The Phoenix Requiem

By Richard L. Sanders

Death. Destruction. Despair. These are the hallmarks of the Dread Fleet. It is an unstoppable force that, when summoned to do so, will scourge the galaxy in a Holy Reckoning, seeking to purify the many inhabitable worlds through a merciless outpouring of fire.
Calvin and his crew have a plan to stop this Reckoning once and for all, but their odds of success are slim. Meanwhile Queen Kalila stands against the mighty Dread Fleet with the all the strength of the war-torn and broken remains of the Empire. Alex, meanwhile, tries to manipulate his own people into joining the battle--knowing that once the Dread Fleet has eliminated humanity, it will be coming for the Rotham next.
In this the finale to The Phoenix Conspiracy Series there is death, sacrifice, gloom, doom, despair, and tragedy ... all in the forlorn hope that somehow the heroes may prevail.
And, behind the curtains of it all, lurks a dark figure, whose must cross paths with Calvin, and their meeting could turn deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard L. Sanders
• Release date: Mar 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310594298

Richard L. Sanders

Richard is 34 years old (and holding) and is a Salt Lake City native where he currently lives with his beautiful fiancé Emily and their dogs: June, Bentley, and Mia. (The last of which is technically a cat.) Richard is an attorney admitted to all Utah state and federal courts, but he primarily works as an investigator for the Utah government. He began publishing in 2011 while a first-year law student, and was very prolific with nine publications including eight novels, within five years. In 2016 he took a hiatus from writing, in response to emergent and challenging life circumstances that lasted until 2019. Richard spent these years focused on family, personal growth, and pro bono legal causes. He is excited by his return to the publishing world with several titles planned for release in 2021, including The Gods Who Bleed and Legacy of the Phoenix. In his spare time, he's an avid swimmer, skier, and chess player. (Up for a game? 1. e4 ...)His official website is www.blackoceanbooks.com

Book preview

The Phoenix Requiem

The Finale of The Phoenix Conspiracy Series

(Book Seven)

Richard L. Sanders

Smashwords 2020 Edition

Copyright 2016 Richard L. Sanders

Smashwords 2020 Edition License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. It is licensed for your personal use but may not be resold for profit. There is no DRM, I will never utilize DRM, and I encourage you to share this ebook with everyone you know. Most importantly, however you got this ebook, I hope you enjoy it.

Note to the reader: this is Book Seven and last book in a series. If you have not read the first book The Phoenix Conspiracy, you should definitely start there. That one’s free.

www.blackoceanbooks.com

There is another series set in this universe that is planned. It is thirty years later. So be on the lookout for The Phoenix Legacy, Book One

Chapter 01

Death. Destruction. Debris. Raidan had seen his share of such things. Hell, he’d been responsible for his share of such things. But this? This was something new. Something different. Something worse…

It appears to have been a battle, sir, said Mr. Mason. And a rather one-sided one, by the looks of it.

This was no battle, Mr. Mason, said Raidan, folding his arms. "This was…senseless butchery on a colossal scale." He looked at his second in command as he spoke, then gazed past him out the windows, as the Harbinger yawed hard to port to avoid collision with the ruined husk of yet another human battleship.

Scan has a match, reported Mr. Ivanov. "It’s the ISS Marlin."

"It was the ISS Marlin," said Raidan, catching a glimpse of the vast debris cloud surrounding the ruined husk as the Harbinger’s spotlights illuminated it. Now it’s just wreckage.

That could have been us had we gotten here faster, he thought, as he stared at it. Maybe it should have been us…Whoever the officers were that had crewed the Marlin, they’d deserved a better fate than this. Sure, there was honor in dying in the field, but to be slaughtered to a man and with nothing to show for it; it seemed a tragic waste.

Brave defenders of the Empire, I will honor you, Raidan thought, as the remains of the ISS Marlin slipped out of view.

Add it to the list, said Raidan, Then give me the count.

That makes sixty-three that we’ve been able to identify, sir, said Mr. Ivanov. But, given the amount of debris in this system, most of it of human origin, I estimate the loss of starships to be much, much higher.

As do I, said Raidan with dark tenor.

It’s a bone-yard out here, said Mr. Demir.

That it is, Raidan agreed.

I think it’s safe to say that the Dread Fleet left behind no survivors, said Mr. Demir.

We will continue to comb the system searching for survivors until I command otherwise, said Raidan. He had gotten here too late to help, but if there remained something he could do—even saving just one life—he would scour the system for that opportunity. Although, in his own private thoughts, he knew Mr. Demir was right. The scene before them was not one of tactical conflict, rather it seemed more like a scourging.

Raidan’s eyes flicked to the 3D display, which showed the planet, Centuria V, in vivid and grotesque detail. Where once had been a thriving world, covered in glittering cities, emerald forests, and sapphire oceans, was now a scorched, bombed-out wasteland. Entirely unrecognizable.

Even if no one had survived the space battle, where the Imperial fleet had clearly failed in its defense efforts, surely someone on the planet must still be alive, Raidan had thought. But Mr. Ivanov had insisted that it was not possible. So thorough and devastating had been the Dread Fleet’s assault on the planet, their countless ships showering hell from orbit, that the very landscape and atmospheric conditions of Centuria V had been so drastically altered that no life could survive. Everyone down there is either dead or dying, Ivanov had told him. All eight billion of them, and anyone we send down to help will only risk meeting the same fate, even in climate gear.

Raidan had seen a planet bombed before, usually to force it into submission, or to eliminate static defenses on the world’s surface, but never had he seen a planetary assault of this nature. A callous, almost ritualistic cleansing away of all things ordered, all things built, and above all—all things living.

Goddamn barbarians, Raidan muttered under his breath, and he averted his gaze from the 3D display. He felt a surge of guilt pour through him, knowing that he had failed to arrive in time to help with the defense, and now countless Imperial citizens had been brutally massacred; but, by the looks of the debris in the system, Raidan doubted that even the mighty Harbinger’s battlegroup could have made much difference. For every twenty human ships they could confirm destroyed, they could only find the remains of one Polarian ship. This battle had been over before it began. And now the rest of the Imperial fleet had disappeared—no doubt recalled by the Queen—and as for the Dread Fleet, Raidan shuddered to think what its next target might be. There were any of a dozen systems that could easily be reached from here, including Capital System itself.

Move us deeper into the wreckage, said Raidan. Stay true and only divert course to avoid—

He was interrupted by Mr. Gates. Sir, he said with urgency. Incoming message. It’s a distress call.

"I knew it, said Raidan. Someone is alive. Pinpoint the source."

The distress call is not originating from within this system, said Mr. Gates.

Then where? asked Raidan.

The signal is coming in with highest priority, repeating on all channels and frequencies…Sir, it’s Capital World.

Raidan felt a sinking feeling. He glanced momentarily back at the 3D display, then imagined the unparalleled metropolis that was Capital World being reduced to ash and rubble, just like Centuria V. And, of course, it helped nothing that Raidan himself had personally eliminated most of Capital World’s defenses…not that any would have been a match for the Dread Fleet.

Shall I display the message? asked Mr. Gates.

He didn’t have to. Raidan already knew what it would say. But he gave the order all the same. Display it.

Queen Kalila appeared on the viewing screens; she was sitting on a throne in what looked to be the Keep of the Old Quarter, probably because the Imperial Palace had been destroyed. She looked as well-composed and commanding as ever, but Raidan detected a hint of terror shining in her otherwise unwavering eyes as she spoke.

"I am Queen Kalila Akira, the monarch of the Empire and this is a general order to all starships, to all citizens, and an urgent request to anyone else within the sound of my voice. Listen carefully. Our very Empire is at stake. We are at war with an alien force that has already destroyed two Imperial star systems, and which dealt significant losses to the remaining Imperial Fleet. Even as I speak, that alien force—the so-called Dread Fleet, she said the name with venom. Is making slow but steady progress toward Capital System itself. If Capital System falls, our seat of government will fall, and the Empire will swiftly collapse. The Dread Fleet must be stopped here and allowed to go no further! I order, implore, ask, and beg anyone who is listening to immediately proceed to Capital System and join us in our defense. For together we may stand, but apart we shall surely fall. Make haste, please. For the Empire."

The message terminated.

Well, you heard our sovereign, said Raidan. Set course for Capital System at once, maximum possible jump depth.

Aye, sir, Mr. Watson acknowledged.

Captain, if I may, said Commander Mason. Is it wise for us to go to Capital System?

Of course it isn’t wise, snapped Raidan. "It’s probably suicide. But I’d rather die with a sword in my fist defending this, our Empire—our legacy—until my last breath escapes me, rather than watch it all burn. And I’ll be damned if any of you have plans otherwise!"

I didn’t mean that, sir, said Commander Mason. Just that…we’re wanted criminals. Worse. We’ve been declared enemies of the state. If we appear at Capital System, then any civically minded Imperial must seek to do us harm if they are able. Will we not be jumping into a fight, or a slaughter—should we choose not to fight back?

Raidan considered it. Hold the course, he said. And make the jump as quickly as possible. Also, order the entire battlegroup to do the same. He knew that Commander Mason had a point, and he honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when they arrived. It could very well be that Capital World—which had recently been attacked by the Harbinger and its battlegroup—might perceive their presence as an additional threat. They might be offering their throats to the butcher’s knife by returning to Capital System. Then again, to do nothing would mean Centuria V all over again—except on a far greater scale. The stakes were too damned high, and there were too many lives on the line; indeed, the very future of humanity was hanging in the balance, and Raidan would be damned if he let the Dread Fleet, or anyone else, tear down and destroy all that he held most dear.

Aye, sir, Mr. Gates and Commander Mason acknowledged, clearly trusting him. Or else having done the same calculus that he had. We must help, and they would be fools not to accept our help, thought Raidan. And if they think we have returned to pick a fight, then it will be my job to convince them otherwise…somehow.

Ultimately, he placed his faith in the wisdom of their clever young queen, who surely would realize that, in the hour of greatest need, Raidan and his cohorts could be relied upon as much needed allies, not more enemies. Now he just had to hope that, however fast the Dread Fleet moved, the Harbinger and her battlegroup moved faster.

"Sir, incoming message from the Thunder Sun," said Mr. Gates.

On speakers, said Raidan. Then, once he heard the crackle of the line connecting, he said, Make it quick. We’re about to jump.

So, all of you humans are going to answer the queen’s call and try to defend your homeworld? the voice on the other end belonged to Zarao, leader of the lycanthropes.

It is not technically the homeworld of all of us, but it is our home in a sense, and therefore we must defend it. You understand that, having just reclaimed your own home, said Raidan.

Clear to jump in ten seconds, Mr. Watson mouthed to Raidan.

Raidan nodded. He needed to end this communication quickly. But don’t worry; my deal with Tristan is satisfied, no debts remain outstanding on either end. You are all free to return to Remus System, or wherever else you wish to go. I will not ask you to come and die with us.

I respect that you do not ask, said Zarao. But to abandon a friend such as you in such a manner, knowing you seek only to defend your home, he made a guttural sound, clearly expressing disdain. "I cannot abide it. It would be a Strigoi thing to do. And we are not Strigoi! I, and all that are mine, we will join in battle with you against your foes. Against this Dread Fleet."

Raidan felt a wave of gratitude, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Zarao knew exactly what he was signing up for. You realize if you stand with us, you’ll likely fall beside us, said Raidan. We are not expected to survive.

If we fall, then we fall with honor upon the bed of glory. But if we win the day, then we do so as blood allies.

And you’re sure that is what you and your people want? asked Raidan.

If you will have us. Then we will stand beside you, as brothers.

In that case, I’m glad to have you. Jump for Capital System and we’ll group up there.

And then what? asked Zarao.

And then…we take our chances. Together.

We will share our glory, Asari Raidan, and we shall feast upon the blood of our enemies. Tristan was wise to choose you for our ally.

And I was lucky to find him and the rest of you. But now it is time we jump, said Raidan, knowing he was clear to jump and not another second should be wasted.

Indeed. See you on the other side, my brother, said Zarao. May we reap a slaughter unlike anything the galaxy has yet seen as we sow death upon all who dare stand against us.

My sentiments exactly, said Raidan. He then ordered the channel closed.

All ships report ready to jump on your command, said Mr. Gates.

Raidan gave the 3D display one final glance, taking in the image of the savaged Centuria V once more and made a silent promise to himself that he would never allow such a thing to happen to Capital World. No matter what it cost him. No matter who he had to kill. No matter what. He would defend his Empire.

Jump now.

Chapter 02

It had been just over two hours since they’d passed through the mysterious shroud the Polarians called the Veil. In most of that time, Calvin had remained relatively silent at his seat in the command position, thinking to himself how strange and surreal the experience had been, passing through the Veil, and wondering what other untold mysteries Polarian Forbidden Space held.

To his curious mind, being here, in this region of space, was a dream come true. And yet the very profound, unknown nature of Polarian Forbidden Space made it equal parts captivating and dangerous. As much as he wanted to explore each of the small clusters of stars that existed within the Veil, he knew he had to remain true to their mission. Besides, the mission was taking him to the Forbidden Planet itself, and really, wasn’t that the crown jewel of all the unanswered questions that surrounded Polarian Forbidden Space?

Calvin suspected the greatest mysteries, and the greatest dangers, lay ahead of them. He knew things were going to get ugly, one way or another, and in those split seconds when a choice needed to be made—one that might be the difference between life and death—his crew would need him to be ready. He only hoped he was up to the challenge. Fortunately, he had Rez’nac by his side. Calvin had insisted that the Polarian remain on the bridge, so he could benefit from whatever knowledge Rez’nac had regarding their cryptic destination. For that matter, he’d kept all his senior staff on the bridge, knowing they were fast approaching their destination and, once they got there, there was no telling just what they’d be up against.

Status report, said Calvin, mostly to break the silence. By his estimate, given the course Rez’nac had provided, they would be arriving soon.

Weapons and shields are currently disarmed, said Miles, But I’m ready to activate them at a moment’s notice.

Good. And the stealth system? asked Calvin.

Operating like a champ, as usual, Miles grinned.

All systems and power levels are running within expected parameters, said Cassidy from the Ops station.

All flight controls read normal, reported Jay from the helm. Currently we’re in alteredspace following the course given to me by our Polarian friend here, he gestured toward Rez’nac, who sat in the 2O’s chair on Calvin’s right. Jump depth of ninety-five percent potential, stable and holding. ETA fifteen minutes.

Calvin felt a jolt of nervous energy at the announcement of their ETA. He knew his crew depended on him to be ready to handle anything—and he could scarcely imagine what would be waiting for them. Something. That much he was sure of. He wondered if the Nighthawk’s famed stealth system would protect them, or if it would fail, as it had so many times in the past, in the face of newer scanning technologies. Despite their many marvels, the Polarians tended to lag on basic tech, and Calvin hoped that stereotype held true at this the heart of hearts that was the Polarian Forbidden Planet.

Very good, said Calvin. Cassidy, have any of our long-range scans revealed anything about the region of space we are targeting?

Negative, she said, after looking at one of her many screens. "It seems that even inside the Veil the Polarians have some way of scrambling long-range scans."

Or at least scans of the Forbidden System, mused Calvin.

Jay, let me know when— Calvin begin to say, before being suddenly interrupted.

Wait a minute, sir, I think I’ve got something, said Cassidy.

What is it? asked Calvin, practically jumping to his feet to go and hover over the Ops terminal. It was difficult for him to make sense of the outputs on the various displays.

Hard to say, said Cassidy. It should be our first earnest glimpse of the Forbidden System, but there appears to be a large, ring-like structure surrounding the star.

A ring? asked Calvin, trying to imagine how massive such a structure would be. A mere speck when compared to the Veil, but for it to be an artificial construct, it would defy even the most modern marvels of engineering, considering the amount of materials that would be required to surround a star.

More like a matrix of rings, clarified Cassidy. The system is surrounded by something.

A Dyson Sphere? asked Calvin with genuine intrigue.

No, I don’t think so, said Cassidy. She adjusted her scan, clearly trying to get better data. Ring was the wrong word, as was structure; I can’t explain it, but there is something surrounding the Forbidden System. That is why we cannot get a proper scan.

"Something? asked Calvin. He turned to Rez’nac. Can you explain this? Is it another Veil?" Calvin tried not to estimate the astronomically minute odds that a phenomenon such as the Veil could exist twice in nature.

It is not like the Veil, said Rez’nac, remaining in his seat. He folded his arms. What your scanners are detecting are the Forbidden Planet’s many defenses. He stopped there, as though that was sufficient explanation.

ETA seven minutes, said Jay.

Many defenses? asked Calvin. Like what kind of defenses?

I do not know them all, said Rez’nac. "But I would say all kinds of defenses."

That’s still too vague for me, said Calvin. If we’re about to arrive we need to know we’re ready for those defenses. I need details. Surely you can help me out more than that.

Rez’nac nodded, I will try. The Forbidden System hosts several planets, but only one of them can support life; that is the Forbidden Planet. Around the Forbidden Planet is a spherical debris field of rocks and asteroids, even some minor planets. These objects orbit the Holy Star as certainly as the Forbidden Planet.

So, the structure Cassidy detected, that was really just a bunch of rocks and debris? asked Calvin.

Four minutes, said Jay.

Lower us to eighty-percent potential, said Calvin, knowing that, although time was of the essence, he couldn’t just fly the Nighthawk into this system without extracting everything he could from Rez’nac regarding whatever opposition they were about to face.

Yes, there are many rocks, as you say it, very rich with ores and metals, and quite densely packed. Unlike most asteroid fields, where the asteroids are many kilometers apart, these are closely packed, and dense, said Rez’nac.

"Too closely-packed to get the Nighthawk through?" asked Calvin.

No, said Rez’nac. Ships come and go to the Forbidden Planet—but only according to the wishes of the Council of Prelains.

Are these asteroids manned, or do they house automated weapon systems, or something? asked Calvin, remembering what Rez’nac had said about defenses.

Many of them, yes. Though it is the small planets and moons that are the main concern, said Rez’nac.

These planets and moons, they are part of this debris field? Calvin wasn’t quite sure how that was possible, thinking the planets and moons would have been pulverized by meteor impacts over the many billions of years.

Many are, said Rez’nac. They are inhospitable for life, but some of them have defense stations. Those stations are what power many of the traps.

I’m sorry, said Calvin. Traps?

Yes, there are many guns, mines, and traps, all spread throughout the meteor sphere, with only a few safe passages through.

But you know what those passages are? asked Calvin, seeking reassurance.

I do not, said Rez’nac.

"But the Nighthawk’s stealth system should help us avoid being recognized and targeted by these guns, mines, and traps," said Calvin, again seeking reassurance.

It might, said Rez’nac. For the guns. As for the mines, it depends which type of mine—some of them are set-off by proximity—

Fine, we’ll just steer clear of those, said Calvin.

Easier said than done, said Rez’nac, Since many of them are designed to be as undetectable as this ship.

Stealth mines? asked Calvin, feeling his stomach turn over.

Nothing this ship’s scanners couldn’t detect, said Cassidy, sounding skeptical.

More like camouflaged mines, said Rez’nac. You’ll know what I mean if we strike one. Pray we do not.

I thinking praying is your department, said Calvin. What I need is a safe course—or at least a projection of what is the likeliest safe course—through this debris field, so we can reach the Forbidden Planet.

Sir, ETA five minutes, said Jay.

Decrease alteredspace depth even more, instructed Calvin, sensing that he clearly needed more time to figure this out—and finding himself wishing he’d had this discussion with Rez’nac earlier. The large Polarian warrior, for his part, seemed annoyingly nonchalant about it. Either he trusted in his Essences to deliver them, or else had accepted his fate long ago—the prospect of being destroyed by these weapons and traps didn’t seem to worry him like they did Calvin.

Aye, aye, sir, said Jay. But we will be arriving soon, unless you order us to a full stop.

Stay on course, said Calvin, But drop into the outskirts of the system—keeping us well clear of the asteroid orb—and then bring the ship to a full stop.

Yes, sir.

Rez’nac, can you provide my pilot with the safest probable course through the asteroid orb, so that we can reach the Forbidden Planet?

I can do my best, said the Polarian warrior. My recommendation is to avoid the most obvious paths—those are likely to be the best defended—and instead, bring the ship close to one or more of the minor planets.

I thought you said those minor planets had defenses on them, said Calvin.

They do, but because of the nature of those defenses, said Rez’nac, I anticipate that intruders will be expected to steer clear of them—which means the best laid traps will be far from the minor planets. Just don’t go so close that the ship is spotted.

That made enough sense to Calvin that he gave the order. Jay, set course through the space junk as Rez’nac dictates, pass within short range of any minor planet he identifies, but don’t stray into visual range.

Aye, aye, sir.

If we are meant to succeed at this mission, said Rain, her voice deliberately soothing. It is hard for me to imagine that we will have come all this way only to be stopped by some asteroids.

The human healer is wise, said Rez’nac. Ultimately, we must rest our fate in the hands of the Essences and pray that, though we tread unworthily upon sacred ground, our mission is one of glory and not of darkness.

Calvin didn’t know what to say except to nod. These religious types of platitudes may have been a source of comfort to the others, at least some of them, but they felt empty to him. If they were to succeed, they would do so based on their own decisions, their own cleverness, talent, determination, and of course luck, since there was no way to consider all the many variables. Calvin caught a glimpse of Summers’ furrowed brow to know she agreed with him. Fate wouldn’t be their salvation today.

Sir, we’re dropping out of alteredspace, announced Jay. Then, a moment later, as Calvin watched the window with bated breath, the blackness was replaced by the glitter of stars. In the distance, and seemingly partially obscured, was a large purple star that stood out against all the others. Calvin knew it for what it was—the local sun. The parent star of the Forbidden System. We have arrived at the distant outskirts of the Forbidden System.

So I see, said Calvin. And just how far away are we from the asteroid sphere?

Several million MCs, sir, said Jay. I kept us as far away as I reasonably could. Like you ordered.

No doubt for the best, said Calvin. Cassidy, begin a scan of that asteroid sphere and see what our scanners can pick up. In the meantime, feed that information to the helm computer. Rez’nac, you, Jay, and I will plot a course safely through the asteroids, defenses, and debris, right up to the Forbidden Planet itself.

Aye, sir, his people acknowledged. Calvin moved to the helm, where he, Jay, and Rez’nac immediately began to discuss their options, just as fast as Cassidy could send them waypoints—possible routes that would allow the Nighthawk through the tightly-packed rocks and space-junk. On first assessment, the more formidable-looking routes were those that promised to take their ship near any of the small planets and moons, but, Calvin supposed, Rez’nac was probably right that for that same reason they would prove to be the safest paths.

I’m detecting several things within the debris cloud, said Cassidy.

Protective asteroid sphere, Rez’nac corrected her.

Fine, protective asteroid sphere, said Cassidy. There are multiple star bases, a few patrol ships—though surprisingly few—

That is because most every ship has gone to join the Dread Fleet, said Rez’nac.

Be that as it may, said Cassidy. There are a few still here. Their patrol patterns seem to be routine, no sign that we’ve been detected.

That’s good at least, said Calvin. What else do you see?

A lot of mounted weapons on space junk, some obvious mine fields, and scanners of every stripe searching everywhere for everything—and hopefully unable to find us.

Miles, how is our stealth system? asked Calvin.

Still good, Cal. Still good, the big man leaned back in his chair, the paleness of his face revealed his anxiety, but the rest of his body seemed to be making a show of false confidence. Calvin knew him too well to be fooled, however.

Don’t worry, Miles, thought Calvin. I’ll get us through this, just like always.

Rez’nac, said Rafael, who had remained thoughtfully silent until now. Just what are all these defenses for?

To keep Forbidden Space forbidden, said Calvin automatically, as if the answer were obvious.

"Isn’t that what the Veil is for? asked Rafael. I mean, isn’t the rest of this a bit…unnecessary?"

These defenses serve the same purpose as the Veil, confirmed Rez’nac. "But it is not to keep Forbidden Space forbidden, as our master suggests. Rather, it exists, as does the Veil, for a far more important purpose than to keep away the Rotham and the humans—though, as unclean beings, it serves that function too. But, far more important than that, these barriers exist to keep out the Dark Ones. The Fallen Ones. The Betrayers of the Light and Enemies of the Essences, Rez’nac spoke with contempt as he named these enemies. The Abandoned Ones. The Deserters. The Outcasts. And everything else that emerges from the shadows that would corrupt our ways and poison our traditions. Rez’nac spat blue bile. Those Evil Ones who would take away our lives, and worse—our souls—by leading us away from the truth of the Divine Essences. Such an evil is a threat to everything sacred, and any who would bring it must be kept away and never spoken of."

Calvin was almost taken aback by the passion in Rez’nac’s voice. He knew that the Polarian hated the dissenters within his own religion, the so-called Dark Ones, who had very likely infiltrated the Polarian hierarchy and were, Calvin remained convinced, responsible for the launch of the Dread Fleet, but to Rez’nac the conflict was much deeper and even more personal than Calvin had imagined.

And yet, despite these many defenses, we’re pretty sure these Dark Ones are already here, said Calvin. "And have taken a foothold. He wanted to remind Rez’nac why they were there, and to help him focus on helping Calvin and the crew of the Nighthawk—by reaffirming that they were all there to fight the same enemy. So long as Calvin’s theory about the infiltration of the Dark Ones proved correct.

Yes, admitted Rez’nac. They must be here. That is the only thing that makes sense. Though I do not understand how they did it…

Any luck isolating the best course, yet? asked Calvin. As he studied the maps on the helm display, several potential paths were lit up, along with corresponding waypoints. Jay had struck several of the options, at Rez’nac’s instruction. That still left a few dozen, however.

I believe I have determined the best course, said Rez’nac. It keeps us clear of the star bases, away from the known mine fields, and brings us around the grey dwarf planet here, he pointed, And then through what should be clear space. At least that is my best guess. Though I can make no promises there won’t be traps or obstacles, or other hazards.

Tactical analysis, said Calvin. If we do run into a disguised mine, is it a threat to this ship? He wondered if he should drop stealth, raise the shields, and attempt to perform the mission under blitz circumstances. It would be a desperate ploy, but one he felt a duty to at least consider, even if only for a moment.

We would be destroyed, said Rez’nac matter-of-factly.

Calvin nodded. Well…that’s comforting. He then looked around at the many faces of the crowded bridge and hoped this wasn’t going to prove to be the last time he saw them all in one piece. The fear of what might happen forced him to hesitate, but only momentarily, and, after a few seconds, he knew that continuing to wait would avail them nothing, so he gave the order.

Miles, keep our shields down and stealth up, Cassidy keep a hawk’s eye on our close-range scanners—I don’t want to strike any mines; Jay, begin to follow the course Rez’nac advised, sublight drives only.

Aye, sir, his people acknowledged him.

Sound General Quarters and strap in, said Calvin. With that, he returned to the command position and strapped in, while everyone who could did the same. There was no seat for Rain, nor one for Rafael, so the two of them braced themselves by grabbing hold of the unused features on opposite sides of the bridge.

The view out the window changed as the ship turned abruptly to starboard, then pitched downward. They accelerated, though the only way to tell was the announcement from Jay that they were moving forward.

Approaching the asteroid sphere, closing in on waypoint one. Fifteen seconds, said Jay.

Calvin waited silently, feeling the tension build as the ship maneuvered closer to its possible doom.

Waypoint one achieved, said Jay. Now angling, yaw fifteen degrees port, and accelerating.

The asteroid sphere was not yet visible out the window, but Calvin could see it in high definition on the 3D display. The current zoom showed the Nighthawk fast approaching the cloud of debris; the vessel held course, narrowly missing a large, battleship-sized asteroid spinning in place, continuing its slow orbit around the star.

We have entered the asteroid sphere, announced Jay, sounding nervous. Achieving waypoint two in twenty-five seconds.

The seconds came slowly, as Calvin expected them to trigger a trap at any moment, or to be spotted and targeted by one of the many outposts, platforms, star bases, or patrol ships sweeping the asteroid sphere—but nothing happened. So far so good.

Waypoint two achieved, said Jay. Altering course for waypoint three.

Waypoint three had Calvin the most nervous of all, as it brought the Nighthawk within only a few MCs of a small dwarf planet, and required the ship to tightly travel around it, almost entering orbit momentarily, as the maneuver was executed.

One minute and forty-seven seconds until we reach waypoint three, announced Jay.

Calvin rubbed his clammy palms together and stared at the 3D display, completely fixated on it—and forcing the thought of invisible mines as far away from his mind as he possibly could.

One minute, said Jay, after what felt like eternity. The dwarf planet was visible out the window now. It had a rugged moon-like beauty to it; it was grey and rough and covered in craters. If there were any Polarian-built installations, they were too small to see, on the other side of the planet, or else buried beneath the surface. Calvin preferred to imagine the planet was entirely abandoned, except for some outdated, automated guns that would never detect the Nighthawk in a million years.

Fifty seconds, said Jay, as the planet moved out of sight from the window. Forty seconds…thirty seconds…twenty— Jay paused abruptly.

What is it? demanded Calvin, knowing something had gone wrong. But no alarms were flashing, and they were all still breathing, so he couldn’t imagine what.

We’ve struck something, said Jay. We’re not moving.

Calvin felt his heart sink. What is it? How bad is the damage? he fired off the questions like machine gun rounds.

"Not something, said Cassidy. We’ve been caught by a tractor beam."

A tractor beam? asked Calvin. How were we detected?

I’m not sure we were detected, said Cassidy. More like we set off some kind of proximity trap and a tractor beam automatically engaged. It has a firm lock on us.

We need to move before someone real actually sees us, said Calvin, grateful that the trap they’d stumbled upon hadn’t been a mine. Reverse course. Tractor beams had their uses, but they were limited.

Aye, sir, reversing course, said Jay. The ship began to move but was stopped again almost immediately.

What now? asked Calvin.

We’ve stumbled upon another tractor beam, said Cassidy. It has halted our reverse motion.

Tractor beam, really? asked Calvin. Tractor beams had their uses but mostly they were outmoded. Angle the ship and try to free us, said Calvin, thinking even two tractor beams shouldn’t be able to hold the nimble Nighthawk.

Aye, sir, said Jay. Then, a moment later. No luck.

"Why no luck?" asked Calvin, more perturbed than alarmed.

We can’t move the ship, said Cassidy, in Jay’s defense. It’s more like we’ve triggered a tractor field than a couple of tractor beams.

"A tractor field?" asked Calvin.

They are tractor beams, in the strictest sense, said Cassidy. But there are so many of them, and all focused on us, coming from seemingly every direction…it’s like an entire field is holding us in place.

Calvin started to feel a bit more alarmed, but he comforted himself in the knowledge that tractor beams, even a field of them, were still a primitive technology, and there wasn’t a tractor beam in the galaxy that could keep a ship from jumping into alteredspace. If they did a controlled, very short jump, they should be able to break free. The only difficulty would be to avoid returning to normal space and colliding with one of the asteroids, but Calvin’s plan for that was for them to jump backwards and then attempt their approach again, this time changing course enough to avoid the tractor beams.

Standby to jump into alteredspace on my mark, said Calvin, knowing it was the only way out.

Are you mad? asked Summers. We could crash right into the asteroids!

Not if we jump back the way we came, said Calvin. We have no choice but to jump into alteredspace to free ourselves from the tractor beams, and so we’ll just have to take it back a step and try again.

I could try to isolate the source of the tractor beams and destroy them, offered Miles.

Calvin didn’t want to risk opening fire on any part of the Polarian defenses, for fear that it would give away their presence. He hoped that stray asteroids and other debris became trapped by the tractor beams frequently enough that nobody had detected the Nighthawk yet. Or drawn suspicion from the appearance that the tractor beams had all independently locked onto what appeared, to most sensors, to be absolutely nothing.

Understood, said Jay. Reverse alteredspace course plotted.

Punch it, said Calvin.

Nothing happened.

I said punch it!

Still nothing.

I’m sorry sir, said Jay. I just…I can’t make it go.

Calvin unstrapped himself and dashed over to the helm controls. Move aside, he commanded. Jay unstrapped and evacuated the pilot’s chair, which Calvin abruptly took charge of. Sometimes if you want something done right, he thought, you’ve got to do it yourself.

Calvin adjusted the controls, set the alteredspace heading for 0.00001 klicks astern, powered up the alteredspace drive, then hit it. And that is how… his voice trailed off as soon as he realized his effort had been just as fruitless as Jay’s had been.

What the hell? he turned to Cassidy, meanwhile prepping to make a second attempt. Begin a diagnostic of our alteredspace drive and find out if engineering shows anything wrong on their end.

Already on it, sir, said Cassidy.

That was the only explanation Calvin could think of. There wasn’t a tractor beam in the galaxy—not even a matrix of them—that could prevent a ship from slipping into the mysterious realms of alteredspace.

I’m trying it again, announced Calvin, once the computer was ready. Here goes!

But, despite his expectation that all would go momentarily dark out the window, nothing happened.

Engineering, he said. It has got to be engineering. He just couldn’t explain it any other way.

I was afraid of this, he heard Rez’nac’s deep voice say from over Calvin’s shoulder.

Diagnostic shows no systems failure, reported Cassidy, And engineering cannot visually identify anything wrong with the alteredspace system.

Calvin ignored Cassidy and spun the pilot’s chair around to face Rez’nac, who, being quite tall anyway, seemed to positively tower over Calvin. Nevertheless, Calvin wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated.

Rez’nac, you’ve been holding back on us, said Calvin. Tell me, just what sort of trap have we stumbled into?

There is a word for them, the closest human equivalent would be…the trap of the rat.

How fascinating, said Calvin, feigning interest, Now tell me, how does one escape such a trap? How does it work? Calvin tried to keep his voice collected and commanding, but he was starting to feel a sense of panic breaking through his tone of voice.

We are not just being targeted and held by a matrix of tractor beams, said Rez’nac, We are being invisibly held by an alteredspace dampening field.

An alteredspace dampening field? asked Calvin, sounding equal parts skeptical and confused. Those actually exist?

Yes, confirmed Rez’nac. And they are almost impossible to detect.

I’ve read about those, offered Jay. But an alteredspace dampening field only works over a certain cubic region of space and would have no effect on sublight drives. They only prevent a ship from jumping into alteredspace.

But in the meantime, we are being held down by a matrix of tractor beams that won’t allow us to use sublight or other conventional means of thrust to get away from the dampening field, said Calvin, annoyed. If we could get away from the dampening field, we could use alteredspace to escape the tractor beams. If we could escape the tractor beams, we could use conventional thrust, or sublight drives, to escape the dampening field. But two of them together at the same time…

Hence the term, said Rez’nac. Rat trap.

Calvin shook his head. Well, I for one, am not about to be caught here like a rat, waiting for some Polarian patrol to come and find me.

Hear, hear, said Rafael.

There has to be a solution, said Calvin. There’s always a solution. Then he remembered what Miles had said earlier. Miles, Calvin spun the pilot’s chair to face the defense post across the bridge. Can you identify the sources of those tractor beams and destroy them? Calvin didn’t like the idea of using weapons already—they might as well broadcast their presence in the system on all channels—but if that was the only way to free the Nighthawk, then that was what they would have to do.

I’m sorry, Cal, said Miles. I looked into that, but the points of origin are all hidden. I suspect we’d have to move the ship to give me a clear shot…unless you want to try to shoot through the planet. Which, that could be fun.

Calvin knew Miles was joking, but, as his crew looked at him for a solution and he found himself coming up blank, Calvin had simply no patience for Miles’s jokes. Not today.

We can’t move into alteredspace, thought Calvin. We can’t move using conventional thrusters, we can’t destroy the source of the beams or even see the source of the dampening field…still, he reassured himself, there must be a way.

Is there any way we can use our thrusters, or any ordnance we’re carrying, to push off of a celestial object, or otherwise get us away from either the dampening field or the tractor beam matrix? asked Calvin, knowing it was a long shot. After some conferral between his officers, and a short computer simulation, the answer came back No. Not without destroying the Nighthawk.

Damn, said Calvin, feeling at his wit’s end. Ideas, people, please. And hurry. We don’t have much time.

There is a way, said Rez’nac, And one way only.

Calvin looked at him, a combination of grateful and annoyed. Stop holding back on us, he said. Then he quickly added, What is it?

You aren’t going to like it.

I’m sure I’ll like it better than being stuck here until one of your Polarian patrols finds us and decides to bring us in—or kill us, said Calvin.

It is a one-way trip, said Rez’nac. I promise you this much, whomever you send, he or she shall not be coming back. Which is why I volunteer myself. My life is forfeit in the sight of the Essences anyway.

Now, just hold on, stop getting ahead of yourself; why does this have to be a suicide mission? asked Calvin, feeling heavy-hearted at the possibility that yet one more person might make the ultimate sacrifice, yet again to save him, among others. It was a thought so foul that Calvin could not bear it.

There is a control station on that small, dense planet, he pointed a long, thick blue finger at the 3D display, which showed an image of the Nighthawk, seemingly trapped in place as the planet rotated ever so slowly—almost too slow to notice. "That control room is what has activated the dampening field. From there, the field can be switched off and the Nighthawk can jump into alteredspace and avoid this trap altogether."

That doesn’t sound suicidal to me, said Calvin. Is the outpost guarded?

Yes, however only by a few soldiers, and they are likely on scouting missions, conducting repairs, or otherwise preoccupied.

How do you know all of this? asked Rafael, somewhat suspiciously.

Rez’nac looked at him. I was of Khalahar. There is a great deal that I was made to know—and even more that I chose to learn. It was obvious Rez’nac considered that a satisfactory answer, even though Rafael did not. However, the human did not push the issue.

Someone, Rez’nac continued, "Must take one of this ship’s three pods, go down there, and deactivate the dampening field.

I’m a pilot, said Calvin, And I can hold my own in a fight. And, best of all, he wouldn’t be commanding another person to take such a risk for his selfish benefit. Enough people already had died, or tried to die, saving Calvin’s life. And Calvin thought he didn’t deserve a one of them.

It is not so simple, said Rez’nac. The dampening field must be continually deactivated.

In other words…whoever goes down there, has to stay down there, said Summers knowingly. It’s a suicide mission.

It’s a one-way mission, said Rez’nac.

Wait, said Rafael. How will our pods even descend onto the planet if there’s this tractor beam matrix in place?

"Currently, the matrix is locked onto the Nighthawk; it won’t grab the pod—it has a preference to lock and hold larger targets—and the pods can descend with the help of gravity down to the planet, if necessary."

So, let me get this straight, said Summers. We send someone down in one of our pods.

"Not someone, corrected Rez’nac. Me."

"Fine, you, said Summers. You land the pod near the control site, you break your way into the control site, and then you manually deactivate the dampening field. This allows the Nighthawk to jump out of the trap and the ship is free."

Precisely, said Rez’nac.

I don’t see why it has to be a suicide mission, said Calvin.

"Because, once the pod ascends from the planet—if the Nighthawk is no longer in grasp—the tractor beam matrix will seize hold of the pod, and there will be no way to free it."

I see, said Calvin, momentarily frustrated. He wasn’t about to let yet another officer, or friend, die on his behalf, but he also didn’t want to die when he volunteered. Surely there had to be another way. A better angle. Something. Some way to cheat…

What if this, continued Calvin. "Once the Nighthawk is clear, we launch a class III probe, before the pod exits the planet’s atmosphere; we let the tractor beams grab the lifeless probe, and the pod escapes back to the ship."

Clever, said Rain.

I could arrange that, said Cassidy.

But it will not work; the pod will be the preferred target of the tractor beams, said Rez’nac, And they will change targets from the probe to the pod, and we’ll never recover our missing man.

Very well then, said Calvin, not sure his idea was so bad. What if, instead of launching a probe, we launch one of our other pods, empty, and that way the tractor beams will grab onto it, and our man, in our pod, can escape the surface and reunite with us?

Rez’nac considered this for a moment. That will probably not work either; the empty pod will have less mass.

Not if we fill it full of junk, said Calvin.

I hate to be the one to bring this up, said Rafael, But we might need all three pods for our mission.

Then we have to save the man on the surface, so we can recover his pod, said Calvin, as determined as ever.

Actually, technically, we don’t, said Rafael. We could have two people fly down to the surface in the pod, one disable the alteredspace dampening field, and then, while he does that, the Nighthawk and the pod escape—leaving behind the brave soul who kept the dampening field off long enough for both the Nighthawk and the pod to escape.

The pods don’t have alteredspace capability, said Calvin. So that still puts us back to square one.

Actually, they do—in a really minimal capacity, corrected Rafael, to Calvin’s surprise. Though they can’t launch it from the surface of a planet. It has to be from space.

He’s right, volunteered Cassidy.

I see, said Calvin, still unwilling to simply sacrifice a crew member, or himself, without weighing all his options.

I think we know what we need to do, said Summers, a hint of sadness in her voice.

And we must act quickly, or a patrol will come and discover us, said Rez’nac, Even with our stealth system engaged.

Calvin thought it through again and again; he must have thought it through twenty times in less than a minute. And, each time, he could think of no way—save for his probe idea—to keep

Reviews for The Phoenix Requiem

[Navneet Bachhal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is indeed the best Sci-fi book series i have ever came across.

[Walt H · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

You have every audiobook in the Phoenix series except the final book, which is read only. I’m a truck driver, kind of hard to read a book when you’re driving. Good job.??

[Alex F · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

To sum it up, it was painful. I went through the whole series and the last book did me it. Yes, there were spots here and there that I found dumb or even incomprehensible. However, the last book just wore me out. The constant up and down of thoughts and emotions. Boring and frustrating.