by PJ Strebor
Nathan shook the offered hand.
CHAPTER 20
Date: 25th July, 326 ASC
Position: Saint Joan.
Status: N plus two hours thirteen minutes.
Two guards snapped to attention as Nathan approached the brig.
“Knock it off,” he barked. “And before you say it, check the face. I’m considerably better looking than Winstone.”
The guard’s relief was reflected by their immediate change in attitude. Monitor Corps never forgot discipline but such extreme formalities had no place on a boat as small as Adroit.
Nathan palmed the grip of his sidearm. “Have they given you any trouble?”
“Not a peep out of them, Captain.”
“Very well. Stand ready.”
It pleased Nathan to see that someone had taught them the right way of guarding prisoners. One backed through the adjacent hatch the other moved a few meters down the corridor.
Nathan nodded and both guards brought their pulsar rifles to their shoulders. He opened the hatch and stepped to the coaming.
All of the prisoners were conscious, their fearful anticipation casting dark shadows over every face. Except for Reinhardt who glared at him, the full brunt of his rage on open display.
“Doctor Jahn?”
“Yes.”
“Have you seen to your crew’s injuries?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Grab your bag of tricks and come with me.”
While Jahn packed his medical supplies Reinhardt continued his staring contest. Once the doctor stepped over the coaming the hatch snapped shut.
“You’ve seen the tall one, the Captain?” Nathan said to the guards.
“Aye, sir.”
“Be very careful with all of them, but especially him.”
“Aye, aye, Skipper.”
Nathan escorted Jahn to the infirmary.
“Take a seat,” Nathan said.
“What’s going on?”
“My crew are in need of your services.”
“Very well.”
“Starting with me,” Nathan said.
“Is your hand bothering you?”
“I took a hit and it’s been acting up ever since.”
Jahn reached into his bag and ran his scanner over Nathan’s shattered hand.
“Did you use the painkiller I gave you.”
“Ran out,” Nathan said.
“Then you shouldn’t be alive.”
Nathan chose to take a chance with the Pruessen doctor. “I gave it to Jaeger.”
“All of it?” Jahn asked.
Nathan nodded.
The doctor smiled. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
“Why doctor, that sort of talk could get you into very big trouble with the HRS.”
The smile fled from Jahn’s face. “You don’t need to tell me about those evil thugs.” He examined Nathan’s hand before staring at a wall. “My wife ran afoul of them. She got ten years in a labor camp.”
“Sorry.”
“So am I. At least the pricks informed me when she died.” He shrugged although his face darkened with pain and rage. “I was a boy when the, ha, reformation began. Pruessen has always been hard but in the last thirty years it’s become intolerable.”
“Then why stay?”
Jahn snorted. “Do you think I can take the next transport heading south?”
“Yes, you can.”
Jahn blinked. “On your ship?”
“It’s a boat, but yes.”
Jahn stared into nothingness for a time. “What do you estimate your chances of escape are?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
“They’re the best odds I’ve had in years. I’m in.” He thought about his hasty decision. “What happens if, ah, when we arrive in league space.”
“You apply for asylum,” Nathan said.
“I can do that?”
“A few years back we cleared seven thousand Talgarno refugees.”
“I’m not Talgarno.”
“No. I’m not saying it will be easy but considering the alternative …”
“Is it true that Athens has a truth tester?”
“Yep.”
“Good. When do we leave?”
Nathan glanced at his watch. “Soon.”
CHAPTER 21
Date: 25th July, 326 ASC
Position: Saint Joan.
Status: Z plus one hour thirty two minutes.
Nathan had taken Moe’s advice to heart. He couldn’t do everything himself. Command meant delegation.
Grace Ruvera had hacked the base computer with ease and found the information Nathan needed. She also downloaded an enormous amount of intell. Lieutenant Noffke and Corporal Sinnott had escorted the landing boat pilots to the six heavy haul landing boats, and the preflight checks were underway. Space within the LBs would be a little tight for the eighty-two scientists, their families and the square head military, but for the short term it would work. Amos Tollini gave him regular updates on the progress to their power supply. Everything looked good.
Nathan gave PO Krupinski the unenviable duty of guarding the Pruessen doctor. He wanted to believe Jahn’s story, but long held prejudices made him loath to do so. Still, Jahn had emptied his sick bay and transferred the contents into Adroit’s looted infirmary. Moe and Grace worked in concert with him to fill in the gaps.
Nathan wandered the base and the boat showing the colors. After Winstone’s appalling mishandling of the boat, the crew needed time to adjust to the new Captain. They especially needed to know that he had faith in their professionalism. Unlike his time aboard Courageous, this crew were all handpicked professionals. So far, Nathan considered, everything looked on track for an early departure.
His comm beeped. “Captain.”
“Captain, the first LB is ready to go,” Lt Noffke said.
“Very well.”
Entering the mess a room of anxious faces greeted him. The civilians had decided in advance who would go first. The children plus a few adults to calm their nerves and supervise. They carried blankets, food and water. A waiting guard escorted the fifteen civvies out.
“How soon?” Lance asked.
“As soon as possible.” Although he would forever hate Pruessens, he felt a slight stirring. One parent to another. “Don’t worry, Lance, you’ll be together with your son soon.”
“What if Cormorant doesn’t turn up on schedule?”
“I’ve had additional supplies loaded aboard all boats. Just in case.”
“I don’t understand you, Hans. I’ve heard that leaguers kill their prisoners.”
“And yet you’re still breathing,” Nathan said. “Pruessen propaganda is spectacularly inaccurate, Lance. If I were you I wouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
The Pruessen nodded.
***
Landing boat six passed through the environmental force-field, leaving hangar area three behind.
Nathan glanced at his watch. Twenty-eight minutes to go. It would be tight but they’d make their escape in time.
By now Deception should be nearing orbit. He keyed his comm. “Deception this is Adroit, respond to my signal.” A hissing in his earpiece but no response. Three times he tried to contact the boat that sped to destroy the base, and each time no reply. We should be out of here before she fires.
He walked into hangar four that had been allocated to Adroit.
“How’s it going?” Nathan asked.
Moe, Amos and Technical CPO Gomard labored over the hatch controls.
“A bit of a glitch, Captain,” the senior engineer said. “Environmental force field is acting up. Don’t worry we’ll work it out.”
Nathan checked the time. Twenty-six minutes.
“So, not a problem?”
“Captain,” the tech said, “it’s a simple system and shouldn’t be giving us the slightest problem. I think there’s a subroutine we have to
find to activate it. Like the Commander said, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Nathan’s forehead furrowed. No EFF would cause big problems.
He stared at Moe. ‘Chill,’ she silently mouthed. He hid a smile.
“The reactor, Amos?”
“No problems. Well, actually, lots of problems but she’ll be fully online in about five minutes. Lieutenant Jackson is overseeing it. We’ll launch on time, Captain.”
“Well done.” He cleared his throat. “Keep me appraised.”
Minutes later he took the Captain’s chair beside his D-O.
“How are things looking?”
“Good,” Grace said. “All departments have checked in and the boat is almost green across the board. Just awaiting the final confirmation from maneuvering.” She sighed, sat back and looked at him. “All preflight conditions have been met and I’m preparing to button us up. I think we’re going to make it off this rock.”
A nagging doubt still loitered at the back of Nathan’s consciousness. His Prep had been pulsing gently but regularly for hours. What have I missed?
Feeling restless he walked to the helm station. Ensign Perrie covered her board while Moe worked on the EFF. Young but competent, Moe had described her. On her second cruise, she had never experienced the stresses of combat.
“How’s everything?” Nathan asked.
“All good, Captain.”
She still needed to get the stick out of her ass.
“Relax Leah,” he said around a smile. “Remember your training and you’ll do fine.” She tensed with the effort to relax.
“Yes, sir.”
He tapped her console. “Starboard stealth engine needs attention, wouldn’t you say?”
A quick examination of her readouts showed the carapace had not been secured over the engine. “Shit.” She quickly remedied the issue. “Sorry, sir, I could have sworn I –”
“Relax, Leah. That’s an order. Take a breath. No, I mean it take a deep breath like this.”
Following his lead she took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. Then two more for good measure.
“Feeling better? Less stressed?”
Surprise lit her face. “Yes, sir.”
“I’ll get Lieutenant Okuma to teach you some basic relaxation techniques. It’ll help.”
“Thanks, skipper.”
He returned to his seat and checked the time. Seventeen minutes.
“Maneuvering reports the reactor is back online,” Grace said. “Buffer capacity is at six percent and climbing.”
“Very well.”
CHAPTER 22
Date: 25th July, 326 ASC
Position: Stealth vessel Deception approaching Saint Joan.
Status: Z plus seventeen minutes.
“Commander, approaching the minefield,” Max said. “Speed is now flank. Time to reacquisition of helm control seventeen minutes. ”
“Very well,” the Commander said. “Let’s hope Nathan’s programming gets us in as easily as it got us out.”
“Our torpedo is loaded, sir,” Stella said. “We are ready to fire as soon as we have helm control.”
Spotiswood grunted.
Max continued to examine his readouts as Deception weaved through the lethal field.
***
Nathan checked the time. Six minutes. He keyed his comm. “Deception this is Adroit. Respond to my signal.” The hiss of static was his only reply. That’s it. Time for plan b.
Stepping from the briefing room he took his place beside Grace.
“Okuma – Captain.”
“Yes, Captain,” Moe said.
“Please tell me you’ve got the environmental force field working.”
“Negative at this point,” Moe said. “But we’re close.”
“We’re out of time, Moe. Get everyone back aboard. Now.”
“We just need a few minutes.”
“Don’t force me to make it an order,” Nathan said.
“How are you going to get out, with the hangar doors closed?”
“I’ll use our pulsar.”
“Nate that could damage the boat. Breach the hull.”
He checked the time. Five minutes. “Dammit Moe, get aboard now. That’s an order.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“D-O prepare to close the boat bay hatch. Is the rest of the boat sealed up?”
“Aye, sir. Just the boat bay left and we’re good to go.”
“We’ll need shields.”
“I can give you partial on the bow but that’s all we’ve got the power for at the moment.”
Nathan stifled a sigh. “Hold off on shields until I tell you. Just do what you can, Grace.”
“Helm, prepare to get underway.”
“WEO – Captain.”
“Applebee, sir.”
“I need pulsars.”
“I’ve only one pulsar. Sorry, sir.”
“I’ll need it in one minute. Maximum output. Don’t tell me no, Applebee, make it happen.”
“I’ll do my b, ah, aye sir.”
“Okuma – Captain.”
“Everyone’s aboard who’s going aboard,” Moe said. Her tone sounded quiet, her manner measured. A chill ran down his back.
“Get up to the bridge, pronto.”
“Sorry, I can’t do that.”
“What?”
“You know what will happen if you try blasting your way out of here.”
The hull will be breached, the plague set loose. The crew will die.
Pain jabbed at his heart.
“I’ll open the hatch in thirty seconds.” Moe said. “No arguments, Nate. You know this is the only way. One life stacked against eighty-three. Right?”
Not since the death of his entire family had Nathan experienced the deadening numbness of such grief. A foul sickness in the pit of his stomach, his mind blank.
Moe.
“Right,” he whispered. “Grace, seal the boat bay.”
“But what about –”
“She’s doing her job,” Nathan shouted. “Now you do yours. Seal the fucking boat.”
Choked with emotion she could only nod.
“Helm, hover the boat.”
“Opening hatch, now,” Moe said. And with that simple comment his oldest and best friend would die. “Hatch fully open. I’ll see you on Mount Kratos.” Her transmission went dead.
Nathan swallow bile and fought back the tears threatening to blind him. “Helm, take us out.”
“Aye sir, ahead dead slow.”
Damn, ahead full, girl. Once again he cursed his ruined hand. On his readouts Adroit’s widest aspect cleared the hangar.
“Power levels are dropping, Captain,” Grace said. “Engineering reports that we have a ruptured power conduit.”
“Helm, both ahead full.”
“Full ahead, sir?”
Nathan leaped from his chair, strode to the helm and pushed the throttles into the red.
“Hard over to port. Now damn you.”
He had to hang onto Perrie’s chair as the boat surged away from the doomed base. The power readings were dropping rapidly.
“Captain,” Grace said, “we’re losing too much energy. I don’t think we can make orbit.”
***
“How soon till we get back control of this boat?” the Commander barked.
“Five, four, three, two, one, now,” Max said.
“Max, paint the base and prepare to fire.”
Max maneuvered Deception into position and locked his targeting scanner onto the Pruessen base. I sure hope you’re not down there, Nathan.
“Target locked.”
“Fire!”
Deception shuddered as the single torpedo burst from her tube.
“Torpedo away,” Max said.
***
Through the view hood Nathan saw the torpedo’s wake streaking through the upper atmosphere.
“Helm, th
irty degrees over to port.”
“Aye sir.”
The boat struggled to gain distance from the condemned base. The power readings were about to bottom out and they were too close to ground zero.
If this is an air burst, it will knock us down.
“D-O, get me some power. Divert from weapons and shields.”
“I’ve done that, Captain. The senior engineer reports that he’s working on the power conduit. We’ll continue to bleed energy until it’s repaired.”
Shit. We’re too bloody close. He swung the viewing hood around and took in the surrounding vista. Green savanna stretched in all directions to the horizon. There off to their right, a small clearing in a depression. He swung the hood back to the helm.
“Perrie, look there thirty degrees off to starboard.” The ensign hovered over the viewing hood. “Do you see that clearing?”
“Aye, sir.”
“Set the boat down there, and bring us about to face the base.”
“Aye, sir.”
“And Perrie, breathe.”
“Detonation astern,” Willet yelled from tactical station. “Air burst, we’ve got an air burst.”
Shit.
“Leah, do your best.” He squeezed her shoulder.
Nathan rushed to his chair and struggled to strap in. Grace reached over and helped him. She glanced at the grommit helm officer then back to him, her eyes wide. Adroit swung about to port so violently Nathan was pressed into his harness. A moment later the skids crashed into the soft earth.
“Put everything we’ve got left into the forward shields.”
“Done.” Grace looked him in the eyes. This time the fear shone through. I know. It might not be enough.
Seconds later Adroit trembled as the shockwave slammed into her.
“Captain, I’ve diverted power directly from the reactor into the bow shields.”
“Excellent, Amos. Well done.”
On his screen the debris wake followed the shockwave. “Here we go,” he whispered. Please don’t let Moe die for nothing.
Fragments rained down on Adroit’s shields and armor. A steady chattering like hail on a thin metal roof.
“Forward shields are taking hits but are holding,” Willet said.
Within seconds, the deluge passed and everyone began to breathe again.
“All departments, systems check,” Grace said over the open comm channel.
