Kelly Blake 3: Where the Stars Are Few and Far Between

by Rodney Smith

  Kelly searched for more targets, but couldn’t find any worthy of the last missile in his port side pod. He would have to wait for something to come up.

  He didn’t have to wait long. A cruiser came into the system. Kelly did not know if it was on patrol and here to investigate the loss of comms, here by chance, or here to take out a pesky scout ship. No matter which, he wasn’t leaving the system.

  Jotil Lenkva leaned over to Kelly and said, “This is one of their newest cruisers, equivalent to a battle cruiser with a full shadow warrior crew. We Angaerry found them to be very tough adversaries. They have a jammer that affects our anti-ship missiles and is why we do not want war with them at this time.”

  Kelly thanked her for this knowledge and moved the Orion behind the planet. He dropped the Orion to the surface, landed in a clearing in a mountain valley, and waited. When the cruiser passed overhead in high orbit, he ordered his gunners to program 12 missiles. He would fire six as they rose from the surface and six more when they matched altitude with it.

  Kelly noticed Jotil Lenkva’s legs twitching as they climbed up from the surface under the cruiser. At 2000km, he launched the first six missiles. He directed the helm to come up behind and under the cruiser and then fired the second six. The cruiser had launched defensive missiles at the first six and all six missiles were intercepted. The second six were launched close enough to make it difficult for their defensive missiles to lock on in time.

  The cruiser launched 10 offensive missiles at the Orion as she flew by. Kelly fired 20 missiles to intercept and had the helm execute an evasive pattern while Ops fired countermeasures. One of their second six missiles hit the cruiser just aft of the bridge and she lurched off at an angle for a few moments before straightening up and turning toward the Orion. Kelly fired six more missiles at the cruiser and dove down toward the planet, aiming for the terminator and the backside.

  The previous hit to the cruiser must have damaged their missile control capability because all six of the third group of Orion missiles bore in and slammed into the cruiser, which disappeared in a series of cataclysmic matter/antimatter explosions. Kelly saw several escape pods under power. Good, he thought, they will carry the report of a Human ship attacking them and clear the Angaerry.

  Kelly was about to congratulate himself when sensors reported one offensive missile inbound, port side, low. A sharp turret gunner took it out while it was far enough away to not even rock the Orion.

  Chastened, Kelly asked sensors to report all targets. Sensors reported no targets within 500,000,000km. Kelly secured from battle stations and set course to parallel the frontier for four hours away from Angaerry space, shoot their way back across the frontier, and travel back to the Angaerry home world.

  * * * * *

  Admiral Thomas launched her attack on the K’Rang fleet in the Eridanus sector. She had her A-76's and the heavy attack ships fly into the systems and attack the fleet in orbit. Her F-53's provided fighter escort for the attack ships and CAP around the battle fleet. While the K’Rang combatants were engaged with the attack ships, she sent 1st and 3rd Assault Landing Groups to capture the depot planet. Four squadrons of A-76's from the Assault Support Carriers flew to destroy identified planetary defense systems. Four disruptor frigates and six Assault Landing Carriers fired their planetary bombardment cannons to take out other key defensive facilities. Once all critical targets had been neutralized, two-dozen AS-500s, each holding a company of Marines, headed to the surface.

  The AS-500s landed at their preprogrammed landing sites and disgorged their cargoes. The Marines formed up on their leaders and moved out. Major Mary Chen came down with the third AS-500, with her jump command vehicle and small staff. She found high ground where she could observe the brigade’s advance and set up operations. Colonel Maxwell remained on the Assault Landing Carrier until Mary was set up, then came down with the next AS-500.

  Mary looked at the situation before her as she looked due west at the depot. 1st of the 22nd was encircling the depot with its heavy vehicles, closing off escape or reinforcement. 2nd of the 22nd was marching on the southern fuel and ammo storage areas. 1st of the 15th was marching to capture the central HQ, tent city and general storage area to the north.

  A-76's flying overhead requested targets, but Mary had none to give them, so she told them to stand by. She watched as 2nd of the 22nd cleared the unoccupied fuel storage area and held while 1st of the 15th cleared the general storage area and HQ. The 1st of the 15th then held while the 2nd of the 22nd cleared the ammunition storage area. They reported hastily opened boxes of rockets and grenades. Mary felt a tingling of alarm and told the 1st of the 15th commander to hold until the 2nd of the 22nd could clear their last area and move to support their movement into the tent city. She ordered 1st of the 22nd to move a heavy company up close to the southwest corner of the tent city.

  Colonel Maxwell arrived with his command post vehicles and asked for a status report. Mary told him that they had cleared half the facility with no enemy contact. 2nd of the 22nd was clearing the ammo dump and found evidence of hasty ammo issue and she suspected a trap. She had 1st of the 15th holding outside the tent city until 2nd of the 22nd could support them with fire from the ammo depot boundary berm. She had also moved a heavy company up to the southwest corner of the tent city. A-76's were orbiting overhead, waiting for targets.

  Colonel Maxwell thought she was being a bit too cautious, but they were ahead of schedule, so he could humor her. Besides, she might be right.

  The 2nd of the 22nd commander reported he was in position. The 1st of the 22nd commander reported his company in position. 1st of the 15th reported he was ready. The brigade commander gave the word to go.

  There was no response from the K’Rang for the first two rows of tents. As they moved into the wide street dividing the second and third tent rows, all hell broke loose. Fire erupted from trenches dug in front of the third row of tents. 1st of the 15th returned fire, but were forced back by heavy fire from the trenches. The 1st of the 15th commander requested an air strike on the third tent line and suppressive fire from the 2nd of the 22nd.

  Colonel Maxwell approved and sent Mary down to put eyeballs on the target. Mary drove down to the HQ area and her aviation advisor suggested the 1st of the 15th put their heads down. The A-76's came in and strafed the entire tent city with emphasis on the ditch in front of the third row. Mortars from the 1st of the 22nd fired up and down the third row. 1st of the 15th moved out as the mortar fire ended and quickly cleared the ditch of defenders.

  Mary moved away from her vehicle with a comms operator and found the 1st of the 15th commander. She tagged along behind him as he followed his two leading companies. After they cleared the first ditch, subsequent defensive lines at each second row of tents were weaker and could not hold up to the Marines’ disciplined attack.

  Mary was about to congratulate the 1st of the 15th commander when an unarmed K’Rang ran out of the tent they were standing in front of, slashed at her comms operator with his claws, knocking him down, and turned on Mary. He was on her before she could draw her sidearm. She stepped to the side and, sticking her leg out, tripped him. She pounced on his back with both knees, knocking the breath out of him. She reached around his head, grabbed him by the snout, jerked his head as hard as she could, and he lay quite still. She stood up, pulled her sidearm, and kicked him as hard as she could in the ribs. He made no sound, so she picked up her comms operator. He had claw marks on his vest and comms control panel, but otherwise was unharmed.

  She congratulated the battalion commander and moved back to her command vehicle to report the area was secure. Colonel Maxwell moved his command post to the depot HQ building and supervised the last bit of mopping up.

  Later that evening, after Colonel Maxwell returned from the division commander’s briefing, they found out that there were a large number of K’Rang missing from the planet. All of today’s attacks only killed or captured 1,000 K’Rang, which meant there were another 1,000
in the woods somewhere hiding, or the intel reports were wrong.

  Mary suggested getting one of the scout ships to map the planet and they would find them. A battalion of K’Rang warriors running around was not a good thing. She brought all three battalions into the depot, gave the southern two quadrants to the 1st of the 22nd and the northern two quadrants to the two light battalions. She called in Explosive Ordnance Disposal to come in and start disabling the larger ship missiles. Useable munitions like grenades and portable rockets or missiles were distributed around the perimeter. The brigade and battalion intel sections gave instruction in their operation.

  Mary spent a good part of the night prowling the perimeter with the brigade commander, in expectation of a counterattack that never came. The next morning, Colonel Maxwell carried Mary’s recommendation for a scout ship to map the planet looking for K’Rang life forms. The division commander carried it forward to the 1st ALG commander, who recommended it to Admiral Thomas. She approved it and by nightfall there was a scout ship orbiting the planet, looking for 1,000 K’Rang.

  * * * * *

  The Visceral orbited the planet, searching for K’Rang life signs. Lieutenant Commander Watanaga made pass after pass, varying the sensors or mix of sensors to try and pull the K’Rang out of the background, to no avail. He switched to depth scanning, looking for underground facilities, also to no avail. If the K’Rang were there, they were well hidden.

  * * * * *

  Governor (Baron) H’Topa looked at the pitiful remains of his once promising world. 1100 were all that remained out of 5,000 K’Rang originally on this world they had named L’Vola, even though they never meant to keep it. Newly ascended Baron H’Topa had taken the governorship as his first duty to the Empire since joining the royalty.

  He had found this damp, dark cavern by accident, when he first surveyed the planet for the depot’s location. The supply leader almost built the depot on top of it. H’Topa was walking about the site the supply leader recommended for the depot and nearly fell into it. He saw the potential to use this cavern as a bombardment shelter. He never expected that the Humans would ever attack when the Armada was above them and they held several hundred million Humans as hostage.

  Now the Armada was a shadow of its former self and his world was overrun with tens of thousands of Human fighters. Fortunately he had stocked this cavern with ammunition and rations to support the 5,000 population in case he had been wrong. Luckily, something about this cavern or the surrounding rock made it impervious to scans.

  Baron H’Topa determined that he would do as much damage as he could to any Humans on his world. For now he waited for the Humans to become bored and complacent then he would strike.

  * * * * *

  Kelly brought Jotil Lenkva down to the supply space to watch the resupply of the one empty missile pod. They stood on the upper platform and watched as Lieutenant Commander Obregon hit the control to move the ring to the far end of the compartment, activate it, and have the quicksilver veil form in the ring. Then they watched a supply specialist work the material handling arm to pull and lift the empty pod out. A cart magically appeared from the ring much to Jotil Lenkva’s amazement, even though she had been briefed on its capability. The specialist placed the empty pod on the cart, secured it and pushed it through the ring. A moment later, a new pod was wheeled through the ring. The robotic arm grabbed the pod and inserted it into place. A missile maintenance specialist plugged it in, powered up, and tested the pod.

  Jotil Lenkva asked if she could walk through the ring. Kelly approved it and they and their translators walked though together. They came out into a massive supply hall. Scores of rings lined the outer wall where the loading docks used to be. If the ring didn’t impress her, the supply warehouse certainly did. Kelly pointed at the astonished depot staff, then to the ring and said they had to go back now. All four walked back through the ring and onto the Orion once again.

  Kelly told Jotil Lenkva that he always wondered what would happen if the Orion’s ring malfunctioned with him on the other side. He imagined that he wouldn’t remain the captain for long. Jotil Lenkva looked up at Kelly and said she had faith that Kelly would find a way to return to his ship.

  Kelly went with Jotil Lenkva to the CIC and turned her and her translator over to his Ops Officer, while he took care of some paperwork. He had an idea that Jotil Lenkva might also benefit from shadowing all the department heads. He asked if she would like to spend more time in the ship’s departments than the initial tour allowed. She replied that she would.

  Kelly called Connie over to escort their visitor and told Lieutenant Commander Baume to teach Jotil Lenkva about his section’s jobs for two hours, then have Lieutenant Commander Shaw take her in weapons for two hours, then to Lieutenant Commander Brown for engineering, and finishing with Connie’s XO duties.

  Kelly explained that he would like to take this time in transit to have his department heads teach Jotil Lenkva what they do. He sent his translator along to help. He told Jotil Lenkva that if she needed more or less time or to rest, just let his officers know and they would adjust as needed. Jotil thanked Kelly and sat down with Lieutenant Commander Baume.

  Kelly went to his cabin and wrote up a lengthy report on his interaction with the Angaerry and combat with the K’Rang. He worked on the report until dinnertime and quickly finished it for transmittal to Fleet Ops. He hit send as his stomach started to growl. The report and all ship’s traffic was saved in a data cube in supply and handed over to a courier every day when they activated the ring.

  * * * * *

  Mary Chen reconnoitered the spaceport for their upcoming security mission. Two wings of A-100 and A-120 attack ships were coming in to support the assault on the four captured worlds and K’Rang Fleet. The 1,000 missing K’Rang warriors had yet to be found and security for the attack ships was a 15th Battle Fleet priority.

  The spaceport was rudimentary at best. It was one square kilometer wide, but with runway extensions jutting out from two of the sides. There was no security fencing or berm to control access to the area, no permanent hangars and only the gutted remnant of a tower. Mary was thankful that the facilities were not her problem, at least.

  No, security was her problem and it was a doozie. The Marines had to protect the facility, as well as a cone of ground extending out 500 meters from the end of the runway extensions, to protect against handheld anti-ship missiles. She had seen the empty shipping crates and knew enough K’Rang to know they had contained missiles. There were a dozen missiles out there somewhere.

  She settled on her first idea and had 2nd of the 22nd control one-half of the facility and 1st of the 15th would secure the other half. Each light battalion would assign two companies on the perimeter and one behind securing the ships. She assigned the mission of security outside the perimeter to 1st of the 22nd (Heavy). Their roving patrols would augment the interior perimeter defense and keep any intruders back. Now, where had those engineers gone? She needed some defensive positions built quickly and a fence or berm around this place.

  * * * * *

  Jotil Lenkva was a fourth generation Angaerry Space Navy Officer. She had commanded four ships, from frigate to battle cruiser, and had never seen the marvels these Humans had onboard this one ship. It was apparent that even though much of the technology was new and cutting edge, these Humans accepted it and made it work.

  She briefly considered if there was any way she could take over command from this mad human when the Captain decided to take on that K’Rang new cruiser, but he easily defeated it with a ship smaller than a frigate. What wonderful allies these Humans would be. Perhaps she could convince them to help her get Angaerry missiles to resist the K’Rang jamming that had kept them in home space so long. Her next training stop was gunnery; perhaps she could find an answer from them.

  Lieutenant Stewart, the junior gunnery officer, met Jotil Lenkva at the door to gunnery.

  “Welcome to Gunnery, sir. We’ve already met, but if your memory
is like mine you may have forgotten, with all the other people you’ve met onboard. I’m Lieutenant Stewart. Lieutenant Commander Shaw was called down to supply for a problem with a new missile pod not linking into the target acquisition system reliably. Do you have any specific questions before I walk you through all the gunnery stations?”

  Jotil Lenkva saw an opportunity. “I noticed on the attack on the cruiser earlier that your missiles were unaffected by the K’Rang jammers. What techniques do you use to not be affected?”

  Lieutenant Stewart pulled up a schematic of the standard missile used in the pods and showed the tracking module. He pointed out how it used a special program to retune the homing and target selection module periodically so jammers had minimal effect. Jotil Lenkva looked closely at it and wondered out loud if they could get some and if they would be compatible with Angaerry missiles. Her translator dutifully translated this. Lieutenant Stewart said he could get them as many as they needed, but integrating them into Angaerry missiles would have to be done by Angaerry engineers. Jotil Lenkva was dumbfounded. She never imagined these Humans would be so forthcoming.

  She cautioned Lieutenant Stewart, “Surely you had best get permission from your Captain for this? Do not promise more than you can deliver, Lieutenant Stewart.”

  “Sir, we were told to give you technology that will help you defend against the K’Rang. We are going to set them back, but they won’t stay down forever. You will need to defend against them sooner or later.”