Heart of Steel: Book II of the Jonathan Pavel Series

by J. S. Hawn

  “Sir,” George said. “Even with a two hour head start, there is no way the civies will get out of harm's way.”

  “Oh they’ll get away George because the Colonials will be tied up occupying Whyal, and any forces they can spare for pursuit will be chasing a much more tempting target.”

  George looked confused, and then nodded understanding.

  “Mr. Heath can you get Colonel Joi on the horn?” Jonathan asked. “I need to ask him a favor.”

  Chapter XIII

  Tso System, Solarian Republic-Colonial Border Region

  On board RSNS Sound of Fury,

  November 29th 844 AE

  Helium-3 was a vital component in most modern fusion fuels. The Solarian Navy prefered fission for its warships, because despite being expensive and temperamental it meant ships could go decades between refueling. Still fusion engines were standard on most big merchantmen, and helix fuels, which used helium-3 as a component, were widely used on military ground vehicles especially tanks. Its extraction and refinement was an expensive but potentially lucrative process. While helium in its raw form was fairly benign, when being refined into helix it was quite combustible. From orbit, Jonathan watched as the Whyal militia destroyed the refineries on the surface. Without an atmosphere on a body as small as Whyal, the destruction was visible from obit. It was like a series of firecrackers going off, each flash followed by a warm glow as the helix fuel burned up until vacuum extinguished the flames.

  Jonathan checked his watch five hours and forty minutes. It was 24:32 local time November the 29th. On his screen, Jonathan watched as the icons of 44 civilian vessels burned like hell for the nearest Picaris wormway. From there, it was three jumps to Yimir and assured safety. Thirty-four thousand people were aboard all Solarian citizens. Behind them, they left almost 220,000 of their loved ones including the 12,000 strong militia who had taken over the defense of Tso station and were about to put up as long of a resistance as possible to buy time for the fleeing vessels to escape. At their side were 500 volunteers from the Navy who had refused evacuation, and had offered their place on Liberty Prime to Militiamen families.

  “We are all set down here,” Colonel Joi said over the com.

  Jonathan nodded, “When the Colonials get close enough, we’ll make a burn for Cetus wormway. It’s further away than Picaris, which the Colonials will know gives them more time to catch us. Hopefully, they’ll pursue us over the main civilian convoy.”

  Joi nodded. They’d probably gone over the plan a dozen times but it never hurt to go through it again.

  “Just make sure you get away Captain. A lot of my people are going to die today to make sure their loved ones get to safety.”

  Jonathan gripped his chair, “I will Colonel. Good Luck.”

  “You too sir,” Joi said as the com winked out.

  Jonathan forced himself to relax and keep his face impassive. Around him crewmen and officers huddled over their consoles absorbed in their own duties.

  This was defeat. This was what it felt like and this is was what it tasted like. It was a new feeling for Jonathan Pavel. His entire career he had never been bested, but now the odds were entirely against him. If he thought for an instant standing and fighting would achieve something beside killing every man and woman under his command, he would. He knew from his own instinct and years of training that this was the only way to salvage something from this fiasco Intellectually, Jonathan knew his decisions had been the correct ones. Initiating the evacuation of Tso Naval Station and Whyal when they first arrived rather than trying to shore up defenses for what would be a futile last stand against an overwhelming force was the right call. There would still be a last stand. Tso was designed as a resupply base and for lack of a better term as a fort. It’s ODB and other defenses including its drone hangars and reinforced defense installations meant that it could withstand siege for weeks, and the Whyal militia would hold out as long as they could.

  Silently in his chair Jonathan prayed. He prayed for those who were about to die, and that he could see that their sacrifice was not in vain.

  “Sir, the Colonial force is closing. They’ll be in weapons range in fifteen minutes,” Elman said from his station. “Lidar confirms EM paints two light cruisers, four frigates, and six transports, and oh god sir... that's no heavy cruiser, it's a battle cruiser. According to Jane's, it's a Brixton Class. ETO built.”

  “Ah fuck,” George said over the com.

  Jonathan cursed too under his breath. A heavy cruiser Fury and Cronus might have been able to stand off together, but a battle cruiser that was one step below a battleship.

  “Right then it's time we were gone from this place. Signal Cronus and Liberty Prime. Tight formation and maximum burn for the Cetus wormway.

  Jonathan felt the acceleration as Fury's engines lit and she began to pull away from Whyal as fast as she could.

  Colonel Albert Joi looked up at the stars through the observation windows of Tso’s main command center. He imagined for a moment he could see the flares as the Navy made its escape. Aboard the transport ship Liberty Prime, was his wife Juni who was pregnant with their second child and his daughter Anna. Be safe my loves he thought, willing with all his might that somehow across the void of space they would feel the love he felt for them.

  “Sir,” one of the Navy men who had volunteered to stay behind, a good lad no more than 17, “We’re receiving a transmission from the Colonials. Rear Admiral DuFrane extends his greetings and ask, well basically the blow hard is asking for our surrender.”

  Joi pursed his lips and then a smile began to grow. Like all militiamen he was a part time soldier, his day job was as a history professor at the Nu-Cardium University. His rank in the militia was a by-product of his leadership skills and service in the Solarian Army from which he had been honorably discharged at the rank of Major.

  “Send this reply and make sure it's verbatim,” he said to the technician doing his best not to laugh aloud.

  Aboard the Colonial flagship the Brixton class battlecruiser Fierté du Peuple a communication technician looked in confusion at the print out in front of him.

  To:Rear Admiral DuFrane Colonial Navy

  From: Colonel Joi Whyal Militia

  NUTS!

  End of Message.

  The Colonials unwilling to ask for clarification wasted a half hour interpreting the response. Until an ensign who studied the early atomic era as a hobby recognized the historical reference from the reply to the offer to surrender during the siege of Bastogne during the second global war. Understanding the refusal, the Colonial Task Force with the exception of the Fierté, who lit her engines and set off in pursuit of the escaping Solarian warships and transport, moved into position. They were greeted by a fusilade of hypervelocity missiles and depleted uranium slugs. Whyal would not go down without a fight.

  Burning as fast as they could away from the battle, Jonathan laughed aloud when Heath informed him of Joi’s message. He then returned his focus to Jane's schematics of the Brixton thankful for the moment of levity. The Brixton’s specifications made for a depressing read. She was older built along a similar line of thinking as the Horatio class, but an up-gunned, up-armored version. A proper battle cruiser or even a proper heavy cruiser would make short work of her, but anything smaller and it wasn't even close to a fair fight. Her speed meant she could keep up with Jonathan's small flotilla. Alone Fury probably could outrun her, but neither Cronus nor Liberty Prime could out pace her. At her current rate of speed, she’d catch them in two days and they were four days away from the wormway. Jonathan bit his thumb as he called up the map of the system again. Their course took them in spitting distance of the frozen world Uffern. Reading the name Jonathan wondered, not for the first time, which part of Terra the original survey crew of this system had hailed from. At any rate, Uffern was a big planetoid with an asteroid belt maybe they could…

  Jonathan looked at the position of Uffern, the wormway and the description of the Brixton class. Ma
ybe just maybe.

  “Mr. Heath,” Jonathan said. “Get Lieutenant-Captain Trendale and Commander Pence on the line. I believe I might have a plan.”

  While Heath was setting up the transmission, Jonathan typed a note to George, ‘Get Knowles up here ASAP.’

  “Well I...” Knowles was somewhat hesitant. He sat in the Fury's wardroom with Jonathan, George and the holo displays of Will and Commander Pence.

  “Damn it man! Now’s not the time to equivocate. Do you think it could work?” Pence said her fury evident.

  “At ease Commander,” Jonathan said then turning to Knowles, “Terrance, I went back through that report you handed me, you know ETO ships. I need to know in your honest opinion could this work?”

  Terrance bit his lip then slowly nodded, “Aye sir. Bear in mind, I never served on a Brixton, but if she is a Burlington Applied Systems design then she probably takes after the earlier classes. Those boys at Burlington, they aren't know for innovating their designs. So yes sir, it could work.”

  “Thank you Bosun. You are dismissed,” Jonathan said.

  “Sirs,” Knowles said rising and saluting before heading to the door.

  Jonathan turned to the holo displays of the other two officers.

  “Look I know this is a long shot, and it means dividing our forces, but every way I crunch the numbers this looks to be the our only viable option,” Jonathan said.

  “I am forced to agree,” Will said. “If we make a stand against that battle cruiser we are all dead. Best case scenario, this plan lets Prime get away clean along with both Fury and Cronus. Worst case, at least Prime will get away free. I think that Cronus should be the one who...”

  “No Will, Fury is far better equipped for this maneuver,” Jonathan said.

  “Damn it John,” Will said.

  Jonathan made a chopping motion with his hand as he said, “I am the senior officer here Will, it's my decision.”

  “The Fury is better equipped for this,” Commander Pence said. “We're going to have to time this perfectly though. If they don't take the bait...”

  “Then we’ll adapt,” Jonathan finished. “I’ll get my tactical department and navigator to start crunching the numbers. With luck, in fourteen hours we’ll all be free and clear and on our way back to rendezvous with the 5th Fleet.”

  “God speed Captain,” Pence said before breaking the link.

  Will remained for a moment glaring at his friend, “You better come out of the other side of this in one piece John. I am not explaining to Bethany that you threw your life away keeping me safe.”

  Jonathan smiled, “Don't worry Will, I’ll do my best.”

  Will cut the link.

  Jonathan looked over at George who seemed a bit lost in thought. “George can you get Lieutenant Tang, Lieutenant Sing, and Lieutenant Commander Elman down here. We have some planning to do. Then why don't you take a couple hours off and get some rest.”

  “I’ll summon them, but I don't need a break John,” George said.

  “Actually, can you do a favor for me? I have a file of letters for my family I haven't sent yet. I am sure a lot of folks do. Cronus will still be in range to receive data packets for a few good hours...” Jonathan trailed off as he saw George recognize what he was trying to say.

  Despite his optimism, there was a good chance this wouldn't work and they’d all be dead or POWs. Now was the last chance for folks to say good bye.

  “You know I have a few letters to send myself. I’ll get the Bosun and the Reverend to help,” George said.

  “I think that's a good idea George,” Jonathan said.

  George rose to leave, “You know John the last couple months have been some of the best of my life. It’s been a privilege to be back in the khaki and serving under you.”

  “Thanks George and don't tell Will, but I couldn't ask for a better XO.”

  George saluted a bit more formerly and left, leaving Jonathan alone in the wardroom.

  His eyes fell on the painting of the wooden frigate with the ridiculously crowded red, white and blue banner. He smiled as he looked at the serene scene and the white name painted across the stern of the ship, USS Constitution. Every student of Naval history knew that name and the legend behind it. That ship had been manned by brave men who in an age of wooden hulled vessels and black powder cannons had fought numerous battles at impossible odds, and in the process sailed into legend. Jonathan wondered what they would make of Naval warfare almost a thousand years later. It would probably be both alien and familiar to them. Men still fought each other and there were still battles of impossible odds with only the faintest hope of victory. Jonathan closed his eyes and listened. The Sound of Fury was more than a hunk of battle steel and fusion engines. She was a living breathing thing now. Her crew was her heart and soul and Jonathan was her mind. God willing she’d see them through the next day.

  Chapter XIV

  Tso System, Near Uffern Solarian Republic-Colonial Border Region

  On board RSNS Sound of Fury,

  November 30th 844 AE

  Hours past. Jonathan and his staff planned and plotted the maneuver as best they could, until finally there was nothing left to do but wait. From his chair on the bridge, Jonathan blinked. He had maybe four hours sleep in the last 24 hours. Yet he wasn't tired. It was miraculous what a combination of stress, caffeine and adrenaline could do for you.

  Ernest Tang the navigator came on the bridge offering a cup of coffee to Jonathan.

  He took it and thanked the navigator.

  “Are we ready Mr. Tang?” Jonathan asked taking a sip. Tang did know how to brew a good cup.

  “Ready as we can be Captain,” Tang replied.

  “Very well, execute at your discretion Lieutenant,” Jonathan said.

  “Aye sir,” Tang said then addressing the bridge crew, “I have the com.”

  “Mr. Tang has the com,” Jonathan confirmed.

  Tang went and stood near the helmsman pulling from his pocket a digital timer.

  “Stand by to initiate maneuver burn in 5..4..3..2..1..burn.”

  At Mr. Tang's signal Fury altered course, her maneuver thrusters firing and her main engine cutting out for a few moments while the course was altering then resuming firing at maximum thrust.

  For a brief moment Jonathan and everyone on board felt a sense of weightlessness, and then a tug of gravity as the compensators adjusted. Not for the first time. Jonathan thanked God for the compensators and grav plates. Without those the crew would be bouncing around in the Fury like marbles in a milk shaker. On the display screen Fury’s new course resolved as the comp calculated its trajectory. The complexity of orbital mechanics made it seem a lot more intricate than it was, but in layman's terms Fury was still heading forUffern, but her trajectory was now diverging from that of Cronus and Liberty Prime. While both of those ships would pass to the right of the planet toward the wormway picking up a gravity assist as they did, Fury was now heading to the left of the planet this would slow her as she entered the gravity field. It was Jonathan's hope that the Colonial battle cruiser would believe this was an attempt by Fury to lure him away from the transport and refuse to pursue Fury. If he decided to follow well... Jonathan would cross that bridge when he came to it.

  “Mr. Elman what is Tango-1 up to?” Jonathan asked.

  Elman didn't even respond. His young face was taut as he leaned over the shoulders of the Specialist at the Lidar’s screens. Seconds ticked by, then minutes. Jonathan did his best to keep his face calm, but internally he wanted to scream. The entire plan hinged on the Colonials reacting the way Jonathan thought they would, which was to say arrogantly and over confidently. The way a foe drunk on victory behaved when engaged with one who was being beaten down by defeat.

  Finally Elman stood up and smiled, “Sir Tango-1 has continued pursuit of Cronus and Liberty Prime.

  Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief as did everyone else on the bridge.

  “Mr. Heath, transmit coded message to both Lib
erty Prime and Cronus message reads, ‘Whatever happens next keep running.’ add an addendum in message to Cronus, addendum reads, ‘That is an order’.

  Heath nodded as he started to transmit the message.

  George who had come on the bridge from auxiliary just in time to hear that came over to Jonathan.

  “It sucks when you have to give friends orders,” he said.

  Jonathan nodded, “You know George, you're not wrong about that. Is the decoy ready?”

  “Aye ready as we can make her. Heath was right. Petty Officer Bento is a regular whiz with EM signatures. We’ve run six different tests and the decoy fooled the lidar all six times.”

  “We’ll seventh time's the charm. Load her up and get ready to fire. Mr. Tang how long until we're in the planet's shadow?” Jonathan asked.

  “I estimate no more that two and a half hours sir, at which point we will have a twenty minute window.”

  “Well let’s be about it then people. We have big game to hunt and I personally would like to mount the keel of that Colonial monstrosity on the wardroom wall,” Jonathan said.

  Despite the tension and the looming spectre of imminent death several people cracked a smile, some even chuckled. Privately, Jonathan felt a calmness come over him. Once more that poem his mother had so often quoted floated through his mind.

  ‘To all men upon this earth death cometh soon or late,

  But what better way for a man to die than facing fearful odds.

  Before the ashes of his fathers and the temple of his gods.

  In a moment of personal levity Jonathan tweaked the words to suit his situation.

  To all men within this universe death cometh soon or late,

  But what better way for a man to die than facing fearful odds.

  Against the enemies of his nation, next to his comrades in arms.

  Sound of Fury flew like a dart toward the frozen world of Uffern. As she closed on world she passed into the planet's shadow, briefly hidden from lidar range. At that moment, several things happened at once. One was the decoy that George and half the EW department had laboriously been constructing was launched from the forward missile tube. The decoy, which was emitting the same electromagnetic emissions signature as Sound of Fury, would continue on the trajectory Fury would have followed around the planet and back toward the Cronus and Prime seeming to try to put herself between the smaller ships and the Colonial battle cruiser. The real Fury, meanwhile, flipped herself end over end and fired her engine at full burn. This slowed her velocity and brought her into orbit of Uffern. It wasn't without problems though. Half way through the 20 minute burn the sweaty, nervous face of Lt. Commander Okai appeared on Jonathan's screen.