There was no response from the twenty hooded figures facing the Leader, nor had the Leader expected any. The Leader went on, “The agent’s report confirmed our worst fears. The Grand Patriarch is clearly quite mad. He now threatens all that our civilization has gained over the ages. His plans are drastic, permanent measures to deal with a temporary condition that will soon be rectified. We must have our own plan to counter the Grand Patriarch’s mad scheme.”
The Leader turned to a tall hooded figure closest to his right, “But some minor housekeeping first. Has the matter we discussed earlier been attended to?”
The robed member nodded and said in a like-disguised voice, “The agent and her father were in a tragic accident this evening. A jitney broke loose from its mag-rail and struck the two while dining at the Wayside outdoor café. Maintenance being what it is of late, it is not that unusual for such a derailment. I am afraid they received fatal injuries and were declared deceased just hours ago.”
“Regrettable, but necessary,” the Leader turned back to the assembled Preservers and said, “Her father was sympathetic to our cause, but I am afraid that he remained uncertain of our methods for reaching our ultimate goal. It was with true and deep regret, I ordered his removal along with his daughter.” Turning back to the hooded member, the Leader asked, “And what of the agent’s control?”
“He too has had an unfortunate accident,” the other responded.
Turning to include the others, the Leader said, “Praise the Light of the Way. It would not do for our erstwhile spies to discover that their report was never destined for the Council. There was a chance; mind you, it was just a remote chance that connections could be made to members of our little group. It would have been… awkward. Sadly, it is better to take these small precautions.”
The Leader paused in meaningful silence, waiting for any protest or comment. Seeing that there was none, the Leader nodded and said, “A full meeting will take place at our primary site tomorrow after Service. Be sure all second-tier leaders are included in the gathering. Given the gravity of the growing threat to our Way of life, we need to begin serious planning to counter our misguided Patriarch’s efforts. I will encourage the free-flow of ideas at this gathering. Therefore, I will expect meaningful contributions from the larger dynamic group. I trust you will make every effort to attend?”
Taking their continued silence as a positive response, the Leader said, “Very good, I will then expect of all those present, along with the second-tier leaders to attend and actively participate. Is there any other business that someone wishes to bring forward? No? Very well, we are adjourned until tomorrow. May the Light of the Way illuminate your path.” The members of the secret society, the self-proclaimed “Preservers of the Way,” turned and silently filed out of the room.
CHAPTER 9
Four hours after Owens had begun wading through his messages, he finally read the last piece of mail. It was a confidential, encrypted communication from the Confederated Planets Institute of Health, requesting his services to investigate a series of data thefts that had recently taken place. He had been hired to conduct some minor investigations for the Institute from time to time over the past several years. All the assignments had been fairly small; petty pilferage, embezzlement and the like; none of which the Institute wanted bathed in the light of public scrutiny. Owens delivered results, just like the authorities, but unlike the authorities, Owens was also discreet. The Institute appreciated both his track record and closed mouth.
This case was a little different. It seemed a number of the Confederated Planets DNA data centers had been broken into and citizens’ private files accessed. Every citizen of Confederated Planets had their DNA mapped at birth and put on file in these data centers. The DNA records provided vital information for both medical and legal purposes. No damage to the data had been discovered, but a serious breach of privacy had occurred.
The Institute was responsible for these data centers and feared legal sanction and possible prosecution of its members should they be found negligent. They wanted Owens to investigate quietly and discover the identity of the perpetrators. This way they could then go to the authorities with the names in hand and demonstrate that they had handled it efficiently on their own. This could lead to positive, rather than negative publicity, and in the Institute’s collective mind, help minimize inevitable legal actions.
Owens began to compose his response. The Institute of Health had allowed him free rein in his past investigations and paid top fees. Besides, he was curious as to the criminal purpose of the physical break-ins. It was unusual in this day and age to break into a building for the sole purpose of accessing data. Hacking from a remote location was still the preferred method used for data mining. He decided to take the case. As he began to dictate his acceptance, Hec called on the com, “Boss, you better get up here. I think we’ve got trouble.”
“On my way,” Owens answered and scrambled to his feet. He jogged through the corridor and quickly reached the bridge. As he entered, he asked Hec, “What do we have, system malfunction, hull breach, what?”
“None of the above,” Hec quickly responded. “Believe it or not, we have an unidentified bogie closing on our starboard quadrant. Take a look at the tactical grid.” A bright display appeared over the master console.
“Did you try for identification?”
“I tried hailing it, but no response, no transponder ID either. I hope you don’t mind, but I took it on my own to change the ship’s course.”
Owens nodded his approval, “Not a problem. I’m glad you did.”
“I performed an evasive maneuver twice, and it likewise adjusted its course both times,” the AI said. “It’s on a definite pursuit course. I got some funny readings too. I don’t know what to make of them, but I did scan for weapons. From what I scanned, it looks like they’re armed and ready. They aren’t locked on our ship yet but are actively scanning, and once they’re in range, well… from here it looks like they mean to do us some serious harm.”
Owens looked at the three-dimensional tactical grid display, and his stomach gave a lurch. The representations of two ships, the Holmes and the unknown ship were displayed to show their relative positions. He saw that the other ship appeared very close and flashing red numbers overlaid on the grid indicated it was slowly closing in on the Holmes.
Owens cursed, “Damn, who in the hell is that? Why would someone want to attack my ship?” He continued to watch the unidentified blip slowly close the distance. Finally, and with some reluctance, he said, “Hec, you’d better declare an official emergency and transmit our situation.” The Sherlock Holmes was almost a flight day out from the nearest Space Authority post, and it was unlikely a patrol could respond in time, but he remembered that regulations required notification for the record.
He dropped heavily into the pilot seat at the main console, trying to recall his limited training. Even though his ship was well armed, he really never expected he’d be forced to use the weapons. He was trained in their mechanical operation but was not well versed in tactics. Firing at mindless target drones was one thing, trying to take out an armed, intelligent adversary was another.
“Done Boss,” Hec announced.
He grimaced, as he just remembered another piece of documentation to take care of. Red tape had been taken to its ultimate level. “Now transmit our ‘Intent to Defend’ declaration. I think the data template is in def-com memory.”
“Found it, the transmission is on its way,” Hec replied.
With that legal nicety completed, Owens scanned the ship’s main console and noted Hec had activated the shields and put the weapons on-line. Owens directed, “Better keep sending the hails. We need to go through all the legal motions, in case there are questions later, provided of course that there is a later. Are we getting any response?”
The approaching ship remained unresponsive to Hec’s attempt at contact and continued its pursuit with weapons fully deployed, still searching for lock
on the fleeing Holmes. “Sorry Boss, no response to our hails, but I’m receiving some pings. I think they’re going for a lock.”
Owens rubbed his jaw, staring intently at the display, “Nice ambush, if that’s what it truly is. They caught us, just as we dropped out of subspace, not enough time to recharge the condensers and make an opportune escape.” Owens continued, “How much time before they make weapons range and get a solid lock on us?”
“Well, they’re a little better at acceleration than we are. I estimate about a minute to weapons’ range,” Hec responded. “I still haven’t been able to identify the ship’s physical configuration. I’m seeing odd energy patterns too. They appear to be using a variation on the old plasma drive for normal-space maneuvering. We stopped using plasma drives over fifty years ago. Our efficiency and range should be a lot better than theirs, but they have an edge on acceleration. They caught us unawares so it’s taking time for us to build up our own speed. It now looks to be thirty seconds to range. I’m still receiving no response to my signals, and they’re beginning their evasion pattern.”
“Uh-oh, I guess they really do mean business. Access tactical, get the targeting projections and start an evade program,” Owens ordered. And that, Owens thought, was the extent of his training on ship defense; he would have to depend on Hec and the ship’s automated systems.
Hec was linked to all the ship’s defensive computers and activated the appropriate sub-routines. “Completed; engaging evasion pattern and Holmes’ weapons are now attempting a target lock of our own,” Hec responded. “Ship’s shields are nominal. All defensive systems are on-line.” The AI’s voice had taken on a stiff, mechanical edge as it submerged itself deeper into the ship’s cyber network.
Owens watched indicators flash across control banks with frenzied activity as the ship prepared itself to fight. “On my authority, I pass weapons fire control and full ship maneuvering over to you,” Owens formally stated. He couldn’t hope to compete with Hec’s reaction and computation speed. He briefly wondered if it would have been better to have the military AI plugged-in for this situation. However, there wasn’t enough time to make a switch. Good or bad, he was committed with Hec.
“Acknowledged, now sit back and enjoy the show.” The old Hec had re-emerged, “Ten seconds to engagement.”
Staring at the Holo-screen, Owens watched intently as the enemy vessel closed on his ship. Following Owens’ command, Hec had just initiated an evasion pattern when the unidentified ship fired first with an energy beam weapon. The Holmes was beginning a series of complex, three-dimensional zigzag maneuvers.
The first shot missed, immediately followed by a second. Either by luck or design the second salvo struck the Sherlock Holmes directly amidships. Owens heard the shield-strike alarm and tensed for the shock but felt nothing, not even shield damper echoes. Puzzled, he quickly looked at his ship’s shield status. Owens saw only green on the console. He stared at the readouts in surprise. The attacking ship’s weapon had barely affected his defensive screens. Their shields’ strength was down only by seven percent. Owens was completely mystified by the apparent weakness of the attack.
“Hardly scratched us,” Hec reported. The rules of engagement had been satisfied. “My turn,” Hec crowed, and let loose with a barrage from the burst lasers. Deadly arrows of photon energy stitched across empty space reaching for the attacking ship. The enemy ship anticipated the Holmes’ immediate return of fire. Even so, it barely evaded Hec’s fiery response as it abruptly changed its trajectory. Hec continued to analyze the enemy’s evasion patterns attempting to anticipate its next position.
The enemy fired its energy weapon repeatedly; each time missing its target. However, the attacking ship doggedly kept up its firing pattern until finally it once again scored another direct hit. Holmes’ shields absorbed the energy strike and registered only a six-percent degradation. Owens continued to be puzzled by the minimal damage and at the same time was thankful that it hadn’t been worse.
Hec immediately replied with another deadly volley from the burst lasers, this time finding a target and striking the enemy ship with multiple hits on its tail section. The enemy ship’s shield flared in violent reaction to the strike. The Holmes’ sensors indicated that their foe’s shields had lost twenty-five percent of their strength and had endured some surface damage to the rear quadrant of their outer hull.
Mesmerized, Owens stared unblinking as he sat before the holo-screen and witnessed the silent ship-to-ship combat. The enemy ship appeared undaunted by the Holmes’ weapons strike and immediately responded by firing its energy weapons again, missing as the Sherlock Holmes continued to dance its own evasive ballet with its dangerous partner.
Owens knew that they had been engaged in the battle for less than three minutes, but the time seemed to drag as the dance became more and more complex, each ship adding more twists and turns to its repertoire. He intently listened to the rapid changes in the throbbing pitch of the ship’s reaction engines. He could feel a slight vibration as the ship’s inertia-canceling generators struggled to compensate for the abrupt course changes. Hec was accelerating, decelerating and changing direction at an inhuman speed. The Holmes answered the helm like the military ship it had once been; performing every course change flawlessly. Hec’s tactics impressed Owens. He could never have matched the AI’s reflexes.
“I’m starting to get the hang of this now,” Hec said. The Holmes came out of a particularly complex maneuver and fired its burst lasers again at the unknown attacker. The energy beams missed and Hec immediately followed up with the rail gun, but the enemy ship had angled away from Hec’s volley. Undaunted by the miss, Hec switched back to the burst lasers. The enemy ship had started another rapid course change when it was struck a glancing blow from Hec’s salvo. But it was enough to inflict more damage to the enemy’s defensive shields.
“They lost another ten percent in shield strength,” Hec announced.
“I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself, but I have to admit that we do seem to be gaining the upper hand in this dogfight. Keep it up.”
Those aboard the other ship must have been thinking the same thing. In an apparent act of desperation, the attacking ship launched a self-shielded missile. If it were to hit the Holmes, at their current position, the enemy would receive heavy collateral damage of their own.
It looked to Owens like they were going for broke. Owens grabbed the pilot seat’s arms as he tensely watched the missile’s progress on the holo-screen. Hec was also tracking the missile’s erratic path as it went through its preprogrammed evasion pattern. The Holmes fired at the missile and missed. It approached the halfway point between the two battling ships. Hec fired twice more before finally penetrating its shield. The missile’s payload detonated in a great expanding flower of energy. The wave of destruction quickly engulfed both ships.
This time Owens felt the strike. The Holmes bucked as the energy wave hammered its shields. The shield-strike alarm warbled a loud warning as other alarms chimed in, adding to the cacophony. Alarm-failure indicators momentarily flashed bright yellows and reds on the ship’s banks of monitors. The audible alarms quickly subsided, and Owens was gratified to see that one-by-one, in surprisingly rapid succession, each indicator reverted to its nominal green.
Hec had anticipated Owens before he could frame his question, “We took a good hit on that one, Boss. Ship’s shields dropped another twenty-seven percent, but the Holmes hasn’t taken on much physical damage. We tripped five power breakers and blew two peripheral bus couplings, but the back-ups switched in without a hiccup. All systems are back on-line, but the shield generators will need a lot more time to recharge their condensers.”
“Okay. What’s the status of the attacker?"
“There’s some good news on that front too. It looks like our friends took a lot more of a hit than we did, and frankly, I don’t think that they have that much left. They’re still in pursuit, but have dropped back a little and the attacks have stoppe
d, at least, for the moment.”
Owens gaze was locked on the tactical display. “Okay, what about the missile they threw at us? What if they try again? Can the Holmes take another hit?”
“Assessing the damage we received at the distance I destroyed it, the missile wouldn’t have done much more than had it been a direct hit. We could probably take two more without serious harm. However, I now know what to expect, they won’t get that close again.”
“I’m surprised that it wasn’t more powerful.”
“Me too, Boss. It had a lot less punch than I expected. If that antique rocket was meant for anything other than to distract us, it failed miserably.” Hec continued to fire and evade. “These guys can’t be serious; what’s next, a rock?”
Hec’s sarcasm struck a note and triggered a new thought in Owens’ mind. He quickly voiced his idea, “I don’t pretend to be experienced in space warfare, but it seems to me our attackers are far outclassed by the Holmes. Why don’t we just drop our evasive tactics and go straight in on the attack? It doesn’t look to me like they have the punch left to hurt us seriously.”
Usually, when stellar war-craft were fairly well matched either by numbers or ship class, space warfare was conducted as a hyper-speed, three-dimensional chess game using elaborate evasive gambits and anticipatory attacks. It was now clear to Owens that the Holmes was superior to its attacker in both shields and weapons. With that in mind, Owens believed the resource-consuming evasive maneuvering was no longer necessary. “What’s your take, Hec?”
“You’re absolutely right. It’s had plenty of opportunities to try, but that ship can’t even smudge the shine on the Holmes’ hull.” Hec went on, “Goody. I’ve always preferred the direct approach anyway.”
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