* * *
Within an hour, we approached the planet where Jean would do the slingshot maneuver. We went into a U-turn and went back at the pursuing enemy ships head on. They couldn’t fire at us effectively, but we had lots of time to fire at them until we reached them. Already, their force was confused as we headed at them in what must have seemed like a suicide charge to them. I was playing inter-galactic chicken and banking on them backing off for fear of losing more than I could. Before the Thurman reached the enemy ships, the traffic jam I envisioned started to become a reality. As we carefully flashed by within the center of their large formation, our guns were free to shoot everywhere. They had to hold off on their own fire for fear of missing us and hitting one of their own ships at almost point blank range. They were still getting themselves reorganized when we passed out of their formation on a direct course for their home planet.
Sensors reported, “One ship hit by our weapons and disabled. It’s crashed into another ship of theirs and caused heavy damage!”
I said, “Let everyone know that. Communications, pipe that out to both crew and Headquarters. Give them a running commentary on the battle until we get clear.”
“Yes sir!” he responded as he started to give a description of what just transpired.
I added hastily, “Oh, make sure you don’t say what we’re going to do before we do it. Turn off the transmitter when I’m giving orders. No sense in sharing our plans, is there?”
“No sir,” he said as he beamed a bright smile at me.
I was going to make the enemy wish he had left some more of those twenty ships of his back at his planet. We were well out in front of the enemy ships that still chased us. I saw the opportunity to embarrass them by making another quick bombardment sweep of the enemy home planet before passing the planet into space on the other side. That would be enough to shake up their entire command structure.
“Navigation,” I said, watching to see if Communications shut down the broadcasting before I continued, “plot a course to take us into the atmosphere and then straight out the other side. No slingshot this time. They’ll be expecting that. Gunners, be ready to bombard military ground targets as we pass.”
The Communications officer didn’t say a word until we entered the enemy planet atmosphere. Then he did his best to keep up with the targets our gunners were firing on and give a running commentary on them. Then almost as quickly as it began, we zipped back into space and continued on past the planet. The Sensors department picked up the enemy ships trying to execute a turn to catch us in a broadside with the most weapons possible. Only problem for them was that we weren’t there. By the time they figured out that we had gone straight, they were too far behind to do more than follow at long range sensor distance.
“Communications, get ready to send the following message in code. Thurman to Headquarters. Have eighteen enemy vessels in pursuit at long range sensor distance. Will lead on merry chase to your choice of ambush site. End message. Get that off right away. Let me know when they decide where and when to do it. Send our position every hour as long as we’re still within visual or sensor range of the enemy.”
“Right away, sir!” the communications officer replied.
The message was sent a few moments later. Then we continued to lead the enemy ships away from their home planet. I figured that their own command wanted our hides badly for attacking their planet three times and disabling or destroying nine ships. I had little doubt about whether those ships would follow me to the ends of space. I knew we’d hit them in their pride. They also couldn’t afford to let us get away or we might be able to influence the rest of our Navy to do better against them by our example. Even rich kids can learn to overcome their disadvantages, I knew.
* * *
It was almost five hours later when we received the message from Headquarters that an ambush was impractical at the time due to operational considerations. I accepted the news calmly, having expected that as a possible reply. It was solely up to us to take care of the eighteen ships chasing us. Even if I could split them, there would be too many of them to take on in a slugfest. Three, I felt was worth an attempt, but not more. I knew both my ship’s limitations and mine. We weren’t immortals who could shrug off whatever the enemy dished out.
“Okay, staff meeting in five minutes. Come there with ideas,” I said before I went to the Dining Facility and got myself something to drink. Then I made my way to the Planning Room where some of the officers were already seated. A few started to stand up when I arrived, only I motioned them to keep their seats. We would have enough to go through without wasting energy on politeness at that time. I waited until the last of my officers showed up.
I said, “You all know our problem. The odds are eighteen to one. If we keep on this course, there’s a chance that sooner or later, they’ll manage to notify someone ahead of us to form a welcoming committee. I need ideas, no matter how wild they are. This is the time to speak freely. We’re not concerned with careers here, we’re concerned with our lives.”
Lieutenant Sorenson suggested, “We could pull another slingshot maneuver to get more speed.”
“Hold on a moment, I want our off-duty pilots here too. They’ll have ideas to add.” I pressed the intercom switch and said, “Off-duty pilots to the Planning Room.” Then we waited for another minute or two for three pilots to show up and join the meeting. Then I gave them the purpose of the meeting as they found seats. Then I motioned to Lieutenant Sorenson to repeat his idea.
“No good,” said Frank as the other pilots nodded in agreement. “They’ll actually be able to cut the distance to within firing range when we perform the maneuver. We might be moving faster than them and eventually out distance them again, but we run the risk of having them cut our engines and steering to ribbons during that brief moment. Then they’ll be able to maneuver until we’re at their mercy.”
I asked, “What’s our chances of pulling a stunt like we did to that last ship? By that, I mean we could dive into the atmosphere of a planet, circle the globe, come up under them, and exit behind them while we try to shoot their asses off?”
“Depends on how far behind they are when we circle the globe and how long it takes us to do it inside the atmosphere. With the right size planet, it could be done, but they’ll have the advantage of being in space already and probably be able to turn and keep up with us,” Frank answered.
“What if we stay in the atmosphere for more than one spin around the globe? Would that do any good?” I asked.
Frank looked at me for a moment and appeared to be in deep thought as if something was occurring to him. I decided not to rush him for an answer. He finally looked up and gave his answer. “I looked at the repairs we made on the atmospheric steering. We should have enough maneuverability in an atmosphere to fight them like an aircraft. I think our craft is more airworthy than theirs are. We might just have enough of an advantage to do something there, but we really need to reduce the odds before we attempt such a maneuver. I can’t sign on to that idea with eighteen of them on our tail.”
I nodded as I accepted his judgment.
Jean spoke up and said, “I’d like to take them into an asteroid field. There’s too many of them to hold a formation and dodge asteroids at the same time.”
Frank was already nodding in agreement.
I asked, “Can we make it ourselves?”
Frank was the one to speak on that issue. “Yes, provided our gunners help us dodge some of them by keeping our path clear.”
Lieutenant Kruler asked, “Won’t the enemy be able to use our trail to follow us?”
“Nope,” replied Frank. “The asteroids will be shifting behind us. They’ll have to blaze their own trail if they want to keep up with us. That or dodge at an even slower speed.”
I asked, “What about the chances of one of them leaping around the asteroid field to meet us on the other side?”
“No problem,” answered Jean. “We’ll still be able to monito
r them on sensors. If they do, they’ll have to be able to figure out where we’re coming out. There’s no way for them to all be in the right spot at the right time. Maybe two of them, but shouldn’t our gunners be able to take care of that many?”
I asked then, “Are there any other suggestions? If not, then I want long range sensors to find me the biggest, baddest asteroid field imaginable and give the coordinates to navigation to plot a course for. Don’t even wait for an okay to change course. I want us going there as soon as possible. Just don’t put us in range of those ships to get there. The meeting is over. Those of you not on duty, get some rest. Pass the word among the crew, especially the gunners, about what we’re going to do.” I said that while looking my officer in charge of gunnery dead in the eyes. “Also, tell them that they’ve done an outstanding job so far and we’re going to come out of this in good shape.”
Normally, I would have told the crew personally, but my officers were still lagging behind in confidence and taking care of their personnel. I wanted to force them to meet with their people and explain things to them. If they explained it wrong, then they would learn how not to do it and I’d help them clear up the misunderstanding.
I think the crew sensed what the officers were trying to say and figured out the missing parts for themselves. At any rate, none of them came complaining to me later about what they were or weren’t told. At least, it was a start for some of my officers in being concerned about the crew. My own guess is that they probably thought taking care of the crew and ship was not getting them shot up, but you can’t win battles unless you takes chances and acceptable risks. My own knowledge of military history told me that one individual or unit in the right place at the right time with the right weapons could hold off overwhelming odds and even win. There was even one recorded case of a lone soldier holding off and killing over three hundred soldiers in a lengthy battle because he had all three factors in his favor. I was determined that we were going to be one of the successful recorded cases of a unit being in the right place at the right time with the right weapons.
* * *
Fortunately, the sensor operators realized that I didn’t want to turn around to reach an asteroid field, so they concentrated on finding one ahead of us that we could reach without giving up our lead over the enemy ships. It took us over a day of travel before we finally spotted one and changed our course to drive for it at full speed. Because of the distance to it, we were able to make the course changes in small increments so that our change in course wasn’t immediately apparent to the aliens in pursuit of us. By the time they realized our intentions, it was too late for them to make up any of the distance between us. Nor did they get in a few free shots while we slowed down to enter what must have been the grand-daddy of asteroid fields. It had everything we wanted. It was thick, wide, and deep. It wouldn’t be easy for any pursuing ships to cut us off at the other side.
To make things easier for us, everyone went on duty as soon as we slowed down and entered into the asteroid field and a few of the enemy ships tried to take extremely long range shots at us. Our gunners blasted anything that the sensors and navigation agreed was a threat while the pilots helped each other to keep an eye out on what was practically next to the ship.
Navigation reported, “Rock on the port side!”
“I see it! No problem!” the pilot replied.
“Gunners, rock at starboard, one kilometer distance. Take it out!” navigation ordered.
Every so often, one or more of the guns opened up on an asteroid. They either blasted it into dust or managed to carom it off into another direction. The sensors were being monitored by three people. One was keeping track of the enemy ships while the other two kept track of the asteroids.
Sensors reported, “Enemy ship hulled by asteroid!”
That was grateful news to learn that one of the enemy ships had been destroyed by their inability to negotiate the asteroid field. Of the eighteen ships pursuing us, eight had followed us in. The other ten were trying to circle the field to keep us trapped inside where we would eventually fall prey to one or more of the asteroids or the enemy’s brethren. So far, we were lucky that the only thing hitting us was dust. I wasn’t aware that part of our rust coating was being scraped off and polished to a bright sheen.
“Rock on the starboard side!”
“Gunners! Rock on starboard, two kilometers distance. Take it out!” navigation ordered.
Because most of the asteroids were coming at us from the starboard side, I was tempted to change course and go with the flow, but I felt that would make it easier for the aliens in pursuit. If I decided to do anything, I’d go the other way. I knew that my gunners were better and could handle oncoming rocks, but I didn’t dare take that chance because sooner or later we’d become too fatigued to keep up with it all.
A sensor operator reported, “Enemy ship hit by asteroid! Oh! There she goes! She’s out of control! Scratch one more alien ship!”
That was two the asteroids took out for us. Now the odds were improving. I wondered just how long I could force my ship and crew to stay inside the asteroid field before the odds went the other way?
Reports continued to move about the ship as everyone cooperated in spotting and either dodging or destroying the asteroids that threatened us.
“Rear gunners! When you’re not shooting targets given you by navigation and sensors, shoot at some of the asteroids to starboard as we pass. Maybe you can deflect some of them backwards and start a chain reaction for the enemy ships to dodge,” I called out over the intercom. At least, it was something for the more rearward gunners to do since they weren’t able to reach out for the targets as well as the forward gunners. Quite a few times, their shots were blocked by other non-threatening asteroids.
Now the vibrations felt through the deck of guns discharging went on almost nonstop as the rear gunners started shooting at any and all asteroids in an attempt to start a chain reaction of moving asteroids. An hour later, their efforts were rewarded when another enemy ship was hulled by an unexpected non-threatening asteroid that shifted its course because one of the asteroids our gunners shot caromed into it leaving them too little response time. The odds were definitely improving.
I wondered if I should gauge when to get out of the asteroid field on my own perception of my gunners’ alertness or when the enemy gunners started making mistakes. If mine started making mistakes first, it wouldn’t matter. It would probably be too late then. If it was the alien gunners, then it would definitely be time to get out. However, by doing so, I would probably be saving some of the alien ships that were still able to follow us out.
* * *
Sensors reported, “Alien ship hulled! No! Two alien ships hulled!”
“Take us out!” I ordered knowing that our gunners must be nearing the limits of their own endurance since the alien losses were so close together. “Shortest distance to the edge!”
I could only hope and pray that we wouldn’t have too many of the ten alien ships outside the asteroid field on hand to greet us. Then it occurred to me that we could pull the same trick going forward. “Forward gunners! Try to knock some of the asteroids out of the field in front of us! Let’s give the enemy plenty of targets to shoot at when we clear the field.”
Now all the guns on the Thurman were firing continuously, again, as our gunners blasted some asteroids that threatened us and shot other asteroids with the intention of knocking them into the enemy’s path. It wasn’t long before I heard comments that indicated that our efforts were having some success.
A sensor operator reported, “Enemy ship hulled!”
We had lost another pursuer behind us. If anything, we were lowering the odds and probably the aliens were wondering why in hell we were firing all our weapons the way we were. If anything, I imagine they must have thought we were either crazy or becoming too fatigued and almost done for. Whichever or whatever they thought, their outer group moved away from the asteroid field as more rocks came tum
bling out to interfere with their tracking of us. Inside, we only had three alien ships remaining of the eight that went in with us. Meanwhile, one of our communications officers was broadcasting what was happening as we posted more death and destruction on the scoreboard. Whether we actually shot the ships or not, we were claiming credit because they were destroyed trying to get to us and no one else. That gave us fourteen kills so far.
Frank and the pilots surprised us all at the last moment when they turned the Thurman to go with the flow of asteroids just before we would have exited the field. We went past the waiting alien ships to emerge outside their formation. It provided a T-shot on one of them for our alert gunners. The T-shot damaged the alien ship enough that it wasn’t able to continue the pursuit. It was also too close to the asteroid field to remain intact for very long. We were still in long range sensor distance of it when it was ruptured from a direct asteroid hit.
When we exited, only a few of the alien ships were pointed in the right direction to take up the pursuit. They caused more accidents to the three alien ships still in the asteroid field because they had to slow down to avoid a collision as they exited where we were supposed to. One of them was hulled in the process as well, so only two of them made it out.
A lot of our crew turned in then for rest. We did our best to get back out of range while we maintained a brief exchange of fire with the few alien ships that managed to stay in contact with us. Only because our pilot kept us near the edge of the asteroid field was it possible for us to keep the aliens from getting a solid hit on us. Our ship spiraled the asteroid field so that we were almost always just beyond the horizon, leaving plenty of rocks between us to absorb some of their shots while other shots missed completely. Still, I felt a few slight vibrations in the hull from some glancing hits. Unfortunately, the same rocks sometimes deflected or blocked our own shots back at the enemy. Only a few hits were announced over the intercom.
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