HADRON Incursion

by Stephen Arseneault

  Mace sat in the captain’s chair. “Mr. Hobbs, take us home.”

  Liam Hobbs responded by enabling the waypoints back to Earth, and soon the Earth was within sensor range. Five minutes later, a hail came over the general comm.

  “This is Earth command. You are intruding on Earth space. Identify yourself!”

  Mace accepted the comm. “This is Mace Hardy. We’ve come to negotiate with Stark.”

  Three cruisers that had been holding orbit around the planet turned their way. “The King does not negotiate. Prepare to surrender or you die.”

  Mace replied, “I think your king will want to listen to us. With whom am I speaking? Are you too intimidated to show your faces now?”

  A silhouette appeared on the display. “As a method of protecting our leadership, the king has deemed the identity of all officers to be withheld. My name is Captain 36.”

  Johnny turned. “It’s actually not a bad idea. If they get caught while off the ship, they can deny being an officer. Also makes it difficult for the Mawga to recruit spies.”

  Mace issued his request. “Well, Captain 36, please relay this message to your king. We are in need of four of your ships—cruisers to be specific. We would like them delivered here to us. Tell him if he does that, we won’t destroy his fleet.”

  The silhouette stood silent for several seconds. “That’s a gutsy request coming from someone who’s outnumbered three to one.”

  Mace replied, “You have nothing that can hurt us. Just relay the message so we’re not wasting each others’ time.”

  The first of the cruisers came within firing range and fired a single plasma round from a forward cannon. Eight seconds later, a second round came their way, just as the first struck the powerful dampener field of the Rogers, fizzling out with no noticeable effect. The second round, followed by two from the other approaching ships, ended the same.

  Johnny grinned. “Oh, this is sweet. They can’t touch us.”

  Humphrey Mallot gave status. “Plasma rounds dissipated without any residual energy reaching the hull. Your statement is accurate, Mr. Tretcher. They can’t touch us.”

  Hans Mueller said, “Wells are charged and both weapons are ready to fire, Mr. Hardy.”

  Mace replied, “Dial back the power on those, Mr. Mueller. When we fire, we only want it as a warning. We aren’t here to take lives. Some of the crew on those ships might be people we know.”

  Hans replied, “Power levels set to 8 percent.”

  Jasper came on deck. “We’re bug free. At least from any that we could find. How goes the fight?”

  Mace said, “They’ve hit us a half dozen times now. No effect. I’ll let them run around for a bit before we shake them up. So far, they don’t have anything that can hurt us.”

  Jasper replied, “Just make sure they don’t pull a kamikaze on us. Not sure how those fields will hold up if we’re rammed.”

  Liam said, “I’m watching for that, Mr. Collins. We can move faster than they can if need be.”

  After taking two dozen plasma rounds, the three cruisers came to a halt. Several seconds later, three plasma rounds impacted the Rogers hull at the same time.

  Mace asked, “Mr. Mallot? Anything register from those?”

  “We’re seeing a 42 percent increase in impact energy, but nothing that shows effect. They could line up a dozen of those at once and we wouldn’t feel it.”

  Mace looked into his comm. “Are you finished yet? We would prefer if you’d just patch us through to Stark himself.”

  A new silhouette appeared on the display. “Mr. Hardy, this is Admiral 8. Surrender your ship. You are in violation of Earth space, and as such will invoke our alliance with the Mawga.”

  Mace shook his head. “Glad to be passed on to you, Admiral. Now could you please patch us through to Mr. Stark?”

  Humphrey said, “I have a bay door opening on the starboard ship. It looks like… we have a missile on the way! Impact in… seventeen minutes. Hahaha!”

  Mace glanced over at Hans. “Mr. Mueller. Would you care to take care of that missile for us?”

  Hans nodded. “I would love to, Mr. Hardy. Plasma round in three… two… one.”

  Five seconds later a bright flash told of the missile’s demise.

  Mace looked into the comm. “Admiral, we can play this game all day.”

  Humphrey said, “I’m detecting more bay doors opening, Mr. Hardy. We have multiple launches! Twenty-seven, no, thirty-one missiles incoming. ETA of sixteen minutes forty-two seconds.”

  “Mr. Mueller, feel free to handle those for us.”

  Hans smiled. “Automated targeting on. Thirty-one targets acquired.”

  Thirty-one plasma rounds left the forward cannons of the Rogers in succession. Seconds later the blackness of space between the ships filled with bright, short-lived flashes as each of the missiles vaporized.

  Mace said, “Admiral, you’re wasting your time.”

  An image of Fatso Geerok came on the display. “Mr. Hardy, we were beginning to wonder if you’d left the system altogether. The king is a busy man. Perhaps I can answer any questions you might have.”

  “Hello, Fatso. I suppose you could fulfill our request as easily as Stark. We’d like four of your cruisers please. Delivered here. And as soon as possible. We have no desire to wait.”

  The admiral laughed. “Mr. Hardy, I do admire the sense of humor you Humans sometimes display. Let me see… I believe the proper reply to this request would be… take a flying leap? Surrender that ship now and I will work on your behalf to keep the king from executing you, Mr. Hardy.”

  Two new cruisers approached, coming up from the surface.

  Mace shook his head. “Apparently you aren’t taking us seriously, Fatso. Mr. Mueller, send a message to one of those cruisers.”

  A low power plasma round fired from the port cannon. The targeted ship attempted to move as the round approached, yet it struck home and a bright flash of sparks and dissipating plasma flew from its hull.

  Humphrey Mallot said, “We have minor damage, Mr. Hardy. Looks like we knocked out a transducer.”

  Mace faced the camera. “We’re using our lowest power settings, Admiral. We aren’t looking to harm anyone, but we will have those requested ships one way or another.”

  A new silhouetted comm image showed on the display. “Mr. Hardy, so we meet again. It seems you have been busy with illegal updates to your ship.”

  Mace chuckled. “Illegal? Under whose law? Yours? Certainly not ours. I think it’s time you showed yourself, Stark. Why do you feel the need to keep your identity secret?”

  Malcolm Stark sighed. “Mr. Hardy, we already went over this. My identity, and the identities of my officers, are kept secret as a security need. Their families and loved ones have nothing to fear from reprisals or kidnappings. They can go about their work freely, knowing their families are secure. A simple concept.”

  Mace nodded. “I suppose. Anyway, while I have you here, I’d like to reiterate my request.”

  The silhouette waved. “Yes, yes, yes, you want four cruisers delivered to you. As I see it, you have six sitting in front of you now. Take whichever four you choose.”

  Mace half smiled. “Would you care to empty them of their crews first?”

  The king replied, “Ah, the crews. What was I thinking? The answer to your request, Mr. Hardy, is no. I do not care to empty them.”

  Mace turned to Hans. “Mr. Mueller, target two ships this time.”

  Seconds later, two plasma rounds struck the two remaining original cruisers. One of the ships brightly flashed from a secondary explosion.

  Humphrey said, “Looks like they had a shuttle bay still open. Damage to that area of the ship is extensive.”

  Mace looked at the camera. “I think you just caused the deaths of some of your men, Stark. Turn over those ships and we’ll be on our way.”

  Another darkened figure occupied the display. “I see. Hmm, interesting. So you’ve decided on the propagand
a route? Is that what this charade is about? An attempt to distribute messages of discord?”

  Mace nodded. “That was part of our mission. The other part is to acquire those ships. If you’d care to turn them over, we’ll be happy to get out of your hair.”

  Stark shook his head. “I think you’ll have to return home with your mission incomplete, Mr. Hardy. Your request is untenable. I’m afraid I don’t have four cruisers to spare.”

  Mace laughed. “Sure you do. You aren’t using them for anything.”

  A comm came in from the Petunia. “Mr. Hardy, we’re only counting eight cruisers in Earth’s vicinity.”

  Mace nodded in thanks before raising a hand to the main comm. “Eight cruisers? What happened to all the promises, Stark. The Mawga still holding back on you?”

  “I suppose it doesn’t hurt for you to know. Twenty-four cruisers from our fleet just engaged in a campaign against the Kaachi this morning. I’m awaiting word from the battle, and I expect it to be nothing but good. You see, Mr. Hardy, our alliance with the Mawga is a true alliance, not the sham you perpetrated on them. Our actions have shown us to be valued partners.”

  Mace frowned. “So you sent Humans off to fight somewhere else? Meanwhile our planet is being run from the shadows by aliens you call allies? It seems you’ve fallen prey to their earlier ambitions, Stark. They came here looking to exploit our size for their armies. I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out yet.”

  “I’m well aware of their intentions, Mr. Hardy. They aren’t very good at disguising those intentions, especially under interrogation. It seems the Mawga are relatively easy to break. Humans are stubborn. We have principles. The Mawga have few.”

  “So the Mawga just turned over a few of their people for you to torture?”

  Stark laughed. “Something like that. The remainder of Chancellor Montak’s crew was given over to us. I dare say we learned quite a lot from them. Several are still alive today. I hold out hope that they will one day be useful.”

  Mace scowled. “Those were innocent people, Stark. They were just following orders.”

  Stark’s silhouette sat forward. “Oh, there are no innocent Mawga, Mr. Hardy. Unless of course you have forgotten about the billions of Humans who suffered horrendous deaths under their watch? They had the means to help us all from the beginning, and yet they chose to watch three quarters of us die, including your own mother, I might add.

  “The Mawga are far from innocent. How is Mr. Montak, by the way? Be sure to pass on the news of his crew to him. Since he’s on the side of the enemy now, it should brighten his day.”

  Mace took a deep breath. “We going to sit here all day and chat about nothing or are you going to turn over those ships?”

  Stark sat back. “I have no intention of giving you or your band of miscreants anything, Mr. Hardy.”

  Humphrey said, “I’m detecting shuttles lifting off from the surface, Mr. Hardy. Four of them.”

  A dark figure joined Malcolm Stark for several seconds before being sent away. “It seems your message may have been received by some of my subjects. Very unfortunate for them.”

  A general comm came in. Johnny split the main display with the new comm image. A shuttle cockpit display showed dozens of people going back into the seating area.

  “Mr. Hardy! My name is David Traverne. I have twenty six refugees here with me. We’re seeking asylum!”

  Two of the cruisers turned toward the incoming shuttles.

  Liam said, “Mr. Hardy? What do you want us to do?”

  Jasper stepped up. “Keep in mind, this could be some kind of trap.”

  Mace scratched his beard. “We don’t have a choice. Mr. Hobbs, move to intercept those cruisers. Mr. Mueller, prepare to take their drives offline.”

  Stark laughed. “Oh no, Mr. Hardy! It looks as though you may have moved too late.”

  Humphrey said, “Cruisers are firing! Eight seconds!. First shuttle is gone. Second shuttle… gone!”

  Stark shook his head. “Don’t you just detest thieves and deserters, Mr. Hardy? Four shuttles stolen from our inventory. A price must be paid!”

  Another general hail signaled. Johnny patched it through.

  “Help us please! We have women and children aboard!”

  Hans Mueller said, “Targeting first cruiser. Plasma away. Second cruiser is firing. Have a lock on the second. Firing! Second has a round away!”

  Humphrey yelled, “First cruiser is offline! Drifting. No… turn, turn, turn! Shuttle is down! Second cruiser disabled! Round is closing! Shuttle’s turning! Partial hit! We have one shuttle coming through!”

  Mace turned to face Liam. “Feed them coordinates for the Petunia.”

  Jasper took Mace by the arm. “That ship needs searching before we bring it aboard. And we risk exposing the Petunia where it sits.”

  Mace nodded. “We’ll have to take that risk. Johnny, have the Petunia fully back out of sensor range. The shuttle can rendezvous with them there.”

  Johnny replied, “We have to go back if we want to talk to them. Comms don’t stretch out that far.”

  Mace turned. “Mr. Mueller, target the drives of those remaining cruisers. Mr. Hobbs, take us back to within sensor range of the Petunia. Let them know the shuttle is coming. Tell them to keep the refugees isolated until we get back.”

  Liam entered the waypoints. Hans fired multiple plasma rounds at the remaining six Mawga cruisers.

  Eight seconds later, Humphrey returned status. “We have six cruisers disabled, Mr. Hardy! Nice targeting, Hans!”

  Mace sat forward. “Let’s get that message to the Petunia. Mr. Hobbs, take us out.”

  Five minutes later the message was sent. The Dellus megaship turned away.

  Johnny said, “Comm acknowledged. Now, can we kick the crap out of this weasel?”

  Mace nodded. “Mr. Hobbs, take us back in. We have four ships to collect.”

  The Rogers moved to within ten thousand kilometers of the disabled vessels. “Stark, time to pay up. Your men still have shuttles they can leave in. Clear out four of those ships and we’ll take them from there.”

  “Where did you grow up, Mr. Hardy? What part of the country was your family from?”

  Mace replied, “What does that matter? We were a military family. I’m from all over. What about you? Where does our illustrious king hail from?”

  Stark brought his fingertips together, tapping them gently. “I’m a small-town boy, Mr. Hardy. I come from Nowhereville. A dying little town in the Midwest. I grew up rooting around in vacant buildings with my friends, bashing mailboxes as a teen because there was nothing else to do.”

  Mace shook his head. “I figured you for one of those disturbed kids who drew enjoyment from pulling the wings off flies. I know, or knew, lots of people who came out of small Midwestern towns. Good people. Unlike current company.”

  Humphrey said, “Shuttle should be with the Petunia, Mr. Hardy.”

  Mace turned. “Thanks, Stark. It looks like a few more people just joined our little rebellion. That shuttle is safe.”

  Stark lowered his head, holding a hand up in the air.

  Jasper said, “I know that’s not a surrender. Looks more like he’s… get us back to the Petunia!”

  Stark raised his head. “Brilliant! You have someone who understands!”

  Humphrey yelled. “Huge explosive flash coming from the direction of the Petunia!”

  Mace stood. “Mr. Hobbs! Get us back there!”

  The Rogers was turned. Minutes passed before comm range was reached.

  Johnny tried hails to the megaship. “They aren’t answering!”

  Humphrey shook his head. “It’s because they aren’t there.”

  Johnny asked, “What?”

  Humphrey replied, “They aren’t there! Sensors show a large debris field.”

  Mace took a deep breath. “We’re idiots. Mr. Hobbs, take us back to those cruisers.”

  Minutes later, the dark silhouette of Malcolm Star
k was once again on the display.

  Humphrey said, “We have shuttles leaving four of the cruisers. Scans show no bios left aboard.”

  Stark laughed. “I’ve reconsidered your offer, Mr. Hardy. We are abandoning four cruisers for you to collect.”

  Jasper said, “We can’t touch those ships. They could all be rigged.”

  Stark sighed. “I’ve tremendously enjoyed our little discussion today, Mr. Hardy. Given the somber expressions on your faces, I’d have to say you lost something of tremendous value out there. We detected quite the brilliant flash from here. It must have detonated something of size, like another ship perhaps?”

  Mace looked sternly into the camera. “I will catch up to you, Stark. And when I do…”

  Stark shook his head. “I so look forward to that in-person meeting, Mr. Hardy. Oh, and just to add to your melancholy mood, that shuttle actually was filled with men, women and children fleeing my reign. As were the other three. They chose their own paths. I simply chose the end of their paths.”

  The comm channel closed.

  Liam turned. “Mr. Hardy?”

  Mace lowered his head. “Take us back to Mars, Mr. Hobbs. From there make a roundabout run back to Proteus. We have some major thinking to do.”

  Jasper put his hand on Mace’s shoulder. “He outfoxed us today. Doesn’t mean we’re beat.”

  Jane came up from the reactor room. “Don’t take this all on yourself, Mace Hardy. We’re a team. We’re all responsible for whatever happens. You did what any of us would have done.”

  Mace sighed. “Then we need new leadership. We just lost four more crewman, four shuttles full of innocent people, and a ship with a wormhole generator. Not to mention our secret alliance and only supply chain.”

  Johnny said, “We have the Rogers. And each other. There’s plenty of food back on Proteus. We may have lost our asses today, but there’s always tomorrow.”

  What’s Next!