by Brad Smith
Marlin shrugged and placed the pistol on the floor carefully at his feet. He sat back down in the captain’s chair slowly. Both men walked on to the bridge with their guns still drawn and aimed at him. One of the men pulled out a pair of plastic cuffs while the other picked up the weapon.
A moment later, it happened. “Drop it! Drop it now!”. The squad of Marines stormed aboard the bridge, their pulse rifles raised and aimed at the security team. The one holding Marlin’s weapon dropped to the ground and rolled behind the console. As he came up, the Marine nearest the door opened fire. The beam hit him twice in the chest. Blood splattered on the deck. Marlin looked at him, face down in the crimson puddle growing rapidly beneath his body.
The other security team member froze. He let go of the plastic cuffs and raised his hands above his head. Two of the Marines moved in towards him and forced his hands behind his head. They moved him towards the doors. Another pair of Marines approached Captain Rayner.
“I hope you realize you’re committing high treason,” said Rayner. “You’ll burn for this and I’m going to enjoy watching it, Marlin.” He put his hands up slowly. He held Marlin’s eyes with a fiery stare of indignance.
Marlin shrugged. “I’ve been burning for twenty years, Rayner.”
The Marines marched him off.
I’ve got to act quickly here. Lieutenant Haraldi, if you’d be so inclined, please open a fleet wide comms channel.
Haraldi pressed a few buttons and turned around to Marlin. He nodded.
“Sirs and madams of the Sixth Fleet. This is John Marlin, the former captain of the Hellmund. It has come to light that Commander Rayner’s tactics in the last battle have cost the fleet unnecessarily in lives, ships, and materiel. I now control the Hellmund and – with your permission, would hope to lead this armada once again.”
Jesus, they’re all abuzz now. The comms sprung to life and the ship–to–ship radio chatter filled the bridge. Marlin made a down motion with his finger and Haraldi reduced its volume. He continued.
“Although I understand my own tactics left something to be desired during my previous command, I assure you that I can lead our remaining ships to victory. If any of you are uncertain about joining me, I understand completely. I will testify during my trial that you were under duress. If you consider my actions as an act of treason, you may freely leave the armada now and proceed safely to anywhere you deem fit. I will not try to stop you. Before you make your decision, I would like to present to you the basis for which I took these actions. This video was taken on our bridge during the recent battle in the Harness System.”
Haraldi transmitted the video. Marlin watched the replay.
Rayner stood on the bridge, screaming for the crew to fire at the Reamus.
***
The shattered remnants of the fleet arrived in the Noridian system.
“This is Captain Marlin of the Earth Sixth Fleet,” he said into his viewscreen. The spherical figure before him glowed various colors. Bits of metallic liquid dripped from it. “We’re here to pursue an enemy vessel that has attacked both your and our systems. If you wish to join us in this fight, you’re welcome to form up with the fleet. If you decide to fight us, we will do what’s necessary.”
The sphere on the viewscreen disappeared without replying.
“That went well,” Marlin muttered. “Let’s get the fleet heading in on coordinates. I want a three–pronged attack on it by the cruisers and destroyers. The battleships will hang back and fire torpedoes. The fighters go in first. Both flights. Get as close as you can and fire a volley of torpedoes at the trench along its axis.”
The fighters swarmed out beyond the bridge. Beyond them, the large enemy ship was silhouetted against the rose–colored nebula cloud behind it. As the first cruisers approached, its beam lashed out at the ships coming in from the right flank. Marlin winced as one of the destroyers fell apart and exploded.
The viewscreen showed the fighters approaching fast. One of the torpedoes launched at the maximum range. Marlin watched the tiny trail speed towards the enemy ship and then dribble uselessly past it. “Range! Check your range!” he shouted. “Get in closer.”
Yellow Flight swooped towards the center of the enemy vessel. One fighter exploded and tumbled into its wingman. The other fighter pressed on. “I’ve lost half my guys here,” reported Yellow Leader. “You want me to keep pressing on?”
Marlin nodded. “Press on. Take those shots.” A second later. Yellow Leader was gone from the viewscreen. “Keep going,” he yelled. “Two more fighters. Launch when you’re in close range!”
The two torpedoes sailed out of the fighters, flying at its dead center. Seconds later, the explosion rocked the cylindrical vessel. It staggered backwards, retreating slowly. Another missile landed in the trench, sending it into a roll
Haraldi turned around. “Sir, I’ve got this thing at 30% shields. We’re almost there.”
Blue Flight crept in closer. Harris was on the comms. “We’re coming in now. Looks like parts of this thing are damaged,” she said. “Flight, keep things loose. That beam’s arc catches us together and we all go.”
The enemy vessel shot out another beam at Blue Flight. It hit one of the fighters dead center. The plane shattered into a million pieces, disintegrating in empty space. “Keep up the pressure, Blue Flight,” said Harris.
The beam shot again and caught another plane. Now the destroyers and cruisers were well within their own torpedo range. Marlin watched as the enemy vessel shifted its fire towards the ships. The arcing lash swept out and caught a pair of the smaller ships. They blast sent the ships careening towards one another. Marlin saw the explosion out the view window as they collided.
Three of the torpedoes from the cruisers slammed into the enemy vessel.
“No shields, sir. This thing is a sitting duck,” Haraldi announced.
“Okay, Blue Flight, see if you can finish this thing off,” Marlin said.
Both fighters shot their torpedos. The shot from Harris’ wingman hit dead center. There was a small explosion on the enemy vessel. Harris’s missile skimmed over the top, missing the target entirely. “Close but no cigar,” she said, turning her ship back for the carrier.
“Sir, I’m picking up a power surge on the ship,” said Haraldi. “Matching it with the signals analysis before, it seems it’s preparing to jump.”
Harris’ fighter turned back towards the enemy vessel. “There is no damn way. Just remember John, I’m doing this of my own volition. You didn’t order this,” she said.
Don’t do this. “Harris…,” said Marlin. He bit his lip.
The blue and white Taurus soared straight into the center of the enemy vessel, spinning and firing its main weapon as it went. Marlin watched it light up and then crumble from the ends to the center. Large chunks of metal and machine split off and spun into space. The core of the ship remained, expanding outwards into smaller and smaller pieces. A minute later, the ship was simply gone, scattered into a million pieces, all of them on their own journey across the galaxy.
Chapter Sixteen
The bridge was silent. Marlin sat down in his chair. Hiding his face in his hands, he let out a single word. “Home.”
The ship turned on its axis and the rest of the fleet moved around it. Through the spaces between his fingers, Marlin watched the rescue ships spill out of the other larger vessels. Casualty reports started coming in through the viewscreen. Marlin held the tablet in his hand and scrolled through the names. Too many.
He walked to the briefing room, feeling the weight of the battle on his shoulders. He sat down and switched on the viewscreen. A surprised Fleet Commander Relnick appeared.
“Hello there, Relnick,” said Marlin. “I took care of the problems. The one that was out there and the one on the bridge.”
Relnick blinked, staring back at Marlin. “Y–you disobeyed my orders. Where is Captain Rayner?”
Marlin sat back and clasped his hands together. “He’s fine. He’s in
custody until we return to Earth. I’m sure you’ll have a welcome wagon all ready for both of us when we get back. I’ve got some surprises for you too. I would have thought you had matured over the years since the war ended. I guess not. Too many scores to settle.”
Relnick shot him an angry glance. “I did what was necessary. The current situation was untenable.”
“And go back to having people slaughtered for the sake of what?” Marlin said. “A little property here or there on some map. Your pride, maybe. No, I don’t think so. It didn’t escape me that you sent the both of us here on this mission with me in command. I suppose you were counting on me to give up or botch the job entirely. It doesn’t matter now. I have the files. I have all of them. And I’ve already made sure they’re in the right hands.”
Relnick bristled. Red–faced, he pointed a trembling finger towards Marlin. “You have no idea what you’re doing! The peace that we have with the Noridians is in ruins! Whatever you hoped to accomplish, you’ve failed. We are already in a state of undeclared war with them.”
Marlin breathed in hard. “At some point, you’ll have to live with yourself for what you’ve done. The lives that you spend so needlessly.”
Relnick shook his head. “I’ve already ordered your arrest. Orders have already gone out to the other ships in the fleet. You’re the one who will have to deal with the boarding parties coming to take you in. Or you could destroy them as they come. Either way, you’re a criminal and you won’t last long. I’ll see that you never get to trial.”
Marlin nodded. “I get it. I really do.” He stood up and turned off the vidscreen.
Letting out a sigh, he turned to Haraldi. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter Seventeen
Chief Randall sat in front of the mainframe letting the swears fall freely from his mouth. The nest of cords, plugs, and network cable were piled high near his feet. Marlin and Harris walked onto the flight deck. “I’m almost there. I just can’t figure out the…shit. There it is.”
Marlin nodded. “Send the files through to the other ships in the fleet,” he said. “And try to hurry up a little, Chief. I don’t want to be late for arrest.”
“Are you sure this is going to help you?” Randall asked. “Because if not, I’ll be bunking with you in the same military prison on Edium.”
Marlin stood on the deck of the flight hangar in civilian clothing. He wore a tie and suit. The assault shuttle arrived bearing the name of its mothership, the nearby cruiser Reamus.
An honor. They filed out quietly with their weapons drawn. Marlin had his hands up. His heart pounded. Will they just shoot me right here? He took a deep breath and focused his eyes straight ahead. When the last Marine piled out, they stood at attention in front of him. The squad leader stepped forward and removed his helmet.
“Admiral, we’ve received orders to place you under protective custody,” the Marine said. Captain Hendersen has ordered us to help prevent any attempts at boarding this vessel by hostile parties.” He saluted the Marlin and fell back into formation with his squad. Marlin saluted back crisply. He felt the tears welling within him and swallowed down hard.
An hour later, he was back on the bridge. “Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s figure out what’s next,” he said.
Thanks for reading!
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