completion!
Throwing the financial statements aside, he began to review the communications from around the Empire; specifically the incident at the Temple of Divine Light. Patterson knew it for what it was; he and many others in the military had battled terrorists for way too long in the old world. He replayed the logs from the Council session; something in it seemed off. Most terrorists gave demands, made accusations and named their target. This one was different; this one was after someone behind the scenes that held to the shadows instead of the limelight. There was something more going on and he was determined to find out what; at least when he had time. But at the moment time wasn’t on his side as he had been notified on the update of the impending arrival of an Imperial cruiser.
Patterson read over the report that sat front and center on his desk; the Dark Light was returning to Earth, and its timing couldn’t be worse. They had a few days before the ship arrived, and he now had to reroute resources to ensure the project wouldn’t be found. As he punched his orders into the computer, he thought back to this terrorist and wondered what all this trouble meant for them and silently hoped that none of it would reach them until Olympus had been finished.
—
Lyarran Vessel Dark Light;
System Entry Point Alpha;
Sol System; Pluto Orbital Range
For an instant, space began to boil with electricity as multiple flashes of light foretold the arrival of a ship at the designated jump space entry point. Within seconds, what was once empty space was now filled with the massive form of the Dark Light; the newly refitted ship commanded by Council Lyxia. She had pushed the ship hard to get here so fast; not quite as hard as she did five years ago as she rushed to save the human race from the Husk, but still made little waste of time getting here. Part of her was happy to be back, although she wanted it to be a social visit with Council Sara Foster there would be little time for that. She had come here despite Fleet Com orders to learn more about a specific type of killer; one that Terra Sol had some understanding of in a past life.
“Jupiter Station is advising us to turn off weapon control as well as all long to medium range sensors.” Onai shouted as her voice was nearly drowned by the jump space reactor winding down. “They are stating new docking rules instituted after the Ryas attack; they will be our guides to the Mars docks!”
My how things change. Five years ago she had jumped into the system a mere million miles from the human planet itself with weapons hot and ready, but now it was a different story. Lyxia understood how paranoia had flourished on Terra Sol after the Husk attack, and she had marvelled at how fast they had constructed their defense network. Protecting what remained of the inhabitants was obviously the focus now, and she wasn’t about to pull some diplomatic bullshit to try and change it.
“Do as they ask; turn over navigation to their control, but keep it within our power.” Lyxia said softly as the noise had died down. “Don’t want them breaking her after I just got her back.”
The comments relaxed everyone in Ops Con; it was exactly as she intended. There was no reason to be tense; there were no threats in what was now one of the safest planetary systems in the galaxy. Terra Sol was a fortress now, and to get into that fortress you had to do things their way or pay dearly for it.
“Please request an audience with Terra Sol’s Council.” Lyxia began. “I want to speak with her before she meets us at the transport docks. She needs to know the real reason why we are here.”
Onai nodded at the order and relayed the request. Lyxia watched as her staff went through the customary checks and initiated the venting procedures of the overheated jump space reactors. It would be a few minutes until the ship was able to make its way to the inner system, and there would be many reports to read
Throwing the financial statements aside, he began to review the communications from around the Empire; specifically the incident at the Temple of Divine Light. Patterson knew it for what it was; he and many others in the military had battled terrorists for way too long in the old world. He replayed the logs from the Council session; something in it seemed off. Most terrorists gave demands, made accusations and named their target. This one was different; this one was after someone behind the scenes that held to the shadows instead of the limelight. There was something more going on and he was determined to find out what; at least when he had time. But at the moment time wasn’t on his side as he had been notified on the update of the impending arrival of an Imperial cruiser.
Patterson read over the report that sat front and center on his desk; the Dark Light was returning to Earth, and its timing couldn’t be worse. They had a few days before the ship arrived, and he now had to reroute resources to ensure the project wouldn’t be found. As he punched his orders into the computer, he thought back to this terrorist and wondered what all this trouble meant for them and silently hoped that none of it would reach them until Olympus had been finished.
—
Lyarran Vessel Dark Light;
System Entry Point Alpha;
Sol System; Pluto Orbital Range
For an instant, space began to boil with electricity as multiple flashes of light foretold the arrival of a ship at the designated jump space entry point. Within seconds, what was once empty space was now filled with the massive form of the Dark Light; the newly refitted ship commanded by Council Lyxia. She had pushed the ship hard to get here so fast; not quite as hard as she did five years ago as she rushed to save the human race from the Husk, but still made little waste of time getting here. Part of her was happy to be back, although she wanted it to be a social visit with Council Sara Foster there would be little time for that. She had come here despite Fleet Com orders to learn more about a specific type of killer; one that Terra Sol had some understanding of in a past life.
“Jupiter Station is advising us to turn off weapon control as well as all long to medium range sensors.” Onai shouted as her voice was nearly drowned by the jump space reactor winding down. “They are stating new docking rules instituted after the Ryas attack; they will be our guides to the Mars docks!”
My how things change. Five years ago she had jumped into the system a mere million miles from the human planet itself with weapons hot and ready, but now it was a different story. Lyxia understood how paranoia had flourished on Terra Sol after the Husk attack, and she had marvelled at how fast they had constructed their defense network. Protecting what remained of the inhabitants was obviously the focus now, and she wasn’t about to pull some diplomatic bullshit to try and change it.
“Do as they ask; turn over navigation to their control, but keep it within our power.” Lyxia said softly as the noise had died down. “Don’t want them breaking her after I just got her back.”
The comments relaxed everyone in Ops Con; it was exactly as she intended. There was no reason to be tense; there were no threats in what was now one of the safest planetary systems in the galaxy. Terra Sol was a fortress now, and to get into that fortress you had to do things their way or pay dearly for it.
“Please request an audience with Terra Sol’s Council.” Lyxia began. “I want to speak with her before she meets us at the transport docks. She needs to know the real reason why we are here.”
Onai nodded at the order and relayed the request. Lyxia watched as her staff went through the customary checks and initiated the venting procedures of the overheated jump space reactors. It would be a few minutes until the ship was able to make its way to the inner system, and there would be many reports to read
Similar Books
