“Not tapering off you mean?” asked Dave.
“No Sir. The opposite. It’s getting stronger and more so with each day.”
Dave was about to ask another question but something in the way Chase was presenting told him to hang off for now.
“I have crunched the projected data. Do you want to see the simulation?” Dave nodded. Chase hit the control to start it. The holo zoomed out so that Q2, Q3 and Q4 were visible. There were purple coloured gravity wells around each planet. “This is what it should have been before the device was activated.” He let the sim run to his next event. “This is what it looked like when the Phantom took their initial data sample on the 2nd. Note the increase in Q4’s mass and gravity well.” He then let it run to the next event. “This is the progress between then and yesterday when we took our initial readings. Note the interference of Q4’s gravity well with Q3.”
Chase cast a look around and saw all eyes were on the sim. “Now here’s the increase between yesterday and today. Not much I’ll admit but now here’s what will happen if things continue.”
Chase let the sim run. The gravity well around Q4 expanded and began to warp as it interacted with that of Q3. The Q3 planet itself was being drawn towards Q4 with each orbit. So too was that of Q2 but to a lesser degree. The timer was ticking over at a prodigious rate and Dave found it hard to keep track. What he could see clearly though was the steady stream of asteroids being ripped out of the belt between Q3 and Q4. He saw the highlighted text announcing the destruction of the mining rigs around Q3 and Q4 and the distorted orbit of Q3 that would eventually lead to a collision with Q4.
Chase stopped it at that point and said “This won’t happen for five years but life in this system is going to become increasing untenable. There are according to the charts we have over four billion inhabitants on Q2. Warping into this system is going to become problematic within twelve months. Even if they start evacuating today it is going to take the biggest transport effort in history to shift that many people to the next star system.”
Dave was still trying to take it all in. Along with the need to signal Aubrey and the Admiral and possibly launch a ship to ship attack and mount a ground operation he had a lot on his mind. But one thing struck him and that was how well Chase had performed here. He had clearly thrown off his moodiness from last night. Dave smiled to himself but ensured his demeanour was serious when he asked “Have you had time to verify your analysis?”
“Yes Sir” said Chase “Julian took a look over it earlier this morning.”
This surprised Dave and Ivan. Dave turned to Julian who was standing up along the outer wall behind Chase. Julian piped up with “That’s right Sir, things are going to get dire in this system.”
“Thank you Julian” said Dave.
“Can it be stopped?” asked Dave.
Chase turned around to Julian. Julian took his hands out of his pockets and walked forward to stand next to Chase’s terminal. “Very interesting question Sir” he said. “This is not really my specialty. But when they first tested a PME device and it went pear shape they put a lot of effort into this very question. I’m not sure of the findings but what I do recall is that they failed to rectify the damage and they outlawed PME devices altogether. So Sir I feel confident in saying that it’s unlikely.” Julian began to put his hands back into his pockets when he remembered something. “Oh one thing though Sir if anyone would know it would be the lovely Dr Mickailar at Cambridge. Yes she’s the one to ask. That’s Cambridge University Sir…England” said Julian as an afterthought.
“Right thank you Julian” said Dave.
Chase took this as his cue. “Sir given this and the fact that the majority of the populous on Q2 is now on the side of the resistance I would recommend we secure the spaceport so as to give them the best possible chance for a safe evacuation. I have drawn up some plans. Would you like to see them?”
Dave couldn’t help but smile this time. Chase smiled back. “Did you liaise with Ivan on these?” asked Dave.
“No Sir. He was very preoccupied this morning but I did touch base with Li, Jim and Sue.” They each nodded from their positions at the back.
“You’ve been a busy boy this morning Chase.”
“Yes Sir.”
Dave caught sight of Ivan out of the corner of his. Ivan rolled his head and his eyes up. Dave smiled.
“Good work to you all” said Dave. “I want to take this opportunity to impart some information we got from the sleth we pulled out of that pod. His name is Retna and he was tasked by the Resistance initially to investigate some strange goings on in one of the sleth home worlds. His investigations led him to the Sturum system and in particular to the Mintoslum Corporation on Cheklin. He says it was they who built this device. Now you may recall that Cheklin is where the Phantom should be at this very moment and I know for a fact that one of their prime contacts was the head of the Mintoslum Corporation. We need to warn them asap. This will mean revealing our position.” Dave paused to let that little fact sink in.
“So I agree with you Chase on the need to secure the spaceport and give these people here a chance to survive. We need to find them a place to go to. I’m sure they will have an opinion on this. We will need to liaise with them on this and many other matters.”
“Before we go into details I want to emphasise this. We do not want to get bogged down here. Remember this is not our prime objective. We do what we can.”
“So let’s warp in, destroy these enemy ships, signal the Phantom and the Admiral and then secure the spaceport. We find locals to hand over to and then we are on our way to the sleth home worlds.” Dave looked around to see that his points hit home. “OK then, let’s work out the details.”
Chapter 20. Slidwon 0905, 14 August
Jebna Diljet entered Angina’s office after a quick tap on the door. He shut it behind him and gave Angina a smile as he took up a seat while she finished typing.
Seeing his smile Angina stopped typing. “Yes” she said drawing it out.
“You were right. We did arrest the wrong person. Late last night she received a call from an FIA operative named Mida Konklas.”
“Ah Mida” said Angina “that makes sense. Sorry go on.”
“He was reporting in about an operation KASAM being conducted in Qwantum. It looks like news of what happened in Qwantum is going to reach Margvon tomorrow...public media.”
“Shit” said Angina. She began tapping the desk with her nails, the sound of which always bothered Jebna. He raised an eyebrow and she stopped.
“Pull her in?” he asked.
“No we need to find out who she is in league with. Good work Jebna but things are going to get ugly.”
Jebna nodded. There was silence as both thought of the consequences. Jebna spoke first. “This is going to go down worst in the home worlds. The resistance in the extended territories already know how little their people are regarded but this will be a real shock in the home worlds.”
“We need to find out who else was involved” said Angina. “We need to nip this in the bud.”
“That may be easier said than done.”
Chapter 21. Lewista 1100, 14 August
Evie woke from a restless sleep. While the surrounds were different she didn’t feel out of place. Within herself she had felt so glad to step foot on rogan ground. Even if this was not her home world it was a rogan home world.
Four hours rest was not enough but she knew she had to use this time to best effect. She carefully and quietly made her way to the bathroom. But Felis caught her eye from his vantage point which could also look down the corridor to the bedrooms. She nodded. He nodded.
The water on her face helped but her eyes were still tired. She took a moment of indulgence to fix her hair. A pang of regret came over her face as she looked into the mirror and recalled an earlier time when her lover had been behind her, one arm around her waist and the other combing her long hair. A tear struggled to fall. She wiped it away. He was long dead,
killed by the imperialists. There was now resolve on her face. ‘You will be avenged’ she said to herself.
There was a tap at the bathroom door. Evie opened the door a little, saw Madge, let her in and closed the door.
“Maam” said Madge.
“I’m not your commanding officer. Please, Evie.”
“Yes Maam” said Madge. Evie rolled her eyes realising it was useless. “I just thought I should let you know that Cmdr Draag made a call to the Mintoslum Corporation at 0700. I think he spoke to some receptionist who told him to ring back later.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Good. You’ve done well Madge. You better rest now. I can take it from here.”
“Thank you Maam.” Evie gave her a look which said ‘really?’ “I mean Evie” added Madge.
“See that wasn’t so hard now” said Evie with a smile.
Madge returned with an awkward smile and exited the bathroom.
‘What are you up to Draag?’ she asked herself. Then she opened the door and walked down the corridor. “Good morning Felis” she said. “You look very tired. You better get some rest.”
“Yes” said a weary Felis “but first we need to make these contacts. I tried Mintoslum but it was too early. Then I thought it would be better coming from you.”
“I thought that was what we had agreed on?” queried Evie.
“Yes but I was awake…anyway nothing happened…it was too early. Melnar wasn’t in. We, I mean you, can do this now.”
“I need to eat something first” said Evie and she found her pack and searching for the ration pack.
“Here” said Felis proffering a bowl “it’s better than that muck.”
Evie gave him a disapproving look. “We should not be pilfering food from this place. We want to win them over, not turn them against us.”
“Oh don’t give me that. This is not going to make any difference. Just eat it.” Evie turned back to her pack and extracted a cereal bar. “Or not as you please” added Felis with a disgusted look.
She took a small bite from the cereal bar, chewed it and swallowed. Felis just sat there looking out the window.
“I can take it from here” she said “Get some rest. You will need it.”
Felis knew he was being dismissed and didn’t like it but she was right. He was exhausted and he would need his wits about him later when they met with their contacts. He eyed her warily as he walked past her and down the corridor.
Part 3
With Sword Held High
With sword held high warriors enters the fray
Ready to strike at their chosen prey
Heightened senses alert to danger
But very much focussed on the hostile stranger
Chapter 1. Resolute to Q2 1150, 14 August
Dave ducked into the officers’ mess to grab a quick sandwich. They would be coming out of warp soon but he needed fuel in the tank for the coming action. Dave was impressed when he realised that Ivan must have ducked out of the command centre at some stage and warned Cranky Jack to prepare sandwiches to go. There was a pile of takeaway sandwiches laid out on a servery table. A good dint in the pile had already been made.
As Dave scanned the options Chase came in at the trot and pulled up behind Dave. Dave grabbed a tuna salad on rye and as he turned realised Chase was there. “Very impressive this morning Chase.”
“Why thank you Sir” said Chase as he beamed back at Dave.
“Have you finished those contingency options?”
“Not quite. I’m grabbing this” said Chase holding up his lunch bag “and heading back now.”
“OK then” said Dave and Chase was true to his word. As Chase headed out Ivan and Jasmin were coming in. They saw Chase’s beaming face.
“I told you so” said Jasmin to Ivan.
“Yeah who’d have thought” acknowledged Ivan. “Sir!”
“Ivan, Jasmin” said Dave. “There goes the new man” added Dave motioning at the exiting Chase.
“Look’s very much like the old one to me Sir” said Jasmin with a smile.
“As much as it pains me to admit it, he was on fire this morning” said Ivan.
Ivan’s ability to see and acknowledge the good in others was one of the things Dave liked about Ivan and why he had such high hopes for him as a commander.
“Yes he was. Let’s hope we all are this afternoon.”
Ivan nodded grabbed a bag for himself and allowed Jasmin to do so for herself. He caught up with Dave out in the corridor. They entered the elevator together but no one spoke on the way up to A deck. It was not only a physical transition but a mental one too.
The command centre was full of people, many of them still munching on sandwiches. Jim, Li and Chase were in a huddle over Chase’s terminal as Dave sat down in his chair. Ivan went with Jasmin to her terminal and they started preparing the signals to Aubrey and the Admiral.
Sue and Art came in. Sue headed for Chase’s terminal. Art plonked himself down in the XO’s chair next to Dave. “How’s it going buddy?” asked Art. He was already in his combat gear.
Dave gave him a weak smile and nodded just before Art munched into the second half of his sandwich. A piece of lettuce escaped the bite and fell onto Dave’s trousers. Dave saw it all and was annoyed. He brushed it off with a flick of his free hand.
“Some things never change Dave” said Art playfully. Dave frowned and shook his head. But he still had a mouthful to contend with so Art added “Remember Quinlan?”
Dave gulped his food down and couldn’t help himself laugh. He had a loud laugh and everyone turned to see what it was about. “Bloody idiot wasn’t he?” said Dave recalling how their special forces buddy Jack Quinlan had dropped beetroot all over his dress uniform just before he was to be presented with his military medal.
“Not as big an idiot as old boney.”
That set Dave off laughing again. “Yeah, only he could have been that naive.”
“Doesn’t everyone wear their dress uniform in action?” asked Art who was also laughing in between his words.
Sue was looking at them both and shaking her head with a smile on her face. She too was in her combat gear. She always reckoned that it was when Art was with Dave that Art was at his funniest. “Are you going to let us in on what’s so funny?” she asked.
Art looked to Dave and then they both turned to Sue and shook their heads with big grins on their face.
“I see” said Sue with a smile “boys will be boys.”
Ivan appeared next to Dave and brought him back to seriousness. “Do you want to look at these signals?”
Art got out of Ivan’s chair and with a chivalrous wave of his hand invited Ivan to sit down. Ivan nodded his appreciation and Art made his way over to Chase’s terminal with the rest of the ground ops group.
Dave bought up the signals on his terminal screen and read them. He signed off on the one to the Admiral but made a minor change to the one to Aubrey adding ‘It’s not worth the risk.’
Dave looked up at the main screen and could see the timer ticking down. Only ten minutes to go. “How are you going Chase?” asked Dave. He was all serious now.
“Two minutes Sir” responded Chase. Chase sought agreement from Li on something and then began confirming the second contingency plan.
Crystal had the watch. She paced out onto the floor on the far side of the holo, centre stage, and began her pre warp-out checklist. The supernumeraries moved back away from the terminals and stood against the back wall.
Dave left it to Crystal. He was steadying his mind and focussing on his intent for this coming op. He repeated it silently to himself a couple of times. He sat their silently for another minute until Crystal finished with the last of the staff. Everyone was ready. Three minutes to go.
Dave closed his eyes and repeated his mantra. He uttered a prayer that they all would be kept safe, then returned to the mantra.
There was absolute stillness in the command centre. More th
an a few took the opportunity to say their own prayer. Others like John, who were not so inclined, used the time to gain their own centre. John was well aware that the lives of everyone may well rely on how clear he thought and on the speed of his reflexes.
Crystal, would have normally been reminding herself of her checklist. But right now she was looking at John who had his eyes closed. She glanced across to Dave, recalling his words from earlier this morning. Dave opened his eyes and was looking straight at her. It surprised her. He smiled and she refocussed to the task at hand.
Chapter 2. Resolute over Q2, 1220, 14 August
As they came out of warp cloaked some 50,000 kms (50K) above Q2, John was the first to speak. “Bogey 1 (the Cap), 2 and 3 (the frigates) on station at geo 36K out. Four fighters on CAP 30K out. I count… 11 shuttles on various routes. So far no reaction, no immediate threats.”
“Lot of traffic on the mil bands” announced Jasmin. “All bogeys actively scanning with radar and ladar. Active radar from various locations on the surface. No ground based systems targeting at this stage.” She could have announced a lot more but she knew that the focus was on one thing right now – attacking the enemy ships.
“We’re good to go Sir” said Crystal.
Chase had his head turned to Dave along with everyone else in the room. “Commit plan Alpha” ordered Dave.
“Committing plan Alpha” responded Chase.
Li, Jim, Sue, Chen and Art started filing out to go down to their stations.
“Li can you stay here for a bit” asked Dave.
“Of course” acknowledged Li.
As Crystal coordinated with the pilot for the run in on Bogey 1, Dave said to Li in a low voice “I want you to keep an eye on developments and let me know if and when we should commit our fighters.”
Li nodded and looked around to see where he should locate himself.
“Grab that seat” said Dave indicating the visitor chair vacated by Chen. “We should really reconfigure things here so you have a terminal up here. I think this is where you need to be. Can you get your deputy to manage things down below?”
Audacity (Warner's World Book 5) Page 14