Judas Unchained

Another barrage of missiles hammered at the GH7 engine. Then they were through the force field, and Boongate’s planetary station was laid out in front of them under the gloaming of a twilight sun. Alic stared in consternation at what was waiting for them. “Jump,” he yelled frantically.

***

The GH7 vanished through the Boongate gateway.

“It got home,” Nigel exclaimed. He couldn’t believe what he’d just seen. “Right under our fucking noses. Son of a bitch!”

“Commander Hogan’s link has dropped out,” Oscar said. “They must be under attack on the other side.”

“No goddamn kidding.”

“Unisphere connection to Boongate has failed,” Nelson said. “It looks like the physical link was taken out just the other side of the zero-width wormhole.”

“Mr. Sheldon,” Bradley Johansson said, “we need to go after it.”

Nigel shot Justine a look, anxious for advice from someone who must surely understand all the factors. She just shrugged, her left hand held against her belly. He thought she was going to be sick; her cheeks were puffing out.

“We’ll put a team together,” Nigel said. It came out like an admission of defeat.

“Your pardon,” Bradley said. “We already have a team. And I have spent a hundred thirty years preparing for this eventuality. Let us go through.”

“I don’t even have control of the gateway right now.”

“My squad is getting entry into the gateway control center,” Nelson said. “Some resistance. Oh…they’re all dead, all the staff, he murdered them.”

Nigel closed his eyes, experiencing an anguish that was close to physical pain. One of his grid squares expanded into his virtual vision. He couldn’t recall summoning it. Links from the security squad showed him the carnage. “Oh, Christ.” It was Anshun all over again. “How many of these Judas bastards are there?” Four of the security squad were chasing someone in a force field suit, blowing flaming holes in the structure of the gateway administration building as they went. A grade one security alert was slowly closing off the building, force fields compartmentalizing it. Too little, too late, Nigel knew.

“We have to get back to Far Away,” Bradley Johansson said. “The Guardians can stop the Starflyer. This is our time, Mr. Sheldon; let us do what we have devoted our lives to achieving.”

Ion rifle fire and enhanced energy grenades were shredding the fourth floor of the administration building as the security squad closed in on Daniel Alster. Nigel took a breath, steeling himself. “What do you need?”

“We have a train here at Narrabri station loaded with our equipment. All we need to make it work is the data Kazimir was carrying. Senator Burnelli has it.”

“I do,” Justine confirmed. She held up a memory crystal, then grimaced against another burst of nausea.

“Once we have that,” Johansson continued, “we need passage through the wormhole to Boongate. Investigator Myo can guarantee that.”

“No,” Paula said. “I will not do that. I will not legitimatize Elvin’s criminal activities.”

“We need a guarantee if we are to expose ourselves,” Johansson said. “Surely you must see that?”

“I have no reason to lie,” Nigel said. “You can go through. No catch.” The RIs were breaking the fireshields, hacking a route back into the Boongate wormhole systems for him. It didn’t look as if Alster had inflicted any physical damage to the giant machine.

“Investigator, I am not asking you to legitimatize anything,” Bradley said. “I am asking you to help us overcome the mistrust that has assisted the Starflyer for a hundred thirty years. In addition, you will be able to witness its final demise.”

Nigel had never seen Paula look so uncertain before. There was even a sheen of perspiration on her forehead. He put the link to Johansson on hold. “You’ll have to go,” he told her gently. “Take Cat’s Claws with you; they’ll maintain your safety.”

“I arrested Morton,” she said indignantly.

“All right, some CST security operatives, then. But we need to get this moving.”

Wilson and Anna had been whispering together. “We’ll go,” Wilson said. “Someone from our group needs to confirm what happens on Far Away, if we ever reach it.”

“You two have no experience on dealing with unknown terrain,” Oscar said. “Besides, I’m a serving navy officer.”

“Enough.” Nigel held his hand up. “The three of you and Paula can go with Cat’s Claws. That’s it. Nelson, get them suited up, the best armor we have.” He brought Johansson back on-line. “Bradley, we’re sending a team out to you, including Investigator Myo; they’ll accompany you to Far Away.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sheldon.”

“I also will accompany Mr. Johansson,” Qatux announced.

Tiger Pansy’s giggle was loud in the auditorium. “I guess that means I get to go, too, huh?”

“If you would be so kind,” Qatux said. “I do not believe anything you can experience in the Commonwealth will be as rich with emotional content as this chase.”

“Sure. Okay,” Tiger Pansy said. “It’ll be a laugh.”

“Qatux, you can’t go,” Nigel said.

“Why not?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“That is for me to judge. I am an individual.”

“But we need you here,” Hoshe said.