Counterstrike (Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 3) by Joshua Dalzelle Page A

decisions, especially when emotions were running high after the destruction of Haven,” Blake said. “I apologize. There are a few other things that you’ll need to be aware of before you decide how best to use the information I have.”
    “Oh?”
    “The core mind, for lack of a better term, will not be easy to get to,” Blake said. “It may actually be impossible if you were to just fire up the fleet you have sitting here and go tearing across space.”
    “Is that why you’ve not made a move on it yourself?” Jackson asked.
    “Not exactly,” Blake squirmed in his seat a bit. “The main reason we haven’t tried is because the Vruahn won’t allow it.”
    “What?” Marcum shouted, slamming a palm down on the table.
    “We don’t know for sure what eliminating the core mind would do,” Blake said. “But the Vruahn are concerned that the probability is high it would begin a cascade effect that would lead to the extinction of the Phage.”
    “I’m still not seeing a fucking problem.” Marcum’s nostrils flared.
    “You don’t, but they do,” Blake said firmly. “The Vruahn will not willingly exterminate an entire species, even one as brutal and destructive as the Phage.”
    “What are they willing to do should the Phage become powerful enough to threaten their existence, or even just strong enough to nullify your efforts, Colonel?” Jackson asked.
    “An interesting philosophical question, Captain, and one that ties into my next item,” Blake said. “They want to meet you.”
    “They want to meet me specifically?” Jackson asked.
    “Yes,” Blake said. “My liaison asked that I bring you to them for a face to face meeting. I reported back about the message the Alpha had transmitted to you and they are highly curious, if somewhat dubious, that after so many years the Phage decided to reach out to a species they’d marked for consumption.”
    “I don’t think it was to me specifically,” Jackson argued, shuddering inwardly at the colonel’s casual term for what the Phage did to conquered planets. “It was just to the ‘leader.’”
    “Our analysis indicates otherwise,” Blake shrugged. “Either way, I get the feeling any continued assistance from them hinges on this meeting with you.”
    “Oh isn’t that just fucking great,” Marcum rolled his eyes. “The fate of the species yet again hinges on what one wildcard captain may or may not do. I have to say that I’m not entirely comfortable with you speaking for all of humanity, Wolfe.”
    “And I would agree with you,” Jackson said. “But I get the impression we’re not being asked.”
    “That’s correct,” Blake said. “You can refuse, of course, but the invitation is to you only. As I said … with the immediate threat gone I can’t guarantee that we’ll be allowed to remain in the area unless we terminate our agreement with the Vruahn. If that happens—if we leave our posts—and the Phage return … I think you get the picture.”
    “Yeah, I get it,” Marcum said sourly. “Captain, make sure you leave the Ares in good order and then get your ass to Vruahn space and see what they want. Hopefully you come back with good news.”
    ****
    “ Ares departing!”
    Jackson saluted the Marine stationed by the airlock hatchway before stepping through with some trepidation. The lead Vruahn ship had docked a few hours prior, but Colonel Blake had made no move to disembark onto the Ares as he waited for Jackson to get things in order so they could leave.
    Blake had said they would be gone no longer than a week, but with no idea how fast his ship was capable of travelling he couldn’t even fathom a guess as to how far away from Terran space they would be going. Suffice it to say that, other than Blake and his crew, he would be going further than any other human in history. The fact he was taking such a trip when the end result was meeting another unknown alien race face to face made him reconsider how much he really trusted the