Alpha One - Chris Burton [137]
“Where are the Stevenson sisters? They should be here by now.”
“They left fifteen minutes ago sir. ”
“It doesn’t take fifteen minutes to get to the bridge from anywhere in this God damn ship. Send a security detail and find out what’s keeping them.” He paused as if deep in thought and then added. “Double the guard at the detention center. They may be under Winterburn’s influence.”
Jake could not believe what he heard, but then he realized why he was feeling so uneasy. Winterburn had her again.
“Are you suggesting Carla and her sister are trying to release Winterburn?”
“Possibly, Mister Carter, possibly.”
* * * *
Carla already forced the lock on their time-locked accommodation and they had slipped their guard. They relieved him of his firearm and left him with a sore head and with his hands comforting his groin. Joely acted completely under Winterburn’s influence. He guided her to him. Carla was also under the Kryl’s power.
They arrived at the detention center and entered the ward room unseen as two guards discussed the placement of security pending Hoskins’s latest instructions. They encountered no resistance as they entered the cell area. The guards were all clearly already under Winterburn’s spell. Carla found Winterburn’s cell and deciphered the lock codes. Expertly, she found the first two numbers, the third, the fourth and then finally the fifth. The detention cell door opened and Winterburn was free.
Chapter Sixty
Shenke’s Battle
The Kryl Fleet stopped moving forward and stood motionless less than ten thousand meters from Admiral Shenke’s fleet. There was complete silence in the command center, until Shenke stood up.
“Open a general comm link asking them to identify themselves.”
“Aye, Sir.”
“No response. Sir, should I send again?”
“No. We will wait for them to make the first move. Stand us down from battle stations, but maintain alert status. Keep the jump ship squadrons from closing to within five thousand meters.”
Shenke was pensive. He knew he could attack but he could not understand why they hadn’t. They had superior numbers, weapons advantage and they were not advancing. Why?
“Sir, the Sect Commander just boarded. Shall I have him delivered to your state room?”
“Who authorized his arrival?”
“That was me, Admiral.” Commander Willis stood up and moved towards Shenke’s command chair. “He said the meeting was scheduled.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know sir. He was most insistent that he speak to you personally.”
Shenke sighed. “Very well. If there is any change whatsoever, please let me know. I will be in my state room.”
The Sect Commander stood facing the door when Shenke entered. He saluted by crossing his palms to his chest, and then spoke.
“Admiral Shenke. Thank you for meeting with me. I am here to transfer control of the battle to us to allow us to fulfill our commitment.”
“What do you mean ‘transfer control’?”
“We are the Sect Guard, and we are compelled to stop the Kryl from entering the galaxy. It is our obligation, and you won’t be required.”
Shenke let out an exaggerated cackle. “It is a bit late to stop them from entering our galaxy. They are already here. Your forces won’t be strong enough to defeat the Kryl. You are welcome to join us but under my overall command.”
“I repeat, you need to stand down Admiral. Our forces are trained for exactly this situation. It is your fleet which would not be successful.”
Shenke grew impatient. “What makes you think your forces will fare better than ours? Your lead ship disintegrated as I recall.”
“No, the High Priestess switched the shielding off. She failed in her obligation to keep the wormholes from open. She took her life.”
“Plus the lives of hundreds of others on board, I don’t doubt. Why are you so convinced your ships and your pilots are better than ours?”
“Not better, but more able in this situation. My pilots have trained for this day for a long time.”
“This still doesn’t give them any advantage over Alpha. You are as in the dark as we are as