by Chris Hechtl
“Oh, more than one,” Jack drawled.
“Oh?”
“Jeeves netted the entire task force plus a couple of their dispatch ships,” Jack said maliciously. The captain's eyes widened again. “He sent the other ships on a one-way trip to the biggest garbage disposal in the star system. That ship managed to narrowly escape a similar fate. We have most of her surviving crew here on the planet as our, guests,” he said.
“The biggest garbage disposal …,” Ynes frowned as she puzzled over that statement.
“He means a sun scuttle,” the captain said in an aside, distracted by the thought. “So, they are very vulnerable to hacking.”
“Yes. Pity it took so long to get into their network, but that is over and done with. FYI, a couple of things you probably should know,” Jack said. “One, I've organized a militia as you know. Two, we've got prisoners,” he said.
The captain nodded.
“As I said, Jeeves cracked their database and computer network. He downloaded what he could.”
“Actually, I cloned their databases,” Jeeves interjected. “I had to compress them since I don't have the space,” he said.
“Which is his way of nicely reminding me to get him more processors, memory, and other goodies,” Jack said with a laugh.
“I did say please earlier,” Jeeves reminded him.
“Okay, you did,” Jack said. “Anyway,” he paused. “Should I have you finish this since you did it?” he asked.
“You are doing just fine, Governor,” Jeeves replied.
“Thanks,” Jack replied dryly. “Okay, as I was saying, Jeeves cracked their database using their translation of our database as his Rosetta stone,” he explained. Captain Cooley nodded. “From there he determined some critical intelligence. The aliens, we call them Taurens by the way,” Jack paused. The captain nodded again. “Anyway, they are based in a neighboring arm of this galaxy. We have their maps.”
“Damn good to know,” the captain said with a grin. With Pyrax in their corner, things were definitely looking up in his estimation. It meant his ship could resupply from there and then go check in with the supply ship the navy had promised to send to them.
“Did he say maps? As in interstellar maps?” Shelton demanded, eyes bright with eagerness.
“Yes, now hush and listen,” Ynes scolded.
“Sorry,” the selkie muttered, looking away.
“That's one thing. We also know they hit Janus and the other colonies in this sector. They captured the Santa Maria in Janus. She has a full load of colonists onboard,” Jack said.
The bridge stilled at that news.
For Captain Cooley it was just another twist of the knife. He felt the eyes go to him.
“You couldn't have known, sir,” Ynes said sympathetically.
Captain Cooley shook himself. He nodded, but it wouldn't stop him from hating himself, even though he knew he'd gotten the warning out.
“Someone was going to run into them eventually, Captain. You were smart and lucky enough to get away and get the warning out. Which I deeply appreciate,” Jack said.
Captain Cooley nodded once more.
“Let's see; they sent a force to picket the hyperbridge leading to Sol,” Jack said, ticking his fingers one at a time.
Ynes stiffened. “We're cut off,” she murmured. The captain glanced at her and then back to Jack. He was concerned for the ships that had retreated for home. Had any escaped? Any at all?
“Two, we found out this area has been mapped by them. They use a base eight math so we're, excuse me, Jeeves is still translating things over to us. One thing he did recently point out is that this is considered a neutral zone. There is an alien race they are in contact with, sort of like a cold war. They are technically violating a standing truce by entering this space.” Jack shrugged. “We can explore that option later I suppose.”
“Moving on,” he said after a beat when he realized the captain wasn't going to say anything. “I'll have Jeeves send you a copy, or better yet we'll make a copy in physical form and send it up to you.”
“Much appreciated,” the captain said.
“But, another thing to know,” Jack said. “They sent a dispatch ship to gather the forces here to go to the hyperbridge in an attack on Sol.”
The stillness on Magellan's bridge was absolute for nearly a full minute. Then one of the crewmen began to mutter curses. The curses spread.
“As you were,” the captain said sharply, putting an end to the noise. He turned to glare at a few people and then looked at Jack. “You could have led with that, Governor,” he said dryly.
“I know. There is a lot to cover, I imagine you have your own news,” Jack said. The captain nodded in reply. “But, something else, it is their second attack. And it is all their forces in the sector. Everything. Apparently, their fleet's second-in-command took his task force to Sol, chasing after a colony ship.”
“The colony ship, did they get a name?” Ynes asked. Jack shook his head mutely no. Ynes frowned as she checked the files. “She could be any one of four ships. Santa Maria … It could be Speedwell … There were four other ships in the pipeline that we don't know where they are. Two were destined for Antigua, one each for you and Janus. We know one ship, Sacagawea, recently arrived at Antigua but then left just before we arrived. We managed to stop Castill and the other ships plus we set up a buoy to warn ships coming into the sector to return home.” She bit her lip as she realized those ships might walk into a trap at the hyperbridge to Sol.
“So, if she did get back, the ship had to have brought back word of what had happened to them,” Captain Cooley reasoned. “So, they can't say we're the only one crying wolf.”
“Glad she backed you up,” Jack said.
“She might have. Must have,” Captain Cooley said, shaking himself and reminding himself to remain positive. “I'm glad they escaped but finding out the aliens were ready to send a task force? To Sol?” Captain Cooley shook his head. He wondered if there was even a home to return to. He wasn't certain the navy as it was could handle one ship, let alone an entire task force.
“We can work on catching up once you are settled. Can your XO send Sharif a list of what you need? I'm sorry to say that the Taurens didn't do the space station or refinery much good. We're still sorting them out. Fortunately, they didn't destroy them.”
“That's a good thing. We've got orders to scout each star system, make contact if possible, and pass on a survival package … which you obviously don't need.”
“No, thanks but no,” Jack said with a small smile and a shake of his head.
“Protodon is … bad. No response. I don't know if anyone survived,” the captain said grimly. “We made contact with someone on Antigua. He is a doctor; he apparently recorded everything he could. We'll get you a copy.”
“Thank you,” Jeeves replied.
“Now I'm wondering how safe it is to scout Janus. I don't want to go there and accidentally lead them back here,” Captain Cooley mused out loud as he scratched at his cheek and then his eyebrow.
“Yeah, that would fall under a heading of a bad thing,” Jack dryly replied.
“The sun is always hungry for more. Remember that, Governor,” Jeeves interjected.
“Cute,” Jack replied with a snort. He shook himself. “Well, we'll settle up when you are in orbit in an hour. You can send a shuttle over to the station if you wish to check things out or land, your choice.”
“Where do we land is the question,” Ynes asked, raising her voice to be heard.
“Ah, well, we can settle that easily enough,” Jack replied with a grin. “We don't have a spaceport, it's a crater, but we've got a nice flat field with a couple of Tauren shuttles hidden underground near it. We can turn loose some construction equipment if you need a better runway. Might take a couple days for Sharif's people to grade it, weather permitting.”
“Understood. As you said, sir, we'll talk when we get to orbit. You've definitely given us a lot to think about,”
Captain Cooley said.
“Understood. Jeeves can upload a summary report for you to go over so you can get your list of questions ready,” Jack said.
“Lists plural,” the captain said. “Thank you, Jeeves. And thank you for hacking the Tauren ships.”
“You're welcome, Captain. I'm glad someone appreciates my efforts on everyone's behalf,” the A.I. replied with an artificial sniff.
“Oh, we do, we definitely do,” Jack said. “And I'll get on Paul to make a suitable receptacle for the information …,” he rolled his eyes heavenward. “And yes, while he's at it I'll see if he can plug in some more processors and memory for you. If,” he held up a restraining finger. “We've got the processed materials in stock.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jeeves replied.
“Hero of the star system. He's never going to let any of us forget it,” Captain Cooley teased.
“Don't I know it,” Jack said ruefully as they signed off.
(@)()(@)
Once the survey ship was in orbit, the ship launched one of her two shuttles to land an away team to get supplies and a copy of the captured alien database. “Bumpy landing,” Ahab said as the shuttle jostled over the improvised landing strip.
“Yeah,” the XO replied, looking out the window. She hoped and prayed the ship wouldn't catch on something bad enough to flip over. That would suck, done in by a gopher hole, she thought with a shake of her head.
“I think they should make a proper strip and disguise it. Paint it to look like dirt or grass or something,” Ahab said.
Ynes started to reply but then caught herself as a vicious buck hit them in the seat of the pants. She nearly bit her tongue and drove her teeth together so she decided to hold off on a reply.
Finally though, it was over. The shuttle's speed dropped once the nose was down. Judicious braking allowed the shuttle's crew to slow the craft, that and friction with the packed ground under the tires. She slowed to a stop and then turned slowly before being hooked up to a construction vehicle.
Ynes wasn't the only one to crane her neck to see the green loader tow the shuttle off to a series of what she thought initially were hills. Only when they got close did she see one grass hillside open up to allow them to see the darkened contents within.
“Clever,” she murmured in appreciation as the shuttle ground to a stop.
As the hatch opened, a nice breeze came through, enlivening the crew and passengers. They had been on canned air for years, feeling that gentle breeze was like a tonic to many. One by one they stepped out into the sky to bask in the sun for a moment before climbing down the rickety ladder to the ground. When it was her turn, Ynes looked out and then down, only to see a vaguely familiar face among the group of colonists. Like a lightning bolt, recognition electrified her brain. Sharif Rolfe had survived and had decided to meet them.
Oddly she felt touched and wondered if it had been for her benefit.
Once she was on the ground, she slowly made her way over to him. Sharif met her and shook hands. “I wanted to thank you for your idea. It came in handy in the caves,” he said.
“My idea?”
“Growing the shoots. We've got indoor greenhouses and outdoor ones all over the place growing them among other things,” Sharif said with a charming grin. “If you've got the time, I'd like to show you a couple.”
She bobbed a silent nod.
“And maybe after you can taste the fruits of our labor,” he said. She smiled coyly.
“I'd like that. Is this a date?” she asked, crinkling her nose a bit as her eyes twinkled at him.
“Maybe,” he drawled. “Are you okay with that?” he asked.
She tucked her arm in his. “Oh, I don't know. Let's see how it goes. If you took my advice to heart, I might like dinner,” she replied.
He chuckled as he led her off to a waiting truck.
(@)()(@)
The following day, the Magellan away team took the time to visit the Tauren internment camp before they headed back up to the ship. “So, this is the face of the enemy,” Ynes observed quietly she said as she watched from the safe confines of the other side of the electric fence. The aliens looked like they were zoo animals on display she thought.
“Yeah, a face only a mother could love,” Ahab drawled. Ynes snorted.
“I don't know what I thought I'd see here. I was expecting aliens with tentacles and one eye and … well, stuff,” Ynes said, making vague motions with her hands.
Ahab shot her a sidelong look. “Disappointed?”
“No. Puzzled though. Why, if they are herbivores …”
“They aren't. They are omnivores like us,” a guard interjected.
Ynes paused and glanced to the woman. “Thanks for that tidbit,” she said dryly. She frowned, collecting her thoughts then tried again. “If they are like this, why are they aggressive?”
“I think you were thinking herbivores because they look like Minotaurs,” Ahab said. He had been intrigued by the idea of puzzling out the alien's spoken language, enough for him to bring his own recording equipment down in hopes of getting samples of his own. “But think it through Ynes, some herbivores,” he paused to shoot the female guard an apologetic look, “on Earth were aggressive. Cape Buffalo for instance. Hippos. There were all sorts of species that would gladly stomp you flat or tear you apart even though they weren't interested in eating you.”
“True,” Ynes said slowly, cocking her head as she filed the information away. “I'm just … I dunno. Disappointed. They are a bit of a letdown.”
“At least they aren't full predators and want to eat us,” Ahab replied.
“True,” Ynes agreed with a shiver.
(@)()(@)
“They come and look at us, like we are animals on display,” Broken Tail muttered.
“Let them. We have no choice,” the former ship's Alpha said. He picked at his food with a finger.
Broken Tail looked at the sullen ship herd leader and then to the new crop of aliens. He glared for a long moment. They seemed interested in him and his people, but eventually they left.
After a moment, he inhaled and exhaled slowly, letting the tension ebb out of his body. Their visit had broken the dull routine he had to admit. There had to be something more to it though. Why didn't the aliens just finish the job?
(@)()(@)
“So, you've made up your mind, Captain?” Jack asked, looking at the captain. His respect for the captain had risen to new heights after he'd realized the other man had made certain all of his crew had gotten some shore leave in on the planet. The captain had been in the last group to come down to the planet and had only come down after his XO had returned to the ship.
Sharif had reported that Magellan's resupply was going smoothly. They had drawn fuel from the refinery so all the planet had to do was supply water, parts, and food. The food was a bit tight, but they'd managed to come up with enough fresh food for the crew to make them happy. Water had been easily handled. The parts, however, had been in short supply.
He knew it would get worse before it got better though. He had already started to look into finding ways to expand their industrial base. Something told him they were going to need the extra capacity if and when a Confederation Navy liberation force came calling. If his reasoning was sound, he was fairly confident they would want to use Pyrax as a base of operations during the war.
He was fine with that as long as they came to some sort of method of payment and had enough ships to secure the star system. If the Taurens ever found out that Pyrax was a base and if the war lasted as long as he was thinking it would, Pyrax would be on a short list of targets.
“I have. I know it's a risk, but we've figured out how to minimize your exposure. Shelton is going to take us out on a different heading for Janus, then drop us back into real space a couple days out. That should put some distance between us and you. We'll come in on a different vector for Janus. We'll stick to the heliopause of the star system. I'm not even going to take her in to the inne
r star system. I don't want to be trapped if the enemy does show up.”
“Prudent,” Jack replied with a nod. “After that?”
“After that … I don't know. I'd like to scout further, but I'm afraid what I'll find. We need to get back to rendezvous with a ship coming in to resupply us. From there, I suppose it is up to the orders that ship is carrying for us.”
“Okay. Let them know you both can come back here,” Jack said. “You can't hide, but we can at least refuel and resupply you.”
“Thank you for that, Governor,” the captain said as they shook hands.
Chapter 12
Janus star system
“Is it broken, Doc?” Governor Cristi Schotte asked, concerned. The last thing she needed was a broken ankle. She felt so stupid that it had happened.
Doctor Scotch wrapped her left ankle with a clean rag, keeping the bindings tight but not overly tight. “Obviously, I can't do an X-ray. You need to stay off of it and keep it elevated as much as possible so it will heal.”
“How did you do it if you don't mind my asking?” the doctor asked.
“I was playing with the kids. I tried to kick a small ball and ended up kicking my own ankle,” Cristi said, rubbing the bruise on her ankle. She gave off an in-drawn hiss when the pain hit. “It only hurts when I touch it, and the bruise is down near my arch, not where the pain is. Damn it!” She shook her head. “Stupid!” She ground out between gritted teeth. She'd only sought out the doctor when the bruise had started to spread.
“There is an old saying. 'Doc, it hurts when I do this. The doctor answers …'”
“Then don't do that. Right,” Cristi drawled, giving him an amused look.
“Put some heat on it. Keep it elevated as much as possible. And quit playing soccer for a week or so just in case.”
“Right, Doc. Like I'm going to do any of that,” Cristi replied with a shake of her head.
The doctor smiled as he patted her on the shoulder and then went to continue his rounds.
