Vaughn Heppner - The Lost Starship

“Oh,” Maddox said. “That’s too bad. I suggest—”

The holoimage raised a hazy hand. “I do not care to discuss it, either.”

Maddox chewed the inside of his cheek, thinking fast. He glanced sidelong at the screen. Dana still stood at an AI receptacle, obviously listening. He decided to go with the flow, hoping the AI was too busy with its computations to worry about turning off the link.

“You’re right, of course,” Maddox said loudly. “You don’t need Lieutenant Noonan’s assistance. The others of my crew will await your coming victory.”

“I have scanned the enemy star cruisers,” the holoimage said. “They possess powerful deflector screens. What weaponry do they have?”

“Your scanners can’t penetrate their shields to find out?”

“That is correct, Captain.”

“Their beams sliced through Star Watch shields of some of our best vessels.”

“Do you know the composition of those deflectors?” the holoimage asked.

“We use an electromagnetic field,” Maddox said.

“I see,” the holoimage said. “Compared to that, I have an advanced deflector shield. Their beams might or might not be as effective against it as it was against your people’s ships. That means the strength of the New Men’s beam is an unknown factor. Captain Maddox, we may have a fight on our hands.”

“Can you defeat them?” Maddox asked.

“I have insufficient data to make a proper assessment. We once possessed the greatest weaponry, and we had developed the most advanced civilization. Reason points to my present superiority. Yet that isn’t a given. Battle will determine the outcome.”

“They have three to one odds,” Maddox said.

“In ship numbers you are correct but not in tonnage,” the holoimage said. “They barely match me in that regard. Ah… they attempt communication.”

“I just had a thought,” Maddox said.

“Yes?”

“Tactical surprise might benefit us.”

“That is logical,” the holoimage said, “as surprise is a force multiplier. Therefore, you are correct. What do you suggest?”

“Let them address me as Victory’s captain. They will believe I’ve just boarded the ship and couldn’t possibly understand all the alien systems. The New Men believe themselves superior to regular humans, such as me.”

“I scanned your brain, Captain. I am aware of the situation.”

“My point,” Maddox said, “is to lull them into a false sense of security. Then, once we engage in battle, your brilliant tactics might well dull their reaction times, giving us a greater margin for victory.”

The holoimage froze for several seconds before moving again. “That is well-reasoned. Yes. Go to your… left. Do you see the blinking screen there?”

“I do,” Maddox said.

“You will receive a visual link with the alien caller.”

Maddox didn’t have long to wait. The same being appeared as he’d seen earlier on Geronimo’s screen. The New Man had golden skin, inky eyes and masklike perfection.

“Captain Maddox,” the New Man said, “well, well, well.”

“Per Lomax?” asked Maddox.

The faintest of smiles appeared on the New Man’s lips. “That is correct.”

Irritated, Maddox said, “I use the name simply as a point of reference. Whatever meaning you supply to the name, I do not.”

“You are resourceful, Captain. I admit to surprise at seeing you in the relic.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Maddox noted the holoimage turning to him. He hoped the AI didn’t speak.

“Not only have you reached the alien vessel,” Per Lomax said, “but you have restarted the engines. Our scanners indicate energized weaponry. Do you mean to attempt to fight us?”

“Not if we can come to an understanding,” Maddox said.

“Ah,” the AI said softly behind him. “You plot deception. That is interesting. I had not expected such guile from a lowly life-form such as you.”

Maddox had become thoroughly tired of everyone thinking humans were idiots. Still, he held back a retort and concentrated on the situation. Winning the battle wasn’t half as important as getting Victory to Earth. The Star Watch needed this vessel for future engagements with the enemy.

“You wish to surrender?” Per Lomax asked.

“Surely, you can offer me more than that,” Maddox said. “I have a valuable commodity in this starship.”

“Do you truly think you can dupe me?” Per Lomax asked. “Your deceit fools no one but yourself. We will defeat the relic and possibly capture you. If you wish to forgo lengthy torture, surrender now.”

“Your negotiating strategy lacks subtlety,” Maddox said.

“Do you negotiate with ants? No. You spray them, eliminating the problem. I realize you will not surrender to me. Your previous action proves this. Therefore, we shall engage in battle.” Per Lomax glanced at something below him. “You have less than two hours of life remaining—unless you brake and flee away from us. Then you may have three hours left. Good-bye, Captain Maddox.”

“Wait!” he said.

The New Man stared at him.

The words stuck in Maddox’s throat. He wanted to ask the man if he was like them. Yet he felt Per Lomax would laugh at best. He also remembered that Dana and the others listened in on the open channel. The thought he was part New Man shamed him deeply.

“It is nothing,” Maddox said.

“You are a troubled creature,” Per Lomax said, “yet you a have a spark of genius in you. I speak compared to the common ruck of your kind. If you compare yourself to me, it is like a candle versus the sun. The hour of your extinction approaches. Prepare for non-existence.”

The screen went blank.

“He is an arrogant sentient,” the holoimage said.

“Yes,” Maddox said.

“He also happens to be correct.”

“Oh?”

“We will engage in battle in less than two of your hours.”

Victory increased velocity as it approached the three star cruisers. They fanned out so the edges of their shields brushed against each other. The red giant blazed behind the three vessels. The battle would take place within the inner system. Various ancient wrecks drifted between the enemy and Victory , debris from the long lost war.

Time passed as the vessels closed. None of the combatants launched drones or missiles.

Maddox sat in silent contemplation. This was a pregnant moment. He wished there was some way he could inform Brigadier O’Hara he’d made it. To have reached the impossible goal and never let her know… it galled Maddox. He also wanted to know who he was. If by some quirk he wasn’t part New Man, then what was he? Where would his mother have fled from in the Beyond?

Who is my father? A man should know.

“Do you feel anything?” Maddox asked.

The holoimage had remained perfectly still like a photograph. Now the fuzziness returned. Did that mean the AI’s intelligence animated it again, and it hadn’t before?

Maddox wasn’t sure why it would matter either way, but he couldn’t help himself. Until he died, he would struggle with every fiber, looking for any advantage he could. This was his moment in the universe, his time in the ring for humanity. To come this far and lose the engagement—no! Failure was out of the question, and yet, it was all too likely.

Three enemy ships had destroyed a strengthened Star Watch battle group lead by a veteran admiral. Who was he to think he could do better than von Gunther had?

“I’m Captain Maddox of the Star Watch,” he told himself.

“I know who you are,” the holoimage said.

Maddox smiled.

“Why are you speaking as you do with your lips twitching… oh, yes, yes, I remember now. Blood and flesh creatures such as you have synapse trouble. How do you say it? Nervous? You are nervous before the beginning of a battle. I almost envy you the feeling.”