"Computer, seal this room. Deactivate all listening devices," she spoke her voice authorization code and then the Main Computer chimed acknowledgment. A series of subtle clicks filled the briefing room for a few seconds, indicating the room had been effectively sealed off from the rest of the Station. The group took seats around a briefing room conference table.
"Okay. I guess we can start with you telling me how you got on board my Station without being detected."
"Admiral, we scanned your Station before we boarded—your Station is massive, well equipped, and heavily armed. . . but it's an antique compared to our ship." Major Storm replied. "Getting past your Station's internal sensors required no effort. Before your power started failing, I and my team had already infiltrated your bridge, and the most key areas of your station, on every deck. Our ship executed a power drain on your main and auxiliary power grid. The power will be restored to your Station soon. We phased through your Station's internal defenses—staying undetected was a simple matter, one I'm not at liberty to talk about." —Shadow Forces, Aaen admired. "By the time we took out your main and auxiliary power—"
"What about the rest of my crew?"
"They're safe, and still hidden. Your Station is under siege until I signal for them to stand down."
"—Now."
Major Storm reached for a small device attached to his right ear. "All units: stand down. Restore power to the Station." the lights gradually came back on.
"Admiral, that Vortex has brought you, your crew, and your Station into our universe." said another of Major Storm's team, a male of what Aaen guessed to be in his 20's.
—What? Aaen thought to himself, astonished at what he was hearing. "I'm sorry, what?"
—The Admiral waved him off. "So, where is here?"
"Here is classified."
"Classified?" the captain asked.
"Correct."
"Are there hostile aliens here?" Aaen asked.
"—Do you really want to know the answer to that question?" Major Storm replied.
"Like, extremely hostile cybernetic aliens?" the captain added.
Major Storm gave him a steely look. "Perhaps. There are multiple alien species that are trying to steal the technology, but that doesn't include . . . at least, not yet."
"Can you show us who they are?" Major Storm asked.
The Admiral nodded to Aaen who called up an image on the briefing room's monitor.
"What in the—!" another of Major Storm's team gasped.
"It's grotesque, but that's basically what they look like—," the captain said.
"We have encountered a lot of different alien races over the years since the Roswell incident in '47. Some of them are hostile to humanity and our allies. The ones that crashed in New Mexico were friendly. We can go into that more, later. Admiral, tell me about these aliens you mentioned,"
The Admiral explained in three minutes. Major Storm was still as a statue.
"It takes nearly your entire fleet to destroy even one of their ships?"
"Not all of them make it out of the battle."
"Have you lost any people to these things?"
"Lots. They are the most invasive and hostile species we've ever known—"
"Next to—them," Aaen added.
Major Storm gasped. He and the Admiral continued with a lengthy and detailed information exchange—to whit, Aaen was boggled by what he was hearing from Major Storm, and then Major Storm said, "Well, Admiral, it sounds to me like it would be in both of our mutual interests to officiate an alliance,"
"I agree."
"I'll let my superiors know about this meeting, and to expect a diplomatic envoy in the near future."
The Admiral nodded acknowledgment. "I'll do the same as soon as we get back,"
Major Storm nodded acknowledgment.
"Major, could my crew and I come aboard your ship and have a look around?" the Admiral asked.
"Ad—"
"Bridge to briefing room." the Exec called over the intercom. The Admiral ordered the Main Computer to re-enable outgoing communication from the briefing room.
"Go ahead," she answered.
"Ma'am, we've got something on long-range sensors. I'm not sure what to make of it. Whatever it is—it's huge, and it appears to be on an intercept course."
"Is it broadcasting a transponder signal?" Major Storm asked.
"—None."
Major Storm and the Admiral exchanged looks of surprise.
"Were you expecting any other ships to be in this area?" the Admiral asked Major Storm.
"No."
"Then who else could it be?"
"Let's get back to your bridge."
They rushed back to the bridge, where the Admiral and Major Storm proceeded to the Admiral's computer station—his team took stationary tactical positions throughout the bridge; Aaen and the captain briskly walked to their respective workstations. Aaen couldn't help but notice Daniel's team were not at ease. What do they know about what's going on that we don't? Aaen wondered.
"Begin active sensor scans, Exec, I wanna know what's out there."
"Roger!"
"Communications, are we getting any hails from the sensor contact?" Daniel asked.
"No, not yet."
"—They just vanished!" Exec said.
"Confirm: you are not seeing the sensor contact?" Daniel asked.
"Confirmed! All external sensor systems show no glitches or malfunctions."
"What does that mean?" the Admiral asked.
"Keep doing scans, Admiral. Keep your station at maximum readiness." Daniel started to walk off the bridge.
"What was the sensor contact?" the captain asked Daniel.
The lights started to gradually dim. The power grid sounded like it was subtly whining.
Aaen looked up and around him. "What's going on?" Aaen asked.
"Is it the Rotelans or the Tholarians?" the Admiral asked.
"They're adrift, between us and the Vortex! Same with the Tholarians! Power levels on both ships are fluctuating."
"Admiral, I strongly advise you, your crew, and your Station and those other two ships get back through that Vortex as soon as possible."
"Why?"
Daniel touched the device attached to his right ear. "—We're gonna have company. Soon."
"—Alright. Strategic Ops: charge cannons and standby all torpedo launchers. Engineer: divert all available power to navigation, propulsion, shields, and weapons. Chief of Operations: get ready to lock tractor beams on the Rotelan and the Tholarian vessels. Commander Aaen: prepare to take us back through the Vortex. We'll drag the Rotelan and the Tholarians back with us."
Each Officer acknowledged their orders.
"Are the Shadows still on board?" Aaen asked. "Where's their ship?" Aaen asked, looking at the main viewscreen
"—They're gone." the captain said.
"Set a course back to the Vortex!"
"Trying!—Something's interfering with navigation!"
The bridge went dark—including the main viewscreen.
"Why does the power keep going out?"
"This is Lieutenant Watson down here in main engineering! Captain! Someone's sabotaged the main power grid! We won't be able to get back through the Vortex without main power!"
"Who did that?" the captain asked.
"I think—" Watson was cut off.
"Hello?" Aaen asked. "Hello?" the bridge was silent for ten seconds, and then Aaen looked to his left. "Admiral, something's not right."
"I agree. Security!"
—The bridge computer stations blacked out.
*****
Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."
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