The Garoden War. (SpaceFed StarShips Series) Book 6. An action-packed follow-on story that sees the Earth's Space Navy in action.: ‘Into the Fire.’

by Gerry A. Saunders

  “I wish they wouldn’t go like that,” Susanna remarked, feeling a little disoriented. She knew they were both disturbed by the way Charlotte and Cindy suddenly withdrew their mental contact.

  “I understand how you feel. A slower disconnect would be preferable. Anyway, I’m going to have a quick talk with Mark,’ he told Susanna. Then tapped the weapons Icon, and Mark Trask’s face appeared on his screen.

  “Hi, Mark… Anything info? Anything at all?”

  “Frank… We still don’t know how to penetrate their force field. It seems to operate in the same way as the Solveron’s disintegration field.”

  “Yes. Now you mention it, the commander of one of the remaining Solveron vessels told me they lost one of their ships on a survey mission in what he called Region Seventeen.

  Then when that Garoden ship first turned up, I remember seeing what looked like micro-sized, silver looking molecular disruptor domes dotted around its hull.

  They looked the same as the Solveron’s. So, maybe, these Garodens acquired the Solveron ship. And, hey presto, they have the Solveron technology.”

  ‘Yes. That’s probably how it happened, Frank.’

  ‘Andromeda. Find out where the Solveron’s Region Seventeen is. The Star group that it’s in, and make sure everyone knows the location,’ Frank mentally ordered her.

  “Sorry Mark. Yes, I agree that’s what most of us think, now. What about their cylindrical weapon type thingy’s?”

  “Well, it’s all in my report. But, as you like to chat about most things, I’ll enlighten you.

  The good news is that our particle beams can penetrate them. And, if the Crillons can mask their fire control personnel, then they have a chance to knock the missiles out. Only the missiles, though. Not their ships.”

  “That makes sense. The Crillons have weapon control operators. We don’t.”

  “Well, it kind of makes sense,” Mark cautioned him.

  “Keep at it, Mark. Only six hours’ maximum left. Oh, that reminds me. Stealth-mines?”

  “What about them?”

  “Have we got any that are operational or any that you could repair?”

  “About five… I assume you’ll use a stealth drone to lay them?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, Argonaut will have more mines than us, Frank… I’ll talk to their weapons configuration section. I suppose you realize that we could just as easily hit one of the stealth mines we’ve laid, by mistake.

  “Yes. I understand the risk. Even so, get them ready. Anyhow you can, Mark. But, see if we can make them identifiable to our ships. If you can, that’ll reduce the risk.

  “Okay, you’re the boss… By the way Frank, this Charlotte seems to know an awful lot.”

  “I’ll give you the full story at the end, Mark.”

  “At the end? What do you mean?”

  “I’ll talk to you later, Mark.” he replied, deciding he didn’t want to continue this subject and closed the connection.

  “Even I’m saying at the end, now, Sues,” he exclaimed. Then sitting back again, picked up his tactical pad and enabled it.

  “A strange thing for her to have said, Frank. Does she mean the end of everything?”

  “Maybe Sues,” he abruptly answered, his tone making it clear he wanted to continue with his work.

  “Alone again,” she muttered under her breath. Then resigned to the situation, began pulling up specific sections of data that Astro had compiled, for her to work on.

  Frank started working up a couple of strategic scenarios to help decide how they would go about locating, the Garoden’s star system, then hopefully their planet, and even how they would get there.

  It was a complicated process, and he soon forgot that Susanna was in the room.

  The next two hours passed quickly and the time had come to begin the ‘All ships’ meeting that Andromeda had set up.

  Frank hoped that, in the meantime, someone had come up with a bright idea. Knowing that any idea would be one more than he and his own specialists had achieved.

  They’d only been able to speculate. And, if Charlotte was right, they had just about four hours left. Time was indeed running out fast, he wryly thought to himself.

  Checking his screen, Frank saw that all of the ship’s captain’s icons were now lit. Andromeda had also found and entered the names of the two Crillon captains, under their live images on the screen, and he noted that Captain Trentic was the senior officer.

  He was relieved, to finally know both of their names, as this would save him from any possible embarrassment. Then he checked that the translation icon was lit.

  The simultaneous multi-language translation system employed in their ships required massive processing power that, inevitably, slowed the process.

  So, even though, Andromeda had already set the system up. Frank knew he would still have trouble in getting used to the seemingly broken up speech passages, as the translation system struggled to keep up with the speech flow.

  He acknowledged the ship captains as their faces appeared, one by one on his screen.

  Then waited, while Andromeda completed the Inter-ship link up with the translator system.

  Suddenly, just as he was about to address them, both he and Susanna felt a tingle, and the hairs on his arms stood up, again.

  That was another subspace disturbance. Way bigger than the last, he thought to himself.”

  Then Andromeda overrode his thoughts. ‘Frank. My subspace detector’s registered a massive warp field generation.’

  ‘I know, we both felt it,’ he sent back.

  ‘So did everyone else, Frank,’ Susanna added, pointing to the expressions of alarm, that were visible on all the faces on his screen.

  Then Charlotte’s thoughts entered his mind. ‘Frank, the rest of the Garoden’s ships are getting closer.’

  Chapter 22

  War Plans

  Viceroy Verice had just returned to the bridge at the request of his Navigation Officer. With Cratic, having informed him that the Jump exit time was close.

  Of course, his companion brain would have told him anyway. However, his executive had correctly followed ship’s protocol.

  Verice knew that Captain Stugron’s Star-Destroyer would exit its own wormhole at precisely the same instant as his. He also knew that the exit from the wormhole, by their ships, would not have caused the same exhilaration for the crews as when their ships Jumped. In fact, there would just be a sudden mist up front, and a strange feeling. Then, they would be straight out, and into Normal space.

  His companion brain mentally confirmed that their ships were about to exit. And, that the stealth limpet sub-space trackers were primed and ready. Then, the screen started scrolling, showing continuous updates on the ship’s readiness for battle.

  “Griken. Are the weapons companions, set?” He asked, protocol having dictated that he did so.

  “Yes, your Excellency,” Griken confirmed

  Cratic started counting down, out loud.

  “Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Zero…”

  Verice’s ship then exited the wormhole. However, to his surprise, no contact alarms were sounding on his bridge.

  -Ω-

  On hearing Charlotte telling him that the rest of the alien ships had Jumped, Frank decided he must get on with this meeting. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

  “Sues, do you want to say anything?”

  “No. It’s your meeting. But I will join in if I can contribute anything extra.”

  “Okay,” he replied, took a deep breath, and started.

  “Thanks for your patience… We now believe that two Garoden ships are about to engage us. With the rest of their fleet following not far behind.”

  He paused, remembering what Charlotte had said earlier.

  Be careful, she had warned. These two ships are separate for a reason. With the reason not being apparent.

  “When the first two alien ships exit their wormholes. Watch out for an
ything not in keeping with an attack… I don’t know exactly what we need to look for.

  But, you can be sure of one thing. They wouldn’t have sent two ships ahead, without good reason. Especially when their fleet was obviously ready and waiting.”

  “Captain,” Andrei Sergei Volkov, of the Russian Grand Council, interrupted. “Horatio and I wish to return to Earth. Now please,” he demanded.

  “Not a chance, Andrei. No one is going anywhere,” Frank snapped, infuriated at their request.

  “Captain Sitrea, how many Solveron reinforcement ships can we expect?”

  “Just two,” Sitrea told him. “However, we fear that we will be of little help to you against them,” he added, having looked at all the data, and seen how easy it had been for these aliens to destroy Commander Sodran’s ship.

  “Maybe so, Captain. But, perhaps, we just need a show of force,” Frank suggested.

  “Let’s hope you are right…I understand that we expect our ships to arrive in about five hours.

  Anyway, Commander Savron will contact you as soon as they exit warp,” he told Frank.

  “Unfortunately, Savron may even decide to take independent action if he thinks they can inflict damage on an alien ship,” Sitrea added, sounding slightly despondent.

  “Coordination would be better, Captain,” Frank replied, feeling disappointed.

  He was, however, pleased that he would have a chance to see his friend, Commander Savron again. Nevertheless, he knew that he would have to live with whatever decision Savron might make.

  Just then, Charlotte’s voice entered his mind again.

  ‘Frank, the two Garoden ships have dropped into our space… Well, sort of dropped in.’

  ‘Clarify?’

  ‘I sense, many confused brains… That’s all I can tell you.’

  As Charlotte’s contact ended, he directed his thoughts at Andromeda.

  ‘Well?’ He queried.

  ‘My detectors have picked up the two ships. They’re one point seven billion kilometers out. And, they’re huge,’ she warned him.

  ‘Well, hopefully, they’ll take a few hours to get here.’ he suggested.

  Then speaking out loud, he said. “Andromeda, analyses the two Garoden ships as best you can. And if they start to move, keep updating us with their distance. Go to full stealth mode. Now,” he ordered.

  Andromeda acknowledged his orders, then Frank turned his attention back to the meeting.

  “Right. I assume all of us have detected the two alien ships. We’ve calculated that they are about one point seven billion kilometers out from DPav4… So those ships, with stealth, capability, should go to Stealth mode now.”

  “We must conclude this meeting as quickly as possible,” he told them. Having seen that the other ships captains were doing as advised.

  Frank already had a plan forming in his mind and had decided on what needed to be acted on, right now. He looked at the Solveron Captain’s image on his screen, then spoke.

  “Captain Sitrea, could one of your orange tracking spheres, or Gatherer’s as I believe you call them, follow your ship’s wormhole thread back to its source?”

  “We’ve done it before, Frank… Ah, I see where you’re going with this… you want my ship to follow the Garoden’s wormhole thread back to their home star,” Sitrea said and paused to think about it.

  “Yes, I believe we have a chance. But, it would be dependent on how many jumps they’ve made to get here, and, whether or not they’ve left a relay at each point. Then, the furthest wormhole threads would still need to be open, or at least, detectable.”

  “I understand. So, could you try to do that, Sitrea? If you can, then you will also need to keep me informed on the route, you are taking.”

  “Of course, Frank… In fact, we can place one of our Gatherers on your ship. Then you’ll be able to see where we are. Then use it to follow us if needed.”

  “That’s excellent, Captain. But, I may have to change ships.” Frank told Sitrea, and felt Andromeda gasp, as she heard the “change ships,” statement.

  “No problem Frank. We’ll program your gatherer to follow, and to carry out any orders you give, whichever ship you are on.”

  “Thanks. But, be careful Sitrea. More Garoden ships are following these two, and should arrive shortly,” Frank warned. “So, as soon as we’re finished, get away from here,” he advised.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get to their wormhole threads as soon as these alien ships move far enough away from their wormholes.”

  “Very well, we wish you and your crew, good luck, Captain Sitrea."

  ‘Frank,’ Andromeda cautioned. ‘President Stevenson and Councilor Volkov are trying to get Captain Reece to transport them down to the surface of Dpv4.’

  Hearing this, Frank realized that their faces were no longer on his screen. ‘Damn them,’ he thought and tapped the Marine’s icon.

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “Thomas, no one leaves the ship until I’ve sanctioned it with you. Clear?”

  “Understood, Captain,” Reece acknowledged. Then Frank tapped the Marines Icon off and turned his attention back to the ship’s captains, again.

  “Sorry about that. Our Dignitaries still don’t see the gravity of the situation.”

  Andromeda interrupted him again. ‘Frank. The Solveron’s orange tracking sphere has plonked itself near me… It’s planted some encrypted software in my memory, and it’s tapped into your implant,’ she told him.

  ‘Now, it’s just over-ridden my objection,” she added, and Frank sensed her annoyance.

  ‘Don’t worry, it won’t harm us,’ he assured her. Knowing full well that the Human part of her was understandably upset.

  “Thank you, Captain Sitrea. It seems that your tracking sphere has arrived, and has made itself at home.”

  “It will obey your commands from here on, Frank.”

  “Just as well,” Frank replied, smiling as he did so.

  “Thanks again, Captain,” he added, just as the Solveron’s image disappeared from his screen.

  Frank relaxed slightly, knowing that the Solveron’s vessel had left, he knew Sitrea would find somewhere to park out of sight of the two alien ships.

  Then, he turned his attention to the Crillons. “Captain Trentic. Has Crilla confirmed that they’re sending ships to us?”

  Frank noted that both Crillon captains seemed uneasy.

  “I’m afraid, we’ve been recalled to Crilla, Captain. Against our wishes, I might add.”

  That took Frank by surprise. “Why?”

  “Apparently, we’re needed to bolster Crilla’s defenses,” Trentic told him.

  As he spoke, Frank saw a look of embarrassment spread across his face. And that was hard to see unless you were familiar with Crillon expressions.

  “But, I’m informed that our Fleet 5 will be here in two days. Their weapons have been updated,” Trentic hurriedly added.

  “Very well, Captain. I know you haven’t any stealth capability, so, you should leave now before they can lock onto your ships.”

  “We will, Captain…oh, and we were told that Commander Procard’s Fleet 5 will contact you personally when they arrive.”

  “Very well.”

  “One last thing Captain. Commander Procard also asked me to relay an encrypted SAB message to you. He knows you can decode it,”

  “What’s it about?”

  “Sorry Captain. I don’t know, I only know that it’s important,” he finished.

  “Okay. Relay it now,” Frank replied, then mentally instructed Andromeda not to try and decode it herself but pass it directly to Brian Walters in encryption.

  ‘Why?’ she asked.

  ‘Look up SAB in Crillon, and you’ll know.’

  Both he and Susanna looked at each other, having felt the minute change in the electromagnetic field as the Crillon’s tight transmission beam was received by Andromeda’s sensors.

  They both thought that detecting this minute change was strange. The
n Frank realized that Charlotte and Cindy had joined them, mentally.

  “What?” he snapped out loud, without thinking. But no one noticed.

  Charlotte paused for a moment, then enigmatically stated. ‘You are ready, Frank. You will be, soon, Susanna.’

  On hearing this, Susanna frowned. She didn't like being told she wasn’t quite up to scratch.

  Andromeda sent a confirmation to the Crillon captain that she’d received the encrypted SAB message.

  Then told Frank that the Crillon battlecruisers, CS 87 and CS 93 were leaving, just as Frank saw the two Crillon’s faces disappear from his screen. After which Frank terminated the meeting.

  However, the Crillons leaving filled him with trepidation, knowing that now, and for the next two days, at least, there were just four Earth vessels against the alien ships. As it would be another two days before the Solveron’s arrived, and the Crillon’s Fleet 5 would take even longer.

  “A fat lot of good we’ll be against the Garodens, he told Susanna.

  “Don’t forget we also have Charlotte and Cindy, Frank,” Susanna replied, trying to cheer him up.

  Frank ignored her. “It’s a dangerous situation,” he said.

  ‘It’ll get worse,’ Charlotte told him.

  “Just what I wanted to hear,” he replied.

  Even so, he knew that his ships were invisible to the Garodens. So, it wasn’t all bad.

  Chapter 23

  Into the Fire

  Viceroy Verice, Commander of Garoden’s Fleet V23, was baffled as to why no contact alarms had sounded on his bridge.