next to Niall, I sit in the empty one between him and Elese.
“Yesterday at approximately seventeen hundred hours, our security officers created a breach in the blockade without tipping off Jarren.” He glances at Jeffries and Gage. “We’re now able to communicate with DES,” Radcliff says.
A cheer rises. My parents beam at me and Beau. And my mom can’t resist smirking at Jeffries and Gage.
When the noise settles, Radcliff continues. “I was able to talk at length with Chief Security Officer Odette Bouchet. She updated me on our status and was able to arrange a secure path to DES HQ.” Radcliff consults his portable.
Then his serious gaze scans each of us as if he’s taking our measure and gauging our abilities to handle the news. Uh oh. I brace.
“According to DES, our planet was reported having gone silent on 2522:139. We’re to assume all information received from DES since then is inaccurate.”
Like the names of potential rich patrons of Jarren’s operation. Jarren probably got a laugh by sending Radcliff the names of innocent people to investigate.
“Now we’re getting accurate information. Unfortunately, not all the news is good. Planets Wu’an, Ulanqab, and Taishan have gone silent.”
Shock rolls through the conference room. The air presses down on my shoulders and I hunch forward as I absorb the horrible news. Three more Warrior planets have gone silent. Does that mean they’re all dead like on Planet Xinji, or cut off like us?
“Did they report a looter attack before their communications ceased?” Dr. Jefferies asks in a rough voice.
“No. If they were attacked, they were prevented from reporting it to DES.”
Just like with us, Jarren was probably monitoring their messages. But unlike us, I’d bet no one on those planets could see the shadow-blobs. Which means…
I rest my forehead near the edge of the table as black and white spots swirl in front of me. Over a thousand people dead. Eviscerated! Beau squeezes my shoulder in support.
Elese leans close to my ear. “Breathe.”
But the air has turned from a gas into a solid, jamming my windpipe. The black spots converge. A loud hum sounds. Whack. A hand slams on my back. Pain radiates along my ribs. I cough, expelling the blockage before gasping.
“Breathe,” Elese orders.
And I do. Eventually my lungs work on their own, my vision clears, and I straighten. Only to wish I could slide under the table. Everyone is staring at me.
“We’re trying to stay optimistic,” Radcliff finally says.
Unlike me. I skipped right to the worst-case scenario.
“Did any of those planets report finding anything unusual?” Mom asks.
“No. All the reports were normal. If they did discover anything, Jarren must have blocked it.”
“So we’re assuming Jarren and his looters are responsible?” Dr. Jefferies asks.
“For the time being. Until we receive more information.”
“How did Jarren get to these planets when he was here only sixty plus days ago?” Dr. Gage demands.
He’s somehow using the Warriors to travel. But I’m smart enough not to say it out loud. Not because Radcliff shoots me a warning look. Sheesh.
“He’s obviously working with other groups,” Radcliff says. “He probably organized a coordinated attack. The good news is that the Protector Class ships are still enroute to all the active Warrior planets and DES has launched a few more to check on the closed Warrior planets as well.”
“What about Jarren? Are they searching for him?” Mom asks.
“Now that they know about him, they’re forming a team to locate him.”
I huff. Good luck with that. Beau and I exchange a significant glance. If DES couldn’t get through to us, they’re not going to find him.
“We’re sending DES all the information we have on Jarren and also on the HoLFs.” Radcliff frowns. “Seems they’re skeptical about the HoLFs’ existence. But they promised to have their engineers work on a design for that null wave emitter. Dr. Zhang gave me access to her notes.”
“That’s wonderful,” Dad says. “Did they say when it’ll be done?”
“No, but they’re aware it’s an urgent matter.”
“What should we do while we’re waiting for the Protector Class ship to arrive?” Mom asks.
“Nothing. At this point we are to wait for orders from DES. They made it clear that we are not to do anything.” He glances at my mother, but she raises her chin at him in defiance. “I know it’s frustrating, but at least DES knows we’re alive.”
Small comfort. How long before Jarren figures out we contacted DES? They’d have to assign their top people who are most skilled with navigating the Q-net in order not to