“Chief Strategist Tan personally sent me this,” Yakov said. “The leaders on Ganymede are still debating what it means.”
Marten watched the video-feed from the Occam VII of the last Aquinas Wing Patrol. He witnessed the missiles, the destruction of the first two patrol boats and the dreadnaught rising from behind the asteroid-moon.
“This is Carme,” Yakov said. “It’s at the outer limit of Jovian space. This is what I want you to notice.”
A pointer appeared on-screen, showing a large and lighted circular area on the otherwise dark surface.
“What are we looking at?” Marten asked.
“Tan’s people have been running an analysis on the readings,” Yakov said. “The best estimate is a massive exhaust-port, crater-sized, in fact. The indications are that someone has bored vast tunnels into Carme to massive engines inside.”
Marten frowned at the Force-Leader. “That would take years to do.”
“It doesn’t seem to make sense, I know,” Yakov said. “It would indicate the cyborgs slipped into our system long ago and began secret construction there. Maybe they’ve lived like ants down there, hollowing it out, waiting for this moment. The question is why. Then one of Tan’s technicians recalled an intercepted message from the cyborgs.”
Omi muttered obscenities.
Yakov raised an eyebrow, but Omi said nothing more. Yakov readjusted the controls. On the vidscreen, the dark surface leaped closer as the picture became grainy. The pointer now showed what looked like low metal domes, but it was difficult to be definite.
“Tan’s people are of two minds on these,” Yakov said. “Some believe it is the upper part of a vast power-plant. The others think this is where the missiles came from.”
“Tell me about the intercepted message,” Marten said.
Yakov stared at the images. “It took several days to decode. It spoke about a planet-wrecker.”
“Planet, not a moon?” asked Marten.
Yakov looked up as his dark gaze bored into Marten. “That’s a shrewd comment. Do you understand what it means?”
Marten and Omi traded glances.
“I’m beginning to think I do,” Marten said.
Yakov put his hands on the vidscreen as he studied both ex-shock troopers. “Tan’s experts believe the cyborgs plan to move Carme. It would be extremely unwieldy as a warship, but if the experts are right, it will become something much worse.”
“Are you going to tell us what that is?” Omi asked.
“The intercepted message said it all,” Yakov whispered. “A planet-wrecker.”
“Yeah?” asked Omi. “What does that mean?”
The muscles at the corners of Yakov’s mouth tightened even more. “If Tan is right, the cyborgs plan to accelerate Carme and drive it into a moon or a planet.”
Omi shook his bullet-shaped head. “Why would cyborgs crash Carme into Jupiter? That doesn’t make sense.”
“I doubt Jupiter is their goal,” Yakov said. “Tan thinks this is a clever way to attack Mars, Earth or possibly Ganymede.”
“Huh?” asked Omi.
“It would explain why the cyborgs came here,” Yakov said. “The Mars Campaign would indicate they’re at war with the Highborn and that they turned traitor against Social Unity. I’ve had trouble understanding why they would dissipate military strength by sending cyborgs to Jupiter. With two such militarily powerful foes, why add to the number of their enemies? The answer may be because they believe this is the perfect way to attack their primary foes.”
“You’ve lost me,” Omi said.
“It’s basic,” Yakov said. “It is also clever. Maybe more than that, it’s also based on gargantuan mechanics. That’s what makes it difficult to see or conceptualize.”
“See what?” asked Omi. “I’m getting tired of your hinting. Just tell us.”
“If Tan is right, the cyborgs are taking Carme and attempting to turn it into a weapon of planetary destruction. Jupiter has sixty-three moons, more than any other system. Maybe they’ll attach massive engines and power plants to the other moons. If they build up enough velocity circling the gas giant, they could fling the moons at Earth or at Mars perhaps. In time—bam,” Yakov said as he clapped his hands together. “It’s extinction for everyone on that planet.”
Omi blinked rapidly. “A planet-wrecker,” he whispered.
“You need to send out your warships,” Marten said. “Destroy the wrecker before it can begin.”
Yakov shook his head. “It’s not that easy. The cyborgs have shattered the system, murdering nearly half the Jovian population with their strike on Callisto. The massive fortifications there helped guard the other Galilean moons. Obviously, Callisto doesn’t guard them anymore. Athena Station is now the strongest defensive position, and the cyborgs hold it.”
Yakov massaged his forehead. “They’ve slaughtered millions and put us on the brink of extinction, but they’ve lost four capital ships doing it. That means Tan has a slight edge with the remaining Guardian and Secessionist warships. It also turns out that the Pythagoras Cruise-Line can convert several of their tugs into mine-laying ships.”
“That doesn’t stop Carme,” Marten said.
“No,” said Yakov. “But it means that Tan has persuaded the others to send two meteor-ships into the outer system.”
“You just showed us the video,” Marten said. “A dreadnaught guards Carme. Can two meteor-ships fight past it?”
“Theoretically, we can.” Yakov drummed his fingers on the computer-desk. “One has to expect, however, that if the cyborgs have built engines and exhaust-ports large enough to move Carme, that they would have added missiles and laser-bunkers to it.”
“I know what to do,” Omi said.
Yakov looked at him with hope.
“It’s not our problem. Let Earth deal with it.”
Yakov shook his head. “It could be targeted on Ganymede. But even if their eventual plan is to target Earth, we can’t stand by and let the cyborgs win. If Social Unity goes down and if the Highborn lose, that would likely mean the end of humanity. We have a stake in seeing that doesn’t happen.”
“Radio Earth,” Marten said. “Tell them.”
“Tan already has.”
“No,” Omi said. “Social Unity isn’t our friend. Neither are the Highborn.”
“You speak truth,” Yakov muttered. “Both have done us harm. Yet both are still human.”
“That’s all beside the point,” said Marten. “Two meteor-ships might fail to take out a dreadnaught and an armored Carme.”
“The massive exhaust-port shows us that even two meteor-ships might fail to stop the moon,” Yakov said.
“I get it,” Omi said, with a bitter laugh. “You want to land shock troopers onto Carme, hoping they kill every cyborg there. It’s a suicide mission in other words, which means you plan on sending us and other fools to do it.”
“Tan has chosen me to go with you,” Yakov said quietly.
“We should have killed her when we had the chance,” Omi said. “Now she’s taking her revenge. Yeah, I know her kind.”
“The stakes are too high and her rationality too sound for that,” Yakov said.
Omi stared at the Force-Leader. “Don’t bet on it.”
“You’re missing a greater truth,” Yakov said, with a faint scowl. “Chief Strategist Tan is sending us because of you two. No one is better at space-marine fighting. You both know it, and you can both lead—”
“Lead other fools to commit suicide?” Omi asked.
“Perhaps we are all fools,” Yakov said. “Sometimes, however, fools win.”
“Fools luck?” asked Omi. “Marten’s and my luck ran out a long time ago.”
“So did mine,” Yakov said. “Still, in the end, the Secessionists broke free from the Dictates.”
Omi stared at the vidscreen, studying Carme and the bright mote on it. He whirled on Marten. “Aren’t you going to tell him this is crazy?”