Baldwin's Legacy: The Complete Series Read online

  “A fool’s errand?” Tom asked. “My people are there. Greblok has been all but destroyed, and you’ll turn your back on them so quickly? They’ll be forced into slavery, and when the Statu return, they’ll send them against us, just like they did so many years ago. Is that what the Concord is to you? Were the alliance and Code created so we could trick the people and still do what we want?”

  Tom was angry, and he tried to calm himself. He was normally level-headed, but the admiral had gone too far.

  “Let me out of this room, Baldwin,” Hudson said.

  Constantine nodded to Tom. “Fine. You’re free to leave.”

  Tom tapped his console, letting the door slide open to reveal his two largest guards. They were Tekol: Brax’s best, according to the chief of security’s reports. He’d brought them along from his last posting, and they were huge and imposing.

  “Detain Thomas Baldwin, by direct orders from the Concord,” Hudson told them. The two guards peered past him to Tom, who shook his head slightly.

  “I’m sorry, Admiral Hudson. That won’t be happening,” Tom said and the guards grabbed Hudson by the arms. “Prime, are you with us?”

  Prime Pha’n swallowed hard and nodded. “Our actions pave the roads to consequences, good or bad.” She quoted the Code, and Tom accepted her statement as a yes.

  “Take him,” Tom ordered.

  “You won’t get away with this. Captain Shu, there’s still time. You can end this and take over. Wouldn’t you like to have this vessel? We can even swap out the AI for Cecilia if you prefer. Yin, don’t make this mistake.”

  Captain Shu didn’t move. They heard the old admiral shouting as the doors closed.

  “Baldwin, I hope you have a plan,” Shu said, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she smiled at him.

  “Of course I do. How do you feel about wormholes?”

  Eighteen

  “Both of these worlds are inhabited,” Reeve told them as Cleo inched toward the planets.

  Tarlen watched from behind the two women, the viewer zoomed so they could see the beautiful worlds from afar. “Why are they so green?”

  Treena answered. “They have a lot of trees and greenspace. See the white sections? Those are ice caps.”

  “Wow. Greblok didn’t look like this from space,” he told them.

  “No. Your planet was a little different,” Reeve said.

  “I think these look nice,” Tarlen said.

  “You wouldn’t say that if you were there with your people, I imagine,” Treena said, reminding Tarlen that they were on one of these worlds somewhere.

  “How are we going to rescue them?” Tarlen asked. They’d been circumspect when it came to his questions, and he was beginning to get the feeling they weren’t here for his people. They were here for their own man, Reeve’s brother.

  Reeve typed on her computer screen, and Tarlen tried to see what she was doing. “Brax is on the fifth planet. I guess we were wrong. It’s not too often we find two habitable worlds so close to one another. This is quite the prize. No wonder the Statu used these locations.”

  “Where do they live? I don’t see any lights,” he said.

  “Good point.” Treena zoomed in on the fifth planet from the star. “There aren’t any satellites or drones, no space station, no warships in orbit. Nothing. This doesn’t seem like the home of an advanced race.”

  “We didn’t have those things above Greblok,” Tarlen said, stopping himself short. She was implying Greblok wasn’t advanced either, and he guessed that compared to what these fancy space explorers were used to, his home was probably a pile of dust.

  “Brax’s tag shows him here…” Reeve tapped her console, and Tarlen bent over the bench to see the rough outline of a continent.

  “Can we find a better look at it without them being alerted to our presence?” Treena asked.

  Constantine appeared beside Tarlen, startling him. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever grow used to the artificial man appearing from thin air. It was unusual. The man seemed so real. He was pleasant, friendly, and talked to Tarlen like an equal. Tarlen found himself liking the AI, even if he wasn’t a real person.

  “Our probes are newly designed and will emit nothing the Statu will have ever come across. They will be safe to use. Would you like me to send them into orbit? We’ll be able to access imagery of the continent within the hour,” Constantine said.

  Treena nodded. “Make it happen.”

  Tarlen watched as tiny blue flashes emitted out of the viewer, heading toward each of the two planets. “What do you think we’ll find?”

  “I suspect we’ll locate their slave camps, and we’ll discover more ships under construction,” Constantine said.

  “You don’t seem surprised that they’re still around, Con,” Treena told the AI.

  “Honestly, I’m not. I was there, I saw the human inside the enemy’s suit, and then a lot of things happened that were hidden from the Concord, even from me. I tried to access select files after being promoted to admiral, but I was denied,” he told the commander.

  Tarlen had the feeling he was missing out on some pertinent information, and he stayed standing, watching the tiny lights fade as the probes raced to their destination.

  “I knew it,” Reeve said. “I’ve studied that day so many times.”

  “We all did,” Treena told her. “For them to disappear like that after Yollox always bothered me. The victory speech was rushed, the whole thing stank of a cover-up, but since it happened twenty years before I was born, it was just commonplace to my generation. My father always swore there was more to the War. He never trusted the Prime, and now I see why.”

  Reeve turned to look at the AI, and one of her braids almost hit Tarlen in the eye. He laughed, but she was dead serious. “Constantine, how do you remember that? I thought they only gave you his tactical memories. You’re nothing like the other AIs we’ve ever had. You’re so…”

  “Real?” Constantine asked.

  “That’s the word. Real.” Reeve stared at him, and Tarlen did too, waiting for his answer.

  “I was programmed to not reveal this, but I’ve managed to alter the parameters of my system,” Constantine said.

  “What does that mean?” Tarlen asked the AI.

  Constantine turned to Tarlen, his brown eyes the same color as his hair. He smiled, his cheeks appearing smooth, as if he’d just shaven. He never changed. His uniform was always perfectly pressed, his hair never varying. “The Concord has strict rules about how much of a person they can actually place into a computer. Two decades ago, there was a company off of the Venteen system that specialized in placing minds into alternative bodies.”

  “What’s an alternative body?” Tarlen thought he knew, but he wanted to be sure.

  “Tarlen, say you were sick, and someone gave you a star cycle to live. You could go to R-emergence and have your memories saved into a hard drive. They would then offer you a variety of forms to place it into. You might only want to be able to control a tablet, and your wife could turn the device on and ask you where you left the table salt, and turn you off again. Or you might decide that you wanted to walk around in a cybernetic likeness of yourself,” Constantine said.

  “Wow. Are you saying I could have a robot made in my likeness and continue to live using it?” Tarlen asked.

  The AI nodded. “That’s right, if you have enough money.”

  “Can we not do this right now?” Treena growled, and Tarlen assumed they’d hit a touchy subject for her. Her mood changed in a flash.

  “We have the time to discuss…” Constantine began.

  “Enough.”

  Reeve cut into the conversation. “Con, are you saying that’s the real deal in there? You’re the complete version of Constantine Baldwin?”

  “That’s what I’m saying,” he told her.

  “Does Thomas know about this?” she asked.

  “No, he doesn’t. I’m afraid of how he might react,” Constantine said.

 
“You don’t seem like the old man. I met him before he passed away,” Treena said.

  “I have his memories, but I’m functioning as the thirty-year-old version of Constantine, so if I’m a little less disgruntled and battle-hardened, forgive me,” he said.

  Tarlen laughed. “Were you an old crank?”

  “I might have been called a few things in my day, but that was likely one of the many monikers I went by,” Constantine told him.

  “What would happen if they learned the truth? Doesn’t this cross some serious ethical boundaries?” Reeve asked. Tarlen noticed how she glanced over at Treena, and he knew something passed between them that he wasn’t able to follow.

  “It does, and that’s why they were using me as a trial. They added the limiter to prevent me from spilling the beans to the crew. I guess they didn’t expect the most advanced flagship ever built to have openings for me to sneak through. It really was quite easy,” Constantine said.

  “So why tell us?” Treena asked.

  “Because this might give us an advantage. The files were mostly encrypted, but I did find out something important,” he said.

  “What’s that?” Reeve asked.

  “The Statu sensors are very poor. We built Cleo to intentionally evade them if we ever met again. You should be able to fly right in their vicinity without their radar picking us up. Unless their technology has improved in five decades,” he said.

  “You’re telling me the Concord equipped this expedition ship with anti-radar specifically to fool the Statu?” Treena asked.

  Tarlen stood there, unwilling to move or make a sound.

  “That’s what I’m saying,” Constantine told her.

  “Then they had reason to believe the Statu were up to something. They expected this, didn’t they?” Treena was turned around the whole way, watching the AI.

  “I can’t say, but that would make sense,” he said.

  “The probes are in orbit,” Reeve said, and the viewer changed to show them images of the distant world. From here, it was only a speck among the blackness, but from the current images rolling over the viewer, it was much different.

  Trees and fields filled the screen, and Tarlen had a longing to see the planet, to run barefoot over the grass. He noticed a lake, and he wanted to dive into the clear blue-green water and swim.

  “What’s that?” Treena asked, and Reeve used her finger to slide over the console screen, rewinding the video feed. “Pause it there.”

  The picture showed something vast and dark inhabiting the grassy fields. “Can you zoom?” Constantine asked.

  Reeve did, and the image was blurry. Seconds later, it was crisp again. “That’s a piece of a Statu warship.”

  “And that’s a building beside it.” Reeve tapped at the screen more, and she smiled. “And that’s where my brother’s tag says he is.”

  Tarlen felt a rush of excitement. They were in a ship the enemy couldn’t find on radar but would be able to spot with their eyes. It was going to be a challenge making it to the surface, but if anyone could do it, it was these amazing Concord crew members. Tarlen felt like he was in a storybook, thrust into the action beside the heroes, and while he was thrilled they’d found his people, he was terrified of the next step.

  He suddenly felt so out of place. Tarlen peered at Constantine, who only stared forward silently as they considered their move.

  ____________

  Brax was surprised when they’d ended their shift in the dark and had been led to the building beside the workstation to see real bunks for the slaves. They were fed a measly serving of the same gruel and a ration of water, and directed to sleep. This was all done with waving of guns and no real communication. Some things were universal.

  There were troughs along the wall of a separate room, the entire thing crude and terrible. Many of the sites would likely be taken over by vicious viruses before long, and Brax hoped that if it happened here, they’d go quickly.

  He sat on his bunk, the room almost totally dark, and thought about the day. He was exhausted, his sweat dried now, leaving an odor the rest of the slaves had as well. He rubbed his arms, trying to ease the tension out, and wondered if his sister was coming for him.

  Likely the entire Concord was racing to their rescue, especially since the Statu were involved. He sat back, leaning against the stone wall. He couldn’t imagine being here long-term. Brax listened to the sounds of the room and felt their pain. There were numerous people gently weeping in their bunks, no blankets or pillows to console them.

  Some were softly talking in the darkness, others humming peacefully, likely trying to soothe a neighbor or child. This was no place for children, but there were at least five among their group. A few of the stronger adults had taken the duty of protecting them on their shoulders, and Brax was glad to let them have the job. He had other things to consider.

  He tried to hear sounds from outside but couldn’t. There was nothing. Only foreign insects chirping the night away through the slotted windows high above his bunk. A sliver of moonlight sneaked in, centering on a man in his bunk. He was sleeping, and as Brax stared forward, the beam shifted to the side, highlighting a frightened woman. Her eyes glistened as she lay there unblinking.

  It was some time before Brax felt the tug of sleep pulling him away. He moved, his stiff muscles protesting the shift, and he lay on the hard bunk, intertwining his fingers and putting his arms behind his head.

  Eventually, sleep found him, and he hoped tomorrow would bring some type of resolution. He didn’t think the Bacals were going to be able to last in this condition. As he drifted into an exhausted slumber, he thought about his sister and hoped she was okay.

  ____________

  “You did what?” Ven asked, visibly perplexed.

  “Look, he’s a jerk. He had it coming to him,” Tom told his executive lieutenant.

  “That doesn’t give you the right to apprehend one of the most important men in the Concord,” Ven told him.

  “Sure it does. Plus, I had backing from the Prime.” Tom grinned as he told Ven this little bit of information, and the man instantly relaxed.

  “Why didn’t you lead with that, Captain?” he asked.

  “What fun would that be?” Tom countered. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He waved over Captain Yin Shu. She strode across the bridge, hands behind her back, her spine straight as she took in the sights.

  “Captain, this is Executive Lieutenant Ven, from Zilph’i.” Tom nodded at the tall albino, who bowed gently toward Captain Shu. He hadn’t shown Tom as much deference, but maybe it had something to do with the fact that Shu was Callalay, not human.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ven. I’ve heard good things. How are you acclimating to the ship?” she asked.

  “I find it acceptable. I must say, I wasn’t expecting so much action so early on,” Ven told her.

  “That’s not a surprise. I’d love to talk with you at a later date so I can learn a bit about the Ugna...if you’re willing to discuss your lineage, that is.”

  “I’d be most happy to, Captain,” Ven said.

  “Good. Now that that’s settled, can we discuss our next move?” Tom asked.

  “This is a nice bridge, Captain.” Shu said the last with a smile.

  “Thank you. I’d like to say I had some say in the décor, but it was already done when I arrived,” Tom told her. The viewer was filled with the wormhole, ever bright, colorful, and swirling.

  “You want to travel through there?” Shu asked him.

  “I’d prefer if you went first,” he said, and she stared at him, unmoving. “I’m kidding, of course.”

  “I don’t recall you being so glib on board my ship, Captain.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m nervous and don’t know what to do with myself. I mean, I arrested an admiral and called out the Prime. By all accounts, I should be in the brig myself, or worse,” he told her. Tom was glad to have his old captain on board for the time being so they could formulate a
real plan.

  “First things first. We need to tell the others in the Fleet of the Statu’s return. We can keep the admiral and Prime’s involvement out of it for now, but they need to be alerted in case our rescue mission goes awry. If they are indeed returned, this could be an all-out war,” Shu said. She walked to the front of the bridge, hands clasped behind her, and watched the wormhole. “It is beautiful.”

  “It is. So are the wild Rayes from Piya, but they’re also one of the deadliest creatures in the universe,” he said.

  “Captain, would you like me to relay the message?” Junior Officer Zare asked from her helm position beside Ven.

  “Yes. Here it is: All Concord worlds, this is Captain Thomas Baldwin of the Concord’s newest cruise ship Constantine. We have reason to believe the Statu have returned. Upon our emissary mission to welcome Greblok into our fold, we were attacked by a warship. The world was heavily damaged and most of the population killed, many taken by Movers.

  “We followed them to a wormhole before they vanished. The coordinates have been sent, and we do believe the anomaly to be stable. We’re joined by Captain Yin Shu of the Cecilia to venture through in an effort to retrieve the Bacals and their ore, and to prevent any further war with our familiar adversary.

  “The Statu have attacked us in Concord space, contrary to the Code, and we will not accept this act of war without response. Attached are the details as we know them. Until we meet in the Vastness, Captain Thomas Baldwin out.” Tom straightened his uniform with a hand and glanced at Shu.

  “That was a little dramatic, don’t you think?” she asked.

  “I wanted them to understand the seriousness of our mission. Are you shipping the Prime back home, or keeping her with you?” Tom asked.

  “She can stay on my ship. She knew about the Statu; she can be at risk with the rest of us. I have a feeling the Concord will have to be shaken up after this,” Shu told him.

  “I’d have to agree,” Tom said.

  “When do we leave?”