The Pathfinder Trilogy Page 11

  “Congratulations you bastards… you’ve just nuked yourselves!” he grinned, noting the look of astonishment on Adam’s face. His attention turned back to his screen and the Pathfinder’s close proximity to the Brotherhood’s behemoth. “Nori, we’ve got our ass toward them just like you asked – please fire away!”

  “Acknowledged, Captain. Missiles firing!”

  From the bottom of the Pathfinder came a huge rumble. The Command Dome shuddered briefly as Kaufield watched a series of armor-piercing missiles rocket out the rear of the hangar bay… the image instantly fed to their monitor directly from one of the landing skid cameras. Each missile quickly closed the distance to the enemy target and struck it virtually dead center in the heavily damaged engineering section. All four pierced the hull and vanished deep inside. The overhead monitors recorded the whole thing – another series of violent explosions erupted from deep within, bathing the sinister dark vessel in a hellish, flaming glow. Kaufield was still watching the overhead monitors carefully and surveying the damage when the warship unexpectedly transited away.

  Mary turned and stared at him. “The Brotherhood vessel has… retreated… sir,” she reported with amazement.

  “Good for them,” said Kaufield triumphantly. “Bad for the pilots they left behind.” He took a deep breath and sighed with relief. “Based on our two encounters with them, my analysis is that they rely too heavily on surprise, overconfidence, and superior firepower. They obviously haven’t worked for a government in a while, where we all learn early on to do more with less!” He glanced at Adam, who also was looking a little stunned. “Am I right, Hardware Specialist and part-time pilot Adam Roh?”

  “Right, sir,” said Adam, deciding not to play a Devil’s Advocate for once.

  “Thomas, this is Kaufield. There’s still an angry bunch of fighters meandering around out there. Would you please return us to our hiding place? And please keep the CAS Drive active, just in case they find us before we determine our next course of action.”

  “Aye aye, Captain.”

  “That,” declared the Captain proudly, “is what I call Contingency Plan Delta.”

  *

  After all the proverbial dust had settled, the Captain took a brief tour of his ship. He started by walking through each passenger deck at least once, surveying the throngs of officers and families that had hastily been assigned quarters. Most of the occupied rooms still looked primarily vacant since no one had been able to bring much more than they could carry with them. After the earlier general quarters alarm it was good to see people moving casually about the ship again. Everyone still looked a bit tense, but swiftly circulating reports of the Pathfinder’s recent success against the Brotherhood had temporarily reassured everyone that – at least for now – the loved ones they brought with them were safe and cared for.

  As he walked the lowest deck, a Mom passed by him holding the hands of her two children. The kids were smiling happily, obviously on their way to one of the classrooms or recreational areas nearby. He also noticed an off duty Marine salute him proudly as he walked by and made a mental note to write that one down. Obviously word had already gotten around as to just how well they had done in battle, because he was used to having to do something rather extraordinary in order to get the really rough and tough boys to salute a Navy counterpart.

  Kaufield paused at the rear of the ship and nodded to the Marines guarding the hatches to the lower wings. He thought about checking up on the Lab technicians but had heard earlier that Thomas and Glen were not present – they were already back in the hangar bay busily working on the fighters. So he took the lift up to the top deck and headed for the Livestock wing.

  A very curious bunny rabbit stood up on its hind legs and watched him enter one of the animal habitats. He could hear birds chirping in the distance, and several fluttered by overhead as he walked further inside. There was a very nice dirt-covered walking path in front of him, and he remembered a comment Lt. Hastings had made earlier about riding horses in here. Leave it to Mary to find a way to keep the great outdoors in her life – even millions of kilometers from home.

  Several days earlier, Joseph had told him to be sure and “Look up!” if he made it onto one of the farming or ranch areas. He had laughed at the time, knowing why his son was so impressed by the idea and couldn’t resist glancing upward now. A warm smile crossed his features as he noted that he was standing directly under – over? – one of the wildlife habitats on the other side. He could see some of the wilder beasts that composed their small zoo idly walking around or reclining lazily in shaded areas beneath the simulated daylight. Obviously he had chosen to walk on the side with four seasons, since those beasts would be unable to withstand colder weather.

  Fenced off areas appeared on the left and the right as he strolled leisurely by, some containing a herd of horses, others keeping various breeds of cattle organized. There weren’t as many cattle on board as had been promised, so it was now up to their onboard veterinarians to make certain that all of the animals had plenty of babies. He noticed a gopher digging a large hole at the edge of one of the fence posts and laughed to himself at the memory of a recent report that had crossed his desk. Someone in Thomas’ software section had complained angrily about some of the smaller rodents getting into the passenger areas of the ship. “The Lab wing isn’t the only place on board the Pathfinder where sensitive equipment is stored and maintained…” the report had read.

  There were other people visiting the wing, also walking along the dirt roads running through the area. Some waved at him, others passed by not knowing quite what to say. Dennis carefully surveyed the suspended ceiling again, admiring the quality of work that had gone into creating its two-sided lighting and environmental systems. The windows had no glass in them now but come winter they would be sealed off and coated with frost. The cold temperatures from this side would help keep the temperature on the other side milder and properly simulating the effects of a winter season in a warmer climate.

  It was all so carefully thought out, well-designed, and organized. Dennis had invested nine years of his life keeping the Pathfinder project on schedule – Joseph had been only five when they had first arrived at Khyber Base. The boy had been too young to remember his mother Elizabeth… but Dennis remembered her vividly. He had been completely content to serve in the military and play part-time family man until she had passed away… taken before her time by an unpredictable brain tumor. Angry about that for quite a while but eventually converting the anger into both purpose and focus, he had worked harder than ever to stand out as one of the best officers serving in the Fleet. The day they offered him command of the Pathfinder had been one of the happiest days of his life, second only to the day he had wed his beautiful Elizabeth.

  Their current crew complement was completely and absolutely ready to begin their exploratory mission. All he had to do was give the command and they’d be off, galaxy-hopping across the known and unknown universe that lay beyond them. It was very tempting and a choice that had now become a lot easier to make. He had been trained in tactical strategy and knew that it wouldn’t take the Brotherhood long to devise a defense against the CAS technique they had used so effectively. There were basically two options left: begin their exploratory mission and expand its objectives to include the survival of the human race, or sit around and wait for the Brotherhood to find or trick them into another confrontation. Having to fight them again with such a vulnerable starship and a full load of civilians was not something he was looking forward to. The images of the Brotherhood warship still astonished him. The firepower that just one of those mother ships could utilize against Earth vessels and the planet’s surface was overwhelming, to say the least.

  Where had this Brotherhood so completely hidden a fleet of that size?

  A horse neighed off to his left. He casually wandered over to the fence and the large brown and white-haired animal leaned its head toward him and snorted. Dennis smiled as he rubbed the animal’s lon
g snout and looked in its warm, friendly eyes. The horse’s tail randomly flapped back and forth, slapping at flies. Kaufield noted he had just passed a goat pen and up ahead were several small herds of sheep. Such an idyllic setting, he thought carefully to himself – and so vulnerable to attack. If the Brotherhood hit them with any significant ordnance of any kind – a strafing run or a stray missile – the Pathfinder might have survived but its ability to function as a colony ship would be completely compromised. It was very unlikely that they would be allowed to simply drop into orbit back at Earth and put in for repairs.

  What about all those people who still could be alive?

  The thought had entered his mind repeatedly since the morning after that first day, and he still felt just as completely helpless as he had then. The fact that there were no transmissions other than the fake bait they had received only helped him conclude that other Captains had made the same decision that he was leaning toward – point yourself toward open space and transit to at least temporary safety. The attack had been so thorough that none of the communications grids normally active – from any of the space-faring nations - was up and running. His thoughts drifted to the bloody ambush they had just escaped from each time the thought of leaving entered his mind. If we try to begin a relief effort back on Earth with the Brotherhood still in control, that’s what it’s going to continue to be… a bloody fistfight the entire way, with our own chance for survival miniscule at best.

  All said, it was probably easier for him to permanently leave behind family and friends than it was for a lot of the people currently stationed on board. When he had first signed on to the project he knew full well that he and Joseph might quite possibly leap toward distant stars someday and not see their loved ones for quite some time. If the kid was old enough, he had even been prepared to offer Joseph the option to stay behind. Thus far their distance tests had yielded no limitations but he had no doubt that if they traveled far enough the “one transit and you’re home” option would soon be lost. The Pathfinder was a “next-generation” colony ship, after all, constructed specifically for extremely long-term exploration.

  It’s just nice if you have the opportunity to say goodbye first, whether it be forever or just for a while, he thought idly.

  The idea of getting a much better picture of what surrounded their galaxy appealed to him for other reasons as well – not the least of which was the possibility of finding resources to help them come back and fight. It was a long shot, to be sure, but with their new CAS Drive they now had the ability to cover a significant amount of territory in a hurry. The longer they remained near their home system, the more likely it would be that the Brotherhood would find them again. Having carefully reviewed everything that his officers had said in their meetings over the past five days, he headed hastily for the exit as he reached his final decision. Right now the people on board needed to feel safe, they needed something to believe in, and they needed something to occupy their time. He stopped at a Comm-panel on the wall near the exit and opened its link.

  “Thomas, this is Kaufield – please respond.”

  “Aye, Captain. What can I do for you?”

  “We’re not safe here with the Brotherhood obviously still running things. If we stay we will be found. I’d appreciate it if you would take a break from working on the fighters and recheck your figures in the Lab wing. If everything checks out…” he paused, knowing there was only one choice, “…IF everything checks out, please use the CAS Drive to move the Pathfinder to Bravo Point.” And that will most definitely eliminate the immediate threat, his conscience reassured him. “And Thomas?”

  “Yes sir?”

  “Set the range for a few kilometers farther than the shuttle flight. Let’s set another record!”

  “Aye Captain!”

  Fifteen minutes later – his Captain’s tour completed after a brief stop at one of the cafeterias – Dennis was sitting quietly in his quarters when the alarm klaxon sounded and a brief warning was issued for everyone aboard to prepare for transit. Joseph was curled up in one of the beds sleeping and he took a deep breath, turning over on his side as the caution sounded. The kid was definitely a sound sleeper – he didn’t awaken. Just as well, Dennis thought to himself. Tomorrow I’m really going to be able to show you yet another impressive view, my enthusiastic young son.

  He took a sip of hot coffee and picked up a plate from the nightstand next to his easy chair. The plate held a fluffy slice of white cake and was topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. He took a bite of the cake and savored its taste as he listened to the ship’s rumbling thrusters shut down. There would be additional conflicts, debates and perhaps even a few complaints, but the final say was his. And he was certain it was the correct one. One of the obligations a ship’s Captain faced was to make the tough decisions when they arose and live with them. The knowledge that the consciences of others would be eased by his bearing this burden was all he needed to keep his own self-esteem under control.

  Dennis took a deep breath and another sip of coffee from his mug, right before the Pathfinder made history by transporting itself farther than any other manned vessel.

  THE PATHFINDER PROJECT

  Chapter VII: Aftermath

  The spy in their midst was uncertain as to his next move. He stood silently waiting, extremely agitated, next to the window in the quarters assigned to him. Visible in the distance were the now famous Galaxy clusters, and buried deep somewhere in the star-filled spiral arm of one of them was his suddenly distant home. The shock of instant separation from the rest of his kind – sparked by the CAS transit that had landed them here – still echoed vividly in his memory. He was scared and frightened, cut off from the rest… and he was also angry.

  Open forum.

  The Captain had spoken of it on the all-call several days earlier when he had granted everyone public access to the computer transcripts of the senior staff meetings. Anyone could download the text of their conversations from a simple workstation available in all quarters. Report all suspicious behavior to a security officer immediately, one of the reports cautioned. There may be Brotherhood agents hiding among us. Not only that, but someone was now posting news updates… including a video feed of the warship that had taken heavy damage in the Pathfinder’s most recent encounter with fellow members of his kind.

  How many of the Brotherhood were dead? Would he ever see any of the others again?

  He paced nervously back and forth, trying to keep his suddenly exploding emotions under control. Keeping cool had been such an easy task before, when the sophisticated, encrypted transceiver unit that he carried everywhere had occasionally lit up, letting him know that others from the Brotherhood were passing nearby on Earth ships. But the Pathfinder project was different… the Brotherhood had spent years infiltrating government agencies and carefully making meticulous behind-the-scenes changes before they were finally able to arrange for assignment of an undercover operative to Khyber Base. Even after all of the preparation, their first attempt had failed. The operative serving as an American officer had been dismissed from the Project after only a limited tour. Patient as always, the Triumvirate decided to try their luck with him… a blue-collar worker.

  After arrival he had done his job despite the lack of contact with anyone except for lower level base personnel. Periodically supply ships had stopped by to provide supplies, deliver equipment, and assign or reassign personnel, but face-to-face interaction with his own kind had faded to a mere memory and activation of the transceiver became more and more of a rare treat. Covert surveillance of an entire civilization was much more difficult when there were so few clone lines at their disposal. Having a twin brother or sister was an easy explanation for some situations, but the Brotherhood had chosen to be extremely careful in order to avoid giving away their newfound advantage too soon. Many of the clones destined to work outside the Brotherhood often received early genetic manipulation treatments to vary eye, hair, and skin color as well as gende
r and other physical attributes. Still, with only three lines to work with, matters had proven very difficult.

  Additional lines were supposed to have been created much more quickly. What had gone wrong?

  The orientation he received prior to assignment on the moon had helped him cope with his conflicting emotions, particularly when occasional updates were received from another passing messenger. However those transmissions had become so few and far between at Khyber Base – the project was almost totally classified by the American military and he had been unable to work his way into a high-level position of trust. He had known for some time that the rest of them were losing patience with him – angered by his repeated failures to gather any useful intelligence regarding the new CAS system. As things turned out, he unintentionally provided misinformation. During the last transmission he had delivered to another spy, his report had indicated that: (1) the CAS Drive was still at least a year away from trial testing, and (2) the Pathfinder was virtually marooned at Khyber Base without it.

  Upon their escape, his realization that the ship was also equipped with a complete, traditional PTP system had caught him completely by surprise. Terrorized at first, he had almost been happy that they were hidden and undetectable for a time, because he knew that punishment surely awaited him upon a successful return to Earth. He had prepared himself for that possibility – knowing that the good of the Brotherhood would override any personal needs he might have.

  But this situation was different and everything had completely changed in the blink of an eye.

  A stab of fear ran through him, and he glared in anger at the silent transceiver still lying on the bed. The device had landed there after being angrily thrown there. He had abruptly noticed the Pathfinder’s latest CAS movement by looking out a window, and suddenly realized the device might never again activate. Something was different now… something terrifying that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Perhaps it was the realization that a Brotherhood presence on this vessel was now limited completely to him. The truth of the matter was impossible to deny – the starship had leaped out here so far away from the familiar stars of home and into almost total darkness. A part of himself that he had never suspected was there had now fallen dark and silent, too. The longer he felt the loss the more upset he was becoming – he desperately struggled to maintain his composure, grateful to be currently off-shift and alone in his newly assigned cabin.