The Delmarian Influence

Chapter Five

5.

Unclassified Recovery Vessel

4100 O.E., Septam 18, 18:10:25.00

Location Undisclosed.

"We have confirmation of infection, sir. Should we start recovery procedures?" Lieutenant Grey looked up from the communication console toward the salt and pepper haired general.

General Haltor leaned back in his chair, staring at the stealth vessel that held the infected ranger and his quarry. He'd warned Ranger Gedfrey the best way he knew how.

"What kind of readings are we getting, Grey?"

The Lieutenant studied the console before him. "We can't see much past the hull, sir. His screens are up."

General Haltor knew he could give the order to have the screens removed, but he feared what kind of infection ship to ship contact could cause.

"Is there any sign that the vessel has been compromised? Any energy signatures that could suggest that any action has been taken since the torp was sent?"

The lieutenant let his fingers fall over the console as his brow wrinkled. He tried scan after scan before a smile replaced his grim features.

"I'm getting a point zero three energy signature from his cargo bay. It's rebounding off the screens. Something pretty massive must be doing it for it to touch the screens, sir."

The general rubbed his clean-shaven chin. An energy build up, in his opinion, was a bad sign. Something was happening inside that vessel.

"Back us off a bit, Garrison," General Haltor told the captain.

Captain Garrison rubbed his hands together, touching the keypad of the piloting console. He stifled a relieved sigh.

"Should I calculate for a jump, sir?" Garrison inquired.

"No, Captain, not yet. I want a fusion torp loaded and a molecular disrupter brought online. Target the cargo bay."

"But there's still a ranger on board, general!" Lieutenant Grey argued.

"Lieutenant, keep in mind that you're talking to a general," Captain Garrison replied quickly. "Torp loaded and disrupter brought online. Targeting--"

There was a flash of light through the consoles that blinded them all. The screen that sat before them blackened then turned a crimson red.

"Welcome!" a voice boomed over the loud speakers.

"I wish you no harm, only the opportunity to go free. Your ranger was not harmed and neither will you be. I only want to be left to myself, General Haltor."

"How do you know my name?" the general demanded, reaching for his own console and locking the system out.

"William Haltor, born 4021 G.E., on Earth Colony Five. Son of Halbert and Emilia Haltor. Shall I go on?"

"Please?" General Haltor finished the lock out and all primary systems went down, leaving only the flickering of auxiliary screens.

The entire vessel quieted except for the ventilators, which were working even softer.

"I know you, William," a voice whispered inside his head.

The general moved quickly, grabbing a disrupter from his belt and pointing it toward his head. "Safety protocols off-line. Authorization Five, Niner, Alpha, Zeta, Ten, Cleo."

"I concur," Captain Garrison pulled a disrupter from his own side holster.

"What?" the lieutenant stood, his eyes wide and his ears quirked as the ventilators died.

General Haltor pulled the trigger and his head lulled forward.

The captain aimed his own disrupter at the Lieutenant whose own defense mechanisms were creating a Bilous coating outside his flesh.

"Sorry," the captain said as he pointed toward a hole in the Bilous covering and fired.

The Lieutenant slumped forward and the Bilous began to retreat, then lost its cohesion and dissipated in the stale air.

The Captain called his own safety protocols off-line, but could not seem to raise the disrupter to his own head.

"I am you," a voice whispered in his head as he dropped to the ground. The last sound he heard was the sound of the ventilators running again and the consoles asking for a recognition code.