Read Online M'tak Ka'fek (The T'aafhal Inheritance) by Doug Hoffman - Free Book Online

strange bed. For a brief moment panic gripped him when he could not find Ludmilla. Reality quickly reasserted itself and his faculties returned. Damn it, all this worrying is not doing anyone any good.  
    It is a normal part of your mind's architecture, answered a voice in his head. It was the ship's AI—an artificial living mind that ran most of the onboard systems. When Jack assumed command of the alien battle cruiser the AI had “briefed” its new commander by implanting reams of technical data in his brain and establishing a telepathic link between them.
    I need to learn to not broadcast my waking thoughts to the damned ship, Jack thought privately, adding openly for the ship's benefit, You've studied me long enough to know what passes for normal?  
    Yes Captain, humans are not so different from my creators. The T'aafhal dreamed as well.
    I hope their dreams were less troublesome than mine, Jack thought in reply.
    Sometimes, but often not. They were burdened with defending all warm life in this arm of the Galaxy—and they were losing the last time I had contact with them.
    That is not a comforting thought, M'tak.
    Sorry, Captain. But you should know that when you sleep your mind stays busy processing and cataloging information. It also runs through countless “what if” scenarios. Future outcomes, both probable and improbable, are simulated. In this way, you are ready to quickly respond to events as they unfold.
    So my nightmares are just my subconscious dutifully preparing me for the future?
    Yes, I hypothesize that many of your species' claims of prophesy and visions of the future come from this process. That and the feeling that a situation has been experienced before.
    Yes, we call that Déjà vu, French for 'already seen'. To himself Jack thought, I think my ship is trying to give me a pep talk. Then: M'tak, this is all very interesting but it isn't helping us get home.  
    No, but it ensures you will be ready when an opportunity presents itself... the AI paused. Speaking of opportunity, Captain, Mr. Danner is calling you from the bridge.
    Put him through.
    “Captain, Lt. Danner here,” the young helmsman's voice sounded within the cabin. “Sorry to disturb you, but we have a bogy crossing the current system.”
    “Do we know what type of ship it is, Mr. Danner?”
    “The sensors say it is similar to one of those alien probe ships like we found on the Moon.”
    I would concur, Captain, based on the information downloaded from Peggy Sue's computer, the AI confirmed. It is definitely an antimatter powered ship, though its drive is quite inefficient.  
    “Can you tell where it's headed?”
    “It looks like it is lining up to make an alter-space transit, Sir.”
    “Follow it, but do not let it know we are here, Mr. Danner.”
    “Sir?”
    “The last time we followed a ship like that where did it lead us?”
    “To the Space Mushroom, Sir,” the puzzled lieutenant answered. The Space Mushroom was an alien space station encountered on the Peggy Sue's first voyage. Then understanding dawned. “It was headed to a refueling station!”
    “Right you are, Bobby,” Jack said, genuinely smiling for the first time in nearly two months. “Consult the AI and make sure we remain undetected, but do not lose that ship!”
    “Aye aye, Sir!”
    BP-2, Bridge of the Alien Ship
    Led by Tornassuk and Gunny Washington, Lt. Westfield's Marines fought their way inside of the inner structure they believed housed the alien ship's bridge. The alien defenders fought doggedly but ineffectively against the heavily armored Earthlings. As they worked their way aft, the Marines found a large number of side rooms, each of which they had to clear before proceeding. Most of the rooms contained empty pits filled with tendrils of mist that were quickly clearing. In a few of the rooms the pits were not empty—scattered, floating bodies of dead aliens cluttered the space.
    “What do you make of these pits, Gunny?” one PFC