“I have a suggestion. But it has consequences.”
“Can’t be worse than dying, can it?”
“I can disable the ship’s safety inhibitor system. We will be able to push the ship well beyond its design limitations. But…”
“It’s going to damage a lot of components.”
“Yes.”
“How bad?”
“I am uncertain. Likely, the engines will need to be overhauled. The power distribution system may or may not be able to handle the added stress. The reactor should survive but will need maintenance.”
“Hurting for choices. Do it.”
“Acknowledged. You may want to don your helmet.”
I fastened the helmet and felt the hiss of oxygen as the suit’s environmental and life support systems came online. The lights dimmed out entirely, and I watched as the power indicators to all nonessential systems blinked out one by one—including life support. The gravity went out as well.
I watched the speed indicator turn red. The ship began to shake and vibrate as we accelerated. Temperature warnings flashed across the console. But we were pulling away from our pursuers. The ship shuddered again.
“Evading fire. Brace for high-G maneuver.”
Before I could even grip the armrests, the ship spun. Outside the windows, the stars streaked in a corkscrew. I swallowed hard, attempting to keep my food down and my eyes open. The mining laser was fully charged. Sami must want me to do that again. The ship spun again. One of the pursuing ships centered itself in my targeting indicator. I released my death grip on the armrest and slammed the fire button.
The ship in my sights shuddered and drifted listlessly in space. “One down!” I shouted over the roar of the engines.
“Excellent. One more.”
We repeated the maneuver three more times. Reinforcements had joined. Or Sami was too busy to count properly. I wasn’t sure. We were skimming along the lunar surface, trying to avoid detection. The ground in front of us exploded, forcing Sami to veer off course. Then the fleet arrived in unison. Guns blazed.
Our speed kept us from being hit, but the engines wouldn’t last much longer. Three small ships moved in on our position. I managed to siphon one of them. The other two powered down and crashed into each other before plowing into a crater at maximum speed.
I looked up in time to see the Strider zip past. Seconds later, the Grey Wolf dropped out of FTL between us and the fleet. Sami guided the Gilmore into the docking bay and fired the reverse thrusters. We weren’t slowing down.
“Sami, we need more reverse thrust!”
“Engines at six hundred percent. There is no more thrust.”
We hit the deck plating with enough force to jar my brain. I woke up a few seconds later. The Gilmore rested against the far back wall of the docking bay. A path of destruction marked our slide from the bay door. The Strider set down on the second pad. Anne and Steve exited their ship and ran toward us.
I managed to unstrap myself and make my way to the hatch. The door slid open and I fell out of the ship. People were screaming at me, but I couldn’t hear them. My ears rang. Anne reached out and unclasped my helmet. She yelled, but I could barely make out her words.
“Bishop! Are you all right?” she yelled. I nodded.
“Ears ringing,” I said. Or yelled. I wasn’t sure. “Plug in the Strider to the network.” I grabbed my neural interface helmet from the Gilmore. On the way to the Strider, I noticed the engines. The thrust nozzles had completely melted. The bulkheads around them as well. I shook my head. That’s going to take a while to fix…
I ran to the Strider, and immediately, I connected with the ship. Its systems felt natural. Like home. There was no resistance. No lag time. No vertigo.
“Sami. It’s time for a fight.”
“Indeed.”
23
The colonial fleet floated between us and Colony Ship Two-Seven. I focused on the rail cannon and charged it to maximum as the Sentinel shrieked and protested.
To any casual observers on the other ships, or anyone watching from the colony, you'd be able to see yellow and blue lightning arcing up and down the twin-pronged emitter barrel assembly. They knew what was coming.
I opened a channel to the entire fleet as well as the colony. “Greetings. For those that don't know who I am, my name is Bishop Jones. I was born on this colony and have its well-being in mind and at heart as I stand off against our own colonial fleet.”
They tried blocking my signal so I boosted the power. “For too long, our leadership has fabricated lies and funded the pirates to maintain their stranglehold of power over us. Even now, they try to block me from reaching out to you.”
“I would like to play you a few passages from the personal journal of the previous captain of the Grey Wolf. Which may be interrupted by weapons fire from our own military, as they do not want you to hear my next transmission.”
The cruiser fired a warning shot across the nose of the Grey Wolf. I fired one of the mass drivers and set the warhead to detonate right before impact.
Anyone looking out the window would be seeing spots for the next few hours. As I played Captain Tolya’s journal to the entire colony, the ships powered their engines and closed on our ancient freighter.
I paused for a moment. “I will try to continue transmitting; however, our government is now attacking us in an effort to hide the truth from you. Don't take my word for it, look out your windows. If they had nothing to hide, would they be trying to silence us with deadly force?”
The cruiser opened fire, and the Grey Wolf shuddered. “Captain Rogers, I implore you, cease fire,” I said over the open comms. “Please don't make me fire the rail cannon at your ship. There is no reason for you and your crew to be destroyed.”
He answered with a volley of missiles, but the turrets shut them down. “Just because I don't want to resort to violence doesn't mean I won't. Stand. Down. Captain.”
“We don't negotiate with terrorists,” replied Captain Rogers. “Stand down and face trial.”
“No,” I said. “I'm not leaving until the people know what our government has done for the last century. They have a right to know. If you had any honor, you would be supporting our cause.”
“You are terrorists and enemies of the state.” Captain Rogers puffed his chest out on his video transmission, trying to look intimidating. “If you will not surrender, we will destroy you.”
“If that's the way it's gotta be.”
“It is.”
“You disappoint me, Captain. So be it. I recommend evasive maneuvers.” I targeted the unoccupied hangar of his cruiser. And fired. The rail round streaked through the distance separating the two ships in the blink of an eye.
It smashed into the side of the [big ship], causing massive explosions along the port side. Secondary explosions burst from the bottom of the ship. Lights flickered out and then back on across the hull.
The fleet moved in on us, and the Grey Wolf shuddered under the combined firepower of the colonial fleet. I opened up with the turrets, forcing several of the ships to break off. The remaining ships pushed on toward us.
I fired the three mass drivers and pushed them back. “Stand down or be destroyed,” I said. “I'm done playing games.”
“We will not stand down,” said Captain Rogers.
“Then the blood of your entire fleet is on your hands.” I charged the rail cannon and the mass drivers. “Anyone who stands in our way will be obliterated.”
The Alexander’s engines fired, spewing out a cloud of bright blue plasma. “Don't throw your lives away, Captain Rogers. You've seen the footage. Don't be a fool.”
The ship veered toward us, accelerating on a collision course. “Fine,” I said. “Have it your way…” I fired the rail cannon and pierced the ship. The Alexander shuddered as its bulkheads collapsed in on themselves around the engineering section. Then the FTL drive detonated. The shockwave rocked the Grey Wolf from several kilometers away.
“FT
L drive detonation confirmed,” said Steve over the comms. “Probably should have avoided that.”
“Too late now,” I said. “Let's just hope the Qhonox don't take notice.” I knew as I said it that we had just opened Pandora's box.
I felt the strange disturbance in the air before it happened. The lights dimmed, and the hairs on my arms stood up. A strange ship, in a design I'd never seen before, suddenly dropped out of light speed between us and the remainder of the colonial fleet.
“We have company,” said Anne. “Somehow I don't think they're friendly, either.”
“Incoming message,” said Sami. “All frequencies.”
BEGIN TRANSMISSION:
“It has been ordained by the Gods that no lesser space-faring race may travel at Sun-speed. Make peace with your Creator, for your destruction is at hand.”
END TRANSMISSION.
24
Bishop’s Redemption
The alien ship fired a red beam at one of the colonial ships, shearing it in half. The two pieces exploded as the reactor went critical.
“Well, that is troubling,” said Sami.
I didn’t hesitate. All the turrets focused onto the Qhonox ship, firing as fast as their systems allowed. I brought the mass drivers to bear, emptying their munitions reserves.
The colonial fleet had responded identically. Volley after volley of energy and kinetic rounds slammed into the enemy ship from both sides.
“Sami, can you calculate a targeting solution for the rail cannon? I want to maximize damage in one shot. I also don’t want to hit any of our ships.”
“Calculations complete.” The new firing solution appeared in my mind.
“Colonial fleet, see if you can buy me a few seconds to reorient the Grey Wolf for a better shot.”
“Piss off,” responded someone in a grumpy voice. “We don’t take orders from terrorists.”
“Fine. Do what you want. I plan on firing the rail cannon again. If I take out any more of your ships in the process, you only have yourself to blame.”
I started charging the rail cannon for another shot while reorienting the freighter.
“You’ve got thirty seconds, Grey Wolf. Walters out.” Strike fighters streaked out of several ships, running interference and keeping the Qhonox ship from focusing on us. They swarmed around the alien ship like flies around a corpse.
The freighter shuddered as a volley of fire nailed the side. The targeting solution lined up; I fired. The round slammed into the alien ship’s hull at near the speed of light. Explosions riddled the alien ship as the round pierced it from bow to stern.
“That looks like it hurt.”
“Indeed,” said Sami. “They are likely having a bad day.”
“Did you just crack a joke?”
“Apparently… You seem to be rubbing off on me. How revolting.”
I chuckled.
The colonial fleet converged on the ship, weapons firing. Bulkheads erupted in flame from its upper decks as it started to pull away.
“They are charging FTL drives,” said Sami. “Jump imminent. Seventeen seconds.”
“Walters, if you’ve got any more firepower, you might want to let loose. They’re about to jump.” As a precaution, I started charging our FTL drive as well.
“We can’t let them get away. They’ll bring reinforcements,” he replied.
“You have to do something. I’m not dishing out enough sustained damage to get past their armor.”
“You idiot! Just hit them with your rail cannon again.”
“It’s recharging,” I said flatly. “Jump in five seconds.”
“Ramming speed!” someone shouted over the comms. One of the ships accelerated toward its target. A blast of light and the ship was gone.
“Bishop Jones. You’re under arrest,” transmitted Walters. “Please surrender or I will give the command to have your ship destroyed.”
Energy gathered at the barrel of the rail cannon.
“Walters, you just volunteered to be the next ship hit with a rail round. Get out of my way.”
“You don’t have to do this, Bishop. Just surrender. I’ll make sure you get a fair trial.”
“You haven’t been paying attention, have you? The colonial government is oppressing its people. They deserve better. And I won’t be labeled a terrorist for finding a broken freighter guarded by space pirates which were hired by your superiors.”
“The best I can offer is a chance to speak your evidence.”
“Then the best I can offer is a quick death. I’ll be firing in twenty seconds.” The FTL drive showed ready. “Walters, listen to the evidence I’ve transmitted. It’s all true. I’ll see you around.”
Instead of firing the rail cannon, I engaged the FTL drive. At two hundred and ninety-nine thousand seven hundred ninety-two kilometers per second, we were almost at Mars within three minutes. I powered down the drive and allowed the freighter to float listlessly in space.
“Bishop,” said Steve over the comm. “Why is Mars outside the front window of the ship?”
“Uh…felt like a change of scenery?” I replied.
“Great job. You did marvelously.”
“Thanks!”
“I was being sarcastic, asshole.”
“I know. That’s why it’s so funny. The ship needs repairs. We lost a few of the turrets during that fight. Figured we could lay low and make some repairs.”
“Bishop, what are we going to do?” asked Anne. She was crying.
“What do you mean?”
“The Qhonox know where we are now. They’ll be back with reinforcements to finish us off.”
“That does pose a significant threat,” said Sami. “Perhaps destroying that cruiser was a mistake.”
“Hindsight,” I said. “Too late now. I’m open to suggestions.”
“Well,” said Steve. “What about your original plan? Get the colony ship running and not be here when they get back?”
“That does seem like the most prudent course of action to increase our odds of survival,” said Sami.
“I still don’t think it’s possible,” said Anne.
“It’ll work,” I said. “The engines were repaired half a century ago. All of the downed systems have been manually disabled. By people. And there’s plenty of reactor fuel.”
“So, is that it then?” asked Steve.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, how do we get back in? Our cover’s blown. There’s no way we’re going to be able to get near the moon without the entire fleet being up our asses.”
“We’ll have to improvise. We also need to get the rest of Elyssa’s message. That’s the key to all of this.”
“Are we any closer to knowing what she hid?”
“Somewhat,” said Sami. “We have one fragment. It looked like there were at least two more. Bishop has achieved mastery over his interactions with the ship-wide network. I believe he is ready to progress to the next step in his mental evolution.”
“Next step?” I asked. “What’s that?”
“Ten percent increase in neural feedback resolution. It will likely incapacitate you for several days. Just let me know when you are ready.”
“I’m ready now.”
“I disagree,” said Anne. “It’s dangerous.”
“I’m still doing it,” I said. “Sami, is there anything I need to do?”
“I would consume a large number of calories. You will not be eating for some time. I would also advise an intravenous fluid drip.”
“Anne, please have it ready. I’ll meet you in the Strider.”
After eating two ration meals, we sat around the crew quarters on the Strider.
“Bishop, I really don’t like this. It’s way too dangerous.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll only be out for a day or two. I need access to more of Sami’s functions. This is the only way.”
“And what if it damages your brain? Or worse? Kills you?”
“Then we’re all dead anyway. Come on, sis.
I need your help.”
She glared at me for several moments.
Steve put a hand on her shoulder. “Bishop’s right. We’re all targets. We’ll be here to take care of him. It’s the best chance we have.”
“Fine. I’ll help. But I’m definitely not comfortable with this.”
“Thanks.” I turned to Steve. “Can you replace the thrust cones on the Gilmore? I’m going to need it after this. I beat it up pretty good during the last flight.”
Steve laughed. “That’s an understatement. But yeah, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks. Okay, I’m ready.” I lay down on the flight seat and kicked off my boots. Anne pulled up my sleeve and inserted the needle for the IV bag into my vein while Steve helped me with the neural interface helmet.
“Be careful,” he said. “We’re counting on you.”
“I got this. Keep an eye on the sensors. We don’t want any surprises.”
“You got it.”
I reached up with my other arm and pressed the connection button. My world went black. “All right, Sami. What’s next?”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. This will most assuredly feel...uncomfortable.”
“Hit me.”
Everything turned a brilliant white. A sharp pain exploded in my mind. A migraine, encompassing my entire existence. All I knew was pain. I lost track of time.
At some point, the white had faded, and I floated in space. A crystal glowing with pink light floated in front of me. I reached for it. Incoherent flashes of several conversations all played at once, indistinguishable from each other. However, a set of coordinates, clear as day, engraved themselves in my mind.
“Sami.”
“Yes, Bishop. I’m right here.”
“About that… Where’s here?”
“This is simply a mental construct. Your interpretation of nothingness. You were saying?”
Bishop's Gambit Omnibus Page 13
