Rogue Stars

by C Gockel et al.

  “I hear, Tei,” Jakinda acknowledged the order. “He comes to a new heading: zero-zero-zero by zero-two-seven.”

  “Good Jakinda,” Tei’Varyk said and turned his station toward his mate. “Tarjei, his eyes to maximum. Sweep a cone forty-five degrees either side of us.”

  “I hear,” Tarjei said. “His eyes see nothing, but I am vigilant.”

  He flicked his ears in acknowledgement. “You are his eyes.”

  “I hear,” Tarjei said dropping her jaw and baring her teeth in a smile.

  With the press of a button, Tei’Varyk centred his station again and reviewed what he knew of this phantom target. It had appeared at the extreme edge of Chakra’s envelope only briefly before submerging itself in the debris of the outer asteroid belt. A traveller (comet) he had thought, but it had not re-emerged from the belt, and there had been no impact detected. Tarjei, by coincidence testing Chakra’s eyes at maximum, had locked up the object briefly, and the glaring red of unknown target splashed itself across half the displays on the command deck.

  The warning sirens shocked everyone immobile for moments only before his finely trained crew responded as their training demanded. Chakra had turned toward the target. His eyes had swept the belt at maximum power, but they’d failed to find any clue to the phantom’s whereabouts.

  The elders had heard his report with worry evident in the way their muzzles and whiskers twitched. They ordered him to patrol the asteroid belt until a satisfactory answer was obtained. That was almost half an orbit ago—two seasons of searching and nothing to show the elders.

  “Indications negative, Tei,” Tarjei said unhappily. “I have failed you and him.”

  “Never say that,” Tei’Varyk said harshly. “We will search until the end of the orbit if we have to. Do not concern yourself with failure. Look ahead in harmony.”

  “I hear,” Tarjei said with her hackles raised and her tailtip restless. She was not in harmony.

  The distress in Tarjei’s voice was obvious. Her ears were plastered flat against her head—a sign of just how upset she was with her failure. Tei’Varyk saw the misery in her eyes before she looked away from him and back to her controls. He should comfort her tonight. They had spent so little time together while on this patrol. It was hard to remember the last time they were alone. Tarjei and he had been mated for only a short time. For all intents and purposes, they were still the strangers from far off clans they had been last orbit.

  “Jakinda,” Tei’Varyk said turning his attention reluctantly back to duty. “We have scanned every particle of the outer belt have we not?”

  “Yes, Tei,” Jakinda confirmed.

  “Is there any area of the belt we cannot investigate properly?”

  Jakinda was quiet for a moment. “No, Tei.”

  “Then it is not here,” Tei’Varyk said with finality.

  Jakinda turned away from his station to face Tei’Varyk. “If not here then where?”

  “The inner belt is the only place to hide. It must be there.”

  “But that means it is a ship.”

  “Must be,” Tei’Varyk said grimly. “Jakinda, new heading: best speed to the inner belt.”

  “I hear,” Jakinda said and spun back to his consol. A moment later, Chakra swung toward the inner system. “Time to the inner belt… approximately four cycles.”

  “Good.”

  Jozka spoke up. “Should I inform the elders?”

  Tei’Varyk hesitated. “No. If I’m wrong, it would be foolish to distract the elders. The rest of the Fleet will remain on patrol while we check the inner belt.”

  “I hear, but if you’re right we may need help.”

  Tei’Varyk chewed his whiskers thoughtfully. Chakra was a light fang, but what he lacked in firepower, he more than made up with agility and speed. He felt confident they could escape any trap to warn the elders.

  “Chakra is fast. If we find the phantom, we run it down and disable it. If we can’t do that, we run for help.”

  “I hear, Tei.” Jozka turned back to his station.

  Aboard ASN Canada, inner belt, Shan system

  “Dammit!” Captain Jeff Colgan said as he watched the Shan ship approaching.

  The stupid fools were seen! They must have been!

  Canada’s bridge crew kept their eyes lowered to their stations as Colgan vented his spleen over the ineptness of a certain ship’s captain, namely Cynthia Monroe. Monroe was skipper of the light cruiser ASN Invincible. Unfortunately, she seemed to believe the name extended to her own abilities.

  “Get me Invincible,” Colgan said through gritted teeth.

  “Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Ricks said, and moments later the Shan ship on the view-screen was replaced by Cynthia Monroe.

  “What can I do for you, Jeff?”

  “I assume you’re monitoring the Shan light cruiser.”

  “Of course.”

  “That ship has been patrolling the outer system without deviation since I’ve been here, Cynthia. Then you show up and it starts a search pattern. Why do you think it’s heading here now?”

  Monroe frowned. “It’s patrolling not searching—”

  “Don’t give me that,” Colgan began hotly, but then realising he was berating a fellow captain in front of witnesses, he forced himself to calm down. “You and I both know you were detected, but that doesn’t matter now. That ship has just finished an exhaustive search of the outer belt and found nothing. Now it’s coming here to do the same thing. That ship isn’t going to give up until it finds us… or rather you.”

  Monroe’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? What have you got in mind?”

  “My mission is too important to abandon, and you’re faster than me anyway. I suggest you run for it and allow the Shan to catch a glimpse of you before jumping out. With luck, they’ll give up the search when they see you go.”

  “Dangerous, Jeff,” Monroe said worriedly. “Without me you have no backup at all.”

  Colgan shook his head. “Not so dangerous as all that. Under no circumstances will I fire on the Shan, so adding your guns to mine is pointless. Besides, if you’re careful you could sneak back in after the system settles down again.”

  Monroe nodded reluctantly. “Do you or the boffins need anything before I go?”

  Colgan sighed in relief. “I can’t think of a thing. I’ve no doubt the profs would like the entire Alliance database, but they’ll make do. They had better!”

  Monroe chuckled but it was a strained sound. “Well, if I’m going I might as well do it now. Good luck, Jeff.”

  “And to you.”

  The screen cleared to show the Shan ship decelerating hard as it approached the belt.

  Colgan watched it come, and felt only admiration for a people that could build such beautiful ships. They were sleek and agile, but they lacked jump technology. They had fewer weapons than a Human ship of the same class, but for all of that they were beautiful. Human ships were never so fine looking—they were designed to kill Merkiaari, not look pretty.

  “Split screen,” he ordered. “Invincible on the left.”

  “Aye, sir,” Ricks said and the screen changed to show both ships.

  Invincible was manoeuvring. She had lain doggo against an asteroid for weeks, but now she was breaking for open space.

  “Any indications that the Shan have seen her?”

  “None, Skipper.”

  Colgan frowned. “Damn peculiar. They barely caught a glimpse of her when she came in, but that was enough to start a manhunt. Now when she strolls out into the open, they don’t react at all.”

  “Invincible is still in stealth mode, Skipper,” Commander Groves said. “Maybe the Shan can’t see her.”

  Colgan pursed his lips, not sure he agreed. “She was stealthed when she came in. They saw her then.”

  “Maybe not,” Groves mused. “Maybe they saw the jump signature.”

  “They don’t have jump technology.”

  “True, but does that mean their sensors are inferior?�
��

  “You’re right.” He had become so used to his technological superiority that he had assumed it covered all areas of ship design, but that was not proven. Just because Invincible was jump capable with superior weapons didn’t mean she had superior sensors. “Inform Invincible of your thoughts, XO.”

  “Aye, sir,” Groves said and keyed a channel open herself.

  While his exec was doing that, Colgan concentrated on watching the Shan ship. Invincible was almost clear of the debris now. She would be firing up her mains any minute. Surely, the Shan would see that. They must.

  “Invincible concurs with our assessment, Skip,” Groves said.

  Colgan nodded. “Sound battle stations, Mark.”

  Throughout Canada, the, siren screamed and her crew ran to emergency and battle stations. In the bowels of the ship, damage control parties scrambled into hard suits, while elsewhere, the crew pulled on their gloves to seal their uniforms and put on their helmets. The system was a good one, proven time and again against the Merkiaari, but of course civilians had never needed to seal themselves into unfamiliar uniforms.

  There were difficulties.

  “Ma’am, you have to twist it clockwise,” an exasperated Chief Williams said to Janice Bristow, as he tried to make her stand still long enough to show her the proper way to suit up.

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  “I assumed anyone with half a brain would know that when you tighten something, it’s clockwise!”

  Brenda smirked, but then her face flushed when she noticed the plumbing connections in her uniform. “No way! That will never fit!”

  Williams, looking harried, turned to see what the problem was. “Ma’am, these uniforms are proven technology. It will fit. They always fit.”

  “Put it on, Brenda,” James said hustling her toward the hatch. He was already in his plain white uniform and was sealed except for his helmet. He had worn one since the first day of their journey, and was told he looked good in it. “I know it will feel odd, but better safe than sorry.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Brenda grumbled as she stripped in the privacy of an adjoining cabin. “You don’t have a pipe the size of…”

  “I get the picture,” James said hurriedly. “You’ll be pleased to have it if you’re caught short.”

  “What?” Brenda’s voice came muffled through the hatch.

  “I said, you’ll be pleased to have it if you’re caught short.”

  Mumble, mumble, mutter!

  “God, this thing is huge. Arghhh! Goddamn sonofa—”

  “Are you all right in there?” He reached toward the scanner to open the hatch. “Do you need any help?”

  “You stay out there, I’m nearly done.”

  James smirked but he was pleased to see her come out fully dressed and sealed into her new uniform. It hugged her figure and suited her. Janice was putting her helmet on, and James did likewise. He looked around and found his colleagues all sitting and strapping in. He took Brenda’s arm and led her to an empty seat where he helped her connect her life-support and strap in. He sat beside her and held her hand.

  “The boffins are sealed and secure, sir,” Williams said and strapped in nearby.

  “Understood Chief. Keep an eye on them, they’re important,” Lieutenant Ricks said over the comm.

  “Aye, sir.”

  “All stations report manned and ready, Skipper,” Lieutenant Ricks said.

  Colgan nodded. “Good.”

  “The civs are all secure, sir,” Ricks reported again a moment later. “I have Chief Williams babysitting.”

  “Good work,” Colgan said. “I’ll have to schedule some training for them. They took way too long to get themselves sealed.”

  “They weren’t wearing uniform, Skipper.”

  “Why the hell not?” he said and glared at Ricks, but he knew why. “From now on they wear the uniforms we supplied. No exceptions—it’s damn dangerous.”

  “Aye, sir. I’ll inform them.”

  Colgan nodded and dismissed the civs from his thoughts. “Weps, under no circumstances are you to open fire on the Shan.”

  “Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Ivanova said. “Point defence?”

  “Point defence free.”

  “Aye, sir,” Ivanova said happily. “Point defence now active. Auto loaders functioning normally, targeting computers online.”

  Colgan nodded. “Helm, be prepared to move on a moment’s notice. I don’t expect we will have to, but be prepared all the same.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Aboard Chakra, approaching inner belt, Shan system

  “Commencing deceleration,” Jakinda announced.

  “I hear,” Tei’Varyk said. “Eyes to maximum, claws to standby.”

  “I hear, his claws are sharp,” Kajika said.

  “I hear, his eyes at maximum. Indications negative at this time,” Tarjei said, but her voice was harmonious.

  Tei’Varyk smiled at her. They had spent the journey to the inner belt alone together. It had been a wonderful time, full of quiet conversations and lovemaking. He felt much closer to her now, and knew she felt the same. They had needed the intimacy to cement the bond. They were truly mated now, and Tarjei was calmer and more harmonious for it.

  He was too.

  Tei’Varyk studied his displays and chewed his whiskers thoughtfully at what was reported. Nothing. He had been so sure, but it looked as if they would be searching for a long time just as before. He looked away for a moment, but his eyes snapped back to his display just as a red light blinked into being followed by numerals detailing velocity and vectors.

  “Detection!” Tarjei shouted.

  “Identify,” Tei’Varyk snapped, as the computers realised the target was unknown and, sirens wailed. “Silence that.”

  “I hear,” Jozka replied and cut the sirens.

  “Unable to identify. Target: alien warship. Type unknown, class unknown. Weaponry exceeds our own by… two orders of magnitude—” Tarjei reported and continued detailing the target.

  Order of two! That meant this alien ship was as close to a heavy fang as made no difference. Chakra was a light fang, fast and manoeuvrable, but the heavies were all weapons and power. Was this alien built along the same lines?

  “Pursuit course,” he snapped. “Sound alert!”

  “I hear,” Jozka said, and another siren growled throughout the ship making hackles rise.

  Crew males and females dashed on all fours in some cases, in an effort to be first at their stations. Such primitivism aboard ship was frowned upon usually, but not when the ship was on battle alert. Whatever worked, was the watchword in these cases.

  Chakra swung nimbly onto a new heading.

  Tei’Varyk’s tail lashed with his excitement. He had to force it to be still. “Why did Chakra’s eyes find him so easily?”

  “Unknown, Tei.” Tarjei tried to refine the data on the alien. “We found him, but the intruder was already leaving the belt at that time.”

  That was very wrong. Why leave the safety of the belt when Chakra’s eyes had failed to find him time and again? It made no sense. Things that made no sense lacked harmony and were therefore suspect.

  “Fire to disable as soon as he’s in range,” Tei’Varyk ordered.

  “I hear,” Kajika said calmly. “Target locked, but still out of range.”

  “Inform the elders of what is occurring,” he said without taking his eyes from the display. They were gaining, but much too slowly. How could a heavy fang, even an alien one, accelerate so fast?

  “I hear,” Jozka said.

  Tei’Varyk pressed a control on his station and another screen lit. “Tei’Unwin, Chakra pursues.”

  “I hear, Tei. I have been monitoring.”

  Tei’Unwin was Chakra’s alternate commander. It was comforting to know that Chakra would be well cared for when he was gone.

  “I knew you would be. In the event Chakra’s command deck is destroyed, I order the alien disabled at all costs, even th
at of Chakra himself.”

  “I hear,” Tei’Unwin said grimly. “It will be done.”

  Tei’Varyk keyed the screen clear and noted the alien was pulling ahead. It was incredible. No heavy fang could accelerate like this.

  “The elders say good hunting,” Jozka said.

  “I hear,” he said. “Anything else?”

  “They say Hekja, Hoth, and Neifon come.”

  His ears twitched and relief flooded through him. “I hear.”

  Three heavy fangs should be more than enough. The alien was still opening the range, but it was deep in system and would not escape. Even if he knew where the ship was trying to escape to, he was certain it would not succeed. He wished he knew where it thought it was going. Tei’Varyk shifted uncomfortably at his station. Unanswerable questions always made him twitchy. This one had been asked time and time again without an answer. Who knew where the Murderers came from?

  “Display current location of Hoth, Hekja, and Neifon,” he said.

  The viewer cleared and a tactical map of the system appeared. The three heavy fangs were moving to envelop the alien while Chakra chased him into the trap. It was too easy. He knew it was, but what else could he do?

  Nothing.

  “Go to maximum emergency power,” Tei’Varyk said quietly and ignored the hisses of shock.

  “I hear,” Jakinda said prayerfully. “Accelerating to maximum emergency power.”

  Now they were gaining, Tei’Varyk noted with approval.

  Aboard ASN Invincible, Shan System

  “The cruiser is gaining, Captain. CIC reports that the three heavies will be in range in two minutes,” Commander Hamilton reported.

  Monroe nodded and studied the data on her number two monitor that CIC (Combat Information Centre) had gathered for her. She turned her attention to another of her repeater displays. Her number one monitor was currently mirroring in miniature the data displayed at Commander Hamilton’s station.

  “Very good, XO,” Monroe said and turned to the helm. “Charge the jump drive.”

  “Aye, Skipper,” Lieutenant Hadden said. “Drive will be hot in three minutes.”