by D. J. Holmes
“For them to jump so far in means their shift drives allow them to get much closer to gravitational sources than ours,” Becket explained. “That would have to include dark matter. If we had their shift drive technology it might open up a whole host of shift passages that we thought were just dead ends because the dark matter closed in too tight for our ships to traverse through.”
James’s thoughts hadn’t got there as quickly as Becket’s but as he listened it hit him too. “You’re right Lieutenant, their FTL technology by itself is a game changer. But this,” he said, gritting his teeth in determination as he continued, “this is a battle we can’t lose. Jennings, take us towards the Kulrean ship, full power.”
“Aye sir,” Jennings responded from the navigation console.
The Kulreans jumping further into the system than he expected had thrown off his plans. Now he would have to boost Endeavour to her full speed just to catch up with them. It would give away Endeavour’s presence to Admiral Harris. James just hoped that the Kulreans’ unexpected position would throw off Harris’ plans as well.
“The Kulrean ship is slowing,” Malik reported. “I think they have detected Endeavour from her acceleration. I’m sure they are more than familiar with our acceleration profile; it looks like they are waiting for us to catch them.”
“Send them the prerecorded message,” James said.
“Sent,” Sub Lieutenant King reported a few seconds later.
James only nodded. The message contained a short greeting from him and a brief description of the situation explaining the possibility that a rogue human faction may try to attack the Kulreans in the Alpha system.
It took the message just over twenty minutes to reach the Kulrean ship but when it did James was pleased to see Pemel was taking the threat seriously. It seemed that almost immediately after the message reached the Kulrean, he ordered his ship to rendezvous with James’. Once again the speed of the Kulrean ship impressed James, the acceleration rate from Pemel’s ship was almost twice that of Endeavour’s.
As he had seen in the Kulthar System however, their top speed didn’t seem to be as impressive. His analysis of the ships they had encountered in Kulthar hadn’t detected any Kulrean ships armored in valstronium armor. Whatever they used to protect their ships and crews from cosmic particles was obviously effective, just not as effective as one might expect given the Kulreans’ technological advances in other fields. Seeing this, James had to let one of his last hopes of avoiding battle slip away. There was no way the Kulrean ship could maneuver away from Harris’ ships. They either had to fight their way through Harris’ ships or order the Kulrean ship to turn around and head home.
“The Kulreans will match our course and speed in thirty minutes,” Malik reported.
As if his words had been heard by Admiral Harris, three new blips appeared on the main holo display. “New contacts,” Malik shouted.
“It’s Harris,” James said, “get a fix on their course, then try and figure out what ships he has with him.
Damn, James said to himself, he is still here. If Endeavour just had to take on Admiral Harris’s flagship Solitude James would have been confident of victory. Endeavour was an exploration cruiser but she was designed to carry out raiding operations behind enemy lines in times of war. That meant she had a full arsenal of modern weapons. Whilst Solitude was a larger medium cruiser, Havenite technology was at least three decades behind the RSN and Endeavour would be able to give a good account of herself. However, the other two ships could tip the balance firmly in Harris’ favor.
“Harris’ ships are on an intercept course for the Kulrean ship. If the Kulreans form up on us Harris will be able to open fire in forty minutes,” Malik reported. “I can’t say for sure,” he continued, “but I think one of the two ships keeping station with Harris’ flagship is larger than the other. From the ships we know that survived the attack on Haven I would estimate them to be a destroyer and a frigate.”
“Very good Sub Lieutenant,” James said. “I guess we have a fight on our hands,” he added to the rest of the bridge crew. “Things never seem to be easy for us.”
We have a range advantage at least, James thought as he calculated the numbers. Harris’s ships would be able to fire a combined broadside of twenty Havenite missiles. Endeavour would only be able to respond with eight. We’ll just have to use ours wisely.
“Becket, I think we’ll have time to make a change to our first broadside, I want an additional penetrator missile loaded into the starboard missile tubes,” James ordered.
“Aye sir,” Becket replied.
With nothing else to do for now James sat back and watched the Kulrean ship approach, they would be within distance of two-way communication soon.
Chapter 4 – No Retreat
Space is infinite and even the largest super dreadnaught is a speck of dust compared to a solar system, never mind the entire galaxy. Some would think therefore, that getting two opposing warships together in the same area at the same time would be difficult. Yet, since its first steps into space, humanity has proven that it is the simplest of tasks.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD
8th March, 2467 AD, HMS Endeavour, Alpha System.
“It’s good to see you again Captain,” Pemel said over the COM channel once his ship was close enough for two-way communication.
“And you Viceroy,” James replied, addressing Pemel by the title his people had given their new leader. “I am sorry we are meeting under such circumstances.”
“As am I,” Pemel said. “Let me assure you though, I understand if not all of your people are pleased with our visit to your planet. Maybe better than you might believe. Despite all that you did for our world there are many factions back on Kulthar that opposed my trip. I nearly had to cancel it.”
“I guess politics is the same wherever you go in the galaxy,” James said. He had meant it as a joke but it had come out more like a depressed realization.
“Perhaps they are,” Pemel said, not picking up on either connotation. “I must confess we Kulreans believed ourselves above such things but since the attack by the Overlord’s fleet and our forced abandonment of our ancient traditions, we have found ourselves splintering into smaller and smaller groups. Holding things together has been growing tougher and tougher. I dread to think about what things will be like when I return.”
“Regardless, it is good to see you again Pemel,” James reiterated.
“Agreed,” Pemel replied, “I have been looking forward to this for weeks. I’m just sorry that once again you have to put yourself between my people and danger.”
“And I had been looking forward to showing you around Earth. Yet here we are,” James said. “I’m afraid we don’t have any more time for pleasantries, we need to get down to business. This might not be the Overlord’s fleet but our opponents still outmatch us. I do not believe they will completely destroy your vessel but they will try to damage it and force you to return to Kulthar. I guess from what you have already told me that if that were to happen, support for a second visit might not be forthcoming from your people.”
“That would be correct,” Pemel said. “If this attack proves successful I may find myself out of a job and whoever takes over won’t be so enthusiastic about opening relations with Earth.”
“Then this is a battle we have to win,” James responded. “May I ask, have you equipped your ship with any kind of weapons?”
“Only defensive ones Captain,” Pemel said. “We have reverse engineered the Overlord’s laser technology and equipped our ships with a number of small point defense lasers. I do not believe my people will ever incorporate offensive weapons onto our ships. That is simply not who we are. However, our recent history has taught us the need to be able to defend ourselves. I believe that if these ships fire any missiles our way then we should be able to hold about a dozen of them off.”
“That’s perfect,” James said. “I think we might need to use your defenses before this
day is over. However, for now I need your ship to hang back. Let Endeavour engage the enemy ships and we’ll see if you are needed.”
“That’s ok with me Captain,” Pemel responded.
“Just keep your distance,” James said. “I need to get back to fighting with my ship.”
“Ok Captain,” Pemel said, “good luck.”
“Any updates?” James said as he turned his attention back to the bridge crew.
“Admiral Harris’ ships haven’t changed course,” Mallory reported. “However we have received their transponder signals. The three ships are all claiming to be warships registered to the Brazilian government.”
“Just as my informant said they would,” Suzanna said from the observation chair James had had installed beside his command chair.
“There can be no doubt then,” James said. “It must be Admiral Harris who is out there. Open a COM channel, use the Havenite encryption.”
“Channel open sir,” Sub Lieutenant King reported.
“Admiral Harris,” James began. “I know you are in command of the three warships that are approaching the Kulrean envoy ship. Stand down immediately. If you attack them, you will be forfeiting not just your own life but the freedom of your entire planet. Haven does not deserve leaders and Admirals who attack the innocent. Think about what you are doing. It is not too late to stand down.”
With a motion of his hand across his throat James signaled King to cut the transmission. “The message will take thirty minutes to reach Harris’ ships,” she informed him once she ended the transmission.
“I know,” James said. It was his last hope of ending this confrontation without conflict. Sooner or later someone would decrypt his transmission. If Admiral Harris thought that everyone else knew he was really the one who was launching this attack, James hoped he would back down. Yet Harris was stubborn. He was as likely to keep fighting just because he couldn’t see any better option.
For an hour, everyone on the bridge watched the Havenite ships get closer and closer. Suzanna had stared at the holo display in complete silence since James had sent his message to Admiral Harris. “They have had the message for over twenty minutes,” she said, breaking her silence. “Why have they not turned back? Harris knows that his secret is out. Even if he destroys us, his plan won’t work.”
“Perhaps,” James said. “I expect he is hoping that if he does destroy us and force Pemel to flee, then Maximillian will be able to deny any involvement in the attack. With Endeavour and her sensor logs gone there won’t be any real evidence to prove that I was right about the identity of the attackers.”
“But everyone will still know who was really to blame,” Suzanna said in frustration.
“Likely they will, but there won’t be any hard evidence,” James replied. “Either way it hardly matters now. Our job is to protect the Kulreans. There’s no room to be thinking about what ifs now.”
“I agree,” Suzanna said, after taking a moment to consider James’ words. “I will stay out of your way Captain, you don’t need any more distractions. I’m going to retire to my quarters.”
“You’re not going to stay and watch?” James asked.
“I can watch from the holo display in my quarters,” Suzanna answered. “You and your crew don’t need a civilian around to distract you from your duty. Besides,” she said as she reached out and touched his shoulder. “I trust you, you won’t let anything happen to me.”
Before James could reply she had already walked past him and out of the bridge.
“She’s a strange lady,” Mallory commented, quickly looking at something on his command console when James looked his way.
“We’ll be entering our missile range in thirty seconds,” Becket said from the tactical station, bringing everyone’s mind back to the battle at hand.
“Is our first broadside ready?” James asked.
“Just waiting to get into range,” Becket answered.
James didn’t respond, instead he waited until the range counter reached zero. “Fire!” he ordered.
Eight missiles launched out of Endeavour’s starboard missile tubes. Missile tubes were essentially large railguns that accelerated the missiles to 0.1C. As soon as they cleared their tubes the missiles’ impulse engines kicked in and they rapidly accelerated towards their targets.
“First broadside away,” Becket informed James.
“Fire the second as soon as it’s ready,” James replied. “We need to make our range advantage count.”
As the missiles approached the Havenite ships they zeroed in on Harris’s flagship, Solitude. Even though its outer hull had been altered to make it look more like a Brazilian medium cruiser, for anyone who had seen Solitude in the battle over Haven she was unmistakable. As James expected, the frigate closed into a tight formation with Solitude to add her point defenses to the flagship’s. The destroyer peeled out of formation to gain some distance, the position it took up would allow it to get a better angle to hit the incoming missiles with a crossfire.
James watched the numbers rapidly changing on the holo display, doing the math in his head. Despite his misspent youth, math had always been a strong point and these were exactly the kinds of situations where it came in handy. “Now,” he said when he thought the timing was just right.
“Signal sent,” Becket said.
James nodded as he and everyone else on the bridge watched the holo display. It would take nearly two minutes for the signal travelling at the speed of light to reach the missiles. As soon as it did they veered away from their apparent target towards the destroyer.
James had timed it perfectly; the missiles had just enough time to overcome a sufficient amount of their forward momentum to angle in on the lone destroyer. Just as it became apparent they had shifted target the two penetrator missiles switched on their powerful ECM warheads. Where the Havenite ships had been tracking eight missiles suddenly there appeared to be fifteen. All of which were homing in on the lonely destroyer.
The missiles’ change of vector meant that Solitude and her escorting frigate could get a better shot at the missiles, yet whatever missiles survived their fire should have a good chance of overwhelming the lone destroyer’s point defenses.
Everyone on the bridge missed Lieutenant Becket fire Endeavour’s second volley as they waited to see if James’s plan would work. As they watched, Solitude and the frigate fired their first round of anti-missile missiles. Over fifty of the smaller AM missiles swarmed out to try and intercept the British missiles. One got a hit but the others missed or flew straight through the mirage created by the penetrator missiles and the ECM from the normal missiles.
A second volley of AM missiles tried to knock out more missiles. They managed to take out two more, one of which was a penetrator. Nevertheless, the holo display showed nine missiles still targeting the destroyer, four of which were real ship killer missiles.
In desperation, the destroyer fired two volleys of its own AM missiles as soon as the British missiles entered its point defense range. Yet, it only managed to destroy three more, two ship killers and the penetrator missile. That left two ship killers to dive towards the destroyer. The destroyer tried to make a last-ditch attempt to avoid the missiles by banking hard and going into a roll. It fooled one of the missiles momentarily, which caused it to detonate its warhead before it flew by its target. The resultant explosion from the thermonuclear warhead was still close enough to burn off a large section of the destroyer’s valstronium armor and cause some internal damage.
The second missile didn’t lose its lock and scored a direct impact on the destroyer. On Endeavour’s bridge everyone cheered but it cut off almost immediately. “Where’s the explosion?” Malik shouted.
“It was one of the penetrator missiles that got the impact,” Becket answered. “There was no warhead to explode.”
“Magnify the optical scans of that destroyer,” James ordered. It would take nearly two minutes for the visual data from the damaged destroyer to get to them
but he still wanted to see what damage they had caused.
“Jennings, alter course,” James ordered. “Put us on a new heading towards the system’s gas giant.”
“Aye sir,” she replied.
As Endeavour slowly turned onto her new heading James watched the gravimetric sensors carefully. Their new heading would actually allow Solitude to close the range slightly quicker. However, James guessed it would force Harris’ ships to use all their maneuvering thrusters to re-orientate themselves in time to gain any advantage.
“They didn’t move,” James said in excitement.
“Sorry Captain?” Mallory asked.
“That destroyer must have taken some serious damage. Valstronium armor is immensely strong but the momentum from a penetrator missile impact can still cause a lot of damage. If that destroyer could alter course to close the range with us it would have. Harris is keeping to his original course so that the destroyer can stay in the fight,” James explained.
