Ep.#5 - Balance (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)
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The shock wave from the exploding gunships nearly knocked them off their feet but, underneath Cobra Ten, the crew of Combat One still managed to scramble up the ladder into the access tunnel above.
Master Sergeant Anwar quickly scrolled between the underside camera view and the one in the ventral access tunnel, making sure that all three crewmen from Combat One were safely inside. “Now,” he finally said.
General Telles pushed the button and initiated the auto-launch sequence. “Cobra Ten is rolling,” he reported as he watched Cobra Three Eight Three glide toward the expanding fireball to their right.
Aiden’s eyes widened in fear as their forward windows filled with the rising fireball of burning propellant. The ship shook violently as it passed through the expanding fireball.
Aiden reached for the jump button but when they came out the other side of the fireball, he saw nothing but the ground rushing up at them.
“I’m sorry, guys,” Aiden said softly, just before their ship struck the surface of Kohara.
After several seconds with his eyes closed, Nathan realized they were not dead after all. When he finally opened them, he saw the stars once again.
“Move your ass, Cobra Two!” Jessica warned. “You’ve got three gunships on your six!”
“JESS!” Nathan yelled, overjoyed.
“Get those codes entered and let’s get the hell out of here!” she added. “Did Telles make it?”
Nathan looked at Vladimir.
“I’m on it,” Vladimir insisted as he typed in the long override code.
“He should be right behind me!” Nathan answered, pushing his ship into a diving right turn to avoid the plasma torpedoes headed his way.
“Anyone see Three Eight Three?” Gil asked.
“They passed over us as we launched,” Nathan replied.
“WHAT?” Gil said, shocked.
“Cobra Ten, in orbit,” General Telles announced, with his usual lack of emotion. “And we have the crew of Combat One with us.”
“Get your jump drives overridden and head for the rally point!” Gil instructed. “There’s at least twenty damned gunships in the area, and there’s no telling which way they’ll attack from next!”
Nathan looked at Vladimir and smiled.
“Jump drive is overridden and ready for use,” Vladimir reported.
“Then let’s get the hell out of here,” Nathan said.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Nathan put the last case of supplies into the storage locker on Cobra Two. It had taken them three hours to complete their evasion algorithms before joining up with the Morsiko-Tavi at the departure rally point.
Once they had arrived, each ship had docked with the Tavi, three at a time, transferring their wounded to the Tavi’s sickbay, and accepting provisions needed to get home, should one of them become inadvertently separated from the group.
“Is that it?” he asked Vladimir.
“That is the last one,” Vladimir replied.
“I have to get back to Cobra One,” Jessica said. “Robert and I have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Well, it will take us nearly a week to limp back to the fleet together,” Nathan said. “That should give you plenty of time.”
“I’ll see you guys at the first layover point,” she told them, before stepping down into the ventral access hatch tunnel.
Nathan and Vladimir watched her float down the weightless tunnel, disappearing into the Morsiko-Tavi’s docking hub joining Cobras One, Two, and Ten to their host.
Vladimir swung the hatch down onto the deck and locked it closed, then followed Nathan forward to the gunship’s cockpit. After climbing into his seat, he looked at Nathan and said, “You really didn’t think we were going to make it, did you?”
Nathan thought for a moment, and then looked at his friend. “You know, for the first time, I didn’t. I really didn’t.” Nathan checked his displays, making sure the ship was ready to separate from the Tavi. “Actually, it was the second time. I didn’t think I was going to make it out of that Jung prison cell, either,” he corrected. “We ready?”
Vladimir checked his displays. “Outer ventral hatch is secure. We’re good to go.”
“Morsiko-Tavi, Cobra Two, ready to separate,” Nathan called over comms.
“Cobra Two, Morsiko-Tavi. You are cleared for separation.”
Nathan reached down and pulled the docking release lever on the side of the center console, releasing the docking clamps that held them to the Morsiko-Tavi’s docking port. “Thrusting away,” he said as he fired the ventral separation thrusters.
Nathan guided the gunship away from the Morsiko-Tavi, letting his ship slowly drift. They were not due to depart for another hour as there were still two more gunships that needed to be provisioned, and engineers from the Tavi were still effecting repairs to the hull breaches on Cobra’s Three and Ten.
Nathan stared at the stars as they drifted clear of the Tavi. “Earth is out there,” he sighed. “Someday, I hope I can return… I mean, really return.”
“I never did ask you how your reunion with your sister and father went,” Vladimir said.
“It went well,” Nathan said. After a moment, he added, “I have to admit, it was a bit emotional for all of us. I’ve never seen my father cry. Not even when my mother died.” Nathan was silent for a moment. “Honestly, I felt guilty for all that he’s been through. Losing two sons, a wife…and everything he’s had to deal with since I left. I never realized what an incredibly strong man he is—and still is, even at his age.”
“You’re a lot like him,” Vladimir commented.
Nathan smiled. “You know, there was a time when I would have punched someone for saying that.”
“It was a compliment, you know.”
“I know,” Nathan replied. “Now, I know.”
“I’ve got a contact,” Vladimir said. “It’s a jump flash.” He suddenly became concerned, studying the contact data more closely. “I think it’s a gunship.”
“Morsiko-Tavi, Cobra Two,” Nathan called over comms. “Can you verify a contact at one five seven, by two five one; three hundred thousand kilometers out? We think we’re seeing a gunship. Can you confirm?”
“Should I charge weapons?” Vladimir asked.
“Not a bad idea,” Nathan agreed. “Cobra One, are you picking up the contact?”
“Affirmative,” Robert replied.
“Cobra Two, Tavi. Contact confirmed. Unknown gunship. One five seven, by two five one, at three hundred thousand kilometers and closing fast.”
“Tavi, Cobra One, requesting immediate separation,” Jessica called.
“Cobra One, Tavi, go for sep.”
Nathan powered up Cobra Two’s main drive and started turning toward the unknown gunship. “I’ll take him head on, Robert. You jump in from his starboard side and high.”
“If we see him, he sees us,” Robert advised. “Jump in to him immediately, beat him to firing.”
“We haven’t even identified this guy yet,” Nathan reminded him.
“He can’t be a friendly, Nathan,” Jessica warned.
Nathan brought his ship onto an intercept course, checked his systems and weapons, then triggered an intercept jump. A split-second later, when his windows cleared, they found themselves looking at a very battered gunship. “What the hell?”
“Don’t shoot!” someone begged over comms.
“Identify yourself, or we will open fire,” Nathan warned.
“This is Cobra Three Eight Three, Captain Aiden Walsh. Is that you, Captain Scott?”
Nathan looked at Vladimir, his mouth agape. “I don’t believe it.” He keyed his comms again. “I thought you guys slammed into the ground on Kohara and died. How the hell are you still alive?”
&
nbsp; “I’m as surprised as you are, sir,” Aiden replied. “Who knew gunships bounced?”
Nathan started laughing. “Are you guys alright? Is anyone injured?”
“No sir,” Aiden replied. “But, we had to restrain Chief Benetti. She’s a bit pissed.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Nathan laughed.
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COMING SOON
Episode 6
of
The Frontiers Saga:
Rogue Castes
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