by Roland Starr
“I understand,” Vonner said. “Perhaps it is within the area of my duty to step in here and mediate. I could not attempt it without much risk to the situation as it stands. But with my ship missing there is nothing I can do. What are your craft like? I presume they are superior in every way to Orion.'"
“I shall place such a craft at your disposal,” the president said. “But first we must discover what happened aboard your ship, Captain. Perhaps someone among your crew acted without your orders. Is it possible that the Zukons have succeeded in occupying the minds of your officers? They have become proficient in matters of that kind, but we perfected measures against it happening to us. I suspect we made a grave error of miscalculation by not treating you and your crew with the process used. It is an oversight that may cost us all dearly.”
“I’d like to go back to Omina, sir!” Vonner said. “At least I’d be on hand if there are any developments in the loss of my ship.”
“Certainly, and you shall have command of the finest space craft at our disposal.” The president arose. “Commander Thol, that is an order, and you will stand by the Captain at all times. Give him every assistance and advice. Nothing must be denied him. I trust we shall meet again, Captain.”
“Thank you!” Vonner shook the hand that was extended to him and arose to follow Thol. Reid tagged along behind, looking extremely thoughtful.
When they had left the President’s apartment, Thol led them to another auto-walk, and they began to travel swiftly. Vonner had no idea where they were or in what direction they ought to be travelling to return to the Transporter that had brought them from Omina. He hardly looked around, his thoughts introverted and closed upon the loss of Orion. He couldn’t accept that Hanton had pulled out of orbit without orders.
“Is there any way of communication with Omina, Den Thol?” Vonner demanded suddenly.
“Do you want to issue orders to your officer there?”
“I want you to make sure everything will be ready for us when we arrive. The ship we are to use.”
“It will be ready by the time we reach the departure point. Don’t worry about it, Captain. It is being taken care of now. We shall be transported back to Omina — I like that name, it’s better sounding than Obal — and by the time we reach there our ship will be waiting.”
“Is it powerful enough to stand up to anything the Zukons can throw at it?” Reid asked from behind Vonner.
“It will be the latest craft we have designed, and fully equipped. In the hands of someone like yourself it will be a dangerous weapon. You have the flair and the instincts for attack, which is something we lack. I am to accompany you, and I hope to learn a great deal from the experience.”
“That remains to be seen,” Vonner said through his teeth.
They returned to the Transporter point and passed quickly through the process. There was no sensation of time between Vonner closing his eyes on Prava and opening them in the Transporter room on Omina. When he looked around upon emerging from the process he found Philo Curran standing by, his face wearing a worried frown.
“Captain, have you heard the news?” Curran demanded.
“We got it. Can you give us anything more than the bare report?” Vonner moved towards the door behind Den Thol, who was hurrying now. “Have you tried to communicate with Orion!”
“I brought a communicator with me, Captain, but so far it’s proved useless. There’s nothing coming through. I think it’s dead.”
“Let me try it.” Vonner held out his hand and Curran handed over the communicator. Vonner used it as they hurried along the corridor at Den Thol’s heels, but there was no response to the calls he made. Either the communicator was dead or no one aboard Orion was in a position to reply.
They entered an elevator and were whisked downwards so fast that Vonner’s eardrums protested. The ride was over almost before they became accustomed to it, and when they alighted from the elevator Vonner found they were in a chamber that gave access to a tremendous craft resting on a bed of dull coloured steel. It was long and cigar shaped, and Vonner narrowed his eyes critically, filled with professional wonder as they approached it. Several men were standing around the ramp that led up to the open doorway twenty feet above their heads, and they were all dressed in the same drab brown uniforms. One stepped forward and saluted.
“Any further news of the Orion!” Den Thol rapped, and Vonner realised that everyone was talking in English. He supposed it was being done for his convenience.
“Nothing, Commander,” the officer replied, letting his gaze stray to Vonner with a great deal of curiosity. “We cannot locate the craft with our scanners, sir!”
“Is this ship ready for blast off?”
“Waiting for your arrival, sir!” came the efficient reply.
“Then let’s go aboard and get airborne!” Den Thol glanced at Vonner. “You will have command of the ship. I will attend to its operation, but you will give orders affecting our movements and activities.”
“Thank you!” Vonner started up the ramp to the entrance, and Reid and Curran followed him. Den Thol came behind, followed by most of the officers who had been waiting for them.
Vonner found the bridge of the Pravan ship greatly different to Orion’s. There was less of a clutter of equipment, the Pravans being more advanced. He watched while Den Thol prepared for take-off. They were strapped into reclining seats, and when Den Thol was satisfied they were ready to leave he took the empty seat next to Vonner’s.
“In a few moments we shall be in orbit, Captain,” the Pravan commander told him.
Vonner felt an odd sensation, and closed his eyes. There was no sound of propulsion. He felt an inner jarring that warned him they were on the move, and then a wave of blackness came up from inside and stole his senses. When he came to he looked around in surprise, and saw the others stirring and Den Thol was unbelting himself from the seat.
“We are in orbit, Captain. First we shall scan for your ship. If she is out of range then we shall begin a basic search pattern, and with luck we should pick up signs of her within reasonable time.”
“Carry on, Commander,” Vonner replied. “You know the ship!”
The Pravan space crew proved they knew their job. The bridge was as orderly and disciplined as Orion's. Vonner saw several scanner screens light up, and he glanced from one to another, intent upon spotting the shape of the Orion the instant it appeared. He and Reid and Curran made a tight little group just behind Den Thol’s command console.
Den Thol and his crew spoke in English, but their figures and directions meant nothing to Vonner. He listened to Den Thol checking speed and course, and looked around with great interest at the panels and dials and flashing lights. Then the Pravan turned to him.
“The scanners have picked up nothing,” he reported. “Orion is not within sixteen million miles of Omina!”
“They went into Lapse speed as soon as they pulled out of orbit,” Vonner commented. “They could be anywhere now, and well out of range of this ship, considering the distance between us and them.”
“They are emitting a certain amount of radiation, Captain,” Den Thol said. “We can track them from it. Now if I may concentrate for a moment!” He turned away and began pressing buttons and flicking switches.
Vonner watched the flickering lights. He heard Den Thol’s sharp orders, and listened for a moment.
“What course?” Den Thol demanded.
“Basic search pattern Three is suggested, sir! Moving into pattern now! Position minus 44 degrees left ascension, at 3 hours and 22 minutes; radial velocity positive at 23 light-seconds per second; trajectory minus 41 degrees.”
Den Thol touched a number of levers, and dials quivered on the console. He depressed one of a row of keys and a quarter of a circle of green lights went out. At the same instant there was a slight tugging sensation on the left, and Vonner nodded.
“Zukon craft on screens, dead ahead, Commander,” someone reported in unemotional tones, and Vonner l
ifted his gaze to the scanners. He spotted the silent picture of a Zukon craft, and thinned his lips.
“Erect deflector shields,” Den Thol ordered, and someone touched a number of buttons on a panel.
Almost immediately there was a darting beam of light from the seemingly motionless Zukon ship, and an explosion took place well out in front of the Pravan craft.
“He was too late!” Den Thol said with a dry chuckle. “Phaser banks ready. Lock on to target.”
“Phasers ready, sir, and locked on.”
“Delay firing!” There was sudden urgency in Den Thol’s voice, and Vonner soon saw the reason why. The head and shoulders of the Zukon Captain Tryxx was looming up on a communication screen.
“Pravans, we wish to board you! Stand by!”
“You cannot penetrate our shields, Tryxx. Where is the Earth ship Orion?
Captured and on its way to Zukon. Surrender, Pravans!”
“Captain!” Reid whispered in Vonner’s ear. “I can feel a mind probe at work!”
“Must be Zukon. Perhaps that’s how they got the Orion out of orbit!” Vonner tightened his lips. “Fight them off, Quill. What about you, Philo?”
“I’m having some trouble,” the colonel replied. His face was pale and set.
Den Thol glanced around, then uttered a quick command in his own language. A Pravan crewman hurried across, armed with an electronic immunizer, and he applied the instrument first to Vonner’s arm, then Reid’s and Curran’s.
“They will prevent the Zukons getting through to you, Captain,” Den Thol explained. “I blame myself for the loss of your ship. I overlooked the fact that your men were not protected against Zukon mental pressure. This is why your Second Officer deserted!”
“Bardo!” Vonner nodded.
“The Zukons would have applied mental pressure as a test to find out if it was effective, and your Second Officer had been suffering from space sickness. His mind was weaker than any of the other crew members. He was controlled mentally by the Zukons. That is why he deserted.” Den Thol’s voice was harsh and grim.
“Thanks for the explanation. Pity it is too late!” Vonner stared at the repulsive face of the Zukon Captain. “What does he hope to gain now? Surely he doesn’t expect you to let him come aboard?”
“They live in the hope that their mental pressures will operate against us. In the past they have had some success with it, but we invented methods of blocking them. Since the electronic immunisation was used they have failed abjectly each time they have put us to the test.” Den Thol reached out and depressed a button and a green light flickered on the console. “Fire!” he ordered calmly.
The communication screen blacked out, and as four brilliant rays of light darted out from the Pravan craft the Zukon ship faded off the screen.
“They’ve gone into hyperdrive,” Den Thol said. “I expected it. They always use that to avoid our fire. Tryxx gets our order to fire, and he’s gone before our beams can reach him. I think he was trying to delay us with talk while your ship is being taken, Captain.” He threw a grim glance at Vonner and nodded. “Continue the search pattern,” he ordered.
“There’s a tracer ray on us,” one of the crewmen reported some time later.
“The Zukons are following us. If they call up help we’ll have a fight on our hands.” Den Thol looked at Vonner. “Will you help with the tactics?”
“The search for Orion will go on?” Vonner asked.
“It is of the first priority. We shall fight only if attacked.”
“Good. Perhaps I can help. If you’ll explain some of the equipment you have here!”
Den Thol called to an officer to take over, and they continued on their search pattern. There was no sign of Omina anywhere on the several scanner screens, and Vonner could not help wishing he were on his own bridge. He paid careful attention as Den Thol began explaining some of the instruments and equipment, but they were all keyed up and watching the screens for sight of the Zukons or Orion.
“Perhaps they didn’t get Orion, Captain,” Quillon Reid said suddenly. “That could be the reason why they they’re following us. They’re hoping we will locate her, then they plan to pounce before we get aboard.”
“The shields will have to be lowered to let us board her,” Vonner said musingly. “You might have something there, Quill.”
“There are three Zukon ships at least on our tail,” Den Thol said, glancing at a panel of dials. They’re following us. We have better detector equipment over the longer ranges, and they are hanging on in the hope that we’ll lead them to Orion." He smiled as he caught Vonner’s eye. “I think this time we’ll prove more than a match for them, Captain. I’ve cut off all broadcast from the ship now, so we’re travelling blacked out. But I don’t doubt they can follow us anywhere without much trouble, and we can’t outrun them.”
The communications screen lighted suddenly and Tryxx appeared once more, a grin on his reptilian face.
“You are being foolish, Pravans,” he said. “You cannot escape us. I have six ships behind you and our concerted power will be too much for your shields.”
“They tried that on Orion," Vonner said, “but we increased the power to our shields. Can you cut into your main drive and channel your power, Commander?”
“Yes. But there is no need while we are travelling ahead of them. We shall maintain a very close watch on them now.” Den Thol checked a computer, then adjusted a lever.
“Are your phasers ready for action?” Vonner continued.
“On instant alert, Captain.” There was pride in Den Thol’s tones.
“We can’t do much at this speed if we sight Orion, and the Zukons are behind us,” Vonner mused. “Can you get the exact range those ships are astern?”
“Certainly. But how will that help?” Den Thol was puzzled.
“They’re following us by the radiation we are discharging.” Vonner was thinking quickly. “They’ll stick where they are until we pick up Orion. Then they’ll close in, and if they don’t get us they’ll hit Orion. That seems to be their strategy, and it could work if we do nothing.”
“But what can we do?” the Pravan commander demanded.
“Do you carry space probes?” Vonner asked urgently.
“But of course! We have an inexhaustible supply.”
“Then have them fitted with warheads and delayed action fuses. Get the range of the Zukon ships astern, convert that distance to time, set the fuses and launch the probes.” Vonner’s tones grew husky as he worked it out.
“I wish I could have thought of it,” Den Thol retorted, and issued the necessary instructions.
Vonner turned his attention to the scanner screens. They were dark and inanimate, and would light up only when the scanners picked up material of any kind. He wondered about his ship, and hoped it hadn’t already fallen into Zukon hands. He thought of the crew aboard, and a picture of Adah Morley came unbidden into his mind. Surely they hadn’t travelled countless millions of miles across Space to have disaster strike at the very moment of success! He tried to shake the thought, but it clung tenaciously. He wouldn’t give up the search no matter what happened.
At that moment a Pravan crew member uttered an exclamation and pointed to the forward view scanner screen.
“There’s the Orion!” he reported.
Vonner took one look and agreed, and he threw a quick, urgent glance at Den Thol.
“Those probes, Den Thol!” he said crisply. “They must be fused and launched now. In a few moments the Zukons will pick up Orion on their scanners, and it will be too late!”
The commander punched a button. “Are you ready with those probes?” he demanded.
“Not quite, Commander. We need confirmation of the range!”
Vonner clenched his teeth as he looked at the screen showing Orion. Time was essential here. The seconds were fleeting by, and any delay could prove fatal. The next moment Tryxx’s image was back on the communication screen, and there was an evil grin on his nightmaris
h face.
“We have Orion on our scanners now, Pravans. Thank you for leading us to them. Now we shall destroy them and you.”
The screens went blank, and Vonner almost held his breath.”
“Probes ready for launching now, Commander,” came a steady report.
“Launch probes,” Den Thol commanded instantly.
Vonner clutched at a stanchion and hung on, and he seemed to die a thousand deaths as the seconds ticked by. He stared at the scanner screen, where Orion lay silent and apparently motionless. He knew the crew aboard would not recognise the Pravan ship as a friend, and the six Zukon ships would be obvious enemies. There was a danger that Orion would open the fight herself, and Vonner knew the weight of the punch she could deliver. Again he told himself that it was all a matter of timing, and he prayed that he had got it right…
CHAPTER V
The image of Orion shimmered on the forward scanner screen, and Vonner could not take his eyes off it. He was wondering about the crew! Why had the ship blasted out of orbit? Fear clung to the darker recesses of his mind, fear for the woman he loved and the men he had spent two long years exploring space with. He jerked his mind from them, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on any measure to pull them out of danger if he didn’t keep alert and ready for any exigency. He glanced at the rear view scanner and saw the Zukon craft still in pursuit.