Elliot blinked, thinking quickly, “We are exchanging some early gen ‘67’s for a second gen version. We’ve concluded refueling, no stores yet. Our options are to get underway in thirty, or in two hours with a full loadout of the new missiles plus the stores, mainly food.”
Captain Padilla frowned, “How about twenty minutes? The admiral has alerted the Kestrels and sent a courier to jump into the vicinity of the Lee, which should be back on station within seven hours. Meanwhile, we’re it for a show of force.”
The Navy had been very careful to keep their Kestrels and Hawks well back and out of sight. It had been decided that they had to show the X’Leem something other than the ancient and noisy Gresham, thus the two Dresdens had been allowed to come within scanner range, allowing their former enemy a glimpse of human technology. As a bonus, when asked, Admiral Tretiakov had carefully answered that the two Dresdens represented old technology, and in fact, had been brought back from mothballs. The X’Leem were no fools, but they had to assume that the answer meant humans had newer technology. In fact, if one counted designs and part of a prototype, humans did.
Kana commed the FFC and spoke to the captain, “Sir, we have to get underway immediately; please finish loading whatever is alongside the Stone, nothing additional.” He glanced at Captain Padilla and resumed, “Sir, Captain Padilla requests that you prepare to get under way, he wants you nearby.”
After Kana finished his comm Robert laughed, “What am I thinking right now?” Kana grinned, “Sir, you are thinking that it is high time we get down to the gym for a workout.” Robert shook his head, “Not even close, gopher breath. I was thinking that you are doing such a good job of anticipating my orders that I could take a little R&R on Lubya while you run things.”
Kana grinned, “Sir, I am but a humble enlisted, dragged unwillingly into the exalted atmosphere of educated, erudite, and intelligent officers such as yourself.”
Robert smiled, “While you were dirtside, getting mentally and socially upgraded to the twenty-seventh century, I learned a couple new moves. I think that I can take you. Meanwhile, how about we get this tub ready.”
Captain Padilla stepped out of his tiny quarters and announced to the full lieutenant manning the adjacent bridge, “Lieutenant, new orders: terminate all maintenance and the replenishment, and prepare to get underway. Twenty minutes.”
The lieutenant, a slight female originally from the province of Vietnam asked, “Sir, should we bring up our active sensors?” Since the Stone was only three million kilometers distant from the compact mass of X’Leem ships, and she knew they weren’t scheduled to move for another ten hours, she’d reached the logical conclusion.
Robert shook his head, “I want them warmed up but offline. Load two of the new ‘67’s, ER-15G’s in the bow, H’s in the stern. Run tests on all our combat systems. I want our crew to suit up, but at the moment you know about as much as I do about what we’re going to be doing.”
Within fifteen minutes all the heavy missiles that had been floating alongside the Stone had been moved inside the ship if not properly secured, and the FFC was moving under reaction thrusters away from the Grant, whose engines were online.
At twenty minutes, the Grant had sufficient clearance from the FFC to begin accelerating.
Kana was asked to remain on the bridge, a fairly new development. Captain Padilla ordered, “Five G’s, maintain present heading, prepare to jump.” He consulted the plot, a floating projection that at present was configured for three-dimensional display, with an expanding ratio that utilized different background colors to bring more distant objects into view.
He placed a red asterisk on an X’Leem destroyer, currently out near the edge of their formation, and announced, “This destroyer is not scheduled for any movement or exercises. Admiral Tretiakov wants us to shadow. On my command, jump us into a position five million klicks in front of its present heading. I want us to be far enough out that they won’t be able to detect us, close enough to respond to whatever the hell nefarious plans they might be concocting.”
Lieutenant Phuong Cao suppressed a laugh and ordered the helm to prepare the jump. She moved over to stand next to the enlisted, checked her work and quietly ordered her to input the jump into the system. She turned to Captain Padilla and said, “Captain, the coordinates are input, the system is charged.”
Captain Padilla glanced at Kana and asked, “Kana, it might be a good idea to load our shuttle with a complement of Marines. I’d like you to go with them. If we get the opportunity, I want to learn as much as possible about that ship.”
Kana asked, “Sir, you believe we’ll be allowed entrance?” Captain Padilla shook his head, “If the admiral is correct, it might just be that the X’Leem won’t want to try to board that ship; that, or they might not be able to.”
Kana frowned, “You think conditions are so bad that they are losing control?” Captain Padilla shrugged, “Just call me Captain Mushroom. Still...yes. If you compare their movements today with those of six months ago, the differences are striking. They formerly operated with near perfection; today, it’s as if they were all drunk. My question is; if we are asked to board, do we? If we do, we don’t have the slightest clue how their ships are laid out, we don’t speak their language, we don’t even know much about their uniforms or identifying insignia.”
Kana blew air through his lips and commed a newly arrived civilian, a member of the FIA, the Federal Investigation Agency. She was a spook, one reportedly brimming with knowledge and information about this species, and she had been on the ship for all of forty minutes, during which she’ exchanged not one word to the captain, a highly unusual failure.
He asked, “Miss Santiago, please come up to the bridge.” She promptly asked, “What is happening?” He sighed, “What is happening is that within the next five seconds you will be making your way, as fast as possible, to the bridge.”
Five minutes later, she appeared, looking around questioningly. Kana waved her over to his station, an auxiliary plot to the right side of the small bridge. He shook her hand and introduced himself, “Miss Santiago, I am Warrant Officer Kana. We have a situation.” He pointed to the plot, “That ship, the one outlined in red, has gotten underway and is currently making about two G’s, heading out of their formation. We have not been informed of any movements, and since it is being accompanied by five fighters, we are interested.”
She asked, “What sort of craft is it?” He said, “Roughly ten thousand tons, equivalent to a heavy destroyer, ten heavy lasers, two missile tubes fore and aft. It is thought to be capable of nine to ten G’s, is probably armored.”
She asked, “Have you identified it?” Kana said, “D-17.” She brought out a pad, connected it to the plot and input some commands. The plot shivered and reformed, this time with unit designations. She hadn’t asked permission, another serious failure.
She input another command and a box appeared, floating over the plot. It gave some surprisingly detailed information on the ship, including the probable acceleration, range and yield of the presumed nuclear weapons, one Megaton. She said, “We believe it has equivalent 45 cm lasers, seventy thousand kilometer range, decent sensors including radar, perhaps as good as that on a gen II destroyer; four tubes. We don’t know if they utilize light missiles for either offense or defense, but they have what may be two small tubes in the bow. We have never seen them launch missiles, nor has this class of ship ever brought up targeting radar. We have no information on passive sensors, but based on what we know of the colony ships we’ve investigated, they have excellent Capacitor Noise sensors, poor infrared. They possess lidar, probably as good or better than our Gen II destroyers since their laser tech is roughly equal to ours.”
Intrigued, Kana asked, “Any information on their ability to detect a Dresden?” She said, “Since we were lying alongside a freighter, they will have generated some data on our stealth, little about our performance, less about weapons.”
He nodded, “If we jump out
in front of them and allow them to close, your estimate as to their ability to detect us?”
She frowned, “Seven million kilometers. About.” Kana was surprised, “Our own estimates are closer to two.” She nodded, “Fleet has been monitoring them with a prototype autonomous drone. That destroyer is one of seven with identical specifications. It has four lidar emitters, and this ship has been well within their own detection range for several days. I believe they will have been doing the same thing you have been doing, trying to learn as much about capabilities as possible.”
Kana looked thoughtfully at the plot for a moment, turned and stepped over to Captain Padilla. He leaned in and quietly said, “Seven million klicks. Says they have been monitoring the hell out of us.”
Captain Padilla promptly ordered Lieutenant Cao, “Make that jump ten million kilometers. Let me know when you’re set up.”
He turned back to Kana, “That good? She’s certain?” Kana said, “She has access to an autonomous drone operated by Admiral She Didn’t Say, the one who didn’t forward her data to us.”
Captain Padilla grinned, “She?” Kana nodded somberly, “Girls talk, just not to guys.” Captain Padilla sighed regretfully, “Such a negative outlook, bodes poorly for your marriage.” Kana smiled, “I overheard my wife talking to yours, and she – your wife -is of the opinion that you would last perhaps five seconds on a mat. Sir.” Captain Padilla grinned, “Last five seconds with...?” Kana smiled like a wolf, “Either.”
Captain Padilla snorted, “Probably a disinformation campaign. Nastya knows what I’m going to think before I think it, but won’t tell me what the hell ingredients she puts in her soup.” Kana looked smug, “She got the recipe from Mona. I could ask?”
Captain Padilla looked at the main plot and said, “I’m telling Mona you said she needs to lose a few kilos.” Kana’s eyes opened wide, “Sir, she just took back her fleet title – she’d lose ninety-nine kilos.” Captain Padilla looked innocent, “Don’t you weigh about ninety-nine kilos?”
He looked to his left and ordered the helm, “Make the jump.”
They disappeared from normal space, reappearing ten million kilometers in front of the slowly moving destroyer. Captain Padilla watched closely as the ship monitors came back to life. He ordered, “Let’s go to battle stations.” A moment later, a soft feminine voice came up all over the ship, “Battle Stations, Battle Stations.” Within five minutes the ship was buttoned up and ready for war.
Captain Padilla told Kana, “Have a squad of Marines suit up in battle armor. I don’t believe that any of our soft weapons will have any noticeable effect on their nervous system. Any suggestions as to how we might be able to take control without killing anyone? Kana frowned, “Sir, their eyes are more sensitive to light than ours.” Captain Padilla smiled, “See, I just knew you’d benefit from learning to read.”
Captain Padilla ordered Kana, “Find out if that drone is still operating in the area.” Kana walked over and quietly repeated the question. She shook her head, “It’s down for maintenance.” Kana asked, “What was it launched from?” She shook her head, “Sorry sir.”
He looked over at Captain Padilla, who was watching, and shook his head. Captain Padilla ordered, “Maintain this separation, keep our active sensors offline, but hot. WO, Can you rig those suits with bright, flashing lights?” Kana nodded and commed the Marine squad room. A moment later he reported, “Sir, their suits are equipped with riot suppression gear, including high-decibel noise and flashing lights. They are suiting up now, should be ready to board within fifteen.”
Lt. Cao announced, “Sir, we can see some movement toward that destroyer. A moment later she added, “Sir, there are five fighters. They are joining it.”
Over the next hour the X’Leem destroyer moved out from the relatively compact fleet of ships. The Grant edged back, maintaining the ten million kilometer separation. At ninety minutes, the destroyer, along with the fighters, reversed course, and began to accelerate back toward the central globe.
Lt. Cao turned to Captain Padilla, “Sir, the destroyer has brought up targeting radar.”
Captain Padilla angrily shook his head. He glanced at Kana, “What do you think?” Kana frowned, “It could be that the crew has retaken control of the ship, but that radar makes me think otherwise.” The captain nodded, “Does the expression ‘suicide by cop’ mean anything to you?” Kana nodded, “They want to die.”
Captain Padilla said, “If the destroyer were able to ram the globe, that would reduce their overall chances of survival down close to zero.”
He ordered Lt. Cao, “Program a jump, putting us in between that destroyer and the globe, as close to the globe as you can get us.”
He commed the Gresham, “Sir, Captain Padilla, the Stone. The presumed mutineers have reversed course and are accelerating on a course that intersects with the X’Leem globe, number III. I’m going to position ourselves in between.”
Admiral Tretiakov personally came on, “Captain, I would prefer that you do not fire on that destroyer.” Captain Padilla nodded, “Sir, I concur – we believe whomever is in command of the destroyer may want to suicide. Will you please ascertain if the X’Leem are in communication with that ship, and if so, ask what they know?”
The admiral asked, “How have you determined that, and how do you believe they will accomplish it?” Captain Padilla answered, “Sir, the X’Leem literature I have been able to read indicates that suicide is common, especially when an individual has failed at a task or disobeyed or otherwise dishonored his or her superior. In this case, it is possible that the crew of that destroyer will attempt to ram the globe, forcing it to fire on them.”
Lt. Cao announced, “Sir, jump programmed.” He held up a hand to her, “Sir, I am going to position the Grant in front of the X’Leem fleet. The destroyer has brought up its targeting radar, possibly to provoke an attack, possibly to initiate one. It is my intention to interpose our ship between them. If any missiles are launched, we will destroy them while the X’Leem hopefully attempts to regain control. I believe, sir, that this species might well possess the ability to override the crew’s control and remotely shut down the ship.”
Admiral Tretiakov said, “Hold your position while I attempt to confirm.”
Captain Padilla said, “Yes sir, holding position.” He turned to Lt. Cao and ordered, “Change over to ER-15G’s.”
It took five long minutes for the admiral to come back, “Captain Padilla, our representative concurs with your assessment. She is speaking to her superior, but cautioned me that it takes more time than she thinks they have, whatever ‘it’ is. I authorize you to intersperse the Grant between D-17 and the Globes. You may fire missiles or energy weapons, but only to prevent the destruction of the globes. If the globes initiates any sort of an attack, you are not to attempt to block its missiles or other weapons.”
Captain Padilla waved at Lt. Cao, “Jump now.” He said to the admiral, “Yes sir. We are now jumping; we are to attempt to destroy any missiles emanating from D-17.”
The ship jumped into position just four hundred thousand kilometers in front of the huge X’Leem globe. All over the fleet, X’Leem drive systems were being brought up, and several ships were also bringing up targeting systems.
Captain Padilla made a general announcement, “Captain Padilla speaking. We have jumped into position between the X’Leem globes and a destroyer believed to be under control of mutineers. That ship is now four million kilometers distant and accelerating directly toward it. Our orders are to prevent destruction of the globes. I believe that if we destroy the approaching destroyer, other elements of the X’Leem fleet will respond by attacking us, possibly leading to the destruction of much of this fleet. We need to prevent the death of the globes without killing anyone. I shall keep you advised. Captain out.”
Kana asked the civilian spook, “What do we know about their missiles?” She asked, “What do you want to know?” Kana leaned over, “Everything you know.” She smiled withou
t the expression reaching her eyes, “Need to know.” He nodded, “D-17 is at present accelerating on a course that will impact on the X’Leem globes. We are four hundred thousand klicks in front, meaning we are also in it’s path. Our orders are to prevent the destruction of the X’Leem command ships. What the hell do you know?”
She asked, her studied calm morphing into a trace of concern, “We are in its path?” Kana asked, “What is its acceleration, what is the warhead yield, what is the range, anything else you might know.”
She said, now looking directly at Captain Padilla, “I am on your ship as an observer, I do not report to you and my orders are quite clear.”
Captain Padilla said, “Here is the situation: if that destroyer manages to impact one of their command ships, the odds of saving this people go way down. If we attempt to kill that destroyer I believe other elements of this fleet will mutiny, leading to a general collapse of order, resulting in the same disaster. I must know what to expect, and if you have any information that can assist us, I order you to provide it.”
Hawk Flight (Flight of the Hawk Book 3) Page 36