by Ryk Brown
“But surely they have sensors that could determine we are not the Yamaro,” Nathan pointed out.
“Savoy is not as advanced as Darvano, Captain. It’s more of an agricultural system. They probably do have some deep-space sensors, but it is more than likely they will not bother looking. The Ta’Akar have been unopposed in the Savoy system for decades. As long as no other warships arrive while you are there, your masquerade should go undetected.”
“What would we have to do while we are there,” Nathan asked, becoming more curious about the idea, “for appearances sake?”
“We were scheduled to pick up inductees from the Savoy system and deliver them to Takara for training. You could use the Yamaro’s shuttles to complete the mission. You would need a few Ta’Akar guards and at least one officer, a nobleman if possible.”
“That sounds awfully risky,” Nathan concluded.
“All you would have to do is land, load the inductees, and take off again. No one would be expecting you to stay in the system any longer than necessary to complete your task. As the Yamaro, you would be about to head home after a three year deployment. No one would become suspicious should you choose to depart as soon as your orders have been carried out. In fact, it would be expected. And if successful, you could be delaying your discovery by several months.”
“And if not, we could be tipping our hand.” Nathan sighed, “I admit, it is an interesting plan, but who would we get to dress up as Takaran troops? I would expect that there would be some measure of security, even on a backward farm planet.”
“I suppose I could talk to the members of the Yamaro crew currently being detained on Corinair,” Ensign Willard said. “They are all registered in the Yamaro’s crew roster, so they would pass any identity scans at the spaceport. However, they might be more inclined to agree to such a dangerous mission if there were some offer of reward.”
Nathan smiled. Ensign Willard obviously understood the concept of bargaining. “I’m sure something can be arranged. I’ll run the idea past my staff. If they approve, I’ll arrange for you to speak with your shipmates.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ensign Willard rose and left the ready room. On his way through the hatchway, he passed by Master Chief Montrose on his way in. “Master Chief,” he said respectfully in passing.
Master Chief Montrose paused a moment, considering the man that had just passed him. He was wearing an Aurora jumpsuit; however, his accent was obviously Corinairan.
“Master Chief?” Nathan called from inside the ready room, stealing the Master Chief’s attention away from the man that had just passed him.
“Captain,” the master chief began, snapping a salute, “a moment of your time, sir?”
“How may I help you, Master Chief?”
“Permission to close the hatch, sir?”
“Of course,” Nathan answered, somewhat surprised.
After closing the hatch, Master Chief Montrose turned back to face the captain, still standing rather formally.
Nathan noticed that the master chief seemed uncomfortable. “Is there a problem, Master Chief?”
“Yes, sir. I mean, I’m not sure, sir. This is not the Corinari, so I am not sure of the protocols involved, or if it is even my place to…”
“Would it be easier if I gave you permission to speak freely, Master Chief?” Nathan offered.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then by all means, Master Chief, speak you mind.”
“Well, sir, I’m not sure that I understand what my responsibilities are on your ship. I know what a master chief does in the Corinari, and I know what a deck chief does when in service of the empire, but I’m not sure if the roles are at all similar to your ‘chief of the boat’ position.”
“How about you just do what you think is the right thing, and one of us will correct you if necessary.”
“That seems like a rather dangerous way to start off, sir,” Master Chief Montrose observed.
“I promise you, Master Chief, we’ll grant you considerable leeway.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Is that it? Was that the problem?” Nathan wondered.
“No, sir. The problem is you, sir.”
“Me?”
“Yes, sir. Or more specifically, the way you behaved when you left the orientation briefing.”
“I’m afraid I’m not following you, Master Chief,” Nathan admitted.
“That little wave… like a politician leaving a campaign rally.”
“That bad, huh?” Nathan said, not really taking the master chief’s concerns seriously.
“That bad?” Master Chief Montrose was starting to get angry. “I do not know about captains on your world, but out here in the cluster, the captain of a warship is someone to be respected, to be feared, to be revered. When you are ready to start being that captain, I will be right at your side. The men are watching your every move. You need to start acting like somebody worth dying for, not somebody worth voting for.”
Nathan watched the master chief as he went from being angry to being unsure again. “Is that all, Master Chief?” Nathan asked.
“Yes, sir,” he answered. “And again, I apologize if my remarks were not in line with your expectations of my role as your chief of the boat.”
“Well, I haven’t known many COBs yet, but so far you seem to be doing just fine.”
“Thank you, sir,” Master Chief Montrose answered.
“Thank you, Master Chief,” Nathan told him with all sincerity. “I will keep your words in mind.”
“Very good, sir.”
“Is there anything else, Master Chief?”
“No, sir,” the master chief said, preparing to exit.
“Master Chief, have you eaten dinner?” Nathan asked.
“No, sir. I was just about to find your dining hall.”
“We call it a galley,” Nathan told him as he rose from his seat behind the desk. “I was headed there myself. I usually dine with Lieutenant Commander Kamenetskiy, our chief engineer. Perhaps you’d like to join us? The two of you should probably get acquainted.”
“Thank you, sir. I would like that.”
Chapter Six
“Report,” Nathan requested as he entered the bridge.
“Karuzara Command reports they just picked up a Ta’Akar frigate dropping out of FTL on the outer edge of the system,” Jessica reported from the tactical console. “They’re sending us the track now. Sending to main view screen."
The main view screen that surrounded the front half of the bridge in a quarter-sphere was currently displaying the view outside the Aurora, which was the inside of the Karuzari asteroid base commonly referred to as Karuzara. A rectangular chart of the Darvano system superimposed itself in the middle of the main view screen. The chart showed the positions of all planets and ships within the system, with a red triangle to indicate the new hostile contact. The triangle appeared to be just beyond the outermost planet in the Darvano system. Its speed indicator was counting down, indicating it was decelerating, as was usually the case when a ship dropped out of FTL on its way into a system.
“Karuzara Command confirms contact ID,” Ensign Yosef announced from the sensor station. “Takaran Frigate.”
“She’s decelerating hard,” Jessica announced.
“Course?”
“One moment,” Jessica said. “She’s headed for Corinair, sir.”
“Set general quarters,” Nathan ordered, “and prepare to get under way.” Nathan looked over at Master Chief Montrose standing in the corner of the bridge and nodded.
Naralena keyed up the ship-wide alert system. A moment later, the lighting in the corridors flashed red and the alert klaxon sounded, followed by a prerecorded voice announcing, “General quarters! General quarters! All hands, man your battle stations! Prepare to get under way!”
Less than a minute later, all the workstations on the bridge were manned and ready, and there were two armed guards at each of the hatchways. Nathan paced back and forth behind
Jessica at the tactical station, glancing at her display that showed the current status of all the ship’s departments. He knew that all over his ship, men and women were scurrying to get to their battle stations, and their department heads were waiting for all their people to become ready before they reported their department as ready for combat. Once every indicator on her display changed from red to green, he knew his ship was fully manned, buttoned down and ready for action.
“All battle stations report manned and ready, Captain,” Jessica reported. “All four reactors are online and are running at fifty percent.”
“Very good,” Nathan answered, checking his watch. “Chief of the Boat, log the time.”
“Minute thirty, Captain,” the chief answered.
Nathan paid no attention to the chief’s disappointment. “Comms, notify Karuzara Command; the Aurora is departing.”
“Aye, sir,” Naralena answered from the comm-station.
“Helm, release all mooring clamps and thrust away from the dock.”
“Aye, Captain,” Josh answered. “Releasing mooring clamps and thrusting away.” Josh released the clamps, and tilted his maneuvering joystick slightly to the right. The images of the cavern outside began sliding slowly to port as the Aurora slid to starboard, away from the docking platform inside the hollowed-out asteroid that held the Karuzari base. A moment later, he applied opposite thrust to stop the ship’s sideways slide and started their ascent. “Clear of all moorings. Thrusting up,” he announced.
“Any change on the frigate’s track?” Nathan asked, watching the view of the cavern wall shift downward as the Aurora climbed.
“No, sir,” Jessica reported. “Karuzari command reports no changes. Target is still decelerating and on course for Corinair.”
“Thrusting forward,” Josh announced.
Nathan watched somewhat nervously as the cavern walls on the view screen appeared to be moving toward them as they slid downward. He knew Josh was a natural pilot, but he couldn’t help but look upward at the portion of the view screen above and slightly forward of his command chair. He could see the gaping entrance to the exit corridor that led from the central chamber out to the surface. The asteroid itself was three-quarters hollow, but her remaining crust was still half a kilometer thick.
“Mister Sheehan,” Nathan called, “as soon as we come out into open space, I want to head for the far side of Cleo. We’ll keep that gas giant between us and that frigate until she passes by.”
“Yes, sir,” Loki answered from the navigation console to the right of Josh’s station at the helm.
“If we time it right, we’ll never show up on her sensors,” Nathan commented.
“Entering exit corridor,” Josh announced confidently. “Engaging auto-flight.” A moment later, Josh removed his hand from the maneuvering joystick as the Aurora’s complex auto-flight computers began following the script Josh had written more than a week ago. The script told the Aurora how to maneuver the ship out the long curving corridor that snaked along a natural fissure in the crust of the asteroid. Although Josh would have preferred to fly the corridor manually, he had long since learned that the helm of the Aurora was no place to play flyboy. Their battle with the Yamaro had taught him that lesson, and it was not one he would soon forget.
“Three minutes to open space,” Loki reported. “Course for the far side of Cleo is plotted and locked.”
“Very good,” Nathan confirmed.
“Doctor Sorenson, I trust you’ll keep a short emergency jump plot ready at all times?”
“Of course, Captain,” Abby answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Nathan said nothing, just nodded approval as his eyes met the Danish physicist’s brief glance.
“Let’s keep our emissions and heat signature as low as possible, people,” Nathan reminded everyone. “We’ll be in the open for a few minutes when we first come out.” Nathan turned his attention to the helm. “Mister Hayes, give us a good little burn just before we come out of the corridor, then use thrusters only until we’re in Cleo’s shadow.”
“Yes, sir,” Josh answered.
“Not too much though,” Nathan warned. “We don’t want to melt the tunnel behind us.”
“Yes, sir,” Josh assured him, “I’ll keep it cool.”
“Two minutes to open space,” Loki reported.
“Comms, ask Karuzara to keep feeding us their tracking telemetry via laser-link. We’ll be blind once we put the gas giant between us and that frigate.”
“Yes, sir,” Naralena answered.
Nathan didn’t notice that Master Chief Montrose was taking notes and grumbling to himself about something.
“Roll us ninety degrees to port, Mister Hayes,” Nathan ordered. “We don’t want to show them our heat exchangers as we come out into the open.”
“Aye, sir, disengaging auto-flight. Rolling ninety degrees to port.”
The image on the main view screen began to rotate to starboard as the Aurora rolled to port.
“Laser-link is online and tracking,” Naralena reported. “Karuzara command confirms they will maintain the link for as long as possible.”
“Very well,” Nathan answered calmly. Up until recently, Naralena’s duties had been pretty much restricted to basic internal communications and any external communications that required translation. Nathan was happy to see she had taken so easily to the more advanced tasks of managing all of the Aurora’s sophisticated communications and telemetry systems.
“Roll complete,” Josh reported.
“One minute to open space,” Loki added.
“Disposition of contact?” Nathan asked Jessica at the tactical station behind him.
“Unchanged, sir. Contact is still on course for Corinair. Current speed is three-quarters light and decelerating.”
“Stand by for main engine burn at one percent thrust,” Loki reported. “In three……two……one……ignition.”
At one percent, there was no perceptible rumble or vibration on the bridge. It took at least ten percent before they could feel anything translating through the Aurora’s primary frame.
“Ten seconds to open space,” Loki reported.
Nathan watched the blackness of space rush toward them on the view screen as they accelerated out of the asteroid’s exit corridor.
“Five seconds,” Loki reported. “Four……three……main engines off……one…”
The opening quickly grew until it encompassed the entire quarter-sphere viewing screen and disappeared behind them.
“Entering open space,” Loki announced.
“Helm, come onto your new course, slow and easy,” Nathan instructed.
“Aye, sir, changing course. Heading for orbital intercept with Cleo.”
“Transit time, Mister Sheehan?” Nathan asked. He already knew the answer, as they had made this trip before. He just wanted to make sure his new navigator was keeping on top of the details, just as Cameron had always done.
“Twenty-two minutes at our current speed, sir,” Loki reported. “Eight minutes until we’re in Cleo’s shadow.”
“Very well,” Nathan said. Loki was keeping on top of the details, just as a good navigator should.
“No change in the contact’s course or rate of deceleration,” Jessica reported, anticipating her captain’s next question.
“No change in emissions from the target,” Kaylah added.
“Comms?” Nathan asked, pausing to see if Naralena would also anticipate his need for information.
“Laser array is locked on Karuzara’s telemetry signal and tracking,” she announced. “All feeds are strong and constant.”
Chief Montrose grumbled to himself again.
“Very well.” Nathan rotated in his chair to face Jessica at the tactical station behind him. “How long before that frigate reaches Corinair?”
“Assuming their rate of deceleration remains constant, eighty-seven minutes,” Jessica answered.
“Put the plots up on the main screen for me,�
� Nathan ordered.
“Aye, sir.”
Nathan spun back around to face forward as the tracking plots showed up in a separate rectangle superimposed over the exterior forward view now showing on the screen. “Show me where the contact will be when we come around from behind Cleo and have line-of-sight on them again.”
The icons on the forward view screen representing the Aurora and the enemy contact shifted to their new respective positions.
“Showing estimated positions fifty-two minutes from now,” Jessica reported.
Nathan stood up, staring at the screen a moment before turning his head toward Ensign Yosef to his left. “Are their shields up?”
“From their emissions profile, I’d say no, sir,” Ensign Yosef answered.
“Abby, can you plot a jump from that point to about a kilometer astern of that contact?”
“Yes, sir,” Abby answered confidently.
“The planet’s gravity well won’t cause any problems?”
“No, sir, not since Deliza and I installed the computer cores from those shuttles into the jump drive’s plotting system. With all that extra processing power, we can compensate for such things quite easily now.”
“A thousand meters is a bit close, sir,” Jessica warned.
“Not really,” Nathan disagreed. “Look at his velocity at that point. It’ll be just a little slower than our orbital velocity, since the gas giant is so much bigger than Corinair, and he won’t be down to Corinair’s orbital velocity yet. Our closure rate will be really low, so we’ll have plenty of time to alter course enough to get a clear jump line before he can change his attitude and bring his guns on us.”
