First Strike (Hammer's War Book 3)

by James McEwan

  Giving up some ground Amanda spoke a little more softly, “Yes, we are. Although I have to say that if I was in your place I would have done the same thing.”

  Eve understood that she was trying to repair relations so she decided to let her save face, “Thank you. Now that we have concluded our disagreement I have to say that nothing was said to Sky Marshal Drake that would have given us away, so I am confused as to why you would think he had anything to do with the Dreenoi attack.”

  “Oh he’s involved; you can bet your pretty little head on it,” Amanda stated.

  “What makes you so sure he’s involved?” Thad asked.

  “Captain Wesson told me that someone at fleet command activated the fleet wide locator program.” Amanda said, noticing that neither of them seemed to know what she was talking about. Not that they should as it was top secret. “It’s a system that we can ping every ship in the fleet and get their location in real time.”

  Thad was starting to follow her reasoning, “So fleet command gets your location because they know what ship you’re using, but it’s still hard to believe that the StarGuard would have any dealings with the Dreenoi.”

  “I know, but something’s going on and I intend to get to the bottom of it. I’m going to need your help, both of you.”

  “Then you have it,” Eve said.

  “Thank you, and you,” Amanda said looking straight at her son.

  “I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll help any way I can.”

  “Good. Eve can you set a course for Isis and let me know how long it will take to get there?”

  Eve smiled, “I can do that.” She moved her hands over the controls for show. “Course set, but you best prepare for a space fold.”

  “Space fold?” Amanda asked shocked. “No one has used space folding in what, a hundred years?”

  “You are correct Admiral; space folding was discontinued once hyperspace travel was discovered,” Eve said.

  “So why are you using space folding?” Amanda asked.

  “As you know, space folding was a faster but far less stable way to travel, not to mention its power requirements where so massive that it limited space folding to only the biggest ships capable of carrying the required power cells necessary to perform the jump.” Eve paused to pull up some information on the view screens. “However, the Eden is special because she carries no power cells or power generating equipment at all.”

  Now Thad understood, “You’re using a trans-dimension power conduit so you can’t use hyperspace.”

  “That’s right. Because we draw power from subspace the second we entered it we would have no power and no way to exit subspace.”

  Amanda now understood, “Hence your use of a space fold engine.”

  “Yes, so I figure that it should take four folds to reach Isis,” Eve said as she moved her hands over the controls again.

  “How long will that take?” Amanda asked.

  “About a day give or take an hour. Time gets a little funny when you travel by space fold,” Eve answered.

  “Did I hear something about space folding?” Fiona asked as she entered the bridge.

  “You heard right,” Eve said as she keyed the ships intercom. “Attention everyone, we will be space folding in three minutes. Please secure any lose items and strap in.”

  Thad understood the concept of space folding, however having never travel by it, and he was unsure what it was actually like to travel in such a manner. He noticed that Fiona had grabbed the nearest chair and was busily strapping herself in. “That ruff huh?”

  “It’s bit like drinking a glass of water actually,” Fiona replied as she clicked the last strap in place.

  “That doesn’t sound so bad,” Amanda said as she sat down next to Fiona and followed suit.

  “Ask the water.”

  “Oh,” Thad said as he also found a chair and strapped in.

  Eve counted down the last few seconds to the space fold. Everyone who hadn’t traveled in this manner before were clearly nervous to begin with, and it didn’t help when the ship started to viberate as the power necessary for the jump built up in the space fold engines. Fiona reached over and took Thad’s hand in hers, “Here we go.”

  There was a brilliant flash of light directly in front of the Eden, and like water being poured down a drain, the Eden slipped into the light and was gone.

  Chapter 9

  In an empty portion of space between two stellar systems, an armada was massing. Ships of all sizes and types were jumping to the location. What made this armada unique and strange was that the ships belonged to factions from all over the galaxy, many sworn enemies of one another. There were Repcom, StarGuard, Ralnia, Alyn Rue, Fabian, and even a couple ships belonging to the Terrain Imperium. All were forming around the largest starship any of them had ever seen.

  Deep within the enormous ship a central chamber held a large throne set in the middle of the rounded room. Projections of information hung in the air around the massive chair. Sitting on the throne, taking in all the information was a giant. Draped in black robes, his horribly disfigured face was hidden within the folds of a great hood. However, the glow from his red eyes was quite clear and when they looked at you it was as if someone or something had just penetrated your soul.

  The ships captain entered the chamber and knelt before the throne, “My lord.”

  The giant rotated the chair until he faced the smaller being. He glared down at the lesser man with his eerie red eyes before speaking, “Report.”

  “Yes my Lord. Everything goes as planned. The last of your ships will arrive within the hour and then the invasion can commence.”

  “Excellent captain, I am pleased. The faster we get the StarGuard and the Rep Com under my control the sooner we will be able to crush the Terrain Imperium.”

  “But my Lord, I thought the Terrain Imperium was already yours?”

  “I have only a small part of the government, but with the Emperor still alive I do not have the rest of the ruling body. If we cannot find and kill him then with the combined forces of the remaining governments it should be enough to bring them to heel.”

  “Yes my Lord,” the ship’s captain bowed his head low. “I am my Lord will be victorious. However, I am concerned that if the planetary defenses are not offline when we attack, the losses will be beyond what are required to accomplish the mission.”

  The giant’s deep voice bellowed, “You doubt my power?”

  “No my Lord, I could never doubt the supremacy of your abilities. I have seen you do the seemingly impossible. It is the loyalty of the Sky Marshal I which gives me concern.”

  “Ah I see, you have nothing to worry about Captain. The Sky Marshal is completely within my control. Fear not, when my fleet drops out of subspace Isis will be as vulnerable as a child.”

  “Very good my Lord.” The ship’s captain bowed once more before returning to his duties.

  On board the Eden everyone felt the unsettling sensation of being stretched out and then held for a second before being let go to snap back. “Whoa,” Thad said as they finished the first space fold. “I see what you mean about being drunk like a glass of water.”

  Fiona smiled, “You get used to it.”

  “Have you?” Thad asked as he squeezed her hand.

  “No,” she admitted.

  “Wait. When did you travel by space fold before?” Thad asked wondering because of the age of the ships that had space fold engines.

  “Oh, the first ship my parents bought was a freighter that was about 200 years old. The Annie Jane was her name. That old rust bucket was my home for the first ten years of my life. She was old, but awfully tough. They finally saved enough to get a more modern ship. The Avondale Park was the ship they had when the pirates took them from us,” Fiona said as she recalled the many happy memories spent traveling the stars with her family.

  Eve interrupted the conversation, “Okay kiddos, we have thirty minutes for the space fold engines to cool and recycle.
I will broadcast a five minute warning before the next fold,” she announced.

  Thad unlocked himself, “I think I’ll take this opportunity to check on Ruby.”

  Thad left the bridge and headed for the ships galley, however being the first time on the Eden he had no idea where the galley was. He used his comm implant to speak with Eve, “Nice ship Eve, but where’s the galley?”

  He heard Eve’s bright laughter in his head before she spoke to him, “Sorry Hun, just follow the blue line on the wall. I will light the way.” True to form a blue line lit up on the wall panel.

  “Thank you Hun,” Thad responded in kind to Eve with heavy sarcasm in his voice.

  Eve picked up on his tone, “Sorry, just trying out a new verbal subroutine.”

  “I wondered.”

  “Do you like it?” She asked.

  “Not sure, it seems a little too familiar,” Thad said as he continued to follow the blue line.

  Eve laughed again, “That’s the point.”

  “I see.”

  Standing tall in front of Sky Marshal Drake was a hooded man. His face was covered and his identity hidden, “All is ready Sky Marshal.”

  “Good, if the defenses don’t go offline as planned then I’ll be in the position of having to explain why to our Lord, and that’s something I’d rather avoid.”

  The hooded man held out a gloved hand. In it was a small round device, “The detonator Sir.” Drake took the device and the man continued, “I assure you that all will go as planned. I placed the charges myself. I guarantee, when the time comes those guns won’t be active.”

  “They better not or I’ll personally remove your head and give it to our Lord as proof of your incompetence.”

  “I understand Sir,” the man said with a nod, then turned and left the office.

  Thad’s nose knew he was near the galley before the rest of him. The smell that was coming down the hallway was one that was strangely familiar and very welcome. Thad entered the galley and was surprised to see who was busily cooking. “Carl, what are you doing here?”

  Carl was back on his feet, his burns had been tended to, and he had even found a clean apron. “Oh Thad, good to see you again my friend,” said the heavyset balding former owner of Bob’s Fuel Tank Bar and Cantina. He left the kitchen, crossed the room, and gave Thad a great bear hug, lifting him off the ground as he did.

  “Good to see you too, but you didn’t answer my question.” Thad said a little unsure of the hug.

  Carl read the look on his face and set him down, “Sorry about that, just happy to see you alive. I’ve missed one of my favorite customers.”

  “Well thank you, I guess,” Thad said.

  Carl began to explain, “I could have gone with the others, but where would I go, what would I do. I’ve got nothing left. Bob’s was everything I had in the verse. So I asked Eve if I could come along with you all, and would you know what she said?” Thad shrugged, having no idea what Eve would have said. “She said, Carl we just happen to have an opening in the ships galley. So I said I take it, even if it’s just as the dishwasher. We had a good laugh just before the Dreenoi over ran the compound.” He paused as he reflected on the moment. “Anyway, as I said I’ve got nothing else to do so cooking for my friends seemed like a plan.”

  Thad patted Carl on the shoulder, “Well I for one I am glad you took the job, and that it wasn’t as the dishwasher.” Both men laughed.

  Ruby was standing on a chair next to the stove stirring something in a large pot. Her little face lit up when she saw her father, “Hello daddy, Uncle Carl is teaching me to cook. See, I’m making soup.”

  Thad stepped up next to her and placed one hand on her back while he used the other to take the spoon she offered. He tasted the soup and was amazed. “You made this?”

  “With Uncle Carl’s help,” Ruby said with a smile.

  “My new apprentice,” Carl said with pride.

  Thad laughed, but was relieved to see she was doing so well after all she had gone through. “Well Miss Ruby you couldn’t have found a better teacher.”

  “Uncle Carl says I have natural talent,” she said with a little smile on her pretty face that filled him with pride.

  “I’m sure you do. I for one am looking forward to being the first to try your culinary delight.”

  “Today’s menu is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches,” Ruby said as she set the spoon down and picked up a butter knife and a slice of bread.

  “I admit it’s not the most sophisticated of meals, but one must begin with the basics,” Carl said as he placed a pan on the stove and set the temperature.

  “Sometimes Carl, the more simple the meal the better it is,” Thad said as he picked up a butter knife and pitched in.

  On the bridge Amanda asked if she could have a private word with Freya. She agreed and they left the bridge together. Fiona led her to a small cabin that was set aside as an office, one they had created for Thad, should he return. It was decorated with Thad’s favorite things including a sliver-framed picture of Thad, Doctor Hammer, and the holo image of the A.I. Rhonda all next to Thad’s grav bike. There where large comfortable brown leather chairs and Fiona directed Amanda to one while she took another. “What’s on your mind Admiral?”

  “Pease, call me Amanda, we are family after all,” she said as she sat down.

  “Alright Amanda, what’s up?”

  “As we’ve known each other for little over a day, I thought it best to get to know you a little better. Know seemed as good an opportunity as any.”

  “Very well; I get the feeling there’s more to it than that though. What’s bothering you?”

  “Oh, not bothering. No. It’s not that at all, though you are a very astute young lady. It’s more… a curiosity. You and your sister truly seem to love Thad and all of you have accepted Ruby into your open arms without hesitation. I must admit I’m rather surprised at just how open you all are to all of this.”

  “Is that all,” Freya laughed lightly. Thad is an amazing, unconventional man who is full of surprises. I guess having an unconventional family full of surprises, just doesn’t seem that strange to me anymore. At least this surprise was wonderful and welcome.” Freya went on to explain how they had met Thad, fallen in love with him, their surprise on the night of their wedding, and the child that they had lost at the hand of Thorne.

  “I must admit I was deeply worried that you and your sister were in some deep form of shock following the Dreenoi attack when neither of you seemed to show much emotion or sign of distress, with the exception of when Thad appeared to be in danger. In retrospect, I believe you two are some of the toughest young women I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Tragedy can either make us or break us. Ruby and Thaddeus are very lucky to have you both.” The two women spent the remainder of the time until the next space fold talking and getting to know one another, often laughing as they shared their stories.

  Fiona, meanwhile, had taken care of the Colonel’s head injury and then checked on the rest of the injured marines. Archie was making rounds in the infirmary, playing nursemaid and seeing to the wounded’s needs. She sat down next to the bed of a wounded marine and asked, “How’re you doing solider?”

  “Marine!” He corrected her. “I’m a marine, not a solider mama.” Fiona blushed at the mistake and feared she had offended him.

  “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  He cracked a rare smile, “No offense taken miss. Just want to called by the right moniker.”

  Fiona touched him lightly on his shoulder, “Understood Marine, it won’t happen again. Now solider boy, how’re you fairing,” she asked again, this time with a wicked smile.

  He laughed, and then grunted, “Oh please don’t make me laugh, it hurts too much.”

  “I’ll try to be less jolly then,” she replied.

  He again gave her a rare smile, “Good, now to answer your question, I’m doing so much better now that droid nightingale over there is leaving me a
lone.” He paused to point toward Archie who was helping another of the wounded marines with the fitting of a new robotic hand. “He did a great job patching the hole in my hip, but he keeps fussing over me, wanting to get me this, or that. Adjusting my pillow, making sure I have something to read. Frankly the thing is driving me nutty.”

  Fiona chuckled, “I’ll have a talk with him. Archie can go a bit overboard.”

  “A bit? I’d say that’s a BIT of an understatement if you ask me.”

  Just then, Eve made her announcement that they were to prepare for the next space fold.

  “I guess I should go make sure the others are ready. Don’t worry I’ll make sure to tell droid nightingale that you’re a Marine, and that all you want is a stale biscuit for supper and a leather boot for a pillow.”

  “That would be closer to the truth mama,” the young Marine said.

  “Oh by the way, if I’m to call you Marine, then you need to stop calling me mama, the name is Fiona. Mama just makes me feel old.”

  “Yes mama, I mean Fiona, and the name’s not Marine it’s Nolen, Nolen Patten.”

  “Nice to meet you Nolen, Nolen Patten. Now you’d best secure yourself for the space fold.”

  His hand snapped to his forehead in a flash salute, “Yes Sir!” Fiona gave him a disapproving look. “What? I didn’t call you mama!” He said with a grin.

  The Eden completed its second space fold and was about to settle down into its cool down period when another ship dropped out of hyperspace right on top of them. Alarms sounded throughout the ship and Eve fired the maneuvering thrusters on full to avoid the collision. It was too late and the two ships met in a clash of high tech metal alloys and a hail of sparks. The other ship’s welded plates peeled off like pieces of broken eggshell. Because the Eden’s hull was spun and not welded, its hull tore open venting the atmosphere that filled the space between its double hulls. Unlike most ships of the day that relied on heavy metal plating and force shields to protect the crew from cosmic radiation, the Eden filled the void between hulls with the same gases that protect planets from radiation. It provided for a much lighter ship and allowed protection from hull breaches like the one that was now in progress.