by Marc Stevens
“Thank you, Justice. What is our exit ETA?”
“Eleven minutes, thirty-two seconds”
“Can you locate Sael’s ship without wandering all over the target area?”
“I have selected an entry point far enough from the AO to allow me time to locate her position and lessen the chances of our transition being detected.”
I made my way to the command deck, and as I stepped out of the lift tube I could hear laughter coming from the bridge. I walked in to find everyone watching my little free for all in the Scrun’s cell. Justice had it on the view dome. Klutch was flailing around giving a blow-by-blow description accompanied by my crew’s riotous laughter and applause at his antics. I loudly cleared my throat and the viewscreen went blank. You could hear a pin drop as everyone made themselves look busy at their stations. Justice called out over the P.A. system.
“Exit transition in thirty seconds Commander.”
I took my chair and felt mild nausea grip me as we exited hyperspace. The Legacy went to stealth mode and Justice began sweeping the system with our passive scanners. We cleared our transition point and went in search of the Operative’s starship. The system was a dark place of rock and dust. The local star was a brown dwarf. It failed to gain enough mass to fuse hydrogen, so its fizzled attempt left it small and dim. It was more like a very large planetary body than a true star. The rest of the system was a massive, rock-laden waste zone, barren of any planets. If the Operative was hiding amongst all this galactic clutter, she might be hard to find.
“Justice, can you pick Sael’s ship out of all this crap?”
“I have not sorted her flagship out of the fourteen targets I have identified as Murlak and Scrun warships. The target list will grow as I eliminate the large number of probable detections. Once the target list is complete, I can compare data and should have her location in a matter of minutes.”
Before I could say anything else, my IST came online in secure mode and the voice of the Operative filled my head. “Nathan, we have detected your transition but cannot get a lock on your position. The information from your prisoners was correct. We have eighteen confirmed hostile targets and several more probable’s.”
“Acknowledged, Senior Operative, please hold your position while Justice confirms a complete target list.”
The Operative shot back a curt “Holding.”
Justice came over the PA system. “Commander, I have located twenty-five hostile targets, the largest of which is maneuvering slowly to the edge of the largest dust field. I have identified that target as a Murlak Warbringer-class battleship. The other twenty-four targets are scattered in a rough circle in the largest asteroid field. The Operative’s flagship is between the Warbringer and the ambush fleet. It appears that they have detected our transition distortion waves but cannot locate us. I believe the same is true in the Operative’s case as well. We will know shortly if the Warbringer swings out away from the dust field and moves in the direction of the other hostile ships. I believe they will radiate telltales strong enough for anyone in the area to detect them in hopes of getting a follower.”
“Transfer the latest targeting data to Sael’s flagship and move us in close to her location.”
“Data sent, Commander.”
My crew sat quietly listening, each fastening their seat harness in anticipation of combat. Tria looked back at me expectantly. I fastened my harness and she gave me a small smile then turned back to her screen. Evidently Justice did not think we could be detected by the Scrun or the Murlak. We made a maximum speed interception of the Operative’s flagship, gliding through the hostile fleet’s location. The new Guardian technology we installed on the Legacy was magnitudes above any of the tech the pirates and slavers could get their hands on.
My IST came alive with a secure message beep. The Operative’s voice had an edge to it. “Nathan, we should attack all the targets before they start wondering why we have not appeared on their scanners. What is your position?”
I looked up at the view dome and saw the blue box of the Operative’s flagship leap at us and quickly fill the entire front of the display. I was sure my next report was going to thrill her. “We are below and just aft of your position.”
The oath the Operative blurted under her breath was still loud enough to put a smile on my face. She really despised having less than the latest tech. I am sure she realized she indirectly had something to do with our current advantage. I knew we had something she and her people wanted now that we had demonstrated its potential. She acknowledged my thoughts with her next statement.
“Perhaps when this ugliness with Eiger is brought to a proper end, we can revisit a technology exchange that will be beneficial to both of us.”
The one item that was still at the very top of my wish list was transporter technology.
30
I decided to throw Sael a bone and let her take on the role of Commander. I would let her decide how this battle was going to play out. The data we had collected from the Murlak and Scrun, seemed to be authentic and accurate. This led me to believe the information we had obtained on Eiger’s whereabouts was also true and correct. This made the entire enemy fleet targets of opportunity.
“Senior Operative, I feel the information we have on Eiger’s location is possibly accurate. It was my intention to board the Warbringer to ensure Eiger would be apprehended. I now feel like it would be a waste of time and energy. I propose we attempt to disable as many of the hostile ships as possible and jump to a safe location to discuss future strategies.”
Sael shot right back. “We will not ‘attempt’ to do anything. We are going to destroy all of the sewage-sucking Throggs that infest this scat hole. You boasted that you will not turn a blind eye to these cowardly killers. When my crew and I decided to join your little wet dream, we vowed to do the same. Do not dishonor my crew members who lost their lives following you because you changed your mind!”
Whew! The old witch must have slipped off of her broomstick and it somehow became lodged in her ass. She was out for blood and did not give a crap what it might cost us to get it. In the back of my mind, I felt the Oolaran soldier stir and give a mirthless laugh. I was thinking the monster now had a sister. There was only one way to answer her.
“OK Sael, pick out what you want and we will take the rest.”
“We must strike now while the fools are playing with themselves trying to determine if we have entered the system. With a properly coordinated stealth missile strike, we can eliminate them all. On my signal, you destroy the Warbringer, and then come back for any stragglers. We will commence launching a four-missile-per-target strike package that will be timed for simultaneous detonation.”
Justice interrupted our planning with an alert. “Commander, The Warbringer just launched three comm buoys, and they have transitioned. This act may be an attempt to draw us out, or the opposition already knows we are here and they are calling for help. The Warbringer has now brought its shields online and is moving toward the ambush zone.”
“Is it accelerating?”
“Yes, Commander, but at a fraction of its capability. It is making itself an obvious target.”
“OK Justice, let’s give them what they are wishing for. Move us in close enough, we can hit them with the beam weapons for maximum effect. When their shields come down, give them six of our new Chaalt anti-matter missiles.”
“Roger that, Commander. I am detecting a continuous salvo being launched from the Operative’s flagship, and it has ceased at ninety-six missiles. All have transitioned.”
I looked up at the view dome as the entire screen filled with the massive, blunt-nosed Warbringer. They did not have a clue about the hell we were getting ready to unleash on them. I felt a small twinge of guilt that passed as quick as it came. The pieces of shit deserved everything that was about to happen to them. Justice called out again.
“Commander, I am detecting the transition emissions from the Operative’s missiles and estimate they will
impact the targets in sixty seconds or less.”
Sael linked with me. “Are you in position to strike Nathan?”
“Affirmative, we will attack on your mark.”
“Thirty seconds and counting down.”
“Roger that. Good luck and good hunting.”
The signal ended and I watched as Justice put up a diagram of the Warbringer’s overlapping shields. He illuminated the weakest areas and then chose an area that appeared to have very little coverage below the battleship’s massive hanger doors. The asteroid field on the back side of the dome lit up from multiple simultaneous anti-matter explosions. Justice ramped the power to the beam weapons to maximum and put a continuous beam shot into the side of the Warbringer. The view dome flashed a brilliant white, that quickly faded, leaving a picture of a giant hole in the Warbringer we could have flown through. We could see the star field through the burning hell that once was the hanger deck. Six green missile tracks jumped from the Legacy into the hole, and the Murlak ship came apart in a blinding flash that blacked out the view dome. When the screen reset, we were plowing through a massive debris cloud that had our forward shields blazing from the continuous strikes.
Justice called out, “Commander, there are seven remaining targets that are attempting to get a lock on the Operative’s ship. All targets appear to be unloading their entire arsenal of anti-ship missiles. The missile count is climbing above six hundred.”
“Let’s give the Operative a hand. Target anything Sael does not have a lock on and knock down as many missiles as you can with our point defense weapons.”
The view dome started stuttering from the nonstop point defense fire. There were sparkling flashes across the screen, as our weapons started knocking out hostile missiles. Two of the hostile ships closest to our position had bright red crosshairs appear on them. Justice gave each a four-missile salvo. The missiles blinked out of normal space-time and transitioned to a point in close proximity to the targets. They re-acquired the fleeing ships and dove headlong into the most depleted areas of the enemy ship’s shields. One of the targets disappeared in ripple of three detonations. The forth missile made an impossibly sharp turn back toward the other target and bore in for a frontal engagement. The second Scrun ship was pouring out fire with their defensive weapon systems while making absolutely crazy maneuvers in the dense, rock-filled asteroid field. They were doing fairly well until the wild tactics intersected with a large rock fragment, sending the ship careening end over end. The two remaining missiles, along with the lone attacker from the first engagement, found their mark, adding to the dense, debris-laden rock field.
Justice zeroed in on the Operative’s location and placed a blue box around her ship. We turned back in her direction and started a jinxing dive back into the rocky hell the asteroid field was quickly becoming. I had to admit when it came to cleaning house, Sael was deadly and efficient. She had eighteen instant kills and was methodically mopping up the remaining stragglers. Justice decided we had enough time to go in for one more kill.
One of the survivors was a Murlak cruiser class warship. The captain was apparently abandoning the engagement and was trying to get to open space. If he managed to do it, he would transition before we could catch him. In an insane move, Justice lined us up with the smallest of openings in the debris field and made an eye blink of an inter-system jump. When we returned to normal space-time a second later, the entire view dome was filled with the hostile ship. I heard more than one oath yelled out in alarm. Justice blasted a double beam shot point blank into the Murlak ship. I gripped the arms of my chair expecting a collision as it blew apart. The flash of the explosion obscured the entire view dome. I was shocked speechless when the screen reset. We were plowing through a large number of bodies along with the contents of the ship. I was in awe as both halves of the ship went spinning away from us in different directions.
There was a horrible stench in the air. I was relieved to find it was coming from Klutch and not the lower half of my uniform. My crew did not seem to notice; they all turned staring wide-eyed at me. I returned the look, giving them a small shake of my head and a shrug.
Justice called out to us, ending my nonstop adrenaline rush. “Commander, all targets accounted for and eliminated.”
I had trouble finding my voice and it came out in a hoarse whisper until I cleared my throat a second time. “Did we sustain any damage?”
“Our forward lower hull and outboard star drive nacelle have sustained minor damage. The hull bots are moving to those locations to begin repairs.”
“Open a secure IST channel to the Operative.”
“Secure channel transmitting Commander.”
“Senior Operative, what is your status?”
“We have no casualties but have hull and shield emitter damage we will have to repair before we can engage in combat operations.”
“The Legacy has sustained minor damage but is combat capable. The Warbringer launched three comm buoys, and we cannot be sure if it was a ruse to draw us out, or a call for backup. I suggest we move to a secure location, so you can make your repairs, and I can brief you on our intelligence findings.”
“We detected the launches as well, and what you say is of sound tactical reasoning, but I still feel the need to bloody the murderous Throggs.”
“Sael, the Scrun and Murlak claimed that we were being led here, because we were hearing what they wanted us to hear. If reinforcements show up at this location, they will see what we want them to see.”
The transmitter was silent for what seemed like thirty seconds but was probably a lot less. “Very well Nathan. It sounds like you have a location in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Justice will transfer the coordinates to you now, it is a location just outside of the system the Scrun training base occupies. When you complete your repairs, we are going to burn that scat hole to the ground.”
“I find myself liking you a little more every time I talk with you.”
“HAH! Where I come from, we call that bullshit! We will wait for you to jump and then follow.”
I heard a small chuckle escape her lips and then she said, “Transitioning in thirty seconds. Don’t keep me waiting.”
The Operative’s ship disappeared from the system. I had Justice leave a little surprise behind before we transitioned. There were more than two hundred hostile missiles still wandering around the system, aimlessly seeking a target to lock onto. We added a dozen of our own. Justice set them to go dormant. If a spacecraft matching our targeting data happened to enter the system, the stealth missiles would come back online and transition to the target’s location from multiple vectors.
With all our parting gifts launched, we made a DEHD core jump to Sael’s location. Justice now had all the data he needed to identify and lock in the Operative’s location. He moved us to within a thousand yards of her flagship. He magnified her hull damage and we could see repair bots and visual inspection teams going about their business.
My IST went live with a secure beep. “Nathan, we detected your transition and I know you are close by. When you are finished playing games, I am ready for the debriefing.”
Justice pulled us close alongside Sael’s flagship and uncloaked. The inspection teams became so alarmed at us appearing within several hundred feet of their ship, most went jetting at high speed for cover in the shuttle hangar. I chuckled thinking several were giving their suit disposal systems a workout. It was not but a few minutes before a lone figure stood in the hangar entrance. I was a little miffed because Sael had never once invited us aboard. I suspect it was a major infraction of the rules to let another alien board a Chaalt warship. I thought after the Quill engagement, my crew and I might be an exception to that rule. I guess I was wrong.
I called to Justice. “Open the shuttle bay for the Operative, evidently she wishes to visit in person.”
I got up to go meet Sael. Coonts and Klutch stayed at their stations, but Tria got up and intercepted me on my way off the
bridge. She locked one of her arms around mine and walked without comment to the downtube.
When we stepped in, she embraced me and said in a quiet voice. “Do you still think I look like star-withered old fruit?”
I could not help but laugh at the question. It was not the reaction she was wanting, and a frown crossed her pretty face. I was wondering when she would find an interpretation of what a raisin was. While she did not have a completely accurate translation, it was close enough. My humorous response must have irritated her more than I thought. She started to pull away from me as we descended to the hangar deck. I refused to let her go and pulled her close and kissed her. Her natural deep dark tanned appearance was slowly returning to normal from the almost black caused by the bruising from the Oolaran procedures she had undergone. She was hiding her discomfort fairly well. I could tell her facial expressions were an exercise in control. I wish she would stop trying to prove she was as tough as nails — I already knew it.
She relaxed in my arms and I whispered to her. “You should know that a raisin is a sweet delicacy on my home world and it is cherished by many for its unique flavor and healing qualities.”
We stepped out of the down tube and she looked at me with those big emerald eyes. “I believe where you come from, statements like that are called bullshit!”
Even though there was truth to the statement, it would be hard denying it wasn’t laced with just a little livestock excrement. As we walked hand in hand into the hangar, we saw that the Operative had already leaped across the void between our ships and was swiftly approaching. For reasons unknown to me Tria spun me around and planted a wet one on me that left a look of surprise on my face. She was definitely much stronger than she used to be; it would have taken effort to resist the sudden move. She turned back to Sael Nalen and gave her an almost smug look, leaving me to wonder what was up with it. I let the surprise slide from my face as I started to greet Sael.
