“Seeing the vid of the warships at Allfather’s command, I fear I share their pessimistic outlook,” the Senator reveals. “We should consider a plan of our own to aid them. Labyrinth’s intel concerning the experiments is disturbing.”

  “I agree they are upsetting, but we’ve been given a gift in seeing what Allfather is planning.” Chopra turns to Quinn. “We are building scenarios to best defend against so many ships. We need our fleet here. I hate that our friends and citizens have been placed in this impossible situation, but the fact remains that there are ten billion souls on this planet we are sworn to protect. I cannot allow even a single ship to rush to their side. A dozen wouldn’t have any effect on that armada.”

  “I understand, Chancellor. The good of the many must outweigh the good of the few.” Quinn places a heavy hand on the chancellor’s shoulder. “I do not envy your decisions in the coming days. But I will respect them.”

  “Thank you, Quinn. Our thermonuclear program has been given the green light. I don’t see how we’ll be able to stop so many warships without them. They’ll be positioned in orbit above Luna base. A comprehensive plan to protect the missiles while they fire on the ships is in the works,” Chopra explains with a heavy heart. Nuclear munitions were outlawed years ago, and the last of their surplus were used against their own ships in General August’s civil war nearly two years earlier.

  Quinn excuses himself from the war room, and the chancellor moves into the small office within to discuss further tactics with the new head of UE military operations, Admiral David Mann.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “What you’re proposing, uncle, it’s exciting! I want to be on that team,” Tobias insists as they walk back to Raymond’s suite. “It’s brilliant, and I honestly feel like we’ll have a shot at getting out of here.”

  “I’ll be glad to know you’re a part of this effort, Sean.” Raymond refers to Tobias with his given name, feeling very paternal towards his nephew. It saddens him to think of his sister’s son taking on this desperate mission, but it also raises his confidence knowing he will lead the charge.

  “I would also like to be included,” Labyrinth tells them. “I will be very effective in assisting with what you’re asking, Raymond.”

  Raymond stops and turns to his trusted friend Host. “I appreciate your volunteering. The operation will rely on your abilities heavily. Those and your intimate connection with Allfather when you were felled by him during your attempt to free the Defsats from his subordinate.”

  “Akachi,” Labyrinth remembers the consciousness that entered the war room’s ethernet to sabotage their defences. “I wonder,” she says, “could we employ Akachi’s knowledge to further this plan?”

  “A good thought,” Raymond agrees. “Ask Quinn if they’ve considered using him. Meiser’s work locating the dimensional tools might be expedited with some help.”

  “Why would Akachi help us now?” Tessa asks. “H-he was indifferent to our destruction.” She pulls lightly at her short, dark curls.

  “Captain Drake has him trapped in a closed system. Perhaps the promise of release would be enough to change his thinking,” Tobias suggests.

  “Exactly,” Raymond says, moving down the hall again. “I’m sure he’d rather die than spend an eternity in that digital coffin.”

  “I’m wary of using the ParaCom now,” Labyrinth admits. “I believe anything we transmit will be captured now by Allfather.”

  “Then perhaps they will come to that conclusion on their own.” Raymond leaves it at that.

  As they gather in Raymond and Darla’s suite, they share what they’ve learned and discuss the larger plan to enact their will on Allfather’s manufacturing facility. The idea is simple enough, but the logistics of setting it in motion, and decisive application to the objective are far from straightforward.

  Ginny looks at Tobias with tired eyes. She can’t believe they have landed in this tight spot again but refuses for him to fight her fight without her again. Darla is also anxious to see this operation through but is asked to remain on the ship with Samantha, Ginny and Tobias’ daughter. Though Darla has a soft spot for children, she’s never been a mother or had young nieces or nephews to spoil.

  “This will be your difficult task then,” Tobias jokes with Darla after she yields to the idea. His hand falls to his heart. “We’re truly grateful. I have every confidence in you, Commander.”

  It’s strange, Darla thinks, that not two years earlier Tobias and Ginny had put a plan together with Allfather to steal corvettes from Luna base. Their plan was successfully carried out, and she was left to look the fool. Now they are friends fighting the same enemy, and she’s been placed in command of their infant. Still, she feels grateful for their sacrifice in carrying out Raymond’s plan, but somewhat overwhelmed over Raymond’s willingness to join them, Tessa, and Labyrinth.

  “How many F-class do we have aboard?” Darla asks the group.

  “Several,” Raymond explains, “but they will remain with you, in case -” he stops himself, intimidated by the innumerable outcomes they can’t plan for. Darla nods, her head tilting slightly to the side. “Captain Runninghorse is also putting a team together on his end to join us. His top people.” He looks directly at Darla. “We’ll be fine, Dar, it’ll go smoothly.” He slides a hand on her knee then looks to the others. “Tobias, Ginny, bring what accessories you have for your Chimera ports; pulse fists, exoskeleton, lances, whatever you brought, secure it to your person.”

  Raymond looks to Labyrinth next. “You’ll require all the mental strength you can muster. Clear your systems of unnecessary information. Talk to Captain Huang and download the scans she’s running on that facility.”

  “Tessa,” he pauses, thinking of her mother, Talia back on earth. “I’m not sure you ought to come. I know you have skills, but you’re not exactly -”

  “I’m c-coming, Chancellor,” she tells him. “My computational skills rival Labyrinths. If we’re g-going to attack Allfather, we’ll need to know the odds at every turn. I can supply that.” She makes a good point. Her stutter concerns him, but she seems to be all in.

  “Then I appreciate your volunteering. We’ll have you outfitted with the best military armour.” Raymond insists. “Runninghorse will be sending his troops to a corvette and then we’ll join them.”

  As the plan takes shape, they have CADDY prepare a proper last supper.

  THE DAMNED

  “We’re moving seven of my Special Op’s to corvette UE-133.” Runninghorse explains over Captain Huang’s EC. Raymond’s team are on the bridge to listen in. “Strange there is no activity from Allfather, but our sensors have registered no change in the facility or their fleet.”

  It is a curious thing, Raymond agrees, but Allfather’s ego likely doesn’t acknowledge them as a threat. “I wonder if that will change when we make for the facility.”

  “Perhaps unmanned shuttles ought to challenge that query.” The military Captain suggests. “Unless you feel we have but one shot at making the distance unnoticed.”

  “Everything is an unknown at the moment, Captain, though I see your point. However, I’d like to do this as stealthily as possible and so one trip might slip under Allfather’s radar.” Raymond hopes he’s right. They’ve one chance and their enemy has been silent for some time. Perhaps he is preoccupied with the work proceeding on the moon.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “It’s so eerie, Manny,” Udo says as they kneel at the small console in their cabin, starring out at a vast moon mined at an unbelievable scale. “We’re really in trouble, aren’t we?”

  Manuel looks down at her small features and jet-black, braided hair. She’s just a child. He wants to comfort her but they’re not at the hugging stage yet. Udo has made this clear. He’d laughed when she said it. Captain Huang had ordered all public viewports sealed and left the colonists with little to go on. That’s when Udo hacked the system. They now see what the bridge cameras see.

  “It’s Allfather,” he tells her under his breath. “We’ve been abducted,” he says. He wants answers. He is about to stand when he watches one of the massive cruisers depart the line of newly minted ships in the moon’s orbit. He studies it as the ‘V’ shaped giant approaches their envoy.

  “A shuttle is leaving the destroyer,” Udo says, her slender finger pointing at their screen. There are six scenes playing out across their monitor. “Where are they going?” Her eyes dart to the camera where the Allfather warship continues to draw near. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  A pulse of white-hot energy leaves the cruiser and pounds into the tiny shuttle bursting it like a balloon. Udo cries out and jolts back into Manuel.

  ____________________________________________________________

  On Captain Huang’s bridge they’ve been following the Allfather ship’s path toward them. The lance fire was unexpected and devastating to experience. Runninghorse’s top military team was on that shuttle. Tension chokes the bridge. Raymond’s plan seems to have been thwarted before it has begun.

  “Do nothing!” He directs Huang before she can issue an order. “Allfather’s been listening. Or he’s seen this move as a threat.” Huang looks back at him with a quizzical expression.

  Next, their destroyer fires all cannons at the cruiser. This stirs anxiety in Raymond. He rushes to the viewscreen and calls Runninghorse on his EC. “Stop! Don’t retaliate! We haven’t the ships!” But it’s too late, Raymond realizes; the four corvettes have also engaged the monster.

  “I apologize, Chancellor,” The destroyer’s Captain willfully returns over the EC. “I can’t allow that act to go unanswered. We’re going to draw fire and move them away from your carrier.” Raymond realizes the sacrifice Captain Runninghorse and his military escort has made. He would not waste it.

  “At least they’re drawing the ship away from the carrier,” Tobias points out hastily. “We should use this distraction.” He sees the same idea percolating behind his uncle’s eyes.

  Raymond nods at his nephew and looks to the others. He attempts to convey the message that they will have to do this alone and that they’ll have to do it now. Captain Huang understands immediately and texts her shuttle bay to ready a shuttle. She nods at Raymond and he moves out of the bridge with Tessa, Labyrinth, and Tobias.

  “You all have ten minutes to retrieve what you need and meet me in the suite.” A C-class approaches with body armour for Tessa, and she stops to put it on in the hallway.

  “I have nothing I need from my room,” she tells them. “I-I’ll dress and go directly to the sh-shuttle bay.” Tobias nods and slaps Raymond on the shoulder. They run to his suite with Labyrinth. There Ginny has already collected the Chimera accessories from her room, and Darla rushes to embrace Raymond.

  “I can’t believe we’re here again,” she says tearfully, head buried in his chest, arms thrown around his neck. She’s shaking. Darla pulls back to study his face. He swallows hard. “We’ve only a short window, Dar,” he tells her. “I love you,” he pulls her into him and squeezes.

  Tobias and Ginny affix their pulse fists and artificial muscles, slipping the dark jumpsuits over their now much bulkier frames. A hum is heard as they charge their weapons. Each takes a dozen nanodrops to further enhance their nervous systems, while pumping up their physical and mental fortitude.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “I’m going to see if there is anything I can do to help,” Manuel explains to Udo, feeling useless as a voyeur during this unexpected fight. “I can’t sit here while our lives are at stake.”

  Udo wraps her arms around his torso in a death grip. “I need you to stay!” Manuel understands how frightened she is. So is he. He hugs her back.

  “I thought we weren’t hugging,” he says, torn now to have to leave her. He eases off and she follows. “I have to do something, Udo. It’s not in me to sit and watch something like this just… happen. Come with me, I’ll find someone who can stay with you.”

  Manuel takes her hand and they move through the halls to the bridge deck. As the elevator door slides open, they are met by Tessa in full body armour and a pulse rifle strapped to her back. He remembers her face from earlier.

  “You,” he says awkwardly. “I know you.”

  “You don’t know me, we b-barely met.” Tessa replies in a rush, entering the elevator. “Could you p-please p-push the down button for me?”

  Manuel eyes her and asks, “Where are you going?”

  “Shuttle bay. I’m meeting a group there to -” she stops herself, realizing she shouldn’t be telling just anyone their plans.

  She looks effective in the matte black armour and carrying a helmet under one arm, Manuel thinks. He is familiar with the gear. Even though he’d spent only a short time in the military, his implants retain the information. The armour is top of the line. With the helmet applied she could breathe oxygen for days. The pulse rifle is a formidable weapon. The boots include thrusters should she find herself in need of a boost. “Please, I want to help, but I need someone to look after her.” He motions to Udo.

  Tessa is surprised to hear that they know anything about the current crisis. “You’re Chimera,” she notices. “You could c-come in handy.” She makes decisions seemingly on the fly, but her mental software has already done the math. The team should have more people looking out for them. She opens the elevator door and ushers Manuel and Udo out one deck below the bridge. “Follow me.” They do as they’re ordered.

  In the Chancellor and Darla’s suite she finds her group still preparing. They look surprised to see her with two new bodies in step. “I have a volunteer.” She says, pointing to Manuel. His Chimera implants are obvious to everyone. “We need more eyes when we get there.” Her observations are as pertinent as ever. Raymond realizes this immediately.

  “Have you anymore attachments you can offer this man,” he turns from Tobias and looks at Manuel. “Your name, son?”

  “Chancellor,” Manuel manages, recognizing the handsome face of United Earth. “I mean, Manuel, sir. I’m Manuel.” He looks at Udo. “Is there someone who could look after my, uh, sister?”

  “Darla?” Tobias places his daughter in the smart-cube. “Can you do double-duty?” Darla nods, still unnerved over the speed at which things are moving. “Good, your name?” Tobias focuses on Udo.

  “Udo,” she says looking up at Manuel. “You be careful,” she tells him and moves to Darla’s side understanding the urgency in the room. “Thank you.”

  Tobias hands Manuel a pulse rifle and quickly reviews the tall man’s limbs for insertion points. “You have an exoskeleton,” he says. Manuel nods. “Did you bring it?” He shakes his head, no. “You’re fitted for a pulse fist.” Again, Manuel nods. Tobias looks to his wife who is dressed head to toe in body armour. She wears her fist and a cutting lance on either arm.

  “You’ve been active in the wars.” Tobias’ voice trails off. “You’ll be a good asset, Manuel, but we need to get you armed.”

  “I can fire a pulse rifle; I was in the military for a short time.” Manuel now recognizes Tobias as the original Chimera. He feels humbled by the personalities in the room.

  “Your outfit gave that away,” Tobias says looking in his bag for anything he could adhere to Manuel’s body. A laser lance appears. He hands it to Manuel. “Take this, it ought to fit your forearm implants for the pulse fist.”

  “We need to go,” Labyrinth tells the room. “Our window is closing. The destroyer is lame, and the four corvettes are overheating their weapon cores.” She relays, seeing everything the bridge sees now through her roaming lance.

  Raymond and Darla share a deep kiss, then he decisively pulls away to lead the charge to the shuttle bay, and an uncertain future.

  THE BRAVE

  When the team reaches the shuttle bay, a dozen crewmen scuttle away from the shuttle while AI Hosts position it for loading. Raymond marshals everyone into the small shuttle where they buckle down in seats lining either wall. A Host delivers body armour with helmets for the group and Raymond has them loaded. Rations and water are already aboard.

  I don’t know that we’ll live long enough to enjoy any of those, Raymond thinks as he straps himself in next to Tessa. The shuttle door closes, and the remaining crew has left the bay. Only Hosts remain, locked down to the floor with their magnetic soles, guiding the shuttle to the opening bay doors. They’ll have one shot at this, Raymond knows. Will it be enough that Allfather is engaged in battle with Captain Runninghorse?

  ::Chancellor,:: Captain Huang’s voice rings out over his EC. ::Your shuttle has been gifted boost enhancers. They will fire only once, and you will experience exceptional G-forces for approximately five-seconds.::

  “The ship has been programmed for autonomous guidance?” Raymond asks, certain that it has.

  ::Of course. We’ve included three possible entry points. The facility appears unarmed.:: Huang explains but Raymond knows cannons could appear from any surface as they had during their defensive against Allfather six months earlier. ::Thank you for doing this, all of you. I’ll keep the carrier silent and stationary.::

  “Thank you, Captain, we’ll expect a ride when we return.” Raymond smiles at his team. “Ready when you are.” They feel the shuttle settle into tracks in the bay floor and a count of 3 appear on the front dash. Their chairs all turn abruptly to face forward. 2…1… They experience G’s they’ve never suffered before as the shuttle bursts from the bay and they’re forced back into their seats. Raymond feels immediately dizzy as his eyes begin to roll into the back of his head. He feels a thousand kilos heavier, every thread in the seat and seam in his suit carving impressions into his flesh. The five seconds last entirely too long, but the plan has worked in that they have begun to slow, throwing their heads forward. The team is heard complaining about whiplash. They coast a moment along the side of the massive facility in orbit of the decimated moon.