Talosian Chronicles 3: Talosian Alliance

by Ben Winston

  "That day will come, Commander," Ian said. "But it's not today. Operations, what's the status of the shipyard?"

  "Looks like they're setting up shop, Admiral. Since they've arrived, the bloody woggerts took up position in open space between the orbits of the second and third planets. They've extended the gantries, and it looks like that battleship we damaged is heading in for repairs. The other ships haven't been idle either; they've been busy setting up a defensive perimeter that should be finished in about a month. By the by, I've recorded everything I could about the shipyard and that mining/refining ship they have. I'll have a brief sent to your aide for you to look over. The system is pretty efficient from what we can tell," Chloe finished.

  "Thanks Colonel, but do you think we'll survive a fly-by?" Ian asked.

  "Not bloody likely with that battlewagon in dock!" she replied. "Hm... but we would survive docking."

  "I think the comm is broken. Chloe did you just suggest docking with it?" Jenny said.

  "Actually, yes, I did, Commander. Look here," and a visual appeared on the main viewer on the bridge. "That monster has an automatic docking system. An inbound ship simply lines up, and coasts in. The station itself uses tractors to do the final corrections, and stop the ship. If we line up for docking, I don't think they'll attack us, if we dock on the far side from that battleship, it will ensure it.

  "Jump in, and line up like we're going to slide in for a docking. The only weapons on that bitch are small point defense and anti-meteor guns, neither of which can breach our armor even with shields down. We glide in, push your surprise package on ahead of us, and jump out from there. The jump effect will tear up the station on that side, and the demo charge will capitalize on it," she finished.

  "You want me to attempt to dock with an enemy station, in hostile space, with my shields down?" Jenny asked.

  "Yes, and weapons disabled. They'd detect a weapons lock," Chloe replied.

  "Chloe, who's side are you on?" Jenny asked, reasonably.

  "Chekhov? Can you do that?" Ian asked. "Bring us in like we are a docking ship?"

  "Sir, I could do Cossak Dance on her hull if I wanted!" Chekhov said in a cheesy Russian accent.

  "I'll take that as a yes." Ian looked thoughtful for a moment as he considered his options. "Do it. If we can set these fuckers back even a little, it could mean the difference in saving our sector."

  "Ian, this is suicide!" Jenny protested. "I admit we've been lucky so far, but this is another matter entirely!"

  "Is it?" Ian said, looking her in the eyes. "Jenny, you know as well as I do that if we leave these fuckers alone, they'll be all over us in less than six months. We have to do something to them to slow them down."

  "I know, but this?" Jenny replied. "They'll blow us to dust before we get within ten thousand clicks of that station!"

  "With what?" Ian said, he typed on his keyboard quickly and brought up a system schematic. The fleet that had jumped in was spread out all over the system setting up border defenses. "There is nothing other than that battleship close enough to threaten us. If we come in on the lee side as Chloe suggests, that removes everything but the battleships missiles and the point defense from the station. By the time anything else could jump back to take us on, we'll be gone, and so will a large chunk of that station."

  Jenny set her jaw to argue, but Ian only raised one eyebrow. She shook her head. "Navigation, adjust the next jump to bring us in on a docking vector for the station. Operations, drop shields and secure all weapons immediately after jump."

  No one said a word as they followed her orders. Very quietly, she leaned toward Ian. "This is a mistake, Ian."

  "Jenny, I need to know if this is a premonition," Ian asked intently.

  "No, I'm not getting anything right now. No foreboding at all," Jenny admitted.

  "Sweetheart, you have to learn to trust your ability. If you tell me that you knew this was a mistake, I'd rescind all those orders, but if you can't, we're going in," Ian said.

  "I could lie to you about it," Jenny countered.

  Ian chuckled softly. "No, you can't."

  "Commander, in order to do this, I'm going to need helm control," Chekhov said.

  "Navigation has helm control. Operations, is the surprise package ready?" Jenny asked.

  "I'm having them move it to the forward cargo airlock, blowing the lock should give it sufficient momentum toward the station. We'll trigger the timer as we jump," Chloe replied.

  "How long of a count did you give it?" Ian asked.

  "Fifteen seconds Sir. It has an IFF safety." Chloe replied. IFF safety was an inability to detonate if a friendly IFF signal was within its blast radius.

  "That should be sufficient, Chloe," Ian said.

  "Jumping in three minutes!" Chekhov announced. "All stations, prepare for two rapid jumps in succession."

  Jenny thumbed her intercom. "Marines! Stand by to repel boarders!"

  "Now all we just have to do is hope Dommer can keep the hyperdrive from having a kitten, and we should be golden." Ian said grimly.

  Ian and the rest of the crew waited in silence for the jump; when it came, it was almost a relief.

  The jump landed them a lot closer to the station than Jenny thought they would ever get.

  "Jump nine complete, loading jump ten. Shields are down, and weapons are stowed. We are coasting toward the station. Helm, positive four degrees bow pitch, yaw minus two. Forward momentum at ninety meters per second," Chekhov announced. "I'll be... Sir, the station is extending the gantry for our arrival!"

  Jenny and Ian could only watch in awe as the enemy station made itself ready to dock the cruiser.

  Jenny, shook her head, as if to break a trance. "Chloe, dump the package, we're leaving shortly!"

  "Blowing the forward lock!"

  "Eighty-five meters per second. Helm adjust stern positive two, check drift." Chekhov said.

  "Cory, if you actually dock with this monster, we're leaving you here!" Jenny growled.

  "Initiator is still past the red line, Commander," he replied.

  Jenny called the Engineer. "Chief, anyway to cool it faster?"

  Dommer nodded. "It'll be ready in two minutes, Commander. But you better hope it gets us into hyperspace, because she'll be a two-ton paper-weight after this!"

  "What are you doing Chief?" Ian asked.

  "Basically, we're gonna dump a barrel of liquid nitrogen on it as soon as we jump. It'll destroy the initiator, but we don't have many other options at this point," the man said. "Get ready, Cory, jump on my mark."

  "Will do, Chief. All hands, stand by for an emergency jump, no count!" Chekhov called over the ship-wide.

  "Chloe, trigger the timer!" Jenny said.

  "Activated!" Chloe replied as Chief Dommer yelled go!

  As many transitions as the ship had been through that day, the crew had become used to them. However, this jump was nothing like the others. Ian felt like someone reached down his throat and pulled his ass out through his mouth. He fell to his knees, vomiting as the world around him went insane, tore itself apart, and threw the ship into the hole.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Phoenix Base

  Admiral Goya's Quarters

  Selene, Earth's Moon

  Sol System, Sol Sector

  "I'm sorry to bother you Admiral, but you are receiving a priority communication request from ARC Fleet Admiral Hjole," Brekka asked via the comm. It was still either very late in the evening, or very early in the morning, Phoenix Base time.

  "I've been expecting this. Can you let yourself into my apartments and make us some coffee? I'll deal with the Admiral while you get a shower. Once you're finished, you can issue all the orders I'll be giving you while I get a shower. If you can wait that long, I'll make us some breakfast."

  "Yes Sir, I'll be right there," Brekka replied.

  Goya disconnected the call and got out of bed. He quickly put his uniform o, and went out to his living room. Brekka was already there making coff
ee. How he had lived all these years without that beverage was a mystery to him. He was going to have to figure out a way to smuggle it into the Alliance.

  Making sure he was presentable, he instructed the computer to connect the call. When the large gorilla like being took form on the screen, Goya bowed slightly.

  "Greetings to and your clan, Hjoles. I hope you are well," Goya said.

  "You can drop the formalities, Goya, although I do appreciate them, we simply don't have time. I need to know if you can contribute any forces to a combined task group we are assembling to counter an Imperial thrust in the Rataac sector," Hjoles said. For him to dispense with formality meant the call was very important.

  "I do have several ships in the home sector, Admiral. But those are not... uh, they are problem ships. I'll issue orders immediately, sending them to the front, and pull back ships to assist in this attack. I've been trying to keep abreast of the events you speak of. Admiral Williams' aide has been nice enough to send us their data feed," Goya admitted.

  Hjoles burst out laughing. "I think you missed the best part of that. We have also been monitoring his feeds. That is one seriously crazy human, I cannot decide if he is insane or far more brave than I believed humans to be capable of!"

  "I apologize, Admiral. I was resting as it is our night cycle here. May I ask what I missed?" Goya asked.

  "I could tell you, Goya, but it would not do it justice. When you have time, review that which you have missed. The simple fact that he found a way to provide us with reliable, undetectable surveillance in the system is impressive, but this..." the big ape shook his head. "I am very pleased he considers himself allied with us. For he would surely prove to be a most devastating enemy."

  Goya nodded, knowing that somehow, Ian had made another miracle. "I will review it as soon as I am able. If I shift those house ships to the front, I should be able to field eleven heavy cruisers and their escorts. If I pulled anymore, it would weaken our efforts to maintain an effective defense."

  "That will be acceptable. We are hoping to amass a large force as this is very far from any support base. The Benesian Ambassador has agreed to allow us to assemble just outside of Benesia Prime. Could you give me your time-line to get the ships there as soon as you have worked it out?" Hjoles asked.

  Goya nodded. "Of course, Admiral. Would you like for me to submit an inquiry to the Terran Council for the use of their repair facilities?"

  Hjoles blinked a few times, and his face twitched. That was an indication that he had not known of the Terran Pleiades station. "I was unaware they had any such facility constructed. Would it be large enough to handle our ships?"

  Typing on the remote keyboard, Goya sent the Admiral the specs on the Pleiades station. "This is the only one they have built for the moment, however, they have plans for at least two more. As you can see, the gantries are far larger than most current Alliance facilities. More importantly, at least to your Captains and Commanders, this is a Terran facility, not a Talosian one. I highly doubt there will be any of the normal problems if you chose to use this station."

  "The simple fact is that we have little choice in this, at least I feel that you understand this, even if your people do not. Yes, please make an inquiry to the Terrans for the temporary use of the facility. I will make a report to the Council asking for more formal treaties and the like to be drawn up for the future," Hjoles replied. "We need to defeat our enemy in this place quickly, Admiral. If they complete their base, we could lose the entire quadrant, including these Terrans that seem so impressive."

  "I'm touring their facilities now. Trust me here, they are very impressive. The only problem is that there are so few of them. Most of their home planet doesn't even know these folks are out here. The world is still pretty primitive as far as uniting under a single planetary government. In fact, some of them on the planet don't even believe in the existence of extra-terrestrial life!" Goya said.

  Hjoles nodded. "Although it is hard to imagine, even my own people were like that many thousands of years ago. I think most societies were. If the Empire were to attack that system, how well could they defend themselves?"

  "Pretty well up to a point. They have devised a lot of automated defenses and have several new weapons systems I've never seen before. However, their limited numbers would soon begin to show, and at that point, I believe they would fall," Goya admitted.

  "So, they have only just emerged. They must not be allowed to fall to the Empire. After we deal with this threat, I will speak to the Council about defending them, I do not know how we will do it, but a way must be found," Hjoles replied. "Please issue your orders, Admiral. Get back with me once you have more information, please."

  "I will, good morning, Admiral," Goya replied.

  "And to you, Admiral," the big ape replied, and broke contact.

  "This is going to be a long day," Brekka said from where she had taken a seat to listen and sip her coffee.

  "Ahhh, indeed," Goya said after taking a long sip from his own cup. "I will need to speak to Noren as soon as she wakes. When I get out of the shower, I'll want to see the status of all ships available in the home system or that are on local patrol."

  "Considering how things are going at home, your orders might not be followed," Brekka said.

  Goya nodded. "I know, I think that scares me almost as much as this move by the Empire." He took a last sip of his coffee. "I'll be out in a minute. In the meantime, you might want to see what it was the Admiral was referring to in regards to Star Dancer."

  "I'll check once I get the information you'll need, Sir," the young woman said.

  TDF Star Dancer

  Hyperspace Transit vector

  Commander Jennifer Williams, Commanding

  Once he felt the room had stabilized, Ian slowly got back to his feet. "What the hell was that?" he mumbled. His stomach had settled, but his head was now pounding.

  Jenny must have recovered faster than he had. "Report!" she demanded, causing Ian to wince in pain.

  "Sir, the hyperspace initiator exploded during transition. Four people in engineering were injured, including the Chief. Medical is responding. Damage control is already on site and assisting the remaining engineers to pick up the pieces," the damage control officer reported. "There are multiple reports of disorientation, nausea, and headaches from all over the ship, but no other injuries. No other damage has been reported."

  "We are in hyperspace, and on course for home," Chekhov reported.

  "Other than the damage in Main Engineering, no other systems seem to have been affected, sir," the engineering officer reported.

  Jenny nodded. "Okay, as soon as they've been checked out, let's get back to our normal duty rotations. Good work, Chekhov." She nodded to him, then looked around. "Good work everyone!"

  Ian tried to finish standing, but half-way to his feet, he got dizzy and fell back to the floor. Jenny noticed, and waved a Marine from the door. "Let's get him to the couch in his ready room."

  Mel rushed forward to help the Marine take over from Jenny. "I'll help, Sir, you have to stay here for now," she said to Jenny.

  Jenny smiled tiredly at the woman. "Thanks Mel, I'll be in to check on him as soon as I can."

  "I'm not old and decrepit yet, you know!" Ian said, but didn't let go of the Marine helping him up.

  "No, in fact, you're younger than I am, Sir. However, you've also been awake for much longer," Mel said getting under his other shoulder to help support him.

  "Haven't been up that long..." Ian mumbled, as he was helped into his office.

  Jenny smiled gently after placing him on the couch before opening a comm to medical.

  "Kinda busy, Commander, whatcha need?" Beth asked, sounding harried.

  "Ian collapsed and is having some trouble getting his legs under him again. When you have time, could you send someone to his ready room to check on him?" Jenny asked.

  "Ian collapsed?" Beth asked. "Yeah, I'll send someone up right away."

  "Thanks Be
th, Command out," Jenny said and broke contact. She noticed that her acting exec, John Harris, had arrived on the bridge. "Day watch - stand down, evening watch - on duty, night watch - normal reporting."

  John stepped up to Jenny and saluted. "Rough transition, Sir. How's the Admiral?"

  Jenny returned the salute. "I certainly don't want to go through it again, Colonel. I haven't gotten the official word, but it looks like Ian is just overly tired, and the transition smacked him extra hard." She continued on, giving him a briefing on the events he'd missed. Finally she finished, "..And last but by no means least, Colonel, you have the Con."

  John nodded to her, smiling softly. "I have the Con, Commander. Have a nice evening."

  "Thanks, John. Let me know how the Chief's doing once things settle down in the infirmary. I'll let you know what I learn about Ian." Jenny said as she stepped down from the dais her chair was on.

  "Will do, Commander. I appreciate it about Ian too, I'd tell him to stop pushing it, but I know he wouldn't listen," John replied.

  "No, I'm sure he wouldn't. Now that I'm a commander, I'm starting to see why he does. There is always a problem hiding in the shadows waiting to jump out and bite you," Jenny said. "Good evening, John."

  "You too, Sir," John replied, as Jenny left the bridge for Ian's office/ready room.

  As it was right now, Jenny didn't have a ready room. However, part of the refit they would be getting done would add one for her too. In fact, it will completely redefine the entire bridge. That would come later, though. For now, she and Ian had to share the one they had. When she entered the room, she saw Ian stretched out on the couch, sound asleep. In one of the chairs beside the couch, Mel sat, alert, going over various reports and whatever else she did on her tablet. When she saw Jenny, she stood.

  Jenny waved her back to her chair, "I'm off duty, Mel, please just relax."

  "Yes Sir," the woman replied, and took her seat again.

  "I called medical, have they been up here yet?"

  "No Sir, but it's not even been five minutes yet," Mel replied. "He dropped into sleep as soon as we got him on the couch; it was kinda creepy."