Jim Bucknell, Julian Smythe, John Conrad and Jasmin Morales had all come in to observe. They were staring incredulously at Dave and the others. Rihan smiled as she saw them. Jim looked to her and she gave him a nod as Dave opened his eyes, looked around and gave a smile as he saw the others.
“Coming out of warp in 2 minutes” hailed Rihan. Ivan, then Crystal and Aubrey refocussed on their work stations.
“Whisky 1 and Limas to amber.”
“Whisky 1 ready.”
“Limas ready.”
“Coming out of warp in 1. Activate cloaking.”
“Activated.”
“In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1”
There was not a heartbeat in the room. There was a slight pause. All eyes were on the holo display. The Resolute was front and centre. Then it began updating as the senses detected and the AI analysed and fused the data into intel reports.
“5 enemy caps, 9 lights” reported Crystal. “No make that 6 caps and 8 lights. 16 fighters. No active radar detection.”
“No hails, no active EW” said Ivan. “Emissions lockdown holding.”
“4 geo sats” added Crystal.
“Probably more on the far side” added Aubrey.
Rihan and Dave had agreed to wait a full two minutes before launch, just in case anything untoward happened with the cloaking. Rihan had set a timer synced to coming out of warp. It was ticking over above the holo now. All eyes were on it save for Crystal’s and Ivan’s. They were still scanning their feeds.
“We have a go” said Rihan.
“Whiskey 1 launch” hailed Aubrey.
“Limas to yellow” ordered Rihan.
“Limas to yellow” confirmed Li. He then advised his pilots on his internal channel. Those in the fighters on the rails, stayed in them. The others who had all been in their seats waiting to move up and launch could now dismount but were on 1 minute standby.
Rihan looked to Dave and she raised her eyebrows with an expression that said ‘looking good’. He nodded back in a measured way. He was not going to count his chickens just yet.
Whisky 1 was now hurtling to the planet, not on a bullet run, but a gradual glide path.
“Ivan” asked Dave “how much chatter is there down there.”
“Bugger all Sir” said Ivan. “There may be on the far side but I doubt it. Those geo sats are not only providing comms and data but are also serving to jam all emissions not on the rogan authorised bands. Our team is going to have a tough time talking to anyone other than themselves.”
“As we suspected” said Dave. Dave glanced at the holo saw the Whisky 1 icon advance along its glide path. They would be entering the atmosphere now. He knew they would be buffeted and the troops in the back would be praying their cloaking remained active. He hit a control on his station and the estimated time to return (ETR) was displayed next to Whisky 1’s icon. ‘Fifty two minutes’ he said to himself ‘can be a long time.’
“8 fighters launched” said Crystal. There was an edge to her voice and it garnered attention. “Going planetside.”
“Ivan” said Rihan “has Whisky 1 been detected?”
“Not that I can see.”
Aubrey initiated an intercept test. An orange alert sign flashed on the holo above Whisky 1. “Shit their paths come within 400k in 7 minutes.”
“Enemy Fighters accelerating” said Crystal.
“Possible intercept in 5 minutes” advised Aubrey. “They could just be a ground strike mission. Crystal, Ivan confirm threats on Resolute.”
“None” said Crystal.
“Negative” said Ivan.
Aubrey looked to Rihan. “Leave them” said Aubrey.
Rihan knew that if they were to intervene it had to be now. She agreed with Aubrey that it was more likely they had not detected Whisky 1. She could see Dave looking at her. He was passive. She appreciated the vote of confidence. “No action. Crystal, advise any deviation.”
“Roger.”
On board Whisky 1 the display in front of Parinya was flashing an amber alert. She was aware of it and trying to ascertain the intention of the four possible bogeys on her screen. The four additional bogeys that appeared a few second later added to her stress level. She hit the control on the column in her right hand. The AI responded with a new overlay showing likely paths for the enemy bogeys. It also analysed the closest point along their path to her own, computed the range and cross referenced this with the databases of likely enemy capabilities, computed the potential for intercept and flashed a red alert message onto the screen along with an audio alert that increased in volume with each repetition of “Warning. Warning. Potential Intercept in 3 minutes.”
Art leaned forward to look over Parinya’s shoulder, saw the op graphics and craned his neck to try and engage Parinya. But she was ignoring him. There was little he could do to contribute to a resolution at this stage.
She checked her cloaking status – confirmed. She checked her emissions status – confirmed. She checked her passive sensors and confirmed there were no threats other than these fighters.
“Warning. Warning. Potential Intercept in 2 minutes.”
“Evade” said Sue.
Parinya focussed on the updates of the icons and the likely future paths which were being updated each second.
“If we don’t do something” hailed Sue “We’re going to die.”
“Warning. Warning. Potential Intercept in 1 minute.”
Parinya armed her two missiles and decoy pod. Her hand hovered over the release button.
“For fuck sake Parinya” called out Sue. Sue hit her harness release and tried to stand. Art put out his arm and stopped her.
The paths diverged and the alerts stopped. Parinya closed the safety. “DON’T do that again Maam” said Parinya with a level of authority few would brook.
Sue sank back into her chair. Art re-did her harness for her and looked into her eyes. Sue nodded and began to relax.
In the command centre on the Resolute everyone breathed easier when the icons separated and the enemy fighters headed east away from Whisky 1’s destination.
Two minutes later they were down. Dave looked at the ETR – thirty seven minutes. He was unaware of the drama on Whisky 1. He was pleased with the way everyone performed in the command centre and, to his limited knowledge, throughout the ship. He stayed in his chair but reclined it a little and lay there content till it was confirmed Whisky 1 was on board.
“Warp away” was all he said. It would be the best part of two days before he would return. He closed his eyes for a moment and prayed that that would be long enough for Art and Sue to determine what was happening. He felt this tightening in his chest. He immediately thought stress and tension but in that moment he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that something was wrong and he said “Belay that order. Do not warp away.”
Rihan was stunned by the change in plan. The atmosphere changed from measured calm to edgy in a moment. “Why Sir” asked Rihan formally.
“Don’t know for sure I just have this feeling not too.”
Rihan looked at him with a very concerned expression. She was about to say something, thought better of it and then said instead “could I speak with you privately?”
“Of course. Aubrey you have the ship. Don’t warp away.”
“Right Sir. I mean no I won’t Sir” said Aubrey.
Dave and Rihan went back to his office and closed the door.
“What’s changed your mind?” said Rihan “I thought we had thought through all of this? You know minimising the risk of detection, allowing for more training.”
Dave nodded. “Rihan I just feel it in my bones. Something is not right down on the deck. We can’t afford to leave our team on their own for the whole two days.”
“You have to give me something more than that Dave.”
“Look we’re undetected so far and I reckon we will remain so. If not, we warp away then. If we’re overhead and Art and Sue run into trouble or discover something that they can’t deal with, th
en we will be Johnny on the spot.”
“But Art and Sue are not expecting us to stay and won’t be trying to communicate with us in the interim even if they do run into trouble. The portable radar system they have is not capable of detecting us either. So it’s pointless.”
“Good points” said Dave “but I just know I’m right.”
“You’ve been under a lot of pressure Dave.”
“No Rihan this is the same intuition, the same type of feeling, I had with Pug, remember.”
Rihan nodded. “OK it’s your call.”
“Thank you.”
When they came back all eyes were on them. “Aubrey please switch Limas to watch 1” said Rihan. This would have a CAP of only two fighters on immediate standby.
“Roger Maam.”
“And the command centre can stand down except for watch and battle systems. Amend the rosters, we’re staying put.”
“Right Maam.”
At which Dave and Rihan left the command centre. Everyone there looked at each other as if to say ‘what the fuck just happened’ but no one dared say anything.
Aubrey spent the next fifteen minutes adjusting the rosters, committed them and then hurried off to B deck and knocked on Dave and Rihan’s cabin.
Rihan was already in the shower, so Dave answered the door in his bare feet.
“What just happened Sir?”
Dave invited her in and closed the door. He sat down on one of the two small chairs and she on the other. “Aubrey, do you remember back on the Hermes, when we were trying to find out who the traitor was?”
“Yeah.”
“We’d arrested Ivan, remember. Well I knew something was wrong then but I could not put my finger on it. There was no evidence, nothing concrete or empirical. Call it intuition, whatever but I just knew it. That proved to be right. Well out there I had the same experience. Something’s going down. I don’t know what. All I know is we need to be here.”
Aubrey looked into his eyes. She knew he was being totally honest. Her logical brain said it was crazy but she said “Oh what the heck then.”
Rihan came out of the bathroom wrapped in her towel. Part of her was surprised to see Aubrey in their room, but part wasn’t. She decided to make light of it. “The bath’s not big enough for three!”
Dave smiled and was a tad embarrassed. He wasn’t sure how Aubrey would take that.
“The bed looks big enough though. How the other half live!” said Aubrey. To whit Dave burst out laughing.
Jim Bucknell sought out Li Nahn on F deck. He found him in the fighter ops centre along with one of his staff. He looked weary to Jim but then just about everyone was. It had been a long day and the last couple of hours quite eventful.
“This way” said Li when he saw the look of concern on Jim’s face. He led him into a room designed initially for storage but which Li had converted to be his office.
“I like what you’ve done with the place” said Jim.
“Hah!” said Li “what’s on your mind.”
“What do you make of this change of plan?”
“All I know from Aubrey is that the Captain changed his mind and I have to work up a new set of rosters.”
“But there’s no reason for this?”
“Look I don’t know what the Captain’s thinking is right now but he’s the boss and we just ask how high.”
Jim nodded. “What did you make of that zen stuff prior to coming out of warp.”
“I think he was meditating Jim. Different, but hey, it all went well” said Li. He thought for a second and then added “I was impressed at how they kept their cool over those fighters.”
“Yeah true.”
“Look Jim I’ve met all sorts in the service. I once bunked with a guy back when I was a one pipper. He meditated. He was a nice guy. Don’t let that throw you.”
“Fair enough but we’re losing valuable training time … or do you think training’s over and we’re here for the duration?”
“Don’t know Jim but look I’ve got to get back and finish these rosters. We can ask the Captain tomorrow morning what his intentions are.”
Jim rubbed his hand over his forehead, massaging deeply. “Yeah we can. OK I’m going to get some kip. Good night Li.”
“Good night Jim.”
Chapter 8. Resolute over Beta Phi 0200, 22 May
Chase was delighted to see Kat enter the command centre. She was in her pilot’s uniform. John Conrad was on Battle Systems. He looked up to see the obvious attraction between Chase and Kat.
“You have a moment?” asked Kat.
“John” said Chase “are you right here for a moment?”
“Sure but don’t be long.”
Chase led Kat out of the centre and they stopped near the elevators.
“Just come off duty have you?” asked Chase.
“Yes when do you finish?”
“Not till 0600”
“Oh!”
“When are you back on?”
“0800”
“Oh!”
“Here” and she handed him a copy of her pass key for her cabin. “Come straight away after you finish.”
“I’ll try and last a little longer next time” he said with a smile.
She laughed quietly at his pun and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re funny you know. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Not as much as I am. I better go.”
She kissed him tenderly on the lips and in that moment he just longed to be with her. He kissed her back a little firmer and she responded in kind.
“Chase” called out John from the command centre. Chase vaguely heard something but he was lost in the embrace.
“Chase” yelled John “get the fuck back in here!”
Chase separated from Kat. “Got to go. 0600” he said with a smile.
She licked her lips and blew him a kiss as he turned and raced back into the command centre.
“Check this out” said John “I think we should wake the Captain.”
Chapter 9. Niku 0210, 22 May
Trooper Reg Jardine was straining to make out whether the object rocking from side to side was a person or something else. They had made good time humping the 6 clicks from their drop off to here on the edge of the suburbs. Reg’s thermals were beginning to strain his eyes. He closed them and rested for a second. Then he got a start when Art’s hand touched his shoulder.
“What’s up” said Art in a very soft controlled voice, designed not to phase this young trooper any further.
Reg pointed with his rifle and then pulled his head away so Art could look down it. Art pulled up his own rifle and Reg moved a pace to the left. Art adjusted the zoom on his sights and with the increased definition confirmed what he suspected a minute ago that there was some form of road block up ahead.
“Roadblock” said Art softly. He pointed over to a single storey building on the right. It was one of the homes surrounded by a couple of acres of land that would be used for market gardens. They had been passing similar ones for the last couple of clicks. Reg nodded and he changed direction for the building.
It would take them another thirty minutes to bypass the road block and get back onto the road some 1500m further on. By then Art would start to worry about time. He wanted to be in the city proper preferably at council chambers before sunrise.
Chapter 10. Resolute over Beta Phi 0215, 22 May
Water ran down his neck as Dave entered the command centre – the remains of his attempt to wake himself up. “What is it?”
“Six missiles were launched from the surface near Niku” said John Conrad. “Four were intercepted by missiles fired from these two caps here and here. But two got through and destroyed the two geo sats that were here and here. Then the caps launched another strike of their own. Looks like they destroyed the launchers.”
Dave nodded and looked to John for him to continue. But it was Chase who started talking. “We then started getting a lot of transmissions also emanating from Nikku but
quickly followed by transmissions from all around the planet but mostly from Assam.”
“What type of transmissions?”
“I haven’t had time to analyse them Sir but they do include this.” Chase hit the replay on a video. It looked like a news report. There was a man making a statement about an uprising in Nikku with footage of a crowd and then the sound of pulse and gun fire and bodies lying on the street. The voice-over emphasised the need for the government to respond and in particular the need for reinforcements.
“There’s a lot more now that the rogan have lost their jammers” said Chase.
“Get Ivan up here now” said Dave. He was about to have Chase get Rihan and Aubrey but then thought better of it – they would need fresh minds in the morning. “Get Jim here too.”
“Right Sir” said Chase. While John was giving Dave a more detailed account of the missile exchange Chase hailed Ivan but he didn’t answer.
“Ivan’s not answering.”
“Well go and get him” said Dave.
Chase tore out to the elevator. Priority was always given to this deck so in the dead of night there was always going to be an elevator available. Chase piled in and took it down to B deck. He raced down the corridor to Ivan’s room and banged on the door loudly. No answer.
“Shit” he said. Then he had an idea. He continued down the corridor looking at the names. Found the one with Jasmin on it and knocked. No answer. He knocked louder. Finally the door opened and a pair of big brown eyes looked up at him from behind ruffled dark hair.
“What?” asked Jasmin still trying to get back into the land of the living.
“Ivan.”
Jasmin simply opened the door. “What is it Chase” said Ivan struggling to get to his elbow from under the covers.
“You need to get your sorry arse up to the command centre right now. Captain’s orders.”
Ivan rubbed his eyes. “All right I’m coming.” Chase did not move. “Piss off Chase I’ll be there straight away” said Ivan.
Insurrection: Book 3 of Warner's World Page 14
