by Rob Dearsley
“Just thought you might want to know where all the cover will be congregating.”
Damn, that man was annoying. He and Arland were perfect for each other. Still grumbling under his breath, Dannage pulled the Folly into a tight turn and headed back through the Terran fleet.
Travelling between the titanic ships was unnerving, to say the least. They all got a good close-up view of the warships, and their weapons, as they passed by. The atmosphere on the bridge was tense, almost to the point of snapping. Everyone waited for the other shoe to drop, for the Terrans to smear the Folly across several kilometres of space.
Finally, they were clear of the regrouping Terrans. Dannage let out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding, and headed for the ragtag SDF fleet.
“Admiral Niels is hailing us.” Simon sounded shocked. To be fair, so was Dannage, but he’d be damned if he was going to let it show.
“Well put it up then.”
“CX515, are you receiving? Do you require assistance? Over.” The voice was tinny through the small speakers, but clearly Niels.
“This is CX515,” Luc replied. “We are clear of the Terran fleet and making for the rendezvous.”
“Thank the Stars you made it out of that one.”
“Admiral,” Simon cut in – did everyone want to talk now? – “it was more than that, the Terrans seemed to actively avoid engaging us.”
“Interesting,” Niels replied. “Bring your ship into the Montgomery’s docking bay, we have a lot to discuss.”
Dannage reached over and cut the com, turning to face the others. “To hells with that, we’re bugging out.”
“No.” Everyone looked at Arland. Her tear-streaked face was set in steely determination. “If we have an advantage, then we should make the most of it.”
Dannage met her eyes. She didn’t pressure him, but at the same time, he felt her resolve, her strength, flowing into him, giving him the courage he had lacked. Was this what people meant when they said: “you make me a better man?”
The Montgomery’s flight deck was compact and already stuffed to bursting. In addition to a pair of dropships, there were maybe half a dozen escape pods they must have collected from other ships. Dannage eased the Folly in next to one of the dropships. A group of uniformed deck hands rushed over with a loading ramp.
◊◊
Arland joined the captain as they descended the ramp into the Montgomery’s flight bay. Both Luc and Hale stayed in the Folly’s med bay, the doctor looking after them. Simon had made to come with them, but the captain had glared him down. There was something going on between those two that she couldn’t fathom, and frankly, didn’t have time for right now.
Niels and a shorter, stocky man in a captain’s uniform both waited for them at the bottom of the ramp.
“Welcome aboard the Montgomery.” Niels extended his hand. “I just wish it could be under better circumstances.”
Dannage paused for a moment before taking the offered hand.
“Pleased to meet you in person, Admiral,” the captain replied, making the effort to be polite. “This is Shauna Arland, my security officer.”
She gave the admiral a curt nod, which he returned.
“I’m sorry about the Jean-Luke. We’re still checking, but so far we’ve not picked up any escape pods.”
Arland looked away, scrubbing her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic and swallowing down her grief. Damn it, she wouldn’t cry. She was stronger than this. “Thank you, Admiral.”
Dannage touched her wrist, little more than a breath against her skin. “Who’s your friend?” he asked Niels, moving the conversation forward. She was grateful to him for that.
“This is Captain Rossini.” Niels gestured to his companion, a slim, dark-haired woman. “Unfortunately, she was captain of the Manhattan.”
“I’m sorry, Captain,” Dannage said. He looked genuinely sorry for the woman, probably imagining what it would be like to see the Folly slagged. Dannage turned to the admiral. “I don’t suppose you have another half a dozen ships like that waiting to jump in?”
The admiral gave them a tired smile. “Unfortunately, no. The Manhattan took the best part of a month to pull together and we had to cut so many corners she was practically spherical.”
No one laughed at the joke. Maybe in other circumstances he would have gotten a polite titter, but not now.
“Our advantage is gone,” Rossini said. “We lost over a thousand ships in that engagement and the only thing stopping them from coming over here and finishing the job is they’re worried we might have another plasma weapon.”
Niels nodded. “But they didn’t attack you, did they, Captain Dannage? Do you have any idea why?”
She watched the captain pause to think but knew he didn’t have the first idea why the Terrans would ignore them.
“Could be they are unarmed, not a threat?” Rossini suggested.
“We’ve seen them attack unarmed ships before. They don’t normally discriminate between military and civilian targets,” Niels said.
“They didn’t just ignore us, they were actively avoiding contact with us.” Dannage went on to explain what had happened with the drone ship.
Vaughn hurried down the ramp to join them. “Captain, Admiral. I think I have the answer you’re looking for.”
Rossini gestured for the Folly’s medic to continue. “Go on.”
“I was studying Hale’s neural patterns. It looks like she’s assimilated into the ships’ communication network.”
Both the SDF officers gave them confused looks.
Arland told them about finding Hale on the Heimdall – Stars, it seemed so long ago. She explained the ship-link as best as she could, and about the ships’ Core Minds.
Some point during all the explaining, the five of them retired to a small conference room.
“So what you’re saying, doctor, is that the Terran ships think she’s one of them?” Niels leaned forward.
Vaughn nodded.
“Okay,” Rossini said. “Why didn’t this happen when you encountered them before?”
“Well, you see.” Vaughn rifled through pages of printouts. “That is to say, I believe that, maybe, it was due to the neural blockers we administered to help her function in proximity to the Terran ships.”
“And she’s not on these blockers now?” Niels asked.
“No.”
Niels and Vaughn exchanged looks. Arland had seen the like before, officers silently making plans for others, crazy schemes that would rely upon other people to take the risks.
“Captain Dannage.” Niels met Dannage’s eyes, scrutinising him. “If what you’ve told us is true, the others are following these X-ships. If we can take the other one out, we’ll decapitate their leadership. We all saw how their organisation faltered when the first ship was destroyed.”
“Yeah,” Dannage said. “Then they went after your super-weapon, with extreme prejudice.”
Rossini averted her eyes at the mention of his former command. “What are you suggesting, Admiral?”
“The Montgomery has been retrofitted with experimental thermite warheads. If we can get into range, then we can make some damn big holes in that ship.” Niels turned to Dannage. “Obviously we’ll need to keep Miss Hale on board, but the rest of you are welcome to leave.”
Not a chance in hell. But it wasn’t really her choice. Arland looked over to the captain.
“We’re staying with Hale,” Dannage said.
Before Niels or Rossini could reply a junior officer rushed in. “Sirs, the Terran ships are moving to engage us again.”
Niels was on his feet in a flash. “Order the fleet to engage the Terrans. Captain Dannage, get back to your ship and make sure Miss Hale is ready.”
Arland was at the door in an instant, the captain a beat behind her.
◊◊
Back in the flight bay, Arland caught the captain’s arm, pulling him around to face her. “Sir, thanks for staying. This is a good thing you�
�re doing.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” The humour didn’t reach his eyes. “Look, Shauna, this is a crazy person plan – more so than normal. The odds of us coming out the other side are tiny.”
“I know. What other choice do we have?”
It was his turn to nod. “I don’t think I could live with myself if I left someone behind again.” He turned away from her scrubbing his eyes with the sleeve of his coat. “Damn, something in my eye.”
“It’s okay, sir. Michael.” She placed a hand on his arm. “I know you care.” She kissed him softly on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Michael Dannage.”
“Maybe, or maybe just an unlucky one.” This time the smile reached his eyes, but only for a second, before his face sobered again. “This is it, the turning point the Binaries kept banging on about. The future of everything hinges on what happens in the next couple of hours.”
He was right, and the thought sent shivers down her spine.
Twenty-one
- SDF Montgomery, Pyrite System -
Atroop transport rested next to the Folly, its rear hatch open and Marines in full combat gear milling around it.
The Marine sergeant looked up and smiled at Arland. “Shauna.”
Leaving the captain, Arland rushed over. “Grayson. How did get here.”
“We were loading kit into the shuttle when the fight started. Still only just made it away. I’m sorry about your mother.” Grayson clapped her on the shoulder.
“Thanks.” She looked up to see the captain walking over.
“Who’s your new friend?” the captain asked.
“Sergeant Grayson is commander of the Jean-Luke’s Marines,” Arland supplied.
Dannage took the Marine’s hand. “Sorry about your ship.”
Outside, weapons fire flashed.
She looked over to see one of the huge Terran missiles smash clean through an SDF destroyer, the broken halves spinning apart, bleeding frozen fuel and oxygen into space. Two Recoup ships poured fire into another Terran missile.
Niels’s voice came over the intercom. “Captain Dannage and Miss Hale please come to bridge.”
Just beyond the static field, Terran drones swarmed an SDF cruiser. Her close-in guns spat flack into the advancing drones, but they danced through the weapons fire.
“Doc,” the captain called. “Get Hale, and let’s get to Niels.”
◊◊
The Montgomery’s Command Centre was split over two levels, weapons and flight control consoles filled the lower portion. The upper deck, where Dannage, Hale and the doc stood, was lined with status displays. A large holotable dominated the centre of the space.
Niels joined them by the table, and at the touch of his hand, the live view of the battle disappeared and was replaced with LIDAR scans of the X-ship.
“Miss Hale.” Niels gestured to the slowly revolving hologram. “Where is the best place to hit them?”
Hale pulled herself up and leaned over the display. “Here.” She pointed to the aft section of the ship. “If you can knock out containment, the Core will shotgun.”
Niels nodded and turned to a watchstander. “How long to weapons range?”
“Two minutes, sir,” the officer replied.
Hale looked up at Dannage. The pain etched into her face was almost too much for him to bear. He reached for her, meaning to offer some comfort. Anything.
Sirens whooped as vibrations rattled through the deck.
“Status?” Niels ordered.
“It’s the X-ship, sir. It’s engaging us with long-range weapons and drones,” the watchstander replied.
“How? Why?” Niels looked around for answers his eyes settling on Hale.
“Give back what’s mine!” The voice was twisted, dark. Dannage hardly recognised Hale.
More weapons impacts thrummed through the Montgomery.
“CQC is at one-hundred and ten percent capacity,” the watchstander called.
“Slave main guns to the defence systems,” Niels ordered. “How long?”
“Ten seconds.” She grabbed her console as another impact sent the gravity fluctuating. “Fire control has weapons lock. Birds are away. Impact in three, two, one.”
Dannage’s attention whipped back to the holotable. The impacts registered as red marks against the blue of LIDAR profile. They faded, leaving the holographic status display unchanged. No damage. Damn it.
Niels turned back to the watchstander. “Fire again.”
The watchstander tuned back to her console and went through the same procedures with the same results.
“Fire again.” Niels calm demeanour started to falter.
“It won’t work.” The watchstander handed Niels a flex-screen. “There’s an issue with the compressor. The reaction’s not burning long or hot enough to get through the outer hull.”
“What are our options?” Niels looked around the group. The deck lurched under more weapons fire.
Arland and Grayson ran from the lift. Arland called over her shoulder, “We’ve got a plan. If we can get warheads into the X-ship.”
“How?” Niels looked up.
Dannage was already a step ahead. “Arland no. Stars damn it, no!”
It was Grayson who replied. “We’ll take them.”
The deck rocked, more alarms wailing.
Niels said, “We don’t have time. Sergeant, what do you need?”
“My men are already gearing up. Where are the warheads?”
“Forward port-side magazine. I’ll have a shuttle ready on the forward flight deck. Captain Dannage, get Hale back to your ship and get out of here. Doing what it wants might give us some breathing room.”
Dannage and the doc grabbed Hale, supporting her as the three of them bolted for the lift. Arland stayed with Grayson. “Come on, Arland. I’m not leaving you again.”
“You’re not leaving me. They just need help getting the missiles dismantled. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Dannage kept his eyes locked on Arland as the lift doors closed.
◊◊
The flight deck was a mess. Supply crates and maintenance trollies had been scattered by the gravity fluctuations. The Folly still stood stoically, off to one side.
As they crossed to the Folly, Dannage looked out at the battle. The X-ship’s predatory bulk dominated the view, drones swarming between it and the Montgomery. By the look of it, nearly half the Montgomery’s close-in guns were down.
Next to Dannage, Hale groaned.
A flight of drones closed in on the bay, their weapons fire slamming into the Montgomery. The static field flickered.
Oh, crap. All too recent memories of the Reclaimer’s flight deck flooded through Dannage’s memories. “Run.” He cast about, a half squad of Marines still milled. “Get to the Folly, now!”
Responding with military efficiency, the Marines ran for the Folly’s open cargo hold.
Ahead of Dannage, the doc already had Hale up and into the hold, the first Marines a beat behind.
One of the younger Marines tripped on the snake of a refuelling line.
The flaming wreckage of a drone slammed into the flight deck, the static field flaring into incandescence. They weren’t going to make it.
Dannage grabbed the Marine by the combat harness, his other hand thumbing his com open. “Jax, drop the ship.”
“Not this again.”
“Jax! Drop the damn ship and inflate the docking collar, or we’re all dead!” Dannage threw himself for the open hold of the Folly.
An explosion boomed across the flight deck, the rush of decompression hitting Dannage. Then they were in the Folly’s hold, the docking collar holding an airtight seal against the deck. Groaning, Dannage rolled away as the cargo bay doors slid shut.
“Everyone okay?” Luc asked, climbing down from the bridge.
“It only hurts when I move.” Dannage pushed himself upright and surveyed the cargo hold. Maybe half a squad of Marines helped each other up on one side.
On the other, the doc fussed over Hale. “Lift off. Get us out of here.”
Dannage slumped into the pilot’s chair and surveyed the scene. The Montgomery was battered and broken, but still in the fight and not giving up. Her remaining guns pounded the swarming drones. The X-ship let off another broadside, the shells ripping into the Montgomery amidships. Breached compartments spilt flotsam into space. Dannage cut the HUD enhancements before he could get too close a look.
“Arland.” He pounded the com open. “Arland, damn it. Answer.”
“Here, sir.” Arland’s reply was garbled by static.
“You need to get out of there. The ship’s not going to last long.” Even as he spoke another barrage of shells ripped through the SDF carrier’s midsection. Running lights along the forward quarter went dark. “Arland, it’s now or never. You need to get off that ship.”
Only static replied.
“Arland? Arland, come in.” Damn it. Damn her. He looked around the Folly’s bridge. Like the Montgomery, they were all battered and beaten. Hale hunched over the back of a chair, groaning in pain.
Hale. That might work. If he could get the pressure off the SDF carrier then Arland might have a chance.
Grabbing his gun, Dannage walked over to Hale and gently lifted her face to look into his. “Do you trust me?”
She nodded, tears streaking her face.
“Then let go.”
The face that looked up at Dannage wasn’t Hale’s. The jutting of her jaw, the darkness in her eyes came from something else.
“We’ve let her go. Stop.” Dannage looked down at Hale’s twisted face.
“You will all—”
“Burn, yeah. I get it.” Dannage pressed his pistol into Hale’s forehead. “I said, stop!”
Outside, the weapons fire dropped off.
Twenty-two
- SDF Montgomery, Pyrite System -
The oxygen hose disconnected with a hiss and Arland moved on to the final pair of security bolts. On the other side of the ship-to-ship missile, Grayson supported the demolition charge.
“Steady,” Grayson warned.
Arland glared at him, pulling the final security bolt free. The explosive dipped as Grayson took its full weight.
