“No not the Phantom” said Phil curtly “she is already committed to another mission.”
“What’s more important than this?” asked Rudi.
“I can’t tell you that, not now. You need to trust me on this” said Phil. “We need to defeat this threat without the Phantom.”
“Can the Resolute be made ready?” asked Rudi.
“Not in time to get to Chelora” said Dave “It should be ready on the 20th.”
“Forget the ambush” said Phil. “It’s a longshot anyway. But the Phantom could help us get word to the Ark Royal a lot sooner.” Phil looked at the time and realised he had only an hour before the Phantom took off. He couldn’t trust a signal. No, it had to be physically conveyed.
“Dave get out to the fighter base. Get down to Tumos before the Phantom takes off at 1000 and tell Aubrey she is to convey my order for the Ark Royal Group to warp back to Polaris.”
Dave was caught surprised. “Well don’t just sit there Dave” said Phil. “On your bike and while you’re there let Mani know I will be sending ground forces his way to bolster his defences.”
“Right Sir” said Dave recovering. He grabbed his gear and headed out the door at the trot.
“Use my buggy” yelled Alex “Bay 33.”
“Thanks” yelled back Dave from out in the corridor. He got to Bay 33 in the car park below in less than two minutes. He was puffing already. ‘I’m getting too old for this’ he said to himself. A minute later he was revving the buggy out along Westmoreland Boulevard. He ignored the lights at the first intersection and was lucky to get across without an accident.
With his blood pressure rising he accelerated as the road opened up two kilometres out of the Fleet base.
“Li” he hailed “meet me at the control tower I need to get to Tumos in a hurry.”
“Right O Sir” said Li. He didn’t bother to ask why. He could tell his boss was in a flap. Li immediately went about arranging for one of the training Lightnings, the ones with a dual cab, to be made ready.
Dave glanced at the time on the dash. It was 0907 when he pulled onto Thunderbolt Avenue leading to the fighter base. The buggy was doing over 120 kph in what was supposed to be an 80K zone.
He braked heavily and pulled up at the gate. The guard frowned at him until he recognised his badge of rank. “I need to get there NOW” yelled Dave as he pointed to the control tower. The guard waved him through.
Dave gunned it again and pulled up outside the tower where Li was waiting.
Li threw the helmets and a spare flying suit in the back and jumped in. He pointed to the apron about 500m away where two lightnings were standing.
“Are you the pilot Li?” asked Dave.
“I thought it best Sir. These young ones don’t have too much respect for their elders when up top” said Li.
“Well Li we don’t have time for respect right now. We need to go like the clappers.”
Li helped Dave on with the flight suit and fitted his helmet and connected him up in the rear seat. “Now Sir, this is your intercom. That’s your ejection release – don’t touch it. In fact don’t touch anything, bar the intercom, and we’ll be good.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“You ever flown in a fighter before Sir?”
“Only in my dreams Li.”
“You’ll love it. Here’s the sick bag. Keep it handy.”
Dave looked up at him “thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Li just smiled as he shut tight the canopy.
A minute later Li was ready and the engines engaged. Dave could hear Li going through his clearance with Control. But he was focussed elsewhere. The sun was dazzling his eyes. After a little trial and error he got the visor to filter the glare. Just in time for Li to engage the vertical thrusters that lifted the craft off the ground. At 20m Li gunned the main thrusters. The craft hurtled forward over the runway but not for long. Li forced it into a very steep climb and Dave felt like he had left his stomach behind.
He was usually good with motion. He recalled how as a recruit they had been taken on what was his first ever battle shuttle flight. The instructor had warned them all about motion sickness and impressed on them the need to keep their sick bag handy. He smiled as he remembered that the instructor was the first person to puke. ‘Dickhead’ he thought.
This time, with the Lightning fighter pulling many more G’s and his stomach still trying to catch up with him, he grabbed the bag and struggled to open it. By the time he had done so, the Lightning levelled off at 50km above the surface of the planet and the gastronomical crisis had passed. Dave put the bag back and began admiring the view. It was beautiful. There was a crystal clear sky with scattered high level clouds, all below him now. They were racing at 9.5 times the speed of sound. Dave had only just got used to the perspective when Li began the descent.
“We’ll be down on the deck in no time Sir” advised Li. With the craft now in a relatively steep descent, Dave could see the desert landscape below. “Ahead and to port you can see the Bala Kush” said Li “I’ll reduce the angle in a minute before our final approach into Tumos. She’s coming up almost straight ahead now.”
Dave stared at the great mountains of the Bala Kush. From his perch on high they looked like small hills.
“Two hundred K Sir. Final Approach coming up” advised Li. He switched channels and began his handshake with Tumos control, all the time while checking his trim on the glide line. Li also took the opportunity to ask that Aubrey meet them on the deck.
They decelerated fast and for a moment Dave thought he might yet need that sick bag. Li banked right and began his final approach. The mountains were on their left and they were flying below the crests.
With the slopes rushing past at breathtaking speed Dave was exhilarated. He felt gratitude well up inside him. He was so grateful for this experience - one that he had once dreamed of doing full time. Now he was finally savouring the taste.
Li was easing off the main thrusters. The craft slowed dramatically and the angle of attack presented Dave with a view of the Tumos runway in the distance. He could just make out the shape of a craft on the apron. He was fascinated by it. As its image enlarged in his view he found himself admiring its contoured lines. ‘What a beauty’ he said to himself.
“Next to that ship Li” he hailed.
“Right O. Sir”
Dave physically jerked when Li engaged the retros but the shock wasn’t too bad and Li soon engaged the vertical thrusters. They landed within 100m of the Phantom. It was 0951.
Li helped Dave disconnect and soon assisted him down onto terra firma. Aubrey came jogging over and soon began to sweat under the desert sun. Dave could see her perspiration.
“Sir?” asked Aubrey.
“Boy, am I glad we got to you in time” said Dave. Aubrey looked puzzled. “Some interesting developments Aubrey” and Dave explained the latest developments and Yomoto’s supplementary orders.
Aubrey did not like what she heard. An avalanche of danger was about to smash onto Polaris. Brennon would be in harm’s way and she would be heading in the opposite direction. “Sure Sir” said Aubrey “I can deliver those orders but shouldn’t we then come back to help in the defence?”
“No Aubrey. You need to continue with your mission. No matter what happens over Polaris the Council will want this directive prosecuted and we have to stop that.”
“It might not matter to you but it matters deeply to me” said Aubrey. Her dander was up. “How can I go on knowing that Brennon, you, Rihan, everyone I hold dear could be killed and yet I didn’t lift a finger to help.”
“The greater good, Aubrey. The greater good.”
“That’s not fair Sir” she said barely restraining her anger.
“I know” said Dave “but it’s true none the less. It’s your burden, your duty. Humanity needs you to do this Aubrey.”
“Oh fuck humanity” she spat out. “I’m not like you. I need someone tangible to love and to hold. I’ve b
een looking for so long and finally found him and he could be fried before I return. Sure billions may or may not survive because of what I do but I’ll have lost the one that matters to me.”
Dave stared into her wild eyes. Her chest was heaving. He had known Aubrey for almost three years now and had never seen her like this. But he knew that at the root of her emotion was her love for his brother.
“I’ll look after Brennon. You complete this mission.”
Aubrey stared without speaking for a good minute. Her breathing was steadying. “All right but I hold you responsible Dave Warner.”
Dave nodded. Aubrey regained her composure. “I better get going then.” She stepped towards Dave and hugged him. “Take care” she said softly, turned and walked back to the Phantom.
“We better get out of the way Sir” said Li. He had withdrawn back to the Lightning earlier while Dave and Aubrey were in heated discussion. Now he came forward. “She’s starting up.”
They withdrew back towards the Lightning. The Phantom rose above the apron and manoeuvred onto the runway where it engaged its main thrusters. It powered down above the runway for a kilometre before climbing in a graceful arc. Dave smiled as it reminding him of the bird of prey he saw here yesterday.
“Will we be heading back now?” asked Li.
“Shortly, but I want to speak with Dr Govinda first. Let’s get in out of this sun.”
Dave met Mani up in his office. After a few words Dave said. “You said yesterday that the Resolute wouldn’t be ready till the 20th.”
“Yes that’s right” said Mani.
“What I’m about to say to you cannot be repeated to anyone. Is that understood.”
“Yes.”
“This facility could come under attack within 2 weeks.”
Mani was shocked but he could see that Dave was deadly serious, so he let him continue.
“We need to review defences.”
“You don’t mean a ground attack? Oh you do. Really?”
“It’s possible. The Admiral will be deploying ground troops here. They’ll need accommodation. Look into it for us will you.”
Mani nodded. Then a thought occurred to him. “Is Nova Vista likely to be hit? My wife and family are there.”
“We don’t know. We suspect the rogan want to destroy the Resolute and maybe the facilities here so we can’t build anymore. Regardless Mani, you can’t tell your wife or family. No one, OK.”
“But…but why shouldn’t they be evacuated…somewhere safe?”
“Mass evacuations will tell the enemy we know they are going to attack.”
“You want them to attack…and we are the bait.”
Dave nodded and then added “Make sure the Resolute is ready by the 20th. Earlier if possible.”
“Yes, right, will do” said Mani though his mind was distracted. Finally he looked at Dave earnestly and said “Is there no way my family can be moved?”
“Let me know how to contact your wife and I’ll see what I can do.”
“What about the families of everyone else here? It’s not fair to leave them in harm’s way.”
“No it’s not fair Mani but that’s war. I’m sorry. I have to get back. I’ll be in touch.”
Mani sat there pondering.
Dave left in a roar. Li had him on the ground at the fighter base in Nova Vista before midday. When Dave walked back into Phil’s office, Alex was on the phone doing what he did best marshalling human resources. Rihan was drawing up orders for the ground forces that Alex had secured. He gave Rihan a smile and she pointed to Phil’s office.
Dave walked right in. Phil was studying the schematics for the Deathly Hollows. “Dave” said Phil as he entered. “All good?” Dave nodded. “Enjoy your ride” said Phil with a grin.
“Yes I did actually” said Dave.
“How many troops do you reckon we need to defend Deathly Hollows? How many warriors do you reckon they had over Beta Phi?”
“Felis said it was a full legion – around 10,000.”
“Gee that’s a lot. Our problem is they could hit anywhere. We can’t defend everything. We need to keep a strong reserve and only preposition forces at our vital facilities. I’ve been discussing this with the others. Admiral Holland’s staff are going to work up an op plan for the planet as a whole. We’re responsible for Deathly Hollows.”
“What about Butros Alia?” asked Dave.
“They won’t even know it exists. It’ll be safe.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Brennon will be fine.”
“I’d feel better if there was a company of marines there.”
“Wouldn’t we all Dave. But remember if shit hits the fan there we can press-gang the droids there to defend the place.”
“You’re assuming that they will be operational. It’s a manufacturing facility. Only a small number are finished each day and we’ve been shipping them out as fast as they become available.”
“True. How many troops do we require at Deathly Hollows to hold it for 24 hours?”
“It’s a big place Sir. A full battalion I’d say.”
“That’s what I thought too” said Phil with a frustrated expression.
“We haven’t got a battalion have we?”
Phil shook his head. “So far Alex has scraped up two companies of Marines, half of which are green, fresh out of Sandford.”
“What about battlewagons and fire support?”
“I’ve agreed with Rudi and General Xian that these should be kept with our mobile reserve for the counterattack.”
“We could deploy our droids from the Resolute.”
“Yeah we could but that would only leave you a reduced marine company for any boarding operations.”
“I thought we were…oh I see, Alex has diverted our marine replacements to make up your two companies.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m still not sure how the droids are going to perform in boarding ops anyway. Let’s commit the HQ and two companies to help defend Deathly Hollows. I’ll hold one platoon on board and can we commit the rest of the third company to Butros Alia.”
Phil looked at Dave with his eyes raised.
“We can move them to Tumos in half an hour if required. We’ll just leave their pod there.”
“All right” said Phil. “Let Rihan know and have her update the plan.” Dave nodded. “Boy, am I hungry. I could eat a horse.”
“I heard that Sir” called out Alex from outside “and I ain’t getting a horse.”
“Well that last sandwich you got me was crap” said Phil raising his voice to make sure Alex heard him. “I’m off to the cafeteria then. Come on everyone my shout.”
“My cup runneth over” said Alex.
Chapter 9. Argonaut in Outer Polaris 1400, 11 June
“I don’t believe it” said Staff Sgt Geena Hoffen “Look at this!”
1st Lt Wes Yvanovitch leaned closer to read the text on the screen. “No shit.”
“We need to let HQ know asap.”
“Can’t we’re on comms lockdown remember?” Geena looked up at Wes, his face a picture of concentration. “Right then” he added “Pilot, buster us back to base.”
Pilots always loved to hear the word ‘buster’ and this one was no exception. It gave him permission to burn whatever fuel was required to get them to their objective at maximum speed while leaving enough fuel to be able to cruise back to base. In this case the objective was their base, so the pilot could burn the lot.
FFS Argonaut was a Hermes class frigate, up until the Resolute and Phantom, it was the fastest class of ship in the Fleet. The pilot announced “We’re warping back to Polaris folks and then immediately bustering to base. Hold onto your seats ladies and gentlemen and enjoy the ride.”
Chapter 10. Phantom to Beta Phi 1800, 11 June
Evie Plentun made quite an entrance alongside Aubrey as they came into the small officer’s mess. Only Aubrey had ever seen a rogan up close before.
Evie was wearin
g a flight suit she had been given on the Resolute. It was the smallest size they had. At only 150cm tall Evie had had to alter the leg length of the suit. The torso section of the suit tended to balloon out around her slender body.
But all eyes were on her head and face. Her big dark green almond shaped eyes sloped down towards her nose at an angle of around 15 degrees. She had a broad nose, lips that would have passed for human and very pale complexion. Her ears were hidden behind long, straight, strong black hair that fell onto her shoulders. Her head tapered at the top and her skull extended back much further than a human’s.
Aubrey introduced her as one of the leaders of the Rogan resistance. That helped eased the tension. When Evie spoke in perfect English, jaws dropped.
“Thank you for extending this hospitality” she said. “On behalf of my fellow rogan who seek to overthrow the imperial system I thank you for your support.” Evie looked at each pair of eyes now focussed on her. She saw apprehension, uncertainty, surprise and yes fear. ‘All understandable’ she thought to herself. She smiled and extended her four fingered hand to each of the officers in turn as they were introduced to her. To her pleasant surprise no one refused her hand.
The big long dining table was laid out with Aubrey at the head. Evie sat on Aubrey’s right. Manuel felt initially uncomfortable being on Aubrey’s left and directly opposite Evie. His discomfort was noted by Aubrey and she looked at him tilting her head ever so slightly. He got the hint and summoned up his own discipline to start speaking. “So how have you found Polaris Ms Plentun?”
“A very nice planet Lieutenant Commander” replied Evie “It reminds me of Slorus, where I spent some time as a young child.”
“Really?” asked Manuel.
“Yes Slorus then was largely undeveloped – before the mass migration. I’m afraid it is now too crowded for my liking.”
“Are all rogan planets overcrowded?” asked Tola who was sitting on Evie’s right.
“Many but there are also many very beautiful worlds” replied Evie.
“So why do you want to take over ours?” asked Alice. Aubrey gave her a foul look. “Sorry I didn’t…”
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