by C H Gideon
“Readying the Gate drive,” Helm replied.
“Geroux and I are going to check in with Takal,” Jiya told Reynolds. “Let him know his Kami blades worked great but the cloak only lasted seconds.”
Reynolds nodded. “Take Maddox with you and drop him off at the Pod-doc. He could probably use a tune-up.”
Jiya nodded and wrapped her arm around Maddox’s. leading the ex-general from the bridge, Geroux trotting alongside.
Once the bridge door closed behind them, XO spoke up. “Kami blades? What the hell are those?”
Reynolds went over and flopped down in the captain’s chair. “It appears our dear Takal has some innate ability to manipulate Etheric energy,” Reynolds told the rest of his AI personalities.
“What?” Tactical asked.
“He infused a couple of blades on the armor suits with Etheric energy,” Reynolds confirmed. “Who knows what else he can do?”
“We need to find out,” Comm said. “That talent could be useful to us.”
“Especially given the nature of Reynolds’ android body,” XO told them.
“Do they know?” Helm asked.
Reynolds shook his head. “I believe Takal suspects, hence his efforts at harnessing the Etheric energies in the pieces of armor he plans to encase this skeleton in, but I’m not entirely sure how much he truly knows.”
“What doesn’t Takal know?” Nav asked.
Reynolds gestured toward his android body. “That I’m outgrowing this husk quicker than expected.” He sighed. “Won’t be long until I begin to corrupt its electronics and make it useless. This frame just isn’t designed to keep up with me. Not even a shadow of me. We need better cybernetic parts.”
“Good to know you’re still humble, Reynolds,” Tactical muttered.
“You plan on telling them?” XO asked.
Reynolds nodded. “When we reach someplace that has adequate parts,” he answered. “I’d hate to tell Takal now, given all the effort he’s put into piecing this body together.”
“Afraid you’ll break his meatbag heart?” Tactical questioned.
“Yeah, something like that,” Reynolds replied. “Now, get us to the Loran system and shut the hell up. I’m sick of listening to you all.”
“Cranky, isn’t he?” Tactical whispered to Comm.
“I heard that,” Reynolds countered.
“I wanted you to.” Tactical chuckled as the Gate drive engaged, ending any further conversation.
The superdreadnought broke into open space in the Loran system, and alarms sounded immediately upon arrival.
“What the hell?” Reynolds mumbled, staring at the viewscreen.
“Shit,” Helm shouted. “Looks like we landed right in the middle of a damn fleet.”
Reynolds directed in his command voice, “Hail the fleet and let them know we come in peace, Comm.”
“Onscreen!” Comm called.
A woman with sharp features appeared on the viewscreen, bright red eyes surrounded by black staring through Reynolds. “I am Captain Asya of the Valter, lead of the Loranian fleet. You have trespassed upon Loranian territory and are ordered to turn around immediately or face severe consequences.”
Reynolds met the captain’s gaze and offered as friendly a nod as a metallic skeleton could offer. He regretted having sent Maddox away right then. He could have used a human face for this.
“Greetings, Captain,” Reynolds hailed. “I am Reynolds of the SD Reynolds, and we intend you no harm.”
“Tell that to the Thra’kali scout ship you decimated,” Captain Asya replied.
Reynolds ignored him and met the captain’s eyes. “That was a simple misunderstanding, Captain,” he told her. “We’re in search of Kurtherians, by order of former Empress Bethany Anne. We’re only looking to gather intel, not to engage in senseless battles.”
“I find it hard to believe you’re on a peaceful mission, given the damage that was done to the Thra’kali ship. She was boarded and her systems pillaged, the craft left to drift aimlessly in space. That speaks to me of a coming invasion.” She jabbed a finger at the screen. “As such, you are ordered to turn around and leave Loran space before we are forced to fire upon you.”
“You have two minutes to comply,” the captain continued and cut off communications.
“So, how do you want to handle this?” the XO asked.
“I can Gate us out of here,” Helm offered.
Reynolds shook his head. “I don’t see the point in running. Intel from that very scout ship points toward the Loran system as a possible refuge for the Kurtherians. If we leave, the Kurtherians win. If there are no Kurtherians here, then they can’t mind us taking a look-see. It is what we must do. We will leave after we are sure the interstellar criminals haven’t taken refuge in Loranian space.”
XO chuckled. “It looks like we’ll be forced to fight these Loranians. Is that what you want to do?”
“I’m thinking this Captain Asya is a woman of her word,” Tactical said. “She doesn’t look like the type to put up with any shit.”
“We’re being targeted,” Comm announced. “Tactical, give me combat options.”
“Raise shields,” Tactical ordered.
“I guess this is what we’re doing?” Helm asked.
“Sound general quarters,” Reynolds called, “and ready the ship for battle. Maybe we can wear them down without hurting them.”
“What about them hurting us?” Tactical asked.
Reynolds grunted. “Let’s hope they can’t.”
“Okay, you heard him, folks,” XO announced. “Prepare for battle and hope we don’t get our asses kicked.”
The Loranian captain held true to her word, and the first volley of incoming fire struck the SD Reynolds’ shields exactly two minutes after her warning.
Captain Asya pointed at the enemy ship and shouted, “Fire!”
Her crew responded without hesitation, the rest of the fleet following suit. Blasts of cannon fire sparked across the enemy craft’s shields as the fleet maneuvered for better effectiveness.
“It’s taking all we’re giving it, Captain,” First Officer Ront called.
“Then give it more,” Asya replied. “If we let this invader gain a foothold in our space, there’s no telling what will come behind it.”
She stared at the superdreadnought on the screen and scowled darkly. She’d seen the reports of the Thra’kali scout ship they’d left ruined, the whole of its crew dead inside after they’d boarded. This Reynolds was clearly a mechanoid, not a human as he claimed. To think she would be so foolish as to accept him at his word was preposterous.
No, she’d tear the invader from space.
“Open comm to Commander Ast,” she called.
“Channel open,” Ront replied.
“Yes, Captain?” Ast asked over the comm.
“We’ve engaged the enemy, sir,” she reported, signaling for Ront to forward the video of the event. “It’s a superdreadnought. We’re going to need to go after it with everything we have. Permission to let the fleet off the leash, sir.”
Ast cleared his throat and grunted an affirmative. “Do what you have to, Captain, but bring that craft down.”
“Yes, sir!” Asya signed off and called for the fleet to do whatever was necessary to destroy the invading superdreadnought.
No matter what it took, she’d bring the enemy to their knees for what they’d done to the Thra’kali craft.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“We’ve raised their ire,” Tactical called. “Coming at us with everything they have.”
Jiya, Geroux, and Maddox stormed the bridge right then, racing over to take their positions.
“What in the hell happened?” Jiya asked. “We were only gone for a little while.”
“We flew into a cluster of Loranian ships,” Comm answered.
“They’re a little pissed about that scout ship we blew up and boarded,” the XO went on. “They seem to think we’re part of an invading force.”
“They don’t know any better,” Reynolds said, frustration clear in his voice, “but we need to convince them that we’re not what they think.”
“So far, sitting here getting shot to shit isn’t optimal. You asked for options? We’re going to have to neutralize their fleet,” Tactical replied.
“Well, we certainly can’t keep taking this without response,” XO announced. “Sooner or later, likely sooner, they’ll get through our gravitic shields with all this and start doing real damage.”
“And we’ve got meatbags on board now,” Tactical reminded everyone. “Shots get through the hull, and we’ll have dead meatbags. All that goop isn’t good for the systems.”
“Way to sound almost benevolent,” Jiya chided Tactical.
“He’s right, though,” Comm agreed. “Not necessarily about the goop, although that’s bad too, but we can’t go getting our crew killed after all the work we did to get them in place.”
“I know, I know,” Reynolds mumbled, pacing across the bridge before jabbing a metallic finger at Tactical. “Evasive maneuvers and return fire, but I want to wound, not kill, understood? No railguns, and definitely no ESD.”
Tactical grunted. “I understand the words but not the logic behind it. I’m on it.”
The image on the viewscreen shifted as the SD Reynolds began to evade. Weapons gleamed as they returned fire, selective shots streaking across space to slow and disable the engaging fleet.
“Missiles fired,” Tactical called, and the screen tracked the progress—quick flares of impact before they faded. “Crippled a destroyer. It’s listing.”
“That’s a start. Come on, Asya, get a clue that you’re going to get all your people killed. Dying for your cause won’t further it,” XO offered. “Just a dozen more ships to go.”
“Geroux,” Jiya shouted, “reach out to the lead ship and see if you can open a dialogue. Let them know we don’t want to harm them.”
“Already did that,” Reynolds told her.
“It doesn’t hurt to keep trying,” Jiya answered. “Maybe she can hack their systems and force a message through.”
“Do it!” Reynolds agreed.
“This is going to get messy quickly,” Maddox announced. “There’s no way we can maneuver through all this without causing some real damage, Reynolds. You might want to think about retreating and coming back elsewhere in the system where there isn’t a fleet to engage us.”
“Never retreat! Never surrender!” Tactical shouted.
“Seriously?” Maddox asked.
“He’s quoting some stupid movie,” Comm clarified. “Ignore him.”
Maddox grunted.
“Another ship disabled,” XO announced.
“They’re blocking all incoming signals,” Geroux told them. “I’m trying to hack through, but it’s not looking good.”
“Bring us around so—”
“Shit!” Tactical cursed.
“What?”
“Their lead ship zigged when it should have zagged,” Tactical answered. “We broadsided it with a missile.”
“Damn it!” Reynolds shouted. “On screen.”
The image of Captain Asya’s ship appeared, and they zoomed in. A smoking crater was obvious about halfway down the hull. The ship’s engines sputtered and died, the destroyer dead in space.
“I said wound, not kill, dumbass,” Reynolds shouted.
“They maneuvered into the missile. Likely trying to deflect it from their companion ship, but it hit flush. Nothing I could do.”
“Well, if the Loranian captain didn’t already think we were a bunch of killers, she most certainly does now.”
“It’s losing atmosphere, and life support is failing,” Comm said.
“The ship’s drifting off,” Jiya reported. “Looks like the fleet is letting it flounder, preferring to take us down before they spare any thought for their wounded.”
“And here we are, looking like assholes,” Reynolds complained, growling at the screen. “The complete opposite of what we want.”
“Orders?” XO pushed. “We can’t sit here picking our mechanical asses.”
“Close on that destroyer and tractor it,” Reynolds commanded.
“Are you insane?” Tactical asked. “You’ll make us a sitting duck.”
“Do it!” Reynolds ordered. He spun in his seat and addressed the crew. “Jiya, get a team ready to board the Valter. If their people won’t bail them out, we will. Maybe that will show them we don’t mean any harm.”
“Or maybe it will get us all killed,” Tactical argued. “For the record, this is stupid.”
“I hate to agree with Tactical,” Maddox said, “but I think he’s right. This is a mistake.”
“Probably,” Reynolds agreed, “but I’m out of options. We need to take the opportunity.”
“Ship is tractored, and we’re pulling it in,” Helm called.
“Expand the gravitic shields over both ships,” Reynolds ordered. “I don’t want the Valter taking hits meant for us.”
“The destroyer is shielded,” Helm announced. “It’s already costing us, though. Shields are taking a beating.”
Reynolds jumped to his feet, waving to Jiya and the others. “Get over there and get power back to that ship, so she doesn’t die out there. Do whatever you have to.”
Jiya saluted and raced off, Maddox and Geroux at her heels.
“You sure this is a good idea?” XO repeated.
“Not really,” Reynolds replied, “but it’s what we’re doing.”
“Does this feel insane to anyone else?” Ka’nak asked as the crew crowded outside the boarding tube, armed and armored and ready to board the listing destroyer.
Geroux raised her hand.
“See? It’s not just me,” Ka’nak mumbled. “This is crazy.”
“It’s what we’ve been ordered to do,” Jiya countered,” so it’s what we’re going to do. Period.”
“Here!” Takal offered Jiya a belt with several small oval containers on it.
“What are these?”
“Screamers,” he answered, “for lack of a better name. They’ll be useful as distractions should you need them. Just make sure to keep your helmets on or your ears will hate me later. I’ve added baffles to protect you.”
Jiya nodded and took the belt, strapping it around her waist. “Everyone know their job?”
“Convince the enemy that we aren’t their enemy,” Ka’nak stated.
The rest of the crew nodded, and Jiya sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves. “Let’s do this,” she ordered and signaled for the boarding tube to be opened.
Weapons in hand, they raced down the tube with Comm’s voice in their ears. “Boarding point is clear,” he reported. “The crew is busy trying to save the ship, but you won’t have long before they realize you’re there, so stay frosty.”
Jiya replied in the affirmative as the crew burst through the hatch onto the enemy ship. Smoke filled the air, and tiny electrical fires sparked in the electronics along the wall.
“Clean shot,” Maddox whistled. “Too bad we weren’t trying to take them out.”
“You’ve got life forms headed your way,” Comm told them.
Jiya turned to face her people. “Geroux, you and Takal get to engineering and try to resuscitate this wreck.” She waved them off before turning to the remaining crew. “It’s up to us to hold this point as long as it takes for Takal and Geroux to restore power to the ship.”
She motioned down the hall to where the Valter’s crew would be coming from, the opposite direction from where Geroux and Takal had run off.
“Do what you have to, but stun only,” she ordered. “We can’t go killing them if we want to pull this off.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Ka’nak complained. “Doesn’t seem fair, you ask me.”
“Life ain’t fair,” Jiya told him. “Let’s make sure it works out the way we need it to.”
Bolts of energy screamed down the corridor and Jiya dar
ted to the left for cover, Maddox and Ka’nak going to the right. They returned fire, snapping shots down the hall, grateful that Comm had led them to a place on the Valter that provided them with reasonable cover.
“I count twenty crew,” Comm said over the communicator. “They’re clustered at the bend at the end of the hall. No way to advance without making a target of themselves, so stay tight, and you should be fine.”
Ka’nak loosed a few bolts in the general direction of the Valter’s crew to help them with their decision to remain behind cover.
“We’re going to have issues when Geroux and Takal return,” Maddox pointed out. “No cover down that corridor.”
Jiya nodded, having realized that herself. She patted the belt that Takal had given her, letting Maddox see it. She had an idea what she’d do when the time came, but right then, she had her hands full trying not to get shot while they waited.
It’d only be a matter of time before Captain Asya figured out a way to come down the corridor and make this a real fight. Jiya didn’t want to be there when that happened.
“How’s it going?” she asked Takal over the comm.
Takal came back, breathing heavily. “There’s a system-wide failure,” he reported. “I’m trying to reboot it, but I’m having a hard time getting it to take commands. It’s largely unresponsive.”
“What does that mean?” she pushed.
“It means I don’t know if we can bring her back online in time to save the crew or us,” Takal told her.
“Not sure what the enemy crew is doing, but they’re gathering,” Comm announced. “Piling up behind one another, drawing closer to the corner.”
“Shit,” Jiya muttered, shaking her head. “They’ve either got something to deflect shots or they’re willing to sacrifice some of their people to get close enough to take us out.”
Jiya had to admire their courage, considering the Valter’s crew didn’t know Jiya and her people were intending to immobilize them instead of killing them. She snarled into the comm. Ka’nak started to growl deep in his throat with the adrenaline surge of the impending fight.
