The Vorian Incursion: The Swallowtail Voyages, Book 2 Read online

  “Lieutenant Skye,” the captain said, reaching out a hand. “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.” Skye shook his hand with a firm grip. The captain had black hair that was streaked with gray, a tan complexion, and stood a full two heads taller than the other officers in the room.

  “Thank you, Captain Zonta,” Skye said, looking about the room. Ten people stood around a circular dark colored metallic table. The far wall of the briefing room was a floor-to-ceiling window, which overlooked a class five nebula. “I must admit, I’m a bit curious as to why I’ve been activated aboard a starship. It’s not my typical fare.”

  “It shouldn’t be, to begin with,” a voice said testily. Skye met the gaze of another man in the room who looked to be in his mid-thirties. He narrowed his eyes at her. She felt herself flinch in response. The captain and first officer exchanged uneasy glances.

  “My apologies,” the captain said, “This is our chief engineer, Lieutenant Commander Sekar Bharat.”

  “It’s a pleasure,” Skye said. She reached out to shake his hand, but was met with a sneer. The captain gave him a hard look.

  “Bharat.” The captain’s voice was threatening. Reluctantly, Bharat offered her a quick, insincere handshake before stomping off to his seat at the table. Skye wasn’t sure what she had done to anger him, but she could tell he didn’t want her to be there at all.

  The captain sighed and Commander Bradley rolled her eyes.

  “You’ll have to forgive Sekar,” Commander Bradley whispered. “He’s not a fan of the Swallowtail program.”

  “What I am not a fan of is the Council’s casual acceptance of disposable humans,” Bharat said with severe disdain. “I can be professional for the sake of the mission, but do not expect me to sit idly and accept the Council’s attempts to replace highly-trained Spacewing engineers with this.” He gestured toward Skye, cheeks flushed and face twisted in cold fury. Captain Zonta drew in a sharp breath. “I mean, she doesn’t even look like a normal human; she looks like a movie star. What movie star would do repair jobs? This is ridiculous.”

  “Your objection is noted, Sekar,” Captain Zonta said firmly. “But we will press forward with our mission and Lieutenant Skye will be included in this mission.” Skye felt the temperature rise in the room. She wished she had the comforting voice of Mal to calm her. Whatever this mission was, she didn’t want to be the source of argument. She’d never known that there were individuals within Spacewing who found fault with the Swallowtail program.

  “Captain, I don’t wish to be a source of contention,” Skye said. In her experience, she had never felt so…discriminated against. “If there’s anything—”

  “You don’t need to apologize, Skye,” The captain answered. “Your program represents a new direction for Spacewing, and I will admit that there are very important and unresolved considerations we need to make regarding imprinted individuals as the program matures.”

  The doors to the briefing room swished open behind Skye, and she jumped in surprise. A diplomatic smile appeared on Captain Zonta’s face as Skye turned around to see a humanoid creature she didn’t recognize join them inside the room. The creature had pale green skin dotted with blue freckles. Its nose and ears were flat holes situated flush against its oblong skull. It possessed four eyes, with two set in a similar position to a human face, and two additional eyes further to the sides of its face, adjacent to its temples. Stretching along its jawline were folds of yellow gills. It wore a tan mesh-spun shirt that accommodated the creature’s wide chest and short neck. The garment tapered toward the chest and billowed out in thick tufts, covering its feet. The captain took the creature’s webbed hand in his, shaking it firmly.

  “V’ktal, you’re just in time for our debriefing,” the captain said warmly.

  “Thank you, captain,” Its black eyes dilated toward Skye. “You must be the manufactured mind. Swallowtail, yes?” Skye wasn’t sure which set of eyes to look at. They looked like four dark and sparkling pools on the creature’s face.

  “That’s me,” Skye said in what she hoped was a chipper voice. “My name is Skye.”

  “Excellent,” V’ktal responded. “It is a great thing that you have joined us for this mission, Skye.” Its voice sounded like a bubbling stream, yet it spoke Standard in a clear, well-spoken accent. “Shall we begin?”

  “By all means,” Captain Zonta said. V’ktal moved to the head of the table while Captain Zonta and Commander Bradley took seats across from each other. Skye sat at the chair across from Commander Bharat. With everyone in place, V’ktal reached out an arm and spread his webbed fingers. A set of glowing blue schematics appeared in the air above the table. They depicted a planet, complete with the major bodies of land and water marked on it.

  “This is Vorian,” V’ktal began. “Our planet has been under Drekynn rule for almost a decade now. We, the Vorian people, are treated like the lowest caste of citizens. We are starving because the Drekynns take the greater share of food for themselves. We are sick, but have no proper medical training or supplies. We do the greatest share of the work, and are not compensated fairly for the work that we do. The Drekynns enforce martial law upon our people, executing Vorians for the slightest infraction. As a result, there has, in recent years, been a rising resistance movement to free the Vorian people from the cruelty of Drekynn rule.”

  “Our resistance has been in contact with the Council. For several months now, we have been requesting their aid in helping us to throw off Drekynn rule. The Council, so far, has been silent to our pleas. Our efforts to join the Council in recent months have caused the Drekynns to retaliate by imparting trade sanctions and strengthening its military presence in our cities.” The creature’s eyes blinked sideways.

  “Their assertion of control has made it difficult for the people of the Resistance to obtain the already scarce supplies of food and medicine. You see, we do not possess T.A.S. technology like many of the other member planets that comprise the Council. I have been acting as an agent for Spacewing for two cycles to keep them apprised of the situation on Vorian, and have been doing everything I can to help my own people, but it’s not enough. We are starving. Many are sick. We cannot walk the streets without the fear of getting beaten or killed by the Drekynn military.”

  “And where do we come into this equation?” Bharat asked. “We are a trusted emissary of the Council. If the Council does not sanction a humanitarian mission, then why are we meeting with you now?”

  “The reason I am here is to beg for your aid. You are our last hope. We’re not asking for the Council to send ships to attack or to fight our battles for us. We are just asking for food and medicine so that we can continue to resist and hope to eventually prevail against the Drekynn Empire. And as to the specifics, your captain and I have created a plan.” Commander Bradley’s eyes went wide and she looked to the captain.

  “Kai, you don’t mean to violate the sanctions?” The captain drew in a deep breath as he looked at the commander with a grim look on his face.

  “Officially, I am bound by the orders of Spacewing and the Council,” he began. “As you know, our official standing orders are that all Council planets are to obey the sanctions put in place by the Drekynn Empire.” He rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “Those are the official orders.”

  “And I’m guessing by the fact that a Vorian is in this room with us, that there’s more to this than the official orders,” Bradley said, her brow furrowing. Skye wasn’t comfortable with what she was hearing. She was just an engineer. How could she be expected to aid a Resistance movement?

  “Captain,” Skye said. “I just have to admit that I don’t understand how I fit into this, either. What do I have to offer that you don’t already have at your disposal with your engineering crew?” There was a low hum as everyone in the room began speaking in undertones among themselves.

  “Unfortunately, I also agree with Lieutenant Skye. Captain, what are we doing?” Bharat asked, his voice belying his short temper. “I
f the Drekynns caught wind of the fact that we’re even meeting with V’ktal—” The captain held up a hand and the room went silent.

  “Two days ago, at 1420 hours, a message came in over an encrypted Council channel,” the captain said. “This message simply contained a set of jump coordinates relative to our position and a universal timestamp. You’ll recall that we changed course yesterday with the explanation that we were to study a nebula in the Colaris System. In actuality, our scans after the jump revealed two ships, a small ship containing one lifeform, V’ktal, and the Swallowtail. V’ktal’s ship was brought inside our storage bay while the Swallowtail requested to be docked.”

  “Though the Council hasn’t issued any new orders, and therefore hasn’t violated the standing order of neutrality, it’s clear that we are expected to read between the lines. These are a people in dire need and when I became a captain, I did so with the intention of exploring the galaxy and helping those in need.”

  “What everyone in this room must understand is that yes, I am planning on violating the sanctions, and that I am doing so without the official support of the Council. I am asking the same of you, but you are not expected to comply. Should the mission go awry, the Council will not come to our rescue.”

  His declaration was met with silence. Everyone in the room sat, absorbing the enormity of the situation. The captain looked around, his gaze calm and collected. He let them think for a moment. He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table.

  “I would like to send a team. Lieutenant Skye, you have specialized skills that can be utilized in this situation, and someone within the Council leadership agrees,” he said. “Additionally, the away team will require the use of your T.A.S from the Swallowtail in order to quickly and efficiently produce the necessities that the Vorian resistance requires in order to take back their planet from the Drekynns.” Skye nodded in agreement.

  “Sekar, you will go, as well. Your skills as an engineer will be of the utmost necessity.”

  “But I am not replaceable,” Bharat said sourly.

  “No,” the captain acknowledged. “However, you do have the skills and knowledge that will be indispensable to the team and the mission.”

  “Very well,” Bharat replied, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms across his chest. “The Swallowtail T.A.S. is very different from the rudimentary ones aboard the Artemis. I’ll need the clearance to review the specifications before I go down.”

  “Agreed. As for the rest of you, I need at least one person from the command team to lead the mission.” The captain looked around the table at each of the remaining people. “You are all qualified to do this.”

  “I will go as well,” Commander Bradley said.

  “Very good,” the captain said, nodding to her with solemnity. “I am appointing Commander Bradley in charge as per her choice. You will be sent in the morning at 0700 hours. For the time being, the Artemis will not be in contact with the Council as we have gone off-network. I believe that this is, ultimately, a humanitarian mission, and that it is being done for the good of the universe and the structure of the Council. As your captain, you may not agree with me, but I do expect you to follow directives. If anyone contacts the Council before the completion of this mission, he or she will be brought up on charges of treason.” The room was silent as the captain looked each person in the eye. “You are all dismissed.”

  The captain looked tired as all of the people filtered out. Skye and Commander Bradley remained seated. Skye leaned forward.

  “Um, I don’t know if you’re familiar with how I work…” she began.

  “Forty-eight hours,” the captain replied. “Yes, I’ve been briefed about your limitations. Bharat has already informed me that he can override and increase that limit by an additional ten hours should you run out of time.” Skye was taken aback.

  “What?” The captain turned to look at her.

  “Not all the limitations placed on you were for technical reasons, Skye. I’m surprised you hadn’t discovered that already.” He said it softly; it was kindly meant, but Skye felt as if she had been slapped. Why had she never been informed? “Spend tonight preparing and reprint yourself prior to meeting for the mission. This is going to be quite an involved task.” Skye nodded, standing. Commander Bradley stood also, ready to lead Skye back to the Swallowtail.

  “Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “Bring your utility belt.”

  “Understood.”

  Chapter Three

  Commander Bradley and Skye walked in silence back to the dock. Skye still marveled at the build of the ship, but her mind was buzzing with information. She felt a thrill of excitement about the next day’s mission. As they entered the cargo hold, Commander Bradley cleared her throat. Skye looked at her expectantly.

  The commander’s gaze was fixed upon the nearest window, which overlooked a rather spectacular view of the nebula. She recognized the familiar coalescence that suggested a star would be born within it soon, perhaps in a hundred years. She wondered if she’d be around to witness it.

  “Such a beautiful view,” Commander Bradley said. “For such ugly things to be happening just a system away on Vorian.”

  “Aren’t terrible things happening everywhere?” Skye asked, her mind returning to some of her past missions. The commander nodded.

  “I can see how it would seem that way to you. You’re only activated when something has gone wrong. Unfortunately too many terrible things are happening in this universe. It’s what we’re working to change where we can. The team and I will meet you here at 0600 hours in order to prepare and board the Swallowtail for the mission,” the commander said, getting back down to her usual businesslike manner.

  “See you in the morning,” Skye said, then began her climb through the hatch and back to the Swallowtail and Mal.

  ***

  “So, Captain Zonta is going off-network,” Mal said in an interested voice. “I think I am quite excited to be a part of this—we have never gone rogue before.” Skye smiled. She had used the T.A.S. to print out a copy of a fizzy, sweet beverage that Mal had suggested. She was leaning back in the chair in the cockpit while discussing the mission with Mal.

  She took a sip of the drink—it was cool and sweet. It helped soothe the nervousness in her stomach.

  “What is this called, Mal?”

  “Lemonade,” Mal said. “Although it does not typically have carbonation. That is entirely an Earth innovation.”

  “How so?”

  “In some atmospheres, pressurized carbonation could be rather unsettling to the stomach, to say the least.”

  “How so?”

  “Explosively so.”

  “So, then the Vorian atmosphere—”

  “Nothing to worry about.” Mal said confidently. “You’re going to reprint yourself before leaving anyway.”

  “That’s right.” Skye took another sip. “Is there anything that you can tell me about my teammates, by any chance?”

  “Well, let’s see…” Mal hummed an upbeat ragtime tune as he scanned the records for each member of the away team. “Commander Laura Bradley. Age forty-five. She was born on the Mars Colony. She is married with two children. Her husband works as a chef on the Artemis. Commander Bradley has a rather sterling record, having risen through the ranks fairly quickly beginning when she was first stationed on the Artemis straight out of the Spacewing Academy.”

  “Sounds about right,” Skye replied. “What about Bharat?”

  “Lieutenant Commander Sekar Bharat. Age thirty-three. He was born on the Aslon Colony. He trained as an engineer at the Spacewing Applied Engineering Branch. His focus was, and you will be quite shocked, is artificial intelligence and programming.”

  “What? But he hates us,” Skye replied, choking on the lemonade.

  “No. It is in his records that he has filed complaints against the Swallowtail program for stealing his research.”

  “No way. He developed the Swallowt
ail program?”

  “Well, no,” Mal said. “But some of our newer upgrades definitely overlap with what research Bharat has published.”

  “I thought he hated the idea of disposable crewman!”

  “Did he say that? Interesting.” Mal didn’t sound in the least bit contrite.

  “He seems like he’ll be an interesting person to work with, for sure.”

  “His work is quite impressive,” Mal mused, and Skye shook her head. “He is really very intelligent. But his logs reveal that he believes very strongly that the Council has overlooked his achievements and misused the Swallowtail Program.”

  “He’s definitely a piece of work,” Skye said. “What about V’ktal?” Mal hummed for a bit.

  “The Council’s Vorian records are a bit spotty in more recent years due to the Drekynn occupation. The Vorians are considered to be lesser beings by the Drekynn, and as such, are not allowed to have technology, nor are they kept record of. In the records we have from before the Drekynn occupation, V’ktal appeared to have been born about fifty Vorian years ago, or thirty-five cycles. He has or had one sister, Dai.” Skye nodded.

  “So tell me about Vorian itself.”

  “Let’s see. Vorian is a planet with a population of about four billion. It contains six continents that are mainly desert-like in nature, and five major bodies of water. The Vorian people themselves have a distinctive have green skin and blue freckles. The average Vorian has four eyes, two on the front of the skull, and two on the sides, giving them a remarkable range of peripheral vision. Their vestigial nose is comprised of two holes in the front of the skull, which lack cartilage. They do not typically breathe through it due to their desert-like habitat. Instead, they breathe through a series of dry-gills at the sides of their neck, so that the dust in the air is filtered properly before the air enters their lungs.”