Right Ascension

by David Derrico

  Table of Contents

  FLYLEAF

  PRAISE FOR RIGHT ASCENSION

  RIGHT ASCENSION

  ALSO BY DAVID DERRICO

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  EPILOGUE

  THE END...?

  DECLINATION

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FLYLEAF

  The dim light radiated by the candles flickered imperceptibly, casting dancing shadows along the earth-toned walls of the room. Tapestries of both human and alien origin adorned the walls, and a collection of artwork assembled from throughout the known galaxy decorated the small chamber. Though it usually gave him much pleasure, the room gave the Admiral little solace now.

  Even the seat his wife sat in was a work of art—created by an Arcadian sculptor thousands of years ago. His wife, too, seemed to be a part of that sculpture, her graceful lines blending with the subtle contours of the chair. His eyes followed her elegant form, tracing the flowing patterns of her robe up to the supple lines of her neck and into the recesses of her dark eyes as they burned back into his.

  “I think you should go,” he finally blurted out. “It’s too dangerous for you to stay here, Tara.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked him, stiffening up at the unexpected request. “Where do you think I should go? To stay with my parents on the mainland? Would I be safer—”

  “No, not on the mainland,” he replied, looking down into the dark fibers of the carpet. “I mean somewhere else … maybe just to Mars or the moons of Saturn for a little while … or maybe to the Cygnus System …”

  “The Cygnus System?” she repeated incredulously. “My God, Dan, Earth has to be better protected than Cygnus Prime—this has to be the safest place in the sector.”

  “That’s what they said about Korgia Prime,” he snapped uncharacteristically.

  The soft lines of Tara’s face deepened noticeably. “What is it? What is it you know? The Confederation reports claim everything is under—”

  “Under control? No reason to panic? Of course that’s what they’re saying.” He paused and took a deep breath. “But the truth is there is damned good reason to panic, Tara.”

  “Daniel,” she said seriously, leaning toward him. “I’ve never heard you talk like this before. Not when there were daily attacks on Earth in the old days … not even when the Korgians were massing for their assault. What in the hell is going on out there?”

  “I wish I knew,” he lamented helplessly. “I wish I knew.”

  PRAISE FOR RIGHT ASCENSION

  “Overall though, this is a great little book and with a subject like genocide on the agenda I think it’s appropriate to raise the subject now. We humans are great at obliterating what we do not understand; perhaps Derrico’s book provides a little insight into the intricacies of the human mind. … Well done and sure to do well in the science fiction market.”

  - Alastair Rosie, eBook-Reviews.net

  “David Derrico’s first novel kept me turning its virtual pages, wanting to read longer each evening than time would permit. … his hero carries the narrative, which features believable alien cultures and a plot that kept me guessing until I bumped up against the book’s cliffhanger conclusion.”

  - Nina M. Osier, eBook-Reviews.net

  “Right Ascension goes beyond the standard realms of the futuristic space epic, subtly tackling the issues of human morality, honor, and loyalty where many authors would fear to tread. Derrico has a remarkable talent for characterization, and in presenting his core characters with a series of awkward situations and dilemmas, he adeptly manages to challenge our definitions of right and wrong. Right Ascension is an utterly thought-provoking novel rich with vividly drawn characters, electrifying action sequences and plenty of food for thought.”

  - Toby Emden, Bookbooters Press

  RIGHT ASCENSION

  A Novel By David Derrico

  RIGHT ASCENSION

  Publishing History

  First digital edition published, May 2000

  First paperback edition published, Jan 2001

  Second digital edition published, Jan 2007

  Second paperback edition published, Feb 2007

  Copyright © 2010 by David Derrico

  Cover art copyright © 2010 by David Derrico

  Cover background image used courtesy of NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  v. 2.1K

  ISBN: 978-1-4486-8760-2 (print version)

  ALSO BY DAVID DERRICO

  DECLINATION,

  The Sequel to Right Ascension

  For my father, Daniel Derrico, the real Admiral Atgard.

  CHAPTER 1

  1 Mar 3040

  All was quiet as a pair of sleek fightercraft coasted through the dark velvet backdrop of space. Chad’s fingers anxiously played over the control stick in his hand. Through his excitement, he tried to concentrate on what he had learned at the Academy. He went through his in-flight checklist, ensuring that all combat systems were engaged in standby mode and operating properly. He eased his fighter even closer to the identical ship beside him, nearly touching the other fighter’s hull as he mirrored its trajectory. I should be getting extra points for this, he mused.

  Up ahead, a large, slow-moving asteroid loomed. On the far side of the rock lay the object of their mission—a pilot in a disabled fighter that they were to rescue. Maintaining radio silence, Chad followed the subtle course corrections of his wingmate, carving out a flight path that nearly skimmed the asteroid’s surface, an attempt to avoid detection should anyone be watching. Chad smiled as the disabled fighter came into view. A quick burst over to the ship, and Chad would attach a tow cable to the fighter and be gone before anyone detected their presence—likely in record time. Chad eased the control stick forward—

  The instrument panel of his fighter exploded in warning as a half-dozen enemy ships launched from a deep crater in the asteroid behind him. Bright red lances of laser light flashed past his cockpit, and Chad quickly raised his shields. “Figure Eight!” barked Krystal’s voice over the intercom. “Break now!”

  Chad jerked his ship hard to the left, pulling away from Krystal as she shot in the opposite direction, quickly putting distance between the two fighters. Chad continued his arc, pulling hard on the control stick and adding speed to his turn. As he came around, he saw Krystal’s ship, which had performed a mirror image of his own maneuver. The two ships rejoined behind their attackers, and Chad quickly observed that they had split into groups of four and two in a confused effort to track the faster fighters.

  “On my wing,” barked Krystal, banking hard toward the smaller group of enemy ships. They were Arrows, medium-sized fighters used mainly by pirates—a big step up from the slow Vagabonds Chad was used to facing. Chad hesitated just for a moment before falling in behind Krystal. Any other pilot, and Chad would have demanded the lead.

&n
bsp; Krystal closed on the enemy ships at breakneck speed, no doubt aware that the larger group would be on them soon. She angled her ship slightly upward, targeting the topmost of the two ships, and Chad slid his ship underneath, locking onto the other enemy fighter. Both pilots thumbed their firing sticks at once, and two pairs of lasers tracked toward the fleeing Arrows. The barrages hit, and the exhaust from both ships abated, leaving them coasting helplessly in space.

  A smattering of laser fire raked the rear of Chad’s ship—these Arrows are quicker than I thought! His shields held, though, and Chad again separated from Krystal’s ship, providing more difficult targets for their attackers. Their initial success had evened the odds somewhat, but Chad realized they were still outnumbered two to one, and being pursued by ships more powerful, and nearly as fast, as his own SF-233 fighter. He concentrated on defensive maneuvers as two of the Arrows chased after his ship. He hoped Krystal would be able to handle the other two—right now, there was no way for Chad to get to her.

  Chad checked his display to see that he was speeding toward an asteroid field, and that he had barely put any distance on the pursuing fighters. A warning chime sounded as he approached the field and a thick red line on his tactical display, but Chad ignored it, pushing the control stick even farther forward. He kept an eye on the display as he closed on the dense array of asteroids at great speed. This better work, he mused, or all this has been for nothing.

  A flicker of doubt entered Chad’s mind, but the pursuing fighters finally broke off and arced away from their paths. Chad fired his retro thrusters and pulled his ship straight up in as tight an arc as he could muster. He strained against the inertial forces, trying to hold on to consciousness for just another second longer. When he could bear no more, he pulled out of his turn and struggled to re-focus.

  The two Arrows were visible through his front cockpit window now, and were already turning back toward him. Chad seized the moment and sped toward the closer Arrow, peppering it with laser fire. Its shields held, but Chad matched its maneuvers and continued to fire. No way this guy gets away from me. The Arrow dinked right and Chad instinctively dismissed the bait, instead angling to the left and catching the Arrow with a full laser burst as it came back into Chad’s field of fire. I’ve seen that textbook maneuver in the flight sims too many times—

  Pleased with his victory, Chad had forgotten about the other fighter, which raked the side of Chad’s ship with a powerful burst from its quad cannons. Sirens blared in the cockpit as Chad’s shields failed. He cursed himself under his breath and pulled the control stick to angle toward the attacking Arrow. The ships closed at great speed before the Arrow veered off course, and Chad pulled in behind him, pouring laser fire into his engines. A few well-placed bursts, and the enemy fighter was finished. Chad sped back toward the remaining ships, and Krystal.

  Chad’s shields were off-line, so another shot would disable his fighter and mean certain failure. But he saw that both remaining Arrows were still after Krystal, and he nudged the throttle forward as far as it could go.

  He needn’t have worried. Before he could reach them, Krystal had literally flown circles around her pursuers, finishing both off with her ship seemingly unscathed. Chad settled in beside her and gave her a grin through the cockpit plasticite. She gave him a thumbs-up sign, and they coasted toward the disabled fighter to finish their mission.

  Chad’s adrenaline was starting to subside, but he was still eager to finish the mission and get back to base. He pushed his ship forward and readied the tow cable, thinking of the accolades he would receive upon his return—

  “Chad!” Krystal’s voice blared over the headset. He looked up to see the disabled fighter shed off an outer layer of concealing metal plates, and in its place, a fully-functional Arrow leveled its quad cannon at him. All for nothing …

  The rest happened in slow motion. The enemy Arrow fired—and Krystal’s ship surged in front of Chad, taking the brunt of the attack. Her shields held, and she returned fire, quickly disabling the stationary ship. In an instant, it was truly over.

  “Krystal—you–you saved me,” Chad stammered, considering the ramifications. “But your perfect score …”

  There was no hesitation from the other end. “We passed, Chad, both of us, and with honors—although you damn near flew out of bounds.” He could almost hear her smirk. “Our perfect score will have to wait for the real thing.”

  Chad’s combat systems disengaged and a voice broke over their headsets, “Congratulations, cadets. This concludes your final exam. Excellent work, both of you. Return to base.”

  Chad exhaled and looked over at Krystal. The seven disabled Arrows powered back up, piloted by instructors wielding only simulated lasers, just like his own training fighter. All nine ships angled back toward the Confederation Academy shipyards.

  The final hurdle was over. Chad had passed, and at the top of his class. He would need to hear his final score at the debriefing, of course, but his scores would surely be high enough for him to earn his commission and begin active duty.

  A broad smile lit his face. There was one call Chad could not wait until landing to make. He thumbed his wrist-worn nanocomputer.

  “Dad?” he said. “I did it. I passed. I’m going to be a Confederation officer.” He paused, and his eyes began to water. “Just like you.”

  • • •

  Lieutenant Atgard flinched as the shuttlecraft emerged from the upper atmosphere and the dull pink glow that had surrounded the ship abruptly gave way to the inky blackness of space. He was not yet accustomed to the sudden jolt that accompanied a spacecraft as it entered a vacuum, just one of a hundred new experiences he would surely be getting used to over the next several years.

  Fresh out of the Yeager Fighter School of the Confederation Academy, and only 21 years old, Chad Steven Atgard had undergone thorough training and simulated combat exercises, but there was much he had yet to experience first-hand. His quivering legs attested to his almost palpable excitement—he had waited his entire life for a day like this one, yet even in his most optimistic moments he had not actually dared to believe what was happening to him now.

  The minutes ticked by as the shuttle traveled from Earth at a seemingly leisurely pace, though when Chad fingered a key on his wrist nanocomputer, it showed their actual speed accelerating past 100 kilometers per second. While such speed was hardly slow, it paled in comparison to some of the fighters, scouts, and even heavier Corvettes that cruised at speeds many times as fast as the utilitarian shuttlecraft. Even the behemoth Indomitable cruised several times faster.

  With that thought, Chad came out of his reverie. He blinked twice and looked around the interior of the small shuttlecraft. Dull gray padded benches on each side of the austere transport ship held three people each, four of whom he knew only superficially, but he knew them all to be recent top graduates like himself. Seated directly across from him, in fact, was Jonathan Cole, valedictorian of the Yeager Fighter School and grandson of Fleet Admiral Tiberius Cole, the aging captain of the Indomitable. Jonathan, his head turned to gaze out the front viewport, carried an unmistakable air of cold perfectionism about him as he sat with the stiff, perfect posture gleaned from years of growing up in the company of military officers. It must be difficult, Chad remarked silently, following in the footsteps of a living legend, but Jonathan certainly was making an admirable attempt.

  He knew the credentials of the other graduates were not much different from Cole’s. He also knew the woman seated next to him, Krystal Rolari, was undoubtedly the best fighter pilot he had served with at the Academy. Although he had never admitted it to her, he knew that she was better than even he himself was, having proven it in simulations many times. It was a singular point of pride for him, in fact, that he was the only pilot in the entire class to have ever bested her in one-on-one combat in the flight sims.

  He studied the contours of her face as he remembered their days at the Academy, not so far behind him as they now seemed. The l
ong, jet-black tresses of her hair framed her angular face, and her innocent beauty belied her inner fortitude. Her strength, however, was apparent from her high, strong cheekbones and a granite chin that spoke of hard-fought battles won not in the void of space, but rather in the corporeal world of men.

  Her mouth dropped open as he gazed at her. Staring out the front viewport to her left, she silently mouthed the words, “My God.” Turning to look, Chad’s own mouth dropped in amazement and his heart momentarily ceased to function.

  In front of them loomed the Indomitable. Though the vessel was indeed shaped like a ship and was capable of faster-than-light travel, to call what appeared before them a “ship” was almost unthinkable. The magnificent, gleaming vessel was nearly the size of Earth’s moon, its impossible mass dwarfing the puny shuttlecraft whose insignificant shadow fell on the mighty colossus as they approached. Two sets of enormous, sweeping wings converged in great arcs into the plump fuselage of the behemoth spacecraft. Jutting out from the beast’s cavernous torso was a long, rounded nose section, the far end of which could not be seen through the shuttle’s front viewport. The surface of the vessel had a perfectly resplendent, almost angelic white luster that reflected light from the nearby sun and bathed the entire area in a vivid, divine luminescence. The brilliant glow forced Chad to cover his eyes as they approached, but once they had adjusted, he could make out the lettering on the vessel’s curved white flank, which read “U. C. S. Indomitable.” Each letter was several times the size of the shuttle.

  It was, quite simply, the most awe-inspiring thing Chad had ever seen.

  Unable to control his reverence, one of the cadets let out an involuntary gasp of amazement as they approached one of the myriad landing bays of the vessel. Approaching the opening doors of the bay looked for all the world like the tiny shuttlecraft was being sucked into the cavernous, daunting maw of some immense metallic beast.