Pursuing Dreams (The Young Soldier Book 1)

by MK Clark

  “I understand. We will do our best to accommodate, depending on our situation.”

  “Secondly, Lieutenant Patricks?”

  “Listening.”

  “Our mission timeline is going to need to be adjusted.”

  Kyomo nodded. “I understand,” she answered. “I will write up a new one with appropriate shifts changes. I might even be able to accommodate for this delay and have us still arrive on time.”

  “Don’t do anything the CP wouldn’t approve of.”

  Kyomo flashed a smile at Don. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. My team, get yourselves ready. You’re on red alert.”

  Chapter 20

  July 21, 626 T.A.

  Don was suited up, helmet in hand, and back on the bridge in minutes. For the moment, everyone was silent. It was as if the whole convoy was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break.

  Dukes shifted. “Captain, Bauer’s flight has a visual on the gate. They are reporting no bandits in the area.”

  Don glanced at the captain. He was frowning. Don could almost see the thoughts chasing each other behind the man’s eyes.

  “Bauer is sending Talons Two-Eight and Two-Nine to scout ahead.”

  Don nodded in silent agreement. There could be bandits behind the gate, where radars couldn’t reach them.

  “Clear,” Dukes finally reported. “There’s no one in sight.”

  “Thank you, Dukes. Please inform the rest of the convoy. Start with the Kitty Hawk; let’s not keep Lieutenant Patricks in the dark.”

  The captain glanced at Don. “Looks like we were wrong. I suppose you can stand down now.”

  “No, sir,” Don answered firmly.

  “Oh?”

  “Not until I’m ordered to, sir, begging your pardon.”

  The captain shrugged and reached for the comm. “Charlie, come in.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Can you find the distress beacon on the jump gate and activate it?”

  “Easily.”

  “Then prepare to spacewalk. I want this done quickly.”

  “Aye. Engine room out.”

  “O’Hara,” Dukes broke in, “your lieutenant says you can stand down.”

  Don nodded his acknowledgement and sighed inwardly. He felt a twinge of guilt at this. He really shouldn’t have wanted to see action, which would endanger the mission and passengers, yet he couldn’t deny the part of him that wished for it.

  “Jimmy, I’m going to need you to anchor for Charlie.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Dukes said and turned to Don. “You’re welcome to come with.”

  “No, thanks,” Don said, shaking his head slightly. “I think I’ll stick around here for a bit. That is,” he said, turning to Captain Hendricks, “if it’s all right with you, sir.”

  “That’s fine. Jimmy, step to, please.”

  Don took a step toward Dukes' console. “Captain, do you mind if I take a look?”

  “Fine, fine. Jillian, I’m gonna need you to get us close to that gate. Put your headset on and take directions from Charlie. Once we’re in position, you’re going to have to keep us steady.”

  It only took Don a moment to figure out how to work the screen in front of him. He flipped to a radar view.

  “Sure thing, Cap’n. Easy as pie.”

  “Mina to all ships. Captain Hendricks speaking. We will be stopping temporarily to activate the jump gate’s distress beacon. All ships should hold position until further notice. Mina out.”

  Don sighed. It was just as Dukes had relayed; there was nothing on radar but their convoy and the gate. Infrared showed the same. He donned Dukes' earpiece and began flipping through channels. Nothing, nothing, chatter from Chip’s team, nothing, nothing. Don frowned. It didn’t feel right. How could they all be wrong, even Yo-Yo? Were they really as paranoid as Captain Mitchell had said?

  “Easing in to position, Cap’n.”

  “And Charlie?”

  “Almost.”

  “Then proceed when you’re ready.”

  It bothered Don a little that he might be considered paranoid. He’d heard Space Jumpers referred to in that manner before, but had never thought much of it. Thinking back, he remembered tones of disdain. Why? What could make anyone think being prepared for the worst-case scenario was a bad thing? What if what they had feared had really taken place? What if they weren’t prepared for it?

  “Charlie has taken flight.”

  Don came to the end of his search, and started back at the beginning. He’d never realized just how much of their lives were lived in what-ifs, yet those two words were often exactly what kept them alive. Nothing, nothing, chatter, nothing, noise.

  Don had already flipped to the next channel before his fingers stopped. He flipped back. There was definitely noise: it wasn’t chatter but something else. Charlie? He glanced at Jillian, who was muttering to herself and frowning slightly. Couldn’t be. There hadn’t been enough time. Charlie was good, but not that good.

  “Captain,” he spoke up.

  Hendricks spared him a slightly bothered look.

  “I’m picking up some sort of signal.” Don knew his face must show the same uncertainty that he heard in his voice.

  “A signal? What do you mean?”

  Don shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure. It wasn’t there before, but it is now.”

  The captain held out his hand in a silent command. Don placed the earpiece in the man’s palm and moved to the side. Hendricks said nothing but began to move his hands across the console. It took about a minute for him to accomplish his objective. Then a message flashed across the screen.

  “It’s an encoded transmission,” he stated and then gave the earpiece back. Don saw his whole demeanor change. He was on the offensive now. “Jillian, has Charlie reached the gate yet?”

  “Aye.”

  Captain Hendricks pressed one of the buttons beside him. “Charlie, I need you to tell me exactly what you have done since leaving this ship.”

  “I landed close to the control console, opened it, and I was about to run a system scan.”

  “You noticed nothing unusual?”

  “I had to break a lock to get to the console. That is all.”

  Don watched the captain’s head dip. He took a deep breath. “Would you normally have to break such a lock, Charlie?”

  There was a long pause.

  “Sir, there’s some kind of device on this lock.”

  “It’s a transmission, Charlie. We picked it up a few minutes ago. We’ve just let the enemy know we’re here. Abort, Charlie, and get Dukes back up here.”

  “Captain, if I put out this distress call, we’ll only have to last till it’s answered.”

  “Then do it now, and do it fast.”

  Hendricks turned to Don. “Get on the extra console. Contact Specialist Bauer and then your lieutenant.”

  Don moved, squeezing the edge of his helmet tight. Kyomo had been right and yet wrong at the same time. If they hadn’t stopped, if they had just kept going, they would all be safe.

  He flipped to Talon’s channel and relayed the news. Bauer questioned him quickly after receiving the news, then turned his attention to his team. Don then hailed the Kitty Hawk.

  “We hear you, Mina.”

  “I need to speak with Lieutenant Patricks immediately.”

  “Hold.”

  Don tapped his fingers impatiently. He knew she couldn’t be far.

  “Lieutenant Patricks, coming in.”

  “Yo-Yo, we were right. It’s a trap. We’ve sprung it. There was a signal waiting to be sent when the lock on the gate’s console was broken.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. It could simply be an alarm in case the gate was tampered with.”

  Don’s mouth dropped open in shock. Wasn’t she the one who’d said it was a trap in the first place? “The captain said it was encoded and that it wasn’t an open-ended signal.”

  “I see. Has Bauer been informed?”

  “Ye
s.”

  “Then we are exactly where we were before. Be prepared to support if the need comes. That is all. I will inform the rest of the flight.”

  She signed off, and Don was left waiting once again. He could feel his body gearing up for the fight to come. He itched to move, to work off the energy that was building.

  Suddenly, Eli’s voice filled the room. “This is Talon Two-Six. Bogies incoming, quadrant two, level.”

  Don’s eyes flicked to where the captain stood. He must have opened the channel to the whole bridge.“O’Hara, find them.” The captain spoke without looking at him, snapping out orders in quick succession. “I need an ETA on contact with the convoy. Jillian, run a weapons check.” He picked up the com and continued, “Venom Two-Six, what is your estimated time to IFF confirmation?”

  “Confirmation in approximately two minutes, Mina,” Eli answered.

  Two minutes. Don closed his eyes in frustration. Two minutes was a long time.

  “O’Hara,” Hendricks continued, and Don’s eyes snapped open. “I need that ETA.”

  He quickly scanned the radars in from of him and reported, “Captain, if their speed remains constant, ETA is in four minutes.”

  Hendricks switched channels and spoke into his com once more, “Charlie, have you finished with that gate?”

  “No, sir. I will be a little longer than expected.”

  “We don’t have a little longer, Charlie. I need you out of there now.”

  “I’m very close now, Captain.”

  Captain Hendricks growled in frustration and then switched channels once more. “Bauer, can we get that IFF sooner?”

  “Aye, we could run two fighters ahead.”

  “Do it.”

  “Cap’n.” Jillian turned to look up at them. “Weapons systems are prepped and ready to go.”

  “Very good.” Hendricks passed a hand in front of his face and then looked toward Don. “That’s a good look,” he said quietly. “What are you thinking?”

  Don curled his hands into fists, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean, Captain?”

  “Just that. What are you thinking?”

  He hesitated, and then shrugged. “Flying, Captain. I was thinking about getting a chance to fly today.”

  Captain Hendricks nodded.

  “Sir?”

  The corner of the older man’s mouth twitched. “It was a good look.”

  “Mina, IFF is confirmed bandit. Prepare for rumble, ETA less than three minutes. Requesting a mobilization of Lieutenant Patrick’s flight.”

  Their bubble was broken. Don turned back to the console to hail the Kitty Hawk as the captain picked up his com. “Charlie, what are you still doing out there?”

  “I’m fixing the gate, sir.”

  Don’s head snapped up and he saw a look of dismay flash across Jillian’s face. When the captain spoke again, there was a sharpness that Don had not heard before. “This is not the time, Charlie!”

  “I know what’s wrong.”

  “Were sitting ducks here. We’ve got to move.”

  “This is the Kitty Hawk.”

  Don jumped again. He’d forgotten what he was doing. “Kitty Hawk, please notify Lieutenant Patricks that a request has been made to mobilize our flight.”

  “Understood,” the voice answered. “Stand by.”

  “Our best chance of survival is if I fix this gate.” Charlie was speaking again, the captain listening in stormy silence. “Then we can jump out of here. There’s nothing damaged. They just messed with the computer. I’m almost finished.”

  “We are out of time!” he growled. “Leave it, Charlie. That’s an order.”

  There was a long pause, and then Charlie spoke very quietly. “All due respect, sir, no.”

  Don felt his stomach twist into a knot. He glanced down to check the radar once more. “Captain,” he interjected, “ETA in one and a half.”

  “Jimmy, reel her in.”

  “I will cut the line myself, Jonathan.”

  “Dammit, Charlie!” Hendricks swore. “You’re going to get killed.”

  Don could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke. He suddenly understood something the captain had not spoken aloud: Charlie was not just the crewmember who’d been with him the longest.

  “The less you talk, the faster I’ll be.”

  Don reached for the console and switched channels. “Talon Two-Five, this is the Mina. We’ve got a man still on the gate. Evasive maneuvers will be unmanageable.”

  “Roger, Mina. Preacher, keep visual on our spacewalker.”

  Captain Hendricks’ eyes found Don’s as Bauer answered.

  “It didn’t sound like you were winning,” Don offered in explanation.

  The captain nodded.

  “Sir,” he continued, “ETA one minute. With your permission, I’ll leave for my station and await my orders there. I’ve already notified Lieutenant Patricks of Bauer’s request.”

  Again Hendricks nodded, and Don left. He pulled his helmet on as he walked. He couldn’t shake the unease that had infected him with the captain’s last glance. He flipped the last latch, air-locking his helmet as he reached the docking bay door.

  His hands were completely still now. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recognized the urgency that had coated Chip’s voice when he’d requested the mobilization of their flight. Something was very wrong. Don slipped easily into the seat of his Cobra. He had already prepped her; everything was ready for him. All he had to do now was buckle up and wait.

  His HUD showed the door to the bay opening. Don plugged in his APRIL, flipped his radio to the right channel, and waited. There was no chatter; Kyomo had arranged for them to coordinate on a different frequency before entering the fray. It wasn’t a long wait.

  “Venom Two-Zero to all: report!”

  “Two-One, standing by.”

  There was a pause as Don waited for Lana to answer. She didn’t.

  “Two-Four, standing by,” he answered.

  “Understood, General. Wait for your wing leader and then switch frequencies. Two-One and I will head out to back up Bauer’s team. You already know your objectives. General, take over for Preacher. Remember, no one is a hero. Let’s keep it that way. Yo-Yo out.”

  “Syke, out.”

  Silence once again filled his cockpit. His agitation grew as the seconds stretched. Finally, a breathless voice spoke. “Two-Three reporting.”

  “Just me, Lana. Yo-Yo and Syke have joined the fray. We’re to do the same ASAP. I’ve got guard duty on our spacewalker at the gate.”

  “Roger. Status report?”

  “Ready on your mark.”

  “Understood, then jump channels and light the fires. Get to your spacewalker. I’ll join you shortly.”

  “Roger. Two-Four, out.”

  Don flipped frequencies, and chatter washed over him. He edged his Cobra out into space. The battle had started, and on his HUD he could see Charlie’s lifeline float by, then Charlie herself clinging to the gate as she worked.

  The passenger transports had already positioned themselves behind the more-armed ships in the convoy. Don flew a loop around the Mina and came to rest a little way from Charlie.

  “Bauer, this is Two-Four. I’ve got a visual on the spacewalker.”

  “Roger, General. Preacher, on my tail.”

  Don switched the view on is HUD to get a better look at the bandits. What he saw floored him, and not only him.

  “What the hell is that?” Lana asked.

  “It’s huge,” Syke answered. “That’s got to be a Type C. No way it’s the same type as a frigate.”

  “It’s not like any ship I’ve ever seen, on either side.”

  “Are they pirates?”

  “Brevity!” a frustrated voice shouted. “Brevity!”

  “Shut it, Venom,” Kyomo ordered.

  “Break left, X-Ray.”

  “Three bandits incoming, quadrant two, Type A.”

  “―Tally one, your shiny side.�
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  “Type B sighted on Type C’s six.”

  “Two bandits headed your way, General. Quadrant three, level.” Lana made a pass by him. “Let’s go get them, General.”

  “Roger that. I’m on your six,” Don answered, then hailed the Mina and waited impatiently for the them to answer. When the channel blinked open, Don wasted no time on formalities. “Captain, get Charlie in that hatch! Two bandits incoming. We’re en route to intercept.”

  “Understood.”

  Don looked to his radars to locate the bandits as the radio chatter continued in the background.

  “The Kitty Hawk is in immediate danger from Type C.”

  “Roger. X-Ray on my six. We’re making a run.”

  A light blinked on his HUD. It was Lana hailing him on a private channel. He switched channels.

  “Lock on to them, General, and if you have a shot, fire. Our goal is to turn both of them away, not just one. We need them focused on us, not your spacewalker.”

  “Roger that,” Don answered and began to lock on to his target. The response was immediate. The bandits broke away in unison. Don took a moment to look at the view behind him. The Mina was still stationary against the gate, taking hits from other bandits. What was the captain doing? Or rather, what was Charlie forcing?

  “Lana, we’re too far out.”

  She swore in response and then closed their channel, forcing them to return to battle chatter.

  “There’s a bandit on your six, Bauer. I’ve locked on to him.”

  “Venom Two-Zero, fox three.”

  “You’re smoking, X-Ray.”

  It was immediately apparent that the others were too tied up to help, putting Don and Lana in a bind. If they retreated, the bandits would simply be in a better position for attack. Yet they could not leave the Mina unprotected, with only Jillian and Captain Hendricks at the helm. Sure that the Mina was still on the same channel, Don shouted for all to hear, “Captain Hendricks, this is not the time for niceties. Stun her if you have to, but get her in the hatch!”

  “Venom Two-One, Type B making a run for the convoy.”

  “This is the Eclipse. We are intercepting.”

  “General, we’re taking these two down. On me!”