Captain Hawkins (The Jamie Hawkins Saga Book 1)

by H. Alesso

  Hawkins asked, “What’s your timetable to complete construction?”

  “We’ll have temporary shelter and basic services up within two weeks. After that we’ll upgrade the construction to full service within two months.”

  Hawkins said, “We must move as fast as possible. Our enemies could discover us at any time and each day is precious in building our strength and finding additional people and resources.”

  Merrick spent nearly an hour, disgorging all the information he had on asteroid commerce, before Hawkins interrupted and said, “I want to thank you for that briefing on operations within the asteroid belt. If I understand the gist, there are several thousand commerce vessels in the inner half of the star system and a like number beyond the asteroids. They service nearly a thousand mining colonies which transport mineral wealth to their respective governments and they are in turn resupplied with food, equipment, and finished goods.”

  “That’s right,” said Merrick. “To safeguard commerce within the inner planets the Jaxon navy has about fifty medium and small warships in their Escort Fleet while Hellion has about an equal number to protect the outer planets’ commerce.”

  “That’s not counting the Home and Combat Fleets of each side which are not likely to pay much attention to us,” said Hawkins.

  Merrick continued, “That’s right. Against these numbers, we can muster three converted cargo vessels with a few small weapons and a half a dozen transport ships to move forces about. Oh, and then there’s your frigate, the Destiny—our only actual warship. In addition, there are a few scattered rebel bases in the asteroids and a few groups of rebel supporters on Jaxon itself.”

  It was apparent to all that the lack of a space navy was problematic for a revolution. Even the few ships they did have, had been hijacked from the enemy. Some merchant ships could be lightly armed as well, but since the rebels were greatly outnumbered and outgunned, such ships would have to be used wisely. They needed a commander to motivate and deploy them. Most rebel officers were of dubious combat potential with the exception of those aboard the Destiny.

  Hawkins folded his hands tight before him. He recognized that the seat of rebel power was on Jaxon, but this base represented their main military force in the asteroids—such as it was. He had no formal negotiating training and could only rely on his own experience to guide him, but his instincts told him that this base commander was ill-suited for his position.

  Hawkins asked, “I presume you will support my efforts and supply my ship?”

  “You presume a great deal, perhaps too much,” said Merrick whose previous experience as a warehouse manager made him prone to hoarding. “But let’s proceed slowly, shall we?”

  “What other prospects have we? We’re outlaws,” laughed Hale.

  “Yes, but we’ve chosen our enemies with discrimination—the governments of Rusk and Victor,” laughed Hawkins. “And we can attack them with discrimination, as well.”

  “Do you know how much, the people hate Victor?” asked the base commander. “How much, they really hate him? Not just a little, but actively and intently. How long they have lived in fear of him and his police thugs.”

  “Our people are divided by this government. The only thing we all have in common is the misery Victor has caused,” said Hale.

  “Unfortunately, the public is thoroughly disgusted, not only with the Victor administration, but they are angry with the rebels who led them into violent defeat, such as the disaster at Newport,” said Hawkins waiting for the reaction he knew would come.

  He watched Merrick’s face for a reaction, and was not disappointed. Hawkins could see that there was as much internal strife and dissent within the rebel organization, as ever.

  I’ve got to win this man over.

  Hawkins said, “I propose we avoid attacking Jaxon military bases because that would assist the Hellion. Instead we will target Hellion ships and bases and take equipment and weapons from them. However, to punish the Jaxon government, as well, we will raid their gem and mineral shipments that line their personal pockets. It may undermine their ability to stay in power.”

  “That seems overly ambitious,” said Merrick, nevertheless warming to the possibility.

  Hawkins said, “A well-handled small force can appear more formidable by striking strategically and winning small tactical victories—which I intend to do—with your support. Of course, I plan to bring all the booty and goods we acquire, here for you, to keep and distribute to our rebel friends.”

  A great smile emerged on Merrick’s face for the first time. He clearly liked the thought of vast quantities of materials and goods coming into his possession to hoard and distribute at his discretion.

  Merrick said, “You should know that Victor has your face plastered over the tele. Your anonymity is at an end. He has sent people to hunt you down and kill you.”

  “They’ll have to find me first.”

  Hawkins knew that exploiting his success of escaping Zeno, and proclaiming it a rebel victory, would yield dividends and stop panic-stricken fears. He publicly praised Hale and the rebels who followed him, and raised their profile while tamping down opposition voices. He made contact with news reporters, he could trust, to get his words to the Jaxon public and he even began talking about a rebel government in exile. This immediately got resonance. He seemed a colorful warrior that could rescue them. There were those who thought him a great man, but he was not one of them. He held himself in less regard. He recognized that his public popularity was being exploited by some, while others saw him as a threat.

  The base commander said, “I’m not in a position to plan a rebellion that can change the Jaxon government.”

  “Then who is?” asked Hawkins.

  “Only the rebel groups united under Catherine Parker on Jaxon have the loyalty and reach to even consider such an option.”

  Hawkins hated to leave problems unsolved, but some would have to wait until he could meet with Parker. Then more out of obstinacy, than a sincere intent to get things organized, he went back to work, sorting out solutions that were within his grasp.

  Hawkins went around the table, pointing to individuals as he spoke, “You: Prepare a list of all personnel on this base, their duties and responsibilities. You: Inventory all equipment including weapons and their functionality. You: Work out what we will need to turn this base into a self-sustaining colony. You: Gather a list of the nearest mining colonies whose leaders might be willing to make black-market deals. You: Get intelligence on the Miramar bases and their defenses to see which ones might be vulnerable to raids. You: Find out when and where convoys are scheduled to pass through this area. One way or another, we will stand up and be noticed.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Mixed Signals

  For a man who had never commanded more than a company of Marines in combat, Hawkins demonstrated advanced military tactics and imaginative initiative by juxtaposing careful calculation with aggressive abandon. He moved among his men praising, encouraging, ordering, and scoffing. Their successes, though small, transformed a collection of misfits into enthusiastic, hard-charging warriors that knew they would always find him at the forefront of any danger they faced.

  Hawkins enjoyed the comradery by having his officers visit him informally in his stateroom. He kept fresh snacks available which worked wonders in motivating them to return.

  One day, there was a knock on his stateroom door.

  “Enter.”

  A young head peeked in. “Captain, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I have an update on the information you asked for.”

  “Come in, Joshua. Sit down.”

  Joshua said, “The data techs in CIC helped me compile a detail evaluation of the known Jaxon and Hellion bases in the asteroids.”

  He handed over his tablet.

  “I see from your report that enemy ships and resources seem particularly high in the Alpha sector. Knowing how sensitive the enemy is to threats to their supply line, I’ve forced them to station ships
in these rear areas by making feints at nearby bases. That has drawn away forces and may have left us an opening,” said Hawkins, looking up from the datasheet.

  “Yes, Captain. I’ve indicated the best targets,” said the boy with a broad smile.

  “I see that, but you neglected to identify the major threats that accompany those opportunities.”

  Crestfallen, Joshua quickly took back the tablet. He scrolled to a new page and showed Hawkins.

  “I’ve tabulated the ship deployments. Here,” he pointed.

  Hawkins scrolled through some of the report’s information about ship and soldier placements.

  He said, “One of our major tactical challenges has been to safely cross the large expanse of the belt to reach a position from which we can launch an attack. Your information will help. Well done.”

  Joshua beamed.

  For the last month, Hawkins had made a series of swift raids—widely dispersed to conceal any pattern to rebel movements—that had yielded meaningful plunder. But they had a secondary purpose as well. “Did you find any patterns in Jaxon fleet movements?” he asked.

  “I did,” said Joshua eager to explain his insight. “The Jaxon navy is collecting forces at their main base. It’s possible that they intend to make a broad sweep through the asteroid belt to ferret out rebels—and from all indications, they could strike soon.”

  Hawkins considered the evidence.

  Joshua added sheepishly, “Actually, it was the data techs in CIC who pointed that out to me.”

  Hawkins nodded and said, “I intend to disrupt their plans by striking first and leading them on a merry chase. I think we can make a good diversion, if carried it out aggressively. It could throw them off balance and give us the time we need. Let me point out to you that we are greatly outnumbered and we severely lack men and material. No amount of clever maneuver, or bold action, is enough to compensate for such weaknesses indefinitely, at some point, we must get stronger.”

  “How?”

  In a distracted manner, Hawkins mused, “The logistic issues are beyond difficult, considering our merger resources; we’re desperately short of skilled soldiers, heavy weapons, and ships. Where will more come from?”

  “Well sir, the defeats the Hellion military have suffered has motivated them to send ships after us and you’ve managed to capture several.”

  “Ha!” laughed Hawkins. “I don’t think encouraging Jaxon and Hellion to send more ships after us is the right solution to growing our fleet. We’ve been lucky so far. They chose aggressive officers who proved that they were not up to the task. They divided their force and tried to spread an inadequate net to trap us.”

  “Yes, Captain, but your unorthodox tactics have given us victories.”

  It was true that Hawkins had used intricate successful maneuvers, both militarily and diplomatically. His goal was to always limit his opposition’s moves while maximizing his freedom of movement.

  So far, his enemies had not divined his strategy—a task that required a sharper mind than Victor’s. And because Victor had to both check the rebel unrest, and battle the Hellion at the same time, he often made muddled or wrong moves. All the dark pageantry of politics and war could not compare with Hawkins’ personal leadership. He was proving to be a more resourceful and energetic leader, than they could cope with.

  Hawkins said, “It’s true that our military successes have enabled us to make alliances with several colony base commanders to get information and supplies in exchange for our plunder. I’ve found that acquiring mineral ores allowed us to buy support from those who were otherwise less inclined toward the rebellion. My favorite deal was with the financial money men on Jaxon who were willing to hedge their bet against the Victor government.”

  Joshua asked, “Despite everything you’ve done, do you really feel we have a chance against such enormous numbers?”

  Hawkins frowned and said, “I believe that it is better to fail, than not to try.

  Joshua remained sitting quietly for several minutes.

  “Was there something more you wanted to talk about, Joshua?”

  The boy whispered, “Yes.”

  Hawkins waited.

  “I think I’ve found something important, but it may be nothing. The tech told me to forget it, but I . . ., I don’t know, it bothers me.”

  “Tell me and let me decide,” said Hawkins sympathetically.

  “Sir, I was working with the data techs, trying to analyze the communication patterns of the Hellion fleet,” said Joshua, licking his dry lips, excitedly. “And I’ve come across a very unusual signal.”

  Hawkins gave him an encouraging nod.

  “It was a burst of radio signals from deep space. I traced it to either a 4 billion-year-old star in a constellation 44.4 light years away, or to another star in that same constellation, but much farther away. That means that the radio waves have been travelling to us for at least forty-four point four years.”

  Hawkins said, “Deep space radio signals have many plausible explanations—radio interference from planets, or rogue signals caused by local planet microwave devices. Another possibility could be stellar flares which can produce a one-time powerful signal. Even a pair of comets could be a source.”

  “That’s true, Captain. That’s what the techs said. They said, it could be just the effect of a natural space object, like a pulsating quasar, but it’s also possible . . . I think maybe . . . it could be a message from another civilization.”

  Now smiling broadly, Hawkins said, “Given the unlikelihood of that, why are you concerned?”

  “Because it was not a one-off event,” said Joshua excitedly and then pausing to catch his breath. “I’ve recorded a half dozen repeating signals from the exact same source.”

  Nodding, Hawkins said, “That’s a little more interesting, but an explanation for that could be a lighthouse-like rotating stellar pulsar with the signal sweeping in frequency.”

  “But Captain, the implications could be mind-blowing. Imagine, what if it was an alien civilization, and they were far more advanced than us, and they were trying to make contact? After centuries of fruitlessly scanning the stars and finding no evidence that anyone else is out there, this could be . . . could be . . .”

  Joshua became paralyzed by his own imagination.

  “Joshua, even if this signal were not natural, it might still be the product of one of Earth’s colonies—not aliens.”

  “No sir, I’ve checked. There were no Earth colonies in the vicinity of the signal’s star cluster when we last had contact with Earth, fifty years ago,” said Joshua. Then in a rush of words, as he was apt to do, he spewed out, “And if there was a new colony since then, they couldn’t have landed and set up their civilization and begun transmitting to us in less than the forty four years that signal has been traveling.”

  “Still you should curb your enthusiasm. There are many different possible explanations for what caused that signal—even a repeating signal—that we would have to rule out before we cry ‘alien.’ Signals like this have also been picked up before and none has panned out.”

  Joshua blinked and opened and closed his mouth several times, as if he wanted to argue further, but he couldn’t offer any additional proof for his cause.

  Hawkins said, “I agree, we should continue to monitor this frequency, but for now, it’ll have to remain a mystery.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Masquerade

  Commerce was the lifeblood of the Jaxon civilization and the shipping routes between its mining colonies and the inner planets offered Hawkins an opportunity to conduct raids to obtain new resources while harassing his enemy. The Destiny trekked through the asteroid belt to a key transit point where mineral freighters traveled. There she waited for a likely prospect. It wasn’t long before they heard a distant emergency distress call.

  SOS! SOS! SOS!

  The comm tech tried to contact the ship, but there was no response.

  Hawkins maneuvered the Destiny closer to
the source of the call. When they had the ship on radar they decelerated to match the vessel’s velocity. The ship looked like a derelict drifting near the shipping lanes.

  Astrogator Williams scratched his head and said, “Something doesn’t look right about that ship. Its profile seems strange and their SOS keeps repeating, but no one is responding to our messages.”

  “We don’t know how long the distress has been broadcast. They might have abandoned ship and be far away, in escape pods,” said Hale.

  Williams said, “It looks too easy.”

  Hawkins ordered a medical rescue team to prepare to board the derelict and help any injured people. In addition, he prepared a team of engineers and damage control personnel to repair whatever had gone wrong with the ship’s engines.

  The derelict continued to transmit,

  SOS! SOS! SOS!

  “What do you propose?” asked Hale.

  “Hale, you take command of the Destiny,” said Hawkins. “I’m going to board the derelict and take a look,”

  He ordered the comm tech to transmit a message to the derelict stating that a boarding party was coming to their aid with medical and engineering teams.

  He loaded two shuttles with his rescue including Mitchel and Williams and approached the derelict.

  There was no reply from the dead ship when the shuttle reached her. When they docked, Hawkins and his men opened the entry port hatch and boarded.

  They entered the ship, but there was no one to greet them. Hawkins sent Mitchel with half the men to engineering while he led Williams and the others to the bridge. They looked to see if there were any injured as they proceeded, but found none.

  Hawkins was only half way to the bridge when gunfire erupted, driving him and his men into a side compartment that boxed them in with no exits and limited cover.

  It’s a trap. I’ve blundered into a trap.

  Without wasting a moment, Hawkins began directing the firefight. He called, “Gunny, we’re taking fire forward. We’re in a precarious position.”