Twin Stars 1: Ascension

by Robyn Paterson

  “Well you got lucky, kiddo,” Kip said as he worked. “Let’s see just how lucky.”

  He finished and stood up, his hand reaching for the control to open the door when suddenly he stopped himself. What was he doing? He didn’t know what was on the other side.

  Instead he activated the monitor next to the door, which flared to life and began displaying a sea of red.

  ”My god,” Helgi gasped. “Sir! The front half is completely gone!”

  Kip nodded sadly, feeling all the energy in his body suddenly desert him and leave him feeling heavy and weary. “There’s no way they could have survived that. If the impact didn’t get them, the decompression would have. They’re…done for.”

  He stepped back and away from the monitor, trying to fight the sobs welling up inside. “Dammit Al!” He slammed the side of his fist into the wall next to him.

  “Sir,” said Helgi in surprise, staring at the readouts. “Look at these reading- we’re in hyperspace!”

  “What?” Kip looked at her a moment, trying to focus past his grief. “Oh,” he concluded. “Yeah. We must’ve jumped out at the last second. I guess Esther pulled it off one last time.”

  The ensign nodded in wonder. “Amazing.”

  Kip sucked in a deep breath. There’d been a sacrifice, and he wasn’t going to waste it. He let himself breath out slowly, and then looked up. There were things to do, and they may not have much time.

  “C’mon,” he told the young shipman. “Let’s get to the…”

  Then he stopped. Was that…knocking?

  He looked around, it sounded like someone knocking on a metal door, but where?

  “Do you hear something, Helgi?”

  The crewman had obviously heard it as well, for she too was looking around. At last, she pointed to a nearby hatch. “Sounds like it’s coming from the airlock, sir.”

  Both of them scrambled for the armored airlock door, with Kip reaching it first. He checked the pressure gauge next to it to make sure there was an atmosphere and found there was- then he slammed the pad to open it.

  There was a loud hiss as the airlock door slid up and away, and then someone was falling out at Kip. Instinctively he caught her, and was surprised when he discovered he was holding the naked form of Esther.

  “I believe…” She said weakly. “We will need your assistance.”

  “Sir!” Cried Helgi, pointing inside the airlock. “It’s the Captain, but he’s…”

  Kip took one look inside and the breath caught in his throat.

  “Helgi!” He yelled as soon as he could. “Get to the medical bay. I need a team up here- NOW!”

  * * *

  “Well, this certainly bites the goat, doesn’t it?”

  Keith Ulstead peered at the form floating in the frosted glass of the healing tank and shook his head. He’d known the ship had been hit, but until a moment ago he hadn’t known what the cost had been. “Bleedin’ miracle he’s still alive.”

  “Not a miracle,” said Kip from beside him. “Esther pulled him out and brought him around to one of the airlocks. She also got us into hyperspace and used the cover explosions of their own missiles to hide it. That Squire deserves a one heck of a reward.”

  Ulstead let out a low whistle. “I’ll say. She’s welcome to bunk with me anytime!”

  Kip laughed. “Yeah well, you can talk to the Captain about that when he wakes up. They’ve got him out to help with the healing process.”

  “So, who’s in charge then?”

  Kip thought about it a moment. “I guess that would be me.”

  “Alright then, what’re we going to do next?” Said Ulstead, looking concerned. “Since they don’t know we’re gone, I’d say this is a fine time to get away.”

  Kip shook his head. “We can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “When they took out the command pod, they also took out our navigation system.” Kip explained. “We’re too far away to find the beacon, and we’re blind as a cave rat. We try to move from here and all we’ll do is get lost in hyperspace- really fast.”

  Ulstead rubbed the back of his head and let out a low growl of frustration. “So, you’re saying we’re stuck? Well that’s just great! Next you’ll tell me you’re thinking of trying to rescue those high-ups before the pirates get ‘em.”

  There was a pause as the two men looked at each other, then Ulstead shook his head.

  “No.”

  “Yep.”

  “How?”

  Kip gestured for the door. “Let’s go, I need to check a few things first.”

  * * *

  In a shadowy corridor aboard the Ares Hammer mining colony, a group of figures huddled together, trying to keep warm in the minimal heating the station offered. Few had worn the temperature-controlling skinsuits that one normally wore in space, instead opting for fashion and style in front of their peers. A decision many had now come to regret.

  Soft footsteps approached, and Admiral Veers raised a hand to silence the group. With his other hand he quietly drew his plasma pistol from its holster, all the while keeping an eye on the corner just ahead of them.

  After a few tense moments, the lanky form of Sir Fawn appeared.

  Lowering his weapon, Veers stood up.

  “What did you see?”

  Fawn shook his head sadly. “There are six pirate assault shuttles in the hanger, and our pilots are prisoners. I’m afraid we’re not getting out that way. Do you have an alternate plan?”

  Veers thought a moment.

  “This isn’t the only hanger- there might be some old shuttles in one of the others we can use.”

  Fawn raised an eyebrow. “Another long-shot?”

  “If you’d prefer the alternative?” Veers gestured ahead towards the hanger.

  The knight raised a hand. “No. No. I’ll follow your lead on this one. You are the military man.” Then he peered around, looking over the assembled membership. “Say, have you seen Lady Whitcombe?”

  The Admiral too looked around, puzzled. “Now that you mention it, she was with us when we left the conference room but I haven’t seen her since.”

  Fawn nodded, then surprisingly- smiled. “Well, if the pirates capture her it’s their loss. Perhaps they’ll shoot her and put us all out of our misery.”

  There was quiet laughter from among the delegates, and even the Admiral had to grin. “Fawn, you’re terrible.” He said, then motioned back the way they’d come.

  “Let’s go, I’ll take the lead.”

  * * *

  The Cutter Silverthorne had a command and planning room for military operations that could also double as an auxiliary control room in times of crisis. Kip had assembled what remained of the senior staff in the room, including Ulstead and the recovering Esther, to lay out his plan.

  “I still say you’re crazy, what if they’re there waiting for us? I say we wait here until everything blows over and just leave.” Said Ulstead, leaning back into his seat with his arms crossed.

  But Kip shook his head. “That’s not what the captain would want us to do.”

  “So? Who cares what he’d want us to do? It’s our own necks we need to be worrying about- not some sleeping beauty’s dreams.”

  The plan had generated debate among the crew present, with a number siding with the security man while the rest followed the executive officer. In the end, it was Esther that broke the deadlock.

  “I agree, the Captain would want us to rescue them if it were at all possible. Also, it is highly likely that we are the sole remaining ship of our group. Does that not make us responsible for taking action?”

  Kip looked around the room as the question hung in the air, and then finally made his move. “I’d say it does.” He agreed. “Okay then, since I’m in charge I say we’re doing it. So let’s worry less about what to do, and more about how we’re going to do it.”

  “A sensible approach.” Esther commented. “The ships’ computer core is still intact and we have the detailed n
avigation maps we charted for the asteroid field. It should not be difficult to plot a course into the field and reach the mining colony is a short time.”

  That brought a snort from Ulstead, who was still unhappy with the idea. “You’re forgetting about those attack dogs out there, Sheila- the ones that want to put a few holes through us.”

  “Well, let’s take a look at our options.” Kip suggested.

  A few minutes later, they were almost back where they’d started. All they had were hypothetical numbers to work with in terms of the enemy and locations. They could come out facing the whole fleet, or none, and then there was the matter of actually rescuing the delegates. On the surface, it was a simple operation, but in the details it was much more complex thanks to their limited resources. There was only the small crew of the former Crystal Leaf, and Ulstead’s “Flowers”, as the infiltrator and security bots had all be destroyed during the ship-to-ship engagement.

  Finally, Kip dispelled the holographic displays.

  “Okay,” he said in frustration. “This really ain’t gonna work. We need an expert at doing stuff like this.”

  “Be nice if we had one who was conscious.” Ulstead commented dryly.

  Kip considered a moment, then looked at the security man. “Actually,” he said. “We do. I just dunno if we can get him to help.”

  * * *

  “You think you can get them working?”

  Captain Andrews gave her a thumbs up, and so Ping An left him and his people to it. They’d found a collection of old grav-transports in a corner of the hanger bay, and Andrews had asked permission to load them up. Any salvage was good salvage, and Ping An didn’t see a reason to waste even old equipment.

  She’d sent out several search parties, but none had found anything but an empty room and cold food. The grav-transports could speed things up if they needed to cover a wider area.

  As she walked, she got a message from one of the crew leaders at the far side of the hanger and walked over to check the situation. There she found a group of pirates gathered around a slender old woman with a purple shawl.

  Lady Whitcombe!

  Ping An quickened her pace when she saw the old woman.

  “Ping-An! We’ve caught this one trying to sneak into the hanger!”

  “Yes,” the old woman said dryly. “These brave men have captured me. I think you should reward them.”

  “Thanks people,” Ping An waved them off. “I’ll take it from here.”

  Ping An watched the group disperse, and then looked at the senior with concern. “Your Ladyship, are you okay?”

  “None the worse for wear,” said the lady, surveying the hanger. “I see your plan came off well enough.”

  “Everything’s going according to schedule.” Ping An said, then asked. “Where are the other VIPs?”

  Whitcombe gave a dismissive gesture. “Oh. Skulking around trying to figure out a method of leaving this station I would imagine. I couldn’t stand being near that man any longer, so I left.”

  Ping An thought about asking who “that man” was, but decided against it. She was more concerned with getting the lady out of the sight of the other captains who might consider the woman a prize. Gesturing toward her personal shuttle, Ping An began to lead the woman to it.

  “I still don’t understand why you had to come here in person. Couldn’t you have talked to them after we caught them?”

  This brought a grim smile to Whitcombe’s face. “Child,” he said in her grandmotherly tone. “Some things require a personal touch.” Then after a moment she added- “And, I admit part of me wanted to give them the chance to see things my way. Capturing them is well and good, but there’s no excuse for willing victims, is there?”

  “Ahh, no. I guess not.” Ping An agreed. The more she came to know this woman, the more she understood the fear so many had of her.

  “However,” Whitcombe added as they reached the base of the shuttle rear entry ramp. “There’s something you need to know- something we didn’t expect. An Imperial fleet is on its way here. It seems the Grand Admiral also wants to add them to his collection. They’ll arrive within the next few hours.”

  “I see,” said Ping An with concern. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things.”

  “See that you do,” said Whitcombe, climbing the ramp.

  As she watched the lady go, Ping An couldn’t help but smile just a little.

  Everything was still going according to plan.

  * * *

  “So that’s the situation Colonel Cole.”

  Now comes the hard part, thought Kip nervously. He needed this man’s help, trusting him was another matter. He expected a hard bargaining stance, but knew what he was prepared to give.

  “Then, I accept.” Said the man inside the cell.

  Kip’s eyes widened. “But sir, you haven’t even heard our terms.”

  The Colonel stood up, letting the blanket fall away and revealing his densely muscled chest and the many scars that decorated it. The newest one, a pink mark left by Tysen’s weapon, was almost completely healed now. He looked down at Kip with serious, but determined eyes.

  “Lieutenant Kipps, I’m a military man. The service is my life, and I swore long ago to do whatever it took to bring honor to it.” He said clearly. “If you tell me a fleet Admiral and several dignitaries are going to captured by pirates if nothing is done, then it’s my duty to save them. Regardless of our political feelings we have the same master- the state. We can sort out who goes where after, but right now there is a mission that needs doing and I am the best able man to do it. So free us and let me help.”

  “Well? What do you think?” Ulstead asked through a link. He’d been listening into everything said though his hidden warbot in the cell. “I’m still not sure sure I like this. This is the man we stole this ship from- who tried to capture us before.”

  As if sensing their conversation, Cole added. “If it makes you feel better, I give you my word as an officer I will not try to retake the ship.”

  Kip looked into Cole’s eyes for a time, then at Ashe, who was also looking at him with an intense, pleading look. He made the call.

  “Let them out.”

  “All of them?”

  “He can’t do it alone.”

  “You sure?” Said the security man, who clearly didn’t sound sure.

  “Yes. We need him if we want to make this work.”

  Suddenly the field between them vanished.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.” Cole said, stepping from the cell. “You made the right choice.”

  “I hope so, sir.” Kip answered. “I really do.”

  “Ashe, Lieutenant, let’s go.” The Colonel said, striding past them and taking the lead. “There’s much to be done, and not much time.”

  * * *

  Ping An hung in the void of Linkspace, looking at a three dimensional model of the refinement station floating in front of her. It was like looking at the roots of a tree- there were tunnels, side tunnels and nodules everywhere. The station’s builders had just kept adding more space during its heyday, and they had abandoned so much after that it was hard to know what was active and what wasn’t anymore.

  She’d have a better idea once Vaela had full access to the station’s computer core.

  “Andrews, Dragonov.” She sent out to the two search leaders. “What’s the situation?”

  Little icons representing both appeared before her- their personal ship sigils of a fox and a pair of crossed swords respectively.

  “We’re searching level 14, no sign of them yet. You sure they’re here?” Andrews answered.

  “Oh, they’re here. Keep searching. Dragon, any luck?”

  “Nyet,” said the swords. “There is nothing on my level either, Squadron Leader. This colony is like a maze, and there are too many places they can hide.”

  “We don’t have much time, Dragon.”

  “Da. I know. I will keep you informed.”

  Ping An looked at their searc
h routes on the model. She had twelve teams out searching for the delegates, and they’d barely covered a tiny part of the station. This was all happening too slow.

  “Ping-An!”

  The little cartoon dog icon with the brushcut suddenly appeared next to her looking worried.

  “What is it, Leederman?”

  “We just got a call from Haskett and Michaels. A Cutter just dropped out of hyperspace right on top of them and then took off into the field. They said it’s coming right at us!” The dog exclaimed.

  Ping An immediately began summoning up all the data available, then quickly scanned it. Visuals from Michael’s ship showed a Cutter minus its bridge section- the same one she’d seen Betsey target. So, it wasn’t new, and it was already damaged. Nothing serious, but she’d best be cautious.

  “Okay, put the fleet on alert. We outnumber him six to one, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “You got it, Bosslady!”

  The dog bowed to her and vanished.

  One less loose end that needs tying up. She smiled. Actually, they were doing her a favor by coming. She had no desire to leave any witnesses around who might trace this back to her.

  A new icon appeared in front of her, one that had always been there, but which she’d kept hidden from the other visitors for her own reasons. It was a smooth lens-shaped stone that rotated end over end- one side black, the other white.

  Did she want assistance? Asked the stone.

  “Oh, no.” She told the it. “You just stay where you are, let the other ships handle this.” Then added impishly- “I want you to be a surprise.”

  * * *

  “They’re not pursuing us.” Helgi reported.

  “Course not! They know most’a their fleet is bleedin’ ahead of us!” Ulstead cursed, shaking his head in disgust.

  The young helm officer looked at him worriedly, then quietly went back to work on her station in the auxiliary control room.

  “They are, Mister Ulstead, but we have time before we reach them.” Colonel Cole commented as he watched the tactical display. He was wearing his full uniform now, a blue-grey smartsuit with his rank insignia on the collar- the whole thing styled to exude a aura of command that suited him. “Are the crews ready Lieutenant Kipps?” He added, looking at the man on the other side of the display.