He brought up another reading of the blip showing up again at the edge of scanning range, but in a different position. It promptly disappeared. “Both sets of coordinates are just on the outer edge of the Orion System.”
Erik furrowed his brow. “It seems to be little more than a blur.” He moved over to the monitor on the wall near the door. It had a list of outgoing and incoming ships scheduled for Orion V in the next three months.
“We don’t have a supply ship due for three weeks, an ore transport two weeks after that, and the Vanguard’s still eight days away. What the hell could it be?” Erik pondered. “A glitch perhaps?”
“It’s possible.”
Erik returned to Bloch who replayed the scans on the monitor. “It could be Marauders.”
His assistant brought up a file on his monitor. “The last reports we received from the CDF did indicate heightened Marauder activity about two light-years away near the Collus System. Would they venture all this way?”
“We’d be a tempting target,” Erik said. “Would they be ballsy enough to hit us?”
Bloch shrugged. “If it is Marauders, I’m glad the Vanguard isn’t far away.”
Erik nodded. “Okay, keep an eye on it. If you pick up anything, let me know.” He patted the young man on the shoulder and headed out of the operations center.
As Erik made his way toward the elevator, he couldn’t help but think back to a year ago to when his team in Worksite Fifteen found the… thing. The secretive project beneath the surface had taken its toll on him and all his people. The last thing he needed was Marauders knocking on their door.
Twelve
Cargo Ship Argo
Jason lay on his bed, staring at the same stain on the ceiling that’d been there since he was a kid. Even back then he’d never been able to figure out what it was. Apart from the odd blemish and smells of the old ship, he was astonished at the condition of the Argo and how it was still hauling cargo after so many years.
He wanted to get up, but he’d been feeling lethargic the last few days. Six months was a long time. He never remembered being exhausted when he was in the service. Perhaps it was because he was always doing something. Like staving off a defeat from a Centauri battle squadron.
Jason looked over to his bedside table where his unopened bottle of Blue Jacket bourbon sat. He’d be lying if he hadn’t had a drink since he’d come aboard, but he hadn’t drunk to excess. No wonder I’ve been having all these sweats. He’d been tempted more than once, but his mission was far too imperative not to be at his best.
“Bridge to Jason,” Kevin said over the intercom.
Jason whacked the terminal on the wall beside his bed. “I’m here.”
“We’ve reached the coordinates.”
He dragged himself up and leaped off the bed like a tiger, hurrying out the door and taking the elevator to A Deck. Suddenly he didn’t feel so tired anymore.
On the bridge, Tyler was sitting in the center seat tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Disengage the FTL engines,” he instructed Kevin.
Jason strapped himself in at the operations station, and Kevin pushed in the commands at the helm. The old ship groaned, pulling out of FTL and going to sub-light speed.
Tyler turned to him. “Frontier’s Reach.”
Jason unbuckled himself and stepped toward the viewport at the front of the bridge. It was often said the Reach felt more vast and mysterious than anywhere else. There was a darkness about it that was indescribable. “Here be the dragons.”
“What now?” Tyler asked.
Jason surveyed their position on the scanners at the operations station. They had indeed arrived at the coordinates transmitted to him by David Ortega. “Now it begins.”
With the first initial sweeps of the area on the scanners completed, data rolled in. Space was a vacuum, but it was filled with all kinds of matter that scanners could detect when so charged to do so. When the minutes started stacking up, he realized there was no sign of what he’d come for.
“I’m not detecting any Iota particles.” Jason didn’t let it phase him, though. “We need to start a concentric search pattern.” Forgetting himself, he glanced at his brother. “With your permission, of course.”
Tyler gave the go-ahead, nodding toward Kevin to plot a course. Within moments, the Argo was on the move.
Tyler peered over Jason’s shoulder. “Don’t forget we’ve got a consignment to deliver. I doubt we’ll get another extension. You’ve got forty-eight hours.”
Jason nodded, keeping his eyes firmly on the scanners, while his brother left the bridge.
“The helm’s on auto.” Kevin got out of his chair. “You might have to make an alteration here and there. If you need anything just—”
“I think I can still remember the buttons.” He smiled at his first flight instructor. “Thanks.”
“Good luck.”
Jason hoped it wasn’t needed.
The minutes turned into hours. Aly came along with some coffee. Then some cookies. Then some lunch, all the while seeing if he’d had any progress. Kevin even dropped by from time to time, to check on the Argo’s course. But Jason knew he was really coming to check on him to see if he hadn’t lost his mind. He knew they saw his frustration mounting while the clock continued to tick. As long as there was still time, there was hope.
“Any luck?”
Jason looked up to Tyler standing by the hatchway. He readjusted his eyes after straining them for so long.
“Not even a bite.” Jason frowned. “I now know why this area of space has been left for so long. There’s just nothing out here.”
“Well, there’s still time,” Tyler said, appearing upbeat. “I know you’re pretty focused up here, but I thought you could use the company.” From behind the door, Tyler revealed
