Jon Messenger - Purge of Prometheus

“Fascinating,” Alcent said, “but I’m not quite sure where you’re heading with all this.”

“That was just the background information,” Wyck retorted. “The real fun begins when we introduce our special sauce. I’ve named our chemical Torazine.”

Tora blushed as Wyck told everyone the name. Quickly, she tried to change the subject. “If you look back at our setup,” Tora explained, “you’ll see that we have two mechanical arms perched above each of the dishes. At the tips of the arms, small droppers filled our… of Torazine are ready to inject the chemical into the Deplitoxide. I think you’ll be impressed with the results.”

“If it’s anything like what happened earlier, we may want to back up,” Keryn said as she backed from the blast screen. The others quickly followed suit.

Wyck retrieved a wireless console from behind him and began pushing a series of buttons. In response, the first arm lowered toward the Petri dish until it hovered a foot above the table.

“Everyone ready?” he asked. Without waiting, he pushed the release button. The arm depressed the plunger on the back of the dropper, shooting a small amount of an orange fluid into the dish below. The observers all flinched involuntarily as the Torazine struck, expecting an explosion. When nothing happened, they slowly lowered their arms and turned toward the two scientists.

“Somehow, I was expecting a little more of a world shattering kaboom,” Adam admitted.

Tora and Wyck exchanged knowing smiles. “We didn’t,” Wyck stated. “The fact is, the first experiment wasn’t meant to explode.”

“The first dish was full of an inert collection of the Deplitoxide cells,” stated Tora. “Taken straight from one of the rockets, the cells had never been introduced to a heat source. The Deplitoxide, therefore, didn’t react to the Torazine.”

“Then what, exactly, does your chemical do?” Alcent asked impatiently.

“Exactly what we promised,” Wyck responded angrily. “Torazine breaks down the outer membrane of the Deplitoxide cells, releasing the pent up superheated mass in an impressive display. No heat source equals no explosion.”

“Then the second dish?” Keryn asked, prodding the experiment forward before Alcent and Wyck entered a bickering contest.

“The second dish was introduced to intense flames and has already begun the fission process,” Tora explained. “Yes, it will explode.”

Wyck passed out shaded goggles to everyone, encouraging the observers to don them before they continued. When everyone was wearing protective eyewear, he entered his next code. The second mechanical arm lowered until it was perched above the dish. Shrinking into his chair, Wyck pushed the second button.

As soon as the Torazine struck the dish, the room erupted into bright orange flames. The fire, originating from the Petri dish on the table, rose and curled like a solar flare. Blast screens that were made to withstand the rigors of deep space rattled from the force of the explosion. Quickly, the fires died, leaving the whole room filled with a choking black smoke.

“That was more like it!” Adam exclaimed.

Alcent lowered his goggles and peered into the smoke-filled laboratory. “This is a cure for the Deplitoxide?”

“Yes it is,” Wyck said proudly.

“So we can use this to restart one of our engines should it get struck by a Terran Deplitoxide rocket?” Alcent asked, his gaze never leaving the room.

“Um…” Wyck paused, scratching his head nervously. “No, not really.”

Finally, Alcent looked away from the laboratory and stared at the young Uligart. “What do you mean ‘no’?” Alcent demanded. “What’s the point in finding a cure to Deplitoxide if we can’t use it? What would this do if we introduced it into a stalled engine?”

“The explosion would probably rip the ship in half,” Tora explained, trying to save Wyck from his berating. Noticing Alcent’s reddening face, she quickly added, “But it’s exactly what Keryn asked for!”

“It’s true,” Keryn said, placing a hand on Alcent’s shoulder. “It is what I asked for and believe me when I tell you that it is perfect just the way it is.” Turning to the two scientists, she continued. “Are you sure you can weaponize this?”

“We’ve already started some preliminary tests on a couple rockets,” Wyck said. “I’m pretty sure we can have this ready in time.”

“Don’t be ‘pretty sure’,” Keryn said. “Make sure it’s ready. Adam, take Alcent and please notify the Revolution of our requirements. I’ll meet up with you both shortly.”

Keryn left the laboratory and took the lift down to the living quarters. Walking the hall in relative quiet, her thoughts drifted back to Yen. After watching the demonstration, she was sure of two things. First, they actually had a chance to pull this off. More importantly, though, she was ready to respond to the High Council.

Entering her room, Keryn turned on her console and entered the code she had been given for High Council. As the screen changed, a small recording symbol appeared in the top corner of the screen.

“This is Captain Keryn Riddell of the commandeered Terran Destroyer Ballistae . I am responding to the High Council’s mission request.”

Keryn took a deep breath before continuing. “I firmly believe that your mission is justified. Yen Xiao has committed atrocities throughout the Fleet. Even now, one of his potential victims is living in hiding on board my ship. I have no reason to doubt that your accusations against Captain Xiao are truthful.

“I had to wonder, for quite some time, why you would pick me to complete this mission. Of all the ships in the Fleet, I couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t a coincidence that you would pick me, one of his former lovers, to be the deliverer of his death. It was while pondering the why of this situation that I realized why you picked me. It’s because we were lovers once, and that he would trust me enough to let me get close. Using his trust against him would be the ultimate karmic backlash against all his betrayals. While I may not like the task at hand, I do have to appreciate your methods.

“However, it is also your methods that I have to refute. We are getting ready to engage in one of the most difficult battles in Alliance history. This is a battle that we very possibly may not win. As such, the Fleet needs every single available ship, pilot, Crewman,” she paused, staring at the screen, “and Captain that we can find. I cannot, in good conscience, destroy the Revolution during such a difficult battle. And, unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to destroy the ship after the battle, either. Knowing that the crew laid so much on the line to save the Alliance, only to be served so dishonorable a death as payment for their sacrifice… well, I can’t be part of that.

“I want to support you in every way, but I cannot take part in your plan to kill Yen Xiao. I wish you luck in finding a Captain that will. If you decide to change your plan to spare those who are innocent, I would be happy to reassess my position. Until then, Captain Keryn Riddell, out.”

Keryn turned off the screen and tried to stifle the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. With the High Council’s plan, she knew how many innocent people were condemned to death. By leaving Yen alive, Keryn feared how many more innocent had been condemned by her inability to act.

“Sir,” Tylgar reported from the piloting chair, “we have a direct communication from the Ballistae .”

“Play the message,” Yen replied, knowing that the communication was a recording. Traveling at such high speeds, the relay systems on board the ships were ineffective for extended two-way conversations. Instead, one party sent their message and waited patiently for the other’s reply.