Gnaga walked onto the bridge. “Mr. Hardy, I believe we could build our own storage ring for that microwave weapon. There is a single issue preventing me from recommending that we do this.”
Mace asked, “What is it?”
Gnaga replied, “In order to install that ring, we would have to violate the integrity of our blast walls. A hole would be cut through each for the ring to pass through.”
Mace frowned. “We can’t just wrap the outside of the ship with it or something?”
Gnaga was silent for several seconds. “That thought had not occurred to me, Mr. Hardy. I must apologize. Not only could we wrap the ring around the exterior of our hull, we could also move the transducers to offer it the proper coverage from plasma strikes. And the installation would of course be greatly simplified.”
Mace smiled. “Awesome. When can we have it?”
Gnaga rubbed his pointy chin. “I believe I could have a trial version operational within a month.”
Mace sighed and let out a half laugh. “Figures. I don’t think we have a month, Mr. Klept. The Dellus are going to be back before then, and they’ll be demanding we attack that station. I figure at best we have another week before they’re back. Could you make use of the crewmen on that ship? They’re mostly sitting around sucking up resources at the moment.”
Gnaga replied, “That is another excellent idea, Mr. Hardy. I’ll run a few design algorithms and see what we need to remove from that ship. Afterward, I’ll get the crew we need to get this done over there.”
An hour passed before Gnaga moved over to the dreadnought to supervise. The klystron and horn below it were removed and sent to the Rogers. Bontu Montak coordinated efforts for its installation. When the last of the emitter parts had been moved, Gnaga directed crews on the disassembly of the storage ring. Before the day had come to an end, the first pieces of the ring were being attached to the Rogers’ hull.
Johnny, sitting on the bridge, switched camera views of the activity. “How long we going to be without our dampener field?”
Mace replied, “It’s only partially down, but two days according to Gnaga. They should then have the initial track of the ring installed. Following that, they can weld on the transducers and bring them back online.”
Johnny winced, “Two days seems like an eternity. Maybe it would have been better had we jumped somewhere else for this.”
Mace replied, “I asked about that. The wormhole portal the Gerty would have to open is too large for that ship. It’s wide and flat, unlike ours, which is long and thin. Besides, we still have our cannons. And those extra power heads are now fully integrated. We can hit anyone who comes within range with something much more powerful than they can return.”
Johnny asked, “And the screens? What if it’s a United Front ship?”
Mace nodded. “Screens are about 90 percent done.”
Johnny switched camera views. “You sure this addition is worth it?”
Mace replied, “I believe so. And so does Gnaga. This weapon might be effective where the plasma round won’t penetrate. Gnaga ran some numbers, and thinks with a proper strike it could be used to disable a transducer. The ship would of course have to have a metal hull. And we know the Mawga hulls are composite like this one. They have some metallic properties, but are not themselves metal.”
Johnny cringed as he laughed. “Not sure why, as dead is dead, but that weapon creeps me out. I think I’d rather be blown up than cooked.”
Mace shook his head. “I can’t say that it would matter to me. It was almost instantaneous for our crew. If I’m gonna go, I want it to be quick.”
Humphrey said, “I have a ship on the sensors! Two… four… no, seven ships. Two of them are Muhatha size. Looks like the Dellus are coming back.”
Johnny said, “Caught with our pants down squatting in the woods!”
Mace pushed the sensor display to the wall. “Not that they know of.”
A hail came in from the Dellus admiral. “Mr. Hardy. I see you are still dealing with the dreadnought.”
Mace replied, “We are. We’ll be ready to move on the station in a couple days.”
The admiral scowled. “About that. After our altercation, Military Command has decided to rescind our agreement. You will no longer be a part of this endeavor, and as such, are no longer of use to the Dellus. King Stark has volunteered a force of twenty thousand Rangers to assault that station.”
Mace shook his head. “And just how do you plan on getting past those microwave guns, Admiral? Assault troops won’t do you much good if they’ve been cooked before they get there.”
The admiral smiled, “We’ve already worked that issue out, Mr. Hardy. It won’t be a problem.”
Humphrey said, “The Dellus ships will be within weapons range in five minutes.”
Mace took a deep breath before opening a general comm to all personnel. “This is Hardy. I want everyone off that dreadnought immediately. We have incoming Dellus ships and I believe they mean to attack. We may not be able to defend that ship. And all crew who are out on the hull, you need to come inside. We only have a couple minutes, so drop whatever you’re doing and make haste. Good luck.”
Mace said, “Mr. Mueller?”
Hans replied, “Weapon’s stores are fully charged.”
Mace said, “As soon as they are within range start pumping out rounds.”
Hans replied, “We won’t be effective at that distance.”
Mace nodded. “I know, but it may give them hesitation, and I’ll take all the time we can buy right now. Mr. Mallot, you have ID on what they’re bringing?”
Humphrey replied, “Two Muhatha, two Callista, and a third ship I don’t recognize. It’s smaller, there are two of them, all appear to be running at their normal top speed. Three minutes to firing range.”
Jane came over the comm. “As soon as the Collins is back aboard, we have everyone. We still have about two hundred UF workers on the hull. What should we do with ‘em?”
Mace rolled his head back in frustration. “Crap. Bring them aboard. But don’t risk any of our people out there. They have until the Collins has docked.”
Jane replied, “I’ll see what I can do.”
A comm was opened to the UF workers. Seconds later, the hull of the Rogers looked like a disturbed anthill as the two hundred odd crewmen scrambled to make it to the open doors of docking bay one. Jane coordinated as they came in, moving them down a long hall to make use of additional room in bay three.
Jane said, “Half are in. The Collins is coming this way. How much time we got?”
Humphrey replied, “Forty-five seconds. If they fire from that distance we’ll have eight seconds to evade.”
Jane yelled, “Crap! The UF crew aren’t stopping! The Collins is stuck!”
Mace opened a comm. “Collins, bring her in now! If they get in your way they have to suffer the consequence!”
Rafael Ramirez replied, “It’s not just those coming in. There are too many in that bay. We can’t dock without crushing half of them.”
Jane yelled, “I’m trying to move them as fast as I can!”
Mace said, “Bring it in, Raffy! We need those doors closed!”
The Collins backed away. “We’ve got the speed and the shields needed to defend ourselves, Mr. Hardy. Close the door when you have to.”
Mace said, “Jane! They’re coming in range! If we detect a shot coming, those doors are closing!”
Jane said, “You do what you gotta do!”
Humphrey said, “Dellus ships are within range, Mr. Hardy.”
Hans added, “Plasma rounds away. They are evading.”
Mace took a deep breath. “Come on. Just a bit longer.”
The bridge was silent as the wall display was filled with images of the incoming ships and outgoing plasma rounds.
Hans said, “Plasma rounds incoming!”
Jane yelled, “I need fifteen seconds!”
Mace turned to Liam. “Mr. Hobbs, release that grapple and
move away from those rounds!”
“Grapple away!”
Humphrey held up a hand. “Hold on! We have a slightly shifting trajectory! I think they will miss!”
The hull rumbled as the first round nipped the tail end of the Rogers. The second dug into side of the dreadnought. The UF ship began to pull away as a second set of plasma rounds left the cannons of the approaching Dellus Muhatha ships.
Liam said, “We’re moving away as well, Mr. Hardy!”
Jane yelled, “Door is closing! We’re good to go!”
Humphrey said, “The Muhatha are turning toward the dreadnought!”
Mace sat back in his chair, cinching his belt tighter. “Mr. Hobbs, turn us toward those incoming ships!”
Liam replied, “We can run clear, Mr. Hardy. We have the speed.”
Mace said, “Turn us. Mr. Mueller. Hit that lead Muhatha with everything you have.”
Hans replied, “They still have two ships coming straight for us. And they’re picking up speed.”
Mace said, “Mr. Hobbs, keep us on a trajectory toward the Muhatha. And Mr. Mueller, target those incoming ships when they reach the point where they can no longer evade. Until then, keep after the Muhatha.”
Almost a full minute passed before Hans reported the first hits on the lead Muhatha. “Wow. We just put a huge hole in the side of that ship. I am liking our firepower!”
Humphrey said, “Mr. Hardy, one of those ships coming this way has broken off. It’s heading for the shuttle and picking up speed.”
Mace said, “The Collins is fast, they should be OK.”
Hans pushed an image of the lead Muhatha to the wall display. “Second hit! Four decks are exposed and burning!”
Mace clinched his fist. “Hit her until she stops!”
Humphrey said, “The UF ship just took a hit. I have secondary explosions.”
Hans let out a howl. “Whoa! The Muhatha just broke in two! The second ship is continuing its pursuit!”
Liam said, “Mr. Hardy! We have a problem! Those two smaller ships are still accelerating!”
Mace replied, “Mr. Mueller, split your firepower between those two and the remaining Muhatha.”
Hans fired four rounds at the incoming ship. With successive rapid maneuvers, all four rounds missed. The small ship began a series of random shifts.
Hans said, “I can’t get a lock, Mr. Hardy. And it’s now ninety seconds from our position and still gaining speed.”
Mace yelled, “Break away! Mr. Ramirez! You’re being targeted!”
Rafael replied, “We’re heading directly away, Mr. Hardy, and it’s gaining on us!”
Humphrey said, “The dreadnought just took another hit. And another!”
Mace asked, “Mr. Mueller, tell me you can hit that ship.”
Hans replied, “She’s dodging everything I’ve thrown at her. Another thirty seconds and she won’t have time to react.”
Liam said, “Ship is closing on the Collins! Forty seconds until it’s on top of them!”
Humphrey yelled, “The UF dreadnought just took a hit to her drives. She’s in a spin!”
Mace yelled, “Johnny, open a comm to the Dellus admiral!”
Johnny replied, “Pushing it to the wall display!”
And image of a smug admiral filled the wall. “Is this a surrender, Mr. Hardy?”
Mace replied, “Hardly. I just wanted you to know that we’ll be coming for you once we’re done here!”
Humphrey said, “The dreadnought has fires on half her decks! They’re really laying into her, Mr. Hardy!”
The small ship chasing the Rogers exploded as one of Hans plasma rounds found its mark. A small burst was followed by a bright fireball that expanded out into short range shockwave.
Humphrey said, “We have radiation impact!”
Alarms sounded on all decks.
Mace asked, “Give me the news, Mr. Mallot!”
Humphrey moved around several screens, pushing a graph to the wall display. “That was a nasty hit, Mr. Hardy, but non-lethal. Dampening field absorbed most of it.”
Mace flipped comm channels to the Collins. “Mr. Ramirez. That chase ship is a nuke just like Stark used against us before. We can’t reach you.”
Tek Holmes replied, “Every life meets an end sometime, Mr. Hardy. It’s been a honor and privilege to serve under your command. Keep up the good fight.”
Liam yelled, “The Collins is banking hard left!”
Humphrey said, “The dreadnought is finished, Mr. Hardy.”
An image of the E.A. Collins showed on the wall display. A bright flash followed by an intense shockwave spread outward from where the small approaching ship had previously been.
Humphrey turned. “She’s still flying, Mr. Hardy. But that was a lethal dose of gamma.”
Rafael Ramirez came over the comm. The video feed was blacked out.
Mace asked, “Raffy?”
A deep sigh followed. “Strange, heat wave came through. I can feel the damage, but I have no pain.”
Humphrey looked up, shaking his head. “Sensors on the shuttle say they each took about twenty-five hundred rads. Sorry, Mr. Hardy. There’s absolutely nothing we can do for them. They’ll be dead in hours if not minutes. And it won’t be pleasant.”
Mace asked, “Mr. Mueller, how long until we’re within firing range of the Collins?”
Hans replied, “What?”
Mace repeated, “How long, Mr. Mueller!”
Hans looked at his display. “Just passed that point.”
Mace unbuckled his belt and stood, walking to the weapons console. “Program in a full burst of all we have, Mr. Mueller. Target the Collins.”
Hans looked at his console and then back. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Mace nodded. “Set it up. I’ll push the button.”
Hans typed away on his console before standing. “It’s ready.”
Mace sat. “Mr. Ramirez. Mr. Holmes. It is we who’ve had the honor to serve with you. You’ll be remembered for all you’ve done.”
Tek Holmes replied, “Don’t feel bad, Mr. Hardy. You’re doing us a favor. Just make sure you take back Earth. That will make all this worth it.”
Mace took a deep breath as he reached for the console button. “Gentlemen… see you on the other side.”
The button was pressed. Five seconds later a bright flash was recorded on the sensors. The Collins was gone…
Chapter 17
*
Hans said, “We’ll be in firing range in two minutes.”
A hail came over the comm. “Mr. Hardy. It seems you have survived another day. We will be back and your time will end.”
Mace replied, “Your time is at an end now, Admiral. And we’ll be coming for your other ships and colonies next. You made a grave mistake by crossing us. This will be the end of the Dellus people. Leaving you as nothing more than slaves to whoever claims the pieces.”
Humphrey said, “I detect a wormhole opening.”
The Dellus Muhatha along with a handful of other ships slipped through the fracture in space to another location. The wormhole closed seconds later.
Mace sat in his chair, rubbing his forehead. “Another disaster.”
Johnny said, “You can’t blame yourself for the treacherous acts of others.”
Mace shook his head. “We had all the materials for that weapon aboard. We could have released that ship and sent them on their way. Instead, we got them killed and at the same time Raffy and Tek.”
Johnny stood, walking to beside Mace. “There’s no way you could have known about them having those fast ship-bombs. Every one of us would have made the same call you did.”
Jane walked onto the bridge. “The workers are secured. What are our plans?”
Johnny replied, “Mace is sulking. I say we finish the job of wrapping those waveguides around the hull. We still have the workers.”
Jane asked, “And what do we do with them when we’re done?”
Johnny shru
gged. “Take them back to their station and drop them off. I’d say we aren’t at war with the UF anymore.”
Jane replied, “That actually sounds like a good plan to me. Mace?”
Mace looked up. “What?”
Jane said, “Johnny thinks we should finish the waveguide work and then take the UF workers and drop them at their station.”
Mace waved his hand. “Yeah, sounds reasonable.”
Johnny shook his head. “He checks out every time we lose someone.”
Jane sighed. Well, come on. Let’s give him a few minutes at least. Mr. Hobbs? Can you take us back to the Gerty?”
Liam replied, “Consider it done.”
The Rogers sat in space next to the Gerty. The UF workers were again swarming over her hull, piecing together the waveguides that would hold the energy of the microwave weapon. Two of Jordan Crawford’s men moved over to the Gerty as Jordan and Jenny came back.
Jenny walked onto the bridge. “Hey, Sad Sack, you at it again?”
Mace replied, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this leadership thing.”
Jenny laughed. “No. You definitely fit the mold. The fact that you care so much is one of the things that keeps people following you. Nobody is born a leader. They get there through their actions and deeds. The rest of the people on this ship are still alive, and still free because of the actions you’ve taken. Don’t be selling yourself short.”
Jenny grabbed his hand. “Come with me.”
Mace stood. “Where we going?”
Jenny said as they walked, “You need a project. We need to get you back to being busy.”
Mace stopped. “I don’t need a project. I just needed a little time.”
Jenny smiled as she pulled on his arm. “OK, let’s not consider it a project then.”
Mace said, “If you’re taking me out to work on that waveguide, I have no interest.”
They turned the corner into conference room three. Jenny directed Mace to a chair where he sat. Johnny, Jane, and Jeff came into the room.
Mace looked up. “What is this? An intervention?”
Jenny shook her head. “Nope. It’s a planning session. We need to decide what we’re gonna do when the UF workers are finished.”
Frado Knuttin walked into the room with Jordan Crawford just behind.
HADRON Revelation Page 16
