Battle of Hercules

by Richard Tongue

   His eyes widening, Marshall replied, “All too damned well.” He leaned forward, “The same thing happened to me at Ragnarok – Lalande.” Shaking his head, he continued, “They claimed to be Callistan separatists.”

   “Damn it, Danny, they’re still at the same tricks!”

   “We know that the Cabal have infiltrated the Confederation. Last month we exposed a front company out at Spitfire.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve been wanting to ask this question and get a straight answer since I first heard about them. What is the damn Cabal?”

   “An empire sprawling across a couple of dozen stars at least. A lot of colonies were thrown out from Earth, and other settlements since – and they rule the lot. They control interstellar travel and all the military. And they’ve had as much time to build as we have out at the Confederation.”

   “That doesn’t sound particularly promising.”

   “I also know they’ve got alien tech, but I don’t know where they got it from. After the mutiny, we were put off on one of their resource worlds. It’s only three jumps from here, they called the world Ghawar. Petrochemical mining.” He smiled, “Naturally, we started to plan an escape. Took three years, but we grabbed one of their tankers, tried to make a break for it.”

   “You didn’t make it.”

   He sat back in his couch, “They got us before we could even break orbit. For that, they decided we were too dangerous to keep with the general population, and we were exiled here three months later.” Looking around the room, he said, “Oh, they helped outfit the ship, made it habitable, gave us what we needed. But a prison is still a prison. That they decided to transport us here on Hercules...that just made it worse. That was a message.” Grinning, he replied, “Though it also gave me the chance to send one.”

   “Wow.”

   “Yeah.”

   Nodding, Marshall said, “Well, in a week from now we’ll all be getting drunk together out at Spitfire Station, and in three weeks you’ll be home; I’ll arrange for a transport to take you back from there.”

   Shaking his head, his father replied, “No, Danny. In three weeks I’m going to be standing on the bridge of Hercules, and you’re going to get me there. I’ll be damned if I crawl home without my ship.”

   “What are you talking about?”

   With a crooked smile, he replied, “You don’t think sending that message was all I did, do you? I know where they’re basing Hercules, and I was able to put a little trap door into the primary control systems. I can render that ship inert with a single encoded voice command.”

   Marshall paused for a long minute. “I know you want your ship back…”

   “You’re damned right I do!”

   “But...where is it?”

   Grinning, his father said, “They’ve got one of their refueling bases out at Gliese 480.1. Inspiring name for a star, isn’t it! Hercules is the local capital ship, patrols this whole region for them.” Pulling out a datapad, Marshall began to look it up, but his father stopped him with a hand on his arm. “It’s two jumps from here.”

   “That’s beyond the point of no return. Alamo only has fuel for four jumps.”

   “Hell, Hercules only carries fuel for three. It’s a refueling station! We can top up there for the way home.”

   “It’s a hell of a risk. And if Hercules isn’t there, for nothing.”

   “Danny...it really isn’t your decision to make.” He glanced at his insignia. “I know we’re the same rank now, but I’ve got at least fifteen years’ seniority.”

   “You aren’t a Triplanetary officer.”

   “Eh?”

   “You’re in the Martian Space Service. That still exists...and under the act that created the Triplanetary Fleet, all Triplanetary officers have seniority beyond Sol System.” He crossed his arms, “This is my call, not yours.”

   “That’s a lot of…”

   “Dad, we’re talking about risking a hundred and fifty lives! Don’t you want to go home?”

   “Of course I do, but...look, your mission was to obtain information about the Cabal, right?”

   “Yes.”

   “My crew and I can give you something, but our knowledge only goes so far. You want real intelligence, details on territory, military projections, the works – you’ll get that on Hercules. Even the station will have some useful intel – this isn’t like Jefferson, this is an active, operational facility.”

   Marshall rubbed his hand across his chin, “That...is an excellent point.”

   “I’m sure the Fleet would be glad to get another battlecruiser back, as well. Damn it, the Cabal is gearing up for an attack on the Confederation and we both know it. We need all the information we can get if we’re going to win – and speaking purely personally, I want to win that war.” He slammed his fist on the arm of the couch, “And yes, damn it, I want to take Hercules back to Mariner Station in style. She deserves better than to be a traitor ship, and my crew have earned the right to go get her.”

   “We could return with a task force. I’m sure…”

   “The guardship is due here in three weeks. They’ll undoubtedly put the whole area on alert once they find out we’ve gone missing. Right now there is a window of opportunity, and we’ve got to take it. We’ve got to!”

   Frowning, Marshall replied, “I’ll have to think about it.”

   “There’s no time to think.”

   “There’s plenty of time. It will take at least a day to evacuate your crew, and more time before Alamo can jump.” He paused. “Work out a mission plan. I’ve got to go up on the next shuttle – my executive officer’s getting a bit nervous – and I will think about it.”

   “Think about it?”

   Standing up, Marshall replied, “Yes, think about it.” He turned to leave, then paused at the door, looking back at his father with a roguish smile, “It would be a hell of a coup, though.”

  Chapter 4

   The shuttle gently ascended to Alamo’s hangar deck, and the relieved espatiers climbed out of their couches, grabbing their gear under the supervision of Corporal Caldwell.

   “Hey, Zappo,” Private Gabriel Cooper said to the man sitting next to him. “Think we’ll ever get to do any actual fighting?”

   Sighing, Private Zapolski replied, “Are you that anxious to meet your maker, Gabe?”

   “Come on, first that ‘boarding action’ out at Spitfire, now this gentle walk in the dust. I thought Alamo was a warship!”

   “Knock it off,” Private Knight said from across the shuttle, while he tugged at his recalcitrant spacesuit. “Did you see the casualty figures from Alamo’s first three missions? If we’ve drawn a nice, quiet cruise, I’m not going to complain.”

   The door slid open, but before anyone could step out onto the deck, Ensign Zabek walked in, Sub-Lieutenant Carpenter standing by her side. For a young officer, Cooper had to admit that she had mastered the art of the ‘sit down and shut up’ stare fairly well; she’d obviously had some good teachers.

   “Listen up. Lance-Corporal Roberts, and Privates Cooper, Zapolski and Knight are to remain on board. We’re sending you back down to the surface.”

   “We only just got back,” Cooper said. “Something go wrong down there?”

   “You aren’t going back to Discovery, trooper. Sub-Lieutenant?”

   Carpenter stepped forward, looking somewhat nervously at the assembled troopers, “We’ve found an anomaly on the southern hemisphere of the planet. It appears to be an old mining operation, and we’re going to check it out. There could be some critical information down there, but we don’t expect it to be especially hazardous.”

   Zabek flashed a look at Carpenter, then back to the troopers, “Nevertheless, there could be anything down there, so be careful. No stupid risks – I’m looking at you, Cooper. The rest of you can report to the mess and get something to eat.” She smiled, “We’ll be sure to save someth
ing for the rest of you.”

   The four lucky troopers began to file out of the shuttle, loaded with gear, flashing sympathetic looks at those remaining; Knight had only just pulled his spacesuit out of the locker, and tossed it carelessly on the seat rather than stowing it away.

   “Flight protocol, Knight,” Roberts said.

   “Come on, Bertie,” he replied. “I’m going to have to get it out again in fifteen minutes.”

   “Stow it, Private.”

   Muttering under his breath, Roberts compiled; the door opened again, and another officer stepped on board – Sub-Lieutenant Orlova. The troopers looked at each other as she sat down at the front of the cabin, casting an annoyed look at the door to the cockpit before strapping herself in.

   Zapolski coughed, twice, and she turned, “What is it, Private?”

   “Are you leading this operation, ma’am?”

   She shook her head, “That’s Sub-Lieutenant Carpenter’s job, she’s riding out front. I’m just getting a lift with you guys.” At Zapolski’s audible sigh of relief, she continued, “Something wrong?”

   The three privates looked at each other while the lance-corporal attempted to ignore the situation; finally it was Cooper who broke cover.

   “We heard some of the stories at Mariner Station, ma’am, when the last platoon was, er, briefing us.”

   “When you were trading tall tales in the bar, right?” she said with a smile. “I assure you, Private, that not only are they all true, but that Ensign Zabek is even more ferocious than I am.”

   “We’re just hoping to get a good mission, ma’am,” he said.

   She shook her head, “Here I was hoping for a nice quiet patrol for once. Don’t worry, Private. I haven't seen a boring mission on Alamo yet.” Turning back, she pulled out a datapad and ostentatiously began to read, ending the conversation.

   “That mouth of yours is going to get you into real trouble someday, Gabe,” Zapolski whispered.

   He grinned in reply, taking a swig of water from his canteen, and strapping himself in for the flight. At least with only a half-load, he was guaranteed a window seat, though the rest of his fellows opted to sit in the isle and chatter through the landing. The shuttle raced over the terrain, swerving from side to side over a high mountain range – evidently the pilot was enjoying himself at least.

   As soon as the shuttle descended on the far side of the mountain, the terrain began to change, and as they spiraled down, he could clearly make out the site of the mining operation – it was as if someone had gouged out a chunk of earth, leaving spoil mounds scattered on all sides. The shuttle settled down on the ground, and he still looked out of the window, lost in thought.

   “You with us, Cooper?” Roberts said.

   “Yeah. Sorry.” He stood up, and started to pull on his spacesuit, checking the charge on his plasma rifle. This might appear to be nothing but a lifeless world, but that potentially just meant anything lurking here would be all too human. He cautiously checked the spare battery pack at his belt, hooking it up to the butt of his gun before donning his gloves.

   “God, Gabe, you planning to start a war?” Zapolski said.

   “I don’t believe there is such a thing as too much ammunition.”

   “Yeah, those rocks out there can be vicious,” Knight said with a snigger.

   A voice echoed through the overhead speaker. “Carpenter here. Espatiers to disembark and form a defensive perimeter around the site.”

   Roberts looked around, “Come on, you know the drill. Cooper, Zapolski, you take point in the airlock.”

   “Right, Corp,” he replied, clunking his way across the deck. Orlova looked up from her datapad, still smiling.

   “Give ‘em hell, Private,” she said.

   “Yes, ma’am,” he replied with mock seriousness, winning him a brief chuckle as the door slid shut behind him. He checked his suit systems one more time, synchronizing his rifle’s systems to his heads-up display, and the outer door opened, revealing the same cold, gray landscape he had seen less than an hour before.

   “Come on, let’s get on with it,” he said to Zapolski, bounding out onto the surface. Aside from the mining site, just ahead of the shuttle, the highest points were the mounds of spoil, and he made for the nearest, testing it with his foot to make sure it would support his weight. Scrambling to the top, his boots sinking a little into the sand, he looked around the plain, from the mountains to the west across to the darkening mare to the east. No trace of color broke up the view, no sign of anything man-made.

   “There’s nothing out here, Corp. No sign of anything other than the mine.”

   The other two troopers had now emerged, and were standing by the side of the shuttle; another figure was making its way from the cockpit airlock, presumably Sub-Lieutenant Carpenter. The three of them moved clear of the side of the shuttle.

   “The shuttle will be back to pick you up in three hours,” Orlova’s voice said over the communicators. “Have fun out there.”

   Watching the shuttle leave without them was an unnerving experience, and Cooper’s eyes followed it as it gained height, climbing over the mountains. All too soon, the only evidence that it had ever been there were a series of strange impressions in the dust. Instinctively, he looked at his system monitors; he had sufficient life-support for four days, but they would be extremely uncomfortable in the cramped suit.

   Carpenter walked over to the mine, pulling out a scanner and directing it at the ground. She wordlessly worked while the rest waited, and as the minutes began to pass, Cooper started looking around again, soaking up the landscape. It looked like the Moon must have, before the Republic started throwing domed cities everywhere; barren and bleak, and he almost hoped that it was destined to stay that way.

   “Is there anything we can do, Sub-Lieutenant?” Roberts asked over the general frequency.

   “This is fascinating, Lance-Corporal. There’s a network of tunnels over here, all of them small. If this is a mining operation, it’s an extremely strange one. Wait here.”

   Carpenter began to climb into the mouth of the mine; Roberts said, “Ma’am, you can’t go alone.”

   “Why not? I’ll be back in time for the shuttle.”

  Cooper swore under his breath; another dud mission. “Request permission to accompany you, ma’am. You might need some help.”

   “That might be a good idea, actually, Private. Come along.”

   Over the private frequency, Knight said, “Damn it, Gabe.”

   “Enjoy the view, Rook,” he replied, making his way towards the mine, turning his helmet lights on with the flick of a switch. Carpenter held the scanner in one hand and a sample bag in the other; she was already at the bottom of the opening. There was a shaft sloping down into the ground, propped up with supports; the surface was jagged and rough.

   “This is strange, ma’am. I’ve seen asteroid mines, and they always have smooth corridors.”

   “I think this was dug by hand.”

   Cooper flashed his light down the tunnel, the darkness swallowing the beam, “All of this, by hand? Why not use machines?”

   “That’s what we’re here to find out, Private.”

   The tunnel twisted around, and almost before he realized it, Cooper had lost sight of the entrance. Carpenter continued to walk through the maze for what seemed like miles, her eyes darting from the scanner to the wall. Occasionally, they stepped over fragments of shattered stone on the floor; he stopped by a large deposit, taking a piece and holding it up to his helmet to see it in the light. It reflected blue and green, shining with an unusual sheen. With a smile, he tucked it into his pocket, chasing after the disappearing officer.

   “Come and look at this!” she yelled, and he hurried forward. In front of her was a pile of broken stone, littering the ground; she snatched one, raising it like a trophy. As far as Cooper could see, it was simply a piece of rock, shattered
down the side, not the mineral he had found earlier.

   “Do you know what this is?”

   He shook his head, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it just looks like a piece of rock to me.”

   “Look at the edge! It’s worked!”

   “Worked?”

   She ran her finger along the side of the rock, “This isn’t just a piece of stone, it’s been worked as a tool of some sort.” Shaking her head, she replied, “It’s just extraordinary.”

   He picked up her discarded scanner, running it over the rock, “Ma’am, if I’m reading this right, the rock isn’t native to this area.” He frowned, “Or, according to this, even the world.”

   “Let me see.” She snatched at the scanner, and beamed, “Private, we’ve found what we came for!”

   “With all due respect, ma’am, are you trying to tell me that we’ve found a mine being worked in a vacuum with stone tools?”

   “It’s just like others found on Earth, dated tens of thousands of years ago.”

   “Did they wear spacesuits as well? Ma’am, this doesn’t make sense.”

   She looked up at him, smiling, “It doesn’t make sense yet. It will, though, once I’ve got a bigger survey team down here. When we get back to Mariner, I can use this to push for a proper expedition.”

   His flicking up to the clock on his suit, Cooper replied, “Do you want to take some samples back? We need to start thinking about returning to the surface.”

   “Oh, yes, of course. I want to take a proper look at those spoil heaps as well, there may be more discarded tools down there.”

   “Yes, ma’am.” Cooper turned to leave, leading the way out. He was beginning to feel confined in the tight space, and the narrow tunnels would be a terrible place to be caught in an ambush; something in the back of his head was warning him of danger.