In the hangar, Dean found Esma and Chavez waiting for him. The staff sergeant looked proud, but the look on Esma’s face was a mix of fury and relief. Dean wasn’t sure which emotion would win, but she didn’t say anything. She turned and walked away before he could even reach her side.
“Damn, sir, you had us worried there for a minute,” Chavez said.
“It all happened so fast.”
“I don’t think Captain Dante approved. She’s probably right, too; you’re a commander now. You can’t be taking unnecessary risks with your life.”
“Are you saying you’d have done any different?”
“Oh, no sir. I mean, not unless the private was annoying.”
“Very funny,” Dean said as Jenkins stepped up next to Dean and saluted Chavez.
“Permission to rejoin my platoon, Major?”
“Granted,” Dean said. “We better get back to the bridge, Staff Sergeant. I doubt those cruisers will have given up on catching us.”
They hurried back through the concourse to the bridge. Esma was waiting near Dean’s console, but didn’t speak. Admirals Matsumoto, Aviv, and Masterson were looking over the shoulders of Vice Admiral Anderson’s officers.
“Good to have you back where you belong, Major,” Anders said.
“Are those cruisers still closing?” Dean asked.
“I doubt they’ve given up, but they were already in the process of slowing down when we set off,” Anders said. “They’ll have to make a complete stop, then build a new gravity chain to our position, which won’t take long, but we’ve gained a little distance on them.”
“Once we reach the Kroll ships, how much time will we have?” Dean asked.
“Twenty-three minutes,” Myers said. “Assuming they relaunch as soon as their ships are capable of making the navigational change.”
“Not much time,” Masterson said.
“We should radio the Kroll ships to make sure they’re ready to go as soon as we arrive,” Dean said.
“Actually, Major,” Lieutenant Gretskey spoke up. “We’ll arrive at the Kroll ships before any transmissions.”
“We’re almost to FTL now,” Anders confirmed. “But I don’t see how we can unload the cargo or even all of you before the cruisers arrive.”
Dean couldn’t help but wonder what the kinetic warheads would do to the Kroll ships. After seeing the space base explode so dramatically, he couldn’t help but feel a shiver of fear at the thought of the alien ships doing the same thing.
“Why the hell did we risk our lives to pick up nuclear warheads when EsDef already has kinetic weapons?” Captain Peter Grant asked.
“The kinetic warheads have no guidance capabilities,” Masterson said. “Essentially they work like throwing rocks.”
“The Kroll ships would simply outmaneuver the kinetic projectiles,” Esma said. “Their gravity drives operate in a much different fashion than our own.”
“In what way, Captain?” Matsumoto asked.
“Well, they are manually piloted, for one thing. There are no computerized controls. They don’t build gravity chains, so they don’t need to project their course or come to a complete stop to change course. They fly more like an airplane in atmo.”
“When will we reach the Kroll ships?” Dean asked.
“Forty-eight minutes, thirteen seconds,” Lieutenant Myers said without looking up from his console.
“And less than thirty minutes to unload our cargo,” Grant said. “It’s hopeless.”
“No, it isn’t,” Esma said. “We don’t have to unload anything. We’ll just bond with the Kroll harvester and leave the cargo on the Hannibal.”
“We’ll do what?” Anders asked.
“She’s right,” Dean said. “If we can maneuver the Hannibal onto the Kroll ship, we can pilot the three Kroll vessels away from Sol before the cruisers can catch us. We’ll distribute the cargo and personnel later.
“But what about the Hannibal?” Anders asked.
“She’ll be coming along with us,” Dean said, trying not to smile at Vice Admiral Anders’ look of distress. “You wouldn’t want to be left here alone, would you? I mean, those cruisers would probably chase you down and destroy your ship.”
“We could surrender,” Anders said.
“I doubt the new brass wants any reminders that they failed to stop us,” Admiral Aviv said.
“Oh,” was all Anders managed to say.
“When we’re close enough to hail the Kroll ships, have them join together,” Dean said. “There won’t be time to distribute supplies and personnel before we’re out of the system. We will be vulnerable during the transition to the Kroll ships, and I want it done as quickly as possible.”
No one argued, and Dean was glad. He had a sinking feeling the EsDef cruisers had a surprise in store, and if they didn’t make the transition without a hitch, it might end up being a deadly mistake.
Chapter 14
As the Hannibal slowed, it became obvious that the EsDef cruisers were not slowing down.
“They are making a bombing run,” Matsumoto said.
“Can they fire their weapons at that speed?” Anders asked.
“They’ll have to drop below the speed of light,” Admiral Masterson said. “But not by much.”
“Lieutenant Myers,” Dean said. “How much time will we have?”
“Two minutes, eighteen seconds to get the Hannibal secured once we end our run. By my calculations, it will be impossible to outrun the cruisers.”
“Oh dear God,” Anders said.
“We don’t have to outrun them,” Esma said. “We can out-maneuver them if we can get to the bridge in time.”
“It’s going to be close,” Dean said. “Admiral Matsumoto, you are most familiar with the Kroll harvester. Please take Esma and whoever else you need to pilot the ships to the airlock.”
“Of course,” Matsumoto said with a little bow.
Dean left his console and moved over beside Lieutenant Myers. The Hannibal’s radar and external cameras were tracking the Kroll ships as they slowly moved back together. The longships formed a V shape, with the large saucer-shaped harvester moving into the open end of the V.
“Ships are in place,” Lieutenant Gretskey said. “All three are reporting ready.”
“There is no telemetry from the Kroll ships,” Myers said.
The navigational officer didn’t sound disturbed; Sheldon Myers was not an emotional person. But Dean worried he might not be prepared to manually pilot the escort ship. Not that Myers would have to take physical control of the vessel, but he would have to input directions without the aid of computer-guided telemetry.
“You’ll have to put us down without it,” Dean said. “Can you handle that, Lieutenant?”
“I need to know where,” Myers said.
“The Kroll harvester has a strip of bonding matter,” Admiral Aviv said, moving to Myers’ side and zooming in on the huge ship. “Put us here.”
“Calculating now,” Myers said.
Dean felt a slight thrill as he realized that Myers was doing the math in his head, not on his station. He wanted to ask if that was a good idea, but at the same time he didn’t want to interrupt the lieutenant, who was doing very complicated calculations without the aid of his navigational computer. Still, Dean had never known Lieutenant Myers to be wrong, so he turned away from the navigation console.
“Admirals, I’ll leave it to you to get us on the Kroll ship,” he said. “I’m joining Admiral Matsumoto.”
“Very well,” Masterson said.
Vice Admiral Anders just nodded, and Admiral Aviv didn’t bother looking up from the navigational console with Lieutenant Myers. Dean knew that everything hinged on getting to the Kroll ships and leaving the system before the EsDef cruisers could follow them. Luckily, the cruisers were hardly slowing down. The Kroll ships would be in FTL by the time the cruisers managed to stop and even think about turning to follow Dean’s small trio of ships.
Unfortunately, thou
gh, the cruisers were going to launch kinetic warheads that could potentially destroy the Kroll ships—and there was nothing Dean could do but wait and hope Esma could successfully outmaneuver whatever ordinance the cruisers launched at them.
“Not too busy on the bridge?” Esma said when Dean joined her group of operators near the airlock.
“It’s a bit too tense,” Dean said.
“After your stunt in EVA, I didn’t think anything was too tense,” she replied.
“I wasn’t thinking about the danger,” Dean said. “I just did what I was trained to do.”
“Funny, no one else risked their life to save the private, and I’m pretty sure they had the same training as you.”
“We must stay focused on the task at hand,” Matsumoto said.
Dean nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say. He could tell that Esma was angry, and he felt as if he should comfort her, yet he also felt like he was being unprofessional. They were being fired at by a trio of EsDef cruisers. He needed to set things right and allow Esma to do her job.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It was a mistake I won’t make again.”
Esma didn’t speak, but she stepped a little closer to Dean. He wished, as he had so many times with the beautiful operator, that he wasn’t in battle armor so he could pull her into his arms. He would have settled for a single touch—or even the chance to take his TCU off so she could see his eyes and know that he was being sincere—but there was no time for any of that.
The mission came first; that was the life of a Recon Specialist. Dean was the commanding officer of what was possibly the most important mission in human history. And if that meant that he had to sacrifice everything, he would do it without hesitation—but not without regret.
“Weren’t thinking of leaving without me, were you sir?” Chavez asked, as he joined Dean at the airlock.
“Of course not, Staff Sergeant. Just a little anxious, is all.”
“I feel you, Jefe. This whole operation is getting out of hand.”
“Who would have thought your illustrious career would come to this?” Esma teased, alleviating Dean’s tension slightly.
“I’ve always been known as a troublemaker—just ask any of the naval officers I served with,” Dean said, with a nod to Admiral Matsumoto.
“Once this is all over, what happens?” Esma asked.
“You mean if we survive?” Dean replied. “I don’t know. I guess we surrender ourselves.”
“I don’t like the idea of that,” Chavez said.
“I’ll take full responsibility,” Dean said.
“We all volunteered for this,” Esma said. “And we’ll all pay a price.”
“I’m willing to pay it if it means the human race will be safe,” Dean said.
“Looks like it’s almost time,” Chavez said as he peered through the small window in the airlock.
“Alright everyone, get your evac suits sealed,” Dean said as he settled his TCU onto his head and brought up the Hannibal’s external cameras. “You think a tunnel will form automatically?”
“I hope so,” Esma said. “I’m not sure how we’ll get into the ship otherwise.”
“We need more time,” Matsumoto said as he moved up behind Dean.
Sheldon Myers began counting down to contact with the Kroll ship. On Dean’s TCU, a warning light began to flash.
“We have contacts,” Aviv said on the command channel. “Eight warheads have launched from the cruisers. Impact in eighty-seven seconds.”
“Less time than we thought,” Esma said.
“We get in and we haul ass,” Chavez said.
The Hannibal was coming in parallel to the harvester ship. Of all the EsDef vessels captured by the three Kroll ships, it alone would be fully usable since it would be locked in place in line with the Kroll ship’s artificial gravity.
“Five, four,” Myers said.
“Impact in seventy-five seconds,” Admiral Aviv said.
“Two, one… Contact,” Myers said.
“Hit it,” Dean told Chavez, who punched the airlock release.
There was a hiss of atmo, then the airlock swooshed open. The actual locking area was big enough for four men or one Heavy Armor specialist. Dean moved through the airlock quickly but hesitated on the far side, where the Kroll organic matter was like a wall blocking them in. Dean realized that he was facing the exterior of the alien ship. Yet he also knew that the Kroll somehow managed to control the gelatinous substance and form it into a tunnel that could be easily traversed.
Dean raised a hand and pressed on the organic matter. It was glowing softly, as if a gentle light was shining from within the thick barrier of goo. He pressed against the wall of organic matter, and to everyone’s surprise his hand sank into the goo.
“Sixty seconds to impact,” Aviv said, her voice serious but unshaken on the command channel.
“Let’s go,” Dean ordered.
He pushed his way into the goo and was reminded of trying to walk in deep snow. The organic matter didn’t try to hold him back, but it was dense. He forced himself to keep moving. In his mind a voice was accusing him of taking too long to find a way through the thick substance, when suddenly he fell through the slime and into the Kroll ship proper.
Dean turned back in time to see Chavez follow him through the thick membrane. Dean reached up and touched the organic matter again, and to his surprise and relief, it suddenly pulled back, forming a tunnel to the Hannibal. Around Emsa and Admiral Matsumoto, the slimy goo retreated, leaving them standing surprised in the tunnel.
“Move, move, move!” Dean shouted at them.
They both broke into a run, followed by three more operators, all sprinting with Dean through the alien ship. A human-sized doorway had been cut into the curving glass wall on the opposite side of the large holding cell they had entered. Esma was the first person through, leading the group as they rushed toward the aviary and the huge nesting complex where the ship’s controls were located.
“Forty-five seconds until impact,” Aviv updated them on the command channel.
Dean already had a timer counting down on his view screen, but he didn’t mind the admiral reminding everyone else. They rushed through the narrow chute that led to the aviary and then sprinted across the spongy substance that covered the deck of the huge open chamber at the center of the harvester vessel. To Dean’s relief, the crew of officers that had been left behind on the alien ships had been busy. A stairwell had been constructed that led up to the top of the nest structure. More consoles had been added to the makeshift control area. And there were officers already at every station.
Dean followed the others up onto the nest structure. He found several walkways leading from the wide lip of the tall nest out onto the top of the gravity drive, where the ship’s controls were located.
“Stand aside!” Matsumoto ordered the operators loitering near the wide-set navigational controls. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers.”
Esma hurried to the far control and thrust both hands into the device, before turning to make eye contact with the other operator who was in the sister station. Without a word, they both moved, Esma shoving her hands down and back while the other operator lifted her own hands up and forward. Dean couldn’t sense any movement, but he could still access the vid feeds from the cameras on the Hannibal. Slowly, he saw the ship begin to move.
“Ten seconds until impact,” Aviv said.
“Major,” Admiral Matsumoto ordered. “Project the plot from the Hannibal.”
Dean responded to the order without any conscious thought. He certainly didn’t object to the order or try to reassert his command of the mission. He just activated the plot and sent a hologram projecting into the air in front of him. Dean could see the EsDef cruisers, which had already sped past the Kroll ships. The three alien vessels seemed abnormally large on the plot, and a group of warheads were streaking toward them like tiny sparks on the holographic projection.
“They anticipated our movements,” M
atsumoto said. “Complete your turn and then come back around.”
Dean hadn’t noticed the other groups of projectiles, but it appeared that the cruisers had emptied their payloads in rounds, shooting at various spots where they expected the Kroll ships to move to.
“Can we evade them all?” Dean asked.
“We have to,” Matsumoto said.
The Kroll ships suddenly reversed directions.
“New contacts on this heading,” Myers said, still at his post on the Hannibal.
“Nose up, Captain Dante,” Matsumoto ordered Esma and her team of operators. “Bring us up one hundred and eighty degrees from the plane.”
The Kroll ships were huge, but they rose up with the far ends of the longships acting like the bow of a single vessel. It rose upwards, then spun. Dean’s eyes were transfixed on the plot the entire time, with Lieutenant Myers and Admiral Aviv calling out warnings. It felt strangely foreign to Dean, as if the danger weren’t happening—at least not to him. He stood watching the way he might have viewed an exciting movie at a theater. His emotions were in sync with the action he saw and heard, yet his mind somehow felt removed, as if it were all happening to someone else.
“Increase speed,” Matsumoto said. “Heading two-one-five. We’ve almost cleared their weapons.”
For the first time since he’d been on board the Kroll ships, Dean heard the gravity drive make noise. The big engines, as Dean thought of them, were surprisingly quiet. There was a slight whine as the ship began to pick up speed. Dean felt a thrill as he saw the large alien ships slipping past the hail of kinetic warheads. They were going to make it, Dean realized. They were going to escape their EsDef counterparts and race away into unknown space, to face an enemy they could barely fathom, let alone understand. And if they somehow managed to succeed, would they be welcomed home as criminals? Dean had no idea, but he couldn’t focus on that possibility. His duty was to carry out the mission. After that, if they survived, he would worry about things at home.
Chapter 15
“We’re out of danger,” Dean heard Lieutenant Myers say. The crew on board the Hannibal could still be heard speaking on the command channel of Dean’s comlink.
Abyss Of Savagery Page 10
