“Not captain, just administrator,” the taller woman replied, getting up to offer him her hand. “I’m Dr. Cheryl Drake, and this is Dr. Amanda Bailey.”
Captain Weaver accepted her hand, shaking it, surprised by the firmness of her grip. “Welcome aboard the Braxton,” he said. “I’m sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”
“Did I hear you correctly that my man, Riggs, is dead?” Cheryl asked.
“Yes,” Captain Weaver replied, nodding. “You have my deepest condolences.”
Captain Weaver heard Bailey gasp at the news. Cheryl though seemed to take it in stride.
“We’ve lost so many good people, Captain,” Cheryl told him. “Tell me the nightmare is over now.”
“Not quite, I’m afraid,” Captain Weaver said honestly. “Those creatures have attacked this ship too. As you likely heard, we drove them off, but they’ll be back. You can count on that.”
“But surely this ship…?” Cheryl started.
“What can you tell me about these creatures?” Captain Weaver interrupted her. He listened intently as both Cheryl and Bailey told what they could. When they were done, Captain Weaver sighed. There was still so much left unanswered.
“There are more than just those things out there,” he told them. “While this ship has been underway, in route for a DESRON located on maneuvers nearby, we’ve encountered something else. From what I’m told, it’s massive, larger than this ship.”
“The lifeform from the trench!” Dr. Bailey exclaimed. “That had to be what it was.”
Cheryl was shaking her head like a woman on the verge of going mad. “It can’t be.”
“It has to be!” Dr. Bailey argued. “Whatever was down there that we were originally picking up, something has woken it up too.”
“The squids…” Cheryl rasped. “If your theory about them being its caretakers, for lack of a better term, is correct, that would make sense. When this ship arrived, those things must have decided they couldn’t fully protect the lifeform and their ingrained biological directive at that point was to wake it so it could deal with whatever the threat to it was itself.”
“Doctors,” Captain Weaver pleaded. “Please. Pretend I have no idea what you’re talking about and clue me in as to what we’re dealing with.”
“Something old,” Cheryl told him. “Far older than man.”
“I’d wager intelligent too,” Dr. Bailey added. “Think of it as an apex predator, Captain; one that’s been asleep for millennia that has just woken up to a strange new world. That’s what you’re facing.”
“And it’s a squid too? A giant one?” Captain Weaver asked. “That would fit with what my crew saw.”
Dr. Bailey was nodding. “Have you heard the term Kraken, Captain?”
“From mythology? Sure. Who hasn’t?” Captain Weaver said, frowning.
“It’s possible that this thing, or one of its species, was the basis for those myths,” Dr. Bailey explained.
“You can’t be serious,” Captain Weave stammered.
“Deadly so.” Dr. Bailey met his eyes. “This thing, Captain … It and its spawn, which is likely what the smaller squid creatures are, isn’t going to stop until we’re all dead. No matter what you do, it’ll keep coming at us until either it is dead or we are.”
“She’s right,” Cheryl chimed in. “Beyond the fact that we invaded its territory, it will see this ship and others like her as a threat to its dominance and one that has to be eliminated at all costs.”
“I don’t suppose you have any ideas on how to stop it?” Captain Weaver asked.
“It is alive, Captain, and it bleeds just like we do,” Cheryl said smugly. “I suggest you shoot it until it is dead.”
“Thanks,” Captain Weaver’s snapped, his sarcasm sharp. “That’s a great help. It really is.”
“I’m sorry, Captain,” Dr. Bailey said with a frown. “There’s nothing else we can tell you.”
Ennis’ voice came over the comm. piece Captain Weaver wore in his ear. “Captain, we’ve reached DESRON 2. Surface Commander Hoffman would like to speak with you at once, sir.”
“Tell him I’ll be right there,” Captain Weaver said and then looked back at the two women from the platform. “I’m needed on the bridge. I am sure Dr. Hall and Robbie can attend to any needs you may have. If you think of anything else at all about this Kraken we’re facing…”
“We’ll come to you at once, Captain,” Cheryl assured him.
Captain Weaver left the two women staring after him as he raced out of the medical bay.
Ennis got up from the command chair as Captain Weaver stepped onto the Braxton’s bridge. Captain Weaver took the chair, nodding at the XO.
“Surface Commander Hoffman for you, sir,” Ennis told him.
“On speakers,” Captain Weaver ordered.
“Captain Weaver,” Hoffman’s voice filled the bridge. “We’re picking up a large number of small contacts just outside the DESRON 2’s formation perimeter.”
“Yes, sir,” Captain Weaver answered. “Those would be the smaller squid creatures that are pursuing us.”
“I see,” Hoffman said, clearly doubtful that the contacts were what he claimed they were.
“Hoffman,” Captain Weaver said earnestly, “I highly suggest that all the ships of DESRON 2 secure their decks and deploy armed personnel in case the creatures decide to engage them.”
“Secure the decks?” Surface Commander Hoffman questioned him.
“Yes, sir.” Captain Weaver nodded though he knew the surface commander couldn’t see him over the audio only commlink. “If they do engage us, sir, they’ll try to board, swarming whatever ship or ships they make a go at. If they get into its interior…”
“I understand, Captain Weaver.” Hoffman’s tone had an edge of warning in it.
Captain Weaver wasn’t concerned. If Hoffman didn’t believe him, the surface commander would soon learn well enough himself just how real and dangerous the squid creatures were.
“I’ll order the precautions you suggest, Captain,” Surface Commander Hoffman told him, if somewhat reluctantly.
“Hoffman,” Captain Weaver said, “there’s something else out there too.”
The surface commander was silent, waiting on him to continue.
“Whatever it is, it’s massive,” Captain Weaver warned. “My XO, Ennis, managed to drive it off when it engaged us in route here, but it wasn’t easy. This thing … It is fast, sir, and smart. When it does hit DESRON 2, it’ll come in fast and do as much damage as it can. I’ll be sending you a full report of what little we know about it in the next half hour.”
“See that you do,” Surface Commander Hoffman ordered.
Surface Commander Hoffman ended the transmission between the two ships, leaving the bridge of the Braxton in silence.
“He doesn’t believe a blasted word of what we’ve told him, sir,” Ennis spoke up.
“He will.” Captain Weaver glanced over at the XO. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t get us all killed before he comes around.”
“Sir,” Lancaster called from the Braxton’s sonar station.
“What is it, Lancaster?” Captain Weaver asked. “Has the big one returned?”
Lancaster shook his head. “No, sir, I’m not picking up any sign of it out there yet, but the small ones, sir, they’re gathering in force around the perimeter of DESRON 2’s formation. I’m picking up over a thousand of them, sir, and more are joining the mass already gathered with each minute that passes.”
“They’re getting ready for an all-out attack,” Ennis said.
“Should I take them with guns, sir?” Smith, the Braxton’s weapon officer, asked.