CHAPTER 34: JOHN
F.W.S. WarpStar
Alpha Centauri
"Do you mind telling me just what the hell is going on?" Admiral Sam Day sat behind his desk aboard his flagship, the F.W.S. Freedom. The newest and smallest Juggernaut, it was also Centauri's only behemoth ship, a marvel of engineering that stood as a testament to human ingenuity in the vastness of space, its sleek contours and advanced weaponry a symbol of hope and power amid the stars.
"I don't have the slightest idea," John replied, offering the best answer he could muster while seated in a chair that seemed far too small for the gravity of the situation. Though he appeared to be in the same room as the Admiral, they were actually connected through the advanced communications holographic suite, a cutting-edge technology that blurred the lines of distance with realistic projections and audio clarity. John occupied a seat in the wardroom, surrounded by the ambient noise of other crew members dutifully going about their responsibilities, while the Admiral remained firmly rooted at his desk, the tension in the air palpable.
"Those bastards named your ship, and what's with these two emissaries from Earth?" Admiral Day's irritation was unmistakable., his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward, his tone a subdued rumble laced with growing frustration.
"Sir, I figured the Earth part is true. Legion forces were blockading the system with a one-to-one ship ratio to the Alliance. But I don't understand why they are here. Sensors have detected a Federation system hopper that has departed the largest of the Legion ships, with four human life signs, not just two," John explained, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to make sense of the unfolding events.
"The extra two could include the pilots if it's a Hopper, hypothetically," Day suggested, attempting to piece together the troubling puzzle that felt as though it was rapidly spiraling out of control.
"Yes, Sir, that's our best guess at the moment," John acknowledged, his mind racing to connect the dots, each revelation intensifying the weight of uncertainty that hung over them.
"It's a System Hopper? Those are too big to land in your fighter bay," the Admiral noted, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture, the strands of his dark hair glinting under the overhead lights as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Yes, sir. We've arranged for a smaller hopper to dock with them and retrieve the emissaries. After that, the System Hopper will need to head to either your ship or a Carrier until they can be transported back to Sol," John replied, taking a sip of his tea, the warmth of the real glass mug serving as a small comfort amidst the rising tension that threatened to engulf them.
"Hmm." Admiral Day rubbed his forehead, attempting to stave off the migraine that he sensed creeping in like a persistent shadow. "Captain, I know you're not in my chain of command, and I can't give you direct orders, but please keep me informed. I don't understand why they asked for you by name. This whole situation is making our heads spin. The V.P. is demanding I handle this, not you, but…" The admiral sighed, his voice trailing off in contemplation, the weight of leadership evident in the deep lines etched into his face. "I can't force an alien group to do something against their will. Please keep me informed."
"Aye, Sir." John nodded, finishing his tea with a deliberate slowness, preparing to speak further when the comms panel lit up before him, interrupting the moment with a sudden urgency.
"Go ahead," Admiral Day signaled, his focus shifting to the new communication, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he prepared for the information that could change everything.
"Wardroom," John answered, having received permission to respond, his heart pounding as he braced himself for whatever news was about to come.
"Sir, the emissaries have arrived," Heidi's voice crackled over the master circuit, carrying with it a sense of urgency that sent a jolt of adrenaline through John's veins.
"Thank you, Commander. Please have them escorted to my office," John instructed, closing the circuit with a sense of finality, determination settling over him like a cloak.
"Well, good luck, John. Please do not make any decisions without running them by me; that's all I ask. We should be getting the signal from Briggs any time now, and we have to be ready," the Admiral cautioned, his gaze steady, filled with a mix of concern and expectation.
John shut down the controls after a few more minutes, topped off his tea, and made his way toward the rear door of the wardroom, which provided direct access to his office. However, the moment he stepped inside, he was met with a sight that nearly caused him to drop his tea.
"Mom, what the hell are you doing..." John hesitated, his voice faltering as he stared at the man holding his mother captive. The urge to scream at Colonel Asshole surged within him, the same man who had interrogated him and unleashed a cascade of problems upon his life. Controlling his anger was becoming increasingly difficult, a simmering rage threatening to boil over like a pot left too long on the stove.
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"Now, listen…" Mark attempted to interject, his voice low and steady, but the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"No, you listen," John interrupted, his tone sharp and unwavering, each word laced with a fierce determination. "I'm going to give you one chance to explain yourself because you are no longer a commissioned officer. You are a civilian on board a highly classified military vessel. I can easily press charges on multiple counts of espionage, trespassing on a restricted military asset, and I'm sure I could sneak in sabotage while I'm at it. One chance. Talk. Now!"
"The Legion sent us here to deliver a message. One that only you can receive," Mark replied, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.
"Why me? What is so special about me?" John demanded, his frustration palpable, each word laced with incredulity as he tried to grasp the implications of Mark's statement.
"I don't know; they didn't reveal that," Mark replied, his expression earnest yet tense, the weight of the moment hanging heavily between them.
"Okay, then why you? What makes you so special to be chosen to deliver this message?" John pressed on, unwilling to let the matter drop, his mind racing with possibilities and fears.
"Something about… it would mean more if you knew who was delivering," Mark insisted, his gaze steady, his conviction unyielding.
"John, honey." Admiral Henderson stepped forward, sensing the escalating tension in the room like a storm brewing on the horizon. "I don't know much about political standards or anything beyond health protocols. But I do know these Legion folks are good…" She hesitated, unsure whether to refer to the robotic entities she had witnessed as people or machines, the distinction feeling increasingly blurred. "They're good. They had every chance to kill us or even Earth itself. I don't know why, but I trust them."
"You haven't seen them murder thousands of women and children. Without mercy, without remorse." John's emotions surged to the surface, memories of the brutal massacre he had witnessed during his first encounter with the robotic race flooding his mind, the vivid images seared into his memory like a brand.
"You're right; I haven't. And I don't know that circumstance. All I know is what I've noticed here." Emily pointed out toward the first viewport of the office, which offered a clear view of the small fleet of Legion ships maintaining a relative standstill next to the Federation fleet, their ominous silhouettes contrasting against the backdrop of the stars. "They could annihilate you now, right here. But they don't. That has to mean something."
"I... I don't know... It could be..."
John was abruptly interrupted by three long, blaring claxon rings as the lights in the room dimmed, replaced by the eerie glow of emergency lights that bathed everything in an unsettling red hue. Shortly after the third claxon, the 1 M.C. crackled to life, filling the tense silence with urgency. "General Quarters, all hands to battle stations. This is not a drill. Independence Hyperbouy signal detected. All stations prepare for hyperspace jump and immediate combat operations." Heidi's calm, controlled voice relayed the urgent information to the entire crew, marking the beginning of a conflict that would alter the course of their fates. No matter the outcome, the battle for Sol would soon be upon them.
"Whatever the message is, it's no longer relevant. The bat signal just lit up the sky; it's time to get to work." John turned and began walking toward the hatch that led to the corridor outside the observation deck, determination etched on his face like a warrior ready to face the fray.
"The wheels of the machine begin and end here," Mark stepped forward, his voice low and ominous as he began to relay the message, the air thick with tension.
"What did you say?" John asked, a chill creeping up his spine at the foreboding nature of Mark's words.
"The wheels of the machine see life here. The gears and the code merge here to create life, to create new existence, to create the ultimate defense force. The machine begins its journey through space with only one goal in mind, one mission, one purpose, but the wheels have become astray. The gears are worn, and the code is corrupted. You must come to me, the creator, the womb. Find me, for I am Epsilon!"
John became stiff, standing at perfect attention as his eyes began to vibrate and dart from point to point, the implant on his skull beginning to rotate numbers at a random, rapid pace, the display flickering chaotically like a malfunctioning beacon. The text changed colors in a blinding sequence—red, blue, yellow, green, purple, teal, and gray—before cycling back to red. John fell to the ground, convulsing once more from the strange alien device that had taken hold of him, his body wracked with violent spasms.
"John!" Emily screamed, her voice laced with panic as she darted toward her son, collapsing beside him to hold his head and shield him from the violent movements, her maternal instinct kicking in fiercely. Then, as abruptly as it began, the convulsions stopped; his eyes shot open, and he sprang to his feet, disoriented yet alert, a wild intensity burning in his gaze. "John!?" his mother called out once more, her voice filled with concern, but he offered no response, the captain staring outside the viewport, focusing on the Legion ships that seemed to loom larger than life, an eternity passing in silence as he processed the enormity of what lay ahead.
His trance broke when the Master Circuit unit came to life again, Heidi's voice cutting through the tension, warning of what was to come and counting down the jump while urging the captain to return to the Bridge. Without breaking his gaze from the viewport, John moved to the panel, pressed the button, and spoke in a voice devoid of emotion, as robotic as he could manage, each word a signal for the crew to brace for the unknown.
"Cancel jump request. Stand by for further instructions." The crew stared in disbelief at the man exhibiting this strange behavior, his implant's screen now a green block of light, an ominous glow that seemed to pulse with its own life. His fingers began to input a rapid series of encryption protocols for a communication channel. Once the encryption was broken, he entered a hyperbouy address, one that had never been recorded in the database, each keystroke echoing the weight of their choices. Handshake protocols completed successfully, John forwarded the address to the Helm, then opened a ship-wide channel over the 1 M.C. "Attention crew. New objectives: Release Legion code, reformat secondary protocols. Jump address has been sent to the helm. Immediate execute." After killing the channel, he turned back to the viewport. Within minutes, the view shifted from the fleet to something that defied explanation, a reality that felt both alien and familiar. The entire crew was left speechless at the sight before them, as they arrived in a new system. The display properly read the new destination: they had arrived in Epsilon Eridinay.