Billy darted to his right, while thrusting his shield forward. Jason took the full force of the training shield’s disruption waves into his lower belly. He doubled over, a second stream of waves punching him in his face: The counter-force lifted him up and off his feet. Landing flat on his back, Jason scarcely knew what hit him.
Billy looked down at him. “How was that for kicking the captain’s ass?”
Jason took Billy’s outstretched hand, pulled himself up, and assumed an offensive position.
“Attack!”
Jason repeated the same movements that Billy had previously orchestrated—with a slight twist. Similarly to Billy’s move, he darted right, but then he crouched low, firing off two forward thrusts into Billy’s belly, followed by the same punch to the head. Billy blocked the first set of waves but not the second. He went down on his back with a loud grunt.
Jason stood over his friend and held out his hand. “God that felt good.”
For the next two hours, both Jason and Billy held nothing back. It had been a long time since Jason felt this physically spent. Sweaty and tired, he had bruises forming on top of bruises. Boomer just called it quits when a hail came in from Seaman Gordon.
“Go for Captain, what do you have for me, Seaman?”
“I think I have something … it might be nothing.”
“I’m on my way.”
Jason bowed to Billy, then to Boomer. He hurried from the gym, still wearing his sopping-wet Shadick.
* * *
By the time Jason reached the bridge, a small group huddled around the comms station.
There were several double takes at Jason’s strange attire. Orion made a face as she observed the way he was walking.
“You’re moving like an old man, Cap.”
“You have no idea, Gunny. Bring me up to speed.”
Seaman Gordon, the only one seated among the standing group, said, “Let me play it for you, sir. Tell me if you think this is what we’re looking for. It’s chatter between two freighters.”
Jason listened to the short audio clip. Already translated by the AI, the audio sounded clear with little distortion. One of the male voices sounded throaty, while the other sounded younger, and higher-pitched.
He listened to the clip and said, “Play it again, Seaman.”
Vessel 1: “… oh, for shit’s sake … they totally cut me off.”
Vessel 2: “Fuckers! That’s about twenty regulations they just circumvented. You just don’t cross shipping lanes like that.”
Vessel 1: “Almost didn’t see them there … must be fifteen of them. Damn things are huge … as black as space itself.”
“That’s it, Cap. The reference to fifteen ships may be a guess. Could be our twelve Caldurian ships.”
“Where did this take place?”
Orion had returned to her station and was again seated in front of her tactical board. “I checked on that and it’s another indication we’re on the right track. Corian Nez system.”
“Why does that sound familiar to me?”
“Alurian … it’s the planet where the Zip accelerator technology first stemmed from.”
“Yes, that’s right. But haven’t they been gone for something like ninety years?”
“That’s the story I heard as well,” Orion said. “But it would be one hell of a coincidence, Cap. We have the potential spotting of a Caldurian fleet—right where Zip technology first originated.”
“Seaman, request an interchange wormhole.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jason moved back to the command chair and sat down.
“This is odd,” Perkins said.
“What’s that, XO?”
“We’ve received a new batch of requests for Star Watch. Seems our friend Captain Oz is up to his old tricks again.”
“He’ll have to wait,” Jason said, dismissively.
“The thing is … Captain, it’s the Manilaise system where these reports are coming from.”
Jason shrugged.
“That’s less than three light-years from the border of the Corian Nez system.”
“Seriously?”
“He’s right,” Orion said. “They’re a stone’s throw from one another.”
“Captain, the interchange wormhole is now forming, forty-five thousand miles off our port side,” Ensign McNeil reported.
“Take us in, Helm.”
The spatial anomaly grew in size as they approached the mouth of the multi-colored wormhole. Jason felt his heart restrict in his chest—feeling no different than were it gripped by a man’s fist. Dira! Oh God, Dira. He was moving further and further away from her. She was light-years away and dying. He should be with her … at her side. Had he made a mistake, chasing after Ricket? What were the odds of actually finding him? Is he even still alive?
They’d entered the wormhole and Jason looked away. What the hell am I doing?
“We’ve entered Corian Nez, Cap,” Orion said. “Um … this is a busy place.”
Jason was thinking the same thing. Orion had put up the logistics screen and there were at least fifty vessels in their vicinity.
“Seaman Gordon, how about trying to find one of those freighters.”
“Yes, sir. I think I have one of them pinpointed already. That gravely voice was pretty unique.
“Okay, sir. The freighter’s answered my hail. On screen?”
“Put it through, Seaman Gordon.”
The face was a good match for the voice. Humanoid, the bearded man would fit right in with band members of ZZ Top. He scowled. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Captain Jason Reynolds, from Star Watch of the Alliance. Thank you for answering our hail—”
ZZ Top cut him off: “Star Watch? Our lucky stars … we’ve been waiting for you guys! Listen, my name’s Strorn Manning … Captain of the Big Jugs. But the folks you need to talk to are back in the Manilaise system. Things have gotten pretty bad there. That lunatic captain has attacked no less than ten spaceports. Man, it’s good to see you guys!”
Chapter 21
Open Space, Corian Nez System
Assailant, Bridge
__________________________
“Captain Manning, the person … being … you referred to is called Captain Mar Oswaldo, known as Captain Oz. Capturing him, and those associated with him, is a top priority for Space Watch. I assure you … he will be stopped. But, first, I want to ask you about that fleet of black ships which recently crossed your shipping lanes. Do you know the ones I’m speaking of?”
“Of course I do! The bastards arrived acting like they were royalty or something. Granted, no one in his right mind would go up against them, but that’s how to get a bad rep too. Once your rep is crap, it sticks to you like—”
Jason interjected, “Do you know where they went … where they are now?”
“Hold on.”
Jason watched as the big man pushed himself from his seat and left the camera’s view. A few moments later he returned.
“You’re in luck. They’re close, though not in a particularly friendly part of space. No legitimate shipping or commerce vessel goes anywhere near Gracow CD1 … at least, not on purpose.”
“Why’s that?”
“Thieves and deviants! The place is teeming with the dirge of space. Don’t go anywhere near that place, my friend. You do, you’ll find yourself fleeced of your purse, and your women taken into the trades.” Captain Manning leaned forward and squinted his eyes. “That is one magnificent lassie behind you, Captain. Stand up, girl, and let me take a look at that magnificent backside of yours.”
Jason was taken aback by the quick turn their conversation had taken.
Orion turned in her seat and looked at Jason, then up to the display. She flipped him the bird and smiled. She looked back at Jason and shrugged. “There’s no way he knows what that gesture means way out here … right?” She stood and moved next to the captain’s chair.
Captain Manning was all smiles. “Oh yes … that is
quite a backside.”
Orion lost it. “Listen to me, old man … I’m going to come over there and choke you with your own ugly beard. Then I’m going to …”
Captain Manning looked startled at first, but soon laughed uproariously. As he wiped tears from his eyes, trying to control himself, he managed to say, “I meant no disrespect, lassie, but you are indeed a fine specimen. I’ve no doubt you could pull my arms off, one at a time, and beat me to death with them.” He continued to stare at Orion with admiration. “Just so you know, you get tired of your post over there, Big Jugs will always have a place for you.” He patted one knee and raised his brow: “Right here, sweetheart.”
Jason, looking up at Orion, thoroughly enjoyed the momentary distraction. He watched her furious expression turn to one of disbelief. She shook her head and looked down at Jason.
“So you think this is funny?”
“No.”
“Yes, you do.”
Jason shook his head. “Nope, not funny.”
Orion returned to her station and turned her back on everyone, especially Captain Manning.
“Thank you for your help, Captain. We’ll be back in touch if we need anything more from you.”
Orion cut the connection before the bearded man had a chance to reply.
Jason turned his thoughts to Captain Oz. What should he do about him? He couldn’t address searching for him and simultaneously finding Ricket. But his mind quickly flashed on Dira’s lovely face and the decision became obvious.
“Gunny, what can you tell me about this Gracow CD1?” Jason asked.
“Well, the jerk was right about that place. It’s about the worst part of space there is. The history behind it is interesting: Alurian, where we know Zip technology originally stemmed from, is still there—part of the five-planet system known as Gracow CD1. Though pretty much a blackened husk of a planet now, Alurian’s still uninhabited … for the most part.”
“What happened to it?”
“Alurian was the predominant power in this part of the galaxy about one hundred years ago. They were technologically highly advanced, and didn’t share their tech with anyone. Few tears were lost at their demise. From what I’m reading … they were a ruthless, mean-hearted bunch. Basically, the neighborhood bullies no one wanted to cross.”
“Until the Caldurians buzzed into town?”
“That’s right. The Caldurians, to their credit, did try to negotiate with the Alurians for their superior technology. Offering up a deal where they would equally share in all technological advances made between those two interstellar superpowers. The Alurians wanted no part of the offer. The Caldurians, used to getting their own way, persisted … kept trying to sweeten the deal. Kept offering more and more enticements.”
“And the Alurians finally had enough?”
“Exactly. They attacked.”
Jason thought about that. The Lilly, designed from Caldurian technology around that time, had been an amazing warship. Although not at the same level as the latest Master Class vessels, she was not a ship one would want to go up against in war—a lesson the Craing, later, were all too cognizant of. Imagining a fleet of similar Caldurian ships, Jason knew that the Alurians, in the end, hadn’t a chance. His mind flashed on the very recent past, when twelve Master Class ships destroyed Jefferson Station. They were indeed fortunate Earth hadn’t been destroyed in the process.
“Helm … set a course for Gracow CD1. No phase-shifts … we need to keep things stealthy as possible.”
* * *
It took them four hours to reach Gracow CD1 at their sub-light speeds.
“Approaching the system, Captain,” Ensign McNeil said.
“And we’re still cloaked?”
“Aye, Captain,” Orion said. “We’ll need to bring our speeds down … let the drives cool a bit. But we should go unnoticed, unless they’re specifically looking for us.”
Jason watched the small planetary system come into view on the forward display. Four bright red planets, plus a dusty gray planet, were orbiting a white-blue star, about twice the size of Earth’s sun.
“If we’re going to spot the fleet, I think we know where we need to look first,” Jason said.
“Cap, there’s a ton of traffic in this area of space. I’m counting close to two hundred thousand individual ships.”
As they closed in on the first planet—city lights, expansive metropolises covering entire continents, shimmered up from the ruby red world. They continued on, passing an almost identical planet, which was, if possible, even more effusive with lights than the first one.
“Coming up on Alurian, Captain,” McNeil said.
“Take us into high orbit, Helm.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Jason watched the screen carefully as they moved around the big, Saturn-sized, world. Orion magnified the planet’s surface and what they viewed was startling. Not black or gray, it was more a dark shade of red. Structures were still there—partial buildings, ragged and scorched, looked as though a magnificent fireball had closely circled across every mile of the planet, ensuring nothing survived.
“Look at this, Cap,” Orion said, gesturing toward the screen. “This is using an infrared filter.”
The display showed the same dreary planet surface, only now there were patches of bright blue in one area, at the top of the display.
“What am I looking at, Gunny?”
“I believe what we’re seeing is a city hidden beneath an old city. A subterranean civilization.”
“Shit!” Ensign McNeil suddenly screamed.
Suddenly, the bridge tilted backwards—almost vertically. The crewmembers that were standing were immediately thrown to the deck. Cups and miscellaneous odds and ends flew in the air, then backward, toward the rear bulkhead. The ship’s klaxon began wailing loudly, in repetitive squawks.
“What the hell’s happening, Helm?” Jason barked, barely able to stay in the command chair.
“There, Captain!”
Now Jason saw it: Almost invisible against the blackness of space, a Master Class Caldurian ship. It was directly in front of them—now taking up most of the entire display.
“We’re going to hit it,” Perkins said, standing at the entrance to the bridge.
“No, we’re not!” McBride responded back, busy at the controls.
“We’re going too fast to stop in time, Captain. We’ll need to go up and over … hold on.”
Jason watched, his eyes moving between McNeil at the helm, and the display, where only the top portion of the black ship was now visible.
“I think he’s right … we’re going to hit it!” Jason said.
“No! We’re not, sir!”
Jason both heard and felt the Assailant’s G-force dampeners being pushed to the limits. The klaxon seemed to blare even louder. “Turn that thing off!” he yelled to no one in particular. The Caldurian vessel’s hull plating, which was covered with layers of nanites and almost perfectly flat, was clearly visible now. Jason yelled, “Everyone … grab ahold of something!”
The top of the Caldurian vessel came into view on the display, then only open space could be seen.
The klaxon fell silent. No one spoke. The ship leveled off and the ship’s G-force dampeners again returned to functioning at nominal levels.
“All stop, Helm.”
The display now showed the entirety of what they’d just missed hitting: Close by was the Master Class vessel they had just missed by a hair, and eleven other ships in stationary orbit right below it.
“Any indication they know we’re here, Gunny?”
She continued to study the readings on her board. She looked over to Seaman Gordon, who put several fingers to his ear and appeared to be listening to something. He shook his head.
“I think we’re good, Cap,” Orion said, her voice quiet, as though not wanting to speak too loudly.
Jason turned back to McNeil.
“Sorry, Captain. I didn’t see them.”
“It�
��s all right, Ensign. You did some amazing maneuvering. We’re alive because of your quick actions and skill,” Jason told him.
“Did you see that?” Orion asked, up on her feet now.
“What?”
“That glimmer. The Parcical … she’s right there.”
Chapter 22
High Orbit Over Alurian, Gracow CD1 System
Parcical, Zip Farm
__________________________
Ricket stumbled again—apparently his most recent MediPod session was still affecting him. Granted, his physiology had been dramatically altered and impacted. But he wasn’t prepared for what he was now experiencing: disorientation, a massive headache, and an influx of too much data—information streaming in, both internally and externally. He already knew everything was measurable virtually, but now he was faced with the prospect of having to address each and every tidbit of data as it flooded to the forefront of his mind. What he hadn’t thought of, or managed to do yet, was to have the proper cognitive systems in place, which not only prioritized the new data stream, but allocated it to the appropriate, newly-added, memory banks. He would have to do that now, before he was totally incapacitated.
Norwell, standing to Ricket’s right, and holding on to his upper arm, watched him as if he were a specimen in a laboratory.
“What have you done to yourself, Ricket?”
“I just need to sit for a while, Norwell. Can you help me do that? Please?”
Norwell helped Ricket ease down to the deck. He leaned back against one of the Zip accelerators, and felt the big machine’s vibration behind him. The sensation was calming; actually helped him concentrate on the task at hand.
“What have you done to yourself, Ricket?” Norwell repeated. He looked irritated and his eyes traveled upward, toward the top of Ricket’s head.
Ricket didn’t answer.
“Your head is … bigger … it’s distorted. Did you think no one would notice? Answer me or I’ll be forced to contact the Omni.”
Ricket (Star Watch Book 2) Page 14
