Battle of Hercules

by Richard Tongue

   “Thanks, I will. I’d better get back to the fray. Discovery out.”

   Zebrova turned to Steele, the current duty officer, “Have all senior officers report to the briefing room on the double, and arrange for the landing team as directed by Lieutenant Caine. Keep it small, I don’t want anyone down on that planet who doesn’t need to be there.”

   “Aye, ma’am,” the young officer said, smiling, as she turned back to her work.

   “You have the bridge,” she continued, standing up and gesturing at Orlova. The two of them walked over to the elevator and stepped in, Orlova tapping for the lower decks, still smiling at the news.

   “Two mysteries solved for the price of one, Lieutenant,” she said. “Hard to believe after all these years.”

   “I find it very hard to believe, Sub-Lieutenant,” Zebrova said, still frowning.

   “You can’t still think this is a trap.”

   Turning at the young officer, she replied, “I can and I do. All of this is somehow coming far too easily for my liking. I’ll only be satisfied when Alamo is back at Mariner Station with the Hercules survivors ready for debriefing.” She paused, then continued, “Though naturally I’m pleased for the Captain.”

   The door slid open, and the two of them walked into the briefing room, taking their usual seats at the table; Marshall’s chair at its head was left vacant. Mulenga was already there, and he glanced up at them for a second before returning to the datapad he was studying. Zabek walked into the room, clapped Orlova on the shoulder, and sat next to her; she’d lost the battle to lead the landing team down to the wreck herself, but that didn’t seem to matter at the moment. Finally, just as Zebrova was reaching to page him, Quinn walked in, his uniform jacket smeared with some sort of black and red stain down his back.

   “Is it that difficult for you to wear a clean uniform, Lieutenant?” Zebrova said, sternly.

   “The engineering decks are a messy place, ma’am.”

   Shaking her head, Zebrova said, “I suppose we can get started.”

   “We’re still missing Sub-Lieutenant Carpenter,” Orlova said.

   “I think we can manage without the science department for the moment, Sub-Lieutenant. The problem we’re facing is very simple; we need to bring forty-one persons up from Discovery, as well as any possessions they wish to retain, and I would prefer to complete this task in the minimum possible time.”

   “With only one shuttle, that’s going to be tricky,” Zabek said. “Any chance of using the orbital transfer shuttles?”

   Quinn shook his head, “We wouldn’t save any time; it’ll take me the best part of a day to outfit them with the boosters they’d need. Not standard design.” He paused, “Not to mention that the shuttle will need a servicing every five runs. I’d recommend we do that when it next comes up; they’ll probably need a while to pack up everything. We can probably chance it while we're here after that.”

   “What is the urgency?” Mulenga said. “There is nothing in the system that we need to worry about, no sign of any other ships or installations. We cannot leave for another four days in any case.”

   “A ship could appear at the hendecaspace point in the next ten seconds, Lieutenant. The last thing I want to do is have to leave anyone behind. I don’t think they would simply leave a crew down on the surface by themselves, without anyone monitoring them.”

   Orlova frowned, “That’s a point, actually. If the Cabal is as a large as we are beginning to suspect, why dump them here, not deeper into their territory?” She punched up an astrographic map, highlighting Innes’ Star. “This has got to be a key point. If I was running their strategic defenses, I’d have a ship stationed here.”

   “Perhaps we have over-estimated their potential,” Mulenga said. “There may be other factors of which we know nothing; remember, our mission here is to investigate.”

   Zebrova said, “While I also have concerns about this location, we need to focus on the task at hand. Sub-Lieutenant, I want you to head down to the surface with the next shuttle to serve as liaison. Presumably Captain Marshall and Lieutenant Caine will want to return to Alamo as soon as they can.”

   “Aye, ma’am,” Orlova replied. “I’ll work out an optimum flight schedule once I have some idea of what they want to bring back. Hopefully we can complete it in eight shuttle trips.”

   “Very good. Mr. Quinn, how are we going to house them?”

   “I’ve been thinking about that. The officers will need to double up, that should just about give us sufficient space. As for the crew, I’ve fabricated some hammocks and curtains. We can assemble them in some of the long corridors on the outer levels, turn them into quarters.”

   “That doesn’t sound very comfortable,” Zabek said. “Can’t the crew share as well?”

   “They’re already packed in pretty tightly, Ensign,” the engineer replied. “I agree, it isn’t perfect, but it’s only going to be necessary for a week. I presume when we get back to Spitfire Station, we can arrange for additional accommodations.”

   “That’s an excellent point,” Zebrova replied. “Supplies and life-support?”

   “Alamo has a large enough margin on the life-support systems that we don’t have to worry about it; we off-loaded six people at Spitfire, remember, and that helps as well. I think we could accommodate them for a few months if we had to.”

   “Excellent.” She looked around the room. “Then I think the best course of action is to proceed immediately. Is there anything else?”

   The door slid open, and Sub-Lieutenant Carpenter walked in, saying, “Did I miss the meeting?”

   Zebrova looked up, eyes focused on the tardy officer like laser beams. “We are almost finished, Sub-Lieutenant, but I will speak to you in a moment about the importance of…”

   “I’ve found something else on the surface of the planet. I wanted to make sure of it before I told anyone.”

   Orlova looked at Mulenga, then back at Carpenter, “What have you found?”

   Dropping a datapad on the desk, she said, “Evidence of mine workings.”

   Her eyes widening, Zebrova said, “Mine workings?” She turned to Mulenga, “I thought we didn’t detect anything worth extracting down there?”

   “We didn’t,” he replied. “Lots of iron, of course, and aluminum, but nothing particularly worth exporting.”

   “This isn’t anything like that,” Carpenter said, excited. “You were all looking in the wrong place. I’ve found what can only be a quarry. A stone mine.”

   “Stones?” Zabek said, shaking her head. “Who extracts stones?”

   “Sub-Lieutenant, I really wish that you had…,” Zebrova began before being interrupted.

   “These aren’t just stones. The site has a lot of lazurite, and that was once used for decorative purposes, or in jewelry.”

   The executive officer nodded, replying, “So though it has no industrial value, it might still be of some interest. Even if just incidentally. Good work, Sub-Lieutenant.”

   “I want to take a team down to check it out.”

   She shook her head, “We can’t spare the resources. All of our efforts have to be focused on getting the crew of Hercules back on board Alamo. If there is time, we might take a look.” She glanced down at the datapad, “Though to be honest, I don’t think there is anything there to find.”

   Orlova frowned, “Respectfully, I disagree, ma’am. We’re out here to look for anomalies, after all, and there might be something left down there.”

   Zabek, sensing a potential opportunity, said, “If it turns out it was Cornucopia personnel that conducted the extraction, that’s just one more charge to add to the list – there’s no way they wouldn’t have known about the stranded personnel in Discovery.”

   Sighing, Zebrova replied, “One shuttle flight, then.”

   “I want to lead the team,” Carpenter said.

   “Sub-Lieutenan
t, your experience hardly suggests itself to such an expedition.”

   “I’m Alamo’s science officer, ma’am. And I did make the find.”

   At the far end of the table, Mulenga smiled, “She does have a point.”

   Zabek said, “An experienced officer should lead the team, ma’am.”

   Pausing for a long second, Zebrova finally replied, “I can’t spare one. Carpenter, take one shuttle pilot – we have a surplus of those at the moment in any case – and a fire team from Second Squad. They’re already set for the landing in any case. You can drop off Orlova on the way, I want to keep the trips to a minimum.”

   “Thank you, ma’am,” Carpenter said, beaming.

   Her face fixed, Zebrova replied, “You will be on the surface for no more than three hours, and there will be no opportunity for an extension unless you find something that in my opinion justifies risking the ship. Is that understood.”

   “Yes, ma’am.”

   “Then I think the meeting is over. Dismissed.”

  The assembled officers stood to attention and began to file out of the room, Mulenga walking over to Carpenter to quietly compliment her on her find, while Orlova lingered at the door, watching as the others passed her.

   “Thanks for the help, Maggie,” Carpenter said when she finally emerged. “I think you turned the tide.”

   “Not a problem. It’s about time you got a chance to stretch your legs, anyway.”

   “At least it feels like I’m actually getting to do something this time. Though three hours isn’t much time for a full dig.” She looked from side to side, then said, quietly, “There are some really odd things about that site. I found a couple of areas that could be scorch marks, from shuttle landings, but no evidence of heavy equipment. It’s almost as if it was dug with bare hands.”

   “That’s a bit of an exaggeration, surely.” Orlova smiled. “Probably some survey team spotted it and thought it might be worth a few credits. I don’t expect you are going to find anything amazing down there.”

   “Maybe.” Carpenter walked next to her towards the elevator. “Though I can hope, can’t I? I mean, someone must have had some reason for assigning a paleontologist to this ship. Maybe they know something we don’t?”

   Nodding, Orlova cast her mind back to Desdemona, to the Neanderthal skeleton they had discovered in the middle of an abandoned alien base that was still the biggest secret of the nascent Triplanetary Fleet, and one that Carpenter had yet to be cleared for.

   “I’ve done a lot of these expeditions, Susan, and the one thing I will tell you is that nothing is ever exactly what it seems. You’ll have four scary espatiers with you – let them take the risks. That’s their job.”

   “Relax, Maggie. This isn’t the first time I’ve used a spacesuit, you know. I even did a dig out on Mars once.”

   “What?” Orlova said, sharply.

   Smiling, Carpenter replied, “A few years ago. A xenoarchaeological team wanted to practice some techniques. We only found a few fake bits and pieces they planted to test their equipment.”

   Shaking her head, she said, “A fake dig?”

   “Great experience. The point I’m trying to make is that I know what I’m doing, Maggie. Hell, if you won’t trust me, what hope do I have to convince Zebrova, or the Captain?”

   Still remembering Desdemona, Orlova said, “Just be careful, Susan. I mean it.”

  Chapter 3

   Discovery’s bridge belonged in a museum, not stranded on a forgotten world spinning around a dying sun. Marshall was sitting in the guidance controller’s couch, his father – naturally enough – in the captain’s chair, Caine sitting next to him. Before the shuttle had left, he’d had the emergency rations unloaded, and the marooned Hercules crew had gratefully shared them around as they hastened to prepare for their departure from this world.

   “I still can’t believe it. Jack Tramiel gave you your own ship at thirty-three, and in peacetime,” his father said, shaking his head.

   “There were special circumstances. No-one wanted to take the risk of joining the new fleet,” he replied, Caine shooting him a look.

   “Don’t add qualifications to it, Danny, you’re doing a damn fine job.”

   “I’m certain of that,” the Major said, taking a sip of his coffee. He looked to his side, and said, “I heard you talking to a Sub-Lieutenant Orlova earlier. By any chance…”

   With a wide grin, Marshall replied, “There’s every chance. She’s my Security Officer.”

   Taking a deep breath, he said, “Her father…”

   “When I saw him last, he was briefing the brass on Mars about our operations on Jefferson.”

  The Major’s eyes widened, and he dropped the mug of coffee onto the control panel with a clatter, sending the brown liquid spilling out onto the long-dead controls.

   “You’re joking.”

   “No, sir. Alamo broke the blockade at Jefferson five months ago, and liberated the planet from Cabal control.”

   Rubbing his hand across his eyes, his father choked, “Never leave a man behind, that’s what I thought. When his shuttle went down…” He looked up, “Three times we went back with some crazy plan to extract him.”

   “He knew you tried. He saw you each time,” Caine said.

   “But you did it, boy. You did what I couldn’t.”

   “I have a good crew, and a good ship,” Marshall said.

   “That much is obvious.”

   A man walked in, vaguely familiar to Marshall, Captain’s bars on his shoulder, stumbling with a slight limp. His uniform seemed neater than the others he had seen.

   “Ah, you remember my Exec, Captain Diego.”

   Recognition flashed across Marshall’s face, “Of course.” He reached up to shake his hand; Diego had a firm grip.

   “I just wanted to tell you gentlemen that Operation Exodus is in full swing. We’ll have everything packed up and ready to move in twelve hours.”

  “Great, Esteban,” Marshall’s father said, turning back to his son. “We’ve had that planned since the day we landed. We never knew whether our extraction would be under combat conditions or not.”

   “I think we’ll all be glad to get away from here,” Diego said. “The sooner I’m back in space, the better.”

   Marshall nodded, replying, “I couldn’t agree with you more. My people think we can manage it in eight shuttle loads. By this time tomorrow, we’ll be in orbit. By the way, my Science Officer has found something interesting down in the southern hemisphere, what looks like some sort of mining operation.”

   “Aside from the annual visit of the guardship, we haven’t had any visitors.”

   Caine said, “The first analysis suggests that the operation wasn’t extensive. It’s possible they did it, if they thought they might be something worth stealing.”

   “I’ll send you a copy of my team’s report,” Marshall added.

   “Your team?” Diego said.

   Nodding, Marshall replied, “Yes, I’ve got a survey party down there now checking it out.”

   “That’s a waste of time.”

   “Part of our mission is to find out whatever we can about the Cabal,” Caine said.

   Diego looked at the Major, who nodded; he left the room, the door closing behind him, and the Major looked back at his son, an earnest look in his eye.

   “We can tell you a lot, Danny, and I suspect we’re going to have a long and tedious debriefing when we get back…”

   Marshall turned to Caine, “You want to take a look around?”

   Her eyebrow raised, she nodded, “Sure.” She stood up, looked back for a second, then walked out of the room. The two men looked at each other, and it was Marshall who spoke first.

   “Why, Dad? Why did you fly off?”

   He smiled, “I knew that question was coming. I suppose I’ve spent twelve years preparing the answer.”
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   “I hope it's a good one, then.”

   “I guess you know our mission profile up to Procyon.”

   Nodding, he said, “I was the investigating officer on Hercules’ disappearance. The Commodore figured I was the best choice for the job.”

   “Then you know that we were both hitting convoys and doing deep recon. The Combined Chiefs were always talking about launching larger raids, if we could find some decent targets. Admiral Frankowski had the idea that UN forces had established deep supply bases, way into unexplored space.”

   He paused, shaking his head, “A year we spent on that wild goose chase. That took us out to AD Leonis, and we got into a fight with a trio of UN scoutships. We won, but got badly beaten up, enough that we had to spend three weeks making repairs. The sensors hadn’t been damaged, and most of my crew had time on their hands…”

   “One of your people discovered Jefferson.”

   “Damn it, Danny, you must have felt the same way I did. A habitable planet? We had to investigate.”

   “I know exactly how you feel. When we discovered it, I had to break my sailing orders to go. I didn’t even think twice.”

   “Of course not! Most important bit of real estate we’ve found yet. Anyway, we arrived, found the satellites, and lost Captain Orlov.” He sighed, and reached down for his drink. “More time spent there trying to crack it, but Captain Esteban had the idea that we might find more clues if we went further out.”

   “You found the Cabal.”

   “At first, we just found evidence that there was something out there. Abandoned prospecting sites, a drifting spacecraft we couldn’t identify. We were able to refuel at Jefferson. Then we found an actual outpost, at Xi Bootis. They claimed to be refugees from the Third World War.”

   Eagerly, Marshall nodded, “We found a colony at Lalande 21185. Exactly the same story.”

   “What I didn’t know was…,” he shook his head. “This is humiliating. Half the crew mutinied.”

   “What?”

   “Hell, you fought in the war. Our recruiting standards turned into mush by the end of it. No-one bothered with background or personality checks, and frankly, it showed. My sensor operator, and a lot of the others, were sold on the idea that we would get rewarded, they were promised land grants on inhabitable worlds, millions of credits.” He hacked a laugh, “They wanted my damn ship. And they got it. Can you imagine what it feels like to have half your crew turn against you?”