Mace frowned. “I don’t think it really would have mattered. I believe it was the Mawga who caused this. If not them, then the Kaachi or someone else. I don’t think the Mawga showed up until they felt we were sufficiently subdued. The Russians and Chinese tried to fight, and both had their populations decimated. We’re talking 90 to 95 percent. We lost seventy. Even if you had managed to coordinate, I think they would have found a way to disable that. They had their own plans for us.”
Jenny sighed. “I guess. We were all grounded anyway when those EMP blasts went off.”
Mace raised his eyebrows. “Really? I would have thought the shielding on those would have been enough.”
Jenny shook her head. “Not even close. Whatever that was, it was powerful enough to take out everything. Planes, tanks, trucks… nothing was left moving or running.”
Mace thought for a moment. “How is it we still had our hand-held missiles? I’ve witnessed a number of those still in operation.”
Jenny tilted her head. “Stored in underground, shielded bunkers, inside shielded shipping containers, inside individually-shielded packing containers. We had some other electronic gear like that which survived, but not much. And nothing we could really make use of. The whole thing was like the perfect storm of calamity and poor decision making. An almost complete lack of competent leadership coming from the White House.”
Mace shook his head. “And we have the likes of Stark rising from the ashes.”
Jenny shrugged. “And you.”
Mace returned a confused look. “Me what?”
Jenny said, “You rose from the ashes, just like Stark. And here we are because of that.”
Mace offered a skeptical gaze. “I had help. If not for the great people surrounding me, I’d have gone nowhere.”
Jenny smiled. “Great leaders are those who surround themselves with great people. You might have fallen into this gig, but you’ve shown time and again that you’re well suited to it. I’m sure when you were serving you had commanders that brought out the best in everyone, and at least a few that brought out the worst.
“The great ones usually rise up through the ranks while the incompetents fall to the wayside. We both know that’s not entirely true, but over time it’s the definite trend. One of the reasons our all-volunteer military was so kickass.”
Mace sat back. “I wish I had the confidence in myself that you have in me.”
Jenny reached out, patting Mace on the hand as she grimaced in pain. “You’ll catch on, sir. And being humble is another of those traits that make for a great leader. I’d say you have all of what it takes. And it shows.”
Mace laughed. “I think it’s time I got out of here before my head swells up from all the accolades. Thank you, Miss Taub. I was in need of that talk.”
Jenny Taub smiled. “Anytime, Mr. Hardy. You know where to find me.”
The following day saw the remainder of the shuttles brought aboard and stripped of needed items. The salvaged transducers were added to the Rogers’ hull, the new reactors installed and connected to the transducers. Exterior doors and frames were cut away, and the hydrogen tanks drained.
Mace sat in his chair on the bridge. “Anyone have any further suggestions for preparing for the meeting with the Kaachi?”
Jeff said, “Fresh out of ideas over here. David, Mr. Heeb, Mr. Hooba and I, along with Mr. Klept, are looking into the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of our gravity drives, increasing the power of our weapons or the capability of our shields. We’re thinking our best opportunity lies with those cannons. But we’ll need a space dock and a month’s time to make anything happen on that front. And we’re only talking about the possibility of a 10 percent increase in power output.”
Johnny said, “In four days, we’ll have another hundred ships in our fleet. We might want to start thinking about a command and control structure. And about what we’ll do once they’ve joined us. That Dellus dreadnought throws a big wrench in the works.”
Hans Mueller replied, “I have an idea about that. We have the small bomb ship in our possession. We could possibly use that to take it out. They might take it aboard just as we were going to. I doubt Stark’s people told any of the Mawga about those two ships. Especially if they were against the GU rules.”
Liam spun around in his chair. “I think we risk heavy involvement by the GU if we attack that ship. Our previous targeting of their weapons was an obviously defensive move.”
Mace said, “I’m leaning toward what Liam just said. I wish we had a way to get intel on the dreadnought and what the Dellus are doing here. Unfortunately, we can’t get a signal to or from Earth without everyone knowing where we are. And it’s not like we have any contacts there anymore.”
Bontu held up his hand. “I may have had sympathizers within the ranks of the Mawga command. However, with a dreadnought here, they wouldn’t venture to go against the Union in any way. It would be virtual suicide.”
Jane walked onto the bridge. “I know most of you didn’t know the crewmen killed by the dreadnought strike. We’re having a funeral of sorts for them down in bay three.”
Johnny asked, “Still have the same plans as what you told me before?”
Jane nodded. “Yep. They’ll be set to drift in the gravitational pull of Jupiter. Will take about two years for them to fall into it.”
Mace stood. “Mr. Crawford, you have command of the bridge.”
Johnny raised a hand. “Anyone foresee an immediate need for comms? If not, I’d like to attend.”
Jane, Johnny and Mace made their way to bay three. Words were said over the four fallen crewmen with Mace reading a prepared statement. Derwood and Molly sat in silent attendance. One by one the makeshift caskets were moved into an airlock before their release into the cold void beyond. With the press of a button, the four drifted away.
Johnny whispered. “We’re a tight crew. I’m sure everyone wanted to be here.”
Mace replied, “They gave their lives so the rest of us could live. If not for them, we wouldn’t have made it as far as we have.”
Johnny placed his hand on Mace’s shoulder. “Come on, Chief, let’s get back to holding up our end of the bargain.”
Chapter 19
*
The Rogers sat at the ready at the designated location, awaiting the arrival of the Australians and their ships. Everyone was anxious to see the beginnings of a wormhole opening.
Johnny said, “Three minutes and counting.”
Liam added, “I hope they are punctual. The suspense is a bit much.”
Jasper pulled the belt on his seat tighter.
Mace asked, “You expecting someone other than our Australian friends?”
Jasper took a deep breath. “I fear the unknown, Mr. Hardy. Last time one of those opened, a dreadnought came through. Who’s to say that won’t happen again? The Kaachi are members of the Union. Could be they caved and reported the Australians. Might be why the Union got involved in the first place.”
Mace nodded. “I considered that. That’s why Liam has a sequence of escape maneuvers sitting at the ready. It’s also the reason we moved three additional transducers to the back of the hull. If anything but Kaachi cruisers full of Australians comes through that portal, we won’t be sticking around.”
The bridge was silent for the final remaining minute. On schedule, the beginnings of a wormhole showed on the sensor readouts. The wormhole opened to a size proportioned for a Kaachi cruiser.
Mace let out the breath he had been holding. “Johnny, hail that first ship.”
Johnny replied, “General hail going out.”
“Mr. Hobbs, what’s our distance?”
Liam replied, “Eight thousand kilometers.”
Mace gestured. “Take us out to twelve.”
Jasper said, “Nervous?”
Mace shook his head. “Cautious.”
Johnny reported, “No acceptance of the hail yet.”
As the fourth Kaachi ship came through, the
general hail was accepted. “This is Admiral Koukara. I am here on behalf of the Kaachi Military Council to ask for your complete and total surrender under the order of the Galactic Union.”
Mace pointed to Liam Hobbs. “Mr. Hobbs, get us out of here.”
Liam nodded. “On our way.”
The first of four plasma cannon rounds impacted the rear dampening field of the Rogers.
Humphrey Mallot reported: “No damage, Mr. Hardy.”
Mace nodded. “They want to play. Mr. Hobbs, bring us back around. Mr. Mueller, I want targeting on all four in the critical zones.”
As the Rogers slowed and turned, Jasper said, “They ain’t running, Mr. Hardy. And that portal’s still open.”
Mace replied. “Mr. Mallot, will your scan give us the size of the bios on that ship?”
Humphrey replied, “It will. One moment … I have it. No one over four foot two, Mr. Hardy. That’s across all four ships.”
Mace scowled. “All Kaachi. Mr. Mueller, fire when you have a lock.”
Hans replied, “Firing four rounds, half second spread.”
Humphrey yelled, “Four hits! Three are breaking in half! The fourth is turning toward the wormhole!”
“Mr. Mueller, stop that ship. I want the generators and transducers from those vessels.”
Seconds later Hans replied, “Plasma away.”
Humphrey followed. “Fourth Kaachi ship is disabled. Sir! I have sixteen shuttles heading this way!”
Mace said, “Hail the admiral!”
Johnny replied, “Hail is being refused.”
Mace opened a comm. “Jane? Is Gnaga there with you?”
Jane nodded. “He is. Looks kind of stunned at the moment.”
Mace said, “Bring him to the bridge if you would. And bring him with another escort. We are now at war with his people.”
Jane frowned. “We’ve been watching on the display. Be up there in a minute.”
Mace turned to face Liam. “Mr. Hobbs, keep us moving at just out of reach of those shuttles. My guess is they intend to board us.”
Jasper said, “We could just take the little backstabbers out.”
Mace nodded. “I’m aware of that, Mr. Collins. However, we might want parts from those shuttles.”
Humphrey Mallot said, “Mr. Hardy, I count six reactors still functioning between those three ships. And fifty-four transducers if you count the ones on those shuttles.”
Jane escorted Gnaga onto the bridge.
Mace turned. “Mr. Klept, it appears your people have decided on war.”
Gnaga lowered his head. “Yes. If the Galactic Union is involved, they had no choice.”
Mace gestured toward the display. “I don’t see any GU ships out there, Mr. Klept.”
Jasper said, “Anyone else bothered that the portal is still open?”
Liam replied, “Could be they are just trying to get home.”
Jasper laughed, “Home? They have a funny way of showing it with all their shuttles heading our way.”
Liam nodded. “Good point.”
“Gnaga, these are your people. We’re open to ideas of how to save them. If they keep coming at us, it won’t end well.”
Gnaga lowered his head. “If they are in pursuit with shuttles, they have no intention of stopping. The Galactic Union has to be driving them, Mr. Hardy. A typical response would have been capitulation and surrender.”
Hans Mueller said, “If you’d like, I can target the drives of those shuttles with a low power plasma charge. I can’t guarantee there won’t be excess damage.”
Mace asked, “Still no hail response, Johnny?”
Johnny replied, “All channels are being refused.”
“Mr. Mueller, target the nearest shuttle only. Set the charge level at minimal. We’ll see if we can convince them to stop.”
Hans replied, “Plasma round away… no response. They’re still coming.”
Mace looked at Gnaga. “You sure about the response we’re seeing?”
Gnaga nodded. “I have never been witness to or heard of a similar action by our forces, Mr. Hardy. They do not intend to stop.”
“Hans, increase the power level and try again. If they don’t respond, increase it again.”
Several seconds later, a half dozen plasma rounds passed before Humphrey came into the conversation. “I’m showing minor hull breach on that shuttle, Mr. Hardy. Another hit and she’s likely to break apart.”
Mace asked, “Mr. Mueller? Are we targeting their drive systems only?”
“We are. However, those shuttles are small. The level of charge we’re sending over affects most of that ship.”
Liam said, “No letup by the other shuttles, Mr. Hardy.”
Jane put her hand on his arm. “They aren’t leaving you a choice.”
Jasper said, “Let the little ass-hats have it then. The longer we dabble around here, the more likely we are to have something else come through that wormhole. Just get it over with!”
Mace nodded toward the weapons console. Hans Mueller let fly another plasma round. The targeted shuttle split in half and exploded as the reactor lost containment.
Mace took a deep breath, shaking his head. “Target the next shuttle, Mr. Mueller.”
The empty space in front of the wormhole was soon full of debris from the sixteen shuttles, the occupants now dead and scattered.
Johnny said, “The four cruisers are still refusing our hails.”
Mace opened a comm. “Mr. Crawford? Are your teams ready?”
Jordan replied, “We are. We have a dozen soldiers and a pilot aboard shuttles one and three. Give the word and we’ll be on our way.”
Mace turned to Liam. “Mr. Hobbs, take us in close to the left half of that first cruiser.”
Liam replied, “Thirty seconds.”
“Mr. Crawford, there are two reactors in that remnant. Clean it out and bring them back.”
Jordan replied, “Launching in fifteen, Mr. Hardy.”
Jasper shook his head. “I can’t say I like sending our people out with that wormhole still open.”
“Mr. Mallot, what are we seeing through that portal?”
Humphrey replied, “Sensors are only picking up background radiation noise, Mr. Hardy. All graphs are flat.”
Mace said, “Tell us the second that changes, Mr. Mallot.”
Jasper unbuckled his belt. He stood and walked over to the sensor console, leaning over Humphrey Mallot’s shoulder.
Jordan came over the comm: “We’re clamped on the airlock, Mr. Hardy. Door is open. We have two Kaachi standing in the hall with their blades at the ready.”
Mace said, “Don’t take any chances, Mr. Crawford. Take ‘em down.”
Jordan nodded as he raised an AR15. Four rounds into each Kaachi had them incapacitated and writhing on the ground in pain.
Jordan reported: “Bullets didn’t penetrate, Mr. Hardy.”
Mace nodded. “Drag them into a side room, Mr. Crawford. I want those reactors outside for grappling in ten minutes.”
The bridge of the Rogers watched in fascination as the teams of Human soldiers swept through the cruiser remnant. Five minutes after their arrival, the first of the bolts holding the target reactors to the floor were cut. Two minutes later, the reactor was on the move.
Jordan reported. “We’ve cleared this section, Mr. Hardy. The door has been sealed and we’re about to cut through the outer wall at the points Mr. Klept instructed.”
Crawford’s second reported in. “This is Beals. We have the first two transducers in hand. Moving to the next two.”
Mace sat back in his captain’s chair as Jane stood by his side. “I can’t believe how smoothly this operation is going.”
Jeff walked onto the bridge. “Mr. Hardy, I think we’re missing a big opportunity. The hydrogen stores on two of those cruisers are nearly full. Any way to top off our own?”
Mace replied, “What did we use on the shuttles?”
Jeff frowned. “Those were sitting in
our bay, Mr. Hardy. We rigged a simple transfer line. We couldn’t do that unless you park us up against that remnant. I don’t know how large a line we could rig for that, or if we even have enough.”
Johnny turned. “Could it be stripped from the cruiser itself? They won’t be needing it.”
Mace looked at Jeff. “That cruiser is identical to this one. Can we find the parts?”
Jeff thought for several seconds. “I might have a better idea. What if we try to pull out the hydrogen store itself?”
“Could we do that?”
Jeff shrugged. “I don’t see why not. We have the torches. Mr. Klept, does that sound feasible?”
Jane shook her head. “You won’t get any answers out of him today. That was supposed to be his ride home out there.”
Jeff said, “Let me take David, Mr. Heeb, and Mr. Hooba into conference room C. I’ll have an answer for you in maybe… fifteen minutes?”
Mace nodded. “Do it. And keep in mind, if we screw up, we’ve got three more chances.”
Jeff laughed. “No, sorry, we screw up with one of those stores and we’re out of chances. Liquid hydrogen is not very forgiving of mistakes. One mishap inside here with an oxygen source and it’s the Hindenburg all over again. And if you inadvertently raise it’s temperature while liquefied, it tends to expand rapidly… explode would be a better word.”
Johnny turned. “I agree with Jeff. We don’t want to be reliving the past. Especially not out here.”
Jeff headed to the conference room as he opened a comm to the others.
Jordan said, “First reactor is ready for grappling. Number two is about five minutes away.”
Beals added, “Eight transducers in the bag. Two to go and this barge is finished. We should be heading back in about five also.”
“Mr. Humphrey, give us a deep structural scan of that remnant. We need something to pass to Jeff’s team. Follow it up with the same for each of those sections. I want to know which store would be the easiest to remove.”
Several tense minutes passed before the next report came in. “This is Beals. We’re returning to our shuttle.”
Mace nodded. “Bring those transducers home before moving on to the next section, Tom.”
Tom Beals replied, “You got it, Mr. Hardy. Should be home in three minutes.”
HADRON Incursion Page 17