Countdown

by John Walker

  I’m sure you’re going to need it, Oliver thought. He boarded the shuttle, taking a seat beside some of the Gold Empire soldiers who had been in the fight. They were exhausted, having only recently been roused from the stun they’d experienced at the hands of the power burst from the shields.

  One of them nodded to him. He couldn’t have been more than eighteen years old. Oliver clapped the young man on the shoulder before turning his attention to the floor. He had to admit, the entire day had exhausted him as well. Far too many stresses vied for his attention. Too many people he cared about remained unaccounted for.

  This conflict has been unlike any other I’ve been involved with. The thought made him smirk. He’d fought on so many different theaters, engaging in dozens of conflicts throughout Confed space. Pirates, raiders, flat out criminals, Gold Empire… even armed civilians claiming ether facilities… none of them held a candle to his time in the frontier.

  And the worse may well be yet to come. Oliver didn’t want to think about fighting on enemy soil. At least they had a prisoner to provide some solid intel on such a thing. Though how much he trusted it, that was another story altogether. The man’s a traitor. Even if he doesn’t want the fighting to go on, he’s selling his people out.

  Was it possible that Trenik wanted to help them? Or did he merely want to save his own skin? That would always be the question with a turncoat. At least they didn’t torture him to gather the information. If Oliver found out someone hurt the guy to get the intel, he wouldn’t have believed any of it.

  No. I’m going to believe he’s simply a sane, sentient being that doesn’t want to see the universe burn due to a holy war over ether. That idea is ludicrous. Zealots tended to have dangerous agendas. Occasionally, they were bad enough to threaten planets but never civilization… never the entire human race.

  I guess these guys wanted to prove their worth… to show us that there are things in the dark worth fearing. Oliver scowled as the ramp sealed and thrusters kicked in. They were on their way, meaning soon, they’d be away from Gallik, tossed into the galactic theater once again. We’re not afraid… and we’re coming.

  ***

  Erris leaned back in her seat on the bridge of her ship Intervention. It felt like an honest homecoming to board the vessel, to take the seat of command once again. After everything she’d done and all the places she’d been, part of her began to wonder if she’d ever return to her former position.

  Seems my promotion within MerCon stuck too.

  Eliza Leavis held the position of Chairwoman of the Board. She effectively led the entire company, although now it was more overtly because of the different problems facing the universe at large. A regulation granted her additional power; one meant for wartime. It allowed her to appoint a commander like Erris and to carry out military operations.

  Fortunately, our ships are top-of-the-line. The biggest difference between MerCon vessels and the military came down to how much they could be fiddled with by their engineers. Many of the operations were automated, meaning they were more difficult to repair. However, their shields and weapons tended to have a little more consistent kick.

  They were not tested in outright warfare, however. That would come soon enough. The three ships had showed up at the tail end of the battle with Whitaker. Erris didn’t consider that a fair assessment of how well they would do against the ervas. However, they had plenty of ships to contribute to the cause.

  Enough to be a real force against the threat.

  The sleek design of the oval bridge looked far more aesthetically inspired than the Morrigan. Besides the commander chair in the center, three tech stations lined the room, one behind her and one to either side. The helm had two stations as well for redundancy in piloting. At the moment, only one happened to be there.

  Operative Richard Parsons had been with Erris for well over two years. She’d recruited him directly out of flight school, giving him an apprenticeship position under her former pilot. That man had retired after a year, allowing Richard to step into the role as chief pilot. He’d proven himself quite capable from that point on.

  Technician Missy Lyman acted as the chief tech officer aboard. She tended to take the station to the right, one that allowed her access to all sensor and communications equipment. The others were meant to be filled in times of incredibly tense work, combat or big deployments. When they went against the ervas, they’d all be on board.

  Missy spent her time coordinating with the other vessels in the area. The MerCon presence became the center of their recovery operations, even over the dreadnaught. Alden pressed his people to finish repairs as quickly as possible, but they would be a while yet. Fortunately, with all the advanced tech, they could get a lot done.

  Including communicating with different parties at the various factions.

  Marshal Alexander Northam happened to be aboard the ship. He prepared a briefing for everyone involved, one that he promised painted a path forward. With Eliza’s help, he communicated with the prime minister back home. Whitaker may have escaped, but he wouldn’t find any friends if he returned to Confed space.

  She would learn more when they all got together.

  Traitors had boarded the Morrigan before they went off to their battle. After an investigation, they’d determined that the group was a small band of pirates working for Commodore Parse. They’d infiltrated Commodore Alden’s crew then slipped aboard the Morrigan to take the ship out. Their goal was to remove the Confed threat and then turn Commander Wilmarth to their side.

  They thought he wouldn’t have a choice. Erris couldn’t argue the thinking behind the assault. It explained the report from the Morrigan about how the dreadnaught had not opened fire immediately. They’d wanted all three ships added to their armada. Such additions would afford them better defenses against the ervas, after all.

  Rita’s absence hit her hard. Erris felt sickened by the fact that she’d taken off. There was nothing Erris could’ve done, but she wanted the opportunity to push her friend… to talk her out of following Loch’s orders. If Erris hadn’t taken on such a complicated role within MerCon, she’d already be out there looking for Rita.

  The comm buzzed on Erris’s console; a direct connection that made her frown. Who could even do that? “Hello?” Erris peered at the screen attached to the arm of the chair but no name appeared. “Who is this?”

  “Zem. I’m about to come aboard. I thought you’d like a quick chat before I take off again.”

  “Whoa… why are you leaving? What’s going on?”

  “I’m going after Rita,” Zem replied. “Gathering some forces and we’re out of here. Well, quick clean up and resupply, then I’m gone. I hoped you might be able to help me with something though.”

  “Anything. What can I do?”

  “MerCon has some of the best gear available,” Zem explained. “Give me a minute in your armory before I take off. I need some sensor equipment, computer upgrades, and some weapons.”

  “Of course. Are you… are you sure you can do this? Do you have enough people?”

  “Too many won’t help. I need a nimble crew this time out. That’s why I’m bringing Dora, Torrence, and Nostros. Well… they haven’t all agreed yet, but I’m pretty sure they will. I’d invite you along, but…”

  “No, I appreciate that, and I understand. How long are you going to stay aboard?”

  “Just long enough to get a shower, grab that gear, and get out of there. I can sleep during the first hyperspace jump.”

  Erris hummed. “Well… good hunting, Zem. I’ll try to meet you before you go.”

  “No need. I know you’re busy. Thanks, Erris. Good luck with whatever you have to do.” The line went dead.

  If anyone can do it… Erris hoped for the best. She wished they’d take a war vessel, a destroyer or something at the very least. Heading out there with a gunboat, even one as advanced as The Bounty, seemed almost irresponsible. I’ll have to trust him. The briefing popped up on her calendar. Well… t
ime to find out how screwed we are.

  And whether or not we have a chance to win the upcoming fight.

  Chapter 2

  Rita Peck landed the shuttle in Loch’s hangar. She resigned herself on the trip up, somehow coming to peace with the idea that she’d likely die the moment she set foot down the ramp. The rebellious part of her spirit fought with her all the way until she received clearance and found herself inside the lion’s den.

  And now it’s over. I didn’t even run from this piece of shit. This is the epitome of unfair.

  Had she genuinely planned on running out on the bastard, it would’ve been different. After the job went south, she’d thought about what might happen but hoped to have a few days, even a week to consider what to do about her arrangement. Noah had other plans… and the universe conspired against her.

  Maybe this moron will listen to reason.

  Rita had plenty of information about the ervas; enough to sway most rational individuals. She clung to some tiny shred of hope that Loch would give her a chance to talk. A conversation might lead to buying some time, perhaps even convincing him to help with the cause against the ervas.

  They’re threatening his holdings. I figure he’d want to protect them at all costs.

  The ship settled in, shaking as the magnetics secured it to the deck. Rita drew her pistol, tossing it on the copilot’s seat. She didn’t have any other weapons. Taking a deep breath, she shoved herself to her feet before heading toward the back of the vessel and whatever fate might await her.

  Rita’s stomach tingled, getting worse with every step. When she arrived at the ramp, she seriously questioned her sanity. I could’ve let that Gold Empire ship be destroyed. How the hell did I take on this responsibility? Zem and I could’ve taken off out of there, dealt with Loch chasing us later… if he would’ve survived fighting the MerCon ships.

  The thought appealed to the side of her that still refused to accept what was happening, the side that planned to fight until the bitter end. Maybe that’s how this is going to go. But then, perhaps Loch didn’t like getting rid of potential assets. He might have a use for her beyond simple murder.

  As the ramp dropped in the cargo bay, Rita steeled herself to find out for sure what might come next.

  Two guards stood on the deck below, each holding their rifles across their body. The fact they didn’t point them at her gave her a sense of hope. She stepped down toward them, looking around the room. It was empty but for the three of them. That optimism began to falter. She chewed her lower lip.

  “There you are!” Loch’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Give us a moment then we’ll talk. Gotta get into hyperspace really fast. You understand, I’m sure.”

  Thank God. Rita clenched her fist. I’ve got a little more time. She turned to the guards. “We just going to stand around here?” She huffed. “I hope this ship’s a lot more stable about a jump to hyperspace than Confed vessels are or we’re going to be scraping ourselves off the deck.”

  Her company consisted of a rough older man with graying brown hair and a bald thirty-something wearing a goatee. Both of them wore some pretty serious scars. They’d been through some work, that much was true. The question Rita pondered came down to where they got the decorations.

  Barroom fights helped in a brawl but unless they picked up their injuries on the front lines, they might not be soldiers. Their posture suggested they had endurance but not necessarily training. Many of Loch’s people came from the ranks of common thugs given better equipment.

  Dangerous, yes but not as bad as they could be.

  “Shut up,” the younger of the two spoke up. Rita designated him Cue for Cue ball. “Ship’s just fine.”

  “That’s cool.” Rita nodded, turning in place. There were two doors leading out of the hangar, one on each side of the command tower. No one appeared to be up there. They must’ve guided her in from the bridge. Both doors were closed as well. She tapped her foot, contemplating what to do next. “You guys like working here?”

  “Didn’t he say shut up?” Scruffy belted out. “You know you’re in a shitload of trouble, right?”

  Rita smirked as she turned to him. The bravado took some effort, though once she conjured it, she clung to it tightly. “Yeah? Well, maybe when Loch hears what the hell I’ve been through, he’ll understand. And if he doesn’t buy into the concept of extenuating circumstances, that’s just his damn problem.”

  “Ex… what?” Cue asked. “What’s that?”

  “Dude…” Scruffy shook his head. “You serious? She’s trying to say there were things beyond her control that prevented her from talking to the boss.”

  “Oh.” Cue’s face lit up with instant understanding. It looked comical on the hardened features. “I get it. You think that’s true?”

  “It is,” Rita pointed out, “for the record.”

  “Just stop!” Scruffy shouted. “What’re you even trying to do?”

  “Chat,” Rita said. “I don’t like going into hyperspace. Gives me the jitters.” In truth, she found herself more concerned about what Loch might have to say, but it was a good excuse that kept her from showing fear of her captor. “Don’t you guys think it’s a little creepy? We go from standing still to over a hundred ninety thousand miles per second. That’s insane.”

  “A second?” Cue swallowed hard. “I had no idea! How’d you figure that?”

  Rita frowned. “Uh… speed of light plus a little? You know… to account for the fact we’re going faster than light when we go into hyperspace?” She gestured to Scruffy. “You know what I’m talking about, right?”

  “Yeah, of course,” Scruffy scoffed. The ship vibrated, barely a tiny shake before settling down again.

  Holy shit. If that was them going into hyperspace, they’ve got some amazing equipment here. I know some people who would love the opportunity to check it out in fact. Rita looked between the two. Neither of them seemed to notice… or maybe they didn’t care. Either way, they just continued to watch her.

  Though Cue looked like he had something to say. He kept it to himself, though that meant bouncing from foot to foot like a child who needed to use the bathroom.

  Rita figured these idiots didn’t pose too much of a threat. If she attacked them on the spot, they likely couldn’t have stopped her. She figured a punch to Scruffy’s throat followed by a solid jab to Cue’s face would do the trick. Grabbing a rifle afterward might buy her some time to become her own hostage in the hangar.

  There’s a reason Loch left only two people. Rita felt like he might be testing her. If that was the case, then she had reason to be concerned. There didn’t appear to be any turrets or anything nearby. So what’s he got that might put me down? The thought made her clench her fists, but she didn’t move.

  I don’t dare to give him the opportunity. This is a situation where he wants me to prove he’s in control. I’m not doing his work for him.

  The doors opened. Tobin Loch entered, his arms out to either side. He wore a stupid-looking grin; the kind that was forced beyond belief. He waved at his men to step back. They did so, each looking terribly uncomfortable. Rita watched him, forcing herself to stand firm, to remain perfectly still.

  “Rita Peck!” Loch chuckled. He clapped her on the shoulders, looking her in the eye. “You look like shit. I guess it was hell down there, huh? Real nasty business, fighting the Confeds. Or were you dueling the Gold Empire? It’s hard to tell whose side you’re on anymore. My sources are insanely confused.”

  “Like I give a shit,” Rita said. “What’s the point of this?”

  “Wow. I thought you’d want to be civil!” Loch chuckled. “I’m glad you didn’t attack my men. That would’ve been bad.”

  Settle down, woman! Rita scolded herself without altering her expression. You wanted to talk your way out of this. That doesn’t involve acting like an asshole.

  “I imagine,” Rita replied. “You ready to hear the story about what happened to us? You going to listen this time?”
/>
  “I want to have dinner with you. Are you hungry? I assume you must be after everything you’ve done. Fighting builds an appetite and…” Loch pulled out a silver case. “I’ve got a little of your… habit here. Oh yes, I heard. I did my homework. Naughty girl. I’m surprised they didn’t kick you out of the military for that.”

  So his sources aren’t amazing. Rita shrugged. “I could eat.”

  She decided to stay neutral. She had been worried about taking ether but only for so long as she thought she might survive the encounter with him. Now that things were looking up, at least temporarily, she figured it would be good to have some.

  “You left your weapons onboard, I assume?” Loch asked. Rita nodded. “Excellent. Your computer will still work. You can scan this. See that it’s pure, untainted stuff. I’m not here to poison you. Take it with you. I’ll lead you to your quarters. They’ll be locked, unfortunately. Until you’re ready for dinner, that is.”

  “These monkeys going to be my guards too?” Rita asked.

  “Them?” Loch stepped closer to Rita, pushing her back toward the ship. She stiffened at his touch, prepared for violence that never came. “No,” he whispered. “They’re here for an example to you. A couple guys who continued to find themselves just behind you and Zem. Borden too. So I thought you’d like to see this.”

  Loch tapped his computer. The telltale sound of a turret popping up came from the left. Rita tensed as it opened fire, high-pitched blasts cutting through the room. Cue died instantly, before he could even look around. Scruffy cried out, turning to run. A ball of blue energy slammed into his left leg, burning it off.

  He dropped to the ground, screaming like a wild animal. Blood poured from the wound. The turret adjusted, firing again. Scruffy’s head popped, the contents scattered over the metal deck.

  Loch clicked his tongue. “Well, there you go. Failure dealt with.” He backed away from Rita. “If you would’ve taken them down, I could’ve done the same to you. Something told me you were far too intelligent to jump the guards though. I figured… there’s no way she’s that stupid. After all, I trusted her with a lot of money for a reason.”