Cries of the Wolf Read online

  “Thank you, Keven.” She smirked appreciating his constant attention to detail. “I’ll be in my ready room. Please join me for a moment.” Meomi left the bridge without addressing the crew.

  “Carry on with the battle preparations,” said the First Officer to the bridge crew before following his captain.

  Meomi settled into her chair.

  “You wish to see me, Captain?” Commander Rhyne stood at attention in front of Meomi.

  “At ease, Keven. Has Ensign Manalo filed his after-action report on the mission yet?”

  “I don’t believe so, Captain. Shall I instruct him to prioritize the after-action report?”

  “No,” she said as she waved her hand. “Did you file yours to Fleet Command?”

  “A preliminary one, yes.” He nodded. “That is standard operating procedure, Captain.”

  “I know, Keven. I can always count on you to follow procedure.”

  “Indeed, Captain. Was there anything else?”

  “When is the funeral for Laurine?”

  “Tomorrow morning, 0700 hours. I thought it most prudent to honor our fallen before we engage in a new conflict.”

  “Thank you, Keven. That will be all.”

  Commander Rhyne turned and exited the captain’s ready room.

  Meomi opened Lieutenant Remy's service record on her datapad. It was a captain’s sacred duty to notify the next of kin of those that died while under her command. She clutched at her chest as she read through Laurine’s files. Her first memories on board the Cerberus were of Laurine. Being the Chief Security Officer, Lieutenant Remy was the first to greet Meomi and helped her feel at home on the ship. Laurine loved the Cerberus and understood more of the various nuances and temperaments of the seven-decade-old ship than even the Chief Engineer.

  Captain Hana had lost comrades in arms before. During the Colony Wars, the mortality rate of the Commonwealth Infantry was near sixty percent. Laurine’s death sliced deeper for Meomi than the loss of her marine squad mates. Lieutenant Remy was the first death under Meomi's command as a Fleet Captain — a senseless casualty Meomi believed could have been avoided if she made a different decision.

  The door notification sounded.

  She closed Laurine’s file on her datapad. “Enter,” Meomi said as she quickly wiped at her cheeks.

  “Cap… Tain…” Rayfin said the word as slowly as he entered the ready room. He inserted himself into Meomi’s private moment of grief, standing erect in front of her desk like a statue memorializing her pain. He was there with her — an ever-present witness to the mistakes she believed she made resulting in the death of her Security Officer and friend.

  Meomi fixed her eyes on Rayfin, unable to speak. She feared he might blame her as much as she blamed her herself. Ultimately, the Captain was responsible for every life on the ship.

  Memories of Nocia flooded Meomi’s mind. The images crashed and mixed together, sinking her deeper into sorrow. The avalanche. The cave. The strange humming. The jungle. The smoking volcano. The twin moons. The singing. The puzzling artifact. Meomi’s eyes lit up. The artifact. “Rayfin, are you certain you didn’t see anything that could be construed as an alien artifact? Something like a shiny, black cube with no visible markings on the exterior?”

  Rayfin’s eyes darted up and to the side. “I… That’s an awfully specific something, Captain. I wish I could tell you I did.”

  Meomi rubbed her chin. She was certain she saw the strange object and wondered how it was possible for Rayfin to not see it. Solving the mystery of the cube could be the key to understanding Laurine’s death. Nothing else mattered. Her skin tingled as she noticed Rayfin staring. “Ensign. Why are you here?” She asked while scratching her arm.

  He raised his head. “I filed my Nocia mission report.”

  Meomi felt her heart beating through her chest. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

  “No, Captain.” He pulled his shoulders back. “I made it clear that Lieutenant Remy’s death wasn’t your fault. I wanted you to know that.”

  “Thank you, Ensign.” Meomi leaned back in her chair, half melting into the cushion.

  “But…” Rayfin held up a finger.

  “Yes?” Tension restored in Meomi’s spine.

  “Something happened down there… On the bottom of that canyon… Something very strange…” he said while shaking his head.

  Meomi touched her lips. “Ensign, strange would only get us to the edge of that massive understatement.”

  Rayfin grinned. “I’m glad I wasn’t the only person to feel that way. I didn’t want to file a report that could make Fleet send their brain scanners and take me away for a please-do-not-resist psych eval. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Well…” He stared into the ceiling. “Yeah, no one should.”

  Meomi sighed. “I would think Fleet Command has other priorities at the moment. Was there anything else, Ensign?”

  “No, Captain.” He saluted and exited the ready room.

  Captain Hana began a draft letter for Laurine’s parents. She started and stopped a dozen times, unconvinced her words could ever convey how much the lieutenant meant to her and the crew. A dull pain curled its way up her spine. Meomi placed her datapad on her desk and rested her back on the sofa. Her eyelids pulled themselves closed. Without intending to, she drifted into sleep.

  Commander Rhyne stood over Meomi. “Captain,” he said softly.

  Her eyes jerked open. “Keven! Are we at the rendezvous point already?”

  He nodded. “We are, Captain.”

  “I suppose I was more tired than I thought.” She rapidly blinked her eyes, trying to focus them.

  “You have a comm request from Captain Roman Harper. He asked for you on a private channel.”

  “Send it to my datapad.”

  “Already, did. He’s waiting for you now.” Commander Rhyne left the ready room, giving the captain her privacy.

  Meomi smoothed her hair as she sat in her chair. She picked up her datapad and approved the private comm. A man in his late 50s with black-rimmed glasses, gray hair, and a white mustache appeared on her screen. “Captain Harper. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  “Meomi! It’s good to see you again.” His eyes lit up. “Been far too long. Far too long. Did you get my message from earlier?”

  “I did, Roman. I’m sorry our reunion isn’t under better circumstances.” She frowned.

  “Listen, you know how I hate to stir up a Nevese hornet’s nest — I’ve been messaging the other captains, and no one has heard of Fleet Marshall Matthias Klopp.”

  Meomi scratched her temple. “I authenticated the orders. It definitely came from the offices of Fleet High Command.”

  “Yes, my orders were also authenticated.” He scoffed.

  “I don’t understand, Roman. Do you have reasons to believe the orders are unlawful?”

  “Unlawful? No. Unusual. Unconventional. Unprecedented.” He pushed his glasses up. “This Matthias Klopp fellow, he came from nowhere to being the man in charge of an entire armada with over 2500 warships. That is simply too much power given to one man. A man that no one has ever heard of before!”

  “Give me a minute.” Meomi pushed the video feed to the corner while she pulled up the roster of ships in the 5th Navy. 2500 warships divided into 84 Carrier groups. 800 Destroyers. 350 Heavy Cruisers. Combined, the 5th Navy was the largest showing of military might in the history of humankind. It was understandable for cautious personalities like Captain Harper to be concerned. 2500 warships were more than enough to overthrow the Commonwealth government. Power great as that in the wrong hands could theoretically spiral the galaxy into anarchy.

  Meomi knew better than most the Mimic threat facing the Commonwealth. “I understand your concern, Roman. The reciprocating defense needs to be greater than the size of the perceived threat. You taught me this. I was there on Gosi Prime. These Mimic aliens are easily mankind’s greatest threat. Let me assure you, we will need every ship and more.”

>   Captain Harper sighed. “I understand what you are saying. I really do. Let me ask you this. If humanity were to be facing its greatest crisis, then why is an unknown leading its defense? Why is it that dozens of Fleet’s finest admirals and captains have never heard of Mathias Klopp?”

  “I can’t answer that, Roman. But I can tell you, coming from a former battlefield grunt, the leaders didn’t matter. Wars weren’t won in the meeting rooms. The combined blood, sweat, and tears of every marine in the Commonwealth Infantry won every centimeter of ground in the Colony Wars.”

  Captain Harper smiled. “One day, Meomi… One day, you’ll be more Fleet Officer than space marine. I look forward to that day."

  "We'll see." She returned the smile.

  "Good luck, Captain Hana.”

  Meomi nodded. “Good luck to you as well. Meomi out.” She placed her datapad neatly in the corner of her desk and joined the rest of her officers.

  “Captain on the bridge!” announced Commander Rhyne.

  “At ease, everyone.” She stood next to her Commander. “Situation report.”

  “According to our orders, we are to join Carrier Group 73, led by Rear Admiral Iseabail Cananach. Do you know her, Captain?”

  Meomi shook her head. “Only by reputation. She’s a fierce leader. We’ll be in good hands.”

  “I see,” he said with his lips pressed together.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you, Keven. You used your objection tone just now.”

  “It's nothing, Captain.”

  “Keven, please speak your mind.”

  “If you insist, Captain. I must preface what I am about to say. I am not privy to the overall strategic designs of our admirals.”

  “So noted, Keven.” She smirked.

  Commander Rhyne updated the holo-table at the center of the bridge. A three-dimensional rendering of the entire 5th Navy floated above the table. Commander Rhyne pointed at the ships as he expressed his concerns. “Many of the groupings do not seem balanced. In some cases, there are light cruisers without any heavily armored ships to absorb enemy fire. I also see a grouping with multiple carriers without escort or shielding ships. It has been a proven military tactic to have a broad mix of attack and supporting vessels. I am…” He slowly turned his head toward Meomi. “… bewildered.”

  Captain Hana sat in her chair as she thought of a response. Commander Rhyne had a point. Perhaps Captain Harper’s apprehensions were well-founded, and the entire 5th Navy could be doomed by an inexperienced Fleet Marshall. But she was not in a position to dictate change. “We have our orders, Commander. Maneuver the Cerberus to join with Admiral Cananach’s group.”

  “Captain!” shouted Rayfin.

  “Yes, Ensign.” She tilted her head.

  “I’m getting a request from someone claiming to be from Fleet Intelligence. Says he’s from the Special Operations Divisions.”

  “Spec Ops?” Meomi narrowed her eyes.

  “Yes, Captain. They request to immediately board our ship. What should I tell them?”

  5

  Captain Hana and Commander Rhyne waited for the passengers of the Spec Op vessel to disembark.

  “Do you have any idea what this could be about?” Meomi asked her first officer.

  “No, Captain. However, the timing and urgency of the request suggest it may have to do with our mission on Nocia.”

  She ran through the various scenarios in her mind. The death of a Fleet Officer. The failed mission to capture the traitor. The artifact mentioned in the report she filed.

  The shuttle doors opened.

  A tall, blue-eyed male with dark hair and square features stepped out. He wore a black and silver standard issue Fleet Intelligence uniform, with a captain’s pin on his neck. Following behind was a teenage male who had a ghostly to the point of sick-looking complexion.

  Meomi was immediately drawn to the unusual-looking boy with his distinctive rainbow-colored irises. “An Entrent,” she whispered to Keven.

  “It would appear so, Captain.” He raised his eyebrows. “Intriguing.”

  The broad-face Captain locked eyes with Meomi. “Captain Hana, I presume.” He offered his hand. “Captain Khoan Thorne. Fleet Intelligence.”

  Meomi accepted his hand. “Greetings, Captain. This is my First Officer, Commander Rhyne.”

  “Commander.” Thorne nodded his greeting. “Allow me to introduce you to Inoke.” He brought the teenage boy to his side. “He’ll be accompanying me wherever I go.”

  “Welcome, to the both of you.” Meomi kept her stare on Thorne and away from the mind-reading boy. “With the pleasantries out of the way, let’s cut to it. I wasn’t expecting a visit from Fleet Intelligence. We’re rather busy with battle preparations. Why are you here?”

  “I completely understand, Captain.” Thorne kept a blank expression. “Is there someplace we can talk privately?”

  Meomi glanced at Keven. “Whatever you want to say you can say in front of my First Officer.”

  “Captain.” Thorne took off his gloves and ran his fingers through his hair, adjusting a strand that fell out of place. “I must insist that you and I talk privately. Also, I’d like it if you could make Ensign Manalo available for questioning. He is, after all, the only other survivor from your Nocia mission.”

  Meomi crossed her arms. She felt slighted in the combination of words and tone Thorne used, implying Laurine's death was her fault. “As I said, Captain Thorne, I’m rather…”

  “Before you finish that sentence, Captain…” Thorne pulled out his datapad. He flicked to an opened document and held the screen to Meomi’s eye level. The first sentence read:

  Until further notice, Captain Meomi Hana is to relinquish command of the CMS Cerberus to Captain Khoan Thorne and comply with all inquiries deemed pertinent to his investigation.

  Commander Rhyne took the datapad from Thorne and read the entire order. “This was made official an hour ago by the office of Fleet High Command, signed by Admiral Nehemiah Hunt. Thus, I see no grounds to object. I’m afraid we must comply with Captain Thorne’s request.”

  “Keven…” Anger and betrayal fought a war inside Meomi. She knew the internal politics of Fleet was a tricky minefield to navigate, but she did not expect Fleet retaliation so soon after her Nocia mission. Meomi searched her memories for anyone who could have an ax to grind with her. Many captains were less than thrilled to see a former grunt join their ranks.

  Less than an hour ago, Meomi was busy preparing the Cerberus for war, and now she lost command of both her crew and ship. “Doesn’t… Doesn’t the Fleet Marshall’s orders supersede this request?” Her eyes pleaded with her First Officer.

  “Unfortunately, no, Captain. This is a lawful order from a superior officer. We must comply.”

  His words were like a knife twisting in Meomi’s back. For a brief moment, she wondered if Keven was the person to escalate Nocia up the command structure. Her relationship with Commander Rhyne never reached a level of friendship some captains shared with their first officers, but she thought they worked well together.

  “I’ve already notified Rear Admiral Cananach.” Thorne pulled Meomi out of her head. “The Cerberus won’t be joining her carrier group. Commander Rhyne, please confine Mr. Manalo to his quarters. I will be questioning him shortly. And post a guard outside his door. Ensure no one talks to him before I do.”

  Keven looked at Meomi before acknowledging his new Captain. “Understood, Captain Thorne.” He turned and exited the hangar bay.

  “Now, if you’ll please lead the way to the briefing room, Captain Hana.” Thorne gestured for her to move.

  Meomi gritted her teeth. Her eyes darted toward Inoke after she noticed the Entrent staring at her. His eyes blazed a fiery red. She inhaled a deep breath, pivoted, and said, “Follow me.”

  Meomi, Captain Thorne, and Inoke made their way to the briefing room. No one spoke a word during the short walk, two decks up.

  Captain Hana felt her brain itch every time she
saw the Entrent staring at her. She wasn’t sure if Inoke was reading her mind, or if she was paranoid he could be. Given the oddities surrounding Meomi since Nocia, she had reason to be paranoid.

  The corridors were mostly devoid of sailors. None of the crew wanted to be in the vicinity of a “brain cleaner” — the less than affectionate name given to Entrents with their abilities to probe human minds.

  “After you,” Meomi said, gesturing for her guests to enter the briefing room.

  Images of the cube artifact were a constant in Meomi’s mind even as she fought to forget every occurrence. The harder she worked to erase the memories, the more vivid they became. Meomi found herself asking questions about the cube. Where did it first appear? Why can no one else see it? Why and how does it hover off the ground? Then she noticed blood underneath her fingernails. She had been unconsciously scratching the back of her neck. Meomi slammed her fist into the briefing room table and glared at Inoke. “Are you doing something to me?” A question and an accusation.

  Inoke continued staring at Meomi without blinking. His eyes changed to a golden yellow as he tilted his head to the side.

  Meomi moved to the other corner of the room, keeping Thorne between her and the Entrent.

  “Please have a seat, Captain Hana.” Thorne pulled out a chair for Inoke. “I have questions about the jungle you found while on Nocia.”

  Meomi’s eyes opened wide, but her lips remained tightly sealed. She'd yet to process the events during the mission let alone prepare for a debriefing.

  “Ensign Manalo said in his report you found a hidden jungle with a volcano on an ice planet?”

  Meomi raised her eyebrows. She wondered if he considered her an unfit captain. It would explain why Spec Ops relieved her of command so quickly. “I’ll admit that certain details in the report may sound crazy but...”

  Thorne held up his hand interrupting her. “Can you describe the plant life?” he asked while facing Inoke.

  When the Entrent didn’t respond, Meomi stared at Thorne still with her eyebrows raised. “Me? Were you asking me?”

  “Yes, you, Captain. Assume I’m always talking to you if Inoke is in the room.” Thorne returned his gaze to Inoke. “The plant life. The soil. The animals. The smells. The sounds. Describe any details you remember.”