The swishing bridge door woke her as four Marines, including Swigger, arrived, marveling at the equipment. They joined her at the flight suite, and though Clio didn’t show it, she was glad for the company.
“How’s Captain Kobol?” Clio asked Swigger, suspecting she knew the answer, given his sullen expression.
“Died holding the Chits off while the colonists boarded. Sergeant Wallace is still being treated in sickbay. They don’t know if he’s going to make it. At least Sergeant Lynch is okay.”
“Tough bastard,” Clio said, trying to lighten the mood.
He smiled sadly. “Aye.”
Swigger clearly wasn’t feeling up to talking, and Clio left him to his thoughts and exchanged small talk with the other Marines.
“Evans, are we ready to leave?” Commander Grimshaw said, returning to the bridge.
The Marines scattered, and Swigger waved to Clio as he left. She waved back, offering him a reassuring smile.
“Yes, sir. Give me the word, and I’ll take her up.” She had left the ship’s systems primed.
“Everyone is secure. Let’s get going.”
“Aye, sir.”
Clio shifted the controls and Project Zero lifted above the trees, smoothly drifting toward the clouds.
“I have detected five small enemy craft approaching from the East,” Fresnel said, panicked.
“You’re sure they’re Chits?” Grimshaw enquired.
Fresnel swallowed hard. “Secondary readings confirm they are indeed Chits, sir.”
“Raise shields, Ascari,” Grimshaw ordered, “and fire at will.”
The primary visual display split into five small screens, each tracking a black, diamond-shaped enemy fighter. Project Zero’s computer highlighted them with an orange outline against the darkening night sky.
Clio held her breath as the fighters came within firing range. Energy erupted from Project Zero’s guns, and all five craft exploded in a puff of fire, smoke, and spinning debris.
Cheers erupted throughout the bridge.
“They didn’t even get close enough to fire,” Martin shouted.
“Don’t celebrate just yet, folks,” Grimshaw said. “They may have bigger ships waiting for us out there. Any readings on that front yet, Fresnel?”
“Negative, sir. All readings are clear. I’ll keep checking.”
Project Zero broke through the blackened clouds, and the starry heavens appeared on the primary screen. Within minutes, Clio had taken the ship beyond orbit.
“Maintain your bearing, Evans. The sooner we reach S-Gate Horizon the better.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And somebody get a tech up here to look at comms. I want Ambassador Andallis on the quantum relay before we hit the galactic network.”
“Consider it done, Commander,” a Marine said, leaving the bridge.
Clio could have instructed Ascari to take them to the gate on autopilot, but she wanted to learn the controls more thoroughly.
“Reading a large vessel, sir,” Fresnel said, his voice shaking.
“It’s a dreadnaught class Aphnai vessel,” Ascari added in her matter-of-fact tone. “It’s forty thousand miles off our starboard.”
“Can we outrun them?” Grimshaw asked.
“Still calibrating sensors to compensate for their jamming waves,” Fresnel said. “I can’t confirm yet, but they appear to be traveling at maximum speed.”
“The core still requires significant work, Captain,” Ascari explained. “Currently, the engine is operating below thirty percent. Even still, we should be able to travel six percent faster than the Aphnai dreadnought.”
“Ascari, Evans, maximum speed to the gate. Fresnel, keep me posted on the enemy.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Clio forced the steering panel forward, and her heart skipped a beat when the ship accelerated faster than she thought possible. The same acceleration would have instantly killed everyone on board a Confederation ship. Yet, on board Project Zero, she barely felt a thing.
“The Chits have deployed several smaller vessels, sir,” Fresnel said.
“I’m counting eight war-class corvettes, Captain,” Ascari expanded. “They are traveling faster than the dreadnought and are closing in. I estimate that they will reach us in under ten minutes.”
“Can’t we go any faster, Evans?”
“Afraid not, sir. The controls are pushing the max. Maybe if the core was able to give us more juice.”
“Engineering, can we increase the core’s output?” Grimshaw said on the inter-ship system. “The AI says we’re only running at around thirty percent.”
“Not quite, sir,” a Xerocorp scientist said. “Current output is already pushing things. We could potentially increase that by two-hundred percent but not without installing a piece of equipment we’re missing.”
“What do you mean missing?”
“The engine’s core coupler unit has some kind of receptacle. It looks like it’s designed to accept another piece of gear. There was nothing about it in the plans, but we think it has something to do with activating all three core chambers. I’m afraid we’re limited to one until we know more.”
“Very well. We have enemy inbound, and things might get a bit shaky. Keep her running as smoothly as you can.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ascari,” Grimshaw said. “What are our chances against the Chit vessels?”
“With the ship’s current configuration, survival rate against four is seventy percent. Survival against eight is two percent.”
“What do you recommend?”
“Running calculations, Captain.” Ascari fell silent for several seconds. “Project Zero’s gravitational force dampeners are vastly superior. An asteroid belt is located beyond the fourth planet in this system. Outmaneuvering them in there increases our survival rate to fifty-three percent.”
“Evans, make it happen.”
“Already on it, sir.”
“Ascari, high alert.”
The lights on the bridge dimmed a fraction.
“Commander Grimshaw to all passengers. This is not a drill. We have enemy ships inbound. Our best chances are to out-fly them in a nearby asteroid belt. Lights along the walkways will direct all civilians to secure positions. Stow your belongings and attend to your children. I repeat, this is not a drill.”
Clio watch the eight orange dots close on their position as Commander Grimshaw repeated the message.
“Status, Evans?”
“We’ll hit the belt in a little over two minutes, sir.”
“Make sure the Chits engage us before entering. I want them hot on our tails. We need to lure them in.”
“I don’t think we have any other choice, sir.”
Clio was surprised by how on-the-ball the Commander was given how near to death he looked before leaving Colony 115.
As they drew nearer, the Chit ships enlarged on the bridge VD offering a visual. They stretched to twice the size of Project Zero, their black hulls reflecting the starry void. Black claws reached from their sides, giving them the appearance of dark, spiked flowers.
“Reading energy signatures, sir,” Fresnel all but shrieked.
“Enemy charging particle beam cannons,” Ascari informed them.
The AI fed her instructions on what maneuvers to employ, and Clio followed, Project Zero smoothly responding to her as though it read her very thoughts. Clio checked the forecasted wire-frame guidelines she would receive on entering the asteroid field. Ascari and Project Zero were going to put her through her paces. The maneuver adjustments were timed such that Clio wasn’t sure if she could keep up.
48
Fight
Grimshaw had hoped to reach the stellar gate incident-free, but if recent events on Colony 115 had taught him anything, it was that the Chits liked to spring surprises when least expected. He cursed the scientists for not completing Project Zero. Perhaps the additional power would have been enough to outrun the bastards. “All expendable power
to aft shields. Evasive maneuvers.”
Eight enemy vessels on the bridge VD discharged narrow red shafts. Evans pulled Project Zero into a spin that would have torn the Bakura—or any other Confederation ship—apart. Two beams struck home. Grimshaw didn’t feel the effects, whereas he’d felt every bump on the Bakura. The other light shafts streamed into empty space as the ship turned and looped with unbelievable speed and efficiency.
Grimshaw recalled the bold claim Clio had once made about being the best pilot in the Confederation Fleet, and he was beginning to believe it.
“Shields at eighty-eight percent,” Ascari said.
“Full speed to those asteroids, Evans.” Grimshaw’s hand shook and he fought down another wave of vomit. He still suffered from the fury poison symptoms, but the medication the medic had administered held the worst at bay. “And return fire.”
Project Zero’s aft cannons fired, and a series of flashes blotted out the VD.
“One enemy ship disabled, Captain,” Ascari announced.
Ascari’s insisting on referring to him as Captain irked Grimshaw, but he’d given up on correcting her. He wondered how the AI knew his name in the first place but figured that Evans must have told her during the ship’s initiation process. Or perhaps it had remotely bypassed his SIG’s security and retrieved his profile.
Project Zero took three more hits, reducing her shields to sixty percent. Seconds later, Evans steered the ship into the asteroids. Grimshaw held his breath as Project Zero cut through a narrow opening between two towering rocks. “Let’s shake them in here, Evans.”
“Working on that with Ascari, sir.”
“Readings are all over the place, sir,” Fresnel said. “Detecting weapons fire.”
“Aphnai torpedoes inbound,” Ascari added. “Rerouting maneuvers.”
Grimshaw tried to offer some encouragement. “Keep those off us, Evans.”
Clio wove around and through the giant rocks, no doubt following Ascari’s instructions.
“Torpedoes absorbed by the asteroid field,” Ascari said.
A corner of the primary VD crackled and showed a visual behind Project Zero. A dull haze had spread through the asteroids, and two dim flashes added to the mist.
“Did you see those last two lights?” Fresnel said, surprised. “Those were core explosions.”
“Two enemy vessels destroyed,” Ascari confirmed indifferently.
Grimshaw watched both screens earnestly as the remaining five ships kept firing on Project Zero’s tail, but Evans continually avoided their attacks, using the asteroids as cover. The clusters of rocks on the primary VD thickened the deeper they went. How she could navigate through any of that, even with the help of an advanced AI, was beyond Grimshaw. He dared not speak to her again in case he broke her concentration, but he had never seen flying like it. The bridge crew watched in silence as Evans carried Project Zero through fields of mountain-sized stone, every life on board in her hands.
Ascari cut in on the silence. “Dampeners and stabilizers will overheat within fifteen minutes if we sustain this level of movement. I recommend a new strategy, Captain.”
“What new strategy?”
“Still calculating, Captain.”
Grimshaw rubbed his thickening beard. “Do we have anything that can penetrate these asteroids?”
“Project Zero is equipped with twelve neutrino warhead bays,” Ascari answered. “Two are currently functional.”
“That’ll have to do. We exit the asteroid field and fire those neutrinos. Hopefully it’ll crush the bastards. But we’ll need to get further ahead of them first. What kind of distance can we put between ourselves and the Chits without ruining Project Zero?”
“Calculating new route,” Ascari said.
“It’ll be close, sir,” Evans said. “But Ascari thinks we can pull it off.”
“Take us out as fast as you can. Ascari, prepare those warheads. Fire them ahead of Project Zero and detonate them as soon as we’re beyond range.”
“Affirmative,” Ascari said.
Huge rocks sped by the VD as Evans wove the ship through a cluster of asteroids like a needle through fabric. She took one turn dangerously close, setting off the proximity warnings, and Grimshaw squeezed his armrest hard.
He exhaled as they came out of the maneuver in one piece.
“Warheads deployed,” the AI warned.
The warheads hurtled into the field at either side and Project Zero accelerated as Clio threw her into a spiral. Seconds later, the ship was in open space again, a palpable wave of relief washing over the crew.
“Well done, Evans. Back when you told me how good a pilot you were, I should have listened.”
“Compliment accepted, sir.”
Everyone watched the asteroid field behind Project Zero on the secondary VD.
“Neutrino warheads detonating.” Ascari may as well have been announcing that day’s menu.
Two sharp, white lines cut across the asteroid field followed by blinding stars. Grimshaw had to look away despite the screen filters, yellow blotches floating in his eyes.
A moment later, the blast wave violently rocked the ship, but it dissipated as quickly as it had arrived.
“Shields at fifty-one percent.”
The white secondary VD dulled to a glow and once again displayed the asteroid field.
“Did we get them?” Grimshaw asked more urgently than he’d intended.
Fresnel looked over from his station. “Not reading any Chits, but it’s too early to tell, sir. Those nukes are wreaking havoc on the sensors.”
Two flashes erupted on the secondary VD and plasma beams cut into the back of Project Zero.
“Rear shields at twenty-two percent.”
“Return fire,” Grimshaw shouted. “All available power to aft cannons.”
Ascari responded, discharging two shafts of burning white.
“I think we got them,” Fresnel said.
“Dampeners and Stabilizers cooling, Captain,” Ascari said. “Shields recharging. Confirming all Aphnai vessels have been neutralized.”
A chorus of tired and weary voices erupted in a half-hearted cheer.
Even Grimshaw couldn’t help but smile. “Full speed to S-Gate Horizon, Evans.”
For the first time since boarding, Grimshaw cast his eyes about the bridge, having time to fully appreciate Project Zero’s workmanship. The vessel was decades beyond anything the Confederation or the Shanti possessed. For all he knew, it had the potential to put both races on par with the Tal’ri, and they had always been the most technologically advanced race in the Galactic Alliance as far back as records went. Eline and Nakamura were right. If not handled correctly, the existence of Project Zero could cause a real political mess, perhaps even lead to war. He opened a ship-wide crew channel. “Where’s my communications tech?”
“Officer Cleaver here.” The Marine answered on the vox, sounding out of breath. “Just arrived at the communications station, sir. It’ll take me a few minutes to set her up. I’m not familiar with this tech and whoever worked on this gear didn’t finish connecting it.”
“Let us know when you have Ambassador Andallis on the line.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Evans, Let’s get to that gate before more Chits show up.”
“Aye, sir.”
Grimshaw’s sweaty hands worked the controls on his command terminal. “Commander Grimshaw to all crew and passengers. The enemy has been neutralized, but we aren’t out of the woods just yet. Remain in your secure compartments and await further instructions.” He switched channels. “How long are you going to be, Cleaver? I want to get the message out before we enter S-Gate Horizon.”
“I tried sending your report to Ambassador Andallis, sir, but it’s no good. The quantum circuits have been fried. Probably overloaded during the fight. I could replace them, but I can’t find any spares in here or on the ship’s manifest.”
“Ascari, can you do anything?”
“Confirming dam
age to quantum entanglement processing unit, Captain. The ship’s manifest shows no record of suitable replacements. Repair at a suitable Confederation Fleet hangar recommended.”
“It’s a long shot, but I might be able to rig it up to send a short burst, sir,” Cleaver said.
“How short?”
“Twelve words if we want to keep it encrypted. Maybe double that without encryption.”
Grimshaw thought about it. “Encrypt this message, Cleaver: Project Zero arriving from Targos, requesting assistance at G-Gate Sentinel.”
“Sending now, Commander.”
Grimshaw waited a long minute. “Any luck, Cleaver?”
“I believe it sent, sir.”
“Good job. Keep working on getting that relay back online. See if you can’t wrangle the parts from other equipment.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
Grimshaw cut the channel. He could get an emergency message to the ambassador on short-range comms as soon as they exited G-Gate Sentinel but giving a heads-up before their arrival would reduce the risk of being intercepted by anyone else. Sentinel Control dealt harshly with unregistered entries into Sentinel space.
Project Zero curved toward S-Gate Horizon and the monolithic ring eventually slid onto the primary VD. Since stellar and galactic gates predated the races in the Galactic Alliance, little was known about their origins, but some historian claimed that they had been left behind by the Ancients. They acted as doorways to the vast paraspace network that allowed ships to jump between systems in days or weeks instead of hours.
The giant ring dwarfed Project Zero. Bolts of lightning sparked across its diameter as it activated, and white light swirled along the ring’s edge, radiating inward until it met in the center.
The violent white vortex slowed to a gentle rotating disk as Project Zero approached. Pinpoints of black and white streamed across the primary VD. Grimshaw was relieved to be on the home stretch, though his work was far from finished. The trip through the intergalactic network would afford some time to catch up on paperwork. A shiver ran down Grimshaw’s back as they passed through the gate. He brought up Project Zero’s schematics and found a cabin designated as the Captain’s quarters on the floor above the bridge; it was accessible via a small personal elevator. He undid his restraints and climbed out of the chair. “Evans, you have the bridge. If you need anything, you’ll find me in the Captain’s quarters.”
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