Rogerton and the Specialist felt the lasers hitting them like hammer blows. They would be deeply bruised but basically unhurt, thanks to their shielding-suits and helmets. The laser blasts cut through the equalizer tube as they reached the top and clambered through the Octopus opening into their ship. The nuclear cutters fused the lid back into place as they quickly strapped into their gravity seats.
“Kolanna, has Ship Two departed?” Rogerton said, glancing at the NAV screens.
“Yes, Ma’am! Just lifted off, rejoining the Squadron!”
“Loosen the Octopus! Get us out of here!”
Before they could detach their ship, they felt the terrific rumblings and vibration of the twin Zenkati fusion engines roaring to life at maximum starting thrust.
“Inertia dampers at full!” Rogerton said. “Kolanna, fire up our engine and try to match our velocity with theirs while the Octopus has us secure! If we loosen our grip now, we'll be cooked in their wake! Our shielding isn't strong enough!”
“We can’t keep up! In twenty seconds their velocity will exceed our engine’s capacity and our synch-shielding will be out of range! It’s at forty percent and dropping!”
The g-forces were oppressive, it was even hard to think. Rogerton was losing her color vision. It was like looking down a gray tunnel to her instruments and crew around her. She knew she had to act quickly or they would all be unconscious with disastrous results.
“Kolanna, use the explosive bolts! Give us your tightest one-eighty at full power! On my mark!”
As her consciousness diminished, she felt the small patrol ship jump from the side of the Black Eagle as the explosive bolts blasted free the grip of the Octopus.
**********
“Thirty seconds to full ignition!” Terran said over the COM. “Everyone strap in! Estelle, get plugged in!”
Cursing with anger, Galen ran back to the bridge and settled himself into his gunner’s seat as the fusion engines roared to life. “All ahead max!” he said, snapping on weapons systems.
The sensors showed the one patrol ship still attached.
“So you think you can hang on, you miserable leech?” Galen said, as the ship’s inertia dampers strained under the increasing g-forces. “We'll shake you off and give you a little surprise, or crush you if you stay.”
Suddenly the big ship shuddered as the PCC ship fired its explosive bolts, thrusting it away from the hull of Bestmarke’s accelerating ship. As the small craft turned a tight arc in the opposite direction, Galen powered up the ion phase pulse-cannon, aiming it at the fusion engine of the fleeing ship. He pressed the trigger once and then twice more, sending three hot, blue pulses streaking to the shrinking target.
“That will finish them,” Galen said. “Get us out of here! Go to full cloak! There are too many of them for us.”
The ship rumbled and shook as Terran brought it up to full thrust.
“We WILL get Franelli back!” Galen said.
**********
“They have blown the explosive bolts and are taking a tight one-eighty!” Lieutenant-Commander Gornect said. “Shall I focus the synch-shielding on Ship One?”
“Do it!” VanDevere said. “All of it! The other ships are far enough behind to be at minimal risk! Bestmarke will most certainly take a parting shot!”
“He's powering up and locking on to Ship One!” Gornect said. “Firing his pulse-cannon! One – two – three pulses!”
“Fire the forward battery! Burn through his shields and take out his weapons!” VanDevere said.
“First pulse – shields hit. Second pulse – shields collapsed. Third pulse – direct hit to Ship One!” Gornect said. “The engine appears destroyed with critical damage to the rear crew quarters. All systems are off including emergency power and life support. The synch-shielding removed some of the sting. It doesn't look good, Ma’am.”
They continued their barrage on Bestmarke’s ship but his shielding held. His intense acceleration quickly distanced him and he blinked off the NAV screens, cloaked and wave silent.
“May he be damned,” VanDevere said. “Get us to that ship now, Lieutenant-Commander! Let us hope we are not too late!” The mission was successful but at what cost? They had Franelli but Bestmarke still eluded them. But now he was more vulnerable without his chief engineer. Perhaps he wouldn't be so clever, and the Empire could finally put an end to him and all his illegal operations.
“Braking thrust – matching velocity to the drifting ship,” Gornect said.
“Dispatch tugs! Bring Ship One to Repair Bay Two, starboard side. Coordinate trauma and radiation teams to RB2, on the double!” VanDevere said. “Get Ship Two and Franelli here as fast as possible! Coordinate a rendezvous with Beta and Gamma Squadrons at full speed and inform CENTRAL that we have Franelli! I am going to RB2, Lieutenant-Commander. You have the bridge!” VanDevere quickly left with her battle security Specialists close behind.
Chapter XVI
Earth Date: 475 N.V.A.
Location: CENTRAL, Earth
The river-rock fireplace was comforting in the Chambers of CENTRAL. The flames of the holographic fire crackled and hissed. The illusion was convincing. All eyes were hypnotically fixed on the dancing energy while each wandered through their own private thoughts, comfortable in their plush chairs. The large doors at the end of the room burst open. Guardian III walked quickly toward the fireplace across the polished stone floor, littered with woven carpets.
“They finally have Franelli! Star-Commander VanDevere has him sedated and under heavy guard in isolation! Three heavy cruisers and their squadrons are bringing him back!”
The energy in the room increased. This was an announcement they had waited long to hear.
“Good, good,” Guardian V said, smiling broadly. She stood and walked over to Guardian III. “They should keep him sedated with no interrogations. We need to have him first hand. Perhaps there is hope for this errant one.”
“Do you really think so?” Guardian VIII said. “You were the closest with him at one time. That he is brilliant is an understatement, but do not let sentiment cloud your logic and reason.” She rested her hand gently on Guardian V’s shoulder.
“You worry overmuch, my friend,” Guardian V said. “Sentiment does not enter into this, at least not too much, I hope. It is more hope than sentiment. Hope that we can exploit his incredible mind, hope that we can finally find an answer. He is the first in many generations that has given us a glimmer of real hope.” She walked to the front of the fireplace, staring at the flickering light.
“But hope at what cost?” Guardian III said, walking over to her. “He may have already started an avalanche that cannot be contained! No doubt Bestmarke has corrupted him, bought him off with trinkets and pleasures. Bestmarke’s short-sighted selfishness may have destroyed our hopes with Franelli!” Her smile had changed to concern.
Guardian V smiled at her and continued. “And that is what we hope against. We cannot afford to give up on him, too much is at stake. We do not have more generations to find another like him.”
The room grew very quiet. Only the crackling fire could be heard. Guardian II stood and walked to the front of the fireplace. She turned to face them all and spoke calmly. “Indeed, what you have said is cause for both hope and concern, but we are getting ahead of ourselves with speculation. We must stick to the facts. First, we have Franelli in custody. Second, he knows how to use the Keyhole, and to a degree what it does. Third, he is possibly dangerous and corrupt, but perhaps not unreachable. More than that is pure speculation at this point, we need more facts.”
Guardian X stood. “This is true and here is another fact. Bestmarke will want Franelli back. He was desperate to abduct him years ago after Franelli was sentenced and en route to the penal colony at Luna One. That was a bloody battle that Bestmarke won. He may again take unprecedented measures against us. Can our defenses handle it, realistically? He is wealthy and can buy many allies, some even within the Empire.” She paused for a moment.
“Remember the 455 Rebellion? Galen Bestmarke was a young firebrand, one of the main instigators. The Empire lost six ships at their initial assault before we could turn events our way. We eventually captured or destroyed thirteen of their ships but we paid dearly for it. We lost one more Victorian cruiser and two cutters – nine ships in all. Bestmarke has nothing but hatred for the Empire. He is a master of greed and manipulation and is used to getting his own way. We must be prepared for his assault, it is just a matter of time.”
They began talking quietly with one another for a few moments. With respectful silence they all gave their attention to Guardian I as she stood and concluded. “Our present course is clear for now. When we have Franelli back, we must do everything in our power to persuade him to share his knowledge and even contribute more to it. This will be no small task. We must be successful.” She paused and gazed at them all. “We must also fine-tune our defenses for the storm that is sure to come. Whether it is a whisper or a full blown battle remains to be seen, but it is coming. Knowing Bestmarke as we do there will, no doubt, be an evil twist to it, but we are forearmed with that knowledge.” She turned momentarily to the fire. Turning back around, she looked at them all again. “Lastly, my Sisters, we must remember our overreaching goal. This is what we have sworn ourselves to accomplish, even with our lives if need be. We must not fail. The consequences of failure are unacceptable and unpardonable.”
With these last remarks, they all stood and concluded, raising their clenched left fists over their hearts.
Chapter XVII
Earth Date: 475 N.V.A.
Location: leaving Keyhole, en route to Earth
The Star-Commander anxiously watched through the shielded windows as the tugs coaxed Ship One into the repair bay and locked it into place. The bay doors closed and shielded access tubes moved into position, connecting to the hatchways of the damaged ship. When all the seals were tight and rechecked, the bay’s artificial gravity was restored.
Radiation control crews in shielded suits entered and assessed the damage and radiation levels while trauma crews entered the ship through the shielded tubes. Thick radiation controlling foam was sprayed over the damaged engine and other parts with high radiation levels. Upon a final inspection, the bay’s atmosphere was restored.
The trauma teams found only moderate radiation levels inside the ship, nothing of immediate danger. They were relieved to find most of the crew in relatively good condition with only minor burns and injuries. However, they were visibly distraught and saddened when they opened the hatchway to the port-side Specialist’s cabin. The cabin wall had taken a direct hit when the engine was destroyed. The hull had ruptured, opening the cabin to space. The pulse blast had incinerated the two Specialists inside, including the one who had seen the lion’s head with Rogerton. Their deaths were instantaneous. Even the battle hardened trauma crews were upset, many with tears running down their faces and bitter curses against Bestmarke. Rogerton suffered deep contusions from Bestmarke’s laser rifle fire. First-aid was administered and all received radiation treatment for their burns. Rogerton was taken to sick bay where she was given a private space, a luxury on board ship. The Star-Commander had personally seen to that arrangement. Not only was she concerned about her injuries, she wanted to speak with her privately.
VanDevere consoled and thanked Ship One’s crew before she entered Rogerton’s room. The trauma team was just finishing and the Star-Commander waited patiently, allowing them to complete their work.
After they left, she stood by the bed and smiled at Rogerton. “Good job, Lieutenant. That was a close one. How are you feeling? We were very concerned for your safety.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Rogerton said. “The medication is working now and the pain is manageable.”
“Manageable? Yes, I am sure.”
“What about my crew, Ma’am, did they all survive? I must have blacked out, I can't remember anything more.”
“I am afraid the news is not good, Lieutenant. Two of the four Specialists that were added to this mission have not survived. Specialists Brandenburg and Chou were fatally burned when a pulse from Bestmarke’s ship ruptured the wall of their quarters, opening it to space. They died immediately. They were good women, loyal and highly trained. They were well liked and will be greatly missed. It wrenches my heart to see this happen, and infuriating that we have not been able to stop this beast, Bestmarke. I rue the day that he and his brother were born into existence.”
Rogerton sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Tears trickled down her cheeks onto the pillow. “Oh, Star-Commander, I feel so badly for them and their families,” she said, her voice breaking up. “They were so good, so professional. Now they're gone. I have never lost anyone under my command. I feel helpless and angry at the same time. I want to hunt down Bestmarke and destroy him! He is nothing but vermin!”
“I understand your feelings, Lieutenant. This is the difficult part of command. It does not get any easier. I think about the consequences with every major order I give. How many lives will my decision affect? What if I make a wrong decision? What do I have to do to be at peace with myself? I cannot tell you how to sort out your feelings, but I will always be available if you need someone to talk to,”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Rogerton said. “I am beginning to realize what you go through. It must be very difficult at times.”
“I will not gloss it over, Lieutenant. The decisions and emotions can be overwhelming if we allow them to be. We must believe in and depend on one another. We have to look at the big picture with total commitment that what we are doing is right and good and true. If you are determined to command, Lieutenant, you cannot doubt.” VanDevere paused a moment. “Grieve and ponder the lives of our fallen Sisters, but never doubt them or your purpose.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Rogerton said, a milder expression returning to her tired face. “How is the rest of my crew?”
“I am relieved the rest suffered only minor injuries and burns,” VanDevere said, offering a genuine smile. “Pilot Kolanna did some excellent flying and you made good decisions. Well done! We now have Franelli in custody. Beta and Gamma Squadrons are joining us, and it is full speed to Earth CENTRAL to deliver him.” She paused again, her face more serious. “Your ship is badly damaged. The blast shield saved most of you, but I am afraid the engine is quite destroyed. You and your crew will be guests on the Daniela until we get back to Earth. I am sure we will be able to find a suitable ship for you then.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. I am looking forward to being with my crew again, that is, once I have rested and healed up.”
The Star-Commander gazed at her curiously. “Have you always been this driven to duty, Lieutenant? You have been in the Corps for only five years, though your distinguished record would suggest otherwise.” VanDevere remembered her own meteoric rise up the ranks. “And you were at the top of your class at the Academy, too.”
“I don't feel driven, Ma’am. It all feels normal to me. This is what I should be doing. The Empire has been mother and father to me, they have given me everything – companionship, training, and a purpose in life. My loyalty and devotion is the least I can do in return.”
“Your mother was in the Corps, was she not?”
“Yes, and her mother before her and so on, for six generations, nearly half the time the New Victorian Empire has been in power. I love the Empire, it is an honor to serve,” Rogerton said with an unforced smile of pride.
“How old were you when you lost your mother?”
“Eight years old. She took the obligatory five year maternal leave and then resumed active duty. She was a Pilot on a research cutter, and she loved it. Three months on duty and home for one. We had so much fun when she was home, but she did not spoil me. Her stories inspired a love of space duty and adventure. And her eyes – beautiful bluish-green with a touch of purple – those are my strongest memories of her.”
The conversation lagged as both considered their own private thoughts. V
anDevere was the first to speak. “What happened to her, Lieutenant?”
“Her ship, the Rosella, disappeared with all hands presumed lost. My mother and nineteen of our Sisters disappeared, simply vanished.”
“The Rosella, you say? I distinctly remember that the Rosella disappeared while studying the Keyhole. What really happened, and why, has always been a mystery. I am truly sorry for your loss – for our loss. It must have been difficult for you.”
“It was, although I was used to her being gone for extended periods of time. It did not hit me for a few months until the time she was supposed to be home on leave. I kept waiting and hoping, but I never saw her again. The unknown was the greatest fear and pain for me, but the Empire rushed to fill the void. The PCC arranged for a foster family to raise me. My foster mother truly loves me and I love her. I was never that close to my foster father but he was still very good to me. My fears and pain were gradually eased, and my life again filled with purpose, a noble purpose to follow in the footsteps of my mother, and the generations before her.”
“And so you chose duty that could position you near the Keyhole?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is encouraging for me to continue on in the dedicated service of my mother, who also loved the Empire.”
“We are grateful for her dedication and for yours, Lieutenant-Warden. You bring honor to our profession and to the Empire.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
“Tell me now, what did you discover on Bestmarke’s ship?” VanDevere said, tilting her head slightly. “The recordings the Specialist made were destroyed. We have no other records.”
Even though she was exhausted, Rogerton explained in detail their every move, as well as the strange details of Bestmarke’s ship, the unusual room, and its contents. The two retrieved pedestals were of great interest to both of them, and VanDevere agreed to wait until Rogerton had rested so they could examine them together. VanDevere had plenty to keep her busy: debriefing the other crews, checking on Franelli, and coordinating the return trip with the other squadrons.
TROPHY Page 9
