Star Crusader: Hero of the Alliance

by Michael G. Thomas

  "Apologies, Sir. I came as quickly as I could."

  Captain Galanos didn't seem particularly bothered and waited there, shaking her head. Lieutenant Higgins looked throughout the CIC and then back to the Captain, waiting for her to speak. It may have only been for a few seconds, but the mood and tension was palpable.

  "Lieutenant, it would appear we have found ourselves in the middle of a massive and violent revolutionary movement throughout the Byotai Empire."

  Lieutenant Higgins was not entirely surprised at this news.

  "Yes, Captain, that makes sense. The demographic on the starbase was made up of all castes, bar the patrician caste."

  The Captain shook her head and cut him off, as though irritated by his very words.

  "No, you do not understand."

  She walked to the vertical display and wiped off everything, replacing it with a single map of the Helion Nexus. At the centre were the Helion Star Systems, and connected to them the empires of the various different races. On the top right was the vast region known as the Byotai Empire. She placed her hand there and pointed to the region directly opposite it.

  "A revolution has been declared from within the ruins of the border worlds of the Tenth Quadrant. As you know, both the wandering tribal fleets of the Anicinàbe and the settlers of the Byotai have been fighting there for more than a decade."

  She moved her hand in front of the display and drew a wide blue oval shape that encompassed both massive regions, and then turned to face Lieutenant Higgins.

  "If our Byotai guest is correct, and the information he just extracted from the prisoner is true, then we are in serious trouble. And I'm not just talking about this ship."

  She shook her head in astonishment.

  "Very big trouble."

  "I...uh...I don't understand, Sir."

  The Captain continued to shake her head as she explained. Her tone was completely at odds with the words, and she was clearly having great difficulty in understanding what had occurred. This intrigued Lieutenant Higgins even further.

  "The prisoner is a soldier from the so-called Crimson Company, a paramilitary group originating in the Byotai industrial sector. They've joined with hundreds of other groups, from tradesmen and miners to engineers and diplomats. Apparently, most of the shipping workers and large numbers of ship crews have also joined."

  Captain Galanos stopped and looked back at the vertical display. She shook her head and spoke quietly to herself. Lieutenant Higgins had never seen her this way, but he was just as surprised to hear the prisoner had been so free with the information.

  "This information, Sir. Is it verifiable? Can it be trusted?"

  Captain Galanos shrugged.

  "No to both of those questions, and right now, I do not see how it would make any difference. The only facts we have are that the Byotai have betrayed us, and that the majority are from the plebiscite movement. They have turned on us and killed where they can. This boarding party waited until the perfect opportunity before striking. If they had been successful, we would be adrift and vulnerable to attack, perhaps even destroyed."

  "Sir, the boarding party was a suicide raid?"

  Captain Galanos shook her head.

  "No, they were here to slow us down. I suspect to buy time for our pursuers. The Byotai do not want us sharing what we have found. As I suspected, they will close access to all Spacebridges, and that will give us little choice on what to do next."

  Lieutenant Higgins had one last question, but Captain Galanos didn't appear to notice. She looked at the vertical display and the dispersion of the different star systems.

  "If what the prisoner is saying is true, then Anicinàbe tribes and members of the plebiscite movement among the Byotai are joining forces. Between them, they have the numbers and resources to bring down both territories."

  Captain Galanos rubbed her forehead in frustration.

  "This is an auspicious day for all of us. The Anicinàbe and the Byotai have a chance at unifying under the dictatorship of this new revolutionary movement, and if they are successful, they will be able to create a regional power unlike anything we've ever seen before."

  She looked to them and smiled, doing her best to provide hope.

  "None of this matters to us today, though, does it? We have a job to do, and it is a simple one, to escape the clutches of the Byotai and rejoin the fleet. To your stations, and make sure you're ready. We arrive shortly."

  CHAPTER TEN

  Alliance Armoured Assault Ship 'ANS Relentless'

  On final approach to the Arnos Cluster

  Day 6

  The powerful engines of ANS Relentless increased in power as the ship began the last stage of its trip. Their journey had taken days, and in the haste to escape the Byotai, the ship burned its main engines four hours longer than intended before rotation. This subtle alteration in the flight-plan meant they would overshoot their target, even with their engines running while travelling in reverse. The solution was a simple one, but it had put the old ship under a great deal of strain. Now the engines were burning fifty percent more than normal, all to decelerate in time to reach their objective. Every few seconds the coolant units would send a shudder through the ship as they vented heated gas to the void. To any external observer it would look as the though the ship was on fire and leaving a trail behind her.

  Captain Galanos was at her post in the heart of the CIC, surrounded by those officers that remained. Gone was her executive officer, killed in the bloody attack as they escaped the starbase. She looked at the timer once more and then activated the intercom.

  "This is the Captain. We arrive at the Arnos Cluster and our rendezvous with the fleet in T-minus forty-six minutes. Have your stations ready and check in with your deck officers. We don't know what to expect, but we will be ready."

  The Captain looked at the vertical display. It was partially obscured by the countdown clock. Normally, it was a lot smaller, but as they reached the last hour, the significance of those minutes had grown. She looked to her assorted group of officers. There were also two civilians, both taking over the communication and engineering stations.

  "There are no replacement bases, starbases, or Spacebridges within a week's travel of this location. What it lacks in facilities it more than makes up for in raw resources, and in safety. Once within the Cluster, we will be shielded from any attempts to locate us. I'm relying on each of you to do your job. Be ready, and stay alert."

  * * *

  Alliance Armoured Assault Ship 'ANS Relentless'

  Fighter Control Suite

  Nate had been waiting in the control suite for fifteen minutes, and the tension was palpable. All six of them were there, but still no sign of Lieutenant Higgins. For the first time, Rex appeared nervous, but it might just as easily have been he was too busy thinking about what was to come. Billy, as usual, tried to change the mood of the group, with little success.

  "Well, looks like it’s time, doesn't it?"

  Jack was at Rex's flank, just as always, and shook his head in the direction of Billy.

  "Of course it's time. That's why we're here."

  Nate looked to Cassandra and at her pale face. Her long blonde hair was smart and pulled back, though where she found the time to do that he would never know. She lifted her left hand to brush a hair from her brow and spotted Nate looking at her. Normally, she would have been harsh towards him, or at the very least attempting to assert herself. Based on previous experience that was what he would have expected. This time she actually smiled, and that one act put him immediately off-guard.

  "You okay, Nate?"

  Each word slowed him down, and it took several seconds before he was able to reply.

  "I'm okay. A bit nervous about the mission."

  The door opened as Rex began to laugh at Nate. The sound of laughter quickly dissipated as the upright form of Lieutenant Higgins entered the suite. The cadets faced him and stood upright to attention.

  "As you were, Flight Cadets."


  It was only a single extra word, but the addition made all the difference to the six of them. Gone were the days when they were lowly cadets, whose only significance to the ship was that they had been rescued, and at great cost. Now the six were known as Crusader Squadron and the effect on the passengers and crew had been substantial. ANS Relentless had been a ship without pilots. Now she carried a squadron, however untested they might be.

  "We will arrive at the rendezvous shortly, and it will be down to all of you to do your part. The last simulations were successful, but you will have to work closer together than ever before."

  He focused his attention on Rex.

  "Of all six pilots, you are the most gifted."

  Rex loved this kind of attention, and he glanced at Nate.

  "Your skills at piloting all fighters is exceptional, and the Avenger is no different. You are the best qualified to take on and engage enemy fighters."

  He lifted his right hand and pointed at the cadet.

  "But just remember, on your own you are nothing. Without your team, you will die as easily as any other pilot."

  Next came Jack. Though the smallest of the group, he was ever the angry looking one.

  "Aggression is your strength...and your weakness. Control your feelings and concentrate on the mission, above all else. Combined with Rex, you are a formidable combination."

  Matilda looked to Cassandra when the Lieutenant turned his attention to her. Your flying is adequate, but your attention to detail is exceptional, as is your strategic understanding. I expect great things of you, one day. For now, I will expect you to lead Crusader Squadron with the skill you have demonstrated in the simulations."

  Matilda nodded politely, watching with interest as Lieutenant Higgins hobbled along to the last three. He stopped in front of Cassandra.

  "Like Flight Cadet Hampel, your skills are in your flying. There is little to tell the two of you apart in combat, and the competiveness has no place in battle. Curb this and concentrate on the mission. Listen to your flight leader."

  That left just Nate and Billy, and the Lieutenant looked at them both, speaking to them collectively.

  "Individually, the two of you have strengths and weaknesses, but together you are the best pair in the squadron. Flight Cadet Lewis, your flying is by the book, technical and of a high quality. You would make an excellent flying instructor. What you lack in flair you make up for in consistency."

  The man's eyes barely moved as they turned to Billy.

  "Flight Cadet William Mitchell. Your background inspires little confidence, and I've seen the report on your...incidents at your previous college. Your scores are low in mathematics, engineers, and even strategy and tactics."

  Rex chuckled, and Lieutenant Higgins spun around to face the sneering teenager.

  "Yet this cadet is the single best wingman of the six of you. In simulations, he has stuck with his partner, no matter the danger. Your eyesight and observational skills are above average, and you give the Squadron additional backbone."

  Lieutenant Higgins twisted his back a moment, doing his best to avoid the pain running up through his spine. The injuries from the starbase assault were going to be with him for the rest of his life, and the painkillers, combined with the anti-inflammatory drugs, could only do so much. With a final movement, he stepped back to look at the group. Though hardly an old man, he certainly felt it as he looked across to the group of six cadets. They were no older than he was back in his Academy days, but for some reason they seemed so young.

  "Your birds are fuelled. The deck crews have sent them topside to the launch deck. There's no faster way to get into action, and it will allow the hangar doors to stay sealed. Now remember, we only have the six, so no fooling around. I want each of them back in the same condition you found them in. Understood?"

  All six acknowledged immediately, and he nodded back at them in satisfaction.

  "Six pilots, and six Avengers. Today is a special day for all of us, but especially for you. Crusader Squadron is loaded and armed for reconnaissance and escort duty. So watch those triggers. You'll have the firepower to crippled Relentless if you make any mistakes."

  Billy looked to Nate with wide-open eyes that betrayed his excitement. They'd been playing the Star Crusader simulation for so long now neither could remember the first time. Yet, after all those sessions in the simulators, they had never once been able to actually fire a live weapon. Even more pertinent, the only thing on the line had been personal glory and the opportunity for advancement in the Academy programme.

  "This time it's real, Nate."

  "I know. Are you ready?"

  Billy nodded slowly.

  "You know something? I think I am."

  Lieutenant Higgins moved to the pit and activated the unit. A model of the ship appeared in the centre and then shrunk away to show the surrounding area.

  "We're already entering the boundary areas of the Deadlands. We cannot scan the interior at this range."

  Nate looked at the others. Cassandra’s eyes were looking right back at him. As they met, she quickly looked away. Normally, Nate would have done the same, but something felt different. They were dressed in the Naval issue PDS gear, their nametags displaying both their names and the newly christened squadron. At close inspection, the text was rough and had been put together by a volunteer on the ship. Much more important to Nate, it made them feel they were a valued part of the ship's crew.

  "Cassandra. Are you up for this?"

  Again she gave him that nervous smile.

  "Oh, yes, I'm sure of it."

  Lieutenant Higgins nodded at the seating positions.

  "Okay, then, it's time to mount up. Run through your final checks and prepare for launch. We've got little over half an hour, perhaps less. We need to be ready for whatever might happen. Are you with me?"

  Each of the cadets, even Matilda and Rex seemed excited.

  "Yes, Lieutenant!"

  * * *

  The Arnos Cluster was one small part of the Deadlands, yet its total space still larger than the combined territories of Proxima Centauri and the old worlds of Sol. The Cluster was the largest and most dangerous part of the Deadlands, and contained more than fifty percent of all matter in the Deadlands. The Arnos Cluster swirled around a single black hole that busily consumed anything coming close to it as it slowly removed everything around it. Every year the Black Hole reduced the integrity of the Arnos Spacebridge, a celestial phenomena that allowed instant travel to the disputed Tenth Quadrant, an area now a bloody warzone.

  ANS Relentless plunged into the heart of the Cluster at great speed, her engines burning brightly. From the outside all seemed well, but inside the powerful klaxons played their grim song, as the mighty warship unleashed a final burst of power. This was more than four times the standard, and a desperate attempt to end their journey nearly a million kilometres from the destination. Such an emergency halt was unprecedented and placed enormous strains on the engines, powerplant, and even the hull of the massive vessel. More modern ships, such as the venerable Liberty class destroyers, would suffer under such high levels of energy. As each second passed by, a series of pipes burst, seals blasted open, and electrical circuits disintegrated, yet still the engines roared and sent great gouts of flame ahead of the ship. To a third party it might look as though it was actually in the process of landing on a planetary body, rather than desperately trying to slow down.

  ANS Relentless was already through the outer regions of the Deadlands, a place that could prove deadly to a ship in unfamiliar territory. The entire region was littered with the remnants of old stars, moons, and planets; the name apt for something often described by the Byotai as the graveyard of worlds. The situation had changed for Relentless and her crew as the sector altered beyond recognition due to the ever-shifting landscape. The plan was for the ship to continue on this current course while decelerating over an additional ten million kilometres before finally cutting the main engines. But the complexity and
density of the debris field forced the Captain to cut their journey short and bring them down to conventional speeds much further away than intended.

  At this point in the Arnos Cluster, the debris was sparse but consisted of massive asteroids, some of which were easily big enough to form small worlds on their own. The target location was hidden almost a full astronomical unit away, deep inside the cluster of dust and small rocks that made the use of sensors almost impossible. As the final burst of power subsided, the ship groaned, the sound and vibrations being noticeable anywhere in the vessel. The primary engines cut, and the great warship rotated into its standard position. The helmsman looked over to Captain Galanos and nodded.

  "Captain, we're under standard drive, one quarter speed, and on approach to the designated coordinates. Estimated penetration of the inner fields in four minutes."

  "Very good."

  She looked over her right shoulder to her new Chief Engineer, an older man known as Martin Newman with a background in shipbuilding and starship engine management. He still looked uncomfortable in the CIC, yet he remained calm, and his knowledge of engineering matters was as good as anything she could expect to find in the normal officer corps.

  "How long until our scanners can penetrate the field?"

  The man checked the computers for almost ten more seconds before answering. Normally, this would have caused quite a ruckus in the CIC, but he was being careful, and making sure the information he obtained was up-to-date and accurate.

  "Captain. We will need to breach the inner wall of debris before any of our sensors will have much of a chance. I've never seen anything quite like this. We will have to make our way carefully inside. I estimate that once we're through, it could take anything from thirty minutes to an hour at this speed."

  Captain Galanos looked back at the screen. She'd anticipated getting much closer to the target, but a single piece of astronomical flotsam had disintegrated in the last few days and had now completely altered their angle of approach. She spoke quietly, more to herself than to anyone present.