The access light turned green, and he called across for the life-pod to open the hatch. Once open, he stepped in.
“Hello, everyone, I’m Wen Carson. I’ll be seeing you off. Once you get inside, you’ll follow Angela to the acceleration lounge. We’ll be boosting out of here shortly, and want you seated as soon as possible. You’ll be coming out of low gravity here, and into standard gravity on Venture. So, watch your step. A crewmember will aid you at the transition point. Any questions?”
“What about our luggage – such as it is?” a passenger asked.
“Take it with you. We’ll find a place to stow it later. Okay, first.” First came a very stocky man. “Be careful, we don’t want a man of your size falling on anyone.”
One by one, he and Shiro helped them through the hatch, until only the two kids and Brian Richardson remained. They got Richardson out on a stretcher, and then aided the kids out. Angela took charge of them, and led them to one of the acceleration lounges.
Wen stepped into the life-pod, went to the piloting station, activated a release program, set it for one minute, and floated himself out. The hatch closed.
He closed the outer airlock door and sealed it. Then the inner airlock door. He turned to Shiro. “Done.”
Shiro hit the comm and reported to the captain.
“We’re to get ready for acceleration.”
He blinked. “What’s happening?”
Shiro told him as they walked quickly to their acceleration chairs in Security. “A patrol ship dropped. It’s heading for Haida Gwaii. We’re going to see if we can get it to chase us instead. Maybe we can buy Haida Gwaii a little time. Apparently, they plan to jump whether or not they’re a safe distance from the Moon.” He strapped himself in, and Wen did the same.
“Jaswinder figures they have a five percent chance of a successful jump if we don’t buy them time.”
He had hated the woman for the better part of fifteen years. But she had turned out to be a worthy person. Surely this wouldn’t happen to her? But it had happened to Lil, and Lil had done no harm to anyone. Shiro had kept speaking, but Wen hadn’t registered it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Every minute we can buy her, the chances go up.”
The burn pushed them back in their chairs. Ritter – or whoever sat as pilot – didn’t hold back. Wen didn’t want him to, he only wished he were there.
The burn lasted a full twenty minutes.
* * *
Bettina stared at the navigation tank. What might induce the pirate to follow them instead of heading for Haida Gwaii?
“Acceleration Lounges report ready, Captain,” Comm told her.
“Do what you have to, Ken,” she said.
Ritter began with a gentle acceleration, but it built and built. Bettina hadn’t felt anything like it since Venture had tried to run down Tannon’s Luck twenty years previous.
“Ken, did you ever play Carson’s game?”
“A couple of times. But we had so much on our plates. I never got very far – certainly not as far as he did. And he ran at least a hundred missions. He must have tried everything.”
She looked at the NavTank. They approached Haida Gwaii at speed. The first shuttle had reached her, the other remained some distance away. Neither would interfere with Venture.
“Captain?”
“What is it, Ken?”
“Get Carson up here.”
She balked.
“We need to know what he knows, what he figured out, what the best odds are. We need him, Captain.”
“Cut acceleration.”
She got on the public address. “All passengers, please remain in your seats. We will accelerate again shortly. Wen Carson, please come to the bridge.”
* * *
Carson sat there, stunned.
“Get up and go, man. You’re wanted.”
Shiro’s voice broke him out of his thrall. He unbuckled, and then ran for the bridge. To once again set foot on a bridge, even if just to give the captain advice – he figured he knew why she called. To see a bridge again.
He arrived to an open hatch. He stepped through.
“Captain?”
She indicated the pilot’s chair – an empty chair. Ritter sat co-pilot. What had happened?
“Take your chair, Pilot,” Captain Yrden said.
He almost choked. But he sat down, reverently feeling the seat, touching the controls. He looked at the detector screen, at the navigation tank. Took it all in. “Yes, Captain?”
“Wen, you’ve done more research than any of us. We need to divert that pirate. The ship is yours.”
His? He set the course to fly in front of the patrol ship, the pirate. And then he engaged thrusters.
“Great Scot, Wen, what are you doing?” Ritter asked.
“You want to save Haida Gwaii? We’ll save Haida Gwaii.”
* * *
Haida Gwaii
Monday 30 August
“Airlock twenty-eight,” came the word.
Damn. “That’s level Plus Four.”
Johannes ran towards the level and penetration area with Hank Lowe. A dozen men, who carried hunting rifles and a few of the pistols from the armoury, followed close behind. They had assumed the central position waiting for word, while other security volunteers had spread throughout the station. Now that they knew where the enemy had breached, they could concentrate there and on all avenues the invaders could use to penetrate more deeply into the station.
Gunshots echoed through the corridors as they hit level four. Damn. Someone had decided to play the hero. Against trained soldiers.
“All we have to do is contain them,” Hank Lowe said.
Easier said than done. Once into the station, the enemy moved swiftly, both up and down, and inwards as well.
“Reports from level Plus Two. We’ve blocked all the stairways. We have them more or less contained.” Hank told him, receiver to his ear. “Damn. We’ve lost at least four already. And they’ve cut off Section Eight. We have a hundred or more people there.”
Johannes felt a cold wind blow down his back. “Which means we can’t evacuate the air without killing a hundred of our own.”
It didn’t take that long for the whole operation to get bogged down. What with narrow corridors and no way to go through walls, neither side could gain much advantage. But the enemy had grenades, automatic weapons, and the will to use them.
“Captain,” Hank said, “you should go back to the Command Centre. We lose you, and we lose. The difference you’ve made since you took over ... I can’t begin to calculate it. Morale has soared. Nothing against Matt, but he didn’t delegate enough. Anyway, now that we have morale, we don’t want to lose it. And someone has to make the hard decisions. If not you, then it will be Jaswinder. Do you think she could pump the air out?”
Johannes stared at him. “Do you think I can?”
“If you have to, you must. If I’m in there with them, and I tell you we can’t hold them, then you must.” Hank shook his head. “I’m an old man, now, Johannes, but I still don’t want to die. Not yet. Even so, I’d rather go down than see these bastards in charge of our station.”
Johannes clenched his fist, but then released it. He held out his hand. “I hope this won’t be the last time.”
Hank took his hand.
“So long, Sheriff,” Johannes said.
Hank grinned. “I need me a six-shooter.”
And then Johannes began to jog back to the Command Centre. When he entered, he heard Jaswinder talking to Sergeant Jensen. They had, apparently, come as allies. Ken Nakamura vouched for them.
Listening with one ear, Johannes got Hank on the line and relayed instructions to him. “Go to Shuttle Bay Two. We apparently have reinforcements in the form of thirty-plus soldiers. But be careful, it may be a trap.”
Having given that instruction, he turned to Jaswinder.
“What else is new,” Johannes asked his wife.
“Ken’s shuttle knocked o
ut the other shuttle’s antenna. That stopped the jamming. The Europeans are coming to our aid, though it’ll be a while. The mixed force is, also.”
Johannes smiled. “That’s good.”
“And now for the bad. That patrol ship is definitely headed our way.” She paused.
“And?”
“And Bettina hasn’t jumped. Instead, she’s heading right for them at full burn.”
CHAPTER 32
Venture
Tuesday 31 August
Bettina stared at the navigation tank. What did Carson think he was doing? This wouldn’t draw the pirate away from Haida Gwaii; it would only give him a second target on the way in. Two for the price of one.
“How’s Haida Gwaii?” she asked, trying to make sense of it all, wondering if she should remove Carson from the bridge.
Owen, sitting at the detectors, answered. “She’s still slowly accelerating away from the Moon, heading north out of the ecliptic.” He turned to her. “I should be there.”
“Your parents wanted you here, and I agree with their decision. We don’t risk all of the Family on one ship.”
Venture leapt forward as First Pilot Wen Carson put her under maximum acceleration.
“What are you doing, Pilot?” Bettina asked.
“My job. Protecting Haida Gwaii, which you said is the best hope for mankind. Protecting Jaswinder Damn-and Blast-Her Saroya-Yrden, who you claim to be the foremost hyperspace physicist ever, on the brink of a new discovery. And, finally, getting revenge.”
He adjusted the thrust slightly. “Navigator, get me an intercept course. We’re heading right down their throats. Gunner, heat the beam, and target the patrol vessel. I’m going to drop shields. As soon as we get in range, we’ll open fire. One continuous long burst for as long as the weapon will function.”
Bettina’s hand hovered over the control to shunt first pilot functions to Ritter.
“Carson, we can’t take on a patrol ship. They’ll blast us to pieces, then take out Haida Gwaii. Johannes and Jaswinder knew the risk. They designated us the safety. We have too many innocent people on board. We have to get them away. Stand down.”
* * *
Haida Gwaii
Reports kept coming in telling of the fanatics’ advance. More defenders had died.
“Captain,” Hank Lowe called in, “We just got help. Forty trained soldiers – light on arms, but ready and willing to take on the fanatics.”
Johannes needed to sit down. “Good, Hank, good.” He turned and saw tears in Jaswinder’s eyes. Maybe they would come through this okay.
“They brought two scientists with them. Jensen says they are very important. Ken agrees. I’m sending them up to Command Centre for Jaswinder to make a decision – also for protection. According to Ken, we definitely don’t want to lose these two.”
“Right. Send them up.”
He went over to Jaswinder. “What is it?”
“We’ve lost friends, Johannes. People we’ve known for years.”
“I know.” He turned. “Nick, has Venture jumped yet?”
“No, Captain. She’s still under burn.”
“Lorrie, radio them. Tell them I’m ordering them to jump.”
She replied, “Europeans doing a burn. They’ll be here shortly. Eighty of them. Colonel Jacoby for you, Jaswinder.”
“Haida Gwaii, Colonel Jacoby. We have altered course for Haida Gwaii. ETA six hours. We echo Major Müller.”
Now, finally, Jaswinder Yrden smiled. “Thank you Colonel Jacoby. We welcome you, as well.”
She turned to her husband.
“I’m going down to welcome the Germans. And then to ask them something very difficult.”
“We don’t know they’re on our side. Ask them what?”
She looked at a loss. “If they aren’t, I think we’re done. If they are, after we refuel them, I’m going to have to ask them to attack that patrol ship.”
Johannes winced. “It’ll be a suicide run. They’re not flying proper fighters, but converted shuttles. That patrol ship will take them apart.”
She looked down towards her feet. “I know. That’s why I have to ask in person. You don’t ask people to sacrifice themselves for you over the radio.”
“Go.”
As soon as Jaswinder had left – with an escort – Johannes turned back to Lorrie. “Get me Venture!”
* * *
Venture
Bettina looked at their course again. It didn’t make sense. Not unless Carson wanted to ram. Did his thoughts of revenge make him blind to the fact that he would be taking over two hundred people with him? She prepared to shunt his board to Ritter.
“Wen, either explain yourself or stand down.”
“Captain,” Wen turned to her. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing. Trust me.”
If ever she’d heard a plea, she heard it now. Her finger stopped. “Convince me.”
“They’ll use the same tactics as the shuttle fighters did to the stations: missiles to kill Gwaii’s shields, then a second salvo to tear her apart. But they have to drop their shields to fire.”
Venture blew past Haida Gwaii, placing herself between the station and the incoming patrol ship.
“Incoming message from Haida Gwaii, Captain.”
“Tell them to hold. Continue, Carson.”
“I’ve thought about nothing but this since they killed 684. Our beam is too weak to significantly damage their shields, but while we light them up, they can’t drop shields to fire missiles – or their own beams – without taking damage, possibly fatal.”
“Haida Gwaii demanding to talk to you, Captain.”
“Tell them to hold.” Bettina had sweat forming on her forehead. She wiped it away. Her gaze never left the screen showing the ever-shortening distance between them and the patrol ship.
“Carson, even if we do that, they’ll just wait until we pass by. Once past them, we’d have to turn around to keep our beam on target. And at our relative speeds, they’d soon be out of range, and we wouldn’t have slowed them down a bit. I asked you to get them to follow us.”
“We’re not the prize, Captain. Haida Gwaii is. They can get us any time in the next several years if they have Haida Gwaii. No way we can entice them into a chase.”
“You’re risking all of us and, more importantly, our passengers.”
“Captain, if we blow by them, then you’ve done your job. They won’t be able to catch us; we can jump. Until then, they can’t fire, giving the Gwaii extra time. And I have a surprise for them.”
“Captain, Johannes is about to blow a gasket.”
“Put him on.”
“What are you doing, Bettina?” Johannes demanded. “You know your orders.”
“I changed them. We’re buying you time. Get any non-essential people to the lifeboats. If we fail, they’ll take you out. We may be able to come back for the boats, if they’re satisfied with destroying the station.”
She turned to Comm. “Cut communications. I don’t need an argument.”
“What’s your surprise, Wen?”
“No time to explain.” He cut acceleration. “Ritter, take over, I’m going down to Cargo. We have the workboats rigged for remote control?”
“We do,” Bettina said, starting to nod. If they sent the workboats ahead, the pirate would have to drop his shields to engage them, and then Venture might score with her beam.
Carson stood. “Ken, be gentle. Aim to pass about a hundred kilometres in front of them. We’ll make final adjustments later. We still have a couple of hours before we can open fire.”
He left the bridge at a quick pace.
Bettina turned to Ritter. “Will it work? If we can get them to drop their shields to engage the workboats, could our beam damage them enough to protect Haida Gwaii?”
Ritter shook his head. “Ship’s beam got installed to protect against pirates – those in shuttles, or small ships. Against a dedicated warship? I don’t know. I suppose anything is possible.”
&
nbsp; She bit her lip. “Do you have any better idea?”
“No, Captain, I don’t. But let’s go with it for the moment. Any time you want, we can jump. We’re at near one hundred percent of maximum recommended insertion velocity. We’ll shake everyone up a little, but we’re not in any danger.”
Yet, she thought, but did not say.
* * *
Haida Gwaii
Jaswinder got to the shuttle bay after the Europeans had arrived and Hank Lowe had declared them friendly. She saw their leader, and walked up to him. Everyone spoke German. Apparently a German Squadron, no other nationalities represented.
“Major Müller?”
“Jawohl, Frau Yrden.”
“We have a problem.”
“The nature of this problem?”
“A patrol ship has dropped from hyperspace, and has begun accelerating towards us – not towards Earth or the Moon, you understand, but has taken a course to intercept us.”
Müller closed his eyes a moment, then looked over her shoulder to a woman who wore the same rank insignia as the major. A friend? A lover?
She continued, “Know also that we have information that at least one of these Earth cruisers has gone pirate – perhaps most of them. We are not yet ready to jump to hyperspace. We need time to gain more distance from the Moon. Our tradeship, Venture, has begun accelerating to intercept them – against my direct orders – but she will certainly fail. I, therefore—”
Müller interrupted her. “Everyone! We need a volunteer crew for each fighter. A patrol ship threatens our new home. We must go to full acceleration to intercept it before it gets within range to kill this station.” He paused to let that sink in. “We may not have enough fuel to return.”
He went on to crew his ship. Jaswinder felt a tightness in her throat. She had never before deliberately asked people to die for her.
Not With A Whimper: Survivors Page 36
