Starship Vengeance

Chapter 8

It was day three of our four day journey and we still were unable to communicate with anyone. I was enjoying a meal with my commanders while we discussed the situation.

"What if the Zrynt executed a coordinated attack against the Tuleeriri and Hope and we're the last ones alive?" Daniel said, not caring that he his mouth was still full.

"One, you're a pig who needs to learn some table manners, and two, the Zrynt don't even know where Hope is" Sofya pointed out.

"I know manners, I just don't see the point in trying to impress anyone here" he said defensively.

"I know this is a little off topic, but who picked the name Hope anyways? Please don't tell me I'm the only one who thinks it's a dumb name for a planet" Miyako chimed in. This started a whole new round of arguments. Daniel and Edgar both supported the name while everyone else took the other side. I sat back and watched my commanders with a smile. A stranger watching the argument might make the mistake of thinking that everyone here hated each other. They couldn't be more wrong. Beneath the bickering and name calling an unconquerable friendship lurked. Everyone at the table had laughed, fought, and suffered together.

"What do you think Jack?" Mariana asked, trying to bring me into the fight.

"I think you all have been spending too much time together and need a vacation, which is something I wanted to discuss with you all tonight once we have covered more important topics."

"What could be more important that a vacation?" Andrew asked in an exaggerated tone.

"Well, we've only heard of one theory as to why we can't communicate" I said, trying to refocus the group. "No offense Daniel, but that theory just doesn't hold water. If it were true, we'd still be able to access the subspace network of sensors that we have been dropping. What other ideas do you have?"

"We haven't used our subspace communication equipment since we first encountered the Zrynt Lord" Sofya said. "We have fought several battles and have sustained much damage. There is a good chance that our equipment is malfunctioning."

"You make a strong argument, but unfortunately I don't believe that is the case. All self-checks have come back clean. I even had Lisa look over the equipment. Before you argue the point further" I said, cutter her off, "I had Shahae fire up the communication equipment in her ship. She experienced the same blackout."

"Maybe the problem isn't on our end" Mariana said quietly. "I'm not siding with Daniel, but what if the Zrynt found a way to hack out network. Such a possibility is not out of the world of possibility. We know the Zrynt have captured Tuleeririan technology in the past. They could have gained access and rendered it unusable."

Everyone took a moment to process the ramifications. "I think I know a way we can test that theory" said Andrew. "It's rather simple. We link two sensors together, drop them off now and after our next jump, and see if we can communicate between the two. If our network has been compromised this would allow us to start rebuilding a new one."

"Excellent ideas, both of you" I said gesturing to Andrew and Mariana. "You two will be in charge of testing that theory. Any other ideas?"

"What if we are the problem?" asked Lan nervously.

"Care to clarify that for those present who can't read minds?" Edgar asked sarcastically.

Lan seemed hesitant to continue. "It can't be worse than Daniel's idea" I pointed out.

"It has always bothered me that Earth had no traces of subspace access."

"According to the Tuleeririan databases there are about a half dozen such areas around the galaxy" Sofya said, interrupting Lan.