Alpha One - Chris Burton [97]
The Collective responsibility was clear. They would attach themselves to the Alpha-Nexus vessels and persuade them not to enter. They would assert themselves in the best tradition of political activists by placing themselves between the opposition and the wormholes.
Winterburn was busy. He made contact with thousands of dormant members of the Collective; he told them they were needed in the Tri-Star system. He knew they were listening. Slowly but surely, the Collective’s numbers would swell and the System would be awash with his flock. Only then could they commence their task in earnest, and only then could he reveal the Collective’s true objective.
Chapter Forty-Two
The Nexus Arrives
The Alpha/Nexus Fleet cleared the giant gas cloud which had for so long protected the Tri-Star system and its secrets, and the three stars were visible in the main viewer, directly in front of the convoy.
Cameron felt confident his team was ready. He took his group of ships to high alert. He thought it likely the first obstacle would be the Sentinel Patrol ships, and asked his Alpha commanders to make ready their jump ships in the event the Patrols became an issue. He waited for news from Admiral Shenke that they were within range, so that he could seek Alpha’s protection as they began to work.
The job was simple; to open the wormholes was not. The wormholes lay dormant for millions of years, and the simple act of passing across them was not sufficient to wake them from their slumber; the two survey vessels needed to make some noise. They needed to create a high-frequency oscillating pitch, to be achieved by a sonic pulse resonator which would bounce sonic waves off the sides of the dormant wormholes. The wormholes would respond to the high pitch and should start to unwrap and turn.
Admiral Shenke’s mini-fleet entered the Tri-Star system. Shenke ordered an immediate scan of the system to establish the whereabouts of both the Sentinel patrol ships and the Sect Legion. He knew while the Patrol vessels posed only a limited threat; the Sect vessels were different. Diametric scanning revealed extremely sophisticated and advanced weaponry. These were the mainstay of the Sect vessels.
Shenke opened a comm link to the Odysseus Project lead vessel, the Botanic. Dr. Cameron answered immediately. Shenke was wary of the scientist. They had crossed each other before.
“Ah, Admiral Shenke. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has Dr. Cameron. This time we appear to be on the same side.”
“Yes. So sorry to have dragged you away from your war games, Admiral. We have a large Sect contingent we need your assistance with. I presume you will be able to keep them at bay?”
“They are much more than a contingent Doctor. They represent a real threat.”
“Oh, come on, Admiral. This is a walk in the park, with your weapons of mass destruction. Please try and keep the more sinister ones in your trousers this time,”
Shenke was angry. Cameron walked a deliberate tightrope to see how far he could be pushed. This was, Shenke reasoned, posturing—Cameron trying to ensure that Shenke realized who was in charge.
“Just be aware, Doctor, my fleet acts independently of any standing instructions you may have.. Orders to deploy come only from me.”
“Ah, very well, Admiral. I understand your anxieties. Can I ask, though, that you immediately deploy a sizeable ship to watch over the AUSWAS vessel? They are, I believe, a threat to this mission.”
“A threat why? Are they not simply observers?”
“Yes, but there is more to it than that. Alpha and ECG intelligence both report the potential threat from the Collective, who are in effect holding the AUSWAS banner. They are in the guise of using AUSWAS’s ship. Our concern is with Professor Winterburn. He is likely to try to stop the opening