Roger Umgabe looked up from his console. “Captain, the destroyer has launched a shuttle.”
“That must be their captain. I’ll suit up and head over to the watch station.”
“Captain Slone,” Decanus Marshal interrupted, “I will join you with two of my men. We have no idea whom we are dealing with.”
“I would prefer to go alone; you can listen in on my com.”
“I’m afraid I must insist. Once we landed, I became the ranking officer.”
Slone had forgotten that fine point. The Nova Romae military was an interesting group. “I am sorry, Decanus, it will take us a few tries to get used to our new home. Carry on.”
The Decanus chose a male and a female trooper and told them to suit up. For the first time Slone had a chance to see how they go into a potential combat situation. They put on their combat space suits, which were tight fitting, allowing for full movement, and armored. Next, they put on a belt, which had a dagger on the left side. This was followed by a bandolier from the left shoulder to the right waist, where it latched into the belt. From the bandolier, there hung a short sword in a scabbard. Each bandolier also held five grenades, three fragmentations, one flash and one smoke. Finally, an automatic weapon was hung with a strap over the right shoulder. What surprised Slone the most was a full body shield that was carried in the left hand. The space helmet was also armored and that of the Decanus had a command insignia, while those of the troops were plain. The helmet armor covered the head and the side of the face. Slone also noticed that all of remaining seven troops also suited up. When all were ready, they entered the cargo hold and sealed it. It was then evacuated, the cargo door was opened, and Slone walked out with the troops. The seven troops remaining behind formed a semicircle around the ship’s entrance, with their body shields to the front. Slone and his three bodyguards moved towards the Station and watched as the Destroyer shuttle came in to land on the other side of the station. Alaya and her crew stayed aboard the Draco in case things went sour.
Slone watched as the Balin shuttle landed. Shortly afterwards, a single individual came out of the vessel and walked towards the group standing near the entrance of the station. Slone asked the Decanus to open the station and activate the airlock and the internal life support. A Romani trooper was sent to do this and as the outer door opened, Captain Rand came right over to Slone, whom he identified as the captain by his lack of weapons and armor. Captain Rand extended his hand to Slone, who shook it and the ice was broken. “I assume you are Captain Christopher? I am Captain Rand of the Destroyer BC Orion. On behalf of my crew and the civilians under our protection, I give you our thanks. We have gotten our sensors back and have located the relief freighter heading our way.”
Decanus Marshal informed the captains that the airlock was ready and the life support was up and running. The party of five entered the airlock and then the station. The interior was sparse but comfortable. They were able to remove their helmets, though the Romani only opened their faceplates and kept their helmets on. Again, Slone had to admire their training. Everything was done to specs. The captains sat down at the table located to the right of the room. The left portion was filled with electronics. The station monitored the border system as an early warning of ships entering from corporate space. If a ship was detected coming from the corporate slipstreams, this information was immediately uploaded to a message pod and sent into space towards the outbound slipstream to the nearest colony. Since the capsule is faster than the ships, there is no risk it will be destroyed by the intruder. This time it was Slone’s turn to speak, “Captain Rand, I have been authorized to act as a representative of the Border Worlds until their ambassador arrives. My first question is simple, what is happening in your part of the galaxy that you would throw yourself on the mercy of the Border Worlds, knowing they are not capable of giving you much in the way of military assistance?”
“Please, call me Oskar, may I ask your first name?”
Again, Slone had to think on his feet. He thought again to keep it simple and picked his father’s name. “My first name is David.”
“Well, David, our allies, the Petrov Corporation attacked our capital world without provocation or warning. They also sent a fleet to put themselves between the outer worlds and our capital to prevent us from offering assistance. The Orion was patrolling the outer worlds when we were asked by five civilian ships to escort them to the slipstreams heading out of the area. Petrov ships had attacked their colonies and they were able to escape. As we moved away from the center of the action, we came across a lone Petrov cruiser that attacked us without provocation. We lost three of our civilian ships and the rest were damage but flyable. We engaged the cruiser as best we could, but we are only a destroyer meant for pirate duty. We were shot up, but one of our missiles scored a lucky shot on their engines and immobilized them. We fired our last cannon shots into the crippled ship and took that opportunity to make a run for it, and here we are. For all I know, there is no longer a Balin Corporation and we are now without a country.”
Slone knew that feeling but did not let on. “Is there a chance Petrov Corp may follow you into Border Worlds space?”
“I’m afraid your guess on that one is as good as mine.”
As if by cue, those in the station could hear sudden noises as the station placed a message pod into the launcher and fired it off the planet. As the five people in the room all looked at once in the direction of the noise, both Slone and Rand were hailed by their ships. Slone heard Alaya in his ear, “Chris, a cruiser just entered from the Balin slipstream. Recognition codes indicate it is a Balin Corp ship.”
Slone turned to Captain Rand who was listening intently to his com implant. He assumed the other captain was getting the same information he just received. It also explained the release of the message pod.
“Captain Rand, any idea why one of your cruisers just violated the Border Worlds territory?”
“No, captain,” Rand took the cue and became formal in address. “Wait, my ship is relaying a tight band communication from the cruiser. They are signally a red alert and say there is a Petrov cruiser following them. It chased them through our systems and they detected a mass consistent with it entering the slipstream after them. They are asking for help.”
“I doubt a destroyer out of ammunition and a scout ship will be much help for them. Order your civilians to head for the nearest outbound slipstream and wait for us in the next system. We will delay them as best we can. We have to rendezvous with your cruiser”
Captain Rand conveyed his orders to the destroyer. Next he turned to Slone, “We best head to our ships and plan some kind of strategy. I promised to protect the remaining civilians. I know they are not your people, but they are mine.”
“We will do what we can, that cruiser better be able to fight.”
Captain Rand took his leave and headed back to his shuttle. Slone boarded the Draco, along with the Romani troops. After the hold was sealed and repressurized, he told the Decanus to keep his troops at the ready. Decanus Marshal acknowledged and almost looked excited at the prospect of a fight. The Draco took off from the airless world and headed back into space. Slone was back on the bridge and told Tom Gardner to open a frequency to the destroyer. “Captain Rand, I suggest we break orbit and get some maneuvering room.”
They did just that. The Draco put up her sails in preparation for stealth mode and the destroyer kept station on her starboard side. Only now did Slone and the others realize how damaged the destroyer actually was. They were lucky to make it through the slipstream the first time, in one piece, and may not be able to take another slipstream trip. This changed Slones plans. No matter what shape the Balin cruiser was in, she would have to fight here along with them.
“How long until the cruiser intercepts us?”
This time Paul McMann responded. “They will reach us in seven hours. The transports will be at the slipstream in nine and a half hours.”
“So then, you’re telling me we
have no choice but to fight.”
Two hours after the Balin cruiser exited the slipstream, sensors picked up another ship coming through. This one was also a cruiser and had the signature of the Petrov Corporation. The destroyer immediately contacted the Draco. “I assume you detected the new contact. Captain Christopher, I have been in contact with our cruiser. It is the Cruiser BC Reynolds and requests permission to communicate with your ship.”
Slone maintained his alias when he told Tom to open a channel to the cruiser. “This is Captain Christopher of the scout vessel Draco representing the Border Worlds.”
After a few minutes delay, a response came back. “Greetings Captain Christopher. This is Arthur Balin, CEO of the Balin Corporation. We are now a government in exile, but as long as we are able to survive, Petrov Corporation will not have clear reign over our territory. We have nothing to offer you in return for asylum, but we beg for your help.”
Of all the messages, Slone had not expected that one. He was being asked to make decisions for a protectorate of his new home that he really did not have the power to make. However, he had no time to consider that. Reality was here and now, and there were two cruisers out there who were about to engage to the death. “Does your cruiser have a full complement of crew and marines and is she fully armed?”
As the cruiser got closer, the response time decreased. “We have a full crew, but half our marines were on shore leave on the home world and did not make the recall. We have 50 marines aboard.”
A full crew was good, but half the normal number of marines presented a problem in a boarding action. There were not enough marines to board the enemy vessel, and repel boarders, if needed. Slone turned to the Decanus standing near him, listening to the conversation. “Decanus Marshal, are you and your men ready for action?”
“We were hoping you would ask. We are ready for what is required,’ the Decanus said in his usual matter of fact tone.
Slone told Tom to open the hailing frequency again. “Mr. Balin, we are willing to help all we can, but our scout vessel cannot stand up to a cruiser and your destroyer is out of ammunition. If your captain would allow it, I have captained a cruiser in combat before and could help him in the upcoming battle. I see no choice but to fight or we will lose the civilians. I have ten highly trained marines with me and they also stand ready to do their duty.”
The delay was slightly less this time. “We have no captain. He could not take the pressure of possible combat and had to be relieved. We all know peacetime appointments don’t always work out in war. I have been in command of the ship myself, but would be glad to turn it over to you. None of my crew has faced combat before.”
“Send a shuttle over for me and my men, ASAP, and I will assume command. Tell your navigator to maintain course for now,” Slone ordered. He then turned to his communications officer, “Tom, tell the Border Worlds freighter to change course and follow the civilian transports. Also send a message pod to the nearest outpost with transcripts of what just transpired and one to Nova Romae.”
Tom Gardner acknowledged the order. Roger reported a shuttle heading to them from the Balin cruiser with the Petrov cruiser still two hours behind. Slone and the Decanus headed to suit up in the cargo hold for transfer. Since there was no way to dock with the shuttle, they would have to do a quick space transfer. Before Slone left the bridge, Alaya pulled him to her and gave him a kiss for luck and love, as she put it. “Alaya, after we leave, pull away from the course of the Petrov cruiser and head away from the planet. If you feel threatened in any way, move off, go invisible and get out of here.”
“Not without you if at all possible.”
“Just don’t take any chances.”
Slone left the bridge and went to the ready room where he put on his helmet for hard vacuum operations. He still had his suit on from the visit to the planet’s surface. As the shuttle was pulling up alongside the Draco, Slone and his men had already moved to the cargo hold and evacuated it. Both ships now opened their cargo hatches. Slone and his men quickly transferred over and soon they were underway to the cruiser BC Reynolds. The shuttle was much smaller than the Draco was and, once depressurized, could not be repressurized. The cockpit was isolated and had its own life support. They would have to stay in their suits for the trip over, but the distance was now so close that the trip was only a bit over an hour.
“Captain, the destroyer Orion requests orders for the coming engagement.” Slone had to chuckle. Now the Balin Corp elevated him to admiral.
“Tell them to watch the action and stay clear until they see a chance to help. Tell Captain Rand I trust him to use his men and ship wisely, since they are no help to anyone dead.”
After the trip across the void, the shuttle carrying Slone entered the hangar of the Reynolds. When they left the shuttle, they quickly removed their space suits and the Romani troops transferred their weapons and armor from the outside of the suit to their normal black combat fatigues. They slung their shields over their back and they were ready for action. As they were preparing themselves, a small group came over to them. The leader of the group came forward and held out his hand. “Greetings, Captain and welcome aboard. I am Arthur Balin, this is my first officer, William Kunkle and these are some of the hangar crew. We have few we can spare to welcome you. I must confess, the crew is very frightened at the prospect of combat.”
Slone returned the handshake. “The best way to deal with that, is to give them work to do. Why isn’t the first officer taking over command?” Slone thought he should get right to the elephant in the room.
The first officer answered, “This is the corporate CEO’s ship. It is ceremonial and to serve on her is an honor. We are not ready for any of this. I welcome a steadier hand at the helm and know when things are beyond me.”
“You can tell me later how your corporation got into this mess. Lets deal with the current problem first. Decanus you and your men follow me to the bridge.”
Slone got right down to business. The Draco was listening in to all communication and he could mentally see them roll their eyes. “Mr. Balin, you did not answer me when I asked if you are fully armed.”
“We are, captain, but nothing has been loaded yet. We await your orders.”
“Mr. Kunkle, please give the order to load all cannon and all missile tubes with ship killer missiles. Also, make sure that all hull breach patches are in place for when we are hit. Also make sure the missile defense is fully operational and loaded.”
“Yes Captain. But I feel I must tell you that we have very few patch field units aboard.”
Slone had a feeling this was going to be a long day. “Ok, divide what you have between the engine room and the forward part of the ship. Leave the crews quarters depressurized if they take a hit. Have all of the gun crews wear spacesuits at their posts. Tell your marines to stay out of all areas without portable patch generators.”
Slone entered the bridge and took command. He knew he didn’t have time to learn any names, so he told the bridge crew he would refer to them by station and expected them to carry out any orders given to their station. Most of the ship was similar to the Hayden he had commanded for Sinclair Corp, but the difference was in the crew. This crew was lazy and not used to discipline. They had a comfortable job on the CEO’s pleasure barge and were scared out of their wits over what happened in the last few days and what lay ahead. Slone turned to the CEO, who was now sitting next to the captain’s chair on a plush chair brought for him to sit in. Slone could only mentally shake his head. These people had no idea what was in store for them. “Mr. Balin, would you ask your marine commander to report to the bridge please.”
To his credit, the CEO did not blink at receiving orders from a stranger. He went over to a communication’s console and asked the major to report to the bridge. The Decanus had his troops take positions around the bridge. The major came in and introduced himself as Major Alfonso Rigale. He was a mountain of a man and looked like he could take care of himself in a scuffl
e. He had a swarthy complexion, which even in the 32nd century was deemed Mediterranean, though no one knew to what that referred. “Major Rigale, what is the status of your troops?”
“I have 50 aboard, some have seen combat against local pirates, but none have ever engaged in a capital ship combat.”
Slone signaled Decanus Marshal to come over. After introducing them both, Slone made it clear that the major remained in command and the Decanus and his troops were only there to help. Because of their training, they would fight as a unit and not be split among his troops.
“I had no idea the Border Worlds were so well organized. We always viewed you as a rag-tag group of planets and moons,” the major said as he admired the spit and polish of the Romani uniforms. If he chose to view them as Border Worlders, that was fine for now.
Slone looked around the bridge one last time then said, to no one in particular, “Ok, time to get this show going. Helm, what is our fuel status?”
“We are very low and maneuvering will take most of what is left. We did not have time to fuel up when we left the home world.”
“Ok helm, raise the in-system assist sails.”
The bridge crew looked at each other, shrugged, as if to say we hope he knows what he is doing, and put up the sails. Slone could feel the vibration of the deck as the main mast and mizzenmast went up, and the sails deployed. The helm waited for the order to polarize and when it was given, the ship began to speed up. “Set the sails to battle configuration.” The helm did this and Slone was glad to see they were at least trained. “Sound general Quarters, helm, bring us about and put us towards the enemy bow to bow.”
Nova Romae (The Adventures of Christopher Slone Book 2) Page 4
