Patho decided to try to get more information before he took the Etyrni woman up on her offer. “How did you find us? This ship is supposed to be invisible to sensors.”
Ektezul laughed, “I’m sorry, Captain, but Etyrni sensors are the best anywhere. Your ship is sneaky, I’ll admit, but once I knew what to look for, I was able to track you. It took me a while to get out in front of you, though.”
The expression of genuine mirth still painted the Etyrni captain’s features when Patho replied. “Well, what did you have in mind, to lead us to safety?”
“You can follow me out of the system. I will show you how to detect the mist and sensors the Woduur are laying down, and I’ll guide you to safety. In exchange, I want you to give me a copy of the Woduur manufacturing technology.”
“Give me a moment to confer with my crew, Captain,” Patho replied.
“Don’t take too long. The Woduur will have you cut off soon.” She winked at him and the comm channel closed.
Patho turned to Hilleman. “What do you think, Exec?”
“I’m not sure, Captain. It seems to me that she is probably playing both sides. I doubt the Woduur would have stopped here to search for us if she hadn’t been here. She’s probably orchestrated this situation to benefit her.”
“That may be,” Path allowed, “but we still have to get out of the situation in which we find ourselves. We can spend some time contemplating what she may or may not have done once Gorgon is safe.”
“If what she says is true, can’t we still just use the point to point drive to leave? I presume that’s what you meant by you having a way to leave when you were talking to her.”
Patho nodded. “That’s right, Exec. I wonder if she knows how it works. Now, what can we offer her instead of the manufacturing tech? I don’t entirely trust these Etyrni, and I’m not sure what they would do with it if we gave it to them.”
“Maybe we can build something for her. Find out what it is she wants and make that rather than giving her the ability to build it herself.”
“Good idea.” He turned to Gules. “Open a channel to Captain Ektezul.”
The Etyrni captains face appeared on his screen a few seconds later. “Well, Captain, have you decided to take me up on my offer?”
“What is it you want the manufacturing technology for?” Patho asked.
“To build things, of course,” she said as though it was the most obvious answer in the universe.
Patho fought off the urge to smirk. “Obviously, but what I meant is what is it you want to be built? I am willing to spend some time helping you manufacture the items you want.”
“Can I infer, then, that you are not willing to give me the manufacturing technology?”
“Essentially. What I am willing to do is give you access to the manufacturing ring on this ship.” Patho leaned back in his chair and stared hard at the Etyrni.
“Hmm. I want unlimited access to your manufacturing ring for not less than six weeks, Captain.”
Six weeks was out of the question. He needed to get back to Admiral Stokes as soon as possible. “I’m afraid I can’t spare that much time. I’d rather try my way to see if I can escape.”
Ektezul said, “Wait. Perhaps I can have access for a shorter period. I would accept three weeks.”
“I’ll give you nine days,” Path said.
“Done,” Ektezul said. Her eyes were alight with glee, and her smile was wide and had a feral quality.
“Good, now how do we get out of here?”
“Follow my ship, Captain. Keep your sensor damping system at its current level. Lock onto this comm signal.” She turned and nodded to someone off the screen. The Juggling Leili turned and started to accelerate slowly away from Gorgon.
“Follow her out, helm,” Patho ordered.
“Aye, sir,” the young enlisted man said. Gorgon turned slightly and began to move in behind the Etyrni ship.
Ektezul said, “Closer, Captain. I am using my ship to mask your presence somewhat as well.” Patho nodded at his helmsman and Gorgon closed to about a hundred meters from Ektezul’s ship.
“That’s it, Captain,” she said. Her expression one of amusement. “Stay nice and close to me.”
Patho exchanged looks with Hilleman. He leaned close to his exec and quietly said, “I can’t help but feel I’m being led into something here,”
Hilleman nodded. “Yes, sir,” he whispered back. “but I don’t think it’s dangerous. Well, any more dangerous than any other woman saying such a thing.”
“Huh?” Patho said, only belatedly realizing what it was his executive officer meant. “Just keep track of where she’s leading us, Exec. Keep your speculation to yourself.”
Hilleman sat back in his chair and worked at his console for a few seconds. “She’s leading us towards a gap in the search pattern the Woduur have left. Look at their track.” A pattern of lines appeared on the tactical plot. It showed everywhere the Woduur ring ships had gone since entering the system. The Juggling Leili was headed for a large opening in the movement tracks left behind by the Woduur.
“Good,” Patho said. He watched as the ships moved slowly through the opening in the Woduur search pattern.
A moment later, Ektezul said, “Here you can detect the sensors the Woduur have left behind. We won’t get any closer to their search area on our way out.”
Patho turned to Guiles and said, “Anything on sensors?”
He nodded slowly at his console. “I have something, but I’m having a tough time locking it down. Whatever it is, our sensors aren’t able to completely isolate it at this range.”
“Any closer and the Woduur will detect you, Captain,” Ektezul said. “I’ll help you fix your sensors once we’re out of the system.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my sensors,” Patho retorted with a bit of heat in his voice.
“There is if you can barely detect the Woduur sensor mist at this distance.” Her eyes danced with unexpressed humor. “We’re nearly clear. Once we are past the mist, we can leave the area. I’m sending you a set of coordinates. Meet me there, and you can help me with my… project.” Coordinates appeared on the screen next to the image of Captain Ektezul.
“Very well, Captain,” Patho said. He turned to Hilleman and said, “What’s our estimated time to complete repairs to the point to point drive?”
Hilleman taped at the panel mounted next to the executive officer’s chair for a few seconds before saying, “Still more than two hours, sir. The system she’s specified will take two hops as well.”
“Very well, Exec.” Patho turned back to Ektezul. “Captain, I will need time to complete my repairs before I can meet you. It will take me roughly an hour to complete the trip.”
Ektezul shook her head. “Your ship may be half blind, but it certainly is fast. Even if I leave now, you will arrive before me.”
“Possibly,” Patho said. “I also have to finish my repairs. I can’t leave for another six or seven hours because I have to test the system before I can use it safely.”
Ektezul nodded and said, “I will wait until your ship is repaired before I leave.”
“As you wish, Captain,” Patho said. “I will signal you once my repairs are complete. Patho out.” The comm screen switched to the standby logo. “Keep us accelerating out of the system. I want to get as much distance as possible between us and the Woduur ships. If they think we’re still inside their search perimeter, I think it’s likely they’ll stay put until they are convinced we’ve escaped.”
Hilleman nodded. “I agree.”
“Keep a continuous sensor track on them. How long until they completely enclose the system in their search pattern?”
“Another four or five hours, sir,” Hilleman said.
“That gives Admiral Stokes plenty of time to complete his getaway. I hope he doesn’t spend a lot of time waiting for us.” Patho leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin with his right hand.
“You mean to go and help Ektezul buil
d whatever she wants, then, sir?”
“I don’t plan to go back on my word, Commander,” Patho said, his voice sharp. “What little we’ve seen of these Etyrni suggests they may be a part of a powerful empire. We have enough enemies without adding more through dishonesty.”
“Sorry, sir. I’m concerned we don’t have the time to spend.” Hilleman waved his hands in a placating gesture.
“I have the same concern, but I have to follow through on the deal I’ve struck. I’m going to take a few hours downtime. I’ll relieve you in five hours.”
“Aye, sir,” Hilleman said.
Patho left the bridge, grabbed some chow and headed to his cabin. He gave the status display a quick once over to make sure he hadn’t missed anything before turning in.
A few hours later, his alarm jolted him out of a pleasantly deep sleep. He got back up to the bridge a few minutes later and relieved Hilleman. The executive officer went below decks to get some rest.
Patho checked the status of the point to point drive. The repairs were complete, and Lieutenant Uller was almost done with the post install diagnostics. He keyed the comm to the engineering bay.
“Engineering, Uller here,” came the engineer’s voice.
“Mister Uller, this is Captain Patho. How long until we can make our first test hop?”
“Another half hour or so. Everything looks good, but I want to make sure there isn’t any hidden damage downstream from the accumulators. The power runs look okay, but until I complete a full load test on the system, I don’t want to completely connect the FTL system back up.”
“Sounds like you’re on track, Lieutenant. Let me know when you finish your tests.”
“Aye, sir.” The comm beeped when the channel closed.
Patho leaned back in his chair and started scrolling through the routine reports he needed to complete and sign off on for the running of the ship. Despite the fact that there were only twenty-four crew and eight Marines aboard, the amount of paperwork generated seemed endless.
By the time he got everything reviewed and signed off, the point to point drive status was updated to green. He switched the main plot to a view of the Juggling Leili. The Etyrni ship was hanging just off his port beam, matching his slow acceleration out of the system.
“Sir,” Guiles said, “The Woduur are done sweeping the system. They’re maneuvering to follow Admiral Stokes. Are you going to use the mines?”
Patho checked his chrono and said, “If we send the signal to detonate those mines, all we’re going to do is give away that we’re still here and our location. We’ve held them here for over seven hours. Plenty of time for the admiral to get away. We can’t risk giving away our position.”
“I understand, sir. I hope the admiral made it to the Ulef system, sir,” Guiles said.
“Me, too,” Patho agreed. “I sure hope the Ulef turn out to be the allies we need.”
“Sir, message from engineering. They’ve completed the load test on the FTL power runs. He reports he’s ready to complete the first test hop.”
“Very well. Put me through to Captain Ektezul.
A moment later, the Etyrni captain appeared on the main plot. “Captain Patho, I trust you’ve contacted me to let me know you’re ready to leave the system?” She finished the statement as a question.
“I’m making my first test hop. We’re only going to go one lightyear. You can meet us at our target coordinates or at the destination you’ve chosen.”
“I’m curious. What is a test hop?”
“That’s how we move faster than light.” Patho struggled for a simple explanation of the system. “We use a kind of gravity distortion to merge two distant points temporarily. We then fly through the distortion, and when it dissipates, we are much further away.”
“I’m unfamiliar with that type of system. I’d like to watch if you don’t mind.”
“Sir,” Guiles said, “I think the Woduur are forming up to depart.” Patho watched and a few seconds later, the formation streaked out of the system.
Patho tapped out a calculation on the arm of his command chair. Prepare to complete a jump to these coordinates.” The point was roughly a one lightyear hop.
The slow whine of the point to point drive building power filled the bridge. Patho addressed Ektezul. “Captain, I have a question. How does this mist work?”
“I really don’t know its exact method of operation, but I can tell you it renders a system impassable for several days. Once that time period has elapsed, the mist becomes inert. The Woduur often use it to blockade planets and systems that fail to honor their agreements.”
“I see. Thank you, Captain. I will see you at my first jump point.”
After the power-up countdown completed, Guiles reported, “Ready to jump, sir.”
Patho said, “Jump as calculated, Mister Guiles.”
“Jump as calculated, aye,” Guiles repeated and then passed the order to the helmsman, who moved the jump lever forward into the interlock socket mounted at the helm station.
Gorgon went through its jump ring without incident and emerged just over one lightyear away. Patho checked his status display and then said, “Status report.”
“All systems report normal, sir,” Guiles said. “Engineering reports point to point drive functioning within operational parameters.”
“Very well. Perform system cooldown and diagnostic. Then we’ll make two max range hops to the coordinates Captain Ektezul gave us.”
“There’s an arrival signature, sir. It looks like the Juggling Leili.”
“Put a comm request through, Mister Guiles.”
Ektezul responded a few seconds later. “I must say your ship has some interesting capabilities, Captain.”
“Thanks,” Patho said. “My system is good to go. I have a short cooldown, and then I’ll meet you at the coordinates you gave me.”
Ektezul smirked at Patho and said, “I look forward to meeting you in person.” She winked at him as the comm channel closed.
Chapter 25
Hanlon stared at the image of Dawn in front of her for a few seconds while she tried to decide what to do next. “How many Woduur are on board?”
“Five. They are accompanied by twenty Ulef warriors, all wearing the same color cord as Tolon was recently given.”
The blue strip of material. “Dawn, what effect would it have if I took that thing away from Tolon?”
“I am not certain, Captain Hanlon. It may be sufficient to allow it to resist the commands of Leader.”
Hanlon considered the answer. Her musings were interrupted by the appearance of one of the maintenance bots. It stepped up to Tolon’s side and bound its claws tightly to the sides of its carapace.
“Tolon will not be able to move its arms unless it is released from the bindings,” Dawn said.
“Good. How long until the Woduur are here?”
“I have closed all intervening doors. It will take them some time to make their way to this chamber. Until I observe their progress for longer, I will be unable to provide a definitive estimate.”
Hanlon nodded. “Can your onboard robots augment any kind of defense, Dawn?”
“They are not rated for combat, Captain. They may slow the invading force to a degree, but it will be impossible to stop them.”
Hanlon sat on one of the chairs and put her chin in her hands while she thought about the situation. The Ulef were here with the Woduur. That implied that Leader had come to some sort of arrangement with them. “Dawn, can you tap into the communication that goes between the Ulef?”
“No, Captain. Their communication relies on a bioelectric neural implant that allows their normal method of communicating to be sent over long distances. The carrier is impossible to decode without more time and resources.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s out, then.” She turned to Tolon and bent over. The blue strap was thin and flexible but felt tough and durable as well. She carefully worked it out of the harness Tolon wore without disturbing any of th
e other stripes threaded through it. She returned to the central display and said, “Can you show me where the Woduur are?”
“Yes, Captain.” A schematic of the area appeared. The command center was highlighted, along with the path from there to the command shuttle bay. A series of red pips were marked along the path at one of the intersections.
“What are they trying to do to get through the door, Dawn?”
“Nothing so far. They appear to be discussing their options. The Woduur are talking about forcing their way through, but the Ulef want to wait for Leader to do something.”
“What can Leader do?”
“I do not know, Captain. Leader is not aboard, and there is no way to override the doors remotely.”
“They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t think they had a way to get up here despite any effort we might make to stop them. Do you have any of these defensive turrets other than the ones here in the command center?”
“No, Captain,” Dawn responded. “There are defensive emplacements in key areas of the ship, but most of the passageways are not secured in this way.”
“Once we get through this, remind me to update your security, Dawn.”
“I have noted your request, Captain,” Dawn replied.
Hanlon spent another couple of minutes staring at the map of the command level. Tolon started to stir. She took a cautious step away from the Ulef as it righted itself
“It would appear your concerns were well founded, Captain,” Tolon said. “I would not have considered the possibility that Leader would decide your death was the more expedient avenue to the safety of the Ulef people so unilaterally. I must apologize.”
“I don’t blame you, Tolon. What I need to know now is what Leader will do next.”
Tolon regained its footing and paused for a moment before saying, “Leader will only tell me you are to surrender immediately. Should you do so, it offers you safe passage out of the system to the nearest planet that will support your life. Should you refuse, you will be killed. Leader says New Dawn will be turned over to the Woduur in any event.”
The Battle for Lashmere Page 20
