fantastical multiverse interfaces for such things as moving between decks in the blink of an eye, and the capability to phase-shift across tens of thousands of miles in space. All this technology, once produced and understood, will be reproduced. You’re looking at the prototype for future Craing super-warships, the first of thousands to be deployed throughout the universe.”

  Gaddy made a face of sheer astonishment. “Oh my God, Uncle. How exciting! I had no idea.”

  Ricket thought Gaddy was over-playing her role a bit.

  “How far have you gotten, deciphering the technology?” Ricket asked.

  “Not as far as we’d like. But we’re making progress. With Granger’s help, we should be able to begin new construction within several months.”

  That was actually much sooner than Ricket would have guessed, not good news for the Alliance. It did seem like they’d made some progress on the engineering front, but it was difficult to tell. “Do you think it would be possible for me to take a look at the AI? Perhaps I could give you my perspective … although this technology is probably far more advanced than anything I’m familiar with.”