Chapter 41: Smoke And Mirrors

Laine and I returned to the main bridge. Jem and Mina studied the tactical display, which showed a live feed of the system.

“Did you work out your details?” asked Jem with a grin.

“Yes Captain, we are as ready as we can be,” I replied. I wondered what went through her head. I was doing my best to find a way through this mess.

The system map showed five Varech vessels moving in formation. The signal from the device brought them to this system. Now they were searching for their prey.

Their course showed them moving towards the planet with the obelisk. What we called the lake world was Avalon three, the third planet in the system. We were behind Avalon six.

“Quon, does their arrival from that side of the system suggest they came from the Carolus system?” I asked.

“Confirmed,” replied Quon.

“They followed you here, because of the signal from that device,” I said.

“Undoubtedly,” replied Quon. I raised my eyebrow at that response. Jem grinned at me.

“Captain, our troubles started when we left Ori Major. An unfriendly agent slipped that device in with our supplies. I can think of just one group who want us dead and who might have agents on Ori Major,” I said.

“You mean Lagaid?” asked Jem.

“Yes. We are their number one enemy. They will stop at nothing to destroy us. They tried more than once,” I said.

“But we wiped out most of their military vessels,” said Laine.

“They got the Varech to pursue us. I don’t know if the Varech are an ally or the Lagaid paid for their services. The result is the same,” I said.

The five Varech vessels were approaching Avalon three. I didn’t want them to land on the planet surface. We left two of their crew there, plus I didn’t want them to discover the obelisk. I’d like to keep the secret of the obelisks to just us.

“Quon, where is that special probe?” I asked. On the tactical display, a dot flashed.

“Quon, direct the probe to uncloak and activate the device for about six seconds. Then direct it to cloak again and change position, perhaps move towards the edge of the system,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Quon. A moment later, the Varech vessels changed direction away from the planet and towards where the probe had been.

“What was that?” asked Jem.

“We equipped a probe with a similar device, to send out a signal. I don’t want the Varech to explore Avalon three, so I used the probe to distract them. You can see it works. This also confirms they can’t see our cloaked probes,” I said.

“Bri-an, that is brilliant! You took their advantage and used it against them,” said Mina.

“The probe has a hyperspace engine. We can send it on a journey to visit various systems, and the Varech would follow it. They don’t know we found and destroyed the original device,” I said.

“What else do you have planned, Commander?” asked Jem.

“It depends on what you want to do next Captain. Option one is to send them off chasing our probe until they get tired. We can safely go on our way. I call that the Koluna option, because it solves our problem and is non-lethal,” I said.

“Option two?” asked Jem.

“Option two is to destroy them with nano-bots. I think their vessels are too different for data port probes to work,” I said.

“Option three?” asked Jem.

“We can direct a probe to uncloak and project the image of a Lagaid vessel. We hail the Varech in Lagaid and try to communicate with them. This option has risks and challenges. Fortunately, Laine knows Lagaid. We can use the other two options if it fails,” I said.

“Commander, you have done a thorough job to come up with three options. I choose option three,” said Jem.

“Laine, please stand over here. Quon, you know what to do. Put it on the display,” I said.

A window on the tactical display showed Tobis head and shoulders view, and behind him was the bridge of a Lagaid vessel.

“Laine, try greeting Jem in Ori and then in Lagaid,” I said.

As she moved and spoke, we saw Tobis talking to us from the bridge of his vessel.

“Quon, please play that again,” said Jem. It was easier to understand the second time, because we did not have to listen to both speaking.

“That is uncanny! It looks and sounds like Tobis,” said Jem.

“It passes a voice print match. But when we communicate with the Varech, we need a good story. Why is Tobis here?” I asked.

“Can I suggest something?” asked Mina.

“Mina, you are not only welcome to contribute, but I expect it,” replied Jem.

“Tobis is here, searching for ‘those Baglogi scum’. He has a personal feud with us. He doesn’t know the Varech are after us, because he has not been home recently. But as the Varech are allies, he greets them and asks if they have seen a Baglogi vessel in their travels,” said Mina.

“That sounds plausible,” said Jem.

“If they are hunting us as allies, what if they invite Tobis to join them? We can’t continue the deception beyond this system,” I said.

“If they are not allies. If they are on a contract kill, they will see Tobis as competition. They could fire on his vessel,” said Laine.

“Can I offer a suggestion too?” asked Quon.

“Please do. The same applies to you,” said Jem.

“The probe can simulate a vessel entering hyperspace, or a vessel exploding. It can pretend to leave the system or explode. After, the probe can cloak,” said Quon.

“That covers both scenarios,” I said.

“Thank you Quon,” said Jem.

“Quon, can you simulate the Lagaid vessel arriving in the system?” I asked.

“Confirmed,” replied Quon.

“Please move one of your probes to a suitable location for a vessel to arrive in this system,” I said.

“Confirmed. Probe will be in position in ten minutes,” replied Quon.

I turned to Laine. “You have ten minutes and then it is up to you,” I said.

“Attention, the probe is in position,” announced Quon.

Laine stood up from the sofa and stood ready.

“Are you ready Laine?” asked Jem. Laine nodded.

“Commander, go ahead,” said Jem.

“Quon, make the Lagaid vessel ‘arrive’ in the system and move it further in,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Quon.

On the tactical display, the blue dot representing the cloaked probe turned red and moved back into the system.

The Lagaid vessel didn’t move straight at the Varech vessels, as if it hadn’t noticed them yet.

“Attention, I have detected an incoming hail from the Varech,” announced Quon. I expected this to happen; it confirmed my theory.

“Quon, time for Tobis to answer the hail. Laine you’re on,” I said.

A window appeared on the tactical display, showing Tobis aboard his vessel.

Below the window, Quon provided subtitles in Ori.

(Translated from Lagaid) “Greetings! I am Admiral Tobis. This is a pleasant surprise,” said Laine/Tobis.

We waited for a response. Laine looked at me, and I frantically gestured to her to keep eye contact with the camera.

After an uncomfortable pause, a Varech appeared in a window on our tactical display.

The creature peered at Tobis.

(Translated from Lagaid) “Admiral Tobis, we thought you did not have any warships left?” said the Varech.

Wow! It worked, so far at least.

(Translated from Lagaid) “I’ve not been home for a while. This is news to me,” said Laine/Tobis.

(Translated from Lagaid) “A Baglogi vessel arrived in the Lagaid system and destroyed military vessels and assets throughout the system. We are on a mission to track them down,” replied the Varech. Laine/Tobis nodded in understanding. She was doing great.

(Translated from Lagaid) “I fought with these Baglogi scum. They are ruthless and without honour. I lost several vessels and many good Lagaid died because of those bastards,” said Laine/Tobis. She had an angry expression on her face, that made Tobis appear pissed.

I was wondering where to take this conversation next.

(Translated from Lagaid) “It sounds like the same vessel. We tracked them to this system, and they may still be here. We believe they have cloaking technology,” said the Varech.

I typed in a message to Laine on the console, and Quon put it on the display where she could see it.

(Translated from Lagaid) “Be careful then. I should return to Lagaid at once. I wish you good hunting!” said Laine/Tobis.

(Translated from Lagaid) “Safe journey home Admiral,” said the Varech. They closed the call.

“Quon, make the Lagaid vessel ‘exit’ the system,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Quon.

The red dot moved off towards the edge of the system and turned blue. To the Varech, the Lagaid vessel winked out as it entered hyperspace.

“Good job Laine!” said Jem.

“We got all the useful intel we could from the interaction. It was time to get out. That’s why I directed Laine,” I said.

“We still don’t know if they are allies with Lagaid or contracted to kill us,” said Jem.

“I think they are allies. They could have destroyed the one Lagaid vessel with no witnesses,” said Mina.

“Does it matter to us, Captain?” I asked.

“I guess not. So what next Commander?” replied/asked Jem.

“I suggest option one. Unless you want to destroy them,” I said.

“Yes, do it - option one I mean,” said Jem with a smile.