Read The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) Online

Authors: Adrian Fulcher

Tags: #Science Fiction

The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) (18 page)

‘Do we know when and where their ships will be massing?’ Milonri asked Julio.

‘Yes.’

She pointed towards the top left of the image.

‘Here in the Drej belt, in eight days.’

Milonri moved around the table and took the pointer from Julio.

‘That’s only one day from Earth. What would happen if we attack the supply centre here at Jomi?’ he asked.

‘It could be destroyed if we use our entire fleet, but it would have to be a fast and accurate attack, because their home planet, Dagnamk, is only one hour away. An easier target would be the supply bases at Frenc or Slom,’ Amaunet said.

‘I know, but I’m not thinking of committing the whole fleet, just two or three destroyers,’ Milonri said.

‘But those would be no match for the cruisers they’d send from Dagnamk,’ Cairl said.

‘I think I see what Milonri has got in mind,’ Stuilo said. ‘They’ll have to send at least four cruisers to defend themselves from our attack, and with their main fleet away from Dagnamk massing for the Moulo and Earth’s assault, their base on Dagnamk will be left extremely vulnerable.’

‘The destroyers at Jomi would act as a decoy,’ Milonri added. ‘Once attacked by the Treitans, they’ll withdraw.’

‘Even assuming the Treitans send that many ships, Dagnamk will still be very well protected,’ Cairl said. ‘I forecast that our ships would be going up against five or six cruisers and at least four destroyers.’

‘I know,’ Milonri said. ‘That’s my guess too, but we may not get another opportunity like this again. We know their schedule and we now have a war-ship capable of entering a planet’s atmosphere: the
Aurora
.’

He paused.

‘With Kalrea’s capabilities, we can discover their weaknesses and use them to our advantage. We may even find a way of defeating them.’

‘Of course,’ Julio said, sounding excited. ‘If the
Aurora
could get past the defences around Dagnamk, then their command centre would be there for the taking.’

‘None of their defence ships can go through atmosphere, so the
Aurora
would be unchallenged once it reached Dagnamk,’ Milonri said. ‘But I’m afraid we don’t know exactly where the command centre is located or how strong their ground defences are.’

He looked at James.

‘You’ll be on your own. Kalrea must at the very least access their computer systems. We’ll use our other ships to draw their forces away from the planet. That will give you the best possible chance of making it through.’

‘We would have to hide the
Aurora
,’ Julio said. ‘The Treitans now have data and images of the ship and they’re bound to wonder what happened at Qintaino.’

‘They’ll know it’s a major threat to them, and if detected they will concentrate their forces to destroy it,’ Stuilo added. ‘Remember what they did to the
Brenostar
.’

‘The
Aurora
will have to be shipped inside the
Lonori,
’ Milonri explained. ‘We have to divert their ships with an initial attack; that way the
Aurora
can be launched close to Dagnamk before the Treitans have time to react.’

‘I think it could work, but we can’t afford to lose either the
Lonori
or the
Aurora
,’ Julio said.

‘If their defences are too strong when we arrive, then we’ll abort the mission,’ Milonri said.

Stuilo and Cairl nodded in support.

‘Are there any questions or objections to Milonri’s proposal,’ Julio asked, looking at the others in turn. ‘Excellent!’

‘Now the end begins,’ Milonri said, his voice lowered.

James didn’t understand and there was also an uneasy moment of silence. He looked expectantly around the table.

Kalrea, what did he mean?

Sorry. No idea,
Kalrea replied.
The others seemed to know, though.

Milonri gestured to Julio.

‘Julio and I will plan our strategy. We’ll then brief Isistia. No one else is to know the objective,’ he said sternly. ‘We can’t afford the Treitans to learn of this.’

‘It’s just over six days to Dagnamk at Q3, so we’ll need to leave tomorrow,’ Julio said.

She paused for a moment.

‘So who’s going to tell Isistia that she’s only got fourteen hours to get the
Lonori
back together?’ she said, and then smiled, breaking the tension.

‘I’ve just remembered that I’m needed in the operation centre,’ Cairl said, jumping up from his chair.

‘I’ll join you,’ Amaunet said, catching him up just before he left the room.

There was the sound of laughter disappearing up the corridor.

‘Well, it’s your plan, Milonri. You’ll have to tell Isistia. It’s your turn to take all the stick,’ Stuilo said, with a cheeky smile.

‘Thanks, Stuilo,’ Milonri said.

‘Never mind, Milonri,’ Julio said, leaning over and patting him on the back. ‘The way I look at it, is that it might have been my idea. Then, I would have had to tell her. At least I’m off the hook!’

Milonri pointed his finger at her.

‘Next time... You’re telling her next time!’

While Julio and Milonri were talking, James was studying the holographic image of Moulo and Earth above the table. He was puzzled by the Treitans’ need to attack Earth, so when they finished, he asked,

‘Milonri, I don’t understand why they would want to attack Earth. The humans are no threat to them; their space travel is in its infancy.’

‘No planet’s a threat to them anymore, James, but they need the water,’ he replied. ‘They stay fifty to sixty days, sucking the planet dry, and then they just pack up everything and go. The only other thing they’ve ever taken is technology and that’s only if it’s of any benefit to them.’

‘What do they take the water for?’ James questioned.

‘As far as we can tell, it’s what they live on. We eat food; they drink water, just water.’

‘So that’s why Qintaino is now a dessert?’

‘I’m sorry say it is, James. It was once a very beautiful planet. And I’m afraid Earth’s next.’

‘If only we had known they were going to attack us in the first place,’ Stuilo said, looking frustrated.

‘You see, James,’ Milonri said. ‘When they arrived in our galaxy, there was no indication of their intentions. The Qinant leaders tried to make contact with them to offer help, but they weren’t interested.’

‘Some races are like that,’ Julio said. ‘It’s not uncommon in this galaxy, so we assumed they just wanted to be left alone. They settled on an uninhabited planet called Dagnamk.’

‘All was quiet for four sykals, but once they completed their command centre, other ships started to arrive in great numbers,’ Milonri said. ‘Then they started their offensive.’

‘We were one of the first races to be attacked,’ Julio said, ‘along with the Holriods, Yoins and Montrons.’

‘Why?’ James asked.

‘We found out why when it was too late,’ Julio said. ‘They attacked all the strongest races first and in quick succession. This meant that the remaining less developed races would have not been a big threat, even if they rallied together. Their initial force must have been colossal, considering the losses they incurred.’

‘But still they carried on. And now they’re mopping up,’ Stuilo said.

‘Can’t we attack their homeworld?’ James questioned.

‘We know where they come from,’ Julio said.

She changed the image over the table to show the nearest galaxies. Julio pointed to one, before continuing,

‘It’s in the Lonilo galaxy—’

On Earth it’s called the Andromeda galaxy,
Kalrea informed James.

‘Perhaps in time we can pay them back for what they’ve done,’ Milonri said, watching the image fade away. ‘James, I must ask you to do something. No questions…’

Milonri looked over at Julio and Stuilo. They nodded back. Julio moved over to the door.

‘Yes… of course,’ James replied. ‘What do you want me to do?’ he said, feeling very uneasy.

Milonri handed James a headset.

‘Please put this on.’

James wore the headset, which felt warm around his ears and on the top on his head.

‘I want you to get Kalrea to execute a program held in our main computer,’ Milonri added.

‘Kalrea, do as Milonri asks,’ James said and then thought,
what are they up to, Kalrea?

I don’t know
.

‘I’ve accessed the main network. What program am I looking for, Milonri?’ Kalrea replied, over the room’s address system.

‘Kalrea, upload the program M34S,’ Milonri said. ‘It’s self-executing.’

‘Loading…’

‘DISABLING TELEMENTOR DEFENCE SYSTEMS.’

Stuilo and Julio removed their hand pistols from their holders.

‘EXECUTING MIND-SCAN.’

James suddenly felt faint, his vision blurred and he slumped to the floor.

Chapter Thirteen

James opened his eyes.

He was laying in the open seatra onboard the
Aurora
. Except for a blue light flashing outside, the bridge was in total darkness. He sat up quickly and looked out. The blue band, which ringed the room, was flashing slowly and was softened by a haze of smoke descending from above. He looked up to see that the room had no ceiling. An orange and yellow mist was slowly drifting across.

Puzzled and bewildered, James got out of the seatra and looked around. He could now hear the sound of a beating heart echoing around the room. Suddenly, a sharp pain gripped him behind his eyes. He felt his forehead with his left hand.

‘Who are you?’ a voice shouted, from behind him.

James turned.

‘Who are you?’ the voice repeated.

‘What?’ James said, trying to see the person. ‘What do you—’

He was startled by a flash of bright white light from the mist above.

‘Who are you?’ another voice echoed from the left.

‘James Brandon,’ James replied, feeling confused.

Kalrea
, he thought, but there was no reply.

‘No, that’s a lie.’

James could now just make out the outline of a figure standing in the corner of the room in front of him.

‘Who’s there?’ James questioned uneasily. ‘Where am I?’

‘Turn back… turn back,’ a voice said, from behind him.

The figure approached.

‘Dad! What… What are you doing here?’ James said, stunned, recognising it was Lex. He was holding a bright scarlet coloured aeroplane.

‘What are you doing here?’ Lex said.

‘Dad, it’s me.’

Lex looked straight through him.

James felt the sharp pain behind his eyes once more, and this time it was more intense. The sound of the heart quickened. He covered his eyes with his hands. When he opened them Lex had disappeared. He looked quickly around the room. An old woman was standing with her back to him.

As he approached her, she turned.

‘You should not have seen me,’ the old woman said.

‘I know you! You’re the old woman from the cottage. How did you get here?’ James replied.

The old woman had a tattoo of a small claw on the left side of her face.

‘I don’t understand… I recognise that tattoo… Is that you, Londuo?’

The old woman slowly faded into the darkness.

‘What are you doing here?’ a voice said, from above.

‘I don’t know,’ James said in a confused voice. ‘I think I’m on the
Aurora
. Kalrea!’

‘Why are you here?’ the voice said.

‘I don’t understand!’ James shouted.

‘Who are you working for?’

‘No one—’ James replied.

‘No!’ the voice shouted. ‘You’re a spy!’

‘Why?’ another voice said, from below him at the same time.

The pain behind his eyes increased.

‘Who are you? Why are you here? Who are you working for?’ the voice kept repeating the same questions over and over again, getting quicker each time.

Images of James’ life suddenly flashed through his mind: his childhood, Lex and Carol, the cottage, growing up and finally his journey to Qintaino.

‘Who are you?’

‘James Brasdoi,’ James said quickly. ‘My name’s James Brasdoi.’

James held his head, feeling dizzy.

Suddenly, the lift door opened revealing a bright light. Flashing above the door were the words ‘SECTION 28, LEVEL 17’, written in Earth English.

‘Take my hand,’ a familiar voice said from within the lift.

An outstretched hand appeared.

‘Who’s there?’ James asked nervously.

‘It’s me, Kalrea. Take my hand!’

James tried to move towards the door, but he was unable. He looked down at his leg. Coiled around it was a thick mustard-coloured tentacle, which tightened its grip the more he tried to move.

‘There’s no more time! Take my hand!’ Kalrea said.

He reached out, his hand shaking as he strained to stretch across. There was a blinding flash when their hands touched.

‘NEGATIVE RESPONSE.’

‘ENABLING TELEMENTOR DEFENCE SYSTEMS.’

‘Are you all right, James?’ Milonri said with concern in his raised voice.

There was a very loud noise of event horizon drives coming from outside the building, almost drowning out an alarm sounding within the room. The whole room was shaking. Milonri helped James to his feet.

‘Yes, I think so,’ James said, holding his head and trying to focus.

He looked around. He was still in the meeting room.

‘Please tell Kalrea you’re all right!’ Milonri said, taking the headset from James.

‘What’s all that noise?’ James asked, rubbing his eyes.

The
Aurora
was hovering directly above the building.

‘You must tell Kalrea you’re all right!’ Milonri shouted, ‘before she starts tearing this building apart.’

James looked puzzled.

Kalrea!
James thought.

James!
Kalrea said.
Are you hurt?

I’m fine… What’s happening?
James replied.

The noise above suddenly abated, indicating the
Aurora
was returning to the landing area.

Milonri looked relieved.

‘Cancel the alarm!’ he said to Stuilo.

‘Tell Kalrea, I’m sorry,’ Milonri said. ‘We had to do the mind-scan to be sure the Treitans hadn’t got to you first.’

Kalrea?

James! I wasn’t going to allow them to harm you,
Kalrea said sounding agitated.

Ah right! I see!
James thought.

The alarm stopped abruptly.

‘I don’t think Kalrea’s very happy,’ James said.

‘She’s more protective than I thought,’ Milonri replied. ‘Don’t think we’ll be doing that again!’

‘What happened to me?’ James asked. ‘It was like I was dreaming.’

‘The scan looks deep into your mind. Some of your deepest memories surface during the scan,’ Milonri said.

‘Memories… You call those memories? It was more like a nightmare!’

‘You look tired. You’d better get some rest, the mind-scan drains your energy,’ Milonri said. ‘We leave early tomorrow; one hour after the star has risen. Do you want a room on the base?’

‘Thanks, but I think I’ll return to the
Aurora
,’ James replied, still feeling his head. ‘I need to have a quiet word with Kalrea.’

Milonri smiled.

‘I’ll have a captain’s uniform sent over. You won’t look so out of place then.’

James was pleasantly surprised.

Milonri continued,

‘In fact, I’ll fix you up with some casual clothes as well. Those you’re wearing do look a bit dated. From Earth I suspect.’

‘Thank you, Milonri.’

He walked towards the door.

‘Oh, one more thing, James,’ Milonri said.

James stopped and turned back towards him.

‘If you agree, I would like to station two fighters onboard the
Aurora
,’ Milonri said. ‘We don’t know what awaits you on Dagnamk.’

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