“As soon as possible Anne. Once you’ve made the arrangements, just tell me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Nine hours later, Colin, along with Anne, his team from the training school and his security contingent boarded the Shuttle. Soon after they crossed the Shuttle Station boundary, somebody fired a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) at them. The Shuttle fired a spread of decoys and turned hard to starboard. As it turned, it fired more decoys and lost altitude while its anti-missile systems locked on to the incoming weapon.
By now, the Shuttle was picking up speed, and the pilot pushed the throttles forward to the stops. The anti-missile Laser fired but the first shot missed. Seconds later, the Shuttle’s self-defense system compensated, and the Laser shot a second time, this time hitting the SAM. The Laser didn’t hit for long enough to kill the incoming weapon but blinded it. Meanwhile, the Shuttle pilot pulled back on the controls, and the Shuttle gained altitude. The SAM passed beneath the Shuttle, impacting in small hills to the west of Harmon where it exploded. It killed a lone man who hunted there. The man’s partner reported him missing the next day, but searchers didn’t find his body until three days later. Another innocent bystander died, just collateral damage.
Their evasive maneuvers depleted the Shuttle’s fuel reserves. Because they passed close by Cambridge Orbital after the wild maneuvering to escape the SAM, the crew opted to dock and refuel.
Four hours later, the Shuttle docked at the shipyard. Colin caught a few cat-naps while waiting so wasn’t as tired as he expected. Once again, David Salomon met Colin and his party.
David said, “Hello Commodore. They told me you were coming. Is there a problem?”
Colin smiled as he replied, “Hello David. Thank you for meeting us. We have a whole series of problems. Can we go somewhere secure to discuss them?”
“Yes, Commodore, follow me.”
When they settled in the room, Dave Bach pulled three small devices out of his carryall, spread them around the compartment, and activated them. He nodded at Colin.
“David, I spoke to our Chief Engineer yesterday afternoon. He had concerns with several ship’s systems. The one worrying him most is the systems that don’t play well together. I’m here to ask if you can help us solve these problems. Don’t think I’m blaming you or your people for any of this. I have a good idea who’s responsible but for now, attacking the problem head-on presents difficulties.”
David Salomon looked thoughtful for a few minutes then asked Colin where the problems were. Colin explained everything he knew about the issues. As he heard Colin’s explanation, David understood the causes. The group discussed various strategies for a while before Salomon called several of his best technicians into the room. When they arrived, the team spent the next four days, examining data, and talking to people on the ground. In the mock-up in Harmon, staff ran tests, reporting the results back to the shipyard. The arrangement was far from satisfactory.
After days of work, they managed marginal performance from the systems. Colin wasn’t satisfied with their achievements. Now, he knew, they had to tackle the issues head on to improve performance further. He’d tried to avoid that until then, but to make these Destroyers work well, Colin needed to bang heads together. In the evenings, when Colin’s team discussed the day’s events, Colin took the time to listen to Dave Bach’s opinions. The man knew the smell of corruption, he grew up in a corrupt society. Dave considered the stench of corruption strong here.
After the team exhausted every avenue they could think of, Colin called a halt to proceedings and discussed construction progress with Salomon. The news was better, a new slipway had opened, and the keel beam sections were being moved into it. They intended to assemble the three parts in this new slipway. This was the point where the first Destroyer took shape as the construction crews attached the external frames. Each frame fleshed out the hull more.
Five days after arriving at the shipyard, Colin’s party departed to return to the surface of Cambridge. He was tired, cranky and depressed. This job shouldn’t be so hard. Colin didn’t understand why these people insisted on short-changing their protection. They did this in the name of making more money.
Harmon
Over the weeks following his trip to the shipyard, Dave realized someone was trying hard to kill the Destroyer Project. He wasn’t sure who, but Randal Walker was their mouthpiece. There were multiple attempts by various factions within the Parliament to impose ridiculous restrictions on progress.
Several Parliamentary Committees demanded testimony from personnel. The opposition, dominated those Committees, often through proxies. The unforgivable thing for Colin was when politicians accused Navy personnel of terrible things. Even Colin wasn’t immune to the fun and games. He identified and monitored the perpetrators, promising to turn the tables at the right time. Colin didn’t doubt by then that there were real efforts underway to stop Destroyer construction. These games raised Colin’s level of frustration. Those who knew him expected Colin to do something rash if the fools didn’t stop soon. Few of those surrounding him were mindful that Colin was gathering the data he needed to act.
Even with the backroom deals and deliberate obstruction, Colin had kept the Destroyer Project on track. This became more difficult each passing day. One committee demanded detailed design documents. So far, Colin had stonewalled them. He knew they might find a weak link if they persisted, so placed protections in place. Any data for the Destroyer design that left Naval Headquarters had to pass Colin’s desk to preserve security. To buy time, and throw people off the scent, Colin leaked a little inaccurate information. The committee expected the ship to have two reactors fewer than they’d installed. They knew nothing of the advanced weaponry or self-protection. The information they saw, suggested a conventional Destroyer that was bigger.
Dave contacted Colin to inform him he’d found a few Sensor issues, so Colin traveled to the training-base. Dave was as paranoid as Colin with the data and copied everything to three separate storage devices. He gave one to his friend Keg, hid another in the base’s gym, and kept one in the office. The third was a sacrificial copy. If anyone took it, Dave hoped they’d assume all copies were theirs. Dave arranged for Keg and himself to stay close together for the next few days. He hoped they could protect each other if somebody attacked. This was the one area where Dave held concerns. He never wanted to see Keg hurt because of his activities.
Meanwhile, Colin wondered what Dave had uncovered. The Commodore worried about his people first, the data came a distant second. What if someone found the data first? What if something happened to Dave? No, he had to protect his people. Colin called Anne into his office.
When she arrived, he said, “Anne, call Lieutenant Stark, please. We need to make a quick trip out to the training school.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Twenty minutes later, Stark arrived. He said, “You wanted to see me, Commodore.”
“Yes Lieutenant, I must make a fast trip to the training-school, something is wrong. For this, we’ll take a bigger security contingent. Is that possible?”
“I’ll need an hour to assemble a bigger team, Sir. How much danger do you expect?”
“Enough. We should go expecting trouble.”
“Okay, Commodore, we’ll be ready in one hour.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
POLITICS
Parliament House
Randal watched the other leaders of his Party argue. The Democratic Party had tried scuttling the Government’s shipbuilding program, without success. These men and women had their own agenda and considered the cost of warships a waste of money. Randal knew they’d managed several achievements. The enforcers had bullied several smaller manufacturers into sabotaging materials for the ships.
Walker wondered how to discredit Commodore Gordon. If unable to discredit him, they planned to send enforcers to frighten him. Randal’s problem was this man was a hero, several times over, his most recent efforts in defense of Cambridge itself. Randal seethed at the wa
y this one man stood between him and his destiny.
Several people bleated on, wanting to call a strike. Walker considered industrial action a mistake. Doing so may backfire on them and the Democratic Party. The invasion, frightened people in Cambridge. Those same individuals who voted for Democratic representation could turn on him in an instant if he didn’t take care.
John Rogerson, the Deputy Parliamentary leader, spoke for the first time. “Someone has set surveillance on us. My staff identified who and we’ve sent enforcers to retrieve the recordings. It’s that Pirate who Gordon brought back with him. Our people will handle him, he won’t bother us again after they’re done.”
Several people snickered. They’d reached their current positions with tough decisions and tactics. They clawed their way to the top by being smarter and harder than anyone else. These men did business using extortion and threats. They crushed anyone who opposed them, sometimes murdering them, in other cases, intimidation was enough. The saddest thing was that none of them considered it wrong.
Randal said, “Thank you, John. When will your people finish?”
“I sent them before coming to this meeting. Depending on where the spies hid the recordings, my boys might return in an hour, maybe two.”
“Excellent, now, we must deal with Gordon. We can’t just intimidate him. The Navy protects him too well. Can we use somebody important to him?”
One person sat at the table with rising concern over the direction this discussion had taken. Samantha Tallus tolerated these people, she didn’t have much choice. Still, she didn’t agree with the direction they had taken the Party. Sam had learned not to show disagreement, schooling her face into careful neutrality and keeping her mouth shut.
Sam Tallus wondered how to stop this madness. She would lie and arrange matters to help her agenda, but her colleagues indulged in criminal activities. Tallus had little interest in whether the shipbuilding program continued. Sam’s interest lay in taking the Government. In her private thoughts, Samantha considered the men in this room self-centered fools. She never voiced that opinion to anyone, not even her closest confidants. In the Democratic Party, her ideas might see her stripped of her position so fast her head spun. Sam understood she must keep her mouth shut and wait for the right moment.
Since joining the Democratic Party, Sam had lost much of her idealism. The rough and tumble of politics beat it from her. She came to believe she lived in a dog eat dog world where only the strongest survive. Sam considered it unfortunate the way these power-hungry individuals had corrupted the Party. The fallout from their failure would decimate the Party. The Democratic Party needed a new leadership team in that case. This might present an opportunity for Sam. Perhaps then, she might recover her self-respect and do the things she wanted for her constituents.
Tallus wondered how to distance herself from these people without surrendering her position. Sam saw they were drunk on their own success displaying an incredible arrogance because they believed themselves untouchable. She must wait, something would happen soon.
Training School
Dave and Keg checked the Sensor data one more time. Keg said, “I need a coffee, Dave. Do you want me to bring one back for you?”
“Yes, I would enjoy a coffee. Thank you Keg.”
“Will you be okay here on your own Dave? Remember what Commodore Gordon said.”
“Keg, we’re in the middle of a military base. I think we’re safe here.”
Keg just replied, “Perhaps,” then departed for the coffee.
After Keg left, Dave returned to his analysis. The building containing their office was old, with random cracks and creaks from the wind or temperature changes. Still, the hackles raised on Dave’s neck, something wasn’t right. Dave was familiar with the usual sounds this building made, this was different. Next, the lights extinguished.
Dave stood to investigate, and strong arms grabbed him. Dave was tough and a good fighter, given where he grew up, he had to be. A man had to excel, or he became a slave. Dave swung around as an assailant punched him in the stomach hard. Someone asked where he’d hidden the recordings and the attack made sense. Dave had secreted those around the base because they were incriminating for the people he’d targeted. Dave struggled for a few seconds to breathe as a white-hot rage built in his core.
As the rage increased, Dave gained superhuman strength and speed from the rush of adrenaline into his body. He harnessed the anger, preparing to turn the tables on his attackers. Dave saw somebody coming to punch him again, an evil grin on the face. Time slowed as Dave measured the distances and kicked, connecting under the man’s chin. The one he kicked dropped to the ground, spitting blood and teeth.
Dave used his momentum to spin the two men holding him into a desk, driving winding one and breaking several of his ribs. As they turned chairs scattered. If he’d seen them coming, he might have stood a chance of defeating them, but there were too many. A fist connected with his cheek, making him see stars for a moment.
Dave had realized he was in trouble when he heard a bellow of rage. Keg had two cups of coffee in his hands as he entered the building. He heard scuffling and sprang into action. Keg understood, Dave was under attack; that meant somebody had surprised him. Keg had no patience for cowards and bullies and dropped the coffee as he sprinted for the office.
He burst into the room and smashed his fist into the kidneys of one of the two men holding Dave. Keg’s target dropped to the ground in agony. Meanwhile, Keg grabbed the second man by the throat and squeezed. This one held on longer, releasing Dave as his brain registered lowered blood oxygen levels.
When he broke free Dave darted to the side and felled a man who’d punched him with a roundhouse kick. The first man Dave dropped was climbing to his feet when Dave stomped on the back of his leg, breaking it. So far, nobody had sustained fatal injuries, but it was only a matter of time.
Dave lined up to smash another of his assailants when more people arrived, filling the room. Even with the red mist of his rage, Dave realized they were on his side, so he backed down, letting the newcomers take control.
After things calmed, Commodore Gordon entered the room. He would’ve arrived earlier, but Lieutenant Stark stopped him. Colin understood why but wanted to check on his people. He looked at the devastation in the room, seeing Dave and Keg standing in the corner shaking as the adrenaline drained from their systems.
Colin approached his men, “Are you two okay? Do you need medical?”
Dave shook his head, but Keg said, “Sir, someone should check Dave. One of these bozos landed a few good punches as I arrived.”
Colin nodded toward a Marine who abandoned the man with the broken leg to check on the Commodores man, Dave received priority.
Stark said, “We caught the other two Sir. You must be a seer. How did you know?”
“I didn’t, it was logical for someone to stay outside and keep watch. I appreciate recent events, and with these people, well, it doesn’t surprise me. We must carry out a thorough interrogation and make these idiots disappear for a while.”
“No problem Commodore, we have a place. I must inform DNI. These men invaded a military base.”
“Good, we need DNI’s special skills.”
“Commodore, you understand, DNI may take a dim view of your meddling, don’t you?”
“Lieutenant, I expect DNI to know of this. They’ve watched my exploits with interest. Hell, Kevin, I’m sure you are writing reports on me. That’s okay, but they’ll be seeing those reports.”
“Doesn’t this scrutiny concern you Sir?”
“Yes, on one level it does. I can’t do anything about it though, so I don’t worry. I meant for my activities to protect the Federation and Cambridge.”
Colin noticed the Marine medic having trouble with Dave on the other side of the room. It was time to intervene. Colin walked over asking Dave what the problem was.
Dave said, “I need to give you this Sir, we have three copies, four if you count the o
ne in blind storage.”
“Good, thank you, Dave. Now, behave yourself and let the medic treat your injuries. Julia will stick a knife between my ribs if I don’t look after you.”
Dave chuckled, then replied, “I doubt that Commodore. Julia is the gentlest human being I’ve ever known. Sir, it’s worse than you thought. Members of the opposition Party, including Walker, are colluding with the Pirates.”
Colin skimmed through the material before turning to Lieutenant Stark. The Lieutenant’s face paled after seeing a video of members of Cambridge’s Parliament discussing their relationship with the Pirates.
Colin said, “I believe we need to have a chat with Dave’s friends before we decide our next steps.”
“Yes Sir, I’ve contacted DNI, they’re on their way to our next destination. Sir, I’ll need you and your men too.”
“Are we under arrest?”
“No, Sir, we’re not arresting you, but we appreciate your cooperation.”
“Provided Dave receives any medical help he needs, I won’t argue.”
Hidden Safehouse near Harmon
Colin’s party, along with their six prisoners, Dave, and Keg boarded the transport and departed for another destination. Everyone except the Marines wore blindfolds, and the air cars made regular random turns along the way. After ten minutes in the air, they landed and transferred into ground transport. Again, they took many random turns. After a half hour in the ground cars, they stopped and disembarked before the Marines led them along a short path. Once inside, with the door closed, somebody removed the blindfolds. James Hamilton stood in front of Colin and his men.
Hamilton said, “So we meet again, Commodore. I must ask you not to leave. This is a secret facility, few know its location. DNI must debrief the three of you before deciding what next.”
Colin replied, “Fair enough. Do you have medical facilities here? Someone must check Mr. Bach’s injuries.”
Star Strike: Book 3 of the Star Man Series Page 16