Alpha One

by Chris Burton

  “Control, organize twenty Rapiers to be launched from the outermost Battle Cruisers. “

  Hoskins expected the order, and asked his CAG to place two Rapier groups on standby. In the event only five Rapiers were required from the Halo 7, but curiously no Sabres were requested as back up. Forty-five seconds later, five Rapiers launched and headed out to join the others under fleet control.

  Jonathan Hoskins didn’t lose his temper often. As he watched his Rapiers launch he noticed two trailed the leaders. “CAG. Why have we launched two Rapier 6’s? Are they being piloted by rookies?”

  Lieutenant Eileen Collins responded immediately. “I had the rookies on standby as we were not in enemy territory.

  She knew she had broken the CAG cardinal rule: Don’t send Rookies out unless you have to. “I am sure they will be fine Sir, they are both competent pilots.”

  “Then why are they flying behind and out of formation? Get them back in and send Rapier 7’s to replace them.”

  “I can’t, Admiral. It’s too late. They are under fleet control and have engaged the enemy.”

  Hoskins cut his CAG off and opened a hot link to the Fleet Control Team. He would deal with Lieutenant Collins later.

  “Admiral Shenke, Commander Hoskins requested we launch Sabres as there are rookies out there.”

  “What? Launch five Sabres and get them to screen the rookies. How many are there?”

  “I am checking…two, possibly more. We will coordinate them directly and make sure they stay in formation.”

  It was an unofficial policy not to launch rookie pilots into an offensive assault unless absolutely necessary. Rookies’ piloting skills were raw, and with no combat experience they were still learning their trade. They were usually kept back for defensive and non-combat operations and as a force of last resort until they built up sufficient operational flight time to be classed as combat ready.

  Lieutenant Joanna Black was not combat-ready. She managed to keep up with the faster Rapier 7’s and fired several rounds at the Partacian ships. One of her plasma bursts pierced the shielding of a smaller Partacian vessel. She witnessed her first ‘kill’ as the Partacian vessel ripped apart. She was out here for nearly forty minutes and she was getting tired from the immense concentration required.

  Joanna took her Rapier in for yet another attack. She fired her plasma cannons and pulled back quickly to avoid being tangled up in the Partacian fleet in disarray. Unfortunately, she neglected to check for cross fire when she pulled away from the enemy. Partacian plasma cannons caught the Rapier on the underside of the hull as she pulled up. She knew she was in trouble. The Rapier suddenly felt sluggish and her shields failed. Her ship spun back towards the Partacians, and then, in an instant, she was gone.

  The Partacians fired on her once again. The plasma cannons tore into the side of her ship and within a microsecond the Rapier was ripped apart. The young life of Lieutenant Joanne Black was extinguished.

  * * * *

  Shenke waited for his drink to arrive before speaking. He invited Commander Jonathan Hoskins to his state room to discuss the loss of three of Halo 7’s Rapiers in yesterday’s skirmish. On the side of the Partacians, seven ships were lost.

  “So your CAG sent rookies into combat and you lost both of them. Did you have any part in the decision to engage rookies?”

  “No sir.” Now was not the time to defend one of his own. She broke a simple rule and he had made it clear she would not be given another chance. “I played no part. I should have checked, but this is not normally an executive decision.”

  “This is a serious breach, resulting in the unnecessary loss of three good pilots and three Rapiers, including a Rapier 7. I understand seven were lost while assisting the 6’s. Was that not the Sabres’ job?”

  “Yes, but this happened prior to their inclusion. I know the loss of three ships arose from the one decision. I should point out we have recovered the Seven and it is salvageable.”

  “You still lost three pilots unnecessarily. You have no choice but to replace your CAG.”

  “I have already reprimanded Lieutenant Collins, sir. I don’t think she will repeat this.”

  “No, we need to send a message to the rest of the fleet. We cannot miss trivial issues like this. If we lose seven ships in nothing more than a combat exercise, then how will we fare against the Sentinels? I am aware this is your decision Commander. I need you to follow my lead on this.”

  Hoskins agreed reluctantly, “I will speak to her.”

  “Good, Commander. I don’t hold you personally responsible and I trust you will see that this is the correct decision.”

  Hoskins left the Admiral’s state room and headed to the hangar. He was angry. Lieutenant Collins was a good CAG, who had made a mistake. He must bust her down, having already disciplined her, which would make him look bad; he then needed to find a suitable replacement. There was only one internal candidate. Obeya was the obvious choice. She had experience in both Rapier and Sabres, and was the only pilot with sufficient deputy CAG experience and who could assume control immediately. First he would speak to Lieutenant Collins.

  Eileen Collins took it badly, but demotion was reversible. Hoskins offered her the choice to take a lead Sabre (i.e., to replace Obeya) or to assume a deputy CAG position She opted for the Deputy CAG. She didn’t wish to return to the front line, especially with a Sentinel battle imminent.

  Obeya was delighted and accepted the position of CAG immediately. This was a position of responsibility and an excellent career move. Hoskins, too, was pleased because he no longer must make the decision to send Obeya into battle.

  Hoskins turned toward the loss of his three pilots. His career losses numbered forty-nine. He always convinced himself that below fifty was not a significant a number. It looked large and inevitably there would soon be more losses.

  He turned his attention to Lieutenant Joanna Black. She had no family listed and noted Enson Jake Carter c/o South Downs Alpha Fleet Academy in England as her next of kin. Protocol meant he didn’t have to communicate with Carter directly, as reporting ‘non family’ loss of life within Alpha was usually dealt with by the recipient’s immediate superior; in the case of an Academy, the students tutor. Hoskins put together two appropriate paragraphs praising the pilot, her life and her achievements. He repeated the exercise with the other two pilots and then despatched the messages.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Top Gun: The Next Round

  Jake sat at his tutor’s desk with his head in his hands. He was alone. His tutor left him for a few moments to gather his thoughts. Joanne was dead. How could this happen? I spoke to her on the comm link two days ago! How could anyone be idiotic enough to send a rookie out into battle? Jake continued his reflection. Why did she choose me as next of kin? Maybe she didn’t have time to change it or had not wanted to. Why didn’t she list her parents as next of kin?

  Jake suddenly realized that it was his responsibility to tell her parents. Oh, crap. How the hell am I supposed to do that?

  Jake’s tutor re-entered the room and took his seat.

  “Jake, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. This is terrible news. She was such a promising pilot.”

  The tutor’s words didn’t register. Jake’s buried feelings for Joanne were resurfacing. He must be strong for Joanne’s sake. She listed him as next of kin for a reason.

  Jake looked up and apologized to his tutor. “I am sorry, Sir. This is a complete shock. You know these things can happen, but you just don’t expect…”

  The tutor was used to these conversations. Over the years he learned the best tonic was to try to move things on and give the grieving person something to work towards. He interrupted, “The Academy will help you with your next-of-kin responsibilities. Do you wish me to contact her parents?”

  “No. Thank you. Joanne gave me that job for a reason and I need to do this. I will get in touch with them straight away.”

  “I know. Now hardly seems the time, but th
ere is the small matter of the Top Gun event this afternoon. I know how important the competition is to you. I can probably arrange for a temporary deferral for you, especially given your placing in the Top Gun table.”

  “God, how can I think about the Top Gun at a time like this?” Jake reflected for a moment. “You’re right. I have to participate. Anything you can do with the Top Gun organizers would be appreciated. Joanne’s parents are local; I should be able to speak to them this morning. I will get to it right away.”

  “Send me a comm message when you are done, and I will speak to the Top Gun organizers.”

  Jake’s Personal Transportation Vessel (PTV) was charging in its allocated bay next to his apartment block. Jake climbed aboard and disconnected the charger. He carried out his pre-flight inspection and entered his destination details into the Automated Flight and Navigation computer (AFN) before firing up the PTV. The ground thrusters roared into life and the PTV took off vertically at first. When it reached the allocated cruising height of 110 meters, it accelerated briskly and turned in the direction of Joanne’s parents’ house.

  Jake already checked that Joanne’s parents were in. He made an excuse that he was in the area and thought he would pop into to see them. His three-year relationship with Joanne brought him close to her parents and, to be honest, he did miss them. He didn’t cherish the prospect of seeing them, for the first time in over a year to tell them that their daughter was dead. Ten minutes later, the PTV landed on the spare charging bay on the roof of Admiral William Black’s substantial property.

  Jake carried out the ‘official’ task and left the Black’s home ten minutes later. Jake felt awful and had an inclination as to why Joanne never listed her parents as next of kin. Admiral Black disapproved of Joanne’s jump ship specialty, largely because of the danger. It seemed his anxieties proved correct.

  The retired Admiral cried out, “Why the hell did she not listen to me?”

  Jake comforted them both as best he could, then said his goodbyes and left promptly.

  He fired up his PTV and reset the AFN for a return to the Academy. He then opened a comm link to his tutor, who confirmed that his place at the Top Gun event had not been jeopardized. He would not fly until mid-afternoon. Jake headed back to the Academy at half-cruising velocity. The AFN controlling the vessel allowed Jake to make contact via comm link to the other parties on his hastily drafted contact list, including Steve, Carla and his own parents—the latter being a call long overdue. The events of the morning brought his own relationship with his parents to the fore and, although the conversation with his father was brief, he took the first step.

  * * * *

  The Hunter lifted briefly, then plunged downwards, spiraling out of control and heading for the moon below. The inexperienced pilot faced his own mortality. He stared transfixed at the looming crater—his final resting place. He tried to pull the craft up again, but there was no movement. The moon’s gravitational pull was strong and the powerless Hunter had no answer. The pilot pulled the manual canopy release lever once again, but this was futile. The lever stuck. He was going to die.

  The Sabre 4 was on its second phase Alpha test run. The test pilot came to grips with the new set up all morning, and finally felt comfortable enough to engage the SD and head out beyond the Kuiper Belt. Satisfied, he engaged the ship’s NAVCOM, which assumed complete control and allowed him to observe and make notes on his lap pad as he returned to Earth.

  The distress call from the Hunter and from the ensuing Academy Top Gun ships was barely audible, but he caught a glimpse of the small moon as he passed Jupiter. He noticed a hive of activity, and realized something was going on. The Sabre 4 was an incredibly adaptable craft. As soon as the pilot realized the Hunter was in trouble, he assumed immediate control and was able to loop the Sabre backwards at high velocity, putting it firmly on an intercept course with the Hunter, which spun out of control, falling to its inevitable demise.

  The test pilot knew he could prevent this. The Sabre accelerated briskly into a low moon orbit, and he brought the Sabre to a halt below the Hunter. He then waited. The Hunter appeared from here but the test pilot was ready. He fired up his afterburners at maximum thrust, kicking up enough energy to force the Sabre to shoot forward, and, at the same time, created a vortex into which the Hunter would fall and hopefully stop the spin. The vortex worked and created a negative force in the direction the Hunter was spinning, reversing and stopping the spin almost instantly.

  The Sabre had done enough. The Hunter leveled off and the Top Gun pilot was able to gain partial control, sufficient to lift the ship from a head-on impact with the moon’s surface.

  The Hunter pilot had control but he would still crash land. There was no time left to pick up momentum so he clenched his teeth and pulled back on the yaw control, yanking the thrusters forward. The action saved his life and allowed the craft to bed down in a clearing, skidding and spinning across 500 meters of flat terrain. The Hunter came to a halt between two large boulders. He was very lucky.

  Jake witnessed the crash landing and the incredible maneuvers of the Sabre 4. He waited for his turn to commence his time trial which ran from Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, to the Kuiper Belt and back. The unfortunate pilot completed his run back from the Kuiper Belt in good time, but rather than turn to the right, the Hunter veered left unexpectedly. The pilot was unable to gain control and the Hunter started a flat spin.

  Jake and the other witnesses held their breath, expecting the inevitable explosion. They didn’t expect the Sabre to appear from here, get into position below the Hunter and pull off a large-enough vortex to stop it from spinning. This is brilliant flying, thought Jake. It was instinctive, a bit like Steve. Such a maneuver could not be achieved by a Rapier and certainly not a Hunter. The new Sabre variant was streets ahead of the opposition. The Sabre’s engineers had created a phenomenal machine.

  The time trials were suspended for the remainder of the day after the Hunter pilot was recovered.. Hunter engineers and the crash investigators needed to determine the reason for the failure.

  Steve and Maria completed their time trial earlier this afternoon and would leave campus at the end of the academic day, but Jake and his compatriot’s day would last a good deal longer. The engineers and the trainers had asked for the Hunters to keep their velocity below SD1. Jake was stuck on a jump ship, mid-solar system at low velocity. The journey home would be tedious. This was the last place he wanted to be right now.. He just lost Joanne to a jump ship, and here he sat in jump ship training with a view to graduating, then going out to do the same thing. I must be mad, Jake thought to himself.

  The reality of his loss had not sunk in and he was in denial. I’m surrounded by friends who can help me through this, he told himself, but he hadn’t yet grasped the fact he would never see Joanne again.

  He had told Carla this morning. She took it badly and Steve was supportive. Maria grew distant. Her reaction was almost non-committal—a shrug of the shoulders, suggesting she didn’t care because she didn’t know Joanne. She did. Everyone knew Joanne. She was a legend in her final year, when she won the Academy Top Gun competition outright with one of the best scores ever recorded, but elected not to participate in the Alpha Top Gun tournament. This was a two-finger gesture to the Academy: their best pilot refused to represent them at the Top Gun. Joanne had her reasons but only her closest friends were privy to them.

  Jake reflected further. He was not sure whether his relationship with Maria would last. She had moments of insularity, and this was beginning to get annoying.

  The chief trainer’s distinctive South African accent boomed through the Hunters’ comm link. The Hunters were grounded until three p.m. tomorrow afternoon and the cause of the incident established.

  Pilot error caused the crash. He came in too fast as he approached the turn. The trial completed one thousand kilometers before the turn. He came in far too wide. The excess speed, with the significant gravitational force of the moon below, mean
t when he tried to compensate for his error he overestimated the ability of the Hunter. She stalled, forced into a flat spin.

  The second—and more important—issue of the canopy failure needed to be rectified. The canopies were due for an overhaul and replacement within six months. The Alpha engineers would spend the next twelve hours refitting the ejector systems and new canopy hoods to each of the ten Hunters before the Top Gun event recommenced tomorrow.

  The speed restriction was lifted when the Hunters were cleared mechanically. Jake accelerated to SD4 and began his approach to Earth. What a day, he thought. He lost a good friend and nearly witnessed the death of a colleague—all because of a jump ship. He must be honest; Sabre 4 was fantastic. It was worth the risk to continue with his training. One day soon he might be piloting one.

  Jake finally arrived home at 11 p.m. with no sign of Maria. He ate a sandwich, showered and went to bed. He woke at 8 a.m., by the roar of a huge Galaxy-class commercial carrier coming in low above the apartment, touching down at the space port. He washed, dressed, and then took the first comm link of the morning. It was Carla, checking that he was okay.

  As the morning went on, the comm link port was non-stop. Mostly from old friends of Jake and Joanne. The recurring theme was one of deep sympathy, but Jake grew tired of repeating, yes, it was a shock and yes, he would miss her, but they hadn’t been together for over a year.

  Admiral Black called at 11.15 a.m. to thank Jake for his visit and his kind words. He advised of a Memorial service scheduled for the first Friday in December.

  By 1 p.m., Jake changed into his pre-flight fatigues and was just about to leave his apartment when the comm link port buzzed once again. This time it was his mother. She was out when Jake called yesterday morning, and wanted to express her sympathy in a way only a mother could. She started off saying how much she would miss Joanne, but moved on to the inert danger of jump ships and she was glad Jake wouldn’t be flying them post-Academy. Jake smiled. He told his Mother umpteen times he would start his career as a jump ship pilot but she hadn’t grasped the idea, despite his father making his opinions on this decision known very clearly.