After securing him, they peered around the Bridge, taking in the Displays and lack of people. One stalked over Hassha before staring at him for a moment and spat on him.
“Where are the others?”
“I don’t know.”
Spittle flying from his mouth, the Pirate screamed, “You lie. Tell me, where are they.”
He punctuated his question with a kick to Hassha’s ribs.
Hassha wreathed in pain on the floor, unable to answer, even if he wanted.
Another Pirate arrived on the Bridge.
The newcomer snapped out a command, “Back off Vodiar. It isn’t time for fun yet.”
Vodiar backed off while the newcomer stalked around the Bridge, checking the Displays.
Satisfied, he came back to Hassha and squatted in front of him, looking him in the eye.
After a minute of staring, the newcomer said in a voice so quiet, Hassha almost didn’t hear, “You sent a message. What was it?”
Hassha considered his options, saying, “I reported that we’d come under attack and sent the Scan data.”
The Star Queen rocked violently, causing the Pirate squatting in front of Hassha to fall over and the others to stagger.
One asked, “What was that?”
The quiet one pulled his gun and shot Hassha between the eyes.
FNS Harmon
Dave Bach and Jon Gibson (Keg) marched to the Sentries guarding the hatch to FNS Cambridge. They presented their orders then waited without complaint while the Troopers checked. Five minutes later, the hatch opened, and a young Officer exited the ship to confer with the Sentries. After a few seconds, the Officer approached Dave and Keg.
The Lieutenant said, “Follow me, gentlemen. I’ll take you to the Captain.”
The two young men followed him into the ship. Both knew the layout and could’ve led their way, without help. Soon, the Lieutenant stopped in front of a door and waited. Seconds later, the door opened, and they entered. The entered the room to find three people waiting for them, Commodore Gordon, Captain Molchaoff and Lieutenant Commander Cooper.
Commodore Gordon stepped forward and smiled as he said, “I’m glad you made it. Sorry for the last-minute notice. While we discussed options for the testing, and I realized we needed you on board. You will help to train the Sensor Techs on your Systems. These Sensors detect things to an extent unprecedented in the Federation.”
Dimitri Molchaoff broke in to say, “I’ve heard much about you two. Welcome aboard gentlemen. We’ll arrange quarters for you before you report to the Bridge. Mr. Cooper here will explain your role to people there.”
In unison, Dave and Keg said, “Yes Sir,” then turned to leave. A Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) waited outside to show them to their quarters. He nodded and turned to lead them toward the accommodation areas.
On the way, the NCO said, “I’m Tom Gaven. The Captain explained that you’re here to help with the Sensors. He told me you know more about them than anyone. I’ve completed the training, but these are nothing like the Sensors I’ve worked with before now. We’ll appreciate any pointers you can give.”
Keg replied, “We can head to the Bridge and begin once we dump our gear.”
After Colin’s two men left, Dimitri said, “Thank you for agreeing to this Commodore. My Sensor Techs are struggling with the new Sensors. They’re seeing more, but aren’t getting the most out of them.”
“We should’ve considered this Dimitri. These Sensors offer a new paradigm of technology. Dave and Keg can help your Techs understand how to get the most from the Sensors.”
Several hours later, FNS Harmon undocked and pulled away from the Shipyard. Captain Molchaoff began by ordering his crew to start at the beginning for the tests. Over the next few days, they worked through the series hitting one test point after another. While this happened, Dave and Keg collaborated with the Sensor Techs showing them how to get the best from the Sensors.
Tom Gaven experimented with the Sensor controls, watching as things appeared and disappeared with different settings. He saw the lone Freighter making her way between the Jump-Point and Cambridge. A short while later, four other ships appeared near her.
Tom turned to Dave asking, “What’s happening, I had one ship, then five?”
Dave checked the settings, made a few minor adjustments before calling Lieutenant Cooper.
“Sir, we have suspicious activity further out Sir.”
Cooper looked at the display for a moment then said, “Don’t lose that, I’ll call the Captain.”
Molchaoff arrived only two minutes later, took one look at the Displays and ordered the ship to battle stations.
Dimitri said, “Navigation plot a Jump to these coordinates. Tell me when you’re ready. Ashly, inform Commodore Gordon please then prepare the Troopers for a boarding action. Communications, inform Headquarters of our intentions and ask for help.”
Everyone ran to carry out their duties. They understood this was to be FNS Harmon’s baptism of fire. Soon, Colin arrived on the Bridge and took in the situation at a glance. The tension was palpable. The crew took longer than they should to come to battle stations. He saw the agitated Captain so lay a gentle hand on his arm to help the man settle.
When ready, Captain Molchaoff ordered the Jump. FNS Harmon disappeared from one location and arrived one thousand kilometres off the Star Queen’s Stern. The Pirates reacted fast firing off Missiles at the new arrival and scattering. On Harmon’s Bridge, Dimitri fought the wish to pursue the fleeing Pirates, instead concentrating on helping the stricken Freighter.
FNS Harmon swatted the incoming Missiles aside with her Point-Defense. Captain Molchaoff delayed sending the three Platoons of Troopers to the Star Queen until the Pirates weren’t able to attack.
When the Troopers left, Captain Molchaoff said to Dave, “Tell me you have the Pirates locations.”
“We do, Captain. We won’t lose them, I have the signatures in the database now. Even if they Micro-Jump to somewhere else within range, and everywhere in this System is in range, we’ll reacquire them.”
After that, they could only sit and wait while the Troopers secured the Freighter.
Star Queen
The Trooper Shuttle’s approached the forward port and starboard Air-Locks. Lieutenant Lars Rogers, the Trooper Commander for the mission considered entering from either end of the Freighter but decided the risk was too high. They didn’t know the Pirate numbers on the Freighter or how well armed they were. By taking his people in near the ship’s bow, they were more concentrated, close enough to give each other support but not so close as to crowd themselves. It would also divide the Pirate’s attention.
Lieutenant Rogers Shuttle stopped a metre from the Freighter near the Airlock. Half the Troopers deployed around the Airlock while the rest stayed on the Shuttle as a backup if someone attacked from around the ship’s Hull.
The technical specialists set to work on the Airlock. This was the riskiest part of the whole operation. Airlock use is visible on the Freighter’s Bridge consoles. Pumps are noisy too, so they’d be aware when someone entered, and where. The Troopers expected to take casualties during this phase. The Airlock presented a choke point, with only two Troopers at a time able to pass through. Worse, the other side of the Airlock comprised a short passage with no cover.
Rogers considered the first Troopers through would come under fire as soon as the inner door opened. The Troopers wore heavy armor, but you can defeat anything with enough firepower.
The tech specialists overrode the ship’s computer which insisted the outer Airlock door had no reason to open out here in deep space. Two Troopers squeezed into a space designed people in Vacuum Suits, not armored Troopers, and the outer hatch closed so they could open the inner door.
These Troopers trained hard for hostile boardings, so their reactions were automatic. They scanned through the porthole on infrared and detected someone waiting out of sight in an intersecting corridor. When the inner door opened, the Troo
pers weapons lowered, and they fired two grenades. The Troopers aimed these to bounce off a wall and around the corners into the intersecting corridor.
When the door opened, enemy troops fired on them. Both Troopers took hits and received wounds but the injuries weren’t severe enough to stop them, and they cleared the Airlock to allow the next pair to enter.
The grenades they fired exploded, giving the two Cambridge Troopers a short reprieve while they waited for reinforcements. While the Troopers waited, the gel lining in their armor oozed into the wounds, relieving the pain and sealing against further blood loss.
Elsewhere in Star Queen, Dima detected the gunfire and explosions. She hoped Hassha, and the others had found somewhere safe, but needed to wait before finding out. Dima hoped friendly forces caused the new sounds and not the Pirates fighting among themselves. She closed her eyes and hunkered down, praying to live. Like many others in situations where they are in danger and powerless to help themselves, Dima made promises she’d regret later.
Troopers entering through the second Airlock had a worse experience. The Pirates there had heavier weapons, and both Troopers received wounds too severe to allow them to continue deeper into the ship. They killed the Pirates who guarded this entrance so relief was soon on the ship and doing the work the first two Troopers couldn’t. As the numbers Troopers inside the Freighter increased, they moved deeper inside, checking and clearing each compartment as the reached it.
Not everything went the Troopers way. Their adversaries were cornered and desperate. They expected execution if captured. The Troopers took more casualties though none fatal. Federation armor contributed to the Troopers success. It had evolved over recent years and offered better protection for the wearer than earlier versions.
As the Troopers made their way further into the ship, they left a trail of wounded and dead Pirates behind them. Medics gave basic first aid to the injured ones, then restrained the prisoners.
After several hours, the Pirates no longer held the forward end of Star Queen as Harmon’s Troopers pushed them toward the Stern. With growing confidence the situation was in hand, Lieutenant Rogers sent a platoon to the Stern. He hoped to secure the Engineering Spaces before the Pirates did any damage.
Troopers entered through the Stern Airlock unopposed because the Pirates had committed their forces to defend against the Troopers pushing them back from the other end of the ship. The Troopers occupied the Engineering Spaces before pushing forward to a point where they had a choke point.
When the remaining Pirates reached that choke point, the Troopers neutralized them. Meanwhile, Rogers and his team made their way to the Star Queen’s Bridge. They found Hassha’s body there still on the floor where the Pirates left him.
Several hours more passed before the Troopers accounted for all the Pirates. The Troopers still hadn’t found the remaining crew and worried the Pirates had removed them from the ship.
In her hiding place, Dima noticed the sounds of battle subside till now the ship was silent. Dima debated whether to investigate when she heard someone nearby. She froze in fear, terrified of being discovered by the Pirates.
A voice said, “Sergeant Fouras of the Federation Troopers. You can come out now. We won’t hurt you, I promise.”
Dima sat for a moment. She let out a sob of relief and crawled out. A Trooper in armor she recognized stood near the compartment entrance with a weapon trained on her hiding place. The gun dropped when Fouras saw her. Another came over to help Dima up, offering a steadying hand till she regained her balance.
She asked, “Am I the first?”
“No ma’am, we found one other so far. Follow me please, my Lieutenant needs to speak to you.”
Dima’s heart sank. The tone of voice told her they’d found a body. She prayed it wasn’t Hassha but deep down expected it was him. Soon they reached the Lieutenant who waited on one side of the Bridge. A body lay near him, covered with a sheet. One arm poked out from the sheet.
Dima eyes welled with tears when she saw. Hassha had died. She sank to the floor, her legs no longer able to support her. Dima sobbed to herself, devastated by her loss. She didn’t hear the Lieutenant trying to gain her attention. Oblivious to movement around the Bridge Dima sobbed over her mate's body.
Elsewhere, a Shuttle brought more people across from FNS Harmon to crew the Star Queen till she made orbit and offer medical help for the ones who needed it. The Federation Troopers loaded their wounded comrades on the Shuttle, and it returned to the Destroyer.
Bridge, FNS Harmon
FNS Harmon’s Officers, along with Colin followed events on Star Queen as the Troopers worked their way through the ship. Dimitri turned to his XO suggesting they should put a team of medics and other crew to help shepherd the Star Queen to safety. Colin ignored the interplay, he wasn’t there to interfere with Dimitri’s command. Dimitri saw the Commodores lack of reaction to his orders and took it as tacit acceptance.
Hours after they boarded, the Troopers had secured the Freighter. It took a while longer to find the hidden crew. Lieutenant Rogers reported the Freighter Captain’s death. Dimitri mulled the news over until Ashly suggested they should send someone over to take command while the crew dealt with their loss. Harmon’s Captain realized he must. They couldn’t leave this crew alone, not till they had time to process events.
Dimitri dispatched the extras, and transferred the Pirates, both dead and alive to FNS Harmon. When an escort arrived for Star Queen, Dimitri intended to go hunting. If he caught or eradicate these four Pirate ships, none would remain to attack shipping in Cambridge System. Tom Gaven and Dave Bach stayed on the Sensors throughout the episode.
At Dave’s urging, Tom spoke up, “FNS Krait and FNS Viper will be here in less than an hour Captain.”
“Excellent. Tell me you still have the Pirates locations.”
“We know where they are, Sir. They’ve scattered, but we won’t lose them.”
“I’m glad to hear it, gentlemen.”
Dimitri turned to Colin and nodded toward his Ready-Room.
When the door closed, Dimitri said, “Thank you, Colin.”
“Thank me, why?”
“For staying quiet out there.”
“Nothing to thank me for Dimitri. This is your ship, not mine. You’re a good Captain, I know it and so do you. As Captain, you must command your ship as you see fit. Interference from me might be fatal.”
“Am I doing the right thing, hunting these Pirates?”
“Oh yes Dimitri, you are, and Admiral Fraser will tell you the same thing.”
Dimitri nodded before saying, “We’re going into battle, you should watch from the Flag Bridge. That way, if you feel the need to make suggestions, you hold legitimacy as a Flag Officer.”
Colin chuckled, “Can I borrow Dave? Your Sensor Techs have improved since this cruise started and it’s time to remove the training wheels. When you go into battle, let Harmon work the self-defense. The Sensor Techs can concentrate on telling you where to shoot.”
“That is a good idea, Colin. Dave Bach and his friend are yours though I covet them. I’d steal them from you if possible.”
Colin smiled and replied, “Not a chance Dimitri, at least not for a while. I have plans for them. For one, I intend giving them the opportunity to be Mustangs. They have the smarts to make good Officers, and I have no concerns with their loyalties.”
“Yes, Commodore, if they’re good, they should have these opportunities. During the upcoming operations, work from the Flag Bridge. You can see everything we have access here, and you people can offer advice if the need arises.”
“Good idea, Dimitri. I’ll collect my people and go now. Should we work with your Officers?”
“If you don’t mind, I have two new kids who will enjoy exposure to your way of working. Thank you, Commodore.”
Colin took Dimitri’s closing words as a dismissal and left for the Flag Bridge. On the way, he collected Dave and Keg. On arrival, the two enlisted men started t
he Displays and linked into the Sensors. They projected the Sensor Displays onto the big screens, so Colin had a comprehensive situational awareness of events outside the ship.
Soon after two junior Officers arrived. Dimitri wanted them tucked away during the future action. Colin recognized how green they were, so he pointed them to stations to sit and watch as events unfolded.
Colin said, “Gentlemen, Captain Molchaoff has asked me if you may watch the upcoming battles from here. Do not distract these two enlisted men. If they give you an Order, obey it without question. If you watch and listen, you will learn something. Do you understand?”
The two Officers replied in unison, “We understand, Sir.”
The group relaxed and waited for the fun to begin. Colin noticed the ship reorienting to prepare for the first Jump. Minutes later, the Displays blanked for a few seconds, then returned but now with one of the Pirate ships nearby.
Colin listened as Captain Molchaoff demanded a surrender, along with a time limit for them to decide, and the obligatory threat of destruction if they didn’t. In response, the Pirates fired a spread of Missiles at FNS Harmon. The AI allowed them to reach optimum range and swatted them aside with her Point-Defense.
The Pirate hid behind a small asteroid in the belief it would shield him from FNS Harmon’s weapons. Captain Molchaoff aimed the ion cannon up on the Pirate location behind the asteroid and unleashed the power of the ion cannon.
The beam lanced out and after less than a minute burned a hole through the asteroid. The beam lanced out of the asteroid’s far side, demolished the Pirate’s shields and punched a hole through the ship, all in less than a minute. Seconds later, the Pirate’s ship exploded. None on board survived.
Thirty minutes later, FNS Harmon disappeared, reappearing in another location. Again, Captain Molchaoff demanded the Pirate’s surrender. Again, the Pirate replied with Missiles. Once more, FNS Harmon’s Point-Defense swatted the Missiles aside. This time, Captain Molchaoff chose his Rail-Guns and Lasers to destroy the Pirate. The destruction took two minutes longer, these weapons were not as destructive as the ion beam, but they worked. This time, several survived. The Troopers launched to retrieve them.
Star Strike: Book 3 of the Star Man Series Page 23