The colonel looked at the three soldiers. For a moment, he looked as if he was going to dismiss them from the bunker. Instead, he began to fumble with his chair. Denny stepped up and offered a hand to the man. He pressed the arm of his chair and began to lift his body. Henry hadn’t realized the man was so large when he was seated. He was nearly two meters tall and wearing a crisp green uniform of the Terran Defense Force. He stood tall with Denny at his side and straightened his uniform tunic.
“I guess we better get started, then,” the man said. “Colonel Winston Sadler, Terran Defenses.”
“Glad to meet you, sir,” Henry said, firing off a salute. “This is Emma, and Ben Hastings.”
“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, how do you intend to send that signal?”
Henry reached around to his pack. He had carried the small sphere with him, tightly rolled in a pair of socks for cushioning. He had transferred the data to five more data chips so the other teams could use it if they needed to. He fumbled around the pack, looking for the device.
“Our scientists made this data chip with a viral encrypted program. Once we send it, the device will lock on to every other transmitting station on the planet, alerting other resistance cells,” Henry explained. “We’ve been here nearly a year. If the other teams are still alive, they will get ready.”
“Sounds like a dandy plan, Mr. Moore.” Colonel Sadler replied. “Now if you could just find the damn thing, we could start.”
Henry’s face fell as he found the sock. He looked up at Emma and Ben before pulling the device from his pack. The sock was still rolled, but the object inside was leaking parts. A hole had been torn along one side of the sock. Henry peered around the pack to see the hole that Denny’s gun had made. He unrolled the sock and parts fell to the ground. The concrete floor became littered with crystalline matrices that had once held the signal code. The three looked to each other and then to the colonel. Ben’s face broke into an uncomfortable grin.
“Ayup,” Ben said. “That about fits.”
18
Battleship Resolute
Lee almost shouted as the image on the projection screen cleared. Coming out of M-space and waiting for the energy corona to dissipate was always a dicey proposition, but with Connor Jakes along for the ride, it was downright terrifying. Resolute and Sweet Liberty translated from the membrane between universes outside the orbit of the Ch’Tauk monastery world’s shepherd moon. As the energy bled away from the battleship, Lee saw the side of the Sweet Liberty brushing against Resolute’s scanners.
“Jakes,” Lee said, as calmly as he could. “I swear if you ever do that again I will shoot that ship of yours, myself.”
The screen flashed from the retreating yacht to the smiling face of Connor Jakes. He had returned to his ship after the conversation with Admiral Chang and the two captains had made plans. Melaina Petros could be seen standing just over his shoulder on the bridge of the ship. The man had tied his long black hair back from his face and changed into a fresh white shirt, but still wore the battered leather vest that had become a trademark of the pirate.
“Aww, Captain Pearce,” Jakes said from his bridge. “Ya’ll ain’t no fun. It was a mistake, anyways. When Bonnie turned us outta the hole, she didn’t see ya. Ya’ll know how that fireball works. It’s hard to see anything.”
Lee remembered the woman known as “Bonnie” as a former prisoner of the Ch’Tauk he had rescued years ago with Henry Moore. The woman had become a competent pilot, but signed on with Connor Jakes after being asked by Chang to report on the man’s activities. Lee was surprised the woman had stayed on with the Corsairs. If Lee remembered, she was the only woman other than Melaina to travel with the rogues.
“We’re not here to make mistakes, Jakes,” Lee said. “Just keep ready while we scan. I need you to hang back as backup if we run into trouble.”
“Trouble?” Jakes replied with a grin. “We’re only deep into enemy territory chasin’ down a xenophobic politician with a big damn gun. What could possibly go wrong?”
The image snapped off as the Sweet Liberty swung around behind Resolute. Farthing brought up a tactical scan of the system with their ships as glowing green dots behind a small moon. They had only the most basic information regarding the system. Most of what they knew had been brought along when the ship was assigned to an invasion fleet six years ago. There were two moons of the monastery planet, as well as a few large asteroids. Resolute had exited behind the smallest of the moons to avoid detection.
“Sir,” Goldstein announced from the pilot’s station. “We’re receiving navigational telemetry.”
“From where?” Lee asked. “We don’t have any probes here.”
“It’s from another ship, Captain,” the co-pilot replied. “It’s an Alliance signal. Transponder shows it to be the Victory.”
A stab of panic spread across Lee’s back as he thought about the other battleship. Melaina Petros had tried to estimate the time needed to repair the ship based on the data embedded in the video transmission. If Victory had arrived in the system before Resolute, it changed the engagement strategy dramatically. They had decided to try appealing to Banu Rao to reconsider the plan. Attacking the Ch’Tauk directly would be suicidal for both Victory and the Alliance. Still, Lee had to admit he had thought about letting the attack progress. Revenge against the invaders seemed to make sense.
“Can we get a clear scan of the system?” Lee asked Farthing. “Piggyback the scan on Victory’s sensor network?”
“It’s theoretically possible, sir,” the felinoid first officer replied. “We are already receiving location telemetry from them. If they haven’t shut down the transponder system, we should be able to coax the system to transmit local scans to us.”
Farthing began to tap keys. Lee called up a local area scan on his projection. The system was not capable of scanning around the moon, but the telemetry from Victory could extend their vision and give them an idea of what they were up against. Another dot appeared on the screen in amber. Lee realized it was the other battleship moving steadily parallel to their location. Victory was inside the orbit of the moon, traveling slowly inwards towards the monastery planet.
More detail began to fill the main screen. Farthing had pinged a request to Victory’s computer to share data. Lee found it unsettling that Loesser had not changed the codes that allowed them to do this. If it had been him, he would have scrambled the system and shut down the transponders. It spoke of carelessness that Lee could not believe Loesser possessed. Either that, or Wellick was operating above his orders, and Lee could not believe that either.
“Do we have a reading on the Ch’Tauk defenses?” Lee asked.
“Negative, Captain,” the octopod replied though the mechanical voice box. “We are not receiving any tactical information about enemy forces. We are able to receive passive scans only. I recommend we move outside the moon’s sensor shadow.”
“Josh,” Lee ordered. “Take us as close to the moon as possible, but follow that ship. I want to see them, not the other way around.”
Goldstein acknowledged, and began moving the ship starboard and closer to the moon. Considerably smaller than Earth’s moon, the celestial body had only the smallest mass to affect their course. The aging battleship seemed to skim the powdery surface of the moon. It took less than a minute to clear the shadow and find Victory. Sweet Liberty followed closely behind, staying between Resolute and at a safe distance. Lee said a pilot’s prayer of thanks for Bonnie Estevez at the helm.
“Sir, we have a tactical scan resolving,” the octopod said. “Minimal defenses present. A few orbital platforms around the inner moon, but nothing that indicates fleet services. They’ve left themselves open for attack.”
“I don’t like it,” Lee said. “They knew this place was a target six years ago. Why would they leave it like this? More importantly, if it is undefended, why has Victory not already moved in?”
“I have the answer, sir,” Farthing said, tappi
ng more keys. “The orbital platforms are large enough to house fighter wings. Perhaps Victory has not fully repaired her shields and is waiting until she can defend herself?”
“I don’t need theories, Commander,” Lee replied, turning in his chair. “I need facts and I need them now. Helm, take us in towards Victory. Farthing, hail that ship.”
“Captain,” Farthing said. “Do you think it’s wise to tip our hand this quickly?”
“I think it’s a better idea than waiting until we have to fight our way to them,” Lee said, turning back to the screen. “Put the Demons on alert. I want to be ready if Rao doesn’t know when to back down.”
His officer called below. His fighters would already be in the hangar, waiting to launch. The proposition of firing on another Alliance ship, even one on a genocidal mission, was unpalatable. He wanted to believe the former minister still had some reasoning skills left. If he could not reach Rao, then maybe Captain Loesser could still be reason with. Destroying Victory would be a last resort. He only hoped Wellick could get free before that happened.
“Sir,” Farthing announced. “We are getting a signal from Victory. It’s Captain Loesser.”
“Put him on the small screen. Transmit audio only,” Lee ordered. “I don’t want to dip our hand too early.”
The small projection leapt up at Lee’s arm. Captain Loesser looked a little older than the last time Lee had seen him. Lines of worry had crept in at the edges of his eyes, making him look years older than Lee despite being nearly the same age. Lee adjusted the projection so Farthing could see over his shoulder. He wanted his crew to be aware of the situation as it progressed, and the felinoid had always been good council.
“Resolute, stand down,” Loesser ordered. “We are on Alliance business on orders from the ministry. Turn your ship around and head out of the system. We cannot guarantee your safety if you proceed on your present course. There is a sensor web in place and the enemy will fire on sight.”
Lee looked to the octopod, who was tapping keys to verify. The creature paled as he looked at the screen. Lee knew the color change indicated alarm. If the Ch’Tauk had erected a sensor web, neither Victory nor Resolute would be able to get close without being attacked. He had to wonder whether Rao and Loesser had accounted for the web when they formulated their plan. Lee nodded to Goldstein to adjust their course.
“Captain Loesser,” Lee ordered across the channel. “You are ordered to cease and desist by order of Alliance Command and Admiral Chang. We know your plans and will stop you if we have to.”
“Who is this?” Loesser asked after a moment. “Resolute, who is your commander?”
“I repeat, Victory, you are to stand down and prepare to be boarded,” Lee repeated. “By order of Alliance military command, you will surrender your—”
“We will surrender nothing!” a new voice erupted from the speakers. “This is First Minister Banu Rao requesting an immediate video transmission from whoever you are.”
Lee looked to Farthing. The felinoid was inscrutable, but his crest was beginning to rise. Looking back to the navigation panel, Lee saw Resolute closing on the other battleship. He noticed Sweet Liberty had pulled another vanishing act and had disappeared from the scanner. He hoped Connor Jakes had been listening to the exchange about the sensor web. Lee looked back to his first officer and nodded.
“Minister Rao,” Lee said, looking straight at the camera mounted above the big screen. “I am glad to see you are unhurt. We are here to escort you and the council back to face trial. Please deactivate your engines and wait for us to pull alongside.”
“The Alliance military arranged my overthrow, but I am still the rightful ruler of this government,” Rao said, becoming visibly darker in his panic. “You, however, are truly a demon, Captain Pearce. Chang must have faked your death to foment unrest among the people.”
“It doesn’t matter, Banu,” Lee replied. “What matters is that you return to the Alliance with us. We know about the weapon and we will fire upon you if you force us.”
“Captain Pearce,” Loesser interjected. “We have been unable to find a way past the sensor web. It would seem our mission is over.”
“You traitor!” Rao said, turning and raising a hand to Loesser. “Our mission is not over. You mean to hand over this ship to that ghost? You are a traitor to the human race!”
Lee stood as he watched the two men struggle. Loesser seemed to be the stronger man, but Banu had the advantage of size. For a moment, both men vanished from the screen. Lee heard the sound of the conflict over the speakers. Two armed guards rushed into the view and pulled Loesser from the minister. Rao’s face was a mask of fury and Loesser was bleeding from his nose. Rao roared at the screen and the image vanished. Lee looked to Farthing, but the other man simply shrugged.
“What the hell is going on over there?” Lee asked the crew. He sat back down and tried to bring up a scan of Victory. They were close enough now that passive scans had a high resolution. Lee could see the massive power output of the weapon on board. The energy could have powered multiple carriers and a space station if harnessed. That much energy in the hands of a madman like Rao was terrifying.
“Sir, Victory has increased speed and is moving towards the sensor web!” Goldstein shouted. “She’s moving into attack position.”
“Shields up,” Lee ordered. Take us into attack posture and ready the Demons.”
A round of acknowledgement confirmed Lee’s orders. He had hoped to avoid the situation, but Rao or Loesser had left him with no other options. He called up a targeting scan of the swiftly moving battleship. Victory had turned her nose straight towards the Ch’Tauk planet. Energy readings indicated the weapon was powering up the M-space generator for firing.
“Bring us broadside, Mister Goldstein,” Lee ordered, feeling the situation tighten. “We need to stop them before they fire that cannon.”
“Aye, sir,” the pilot answered. “She’s running full speed, Captain. I can catch up, but not before she crosses the sensor web.”
“Farthing,” Lee called over his shoulder. “Keep trying to hail them. Alert fire crews to heat up the cannons and ready for targeting. I want to disable, not destroy.”
“Aye, sir,” the felinoid replied. “Ship is at alert status. Medical bay is ready to receive casualties.”
Lee said a pilot’s prayer that he would not have to use the infirmary. The encounter was already tense enough without the thought of deaths at the hand of Banu Rao. Lee clenched his hands on the armrests of the command chair. If he could will his ship to go faster, he would.
“Sir,” Goldstein announced. “Victory has crossed the web. Signals are being sent from the Ch’Tauk installations.”
“Keep me alerted when they launch fighters. How much longer until we are in firing position?”
“Ten seconds for optimal,” the octopod replied. “Less if you wish to be sloppy.”
“Open fire,” Lee said. “Target engines and weapons ports. Keep them from firing that thing.”
Blasts of red-orange plasma energy blasted across the void at the fleeing Victory. Unprepared, the fire crews missed the first few volleys from the port side of Resolute. Victory tried to turn from the onslaught, but was caught on its bulbous tail section by tongues of deadly energy. Blue shields flared with the impact as Resolute pulled fully alongside the sister ship. The other ship had upgraded shields, but Resolute was too close. Victory was knocked from its trajectory by the force of the impacts and forced to correct to keep the cannon pointed at the planet.
Lee continued to monitor the energy spike growing on the ship. For a brief second, he wondered what might happen if the cannon misfired while they were so close. The explosion might consume both ships and part of the nearby moon. He needed to take that ship out and fast.
“Sir, Victory is reeling over to protect her starboard side,” Goldstein announced. “She’s powering up her own cannons.”
Lee watched as two of the sealed gun ports opened to space.
He wondered if the ship had any power to spare for the counterattack. The cannons used a different type of energy, but the ship’s systems would still be overloaded while powering up the accelerator. Orange beams tore from the other battleship. Resolute’s shields absorbed the hits without effect. The elves had upgraded Lee’s ship beyond any other in the fleet, but the impact was still too minimal.
“Captain, the impacts are reading less than twenty percent power,” the octopod announced. “I believe they have insufficient power to mount an effective attack.”
“Loesser would know that,” Lee said aloud. “Why don’t they break off? We have them outgunned and outmatched.”
“Sir, the cannon is almost ready to fire,” Artzen announced from the engineering console. “They are trying for a full power blast.”
“Destroy them if you have to,” Lee ordered. “Target that cannon.”
Goldstein began to turn Resolute in a spiral outward. The ship was moving counter to the rotation of Victory as she moved to avoid the plasma hits. The intensity of fire had increased almost as soon as Lee had ordered it. Blackened metal began to appear on Victory’s hull as some of the energy bled through the shields. The rugged battleship, though, refused to yield.
“Sir, they aren’t backing down,” Goldstein said over his shoulder. “I don’t think they’re gonna stop.”
“Power at ninety-eight percent of full on the cannon,” Artzen shouted above the noise of the bridge. “She’s ready to fire.”
Lee saw the glow from the nose of Victory. He felt helpless to stop the device. He wanted to look away as the device fired. He wanted to see anything but the destruction of a living planet, but he couldn’t. It was his duty to see it through by any means necessary. He made a decision.
“Ramming speed, Josh,” Lee ordered. “Take us in.”
Before Goldstein could tap a key, however, another blast of red-orange energy slammed into Victory. The ship was knocked away from her trajectory just as the cannon fired. Lee wanted to scream as he tried to track the nearly superluminal kill object across space. The sensors showed the object, not much larger than a fighter craft, tearing towards the planet. It skimmed the upper reaches of the atmosphere, leaving a blazing trail of plasma fire across the sky, but did not fall into the gravity well. The last minute push had knocked the cannon off course by just enough. Before he could celebrate, though, Lee saw what was coming next.
Resolute Victory (The War for Terra) Page 15