The Pike Chronicles - Books 1 - 10

by Hudson, G. P.

  Singh turned to her and said, “You already told me that.”

  Bast had a puzzled look on his face. “Who is it you are talking to?”

  “Commander Lynda Wolfe.”

  Bast looked in Lynda’s direction and said, “I see.” He turned back to Singh. “I need to ask you a couple of questions about the jump system, Mr. Singh.”

  “This is how you prove your worth to him,” said Lynda.

  “When the Hermes fought the Kemmar the Hermes had jumped away taking one of the Kemmar ships with it. Do you remember?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “How was that accomplished?”

  Singh took a breath and relaxed. Perhaps Lynda was right. They weren’t going to torture him. “The jump system creates a field around the ship. This is similar to an FTL bubble in theory. The difference being that the jump system is in effect folding space, and anything within its field travels with the ship to the other side of the folded space. The Kemmar ship had attached itself to the Hermes. As far as the jump system was concerned the two ships were one. It enveloped both ships with the field, transporting them to the other end of folded space.”

  “Do the two ships have to be connected for this to take place?”

  “No, not necessarily. The field actually radiates out from the ship’s hull, so anything within its radius would be affected.”

  “Are there limits to how much larger the other ship can be?”

  “Yes, of course. The jump system emitters do not have limitless capabilities. I would say the other ship couldn’t be much larger than jump ship.”

  “What would happen if the ship was too large?”

  “Hmmm, that would be an ugly scenario. The field would expand to its limit. Anything larger than that would not make the jump. So in the case of a larger ship, part of it would travel across folded space, and the rest would remain.”

  “It would be destroyed.”

  “Yes, without a doubt.”

  “Well done,” said Lynda. “Look at him. You have given him the answers he seeks. You’ve proven your value to him.”

  “Thank you for your time, Mr. Singh. I’ll have someone take you back to your cell.”

  Colonel Bast rose from his chair and walked out the door.

  Singh sat back into his chair and relaxed. Lynda was right. They did need him after all.”

  ***

  Bast walked out of the interrogation room. Up ahead a door opened and Chief St. Clair emerged. Bast approached him and said, “What do you think, Chief?”

  “I think Singh’s crazier than I thought.”

  “Who is this Lynda Wolfe he sees?”

  “She was the XO on the Hermes. The two of them were in a relationship, but from what Petrovic and Yao tell me, she died on the bridge.”

  “Interesting. Mr. Singh cannot accept her death.”

  “I think there’s more to it than that. I think he blames Space Force for her death. That would explain him turning into a traitor.”

  A message came in over Bast’s communicator. “Colonel, the Captain of the freighter is requesting to speak to you. He says it is urgent.”

  “Patch him through.”

  “Colonel?” said Captain Santos.

  “Yes, Captain. I was just going to contact you.”

  “Colonel, we have a serious problem. Our reactor is overheating. We cannot get it under control.”

  “Understood. What can we do to help?”

  “I’m afraid we’ll need to abandon ship. Can you ferry us to-“

  The ship suddenly shuddered as if it was hit by weapon fire.

  “Captain? Captain?” Bast tapped his communicator trying to get Santos back without any luck. He contacted the bridge instead. “What just happened?”

  “It was the freighter, Sir. She exploded. It looks like it was caused by a reactor breach,” said the tactician.

  “Were there any survivors?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Understood.”

  Chief St. Clair had a solemn look on his face. “That’s terrible.”

  “Horrible,” Bast agreed. He wished he had done more to help the freighter, but if he had sent some of his technicians to the freighter they would likely be dead now along with the freighter crew. The raiders had caused the destruction of the freighter, not him.

  “What do we do now?” said Kevin.

  “We go to the station,” said Bast.

  Chapter 52

  “Picking up Space Force beacon, Sir. It’s coming from the station.”

  “Are there any Kemmar ship signatures?” said Bast.

  “No, Sir. There are no signs of the Kemmar in this system.”

  “Very well. Approach the station. Steady as she goes. We do not want to appear aggressive.”

  Bast studied the station on the viewscreen. From this distance it looked like a child’s toy, but he could tell that it was a massive structure. He wondered what surprises awaited them here.

  Chief St. Clair appeared on the bridge, stepped up beside him and said, “You’ve found another beacon?”

  Yes, Chief. It looks like the escape pod we’re looking for made it to the station somehow,” said Bast.

  “That’s a big station.”

  “My thoughts as well, Chief. Captain Santos was right. It is a busy place.”

  “Looks like it does a lot of business.”

  “Yes,” said Bast. “Perhaps we can pick up some supplies.”

  “If we’re lucky they might have some good food.”

  “Is the food on board not to your tastes, Chief?”

  “It’s okay. Let’s just say I like a touch of spice with my food.”

  “I see. Then we shall try and obtain some spice for you, Chief.”

  The Chief smiled like he had made a joke. Bast couldn’t help thinking that he missed many nuances when he spoke with Chief St. Clair. He tried to pick up as much as he could, but still felt inadequate when it came to the non-verbal cues. If he ever returned to Earth he didn’t want to come across as alien.

  “Colonel, can I ask you something?” said Kevin.

  “Is it about the Diakan?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Of course. What would you like to know?”

  “What’s he told you?”

  “Not as much as he knows,” said Bast. He turned and studied the Chief. “Tell me, Chief. How much do you know about this Diakan?”

  “He came on board the Hermes with a team of Diakans. They were to act as advisers.”

  “Do you not think it odd for a Diakan General to be assigned as an adviser to a human Captain?”

  The Chief looked confused. “Who, Tallos? He’s a General?”

  “You didn’t know?”

  “It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “He says his purpose was to negotiate with the colonies on behalf of Diakus, to add them to the Galactic Accord.”

  “You don’t believe him?”

  “I believe that was his assignment. I’m just not sure that was his only assignment.”

  The Chief’s brow furrowed as he pondered the implications. “Any idea what that other assignment is?”

  Bast wondered again whether Tallos had anything to do with the virus. “Unfortunately I don’t.”

  The Chief pressed for more information. “Did he say anything else?”

  “He offered to repatriate my men if we returned to Sol. To make us heroes.”

  St. Clair’s eyes widened. “You do realize that if you return to Sol Tallos will have us executed.”

  Bast knew the Chief was in a precarious position. They had made Tallos their enemy. If the Chaanisar were to ally with Tallos then all hope for them would be lost. Tallos did make a desirable offer. In many ways the best option would be to take it. His crew were an invaluable intelligence source for the Diakans. But Bast had no desire to trade one alien master for another.

  “Fear not, Chief,” said Bast. “I will not do that to you and your crew.”

  The Chief
appeared to relax, although Bast was sure he still had some doubts. Doubts about Tallos and doubts about the Chaanisar. He couldn’t blame him for it. So long as Tallos was on board the Chief would feel threatened. For the Chief, the optimal solution to the problem would be to execute the Diakan. Bast was not going to allow that to happen. Tallos might still be of some use. Either way, neither of them could return home. At least for the time being.

  Bast wondered how much the Chaanisar still threatened the Chief. He had rescued the Chief and his Marines. They were rescuing the escape pods. He had shown him nothing but good will. While the Chief did seem grateful, Bast knew there must still be some part of him that didn’t trust the Chaanisar. It would be a challenging relationship, but Bast hoped he would win over the Chief and his crew in the end.

  “We are being hailed, Sir.”

  “Acknowledge the hail.”

  To Bast’s surprise, a human male appeared on his display. There could be no doubt that they had found the lost colonies now. “Identify yourself and state the nature of your business,” said the man.

  “I am Colonel Bast, of the Chaanisar ship 7249. We are responding to a signal from our escape pod on board your station. We are here to retrieve it and our personnel.”

  The man studied Bast for a moment, and then said, “Stand by.” The screen then went blank.

  “I guess we did find the colonies,” said Chief St. Clair. Wonder in his voice.

  “We found something,” said Bast. “And so did one of your pods.”

  Bast’s display flickered on again and a different man appeared. This one was dressed in a black suit and had dark, calculating eyes.

  “My name is Mr. Kulberg. I am the manager of DLC station. What is your business here?”

  Bast was sure the man had been briefed already, but he played along nonetheless. “I am Colonel Bast, of the Chaanisar ship 7249. Our escape pod and personnel are on board your station. We are here to retrieve them.”

  “I see,” said Kulberg. “That will not be possible. Cease your approach immediately. You will not be granted access to the station.”

  Kulberg’s words surprised Bast. He managed to retain his composure, however, and said, “I don’t understand. We mean you no harm. Why do you deny us access to our people?”

  “Because your Captain Pike is a fugitive. I will not allow you to come on board and facilitate his escape.”

  Chief St. Clair jumped at the display. “What have you done with Captain Pike?” he said.

  Kulberg looked annoyed. “Who am I speaking to here?” he said.

  Bast waved a hand at St. Clair, telling him to stand down. “You are speaking to me,” said Bast. “May I ask what Captain Pike is charged with?”

  Kulberg’s eyes narrowed. “He is charged with murder, and he will answer for his crime. You are hereby ordered to leave this system. If you continue to approach, your actions will be considered hostile and you will be fired upon. I assure you this station has more than enough firepower to destroy your vessel. This is your only warning.”

  With that the screen went blank.

  “Tactician, analyze the station’s armaments.”

  “The station is heavily armed, Sir. We cannot hope to succeed in battle against it.”

  “Understood. Helmsman, turn us around. Set a course to leave this system.”

  The Chief looked like he was going to explode. “We’re leaving?” he said, several veins bulging from his temple. “Didn’t you hear? Captain Pike is on board. We can’t abandon him.”

  “We are not abandoning your Captain, Chief,” said Bast. “But we will need a different approach.”

  Chapter 53

  The Chaanisar ship steadily continued to leave the system. Kevin sat in Colonel Bast’s office with Lieutenant Jarvi seated in the chair beside him. Kevin couldn’t believe they found Captain Pike. On a human station no less. He wondered if he should be surprised that the Captain had gotten himself into trouble there. He knew the Captain wasn’t a murderer. If he did kill someone, he had to have been defending himself somehow. If the Captain was on the station, who else was with him? Did he have Breeah and Anki with him? The Doctor? He couldn’t be by himself.

  He didn’t like Mr. Kulberg, either. That man was a weasel, if he ever saw one. It was clear that things weren’t right on that station. They had to do something.

  Kevin and Jarvi sat quietly, waiting for Colonel Bast to finish what he was doing. He had said he had an idea, but needed to verify some of the details first. Obviously they were going to do something, or Lieutenant Jarvi wouldn’t be here. Kevin’s right leg vibrated, his heel tapping the floor in rapid beats. He was finding it hard to sit still. He wanted to take action now.

  Colonel Bast looked up from his console at Kevin and Jarvi. “I think we have an opportunity to save your Captain, Chief,” he said.

  “You’ve found a weakness?” said Kevin.

  “I’ve found an opportunity for a covert insertion.”

  Kevin liked what he was hearing.

  “We cannot defeat the station in battle. It has too much firepower. But, as you pointed out on the bridge, it does seem to be a trading center. As we left the station I monitored the traffic coming and going and have identified clearly defined space lanes for commercial traffic. We will travel beyond the range of the station’s sensors and intercept one of the commercial vessels. You and Lieutenant Jarvi will then take two teams and board. Once you have commandeered the vessel, you will use it to insert your teams onto the station.”

  Kevin smiled. “I like it,” he said.

  “With all due respect, Colonel, the Chief’s Marines would hamper the success of the mission,” said Jarvi.

  Kevin was quickly getting tired of Jarvi’s opinions. “Maybe you should sit things out this time, Lieutenant. My Marines can show you how it’s done.”

  “Don’t be foolish, Chief. There is nothing you can teach my men,” said Jarvi.

  “That’s enough,” said Bast. “Do you feel your Marines are ready for deployment, Chief?”

  “Hell Yes. Especially if they know they are going to rescue the Captain.”

  “Good. I believe it is time we all work together, don’t you Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, Sir,” said Jarvi, holding Bast’s gaze.

  Bast kept his eyes locked on Jarvi, like he was giving him an unspoken warning.

  “Chief, you will lead a team of your Marines, and Lieutenant Jarvi will lead a team of Chaanisar. Once inside the station you will have two objectives. Chief, your team will be tasked with rescuing the Captain, and whoever is with him. Lieutenant, your job will be to disable the station’s defensive systems. That will allow us to retrieve you.”

  “Understood, Sir,” said Jarvi. “I will assemble my team immediately.”

  “I’ll let my men know as well. We’ll be ready.”

  Bast nodded. “Dismissed.”

  Chapter 54

  “We found the Captain?” said Sergeant Henderson. “That’s great.”

  Excited chatter broke out among the crowd of Marines surrounding Kevin. They all looked good. Ready for battle. The time on board the Chaanisar ship allowed them to get their strength back. They had plenty of food, and while it didn’t taste great, it was laden with all the nutrients they needed. Enough to help the Marines get back to peak health, especially after what they had gone through on the prison planet. They all took advantage of the Chaanisar training facilities too, exercising daily, getting themselves ready for the next battle.

  “That’s right, and he’s in trouble,” said Kevin.

  Anger flowed through the crowd of Marines. A threat against the Captain was a threat against each and every one of them. There were many who wanted to know why they were still standing there. Kevin almost felt sorry for whoever was responsible. They had no idea what was coming for them.

  “Listen up,” said Kevin. “We’re going to get the Captain. Here’s our plan.”

  The Marines quieted down while Kevin explained the details
of the operation. They were all seasoned veterans, fully capable of completing this mission.

  “So we don’t know exactly where the Captain is on the station?” said Henderson.

  “No, that’s the hard part,” said Kevin. “This Kulberg said the Captain was a fugitive, which means they don’t know where he is either. It doesn’t surprise me. The Captain isn’t going to make it easy for them. But really, it would be easier if they had him in custody. Then we’d just have to break him out.”

  “And we’re dealing with humans?” said Henderson.

  “Yeah. It looks like we might have found one of the lost colonies. It should make it easier for us to blend in though,” said Kevin. “We play this by the numbers. We move quickly and quietly. Acquire information. And get to the Captain before the bad guys. Simple as that.”

  “Oorah!” said the Marines in unison.

  Chapter 55

  The Chaanisar battle cruiser hid behind one of the planets in the station’s system. The planet, a large gas giant, provided ample cover from the station’s sensors. There they waited for their opportunity to strike. They had identified a commercial vessel leaving the system heading in the opposite direction. They monitored its speed and trajectory, identifying a potential intercept point. It would soon be on the far side of the system’s star, which would blind the station’s sensors to its fate. The Chaanisar would jump to the freighter’s location, jam its communications, and board it. Once the vessel was under their control, they would return it to the station, complaining of a malfunction.

  Kevin and Lieutenant Jarvi waited on the flight deck, already wearing combat suits. They each had a small group of men assembled. These teams would board and take control of the commercial ship. Once under their control, more men would travel across to the freighter. When the insertion teams were at full force they would turn the freighter around and head back to the station.

  “When we board we need to move fast,” said Jarvi. “My team will take over the bridge while your team takes Engineering. We can then mop up and find any remaining crew members hiding on board.”