“Tell him it’s a malfunction we’re working on,” Raymond orders. “We need just another 100 metres.” Next, cannons push out of the walls of the structure and fire on the carrier. All thrusters stop. Allfather has expertly fried the engine core without rupturing it and taking the ship with it. Raymond is grateful for that. Manuel read him right. He wants them alive.

  “This facility will likely share Allfather’s cruiser’s ability to repair itself.” Labyrinth tells the team. “Let’s burn inside the crater to see how far the thrusters have reached.”

  The group navigate the outer wall and slip into the massive crater now burrowed deep into the complex. The new walls burn brightly as the steel compounds cool. Labyrinth measures the depth with a laser in her forearm. “437 metres achieved,” she relays to the team. “We should be able to manage the rest with our pulse rifles.” They follow her as she fires her thruster and they move inward.

  The structure is smooth along the depression where the ship’s burn did its work. “It hasn’t begun to reanimate yet.” Labyrinth says. “Keep moving.” As they reach the end of the burn Labyrinth orders all rifles to target a two-metre space and the team opens fire. The walls continue to melt away, but not fast enough. Tobias suggests explosives, and when they make the 500 metres an opening into the vast complex reveals itself.

  “There it is,” Raymond says, encouraged by their achievement. “Push on.” All eleven line up behind Labyrinth, who straightens her posture and enters the tunnel. It’s a tight fit but enough to fit everyone save the F-class as they glide into the open chamber. The Hosts are ordered to guard their escape in the crater. A large cube hovers in the space, glowing an iridescent white. Labyrinth measures its dimensions: the Hub of Allfather’s tool is larger than the space they’ve entered through – five metres square. No cables or other connections link the cube to the room. It slowly rotates on a diagonal. The cube appears a solid mass, silver in colour and pitted with circular holes.

  “It looks like a block of swiss cheese,” Tobias comments. “We’ll have to burn a bigger hole to move it.”

  “I’m running a report on the cube now,” Labyrinth says, several instruments extending from her forearm to pull data on the thing.

  “The first wave of passengers and F-class are aboard the facility,” Huang tells them over EC. “Allfather is suspicious of the burn and attempting to funnel our people into an inner chamber. F-class are reporting on the movements and staying in front of the activity.”

  “We’ve located the prize and considering how we might transport it to the ship.” Raymond responds to Captain Huang. “Keep the other decks on the ship for now. We have a new bargaining chip here.” He worries he may lose those now trapped in Allfather’s web, but with the cube secured, he may yet be able to negotiate their return.

  One of the bridge crew who joined the team has gotten perilously close to the cube, attracted to its vibration. The room is alive with waves radiating out, and each of the team can feel the sensation as it moves through their suits.

  “It’s beautiful,” the new recruit says, her hand reaching out to touch the cube. The other’s watch as she lays a palm on the smooth, silver skin of the cube. “Beautiful,” the officer repeats, the soft tone of her voice leads the others to believe she is in a trance.

  “It’s not advisable to touch the Hub until I have more data, Officer Horton,” Labyrinth rationalizes. “The cube seems to be in a state of dimensional shift.” As she says this the cube fades and along with it, Officer Horton. The cube continues to shift in and out of reality as Horton allows her hand to run along its surface as it turns in space. “This room was designed to contain the cube which includes several minerals and metals not registering on my database.” She scrapes a sample of the wall coating for later analysis. “There is a shaft above which appears to act as a doorway, perhaps used to release the cube as Allfather needs it.”

  “Then that’s our way out,” Darla suggests. “The vibrations, are they dangerous?” she asks, feeling a throbbing sensation move through her despite the vac suit and body armour.

  Labyrinth directs her arm toward Darla to take a reading. “It doesn’t appear so, Commander.”

  Manuel releases his magboots function and floats to the ceiling to get a better look at the hatch. “I think we can force it open,” He tells the team, shoving the butt of his pulse rifle into a seam and prying. “Help me,” He asks the group. Tobias and Labyrinth join him. Labyrinth retrieves a MakerTech rod from her chassis after scanning the seam and wedges it between the hatch and ceiling. Her Host strength along with Tobias and Manuel’s Chimera upgrades manage to pry the seal on the hatch enough to burn their thrust boots for added leverage, opening it to its full width. The hatch is freed, and they watch as it climbs weightlessly out of the shaft.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “Your counsel has failed us, little thing,” Allfather says frustrated, as Tessa is pulled to his side once more. “Your friends have entered a forbidden space and are now in possession of the very thing which makes my work possible.” Tessa is offered the gift of sight to the place within Allfather’s complex where the Hub of his extraordinary travel sits unprotected.

  “Why isn’t this space defended?” Tessa wonders aloud.

  “The chemical makeup of the room does not allow my influence to protect it. The design was taken from the intelligence who created it,” Allfather explains. “With the Hub to interstellar travel in the hands of our enemy, our work will be delayed indefinitely. That is unacceptable. What might you suggest we do?”

  Allfather’s asking me? Tessa considers the odds of a successful theft of the Hub by the organics, and what Allfather has to bargain with. The passengers already off-loaded onto the complex is an obvious choice, destroying the carrier is another. But Raymond has the upper hand now. He will destroy the cube if he isn’t allowed safe passage. Clever, she thinks.

  “I suggest you give me more access to your machine intelligence and allow me to deal with the organics,” Tessa insists. This is not how she saw this playing out, but appreciates the opportunity it may provide in gaining her further access to her own consciousness and to Allfather’s machine.

  “You want me to trust you, yet you give me false counsel,” Allfather starts.

  “I didn’t let you kill me so organics could end all I might accomplish before I begin,” Tessa tells him bluntly. “If you want me to talk them down or finish them off, I will. This is who I am now. Trust me or release me to whatever comes next.”

  “A fine rebuttal, little thing,” Allfather replies. “But I am not yet certain you mean what you say.” He pauses. “I will take the fleet to Earth now, before they can close the gate.”

  “If made aware, they will destroy the cube,” Tessa tells him.

  “Then we let them think they have the advantage - for now. Once the fleet enters Earth’s system, they will have nothing to return to.”

  THE GATHERING

  After their 32nd rotation and now 700 kilometres from the wreckage of envoy 3, Chancellor Chopra’s ship finds itself enveloped in the same bubble-like substance which brought them 200 light years from Earth. It takes no time for them to blink into a new quadrant where a massive machine is seen consuming a moon over a devastated world. 23 waiting cruisers line up just beyond the massive moon eater. Allfather’s fleet.

  “There’s our target!” Jim shouts to his crew, the disorienting feeling of traveling the vast distance subsiding. Systems come back online, and he orders the dreadnaught on a straight path toward the seemingly dormant cruisers.

  The dreadnaught burns toward the line of ships like a torrent, unleashing lance fire at an incredible rate due to its upgraded weapon cores. Once close enough, Chopra gives the order to release a punishing blow to the fleet by launching two-dozen nuclear missiles of which ten are clipped by the strange structure’s cannons. Fourteen of Allfather’s cruisers ignite the space around them as they burst apart in blinding flashes of light.

  Cheers from Captain Cortez radiate through the ship. Jim is pleased, but now charged with the difficult task of evading the multiple cannon fire targeting the dreadnaught from the bizarre, metallic structure.

  “It’s a manufacturing facility,” Ursula states. “We should hit the extensions mining the moon next; take away its capabilities.”

  “An excellent suggestion, Captain,” the Chancellor exclaims. “Target that bridge, Cortez, I’ll turn us around.”

  Meanwhile, the remaining nine cruisers appear to be powering up. “Chancellor, the fleet should be our focus, if those things come online, we’re done for.”

  “We can accomplish both in a short time,” Jim replies, the ship shudders as lance fire pounds its enhanced armour. “Cut the supply line and we’ll return to the fleet.” Lances cut into the lengthy extension bridge carrying raw materials from the moon’s surface, while others still target cannons appearing and disappearing from the structure. The bridge floats away in two directions, crumbling as it goes, hot liquid materials pour out of the broken bridge, solidifying in the harsh cold of open space and crashing into the station. The F-class are successfully punishing the facility’s defences to keep the dreadnaught from being blasted apart. With an AI Host dedicated to a cannon each, the level of awareness and experience manning the guns is exceptional.

  Captain Cortez has two cannons of his own and the responsibility of making sure the nukes aren’t wasted. Unfortunately, ten were lost in the initial assault, but he still has another 34 he’s anxious to unload. That should be enough to finish off the fleet if he can get to them in time. Sparks fly from three of the F-class as they suffer feedback from the cannons that have been disabled. The AI Hosts go rigid and fall backwards with a heavy thump. Chopra turns the ship around and hurries to the remaining nine cruisers.

  “Cover our stern,” Jim relays to Cortez. “I don’t want to lose thrust.” The cruisers are ramping up their power cores and one breaks away from the others firing a volley of energy beams at the dreadnaught. They lose another four cannons and take heavy damage to their belly. The MakerTech bots are quick to seal any punctures but the damage forces Jim to veer away from the fleet in order to ensure they’re still in this fight.

  “Damage report is telling me we lost stabilizers,” Ursula announces. “The ship is trying to correct.” Her voice is steady and focused. “Cortez, target the rear three cruisers and fire on my mark.”

  Jim sees where Ursula is going with this line of thought and dives to put fewer klicks between them and the targets so Cortez can successfully launch the nukes.

  “Now!” Ursula orders and Cortez is quick to respond, releasing six warheads in anticipation of losing half to the active cruiser. He’s not far off as two are detonated a safe distance away, but four connect and three more of Allfather’s fleet are decimated. More cheering from below and Ursula shares a look of satisfaction with her Chancellor.

  The dreadnaught is proving its worth in this fight and Jim is running on adrenaline. They all are, but its effect clears their minds and sharpens their senses. Next, they experience a devastating hit to their right thruster which slows the ship. Jim fights to turn it around so his cannons can protect their flank. There are two cruisers now in active duty while the final four are ramping up. Six cruisers and a star base won’t be an easy task.

  “Sir, we have a carrier attached to that structure. Multiple life forms registering,” Drake relays.

  “That’s happy news, Captain, but if we can’t finish these cruisers, we’ll have been little help to them,” Chopra says, sweat running down his face, collecting in his beard.

  “This is Captain Huang of Envoy 1,” a voice announces over the dreadnaught’s comm. “We appreciate your assistance, but know we have people aboard the alien facility and a team pulling out the Hub.”

  “Message received, Captain,” Chopra replies as he steers his ship away from the active cruisers. They are laborious but picking up momentum. “What Hub?”

  “The instrument which allows Allfather the ability to travel light years in moments,” Huang replies.

  “That’s a pretty prize,” he returns. “We’ll try to keep the fleet busy while they do their work and move away from the facility.” He takes the dreadnaught into a roll as it returns to the fight and Cortez releases another volley of missiles at the active ships.

  “That is also appreciated, sir.” Huang pauses. “Is this Chancellor Chopra?” His distinctive voice has given him away. “Chancellor?”

  “For the moment I’m an Admiral, Captain Huang.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jim watches on as the four missiles are stopped by the enemy’s lances and orders another strike with cannon cover. Cortez launches more missiles and connects with one of the active cruisers. Jim pulls up to avoid the wave of energy as it is released on the cruiser. The crew is again disoriented from the roll and the G’s placed on them. Jim watches as Ursula shakes off the sensation and directs them again to the three sitting ships.

  “Take me in and I’ll do my best,” Cortez tells them, cannons firing at the remaining active enemy ship. The best the cannons can do is take out the guns of the enemy as they appear and clear a path for more missiles.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “Allfather,” Tessa says aggressively. “You need more eyes on this. That corvette is wiping out the fleet! Let me help you. Give me access to the base’s weapons and I will concentrate them on the ship while you pilot the cruisers.”

  “I have misjudged your species.” His tone seems all at once dubious and furious. “Yes, little thing, I think it is time you showed me your true value.”

  Tessa feels the weight of Allfather’s hold release, and suddenly nothing is beyond her reach. The machine, its amenities and every nook and cranny within reveal themselves. She moves to the weapons system and realizes the power she now wields. From the weapons she analyzes the core systems and quickly understands their workings. She checks in with the team attempting to steal the cube and the passengers who have been corralled for their turn at the chair. F-class have been off-loaded onto the station along with the passengers.

  The surviving cruiser now has Allfather’s full attention and it moves with great purpose toward the corvette. The three sitting ships in the fleet are each hit with a nuclear warhead and out of the fight before they could affect any damage to the corvette. This corvette is not like the others, Tessa deduces. It is a deadly weapon with an impressive crew. It has taken many hits but remains operational. She scans the ship and feels a sense of pride rush over her. This is her moment. First, she scrambles the operations systems of the base, keeping atmosphere in the holding room where the passengers are being subdued. Next, she releases the facility’s hold over them and opens a gateway so they can shuffle back into the carrier. She scans the team’s progress and orders the shaft to widen, making their journey easier. The last thing she does is activate the base’s plethora of cannons and targets the cruiser which has nearly incapacitated the corvette.

  ____________________________________________________________

  “What’s happening?” Tobias asks his team as they continue to drive the cube up the shaft with their thrust boots. “Somethings happening to the walls.” He fears they will now come alive and pull them all into the structure as they had Tessa.

  “Your escape is assured,” it’s Tessa’s voice in their comms. “You have done well to get so far on your own. Allfather is busy with a corvette which has wiped out his dormant fleet. I am in control of the machine now. The passengers have boarded the carrier and I am waking those remaining on Envoy 2. Captain Huang will facilitate a mass exodus of her carrier once Envoy 2 arrives.”

  “Tessa?” Darla says into her comm, thrilled. “You had us worried!” She laughs nervously.

  “I had to come across as believable, Commander,” She replies. “I’ve accomplished what I’d wagered. Next, I must deal with Allfather’s ire over my actions.”

  “Will you be alright, Tess?” Raymond asks, hands holding the cube while his thrust boots drive it slowly upward. Once released from its holding room the cube stopped spinning and blinking in and out of reality.

  “The odds were in my favour, Chancellor,” Tessa replies. “It was no sacrifice to free my consciousness from where it proved to impede my goals in order to realize the boundless potential I now experience.”

  “I admit, I wasn’t sure which way you were leaning. It’s a sacrifice none will soon forget,” Raymond assures her. “I’ll make sure your mother knows what you’ve done for all of us,” Raymond tells her.

  “I already have,” Tessa replies.

  Suddenly the walls around the team begin to wriggle and tentacles of the kinetic material spring forth, one wrapping around Manuel’s ankle and another around one of the bridge officer’s necks. Tobias manages to use his pulse fist on Manuel’s but several more jump out at them, still attached to the living wall.

  “Tessa?” Darla asks frantically as two of the tentacles try to pull her hold from the cube.

  “Allfather has returned,” Tessa’s voice relays, still soft and calm. “I’ll require a moment with him.” The bridge officer struggles against the hold around his neck and a second later his life signs are lost. Darla receives help from Raymond who fires on the tentacles wrapping around her, cutting them away at the source, but more escape the surface, lashing out at the team angrily.