First Strike (Hammer's War Book 3)

by James McEwan

  The Eden shook and groaned as her back was being ripped open. Thad picked himself off the galley floor, checked to see that Ruby and Carl were okay, and bolted for the bridge. He wasn’t the first to arrive. Amanda and Freya where already on the bridge when he got there. Neither of them looked injured, although Freya’s shirt was wet from what looked like a spilled drink. “Eve care to explain?”

  “What is going on?” Barked Colonel Grunt as he entered the bridge behind Thad.

  Eve sat in the captain’s chair completely calm and composed, “It appears that another ship has dropped out of slip space right on top of us.”

  “How is that possible I thought all ships have an anti-collision system?” Grunt asked.

  “Apparently this one either doesn’t have one or it’s non-operational because it should never have let the ship out of sub-space when there was another object in the way,” Eve said as she continued to work the controls to keep up her show of humanity.

  “Damage?” Freya asked.

  “Outer hull breach, however damage control systems have engaged and repairs are already underway,” Eve answered her. The Eden was a most singular ship not only in its design, but also in its construction. Eve had adapted Doctor Hammer’s nano protein to work inside the ships systems, similar to the way they worked inside Thad’s body. Even as they spoke, the ship was already working on healing the damaged hull.

  “Self-sealing hull. Extremely interesting, I wouldn’t mind learning more about that technology,” Amanda said as she looked over the damage reports coming in on a nearby monitor.

  “I’m sure you would, but now is not the time as we are receiving a rather angry transmission from the other ship,” Eve said.

  “Well Captain, let’s see if they have insurance shall we?” Thad asked with a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

  “They’re sending video,” Eve said, before putting the image on the main view screen.

  Everyone was shocked to see an angry furry little cat face glaring at them. It was meowing and hissing and was extremely animated with one of its little paws. “Eve?” Thad asked first.

  “Just a minute, the universal translator is having problems. I am attempting to find a translation matrix,” Eve replied.

  “Who are they?” Fiona asked as she entered the bridge.

  “What are they is a better question?” Freya asked.

  “They are the Vastep Nefamii, a smaller more cat like cousin to the Alyn Rue.” Amanda answered.

  “Kind of like Lythrains?” Freya asked.

  “Lythrians are more human like, while the Vastep Nefamii are much closer to the common house cat found on Earth.” This time is was Thad who was doling out the information. Although he was just reciting what he had read as a child in his classes on xeno biology.

  “Yes, but snarky little cantankerous cats.” Colonel Grunt said, adding his two cents.

  “I take it you’ve had dealings with them before?” Amanda directed her question to the Colonel.

  “Yes, but I was just a young green lieutenant at the time, almost thirty years ago.”

  “So if you all seem to know about them, how come we’ve never heard of them?” Fiona asked.

  Amanda turned her attention to the twins who were standing side by side looking puzzled. “The reason you’ve never heard of them before now is that they disappeared from the known universe some thirty years ago. Their home world just up and vanished. All their ships stopped moving though known space and until this moment no one has seen or heard from them, and yet, here they suddenly are.”

  “I think I have it,” Eve said, as she cut in the translator audio.

  The translator was having trouble keeping up with the speed with which the cat spoke. His little lips were moving faster than the words were coming over the speaker and it made it look as if they were watching one of Thad’s historic Kung Fu movies. What they heard was, “I repeat, who do you stupid pink hairless monkeys think you are. Parking your ship in our way. If you fail to answer for this crime, I will be forced to open fire and destroy your vessel.” It didn’t help that every few words here or there was a hiss or meow that couldn’t be translated.

  Amanda, being the admiral that she was and being used to being in charge, stepped up and took it upon herself to answer the angry kitty. “I would highly advise you not to open fire as you are clearly out classed.” She was interrupted by what they could best make out as laughter.

  The translator started again and the lag seemed to be getting better, “Out classed! Ah! Our ship is three times as large and our weapons are far superior to yours.”

  At that moment Thad heard Eve’s voice inside his head, “What in the hell is your mother doing? I am Captain of this ship and she has no right picking a fight that I will have to undertake.”

  Thad replied by thought, “Just give her some room. She has more experience at this than we do and she seems to know what she’s doing.”

  “Fine, but I still don’t like it.”

  “Duly noted, now please I’m trying to listen.”

  Amanda didn’t miss a beat, “You of all people should understand that size doesn’t matter. Don’t be fooled by the Eden’s size. She has fangs and claws that you truly don’t want to see.”

  The cats paused and began to talk amongst themselves for a few seconds. They were talking so fast that the translator couldn’t understand them and what it did translate made no sense. “What I wouldn’t give for a Babel Fish right about now.”

  “Why would you want a fish right now? Planning on throwing them a treat and hope they like it better than the idea of blowing us out of the black?” Colonel Grunt said gruffly.

  Freya, who had spent the last year watching Thad’s favorite films and for once understood the reference said, “Never you mind him Colonel he has a bit of smart mouth at the worst moments.”

  Thad laughed, “It’s one of my more endearing qualities.”

  “Indeed,” Colonel Grunt said flatly.

  The translator started to work again and they all quieted down to listen, “My tactical officer says that she is unable to scan your ship for weapon capabilities. This tells me that either you have some way of blocking my sensors or you are bluffing.”

  Amanda Stood ramrod straight and exuding an air of complete control said, “I could be bluffing, however, I am Admiral Amanda Hayes of the United Terrain Federation of Planets StarGuard special warfare command. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it has been some thirty years since your people have had any dealings with us. Do you think in that time we wouldn’t have made a few advancements in weapon tech?’

  Another pause from the cat and then more quick chatter back and forth. “If you are an Admiral where is your uniform and why does your ship bare no military markings,” the little furry face smiled thinking that he had something on her. It was Amanda’s turn to laugh and laugh she did. She watched as the cat’s face wrinkled and his whiskers curled upwards a bit. “What is so funny pink monkey?”

  “I thought you cats were supposed to have good hearing, but I guess we were wrong, or did your translator miss something?” Amanda shot back.

  The look on the cat’s face told them all she had hit a nerve, “Unlike you stupid monkeys we can understand your speech without the help of machines. I missed nothing. I heard every word you said.”

  Amanda shook her head, “Yep you got me. We need help to understand your annoying meowing and hissing. If you were really an intelligent race, you would have learned how to speak so others can understand you.”

  Everyone but Colonel Grunt on the bridge did their best to hide their shock at Amanda’s diplomatic skills. More hissing and meowing came over the speakers. Amanda leaned forward placing her hands on the control console, “Look you furry little freak, I said I was with the special warfare command and by the looks of my ship even your tiny little brain should understand that I must be on a covert mission and you’re getting in my way. So I suggest you lick your wounds and move your ship off before I have to punch
you in your furry little nose.”

  The cat on the other end of the view screen was so visually flustered that his little mouth dropped open and his eyes seemed to grow three sizes. “Eve cut the audio,” Amanda issued the order.

  Then she turned so the cats could not see what she was saying, “Eve you said this boat has a mag cannon?”

  “Yes four specially built ones, two forward and two aft,” Eve answered.

  “Good, when I turn around I want you to fire a round and put it right across their bridge.”

  Eve shot a quick look to Thad who chose to trust his mother and nodded to acknowledge Eve’s look. “Okay Admiral you got it.”

  “Now restore audio,” Amanda said facing Eve with her back to the cats.

  “How dare you speak to me in this fashion, I am First Commander of the Vastep Nefamii fleet and you will pay with your lives for this insult.”

  Amanda spun around and said coldly, “Fire.”

  Eve fired the round from the cannon and her aim was perfect. The round streaked passed the other ships bridge. It came so close that the magnetically charged round pulled free some of the panels that were located between their bridges two main windows. The damage prompted the automatic blast shields to slam shut.

  The cat ducked and then jumped up to the screen, “What are you doing you crazy monkey you could have killed us.” He then paused. Amanda stood quietly as he got the idea. “Oh!” was all they heard.

  “Now Commander do you think we could have a civilized conversation?”

  “Yes, yes just quit shooting at us.”

  Freya leaned over to Colonel Grunt, “I’m surprised that worked.”

  “I’m not. The Vastep Nefamii are basically predators, how do you deal with a predator?”

  “You show no fear and show them that you’re a bigger meaner predator than they are,” Thad added to the conversation.

  “Ah I see,” Freya said.

  Amanda gave them a few minutes to get composed before she pressed them for information, “Now after thirty years of silence from your people all of a sudden you’re back, care to explain?”

  “We left because this part of space was getting too crowed by,” he paused choosing his words carefully as not to provoke her, “vermin.”

  “I understand that, but that doesn’t answer my question. Why come back?”

  “We heard the call.”

  “The call?”

  “Yes, we heard the call and we must come.”

  “Care to explain the call?” Amanda pressed for more information.

  “No I have said too much. Now we will be on our way.” The cat ended the transmission just as the ship entered subspace and was gone.

  “Is it just me or was that weird?” Fiona said breaking the silence.

  “Yes weird is a good word for it. First Dreenoi, now the Vastep Nefamii, something definitely weird is going on and I think we need to get to Isis sooner than later.” Amanda said.

  “Hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen we’re going to jump,” Eve said just before engaging the space fold.

  Chapter 10

  Isis, the capital planet of the Republic of Commerce. Once a primitive world teaming with life and covered in all manner of green plants and trees, now concrete, steel, nano carbon fiber, and glass reigned supreme. With the exception of a few parks and lakes, every square inch of the planet’s surface was covered in the most advanced and modern human architecture. The planet was always under construction somewhere. Buildings were destroyed daily only to be replaced with newer, bigger, taller, more modern versions of their former selves.

  There were no countries, provinces, or states on the planet, just one megalithic city that was split into districts, each of which was always a buzz with activity where business never rested. Within each district an “Upper City” and a “Lower City” divided the classes. In the Upper City areas traffic flowed in ultra-modern aircraft and the citizenry enjoyed the best life had to offer, while the Lower City areas were comprised of the working classes and most still relied upon wheeled vehicles.

  The spaceports were a whirlwind of activity. Cargo came and went at breakneck speeds, most of it computer controlled with each port run by an AI, and with each AI’s reporting to a central AI master called a Controller. Above all this organized chaos, floating in high orbit, was Isis’ air and space traffic control. A massive donut shaped space station that coordinated all of the space and air traffic for the planet. It was also the home of the Controller.

  The Controller was supported by the first Rep Com communications regiment, which was comprised of primarily by individuals who basically spent their days reading screens and relaying information. Not one of them had seen a day in combat, even simulated, since their days in basic training. Near the center ring of space traffic control in seat 321 sat an Ascarian. It was easy to tell he was an Ascarians by his complete lack of body hair, as well as his choice of break time entertainment. This particular Ascarian was enjoying his ten-minute break while sitting in front of a split screen. On one side he had the space traffic for the sector he was in charge of and on the other side a Bollywood vid. The Controller had temporarily closed his area to traffic for the duration of his break. He sat eating a sandwich, so enthralled with his vid that he totally missed a ship that suddenly materialized in his area. An alarm began blinking red, which also went unnoticed, though not for long.

  A voice bellowed in his earpiece, “Seat 321 you have unauthorized traffic in your sector, please redirect and issue a citation.”

  The Ascarian dropped his half-eaten sandwich onto his desk and switched off his Bollywood vid. “Acknowledged Controller, I’m on it.” He replied to the notice and switched his comm over to the official traffic control channel. While he was looking over the data flowing in, he was puzzled because there was no telemetry data. In other words, he couldn’t figure out where the ship had come from. At least the ship was broadcasting its mandatory ID transponder. He read the ID and keyed his comm, “Attention Eden, you have entered a closed traffic zone. You must change your heading to the following: 333 by 211 mark 256. You will follow the Albert in for reentry. At that time you will contact air traffic control for your port assignment and landing pattern instructions.”

  A few seconds passed and the space traffic controller keyed his comm again, “Eden do you copy your flight instructions?”

  He waited for a few more seconds and was about to repeat the instructions once more when he heard Eve’s cheery voice, “Sorry about that space control, we had a slight miscalculation in our space fold. I meant to pop in a little farther out.”

  “Did I hear you right Eden, did you say space fold?”

  “Yes traffic control nothing wrong with your hearing.”

  “Who uses space folding engines anymore,” he said to himself. “Understood Eden, please proceed with the flight instructions and clear this sector. In addition, you have been issued a citation for entering a closed zone. You can transmit your credit code now or you can pay when you land.”

  “Nope, I don’t think so,” Eve chirped.

  Surprised by her response he keyed his comm, “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t think I’ll be paying anything, in fact we were never in your space. Do you understand?”

  Unsure what was taking place the traffic controller answered, “What do you mean you were never here?”

  “Check with your Controller he will explain everything. Now please be a good boy and forget you ever saw us.” What the traffic controller didn’t know was that Eve had started hacking the Controller the second they arrived. Once she was in, she convinced the Controller that they were nothing more than a sensor echo and that everything about their arrival should be erased from the files.

  Before the confused traffic controller could say anything else he watched all the info about the Eden disappear from his screen and in his ears he heard the Controller, “Seat 321 disregard the alert it was a fault in the system. Techs are being dispatched to check yo
ur console. You are now on admin leave for the rest of the day.” He thought the whole thing was incredibly strange and highly irregular, so much so that he considered speaking with his human supervisor about it, but then again the Control put him on admin leave which gave him the rest of the day off, paid no less, and how often did that happen? He removed his earpiece and comm mic, dropped it on his desk, logged out of the system, jumped up, and headed for the door before the Controller could change its mind and take back his paid day off.

  On the bridge of the Eden Terrain Emperor Conall Barros stood and watched. He leaned over to Thad, “She’s handy to have around.”

  “Extremely, most days,” Thad whispered back, but it didn’t matter she heard him anyway.

  “Most days, huh?” She gave Thad a dirty look.

  “I want one,” Conall stated.

  “Sorry honey there’s only one of me and I’m currently engaged,” Eve winked at the Emperor.

  Amanda was not impressed with her lack of formality with the Emperor. However, she let it go because she understood not everyone had been around powerful people as much as she had. “Once we land I will be heading for my apartment, I maintain one near headquarters. As it’s getting late planet time Thad, I suggest you and the girls come stay with me to save yourselves the hassle of a hotel.”

  “Sounds good to me, but what about our guests?” Thad asked.

  Amanda had not even considered playing host to an Emperor and for the first time Thad saw his mother speechless. “Ah,”

  Colonel Grunt saved Amanda from having to answer, “I am sure the Admiral would be a fine host, however, I’m afraid without a proper advance security detail there is no way we can guarantee the Emperors safety. Not to worry, as I have a secure location where I can keep them safe.”

  Although relieved, Amanda didn’t show it, “Good then it’s settled. In the morning I’ll have my staff set up a meeting with the Presidents of the Rep Com, and the Federation, along with the top Brass and we’ll see about dealing with this new threat.”