‘Wow. That felt, just like Hector’s analogy,’ he thought. Thinking back to when they were discussing how the drones would travel through a wormhole.
It was a long two weeks. To everyone's disappointment, they had found that although the ships flight configuration meant they were relatively close to each other, Inter-ship communication wasn’t possible.
But, by the end of the first week, Hector’s engineers had re-jigged the target acquisition detectors to recognise Astro’s tagging ID sample. This would enable them to refine the targeting accuracy of the drone, thus ensuring that the drone’s generated wormhole would terminate inside the targeted Crillon ship.
Their simulations, set at various distances, had also gone well. With placement-accuracy close to 98 percent, proving the idea was sound.
Andromeda7 was, as were all the other ships, busy checking and re-checking systems. Carrying out survival drills, and doing all the other mundane tasks that had to be completed before exit.
Susanna’s friend Alice, being in the same department as her fiancée Tim, could spend more ‘quality’ time with him, and they planned to get married when they returned to Earth.
Likewise, Jenny and Jonathan seemed to be starting a relationship. This had come about after the nasty incident between Frank and the Solveron. Jonathan having then stayed to comfort Jenny, who had initially appeared to be the aggressor.
At that time, Jonathan realised that Jenny could be someone special to him, and he wanted to spend more time with her. Their relationship, however, was an ‘on- again-off-again,’ kind of relationship, as Jenny seemed to have someone else in mind, which clouded her judgement.
Frank and Susanna had spent more time together, after work. Enjoying each other’s company both in, and out of bed. Being careful not to end up with another baby on the way, at least, not until they were back on Earth.
But, their newly acquired telepathic ability was still worrying them.
“I still don’t understand how this has come about, Frank.”
“Neither do I, and nor does Andromeda.”
Frank was uncomfortable about this situation.
“I feel different somehow, Susanna. Maybe it’s just the effect we feel from having the Solveron ships close to us.”
“But Frank, they’re not around us now, are they?”
“No, you’re right. At least, I don’t think so,” he replied, sounding doubtful. “There have always been people on Earth who said they could read minds, but most were frauds.”
“Perhaps this sort of ‘telepathic’ ability will stay with us when this is all finished?”
“It would be nice, but don’t bank on that, Sues.”
“Then, maybe, it’s something the transceiver implants are stimulating?” Susanna continued as the subject gnawed at her mind.
“But why just us Sues? Well, I suppose one day we’ll find out, so let’s just enjoy this ability while we can.”
The two weeks were finally up, and the ships all began their preparations for battle, as the time that had been predicted for exit from the wormhole approached
However, with it being their first time travelling through a natural wormhole, they all knew the predicted exit-time wasn’t exact.
Chapter 20
Confrontation.
Tripicac had just had a bad two weeks. Marshal Trendor’s long-term friend and ally, Commander Ventar, had finally come back with his thirteen ships.
Meaning that Space Marshal Trendor now had twenty Battlecruisers and one battleship at his disposal.
Tripicac also knew that more of Marshal Trendor’s ships would soon return from their missions in deep space. Added to which, Trendor had also commandeered the two new Starships that had recently been completed at the Starship construction facility on Tapin, one of Crilla’s two satellite moons.
Then, just as Tripicac had decided that he should relocate his five ships nearer the wormhole, Senate Chairman Kasosko called.
“Tripicac. It’s now.”
“What is, Chairman?”
“The coming.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your humans. They’re coming today.”
“Where have you got that from, Kasosko?”
“From them.”
Tripicac was about to tell him not to be so stupid, when an image of the wormhole, then a message ‘Protect them now,’ flashed through his mind. Then was gone.
‘Someone was playing them for sure,’ he thought.
“Yes Kasosko, I believe you are right,” he said
More thoughts and another image of the wormhole. ‘Two hours…,’ ‘Ten…,’ ‘Your…. ships,’ then nothing else.
He knew what he had to do, even though they had only been subliminal suggestions.
“Kasosko, disperse your Senate right now, just to be safe. Continue monitoring. Do not message me, I’ll contact you.”
He paused, then said, “I have a task to perform.”
“Very well, Tripicac,” Kasosko replied.
Tripicac started working on the information that he needed to send to Arans and Tarcan.
He scrolled through his own records, searching for a fleet that was commanded by a man who was likely to be loyal to Marshal Trendor.
A fleet that wasn’t expected back yet, but that wouldn’t raise Trendor’s suspicions if the fleet came back early. Like in two hours’ time.
‘Maybe, his message could say he’s found the wormhole,’ he thought.
‘Ah, here we are. This is definitely one of Trendor’s buddies. Commander Brono, just what the doctor ordered.’
He called Cazer.
“Cazer, I’ve just put a message on your pad that I want you to send to Arans and Tarcan.”
“Ok. Yes, got it.”
“Read it back to me, I need to make sure it sounds plausible.”
“OK… Arans, I’ve received information that Commander Brono will be coming out of the wormhole, in 115 minutes.
We must neutralise him. I need help, so send two of your Battlecruisers to join me at the wormhole. They must be there in 110 minutes, no later.”
“Thanks, Cazer. That should do the trick. Send it to Tarcan as well but make sure you alter it first. I need three of his ships.”
“No problem, I’ll do it now.”
“Wait, I want it encoded, but with weak encoding.”
“So that Marshal Trendor can easily break the code?”
“Yes, but not so easy that he can smell a set-up.”
“May I point out sir that even so he’ll out-number us, two, to one.”
“Yes, Cazer. I know we only have ten ships. I hope he realises that as well.”
Cazer looked troubled but said nothing. He trusted Tripicac’s judgement, he always had. ‘Tripicac must know more than he’s telling me,’ he thought.
Cazer’s face twisted in a sort of Crillon smile. “As you wish, sir. Consider it done.”
“Thank you, Cazer.”
Tripicac was relieved. He hoped the information he was giving would help them, not send him and his ships into a trap.
Tripicac’s group of ten Battlecruisers reached the wormhole, with five minutes to spare.
He had always thought it marvellous that the wormhole stayed in place, considering all the Galactic pressures.
He wasn’t quite sure where he should station his ships. But figured that the ships should be in pairs, in a circle around the wormhole and about fifteen kilometres from it. Just in case, he was wrong about the thought messages, and they really did have to fight.
“Commander,” came the panicky voice of Trenma, his second in command.
“What?”
“We have visitors’ sir and not the company we wish.”
Tripicac grinned as he saw Marshal Trendor’s twenty-one ships coming on-station, some twenty-five kilometres out from the wormhole.
“I bet Trendor thinks that he has us sandwiched and that when Commander Brono comes out of the wormhole, we’ll be the filling.
Well, you’re in for a shock Trendor.”
Both Trenma and his pilot, Vendron, gave Tripicac a hard look, and Tripicac put a finger to his mouth motioning them to keep quiet.
“Back off Tripicac, and save your ships,” came Marshal Trendor’s voice over the ship's comms.
“Oh, hello Trendor. Nice of you to join the party.”
“Stand down, that’s an order. You can’t afford to lose any more ships. Stand down, damn you.”
Tripicac didn’t answer.
“I know that you know Commander Brono is coming through. You’re dead if you don’t do as I say. Stand down now.”
Tripicac started to reply but stopped as he saw the wormhole’s exit hole seeming to froth.
Frank saw the wormhole in front of them, its colour was changing, becoming slightly whiter. His stomach suddenly felt as if it had shot out through the front of the Andromeda. Then suddenly, what they had prepared for was there, normal space.
Ten kilometres out, Andromeda stopped violently.
Then Derringer and Turpin shot out and veered upward to make the top two corners of their box shape.
Argonaut exited and parked next to Andromeda. Followed by Illustrious and Repulse, both slipping down to set the bottom two corners of the box.
The first four stealth-drones parked themselves outside the configuration, and away from predetermined weapons fire pathways, but as close as possible to the Argonaut and Andromeda.
Then a further twenty stealth-drones, shot out from the rest of the ships, settling into other positions within the box, whose formation was now complete.
Tripicac watched the Earth ships reconfigure. He’d almost forgotten their streamlined golden shapes. Then he saw a shimmering effect expanding outward, like a flower opening in slow motion. Stealth-drones, of course. He had encountered them before, much to his misfortune.
“Tripicac,” called Space Marshal Trendor. His voice now somewhat lacking in authority.
“These things are no match for us. I will forgive you if you join me now, Tripicac. Commander Brono will be here any minute. Are you willing to die for nothing?”
“Andromeda, where is the transmission coming from? Quick.”
“Checking for it.”
“Andromeda, now would be good.”
“The ship to the left of that battleship.”
“Astro, did you get that info?”
“Yes, Frank, marking both now. Done. Coding to Argonaut.”
“Good job. Mark the rest of the ships that are furthest away from us, Tim.”
“On it.”
“Hector. Have you got target acquisition?”
“One moment Frank.”
“Hector!”
“Target verified. Your orders?”
“Hold targets. Don’t lose them. If they run, hit them.”
He turned his attention back to the ships in front of them. “Andromeda, contact the group nearest us.”
Tripicac wasn’t startled at the image on his screen. He had expected to see that face.
“Welcome, Captain Richardson. Remember me, Commander Tripicac, well, um, Fleet Commander Tripicac now.”
Frank understood the Crillon Commander rank was equal to that of an Earth ship’s captain, and carried the same respect.
“Glad to see you Tripicac and congratulations on your promotion. Nice to see you survived. I’m sorry about Commander Bovonivo.”
“Yes, he didn’t make it. He was murdered, in my opinion.”
“Well, you are at war with the Solverons, aren’t you?”
“I guess so, but reluctantly.”
“H’m. How are Arans and Tarcan?”
“Very well. But I’m afraid you’ve dropped in at the wrong time.”
“So I see,” Frank said, his image peering out of Tripicac’s screen.
“From what I can see, and from what my scans tell me. I believe you’re a little outnumbered.”
Tripicac realised the human Captain was smiling wryly. “Yes. Just a little Captain,” he replied
Suddenly Frank heard another voice.
“Tripicac.” Marshal Trendor’s voice rattled in. “Join me now. Or die,” he ordered.
Tripicac could see that Captain Richardson’s smile seemed to widen.
“Tell me Tripicac, am I right in sensing you hate this man?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think we have enough time for me to tell you what I really think, Captain.”
“Oh, but we do. He can’t do anything without my say so. Tell me.”
“Very well,” Tripicac replied.
“Some years ago, a conference was held on Crilla, our home planet, between our Senate, our Navy, and a Solveron delegation.
During the conference, the Solverons were placing images in the delegate’s minds. I don’t think there was anything sinister in that, I believe they were only doing it to help explain things. But Marshal Trendor obviously didn’t like the idea.
The Navy then assassinated the Solverons. I know that the assassination order was given by Space Marshal Trendor. Then finally, the subsequent retaliation by the Solverons led to the death of my family.
So yes. I hate Marshall Trendor. I hate him for starting this war and twisting our race into an aggressive, and nasty race. Unfortunately, he’s still above the law.”
“I see. So, he has a lot to answer for.”
“Yes.”
“Tripicac! Last warning,” Marshal Trendor’s voice snapped over the comms.
“Not necessary. Commander Brono isn’t going to be joining us. I wanted you here.” Tripicac snapped back.
Tripicac saw that the ‘human’ Captain seemed to pause, and his face hardened, for a couple of seconds. Then he spoke, saying. “He’s boring me Tripicac.”
On the Argonaut, Hector’s weapons controllers gave the target and execution codes to the two specially modified stealth-drones.
“Detonation in three seconds,” came a mechanical voice generated by the drone.
Then Frank turned away from the screen.
A second later, two nuclear detonations ripped through Marshal Trendor’s ship, and two more slammed into the battleship next to him, virtually vapourising them both instantaneously. With the rapidly expanding shock wave rocking the vessels that were nearby.
Tripicac stared in disbelief at the gap in the line of Marshal Trendor’s ships. He couldn’t believe that both Trendor’s ship and his battleship were gone, in the wink of an eye.
The sound of Captain Richardson’s voice brought Tripicac’s attention back to the screen.
“Well, let’s get on with it now. Shall we Tripicac?” The Earth fleet’s OIC said.
“I assume the remainder of Marshall Trendor’s ships will be your problem now? So, can you order them to do, whatever your people do when they surrender.”
Tripicac saw that the human then seemed to stop, and his face hardened again as if he was concentrating for a second or two.
On the Andromeda, Frank knew it was time for the Solverons to join in.
Meanwhile Tripicac, his face peering out of Franks screen, seemed lost for words.
Frank knew he had to make sure that the group of Marshal Trendor’s Crillon ships, which were still at the back, and 25 kilometres out didn’t start firing at them.
‘Savron,’ he said, sending a ‘thought’ message. ‘Join us, please.’
Tripicac saw that once again, the human Commander’s image on the screen seemed to concentrate for a moment. Then his face relaxed and looked out at him.
Frank asked. “Well Tripicac, are you going to order them?”
Then Tripicac hit the All-Ship's broadcast button and said. “All Marshal Trendor’s ships, stand down now. Tilt for compliance.”
Some of the ships then began to tilt downward.
Then Frank saw them. Six blue Solveron ships had come from nowhere.
“Not now,” he gasped.
“Tripicac,” came the human commander’s voice agai
n. “Trust me. The Solverons will not harm the ships if they all stand down now!”
Tripicac said nothing, but he could see the globe ships slowing. ‘True,’ he thought.
The six Solveron ships had stopped and were now positioned three at each end of the Marshal’s line of ships. And, even though their blue hulls were crackling and swirling with energy, they weren’t attacking any of the Crillon vessels.
“Are they with you, Commander?” Tripicac asked.
“Let’s just say, that we have an understanding.”
As they watched, another blue sphere, its disruptor field active, arrived and placed itself between the Marshal’s ships and the planet.
Tripicac tapped Senator Kasosko’s tab. “Senator. Add your weight to my stand down command!”
Senator Kasosko’s voice was then heard by all the Crillon ships. His voice sounded powerful and hard. “Fellow Crillons, Marshal Trendor is dead. Join us in a new and exciting adventure. Stand down now. All of you.”
Tripicac was relieved to see the rest of the Marshal’s ships, tilting downward.
“They’ve all complied Commander,” Trenma confirmed.
“Good. There’s hope, after all.”
Then Tripicac panicked for a second, as he saw two Solveron ships, one from each group of three, moving away and starting to crisscross the area between his ships and Crilla.
He looked anxiously at Captain Richardson.
“What are they doing?” He asked.
“Using their disruptor fields to get rid of any wreckage from the two ships we destroyed.”
“Wow.” Exclaimed Tripicac. “Today is turning into one of those good times that we used to have.”
Then, remembering Tarcan and Arans. He hit both of their tabs simultaneously.
“Arans,” he yelled into the comms. “Tendor must still be at Tapin.”
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 56
