“Please, Dr. Hofstader,” Garret responded immediately. “If Mr. Vance feels it is important, we shouldn’t delay.”
Hofstader rose slowly from his chair. He wasn’t easily intimidated, but the last few months had been bizarre to say the least. Expelled from the scientific mission on Epsilon Eridani IV, just before be boarded his shuttle he was handed a data chip with some extraordinary information…evidence he’d used to develop a theory so shocking, he’d at first been hesitant to share it even with his assistant. Then his transport was intercepted by a Martian warship and he was escorted off and taken to a meeting with none other than Roderick Vance. Now he was in a conference room with the top commanders of the Alliance military. Hofstader didn’t care about nationalities…not now. If what he theorized was correct, it transcended borders and nations. If he was right, mankind was at an historic juncture. And in grave danger.
“Thank you, Admiral Garret.” His voice was clear and steady. With everything that had already happened, he was beyond being nervous about addressing a few officers, however highly ranked. He’d settled into an odd sort of calm. “As you all know from my previous introduction, I am a physicist. My primary fields of research are antimatter and sub-atomic particles.” His eyes moved around the table as he spoke. “I was assigned to the research project on Carson’s World to study the alien artifact that was discovered there.”
He took a step back from the table, which gave him a better view of everyone as he spoke. “I developed a theory that the structure on that planet was actually far vaster than indicated by preliminary investigation. In fact, I believed it to be planetwide, extending all the way down to the core. Unfortunately, the committee in charge of the expedition had imposed very rigid rules regarding the pace of research and exploration.”
A momentary flash of anger gripped Hofstader – he was still bitter about the Committee and its actions in expelling him. “I took it upon myself to conduct unauthorized explorations in which I was able to confirm – to my satisfaction, at least – that my initial hypothesis was correct. The structure was a massive antimatter production facility, drawing on all of the planet’s seismic and volcanic activity for power.”
“That must be the answer.” There were rumblings from everyone present, but it was Terrance Compton who spoke first. “One of the Powers must have successfully infiltrated the facility and learned enough to mimic the technology.”
The others started to all speak at once, but Vance put up his hands. “Gentlemen, please…your indulgence. Dr. Hofstader has much more to share with you, so I ask you all to refrain from jumping to conclusions.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vance.” Hofstader shifted his feet nervously. What he had to tell them wasn’t easy. “I’m afraid, Admiral Compton, that it is quite out of the question that any of the Superpowers are behind this invasion force you are facing.” The room went silent. “Apart from the extraordinary implausibility of any nation of Earth successfully adopting this level of technology so quickly, the production of antimatter in the quantities we have seen deployed would require power generation facilities beyond anything possessed by the Powers. Constructing something on the order of the machine on Carson’s World would take us centuries, even if we understood the technology, which we most profoundly do not.”
“Well, Dr. Hofstader, I can assure you that we are actually being attacked. I have the dead Marines to prove it.” Cain hadn’t intended to sound as hard-edged as he did, and he softened his tone. “What is your explanation?”
Hofstader took a deep breath and looked over at Cain. “Well general…that is where the data provided to me before my departure from Epsilon Eridani IV comes into play. We had been proceeding on the assumption that the machine on Carson’s World has been long dead but, as it turns out, that is not entirely true.” Every eye in the room focused on him. “One of Dr. Travers’ instruments recorded two separate bursts of an unidentified form of energy. None of our normal detection devices were capable of picking it up. My belief, which admittedly lacks supporting evidence at present, is that we are dealing with a form of dark energy…something entirely different than anything we have encountered.” He paused for a few seconds and swallowed hard. “And I believe that it was some kind of alarm or distress call.”
The room erupted, everyone shouting at the same time. Admiral Garret stood up and pounded his hand on the table. “Please, please. Let’s not lose our composure, gentlemen.” He turn his head toward Hofstader. “Am I correct that you are suggesting that we have been fighting the race that built the machine on Epsilon Eridani IV? That we have made first contact?”
Hofstader looked extremely uncomfortable, but there was a confident look on his face…almost defiant. “Well, Admiral Garret, I wouldn’t state it exactly that way. However, yes, I do believe we are facing a force that has responded to the distress call we undoubtedly activated during our research efforts.” He took another breath. “And as such, we could indeed be dealing with that very race…or their servants or successors.”
The room was silent for a long while. Everyone present sat quietly, deep in thought. Finally, General Holm asked, “Dr. Hofstader, I find your theory compelling, but it is a lot to accept…especially with so little evidence. Yet you seem to be quite confident in your determination. May I ask why?”
“I had considerable doubts, general…before I arrived here.” Hofstader looked over at Sparks. “I believed I was correct, but I very much wanted some form of corroborating evidence. And I got that here, courtesy of Colonel Sparks.”
Sparks looked surprised. Whatever Hofstader had been able to determine, he had no idea what it was. “Me?”
“Yes, colonel. You were kind enough to allow me to examine some of the battle debris General Cain’s people sent back…and it was extremely enlightening.” He panned his eyes down the table. Everyone was staring at him intently. “Among the wreckage are some pieces of the larger robots…the ones your people call ‘Reapers.’ A portion of their exoskeleton appears to be constructed from a specific alloy, one that exhibits a number of odd properties, not the least of which is a strength several times that of the reinforced osmium-iridium polymer combinations used on your own powered armor.”
“I’m afraid I’m not following your logic, Dr. Hofstader.” Garret’s expression showed confusion.
“I have seen that alloy before, admiral…” Hofstader looked directly at Garret. “…in certain crucial conduits on the machine on Epsilon Eridani IV.”
The room was silent. Hofstader’s findings were far from outright proof, but it was all starting to make sense. Each of those present gradually came to the realization that the German scientist was right. They weren’t fighting a rogue Superpower that had managed an unexpected technological breakthrough…they were fighting the ancient race that built the facility on Carson’s World.
Cain felt a coldness, and a tightening in his stomach. He wanted to think it was surprise or tension…but he knew better. It was fear. Cain had been in some of the most horrific battles ever fought, and he’d come through all of them. But the thought of facing the builders of Epsilon Eridani IV was almost overwhelming. That mysterious race was piloting starships when men were learning to hunt with sharpened sticks. It was a prospect not unlike going to war with the gods.
Chapter 16
Kemal Raschid listened to the petitioners, but his patience was nearly at its end. Hearing the entreaties of petty lords squabbling over mining claims was tiresome, and if they troubled him much longer, he swore to himself, he would render a judgment neither of them would like.