The Earthfleet Saga- Volume Two

by Dennis Young

  “Which admiral would that be, sir?”

  Adams’s face went rigid. “The admiral in charge of Fleet Base Twenty-three, of course. I don’t recall his name.”

  “So… you aren’t taking this vessel back to Fleet Base Twenty-three, Captain? Might I ask where it’s going?”

  “Not your concern, Commander. Get going. That’s an order.”

  “Yes, sir. Pheidippides out.” Murphy hit the switch. “Hatu, is that neutrino source you detected days ago still out there somewhere.?”

  “Yes, Captain, still barley at detection range.”

  “And likely Lawrence doesn’t know it.” Murphy drew a breath. “Okay, here is where things get interesting.” She punched the intercom switch again. “Engineering, Bridge. Taylor, what’s our best speed, damn the safety factors.”

  A pause. “Captain, we could hit 220c for about eight minutes if I turn off all the safeties. Other than that, 200c for several hours.”

  “Thanks, Taylor. Stand by for max hyperlight.” Murphy hit the switch again and looked to Wèi. “What’s Adams hiding?”

  Jai-Lan considered. “Pretty obvious, Captain. They’re not going back to Fleet Base Twenty-three, and they’re not telling us anything. He’s anxious to get us out of the area.”

  “And he’s made no move to take the vessel in tow.” Murphy mused. “This stinks.”

  “Captain, Lawrence is maneuvering to attach its docking pad to the vessel,” reported Gil.

  “About time. Keep an eye on that neutrino source, Hatu. Karen, Lawrence is your job to follow, regardless where they or we go, as long as they’re in range.”

  “Captain, what are your concerns?” Ch’rehrin looked from his panel to Murphy.

  “Simple caution. There are Earth Alliance citizens on board the vessel, and it’s in my oath to protect them.”

  All eyes went to Murphy.

  “Not citizens as written in the law,” replied Ch’rehrin, quietly.

  “This isn’t a matter of law, Mr. Ch’rehrin. My decision, my authority, my responsibility.”

  Ch’rehrin paused. “Very well, Captain.” He turned back to his panel.

  “Thank you, Captain,” whispered Wèi. Murphy laid a hand across the Ensign’s.

  “Pheidippides, Lawrence. Why are you still here, Commander?” Adam’s face showed again on the screen, obviously unhappy with Murphy’s presence.

  Murphy forced a smile. “Sorry, sir, none of us have ever seen a docking maneuver quite like this, and we were just curious. Thanks for the show. Nicely done.”

  Adams’s posture relaxed slightly. “Very well. Be on your way, and Godspeed, Pheidippides.” The screen darkened again.

  “Tactical, give me a view of the area where the neutrino source is. Helm, ahead one-quarter sublight. Karen, watch Lawrence, tell me their heading once they’re underway. Comm, we’re going to prepare a squirt to Fleet Base Twenty-three in just a bit, if what I think is going to happen, happens. Make sure it’s all recorded and in the log.” Murphy turned to Wèi. “Back to your post, Ensign.”

  Jai-Lan smiled softly, stepped away, and Murphy faced the screen, watching with intent.

  * * *

  For long minutes after Pheidippides accelerated away, Lawrence remained, for all intents and purposes, motionless. Connor at Nav reported to Murphy, as Hatu Gil monitored the general area, focusing the best sensors and detection equipment in Earthfleet on the transport, the vessel now held in the docking cradle, and the border, nearly a light year distant. And the still-elusive neutrino source, seen, then not seen, but always on the fringes of detection.

  “Still clear, Captain,” reported Hatu from Tactical.

  “Then why aren’t they moving?” Murphy shook her head, eyes searching the screen for something, anything, to explain the odd behavior of Lawrence and its commanding officer.

  “They’re sending out a shuttle to the vessel,” reported Connor at Nav. “I knew it.”

  Murphy nodded. “Keep an eye on them, Lieutenant, tell me of any change or if they try to board.”

  “Captain, I have a spike,” said Ch’rehrin from the Science station. “Approaching Lawrence from galactic south, the border area, heavily stealthed and fast. No identification, but definitely a neutrino source.”

  “Confirmed.” Gil glanced to Murphy, who nodded and showed a nearly-feral grin. She touched the intercom button. “Engineering, Bridge. Taylor, I want to fade us out very slowly into full stealth mode. Set it up and send the commands to Tactical. Very slowly, Chief.”

  “You want a ‘fade to black’, Captain?” Thomas chuckled on the intercom. “Yeah, we can do that. Two minutes.”

  “Mr. O’Brien, once we’re stealthed, hard about one-eighty. Stand by for hyperlight. Karen, what’s Lawrence up to?”

  “Nothing yet, just sitting there. Wait… okay, they’re moving now, about one-quarter sublight, heading… well, basically the way they were pointed.” Connor turned slightly to face Murphy. “They have to be aware of the spike.”

  “What about the shuttle?”

  Connor watched her instruments. “Turning about now, but… they’ll never make it back to Lawrence in time.”

  “This Captain Adams is an idiot. They should be accelerating to engage hyperlight, but they’re not, because they have to wait for the shuttle. They’re just a target… aren’t they, Mr. Gil?”

  Gil shook his head. “Sure looks that way, Captain. Orders?”

  “Once we’re stealthed, go to Battle Stations, arm all weapons.” Murphy hit the intercom again. “Sickbay, Bridge. Doc, you there?”

  “Here, Captain. There is so much tension on this ship, I can feel it.”

  Murphy rolled her eyes. “You should be on the Bridge. I just want to let you know, we’re heading into a combat situation. Prepare as necessary.”

  A pause. “I see. Very well, we will make preparations as we may. Trust your feelings, Captain, and you will do as you must.” Melinkov clicked off.

  “Bridge, Engineering, this is Thomas. We’re ready to go, Captain. Commands sent to Tactical.”

  “Thanks, Taylor. Hang on back there, this could get bumpy.” Click.

  “Captain! Ship appearing now, fifty thousand kilometers off the stern of Lawrence!”

  “Cripes, I knew it! Fade us out, Tactical! Battle Stations.” Murphy waited as the Bridge lights dimmed to red. “Helm, come about, 80c now!”

  Pheidippides leapt.

  An explosion blossomed at the rear of the vessel towed by Lawrence. The transport stayed its course and did not return fire, waiting for the shuttle, still five minutes from the transport’s hangar.

  “Qoearc, Captain, heavy scout configuration. They have twice our firepower and their hull is dense.” Ch’rehrin’s voice was calm as he monitored his readings.

  “Drop from hyperlight, stand by weapons.” Murphy scooted to the edge of her command seat. “Comm, send this in clear, broad wave.” Teng-Hey nodded after a moment. “Qoearc vessel, this is EAS Pheidippides. You are ordered to cease your attack on the EAS Lawrence and its cargo and immediately withdraw, or we will fire. You have ten seconds, mark.”

  “Qoearc firing again, Captain!”

  “Still no return fire from Lawrence,” reported Ch’rehrin.

  “Lawrence course unchanged.” Connor’s eyes scanned her console. “Shuttle three minutes out.”

  “Damage to the vessel, nothing critical, central core is still intact,” said Ch’rehrin calmly.

  “Ten seconds, Captain.” Ch’rehrin turned to Murphy as she nodded.

  “Tactical… fire torpedo, full PAKS for thirty seconds. Hit them hard, Hatu, then reload, and hit them again.”

  Pheidippides’s single torpedo tube glowed, and particlebeam emitters ran to the redline, then reset. The Qoearc ship shook from bow to stern, but fired a third time on the derelict vessel.

  “Lawrence still not returning fire, still not changing course!”

  “Easy, Connor, we got their attention, didn’t we?”

&
nbsp; “Damage to the vessel increasing, Captain, Two or three more hits will reach the core.” Ch’rehrin glanced to Murphy. “We must draw them off.”

  Connor grimaced. “Qoearc vessel is swinging around, headed our way.”

  “Hatu, do we have PAKS back yet?”

  “Thirty seconds, Captain.”

  “Helm, let’s see if they want to play chicken. Straight at ‘em.”

  O’Brien swallowed hard. “Straight at ‘em, Captain.”

  “Go!”

  Ten seconds, and the Qoearc vessel veered off. Murphy nearly shouted.

  “PAKS online, Captain.”

  “Helm, get on their tail! Hatu, spank them hard!”

  O’Brien swung Pheidippides around and pressed for acceleration. Gil hit his controls. The rear of the Qoearc ship exploded. Particlebeams raked the engines, and they exploded as well. Seconds later, the rest of the intruder followed, spreading debris in every direction.

  “Back us off, Helm, get us out of that debris field!”

  Pheidippides swung wide, hot junk from the Qoearc ship glancing off the hull.

  “No breaches,” reported Ch’rehrin. “Minor damage aft and near the main sensor, all instrumentation still functioning.”

  “Martin, you got all of that on full recordings, right?”

  “Aye, Captain, every bit. Vid, comm, everything. Including Lawrence playing target. Backing up the files now.” His face was nearly white.

  “Get that off to Fleet Base Twenty-three immediately, full scramble, full encryption.” Murphy paused. “And another copy to Earth Main, tagged to the Admiralty.”

  “Captain?” Martin looked askance at Murphy.

  “That would be most unusual, Captain,” said Ch’rehrin mildly, from his post. “But under the circumstances, prudent.”

  “Objections?”

  Ch’rehrin was silent for a moment. Eyes around the Bridge crept his way. “Simply an observation.”

  Murphy nodded without smiling. “Good. Martin, get Lawrence please.”

  Teng-Hey worked his controls. “They’re on, Captain.”

  The screen lit with the face of Captain Adams. “Pheidippides, is your ship safe? And why are you back in this sector?”

  “We’re fine. Just saving your ass. Sir.”

  “You were under a direct order to get underway, Commander.”

  Murphy scoffed under her breath. That’s what I thought. “Captain, I must inform you, I’ve sent a full report to Fleet Base Twenty-three regarding this little encounter. Including identification of the Qoearc ship, their firing on an Earth relic, and your ship’s reluctance to return fire to protect your cargo or Lawrence, not to mention the tactical error of sending an unarmed shuttle to your cargo while a known hostile was in the area.”

  A trickle of sweat made its way down Adams’s temple. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you don’t,” said Gil quietly from his station. Murphy glanced his way.

  “Where are you taking the vessel, Captain? We’re all curious.”

  “That’s classified, Commander. And when I reach my destination, Earthfleet will hear about this situation and your total insubordination.”

  “Yes, I’m sure they will. But they’ll hear about your dereliction of duty first. Have a safe trip, Captain. Pheidippides out.” Murphy hit the switch, sitting back.

  “Orders, Captain?” Ch’rehrin stood by the command chair, his face showing only mild curiosity.

  Murphy watched the image of Lawrence and its cargo for a quiet moment. “Tactical, stand down from Battle Stations, but keep your eyes open. Helm, ahead full sublight, course for home. Karen, watch Lawrence as long as you can. Let me know when they’re out of range before we go to hyperlight. Martin, make sure your recorders are still on.” She took a breath. “Once Lawrence is out of range, 220c to Fleet Base Twenty-three.”

  A chorus of “Aye, Captain” went around the Bridge.

  Murphy stood slowly. “Mr. Ch’rehrin, you have the conn. I think I’m gonna go throw up.”

  * * *

  “Captain, this is Ch’rehrin. I have the report you requested.”

  Murphy rolled in her bunk and sat up, breathing heavily. The dreams had come again, and she was drenched in sweat. I thought this would put an end to them, but I guess I was wrong.

  She pressed the intercom button. “Conference niche, fifteen minutes.” She clicked off and buried her face in her hands, waiting for her heartbeat to calm. I need a real shower and breakfast.

  She glanced at the chronometer; 1300 Hours. She’d been asleep since night watch ended, after spending most of it on the Bridge. She rose, stretched, and headed for the shower room, grabbing a clean jumpsuit as she exited.

  Twenty minutes later, coffee and pastry in hand, she entered the conference niche where Ch’rehrin was waiting.

  She sat. “Okay, what do we have?”

  Ch’rehrin handed her his PADD. Murphy perused it, sipping. “No real damage, no casualties, we fired three torpedoes, and burned out a PAKS emitter. And full recordings of the event, right?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  After a bite and another sip of coffee, she asked, “How’s the crew? Any concerns or questions?”

  “Many, and I am certain a word from you would be helpful.”

  “They performed well, don’t you think?”

  “Certainly, Captain, considering the circumstances.”

  Murphy studied Ch’rehrin. “And you? You seemed to have concerns on the Bridge regarding my handling of the situation.”

  The first officer shook his head. “None serious, after what was seen by everyone.”

  Murphy set away the PADD. “Do you find it interesting neither Earthfleet ship was fired on by the Qoearc?”

  Ch’rehrin considered for a moment. “But in a way, not surprising, assuming your theory of a planned ambush is correct. Should we have sustained combat damage, it would support our claim of attack. Obviously, the Qoearc knew of the derelict and used it as a lure.”

  “Thanks for not blurting that out on the Bridge, by the way.” Murphy smiled over her coffee cup.

  “I deduced it was your thought, and kept silent for obvious reasons.”

  Murphy drained her cup and set it down. “Why didn’t Lawrence return fire? That’s one question I still can’t answer.”

  Ch’rehrin called up a graphic on the PADD and turned it to Murphy. “Lieutenant Gil analyzed the attack. The Qoearc scout approached from below and behind the derelict, effectively neutralizing Lawrence’s field of fire. Further, had Lawrence maneuvered to bring their PAKS weapons to bear, it would have put the shuttle at risk.”

  Murphy nodded, eye to eye with her first officer. “What’s your assessment of Lawrence’s response to everything else?”

  Ch’rehrin’s face grew pensive. “I have considered that very subject and find no explanation for their behavior.”

  “I agree. How about a wild idea?”

  “I am… at a loss, Captain.”

  She paused for effect. “Politics.”

  Ch’rehrin was silent, then nodded.

  “What do you think will happen when we arrive at Fleet Base Twenty-three? In the end, I mean.”

  Ch’rehrin thought for a moment. “Certainly, there will be a board of inquiry in time. Assuming Lawrence is going to Earth Main Base, which is the reason you sent the information packet, it will take several months travel with the cargo in tow…” His voice trailed at her look.

  “What proof do we have they’re taking it anywhere? As I said, politics.”

  “I am not certain what you mean—”

  “I don’t know what I mean either, but when we arrive at Base, I expect to be arrested and thrown in the brig. After that…”

  “Captain, you defended another Earthfleet ship and a relic of historic significance. While you technically disobeyed a direct order, had you followed it, we cannot postulate what might have happened.”

  Murphy shook her head. “I ca
n.”

  “In a court of law, that would be supposition, and not admissible.”

  “Thanks, Ch’rehrin, you’re really cheering me up.”

  “Captain, it would be against all reason for Earthfleet to charge you with anything beyond minor insubordination. Further, it may be argued the order you disobeyed was not a lawful order.”

  “So you’re a lawyer now?”

  Ch’rehrin straightened. “I hold two degrees in law, and I am licensed to practice on both Arnec and Earth.”

  Murphy’s eyes widened. “I… had no idea. Okay, you’re hired.”

  “Captain?”

  “To be my defense attorney at trial. What’s your retainer fee?”

  * * *

  “Two hours to Base, Captain. We’ve received docking orders and our approach vector.”

  “Thanks, Chuck. All-ship comm, please.” Murphy waited as Honley attended his panel.

  “You’re on, Captain.”

  “Attention Pheidippides crew, this is Murphy. We’re nearly home after eight months in deep space with only ourselves and each other for company. After what we’ve been through in the last few weeks, I’d say this ship deserves a vacation.

  “It’s my pleasure to inform you that I’ve requested and received approval for thirty day’s leave for everyone once we reach Fleet Base Twenty-three. Also, for the hard work and dedication you’ve shown to Earthfleet and Alliance principles, an official Letter of Commendation will be placed in your files.”

  She paused for a breath. “On a more personal note, should this be our last mission together, I want to say how proud I am to have served with you as your commanding officer. Scout duty is tough, even for the best of us. Pheidippides’s crew is top of the line. Whatever future duties we have, I wish you all the best. Murphy out.” She clicked off and set back, letting go a breath.

  “Excellent, Captain.” Doctor Melinkov stood beside the command chair.

  “Didn’t hear you come in, Doc. You’re not often on the Bridge.”

  “True, and I was in the laboratory when I heard your communique start. I decided it was time for a visit.”

  “Personal or professional?” Murphy turned to face her.

  “Perhaps a bit of both.” Melinkov looked at the main viewer. “It will be good to see the stars with our own eyes, not depicted in on a screen, yes? And to walk in the park with trees and greenery.”