Book 4: Chapter 199: Implosion

Book 4: Chapter 199: Implosion

USD: Twenty minutes since traversal wormhole for 6th Fleet was created.

Location: Meltisar, MIL-1A, Fleet High Command, Operations Flag Bridge

Tias head snapped up to the CIC monitor, a stream of data from the sensor arrays setting off an alarm. A tactical rendition of the cataclysmic event occurring where the 6th fleet had been waiting to transit.

Tias systems went into overdrive as alarms blared through the command bridge. Data streamed in from sensor arrays scattered across the system, capturing the cataclysmic event that had just unfolded.

[InfoWarn: A massive energy release at Chi Theas last known coordinates has been detected. Estimates place energy density equivalent of a spherical coronal mass ejection. Radiation and gravitational wave spikes suggest a catastrophic failure of MNS Theas Hackjobs wormhole generator.]

Tia leaned forward, placing her hands on the hologram table and doing her best to control the feeling of being punched in the gut.

Fleet Admiral Wilkes shot to his feet. Is it an explosion?

Taking a breath, Tia nodded. Preliminary analysis suggests so, but there are anomalies. The expansion of energy is too large to be a simple detonation of the moonlet. Its possible there was an error, and the wormhole tapped into Meltisars star and is dumping coronal matter into the area.

Admiral Westlake paled considerably at that assessment before sharing a look with Wilkes.

The screen filled with a rendition of the energy wave expanding. The entire interior of the sphere blanked out with a No Data warning. The outer edge of the high-energy ejection was too dense for any of their available sensors to pierce.

The room fell deathly silent as staff officers came to a halt in the middle of what they had been doing to stare at the screen. Everyone had a different reaction to processing the dataa wormhole breaching the suns core? The possible implications were mind-boggling.

What does this mean? asked Wilkes finally, staring at Tia.

The grim expression on Tias face didnt disappear. Im constantly processing the new data via Livmy MainComputer. Currently, we are looking at a massive EMP burst that could do considerable damage to Meltisars unshielded infrastructure groundside. By the time it reaches us, it will have dispersed enough to not be any danger to any orbital or ship equipped with a standard D-field.

Admiral Westlake tensed up. And the 6th fleet?

No concrete analysis, yet. The wormhole generator was working on the edge of our understanding on theoretical physics, Tia continued. If the wormhole established breached the suns core and somehow became stable on its own we could be staring at a potential system-level catastrophe.

What can we do? Wilkes interjected. He looked haunted, grappling with the idea that the entire system could be wiped out.

Tia exhaled. If the wormhole is stable and draining mass from the starwe will need to consider evacuation options for the population.

Thatsimpossible, Westlake whispered.

Its premature to assume that we are operating with the worst-case scenario, but it is a possibility, Tia replied.

We shouldnt have used forbidden technology, a staff officer whispered to himself.

A frown crept onto Tias face. There wasnt going to be enough time to analyze and second guess themselves, at least not at the moment. She focused on following Livis work, running through calculations and analysis of the streaming sensor data as best she could while keeping track of everything else.

A sudden communication buzzed through all the alarms and chaos erupting due to its priority level. Tia scanned it and let out a sigh of relief. One less problem to worry about. Though Velianas movements to leave the system werent one-hundred percent encouraging.

The thin bubble of her nanites shimmered as the thin surface flexed against the sudden vacuum, threatening to tear apart. She yanked the two admirals behind her to the door and kicked it clear before they entered the connecting corridor. It was venting too, and she pressed them against a bulkhead wall as a pile of equipment and loose items shot down the hall.

A heavy metal cart deflected off the thin nanite bubble, while the rest of the stuff flashed by. Checking on her two charges, both men were puffing and looking like drowning fish. A quick check of her own skin told her why: air pressure was dropping rapidly, even in the thin pocket of air inside the nanite bubble field.

She reached out and slapped a palm on both of their mouths. Two panicked looks stared back at her, but relief quickly followed as she channeled oxygen to them and built a breathing facemask for them. That would keep them conscious long enough for them to get out before the entire area turned into a complete vacuum.

The air current lessened considerably a few seconds later, and she pulled the two disoriented men through the labyrinth of corridors. Sparks showered from exposed circuitry, while red alarms spun silently in the rapidly thinning atmosphere.

The attack had been swift and brutal, a precision strike meant to cut the head from the snake.

A quick check of the tactical map in her peripheral HUD indicated it wasnt over. But now that the stations defenses were online, they were punching back, and allied warships were assisting. The entire 5th fleet hadnt been roped into the plan, apparently.

A virtual path line appeared in her vision, directing her on which way to go.

[Info/WARN: Structural integrity compromised in sectors 4 through 7. Major damage to fleet command sub-section. Advising immediate evacuation to safe compartment Delta-2. I am projecting a real-time route to your HUD, Celestia.]

Tia grunted, keeping her breath in a controlled rhythm. The once pristine passageways were filled with jagged remnants and debris. Panels were dislodged and they passed several bodies. Behind her, Wilkes nearly stumbled, but she kept her hand tightly clasped on him and pulled him along.

Keep close, Tia instructed, her voice sounding much more calm than she felt. The admirals uniforms werent full skinsuits, but they were nearly effective enough with her added breathing mask. The issue was that her bubble field was slowly leaking.

[Info/Hurry: Emergency bulkheads ahead. They will seal and the section will re-pressurize.]

Almost there! Tia encouraged. Their eyes settled on the large double door. Normally it would have already sealed the other compartment, but it was obvious that it was being held open just for them, to the detriment of whoever was on the other side.

They all hurried.

As they stumbled inside, a hiss of gas filled the corridor as the station systems worked double-time to flood the chamber. Somehow theyd made it.

What in Ertans name is going on, Celestia? Wilkes demand, his voice a mix of anger and disbelief.

Tias expression turned steely. A coup, she said tersely. Certain elements of the 5th fleet turned on the station and have engaged the rest of the fleet. Were currently eliminating them. Fleet High Command has been significantly damaged, but auxiliary control is still operable. The computronic module they struck was a decoy, and Im still fully in control of military assets here.

Both men paled at the news.

How is this possible? Westlakes voice was sharp, his normally composed demeanor replaced by an edge of near panic.

Tia bit her lip and checked her map to the nearest station bunker with a control node before replying. Civil operations are halted. It looks like physical interlocks have been put in place in some locations groundside. This is not an isolated incident or a few people working towards sabotage. I suspect there are high-ranking members in the military, along with civilian authorities, acting in a decapitation strike.

The timing, Wilkes muttered. It wasnt an accident. They must have thought with the 6th fleet exploding, it was their chance.

Well, they missed, Tia said coldly. Im instituting purge protocols on all suspected rebel units. The election will be canceled until ongoing unrest is quelled.

Both men paled almost as much as when theyd been sucking near-vacuum.