“Good, good,” Gordy said. He bent a little at the waist and leaned forward. “That just leaves you, Doc…er, Professor.”
“Yes,” Kotov said, spearing Chalmers with his gaze. “We leave best for last. Turns out you’re something of a celeb in archeology circles, and beyond. In this reality, if not your own.”
Chalmers appeared confused. “How so?”
Kotov signaled to Gordy, and the holodisplay shifted again. “It’s quite simple, if astounding. Last year, according to galactic newscasts we intercept, you discovered first conclusive evidence of fossilized alien life in the tunnels beneath an abandoned mine on distant asteroid. Proving that humans were not the first intelligent beings to inhabit our arm of the Milky Way.”
He leaned back in his chair, uttered a booming laugh, and spread his arms wide. “You’re quite famous, Doctor-Professor. Thanks to you, we now know humanity is not alone in the cosmos.”
12
Chalmers sat open-mouthed in response to Kotov’s revelation, while Grady craned his neck and studied the holo. It now displayed a news article concerning the discovery of alien remnants. At the top was a picture of someone who was a facsimile of the woman sitting next to him, though her distinctive platinum blonde hair was styled in a shorter, more severe cut and her bronze tan was less pronounced.
“It’s you, Monika, no mistake, though your hair looks different,” he said, fixing her with his gaze. “I guess you were right about those tunnels, after all. It just took coming to an alternate reality to provide proof. Congratulations!”
“Thanks, Jack,” Chalmers said in a dry voice. “Though I’d as soon not be famous. It’ll make matters more complicated if I ever meet my counterpart in this dimension.” She peered at the holo. “And, judging by her—my—expression, she doesn’t seem like the type to share the limelight willingly.”
“What you’re telling me is that, deep down, you harbor a desire for fame and fortune,” Grady said with a grin. “Who knew?”
Chalmers’s lips compressed, her demeanor turning steely. “Only if such publicity were to open doors to additional funding and help me achieve my work. Otherwise, I’d prefer anonymity. I value my privacy over any temporary ego boost notoriety might bring.” She glanced at the holo. “But I can’t speak for my doppelgänger in this dimension. She might not agree with my sentiments should we meet in person.”
“Then let’s make sure that never happens,” Grady said. “The sooner we fix the ship and return to our own reality, the better. Like I mentioned, we don’t belong here.”
Footsteps sounded from the hallway, and a dark-haired woman wearing IC fatigues hurried to Kotov’s side, bending to whisper something in his ear. The Russian nodded, expressing his thanks in hushed tones, and the woman left the room without saying a word to anyone else.
Kotov lowered his head for a moment, stroked his mustache in a slow deliberate manner, then looked up and said, his countenance unruffled, “We have received long-range comm from scout ship Captain Lorcan dispatched. An Earth Galactic fleet has been spotted massing at the edge of the Badlands, with the starcarrier Ganymede at its core, as you told us. There can now be no doubt they are preparing to launch full-scale attack on our facility here.”
He and Gordy exchanged a look, and Kotov said, “This intel further validates that you and your crew speak the truth, Captain. However extraordinary it sound, I have to accept that you are undeniably from an alternate reality.” He leaned across the table and stretched out his meaty hand. “Welcome to our universe. Alas, you find rebellion in rough shape compared to what you tell Phil is much stronger condition where you come from.”
“I’m happy you believe us,” Grady said, clasping the hand and wincing at the strength of Kotov’s grip. “The treaty with Earth Galactic in my dimension, while far from perfect, has allowed the IC to consolidate its position. We still face many challenges and difficulties, pirates being one of them.”
His mind strayed to Fidelon’s account of the danger posed by the energy vampires, and he wondered if the trouble from outlaws and renegades paled compared to a potential alien incursion. Assuming Fidelon hadn’t exaggerated the threat.
He gave himself a mental shake, realizing that Kotov was expecting him to say more. “I couldn’t help noticing from your reaction, Major, that you don’t seem too concerned, or surprised, by the news of an impending invasion.”
“The intel is not unexpected,” Kotov replied, sitting back and nodding to alternate Mbeki. The master sergeant sketched a hasty salute and strode from the room. “Ever since we established base in Badlands after the attack on New Heb,” he continued, “we’ve suspected that it was only matter of time before Earth Galactic’s leadership dispatched its navy to root us out. We recognized our presence here could not be kept secret forever.”
“How did you become entrenched in this sector, anyway?” Grady asked. “I’d have thought the pirates and slavers living here wouldn’t have welcomed the arrival of a large force of rebels.”
Kotov chuckled. “They didn’t, at first. Some put up fight, while others saw us as better alternative than occupation troops from the mother planet—lesser of two evils from their perspective, I guess. I think they suspected it was inevitable war would eventually spill over into their lawless enclave.”
He motioned to a holo map of the Badlands Gordy now displayed, a green pulsing dot at its center. “There were enough of us that we were able to establish stronghold here. We came to agreement with dominant pirate clans—I am sure money changed hands—and have lived side-by-side with them in uneasy truce. We found this station abandoned and adrift near perimeter of Badlands, towed it here, and made it our headquarters. I suspect its former inhabitants fled when hostilities increased in sector, endangering their safety. But our stay in this region was only ever meant to be temporary, we realized that from outset.”
“In our reality,” Zoe said, her voice subdued. “The revolt began on New Heb and spread from there. Since the peace treaty, it’s now prospering as the linchpin of the IC in the quadrant, with Rosie Beck its commander and leader of the station’s governing council.” She gestured to Kotov. “As Captain Grady explained, our version of you sits on that council.”
“Yes, Rosie leads New Heb rebel council here, too. Sadly, events played out differently for us. No peace, only war, coming ever closer.” Kotov’s tone became grim as he frowned. “Someone, we still don’t know who, betrayed our plans on the eve of the insurrection. Earth Galactic declared martial law on New Heb and sent in shock troops led by a ruthless officer named Colonel Jessop, to reinforce the garrison. We resisted, more of us and better armed than they expected, and took control of station after fierce fighting. We lost many fine people that day, but enemy suffered even more casualties and withdrew. For now, anyway.”
“I’ve never heard of a Colonel Jessop,” Grady said, eyeing the floating image. “It was a Major Samuels who commanded the Earth Galactic troops sent to New Heb in our reality. As far as I know, no one betrayed the revolt, and it took Samuels by surprise. After a brief but bloody engagement, Rosie negotiated a ceasefire with her and the soldiers withdrew. There were losses on both sides, but not as many as it sounds like occurred here. So what happened after the enemy left the station?”
“New Heb had been damaged during battle. While repairs began, we realized need to establish fallback position elsewhere, expecting Earth Galactic to send more troops soon to retake station,” Kotov said. “We rallied our forces from across the sector and decided to establish secret base in Badlands, figuring it would be safe from enemy aggression, at least for a while. Now our sanctuary’s location is compromised, and that time is drawing to close.”
“What are you going to do? Stand and fight, or withdraw?” Grady asked.
“We don’t have enough ships or firepower to participate in pitched battle against an entire Earth Galactic fleet,” Kotov said with a heavy sigh. “The plan was always for outpost in Badlands to be a secondary strongpoint, should New Heb be endangered again. With an invasion imminent, we have no choice but to abandon our holdings here and regroup at New Heb, consolidate our forces. I’ve already given orders for evacuation to commence.”
He fixed Grady with a pensive stare. “In fact, your arrival is most serendipitous, Captain. Especially given what I’ve been told about your modified gunship’s capabilities.”
Grady had a sinking feeling he might not like the answer, but found himself asking, “How so?”
“Earth Galactic’s navy has established a picket line of warships around New Heb, a blockade of sorts,” Kotov said, interlacing his fingers on the tabletop. “It represents impediment to safe and timely transfer of our forces from Badlands to the station. Even if we drop out of FTL as close to New Heb as we dare, enemy will be at our backs and attack before we can regroup. Losses would be high. With your vessel’s impressive armaments, we could use your assistance to smash barrier and ensure our people retreating from Badlands reach New Heb unscathed.”
“As much as I would like to lend a hand,” Grady said, “my first responsibility is to the IC in my reality, and the mission I and my crew were entrusted with. I’m sure you understand. I’m sorry, but we can’t help you disrupt that blockade. We need to get back to our own dimension as soon as possible.”
He heard a sharp exhalation from Zoe and turned his head to meet her gaze. She remained silent, but the scowl that wreathed her face left him in no doubt she didn’t agree with his decision but chose not to dissent in public.
Chalmers evidently felt no such reticence and said, “While I honor your authority as captain, Jack, I am a civilian passenger and not a permanent member of your crew. This is an unprecedented situation. I don’t wish to be disrespectful, but I think we should discuss the major’s request back aboard Adventurer. If we can help support the rebellion, here or in our own part of the multiverse, I believe it’s our responsibility as members of the IC to do so.”
Kotov raised his hands palms facing forward. “I do not wish to cause dissension among your crew and passengers, Captain. But, as the good professor stated, you find yourselves in unparalleled circumstances. What you decide could have long-lasting consequences for humanity’s future. Why not take time to consider?”
He brushed a loose hair from the front of his jacket and added, “But not too long. Enemy might come knocking at our door at any moment.”
13
Muttered curses, in French, flowed from Adventurer’s engineering compartment as Grady stepped through the hatchway. “Uh-oh,” he said, approaching Squirt, who sat hunched in front of a control console, glaring at a holo. “That doesn’t sound like the happy crew I like to encourage on my ship.”
