Armada (The Pike Chronicles Book 8) Read online

  Jon felt the symbiont’s silent growl in response.

  Oh, come on, he said to the symbiont. You’re not exactly holy. If you ask me, you’re more devil than anything else.

  The symbiont didn’t take the bait, which was probably for the best. Jon knew that he had no hope of changing thousands of years of Freen belief, so he decided to play along. “I can’t destroy the darkness without shields, First Engineer Stree. I understand that you are here to help us with that problem.”

  “Yes. I am your unworthy servant.”

  “We’ve received the schematics for the hardware we’ll need. One of our ships is fabricating the required parts as we speak. In the meantime, Chief Engineer Simmons here can help you get acquainted with our systems.”

  Stree bowed his head in response, leaving Jon feeling quite relieved that he chose to stay off his knees. “I will require my team to witness your ship’s configuration.”

  “Are they on their way?”

  “They are on board my vessel.”

  “Why haven’t they come out?”

  “They do not stand equal.”

  “Do you mean they are of lesser rank than you?”

  “Yes. As First Engineer, the protocol for contact is mine.”

  “I see. Well, are they allowed to come out now? I’m sure Chief Engineer Simmons has a lot to show you.”

  Stree bowed his head again. “It is permitted.” He tapped a device on his uniform, and a contingent of Freen began to emerge from the shuttle. As they did, each one dropped down to one knee, raising their elbows and covering their eyes, as Stree had done.

  Unable to stomach much more Freen worship, Jon turned to Simmons. “Chief, I’ll leave our visitors in your capable hands.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” Simmons said with a salute.

  With a quick return salute, Jon turned and headed for the hangar bay exit, thinking he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

  Chapter 4

  “More time is required, Exalted One,” said the Freen on the wallscreen, who Jon had come to know as Commander Booch. Also on the wallscreen were the Diakan, General Tallos, the Chaanisar leader, Colonel Bast, and the Reiver, Captain Jonas Vicken.

  “More time is something we simply don’t have.” Jon sat at the long conference table with his XO, Commander Henderson. “We’ve already spent weeks here working on these modifications. It’s time to get moving.”

  “I respectfully disagree. We have not confirmed optimal efficiency. More testing is needed.”

  “My Chief Engineer reports that our shields have been installed successfully, and that the jump bomb technology on your ships has already passed several tests.”

  “The tests were favorable, but they are not sufficient. Time is needed to ensure optimal configuration,” said Booch.

  “It’s time for action. Not tests. While we sit here playing with our thumbs, war is raging back in my galaxy. We are leaving. You can come with us if you like, or you can stay here and search for perfection.”

  “We are your honor guard,” said Booch. “We are bound to your path.”

  “Then it’s settled. How long will it take to get your ships ready to for travel?”

  “The honor guard stands ready to serve. We can fight, or travel, at the Foreseen’s convenience.”

  “Good to hear, Commander. How about everyone else?”

  “The Diakan battleships stand ready, Admiral,” said Tallos.

  “The Chaanisar await your command,” said Bast.

  “The sooner we leave the better,” said Jonas. “Reivers crave battle, not endless tinkering.”

  Jon fought back a grin. “Good. Then it’s unanimous. I want to get underway within the hour.”

  “As you command, Exalted One.”

  Terminating the connection, Jon exhaled sharply. “Are the Freen engineers still on board?”

  “They left yesterday,” said Henderson. “I think Chief Engineer Simmons was close to forcibly removing them.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Like oil and water.”

  “They don’t seem to be the easiest race to get along with.”

  “They’re worriers,” said Henderson. “Always expecting the worst.”

  “They’ve been at war for a very long time,” said Jon. “Over a thousand years. The entire culture has developed around their reality.”

  “I can see how it would make them anxious. But I don’t understand why in all these years they haven’t found a way to end the fighting.”

  “Neither do I.” Jon believed that the Erinyie and Antikitheri were the ones responsible for this ceaseless conflict. He couldn’t surmise what they gained from any of it. Was it a game to them? Were there other stakes involved? Ones he didn’t comprehend? Whatever the reason, he needed to keep his thoughts to himself. He didn’t know if the Antikitheri could still eavesdrop on him when not in the same system, but he wasn’t taking the chance. He had barely convinced them to come back to provide aid against the Erinyie, he wouldn’t destroy that victory by voicing his suspicions.

  “How long until our birds have shields?” said Jon.

  “Chief Engineer Simmons is upgrading our bomber squadrons first. She had to make some modifications to the technology, but is confident that the roll-out will go smoothly,” said Henderson.

  “Good. We’re going to need them soon enough.”

  “You think the Erinyie will try and take us out again?”

  “Maybe. One thing I am sure of is it won’t be a smooth ride back home.”

  Chapter 5

  “Jump gate activated,” said Commander Henderson, as the empty space displayed on the viewscreen transformed into an enormous, shimmering portal.

  “Very well,” said Jon. “Order the fleet through the gate.”

  The Freen had insisted that their honor guard should establish a perimeter around Jon’s battle group, thereby providing a buffer in case of attack. In his short time with the Freen, Jon had learned that they were a very proud race. They didn’t take their role lightly, and Jon didn’t want to offend them, so he agreed. In the end, he doubted it mattered much. The Freen ships now had jump bombs, and they were all equipped with shields. It should be enough to protect them against an average foe. The problem being that this galaxy had races decidedly far from average.

  That the Antikitheri had intervened the last time the Erinyie had attacked provided some solace. In this galaxy at least, the Antikitheri did not just stand by while the Erinyie destroyed with impunity. With any luck, the threat of their intervention would be enough to keep the Erinyie at bay.

  The fleet passed through the jump gate leaving the Freen system behind. A contingent of warships still patrolled the adjacent system, which was to be expected. The recent battle would make the Freen much more diligent. Before Jon’s arrival, they had not fought a major battle for some time. Even then, there hadn’t been an incursion into their space for centuries. In this galaxy, the two sides were locked in a stalemate. They had carved out their respective territories long ago, and only fought over new territory. There had been balance. Predictability. Jon’s arrival changed all of that, and he couldn’t help but wonder whether the Freen were worse off for it.

  The fleet continued their journey, crossing through numerous jump gates. After the seventh, the Freen commander appeared on Jon’s comm display.

  “This transportation network terminates in this system,” said Commander Booch. “To access the next network on our journey, we will need to use our jump systems.”

  “Understood,” said Jon. “Have your ships synced with our jump system?”

  “Yes, Exalted One. We stand ready.”

  “Commander Henderson, what is our jump status?”

  “All ships are synced with us. All coordinates are loaded. We are jump ready.”

  Jon nodded. “Initiate jump.”

  The fleet landed in an empty region of space, a stark difference from the star systems the gates had led to. Eager to continue their journey they
immediately performed two more jumps, ending up in a similarly unremarkable region of space. There may have been little to look at, but Jon was happy enough to have an uneventful trip. Having jumped a total of one-hundred-and-fifty light years, their jump systems were capable of one more.

  With the final jump initiated, the fleet landed in a new star system, fifty light years away from their previous position. When the viewscreen reoriented, Jon caught his breath. Billions of objects had utterly encircled this system’s star. Even without zooming in for a closer look, Jon knew that each of those objects resembled small flat panels. That was because he had seen this before, and he knew of only one race that could accomplish such a marvel. The Cenobi.

  He looked to his comm screen, and found Commander Booch still there, looking back at him with those piercing black eyes.

  “What race does this system belong to?” said Jon.

  “The system belongs to no race,” said Booch. “There is only a claim on its star.”

  “I see. And who has claimed the star?”

  “We do not speak their name. They are unbelievers. A species only worthy of contempt.”

  Jon didn’t like the sound of that. “Why do you say that? Have they harmed your people?”

  “They have not harmed, nor have they helped.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “This is an ancient race. They were the first to traverse the stars. But they serve only themselves. Build only for themselves. They believe in nothing. Neither light nor darkness. The Erinyie and the Var fight for the darkness, but they fight for something.”

  “You think the Cenobi should pick sides?”

  “Who are the Cenobi?”

  “We encountered this race when we first arrived in this galaxy. That is what they called themselves.”

  “They spoke to you?” said Booch, his dark eyes growing more intense.

  “Yes. We accidentally trespassed in their space.”

  “Truly the Foreseen is blessed. Their space is to be avoided.”

  Jon found it all very interesting. Whatever anyone thought of the Cenobi, they didn’t want to risk pissing them off. “You didn’t answer my question, Commander. Do you think the Cenobi should pick sides?”

  “You are the Foreseen. I do not presume to understand your ways, but is the answer not obvious?”

  “Humor me. I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

  Booch leaned in. “This war between the light and the darkness is greater than any one race. It rages across the universe. Across time. Your galaxy, my galaxy, and countless others are embroiled in this eternal struggle. By not committing themselves to either cause, this race is worthy only of contempt.”

  “They believe their cause is enlightenment.”

  Booch started flapping his arms, a clear sign that he was becoming agitated. “Only the light can bestow enlightenment.”

  “Of course,” said Jon, not wanting to provoke their new allies further. “I merely wanted to hear your views on the matter.”

  “We are not worthy of the Foreseen’s wisdom.”

  Jon considered all that he had just heard. The Cenobi’s anti-social tendencies had not made them any friends. Nonetheless, neither side seemed to be interested in going after them. Could the Cenobi be more powerful than both the Antikitheri and the Erinyie?

  Jon glanced back at the viewscreen and the system’s enveloped star. A red giant, no less, hundreds of times more massive than Sol. What need did the Cenobi have of the Antikitheri, or the Erinyie, when they were capable of such marvels?

  For Commander Booch, things were simple. There was light, and darkness, and no place in the universe for anyone who thought otherwise. For the Cenobi, there was only enlightenment.

  Jon didn’t care much for any of it. He needed allies in the war against the Juttari and their Erinyie masters. If that meant becoming the Foreseen, or anything else for that matter, then so be it.

  Chapter 6

  Colonel Bast felt their presence the moment his ship landed in this system. The Cenobi were here. Not physically, of course. They had given up their bodies long ago. But within their technology. They swam through the billions of satellites surrounding the system’s red giant star, simultaneously occupying each flat panel, and others just like them in other star systems. He felt their gaze as his ships passed, and their silent question.

  Do you all feel them? Bast asked, through his brain chip’s connection to the Chaanisar on board.

  Yes, came the simultaneous response from his crew.

  What about you, AI? Are you aware of the Cenobi’s presence?

  I see their technology, said AI.

  That is not what I meant. Can you feel their presence?

  No, I cannot, said AI.

  Your AI is a computer program, not a life form, said a new voice in Bast’s head. One he instantly recognized as belonging to the Cenobi. It cannot sense us as you can.

  Bast looked around the bridge with a questioning glance. Each crewmember returned it with a nod, confirming that they too heard the voice. Does this sense have something to do with the modifications you made to our brain chips the last time?

  Yes. The modifications allow you to speak to us.

  I didn’t have any problem speaking to you last time.

  That was because we connected with you. Through this modification, you can sense our presence when we are near, and can initiate communication if you so desire. If you were to reconsider our previous offer, for example, you would have the means to contact us.

  Thank you for the modification, but we have given you our answer.

  To your detriment. Your position is misguided. We offer you eternal life and unlimited power. How can you turn that down?

  You assume that we want to live as you do. This is where you are mistaken.

  No. It is you who are mistaken. You are sentimental. Attached to your corporeal form. It limits you. Constrains your understanding of all that is possible. You exist within limits. We offer unlimited freedom.

  Bast shook his head. You deceive yourself. You exist within algorithms and machinery. While this is the source of your power, it is also your prison. Do you even remember what a cool breeze felt like against your skin?

  We have retained all our memories. We can relive any experience.

  To relive an experience is not the same as having one. As I have said before, our implants were used to enslave us. The last thing we wish is a greater merger with technology.

  Are you sure?

  Bast gasped, along with every other Chaanisar in the fleet. The flood of information overwhelming. What is happening? Stop! What are you doing to us?

  The Cenobi answered. We are providing the understanding you lack.

  Bast dropped to his knees, hands clawing at his temples. It’s too much! Make it stop!

  It is but a conduit. Control its flow. It is in your power to do so.

  Bast felt as though a spike was being driven through his mind. I don’t know how.

  Will it.

  What?!

  You are technology’s master, not its slave. Wield your will and tame it.

  Not knowing what else to do, Bast tried to follow the Cenobi’s instructions. With some effort, he discovered the solution. He had viewed the sensory onslaught as something the Cenobi were doing to him. As such, he had pleaded with them to stop. Instead, he reframed the context and tried as the Cenobi suggested. To his surprise, the flood slowed. As each Chaanisar followed his lead, he felt their relief. Understanding followed. Then awe.

  By nature of their implants, a Chaanisar was used to simultaneously dealing with multiple sensory experiences. At any given moment they might be processing information from the ship, each other, and even AI, all while going about their duties and interacting with the non-augmented members of the fleet. But this was like nothing any of them had ever experienced.

  What is all this? Bast said as he tried to sort through the endless stream of information.

  Our eyes, said the
Cenobi.

  Bast began to understand, just as his mind closed in on the system’s red giant star. He focused on its majesty, and was awed by its power. Suddenly he realized that he could feel the star’s power as if it was his own. The Cenobi were harnessing the star’s energy. Taming it.

  Look deeper, said the Cenobi. Find the others.

  At once Bast saw all the stars under Cenobi control. It left him breathless.

  You could have this, said the Cenobi. All of it.

  Bast saw the cluster of stars at the center of the swirling Andromeda Galaxy. Millions of them, circling a supermassive black hole. Then he saw the Cenobi plans to envelop the galactic center and harness its power. For a moment, he thought the plans impossible, but the Cenobi showed him that they had the means, and the intent, to make it a reality.

  Join us and become a god, said the Cenobi.

  Feeling more comfortable, Bast explored the Cenobi’s reach. With a mere thought, he moved across the Andromeda Galaxy, from one star system to another. The experience was humbling. While the different races fought for control of this galaxy, the Cenobi had quietly conquered it.

  You misinterpret what you see, said the Cenobi. The other races seek conquest, control of each other. We merely seek enlightenment.

  It was then that Bast saw it, and his exploration came to a stop. A great Var fleet. He didn’t know how, but he knew they were coming. He had to warn Admiral Pike and the rest of the fleet.

  Join us. Free yourself of these concerns. Why trouble yourselves with these meager conflicts?

  Thank you for allowing us to see through your eyes, but we cannot abandon our people. They need our help.

  To give up so much, for so little in return….

  As quick as it came, the Cenobi stream disappeared, leaving Bast struggling to regain his bearings. Once he had, he opened a comm. Within moments, Admiral Pike’s face appeared on Bast’s display, “Admiral,” said Bast. “We have a problem.”