Battlecruiser Alamo: Ghost Ship

by Richard Tongue

   “Our forebears were taken from Earth more than thirty thousand years ago, Captain Winter. We have been roaming the stars for longer than you think.” He sighed, then said, “To think that I might actually live to see Holy Earth. Until we received your signals, we had thought it a mere myth.”

   “Signals? From Earth?”

   Nodding, Singh said, “The earliest radio signals. They’d have reached here about when their Enemy attacked, though they must have had space-based radio telescopes to pick them up. You’ve been listening to us all this time?”

   “Which is why I know your language. You provided us with more than a sufficient sample to understand it. I am a worshiper of Holy Earth, a sect that had almost died out; all of us learn an Earth language as we grow up, that we might live on the world ourselves one day.”

   Glancing at Singh, Logan said, “I don’t know how well informed you are about the political situation back at Sol, but you would certainly be welcome anywhere in the Triplanetary Confederation.”

   “That is good news. Lieutenant Curry gave us all the data she could, but her news was not current, more than a decade out of date.”

   “You said you had some files for us,” Harper said.

   “Ah, yes.” Tolxac gabbled at a subordinate, who passed a carefully-wrapped package across. “Here there are. The current logs of Dumont, Hercules and Alamo.”

   “Alamo?” Harper said. “Alamo’s logs are in this file?”

   “I believe so, though I have not read them.”

   She looked up at Logan, and said, “Mind if I….”

   “Later, Harper. Let me work this out, Tolxac. Your people are a second-generation colony, seeded here a couple of thousand years ago. The planet’s surface is almost habitable, which would have been an advantage, and over time you started to explore the system.”

   “Progress was slow,” Tolxac said, “but by the time the Enemy arrived, we had established a significant orbital presence and were exploring the other bodies of this system. Once we heard the messages from Earth, we began plans for the construction of a new starship, the launch on a journey across the void. We never dreamed of faster-than-light travel.”

   He reached into a pocket, pulling out a new datachip and passing it to Logan. He looked it over, a brand-new Triplanetary datachip, obviously recently fabricated, and started to curse the late Lieutenant Curry. They had no idea yet whether these people should become allies, and she’d given them a rather significant technological boost.

   “I have recorded our history for you, Captain, in some detail. You should find this of interest. For the present, however, the Enemy is the greatest problem. They arrived in our system in their generation ship, and broadcast an immediate demand for our surrender.”

   “They spoke your language?”

   “In archaic form, but yes. Understand that we had no space-based military forces; our people had always been united. We had to improvise, and the first battles were terrible. Gradually, however, we have started to push back, securing orbital space. Ultimately, our goal is to drive the Enemy from our system.” He shook his head, then said, “I had feared it an impossible task. They have settled some of our outer moons, ones we have not yet visited. With their industrial might strengthening, I had thought...but that is irrelevant now. You are here, the answer to a prayer.”

   “We came to find out what happened to the Dumont,” Logan said. “I have no authority to commit to anything more, not without consultation with our Senate.”

   “Our people do not seek our aid in fighting our battles for us. The war is ours to win, but with technological support – your missile technology, for example, and your engine designs – we will have to tools to seek final victory.”

   “This Enemy,” Singh asked. “Are they humans also?”

   “No!” Tolxac said, shocked. “They are alien. Strange, malformed humanoids who seek only death and destruction. We know not what they call themselves; Enemy has always sufficed.”

   “You’ve got one of their ships,” Logan said. “Our engineers would like to take a look at it. We have specialists trained in understanding alien equipment, at least after a fashion.”

   “To fight your own wars against them,” Tolxac said, nodding. “That isn’t my decision. I command all our forces in orbit; I am not a political leader. They will wish to speak with you, but I wished to thank you first for what you did.”

   “We didn’t do that much.”

   “Enough to save the day. I am not surprised that the Enemy attacked you without warning; it has always been that way.” Another figure started to gabble at him, and he said, “Excuse me a moment.”

   “You have a difficult decision to make,” Singh said, leaning in. “I confess I do not envy you.”

   “I don’t see it,” Harper replied. “They helped us, the others attacked us. At least we should be friendly neutrals, even if you don’t want to bring them into full alliance. Hell, Marshall would try to bring them into the Confederation.”

   “That might not be a bad idea,” Logan replied, “but I’m rather wary of getting us involved in a war just on my say-so. Even I have my limits.”

   “One of your capital ships would almost certainly outmatch the entire Enemy fleet,” Singh noted. “I think you need not concern yourself with the likelihood of victory.”

   “It’s what comes afterwards that worries me,” Logan replied.

   “Very true,” Singh said. “What are you going to do?”

   “Look at all the data and decide. Hell, if Curry basically gave them the hendecaspace drive, we might not have that many options. If we don’t help, the Republic will. Or the Cabal.”

   “I venture the outcome of such an alliance would be unfavorable to all concerned.”

   Logan’s communicator squawked, and he fished it out of his pocket.

   “Cunningham here. We’re getting dimensional instability from one of the hendecaspace points, and it’s big.”

   “Any Enemy ships around?”

   “Half a dozen. I’ve no idea whether they can detect it, though.”

   “I doubt it. Go to battle stations.” He looked over at Tolxac, and said, “There’s a ship about to enter your system.”

   “Indeed,” he replied. “That explains these readings. I have already brought the fleet to combat readiness; we will sortie if it turns out to be one of your ships.”

   “Look at the screen,” Harper said, pointing to one of the displays. A bright blue flash appeared, and a ship slid into normal space, the lines of a Thermopylae-class Battlecruiser.

   “They couldn’t have got reinforcements that quickly,” Logan muttered, as the view zoomed into the identification marks painted on the hull. Battered and bruised, the wording was unmistakable.

   “They made it!” Harper yelled. “Damn it all, they made it home!”

   “Enemy ships scattering,” Cunningham said. “They aren’t even trying. I guess they know they are outmatched.”

   Cheering echoed around the control room, and Tolxac said, “This is one of your capital ships? Astonishing power. This war will be over in weeks!”

   Glancing across at the prematurely celebrating commander, Logan said, “Patch me through to Alamo.”

   “They’re calling us,” Cunningham said, joyously.

   “Captain Marshall, I presume,” Logan said with a smile into the microphone.”

   With a faint crackle, a familiar voice said, “This is Lieutenant-Captain Daniel Marshall of the Battlecruiser Alamo to UN ship and unidentified space station. Please identify.”

   “Logan Winter, Captain. What's a nice commander like you doing in a system like this.”

   “It's a long story.”

   “Get the drinks in and we'll come over to hear you tell it.”

  Chapter 9

   The atmosphere in Alamo’s briefing room was one of jubilation; morale across the whole ship h
ad raced up, even though they weren’t home yet. The sight of half a dozen ships fleeing without a fight had done a lot to boost everyone’s spirits, and the image of Logan Winter on the screen had finished the job.

   Now he, Cunningham and Winter were sitting next to each other, Marshall at the head of the table with seniority in rank, Zebrova relegated to a chair at the far end. Quinn, Race and Caine were sitting on the left-hand side, Harper, Cooper and Ryder on the other, Orlova next to Zebrova at the bottom of the table. Looking around at the assembled officers, Marshall felt a sense of relief he hadn’t known for months.

   “So, this is what it’s like in the magic meeting room,” Harper said with a smile. “Nice to get a proper invite for once.”

   “I’m just glad to be back on Alamo,” Cunningham said. “I still can’t quite believe those logs, Danny. They’re going to carry you and your crew around Mariner on their shoulders when you get home.”

   “What about the Dumont?” Orlova asked. “Any word of the remainder of the crew?” She was the only one who didn’t seem to be sharing the general joy.

   “I’m sorry, Maggie,” Logan said. “The best guess is that the Enemy – damn, I’ve got to think of something better to call them – that they have them captured, though we don’t know where. They’ve got bases scattered all over the system.”

   “Buchanan has completed a full survey of the area. We make out fifteen reasonable-sized installations, and maybe a dozen smaller outposts. At least a hundred ships in the system of various sizes and classes. None of them would be a match for Alamo; I think if all of them ganged up on us, we might have a problem, but frankly…”

   Caine looked at her, then said, “Frankly we could knock them down like decoy targets. We have the speed edge, greater range, and our missiles have ten times the firepower. It would be like fighting ourselves a century ago.”

   “Which doesn’t mean that’s what we should do,” Marshall said.

   “We – all three of us – have an appointment on the surface with their Free Council. I’m assured translators will be present, and they’ve already offered shore leave down on Haven.”

   “Haven. Nice name. Doubly appropriate.”

   “I’ll want Carpenter in on that landing team,” Marshall said. “She’s best equipped to evaluate the culture. All of you have copies of the information we picked up about the ancient history of this area; oddly, enough, right now that seems a lot more relevant than what we learned about the Cabal.”

   “You have the command, Danny. Not much of a task force, but it represents a majority of the combat power in this system,” Cunningham said. “What’s your call?”

   “I don’t think we know enough to make one.”

   “Curry seems to have managed to tangle us nicely up in the system,” Logan said. “We’re heading towards having no choice, and Haven would be an excellent ally. Give it five years, and they’ll be making hendecaspace-capable shipping. They certainly have a well-developed orbital manufacturing capability.”

   “I took a look at the data,” Zebrova said, “and Captain Winter is quite right. They are behind the curve technologically, but their facilities are designed for easy and efficient retooling.” She slid a datapad down the table to Marshall, who glanced at it with widening eyes.

   “This is significantly greater capacity than Titan!”

   “And given access to the remainder of the system, they could be rivaling Callisto and Mars within a decade. They have a total war economy, and after two centuries seem to have adapted to maintain it. I would be tempted to suggest offering them membership in the Confederation, though that would be a matter for the Senate to decide.”

   “If we follow that course, we should request some ambassadors to take home with us. It might be worth leaving someone from the Buchanan behind as liaison, as well,” Caine added.

   “I want to have a good look at the Enemy ship,” Quinn said. “We should get an idea of what we are dealing with.”

   Shaking her head, Orlova said, “Getting the Dumont crewmen back should be our first priority, surely.”

   Looking around the room, Harper replied, “So, no diplomatic solution, then.”

   “Spaceman…,” Zebrova began, but she interrupted.

   “We haven’t even seriously tried to contact this Enemy yet.”

   “They didn’t answer our messages,” Ryder said. “How can we contact them?”

   “She’s right,” Marshall said. “We don’t know a damn thing at the moment. We can presume that this Enemy arrived from Tombstone…”

   “And look what they did there!” Zebrova said.

   “That’s a big assumption, and I’m not convinced it is justified.”

   “Captain, these are non-human, and the inhabitants of Tombstone were like us. Lots of data that confirms it.” She took a breath, and said, “Haven’s going to lose the war without our help. My estimates on their production capability suggest that the Enemy is outbuilding them, and they have full access to the resources of the system. I’m surprised Haven’s held out this long.”

   “Ultimately,” Ryder said, “there are plenty of asteroids in the system if they want to knock over the table, and not much that Haven’s forces could do to stop it. It’s an obvious tactic.”

   “If they were doing to do that, surely they would have done it by now,” Caine said.

   Nodding, Quinn said, “It would do a lot of damage to Haven’s biosphere, if they want the world intact. Might postpone it to a last resort.”

   “Regardless, Captain,” Zebrova pressed, “Haven will lose the war in ten to fifteen years without our intervention. They are struggling to hold their orbital facilities, and my guess is that the Enemy will spend time building for a full-scale attack, one they will be unable to stop.”

   “Tolxac didn’t say anything,” Logan said, “but he all but thanked the Gods for our arrival. He knows where this war is going. Ultimately, we might have to intervene, and that must mean winning the war. We couldn’t afford a permanent garrison.”

   “Why the hell are the Enemy fighting?” Cunningham asked. “We don’t know, and without that information, we’re in the dark here.”

   “I’ll go and see their leaders. Captain Winter, I want you to tell Tolxac that a precondition of this is that an engineering team – Quinn, Orlova, Carpenter…”

   “And me,” Harper interrupted.

   “And Spaceman Harper are to be permitted to examine that vessel. Tell them I want to gather as much tactical data as I can. It’s even the truth.”

   “Ryder and I can start putting together a plan to go to war,” Caine said. “Work out what our two ships can do to help safeguard Haven before we leave the system. Even if we don’t end up doing it, you can use it as a bargaining chip.”

   Marshall looked at Cunningham, then said, “Time to weigh in, John. What do you think?”

   “That we shouldn’t commit to anything. With a bit of luck, there will be a task force heading this way in a few weeks, and we can get a decision from the Senate. If it looked like Haven was about to fall, I might think differently, but we don’t need to make a snap decision this time.”

   “I agree,” Logan said. “Our focus should be on gathering information.”

   “Then let’s get started gathering everything we can. Zebrova, you co-ordinate both ships to get the best tactical overview we can get. Have Tyler assist you.”

   “Sub-Lieutenant Tyler?” Winter asked.

   “Our intelligence officer.”

   “He’s got promise.”

   “I’ll pass that on. I think we’ve got everything organized for the moment. Both ships are to remain on standby alert for the duration of our stay in this system. That clear?”

   “Yes, sir,” Cunningham said. “I was planning to.”

   “Good. Dismissed, then,” Marshall said, and the officers rose, walking out of the room and breaking into tan
gles of conversation, old friends sharing reminisces. Cunningham remained in his chair, leaning back and looking around.

   “I’ve wanted to be sitting here for months, Danny,” he said. “Especially when you were reported as overdue.”

   “What’s the state of play back home?”

   “With the fleet? All the preparations are a year more advanced. The first of the new tranche of scouts are in service, I got snared up in all of that, and they’re making good progress on the new battleships. Tramiel’s been putting a task force together at Mariner, so no-one’s been out very far since you left. There’s some big action taking place at Jefferson, but that’s down to the Espatiers at the moment.”

   “And you?”

   Tapping his insignia, Cunningham said, “They promoted me a couple of months ago, and I’m case officer on the Dragon-class scouts. Which means nursing them through their shakedown cruises and making sure the technical manuals are all up to scratch. I was commanding Wyvern when the Dumont appeared at Spitfire.”

   “I’m surprised they didn’t give you a battlecruiser.”

   “I didn’t push for one. Frank Rogers got Gilgamesh, though, last I heard he was on patrol at Proxima. Frankly, I was happier with scouts…”

   “Because you’ve been pushing for a chance to go out after Alamo, and you didn’t think they’d take the risk with a larger ship.”

   “Something like that,” he replied with a smile. “God, it’s good to be back here.”

   “What about Winter? I was rather surprised…”

   “He got stuck on Spitfire Station. You ought to read the records of that fight when you get a chance. He stared down a UN Dreadnought with harsh language and a pair of twos. Turned out you didn’t make a bad choice there.” Leaning forward, he said, “Of course, that’s the boring stuff. How did Zebrova work out as my replacement?”

   “Well…”

   “Because based on this report, she let you get away with a hell of a lot of stuff that a good Exec would have tried to talk you out of. Leading expeditions yourself deep into Cabal space, and getting captured to boot? If, let me see, Ensign Cooper hadn’t worked a miracle, you’d still be stuck out there, and Logan would be the one with the mess.”