“Interesting,” Ludendorff said, as he rubbed his jaw. “You are a fascinating specimen, Captain. But…” The professor studied the silver drone outside. “I dislike putting myself in harm’s way. The fleet battle several months ago was bad enough. This…”
“The disruptor cannon is ready,” Valerie said.
“Look,” Ludendorff said, as he raised his right hand. “My hand is actually trembling. I can’t believe it.”
“Fire,” Maddox told Valerie. “Then raise the shield. There’s no sense in keeping it down now.”
The professor looked up sharply, his eyes locked on the main screen.
The antimatter cyclers in the distant engine room whined with power as they pumped the disruptor cannon with the needed energy.
Valerie stabbed her board with a finger.
Outside, a glob of energy discharged from the cannon. It sped at the silver drone. Then, the glob reached the object, encircling it, turning the missile’s shield a brown color.
“Fire again,” Maddox said. “Blow down its shield.”
“The disruptor isn’t ready yet for a second shot, sir,” Valerie said. “It’s recycling. But our shield is back online.”
“I should be down there with Galyan,” Ludendorff muttered.
“The drone is building up power,” Valerie said, as she studied her board.
A red beam lashed out from the missile’s nosecone. It burned against Victory’s hastily raised shield. The starship’s deflectors held, although an area turned pink and then red where the beam hit. The region slowly expanded as the shield attempted to bleed off the intense wattage.
“Sir,” Valerie said in amazement. “This is incredible. The beam is exactly like what the New Men use in their star cruisers.”
Maddox glanced at Ludendorff. The professor pretended not to notice.
“The disruptor cannon is ready, sir,” Valerie said.
“Fire,” Maddox said.
Once more, a harsh whine built up within the starship. Then, the disruptor glob sped at the automated drone. For a second time, the enemy shield darkened, this time to black.
“Hit it with the neutron beam,” Maddox said.
Before Valerie could respond, the enemy shield collapsed. The remainder of the disruptor glob reached the missile’s hull. It devoured the silver substance, as acid would paper. The red beam quit firing at Victory. A second later, a nova-white explosion caused Maddox to throw his hands before his eyes. The bridge became too bright as the dampeners failed to shield them sufficiently. Then, the brightness dimmed and finally vanished.
“The drone is gone,” Valerie declared. “We did it.”
“Interesting,” Ludendorff said, as he leaned forward to study space.
“The beam is especially interesting,” Maddox said. “What do you think, Professor? What does it mean that the New Men use exactly the same sort of beam as the Builder drone did?”
“Hmm…” Ludendorff said in a pondering way. “I imagine it means that the ray bypassed any Earth vessel shield that came to this system. If we had been in any other Star Watch ship, we would all be dead now.”
“My thoughts have moved in a different direction,” Maddox said. “Can we have found the genesis to the New Men’s advanced technology?”
“That’s a reasonable assumption at first glance,” Ludendorff said. “The danger in accepting it, however—”
“I accept it as fact,” Maddox said, interrupting. “The New Men use the Nexus. They have activated the planet-killer, and they have the same beams as the silver drone. There can be no doubt; our enemy uses alien technology, Builder technology, if you prefer. We have discovered a critical answer regarding our foe.”
“Hmm…” Ludendorff said, as if unconvinced.
“I have begun to wonder about something else,” Maddox said. “You wished us to jump away from the silver drone. Perhaps you already knew about the beam and didn’t want us to discover that.”
“Know is too strong of a word,” Ludendorff said. “I had begun to suspect, though.”
“More lies, Professor?”
“I am unused to having these kinds of allegations thrown at me,” Ludendorff said. “Despite their uniqueness, I don’t enjoy them, either. Thus, you will desist in making them.”
Maddox eyed the stars outside. Months ago, Ludendorff had helped fix the disruptor cannon, which had been instrumental in defeating Oran Rva’s star cruisers and had freed Fletcher’s fleet. The New Men had hunted for the professor on Wolf Prime, intending to capture him. Maddox didn’t like Ludendorff’s methods, nor did he approve of some of the professor’s personnel. But it was important to remember the man seemed to be on their side.
Ludendorff is vain. I must use that, but I mustn’t forget he has deep resources. Instead of working to defeat him, I might better resolve to remain free and keep Meta away from Villars.
“Lieutenant,” Maddox said. “Do your sensors indicate more drones?”
Valerie bent over her equipment, manipulating the board from time to time. Finally, she straightened and regarded Maddox.
“No, sir, there’s nothing else. But I should point out that any number of drones could be hiding behind various asteroids. Advancing through the meteor field could be dangerous.”
“Right,” Maddox said. “Enlarge your sensor sweeps. It’s time we located the Nexus.”
“Meta knows the Nexus’s coordinates,” Ludendorff said.
“We don’t know if that’s true,” Maddox said. “The teacher may have eliminated the memory from her mind.”
Ludendorff stroked his chin.
“I found something,” Valerie said. “It’s massive, approximately two hundred thousand kilometers away and it’s definitely within the asteroid belt.”
“Could it be the Nexus?” Maddox asked the professor.
“I don’t know what else it could be,” Ludendorff said.
“Do you still wish to study it from close range?”
“I believe doing so is critical to our cause.”
“Then I suggest you and I use the shuttle to reach it.”
“Why not use Victory?” Ludendorff asked.
Maddox explained his reasoning of using Kane’s actions as their guide. The spy had used a space-cycle, keeping his scout some distance from the Nexus.
“Yes…” the professor said. “Your suggestion makes sense. The Builders…” Ludendorff turned away, tapping his left thigh with the flat device. “We must take Meta with us, of course. Galyan will watch the rest of your crew, and Villars will stay locked in his room. If Dana attempts another mutiny, the AI will know what to do.”
“Fine,” the captain said. “But why do we need Meta along?”
“Isn’t it obvious why?” the professor asked.
Maddox considered the question. “Yes, I suppose it is. When do we leave?”
“Now,” the professor said, as he stood. “We have to do this before more Builder drones show up.”
-14-
Maddox piloted the shuttle, lifting off the hangar bay deck. Beside him, Meta tested the relays to the warfare pod on the undercarriage and the autocannons on the stubby wings.
With easy skill, Maddox drifted toward the hangar bay doors. They slowly opened. Stars shined beyond with a large asteroid sitting nearby in space.
The professor stepped through the hatch between compartments. He moved like a penguin in his vacc-suit, with a helmet under the crook of his arm.
“Expecting trouble?” Maddox asked.
“You don’t live as long as I have without taking precautions,” Ludendorff said.
“Is it considered bad manners to ask how long you’ve lived?” Maddox asked.
“You must leave off your curiosity in my direction, Captain. We’re not playing a game of checkers, are we? There are more Builder drones prowling the asteroid field. We must engage all our energies outward and make sure to avoid them.”