Gallant thought,
We’ve done what we can. That’s enough.
“Let’s not dally. We’ve done our job. The damaged transport is getting away. The rest of the Titans look like they’re slowing down to reorganize their formation. Let’s get out of here. Chief Howard, reengage stealth mode.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
They had already used considerable stealth battery.
“Sir, we’re receiving a message from the Repulse; it must have picked up our ID transponder.”
The message was simple: “Thank you, Warrior.”
Over the next hour, the rest of the Titan ships gave up the chase, so the UP convoy and its escorts made good their escape.
“Shall I secure from battle stations, sir?”
“Yes.”
No sooner had they secured than Gallant sensed the sounds and motions of the ship change.
He hadn’t done anything by the book. And while this battle was over, there were more to come. Nevertheless, if there were any lingering doubts among the crew about the Warrior, he hoped this had put an end to them.
Bone-tired, Gallant entered his stateroom and collapsed on his bed. He didn’t stir for the next six hours.
CHAPTER 15
Turned to Dust
It took four more days for the Warrior to emerge from the asteroid belt, but when it did, Gallant was surprised to witness the Titan armada passing between them and Jupiter. The armada was heading toward its bases on Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter’s sixty-three moons, which was in the process of being transformed to make it habitable for the methane-breathing aliens.
Gallant sat in his command chair while his ship approached the planet in stealth mode. Soon Jupiter filled the entire forward view screen. The bridge crew seemed mesmerized by the spectacular image of the gas giant’s surface as it provided a picturesque backdrop for the many, many, many Titan warships that stretched from one end of the horizon to the other.
When Gallant had been deployed to Jupiter several years earlier, its moons had hosted thriving colonies. Orbiting satellites and a space station had once serviced hundreds of ships traveling between Jupiter and the inner planets. The Jupiter Station orbited Ganymede and repaired, maintained, and refueled military and commercial ships—many the property of NNR Shipping. The moons included a dozen small pioneer settlements with tens of thousands of colonists each. In total, the planetary system had been home to over half a million colonists living in shelters they had carved out of the various moons rocky surfaces. But the attack by the aliens had laid waste to all of that, leaving only the dust that now circulated within the faint rings of Jupiter.
Although many details of the battle were widely known, the Warrior’s crew was not prepared for the pitiless evidence before them. They took a good look at what was left of the Jupiter Station—the nearby floating debris was a combination of metal, rocks, and human remains. Awful images of the shattered colonies and the moons devastated by nuclear attack produced a profound impression they would never forget.
Gallant shook off the melancholy thoughts and said aloud, “If anyone ever asks you why we fight, tell them that when someone does unspeakable things to those you care about it’s no longer a choice, it’s a responsibility.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then he added, “Jupiter is now enemy territory.”
“Yes, sir,” said Roberts.
“As our first act toward reclaiming Jupiter,” Gallant continued, “I intend to establish a base of operations. This base will serve two purposes. It will be our hideout where the Warrior can recharge her stealth battery, and it will function as a communications relay station.”
Gallant and the XO worked in the CIC to evaluate locations for the base.
“How about here, sir?” asked a CIC analyst, pointing to an asteroid cluster near Jupiter’s orbit. The asteroid belt was located roughly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter and included numerous irregularly shaped rocky bodies and minor planets; however, skirting the outer edge of the belt, near the Lagrangian points, were three smaller clusters; the Cybele group, the Hilda family, and the Trojan family. The last was closest to Jupiter’s orbit. Those asteroids included objects larger than one kilometer wide and were as numerous as within the asteroid belt. The analyst identified a cluster of large asteroids that formed a natural pocket, a harbor-like configuration, within the Trojan family.
“Yes, that just might do,” said Gallant. “It affords the best prospect for a hidden base. It’s large enough to block radar detection as well as any direct visibility from Titan ships traveling near Jupiter. The Warrior could hide between the kilometer-sized rocks while recharging her stealth batteries.”
“In addition,” Robert’s said, “it has several large mountainous outcroppings and cavernous valleys that could shelter and hide a communication relay station on its surface. We could construct and supply the station by shuttlecraft.”
“Excellent,” said Gallant.
The Warrior slid into position behind the Trojan rocks to recharge her stealth batteries. The stealth device used a quark color-charge superconducting field to cloak the ship and render it undetectable. The color charge battery had to be recharged every forty-eight hours to remain at full strength.
A shuttle was sent to the surface of a large asteroid in the Trojan family with supplies and equipment. A two-man team constructed a relay station and thermionic radioisotope power plant. In addition, one of the Warrior’s three remote-controlled drones was left there for future operations. The communication relay station was designed to transmit and receive signals utilizing the radioisotope power supply along with a large directional antenna. A tiny, almost invisible satellite was placed in orbit with a receiving antenna and a tightly focused laser transmission beam. Using the passive satellite enhanced the overall coverage, range, and capacity of the relay network.
When the Warrior was further in space, it could send data to the collection satellite. The ultrahigh frequency communication satellite would then relay the data to the surface unit that would retransmit it to Mars using its stronger nuclear power plant. The directional antenna would require much less transmission power. In addition, a monitoring telescope was placed with its focus constantly on the Jupiter moon bases in order to keep records of ships coming and going after the Warrior left for Saturn.
Since it was relatively easy to send a tight directional laser beam from Jupiter to Mars, the relay station would be a great asset. Unfortunately, Mars could not send a similar laser beam to the Warrior for two reasons: First, the Mars command would not know an exact intercepting position to reach the Warrior; and second, although Mars did have a prearranged emergency site, command felt that sending messages to Jupiter or Saturn would arouse Titan suspicions and alert to the fact that some UP assets were in the area, even if they couldn’t read the message itself.
Once the Warrior left for Saturn, Gallant could set up another nuclear-powered communications satellite to send data to that relay station. He would have liked to place more monitors and satellites, but he had a limited supply.
“Communications officer, how about doing the honors and giving us a name for this base?” Gallant asked.
“Gee, sir. I thought that was obvious . . . ‘Helen,’ of course,” Gabriel responded.
Gallant had to smile, and the CIC analysts laughed out loud.
“A romantic gesture, Gabriel, but I think after all his observations and contributions related to Jupiter, ‘Galileo’ would be more appropriate,” said Gallant and, as captain, he had the last word.
It took only one day to complete the construction and testing of Base Galileo, after which Gallant decided to reconnoiter the alien bases around Jupiter’s moons.
CHAPTER 16
Friendly Visit
It was not the custom in the fleet for a female officer to visit her captain alone in his cabin, but McCall did not observe this rule. After a single light knock, she opened Gallant’s cabin door and entered. Without the appearan
ce of haste or embarrassment, she sat down on his cot. With moist lips, smiling eyes, and a sureness of bearing, she exuded a mysterious beauty.
“This ship is simply too small for you to continue to avoid me, Henry,” she said.
Gallant remained seated at his desk and took inventory of the numerous upsetting reactions he was experiencing in response to her uninvited presence. To his amazement, she sat in front of him brazenly staring at him—as if she would wait forever for him to suitably acknowledge her. He started to rise in protest, but immediately relented and sat down once more, resolved to the situation as if he had half expected it.
“Henry, your vacillating ruminations are a source of great amusement to me,” she laughed.
He spoke at last, “Am I really such a captivating subject?”
She laughed again, more fulsomely this time. Shaking her head, she said, “Nothing is more resilient than the male ego.”
Gallant shifted in his seat. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that portrait.”
She continued to stare at him while she tapped her fingers rhythmically on the top of the desk. Gallant remained mesmerized by the overall effect. His face grew rosy under her scrutiny. He was self-conscious, because, admittedly, he still had no idea how to cope with her—either as an agent or as a woman.
Finally, suppressing his internal upheaval, he asked, “What can I do for you?”
Her remarkable blues eyes met his as she drew a deep breath.
She said, “Your question is deliciously troubling.”
“Troubling? I merely asked what you require.”
“I would’ve thought my wishes were clear,” she said, as if she was prepared to complicate his day.
Flustered once more, he thought,
She clearly isn’t interested in getting to the point.
Under different circumstances, he might have enjoyed the flirtatious banter, but he was afraid things were already becoming problematic.
Distracted by a sound coming from the hallway, McCall turned away. When she turned back, her smile was gone.
She said, “Captain, let me speak frankly. This mission will be difficult and dangerous. You and I will need to work closely together.”
She paused. Then with an earnest expression, she added, “I’ve been fortunate to learn a great deal about you from reports on your recent adventures.”
Putting her hand on his, she said, “Will you spare me a few minutes now to learn more about the man behind the deeds?”
Gallant remained wary, but said, “If you will reciprocate by letting me know a little about you.”
Suddenly the atmosphere in the diminutive cabin was transformed.
McCall spoke rapidly with a sense of delight. “Oh yes, please. Let me start. I’ll tell you a story,” she said, her eyes shining with pleasure. “As a child, I often stood on a hillside where I could look across the horizon for a sign of a ship landing. I would wait long hours for many days. I never grew weary, or concerned about time, because eventually I would see the figure of a man at a great distance. When he approached, I would run and hide in the forest, to wait some more—to tease him. I would hear him calling out for me, ‘Julie Anne? Julie Anne?’ He would call and call. This pleased me and gave me a sense of gratification after all of my patient waiting. And when, finally, I pounced out of the shadows at him, we would embrace. Then I would confide all my dreams, my hopes, and my fears. I held nothing back. Each time he returned I took it as a fulfillment of my faith in him—the faith of a daughter for her father.”
Gallant witnessed her joy in telling the story and was about to speak when McCall continued, “When you’re young, you ask many, many questions. Why do things fall? Why is the sky blue? Children are enormously curious that way. And the one who provides the answers becomes the child’s fountain of enlightenment. For me, it was my father. Throughout my life, he was my mentor. As a fleet officer, he eventually inspired me to serve in the fleet myself. He was the driving motivation for my career.”
Gallant was impressed with her candor.
McCall’s voice grew deep and sad as she said, “When Jupiter Station was destroyed my father was one of the many casualties, just like Lieutenant Clay’s family. That’s something I share with him.”
After a few minutes, her mood once more lifted and she offered an alternative topic of conversation. “Tell me about Alaina.”
Gallant said, “During my mission at Tau Ceti, Alaina Hepburn became president of the planet, Elysium.”
“I’m not interested in her politics. I want you to tell me about her.”
Gallant hesitated before revealing, “She lost her parents at an early age, as did I. She grew up a little wild. She’s a free spirit—passionately independent and fiercely determined to help her people.”
McCall said, “Good for her. Now tell me about your relationship with her. Does she make you happy?”
“Yes, she does, actually.”
“Are you in a committed relationship?”
Gallant had to reflect on that question since he didn’t actually know the answer himself.
McCall continued, “You should be careful. Her political agenda may not be perfectly aligned with the United Planets. You could find yourself in a compromised situation.”
“I thought you weren’t interested in her politics?”
“Touché.”
Then she took a deep breath and asked, “What are your expectations for this mission?”
Once more he hesitated, but she waited, looking at him expectantly.
Gallant confided, “Those who serve in the fleet are prepared to make sacrifices to fulfill their mission. My sacrifices have involved personal injuries.” He paused struggling with his sense of discretion, but he found himself saying, “But as captain of this ship, I’m responsible to balance the sacrifice of my entire crew against the needs of our mission.”
He paused once more and, staring straight ahead, he said, “My greatest fear is failing them.”
McCall asked quietly, “Failing? How? By demanding too much?” She paused. Then she whispered, “Or not enough?”
He looked at her, not speaking for a long moment fearing he had divulged too much of himself. He had not intended to speak so frankly to an SIA agent, but he realized it was a tribute to her skills as an interrogator.
Gallant stood and said, “Thank you for coming by, commander. I’ve found our conversation enlightening. If you’ll excuse me now, I’m needed on the bridge."
CHAPTER 17
Looking In
From several million kilometers distance, the Warrior managed a bird’s-eye view of the alien’s main base around Jupiter. The base itself was built on Ganymede’s surface, but an orbiting shipyard and space station were being constructed in a surrounding cluster of rocks, creating a cocoon-like space harbor.
Operating in stealth mode the Warrior approached the outer edge of the harbor and began cautiously conducting a spiral search to map the interrelated defenses. The crew was excited to penetrate deep into Titan territory.
“We’ve reached the harbor’s maximum missile range, sir,” said the officer of the deck.
“Very well,” said Gallant. “We’ll alter course in a few minutes. Gather as much data as possible.”
“Aye aye, sir,” responded CIC.
McCall was hard at work with several CIC techs collecting information about defenses, missile batteries, ships, and base facilities. They noted a space station under construction and the several hundred ships in orbit around Ganymede. Jupiter’s moons were alive, and there were numerous ships traveling among them.
At the outer edges of the harbor, the picket ships patrolled between satellite sensor arrays. Drones moved between the various stations for some unknown purpose. Since the Warrior’s trajectory passed close to many of those listening posts, they would experience a real test of the stealth technology.
A Titan picket ship lumbered close but failed to discover the Warrior. The satellite sensor array likewise fa
iled.
Gallant thought, Our stealth system is doing well.
The navigator said, “We’re coming up on a course change.”
“Closest approach will occur ninety seconds after we alter course, sir,” reported the sensor tech.
“That’s inside their effective missile range, sir,” said the OOD.
“I hope our intelligence estimates are accurate,” said Gallant.
“Me too, skipper,” said Roberts.
“Very well. Execute course change.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
The CIC reported that one of the picket ships altered course in the general direction of the Warrior.
The agile Warrior was prepared to open fire from every laser and plasma battery if it came to that, but she was a small ship, and her chances of surviving a serious engagement were unrealistic. Despite a moment of concern, the picket moved away, once again failing to detect the Warrior.
“We’re slipping through, sir,” reported the sensor tech.
They were now at the threshold of the harbor mouth and had a splendid view of the inner bastion.
“We’ll change course while observing their ships,” said Gallant. “Mr. Roberts, come left ten degrees, set course 122, mark three.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“CIC, bridge; give me a count of enemy shipping inside the harbor.”
After a few minutes, CIC reported, “Bridge, CIC; We can make out 324 warships, sir. Three dozen battle cruisers are in orbit near the space station along with 144 cruisers and a like number of destroyers. There are numerous civilian vessels, and there are 144 transports, mining ships, and cargo ships scattered across the rear area. The remainder includes smaller craft shuttling between the large vessels and the base. There are several markers we can use to identify this region. The beacon marker to starboard will be useful to take our bearings.”
“Bridge, CIC; cruiser close to starboard.”
“That will be the on-station duty cruiser,” Roberts observed.
Henry Gallant and the Warrior (The Henry Gallant Saga Book 3) Page 9
