Battleship Furiosa

by Michael G. Thomas

  What was that?

  Captain Krammer growled and grumbled, but the translator completely failed to translate more than a handful of words. Commander Higgins looked to the General and shook his head.

  "I didn't get a word of that."

  The General ignored him for a moment as a number of lights blinked on the central unit. His officers moved about to check them while he bellowed more orders. Finally, he looked back and grunted.

  "What? Yes, we can to it, for short duration flights of up to ten hours...or so."

  He pointed to the mapping view and ran his hand along their projected route.

  "We will alter our course once past the Super-Max over Serpentis II. We cannot change our heading or velocity until past its orbital position."

  At that point, his eyes shifted back to Commander Higgins.

  "So make sure your pilots are ready to launch. We must pass within twenty kilometres of the facility, perform a partial rotation, and then activate our main engines. This will take us directly between two of the largest mooring spars. We will be vulnerable for a period of time."

  He turned away from the Commander and spoke more quietly to his kin, before looking back at the Alliance officer.

  "This is where we will be at risk. If I were to launch an attack, it would be here. If I had the time, I would follow the secondary route and completely bypass the facility, but that will add six more hours to our journey. Events have conspired to put the Super-Max Facility directly into our flight path."

  He snorted, much to the Commander's surprise.

  "It is time I do not have, and neither does Makos."

  Commander Higgins was already looking at the detailed diagram of the facility. It was truly gigantic, a spider's web of habitation blocks, docking arms, and solar panels.

  "It is massive."

  He spoke quietly so that the others did not hear. Even so, the Captain moved closer to him and noticed he was looking at the underside of the station. The Byotai made a noise, and one of his junior officers approached, spoke for a moment, and then bowed slightly towards Commander Higgins.

  "My Captain would like to know what you are thinking."

  Commander Higgins also bowed, mimicking the act just performed by the younger officer. Before he could speak, another officer interrupted him, one of the tactical officers that also doubled as communication specialists. He didn't know his name, but he looked almost as old and wizened as the Captain. His voice was slower and much clearer, making the translator's job that much easier.

  "General, contact from one of the docking arms. It's faint, but it appears to be an Imperial distress transmission."

  The General listened and then signalled for the officer to return to his post. Commander Higgins heard all of the conversation but shook his head as the Byotai walked away.

  "Well?" asked the General, "What are you thinking, Commander?"

  "Sir. I have doubts that this facility has been abandoned. The habitation sections look intact, and every single outer door and airlock appears closed. Then we get the signal, but only when we move close enough."

  The General waited for his junior, and then launched into a long speech that took just seconds for the officer to explain.

  "The fusion powerplant is off-line, as is the automated defence grid."

  Commander Higgins pointed to the underside of the facility where the design was sleeker and easier to view.

  "How do you explain the small heat blooms along this section?"

  Captain Krammer looked closely and hit a button to enlarge the view. The changes in temperature were modest, but they did cover large sections of the station, especially in the incarceration blocks.

  "Who knows? Maybe they left loyalist prisoners behind. Or our people have been forced to retreat inside the station."

  Even as he said the words, it was obvious the Byotai wasn't completely convinced himself. There were many reasons for heat blooms on an orbital facility, but the single most common one was that the place was currently inhabited. One thing both human and Byotai required was breathable air and heat. Without both, the two species would die in a short time. Unless heavily shielded or cooled, it was almost impossible to hide the temperature changes created by life support equipment and their associated machinery.

  "Look," said Higgins.

  Krammer and the General both looked at one of the long tendrils that pushed out into the blackness. Sat upon it, and lashed against the docking arms, was a large military transport. The vessel was black, as was normal for ships in the Byotai fleet. It even bore the insignia of the loyalist armed forces. Marks along the hull showed substantial damage. It had clearly been involved in a major fight.

  "That's one of ours, and the scanners show her as cold as a corpse," said Krammer, "We must move closer and drop a boarding party off to search for survivors."

  Commander Higgins shook his head.

  "Smells like a trap to me. That ship could be bait, Captain."

  The Byotai lifted his nose and sniffed.

  "Perhaps you are correct. We cannot turn away, though, not now. We have already lost so much."

  General Honorius placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder and uttered several low-pitched words. The translator completely failed to work, but Higgins didn't need a machine to explain what was happening. The two shared words before finally separating, and the General called to his officers.

  "Open gun ports and ready our weapons. Activate the armour!"

  More red lights flashed on the bridge as the orders quickly spread through the massive ship. The schematics of the vessel showed green lights at every point when the gun systems activated. Once ready for battle he looked back to Higgins.

  "Tell me, Commander. Assuming you are right, and this is a trap, how would they do it?"

  He pointed to the station.

  "We are enemies, right now. If it were you, and you had access to small numbers of Alliance forces near this facility, with orders to ambush four heavily armed Byotai warships, how would you do it and what would be your objective?"

  Commander Higgins grinned.

  "I do not have to defeat you, or even cause you major casualties. I simply have to pin your forces here long enough for help to arrive."

  The General nodded in agreement.

  "Yes, that makes sense. What next?"

  Commander Higgins ran his eyes along the odd shaped facility.

  "Well, I'd need to negate your strengths of armour and firepower. So I'd have to get you close."

  He lifted his left hand and ran it along his chin.

  "I'd deploy mines or improvised charges along the path here, and then leave gunships ready to attack after a ship passed through. It will sow confusion, but so close to the station, it will be hard to make effective use of the main weapon systems."

  He then licked his lips.

  "It's the perfect point to launch a boarding action. Assuming I have the ability to transfer troops."

  Again there was a pause for the translation.

  "Very well. Plan your response and be ready. We will arrive in minutes, and I have no intention of letting anybody slow me down."

  The Captain moved away and snapped orders to his surprised crew. At the same time, the warning lights flashed red inside the ship again as the crew readied for battle.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Byotai Imperial Battleship 'Furiosa'

  Serpentis System Rift, Deadlands

  24 December 2472

  Commander Higgins sank back into his seat and tapped the icon that showed the lead fighter of Ironclad Squadron. He groaned as pain ripped through his body. The gunshot wounds sustained months earlier were well healed, but the pain always returned if he was not careful. It was times like these he was happy to not be back inside a fighter, with all the strains and discomfort that entailed. He wiped his brow and grimaced as the pain finally subsided, and then checked the outline of the Lightning Fighter. It glowed bright blue and then brought up the pilot, call sign, fuel, and ammu
nition status. He nodded to himself at seeing such close integration with a foreign spacecraft.

  Joint training missions are not such a waste, after all.

  The fighter pulsed once as he connected to the communication system. Though not as comprehensive as used on Alliance warships, it was more than adequate for the purpose of this mission.

  "Lieutenant Commander. Are you ready?"

  "Sir. We're good to go. All fighters ready to launch on your command."

  "Good. Do you have the scanning data from the Byotai cortex?"

  He waited for a moment and started to worry that the networked system was not working correctly.

  "Yes, Commander. I have the waypoints around Serpentis II, and this Super-Max Facility. We seem to be heading awfully close to the prison, is that intentional?"

  The Commander shook his head and sighed.

  "I am not happy about this location, not at all. The Byotai say they have no contact with anybody inside, yet there are some signs of heat, and there's a distress signal coming from the damaged transport."

  "A trap, it has to be."

  Higgins nodded in agreement.

  "That's what I thought. However, our flight path takes us nearby unless we want to re-plot our route around the planet and to the Rift. This is the fastest way through so we can start the slingshot."

  "We'll be vulnerable," she agreed, "If I was going to hit the ship, it would be as we pass the spars. My recommendation is to add a few hours and bypass the place until we can be sure."

  He continued to shake his head.

  "No chance. The General is adamant. We have to pass through, and it's up to us to clear a path for the ships."

  "I see. We are ready to do what is necessary."

  "I knew you would. I want you to launch on my signal, and to split your fighters into two formations."

  With a circular movement of his right hand, he selected a rotational pattern around the battleship.

  "Four will stay back to provide close escort. I recommend the Lightnings for this job."

  He then moved the schematic to the right and tapped the prison facility.

  "The rest will move into the Super-Max superstructure and seek out any threats. Look for infantry, fighters, and improvised mines. Any questions?"

  Again there was a slight pause.

  "No, Commander. Everything is clear here."

  Another pause followed.

  "Actually, there is one thing. How long will it take the taskforce to move past the facility?"

  He moved his hands on his personal screen and checked the path past the station. Numbers at short intervals marked when each ship would reach that location.

  "Fourteen minutes of travel until out of the shadow of the facility. That is how much time you need to buy us."

  He then licked his lips.

  "We cannot afford to have any of the taskforce slow down, no matter what happens. Make sure you have the fuel to do a full burn back to the ship. If you are unable to rejoin us, you will have to stay on the station until help can be found. The General will not come back, whatever the circumstances."

  "Sir? Is that a wise move? Surely the General needs every pilot on board for the mission?"

  "That's a negative. The General is going for the Karnak Rift at full burn, regardless of the outcome here. So be ready."

  * * *

  Nate examined the nearby facility with a mixture of suspicion and fascination. According to the computer, its size was truly gigantic at almost eight kilometres long, displacing a mass of two and a half million tons. The central structure was relatively uniform, with long arms extending out many kilometres into space. Huge solar panels pushed out to collect every drop of solar radiation in the system. It could easily have functioned as a small colony, yet according to all the data present, it was nothing more than a Super-Max Correctional facility. As he looked at it, a message from Billy arrived over the audio channel.

  "Have you seen that thing? The system says it can house up to a quarter of a million people. Are they serious?"

  Nate shook his head with surprise.

  "I suppose so. If it's the only Super-Max in the Empire, then that number could be correct."

  Billy continued to speak, and the awe in his voice grew with each fact that he uncovered.

  "Eight-metre thick armour on the cell block zones and a garrison of around fifty fighters. It says here that the station carries at least six fusion reactors, with two more available for surge usage. It would make one hell of a fortress."

  Nate nodded, but Matilda said exactly what both were thinking.

  "So why did they abandon it? This could have been a strongpoint for them."

  The audio from all of them cut instantly to be replaced by a smooth, calm voice.

  "Cut the chatter, pilots. We're on."

  Nate knew the sound of her voice right away, and he moved his eyes to the side of the canopy for a good look at the Lightning Fighter. Markings along the flank of the spacecraft instantly told him that the Lieutenant Commander, their new Squadron Leader was there. Just knowing such a reliable officer would be in charge boosted his confidence.

  "We have new orders. I will stay back with three Lightnings and provide a close escort for the ship. Under no circumstances can we let Furiosa be held up."

  What? Who is going to scout the base?

  "Ironclad Six, you will take point on the facility. Take Ironclad Seven and the four Mantis interceptors with you. Move fast and erratically. If they are expecting us, they will hit you hard, and they will hit you fast."

  Nate responded smartly.

  "Sir."

  "This is a joint operation, and that means this squadron has full, joint authority from Commander Higgins and the Byotai command to use any means at our disposal in this fight. If you're in doubt, shoot. Too much is at stake now."

  Nate gulped as he tried to rationalise what he was hearing. He was now not just a pilot on a mission, but actually in charge of the six fighters that would spot for danger in the massive and unknown target, and only two of those were Alliance. The Byotai pilots were a wildcard, and he could only hope they wouldn't make the same mistakes Rex had.

  "Yes, Sir, understood."

  His attempt to sound calm actually worked for a change, and he began to relax. His fighter was armed for multiple missions, and he had little doubt he could handle anything from a shuttle or fighter right up to a small warship. So far, he still lacked any kind of credible target, and that meant it was difficult to prepare for whatever they might encounter. His mind brought up the spectre of all kinds of dangers, but the most frightening one was always the one that he didn't know.

  "The rest of you will run a recon pattern on the designated flight path under the command of Ironclad Six."

  Nate's eyes opened wide as the order arrived, especially the mention of his name.

  So, it's up to me to find any threat out there. That's not gonna be easy.

  He'd been waiting so long that his hands took a moment to respond to the Lieutenant Commander's voice. The mission required him to take a lead role, and only now was the reality of the order becoming clear.

  You're the lead pilot on this one. Don't screw it up!

  "All pilots launch!"

  Nate activated the engines and swung the nose of his fighter around so that it was pointing directly ahead. The gentle boost of power lifted him from the surface of the ship and then away from the designated landing pad. The shimmering curtain provided by the protective energy shield heavily obscured his view outside of the ship. Nate could see the other fighters doing the same as one by one the ten spacecraft hurtled away from the battleship. In normal circumstances they would have represented just a quarter of the total capacity of the ship. Now they were the only quarter.

  He we go again.

  Ironclad Leader was out first, the bright pulse from her engines filling the landing deck with a bright blue glow. As the fighter reached the shielded entrance, Nate leaned forward, and with little more
than a tap, he hit the engine controls. A short push boosted the primary engines to full. Flames shot from the rear of the craft as he hurtled along the deck. From where he'd been waiting the entire space had looked massive, yet as he rushed towards the shimmering curtain, the ship shrunk in size. As quickly as he'd started, his fighter burst through and out past the bow of the ship. Even a vessel the size of Furiosa took just moments to pass by.

  "Ironclads Eight, Nine, and Ten stay with me," said Lieutenant Commander Holder.

  The formation of four fighters pulled away and towards their designated orbit around the ship. Nate could see the grey line on his helmet overlay that they would take, two pairs of fighters orbiting at different distances. They would be the last line of defence should the worst happen. Nate shook his head as he tried to imagine what that might be. Four fighters didn't sound much, but they would be perfectly placed to fight off anything that the powerful guns of the battleship couldn't engage.

  Stay calm and focus on the mission. Now it's all on you.

  "Spread out and follow me."

  He tried to sound calm, but his voice was high-pitched and betrayed his fears. A quick check showed that Billy had moved to his side, as always. Of all the pilots in the Squadron, there was none he'd want to rely on more than Billy. Behind them were two more pairs of fighters, the deadly Mantis interceptors, in their glorious grey and gold colour schemes. He looked at them and smiled at the thought of the four female pilots inside them.

  I wonder how good they really are.

  The four were pretty cocksure about their skills and ability, yet Nate knew both he and his friends were no slouches. If it came to a fight, he almost felt sorry for whoever turned on them.

  "Mantis interceptors, be ready and have your missiles prepped to fire. We might only get one shot at this."