These two lines intersect the Vanhoeven line at this point, texted Tac, causing two separate lines to flash red.
“Can you calculate the time it would take for the Vanhoeven singularity to accrete those stars?” said Gaston.
Calculating…standby…accretion will begin in 12,703,534,023.6 years. Assuming there were no cosmic events to alter current Vanhoeven parameters and characteristics…
“Yes, yes. I understand. What’s the next star to get pulled in, and give me the time as well…”
I see where Professor Gaston is going. Allow me to extrapolate…standby…
One by one, lines began to flash and change colour, with small, yet visible name tags appearing attached to each one.
“How did you do that?” said Max.
“Quite simple, really. Once we know how long it will take those two known stars to accrete, the next one gives us a frame of reference. After that, Tac simply calculated the positions of other stars, regardless of whether they are accreted or are far enough away, simply by identifying the local neighbourhood of stars. They act as landmarks…spacemarks…” he started chuckling. He stopped a few seconds later when he realised no one else had joined him.
“Okay, do we know where we are then?” I asked.
A pulsing point of light appeared.
“How do we get around? Which way are we facing?”
“It’s irrelevant,” said Gaston, “We just need to move in any direction, and velocity, then take our bearings again. Do it again in a different direction. Then a third. Those will make our frames of reference for the Restitution. I also suggest we try different velocities as well – you have to remember all movement will be orthogonal twice removed from three-dimensional vectors.”
“Good work, let’s get this sorted,” I said, turning to issue the commands. Before long, we had our bearings calibrated, we had identified Barris Doon and we knew how to move about in the fifth dimension.
One foot in front of the other.
35.
“Reverting to normal space in ten seconds…” reported Gaston, carefully monitoring his console.
I looked over at Max and grinned. “Those sky farmers at Barris Doon are in for a fright.”
“Who’d have thought?” she said, returning the grin, “A Donovan, excited about exploring.”
“…three…two…one…shifting!” called the Professor.
I gripped my armrest, expecting the same sensation as when we entered, but all we felt was a slight vibration and a light dizziness.
“Sensors recalibrating.” reported Martine, dashing between the sensor operators, “Command suite should be receiving…now.”
“Put it on the forward screens, number one,” I said.
The giant displays in the bridge flickered to life, showing us a wide view of the gas giant Barris Doon. The swirling greens and pale yellow painting a gentle mesmerising pattern belying the chaotic power of the storms below. An indicator on my overlay informed me that it had synced with the screens, granting me the ability to control the view by thought alone. It was breathtaking.
The first contacts began to appear on the display – geosynchronous orbital platforms skimming the upper atmosphere of the gas giant for helium-3 and other valuable resources. Sky farming was a lucrative business in Inner System worlds, even more so in frontier systems. It was the primary source of fuel for starship reactors – the main proponent of Linus Drives and the more advanced varieties.
I spent a few moments enjoying the view, imagining the looks on the nearest sky farmers faces when they spotted us, before rising from my seat and heading to the command suite. The others had already gathered.
Maxine joined me, along with Martine, Melafenaseance, Kekkin, Hieron and Lieutenant Reza’k. Chief Gannerson was the last to arrive, having travelled all the way from engineering.
“How was the passage to the bridge, Chief?” I said as he nodded to me.
“Not too bad, those transit paths are a godsend.”
He referred to a system of high-speed automated passages used to ferry people along pre-defined paths between important sections of the ship – such as the bridge and engineering. With just short of one and a half kilometres of ship length, the refit designers thought they would make an excellent addition. It was just as well, Gannerson was not the fittest man in the galaxy.
“Let’s begin,” I said, “Martine?”
My First Officer nodded and cleared her throat. She pressed a few buttons on her control panel and a three-dimensional image of local space appeared. “Here we are, ladies and gentlemen – Barris Doon and its daughter moons. Our current position is seventeen million, eight hundred and ninety-three thousand kilometres off the ante-sunward side of the planet, diametrically orbital from Eovan.”
“Lo-tan is a little out from where we thought it’d be,” said Hieron, “That going to be a problem?”
“No, sir,” she said, “It actually works in our favour. Our previous route was to take us through this region of space after the moon Lo-tan crosses our path. Now we can use it to add to our acceleration. We’ve revised the flight path to take us between the next two moons within three days. That gets us to our target nearly fifteen hours earlier.”
“Why the circular path?” asked Gannerson, “Why not cut right through those moons? We can accelerate using the Linus Drives then.”
I shook my head. “Our objective to remain undetected We’ll achieve this by keeping Barris Doon between us and the Xerxes. Once we’re within high orbit of the planet, we’ll skirt around using the first moon as cover. We’ll need to keep on station there for nearly two days before the next moon is in a viable position – then we can sling our way through most of the others before we approach our target.”
“Where’s our launch point?” asked Max.
“Here,” said Martine, causing a blip to appear prior to the twelfth moon – Eovan.
“Have you chosen your teams, First Sergeant?” I said, looking at Kekkin.
“Warriors have been chosen. Does kitrak wish to inspect them?”
I nodded, “I’d like a few words with them before they launch, yes.”
“Any local traffic registered along our path?” asked the Votus.
“A couple of bulk freighters doing runs from the gas giant to inner system planets,” said Martine, “We miss them by eighteen hours.”
“Will we be detectable by them?”
“Probably, but only if they were looking for non-intercept vectors.”
“Not the usual behaviour of freighters,” I said, “We should be fine. Once we launch the Dreaming, the Restitution will complete an orbit of the eleventh moon, coming around on this aspect. This will buy the Dreaming time to deploy her troops, and for the troops to get on board the Xerxes.”
I looked around the table, expecting more questions. When none came, I flicked a button on the panel nearest me and changed the view to display a deck plan of the Blade of Xerxes. The same plan that Tac and I had liberated the last time we were on the ship.
Hieron whistled in awe. “That’s one big ship.”
“Data gathered from a previous foray,” I said, eliciting a chuckle from Max, “Shows us these key points in the Xerxes’ main weapon. This manufactory, the magazine and the railgun firing mechanism. The easiest way to get there is through this emissions port near the rear of the vessel. It’ll be tight, even with those VI-D80’s,” I gave a sad smile, “Triptych would have been right at home in there…”
“Alpha team will strike the railgun components,” carried on Kekkin, “Bravo will take the propulsion offline. Previously, kitrak achieved this by destroying a control brain, this time Bravo will target these two reactors on deck nine. They’ll cut through the hull at these two points.”
“The last team, Charlie,” I said, “Will gain entry via the hangar maintenance shafts on deck twenty-one and twenty-two. They will remain undetected until one of the two other teams achieves their objectives. Their role will be to secure deck twenty
-two, where several shuttles are stored, or the life pods if they can’t get there. I’ll leave the extraction method up to the First Sergeant, that’s a call best made on the ground.”
The Votus asked another question. “What security forces will the Corporates use to repel boarders?”
“They carry regular light security details, along with a fairly extensive synthetic force. Last time I was there they also used Frikk mercs.”
“What company?” asked Hieron.
“From images taken from the Dreaming’s security recordings when they boarded the ship,” said Kekkin, “Naga Team was able to identify the Rizan Raiders and Candrus 2nd Battalion.”
“The Candrus 2nd?” said Hieron, “They’re Eridanian!”
“Not since a decade ago, old human,” said Kekkin, chuckling, “They’re sixty percent Frikk now.”
Hieron started grumbling under his breath. I caught snippets of words like ‘good old days’ and ‘decent merc bosses’.
“Anything we can use?” asked Martine.
“Maybe,” said Kekkin, “Naga Team fought Candrus 2nd few years ago. Know their tactics fairly well. Warriors are skittish around explosives. Will take extra grenade packs for teams.”
“That gives the assault team six hours to gain entry to the Xerxes,” I said, “And complete their objectives. By that time, the Restitution will have completed her orbit and swung around Eovan, striking the Xerxes as we pass by. Our aim will be to completely disable the Xerxes, or at least inflict as much damage as we can, then complete another orbit of Eovan to slow down.”
“Depending on the status of the enemy,” said Martine, “We’ll re-engage as we come about, issue the warrant and demand their surrender.”
“Or finishing off the kak when the calak tells us to float ourselves,” said Kekkin, grinning wickedly.
“We estimate the escorts will try to disable us as we come about for the second engagement,” I said, “If the Captain of the Xerxes is as arrogant as we think he is, this will be the hardest fighting part. If the railgun is still operational at this point, we’ll need to abort. We simply can’t repel firepower of that magnitude. Propulsion is secondary, so make sure if you have to choose, take out the railgun.”
Kekkin nodded to me. “Warrior understands.”
“That second orbit of Eovan will be tight,” said Gannerson, rubbing his stubbled chin. I hadn’t fully integrated some of the Gossamer survivors into military life, yet. I allowed them some measure of leeway. “Any chance we can shed some speed before we hit Eovan? Or better yet keep our speed down before we enter the orbit?”
“Worried about hull stress?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’m sure she’ll hold, but we might bend a little. I’m not as confident these fandangled new nanite welds are as strong as the Collumus engineers say."
“Don’t trust the new technology?”
He grunted. “Something like that. Just want to play it safe on the maiden voyage.”
While we talked, Martine entered new calculations into the command suite. An updated trajectory appeared on the display. “If we pass the Xerxes at 15% less speed, we’ll buy the First Sergeant another ninety minutes of mission time. The first pass of the Restitution will take thirty-two seconds longer. We can get off a couple of dozen more shots with the port and starboard batteries if that’s the case.”
“Yeah, that’ll work,” said Gannerson, “You okay with the extra time in the fire?” He directed this last at Kekkin.
“Warriors will be fine.”
“I can slow down too,” said Maxine, “Less speed means fewer emissions that I can’t vent, means the ship will stay cooler inside for longer. While cloaked, I can’t open those emissions ports. We’ll just look like a big invisible ball of trailing heat, otherwise.”
“It’s a win-win,” I said. I turned to Martine. “Get the drone pilots into the simulators as often as you can until we arrive, they’ll need as much practice as they can get.”
“Aye, aye, sir!” she said, turning to leave.
“I’ll come down to the ready room in a couple of hours, Kekkin. I’ll address the troops then.”
Kekkin nodded and left. I turned to Maxine, Hieron, and the Votus. “How does the Dreaming look? Need anything?”
Maxine shook her head. “She’s never been more ready. Finally got that Class 1 system I’ve been meaning to get, too.”
“What’s the crew arrangement? You taking the old man with you?” I said, poking my grandfather in the gullet.
“No, this old man will be with his disrespectful grandson. Bubbles has enough crew for this one, and doubt she’d like a former Captain looking over her shoulder criticising her every decision.”
“I agree,” said Max, “I’d much rather you do that to Donny. Mel can handle the weapon systems, no sweat.”
“Want me to get Gannerson to send over a damage control team, just in case?”
She thought about it for a moment. “Couldn’t hurt. So long as they don’t empty the autochef.”
“I’ll send over my best-fed lads for you, ma’am,” said Gannerson, “Anything they eat, I’ll make sure they pay for.”
Maxine and Melafenaseance left, the Votus giving me a deep bow. Gannerson left right after them. Hieron raised his eyebrows at me and walked around the table to join me as I strode over to the rail overlooking the operations deck below.
“You ready for this, lad?” he said.
“If I’m not ready for this, there’s no way I’ll be ready for the Ghantri.”
“I’m no stranger to the burdens of command. You need someone to talk to, I’m here.” He put his hand on my shoulder.
I turned and smiled at him. “So far, so good. Everything seems to be going to plan.”
He grunted. “That usually means you’re forgetting something.”
“Am I doing the right thing? Am I putting the crew at risk needlessly?”
He turned back to the rail and stared down below. “I used to think I knew the answers to questions like that, but now I’m too old for grudges or caring what happens in the galaxy. I’m here for you, only. I don’t care if it’s the right thing, but I’ll make sure you have what you need to do it.”
I chuckled. “I almost forgot what a hard bastard you could be.”
“I may be a bastard, but I’m a good bastard. Like all the Donovans. We’re hard enough to do what needs doing.”
36.
“Commander, we need to talk…” said Reza’k, as she stalked me through the passageways. I was on my way down to engineering to check in on Gaston and Gannerson and the Garz’a woman spotted me as I threaded my way past the busy crew as they prepared for our trek through the moons of Barris Doon.
I considered continuing as if I hadn’t heard her but thought better of it. See? I was growing up!
“About what, Lieutenant?” I turned to face her, suddenly. She almost bumped into me as she stopped. One crewman walking briskly behind her collided with her, muttering apologies as he careened off a bulkhead.
“About your grandfather.”
“What about him?”
“Can we…we should discuss this in private.”
I looked around, spotted a hatch and opened it up. A quick scan revealed it to be an unoccupied compartment. I slid in and waited for her to follow.
“Is he causing problems?” I said as she pulled the hatch shut behind her.
“No. Well, yes,” she stammered.
“Well, what is it?”
She made a puffing noise from her nostrils, a mannerism I’d seen Crege do when he was frustrated. I couldn’t contain a chuckle. “Do you often find humour in serious circumstances?” she managed to get out.
I barked out a sharp laugh. “We all have our coping mechanisms. I would have thought you’d have been more informed about me, considering your…credentials.”
“My credentials? Is there something wrong with them?”
“I don’t mean to…look. Don’t take this the wrong way, but your boss i
s not exactly my number one fan.”
“My boss?”
“Admiral Stirges.”
She blinked at me. She blew air out of her beak in a trilling sound, the way a Garz’a does when they laugh. “Some things are starting to make sense,” she said, “That explains why you’ve been avoiding me. Why you’ve had Captain Cooper follow me around trying to distract me with banter…you think I’m a spy!”
I put my hands on my hips. “Well, aren’t you?”
“Commander, I would have thought you would be more informed about me. Considering my role.”
I sized her up. She visibly reacted to my scrutiny, straightening her spine and squaring her shoulders. I could swear the fine down of feathers along her arms puffed out slightly. “It seems we may have both misunderstood each other’s roles here.”
“I am under your command, sir. I report only to you. Stirges sent me here to be rid of me.”
I laughed out loud again. “You’re another one of his rejects?”
She looked taken aback. “Rejects? Another? Who else are you referring to?”
“Me, of course! Stirges has had it in for me since I threw a spanner in his plan to make a political coup right after the Push. A lot of the top brass, along with their supporting politicians, got the chop as a result of the Push campaign failure. Stirges thought he’d swoop in like a vulture and use me to propel him into the limelight.”
“Similar story with me. I was a candidate for a special task group that Stirges was putting together a few years back. An elite team of telepaths and specialists he could use for his nefarious schemes. I blew the whistle on it when I found out what we would be working on. Got me stuck in administration jobs for the last four years, studying first contacts and treaty negotiations.”
“So why did he send you here?”
“I suppose he figured you’d screw up and get your crew floated in the process. Two birds with one stone.”
I chuckled at the unintended pun. “You don’t talk like most Garz’a I know.”
She nodded, a look crossed her face like she had heard that line before. “I’m a goiki. I assume the stigma of telepathic abilities invokes a similar amount of distrust in your own species as it does mine?”
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