Star Crusades Nexus: Book 05 - Prophecy of Fire (35 page)

“By order of the President, all Alliance forces are being mobilized to defend our allies and ourselves against this Biomech threat.”

The video feed of Eos changed to show the vast structure of the Alliance, with its many stars, planets, moons, and colonies.

“Biomech forces are attempting to break through our Rift networks, as well as the Anicinàbe and Byotai.”

Jack shook his head as he listened.

“All of these forces are heading toward a single point, one objective they are intent on capturing or destroying.”

Jack turned away from the screen and looked at Riku. The scar running down the side of her face always seemed to become more prominent the more upset or stressed she became, and it was clear to see.

“They want Helios, don’t they?” she asked.

He opened his mouth to speak, but a triple beep from the display indicated a priority message. He looked back and tapped it to see the encrypted seal from Colonel Teresa Morato.

“Your mother?” asked Riku.

The contests of the message were heavily encrypted and would take some time for the system to decipher. It was the header that went with the message, and as Jack looked at the screen, he felt a trickle of water drip down from one eye. Riku saw it and leaned in.

“It’s okay,” he said, now worried she was about to panic.

“What is it?” she asked.

He turned to look at her.

“It says that Spartan, my father, has been found.”

Both were silent at this news. Riku had never met the man, but his reputation in the Corps was something bordering on legendary. She also knew the troubled past Jack had gone through growing up in a family where his parents had been unable to spend much time with him.

“Where is he, Jack?”

He pressed a button and waited until an image of a blue world appeared. He knew immediately what it was, but to Riku it was just another planet. The light from the display shone on his face, giving his skin an odd blue tint.

“Earth,” he said, his face starting to relax.

Riku noticed his lips moving and ever so slowly a smile formed.

“It says he was found near Earth!”