Jasken sat on the bridge as the Wingspan entered into another jump. He had directed Dekken to take on as much water as he could in a week’s time, but the muck newt was the last straw. Glasaxia, as the planet had been named, was a dangerous and inhospitable world, and the Astralbians had likely made their next jump already anyway. They needed to move on quickly, and they had found a promising planet. Gla85-AW0.87 was a promising world by any standard, and Jasken was glad they had found it as quickly as they did.
They had enough water and shield capacity to make the jump, and it was possible it would be their final stop before entering the Cornucopia Cluster, if the place existed at all. Jasken had been plagued with more and more doubt as they approached their destination in the stars. Perhaps Shrump’s ravings were just that; the meaningless ramblings of a madman. Jasken shook the thoughts from his mind as he stood up from his seat, the jump now underway. After all, they had explored four worlds, including one moon, and had made first contact with a new sapient species. All in all, not a bad little jaunt out into the aether.
He busied himself by checking in on the various systems and departments to make sure the jump was off to a good start.
“Oh, Admiral,” said Mairen when he stopped by the communications desk. “I’ve been thinking about what you said - about the fact that we’re looking for an informant, not just a killer.”
“Yes? What about it?” he asked curiously.
Mairen played with her gray curls in thought. “I should be able to detect any outgoing signals, but nothing’s come up so far. If our informant is sending information, they’re being very clever about it. I’ll keep trying, but I’ve got nothing solid yet.”
“Sounds good,” said Jasken. “Please keep me up to date.”
The Admiral settled into his chair and prepared to meet with Prime Minister Skritka, who would be looking for an update shortly. He would be talking to Crush, as well. From what he understood, she was looking to deal with the PIC, which was never a good idea. Hopefully he could keep her from doing anything rash.
Soon enough, the call came in. A harried-looking Skritka looked at Jasken through spectacles that were sliding down his pointed snout.
“Jasken, I’m afraid I’ll have to go first today,” he said, sounding exasperated. “Things are falling apart on Hruduk, and both houses of parliament are raking me over the coals for it.”
The jump was exceptionally uneventful until the last day. Raivyn was walking with Vanbrook, Britkrup, and Trembi down to a combat training session with the new recruits. Much to Raivyn’s chagrin, the two scientists had taken to spending most of their down time with Vanbrook, and by extension, Raivyn. Raivyn had actually contemplated peeling off with Britkrup to observe the two-by-two mandate without having to bear witness to Trembi and Vanbrook’s blossoming romance.
She looked on in disgust as Vanbrook told wildly exaggerated tales of his exploits with the Squad. In truth, he had done everything he’d claimed to have done, but it was just so patently boastful. Maybe she should be happy. Maybe this was a good reminder of what a jerk the man was, friend or not. Maybe that dancing all those months ago at Drixen and Kaihla’s wedding didn’t mean anything.
She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind, only to find them replaced by a sudden and excruciating headache. She grabbed her head as the sensation of having an icy knife stabbed into her brain grew to the point her vision blurred. She suddenly realized she was falling over, only to be caught in Vanbrook’s arms. She looked up into his dark, warm eyes, full of concern.
“How embarrassing,” she said weakly as her world went black.
***
“What’s happened on Hruduk?” Jasken asked the Prime Minister, concerned.
“King Zrykyk, who Hrake helped dethrone, has established a new kingdom on the far side of the planet,” said Skritka, shaking his head. “We’re not sure how he got there, but he’s claimed the whole continent as his own and he’s demanded our satellite network be taken down immediately. His claim as a sovereign is tenuous, but by the letter of the Code, it’s legitimate.”
“Sounds like he’s been coached by the Astralbians,” said Jasken.
Skritka nodded. “That’s our assumption, but of course they’re denying everything.”
“What’s Zrykyk getting out of this?” asked Jasken, smoothing his mustache.
“Worst case scenario, direct military aid from the Astralbians to help take back Gred. But we don’t really know. Now, I’m hoping you’ll have better news for me.”
Jasken pursed his lips. “Only relatively speaking. We were able to find water on Glasaxia, but it was dangerous and work-intensive to extract. Kind of like mining asteroids, but with more giant, predatory newts.” Skritka raised an eyebrow as Jasken continued. “Thankfully there were no casualties. We collected enough water and recharged shields long enough to make the next jump. Our shields were partially charged on our way from the planet the Astralbians claimed to Glasaxia, so we only needed to spend about a week there.”
“Jasken!” shouted Vanbrook over the emergency comms channel. “It’s Raivyn, she collapsed, now her eyes are… glowing? Whatever this is, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Go,” said Skritka, his voice and face filled with concern. “Keep me up to date.”
***
Hoon-Kra’s source in the IGC had told him about the isolated kingdom on Hruduk, and he was happy to find it just as it had been described to him. The "city" was a camp of a few dozen tents, and the palace as yet was a few courses of stone laid out in a square.
As the Swamp's Pride landed, a contingent of Hrudukite soldiers surrounded the ship, leveling their hammers and polearms as if readying for a charge. It amused Hoon-Kra to think how quickly he could kill them all with just one of the ship's many guns, but that would hardly help him make a good impression. He was hoping to use the planet as a launch point for the fleet that would soon be gathering, and it would help to have a veneer of legitimacy. The Koomite project was too important to be smothered in the crib. The experimental technology they were bringing out to the Cornucopia Cluster would change the galaxy, permanently.
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As he stepped down the ramp, an ancient-looking Hrudukite stepped into the circle of guards, loose folds of fat hanging from a bony frame. A voice spoke into his mind.
Why do you come to me, traveler? Return to your ship and go.
Hoon-Kra looked at the old king. Zrykyk. News of your kingdom is spreading through the galaxy. I am Hoon-Kra. I represent the Koomites, who worship the mighty Koo L'Koom. My people need a place to take on water and coordinate a pilgrimage to our holy land.
No. Replied the king. First an old god of gold came and claimed not to be a god. Then gods of sapphire came and promised me a kingdom. Now you come, claiming the aether beasts are gods. I have had enough divine visits. Leave.
Ah, it was the Astralbians who flew you to the other side of your world, noted Hoon-Kra. I assume they told you that you must act like the king of this land to hold sway over the Republic.
Zrykyk shook with indignation, his eyes burning. I AM king of this land!
Indeed, said Hoon-Kra. And if you want to look legitimate in the eyes of the international community, you should allow passersby to stop for water. We will pay you accordingly.
Zrykyk shrugged. Pay us in weapons, then. That is what the Astralbians promised us, but I do not trust them.
Hoon-Kra smiled. Done.
***
Vanbrook jogged alongside the gurney while two medics pushed Raivyn through the Wingspan over to the infirmary on the Shepherd. Raivyn was lying limp on the stretcher, her eyes open and pulsing with a sinister red light. When they reached the infirmary, Vanbrook was escorted from the room and doctors began shouting orders for medical equipment and quarantine protocols.
Jasken rushed into the hallway and Vanbrook followed him into the room, walking in confidently behind him as though he belonged there.
“Where’s Specialist Raivyn?” asked the Admiral.
A nurse turned to them, eyeing Vanbrook menacingly. “Didn’t I just kick you out of here?”
Vanbrook shrugged.
The ship rocked suddenly, and Jasken’s comm beeped urgently.
“Admiral, this is Captain Hunt… something hit us?” the Captain sounded flustered.
“What do you mean, ‘hit us?’” asked Jasken. “We’re mid-jump. We either blow through anything in our way or get scattered across the aether like stardust.”
“I don’t know, Captain, none of the readings make sense. We’re slowing down.”
“Dekken,” shouted Jasken, “What’s going on with the drives?”
“They’re straining against something, Admiral,” answered the engineer. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Not in real life.”
“Explain,” demanded Jasken calmly.
“It’s just a kind of thought experiment or a running joke among engineers. What would happen if you had a rubber band powerful enough, and big enough, and going fast enough to wrap around a ship in mid jump? And no one really knows. But this is what most people say it would look like.”
“And what happens next?” prompted Jasken.
“Either the rubber band stops us, like a break, or we, um, explode,” said Dekken. “If I get very fancy very quickly with the controls I think I can lower the stress on the ship.”
“Do that,” said Jasken emphatically. “What is going on!?” demanded the Admiral of no one in particular.
“Ill tidings indeed,” said D’Jarric. He had just walked into the infirmary.
“I need everyone out of my infirmary now!” demanded the nurse who had scolded Vanbrook.
D’Jarric looked seriously at the nurse. “With respect, this is outside of your expertise. I will be taking over Raivyn’s care. Have you gotten any other cases similar to Raivyn’s? Headaches? Glowing eyes?”
“Uh, we just started getting complaints about headaches, but nothing like… this,” said the nurse.
“What do you know?” asked the Admiral, eyeing D’Jarric sternly.
“We are under attack, Admiral. I can talk to Raivyn, and that’s our only hope now. Go defend the ship, but understand that you cannot kill it.”
“What is ‘it,’ D’Jarric!?” demanded Jasken. “This is no time for your riddles!”
D’Jarric looked at Jasken, his gaze cold and distant. “An aether beast, Admiral.”
***
“What do you mean he can’t talk to me now?” demanded Crush.
Prime Minister Skritka stared indignantly at her through the screen. “I meant exactly what I said, Admiral Crush. Admiral Jasken is heading an extremely sensitive and dangerous mission. In a week’s time, I will meet with him again. You may try again then. Providence shine on you.”
Crush smashed the button that ended the call, stomping out of her cabin to take in the aether.
“What’s the matter, Crush?” asked Tank.
“Huh?” asked the Admiral, shaken from her brooding by the question. “Oh. Nothing. Just not a fan of politics, I suppose. I guess I got into the wrong line of work.”
Tank nodded sagely, unsure of what else to do. “Well, I actually was coming to tell you-”
“There was an accident in the mines today,” said Slag, running up to the Admiral.
“Who gave you permission to board my ship?” demanded Crush, still fuming.
“I’m just here to let you know,” said the miner, ignoring the question. “A miner died today- crushed between two asteroids. Whose fault it is is debatable, but that doesn’t matter. My crew is pointing fingers at the PIC and they’re at their boiling point. This can’t go on any longer.”
“Give me a week, I’ll figure something out,” said Crush, trying to wave him away.
“Excuse me, Admiral,” said Captain Hacksaw, who had just walked up to the conversation. “A word in private, please. It’s urgent.”
Crush turned to Slag. “Go. You will be as up-to-date as I am.”
The miner shook his head but walked away quietly.
The Admiral now turned to Hacksaw. “Captain Hacksaw? I assume this is nothing Captain Tank can’t be present for?”
“Of course, Captain Tank is welcome, I just didn’t want…” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Slag, who was now walking down the catwalks to the miner’s quarters.
Crush nodded. “Understood. What’s the news?”
“As you know, I was an intelligence and communications officer in the Collective,” said Hacksaw, choosing his words carefully. “I’m, um, very good with comms.”
“Say your piece, Hacksaw,” said Crush, an edge in her voice.
“My apologies for not asking you first, Admiral, but I was able to get access to the Republic’s system through your comm, and then collect some tracking data. I know where the Blue Griffon Fleet is.”
***
Jasken raced back to the bridge, the ship shaking around him, threatening to throw him to the ground. His chief officers were, to their credit, doing their best to manage an impossible situation. Dekken was furiously manipulating the engine controls and shouting orders through his comm to the technicians in the engine room. Captain Hunt was seeing to the weapons systems. Mairen was trying to get a decent image of whatever had attacked them on the screens.
Looking over her shoulder, Jasken caught a flash of something in one of the screens. As he leaned in for a closer look, he noticed something strange in the corner of his vision. He turned towards the bow of the Wingspan, looking out of the bridge tower's massive window.
A shape rose up. It was indistinct at first, slowly resolving into something like the head of a massive squid, covered in eyes that radiated predatory malice.
Two massive eyes protruded from either side of the head, with smaller clusters of eyes gathered around them. They glowed red, like Raivyn's had, and moved independently from one another, scouring the ship for some unknown prize. The otherworldly creature continued to rise in Jasken's vision, its pitch black flesh gleaming in the Wingspan's flood lights as its tentacles rose above the carrier's deck. The beast's body dwarfed the bridge tower, and its full length including the tentacles was at least as long as the entirety of the ship.
Jasken looked on in awe and horror as it lifted an eye-covered tentacle and slammed it into the bubble surrounding the tower.