by Saxon Andrew
“Oh.”
Janell saw his expression and smiled, “Relax, Ensign. Putting your life in danger is going to be a common occurrence from now on. Especially when we’re in enemy territory.”
“Easier said than done.”
“I know.”
“Will this countdown ever end?”
Janell laughed. She felt the same way. The countdown hit zero and she sat back as her computer took control of the ship. A moment later, they arrived in the other universe and moved toward the Flagship that was located a hundred miles outside the event horizon. A minute later, the third ship appeared and followed her to Dillon’s vessel.
“Chester, lock the other two ships to my panel. We’re headed around the black hole to our former location.”
“Ships are locked in.” Dillon pushed the thruster handle forward and the three ships shot forward at half-speed. It only took ten minutes to find an enemy Ship patrolling outside the event horizon. Passive scans revealed six more Ships far beyond the closest. Dillon raised his communicator, “Captain Muller, I want you to take your ship and start moving toward that closest Blue Ship from the rear. Go slow and if it changes course, back out and evade toward us. If necessary, we’ll open fire on it as it passes. You should also run if you detect one of the blasters being moved in your direction. I need to know how close you can get without being detected.”
“What’s the closest you want me to go in?”
Dillon thought about it and said, “Two hundred yards.” The small white ship moved away from the other two and moved on a course to take it behind the large Warship. “Chester, are the blasters on that ship’s hull charged?”
“No.”
“Good. He should be able to run before they can fire.”
• • •
The Carand Ship Commander lifted his communicator, “This is boring. We should be with the fleets patrolling the border instead of this barren piece of space.”
“I like doing this.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“No, I just like doing things that will extend my life. It is a lot safer here than on the front lines.”
The Carand Ship Leader shook his head, “How long before you retire?”
“About another year.”
“I guess that explains your feelings.”
“You know how it is. I can’t help but worry that something will happen at the last moment and I don’t get to retire and relax for the rest of my life.”
“Why are we here?”
“Need I remind you about that ship that destroyed one of our major battleships?”
“No, I guess not. Still, I don’t expect …” Suddenly, alarms started blaring and the ship’s blasters began charging as they rotated. The pilot changed course and turned toward the opposite direction they were traveling. “What’s going on!?”
“I’ve detected some kind of electrical emission behind us.”
“HOW FAR?”
“Less than three hundred yards!”
The Commander felt the ship vibrate as a blaster opened fire and the ship reversed its course. The other Blue Ships turned and were moving his way at maximum speed.”
“WHERE IS IT?”
“I’ve lost it, Commander.”
“Send out a notification to Central Control!”
“Already done. Reinforcements will be arriving momentarily.”
• • •
Heinrik hit the air-thrusters and turned the ship thirty degrees. A moment later, a huge blaster beam went through the space his ship had just left. He turned back and headed toward the Flagship as more beams were fired in multiple directions. All of them were nowhere close to his location and he arrived at the two ships in less than three seconds. He fell in formation and assumed position to the bottom left of the flagship.
• • •
“Chester, how close?”
“Two hundred and forty yards.”
“Lock the ships on my panel. We’re moving away from this area and watch what happens.”
• • •
China looked at Heinrik, “That was close.”
“Indeed it was. At least we know how close we can get to them.”
“I wonder what they detected.”
“It was probably the electrical connection to the air tank in the thruster tube. It’s located outside the insulation.”
“We need to have the door to the nozzle insulated.”
“Write a note to bring it up if we make it back.”
“That’s not very encouraging.”
“Have you looked at tactical?”
China pulled up the tactical display on her helmet’s visor and shook her head. Blue Ships were arriving in incredible numbers. It went from a hundred to eight hundred in less than a minute. “It looks like the Admiral is moving us further out.”
“He doesn’t want to be trapped again. Here we go; he’s picking up speed.” The three small warships flew away from the giant ship gathering and then turned directly away from the black hole. Dillon used the normal thrusters on all three ships and they left the black hole far behind.
“I’ve just received a communication from Captain Muller that he believes the electrical connection on the air-tank’s door was probably detected.”
“He’s probably right, Chester. The thruster tubes are outside the hull’s insulation. He was forced to keep the doors open during his close approach. I suspect if we close the doors, they won’t be detected. The voltage is low so it won’t take much to block it.”
“Where are we going, Sir?”
“I want to go and take a look at this civilization’s home world, Frenchy.”
“I suspect there will be a rather large reception committee.”
Dillon smiled, “Let’s just take a look at the party from a distance, us not having an invitation an all that.”
“I see on our passive scanners that a rather large party is being planned at our former location.”
Dillon looked at the main monitor and saw thousands of blips moving through the void at high speed. He banked the three ships further away from the thousands of blips and moved back on course. He moved the three ships vertically as more blips appeared moving toward them on the main monitor. He flew far over them and saw a massive wave of blips ahead. He looked at the secondary monitor showing the star map of that region of space. He found a star and moved the three ships close to one of the large planets at the edge of the star’s system. He stopped there and waited.
• • •
Janell stared at her monitors and shook her head, “Chess, how many of those ships have passed us?”
“About half a million.”
She shook her head and Gabe said, “It appears that this civilization is taking us seriously.”
Janell nodded, “The Admiral destroyed one of their ships when he escaped. I’m really glad we’re no longer at that location.” Janell paused and said, “Chess, ask Chester where we’re headed.”
“Admiral McCagg is going to scout this civilization’s home world.”
Janell looked at Gabe, “Now that could prove to be worse than where we were.”
“Yes, but now we know how far we have to stay to remain undetected. This is exciting.”
Janell shook her head and continued to stare at the monitor. The blips continued moving past the planet they were orbiting.
• • •
Heinrik sighed. China looked at him, “What’s bugging you?”
“According to the computer, more ships have passed us than we have in our fleets. If we’re forced to fight this civilization, it’s not going to be an even fight.”
“They won’t be able to see us.”
“They will if we use our blasters.”
China tilted her head, “I didn’t consider that.”
“We’ll have to take them on in small groups and you’ve just seen what happens if we’re detected. I also have to believe that they still have more ships than we’ve seen defending their bo
rders.”
“They’ve been building ships thousands of years longer than we have.”
Heinrik shrugged, “It is what it is. I also suspect there are other aggressive civilizations here that are just as large or even larger. Otherwise this civilization would have total control here. This is a Pandora’s Box.” China nodded. “We need to see what we’re up against.”
“I’m certain the Admiral intends to do just that.”
“Let’s hope we aren’t discovered in the process.” China could only nod again.
• • •
“Trusk, I don’t believe that ship is still here.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because of what happened last time. That ship remained hidden until our numbers reached a level where it would be found. I don’t think it would stay and fall into that trap again.”
“Are you going to suggest to the Royals that we call this search off?”
“No…they wouldn’t believe me.”
“I did notice something in the data of the ship that detected it.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Apparently it came from open space toward the rear of the ship.”
“That would seem to indicate that it deliberately approached our ship.”
“It does, doesn’t it? Why would it do that?”
The Commander lowered his eyes, “Last time we were able to detect that vessel from ten to forty miles. This time it was inside three hundred yards before it was seen.”
The Commander was silent and Trusk said, “What are you thinking?”
“It was trying to determine if it could get closer without being seen. It’s planning to go somewhere else and needed that information before it would attempt it. Notice that it accelerated away and was not detected. It’s clear that whoever is sending that ship here has made modifications and it is now a real danger to the Empire.”
“Do you think it knows where our worlds are located?”
“How would I know? But I can tell you that it didn’t have to move as close as it did. It was testing our ability to detect it and it did if for a reason.”
“After what happened last time, where else would it find a more dangerous situation than here?”
The Commander raised his head and looked up. After a moment it snapped its head down, “It has to be going to one of our main planets. It has to have found one.” Trusk’s eyes widened and the Commander pushed a switch on his console, “I have to tell Central Control what I’m thinking!” His panel illuminated and he began speaking in an animated voice. Trusk listened to the conversation and closed his eyes. This wasn’t one of the ancient enemies. This was a new civilization they’d never encountered before.
Trusk waited and once the conversation ended, he quickly asked, “What did they say?”
“They think my idea has merit.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“CC is of the opinion that the only reason that vessel would have taken that risk is to get close to one of our really important planets. The ships here are going to be split into two groups with one group going to the Royal World and the other to the Empire’s ship building planet. We’ll immediately move out and form up so we can move to either planet in less than a minute. I’ll command the group going to the Royal World and you will command the second. We will coordinate with the local defenses to pin anything detected between them and us.”
“When will Central Control make the assignments?”
“CC has already sent the assignments. Gather your forces and go to your appointed location.”
Trusk nodded and pushed the communication switch on his console.
• • •
“Captains, we’re moving out and heading toward the Carand’s Central Planet. Hold formation next to my vessel. I’m not locking in on my system so you’ll be able to immediately maneuver if the situation calls for it.” Dillon looked at Frenchy, “Are you ready?”
“The passive sensors are fully powered.” Dillon nodded and the three ships moved away from the planet and picked up speed as they headed out from the center of the galaxy. He kept looking at Frenchy and he shook his head. Nothing was detected.
• • •
The three ships arrived at the star system and Dillon stopped the ship, “Frenchy?”
“There is a huge electronic signature around the fourth planet. From this far out, that’s all I can see.”
Dillon sat back in his chair and thought for a moment. He said, “Chester?”
“Yes.”
“I would expect there to be some warships out here.”
“It wouldn’t really make sense.”
“Why not?”
“The sphere they would have to cover for intruders is so huge that it would take more than a billion ships to defend. Their defenses will be located inside the fifth planet.”
“Are you certain about that?”
“All of their warships appear to be used to defend their borders or respond to possible intruders. The forces that respond to intruders are now close to the black hole and if they follow their former behavior, they will stay there.”
Dillon sighed and lifted his communicator, “Captain Dobson, I am moving my ship in closer to the planet. I want you and Captain Muller to start looking around this system to see if there are any defenses my scanners have missed.”
“Sir, I really think you should send one of us in to do the scouting. You’re too important to risk.”
“Captain, my passive scanners are four times the size of those on your ships. I can take the scans from six times further than your ships could perform them. I’ll see any danger much faster than either of you.”
“Sir, I humbly must disagree. You are not expendable, we are.”
“No one is expendable, Captain. Do as you’re ordered.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Janell shook her head as Dillon’s Flagship disappeared. Heinrik appeared on her display, “I don’t like this.”
“I don’t either. However, the Admiral really isn’t listening to us. Let’s do as he ordered and make sure there are no major Carand Fleets nearby.”
“Do we start inside the star system or outside?”
“If they’re here, I suspect they’re inside the system. What do you think?”
“Let’s start at the seventh planet and work our way outward. I’ll go to the portside and you take the starboard. We’ll stay on the side of the star where the planet is located. If I were setting up defenses, I’d have them where they could see the planet.”
“I agree.”
“Captain Dobson.”
“Yes.”
“You’re senior to me. If something happens, you will be in command.”
“Heinrik, let us pray that doesn’t become an issue. Beginning search now.”
Gabe looked at Janell, “Is the Admiral right?”
“He is about the range of the scanners but he hasn’t learned the rule of commanding forces.”
“What is that?”
“You can’t do it all. You have to depend on those under your command. This is Dillon’s first mission commanding multiple forces and he’s still thinking like a ship commander. He’ll learn as time passes.”
“How do you know this?”
Janell shook her head, “Because I would probably do the same thing if I were in his place. Even though I know it’s not the right thing to do. I’d try to prevent any of my ships being put in harm’s way and I’m certain that is why he’s doing this. Let me know if you detect anything.”
“Yes, Sir.” Gabe paused and said, “Sir?”
“Yes.”
“Would you have done it this way?” Jillian sighed. “It’s just that I’m inexperienced and need to learn real world tactics.”
“No, I wouldn’t have done it this way.” Gabe stared at her and she blew out a breath, “Those warships at the planet are in front of his ship. If they start moving his way, he could turn and flee. His passive scanners are far superior in
range than those we’re using and the real danger to him is what’s behind him out here. He could be here now scanning for possible enemies and that is what he should be doing. But I know why he’s not.” Gabe stared at her and Janell shook her head, “He’s a better man that we are and sometimes that can get you in trouble.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Janell nodded and looked at the wall monitor.
Chapter Ten
Dillon watched the distant speck grow larger in the wall monitors. The ship arrived at the fifth planet and he pulled back on the air thrusters and stopped the ship, “Frenchy?”
“We’re being hit with waves of scanner beams but nothing at the planet is moving toward us. It appears they haven’t detected our presence, at least they’ve not giving any indication they have.”
“Can you get a good look at what’s on the planet’s surface?”
“No, Sir. Not from this range.”
“I’m moving us in. Let me know if you see anything suspicious.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Dillon continued toward the planet and when they arrived at five million miles away, Chester said, “Sir, I’ve been analyzing those scanner beams and I’ve found something peculiar.”
“What is that?”
“They’re coming from all directions.”
“What?”
“This planet must have billions of small scanning devices scattered around the system. It’s my opinion that they can’t detect us with the beams but the computer controlling them must be seeing an abnormality.”
“What?”
“The beams move around the ship and that small distance change would be detected by a central computer. I believe they know we’re here.”
Dillon’s eyes narrowed as his console display illuminated, “SIR, I HAVE MORE THAN TWO MILLION BLIPS FLASHING BY US. THEY’LL BE ON YOU IN LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS!”
Dillon looked at Frenchy, “They’ve set a trap.” Frenchy’s face was white as he nodded, “They must have figured out that we moved close to one of their warships to determine how close we can get. They’ve not moved on us from the planet before now as they waiting for the other attackers to arrive.”
“Turning off all power.” Dillon hit the air thrusters and flipped the main power switch. Frenchy’s and his pressure suits immediately activated and he looked at the main monitor as millions of warships arrived and began forming a giant globe around his location. He looked at the distant planet and saw a giant cloud of warships moving toward him. He left the power to the computer active and he said, “Chester?”
