Mace stroked his beard. “And what if the Mawga figure out how we did it? If we find out the transducer feedback works, I don’t want to risk losing that advantage. We would want to save that for the biggest of events.”
Jasper walked into the conference room. “Sorry, was listening in on the comm. Mr. Montak? The codes you have, were they only good for your ship or for any of the Mawga ships?”
Bontu replied, “With my position, I was granted fleet access. Why?”
Jasper pointed. “We just left a fleet of Mawga cruisers out there at Enceladus. I would imagine they’re en route back to Earth now. What if we got back within comm range, hacked in using your codes, and told every shuttle on them to launch, each with a set of waypoints for it to follow? Those cruisers have four shuttles each, right? They could only chase twenty of them.”
Mace pointed and nodded. “I like that. Mr. Montak, does that sound doable?”
Bontu rubbed his chin. “I suppose. And a single, prepackaged command message would send them on their way.”
Mace said, “Wouldn’t your people have changed codes by now?”
Bontu shook his head. “For what purpose? It is unlawful to eavesdrop or to interfere with another’s comm system. And your Human counterparts would probably know nothing of such a vulnerability.”
Jasper grinned. “I’m starting to think these rules are like a gold mine.”
Mace nodded. “Mr. Montak, could you have a brief discussion with Liam Hobbs? I’ll have David Yancy come up there with you to help select waypoints for the shuttles. Jasper, stay here with Heeb and Hooba. Work out the details of what we’ll need to do to make the broadcasts work, and then work with Johnny to see that it’s ready and tested before today is done.”
Jasper stood. “Fine. Ratboys, over here.”
Mace looked back with a horrified face.
Jasper shrugged. “What? They don’t care. And if it makes them feel any better they can call me whatever they want.”
Maala Heeb stood. “Come, Jelog, let us assist the decrepit old man.”
Jasper grinned. “See. No offense intended. None taken.”
Mace walked with Bontu Montak toward the bridge.
Bontu asked, “You appear to be deep in thought. What about, may I ask?”
Mace replied, “Just wondering what we might do with sixty shuttles, that’s all. Any possible way to shove one of those full-size reactors in a shuttle with a cannon?”
Bontu thought. “Interesting concept. However, those ships lack adequate shielding, I also believe we might be short on crewmen.”
Mace asked, “How many does it take to pilot one of those?”
Bontu replied, “I suppose two would suffice. One to pilot and one for maintenance.”
Mace stopped. “Maintenance? You don’t need anyone for that if you’re just flying as a gunship.”
Bontu nodded. “I suppose. Perhaps as a gunner then.”
Mace laughed as he began to walk. “You people seriously need to learn how to multitask. Although, that still leaves us way short on personnel.”
Once on the bridge, Mace dropped Bontu off with Liam before opening a comm to Jane. “Could you come up to the bridge? And bring Mr. Klept with you. I have some technical questions for him about this ship.”
Jane replied, “Be there in a couple.”
Mace plopped himself down in his chair and began to look over sensor displays as the Rogers was turned toward another meeting with the Mawga cruisers. Chaos erupted as the Kaachi crewman walked onto the bridge.
Bontu Montak turned and growled, small talons protruding from his otherwise friendly fingers. Gnaga Klept raised his hands above his head, fingers clasped together and turned down. The taller, more slender Gnaga emitted a sinister hiss as a growling Bontu took a step forward.
Johnny stood. “Oh Lord.”
Mace hopped from his chair, stepping between the two enemies. “OK. I guess I should have informed each of you about the other.”
Bontu scowled. “A Kaachi? And he walks about freely?”
Mace replied, “Well…”
Gnaga returned a stare of hatred. “The Mawga are on this ship? You have rekindled your alliance? What sort of traitorous species are you?”
Johnny laughed at the sight of the two fifty-five pound enemies as they circled, growled and hissed.
Mace glanced his way. “You’re not helping.”
Johnny stepped forward. “OK. Mr. Montak, that’s enough. Reel in those claws and we’ll explain to you both what’s going on.”
Johnny leaned in with his best mean stare. Bontu took a step back.
Mace lowered his hands. “Mr. Klept, may I have a moment of your attention? The Mawga will be here when I’m done if you still feel the need to fight.”
Gnaga slowly lowered his pinch-fingered hands. “Why was I not told of this incursion?”
Mace shook his head. “It’s not an incursion. These Mawga are our friends. They are on the run from the other Humans and are now fugitives from their own Emperor. They are fully committed to us now. Right, Mr. Montak?”
Bontu snarled his teeth. “Is this a Kaachi ship? Are we prisoners of the Kaachi scourge?”
Mace shook his head with a smile. “No. Sorry. Look, both of you … we are all three on the run from the Humans… and the Mawga. And next week, we’ll find out if we’re on the run from the Kaachi as well.”
Bontu growled. “So you did make a deal with our enemies. Had I known, I would have turned you over to Stark!”
Mace nodded. “An understandable thought. Now, let me explain where we are. We sent a hundred crews through to the Kaachi to be trained and equipped with their ships and weapons. They were to be used as a counterbalance to your choice of Stark over us. Had Geerok delivered on his promises, we wouldn’t have contacted the Kaachi.”
Bontu pointed with an angry finger. “Who is this foul being that stands among us?”
“This is Gnagarian Klept. He is a survivor from the Kaachi attack. We picked him up from one of the Kaachi ship remnants that was left after the battle. And, Gnaga, this is Bontu Montak, previously the High Chancellor for our region of Earth. For a brief period of weeks following the battle with your ships, Bontu had the favor of his emperor. Now he’s hunted by him and on the run.
“Bontu helped us to get where we are. His trust in us got us a Mawga ship, and from that this one. On Earth he stuck his neck out for us and almost lost his head for it. I trust Bontu and I call him a friend. As to that same designation for you, we’ll have to see how the meeting next week goes.”
Bontu scowled. “What meeting?”
Mace replied, “As I said, we sent a hundred crews through to be trained and equipped with Kaachi ships. Not to make war with the Mawga, but to add balance to an out of control situation with Stark and his goons. And you should be thanking Mr. Klept. His help was instrumental in us being able to add four reactors and fourteen extra transducers to this ship, which is the only reason any of us are alive right now.
“At the time of our meeting with his people, Gnaga may have had other intentions for the Mawga, but we did not. The moment Gnaga decided to help us, he became a part of this crew, just as you did when you decided to defect.”
Gnaga said, “A Mawga? Defecting? I’ve never heard of such. These things are not permitted.”
Johnny laughed. “Those rules just keep getting better and better.”
Mace sighed. “Look. What I’m trying to tell each of you here is that you’re no longer enemies. You’re all members of this crew. And as such, you’re equally valuable members of a team. And right now that’s a team that needs both of you to help if we’re to stay alive. We need those refiners or we’ll be out of fuel well before we starve to death.”
Gnaga said, “The Kaachi will give you all the fuel you need.”
Mace nodded. “If the time comes for that, great. But the last thing I want is to go into any further negotiations with the Kaachi or anyone else from a needful position.”<
br />
Bontu growled. “The Kaachi will stab you in the back!”
Mace glanced his way. “Just like Geerok did with both of us?”
Bontu rubbed his quivering chin in thought as his whiskers twitched in the air.
Mace looked back at Gnaga. “Mr. Klept, aside from Bontu being a Mawga, what do you have against him personally?”
Gnaga glared at having to answer. “Well, nothing I suppose. I’ve never had interaction with him before.”
Mace turned back. “And, Mr. Montak, other than being a Kaachi, what grievance do you have against Mr. Klept?”
“How is this relevant? He’s a Kaachi!”
Mace reiterated his question. “You have always listened to reason, Mr. Montak. Please listen to it now. Other than his being a Kaachi, admittedly a former enemy of the Mawga, a species to which you no longer belong by the way, how has he wronged you?”
Bontu scowled. “He hasn’t … I suppose.”
Mace took a deep breath. “Good. Finally getting somewhere.”
Jasper walked onto the bridge with Heeb and Hooba. Gnaga turned, raising his hands high in the air with his fingers pinched and curled downward. Another round of hissing and growling began.
Mace held up his hands. “Enough! Look, Gnaga, these Mawga are not your enemy. Bontu, please inform your cohorts that this Kaachi is on our side!”
Bontu crossed his arms with a scowl.
Mace took a step toward him with an angry expression.
Bontu stepped back. “Fine. Mr. Heeb, Mr. Hooba, this filthy Kaachi is not our enemy. We are not at war with this individual. He is assisting our friends, and therefore us. Please put aside all emotional responses and give the Kaachi at least the minimum of respect. We are not on this ship to fight with its crew.”
Mace nodded. “Good enough. Mr. Klept, please address the Mawga that stand before you. Assure them that you are here as a member of this crew, and that no actions will be taken by you against them. We all have to be one team here. Survival will be hard enough on its own without having to deal with petty squabbles. None of you have direct issues with each other. Let’s keep it that way.”
Gnaga was silent for several seconds. “I will make an effort to treat them as I would any other crew member. As you have pointed out, they are not direct enemies of mine.”
Mace clasped his hands together. “Great. And, Mr. Montak, when you return to the others, please pass this same message along.”
Gnaga glared. “There are more?”
Mace nodded. “A dozen total. And again, you’ve got no beef with them, they have none with you.”
Mace gestured toward Johnny and the comm station. “Mr. Montak, if you would like to continue, Johnny will be there to help you.”
Montak nodded as Heeb and Hooba joined him behind the three-hundred-pound Human’s chair.
Mace turned to Gnaga. “Let’s take a walk.”
As soon as they had left the bridge, Gnaga opened up: “You do realize this will greatly complicate a relationship with my people, right?”
Mace nodded. “The Mawga are here to stay. And they won’t interfere with whatever we’re doing. If anything, they should be an asset if we end up taking action against the their people.”
Gnaga said, “I hope you realize their loyalties will lie with their people.”
Mace shook his head. “I think their people put an end to that. This group made their decisions. They know there’s no going back. Their choice was to come with us or to stay and die in prison… if they were lucky. Seems an easy choice.”
Gnaga replied, “Yes. I suppose given the circumstance, we all might be a bit less patriotic.”
Chapter 16
*
Two hours later, the twenty Human-operated Mawga cruisers came into sensor and then comm range. The fleet commander opened a comm channel.
Mace nodded at Johnny for a connection. “It seems we forgot something during our last meet.”
The silhouetted commander replied, “And what might that be?”
Mace smiled and gestured for Johnny to broadcast the message. “We’ve decided we would like all of your shuttles. You can think of it as compensation for the food you destroyed. I hope you don’t mind.”
Seconds later, another darkened figure stepped into camera view and whispered to the silhouetted Human.
Johnny said, “I show bay doors opening on all ships and shuttles powering up. Also, Mr. Montak was kind enough to put a stop to all of their engines for twenty minutes. And to keep them busy, the life support will be cycling on and off along with the reactors. Should be a fun time for all their techs trying to figure out what’s going on and how to fix it.”
Mace looked directly into the camera. “Commander, it looks as though you’re having troubles. We’ll let you go so you can deal with them promptly.”
The comm closed.
Humphrey Mallot reported from the sensor console. “I’m showing eighty-two shuttles en route away from the Human ships. It looks as though Mr. Montak’s codes were still active.”
Mace nodded. “I just hope we didn’t waste a valuable tool on stealing shuttlecraft. That could have come in handy had we gotten into a fight.”
Johnny turned. “According to Mr. Montak, we might still be able to use it. Heeb and Hooba added a few routines that should allow us a backdoor into their systems. They’ll definitely block the main access code, but he’s hoping Stark’s crew won’t find the hacks.”
Mace asked, “Will the hacks allow us into any Mawga cruiser?”
Johnny shook his head. “Only those twenty. The universal code Bontu had would have worked on any of the ships in Geerok’s fleet, but we won’t have that kind of access anymore.”
Mace glanced back over at Humphrey. “Mr. Mallot, everything still according to plan?”
Humphrey replied, “The cruisers are offline, shuttles proceeding away, and all trajectories appear to be as programmed. I’d say we have a complete success on our hands.”
Mace stood. “Keep me abreast. I’m heading down to give Bontu the good news.”
After a short walk, Mace entered conference room C. Gnaga Klept was standing in a corner hissing as Bontu Montak snarled and growled.
Mace rushed in. “Ho! OK. Let’s calm down!”
The Kaachi and the Mawga each straightened up.
Gnaga bowed as he said, “I must apologize, Mr. Hardy. Bontu and I were merely explaining our confrontation to the others. We have each made our peace.”
Mace stepped back, leaning up against the conference room table. “So that’s it? All that show up on the bridge and you’re now instant friends?”
Bontu replied with a horrified look. “I can assure you, Mr. Hardy, we are anything but friends. However, we are both from pragmatic species. If there is a time for animosity… that time is not today.”
Mace crossed his arms. “Hmm. I find it interesting that you can both just set aside such strong feelings that fast. You know, we all share common traits, similarities in how we deal with others, and I’m a bit of a pragmatist myself, but you won’t find many Humans doing what you’re doing here. Two hours ago you two were mortal enemies.”
Gnaga replied, “We still are. We just don’t see a need to act out at this time.”
Mace asked, “So you’re willing to work beside each other so long as there’s no information about your species warring with each other? If the Kaachi come next week with news of a planned attack on the Mawga, the peace between you comes to an end?”
Gnaga looked at Bontu. Both returned a nod.
Mace unfurled his arms. “Mr. Montak, I came down to let you know the coded message worked. We have eighty-two shuttles heading off in the directions we programmed them for.”
Bontu pulled back. “Eighty-two? Each of those cruisers carries a compliment of four such craft. Where did the extra two come from?”
Mace opened a comm to Humphrey. “Mr. Mallot, are you certain there were eighty-two shuttles?”
Humphrey
replied, “Yes, sir. Just a moment. Data shows four from each cruiser, except one. Hmm. Those bays will only fit a single shuttle. Hold on… hmm. We have two vessels that don’t match a shuttle signature. Maybe half the size?”
Mace switched the comm to Liam. “Mr. Hobbs, can I assume we’ve left the cruisers behind?”
Liam replied, “We have. We’ll be outside sensor range in about four minutes.”
Mace stroked his beard in thought. “Mr. Hobbs, once outside range, put us on a heading toward one of those smaller ships.”
Liam nodded. “Setting the waypoints now.”
Mace turned to face Bontu. “Mr. Montak, you have any idea what ships of that size would be for? Smaller shuttles maybe?”
Bontu shook his head. “Vessels are expensive, Mr. Hardy. I’m not aware of anything smaller than a shuttle. There are private craft back within the empire that might be of such size, nothing that would be brought to potentially hostile territory.”
“Johnny?”
“Yes?”
“Get coordinates from Liam for a potential meet-up point between us and the closest one of those small ships. Let’s bring it aboard and see what it’s all about.”
“You got it.”
Seconds later, Liam replied, “Mr. Hardy, we should be pulling alongside the closest small craft in eleven minutes. Any special instructions?”
Mace shook his head. “No. Just have Jeff and David meet me in bay three. We should have room for it in there.”
Mace turned. “Mr. Klept, Mr. Montak, would you care to join me in bay three? And bring Mr. Heeb and Mr. Hooba with you. I get the feeling we’ll all find this interesting. I’ll meet you down there in a few minutes.”
As Mace turned into the hallway, Jasper was waiting. “I think you might want to proceed with more caution, Mr. Hardy. What if there are people on there?”
Mace shrugged. “We’ll disarm them. Where are they going to go?”
Jasper said, “Can we at least do a full scan before bringing them aboard? As your defensive safety officer, I would recommend that at a minimum.”
Mace chuckled. “Defensive safety officer? Where’d you get that from?”
HADRON Incursion Page 14
