“But how can we stop them? We are the only ship with a jump system in the fleet. There is no way we can get a large enough force into this region in time,” Kevin said.
“The Hermes stops them.”
“With all due respect, Sir, that’s impossible,” Wolfe said.
“Is it? They have more firepower than us, but we are not a ship of the line. We have speed and agility that they lack. And we have the jump system.”
“It’s offline. And even if it weren’t, how can it help us against the Kemmar?” Kevin said.
“We get creative. We make our repairs and we leave the system. We then jump back in, take the Kemmar by surprise, hit them hard and then jump away before they can hit back.”
“So, we keep jumping in and out until we defeat them?” Kevin said.
“We use our speed and agility when we do jump in to avoid taking too much damage,” Wolfe said, leaning forward in her chair, hands at her side, like she would jump up at any moment. “If we keep our attacks short enough, they likely won’t be able to lock their weapons on us. But what if more ships come through the gate?”
“There are no more ships,” Jon said. “If there were, they would have come through as well. I think the Kemmar are pretty comfortable in that battleship.”
“That makes sense. But even if we defeat their battleship, we can’t hold this region by ourselves. And we still have our mission to complete.”
“We don’t need to hold it. Not yet, anyway. We just need enough time to evacuate the colonists.”
“But how do we do that? We don’t know if they have enough ships to evacuate everyone.”
“We take them on board the Hermes.”
“All of them?”
“If we have to.”
Wolfe and St. Clair traded glances, the concern clearly etched across their faces.
“Sir, I don’t think we have enough room for so many extra people,” Wolfe said.
“There would be a great security risk involved,” Kevin said.
“We have room. The lower decks have a lot of empty space intended for storage. We can easily retrofit that space to accommodate everyone. Those decks are not near any sensitive areas. Restricting the passengers to those areas should take care of any security concerns.”
Jon held back the urge to laugh at the expression on his officer’s faces. “I’ll take your silence to mean you have no more objections. Now, we have a lot of work to do. We need to get the Hermes ready for battle.”
“Yes, Sir,” both officers said in unison.
“Dismissed.”
CHAPTER 24
The Hermes floated in space as the hours ticked away. The Kemmar battleship remained parked in front of it, dwarfing the human ship and blocking access to the jump gate and Kemmar space.
It did not adopt an aggressive posture and seemingly posed no threat to the Hermes. It merely sat there. Immovable.
The battleship likely hadn’t encountered too many ships that could intimidate it and wouldn’t consider a ship less than half its size something to worry about. It had no reason to believe the human ship would not be cowed into doing as told.
Without warning, drones launched from the giant ship and fanned out in all directions, searching for the Reiver colony. Cylindrical objects the size of a small automobile, they carried sophisticated scanning equipment. They headed towards the various planets to scan for signs of life.
None entered the asteroid field, but it would only be a matter of time. Searching the planets and moons would be a drawn-out process, but once they concluded that the colony wasn’t anywhere else, they would turn to the asteroid field.
They would discover the cannons first, and the drones wouldn’t survive the barrage. The battleship was a different story. It would identify all the weapons systems, target and destroy them one by one.
It would send in a new wave of search drones that would take their time and inevitably find the colony, regardless how well hidden. So, the searches continued while the battleship waited.
A buzz of activity surrounded the Hermes. Repair bots zipped around the hull, repairing the multiple instances of weakened armor plating.
The bots were large bulky machines, each roughly the size of a large truck. Four arms protruded from the front of the craft, with the ability to swap out a variety of tools, depending on the requirements of the job. Towards the rear were four omnidirectional thrusters allowing the bot to maneuver and make precise turns in any direction.
A cluster of the machines swarmed around the hull breach and concentrated on sealing the cavity. A steady stream of the machines traveled back and forth carrying the heavy raw materials and armor plating required for the repairs.
The bots also performed maintenance on the weapons systems, ensuring all systems were primed and functioning at optimal levels.
While the repair bots were programmed to identify and repair any and all instances of damage on the Hermes, they were controlled by the ship’s engineering AI, which prioritized and coordinated the bot movements.
Inside the Hermes the clamor of activity resounded on all decks. Throughout the ship repair crews scrambled to have the ship ready for battle by the deadline. All weapons systems and munitions were tested repeatedly to ensure combat readiness.
Security teams were placed on high alert and Chief St. Clair drilled his teams to make sure they stayed sharp.
Commander Wolfe stayed on top of all section chiefs ensuring no one took anything in stride, and that the entire crew performed at optimal levels.
Chief Engineer Singh worked feverishly on the jump system and even accepted the help of his Diakan adviser in order to have the system functional as fast as possible. His engineering crew went over every inch of the massive reactors, leaving nothing to chance.
In sick bay Doctor Ellerbeck prepared for the inevitability of trauma patients. Her medical team checked all equipment and stocked all necessary supplies and medication.
Breeah and Anki had moved from sick bay to their newly assigned quarters. The computer announced Jon’s presence and the door opened. Breeah greeted Jon and invited him inside.
Anki jumped in front of him as he walked in. Tilting her head to the side she looked up at him with a big grin on her face. Her cheeks were red, and she was missing one of her front teeth.
Her eyes went wide. She jumped up and shot out her arms and legs, shouting something imperceptible. Then with a giggle she ran off and hid behind a couch. She would poke her head out to peek at him from time to time and then hide again amid another round of giggles.
Jon smiled. “Cute kid,” he said to Breeah, a mobile translator interpreting for him.
Breeah returned the smile, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. “She is adjusting well. I am pleased.”
“You’re adjusting well too.”
“We learn early on to be resilient and adaptable Captain. In our way of life, it is a necessity.”
“Yes, I imagine it would be.” Jon looked around the room. “Are you settling in to your new living accommodations?”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you again for your hospitality.”
“It’s nothing.” He thought for a moment before continuing. “Breeah, has anyone told you what has been happening?”
“Nobody has told me, Captain, but I can see clearly enough from the window. The Kemmar have found us.”
“Have they ever entered this system before?”
“This is the first time they have crossed through the portal.”
“Do you know how they discovered the gate?”
“I assume they followed us during one of our raids.”
“I see. Well they’re here now and they’re searching for your colony. What will happen when they find it?”
Breeah looked at her feet, shifting her balance from left to right and back, and spoke barely above a whisper, “They will destroy it. Any survivors will be taken as slaves.”
Jon frowned. “We can’t allow that. You need to tell me where you
r colony is.”
She looked up again, a look of resignation across her face. She picked nervously at her fingernails. “No, Captain. You cannot rescue them, and it will expose their location. My people are used to danger. They know the Kemmar are in this system, as they know you are. They are well hidden and will remain that way.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be enough. The Kemmar are annexing this system. That means they’ll establish a permanent presence here. Your people won’t be able to escape.”
“They will find a way. You should take your crew and leave while you can. There is no need to put your people in harm’s way.”
“We’re not leaving.”
Breeah shot him a shocked look. “You are planning to fight the Kemmar? Captain, you will be fighting a Kemmar battleship. This is suicide.”
“We’re not exactly a pushover either,” Jon said, the annoyance at her comment evident in his tone.
“I do not mean to offend you, Captain. While you did defeat two of our warships, even two of our ships is no match against a Kemmar battleship.”
Jon didn’t want to debate battle tactics with Breeah. “Look, we need access to the gate and the Kemmar are blocking it. They are also threatening a human colony. We have no choice. And neither do your people. Even if we defeat the Kemmar, more will eventually come. Your people need to leave this system. Are you able to communicate with them?”
“Yes, Captain, but I dare not. The transmission will reveal their location.”
“During the battle then. You’ll have to warn them and let them know that we’re human and not their enemy.”
“Perhaps.”
“You have some time to think about it, so make up your mind what you want to do.”
“I will, Captain. Thank you.”
Just then Anki jumped out from behind the couch and ran around Jon’s legs laughing. Instinctively Jon reached down, grabbed the little girl and lifted her off her feet, hoisting her high up above his head.
Still laughing Anki spread out her arms and pretended to be a starship, making engine sounds between giggles. The sound of her laughter brought out a laugh from Jon as well, surprising him.
How long had it been since he heard a little girl laugh? Not since he played with his own daughters. And when did he last hear himself laugh? Probably the same time. Anki’s laughter filled his ears and he swung her around the room as she flew her invisible starship.
When he finally put her down, he looked at Breeah whose normally serious face had also softened, lips gently turning upwards. He marvelled at her transformation, and her beauty. Why hadn’t he noticed it before?
“She likes you,” Breeah said, looking straight into Jon’s eyes. Her eyes were cautious and questioning, with traces of long hidden pain. Jon wondered if she saw the same in his own eyes. There was an uneasy honesty about this woman that touched him.
“I like her too,” Jon said.
Resilient and adaptable, he thought. Exactly how much had she adapted to in her lifetime?
CHAPTER 25
“This is unacceptable, Captain,” said Tallos. “You are declaring war on an unknown race. The repercussions of this action are incalculable.”
“I’m not declaring war on anybody. I’m defending a human colony from alien aggressors.”
“This is not your mission, Captain. You were sent to find your lost colonies, not to start intergalactic incidents.”
“I’m the Captain of this ship, Special Envoy. As the Captain, I have full authority to take whatever actions I deem necessary to defend this ship, and to defend humanity. The Kemmar are not only threatening a human colony, they are also threatening the Sol System.”
“Nonsense, they are two-hundred-and-fifty light years away from Sol. They are not a threat.”
“Oh, but they are. Once we outfit more ships with jump drives, this region will be much more accessible, as will the jump gate here. This is a very strategic region of space and is vital for future access to the lost colonies. Letting the Kemmar control this system is what is unacceptable.
“Do you think the Juttari will just stand back when they realize the Kemmar have annexed this system?” Jon continued. “The Juttari will take this region and then they will seize the jump gate. That will give them unobstructed access to Kemmar space, which they will eventually conquer, giving them an immense strategic advantage.
“They will block our access to the lost colonies and eventually conquer them too. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of supporting the lost colonies against the Juttari if they control Kemmar space? We would have to dislodge them from this region. This would be a strategic defeat for Sol as well as Diakus.”
“Your symbiont has indeed made you an exceptional strategist, Captain. However, you are missing something. You do not know the strength of the Kemmar. You are assuming the Juttari can defeat them, but from the looks of this battleship they may not be so easy to conquer.”
“So, they can build a huge ship. It means nothing. They are merely a regional power. The Juttari are a galactic power. The Kemmar could never hope to stand against the might of the Juttari Empire.”
“And what if they do not invade Kemmar space? What if your actions make them a Juttari ally instead?”
“I don’t think so. The Juttari are not known for their diplomacy. The Kemmar would have to submit to Juttari rule for that to happen, and they don’t strike me as the type to give in without a fight.”
“The logical response would be to return to Sol and come back in force. Risking the Hermes is foolish. If you lose, you risk giving the Kemmar jump technology. That could turn a regional power into a galactic power. This is not an acceptable risk.”
“Going back to Sol creates two problems. First, the Kemmar will slaughter the human colony in this system.”
“These people are criminals”
“These people are humans. They have committed no crimes against Sol or Diakus.”
“They have committed crimes against the Kemmar.”
“The Kemmar are not part of the Galactic Accord. We have no treaties with the Kemmar. Crimes against them do not make these people criminals in Sol or Diakus. But they are human, and their humanity requires protection. If not from Diakus, then from Sol, and this is a Sol ship.”
“This ship was created through human and Diakan cooperation.”
“It is under Space Force command. My command. Do I need to keep reminding you of that fact?”
“No, Captain, you do not.”
“Good. The second reason is that the Juttari now have a head start on us. If we go back to Sol, they will find the lost colonies before we do. That puts the colonies at risk. The time we would waste in trying to assemble an attack force to take this region would be time that they would have to take the colonies. There are no other jump ships and no efficient way to bring a battle group to this system in time.”
“I can see there is no changing your mind.”
“This is the only solution, Special Envoy.”
“Very well, Captain. I will leave you to your duties then.”
“Thank you, Special Envoy.”
Tallos rose and walked out of Jon’s office. Jon leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the outcome of the encounter. He anticipated the Diakan’s objections and believed he did a reasonable job countering them. The Diakans were mainly interested in extending their influence, but Jon had other plans.
The lost colonies were human colonies, not Diakan. They were humanity’s chance to expand its power base. If humanity expected to ever become more than a simple pawn, it had to consolidate its power and start projecting its own influence, and he was not going to let the Diakans, the Juttari, or the Kemmar stand in the way.
CHAPTER 26
Repairs on the Hermes were completed ahead of schedule, but Jon waited until the Kemmar deadline. He wanted to see their response before choosing his course of action. As he expected, the Kemmar reacted with complacency, comfortable in their ability to defeat the
human ship.
“Sir, the Kemmar ship is hailing us,” the communications officer said.
“Patch them through,” Jon said.
“Your deadline has passed,” the Kemmar Commander said. “You are hereby ordered to leave Kemmar space immediately.”
“Commander, I ask you again to please reconsider your decision. If we could access to the gate it would greatly assist us.”
“Your needs are no concern of the Kemmar Empire. You are ordered to leave Kemmar space immediately.”
“If you could just give us some more time to complete repairs-”
“No more time. If you do not leave Kemmar space immediately, you will be destroyed.”
“Commander, are you saying you will fire on us?”
“That is correct. Leave now, or you will be destroyed.”
“Understood. We will comply.”
The Kemmar disconnected the comm. Jon looked around the bridge. He saw no apprehension. They were ready. “Helm, take us out of this system.”
“Taking us out, Sir,” Richards said.
The ship’s reactors kicked in and the emitters lining the hull created an FTL bubble around the ship allowing it to travel faster than the speed of light. The ship’s inertial dampeners ensured that none on board felt the ship’s speed.
On the viewscreen the asteroid field disappeared as did the planets and their moons. The binary star blazed across the screen and then it too was gone, leaving only the empty region between systems, and the uncountable stars shimmering in the distance.
They needed to be convincing without giving away their hand. Even at FTL speeds it took a lot of time to travel the immense distances between planets and planetary systems. Jon knew it would be a while before the Kemmar finally turned to the asteroid field. He waited until there was sufficient distance between the Hermes and the Kemmar. After several hours of travel Jon decided to spring his trap.
The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10 Page 11
