Out of the Darkness of Space
by Maurice Humphrey
|
Table of Contents parts: 1, 2, 3, 4 |
part 3
Time flew by, the more I learned about the outpost, the farther behind I was on my reports, and Colonel Feld was just looking for a reason to call me a failure. Did I have time to make my ridiculous observations, or should I just fake them? I decided to wait until after supper; tonight I had a special guest.
I’m not much of a cook, but the robotic kitchen had all my favorites in stock. I didn’t know what Myla’s dietary tastes included, so I asked Derring. His suggestion was to pick something I liked, “She’ll tell you if it doesn’t suit her.”
Somehow that scared me as I sat at the table. What if she didn’t like what I picked? I thought. What would we talk about?
And then a happy thought hit me, I would be alone with Myla. Aldus said she’d be safer here with me. He must trust me to... to do what?
“What are you doing?” Myla appeared at my elbow.
“Just starting supper,” I answered.
“Oh goody, I’m famished. Cardo?” she called.
A disembodied neutral voice spoke from beside us, “Yes, Myla?”
Cardo must be the kitchen A-double-I. How come I didn’t know this?
“I’m hungry. What’s on the menu for tonight?”
Cardo reeled off a list of choices, some I’d brought with me, the were native dishes.
“Would you order for both of us?” I asked. “I’m interested in what other foods you have at home.”
“Of course,” she replied with a smile and gave Cardo her order.
“Approximate wait time will be 5 minutes,” Cardo replied. Cardo’s subsequent silence lasted until we consumed the last dish.
Myla stifled a yawn. We were both tired. Together we walked back down to the Personnel Transport where we usually said goodbye. Then I remembered Aldus telling me she was staying here with me.
“Oh, no,” I cried.
“What’s the matter, Ross?” Myla looked worried.
“I was going to tell you this earlier, but Aldus, I mean Colonel Veed, told me you were to stay here with me.”
“Aldus told you this?” her face turning white.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier.”
The Personnel Transport system control panel was on the wall beside the shower stall. Myla quickly ran through some of the programming.
“They’ve turned off the transport system, and I can’t override the controls. Why has she done this? Why?”
* * *
I held her in my arms as she cried. “Who has done what?” I asked.
“My mother and father have differing views about the Ionids,” she replied. “But they both believe they will eventually surface again. They only differ on when. You’ve forced their hand.”
“Aldus is your father?” I already knew that, and was now faced with an interesting puzzle. Not knowing the social customs, my relationship with Myla would be what? I needed to know more but, for tonight, there was only one thing I could do.
“Let’s worry about that tomorrow, when we’re rested. You use my bedroom; I’ll grab a blanket and sleep in the kitchen.”
“Don’t be silly, I’ll sleep in the barracks.”
“What barracks?”
Myla led me off to the side to a door with a simple sign that read Personnel Barracks.
“Do they have men’s and women’s rooms?” I asked.
“Everyone sleeps in the barracks, including the couples.”
We were staring into each other’s eyes when a voice called, “Uh, excuse me, Major, sir?” I stepped in front of Myla so he wouldn’t see her face.
The young man saluted as I looked him over. “I am Captain Aldine Miden, sir.”
He seemed confused that I didn’t know him. “Sir, we’re the lead team sent here to assist you.”
One rule of command: be thoughtful, and don’t hesitate. “Very good, I hadn’t expected you so soon. Assemble everyone in the main control room, and we’ll get acquainted.”
Again, he seemed confused.
I turned to Myla. “Do you have any rank?” I said in English. The question may have sounded strange, but she was used to my saying strange things.
She nodded.
“Then take over getting them assembled, I’ve much to say to this team, and I don’t want to have to repeat myself.” I winked at her and walked off. Halfway back to the control room, I looked back to see them marching up the hallway, Myla in the lead; she winked back as they passed by.
I decided to freshen up; I would have preferred to do this tomorrow.
When I returned to the control room, everyone was seated at a console busily checking it out. Myla looked like she was about to fall over, so I sent her back to my room to rest. “I may be late, use my bed; it’s more comfortable. Now go.” She went.
With Captain Miden at my side, we ran a few maneuvers until I was satisfied they knew their stations. “That’s enough for today, Captain. Take them back to the barracks and get them settled in. We’ll continue tomorrow.” I went back to my room and sprawled in my favorite chair, a tall cold beer was what I wanted; I fell asleep instead.
Before falling asleep, I scribbled a note about Myla’s sleeping arrangements. To make things look right, I had another room near mine furnished with everything she’d need. “She’s my second in command,” I told them, “and I need her close.” Hopefully that would be alright with Aldus, I hadn’t heard from him in over a week; I was beginning to worry.
* * *
During the next few weeks, several more detachments arrived. A sensor would indicate the transport system was operational, and we would go down to meet the new arrivals. Captain Miden had tasked his aide to assign them barracks space; we were nearly full. I had no idea what we were going to do with these people. Were they even trained?
I looked over the latest group and saw one of the younger officers hugging Myla. I had a twinge of jealousy as I joined them.
“Well!” the young officer said, looking me over. “You must be the intended one.” Myla blushed profusely and hid her face.
“And you are...” I commanded.
“Ross,” Myla stepped in between us, “this is Captain Avar Neech, our pilot; and my younger brother.”
I did some fast thinking. “As pilot, he should be housed near the control room. Do we have room for an Officer’s Quarters, Captain Miden? If you will...” I motioned to him and explained the situation; he agreed and sent for one of his staff.
“We’ll meet in my kitchen,” I told them, “It may be a little cramped, but we’ve work to do and a nonexistent time frame.”
Over the next few days, Avar and I became fast friends. I asked how this monstrous machine could move fast enough to be of use, and he proceeded to explain how the basic technology worked. I nodded and asked a stupid question or two. Avar marveled I could understand what he was talking about, but I didn’t share his view.
They completed the officers’ quarters by the end of the week. It was next to the control room and would house all the single officers except for Myla. There was something that haunted me about what her father had said to me. There was a welcome and finality to it; almost like: “We may never meet again.” For now, I kept my feelings to myself.
* * *
A few days later, I awoke to the screeching of sirens; time had run out. The long range sensors had detected an enemy signature flowing out of a dark hole in a cloud of cosmic dust and debris.
A fitting hidey-hole for the Ionids, I thought as I raced to the control room. Myla was already at the main podium, and the rest of the team at their stations. She was more adept at using the gloves than I was. I scanned the holographic display, pointed at the location, and zoomed in closer.
Our job was to follow the trail back and wipe out the nest. By now, a probe was on its way, a beacon for us to home in on. It was up to our pilot to get us there without being seen by the enemy. From there we would follow the stragglers and attack from the rear.
Colonel Veed’s plan was to bait them to a target planetary system. He would then encircle it with all the operational outposts. If the Ionids followed the bait, he would destroy the target system and everything within several millions of miles of it.
I gave the pilot his orders and sat back, watching as the universe around us abruptly changed. I remember TV shows depicting what travel at “warp” speed would look like. This was nothing like that. To me it seemed as thought we had entered a blurry green and blue spiraled tube; like the northern lights back home. With no perspective, there was no telling how big this spiral really was. I asked Avar, but he didn’t know. He did tell me it wasn’t safe to be outside during the transition. There was no sense of movement, but we were advancing toward our target in less time than I thought possible.
Several hours from the Ionids’ homebase, Avar and I retired to my kitchen while Myla watched over the team, this was our last chance for a buddy talk; I wanted to know more about her. We settled at the table with a couple glasses of beer.
“Somehow I sense a grilling,” the younger man laughed.
As we raised our glasses in salute: “Avar, my young friend, you are very perceptive.”
Avar chuckled and, anticipating what I was about to ask, got right to the point. “So, my friend, how much have you been told of our mating customs and ceremonies?” he asked with a straight face.
I nearly choked on my beer.
“Ah,” he continued with a knowing smile, “let me guess, she hasn’t covered that subject yet. Well, let me enlighten you, and it will cost you another beer.”
Now I understood what Aldis meant at our last meeting, what her mother’s warm smile meant, and why moving her into a room right next to mine was a bad idea.
“And now, my fine flustered fellow” — Avar was big on flowery speech — “you are backed into a corner, and she had a hand in all of it.”
“I’m in love with her, Avar, but I don’t know how she feels. Sometimes I think...”
“Well?” Avar asked with a laugh.
“What do I do now?”
“Ross, when you feel the time is right, all you have to do is say this simple phrase.” It sounded archaic, but was easy to remember.
“Now, what’s the bad news?” And he was serious. “I know Aldus said something to you, and both parents have agreed that Myla should stay with you. Oh, before I forget, that means that you are intended.”
“I figured that out on my own,” I told him.
“What else did he say?” Avar grimly asked.
I told him, and I could see his face tearing up. “I had the same feeling, Ross, and I’m glad you’re my friend, because I’m going to need a friend before this is over.”
“I’m always here for you, my brother” — he smiled at that — “and there’ll be a cold beer waiting.” He was feeling better when he left to check the last course coordinates. We were only a few hours from our target; time for a final briefing.
* * *
All stations were manned and ready when we dropped back into normal flight, and right into an ambush. They were waiting for us.
“Avar,” I commanded, “get us out of here, now!” And we were once more back in the safety of the green and blue spiral. Heartbroken, I asked myself how they know we were coming? Only a select few knew our plans. True, others could see we were preparing for battle, but the when and how were kept totally secret.
Slowly, I went over who had attended those meetings. Everyone was a trusted part of the planning. No matter how I looked at it, it was an inside job. I was still sitting at the kitchen table when all of the officers sat down and waited for me to say something. There was no one else to blame but myself, I should have planned for this. “Second in command, is everyone here?” I ordered.
Myla quickly sat up straight and looked around the room. “Yes sir, Major, all accounted for.”
“My apologies for not foreseeing this catastrophe,” I told them as I scanned the faces gathered around me. Steeling myself for bleak news, I asked for damage reports. I listened to the replies, grateful it hadn’t been more dire. There were several casualties, and the repairs would take a few days. Worst, the morale of the crew had suffered badly; especially mine.
“Repairs will commence immediately,” I ordered. “Team leaders, you are to talk with each of your crew. Make sure they are ready for the next engagement and ask if they have seen anything out of the ordinary around here.” I took a few questions before announcing, “The quicker we get this ship back in order the sooner we can fulfill our mission.” The room grew quiet; only Myla and Avar remained.
“Captain Avar Neech!” Avar quickly stood at attention. “If I had a medal, I’d pin it on your chest. Good work getting us out of there.” For a moment another thought struck me, but I needed to finish with Avar first. “You do know where we are, don’t you?”
“Of course, sir, the computers keep track of that stuff. I can have a report on your desk within the hour.”
“We’re going to need a new plan of attack, and this time we will be the only ones knowing when and where. Get your report, Captain Neech; we’ve some planning to do.”
“Myla, could you charm Cardo to make us some good coffee? I don’t think he likes me.”
This time we arrived at our target with guns blazing. I almost wrote that in the logbook; not quite true, but close enough. Three shifts later, there was nothing left for the horde to come home to. Now we were to follow the Ionid horde, and attack from the rear.
I gave the crew a pep talk and kept up the drills, this next part was going to be more dangerous than anything we’d met so far. I retired to my rooms and sat at the kitchen table, waiting for the rest of the off-duty officers.
Avar knocked on the door. “The officers have asked permission for the crew to stand down for a period of mourning,”
I thought it unusual, but these were a different people; I had to respect some of their ways I wasn’t familiar with.
“With my apologies,” I told him, “what would be a suitable amount of time?”
“I will get back to you on that. We’re still a few hours from the enemy yet. Myla will keep you company. And remember what I told you.”
“Yes, brother dear,” I replied.
* * *
Copyright © 2022 by Maurice Humphrey
