Scrapyard Ship 3 Space Vengeance

by Mark Wayne McGinnis

  The last ship to phase-shift in, The Lilly hovered within the Dreadnaught’s primary inner corridor, which spanned miles and ran the length of the ship. The corridor’s five hundred foot span allowed more than enough room, wing-tip to wing-tip, for The Lilly to move forward unhindered.

  Immediately hundreds of hover security drones appeared from multiple directions. Plasma fire erupted from each as the small meter-long drones maneuvered defensively, constantly changing location.

  As things stood, there was little any outside threat could do to harm The Lilly, now moving forward within the confines of the Dreadnaught’s main corridor. Her shields, again at one hundred percent, were virtually impregnable from handheld, or drone, weaponry.

  “I’d like to go along, Cap,” Orion said.

  “I want you here, ensuring our rail-guns are getting repaired, and to stay on tactical, watching our back.”

  “Repair drones are working the guns; should have them back to normal within the hour. I’ll watch your back better with a multi-gun in my hand,” she replied.

  The armory was crowded as Jason, Ricket, and several crewmen suited up. Jason finished locking his helmet into place and opened his visor.

  “Not this time, Gunny. Be my eyes and ears on the bridge. I trust you more than anyone else up there. Shouldn’t say that, I know, but just the same that’s the way it is.” He moved out into the corridor and found Billy and Rizzo leaning against the bulkhead.

  “Team ready?”

  “In the mess. And they’re more than ready,” Billy replied. He gave Jason a crooked smile.

  “Where’s Traveler?” Jason asked as they entered the mess hall.

  Ricket stopped and accessed his virtual notepad. “If he remembered to put on his belt, he’ll be showing up right about … Now.”

  Traveler appeared mid-step and nearly lost his balance. He stood up tall and glared down at Ricket. “Let me know when you’re going to do that.” Bending low he looked closely at Ricket, peering into his visor. “Ricket?”

  “It’s me.”

  Traveler huffed and stood back up to face Jason. “Reds and Greys fighting together, I am skeptical. Today is an ominous day, Captain.”

  Billy’s team of thirty fresh SEALs gathered around. “Everyone up to speed? You all know the drill?” Jason asked, making eye contact with each of them.

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Jason brought up his own virtual notepad and a 3D representation of the Dreadnaught’s internal corridor. “Billy, Rizzo, Traveler, Ricket, and myself will phase-shift right onto their bridge. Team leaders, the rest of you will phase-shift to perimeter access positions: here, here, and here, with your ten-man teams, and clear any opposition forces. The Craing are cowards, for the most part, so watch out for Serapins and other combatants. Let’s get control of this vessel quickly so we can move on to phase two and create as much havoc as possible for the rest of their fleet.” Jason then added, “Ricket will be phase-shifting us in force simultaneously. Everyone ready?”

  “Ready,” came their unified response. Weapons came up, poised for action.

  Jason watched as Ricket accessed the necessary phase-shift configurations via his HUD, and with a familiar white flash, everyone phase-shifted out of the mess.

  * * *

  The Craing apparently were ready for them. An army of fifteen Serapins rushed forward from their sentry positions around the bridge. A sixteenth Serapin lay on the deck. Traveler had unwittingly phase-shifted on top of the creature. With a huff, Traveler kicked at the Serapin’s head, sending it skittering across the deck plates.

  The Serapins rushed forward from all directions. Jason and the others brought their multi-guns up to bear, firing continuously. Five Serapins quickly went down while the remaining others moved in, jaws opened wide, ready to strike. Jason’s team had gotten accustomed to phase-shifting on the fly back on HAB 12, and now each shifted, sometimes mere feet away, with no more than a moment’s notice. Jason shifted to his left and fired as the closest Serapin stumbled into the open space Jason had just vacated. With two lethal plasma bursts to its head, the beast went down hard. He had not expected this level of resistance this early on in the mission. An indication he’d need to be prepared for the unexpected moving forward. Turning to his right, Jason saw that three Serapins were converging on Rizzo. When the young SEAL shifted several feet away and then reappeared behind them, Jason and Rizzo fired until the three went down. Now sixteen dead or dying Serapins lay around the bridge. Billy moved from one carcass to another, sending one more lethal shot into each of the Serapin’s heads.

  Jason headed directly for the raised section at the far side of the bridge, where four medallion-wearing Craing officers nervously stood. Each wore a sidearm, but only one, wearing the bronze medallion, had the stones to pull it. Jason didn’t hesitate to shoot him between the eyes. Propelled right off his feet, the Craing officer went airborne into the bulkhead behind. The others raised their hands in submission. Without slowing his pace, Jason grabbed at their medallions and, one by one, tore them from their necks.

  “Lose your weapons,” he commanded.

  The three Craing looked up at him, perplexed.

  “Drop your belts—now!”

  They did as they were told.

  Turning to face his team, Jason was surprised to see Ricket was already at work and seated at a nearby station. No less than twenty-five Craing crewmembers, many splattered with blood from the Serapins, sat stunned at their consoles.

  “Captain, security hover drones have been taken offline.” Ricket looked up and gestured to the Craing crewmembers. “We’ll need to enlist the crew’s help to instigate tactical operations against the rest of the fleet.”

  Jason noticed the Craing crewmembers were taking special notice of Ricket, obviously seeing the resemblance to their renowned past Emperor Reechet. Jason figured he could use this to his advantage.

  “Ricket, translate this for me. It’s better they get the message in their home language and coming from you.” Jason walked along the rows of Craing crew. “I am Captain Jason Reynolds. By now you may have heard of me, and my ship The Lilly. The ship that singlehandedly went up against five hundred Craing fleet warships.” The Craing obviously had heard as they began to murmur excitedly among themselves. He continued. “Normally, I would kill you and set an example to the rest of your fleet that I mean business. Can anyone here tell me why I shouldn’t kill you all, right now? Anyone? Shush! Don’t just call out, raise your hands.”

  Hands shot up all around. “You! Make it good, or you’ll be the first to die.”

  The Craing, who looked remarkably like the others, in Jason’s view, immediately pulled back his hand and shook his head. Jason pointed his multi-gun and shot him in the foot. He fell off his chair onto the deck, both hands holding his injured appendage.

  “You’ll live,” Jason barked. Since killing the bronze-medallioned officer, he’d switched to a heavy stun setting.

  More hands went up.

  “You, why shouldn’t I kill you right now?”

  “Because we will do whatever you ask. Please do not kill us.”

  “Good answer. But before I ask anything of you, someone tell me this: of the three Dreadnaughts, which bridge crew is best? And I mean, which bridge crew kicks ass? This one or one of the others? And remember, I only have need for one bridge crew.”

  Again, they looked to one another, talking more openly and with more conviction.

  “We are by far the most excellent crew.”

  “Show me. Destroy one or both of the other Dreadnaughts and you will not only live, but will be generously rewarded with positions on The Lilly, or other vessels in our fleet.”

  There was quiet hesitation. The Craing crew knew that any decision once given could not be taken back; they would be committed. Jason wanted a crew who would come to the same conclusion on its own. A crew that would be trustworthy, and not change position as soon as Jason’s back was turned.

  “I know ho
w to commandeer at least one of the other Dreadnaughts, if not both,” a voice from across the room said in excellent English. He was the Craing who’d worn a red medallion, something Jason hadn’t seen before.

  “Who are you?”

  “I am Empire Fleet Commander Han Di.”

  Billy snickered, but quickly stifled it.

  “Okay, Han Di, speak up. I’m all ears.”

  The figure of speech seemed to derail the commander for a moment, but he carried on anyway. “Dreadnaughts can cluster.”

  “Explain,” Ricket said, jumping from his seat and moving closer to the commander.

  “As many as four Dreadnaughts can cluster together, connecting lengthwise. Any Dreadnaught with two or more clustered vessels is referred to as a Meganaught.”

  Jason was unimpressed. “What good would that do us? Why would another Dreadnaught even consider doing this cluster-thing with a vessel that has been boarded by the enemy?”

  This brought a smile to the commander’s face. “Two reasons, Captain. First, although there is heightened security within the fleet, your presence here, within this vessel, is still unknown. Second, not only is this the command ship for the fleet, I am the fleet commander. If I give the order to cluster, which is not uncommon, I will not be challenged.”

  Commander Han Di seemed to know what Jason would ask next. “No, Captain, I cannot command the fleet to surrender. Out there, among the fleet, are three heavy cruisers with dignitaries and overlords present. Ordering Dreadnaughts to cluster is one thing; to surrender a fleet is another.”

  Ricket now stood before Commander Han Di. “The clustering of Dreadnaughts … which one would have supervisory systems command?”

  “This one, of course,” said Commander Han Di. Then he turned to Jason. “I ask one thing in return, Captain.”

  “You mean above and beyond your life?”

  “I ask that I remain in command. Under your orders, of course.”

  “And you expect me to … what, simply trust you?” Jason asked.

  “Captain, change has been coming to the Craing for some time now. We know you have been to our home worlds; you know of the dissent there, yes?”

  Jason shrugged.

  “Plundering, killing off complete species, races of other intelligent life forms, with little thought of repercussions—it sickens me. It sickens many.”

  “There’s other ways to instigate change, other than joining the side of your enemy,” Jason replied.

  “You are not the enemy; our enemy lies within our own culture. And someday, when things have changed, I will return home.”

  “You don’t want to cross me, Commander Han Di. But for now, this is your vessel. Instruct all hands to put down their arms and do as they’re told.”

  “We’ll need to open communications immediately, before there are any more suspicions,” Commander Han Di said. “And please return my medallion.”

  Jason looked to Ricket. “What do you think?”

  “There is little we risk by going along with it, and much to gain. I suggest we trust him, for now.”

  Jason found the red medallion among the others on the floor. He picked it up, looked over at Commander Han Di, and said, “Here, catch.”

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 39

  Tension was high, but all was relatively quiet on board The Lilly, still stationed outside the Dreadnaught’s bridge in the vessel’s primary corridor. The command to the three Dreadnaughts to cluster had been given by Commander Han Di. Each vessel now moved on an intercept course and would unite with the others within the next hour. Jason put Seaman Gordon on Comms to closely monitor all Craing fleet intership communications. The Lilly’s presence, and that of the other Mau ships lying within Han Di’s Dreadnaught, had not been detected.

  Jason sat in the command chair as the same question kept nagging at him. Why had Granger and the Caldurians gone to all the trouble of installing the communications equipment for the interface only to screw with them in the end? Then he thought about the Crystal City: a virtual ghost ship that had used the same interface wormhole-type travel—but how? Who on board had requested the in-and-out points? Everyone on board had died, yet someone had remotely transported it across space … but who?

  The logistical view above him showed the three Dreadnaughts moving closer together. From what Jason understood, once clustered together the three Dreadnaughts’ central corridors would be opened, thereby creating one huge continuous corridor between vessels. At that point, Jason would unleash the might of the Red and Grey rhino-warriors, the SEAL teams, and The Lilly itself. He’d continue using his previous success method of fighting battles from within, and stake claim to the other two Dreadnaughts just as he had this one.

  “Captain. We’re being hailed. Deep space, unknown contact, sir,” Seaman Jeffery Gordon said.

  “On screen, Seaman.”

  Granger’s face appeared on the display; this time he wasn’t smiling. Sweat glistened from his brow and something seemed amiss about the scene behind him.

  “Jason, I do apologize for the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in.”

  “And what, Granger, is that situation?” Jason asked, doing his best to keep his temper in check.

  “You, there, facing insurmountable odds against the Craing fleet—and me, I guess you could say, I’ve been overruled. There’s been a change in policy and I need to adhere to a different set of standards. This is coming from the interface—not from me, and not from the Caldurians. I do apologize.”

  “Time is short, Granger. What exactly does that mean for the Allied fleet?”

  “It means we will no longer provide technology to alien races, namely yours and the Craing. To go against the interface is not advantageous for Caldurians’ long-term wellbeing.”

  “And what about the Craing? They’re no longer considered a threat?”

  “Oh, they’re most definitely a threat. This isn’t a one or the other situation. It’s both.”

  “You made promises. Lives are at stake.”

  Granger did not respond.

  “I told you once, Granger, you don’t want me for your enemy.”

  “It’s out of my hands. I am not your enemy, but if that is what you want, I can live with that. The chances of our meeting again are quite slim. You wouldn’t even know which universe to find me in. Good luck, Jason. I mean that.”

  “The connection is broken, Captain,” Seaman Gordon reported.

  Fuming, Jason looked up to see Ricket standing at his side.

  “A most unfortunate situation, Captain,” Ricket said. “But I think I may have an idea.”

  “How to find Granger?”

  “No, not Granger. How to find, or at least contact, the interface.”

  * * *

  Jason, with Ricket in tow, ported to Deck 2 and together they entered the Zoo. They made a beeline for the Drapple’s habitat.

  Jack, broom in hand, waved from the far end of the hall. The window portal for the Drapple was among the most dramatic of all the habitats: as if an ocean’s width spanned unchecked before him, the crystal-clear aqua water was void of any movement. Jason, feeling checked anger return, pounded on the portal.

  “Can I help you, Captain?” Jack asked, looking up from his sweeping.

  “How do I get the Drapple to show up?”

  “He shows up when he wants. It’s not like I can ring a bell and he comes running.”

  Jason glared at him for a moment before looking down at Ricket. “Do you have any ideas?”

  “Not really, Captain.”

  Frustrated, Jason looked back to the habitat and nearly jumped out of his boots. There before him was the Drapple.

  “Can he hear me?”

  “If this organism, or whatever they call it, is actually tied to the interchange, I would suspect yes,” replied Ricket.

  “Are you the one called the interface?”

  The bottom portion of the six-foot-long worm swayed back and forth in the water. Slow
ly the Drapple turned to face Jason, its features serious.

  The portal window began to vibrate and, similar to how a radio frequency is tuned in—full of static and weaker at first, but then stronger and clearer, a strong voice emanated into the Zoo. The interface was speaking.

  “We are not one, but many. Yes, an aspect of our existence spends time here. This aquatic environment comforts us. But, more importantly, physical existence here among your kind enables us to watch your progress. Humans are such an intriguing species.”

  “So you are aware of our situation. Our efforts to stop the Craing fleet?” Jason asked.