“Wow.”
“Enjoy it, cause it’s all you’re gonna get for a while. Appears we’ve maxed out the nanotech’s ability to enhance the body.”
“We’re biological beings. I guess our bodies have limits.”
“It seems so. I hear they’re working on a few tricks, though.”
“Like what?”
She slapped in the last nano load. “Genetic modification.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
She shrugged. “Can’t be any more dangerous than getting shot up with first-gen military nanos.”
“Point taken.”
At the controls, she activated the four needles, one for each thigh and between the ribs on both sides, and they lowered into position. Another set meant for the neck, to inject the neural nanos, stayed still.
Billions of tiny robots invaded his body. It felt like thick motor oil struggling to be pumped through his arteries.
Teeth ground in pain.
Then it ended as suddenly as it started.
A deep sleep and heavy meal followed, just as before.
***
“Don’t you find it a little odd that they shot us full of the latest in nanotech right before we deliver ourselves into enemy hands?” Amanda asked on the way to the docking hatch to meet Hido. “I mean, what if this whole thing goes FUBAR and the Bearcats examine us for intel?”
“I thought about that. I’ve got two theories. One, they really care about our safety and wanted us to have the new nanos, to give us the best chance of survival.”
“Or?”
“Or, these new nanos have an enhanced self-destruct function to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Which one of those theories do you think sounds most likely?”
“Those assho–” She cut herself off as she rounded a curve. Admiral Chen stood in front of the hatch. “Hello, sir.” She gave a sharp salute.
“At ease, Sergeant.” He returned her reflex salute.
Trent asked, “The ship ready, sir?”
“You mean your rusty bucket of bolts? We had to pull her out of the scrap fleet. Another day and she would’ve been melted down to make a new battleship.”
“She’ll get us there - I hope,” Trent said.
“That’s about all she’ll do. Life support is only functional in a quarter of the ship. Communications, navigation, and one engine is the extent of your systems.”
“With a little luck, we won’t have to go far. Just one jump into a system where intel says the Bearcats have a listening post. Make contact and hitch a ride to Bearcat command.”
“I hope it’s that easy, General. For all of our sakes.”
***
Ensign Sato had left his fishing village in Japan to join the Fleet, because he wanted to see the galaxy. Dreams of visiting new worlds, making first contact with alien races and witnessing incredible astronomical events helped him survive the Academy.
Immediately after graduation, he put in for an assignment on one of Earth’s many warships patrolling the very edge of space. When orders came through for him to report to the Alpha Gate Base as a sensor officer, the disappointment almost destroyed him.
Instead of nebulas and giant blue stars, his panel displayed nothing more interesting than a cruising battleground.
Despite finding his work unfulfilling, he never wavered in his duty. Diligently he scanned the boring space surrounding Earth’s door to the universe, finding only the numbness of nothing.
What I wouldn’t give for some action.
Just then the energy readings on his sensor panel spiked. Jumping to his feet, he watched as hundreds of small craft appeared. They’d came through the gate. The battle computer identified the objects as enemy missiles.
The Bearcats had found Earth.
Alarms thundered.
Missiles detonated in a pattern to ensure the area in front of the gate was cleared of mines.
Balls of pure energy filled his screen with electromagnetic interference.
Shit! This is a little too much action.
***
“What!” Admiral Chen shouted into the com-link, the blood rushing from his face. “I’m on my way.” He turned to Trent and Amanda. “Hold your launch. We’re under a major attack.”
They gasped.
Trent kept pace with Chen as he rushed to the command center.
“Sir, we must launch and you need to cover us.”
“Are you insane, General? I can’t worry about your mission now! I have a battle to win! The most important battle of this war, in fact!” He sped up, jumping into the waiting doors of an elevator. “Command Center!”
Trent, following him into the elevator before the doors could close. He grasped Chen’s arm. “Don’t you see it, Admiral?”
He ripped the arm away. “I don’t have time for this!”
“The Kitright told them where to find Earth! Don’t you see that? We were winning the war. Winning too well, I suspect. The Kitright needed the Bearcats to bleed us more. They told them where to find Earth. Now the whole dynamic of the war has changed.”
The doors opened to reveal a Command Center buzzing with activity. “You may be right, General. I’ll win this fight and get you launched.”
Trent grabbed Chen’s arm again. “Sir! What if you lose? If you lose, then our one chance to end this war will be gone. Earth’s primary defensive line will be shattered. And win or lose, thousands on both sides will be dead unnecessarily. Cover us, let us launch and end this thing, once and for all.”
He shook his arm free. “Fine. The cannons will clear a path. I’ll assign some drones to cover you through the gate. Wait for my signal to make your move.”
He exhaled. “Thank you, Admiral!”
Chen took position in the center. “General!” he called out.
Stopping the doors, he replied, “Yes?”
“You’d better be right about this.”
“I am, sir. I got this one. Good luck.”
The doors closed.
“No, General,” Chen whispered to himself. “Good luck to you.”
***
Battle lines formed as Chen assumed direct command. The Command Center was a half circle, weapons, engineering, sensors, and other system stations lining the walls around the commander’s panel in the middle. Unlike command stations in the past, no holo table stood ready for the admiral’s use.
“What’s the situation?” he barked.
Sato answered, “Two hundred enemy fighters have taken position around the gate.”
“All fighters and drones have launched,” the station’s XO, Admiral Yoho, a dark-haired native of the Florida panhandle, announced. “Battle group Delta is in formation on the south pole. Group November is on the north. Zulu is behind the station. They have not been seen. I’ve ordered the two battlecarriers to fall back to the shipyard. Shall we advance on the enemy, sir?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to show our full range of capabilities until they’ve shown more of their hand first.”
Sweat rolled down the com officer’s brow. “Should I launch a com-drone to call for the reserve battle group to jump in?”
“I want to keep that ace in the hole until the time is right.”
Sato’s eyes grew wide as the enemy fleet popped up on his panel. “More contacts!”
“Details, Ensign!”
“Twenty destroyer-class ships, sixteen cruisers, and ten, no, twelve battleships,”
We have three battle groups with two battleships and four cruisers apiece. Their attack seems light. Where’s the rest? They’ve shown part of their hand. I can’t let them assemble unmolested. Who knows what they might do if I let them linger? Time to show them what this station can do.
He chewed his lower lip. “Fire up the maneuvering thrusters. Bring us closer to the enemy.”
“Sir?” replied the engineering officer.
“I don’t want them to get any bright ideas about bypassing this station and heading to Earth. This is
a hard point they can’t ignore.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
The massive engines roared into life. Large tug drones behind the station added their thrust. Despite its incredible mass, the lack of an external gravitational field in this empty part of space and the most powerful gravity drive ever constructed, allowed it to move and close on the enemy formation.
“Fire when in range.”
The station’s laser cannons were far more powerful than even those found on battleships. Effective range of a typical human or Bearcat ship-of-the-line against an armored target stood around one hundred kilometers. Alpha Gate Base could burn through an enemy hull at one hundred and fifty kilometers. A tiny distance in space, it was critical given the restraints of pitched space battles. These battles generally came down to laser duels, making the station’s monsters a decisive advantage.
Demands of lasers and missiles required fighting take place at glacial speeds and close range. Lasers needed to hold their targets for a few seconds to inflict damage. Missiles couldn’t hit a target if launched from a vessel traveling too fast because momentum would lock it onto its original course and it could easily be avoided. Formations were also extremely difficult to maintain at speed.
Margins for error also decreased rapidly the faster a ship traveled. Fighting at low velocities allowed the craft greater freedom of lateral movement since they didn’t have to fight as much built-up momentum in order to change course. Finally, the superb anti-missile defenses of both sides rendered missile barrages highly ineffective.
Encased in an all-encompassing holographic projection, Chen surveyed the approaching enemy.
The Bearcat fleet advanced in a three-layered formation, stretched out across thousands of kilometers. Cruisers sat behind the picket of destroyers. Battleships held the rear, waiting for the right moment to bring their weapons to bear. Fighters held position with the cruisers.
They’ve committed to attack the station. Good.
“Reverse engines full!”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
We’ll sucker them in. They’re using their destroyers to punch a hole for the cruisers. The cruisers and fighters will try to keep us busy while the battleships move in for the hammer blow. It’s brave. It’s also suicide without more support. Where are the rest of their ships?
“Enemy destroyers in range in forty-five seconds,” the weapons officer’s voice penetrated from outside the cocoon of light.
“Target ‘em until the cruisers are in range,” he commanded. He would’ve held back until the cruisers got closer, but he didn’t want the battlespace to become too saturated. Something might slip through.
“Enemy fighters accelerating,” Sato declared.
Grabbing ahold of a fighter icon, he tossed it at the swarm of attacking fighters. “Interceptors, send ‘em in.”
Human fighters and spherical drones engaged the small enemy craft. Two-hundred forty vessels mixed in with the Bearcat vessels to create a blender of death.
The destroyers slid into range.
Five long bursts erupted from the station, highlighted on the display as streaks of red. The beams of concentrated light slammed into the closest enemy capital ships.
Another burst shot across his view. Then another. The destroyers couldn’t withstand the triple strikes. Two of them, pounded into twisted wrecks, blossomed into magnificent explosions.
“Targets eliminated,” Sato declared.
Five more of the discus-shaped ships fell to the cannons before they could lash out. The remaining destroyers launched a coordinated missile attack with fighter escort.
Over a hundred flashing icons sped for the base.
“Re-prioritize the drones to missile defense! Bring Delta and November battle groups forward to engage the missiles and destroyers.”
The combined counter-fire filled his artificial sky with blazing energy discharges. The desperate attack disappeared amid the intense fire.
You’re going to have to do a lot better than that. Chen’s eyes shifted. The fighters are getting chewed up without their drones.
Reaching over his head, he tapped the human cruisers. “All cruisers advance. Support the fighters.”
Here’s your chance, you crazy son-of-a-bitch.
“General Maxwell, are you ready?”
“Ready as we’ll ever be, Admiral,” he replied aboard his sorry ship behind the station.
“Tell your autopilot to head to the north pole. I’m directing a couple squadrons of drones to cover you. Once their cruisers come into range, the cannons will punch a hole for you. I recommend you fly like hell to the gate. I can’t help with the battleships.”
“Roger that, sir. Thanks again.”
“Sir!” Sato shouted. “The Bearcats are bringing all of their ships into the same line.”
“What?”
The enemy ships danced before his eyes. One after the other, they formed a string of pearls.
Bastards plan to rush us with everything they have at once to overwhelm the cannons. It will limit our fire options. Smart.
“Our firing arch can only hit the first two ships, Admiral.”
“Cannons one and two concentrate fire on lead.” He pointed at the intended target. “Three, four, and five on this one. Fire till they’re gone. Work our way down the line. Delta and November, you are free to engage!” Then to Trent, “Go now, General! Godspeed!”
***
Strapped in on the bridge, Trent and Amanda wore simple environmental suits. Hido’s size restricted him to a pair of plain overalls, crudely sealed together with tape.
Via thought-command, Trent ordered the ship’s computer to execute the flight plan. The maneuver was coordinated with the station’s battle computer.
The lone engine sputtered to life.
Dear God, please keep this rust bucket together long enough for this to not be a total waste of time.
The drones formed a protective V in front of the small ship. The formation zipped through space, juking and jiving through the battle. Their escorts’ laser cannons put up a near-continuous field of fire, clearing the way ahead like a snowplow.
Approaching the main line of battle, the chaos of the event came into focus on the view port.
A human cruiser broke apart, vaporizing into brilliant light. Amanda gasped. Trent and Hido said nothing, hanging their heads low. Trent couldn’t help but look.
What a waste. Each flash means another vessel and more warriors lost before the real fight begins.
Diving head first into the carnage, a human cruiser directed its fire to cover them. The station’s cannons sliced past, missing their hull by meters, to disintegrate an enemy cruiser charging to block their path.
Amanda’s eyes bulged out. “Chen’s giving us everything he can.”
“We need it. Soon they’re going to start to think we’re important. That will make us very popular.”
The piercing formation danced through the chaos, drawing closer and closer to the gate.
We just might make it.
Fifty-five seconds from jump, the old ship’s engine and maneuvering thrusters struggled to align the vessel for the proper entry angle. The hull whined from the stress.
“Is that normal?” Hido asked.
She locked eyes with him and shook her head.
Alarms sounded.
“Hull integrity is reaching critical failure,” the ship warned.
Shit!
She squished her face. “Crap, crap, crap.”
Hido’s extended claws dug deep into his chair.
Four Bearcat fighters broke off from the main engagement. They closed rapidly.
Only two drones remained. The mindless tools turned and charged.
The suicide run took one of the attackers with them.
Fifteen seconds out, the three pursuers opened fire. Lasers racked across the hull. Most of them struck dead sections of the ship. Suffering no real damage, it shook violently from the attack.
“Hull breac
hes in sections three through six.”
Come on.
The particle beam fired into the concentrated mass of dark matter.
The vortex swirled open.
As the ship entered the vortex, a glancing laser strike took out the engine.
They were gone.
Chapter Seven
Taken
Jones’ cab pulled up to the address on the sheet of paper in her hand. That paper had led her to a nondescript two-story building in a quiet spot on the outskirts of northern Richmond, Virginia. As directed, she wore civilian clothing, jeans and a leather jacket.
Swirling winds were kicked up as the cab sped away, rustling the paper. She double-checked the address and then the time.
Ten minutes early. What the hell am I doing here?
Pressing the doorbell, Jones was surprised to hear the building talk to her in a female voice. “Please enter, Major Jones. We’ve been expecting you.”
Cautiously she opened the door. Inside she was shocked to find Captain Thomas and Sergeant Gabriel standing in a room otherwise empty. They smiled upon seeing her. Thomas ran over and gave her a hug, while Gabriel settled for a handshake.
Jones scanned the room. “I’m guessing none of you have any idea of why we’re here.”
“Hell if I know,” Gabriel said. “Some guy gave me orders on a piece of paper, can you believe that? They said to be here at this time.”
“Roger Frost?” Jones asked.
Thomas tightened her lips. “That’s him. Gave me the orders at the hospital, right outside Simms’ room. He was dressed like a doctor.” She pointed a thumb at Gabriel. “Once he showed up, I figured you’d be on your way, too.”
Jones asked, “How is Simms doing?”
“Oh, he’s doing fine. Limbs are growing nicely and soon he’ll start physical therapy. Glad to find an excuse to get away for a few days. His whining butt can drive the nurses crazy for a bit without me.”
“Good to have you here.” Jones chuckled as she glanced at her watch. “Well, I’m not sure if it means anything, but in twenty seconds, it will be exactly the time specified to be here. Frost urged me not to be late.”
The Last Revenge (The Last Hero Trilogy Book 2) Page 5
