Johnny pulled his wallet from a pocket on the outside of his battle suit. As a matter of fact, I do. This is Jane and me in Hawaii.”
Jasper shook his head. “You still carry a wallet? You scared you’ll need some ID at the galactic liquor store or what?”
Mace held up his hand. “OK, we all know where this is going. Mr. Collins, take care of the Rogers for us. Johnny, Jane, let’s get down to the Petunia so we can see what we’re in for. Mr. Crawford, the bridge is yours.”
As Mace turned, two small dogs blocked his exit.
Johnny knelt down. “What would you say about us taking the dogs with us? I’d like to see how Der reacts around the aliens.”
Jane shook her head. “You aren’t serious, are you? I don’t want to take Molly down to that ship. What if dogs are like food to them?”
Johnny laughed. “Fine. Molly can stay here. Mace? What you say?”
Mace sighed. “Might as well. We won’t be doing more than a little talking and poking around for a bit. I’d like to get an official tour of our new ship.”
Johnny scratched his dog’s head. “Hear that? You get to be the first dog on a Dellus warship. A warship named after a war dog. If we change her name we might even go with the Derwood.”
The eighteen-pound Dachshund eagerly followed along at his master’s heel. Twenty minutes later they were aboard the Petunia.
As the ramp to the shuttle lowered, the admiral was there to greet the new owners. The Dachshund charged down the ramp, attacking the leg of the Dellus commander. A look of terror came over his face. Johnny raced down, taking the dog by the collar and pulling him back.
“Sorry, Mr. Gar. I wasn’t expecting him to do that.”
The admiral settled himself. “Do Humans keep such ferocious animals as pets?”
Johnny laughed. “Again, sorry. Derwood here is anything but ferocious, I can assure you. Here, reach your hand over and pet him.”
The admiral pulled back. “I’d rather not lose a finger, Mr. Tretcher. I think I’ll refrain from such actions.”
Jane stood shaking her head. “Another Johnny moment.”
Mace pointed up the ramp. “I think your dog adventure is a bust. Take him back up. He can guard the shuttle for us.”
Johnny looked at the Dachshund as he carried it back into the shuttle. “What’s got into you, Der Der?”
The three Humans joined the rattled admiral for a tour. “I’ll start with what I believe would be most interesting to you. It is gun portal twelve. Just behind the wall we are following are the conduits that carry the charge. Each gun has an individual storage well, allowing us to keep all eighteen charged and at the ready. Once fired, the smaller well draws a charge from the main well. That can either be a full charge or divided among the guns in whatever manner we see fit.”
They turned the corner into the turret control room. “To the left we have a tracking station. The ship’s sensors provide the gun operator with targeting as it relates to this turret. Targets can be automatically prioritized or manually set.”
Mace asked, “Which do your gunners prefer?”
The admiral stopped in front of the console. “Automated, of course. The computer can track hundreds of targets and select those which best fit normal priorities. Our gunners, although well trained, have very limited ability to do that. During our simulated training sessions, the computer attacker will always defeat the individual running in manual mode.”
Johnny squatted to look at the console controls. “Then why even have a manual mode?”
The admiral shrugged. “I suppose it is left over from a bygone era. Anyway, shall we move on?”
After a short walk, the tour arrived at the next destination. “Welcome to the reactor station. The Petunia has twenty-four full-capacity reactors running.”
Jane asked, “What’s this big empty space for?”
“That space was designed in for eventual expansion. At one time, Dauntless class was the most powerful ship class in the Union. She was to get thirty-six reactors, but those plans were scrapped when the Callista design was approved.”
Jane said, “So we could add a dozen reactors if we so desired?”
The admiral stopped in thought. “I suppose. However, the speed of this ship is limited by its drive systems. The maximum power is already available to the drives.”
Jane gestured back toward the gun. “Wouldn’t the extra reactors speed the recharge time during a fight?”
The admiral nodded. “They would, but the Callista came along, negating that need. As I’m certain you have already surmised, the founders are very suspicious of each other. The balance of power is maintained through having equally powerful fleets. When new systems are brought into the Union, care is also taken to maintain that balance. Even if discovered by a single species, another may challenge that right. The result is usually that the system in question is confiscated by the Union and passed to her other members.”
Mace chuckled. “Yeah. I’ve gotten the impression the game is rigged for the founders. In the end, when the entire galaxy has been explored, the founders will have all the power, with the lower tier species still scraping by with a handful of systems.”
The admiral slowly nodded. “I can neither confirm nor deny that vicious rumor, Mr. Hardy. And when in the presence of other Union members, I would be careful not to repeat it. Sedition is punishable by death.”
“Noted.”
The tour continued, next moving into a hydroponics area. “Gentlemen, and lady, welcome to hydroponics. The Dauntless was our laboratory of sorts for the larger vessels. We are able to grow 20 percent of the food we require. This room allows us to stay on station more than 40 percent longer than otherwise. It also offers a bit of variety from the nutrient bars we normally consume. And I will have to say, I am quite fond of the smell of this room. I can sometimes be found pacing its floors in thought. The life in here adds a freshness to the air. The remainder of the ship has a slightly sterile odor to it.”
Johnny said, “I’ve noticed the gravity on this ship is bit on the light side. Would that be set to the equivalent of your home world?”
Hatuk Gar nodded. “Your world, Earth, is 106 percent our standard gravity. Not intolerable, but life would be a somewhat laborious existence there for us. The Fleck world is 2 percent lighter than ours; however, they are a very adaptable species. Their bodies will strengthen after a month or two of exposure, where it would take years for us to adjust to the gravity of Earth.”
Johnny said, “So it has never been the intention of the Union to invade?”
The admiral smiled. “Precisely, Mr. Tretcher. We possess through our rule and not our physical presence. There are a number of planets with a much higher gravity than Earth. We have yet to find one that had intelligent life. But the animals they produce tend to be both bizarre and ferocious.”
Johnny chuckled. “Like my wiener dog back there?”
The admiral shook his head. “I can assure you your pet is docile in comparison, Mr. Tretcher. Imagine a beast twice your size with teeth as long as my forearm. A meat-eater of course, with an appetite for smaller beings such as you and I. The Maglidox. A beast that travels in packs. They are hunters, taking their time to corner their prey, which they always catch. I’ve seen video of such a beast taking a full plasma round from one of our rifles… and it kept coming.”
The admiral shuddered. “A terrifying beast, I can assure you.”
The tour continued through the dining hall and other crew areas before finishing at the wormhole generator.
The admiral beamed with pride. “Behold the wonder of modern space travel! With sufficient fuel, we could be on the other side of the galaxy in a day.”
Mace asked, “The material you use to create the wormhole, how exactly does that work?”
The admiral smiled. “The physics of that feat is well beyond my grasp, Mr. Hardy. From what I’ve been told, when the gatrellium is put through the fission process with dark matter, an exotic e
lement is produced. High magnetics are then used to tear open a tiny hole in the fabric of space-time. The exotic is used to push the edges of the wormhole outward, and is consumed in the process. I understand that explanation leaves many questions. Unfortunately that is the best description of the process I can provide.”
Mace returned a smile. “I’m right there with you, Admiral.”
The tour concluded on the expansive bridge. Fleck crewmen scurried about conducting the daily tasks of running a warship.
The admiral clasped his hands together as he gestured toward the captain’s chair. “Mr. Hardy, what shall be the first order for your new ship?”
Mace walked over, climbing a step to sit in the chair. “I think we take it for a ride. No, wait. How difficult would it be for you to order up a cargo ship loaded with reactors, Mr. Gar? We have food, we have transducers … can we get more reactors?”
The admiral frowned. “Full size? I’m afraid not, Mr. Hardy. The Union keeps strict count of the reactors.”
Johnny said, “We got the spares we have on the Rogers through salvage. Are there any ship boneyards out there? From fighting between species?”
“When two species go to war, any ships that are completely taken out of service must be demolished. The Mawga were responsible for seeing to it that the Kaachi remnants you raided were destroyed. If it comes out in court that the Mawga neglected their duty, this system could be taken from their control. As we are beginning to see Union interaction with your king, that may happen regardless.”
Mace sat back. “So what we need is more remnants. I have an idea of where we could get some.”
Jane offered a half smile. “You’re talking Stark’s ships, aren’t you?”
Mace nodded. “With this ship we should be able to go in and take whatever we want.”
The admiral raised a finger. “I must caution you, Mr. Hardy. The Mawga will report that a Dauntless-class founder dreadnought visited their system. This ship is no longer supposed to exist. She was listed as destroyed in battle over a century ago. We hid her away with hopes of receiving a replacement from the Union. That replacement is still the subject of controversy between the Dellus and the other founders. The other six are quite happy with their single ship advantage, and they each blame us for putting such a valuable commodity in harm’s way.”
Mace rubbed his forehead. “OK, how about this: we lift off and take her for a run around Jupiter and her moons. I’d like to see how she handles, and I’d like to fire her guns.”
The admiral bowed. “So be it, Captain.”
The admiral clapped and gave an angry expression. “Do as your captain commands!”
The Fleck crewmen began to scramble.
Mace opened a comm. “Mr. Crawford, we’re going for a little ride. Do your best to shadow us. We may fire our guns, so have Mr. Mallot do his best with those sensors. I want data that our team can study. Consider this a practice run.”
Jordan nodded. “Roger that, Mr. Hardy. Lead the way when you’re ready.”
Chapter 27
*
~~~~~
The run out and around Jupiter went smoothly. All eighteen plasma cannons were fired at once, twelve of them obliterating a small rocky outcropping on Callisto. After a five-hour run, the Petunia returned to the ice-capped northern pole of Mars, settling at a position a hundred meters above the frozen expanse below.
Johnny asked, “Admiral, how difficult would it be to transfer one of these cannons to the Rogers?”
The admiral offered a confused look. “Why would you want to do that, Mr. Tretcher?”
Johnny said, “That ship has a defense equal to this, but a puny set of cannons. Can one of these be moved?”
The admiral drew a deep breath. “I suppose. However, it would leave this ship vulnerable.”
Johnny crossed his arms. “How so? Every angle of fire is still covered with the existing cannons. Besides, as you just suggested, we can’t take this ship to Earth. The Union would be all over us. The Rogers we can take. If one of these cannons could be transferred, how long would it take?”
The admiral huffed. “I suppose next you will want to be stripping her of her reactors.”
Johnny nodded. “An excellent idea. When can we get started with that?”
Mace asked, “What do you have in mind with all this?”
Johnny grinned. “A confrontation with Stark. We go in and demand that he turn over three or four of his ships.”
Jane shook her head. “He’s not going to turn over anything.”
Johnny shrugged. “I think he could be persuaded. Turn over three or four or we destroy them all. If we get one of these cannons, and a half dozen more reactors onto the Rogers, we could demand such from him.”
Mace stroked his beard. “I actually like that idea. With four of those ships, we replace the reactors for this ship, and we have ourselves a stockpile of parts for future needs. It also sends a signal that Stark is weak. We could even go so far as to broadcast propaganda to everyone else there, hopefully planting the seeds for a rebellion against him. At the moment, the people have no alternative.”
Johnny nodded. “Then we give them one.”
The admiral balked at the order, but then complied. The Petunia was moved to within a kilometer of the Rogers. A continuous stream of shuttle flights saw a small army of Fleck workers moving in and about the former Kaachi cruiser. Jasper Collins followed the workers with a constant suspicious eye. Four days later the reactors were installed, eight in all, along with two of the powerful plasma cannons.
Mace sat on the bridge with Jordan Crawford. “This ship is now as powerful as any in the Union fleet. We also have a huge advantage when in atmosphere. We’re smaller and more maneuverable, and even with the extras we’re packing, we consume less fuel and require fewer crewmen than those behemoths. I would take a fleet of these over those any day.”
Jordan nodded. “I presume you will want to command her on this run back to Earth?”
Mace nodded. “With you right here, Mr. Crawford. The situation there will be fluid. I’m certain to be in need of your advice.”
Jordan glanced up at the image of the Petunia on the holo-wall. “Who will be hanging back with her? You don’t plan on leaving it alone with the admiral, do you?”
Mace scratched his chin. “I think the admiral will do whatever we say, but I’m with you. I’d like to at least have a small crew of us on there. I was thinking we send shuttle team 2 back over. They can camp on the admiral while we take care of Stark.”
Jordan agreed. “Sounds reasonable.”
Mace asked, “How are we stocked for food on here?”
“We have enough to last about three months,” said Jordan. “Every one of those reactors we add cuts into our storage space.”
“Three months will do. Have you had lunch?”
Jordan nodded. “About an hour ago. If you’re hungry, I’m more than happy to watch the bridge. Nothing happening now but those reactors being tuned. Jeff says we’ll be able to fire those cannons twice per second.”
“Possibly faster. He’s working with Gnaga on a conduit update that might cut the charge time in half.”
Jordan climbed into the captain’s chair. “For a group with so little experience, who got kicked off their planet, we seem to be doing pretty well, Mr. Hardy. Everything’s been going our way of late.”
Let’s hope it stays that way, Mr. Crawford. We’re still a long way from home, and at the moment we don’t have a path back.”
“We get Stark out of the way and I think we go home. And I have to say I prefer Mr. Gar’s offer of an alliance over servitude to the Union. That gives us something to fight for, and not just against.”
Mace wandered down to the dining hall, grabbing his ration of nutrient bars, a beverage, and plopping himself down at his favorite table.
Tres came from the kitchen and sat down. “How are the installs going?”
“The reactors and guns are both in place. Just las
t-minute touches being taken care of now. We’ll be having a meeting in about half an hour to discuss our next move. It might be back to Earth to confront Stark. How’s Vanessa?”
“She’s getting big. Should be having the girls in about six weeks. In all the scans we’ve done, they all look healthy.”
Mace chuckled. “I know it’s a stretch right now, but maybe we can make it back to Earth for the birth.”
Tres leaned on the table. “I don’t know. Maybe having the girls be the first Humans born in space would be something they could carry with them throughout life. Might be kind of cool.”
Mace took a bite of a nutrient bar. “Funny the things we think of sometimes. You’re right. Maybe it could be a good thing.”
“What are the plans for a visit?”
Mace took a sip of his beverage, swirling the mystery liquid around in the cup in front of him. “I think we’ll know when we get there. At the moment we’re talking of going in with a demand for four of the Mawga cruisers. I have no idea how we’ll convince Stark to part with them. What I do know is we can take anything they can dish out. Our defenses are as powerful as the best ship the Union has. Those cruisers won’t cause any more damage than a swarm of gnats buzzing around us. And since Stark is trying to deal with the Union, he can’t modify those ships.”
When Tres was called back to the kitchen, Mace made his way to bay three just as the last of the Fleck workers departed.
Jasper stood tapping his foot. “Before we go anywhere, I want to sweep this ship from top to bottom for bugs.”
“I thought you kept them all in a tightly confined area?”
“I did. All it takes is one and the Dellus know our every move.”
Mace nodded. “OK then. You might want to get started on your search. We’ll be meeting in a few minutes to discuss a possible encounter with Stark. You’re welcome to participate or continue your search, whichever you like.”
The meeting of the senior crew was over in fifteen minutes. The Rogers would approach Earth with an open agenda. Once contact was made, demands would be put forth. If not complied with, damage would be done to the Mawga cruisers, with care taken to not end any lives. Worst case, they would return without the cruisers they sought. The members of shuttle crew 2 were shipped over to the Petunia with orders to shadow the Rogers but not engage. They were to keep maximum sensor distance from the Rogers, where deniability of the presence of a dreadnought was still valid.
HADRON Incursion Page 24
