Stark opened a comm to his arm pad. “This is your king. All troops stationed on the Bovika will please lower or holster your weapons. Any violations of this order will be dealt with in a most permanent manner. That is all.”
Chapter 8
*
The modified shuttle lifted out of bay five. The throttle was pushed to full and the tiny ship sped away. As expected, a hail came in from the Quelli Dauntless. The hail was ignored, summoning a number of plasma cannon rounds being launched. When no damage was seen to have occurred, the Dauntless fell into pursuit. After ten minutes of falling behind, the Quelli ship slowed, turning back toward the others.
Humphrey came over the comm. “Your sensor data from that shuttle says four direct hits, Mr. Hardy. No damage to report. You saw a field penetration of 60 percent so we know it was full strength cannons they shot at you.”
Mace nodded. “Thank you Mr. Mallot. Mr. Hobbs, how long until we reach Proteus?”
Liam replied, “Five minutes for you to be aboard the Rogers. Nine hours twelve minutes from there.”
Johnny crossed his arms as he sat in the copilot’s chair. “At least that proves this shuttle can take a hit.”
Hans said, “Mr. Hardy, I know our cannon tests have shown our main cannon to be fully functional and powerful. Any chance we will be going after that Dauntless and her cannons? It would seem to be to our benefit to have more than one cannon to have to rely on.”
Mace stroked the beard on his chin. “I think we need to let the area cool for a couple days, Mr. Mueller. Would anyone like to volunteer for shuttle duty? I’d like to know if any other ships jump into the system. And aside from those cannons, we’ll be needing a wormhole generator.”
Johnny frowned. “Too bad we couldn’t squeeze one of those generators onto the Rogers.”
Mace shook his head. “Would take up half the ship.”
Jenny Taub said, “I’d like to take on the shuttle duty if that’s OK, Mace. I know it’s boring duty, but the drive room is probably worse. I could use the break.”
Mace asked over a comm to the bridge, “Any other volunteers? I’d like to send at least two.”
Jordan Crawford replied, “I could use the break myself, Mr. Hardy. With you returning, my duties here end up being redundant. And if we’re parked on Proteus, more so.”
Mace smiled. “Sounds like we have our crew, Mr. Crawford. We’ll be docking any second in bay three. Round up whatever personal items you’ll need for a minimum of, let’s say, two weeks? And have a crew load her with enough food for a month.”
The shuttle docked and was soon on its way back to Earth space. The Rogers continued toward Proteus.
Mace joined Bontu Montak and the other Mawga in the conference room. “I just wanted to let you all know that we have admiral Geerok aboard.”
Bontu replied, “What? Are we being turned over?”
Mace held up his hand. “No nothing like that. We captured him and he’s now compromised to the Union, so we can’t send him back. He’s been very helpful by giving us information we didn’t have. Says he’s atoning for his wrongs before death. We don’t plan on killing him. And I wanted to know your thoughts on how we might put him to use as a member of this crew.”
Bontu scowled. “The military sect and their atonements… they believe they will have a just end in the afterlife if they confess their wrongs to those they have wronged. Only… those confessions are rarely genuine… and rarely to those who have been wronged.”
Mace replied, “Well, I think he was genuine this time around. He gave us a lot of information and even allowed us to use him to talk to Stark.”
Bontu asked, “You talked with the king?”
Mace nodded. “I had him standing right in front of me with my gun pointed at his head. I wanted to pull the trigger, but thought it a bad idea. We have too much at stake to just let the Union come in and take over everything. Stark, for all his ills, is a strong leader, and he’ll not let that happen. So he will continue doing what he’s doing with the Union while gathering data on their strengths and weaknesses. We on the other hand, will be setting up a raid on your Barika system. It seems there is a large food storage depot there. We’d like to go in and take as much of it as we can. In doing so, maybe we can loosen the grip your people have on our population. In order for us to retake control, we need to be able to feed everyone.”
Bontu replied, “Interesting. I was always told the Barika system was a military stronghold. Very few are allowed to travel there.”
Mace said, “Well, maybe that’s the propaganda they spread to help keep people away. Anyway, we’ll be working up plans at some point to go in and take whatever we can.”
Bontu returned a confused look. “Won’t that require a wormhole generator?”
Mace smiled. “It will. That will be part of our planning. We’ll need to take another one of the Union ships.”
Bontu frowned. “This will assuredly bring in the full force of the Galactic Union. The Dellus Dauntless was a rogue ship. We can only guess the Targarian Muhatha to have returned home. Neither incident elicited a response, because neither incident was reported to the Union.”
Mace leaned back in his chair. “And we think that level of reporting will continue. If a single ship is taken, the other Union members will see that as a weakness by whatever member lost their ship. So the loser will be hesitant to report for fear of putting themselves in a weakened position. That will give us time while they’re figuring out how to respond. At least that’s what I’m banking on.”
Mace sat forward, placing his hands on the table. “And in the meantime, Stark will not be chasing us. He’ll be feeding us information and we’ll be giving it back to him. I think that’s the best we can do if we want to know what he’s up to. And as we thought, he has no intention of being partners with any other species. He wants the galaxy all for himself.”
Fatso Geerok walked into the room. All the Mawga stood.
The admiral raised his hand. “I no longer command that action. From here on I am only Fatso Geerok, humble Mawga servant to the Humans.”
Bontu scowled and then frowned. “Are you serious?”
Fatso replied, “I made my peace, Mr. Montak.”
Bontu replied, “You made no peace with me or with my crew. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, those who remained were tortured and executed.”
Fatso nodded. “I only carried out orders that came from above. You know as well as anyone else what happens to those in command who refuse. I am sorry for your loss, Mr. Montak, but it was not by my hand. If I recall, I tried to persuade you to remain quiet about your thoughts on the Humans. Had you done so, you would still be overseeing your sector, and your crew would be alive.”
Bontu sat in silent contemplation of the statement.
Mace intervened. “OK, look. You each did what you did. There was no intention of wrong. Mr. Geerok is now here with us. I would like suggestions as to what use he could be.”
Maala Heeb raised his hand. “I am always in need of helpers. If he wishes, he can join my crew.”
Mace looked around the room. “Anyone have issue with that?”
The room was silent. “Mr. Heeb. You have a new assistant.”
Three days of quiet passed before the order was given to return to the shuttle. Nine hours later, the Rogers came within comm range.
Johnny said, “This is the Rogers, how we doing out there?”
Jordan Crawford replied, “Didn’t expect you back so soon. There’s really not much to report. The Quelli ship sits by itself. I think we might have seen one shuttle go from there to the Bovika and back. Comms don’t reach out this far so we have nothing to report on that front either.”
Johnny asked, “How’ve you been filling in the time?”
Jordan replied, “Just talking. This girl’s a hoot. Has a million stories about her deployments. So it’s been that and playing a lot of solitaire. I’ll have to thank Mr. Klept for getting that app converted to run on our systems. It gets ol
d, but you just can’t quit playing it.”
Johnny muted the comm. “Hear that? Looks like you’re losing another one.”
Mace replied, “Ah, yeah, can we talk about that later?”
Mace enabled the comm. “Mr. Crawford, no movements at all by that Quelli ship?”
Jordan replied, “Hasn’t budged.”
Mace stroked his beard. “You two up for a raid?”
Jenny replied, “I was hoping you’d say that. We’ve been discussing it and going over the internal diagrams of a Dauntless. Our gear is all set. Just give the word and we’ll make it happen.”
Mace nodded. “Make it happen. We’ll move in closer as soon as you’re grappled. I’d suggest going in the same place we did before with the Dellus ship.”
Jenny replied, “That’s a negative. We’ve located a side room that’s less than a hundred meters from the bridge. There’s a hull indentation that will allow us to position the shuttle inside their gun range. Hull plating is thin there as well.”
Mace pulled up a diagram of the ship. “If you feel comfortable with the change, do it.”
Jordan replied, “We worked over the diagrams for several hours, Mr. Hardy. I think it’s a better option. We’ll only have two doors and one short hall before we’re on the bridge.”
Mace said, “Just be careful. The Quelli are new to us. No telling if they’ll react the same as the others did and scatter. Don’t want you stuck in a firefight that we aren’t in control of.”
Jenny smiled. “We’ve mapped out contingency retreat routes just in case, but thanks for your concern.”
The shuttle moved headlong into the line of fire of the Quelli warship. The Rogers followed, staying just within comm range.
Jordan reported. “We’re taking multiple hits. A double burst put the shields at 71 percent. Looks like we could handle a triple if needed.”
Mace replied, “Just keep that ship moving from side to side. I’d rather us not test that theory.”
Jordan said, “Whoa! We just hit 86 percent.”
Jenny replied, “I got sloppy with my turns. Won’t happen again.”
Minutes later the shuttle pulled alongside the Dauntless and the grappling arm was attached. Three minutes following, Jordan Crawford kicked in the cutaway hull plate and the two slipped inside. A second cut was made into an adjoining room and then sealed. The warship moved toward the Rogers.
Mace said, “Just keep us where we are, Mr. Hobbs, let them come to us. Mr. Mueller, looks like you might get to try out that new cannon.”
Hans replied, “She’s charged and ready. Just give the word.”
Jenny said, “We’re opening the door to the hall. Ack! Get back!”
A steel door could be heard clanking shut as repeated thuds hit the wall outside. “They’re using the plasma rifles! Almost took a round to the face!”
Mace looked over the ship diagram. “If you cut through the two walls to your left, that room empties into the hall around a corner.”
Jordan replied, “On it.”
Mace looked over at the weapons console as the Dauntless came within weapons range. Four plasma rounds left its guns at the same moment.
“Keep us moving Mr. Hobbs. Mr. Mueller, target the back end of that ship. Take out that last gun to the left.”
A double power plasma round left the modified cannon as the first Quelli charge impacted the Rogers’ dampening field. The ship rumbled as the charge was easily absorbed.
Humphrey said, “That round registered 32 percent, Mr. Hardy. No damage.”
Hans yelled out. “Yes! Can’t believe they didn’t attempt to avoid that!”
Humphrey said, “External damage, Mr. Mueller. Sensors show several decks exposed. Hull plating for about twenty meters is missing.”
Hans grinned. “Permission to fire again?”
Mace replied, “No. Hold up. We want to take it intact if we can.”
Jenny came over the comm. “Not sure what just happened. We just jerked violently and the internal gravity just shut down. Gravity boots are on. Opening the door to the hall.”
The whumps of plasma rounds exploding inside the huge vessel could be heard. “Switching cameras to helmets. You should be seeing what we are any second.”
Johnny said, “Pushing to main display now.”
A hallway full of floating Quelli soldiers came into view. One by one their gravity boots were activated, pulling them to the floor or the nearest wall.
Jenny yelled as she let fly round after round. “Oh, this is craziness! I may get vertigo!”
Jordan ran up the wall beside her, firing off several rounds as the Quelli soldiers attempt to regroup.
Jenny said, “I’m switching over to the AR. The plasma leaves too big a mess. Debris is floating everywhere and I’m having a hard time telling what’s what!”
Jordan yelled, “Move up to that corner. I have them penned behind that wall!”
Jenny made her move as Jordan ran up across the ceiling and over to the other wall. “Taub! Charge that hall! We have them on the run!”
The camera bounced and swiveled as the former Apache pilot stepped into the hall, attempting to drop to one knee. Instead, she floated forward as he fired.
“Wow this is awkward! We should have done some training for this scenario!”
Jordan said, “Just keep pushing forward! We’re half way to the bridge!”
Jordan Crawford’s camera image dropped to the floor, shaking violently as his helmet bounced off the steel plate.
Jenny laughed as she lunged for the next corner. “Long fall from heaven, ain’t it, Mr. C? Gravity is back on!”
Jenny stood. “I’m charging that bridge! Get my six!”
The camera image bounced as Jenny Taub sprinted for the bridge. Mace clutched his arm rest as the rest of the bridge crew looked on, moving their heads from side to side as the camera image moved back and forth. Half a magazine was emptied as she reached the doorway to the Quelli command center.
“Aaiiiiyeah! Take my hot lead, you alien munchkins!”
Jordan followed, rushing the captain’s chair where a cowering Quelli captain had his hands in the air. The Quelli solders all laid down their arms.
Jenny slapped in a new magazine. “Looks like they folded, Mr. Hardy. What you want us to do with ‘em?”
Mace said, “Direct the captain to have the ship moved to the coordinates I’m sending you.”
Jordan yelled into his Galactic Union translator. “You three! Gather all those weapons and stack them over here! You four! Stand in that doorway. Anyone who comes into view in that hallway, have them lay down their weapons and walk the other way! And move!”
The meter-tall Quelli soldiers scurried to fulfill the orders of the gargantuan Human. Twenty minutes later the Quelli Dauntless pulled to a stop. Mace crossed over, walking the halls as the surrendered Quelli crewmen looked on.
Jenny flipped up her visor. “The captain here has cooperated fully.”
Mace asked, “How many crew aboard this ship?”
The captain replied, “Four hundred twelve.”
Mace gestured toward the back of the ship. “How many shuttles do you have in your bays?”
“Six. And one cargo hauler.”
“How many of your crew will fit on those seven ships?”
The captain thought. “Perhaps three hundred. More depending on the urgency of the need.”
Mace said, “I want you to start ordering your men to the docking bays, starting with all soldiers. Next will be all non-essential personnel. If this ship doesn’t need them to operate, they go to the bays. And make this happen as soon as possible.
You leave anyone on here that doesn’t need to be here and they get spaced along with you. Understand?”
The captain’s already big eyes grew wide.
Mace gestured. “Remove your helmet.”
The captain complied. Two fuzzy ears flipped up. A black nose tipped an otherwise pink skinned face. The Quelli alien’s small hea
d sat atop a thin neck and narrow shoulders. White splotches adorned the tight yellow fur on the top of his head.
Mace said, “Gravity on here feels light. How’s it rate compared to the Earth?”
The captain replied, “Your Earth is 104 percent that of Talicon.”
Mace nodded. “You fully cooperate and you all get to live.”
The captain said, “Would you be amenable to a discussion about becoming an ally of the Quelli?”
Mace laughed. “Not at the moment. We have time, though. We can talk of that later.”
The captain received a comm. “All requested personnel are in the bays.”
Mace said, “Have them file onto those shuttles and that cargo hauler. And I want standing room only. Give me a headcount of how many personnel you have left, and the number of open slots if they all get aboard.”
Four minutes later the captain received word. “Three hundred eighteen are aboard the ships. I’m told there is room for another forty.”
Mace nodded. “Excellent. Now, excluding the officers on this bridge, I want all crewmen who are left to proceed to those ships. And if you have any remaining personnel who are redundant, have them go as well.”
Five minutes later, a new comm arrived. “I am told there is room for another fifteen.”
“How many are left total?”
“Twenty four.”
“Any still manning your guns?”
The captain nodded. “Fourteen.”
Mace said, “Have those fourteen report to the bays and have them squeeze onto those ships. When they’re aboard, send those ships to Earth. Have them surrender to the Mawga or Stark, whichever they prefer. The rest of your personnel should report here.”
The shuttles and cargo hauler were soon headed away.
Mace held up his arm pad with a holo-image floating above it. “Captain, steer this vessel to the following coordinates.”
Two hours later, the captured Quelli Dauntless hovered in orbit above the north pole of Mars.
Chapter 9
*
Jeff, David, Bontu and the other Mawga stood in bay nine of the Dauntless.
Mace said, “This ship has eighteen of those cannons. Take three of them for now. Use the technique you used on our double cannon to give us two triples. When you’re done there I want an estimate of how many more reactors we can pack on the Rogers. After that we’ll look at transducers.”
HADRON Revelation Page 8
