Ex Nihilo - Abyssal Prophecy

Chapter 15

On the bridge, Captain Gabriel turned to see his crew looking at him warily. He knew the rules of the Chain of Command forbade contact with outside ships and aliens, but the situation demanded it. The screen by Chief Joshua showed the power was still out in the wards, the lifts were damaged, and many other warnings of potential problems. Gabriel didn’t bother saying anything. Instead, he marched towards his private quarters. Blackened blood still covered him and it was beginning to dry. Opening the door, he leaned in to see his wife talking to his daughter and the harem.

“Could you please fetch me a towel, Helena?” he asked.

She glanced back at her husband and then headed towards the bedroom. The room was dark and the bed sheets were crumpled up. The small chamber had a tiny shower in it, and from there Helena grabbed a towel. Returning to the main area, she handed her husband the towel.

“Thank you, my dear.” Gabriel used the towel to wipe the thick black blood from his body and then went and grabbed some clothes and slipped on the armour. Marching back to the bridge, he said, “Chief Joshua, I want you to hold off for a moment on giving the Death’s Reaper docking permission. We need to assemble the enter ship in case this is a deception or another attack. I can see some of you have something you’d like to say. Now is the time.” He looked around.

“Captain would it not be better to refuse their help?” Lord Whelsey asked.

“No, we could use those matter converters,” Matthew protested. “Even if this is a deception,  they’ll be exposed. If they decide to attack, we’ll defeat them, too, get the technology, and acquire a new ship.”

Kain had to agree with his little brother. He could sense that something had changed in Matthew.

With a smile, Gabriel marched over and stood next to Matthew. He always feared his youngest son was too soft, but now he was standing up to even Lord Whelsey. “Our captain’s decision is right. We need the technology on that ship one way or another. Perhaps you’re beginning to forget your place, Lord Whelsey,” Kain stated.

“Captain I don’t concur. This Captain Void is using us by offering exactly what we need when we need it. It was your ancestor, the first glorious Captain Alexander Soloman, who united this ship. He did that by bringing together all of the human prisoners to kill the alien scum, and since that time, we’ve stood unified,” Lord Whelsey pleaded. He studied the captain but could see he wasn’t getting anywhere. “However, I and my clan shall support you as we always have.”

            “Excellent, Lord Whelsey. We’ll need your troops in case we have to seize that ship.” Gabriel turned to Joshua. “What is the status of our ship's internal communications?”

            “Internal communications are still down along with ward power. Hell, I can’t even get the internal alarm systems back up with these power outages. The neural coms are still working, but as you know, most people in the Lower Wards have no neural implants,” Joshua informed him.

            “Keep working on repairs, Chief,” Gabriel urged. “Kain, use your neural coms to get what’s left of the Officer Guards to report to the hangar bay, and contact Nemesis to tell her we need all of the Lower Ward’s forces, as well. Lord Whelsey, contact Lord Drumpf and Lord Galen. We need their troops.”

            “Of course, my Captain.” Lord Whelsey activated his neural implant to contact Commander Verdas and Lance and Lords Drumpf and Galen.

“Well, if Captain Gabriel demands it, he shall have it,” Lord Drumpf replied, and tried to hide the raging anger in his mind. Lord Whelsey could sense his ally’s hatred of aliens, and he intended to use that to his advantage when the time came. Lord Galen was simply intrigued.

            “Inform the good Captain that I and my troops shall answer his call. My medics have already informed me about the situation and begun bringing the wounded in. I shall not be at full capacity as I must leave some of my best behind at the hospital.” Galen was as calm as ever.

Lord Whelsey turned back and smiled at Captain Gabriel.

            “You shall have all of the forces of the Upper Wards except for your son Hephaestus and his forgers. As you know, they only answer to you.” Lord Whelsey smiled. “What of Lady Freya, Lady Marimba, and Lord Oswald?”

            “They have little in the way of fighters to help us. Best we keep them in reserve in case anything should go wrong.” Gabriel turned to Joshua “You have the bridge until I return.”

            “Father, I have contacted Lady Nemesis and she and the lords of the Lower Wards are going to meet us with what troops they can spare. Most of their people are currently trying to repair the ship,” Kain said.

            “Tell Lady Nemesis to inform the other lords to bring their best warriors and to leave the rest to the repairs. I expect Lady Clotho to at least send her troops. I wouldn’t expect the blind old woman to be useful in any kind of fight, but her people still are,”  Gabriel motioned for the group to follow him as he marched through the broken bridge door.

“Father seems to be warming up to you,” Kain stated, following behind.

“Give it a day,” Matthew joked. “I am sure he’ll be back to hating me by morning. I think I just shocked him when he saw me in this power armour.”

Kain recalled the orders his father had given him, but given the situation, he wondered if his father had changed his mind. He didn’t trust the situation or this Captain Void, but he saw the tactical advantage of his father’s plan. The Death’s Reaper was a powerful ship, and would make either a powerful ally or a new addition to the Alcatraz.

When the lift came to a stop, the doors opened to reveal Lord Hephaestus and Galen waiting inside. Medics rushed in to help unload the wounded. Kain and Matthew joined to help their comrades. Everyone moved around the Captain and Lord Whelsey, who stood in the center of the lift.

            Even outside of power armour, Hephaestus was a towering monster of a man at over seven feet tall. He only wore robes to meetings and important events, preferring his power armour when he worked. Gabriel knew it was the increased strength and chemicals in the suit that heightened his performance. He had always admired Hephaestus's talent for mechanics and his ability to create almost anything he needed. He turned to Lord Galen who was overseeing the wounded being unloaded.

            “Lord Galen my old friend I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I could use your intelligence in this meeting. You have the greatest knowledge of aliens on this ship thanks to the medical records of the old prisoners.” Gabriel fell quiet to observe any reaction to his request. It was always hard to gauge the quiet and somber Lord Galen. He almost never showed emotions, yet his decisions were never made on just logic alone.

            “I wonder if my time couldn’t be better spent studying these interesting new corpses I’ve been brought. I have to say I find these creatures to be absolutely fascinating. I can only guess at the medical knowledge I can gleam from their autopsies and further studies. If only we could have managed to capture a live one.” Lord Galen sighed.

            In the distance the hum of the gravitational reactor resonated in the core ward. Heat pouring off it, and kept the core ward hotter than the other wards. From the lift Gabriel could see the massive machinery that kept the ship alive churning away. Oxygen recyclers hummed in steady beats, water purifiers pumped water through metal veins, and on the sides the massive hydroponic farms that grew their crops were silent. In the distance he saw Lady Marimba, Lady Freya, and Lord Oswald approaching with troops, and they came to a stop in front of their Captain.

            “These aliens perhaps shall reveal that they’re fools. If blood shall be shed the Players will be there to spill their share.” Lady Marimba stated.

            “Lord Hephastus told us you wanted us to stay back and defend the core, but we have more than enough people for that. We offer our best to you to show these aliens we’re strong and united.” Lady Freya pointed to her assembled troops.

            “Clan Crat will not be left out of the glory again.” Lord Oswald said with a sneer.

            “I hope you have reserves in place. If the aliens manage to overpower us they will flood up the great divide from the docking bay and overrun the core.” He didn’t wish to deter his people from offering aid, but he had to make sure they understood the stakes. The assembly of core lords nodded to show they understood the situation.

            “Come, Captain, let me lead you to the docking bay. I warn you its condition has deteriorated over the years,” Hephaestus warned. “It is not in the condition I’d prefer it to be in, but with the scarcity of resources I couldn’t justify repairing it over other more essential works.”

            Stepping off the lift, Lord Hephaestus opened the main doors of the forge with a DNA and hand scan and led the group inside. Inside the great forge, the glowing heart of the ship radiated the heat that was pumped to the other parts of the ship. A force field contained the massive one hundred and fifty-meter radius gravitational reactor. Beyond the shield, workers in power armour took readings, and effected regular maintenance to keep the reactor in perfect condition. Everything in the forge shined and glistened as if it were brand new.

            Ahead, the group saw the sign marking the stairs to the docking bay below the Core Wards. Old signs marking it as a link to the Lower Wards had been burned, smudged, or just crossed out. Gabriel knew it was the work of his ancestor, Captain Alexander Soloman. The original captain had the exits to the cargo bays fused shut when he took control. Over time, the people had converted those massive cargo bays into what was now known as the Lower Wards. Thick bulkheads of hardened metal now prevented anyone from accessing the docking bay except through the core.

            “Troops from the Upper Ward are arriving now, my Captain,” Lord Whelsey informed them. “Lord Drumpf, Lady Nemesis, and the Lower Wards lords are assembling their forces at the lift. They estimate it’ll be about ten minutes before they’re ready to meet us.”

            “Excellent news, Lord Whelsey. That’ll give us enough time to discern how to best prepare in case these aliens attack,” Captain Gabriel replied.

            Lord Hephaestus arrived at the massive thirty-meter tall gate. He approached the terminal and activated the DNA and hand scan. The computer chimed in acceptance, and the massive gate began to move,  revealing the docking bay.

Inside, several ships about half the size of the alien vessel sat covered in rust and grime. Rows of mining loaders sat in various states. Some were in the process of being disassembled, others were rusted, and a few looked in pristine condition. Lord Hephaestus activated another console the way he had opened the door. From the raised platform above the group, the docking bay lights bursts alive. Metal plates retracted for autocannons to pop out.

“Internal defenses have been activated.” Lord Hephaestus smiled. “We’re good to go here, Captain. Everything is at your disposal.”

Captain Gabriel glanced over the potential field of battle. He motioned for the Core Ward forces to take up position along the raised platform where the cover was strongest. From behind, he could hear the thundering sound of the troops descending the long stairwell. When the Lower Wards lords and ladies arrived with their troops, Gabriel marched over to give them orders. He was shocked to see Lady Clotho standing with them.

“I appreciate you coming, but I don’t see how a blind old woman like yourself can be of any value if this turns into a battle,” Gabriel warned.

“I assure you, Captain, I see more than you do,” Lady Clotho rebuked him. “Besides, my warriors are here, as well.” She turned to point to the blackened armour of the men and women of the Weaver Clan behind her. Gabriel was surprised she had such a large force.

“Where did they come from?” Matthew asked his brother.

“Lady Clotho is an expert in deception, brother. Don’t ever forget that. I imagine she is revealing her forces for another reason than to protect the ship. Believe only half what that woman says, but trust none of it.”

Kain’s harshness shocked Matthew. He wondered why his brother bore such anger towards Clotho, but the ill-feeling left over from the ritual told him that perhaps his brother had undergone something similar.

“Lady Nemesis, your forces are the best melee fighters on the ship. I want your forces to hold the main ramp in case we need to retreat.” Gabriel turned to look at Commanders Verdas and Lance arriving with Lord Drumpf. “Lord Drumpf, I see you brought your best people. Divide your troops on the far left and right flanks.”

“Of course, Captain. It’d be my honour,” Drumpf stated, hiding his secret complaints. He hated putting his men in any danger at all, and on the flanks, they’d be the most exposed. He wondered why he saw so few of the Officer Guards. Perhaps the aliens had done more damage to the Officer Clan than either Kain or Captain Gabriel dared to admit, but they could also be holding them back in case of a rebellion, which was wise. Lord Drumpf studied the captain from a distance, trying to ascertain the truth of the situation.

“Commander Verdas, your troops will provide direct support for when we go down to parley.”

Commander Verdas saluted the captain.

“Lord Hector, your forces shall join us, and Lord Cornelius, I want your forces out in front.”

With a grim expression, Lord Cornelius turned to relay the orders to his people. Once again, his people were being put on the front line to act as meat shields. If anything went wrong, the Drudges would paythe highest price. Gabriel turned  to his sons.

“Hephaestus, your troops are to defend the upper staircase in case of disaster. Matthew, I want you at my side. Perhaps your compassion will aid in diplomacy.” Leaning into Kain, he whispered, “Are the officers in control of the bridge and officer level?”

“Of course. Father. I didn’t need to hear your plan to know what you would expect of me.”

His father just smiled in response and patted him on the shoulder.

Accessing the neural communications Gabriel sent the command to his son Joshua to send docking codes and procedures. The sound of the docking system roared to life in the docking bay. Marching down the ramp, Gabriel headed to the docking bay where the Death’s Reaper would enter. Behind him, the sound of troops’ boots overtook the noise of the machines.

Gabriel stood with his lords, ladies, and a legion of troops in power armour surrounding him. Together, they waited for the ship to land. He smiled with confidence that this show of force would deter Captain Void from any hostilities--and if not, he was prepared for anything that came.