The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

His name is Rikhi Syed. You can apologize to him first.” He stood. “Our armor is much stronger, and the helmet AI is a generational leap.”

“Upgrades are good.”

“I see. You believe I’m making a proposition.”

Michael shrugged. “Way I see it, there’s two ways this ends. One, we live forever. Two, we’ll be crispy critters. Either way, Valentin, those fucking hybrids are doomed. Time to take a stand.”

“Hmm. Has your newfound immortality lifted your confidence?”

“Doesn’t hurt.”

“I assume you’re eager to see Samantha.”

“Can’t happen fast enough.”

Valentin smiled when the boy, Rikhi Syed, rose in a daze.

“If you’re wrong about this,” Valentin said, “I’ll bring you both before my brother and watch him incinerate you.”

Michael had not felt this at ease in months.

“Sounds like a plan.”

His eyes locked onto the awakened child. Michael thought of the best way to apologize for killing him.

59

Project Drawbridge staging area

Star system NP-44

 

T ENSION PRECEDED EXHILIRATION onboard the Praxis command bridge when the news arrived: The jumpgate was activated. Maj. Aiden Nilsson shared their cautious exuberance that the most dramatic moment in human history had arrived. Bigger than the original Anchor tests, this would prove the viability of instantaneous mass transit across the galaxy. He heard the whispers about what it meant, far beyond the imminent invasion. Before long, they said, the Chancellory would not be bound to the Collectorate. Assuming, of course, the gate worked as advertised. Nilsson hoped he didn’t kill Frances Bouchet too soon.

“Prepare for the test sequence,” Supreme Admiral Poussard announced. “Anchor crew, initiate your device.”

The last of the Anchor prototypes, identical to the ones destroyed on Tamarind and Euphrates, was visible on a holowindow from its position in the landing bay. Capt. Delano Forsythe commanded the team on that end while Poussard directed the big show from the captain’s dais. Nilsson stood at Poussard’s side, by her invitation.

“These are the moments I miss,” she said. “Out here in space, preparing for combat, commanding a fleet. A far cry from an office in the GPM. A word of advice, Major. If you ever advance to Admiral, remain with a fleet. If you’re appointed to a position in the GPM, retire or kill yourself.”

“I’ll keep that under advisement, Admiral.”

She laughed through closed lips and threw open a wide-scope view of the jumpgate.

“It’s impressive how quickly we built it,” she said. “Efficiency has not been our modus operandi for decades.”

Nilsson agreed, but he also realized its simplistic design features made quick construction possible. The gate resembled the superstructure of a space station in the first months of development. The lateral members formed a perfect square at eleven hundred meters across. Two identical frameworks, separated by a hundred meters, were joined by a series of trusses. The foci arms which opened the aperture on the Anchor prototypes were replaced by dish stations at the center of each side, projecting inward. Four more dishes on the second superstructure controlled the destination quantum signature and created the Void effect, allowing space to be folded. Shipboard commands sent holographic pattern sleeves to the appropriate dishes.

Poussard turned to her lead navigator.

“Col. Johansson, open the gate aperture. Capt. Forsythe, prepare to receive.”

The four dishes on the forward superstructure blasted green, focused light into the center, creating the illusion of four equal mini-gates. The anterior superstructure exploded with similar special effects, but the results morphed in a matter of seconds. They formed a bright green funnel which lost its color and became a black, pulsating storm and finally, a whirlpool.

“Amazing,” Poussard said before looking around the bridge. “Is this what was supposed to happen?”

No one disagreed, but this was the first live test.

“Send in the drones,” Poussard ordered.

Four AI-piloted vessels the size of refrigerators initiated enough thrust to cross the threshold.

Results were, of course, immediate.

The first drone arrived instantaneously in the Praxis landing bay via the Anchor. Another exited into open space ten thousand kilometers beyond the gate. A third hit its mark by rendezvousing with a fast-moving asteroid six million kilometers out.

“As long as we have a signature,” she told Nilsson, “we can go anywhere anytime. Does this seem like a fantasy come true?”

“It does, Admiral. I think I might invest in the jumpgate industry.”

“Is there one?”

“No. Want to go in with me, fifty-fifty?”

They shared a laugh. Poussard ordered the gate powered down and opened a shipwide comm.

“On behalf of the Admiralty, and for that matter all of civilized humanity, I offer congratulations. With practice out of the way, it’s time for the main event. Prepare your stations. We jump in one hour.”

Nilsson’s exuberance returned to apprehension. Poussard must have seen his grimace.

“Concerns, Major?”

“I’m used to having time to celebrate achievements. Admiral, we’re flying blind into this mission. The terrorists … Salvation … whatever you want to call them. We underestimated them for years. Look at us now. If this goes sideways, there’s no obvious retreat. No jumpgate on their end, and we don’t know how long it will take to dismantle their Nexus blockade.”

Poussard nodded. “True on all counts, Major. But no battle is without risk, even with superior forces. We understand what’s at stake. If we lose today, we quite possibly lose forever. And I’m not just talking about the primary attack. Yes?”

“Yes, Admiral.” Nilsson felt dirty at the prospect. “I selected two soldiers I can trust. Both spec-ops. They’ve done nastier business.”

“Good. I want you in and out of there before we burn it down.”

He sighed. “Let’s see what the scouting turns up first. I hope it’s as straightforward as you theorize.”

“It will be. After studying James Bouchet’s CVid propaganda, it’s clear to me what we’ll find. Is your team onboard?”

“They’ll be en route momentarily.”

“Excellent. Major, you do understand? I can’t give you more than an hour’s lead time.”