by E. R. Torre
“Tell them to come toward us. Ready gravity hooks and open the landing bay doors. We’ll take in all stragglers.”
“Sir, there are at least two hundred—”
“I’m aware of how many there are,” Inquisitor Raven said. “We’re here to save lives, not equipment. As soon as a ship is in our landing bay and its crew disembarks, jettison the craft. Tell the Wake to do the same!”
In the landing bay of the Cygnusa, security forces and military personnel alike desperately helped people off the arriving scavenger vessels. Afterwards, gravity hooks hurled the ships back into space.
The bewildered passengers were male and female, old and young, infants and children. All were desperately poor and the loss of their vessels meant the loss of all their possessions.
They did not complain.
The strong helped the weak and the scavengers worked hand in hand with the skeletal crew of the Cygnusa. With their help, ships were processed and jettison with increasing speed.
But within the Cygnusa’s bridge, the tensions grew.
At least five hundred more energy pulses were detected and the Prototype’s armada was a mighty one indeed.
Other power signatures, difficult to analyze as they lasted only seconds, indicated the enemy’s forces were using strange sensor devices to search for Saint Vulcan’s ships.
Whatever time the Wake, Cygnusa, and the remaining scavengers had to escape was, at best, limited. It was only a matter of time before the Prototype’s ships turned their attention on them.
“Hurry,” Inquisitor Raven muttered. “Please hurry.”
Two more hours passed and scavengers filled the landing bay.
The youngest and oldest were taken to the crew quarters or, in the case of the infirm, the medi-bay. The able bodied continued to help bring in other scavengers and their crafts.
Inquisitor Raven watched the two main monitors at his side. One showed the landing bay, the other the still too long line of scavenger ships and the Wake.
“Lieutenant Daniels, how are you doing?” Inquisitor Raven asked.
“With your help, we’ll save them all,” he replied. The delay in transmission was down to forty seconds.
Inquisitor Raven faced Lieutenant Sanders.
“We’ve still got thirty nine vessels to pick up,” Inquisitor Raven said. “At least the slowest ones are accounted for. How long to get the rest?”
“We’re averaging a vessel in the landing bay every two minutes,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “If we keep up that pace, we’re looking at an hour and fifteen minutes, give or take.”
“That might be too much time.”
Lieutenant Sanders gasped.
“Sir, the view-screen!”
All eyes were upon it.
Dozens of alien vessels appeared a distance behind the Wake.
Every one of them was larger than the Phaecian Battleship and their shape was recognizable as being from the Prototype’s fleet. Their bodies gleamed with energy arcs. Hidden weapons were revealed and red alert signals blasted through the bridge.
They were still far out but drawing closer.
“We have an incoming transmission,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“On screen,” Inquisitor Raven said.
On the main view-screen appeared the Prototype. Though his features were still those of Overlord Emeritus, his eyes were almost completely black and the flesh on his face no longer was wrinkled.
“Inquisitor Raven,” he said. “You’ve come a long way from Helios yet you made it here before me. No doubt the work of Saint Vulcan. Where is she?”
“We don’t know,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“That’s disappointing,” the Prototype said.
The transmission terminated, replaced by the image of the space before the Cygnusa. Most of the alien vessels faded away, leaving three behind. The energy weapons mounted on them grew brighter and brighter.
“By the Gods,” Inquisitor Raven managed.
The ships moved forward.
62
Energy blasts flew across the space between the vessels and slammed into the Wake.
Incredibly, that volley didn’t destroyed the ship.
“They’ve sustained damage to their bow,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “Engines and life support remain functional.”
“The Prototype isn’t trying to destroy us,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Not yet, anyway. The bastard is using us to force Saint Vulcan out of wherever she is.”
“Sir, the Wake is still taking in scavenger craft!”
“What courage,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Return fire! Six torpedoes, broad dispersal.”
Torpedoes flew from the Cygnusa and at the enemy vessels. The alien vessels had more than enough time to dodge the torpedoes but, instead, swatted them aside with energy blasts.
“Keep them occupied,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Buy the others time.”
The long distance battle continued and it was clearer with each passing second the Prototype’s ships were playing with the Wake and leaving the Cygnusa alone.
Despite the attacks, more and more scavenger vessels made their way into the Cygnusa and Wake’s landing bays. The Wake was now very close to the Phaecian battleship.
Inquisitor Raven watched another volley of energy blasts slam the Epsillon vessel. The ship was near enough to the Cygnusa that there was no reason the alien vessels couldn’t fire on –or annihilate– both battleships.
“Why do they keep leaving us alone?” Inquisitor Raven wondered.
“Sir?” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Nothing,” Inquisitor Raven said. “The Wake’s been covering for the scavenger vessels. It’s our turn to cover for them. Thrusters at full!”
The Cygnusa’s engines surged and the forward movement was felt on the bridge.
Inquisitor Raven got out of his chair as another volley of energy blasts slammed the Wake. He made his way to Lieutenant Sanders’ side.
“Sir, the Wake’s hull integrity is down to… by the Gods, I’m reading some minimal improvement,” she said.
“Looks like both our vessels have some of Saint Vulcan’s magic inside them,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Even so, if they keep hitting her, her hull will be breached.”
More alien vessels appeared on the view-screen, their weapons primed and aimed at both the Wake and Cygnusa. As with the others, they did not unleash their full fire power and instead were content to surround and menace their prey.
“What about the remaining scavenger ships?”
“The Wake is using her gravity hook to push the ones in front of them toward the Displacer,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “We’re picking up the last of the stragglers now.”
On a monitor, a merchant trawler named The Consoled was drawn into the Cygnusa’s landing bay. According to her flight manifest, she carried a family of five; a husband, a wife, and their three children.
The ship was guided to a landing berth and the woman and her children disembarked. The woman called for help and other scavengers converged on the vessel.
Inquisitor Raven watched as her husband was carted off the ship. One of the Cygnusa’s medics rushed to the man’s side and checked him out.
Once they were off their ship, gravity hooks pushed the vessel out of the landing bay and the landing bay doors closed and sealed.
“That’s the last of them,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“How far are we from the Displacer?”
“One hour and twenty minutes away.”
Inquisitor Raven checked the latest positions of the Prototype’s vessels.
“Wake, this is Inquisitor Raven,” he said. “We’re approaching your position. Pass us and we’ll cover you. We’ll hold them off for as long as we can.”
“We can’t do that!” Lieutenant Daniels replied. They were near enough that the messages were relayed without delay.
“You can and you will,” Inquisitor Raven said. “The Prototype’s ships left us alone until now
, Hades knows why, and it’s time they realized there’s another fighter to deal with. Get in front of us. Do it now!”
There was a brief moment of silence and, on the monitor, the thrusters of the Wake lit up.
“The Gods be with you, Cygnusa,” Lieutenant Daniels said.
“May fortune smile upon you,” Inquisitor Raven replied.
Another barrage of energy bursts slammed the port side of the Wake. A secondary volley singed the Cygnusa. Lights flickered and smoke rose from monitors within her bridge.
“Wake is about to pass us,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“How are we doing?”
“We’ve got cracks in the hull, levels 32 through 46. Closing all hatches in those sections.”
“Power?”
“Eighty five percent.”
“Chief Muses?”
On a monitor appeared Chief Muses. He was in the engine room and around him was a large group of helpers.
“We’re fixing what we can,” he said. “These scavengers know a thing or two about keeping engines running!”
“Good to hear,” Inquisitor Raven said. He addressed Lieutenant Sanders. “Speed up, but keep us just behind the Wake.”
The Wake pulled farther ahead of the Cygnusa. All remaining ships, including the few scavenger vessels still in system, approached the Displacer. Several of them penetrated her interdimensional corridor and winked out.
The alien vessels behind the Cygnusa remained nearby. Their movements were slower than necessary yet quick enough to keep pace.
An energy blast ripped through the aft side of the Cygnusa and the ship lurched. Inquisitor Raven fell back in his chair while the main monitors flickered electronic snow and smoke drifted from computer panels. A metallic groan was heard throughout the corridors.
“They might be done playing,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Sir, the Wake is slowing!” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“No, don’t do that,” Inquisitor Raven muttered. He clicked on his communicator. “Wake, get out of here! You have to tell everyone what’s happened. You have to go. Now!”
The ship continued slowing.
“We’ll leave together or not at all,” Lieutenant Daniels replied. “It’s our turn to cover you!”
Torpedoes flew from that vessel and past the Cygnusa. Enough to get the alien ships’ attention.
One of them fired another of their fearsome energy weapons and for one brief, horrible moment Inquisitor Raven thought this was their end. But the energy burst passed the Cygnusa near enough to blacken parts of her side before slamming into the Wake.
“By the Gods,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Wake? What’s your status?”
The ship slowed even more. Its aft section was charred by the energy barrage.
“We… we’re still here,” Lieutenant Daniels replied. On the monitor his face was ashen and a line of blood dripped from a cut just below his hairline. “Lost aft thrusters. We’re moving on inertia. Won’t be enough to get… to get to…”
Inquisitor Raven’s attention turned to a computer monitor to his left. On one side were the nearest alien vessels spread out into a half circle and drawing closer. In the middle was the Cygnusa. At the top of the monitor was the Displacer. Between it and the Cygnusa was the Wake.
“Get out of here,” Lieutenant Daniels muttered over the communicator. “I’ll cover… cover your exit.”
“Like Hades,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Do you have any thrusters at all?”
“D…directional,” Lieutenant Daniels said.
“Use them,” Inquisitor Raven said. “All of them. Move toward the Displacer at best speed and get ready.”
As he said this, the last remaining scavenger vessels made their way through the Displacer. All that was left were the Cygnusa and the Wake.
“Get ready for what?”
“Rough sailing,” Inquisitor Raven said. “As you said, we leave together or not at all.”
Inquisitor Raven turned to Lieutenant Sanders.
“Prepare every one of the gravity hooks,” he said.
“We can’t tow the Wake!”
“Not at her current speed,” Inquisitor Raven said. “So she’s got to speed up a little before we grab her. Reverse the gravity hooks’ polarity. Lieutenant Daniels, you do the same. First we push your ship, hard, then as we pass by, we grab and tow you.”
“That could tear us both apart!” Lieutenant Daniels said.
“It might,” Inquisitor Raven said. “Now get ready because that’s our last and only hope for getting out of here.”
63
More minutes passed.
The alien ships were content to keep their distance and fire their weapons now and again at the fleeing battleships.
“Approaching optimal gravity hook range,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Inquisitor Raven stared at the communication monitor. On it was Lieutenant Daniels.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
Lieutenant Daniels and those around him were locked in their seats.
“Here goes,” Inquisitor Raven said. He faced Lieutenant Sanders: “Activate the gravity hooks!”
The Cygnusa’s thrusters were at near full power when the gravity hook mechanisms came to life. Their magnetic energy was reversed on both the Cygnusa and the Wake and, for a moment, the vessels shook very hard.
“It’s going to get much worse,” Inquisitor Raven warned.
Within the Wake, walls and metal plates vibrated and threatened to rip apart.
“We’re holding,” Lieutenant Daniels nonetheless said. “Keep it up!”
Inquisitor Raven looked at another monitor. It displayed the Cygnusa’s and Wake’s speed. The Wake was gaining speed. It was not nearly enough.
“Sir, we have to slow down,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Inquisitor Raven checked a third monitor, this one showing the position of the approaching alien crafts.
“We can’t do that,” he said.
“Sir, if we don’t, when we reverse polarity and try to grab her, we’ll rip the gravity hooks out of their moorings.”
Inquisitor Raven shook his head. He wanted to say no but couldn’t.
“Slow us down.”
Despite the decreased speed, the Cygnusa and Wake continued to shake as if they were gripped by a fever.
“How are we doing?” Inquisitor Raven yelled out.
“Nearing reverse polarity position,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Time?”
“Two minutes and fifty three seconds.”
The main view-screen showed the Wake. Debris fell from the injured vessel and drifted away.
“Turn us around,” Inquisitor Raven commanded.
The Cygnusa initiated its turn, its body spinning as it paralleled the Epsillon battleship. It did this very quickly and caused the crew of the ship to grip their seats.
“Nearly… nearly there,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
Abruptly, the turn was complete and the ship was in place.
“Fifty seconds,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
There was no more time to think, only act. Inquisitor Raven fought off dizziness and hit the communicator button.
“Wake, we’re about to grab you.”
The Cygnusa’s speed was only three hundred miles per hour above that of the Wake. But it was impossible –and certainly deadly to the crews on either vessel– to grab the massive ship and force it up to the Cygnusa’s speed right away.
The two battleship’s gravity hooks gripped each other softly at first, as if dancers caressing each other’s hands and pulling each other closer.
“Hope everyone is locked in real tight,” Inquisitor Raven told the officers in the bridge.
In a matter of seconds the gravity hooks reversed their polarity.
And in that moment, though they all knew it would happen, all hell broke loose.
Both the Cygnusa and the Wake’s bodies rumbled.
Within each ship’s bridge panels
violently shook and several fell. In the Cygnusa a panel over Lieutenant Sanders loosened and two of her monitors shattered, sending plasticine all over her and the floor.
A loud groan, louder than any that came before, echoed throughout the vessel. There were two dozen gravity hooks, twelve on each side of the Cygnusa and Wake, pulling furiously at each other.
“Number eighteen hook is showing signs of fraying,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“What about the Wake?”
“She’s keeping pace,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “Speed is increasing. Gently.”
Inquisitor Raven checked the communication monitor. The bridge of the Wake looked like a war zone, with fully half their monitors shattered and heavy smoke filling the area.
“Lieutenant Daniels?” Inquisitor Raven said.
More blood seeped from a gash on Lieutenant Daniels’ head.
“We’re still in one piece,” he said. “We’re giving the directional thrusters all they’ve got.”
Inquisitor Raven’s attention turned to the alien vessels.
They were closing in fast now that the Cygnusa and Wake were together.
“Time to Displacer?”
“One hour ten minutes.”
Despite their proximity, the alien ships didn’t fire.
“All torpedoes on standby,” Inquisitor Raven said.
As the words left his mouth, the Number 18 Gravity Hook shook. Another loud groan was heard throughout the ship followed by an even more violent shake.
“Gravity Hook 18 is failing!” Lieutenant Sanders yelled.
The gravity hook shook one last time before it was violently ripped from its mooring.
Panicked screams filled the bridge as the officers watched that enormous piece of metal fall away.
“Hang on!” Inquisitor Raven yelled.
Like a boulder rolling down a hill, the fifteen ton remains of Gravity Hook 18 slammed against the side of the Cygnusa and rolled on, scraping against the battleship’s side and moving closer and closer to the bridge.
64
They could do nothing more than watch the metal mass rush directly at them.
“Sir?” Lieutenant Sanders said. “We can cut the Gravity Hooks and release the Wake and—”
