“It’s a big jump to Mavlon,” said Pointer. “Four hundred million klicks.”
“That’s more than two days on gravity engines,” said Quinn.
“Something makes me think the Ghasts lack the patience for such a long journey,” said Blake. “We’ll make the jump.”
The Ghasts didn’t give an argument. The three vessels entered a short lightspeed jump, emerging sixteen million kilometres from Mavlon. There was a considerable amount of debris in the area they arrived and the ES Abyss’s energy shield deflected several uneven lumps of rock. In other circumstances, Blake would have used missiles to clear a path, or simply divert elsewhere. With the presence of hostiles likely, he didn’t wish to draw attention.
“Sorry, sir, I missed those,” said Pointer.
“No matter. They not going to bring our shield down. Keep your eyes on the planet and the area around.”
“With a few changes, Mavlon could support life,” said Cruz. “Maybe in a few million years there’ll be amoebae.”
“Something to look forward to,” laughed Hawkins.
“It’s bigger than anything in the Confederation,” said Quinn. “Room enough for a hundred billion.”
“History is beginning to teach that we should spread ourselves far and wide,” said Blake. “The more of us there are in one place, the more vulnerable we become.”
Mavlon had two moons and it took several frustrating circuits before the comms teams were able to say for certain there was nothing to be found.
“The more uneven the surface, the longer it takes,” Pointer explained. “Mavlon has lots of mountains and it’s heavily pitted, presumably from these stupid asteroids which keep hitting our shield.”
“Pels and Tondar are way beyond Dranmir,” said Blake. “Each time we do a fission jump there’s a chance we’ll be seen and I’d far rather stay hidden for now.”
“I think I’ve located something,” said Cruz. “I’m not sure if it’s Vraxar.”
“Show me.”
“There’s a fluctuation of some kind running across Dranmir’s corona. I thought it was natural for a moment, but it’s actually moving in a dead straight line.”
Cruz used the data to generate a graphic to show what she’d found. Blake watched what appeared to be a tiny V-shaped ripple moving above the corona. It travelled with unhurried interest, like a shark on the lookout for prey.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“I think that’s the effect of a Neutraliser’s suppression field,” she said. “I estimate they’re at an altitude of about sixty million klicks – hot enough to warm their toes but not enough to burn up.”
“That’s twice we’ve caught them skimming over a sun. It’s enough to be interesting, if not yet enough to call it their method.”
“I’m more astounded they’ve had an observable effect on a body as large as a star,” said Quinn. “Even if it is only a tiny, tiny fraction of the whole.”
“We still don’t know what material they use in those Neutralisers. The Space Corps’ scientists assume it’s a type of Obsidiar but they have no idea how to replicate the effect,” said Blake. “Therefore, we only have guesses about what they can do with it.”
“Want me to transmit our findings to the Ghasts?” asked Cruz.
“Yes, with a strong recommendation we wait before taking action.”
“The Ghasts acknowledge and they are holding position.”
“I want to know if it’s just a Neutraliser we’re seeing, or if it’s got an escort.”
“It’s going to be difficult to get you a definite answer, sir. It’s easier for our sensors to pick up the suppression effect on the corona than it is for them to see what’s causing it.”
“I don’t want to get any closer until I have a better idea what we’re facing. If it’s a lone Neutraliser, we’re going to blow the crap out of it. If it’s in formation with a dozen battleships we’re going to watch them for a while and then say goodbye to the Dranmir system.”
It wasn’t an easy job for the human or Ghast sensors. They observed the Neutraliser across a great distance, trying to piece together snippets of data into something resembling certainty.
“There’s a single Neutraliser, along with two of their light cruisers that we fought above Atlantis,” concluded Pointer.
“There’s a fourth spaceship as well,” said Cruz. “It’s bulky and approximately four thousand metres in length, of a type unknown.”
“It’s the only one not flying in formation,” said Pointer.
Blake frowned. “Explain.”
“The other Vraxar ships are maintaining an exact formation. This fourth one is behind and to one side. It’s gradually falling back from the others.”
“Can we destroy it separately?”
“Not yet. It will be an option in the near future if it remains on its divergent course.”
There wasn’t much information on this unknown fourth vessel, other than its dimensions. It was too far away to determine its offensive capabilities, if any.
“On proportions alone, it’s like a much smaller version of the main Vraxar ship which took the Juniper.”
“Fleet Admiral Duggan said he expected the Vraxar to transfer the Determinant’s memory arrays onto Ix-Gorghal, didn’t he?” said Hawkins. “Maybe that’s a carrier of some kind with the wreckage loaded into its hold.”
“Just waiting for us to drop in and destroy it,” said Blake, rubbing his chin in thought.
He was momentarily lost for what to do. Faced with an opposing fleet of spacecraft it was best to focus fire on the greatest threat, that being the Neutraliser. Afterwards, the mopping up could begin. In this situation, Blake was very interested in the fourth Vraxar vessel – if it was indeed carrying the ES Determinant, that made it the primary target. He didn’t want to pick the wrong opponent and have the other Vraxar vanish into lightspeed, whereupon they might be lost until they chose to show their faces again.
“The Ghasts are becoming impatient, sir,” said Cruz. “I think they want to get in there and start shooting.”
“Hold them off,” said Blake. “It’s important we pick the best target.”
Blake was shortly given a reminder that he wasn’t in overall charge of the mission.
“Tarjos Nil-Tras wants to speak, sir.”
“Bring him in.”
The Ghast didn’t mince words.
“Captain Charles Blake, why are we sitting out here [translation ambiguous: scratching our behinds] while the enemy continue unmolested on their course?”
“I believe the fourth Vraxar spaceship may be carrying the remains of the Space Corps vessel ES Determinant. If we destroy it, there is a chance the Vraxar will no longer be able to locate our planets.”
“What evidence do you have for this?”
Blake didn’t enjoy lying. “No direct evidence.”
“Then we destroy the Neutraliser.”
“What if I’m right?”
“Then you cannot berate yourself for choosing incorrectly between two guesses.”
“The Neutraliser, then.”
“Yes, Captain Blake. We will exit lightspeed right on top of it and punch a way through its energy shield. When it is destroyed, we will finish off the little ones.”
“Those little ones can fight.”
“Against the Sciontrar they are nothing.”
There was no sign of boasting in the Ghast’s words, only total confidence in the capabilities of his battleship.
“Very well. I would like the fourth vessel to be the secondary target.”
“Agreed. Once we defeat the Neutraliser, we will concentrate our efforts on this fourth vessel.”
The channel went dead.
“Please coordinate with the Ghast ships,” said Blake.
“Our comms are going to get a bit flaky once we get close to Dranmir,” said Cruz.
“They’ll disable the primary comms anyway. What about the backups?”
“It’s the backu
ps I was talking about.”
“Fine, we’ll send a message to New Earth Central Command before we commence engagement.”
The preparations didn’t take long – the Abyss was a battle-ready warship and the crew were well trained, if lacking in extensive experience. With a rumble of overlapping fission clouds the three ships hurtled into lightspeed, aiming directly for the Neutraliser.
Chapter Eighteen
At high lightspeed, it took less than a single second for the ES Abyss to leave Mavlon orbit and cross the distance towards the sun Dranmir. The moment the heavy cruiser re-entered local space, the crew began shouting out their status updates for Blake to unravel and act upon. The information came thick and fast.
“Enemy Neutraliser visible to sensor sight – twenty thousand klicks,” said Pointer.
“Our energy shield is online. The stealth modules don’t like the interference,” said Quinn. “Our Gallenium power is shutting down. We’ll be on the Obsidiar backup core within five seconds.”
“The Sciontrar and Kalon-T7 are in their expected positions,” said Cruz. “I’m coordinating with their comms teams.”
“Fire overcharged front particle beam,” said Blake. “Give them a full salvo from our Lambdas, Shatterers and Shimmers. Launch eight nukes with proximity detection and fire standard particle beams at will.”
“Front particle beam has discharged,” said Hawkins. “I’m reading a minor attenuation from the sun’s corona. Missiles launched. Our particle beam strike hit them dead centre, straight through their energy shield.”
“The view is on the bulkhead screen,” said Cruz. “They’re burning bright.”
Blake sat in his chair and switched his attention between the bulkhead view of the Neutraliser and his tactical screen. The overcharged particle beam had heated a large section of the enemy vessel’s central structure, turning the black metal into mixed oranges and whites. Against the background of Dranmir, the colossal Vraxar ship appeared tiny and insignificant.
Meanwhile, the tactical display showed eight hundred green specks, fired from the Abyss and converging on the Neutraliser. The Space Corps had spent the last year working to overcome the targeting problems their missiles experienced when they were fired at Vraxar spaceships. The improvements were mostly software and this was the first time they were being live tested. Appearances were hopeful in that the missiles had actually fired, instead of remaining in their tubes.
“The Sciontrar has fired missiles, as well as six particle beams,” said Hawkins. “The Kalon-T7 has also unloaded. Looks like we caught the Neutraliser by surprise.”
“There’s a power build up from the Sciontrar,” said Quinn. “Something’s going to happen. The Kalon-T7 is charging up as well.”
A sphere of energy thumped away from the Neutraliser, expanding for thousands of kilometres. It engulfed three thousand inbound missiles, wrecking their targeting systems and rendering them useless.
“There go their countermeasures. Shatterers and Shimmers got through. So did the nukes.”
The Neutraliser’s shield was struck by nearly fifty high-yield plasma warheads. Such was the combined ferocity, it was momentarily lost from sight on the viewscreen and Blake squinted at the brightness.
“The two Vraxar light cruisers are moving to intercept,” said Cruz. “Looks like we’re the target.”
“What about the fourth spaceship?”
“It has dropped back and is lost from sight.”
“Lost from sight or temporarily lost from sight?”
“I can’t give you an answer, sir.”
“Here come the nukes,” said Hawkins. “Six gigatons of fun and games.”
The nuclear warheads – back in service at Fleet Admiral Duggan’s insistence – were mounted on the slowest, largest and most robust propulsion sections. They sailed through the Vraxar countermeasures and detonated when they came within a few hundred kilometres of the enemy shields. Without a supply of oxygen, there was no extensive explosion, however they weren’t employed for the power of their blast. The detonations produced an intense sphere of gamma radiation, with a radius of several thousand kilometres. The technology which generated the energy shields was susceptible to the radiation from these crudest of weapons and nuclear warheads had been employed successfully in the brief war against the Estral.
“Got them!”
“Is their shield down?”
“Not sure,” said Quinn. “There’s a fluctuation from their front nullification sphere.”
“They’re breaking away from the blast zone,” said Pointer.
Blake grabbed the control bars and turned the ES Abyss onto a parallel course, five thousand kilometres away. “Let’s stay close so they have less chance to knock out our missiles. Keep firing everything we’ve got.”
“We’ve got an angle for the rear overcharge. Firing. Direct hit.”
“Their shields have stabilised.”
The combat progressed rapidly. Particle beams leapt between the spaceships, projected from their generators and crossing thousands of kilometres instantly. The Vraxar used their dark energy beams as well and these proved more effective at draining the power reserves of an energy shield.
“The Neutraliser has decided we’re a good target as well, sir,” said Hawkins. “We’ve taken six beam hits already.”
The Obsidiar power bar dropped in erratic chunks with each strike of the Vraxar weapons. Missiles spilled from the Sciontrar and Kalon-T7 in staggered waves and Blake ordered Hawkins to copy the technique. The Vraxar could only use their countermeasures every few seconds and he hoped this method would flood their anti-missile system.
“Why did I forget what tough bastards these Neutralisers are?” Blake said bitterly.
“The Sciontrar requests that we increase our distance from the enemy,” said Pointer. “Immediately.”
Blake didn’t hesitate and pulled the warship away, whilst maintaining the same speed as the Neutraliser. When the Abyss was eight thousand kilometres from the Vraxar ship, the Ghasts fired.
“What the hell?” said Hawkins.
A thick beam of blue light jumped from the front port on the Sciontrar and connected with the Neutraliser’s shield. A split second later, a similar, smaller beam sprang from the Kalon-T7. These beams remained in existence for less than a second, but where they landed on the Vraxar’s energy shield, they erupted into a torrent of blue-white plasma flames. These flames spread rapidly outwards from the two impact points, until the Neutraliser was completely encased. It remained on course, leaving a fading trail of plasma behind.
“Their energy shield is failing, sir!” shouted Quinn in excitement.
“So is ours,” Blake replied, with one eye on the ES Abyss’s rapidly-depleting Obsidiar power reserves.
“Firing the front overcharge,” said Hawkins. “Their countermeasures have disabled two of our missile waves. Launching more.”
“The Ghasts are taking damage!” said Ensign Bailey.
“How? They’ve hardly taken a hit on their shields,” said Blake.
“Whatever they just fired, it’s either drained everything they’ve got or it’s interfered with their shields,” said Quinn.
“We’d best finish the job soon, Lieutenant.”
The Ghast weapon took out the Neutraliser’s shield. The next two waves of missiles plunged into the enemy’s hull, illuminating its eighteen thousand metre length with fire.
“Break up, you bastard,” said Hawkins.
Two of the Abyss’s Shimmer missiles exploded against the central section of the Vraxar ship, visible amongst the chaos. The flames faded in places, allowing the crew to see the extensive damage inflicted upon the enemy spaceship. Still it continued firing and its particle beams flickered through the flames like the sharp, deadly point of a rapier.
Another salvo of missiles struck the Neutraliser in near-unison, along with the rear overcharge from the ES Abyss. Finally, the Neutraliser began to break up. The front connecting strut separated comp
letely from the central section and it began spiralling wildly as if it was generating thrust from one end only. The attached nullification sphere sparked violently, throwing green bolts of energy far into space.
“Is it going to explode?” asked Blake.
“It’s unstable…” said Quinn.
“Do we need to transit out? Lieutenant, I need an answer.”
Blake hadn’t finished speaking when the next wave of missiles crashed into both sections of the Neutraliser, along with six particle beam strikes in quick succession.
“No, sir. It’s shutting down. Both parts will burn up in Dranmir’s corona at some point in the next sixty minutes.”
The Neutraliser was out of the fight, but the two Vraxar cruisers showed no signs of giving up. Pointer switched the main bulkhead view to show the closest one – it was the same tapered cylinder of black metal that Blake remembered from his encounter near Atlantis. The enemy ships jumped across space, each leap taking them a few thousand kilometres from their previous position. They were also aware of the capabilities of an overcharged particle beam and they wheeled and spun, never quite coming within range and with each passing second, they whittled away the heavy cruiser’s shield. Finally, two of the Vraxar disintegration beams completely depleted the Abyss’s Obsidiar core.
“That’s knocked out our shield,” said Quinn. “We’re out of power and coasting towards Dranmir.”
A particle beam hit the Abyss on the nose and a second struck it nearby. The hull plating smouldered and glowed, but this was exactly the sort of weapon the heavy cruiser was designed to soak and the damage was minimal. Blake’s console was alive with warnings from the various onboard systems affected by the attack. Elsewhere on his console, the tactical screen was acting up. Objects it was tracking vanished from existence as the sensors lacked the power to track them accurately and with any sort of definition.
“The Neutraliser’s gone, where are our Gallenium engines?” Blake asked.
“Coming online, sir. Slowly.”
“Speed them up, Lieutenant. We can’t even do a transit out of here and I do not want to die in the fires of a star.”
“They’ll be ready within the minute.”
God Ship (Obsidiar Fleet Book 3) Page 16
