by Ryk Brown
“I am fine,” the commander insisted, shaking the effects of the blast off. He looked over at the burning wreckage mixed in with the burning building. He could see several bodies, flailing helpless in the fire, as they were burned alive. Men ran toward the fire, scrambling to help those who had survived, many of whom were badly injured. “My God, it was fully loaded. Two hundred people.”
“Jarso! Telles!” the general barked over his comm-set. “I need that damned ship out of my airspace! I don’t care how you do it! Just get it out of here, or none of us are going to make it off this rock alive!”
“Telles, Box One. We’re empty. Put your people in a cargo pod and we can come down and snatch them up quickly.”
“Negative,” Telles replied. “We cannot afford to lose any more transports. This LZ is closed until further notice!”
Wave after wave of fighters appeared behind blue-white jump flashes, as the Avendahl’s pilots pitted their ships against the shields and guns of the Dusahn assault ship. No longer was she launching and receiving jump landers. Either she was out of fighters, or had simply decided they were not necessary, as her guns were proving effective.
“I’m hit!” Ensign Defforo reported.
Commander Jarso looked back and to his right, where he knew the ensign to be. The young man’s fighter was in a tumbling spin, and was on a collision course with the enemy ship. “Punch out, Defforo!” the commander urged, as he fired his last volley and pitched up to get a clear jump line.
“I’m initiating an overload and ejecting my reactor!”
“There’s no time!” the commander warned.
“I can make it!”
Commander Jarso waited, postponing his escape jump, hoping to see the ensign’s emergency beacon on his tactical display after ejecting. Unfortunately, the Dusahn’s point defenses had other plans. They had locked onto his ship, and were pounding his port dorsal shields. He waited until his shields were down to ten percent, then pressed the jump button on his flight control stick.
The commander’s tactical display went blank as his ship jumped to safety, only to repaint a few seconds later, albeit with information that was now a minute old. He could see the icon for his own ship on the display, making its attack run. As he brought his fighter around to jump back to the target, he saw the icon representing Ensign Defforo’s ship turn yellow, indicating it had been hit. As he finished his turn and pressed his jump button again, the icon changed from yellow to flashing orange, then disappeared completely.
As his canopy cycled back to clear, he watched his tactical screen repaint. There was no icon for Ensign Defforo’s emergency beacon. “Defforo! Did you get out?” he cried out, but heard no response. “Leader to all Rakers! Did anyone see Defforo punch out?”
“This is Shooter. He punched out at the last minute, sir, but he didn’t get clear in time. He probably got fried by his reactor overload.”
Commander Jarso glanced at his sensor screen, noticing that the Dusahn assault ship’s shields were only marginally impacted by the ensign’s reactor overload. Quick math told him that all of their reactors combined would not be enough. “Falcon One, Raker Leader. Four zero twos use antimatter reactors, right?”
“Falcon One, affirmative.”
The commander could tell by the sound of the Falcon pilot’s voice that he knew what the commander was thinking.
“We don’t have ejection systems, you know,” Lieutenant Teison added.
“I seem to remember as such,” the commander replied solemnly.
“I’ll jump out toward the Glendanon and put my crew adrift first,” the lieutenant said. “No need for all three of us to die.”
“Rubber, there’s got to be a better way,” Lieutenant Commander Giortone urged.
“I’m open to suggestions,” the commander replied.
“Me, too,” Lieutenant Teison added, half-joking.
“You know, if any of us had the hardware…” the commander began.
“Don’t sweat it,” the lieutenant insisted. “I’m Ghatazhak. It’s what we do.”
“That’s it! Let’s go!” Marcus said over comms.
“Get us out of here, Josh,” Connor ordered.
Josh had already started pushing the throttles forward, causing the Seiiki to ascend before the captain had finished giving the order.
“Ramp is coming up,” Connor reported.
“I’m taking her through the canyon to the right,” Josh told him. “They’ll try to zero in on us as soon as they pick up the heat of our engines. We’re far enough north that the mountains might hide us from their scanners.”
“They’re too high, Josh,” Connor argued. “They’ll see us no matter what you do.”
“It’s just until the back is buttoned up,” Josh promised. “Then I’ll jump us the hell out of here.”
“Bullshit, Jasser!” Ensign Lassen exclaimed. “We fight together…we die together. We are Ghatazhak as well, you know.”
“Which is why you must let me do this alone, Tomi,” the lieutenant insisted. “The general will need every Ghatazhak he has left to defeat the Dusahn. We die if we must, but only if we must. To do otherwise is not the way of the Ghatazhak, and you know it.”
“Jesus, LT,” Sergeant Nama begged. “You know what you’re asking of us?”
“I’m not asking,” the lieutenant reminded them both. “It’s my call. Now gear up! Every moment you waste means more people die. More Ghatazhak die!”
* * *
“Jump complete,” Mister Das reported from the Morsiko-Tavi’s helm station.
Captain Tobas turned to look at his communications and systems officer, Baen Kellog. “You see anything?”
“One big contact, a few thousand kilometers ahead, just inside the orbit of Aluria. Looks like a cargo ship… A big one at that. Running her profile through the database.”
“Why is she holding so far out?” Captain Tobas’s executive officer, Quarren Glenn, wondered. “There’s nothing on Aluria.”
“Registry shows her as the Glendanon, sir,” Mister Kellog reported. “I’m also picking up a cargo shuttle, Corinairan design. It just jumped in next to the Glendanon… Captain! Burgess is under attack! There’s some sort of assault ship in orbit. They’re bombing the hell out of Burgess! I’m picking up Takaran fighters as well! They’re attacking the assault ship!”
“Are they having any effect?” the captain wondered, his concern growing.
“Not that I can see. Christ, they just lost one of their fighters! Went up like a bomb! Must’ve hit his reactor plant!”
“This ain’t what we signed up for,” the XO said to the captain, under his breath.
Captain Tobas responded with only a glance. “Any immediate threats in the area?”
“Negative, Captain,” Mister Kellog replied. “The only ships nearby are the Glendanon, that Corinairan cargo shuttle, and a few boxcars that appear to be operating from the Glendanon’s decks.”
“Alert me of any changes,” the captain instructed. “Helm, load an emergency escape jump, just to be safe. Maintain our current position relative to all targets, and maneuver as needed to maintain a clear jump line at all times.”
“What do you intend to do?” Mister Glenn asked his captain.
“I intend to find out what the hell is going on,” the captain replied. “Mister Kellog, use the frequency Donlevy gave us, and see if you can raise the Ghatazhak.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Assuming any of them are still alive,” the XO grumbled.
* * *
“This is Captain Tobas of the jump cargo ship, Morsiko-Tavi,” the captain announced. “We have come to the Sherma system at the request of Captain Donlevy, to assist in your relocation.”
“Captain Tobas, this is General Telles of
the Ghatazhak,” the general replied, yelling to be heard over the impacts of the Dusahn plasma weapons pummeling the surface. “Are you able to take class three cargo pods onto your decks?”
“General,” Commander Kellen interrupted. “I’ve just received word that Lieutenant Teison is going to set his crew adrift for the Glendanon to rescue, and he is going to ram the Dusahn ship and set off his antimatter reactor.”
General Telles looked at his newly promoted commander. “Then Commander Jarso is unable…”
“He has lost four ships already, and is still unable to make acceptable progress,” the commander explained. “Teison is right. If he forces his reactor to destabilize as he strikes the target, it will not only take down their shields but will likely destroy the entire assault ship.”
“We are carrying twelve fully loaded class one cargo pods,” Captain Tobas replied, “but we can set them adrift temporarily in order to accommodate your immediate needs.”
General Telles held up his hand. “Morsiko-Tavi, Telles. What are you carrying?”
Commander Kellen looked impatient. “General, we have little time…”
“We may not need lose another ship, and another good man,” the general told him.
“Telles, Morsiko-Tavi. We are carrying assorted heavy ores, from the Haven system, crushed and compacted.”
“That’s what, forty to fifty thousand metric tons?” the general surmised, looking to the commander.
“Per pod,” the commander pointed out. “At normal cruise speed for a cargo ship, that’s got to be enough.”
“Tell Lieutenant Teison to keep his crew aboard and stand by,” the general instructed. “Morsiko-Tavi, Telles. I have a mission for you.”
“That’s all the more reason we should all go,” Ensign Lassen argued before putting on his helmet. “What if you take a hit on the way in? What if you get injured and can’t fly the ship?”
“That’s what auto-flight is for,” the lieutenant argued.
“Auto-flight can’t take evasive action worth a damn, and you know it,” the copilot continued to argue. “If it’s worth one Ghatazhak life to save the rest, then it’s worth all three of our lives to make sure the rest are saved.”
“He’s right, Jasser,” Sergeant Nama agreed.
Lieutenant Teison did not respond. He knew they were right. Their chances of completing the task and destroying the enemy assault ship were much better with the entire crew aboard.
“Falcon One, Kellen! Negative on the suicide run! Keep your crew and return to the engagement area in orbit. The general has another plan.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ensign Lassen said in frustration. “That’s twice in one day!”
“Is he kidding?” the Morsiko-Tavi’s first officer wondered in dismay. “That’s impossible! Does he realize the accuracy required to make that work? He does know we’re a cargo ship, right?”
“Actually, it’s not impossible,” the pilot, Mister Das said thoughtfully. “Our jump-nav computers use the same software that the military uses. We can jump to within a few meters accuracy. We just never do.”
“But the course and speed calculations have to be perfect,” Mister Glenn continued to protest. “And we’d have to know the exact course and speed the target is traveling. And what if we miss?”
“All cargo pods are fitted with self-destruct, in case they accidentally fall from orbit,” the captain said. “You know that, Quarren.”
“The Ghatazhak can give us the target’s orbital trajectory and speed,” Baen Kellog, the Morsiko-Tavi’s systems and communications specialist, said. “It would be just like calculating the expected tracks of other ships in orbit in order to avoid a conflict. That’s something we do all the time, Captain.”
Captain Tobas sighed. “Get the target’s orbital trajectory and speed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Effry, are you forgetting how much all that ore is worth on the open market?”
“We’re talking about lives here, Quarren,” the captain replied sternly.
“Lives that are going to be lost, regardless. If we take down that ship, the Dusahn will just send another one. Not to mention the fact that by helping to destroy her, we’ll move to the top of their shit list.”
“Feel free to take an escape pod and go it alone, Mister Glenn,” the captain said, becoming annoyed.
“Target data is coming in now, Captain,” Mister Kellog reported.
“Captain, think about what you’re doing,” his first officer begged. “That’s all I’m asking.”
“I have, Quarren. I have.”
“I should have an intercept course in a minute,” Mister Kellog added.
“Mister Das, go to full power as soon as you have an intercept heading,” the captain ordered.
“Aye, sir.”
“Mister Vika,” the captain called over the intercom.
“Yes Captain,” the load master replied.
“Prepare for emergency, simultaneous release of all cargo pods.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Paton.”
“Yes, sir. What spread?”
“Minimal energy,” the captain explained over the intercom. “I just want them released. We’ll thrust away from them gently.”
“Yes, sir. May I ask why, Captain?”
“The Morsiko-Tavi just became a warship.”
“Jump complete!” Josh declared triumphantly, as the Seiiki’s cockpit windows cleared, revealing the star-filled blackness of space.
“Scanning for any signs of pursuit,” Connor said, looking intently at the sensor display.
“Attention, all ships attacking the Dusahn assault ship,” Commander Kellen’s voice ordered over comms. “Disengage and remain clear until fifteen thirty. At fifteen thirty-one, re-engage and destroy.”
“Two jump flashes directly astern,” Connor reported.
“Attention, all ships attacking the Dusahn assault ship…”
“Jumping!”
The windows cycled opaque, and then clear.
“Laying it over,” Josh reported. He pushed the Seiiki’s nose back down, bringing the ship on a new course ninety degrees off their previous track. “Jumping again.”
“Attention, all ships attacking…”
Connor waited for the sensors to update after the second jump. After several seconds, he reported, “Nothing on our tail.”
“Attention, all ships attacking the Dusahn assault ship…”
“All I’m picking up is the Dusahn assault ship and the fighters attacking it.”
“Disengage and remain clear until fifteen thirty. At fifteen thirty-one, re-engage and destroy.”
“What do you think that’s about?” Josh wondered.
“I don’t know,” Connor replied, looking at the time display. “But we’re going to find out in two minutes.”
“I’m going to do a few more evasive jumps, just to make sure,” Josh decided. “But where do we go after that?”
“I don’t know,” Connor admitted. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, yet.”
“You will need to jump in close before you release your cargo pods,” General Telles advised over the Morsiko-Tavi’s comms.
“How close?” Mister Glenn wondered out loud.
“Close enough so that the target doesn’t have enough time to maneuver and avoid the impact, but enough time for us to maneuver to avoid the collision,” the captain said. “Tell them we understand,” he added, nodding at his communications technician.
“What about their guns?” Mister Glenn inquired.
“I suspect they will be more concerned with targeting the cargo pods, once they realize that we are maneuvering to avoid them,” the captain explained.
“Yo
u hope.”
“Mister Das, once the pods are released, you will need to quickly translate down and away, then fire the deceleration thrusters at full power as we turn. Understood?”
“Aye, sir,” the pilot replied, his voice tense.
“How’s our speed?” the captain asked.
“Holding at one seven zero.”
“Jump point in ten seconds,” Mister Kellog announced.
“Once you get a clear jump line, don’t wait for my order, Mister Das. If this works, we do not want to be anywhere near that ship when those cargo pods hit it.”
“Understood,” the pilot assured him.
“Five seconds to jump,” Mister Kellog began. “Three……two……one……”
“Jumping,” Mister Das announced from the Morsiko-Tavi’s helm.
The cargo ship’s bridge had simple windows, requiring them to all close their eyes tightly during the jump. It was something they had now learned to do on instinct.
“Jump complete…”
The target they were aiming for was still too far away to be seen, but the planet it orbited was coming toward them at an alarming rate.
“Release the pods!” the captain ordered over the intercom.
“Pods away!” the load master replied.
“Translating down and away,” the pilot reported.
The captain and his bridge crew watched in fascination as the massive cargo pod stacks began to drift upwards in unison. As their separation rate increased, the pods began to drift apart slightly.
“Firing deceleration thrusters at full power!” Mister Das announced.