Shadows Among The StarsThe Lurking Threat

By Matt Kirkby

Word Count: 25644397 5996

“To profits!” Duane lifted his mug.“To outwitting the Tyranny!”The bar was crowded with merchants and spacers.“Try and keep your voice down!”“Why?”“The Tyrant has spies everywhere.”“That’s just propaganda.” Duane snorted and took another drink. “He just wants us

to think that he has spies everywhere. A lot cheaper than actually trying to have that many spies.” He laughed.

The building shook as a shuttle launched from the spaceport.“Some day this place is gonna collapse.”“Then just hope that you ain’t here when it does.”A serving girl brought another round.“Thank you kindly, Betty.” Duane offered her a bow without bothering to stand. “I

see that the Black Veil is still to cheap to use robots.”“It is.” Mary held out her hand. “Payment now…no tabs.”“As you wish.” Duane tossed her a handful of coins. “Enough?”“For now.” She turned and vanished back into the crowd.“It’s worth these watered down drinks just to see her.”“If you say so.”“There’s better bars, Captain.”“All equally crowded. It’s a free port.”“No port in the Tyranny is free.”“This one is freer than most.” He laughed.

* * *

Duane stood near the building’s corner as a trio of soldiers marched down the street. Each man wore the grey and red body armour of a Tyranny Legionnaire. “I guess it’s not such a free port after all.”

“Guess not.”

* * *

“Your paperwork appears to be in order.”“I had no doubt of that.”

“Glad to hear it.”Duane turned around.The marine stepped through the door. “Major Aaron Charleston. I only hire honest

men.”“Hire for what?”“Transport. We’re establishing a new colony. We have supplies to haul.”“Since when does the TDF hire ships for BurCol?” Duane asked.“The Defence Force is charged with protecting the entire Tyranny.” The man

frowned. “Do you have some objection to this commission?”“Not at all.” Duane smiled. “I make it a policy never to become involved with the

military.”“It’s a BurCol contract, Captain. Freight hauler, there and back again.”“And where is there?”“A new world near the Sorceress Veil.”

* * *

“Lumiss. Never heard of it.”“It’s on some of the older charts.” William gestured to the display. “I had to do

some hunting, but I did find it.”“On an older chart?” Duane frowned. “What do you mean?”“It’s not on any of the current charts I have stored. So I did some searching back

through the StellCart archives. Lumiss is listed as a mining colony during the later years of the Union, but then it fell off the charts. A friend of mine found a reference to it having been abandoned.”

Duane shook his head. “An abandoned colony.”“Yeah. Not the first one, Captain.”“Nor the last StellCart will find.” Duane looked at the chart. “BurCol is looking to

rebuild a colony there,” he said. “It’s a fairly isolated world.”“One of the farthest out,” William agreed. “It was probably the farthest original

colony.”“And then lost after only a few years?”“Probably. When the Union fell, it caused a lot of disruption.”Duane nodded. War. Upheaval. Destruction. “Just how long has that world been

abandoned?”“Since the Diaspora.”“That long?”“BurCol believes so.”“And you believe BurCol’s records?” The Bureau of Colonization was a powerful

governmental department. “What about StellCart?”“Stellar Cartography is far more open than most Bureaus. Aiko was checking some

facts for me and she couldn’t find anything dangerous about Lumiss. Colony established by the Union and then lost when the Union collapsed.”

“How conveniant.”“I’ll need some more data for navigation. The charts I have aren’t fully up-to-date.”

Duane nodded. “You’ll get the data in due time.” He knew full well that William had no intention of plotting any hyperspace jumps without accurate navigational data. “We have a convoy to assemble first, then we’ll head for Lumiss.”

* * *

Duane tossed back his drink. “To the Tyrant!” he said loudly. “Damn him and his bureaucracies.”

“It’s an easy mission, right?”“Running cargo to an abandoned world, you mean?”“Exactly.”“Yeah, Sam, that part’s easy. But I want to know why the original colony was

abandoned. People don’t just leave without a very good reason.”“The Diaspora was a chaotic time, right?” Sam sipped his drink. “The Union

broken, worlds at war with one another. Small wonder that colonies were abandoned.”

* * *

The convoy was gathering.“How many ships?”“Nine freighters in this bunch.”Duane studied a visual image. “That is one mean-looking ship.”“The Defiance is just a heavy cruiser.”“Just, James?”“It’s not like we warranted a battleship.”

* * *

“Set course for the warp point.”“Aye, Captain.”“Then we jump to Lumiss?”“And whatever is waiting for us there.”

* * *

“It’s a pretty enough world.”“It’s just a planet. It doesn’t even have a station in orbit. Hell, I’m surprised there

are even any navigation satellites around here.”“Must be leftovers.”“Or else the explorers left them.” It didn’t matter. There wasn’t enough traffic yet

in this system to pose any hazard. “Set course for close-in orbit. Find out where they want us to land.”

* * *

The rumble of construction filled the air.

Duane watched heavy equipment rumble along the street towards one of the numerous construction sites. “I’m surprised to see so many buildings still in such good shape.”

“It should help lower the cost of the colony’s set up considerably.”“It’s all about profits, Major?”Aaron Charleston nodded. “The Tyranny’s resources are not infinite. Unless you’d

like to see the tax rates increased, you should be happy we cut costs when we can.”Duane snorted. “The Tyrant never lowers taxes.”Aaron shrugged.“This is a pretty world.”“It has potential.”“But how much?”“Enough.”Duane shook his head. “StellCart has checked it out?”“Of course. The system is deserted.”Duane gestured to the crumbling buildings. “How old are these?”“Analysis calls it…eight hundred years.”“That long?” he asked.“That long.”“It’s Diaspora-era?”“Yes.”“You know the type. Refugees fleeing Earth during the Great Eastern War in the

first great wave of colonization. Their ships were primitive, with temperamental FTL drives.”

Duane nodded. “I know. Those drives had a thirty per cent failure rate.”“The second wave of colonists should be arriving soon. This colony will be fully

operational within the year.”“Just in time for tax season.”Aaron laughed. “Yes.”

* * *

“Crumbling buildings and abandoned colonies are not my idea of fun places to be.”“I can imagine not.” Megan Faber smiled and rested her hand on the pistol at her

hip. “But why worry about it now? There’s no sign of danger.”He glanced at the pistol she was wearing. “So why are you armed?”“Procedure.”“Oh.”“Wild animals. Dangers we do not know about. Better safe than sorry.”“I guess.” Duane paused. “Do you think rebels hit this place?”“Maybe.”“Something made the colonists vanish.”“A disease or famine.”“Or a war.”“The Diaspora was a dark time. A lot of bad things happened.”“A lot of bad things are still happening now.”

“And the Tyranny is meant to save us?”“There are far worse governments in the galaxy than the Tyranny. That is why we

are here.”“To defend us from the monsters?” Duane laughed.

* * *

“The moon is nice.”“I guess.”“You don’t like Lumiss.”“I’m a freighter captain. I like developed worlds with people to buy my cargoes.

This is my third run here…I’m barely making my operating expenses. There is a lack of market economy here.”

“For now. Give us a few years, Captain, and this will be a major world.”“If you say so, Major.”“Forget the moon then.” Aaron gestured towards the sky. “You can’t say you don’t

find the Sorceress’s Cloak awesome.”“It’s a nebula.” Though it filled a good chunk of the night sky with its purple and

blue clouds. “Yeah, it’s impressive.”

* * *

“It’s almost getting crowded around here.”“Almost.”The robed figure pushed past him.Duane watched him shuffle along the street. “Must be from some marginal colony.”

The man was moving with an almost awkward motion, as if unused to the gravity.“How long are we staying here?”“Our cargo should be offloaded by evening. We’ll pick up our ore and then head

back to Hamar.”“Ore running is hardly going to earn us a fortune.”“Maybe not, but there’s still too much scrutiny at Customs.” Duane smiled and

headed towards the bar. “Give it a bit longer and we should be able to start augmenting our cargos with something a bit more profitable.”

“Why not just head elsewhere?”“Because that damnable Major has a very precise contract. We’re stuck here for

another dozen runs at least.”“That can’t be fair.”“It’s very well written. I had it checked. We’re bound by it…unless we go rogue.”

And that was no real option.

* * *

The storm rolled in with surprising swiftness.“This is a bad storm.”

“No shit.” Duane squinted against the grit the wind was carrying. “It’s bad enough to shut down the landing field.”

“I know.”A marine walked past.Duane eyed her.

* * *

“How is the ore traffic?”“Busy, but not profitable.”“You’ll have to make do.”“I am. Your Major has me held by a bloody contract.”“BurCol wrote those contracts.”“That explains all that legalese.” Duane spat. “So why did BurCol send so many

Legionnaires to a marginal colony?”“Safety.” Megan shrugged. “I just follow orders. We were sent to establish a

garrison here.”“A garrison? Against who?” Duane gestured towards the sky. “Lumiss is an

isolated system. You’re on the edge of known space, lightyears away from any hostile world. Even the Tyrant can’t expect an attack out here.”

“You never know.”Duane shook his head. “Anything that attacked the last colony here is long since

dead. Eight hundred years dead.”A scream rang out.“What the hell was that?”Megan drew her pistol and started running.

* * *

“What did you want me to do?”“I’m not sure.”“We can hardly abandon an entire planet on the basis of one or two animal attacks.

This is a barely charted world. There are bound to be dangers present of which we know nothing. It’s the nature of space exploration.”

“So you would willingly sacrifice--”“Hardly. I have patrols out there.”“Yet these animals elude them.” “What are you insinuating?”The lights died plunging the street into darkness.“Power failure.”Aaron tapped his helmet. “Maintenance, we have a power failure here.”“On it, Major.”

Duane eyed the dark city. “Still no lights.”“At least we’re self-contained.”

“Keep the hatch locked at all times.”“Nervous?”“A bit.” Duane turned back to the hatch. “Something is going on here…and it’s not

just the simple animals that Charleston is talking about. Animals don’t cut power lines.”“Sabotage?”“That’s my guess. What the major will do is anyone’s guess.”

* * *

The creature opened its mouth and hissed.“Watch those claws!” Duane eyed them. “They look sharp enough to tear armour.”Megan hefted her rifle. “I’m not worried.”“I am.”

* * *

Gunfire rang through the night.Aaron stared at a monitor. Reports kept flowing in about attacks.“Firefight at grid five mark seven. Three creatures.”Another light blinked on the display.“They’re preying on us.”“They must have amazing night vision.”“Still no word on the power system?”“None. The techs don’t want to go outside to try and fix anything.”“Even with escorts?”“Even with escorts.” More gunfire rattled.“Issue another lock down order to the civilians. Tell them to stay indoors.” Not that

anyone was likely to venture outside with armed patrols in the streets and nervous soldiers willing to shoot first at any sound. Martial law has its advantages.

“The landing field is still secure.”“No ships have lifted?”“None.”“Good.” Aaron considered his options. “We might have a use for the ships there.”“I’d be happy with a real enemy.”“Pirates would be easier to fight than these creatures.”

* * *

Megan took aim and squeezed the trigger.A hail of bullets sent the creature staggering onto the tarmac with a thud.Duane coughed on the harsh smell of gunpowder before the breeze cleared the air on

the balcony. “Another one?”“My fifth tonight.”“I think we can assume what happened to the original colony.”“Yes.” Megan took a swallow from her canteen. “I haven’t heard anything from

Baker in nearly an hour. I think they’re gone.”

Duane swallowed hard. Half her squad? Without a sound? “I should be aboard my ship.”

“You’re not leaving the tower.” Megan shook her head. “I’m not opening the door to let you out and we’re too high to jump.”

“We’re a target,” he protested. “We have power.”“Emergency batteries,” she agreed. “Enough to power the lights and basic systems.

Not enough to operate the landing field.”“I can launch without tower assistance.”“No launches without the Major’s approval.”

* * *

“Evacuation?”“I’m not sticking around here.”“Do you have the capacity to carry everyone?”“No.”“So you would abandon us.”“I’m not a soldier.”Megan shook her head. “He’s right. Someone has to warn the Tyranny what’s

going on. Those things...they’re too smart for animals.”

* * *

“We’ve barricaded most of the city’s centre. We should be able to hold out there for some time.”

“And if we can’t?”“Then we die.”“This world is cursed.”“Shut up.” Aaron shook his head. “This is just a bunch of animals.”“It’s a damned tough bunch.”

* * *

“Look at that.”Aaron leaned closer to the monitor. “What is it doing?”“Pawing at the keypad.”“Trying to unlock the door.”Aaron straightened. “Listen to yourselves!” His voice carried across the command

centre. “That’s just an animal. It cannot decode the locks.”“It sure is trying hard.”“Scare it off.”“Hart, this is Control. Report to the secondary doors. Shoot that creature.”“Yes, Sir.”

* * *

Duane ran for the spaceport. “Get the ship ready to launch!” he shouted.“We’re still not cleared.”“I don’t care! We’re launching. With or without the Major’s permission.” Gunfire

rattled in the distance.

Skin Deep

Lill stepped into the corridor. It was short walk from the airlock facility to the main dome. Several people were hurrying towards her. “Director Starling, it’s an honour--”

A klaxon sounded and the door behind her slammed shut.“Shit!”Lill Turner turned her head. “A hull breach?”“The dome’s been breached!”“This is Adrian. Alert stations.”Lill watched the man closely. He wore a security uniform. “Captain Shaw?”He nodded. “Colonel Turner, a pleasure. Director?”Alan Starling shook his head, looking flustered. “There’s been a dome breach. We

can’t survive exposure to Loki’s atmosphere.”“I know. I know.” Lill glanced back over her shoulder at the airlock. “Should we

evacuate?”“Maybe.”“No need,” Starling protested. “We are quite safe here. The station is divided into

sections. The breach can’t affect more than one section.”The whistle of air was a piercing shriek.“It appears to be in this area.”Adrian cursed. “We’ve been cut off from the rest of the station,” he announced.

“The breach is further up the tunnel.”“We can still reach my shuttle. We’ll have enough air to last until a rescue party

arrives from the dome.”“Your shuttle already left.”“Did it?” Lill asked. “Damn.”“Can we see the breach?”“Through that viewport.”Lill looked.“What is he doing?”The man was moving through the room. Clouds of vapour were swirling around

him.“Get him out of there! He won’t survive a minute in that soup.”“It’s too late for him. The pressure doors are sealed.”“Damn.”“The breach is sealed.”“What?”The pressure door hissed open.“Technician.”The man leaned against a bulkhead, gasping.“Fine job.”“Thank you, Administrator.”“Now get to the medical bay. You need to be checked out.”“Of course, Administrator.”“Turner, you’re my new security chief! I want a full report on why this incident

happened.”

“Of course.”Adrian smiled. “Welcome to Loki.”

* * *

“Check the records for yourself. There’s a conspiracy in the upper echelons of BurCol.”

“Why do you think that?”“Because we’re being denied access to a region of space. Look at the charts…there

are hardly any mapping missions being sent through the Sorceress’s Cloak.”“They’ve sent some.”“And those missions either found nothing or else went silent.”“You’re right.” He studied the displays. “That makes no sense.”“Someone is working to keep us away from that area.”“Rebels?”“Or something worse.”“BurCol?”“Has been compromised. Internal Security is running a few operations right now to

locate and sterilize the corruption.”“I see. And the opinion of the Tyrant?”“He is remaining silent on the matter.”“You haven’t told him.”“No.”

* * *

Lill glanced at a jar. The insects inside were glowing.“Some form of natural bio-luminescent reaction. I’m still studying the details.”“As a future light source?”“It has some potential. The insects glow far more brightly than a firefly…and for

longer periods of time. If I can figure it our, I might be able to provide a more steady source of lighting us. You’re a soldier. You know what it’s like fighting on a ship when the reactor’s been knocked off-line.”

She nodded. “Yes, it’s pitch black.”“If you have time?”“No, I do not. I came down here for a reason, Doctor.”“A most interesting autopsy.”“I’m listening.”Chambers set his note-pad onto the table. “There a number of physical peculiarities

uncovered in my examination.”“Such as?”“This man had a liver capable of above average filtration of toxins. His eyes have

some different rods and cones…he had better night vision than you have day vision.”“Really.”“His joints are more flexible than most people. He has dexterity well beyond the

Human norm.”

“Is he Human?”“You mean ‘is he an alien’?”“Yes.”“His basic genetic DNA is homo sapiens but it’s altered.”“Genetic manipulation.”“In a fashion that I have never encountered before.”

* * *

Lill stood near the window, staring out at the raging storm. “It is an awesome sight,” she admitted.

“Winds strong enough to knock a man down, carrying enough grit to sand the flesh from your bones.”

“And poisonous to boot.”“Oh, of course.” Adrian nodded. “Not a world to be taken lightly.” Lightning

flashed. “There’s enough power in a single bolt to power a battlecruiser into hyperspace.”“I’ll keep that in mind.”

* * *

“This is a research facility, Major, not a military base.”“It is whatever I need it to be.” Lill smiled to remove the sting from her words.

“Loki is an old colony. You have records going back to the height of the Union.”“And much of that knowledge was lost during the Diaspora.”“The Tyranny was founded after that War. We are an unstable alliance of worlds…

joined in mutual defence.”“Defensive pacts against other Human worlds.” Chambers chuckled. “There are no

intelligent alien species lurking in the galaxy. There is no outside threat to Humanity. We are our own worst enemies.”

“You see a future of warfare?”“Yes, don’t you.”“I try to see the bright future. A galaxy at peace.”“Dreamer.”

* * *

The light panels flickered.“Do you have many power disruptions?”“Some. The storms tend to have unforeseen impacts on the colony. You get used to

them.”“I see.” Lill tapped a console. “Run an analysis on the power system. I want to

know how much energy we’re losing to this natural drain.”“Of course.” The technician nodded to her and returned to his console.“Stefan is a good worker. You should have a full report by tomorrow.”“I can wait that long.”“Why the concern?”

“I was sent to oversee security here. I’m not happy with what I have seen so far.”“Loki is a harsh world.”“Loki is only one of the problems.”

* * *

Adrian studied the report. “A tap?”“Our own reactor is being tapped for energy.”“Pirates.” Adrian shook his head. “There must be a pirate nest nearby…and using

our own power system.”“You should be able to spot them.”“Should…but not likely. The atmospheric disturbances severely limit sensors.”“The orbital satellites?”“Should spot any ships coming or going…unless they’re also being disrupted.”“Can that be looked into?”“Anything alterations to their scanning coverage should be recorded. I’ll have

Stefan look into it.”“Do that.”

* * *

“You’re saying that not all of the power disruptions are natural?”“Most of them aren’t. Oh, the older ones were. But someone has been tapping into

your gird for a while now.”“Using our own energy?”“To what end, Major?”“To power their own colony I dare say.” She dropped the hardcopy onto the

administrator’s desk. “Here’s the report.”“I told you that Stefan would be efficient.”“Yes, he was.” She tossed a second report onto the desk. “Here’s his report.”“Then what is this?”“The same report compiled by Chris. You might take note of the differences in what

each report says.”“They are different.”“Yes.”“Stefan lied?”“Or at least was mistaken in his conclusions.”“Have him called in.”“Yes, Administrator.”

* * *

“It’s the man from the airlock!”Adrian nodded. “Stefan?”The man was breathing heavily. “You have awakened the dragon,” he wheezed.

“You will suffer….” With a muffled thump, the body erupted into flames.

Lill coughed on the smoke even as the ventilation system whirred into high speed to try and clear the air. “What happened?”

“Suicide device,” Doctor Chambers guessed.“He killed himself?”“And took away the evidence. Damn.”“This facility is at risk. I want answers.”

* * *

“Security has been notified.”“That we have alien infiltrators?”“They’re not aliens.”“Then what are they?”“Humans…genetically modified Humans.”“Impossible. They don’t even look Human.”“Not those ones, true, but those are extremists.” He blinked his peculiar eyes.

“Many of the rest of us are more Human in appearance.”“What happened?”

* * *

“It started centuries ago. We first became aware of the GeneCaste during the Lumiss Incident. At the time, we dismissed them as a small group just interested in adapting to life on marginal worlds. A little genetic tinkering to better one’s chance of survival in harsh environments.”

“That seemed like a hell of a lot more than just a little tinkering.”“Some of the GeneCaste took the attempts a little farther than others.”

“They have been manipulating their genetic codes for centuries.”“Since the Diaspora?”“Since before it.”“Shit.”“The GeneCaste have infiltrated BurCol and the Tyrant knows how many other

bureaucracies. They are threatening the Tyranny.”“Invasion?”“Perhaps. Or just manipulating the rest of us Normals.”“To what end?”“Their survival…at the cost of ours.”

* * *

“It looks human.”“Sort of.”The eyes were reptilian.“GeneCaste.” Trevor pulled out his sidearm.Samuel nodded. “It must be.” He turned his head towards Trevor. “Trevor?”

“Yes?” the other man asked and turned.Samuel’s mouth widened and greenish liquid squirted from under his tongue to

splash the marine’s face.Trevor screamed and started coughing.Samuel whirled around and spat more liquid at Doctor Chambers.Lill whipped out her own pistol and shot Samuel.Samuel smiled even as a tendril of black smoke curled up from a scorched mark on

his chest. “Bitch.”Lill shot him again.

Lill pulled open Samuel’s shirt. “What is this? Body armour?”Judith took a closer look. “Its looks like insect chitin,” she said. “It’s not just

armour…it’s his own skin!”“Shit. He’s an infiltrator.” Lill glanced up at the marines standing neat the door.

“Judith, you’re in charge of the research team. I want a full autopsy done.”“Of course.”“I want to know what other surprises he has.” Lill shook her head. “This situation

just got a hell of a lot worse.”“Loki is infected.”“What about our research facility.”“Compromised.” Lill looked at Adrian. “Can you secure the facility?”“With additional troops. My security teams are trained for this. If the GeneCaste

have sufficient resources, they could overwhelm us.”“Evacuation of the planet.”“I’ll set up a medical team to check everyone before departure. We should be able to

sort out the GeneCaste from normal Humans.”“See to it. Adrian, I want Judith escorted at all times. Her safety is top priority.”

* * *

“We have three more incidents of sabotage.”“Three?”Adrian nodded. “Power disruption, under repair. Routine analysis detected a rather

nasty toxin in the water supply in the agro-dome.”“Trying to poison us?”“Looks that way.”“And I heard the breach siren.”“Someone vented most of level four. I have enviro-suited troops in there, but the

tech teams say the damage is too large for them to repair.”“Damn.”“The GeneCaste are winning.”“I know.” Lill turned. “I have a communication to make. Continue with your

duties.”“Understood.”

* * *

“What word, Colonel?”Lill stared into the holocamera. “Bad news, General Schmidt. Loki is a GeneCaste

world. There’s at least one troupe here, maybe more. The station has been compromised. I don’t how much classified data has been lost.”

“Any potential loss is a serious matter.”“I’m aware of that, General.”“What is your plan?”“Total evacuation of the colony here. I have a medical team scanning everyone

present to look for infiltrators.”“The colony cannot be salvaged?”“I do not believe so. The infestation is too widespread. We can’t survive in the

atmosphere, while the GeneCaste are engineered to flourish in it. It’ll be a losing battle if we go out there.”

“Can you hold the colony domes?”“No,” she replied bluntly. “Not a chance. I’m transmitting a file on our current

status to you. The GeneCaste are actively sabotaging us. We’re being herded through the colony as they vent it.”

“Understood. You are cleared to evacuate Loki. A ship will meet your shuttles in orbit.”

“And the colony?”“The Tyrant’s orders are clear on the subject of complete infiltration.”Lill nodded reluctantly. “Cleansing.”“Orbital strikes will commence once you have reached orbit. Schmidt out.”

* * *

Lill paced into the command centre. “Begin evacuation procedures.”“You have a rescue party coming?”“The Rebellious Spirit is already in orbit. They’ll recover our shuttles and then

cleanse Loki.”Adrian frowned. “That’s the only choice?”“Yes. You have your orders, Captain.”“Yes, Colonel.” Adrian activated his comm-link. “This is Shaw. Begin evacuation

procedures. All personnel will rendezvous at the shuttle pad.”A comm buzzed. “This is Turner.”“Judith here. I’m not finished with my genetic testing.”“We are out of time.”“But--”“This is not open to debate. Finish your tests quickly.”

* * *

Something hissed with anger.

“More of the GeneCaste.”“Looks like a more engineered stage.”The hunched over GeneCaste was covered with a greenish-blue chitinous shell. It

opened its mouth and screeched.“Take it down!” Adrian snapped.Machine guns chattered and the GeneCaste went flying backwards.

* * *

Lill stared through the viewport. Bight explosions were erupting on the surface of Loki.

“Is this how it ends?”“Only for now, Adrian.” She turned to look at him. “This is a war of survival and

this battle was only a skirmish.”

* * *

“Earth doesn’t look too bad from orbit.”“The scars of the War have faded.”“It’s a nice world.”

Lill inhaled the crisp air. The scent of Humanity’s birthworld were rich and varied.“Welcome to Earth.”“Thank you.”

“I am Rhi Chan.”Lill offered a salute to her Tyrant.“You have had quite an adventure it seems.”She remained silent.“Speak your mind, Lill. That is why you have been summoned here.”“I am just surprised to be here. After Loki….”“Yes…the GeneCaste do pose a threat.”“A grave one, to every world.”“The centre of the Tyranny is a safe enough world, is it not?”“I hope so.”Rhi gestured to the expansive windows. “What is not to admire about my home?”“The Tyranny is based heavily on the Greek model of course, with the more ancient

meaning of tyrant as opposed to the twentieth century implications.”“I am aware of that. I was surprised to witness the cleansing of Loki.”“The planet was infected with a virulent contagion. Sterilization was the only option

left to us.”“Is that how you see this war?”

“The GeneCaste are Human, yes I know.” Rhi grimaced. “Or at least they were.” He gestured dismissively. “Can you trust them? They are so twisted with genetic manipulation that they can scarcely be called Human any longer.”

“They are living beings.”“I know that. They threaten the Tyranny.”“So you claim. I am less convinced of that.”“Colonel, the colony on Loki was the tenth infected world cleansed in the last

century. BurSec has confirmed that the GeneCaste have murdered the inhabitants of seven colonies--a total of more than one billion citizens.”

Lill winced. “I had no idea.”“We’re keeping the news quiet to not cause panic among the masses.” Rhi poured

himself a drink. “The GeneCaste are moving among my worlds. We hunt them; they elude us much of the time. Stations have been sabotaged, colonies abandoned, starships hijacked. The war is escalating.”

Lill shook her head. “It’s truly that bad?”“I do not know how much longer we can survive without taking strict public

measures.”“The public won’t easily accept such news.”“No, there will be panic. The Tyranny will be endangered further and weakened.”“Tyrant, what can I do?”“You have fought the GeneCaste and won. I will have a mission for you shortly.”Lill gave him another salute. “I await your commands.”

* * *

The command centre was dimly lit, its walls lined with monitors and displays. “The perfect place from which to plan a campaign.”

“Indeed, Major.”Lill smiled and paced across the floor. “Jerome, we have a difficult task ahead of

us.”“I was briefed.”“The GeneCaste will be difficult to subdue. I will be relying upon your aid for this.

We cannot fail the Tyrant.”“Of course not.”“Then proceed.”Jerome’s fingers flew across the keyboard.The holotank in the centre of the room glowed to life.Lill studied the star chart. “This is current?” she asked. “Of course, Major.”“Show me the colonies.” Scores of stars changed from white points to bright green.

The star at the centre of the map burned the brightest. “The blue stars are the independent colonies?” She smiled when Jerome nodded. “I thought as much.” There were a handful of independent worlds beyond the Tyranny’s borders. “Show me the locations of known GeneCaste activity.”

Jerome nodded. “Of course.” With another series of commands, several green stars shifted to red.

“The GeneCaste seem to be concentrating around the Sorceress’s Cloak.”“Not all of them.” Jerome gestured. “We have reports of infiltration on the far side

of the Tyranny as well.”“Only a handful compared to the rimward border.” The GeneCaste seemed to be

concentrated towards the edge of the galaxy. “Why would they not have fled coreward?”“Perhaps because they suspected that most exploration would be coreward?”“Good point.” With more stars located in the centre of the galaxy, the vast bulk of

exploration missions were sent in that direction. Rimward, towards the void between galaxies tended to be ignored.

“They want to hide away…they fear discovery.”“Is that any surprise?”“Not really.”

* * *

“We have reports from the colony on Waldorf IV.”“Another dome breach?”“No, reactor failure.”Frowning, Lill picked up the data-pad. “Reactors do not generally fail for no

reason.”“No, nor do they fail without some warning signs.”“Sabotage?”“That is our suspicion. Analysis of the colonial database uncovered logged files of

unidentified signals coming from the second moon.”Lill studied the report. “The atmosphere on the moon is completely unbreathable.

Methane. No Human can survive in that.”“Unless you’re not Human.”“BurCol scanned the moon before settling Waldorf, right?”“Of course they did. That’s standard procedure after all. No evidence of life. No

domes, no buildings, no power emissions.”“Yet we know the GeneCaste might have established a settlement there.”“It’s possible.”“They have a settlement there…and then we settle Waldorf and pick up some of

their transmissions?” She frowned. “The GeneCaste must have some kind of inter-colony trade going on. The colonists on Waldorf must have picked up evidence of it. So the GeneCaste moved to eliminate the threat.”

“There were ten thousand people on Waldorf.”“I know.”

* * *

Vulcan Station was a sprawling complex of interconnected habitats, linked by structural support struts and pressurized tubes.

“That largest shipyard in this portion of the Tyranny.”“A most impressive sight.”“Are you worried about enemy action, Major?”

“Possibly.” She chewed at her lip. “We are dealing with a dangerous threat. An enemy capable of infiltrating almost anywhere.”

“The mysterious GeneCaste.”“Yes, them.”“I think you worry too much.”“And you obviously don’t worry enough.”

* * *

“They’re heading for the shipyards!”“Can’t you stop them?”“I’m trying.” Lill stared at the display. “Corporal Wu, can you hold?”“Negative, Major.” The rattle of gun fire echoed over the comm-channel. “They just

keep coming.”“Blow the emergency hatches. Seal off that corridor from the rest of the station.”Lill turned towards Roger. “Vent that deck to vacuum?”“Yes.”“It might work…unless the GeneCaste have been altered to survive in a vacuum.”“We have to do something. We’ve lost all contact with habitat three.”“Colonel Wu, blow the emergency hatches. Vent that deck.”“Understood.”

* * *

“They just keep coming.”Lill checked her pistol. “Then we’ll have to be just as relentless.”“We’ve vented two habitats!”“Yes, I know.”“How can you be so calm?”“We vented two habitats and have trapped the bulk of the infiltrators on habitat nine.

They are isolated.”“The habitat is lost to us.”“Better one habitat than the entire station.” Lill gestured to the viewport. “Or would

you rather the GeneCaste reach Slip Five?”“If they reach the slips, they’ll have access to our ships.”“Exactly. I am prepared to blow the connection struts rather than risk losing the

fleet.” Lill kept her tone cold. “Maintaining fleet security is top priority.”

* * *

The cruiser broke away from its moorings.“Shit!” Lill swore.“It’s not responding to signals.” Roger tapped his headset. “No response.”The habitat shuddered.“We’re taking weapons’ fire!”

“They’ve infiltrated the Solitude!” Lill grabbed for her helmet as a second explosion rocked the deck. “Suit up!”

Hull breach klaxons began wailing.“Get to the evac pods!”

* * *

Lill watched the cruiser sluggishly alter course and head away from the wreckage of Vulcan Station.

“They’ll jump long before reinforcements arrive.”“I know.” Lill felt cold. “We’ve failed.” And the stakes had just grown worse.

* * *

“The transponder beacon was broadcasting Desperate Solitude.”“The ship the GeneCaste hijacked.”“The very same.”“Damn.”“This is a disaster.”“One cruiser is not a serious threat to the Tyranny.”“No, but the GeneCaste have not just stolen one cruiser. In the last month, six

warships have gone silent.”“Any reports of naval battles?”“None as yet. I expect that to change at any time.”“Shit.”“With a battle fleet of their own, the GeneCaste have just elevated their threat

status.”“They could wipe a colony from a planet.”“Indeed.”“So why haven’t they?”Rick frowned. “What?”“They have proven their willingness to destroy colonies and settlements placed too

close to their own. They have the will to kill us to protect themselves. Now they have the raw fire power.”

“You’re right…why haven’t they struck at us?”Lill shook her head. “That’s the million credit question.”