by C H Gideon
Reynolds slammed his fist on the arm of his seat, warping the frame. He said nothing for a while, simply fuming at the lost opportunity.
At last, he decided it was time to move on.
“Plot a course based on the coordinates I’ve just sent you,” Reynolds ordered.
“Plotted,” Ria responded a moment later.
“Okay, hold our position for now,” Reynolds told her.
He triggered the comm and sent a message to Takal.
“Hey, you have an extra cloaking device or two worked up?” Reynolds asked the inventor.
“I do,” the old male’s voice came back.
“Then attach a pair to a couple of proximity mines keyed to the Loranian ship’s energy signature and meet me in the launch bay.” Reynolds grinned. “We’re going to leave some nasty breadcrumbs for our uninvited guest.”
Reynolds hopped to his feet and addressed Ria. “When I give the signal, Gate us out to the first of the locations, drop a mine, then Gate again right after and take us back to Grindlevik 3. Let’s teach these assholes not to fuck with the Superdreadnought Reynolds.”
With a fly-by of the defensive ring, the Reynolds confirmed that repairs had been completed and Gorad had reestablished a solid defense. Half the unmanned fleet was deployed throughout the system while the other half remained attached to the ring, ready to move should a threat appear.
The remaining crew was recovered from the planet. Captain Reynolds stood at the captain’s chair on the bridge surrounded by his key officers: Jiya, Asya, Maddox, and Ka’nak. Takal and Geroux remained in their lab working on their latest revelation.
San Paget and L’Eliana joined the crew on the bridge.
“Say goodbye. It’ll be a while before we make it back,” Jiya recommended.
“What? From here?” San Paget asked.
“Yes. We won’t be returning to the surface of Grindlevik 3.”
L’Eliana’s lower lip trembled, but she shrugged it off. “Bye. See you on the flip side,” she said, having adopted Reynolds’ translated vernacular.
San Paget waved.
“Duty stations,” Reynolds ordered.
“Helm, set course for Krokus 4.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the ship cleared the defensive ring and the disruptive gravity from the planet, Ria activated the Gate drive and the superdreadnought slipped through.
They didn’t see the explosion when the Loranian cruiser appeared and found itself on the wrong end of a cloaked proximity mine.
The End
Author Notes - Craig Martelle
Written October 28, 2018
You are still reading! Thank you so much. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Thank you for reading this book and you’re still reading! Oorah, hard chargers. I really hope you liked this story.
Woohoo! Thank you so much for coming along to Superdreadnought 2! We received a little unhappy mail from folks who were expecting something a little different than what we put together in Superdreadnought 1. The big, bad spaceship will go around the galaxy and beat up bad guys when warranted, but their mission is to find and eliminate Kurtherians. In that, this is a mission of exploration, gaining a foothold in a new galaxy, showing the flag, winning friends, and influencing people.
It is military science fiction, but primarily, it is space opera and that means that it is character driven. The characters give it life. The ship is a character, too (or three or four). No matter where we go in the universe, we have to matter to ourselves first. I think that comes through in all my books. We can build the vessels that take us to the stars, but what do we do when we get there? What impression will we leave with alien cultures?
Isn’t it great to think about that kind of stuff? I do and it enriches my life today. If aliens were to arrive and judged all of humanity based on their actions, what would they find out about you? They would know that I love my dog, unequivocally. If aliens read my books, they’d know that I love all animals, like cats and wombats.
And justice which comes in many forms. Superdreadnought is a more unique look as justice has to come in bite-sized pieces. Reynolds can’t fix an entire galaxy in one book. One person, one group, one planet at a time. If everyone influenced five people for the better, and those five went on to be a positive change for five more and so on, pretty soon, the world would be a better place.
Or the universe. It only takes that first person to get the ball rolling, seeing what it’s like to live in a better place.
Once again, I have to thank Tim Marquitz for doing the heavy lifting. We spent some time bouncing ideas to the final product.
Micky Cocker, Kelly O’Donnell, and Dr. James Caplan all provided in process feedback (once again, aren’t I saying this in every author notes?) to keep the book on track. They are my personal all-star team.
Winter is finally here! We have snow, got a full inch yesterday (Oct 28) and then temperatures plunged. So yesterday’s snow will be with us until the end of April. That’s just how it is. The first bit gets tamped down to provide the base. We need a few more inches to give us a nice coating over our gravel. Otherwise, by supercool snow-blowing tractor will send our driveway flying into our yard, one stone at a time and with a great racket.
Who doesn’t like a good rock blast through a metal impeller?
I have pumpkins out on the porch. We’ll see how long they last until the moose get them. Last year, temperatures were in the minus 20s when the moose found the big orange fine dining. They couldn’t get a good bit, so they scratched the surface while pushing the pumpkin around the driveway. Had the cow stepped on it, it would have shattered and then she could have gummed the pieces until they melted.
We’ll see. Temps are in the teens for the next ten days (Fahrenheit).
As your read this (for those who get it when it first comes out), I’ll be in Vegas with Tim and Michael Anderle for a self-published author convention that I’m running. The one perq is that I get a suite. The bad news is that I won’t spend much time in it. If you are there, I’ll be the one whose hair is on fire.
I’ll get pictures.
Peace, fellow humans.
Superdreadnought 3
Book 3
Chapter One
The SD Reynolds exited the Gate near the aquatic planet of Krokus 4…
Right into the middle of a battle.
“Oops!” Ensign Tanirika “Ria” Alcott muttered under her breath.
Alarms wailed, and the bridge was bathed in an unsettling wash of red lights. Bursts of cannon fire rattled the hull from both sides as the ship oriented itself.
“I’m starting to think you guys like seeing me get shot to fuck-all,” Reynolds complained as what had happened began to register. “Deploy gravitic shields and report!”
“I’d say ‘oops’ fucking well covers it,” Tactical stated.
“A little more detail would be nice,” Reynolds grumbled.
Jiya Lemaire, First Officer, came over to stand alongside Reynolds’ android form. She gripped the side of his seat to steady herself since the ship rocked with each blast.
“We’re looking at two distinct entities,” she told him. “There’s a planetary force in a defensive posture, the larger destroyers there to our port, and the smaller attack array to our starboard—the red and black colored ships.”
“Who’s shooting holes in my ass?” Reynolds asked.
“Currently…both of them,” Jiya replied, looking abashed.
The ship rumbled as blows crashed into the raised shields. Reynolds waved the alarms to silence, and the flashing red lights returned to normal.
“Both? What the fuck?”
“Well, we did kind of pop into the middle of their war,” Jiya explained. “Can’t really blame them.”
“Oh, I can blame them plenty,” Reynolds remarked. “Get us up and out of the crossfire.”
“Already on it, sir,” Ensign Alcott told him.
The blows to the ship began to subsid
e seconds after she spoke. The viewscreen stopped flickering.
“We’re clear,” Ria announced, “but it looks like both sides are adjusting to our maneuvers and are sighting on us again. Several of the smaller craft are swinging around to flank us. Can’t get a good read on them, but they look like a cross between a large fighter and a small bomber. They’re quite agile.”
“Any clue who these people are?” Reynolds asked.
“From the transmissions we’re receiving between the combatants, the red and black ships—the fighter-bombers—appear to be invaders,” Maddox said. “The destroyer fleet is the Krokus 4 Navy.”
“Looks like the fleet is holding its own, but it’s taking some good hits,” Asya reported. “The red boys are packing some serious firepower on those little ships.”
“Decision time,” Reynolds stated, scanning the viewscreens and monitors for each and every detail.
The Reynolds had followed the trail of the Kurtherian energy signals they’d stumbled upon back at Grindlevik 3 to Krokus 4. It logically followed that they would help the Krokus 4 defenders because he needed to go planetside. The information wouldn’t jump into his lap. He needed to go get it, and he couldn’t do that if the planet got itself destroyed.
Reynolds’ uncertainty came from the strange signals he was picking up from the invading force, as well as those from the planet.
“See if you can clean up that energy trace, Asya,” Reynolds ordered. “I’m getting clusters of Kurtherian noise from both the planet and the attackers.”
Asya’s fingers flew over her console, and she shook her head a moment later. “No confusion,” she confirmed. “There are hints of Kurtherian tech resonating from all the ships out there, as well as Krokus 4.”
“Jackpot!” Tactical called. “Time to blow shit up.”
More weapons fire strafed the SD Reynolds’ shields.
“Some of the red boys are on us,” Jiya reported.
“Take them out, Tactical,” Reynolds commanded. “But only them,” he clarified.
“You take all the fun out the job, Reynolds,” Tactical complained, but he didn’t hesitate to follow the order.
As the SD Reynolds swung about, Tactical triggered the railguns and loosed a barrage of fire on the attacking fighter-bombers.
Caught off guard, the first ship was blasted into space dust. A nose-on blast from the Reynolds was more than its meager defenses could handle.
The second of the attackers veered at the last second to avoid the fate of the first. It managed to extend its life by less than one additional second.
The entire rear half of the ship was devastated and the ship bisected, sending the forward half tumbling through the blackness of space while the back flared out. The pilot’s screams for help rang across the comm as the fighter-bomber spun away. The call went quiet when the remnants of the ship hit the atmosphere of Krokus 4.
“Suck on that,” Tactical shouted. “Badass tactical officer: 2, toasted morons: 0.”
“Don’t throw a gear out trying to pat yourself on the back, Tactical,” Jiya warned him. “We’ve got three more incoming.”
The SD Reynolds shuddered in reply to an attack, confirming Jiya’s words.
“You act like these guys are a threat,” Tactical shot back. “Gravitic shields are holding steady. The enemy is lining up to get shot.”
“Let’s not underestimate these people, Tactical. Just take them out,” Reynolds ordered.
“Gladly,” Tactical replied.
The railguns fired again, sending projectiles through space at near the speed of light. They tore into the approaching fighter-bombers and two exploded; flashes of light flared, then immediately disappeared. The third ship had a huge hole blasted in its hull, the blast ripping half of the ship’s port side away.
It listed and spun, crashing into the Reynolds’ gravitic shields. The superdreadnought shuddered under the impact but the fighter-bomber was obliterated, dust and debris skittering across the shields as if it were a celebratory light show. The superdreadnought continued through the destroyed ship’s detritus to improve its tactical position.
“That had to hurt.” Tactical laughed.
“The destroyers are counterattacking the rest of the red guys,” Asya announced. “They’re taking them out.”
The crew watched destroyers annihilate the last three fighter-bombers.
“The Krokus 4 Navy is hailing us from their lead ship,” Comm called.
“Now that’s how you make an entrance,” Tactical crowed from his post.
“On screen,” Reynolds ordered.
The viewscreen lit up, and the image of a male alien appeared. There was no smile or indication that he was pleased to see the SD Reynolds or its crew.
“I am Colonel Gar Raf of the Krokus 4 Naval Fleet, commander of the Alfar,” he announced.
Reynolds took the time to examine the being during the introduction.
Humanoid, the colonel’s skin was so dark that hints of purple flashed under the lights that illuminated him on his bridge. His wide, round eyes were like pits of fire, burning crimson with dots of yellow at their center.
His outfit was crisp and regal, and his dark hair was cropped short, telling Reynolds that the Krokus 4 military was a proud one. The few crew Reynolds could see behind the colonel were similarly attired and postured.
“I am Reynolds, captain of the SD Reynolds, an Etheric Federation craft,” he answered. “We come in peace.”
“That’s how every alien invasion film ever made starts,” Tactical muttered, low enough that only the crew could hear him.
“We appreciate your efforts in ridding us of the Orau invaders, the pesky zignots you swatted…”
“Zignots?” Jiya asked XO over the comm, her translator not explaining the word.
“Hairy-ass dingles,” XO told her, chuckling. “At least that’s what the system is telling me it means.”
Jiya made a sour face as the colonel went on.
“However, understand that we have our reservations about you, Reynolds,” the colonel said. “You did appear out of nowhere in the middle of our fight without warning or explanation.”
“Most certainly,” Reynolds told him. “We were coming to your planet to negotiate terms on behalf of myself and the Federation for assistance with our mission,” he explained. “Our arrival in the middle of the battle was a miscalculation on our part. My apologies for that.”
Colonel Raf nodded. “Understood,” he shot back. “However, I am not authorized to treat with you, Reynolds,” he explained. “Our president, Jaer Pon, has issued explicit orders that I detain you and your craft in space until he deems otherwise.”
As the colonel said that, Reynolds noticed that the fleet of destroyers began to crowd around them. Alarms flashed on the various consoles, warning that the Krokus 4 Navy was targeting the superdreadnought.
“So much for a friendly welcome,” Jiya muttered. “Maybe one day.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Tactical argued.
“I must confer with command,” Colonel Raf told Reynolds. “Until then, I ask that you maintain your position and do nothing to make my people believe you are a threat.”
“You mean besides us being a superdreadnought?” Jiya asked quietly.
“Should you violate this directive, we will be forced to destroy you,” the colonel went on.
“Good luck with that.” Tactical laughed.
Reynolds nodded to the colonel, accepting the terms.
“I will contact you once I have orders.” Colonel Raf nodded, and the viewscreen flickered and returned to its view of the planet below.
“He doesn’t think he can hurt us, does he?” Tactical asked.
“They have enough firepower to scratch the paint, though,” Asya clarified.
“They may not be packing the biggest arsenal,” Reynolds said, “but the impact is to the overall mission. We need to find out about their relations with the Kurtherians. If we fight them, then we have to take
the information. If they share it willingly, we can get what we need and get out. I don’t think there are any Kurtherians here, but they were here. Question is, how long ago?”
Maddox cut in, “Takal reports that some of the previously damaged shielding is damaged once again. He’s got a crew on it already.”
“Did someone paint a bright red X on the hull?” Reynolds asked. “Or maybe a big bullseye? When we left High Tortuga, I envisioned something different.”
“It’s nice that you said ‘we.’ I’m getting teary-eyed over here.”
“I’ve had about enough of you, Tactical. It pains me to know that you were birthed from my loins. Or digits, as it may be. I can’t believe what I hear coming from your suckhole.”
“What have you heard?” Tactical mused in a quiet voice.
“More than a polite person can repeat in mixed company,” Jiya interjected.
“So, you’re saying you have no problem repeating it for the world to hear, then?” Tactical shot back.
“You’re lucky you’re not real,” Jiya muttered.
“As real as any of the boyfriends you claim to have had back home,” Tactical joked.
Jiya covered her heart. “Ouch.”
“Stow it,” Reynolds grumbled, not up for listening to the back and forth. “Get us some information on the Orau, Asya. I want to know who and what these people are.” He motioned to Jiya. “And scan the planet for intel we can use. We may get lucky and find what we need without having to play nice with these guys.”
Both females went to work as Reynolds examined the planet on the viewscreen.
It was large, several times the diameter of Earth, but it was almost completely covered by water. The surface gleamed a brilliant blue, and their scanners flashed and bleeped as Jiya manipulated ship’s sensors to reveal the planet’s secrets.
It was Captain Asya who came back with the first information, though.
