“Not yet, but start thinking along those lines,” Corrigan said. “When we move, we’re going to need to move fast and hard.” He looked at the sensor display, and said, “Helm, plot a course. I want a projected intercept trajectory on whatever is about to come into the system. We’re going to have to pretend that they’re the bad guys, whether they are or not.”
“You realize they’re probably our people?” Novak replied.
“I’m aware of that,” Corrigan said. “Nevertheless, we’re going to have to make it look good. They need to think that we’re on their side. At least for the moment.” He leaned forward in his chair, and said, “Crawford, are you through to the enemy commander yet?”
“Coming through now,” the renegade replied. “Admiral Malek, this is Sub-Officer Crawford. I am on the bridge of Avenger, and have full control of the craft. We’re moving into position to support you now, and I request instructions for tactical co-ordination.”
“What happened to Fleet Officer Cartwright?”
“Dead, sir, along with the entire boarding party. We had one hell of a battle on the lower decks. I have some prisoners, sir, and some of the crew have opted to change sides. They were using convicted criminals, bribing them to take the ship out for them. I made them a considerably better offer, sir, and I hope that you’ll be willing to ratify it.”
“Given the circumstances, I don’t have much choice, do I,” Malek replied. “I see that you’re moving into position to intercept the target. Excellent. I’m sending three shuttles over there now, with crewmen under the command of Fleet Commander Malloy. He’ll assume command of Avenger with your assistance for the duration of the battle, and then we can talk about the rewards on offer.”
“Thank you, sir,” Crawford said. “I’ll have the coffee on for them.”
“See that you do. We’ll talk more after the battle. Malek out.”
Turning to Corrigan, Crawford said, “That was too damned easy.”
“Far too easy,” Corrigan replied. “Nevertheless, from his standpoint, what does he have to lose? If you’re telling the truth, he’s accomplished at least part of his mission and got another ship for the line of battle. If you aren’t, then he’s got a boarding party heading over to take command, by force if necessary, and we’re going to be under their guns the whole way.” He paused, then said, “Novak, make sure that you fly a nice, safe, conservative course, but I want the best damn evasive pattern you have ever seen.”
“Aye, sir, but if they are expecting a betrayal…,” she said.
“Then we must do everything possible to ensure we don’t disappoint them,” he replied with a smile. “We play things cool until we know where we stand. For all we know, we might be up against the same enemy.”
“Warp signatures are growing stronger, sir,” Singh reported. “We’ve definitely got capital ships coming into the system, but at this stage I can’t tell you whose they are.” He looked up at his readouts, shook his head again, and said, “We’re getting a lot of interference, and sensors are still coming back.”
“Ride it as hard as you can,” Corrigan said. He tapped a control on his arm rest, and said, “Collins, where are you?”
“Heading down to Engineering, sir,” she replied.
“Good. I think you know what I’m about to say…”
“You want the warp drive operational as soon as possible so we can make a quick getaway if we have to,” she replied.
Cracking a smile, Corrigan said, “Now, then, if you’re going to finish my sentences for me, I might just take the afternoon off.”
“If you’re got some free time, come down here, sir,” the engineer replied. “This is going to be a nightmare. I can log a couple of dozen malfunctions already. Systems still down, lighting on deck three, internal sensors on deck six, and there’s an awful smell coming from the…”
“We can worry about all of that later, assuming there is a later. For the moment, just get the warp drive operational, and we can worry about the rest rooms after the battle. Bridge out.”
“Enemy ships are altering formation, sir,” Singh said. “Changing course to move into double arrowhead strike pattern, targeted at the area where those ships are set to emerge. They’ve opened up the same weak spot as before, but the rear arrowhead is in position to hit us if they want.” He paused, then added, “I’m also reading the shuttle convoy on the way to us.”
“One shot from a particle cannon and they’ll cease to exist,” Crawford added. “I can set that up in a hurry.”
“Don’t, not yet,” Corrigan replied. “We’re playing it cool, remember. No signs of false movements, nothing that might attract undue attention. How long before our new friends enter the system?”
“Five minutes, sir,” Singh said. “If the Belter flotilla holds its current course, they’ll be engaging the enemy three and a half minutes later.”
“They could move in a lot faster,” Dixon said. “Why aren’t they?”
“We’re going to find out soon enough,” Corrigan replied. “Trim the ship for battle, but do it quietly, and do it inefficiently. We’re supposed to be operating with a skeleton crew, and it has to look like it.”
“I’ve got news for you, skipper. We are operating with a skeleton crew,” Dixon said with a smile. “We’re pretty much ready to go now, at least as ready as we’re going to be. I’ve locked down the bulkheads close to the docking port our friends are hoping to arrive at. Just in case they end up coming aboard, I don’t think we want them to be able to get anywhere interesting. Don’t worry, there’s no way they could spot that from outside the ship.”
“I hope not,” Corrigan said. “Helm?”
“No change to target aspect, all as before. I’ve got an evasive pattern programmed in and an escape trajectory that should get us out of the system without encountering too much fire.” She glanced back at Corrigan, and added, “They’re not making it that hard for us to run. It’s almost as if they’re willing to let us go. Whatever they have coming into the system must be pretty damned important.”
“I’d say it is,” Corrigan replied. “It’s what this whole affair has been about, since we left Earth orbit three days ago. That’s the only explanation for all of this.” Glancing at Crawford, he added, “The Belters knew where to find us, they knew precisely where we were going.”
“Then we were being used as bait,” Dixon said. “I pretty much figured that was the explanation. You think it’s backfired, that the Belters worked out what Fleet Intelligence was doing, and…”
“No, I think that everything is actually going pretty much according to plan,” Corrigan said. “I just don’t think the plan was ours. I think it was theirs. And if I’m right, I’m going to get proof of that in about three minutes from now. Singh, any more information on the warp emergence?”
“Three capital ships, battlecruiser scale, coming through in a hundred and forty seconds from now,” he replied. “I think it’s the Interstellar Squadron. Coming through in combat formation. They’re ready for battle, sir.”
“That makes sense,” Dixon said. “If we are the bait, then we’ve lured the Belters into a trap, and we’ll be able to spring it and take out a significant portion of their space fleet. Sounds like a success to me.”
“If that’s the case, then just why are the Belters making it easy for them?” Novak protested. “He’s right. They’re leaving themselves wide open to precisely the same sort of maneuver we employed when we got out here. There’s got to be a reason.”
“There is,” Corrigan replied, folding his hands together. “The Interstellar Squadron thinks that it’s set a trap. It’s fallen into one.”
“If we’re meant to be the unhappy surprise, then it’s already gone wrong,” Dixon said. “From here we can take out at least one ship, maybe two, and then…”
Shaking his head, Corrigan said, “We will take no such action. We’re going to wait and let this play out, all the way to the finish. That’s all we can do.” He glanced at hi
s watch, and added, “They should be coming into the system any second now. How long before those shuttles get here?”
“About five minutes, Commander,” Singh said.
“Then that’s the deadline. Before those shuttles dock, we’ve got to make our move, whatever that’s going to be.” He turned back to the screen, watching as a blinding flash of light ripped through the sky, three mighty warships sailing through into normal space. One of which he had been commanding less than three months before.
The trap was triggered. That much was certain.
But whose?
Chapter 19
“Emergence complete, Commodore,” Vaughn said, looking down at the sensor station. “We are picking up six enemy cruisers in double-arrowhead formation, the second led by a command cruiser, now identified as Hyperion. We also have a positive lock on Avenger, moving to take position alongside the command ship. No signals from any craft in-system.”
“All ships are at full combat readiness,” Moreau added. “We’re good to take them, Commodore.”
Before Maddox could say anything, the overhead speaker barked, “This is the Admiral. We have arrived at our destination and the enemy lies ahead of us. I have complete confidence in the ability of this formation to destroy that enemy, and start the Terran Republic on the road to victory. All ships will move to line astern formation, Glorious in the lead, and prepare to fire as ordered. Remember your training, remember your duty, and we will win this day. Good hunting. Out.”
“Line astern?” Maddox said, shaking her head. “We counter one arrowhead with another. That’s basic strategy. We’re exposing Glorious to the full force of enemy fire, without gaining any advantages in exchange.”
“No, ma’am, I see what she’s doing,” Moreau replied. “There’s a gap in the enemy formation, a hole in their defensive perimeter. We can head right for it, exploit that weakness and smash through to the far side. Once their formation is disrupted, we can take then out a piece at a time, as long as we hold our formation tightly. I think it’ll work.” The rear doors opened, and Rojek walked into the flag bridge, followed by the Admiral.
“Commodore, are you ready to make history?” Alvarez asked, rubbing her hands together. “We’ve got a chance to smash a good part of their battle fleet to pieces.” She moved to the holodesk, and said, “I take it that you do not approve of my strategy?”
“Frankly, ma’am, I don’t,” Maddox replied. “I think we’d be better off attempting a more conventional attack pattern, and that we shouldn’t be aiming for a clean sweep today. Destroying two or three of these ships in a standard firing pass would be an excellent outcome.”
“Doesn’t have the flair of total victory, though, does it?” Alvarez replied. “We’ve got the chance to really hurt them, and we’re going to take it, whether or not that requires us to take additional risks. What do you think, Major? Ready for glory?”
“Always, Admiral,” Rojek said with a smile.
“It’s too obvious, Admiral,” Maddox replied, shaking her head. “I know that gap is a standard weakness of the double-arrowhead, but if the enemy commander has any creativity at all, he’ll know that as well and use it to his advantage. I think it’s a mistake to assume that the enemy isn’t just as smart as we are, ma’am.”
“And I think it is a mistake to publicly question the orders of a flag officer in command of a fleet, Commodore, so I suppose we’re both making mistakes today,” Alvarez said. “Just sit back and watch the show.”
“Avenger is closing fast,” Vaughn said. “The trajectory she’s on, it’s just possible that they’re setting up a firing run on the enemy ships.”
Shaking her head, Alvarez replied, “We’ve got to assume that the enemy have captured her. Unfortunate, of course, but if they brought the Belters here for us, it was worth it. What’s the status on the enemy ships? Are they still holding their formation?”
“No change to target aspect,” Vaughn reported. “They’re wide open, Admiral, ready for us to knock out of the sky.”
“Shouldn’t we try and contact Avenger?” Maddox suggested. “If it is still under the control of our people, we could co-ordinate an attack, do more damage for no additional risk.”
“We couldn’t manage a tight-beam transmission from here,” Rojek replied. “The signal would be far too close to the enemy ships. They’d pick it up.” He looked at the sensor display, and added, “I’m picking up three shuttles heading from Hyperion to Avenger, as well, and she’s got her docking ports open and ready for them.”
“That just proves my point, Major,” Maddox said, taking a step forward. “They’ll be in the middle of the battle when those shuttles arrive. They wouldn’t launch them unless they didn’t have a choice. Admiral, we’re watching a boarding party. Maybe with friends on Avenger, but still, I’d bet that the cruiser is still under the control of Commander Corrigan and his crew. That means he’s trying something. We’ve got to provide him with assistance at the very least.” She moved to a side panel, and said, “I want to make some modifications to the firing pattern. Courageous is in perfect position to shoot down those shuttles before they can reach Avenger.”
“You will do no such thing, Commodore,” Alvarez pressed, but before she could stop her, Maddox had called up the firing pattern. She turned to the Admiral, her eyes aflame at what she had seen.
“We’ve got a traitor on board, ma’am.”
“Now what the hell are you talking about?” Alvarez replied.
“If we’re going into a gap in the enemy formation, why is all of our fire concentrated on two ships alone, the two ships that to my admittedly inexperienced eye appear to be the oldest and weakest in that formation? You’ve slaved all the weapons systems to this ship. The other tactical officers won’t even know what they’re firing at. You designed this pattern yourself. Either you are a fool or a traitor. Which is it?”
“Standard procedure in a squadron operating in battle formation, ma’am,” Moreau said. “There’s nothing strange about that.”
“Just how did we get here so quickly, Admiral, and how did the Belters find out what was going on? I figure you leaked information about Avenger to them to draw them in. Or was it intended to draw us in?” Rojek moved closer to Maddox, and she continued, “This all starts to make a lot more sense if you assume that the trap wasn’t set for the Belters. It was set for us. And we’re flying right into it. That’s why you are so sure Avenger is under Belter control. That fleet has made sure you know all about it.”
“Commodore, you are relieved.” Turning to Rojek, she said, “Major, place her under arrest and escort her to her cabin. I am going to assume that the stress of battle has had an adverse effect upon her, and that she has lost her mind.” She shook her head, and said, “If this is just temporary, it will not be noted in your permanent record, though I think a return to ground duties would be advisable in any case. You obviously don’t have the temperament for this sort of work.”
“At first I figured you just wanted the glory,” Maddox said. “Then I started to think about this whole plan of yours. Right from the start, you’ve been the one pulling the strings. You’re the common factor in all of this. You set up the launch of Avenger.” Taking a step forward, she said, “Major, either shoot me or place the Admiral under arrest. If we follow that course, we’re flying right into a trap. Her trap.”
“Major Rojek,” Alvarez began, but Rojek shook his head.
“Sorry, Admiral, but I’m afraid my own orders now place me well and truly outside your chain of command. Under Fleet Regulation Nine, you are hereby relieved, and I formally charge you with treason and mutiny. That’s just for starters. Commodore Maddox, the deck is yours.”
Before Alvarez could reply, the crack of ozone filled the deck, and Maddox turned to see Moreau, pistol in hand, aimed square at Rojek, the latter’s ruined pistol dropping to the deck. Alvarez moved over to Maddox’s erstwhile aide, a smile on her face.
“Well done, Lieutenant.”
> “Gabe?” Maddox said.
“I’m sorry, Commodore. I truly am.”
“An insurance policy,” Alvarez said. “You must have realized that I had to have an operative on Gateway Station to arrange the hijacking in the first place, somebody who could manipulate the personnel assignments as I wished.” She looked up at the tactical display, and said, “This is a little less convenient than I had assumed, but as long as we all sit here for the next few minutes, all of this will be over. You should both consider your mission very carefully in the intervening time. I believe you will find the Belt considerably more generous than either of you deserve, should you cooperate.”
“Do you actually expect me to turn traitor?” Maddox asked.
“One way or another, the information you’ve got in your brain is going to be exploited by the Belt,” Alvarez replied, as Moreau gestured for the other crewmen in the room to move to the wall, to cluster in a tight clump. “Why do you think I brought you here?”
“She wanted you on board because you have more knowledge of the Republic’s fleet strength than anyone else,” Rojek said. “You’ve been in charge of our most critical shipyard for the refit of the mothballed ships and the auxiliary cruisers, and had access to a lot of the information regarding our new designs. That makes you the most-qualified person to brief the Belt High Command on their strengths and weaknesses.”
“And you? Who are you working for?”
“Direct for the President. We knew there were some rats in the corn, and we decided to see if we could smoke them out. And maybe make use of the spoil while we were at it. I didn’t know about Moreau.”
“Pity for you,” Moreau replied. “Commodore Maddox can negotiate some sort of deal. I’m afraid you don’t have anything we need, and the odds of you coming through this with your hide intact are next to nothing.”
“I’ve got to say, Lieutenant, that you’re giving me one hell of an incentive to see just how many of your teeth I can knock out before you shoot me,” Rojek said, his eyes locked on Moreau.
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