The Blunt End of Oblivion (The Blunt End Series, Book 2)

by L. J. Simpson

“And you are?”

  “Lt. Commander Savage, commanding officer of the Artemis.”

  “Are you not a little old for a lieutenant commander?” said Jacks in theatrical surprise. “You must know a thing or two about being passed over. I suppose it teaches you humility if nothing else. Not that I’d know anything about that, of course. But don’t you worry, Lieutenant Commander. The lives of those colonists are in safe hands. Provided that our conditions are met, of course.”

  “Which are?”

  “All in good time,” said Jacks. “Is this your entire crew?”

  “It is,” said Savage.

  “Good. Now understand this. If you do exactly as we say, you will not be harmed.” Well, not all of you. “But for now, I suggest you escort us to the bridge.”

  He nodded to Fletcher and Tully who moved out of the airlock with weapons raised and at the ready. Fletcher prodded Chuck in the chest with the muzzle of the rifle and motioned for him to move off down the corridor.

  Standing on the other side of Jacks, Tully was concentrating on the large man standing besides the captain. He never noticed the glint in the eye of his much slighter crewmate.

  With measured eye, James watched the armored soldier approach to within striking distance. Another half a step and… now!

  James leaped into the air and swung a foot at Bruno Tully’s head. Tully saw the blow late but managed to duck just enough for James’ boot to crash into the side of his battle helmet rather than his jaw. The blow stunned and the rifle all but slipped from his grasp but Bruno’s training kicked in and he rolled to the floor and onto his haunches. James was about to launch himself back into the fray when the sound of a gunshot reverberated through corridor. A gout of blood erupted from James’ shoulder and he was hurled across the floor to lie in a heap, Fletcher still following him through his gun-sights.

  “That was as stupid as it was reckless,” said Jacks. “See to him, Tully.”

  Bruno bent down besides James and examined his shoulder. The plasma round had passed right through the muscle at the top of James’ left arm, missing the bone by a hairsbreadth.

  “It’s just a flesh wound,” said Tully, fishing a field dressing from a pouch on his belt and tossing it to Angus. “Wrap it around the wound and tie it off. Then keep some pressure on it. Don’t worry, he’ll survive,” he said, noting the horror struck expression on Angus’s face.

  “I assure you the next person to try something like that won’t be as lucky,” said Jacks. “Do I make myself clear?” Savage, Chuck and Penny nodded in assent while Angus wrapped the dressing around James’ arm and tied it off, James wincing as he did so.

  “The bridge,” repeated Jacks. “Lead the way, Mr. Poulson.”

  With Fletcher at his back, Chuck guided the party along the corridor and up one flight of stairs to the entrance to the bridge.

  “Ah, just like the photographs,” said Jacks appreciatively as he sat down in the captain’s chair. “Very nice… very nice indeed. Someone’s been playing fast and loose with the taxpayer’s money again, I see. I could probably get used to this… but needs must. Lieutenant Commander, I believe you mentioned that a frigate was in transit?”

  Savage hesitated “There’s...err…”

  “Mr. Savage. A frigate is either on route or it isn’t. If it is, I need to know exactly when it is expected to arrive. Before you respond I advise you to be honest, because if you lie to me there will be consequences. Severe consequences for which you will bear sole responsibility.”

  “The frigate Temujin is expected within the hour,” confessed Savage.

  “The Temujin, you say?” said Jacks. He closed his eyes momentarily as he plucked the relevant details from his memory. “Tribal class frigate. Twelve Firebrand proton emitters, a battery of Scimitar missiles and Deltic armor. A formidable adversary.”

  Then why don’t you do us all a favor and leave, thought Chuck. Like now, this very instant?

  “However,” said Jacks, apparently reading Chuck’s thoughts. “They will arrive too late to influence the outcome of this particular contest. As a matter of fact, I believe their arrival is something we can turn to our advantage. Mr. Savage, you have the results of your scans?”

  Savage nodded. “The object approaching Lyra is an M class comet. It has a mean diameter of eight kilometers and is made up of rock and various ices. Our AI calculates that a laser burn of two hours will be sufficient to deflect the object from planet-fall.”

  “And how long until planet-fall occurs?”

  “Three hours at most.”

  “Which gives very little margin for error, does it not?” said Jacks. “Mr. Savage, I understand the laser draws its power from the external power cells located around the ship’s mid-section.”

  “That’s correct,” said Savage. “The reactors charge the power cells which in turn power everything on the ship: the warp core, the sub-light engines, the rail gun and the laser. And all the ancillary equipment, of course.”

  “Most interesting,” said Jacks. “If my calculations are correct, a two hour laser burn should just about empty one of those power cells.”

  “Not quite, but nearly so,” said Savage cautiously. Why would you need to know that?

  “Excellent… Well, Mr. Savage, I must ask you and your crew to sit down against the bulkhead there and be still. All except you,” Jacks said, pointing at Angus. “And your name is?”

  “Angus McBride,” said Angus nervously.

  “Very good. Now, Mr. McBride, I require you to take your station at the main console and follow my instructions to the letter. If you disobey any of my orders, or attempt to compromise my mission in any way… well, I’m sure an intelligent fellow like you can work it out.” Jacks patted the holstered sidearm attached to his belt for effect. Angus looked from the holster to Lt. Commander Savage.

  “Do as he says, Angus,” said Savage.

  “Sound advice. Promote that man to full Commander,” said Jacks with a flourish. “Well, let’s get to work... To begin with, Mr. McBride, please re-establish the security field and lock down the habitat zone.”

  “It’s done,” said Angus with a few taps and a swipe of his finger.

  “Good. Mr. Fletcher, conduct a search of the habitat area, if you will. Best make sure there are no other crewmembers that they’ve neglected to tell us about.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Next, Mr. McBride, I believe the Artemis carries two escape pods?”

  “We do, but one of them is unserviceable.”

  “Is that a fact? Be a good fellow and bring it up on the screen.”

  Angus did as he was bid, Jacks surveying the data before him. Power offline, hydraulics offline, launch sequence unavailable. Jacks thumbed the launch icon a few times to satisfy his curiosity and then turned to Angus. “I imagine the other escape pod is fully operational?”

  “Yes,” said Angus.

  “Lucky for you,” said Jacks. “And next, Mr. McBride, I need you to bring up the engineering interface and eject the warp core.”

  “The warp core? What on earth does he want to do that for?” muttered Chuck.

  “Because,” said Jacks, overhearing. “This ship has reached the end of the line. Just like the old Titanic before her, the Artemis is not just on her maiden voyage. She’s also on her last.”

  * * *

  The Temujin

  “Dropping out of warp in five, four, three, two, one… mark!” said the Temujin’s navigation officer.

  Lighter and more responsive than the Artemis, the frigate made a relatively smooth transition into normal space. Standing at the rear of the bridge, DCI Burns and Sig Larson experienced nothing more than a slight shudder as the stars reappeared on the main screen in front of them.

  For his part, Burns was surprised that they had been allowed on the bridge at all. Commander Tostig had been unimpressed with the idea of having two civilians on his quarterdeck but was finally won over (Burns might have said overruled) by Captain Norris who conc
eded that the two men might prove useful in whatever action might ensue once contact with Jacks and the Reaper was made.

  “What do we have?” Tostig asked the tactical officer.

  “Data is coming in now… We have arrived in normal space midway between Lyra and the comet Hellion. The heavy transport Vincent is in orbit around Lyra, and directly ahead – range two hundred thousand kilometers – is the science vessel Artemis. The ship is keeping station abeam of the comet Hellion. A smaller vessel appears to be attached to the Artemis’s forward airlock. Configuration matches that of the Reaper.”

  “There’s my girl,” whispered Larson.

  “There’s something else,” said the tactical officer. “The Artemis appears to have jettisoned its warp core.”

  “Overload?”

  “No, sir. The core is stable. Some residual emissions, but consistent with those expected after an extended high speed run. I can see no obvious reason as to why they should jettison the core though it’s feasible they might try and use it as a weapon.”

  “A kind of mine?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Very well. Power up the weapons and enable the defense grid.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  “Sound action stations,” said Tostig. “Helm, take us in nice and easy. And give that core a very wide berth.”

  * * *

  “We have a ship coming in,” said Angus. “They are hailing us.”

  “This is Commander Tostig of the frigate Temujin. You are ordered to stand down and prepare to be boarded.”

  Lt. Commander Savage and the rest of the crew felt a collective surge in spirits as the voice of federal authority resonated through the Artemis’s bridge speakers. Chuck even managed a look of defiance.

  Jacks returned the look with one of derision. “A commander… Is that all they send me? I have to say I find that rather disrespectful. Open me a channel.”

  Angus obliged.

  “This is Commodore D.R. Jacks. We will not stand down and I assure you we will not be boarded. Now, I trust there is someone of authority with whom I can communicate. I prefer to speak with the engineer, not the oil rag.”

  Still standing at the rear of the Temujin’s bridge, DCI Burns noticed the back of Tostig’s neck turn bright red. Norris held up a placating hand and spoke into the com.

  “This is Captain C.C. Norris, commanding officer military forces Atlas sector. I repeat, you are ordered to stand down and prepare to be boarded.”

  “Captain Norris?” said Jacks warmly. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. I knew your uncle, you know. Old Razor Norris… died in the bathtub with a fleet of plastic battleships, if memory serves. Still, a fine officer, good and true – one of the old breed, was Razor. Tell me, Captain, how far does your particular apple fall from the family tree?”

  “I share my predecessor’s sense of duty, which is all that matters. You, on the other hand, are a dishonorably discharged criminal. You will stand down now, sir.”

  “The thing is, Captain C.C. Norris, commanding officer military forces Atlas sector, we are not in the Atlas sector, so I’m not sure what jurisdiction you have.”

  “I have a battery of Firebrand proton emitters at the ready. I think that’s enough to guarantee my jurisdiction, don’t you?”

  “In other circumstances, maybe yes, but if I could crave your indulgence for a moment?” Jacks broke the connection and nodded to Angus. “Now,” he said.

  “What’s the hell’s he up to?” said Tostig as a succession of flashes erupted from the Artemis’s midsection.

  “Explosive bolts,” said the tactical officer. “Look – the power cell train.”

  As he spoke, one of the Artemis’s oversized power cells drifted slowly away from the superstructure and off into space.

  “Jettison cells two through seven,” said Jacks.

  A second power cell fell away from the Artemis’s port quarter, soon followed by another and another until seven of the eight cells were free, tumbling gently as they receded into the distance. A single cell remained attached to the Artemis’s underside.

  “Open a channel,” said Jacks. “Artemis to Temujin, as you can no doubt see, we appear to be shedding our power cells. If you haven’t managed to join up the dots, I shall explain it to you. We have one functional power cell remaining. The energy contained within the cell is enough to ensure the timely deflection of the comet Hellion. If you fail to meet my terms this last cell will be jettisoned and all hope of diverting the comet will be lost. Lieutenant Commander Savage will confirm that this is so.”

  “It’s true,” said Savage. “The laser draws all its power from the power cells. There is no other way to fuel the array.”

  “And your terms are?” said Norris.

  “You will return to super-space and leave this system along with the transport vessel presently orbiting the planet. Once we have confirmed your departure we will allow the Artemis to carry out its mission. Be warned that if we detect the warp signature of any ship arriving back in system we will jettison the last power cell immediately.”

  “I see,” said Norris coolly. “Is there anything else?”

  “There is one more condition,” continued Jacks. “I require the sum of two million credits to be deposited in the following bank account.” He read off a sixteen digit number.

  “We do not negotiate with terrorists,” said Norris.

  “I don’t blame you,” said Jacks. “Neither do I. However, I’m not a terrorist and the terms are not open to negotiation. You either accept them or you do not.”

  “I don’t have the authority to agree to your demands – I would need time to confer with my superiors.”

  “I don’t believe you have the luxury of time, Captain, for the clock is ticking. However, I am open to compromise – I’m will accept your word as an officer and a gentleman that the payment will be initiated by the time the laser burn is completed. Come now, Captain, two million credits is a very small price to pay for eight thousand lives. Math was never my strong point but I believe it works out to a mere two hundred fifty credits per colonist – less than the price of a mid range data pad. And to sweeten the bargain, I am – as a gesture of good faith – prepared to release some of the crew of the Artemis into your custody. I suggest you come to a decision sooner rather than later. Artemis out.” said Jacks. “Mr. McBride, Prepare the escape pod for launch.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Savage. “Who are you releasing?”

  “All of you,” said Jacks. “Except Poulson. He stays.”

  “But why...?”

  “Someone will have to stay behind to save the good citizens of Lyra, and who better than a fully paid up member of the armed forces?”

  Chuck looked up at Jacks, realization slowly dawning.

  “Of course, with only one power cell at your disposal you’re going to have a difficult choice to make, Mr. Poulson – either save the colonists from oblivion or fire up the engines and save yourself. I fear you will not have the power to do both.”

  “He’s right,” said Savage. “By the time Hellion is pushed to a safe trajectory the Artemis will be trapped in Lyra’s gravity well. Without the power to ignite the sub-light engines she’ll burn up in the atmosphere.”

  Chuck closed his eyes and groaned inwardly.

  “So there you have it, Mr. Poulson, I’m here to save you from a life of abject mediocrity. I’m granting you the chance to become a bona fide hero – to the make the supreme sacrifice and lay down your life for others. Stirring stuff, don’t you think? You really ought to thank me. On the other hand, you can cut and run. Watch those people die and then live with your cowardice for the rest of your days…

  “And oh, I almost forgot – Mr. Tully, the AI unit is located two decks down in compartment C11. Please disable it.”

  “No!” said Savage. “Without the AI, Chuck won’t be able to focus the laser and keep it on target. Not by himself.”

  “I’m sure he’ll manage admira
bly,” said Jacks. “Do as you’re told, Mr. Tully. Destroy the AI.”

  “No!” repeated Savage in desperation

  Bruno hesitated and looked over at Jacks. Why are you doing this? If it’s retribution you want, why don’t you just shoot the Lieutenant in the head and be done with it? Have your revenge and let’s be on our way. Why drag those colonists into it? Bruno faltered on the edge of reason but a glare from Jacks pushed him over the edge. He jog-trotted down the stairs, found the compartment and opened up the door. Inside were three shiny, black, metal cases. Bruno hesitated again but corporals do not question commodores. He raised his rifle, thumbed off the safety and sent half a dozen rounds through each case. Climbing the stairs two at a time he slowed and then stopped at the first landing, looking back at the trashed AI room below. Corporals absolutely do not question commodores, but how many lives might those eighteen rounds have cost? Damn!

  Bruno arrived back just in time to see Angus look across to Savage with a shake of his head. “The AI is offline – reverting to manual control on all systems.”

  “He’s calling our bluff,” said Tostig. “He’s using the settlers as a bargaining chip – it’s the only one he has. If he ditches that last power cell he’ll have nothing left in the locker.”

  “So what are you advocating,” said Norris. “A preemptive strike?”

  “Why not? Take out the Reaper’s engines and then send in a marine assault team. It’ll be over before it’s begun.”

  “If he decides to play by the rules. Either way, it’s a very big call to make.” And a call that I’ll be responsible for making. “DCI Burns, you’ve had first-hand experience of our adversary. What is your counsel?”

  “You’ve all seen the psychological profile,” said Burns. “Jacks is egocentric, nonconformist and above all unpredictable. He insists that those around him conform to worldly ideals but at the same time he is quite prepared to break the rules himself. He’s killed before and the body count is rising. Would I bet my life that he won’t ditch that last power cell? No… I don’t think I would. The question is, are you prepared to bet the lives of those eight thousand colonists?”

  Norris studied the tactical map displayed on the forward bulkhead. There was little to see – just five small icons depicting Artemis, Reaper, Temujin, the transport Vincent and Hellion. The pause simply gave him time to think.