by Dennis Young
Trachenberg nodded. “We will attend. Frankly, I would have it no other way.”
Yiikor closed on Trachenberg and Rashim came to her side immediately. “Still I will have vengeance for Zacan Toks and Diviak Nurmeen. This is not done.”
Trachenberg met his gaze with strength. “When comes the time, Zacan Yiikor. I will not deny you the opportunity, should it be my choice.”
* * *
The meeting took less than two standard hours, during which Yiikor and his officers said very little other than agreeing to the terms set forth as Elder-First Carmichael detailed them. Yiikor affixed his electronic seal, giving provisional approval to the treaty, and the Earthfleet officers signed only as witnesses, not parties to the agreement.
“Very good,” said Carmichael, once formalities were concluded. “Now, I offer you the hospitality of Harmony for the next few days, should you desire to stay. We have much to offer in cultural exchanges and discussions of future works.”
Yiikor raised himself from his haunches. “We return to our ship. We will leave orbit as soon as possible.” He paused and, with obvious effort, continued. “With the permission of your space control.”
“Of course. Doubtless you are anxious to deliver our agreement to your High Command for formal ratification.” Carmichael motioned to Clovis. “The Elder-Third will see you to your shuttle and on your way. Our thanks for your cooperation.”
Carmichael said the final words without a hint of sarcasm, or so Trachenberg thought. She wondered how he kept it from his voice.
Clovis led Yiikor and his officers beyond the door without the Qoearc replying. Carmichael turned to Trachenberg and Rashim with a smile of satisfaction on his face. “I am not certain what was said between yourselves and Zacan Yiikor to convince them of our sincerity, but it is most welcome and much appreciated.” He waited for a reply, but none came. “Might you share your thoughts on this matter and its successful conclusion?”
“Success has a way of coming back and biting you hard, if it’s forced on one party by another,” said Trachenberg. “Frankly, the High Command may simply tear it up and throw it away. Then execute Yiikor for negligence.”
“All buying time for us to prepare otherwise.” Carmichael laughed at Trachenberg’s stare. “Oh, no, I don’t mean warfare, Commander, nothing of the sort. Simply more of negotiations over our differences.”
“Two things, Elder-First. One, if the Qoearc return, it will be with an invasion force and a commander who won’t give a damn about your negotiations. Two, who sent the hail to Fleet Base Twenty-four? It’s something Captain Mitchell has wondered since we arrived.”
“I did, of course,” replied Carmichael. “Only myself, or Elder-Second Beatrice have that authority.”
“And exactly why did you need Earth Alliance here, since you handled the situation so well yourselves? Truly, I’m impressed, and have never seen the Qoearc on the defensive so much during negotiations.”
Carmichael chuckled. “To do what Earth Alliance does so well, Commander. Act as a deterrent. Knowing your code of conduct and respect for other cultures, we surmised you would play the game of military superiority with the Qoearc without having to fire a shot. It worked rather well, don’t you think?”
Trachenberg fumed. She held tightly to her temper, glanced once to Rashim, also swallowing his disbelief. At last she said, “I cannot tell you how insulting your words are, to Earthfleet, to the Earth Alliance, and to me personally. While you may understand, or think you understand negotiating, you have no inkling of the horrors of battle and war. Your planet and your people wouldn’t last a day against a real Qoearc threat. And there wouldn’t be a thing Earth Alliance could do, except watch your world burn.”
Carmichael said nothing, but paled considerably under Trachenberg’s glare.
“If you will, please return us to our shuttle so we can report back to our commanding officer and explain to him how so very thoroughly Earth Alliance has been misused to keep you from having your fool head blown off.”
* * *
EAS Burlingame…
They met with Mitchell and Guererro in Burlingame’s ready room. For nearly half a shift Trachenberg and Rashim were questioned, cajoled, and in some cases, outright contradicted, regarding their statements of the events on Harmony and the departure of the Qoearc. While Trachenberg didn’t really mind the grilling, the repetitiveness of questions was beginning to bore her. At last the Comm Officer was dismissed, and the three captains sat quietly around the table.
“Captain Mitchell, I’ve offered all I have. The agreements are valid and legal. Harmony is not a member of the Earth Alliance, only a Protectorate, and that by declaration of the Alliance Council. Harmony was… annexed, if you will, for its resources and its strategic location. Truthfully, we have no business here.”
“That’s not our decision, Commander,” replied Mitchell. “Our orders were to get the Qoearc out of the system.” He shrugged conciliatorily. “We’ve accomplished our mission, so I say to you, ‘well done’. That’s a compliment, by the way.”
Trachenberg caught Guererro’s quiet chuckle. “Thank you, sir. Now, how do we deal with the remaining Qoearc ships? You and I know they’ll be waiting beyond the singularity border.”
“Because this Yiikor wants revenge?” Mitchell huffed a breath. “I would think he has more important matters on his mind.”
“No, sir, he doesn’t. His main thought right now is how to save face. Dying in combat against Earthfleet might not be a bad way for him to achieve that.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” asked Guererro, glancing between Trachenberg and Mitchell.
“Yes, Captain. They’ll be waiting for us, I guarantee it.”
Mitchell considered. “We have about twelve hours before we can engage hyperlight in clear space. We’re tracking them, but we’ll be a bit more vigilant with your warning, Commander. Your point is taken. Seriously, I might add.”
“Thank you, sir.” Trachenberg paused for a moment. “I’d like to get back to Armstrong, if you have no further questions for me. I’ll prepare my report and have it to you before we cross the singularity border.”
She stood, then Guererro, then Mitchell. “Again, Commander, well done,” he said. “And my personal compliments on your working with Lieutenant Rashim. He had kind words regarding you.”
Trachenberg nodded thanks. The door swished softly as she exited the ready room.
A moment passed before Guererro spoke. “She’s right, Mitch. The Qoearc won’t let this go until honor is served in their minds.”
He nodded. “Then we’ll have to be ready for them. My main concern is Armstrong. It’s in no shape to fight.”
“Send her home with a commendation. The whole crew deserves one.”
Mitchell chuckled and shook his head. “Do you think she’d go, and miss the chance to let this Yiikor try his luck? She’s a fighter, that’s for sure.”
“Well,” replied Guererro, “isn’t that what the Interceptor class is all about?”
Mitchell sat and punched the intercom button. “Flight deck, is Commander Straum available.”
“Straum here, Captain. Orders?”
Mitchell looked to Guererro, who only nodded. “Ready your fighters, Commander, and pass the word to Marshall and Armstrong. All crewed fighters are to be ready for launch in eight hours.”
They could almost hear the grin in Straum’s reply. “Aye, aye, sir!”
* * *
EAS Armstrong…
The first thing Trachenberg did on her return to Armstrong was check on Captain Martinez’s condition.
“No change, and that’s a good thing,” Doctor Addams said. “Now get back to your crew. And get some rest.” His words had been delivered half-serious, half-jokingly, but Trachenberg knew what he was really saying.
Her quarters were quiet, and for the remainder of the shift, she could rest and reflect before she gathered her thoughts for the report. She took her mother’s cameo from
the box again, sat on her bed and simply looked at it for a while, letting her mind drift and find a bit of comfort in the necklace.
Her head came up quickly, and she checked the Earth chronometer. “Friday”, nearly “evening”, and she quickly straightened the arrangement of Shabbat candles on the dresser, withdrew her tichel from the drawer and placed it on her head.
Tying it with care, she thought again of Yiikor’s threat, knowing he would find a way to confront her if possible. Should that happen, Armstrong would be at a severe disadvantage with no torpedo launchers, but the fighters might prove to be something he hadn’t considered.
She touched the glow-stick to the candle wicks and watched the flames dance softly in the silence. She covered her eyes and sang once more the blessing so familiar.
She wondered, as she gave her benediction, and sat with the cameo in her hands again, if it might be the last time she ever sang it.
Six
Showdown
“Duty Log, Captain Harlan Mitchell, 161216.14. We are two hours from the singularity border and likely the Qoearc are lying in wait. Commander Trachenberg’s words may prove to be prophetic, costing us more lives and a bad ending to this entire operation. If the Qoearc defeat us, what’s to stop them from returning to Harmony and imposing their will on the planet and its people? So, our mission remains the same; stop the Qoearc and get them away from Harmony, agreements nowwithstanding. That’s a situation for the diplomats to deal with later. For now, we still have a duty to perform.”
* * *
EAS Burlingame…
Straum’s duty shift seemed it would never end. She hadn’t left the hangar deck for nearly twelve hours. She had drunk so much coffee and tea, she thought she would burst, and was so on edge with caffeine overload, she had to remember to blink, lest her eyes would dry out. And she loved every moment of it.
Her tech-crew chief, Walt Matthews, reported all of Burlingame’s fighters duty-fit. Marshall had one Valkyrie with systems issues that defied diagnostics. Armstrong’s first-flight of crewed fighters had been reduced to five serviceable Phoenix one-man and eight Valkyrie two-man ships, but only seven of the launch bays were operational. The second wave was at full strength. Straum shook her head at the report. Armstrong had sustained more damage than she’d ever seen an Interceptor take and remain space-worthy. Her respect for Trachenberg and her crew had grown substantially over the mission’s duration.
She called a vid-conference with the Air-Bosses of all the ships, prepared a launch sequence, discussed strategies and tactics, reviewed pilot updates, and drank more coffee. Tight grins met her words as the pre-launch briefing went on. Armstrong’s crewed fighters had not engaged Diviak Nurmeen, only picked off a couple of armed auxiliary craft during the battle. There was no data to correlate, no information about how the Qoearc reacted to multiple small, extremely fast-moving targets, no idea if their secondary weapons could even track the fighters as they made their runs. It was all new, and as the meeting ended, Straum realized she had no real conclusions to give Captain Mitchell except they would have to improvise as the battle deepened.
That, of course, was assuming there was a battle. Tactical had lost the Qoearc in the system debris at the singularity boundary. And the border was only an hour away.
* * *
“Captain, Harmony singularity border in ten minutes. Still no sign of the Qoearc.” Neunada at Tactical turned to face Mitchell in his command seat. “Sir, they may have stealth technology we’re simply not aware of. Or they may actually have left the neighborhood.”
Mitchell nodded. “Sensors on max, Lieutenant, sweep three-sixty continuous. If they’re out there, we need as much warning as we can get.”
“All RF is clear, Captain,” reported Rashim from Comm.
“Sciences?” Mitchell looked to Tyvaos watching his scanner feeds while running fingers over the control board buttons.
The Science Officer straightened and faced the captain. “Sir, there is so much system debris, they could actually be hiding behind rocks. If they are in close orbit or set down, we likely could not identify their ships from the planetoids.”
Mitchell thought for a quick moment. “Get Marshall and Armstrong on the line.” He waited as Rashim made the connections. “Captains, I don’t like this. We need a different plan.”
“Launch fighters immediately,” replied Trachenberg. “Otherwise, we’ll be engaged and unable to do so without reducing speed. I know. That’s how Diviak Nurmeen caught us.”
“Trail the fighters behind us,” added Guererro, “Be sure everyone knows what their targets are.”
“Commander Straum has worked that out and passed it to your Air-Bosses,” replied Mitchell. “Good thinking, Commander, and so ordered. Get the fighters off the ships, reload your launch bays and send out the Valkyries.”
“Sir, my Air-Boss Chief Klauski has advised me Commander Straum ordered a mixed launch, so the fighters wouldn’t have to wait for the bombers to be launched later,” said Trachenberg.
Mitchell nodded. “Excellent. Launch at once, trail all fighters, keep—”
“Captain, enemy contact!”
“Damn it! Mister Neunada, Battle Stations, prepare defenses and countermeasures, charge all weapons. Captains, let’s do our jobs! Burlingame out!”
Mitchell clicked off and faced the screens. “Evasive to port, flank speed. Helm, come about, 180 mark 30, stand by to fire.”
“Coming up over a planetoid, Captain, two Qoearc ships bearing 30 mark 10. Geez, look at the size of those things…”
Burlingame shook with a grazing hit from Beauzic’s phased discharge emitters.
“Fighters away,” reported Tyvaos. “Trailing as ordered. Launch bays reloading now.”
Mitchell glanced at the key to Special-Ops, knowing Allard and Straum should be there by now. He punched the button and entered the code. “Commanders, the fighters are targets trailing now. Break them loose and see what they can do.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Allard. “Report will be through Tactical as necessary.”
“Comm, get me Armstrong.” Mitchell counted to ten. “Commander Trachenberg, get your ship out of here, you’re in no condition to fight.”
“Sir, it’s me Yiikor wants, not you.”
“That was an order, Commander. Armstrong is not to engage. We can’t protect you and fight at the same time.”
“Sir, let me draw off Beauzic. I can out-maneuver them and give my fighters a chance to attack. If we can provoke him enough, he’ll try to chase us down.”
“And then what, Commander?”
A pause. “Then you or Captain Guererro can come and save our asses, sir. But if you’re careful, he’ll never see you coming.”
Mitchell could only chuckle at Trachenberg’s brazenness. “Commander, when this is all over, you and I are going to have a serious talk about respect of command.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be happy to explain my thoughts on it to you. Armstrong out.”
Mitchell looked to Rashim who grinned. “She is… willful if nothing else,” the Comm Officer said.
“Put me through to Marshall.” This time, he only counted to five. “Sonja, take the trailing target. We’ll concentrate on one ship while Armstrong becomes a rabbit for Beauzic to chase.”
“Acknowledged, Mitch. Let’s show them how Earthfleet fights.”
* * *
Marshall broke left; Burlingame broke right. Valkyrie fighters from both bore head-on toward the Qoearc, braving secondary weapons fire from the pod and wings.
“They’re deploying auxiliary craft!” came a voice from the Phoenix flight leader.
Straum hit the master intercom. “Phoenix flight, take the auxiliaries, keep them off the Valkyries. Valkyrie Burlingame flight, target Daefh, code Loop-the-Loop, take out the engine screens. Marshall Valkyrie flight, code Guillotine, target their Bridge.”
Burlingame shook once more as the polarized defenses absorbed Qoearc fire. Straum watched the main screen and the ind
ividual screens nearby, status codes scrolling nearly too fast to read.
“Three hits, port engine, two starboard,” came the report. “Starting second run.”
“Scramble!” came a shout from the Valkyrie leader. “Incoming fire, do not repeat pattern!”
“Acknowledged,” said Straum, more calmly than she truly felt. “Code Monkeyshines, initiate!”
The Valkyrie fighters broke off, heading in any convenient direction. The Qoearc secondary weapons had no chance to follow. In the meantime, the Phoenix wing took out the Qoearc auxiliaries like target practice. Straum nodded; there was no comparison between the failure of the AI’s and the crewed fighters’ success.
Allard spoke to her from the auxiliary Bridge. “The Qoearc aren’t used to this, but our birds can’t be over-confident. They need to stay sharp and be unpredictable.”
Straum pressed her intercom button “Burlingame Valkyrie wing, target sublight engines, code Fullback. Marshall wing, your turn on the power screens, code Harry Potter.” She grinned. “This should be interesting.”
Burlingame’s Valkyries reformed in a single line, giving minimal target presentation. They raced headlong toward Daefh’s sublight engine deck, releasing their second torpedoes each, one after the other, ten in all. The Qoearc’s rear superstructure was no match for the onslaught, and the power complex erupted in flame and outgassing.
Marshall’s nine Valkyries fired sensor-scrambling ordnance before boring in on the power array. The Qoearc apparently had anticipated the maneuver this time, as the ship rolled to starboard, half the torpedoes missing, even with seeking capability.
Straum hit the all-call intercom button. “Valkyries away, Phoenix wing, cover retreat, lose yourselves in the darkness.” She switched to the Bridge. “Captain, we’ve done all we can, fighters are pulling back.”
