by Dean Sault
“It’s okay, old girl.” Shilgar spoke aloud while making hand signals. She relaxed.
The others followed Kerl-Ga’s lead, getting secure in their seats.
Dr. Boroski began instructions aloud. “Initiate linear phase engines. Verify power links to field grids. Begin power up.”
Standing immediately behind Simon’s headrest, the holo-scientist watched as the ship began to vibrate and a low hum filled the room. Numerous displays jumped to life.
“Increasing power to external field grid,” the nervous pilot repeated his instructions. “Tower grid one, activated. Transferring fifteen percent power to the zero degree projectors. Opening first polar view screen.”
A blank display on the ceiling directly above the command station came to life. It showed a dark image of solid rock.
Dr. Boroski coached his young pilot.
“You will have to fly this ship through a narrow path of molten rock. Increase power to the zero degree time refracting projectors until the rock above becomes viscous. Once the magma becomes sufficiently fluid, you will accelerate the ship directly up into the resulting magma pocket. Do not rise faster than the flow rate of molten rock as it is being displaced. If you proceed too fast, we will impact solid rock on the far side of the magma pool. When in doubt, it is better to rise too slowly. Are you ready?”
Simon’s voice materialized again in the control room. “How will I know the depth of the molten rock above us?”
“Monitor your scanner for strata density above the ship. Molten rock is less dense than solid rock. You will see a change in density at the far side of the pool. That transition point will indicate the distance through magma to solid rock. Maintain constant fluid depth while we travel. If it decreases, you’re rising too fast. If it increases, you are traveling too slow and consuming unnecessary fuel in the process. Can you see the present density?”
“Yeah, but there’s no differential in density.”
“That is correct. There is no molten rock above us yet, so the density is constant. Increase power to the zero degree projectors.”
Simon complied and one of the gauges began rising noticeably.
Kelly sensed enormous energy building in the ship. It reminded her of the power surge when she energized Striker Twelve, only this was countless times greater.
Solid rock, pictured in the display above, began to glow. It was dull red at first, but as the ship’s power increased, it grew brighter.
“Very good, young man,” the hologram coached. “The rock is beginning to stratify. We have seventy-two percent output. Continue raising power until you reach maximum output on zero degree projectors. Kelly, you are going to help him keep track of magma depth. Do you see the gauge labeled ‘Scanner Penetration’ in front of you?”
Dr. Boroski’s request surprised Kelly. “Uh, yes. It has numbers on it and a white bar next to the numbers. The bar is rising.”
“That’s the one. Simon is going to be busy balancing the ship’s power output and flight controls. He is also monitoring the ship’s top phase projectors. You will monitor the magma depth so he knows if he should increase or decrease the main thrust vector. What is it reading now?”
“It says three point seven and rising slowly.”
Kelly was reminded of her close coordination with her birth mate back on the stripper plow.
“When it gets to twenty, we will begin our exit lift,” the hologram said. “Call out the number as the bar passes each whole mark. Once we start moving, only call out a number if it increases or decreases to the next whole number. We don’t need increments in between, only the number. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She began calling out each number as the bar rose on the gauge. When it touched twenty, she noticed the brightly glowing rock on the monitor above began flowing in several directions, all away from the center of the image.
“You did it,” Dr. Boroski said. “Magma is flowing and it’s deep enough to begin primary lift. Main thrust controls are quite sensitive, so increase power slowly.”
The human space ship shook as power grew, but it did not lift off.
“Be patient,” the doctor cautioned. “Hold power steady at this level. The ship must break free from its bed. It’s been sitting here for three hundred years. This might take a minute.”
The ship rocked gently from side to side, straining against some unseen grasp.
“This is normal. Bonds are beginning to release.” Dr. Boroski tried to settle the nerves of his control room passengers.
Suddenly, the ship lurched upward. Kelly saw the bar on her graph drop almost to the bottom. She frantically called out the numbers.
“Twelve, six, three, two!”
“It’s okay.” The hologram’s voice carried a tinge of excitement. “That was breakaway surge. I allowed for it in our calculations. The numbers should start moving up again.”
Sure enough, the gauge began a steady rise until it was above thirty and the human spacecraft continued moving slowly upward in the manufactured magma bubble.
“Increase main engine thrust until the density meter begins to fall. Kelly will let you know the numbers. When the numbers fall to twenty, reduce main thrust slightly. You need to find the ideal velocity where the magma depth stays constant just above twenty meters.”
Shilgar could feel the ship lifting. His sharp senses detected every subtle change in the ship’s orientation.
“Excellent,” Dr. Boroski praised his students. “You are maintaining a very good thrust to magma displacement ratio.”
The monitor view above that was originally showing solid rock now revealed white-hot lava as it splashed past the monitor with astonishing speed.
Coordination between former Striker Twelve team members reminded Kelly of many times when they synchronized efforts while following veins of C-Syncolite. It felt right to be working together. She found herself staring at him. He no longer looked like the young man she had grown up with. Something was different. Confidence and strength coupled with new leadership strength made him larger than ever before. Feelings welled up—feelings she could not explain.
“I’m getting a message for Shilgar,” Simon’s voice called above the engine noise. “I’ll put it on the cabin intercom. You can speak with him directly. Go ahead.”
“Shilgar, can you hear me?” Benjamin asked.
“Yes. Did you get my message?” he shouted as if he had to reach his friend over some great distance.
“We did. Thank you, and you don’t need to yell. I hear you fine. We already knew about the Heptari ships. Our people are going to ground as we speak. Dr. Hadje told the Taskers about us, and they received us well. Scout corps personnel elected to join Tanarac forces to help defend the quarries. I know you would rather be here, but we need you to find a new home world for our people as soon as possible. I hope to join you in the future. Teach our people well.”
Shilgar lowered his voice to normal.
“Good luck, Ben. I’ll do my best to build a home in the sun for our people. Kelly has a question for you.”
She asked, “If you see Adam, can you give him a message for me?”
“He’s working closely with me. Pretty good, too, at teaching quarry residents to embrace their freedom. What would you like me to tell him?”
“Tell him I miss him, and take care of himself,” Kelly choked up and tears filled her eyes.
“Consider it done. I have to go. Have a safe journey, and may you all walk in the sun.”
Shilgar was visibly relieved as the transmission ended. Before launch, he had asked to send a message to his free human friends, warning about the severity of the nearby Heptari threat.
Dr. Boroski added, “I will keep all radio channels open in case they need to make further contact with you.”
The doctor changed subjects.
“We are approaching the surface. Numbers will drop quickly. When they reach ten, terminate top projector power and apply full thrust to the antigrav engines. There will be
a sudden change in velocity as the ship accelerates out of the magma pool. After that, we must recharge the hull so we have enough energy to reach escape velocity from Tanarac.”
Kelly’s gauge held steady at twenty-two for quite some time. She had been warned to expect the sudden drop, but when it happened, it was much faster than she expected. “Twenty, no, eighteen. Fifteen. Simon, we’re below ten!”
The human space ship surged at an astonishing rate. Lava streaming across the top view fell away, replaced by bright blue sky.
“Excellent,” Dr. Boroski said. “I can tell you two have worked together before. Simon, I just gave you a set of coordinates internally. Follow that course and continue at present thrust.”
The hologram turned his attention to the others.
“This will be your first time in space. Don’t be concerned about changes of sky color in the monitors. Blue sky you are accustomed to results from light penetrating through the atmosphere. As we enter space, outside views will change to black. That is completely normal. Here are some other views you might enjoy.”
Monitors lit up around the control cabin giving passengers a panoramic view of the world outside the ship. One monitor showed a dizzying picture of the planet’s surface as it shrank away below them, while another showed the horizon with its thin line of blue atmosphere below the blackness of space. They marveled at the views.
“What about Heptari warships?” Simon’s voice carried over the ship’s hum.
“The main Heptari fleet is in space on the dark side of the planet,” Dr. Boroski said with reassuring confidence. “They have not detected us. We will try to avoid them by flying past the Tanarac suns. This will also recharge our hull.”
Simon’s voice suddenly boomed out.
“Doctor, we’ve got company!”
Chapter 43
General Tragge watched twenty-four deep-space, star-class warships materialize from gravity loops. The Tanarac heavy spaceships immediately set course directly for the enemy.
“Hey there, General. Admiral Frazil Loyo, reporting for duty. Request permission to kick some lizard tail. Lorm, you there?”
The general clenched his fists. Odds just got even. It was his turn to take the initiative.
“Permission granted, Admiral Loyo. Good to have you folks on board. Admiral Paad has command and control. Coordinate your attack with him. You hear that, Lorm?”
Yep. I’m here, Fraz. Our ships have the modified shields. We’ll lead the attack. Have your commanders maintain three-ship groupings with overlapped shields. I’m transmitting attack coordinates now.”
Several monitors in the War Room showed Admiral Paad’s three remaining starships as they rose through the planetary shields, each one setting course for the closest Heptari heavy.
The admiral’s flagship nosed up directly toward two approaching Cosh cruisers. Both Heptari ships fired their heavy cannons from long range.
The enhanced shields held.
The nearer of the two enemy ships began evasive maneuvers as Admiral Paad concentrated his weapons on the engines that became exposed during the turn. Weak Heptari rear shields buckled under the power of the admiral’s particle beam cannons, and the enemy ship suffered serious propulsion damage. It limped out toward space. The admiral’s faster ship set an intercept course and followed.
The second of the Heptari cruisers came around behind Admiral Paad but lagged as the faster Tanarac flagship ran down the fleeing enemy ship.
General Tragge listened to chatter from the open channel on the flagship command deck.
“Admiral, our shields are still compressed. Engines exposed, sir. We got lizards on our tail.”
“Extend shields to cover our engines. How long to optimal firing distance?”
“Twenty seconds, sir.”
“Prepare aft cannons for a defensive spread on the trailing ship. Synchronize all starboard batteries to fire at the forward ship on my mark. Target their shield array.”
“Three seconds, sir. Three, two, one . . . we have resolution.”
“Aft cannons, fire.” The admiral sent a salvo directly into the nose of the trailing Heptari ship. He knew it would not harm the enemy vessel, but it would create a momentary instrument blackout giving his flagship a few precious seconds to disregard the trailing threat.
“Full thrust to port . . . now!”
Everyone in the Tanarac War Room watched the huge spaceship as it rolled ninety degrees to one side, virtually sliding the giant craft sideways in space.
“First starboard battery, on my mark.” There was a slight pause as he waited for optimal positioning. “FIRE!”
All the cannons on the admiral’s flagship fired simultaneously at the shield projectors on the fleeing Heptari cruiser. For an anxious moment, enemy shields held. Then, a localized cascade failure opened a small breech in one shield. It only lasted a fraction of a second, but that was long enough for the sustained energy pulse to hit its target.
The Heptari shield array shattered. Without shields, the enemy ship took its only possible course of action. It began a turn, attempting to bring its big cannon into a firing field against its pursuer.
Admiral Paad clenched his teeth, sensing the kill. “She’s got no shields. Second battery, take her out.”
Once a powerful Heptari cruiser, the enemy vessel absorbed the entire destructive force of the Tanarac flagship. The end was not dramatic. She simply broke at several seams cut by high-energy weapon beams. Two large sections of the enemy ship rolled off into space while her powerful new cannon fired randomly, no longer connected to its command center. Countless flashes marked collapse of internal components as bulkheads throughout the ship buckled.
“Sir, we got company aft.”
The pursuing Heptari cruiser closed on the admiral’s ship during his combat maneuver. It was already in optimal firing position for its lethal cannon.
“Compress shields.” Admiral Paad adjusted without hesitation.
“But, sir, our engines are exposed if we do that.” the admiral’s disciplined crewman completed the shield change as ordered, despite expressing his concern.
“Sound for impact,” the admiral issued a warning before sharing his reasoning for shield compression. “Lizards don’t know our engines are exposed. They’ll target our reactor core. This gives us maximum shield strength where we need it most.”
A klaxon rang throughout the ship.
The Heptari warship fired directly into the side of Admiral Paad’s flagship, just as he predicted. The ship shuddered with the energy blast.
“Good call, Sir. Minor damage.”
“Return fire. Target their bridge.”
Admiral Paad’s gunners were the best in the fleet. Most of their shots dissipated harmlessly on Heptari shields but a couple lucky shots found vortices in the shields. Some of their energy passed through to impact on the command section of the enemy ship.
The Heptari vessel began maneuvering for another attack.
“Reverse thrust. Full power!”
General Tragge watched his monitor as the large enemy starship overran the admiral’s rapidly slowing flagship. Two great vessels barely missed colliding, as the sudden deceleration caught the Heptari heavy unprepared.
Just as the Cosh cleared the nose of the Tanarac flagship, Admiral Paad closed his trap.
“Full starboard thrust. Port gunners target their engines.”
The enormous mass of the flagship groaned under the strain of extreme maneuvering. Slowly, the Tanarac ship rolled its entire port side across the tail of the Heptari cruiser.
“FIRE!”
The enemy’s weak rear shields failed under concentrated weapon fire, and its three main engines burst into giant pieces, exposing the interior of its engine rooms.
“Target the antimatter reactor core.”
“Sir, we can’t see it from behind the ship.”
“Burn a hole through the damn engine room.”
Admiral Paad knew the main gun on the Heptar
i ship was still lethal. He had to finish off this enemy from the rear while he held a momentary advantage.
His gunners fired a steady stream of high-energy particles into the exposed engine rooms while the admiral’s pilot worked to hold their position behind the Heptari ship.
The Cosh cruiser tried to maneuver with its weak local space thrusters.
At first, a steady stream of molten metal and loose engine room parts spewed into space from the Heptari ship. Then, the admiral’s tactical officer saw the growing risk.
“Sir! We hit the primary conduits. Antimatter breech in progress. She’s gonna blow!”
Admiral Paad knew they were too close to survive a matter-antimatter explosion.
“Helm over, full. Course, zero-zero-zero! (Straight at the sun.) Grav jump, engage!”
A white-hot flash filled the area where two defeated Heptari ships and Admiral Paad’s flagship had been floating in space.
“General Tragge,” a War Room technician called out. “Grav field opening, sun side. It’s Admiral Paad’s ship.”
Communications with the admiral restored as soon as the ship fully reappeared.
“That was close, Byn. Those new shields are saving our butts. What’s our fleet status?”
“Heps broke off the attack, Lorm. They’re regrouping out by the belt. You guys did great.”
“Is my telemetry correct? Did we lose fifteen heavies?” The admiral knew such losses could not be sustained.
“Yeah, we lost five of the heavies from the 10th. The 11th is down to four. All the ships in your group are still fully battle capable. Hep losses stand at five heavies destroyed and three badly damaged. You guys in the 9th accounted for all five kills. Those new shields made the difference.”
“How did the 11th lose so many ships?” The admiral quickly calculated his new odds. “That puts us down to fourteen heavies against their twenty-one.”
“Actually, it’s fourteen to eighteen. Three of their ships are damaged beyond the point of combat capability.” The general corrected his fleet commander. “You sent the 11th after that command ship. We both thought overlapping shields would hold up against those new cannons. We were wrong. The 11th lost six ships in the first pass. That big command ship has four of those damn cannons. Even with overlapped shields, our guys didn’t stand a chance. You were busy, so I gave the order to disengage. We lost two more heavies when they turned away from Rotaga’s ship for exit maneuvers.