“Maybe,” Meta said.
An hour went by. Two hours clicked away. At three hours, fourteen minutes and thirty seconds, the comm marine looked up again from his device.
“A shuttle has left the orbital-parked star cruiser, sir. Someone is coming down.”
“Is the shuttle headed for Aleppo?” Maddox asked.
The marine asked a question, listened for a long moment and finally asked, “Are you sure?” The marine waited for an answer and then cut the connection.
“Well?” asked Maddox.
The marine turned glumly to the captain. “The shuttle has reversed course, sir. It’s heading back upstairs to the waiting star cruiser. According to Galyan, the star cruiser has activated its weapons.”
Maddox cursed as he struck a thigh, and he waited. Two minutes later, he asked, “Is there any change to the shuttle?”
The marine relayed the question. Instead of an answer, Galyan appeared in the rented room.
“Sir,” the holoimage said. “We’ve scanned the star cruiser. It’s the Grazing Lion. According to my analysis, the name indicates Lord Drakos, with seventy-three percent accuracy.”
Maddox didn’t bother asking how Galyan had come to that conclusion. Instead, he said, “You’re sure about that?”
“I am, sir,” Galyan said.
“Right,” Maddox said. “We’re going to do this the hard way. Tell Valerie to get ready. We’re coming up.”
“I must point out, sir—”
“Don’t bother,” Maddox said. “There’s an armed and primed star cruiser up there. We’re going around the planet—the moon. Pick us up on the other side. One way or another, I’m capturing Lord Drakos.”
“If he is aboard the star cruiser, sir,” Galyan said.
“Why are you still here?” Maddox asked. “I gave you orders.”
Without another word, Galyan disappeared.
-114-
The Star Watch shuttle roared from the spaceport with Maddox at the controls. Everyone was strapped in tight. The captain raced across desert sands, trying to circle the moon as fast as he could. He also waited for word from Valerie or Galyan that the star cruiser had spotted them.
No such message came down. Instead, twenty-seven minutes later, Maddox headed up for orbital space.
In relative time, they made it up into a hangar bay at record speed. In subjective time, the rocket ride up had taken far too long. The star cruiser was already moving away from Balak at full acceleration.
Maddox sprinted at top speed for the bridge. He arrived breathlessly as Valerie jumped out of the captain’s chair.
“We’re following them,” she said.
“Get ready to use the star drive, Mr. Maker,” Maddox said, as if he hadn’t heard a word the lieutenant said.
“Sir?” Keith asked.
“Now,” Maddox said. “No discussions,” he told Valerie. “Galyan, stow it.”
The bridge fell silent as Maddox marched to the main screen. His eyes flashed, and there was an intensity to him that he normally cloaked. Not today—today, he wanted Lord Drakos, and he wanted the New Man badly.
The star cruiser continued its acceleration. Victory charged after it.
“We’re ready to jump,” Keith said from the Helm. “Do you have a location, sir?”
Maddox gave it.
“That will put us ahead of the star cruiser,” Keith said.
“Yes,” Maddox said, as he stared at the main screen.
“The New Men might attack us during a brief moment of lag, sir.”
“Good,” Maddox said. “That will give us the excuse we need for fighting back.”
“Is this an instance of covering one’s ass, sir?” Galyan asked.
If it was possible, the bridge fell even more deadly silent than before.
“What did you say?” Maddox asked the holoimage.
“It is an expression, sir,” Galyan said. “Should I not have said it?”
“Who told you this expression?” Maddox asked.
“The professor,” Galyan said.
“Ah,” Maddox said. He faced the ace. “You will proceed, Mr. Maker. Make the jump.”
Seconds later, Victory used the star drive, leaving the gas giant and its heavy water moon behind. They appeared suddenly in space.
Maddox was the first to revive. He noted that nothing bad had happened to the starship. That likely meant the star cruiser hadn’t fired on them. The captain waited, therefore, until everyone else was functional again.
“Rotate the ship, Helmsman,” the captain said. “Let’s face the enemy.”
“Sir,” Valerie said. “The captain of the Grazing Lion is hailing us.”
“Put him on the main screen,” Maddox said.
A second later, Lord Drakos appeared. Maddox had never been happier to see the bastard. Drakos was just as golden-skinned as ever, if not as much as other New Men, and he still had broader than average shoulders.
“Captain Maddox,” Drakos said smoothly. “This is a surprise.”
Maddox stared at the man, saying nothing.
“I am advising you to move aside, Captain,” Drakos said.
Maddox stirred, and there was hatred in his eyes. “Surrender or die,” he said in a slow voice.
Drakos eyed him, and he allowed himself an indulgent smile.
“Galyan,” Maddox said, as he stared into Drakos’s eyes. “Warm up the disrupter and neutron cannons.”
“Aren’t you going to warn me against stubbornness?” Drakos asked.
Maddox said nothing, although he matched the New Man stare for stare.
“You cannot simply fire on my ship,” Drakos said.
Maddox said nothing.
“If you do this,” Drakos said, “you will have broken the concord between the Throne World and Star Watch.”
Maddox did not reply.
For the first time, Drakos appeared uneasy. “You’re bluffing,” he said.
“The disrupter cannon is ready, sir,” Galyan said. “The neutron cannon will take a little longer.”
“Fire,” Maddox said.
“Wait,” Drakos said.
“Are you surrendering?” Maddox asked coldly.
“Sir,” Valerie said. “I’m receiving a new hailing signal. This one is coming from three star cruisers that have just appeared from around the second planet of the system.”
“They can’t save you,” Maddox told Drakos. “The three are too far away. If you’re not surrendering, prepare to die.”
“Sir,” Valerie said. “I think you should listen to the incoming message.”
Maddox fought with himself. He wanted to capture or kill Drakos. Capturing him was better, as that could help restore the brigadier to her position in Star Watch Intelligence. Killing would do, though. He couldn’t let the cunning bastard get away to do more harm.
“Sir,” Valerie said. “I urge you to listen to the new message.”
It felt as if Maddox’s neck moved on rusted hinges. He regarded the lieutenant. She was pale and even trembling.
“Go ahead,” Maddox said.
Lord Drakos disappeared from the main screen. In his place appeared Golden Ural.
Maddox blinked in surprise.
“I see you survived your trip into the Deep Beyond,” Golden Ural said smoothly. “Were you successful, Captain?”
“Yes,” Maddox said.
“Excellent,” Ural said. “You have no idea how glad that makes me. Now, unfortunately, we have other business at hand. I, ah, intercepted your message to Lord Drakos. I’m afraid I will have to interrupt your standoff. As a representative of the Emperor, I cannot stand idly by while a Star Watch ship attacks a Throne World vessel.”
“Drakos is your enemy just as much as he is mine,” Maddox said.
“Events have moved forward since we last talked, Captain. I’m afraid your assessment is no longer true.”
“You’re siding with Drakos?” Maddox asked, astonished.
“I am following ord
ers, Captain. Lord Drakos now recognizes the treaty between us and your Commonwealth.”
“Since when?” demanded Maddox.
Golden Ural frowned. “I cannot allow you to speak to me in such a tone, sir. It doesn’t matter when. It is an accomplished fact. Will you recognize your obligation to Star Watch or must we fight a battle and start an incident between our peoples?”
“Drakos has information I—” Maddox almost said information he needed. But he did not want to appear weak before any New Man, not even Golden Ural. “Lord Drakos has information I desire,” the captain said.
“We all have unsatisfied wants, Captain,” Ural said.
Maddox blinked several times. This was outrageous. He had Drakos under his guns. He’d almost snared the New Man on Balak. To fail after coming this close to succeeding—it stung horribly.
Finally, Maddox exhaled. “Good day to you, Golden Ural.”
“I have had star drives installed in my vessels,” Ural said. “Must I use them to engage your ship in battle? I do not desire a fight with you, but if I must do so to uphold the Throne World’s honor…”
The next three seconds were subjectively the longest in Captain Maddox’s life. He wrestled with the decision, and it did not come easily.
Finally, Maddox said softly, “No. You do not need to engage your star drives. I will abide by the treaty.”
Golden Ural did not smile, but he bowed his head as a gesture. “Until next time, Captain,” the New Man said.
Maddox nodded, no longer able to speak.
After Ural disappeared from the screen, the captain moved to his chair and sat down.
“Lord Drakos is hailing us, sir,” Valerie said.
Maddox said nothing.
“What do you want me to do, sir?” Valerie asked.
“With Drakos, nothing,” Maddox said. “Mr. Maker, set a course for Earth. I’d better tell the Lord High Admiral that I failed.”
“Sir,” Valerie said softly, “Lord Drakos sends you a message.”
Maddox looked at Valerie.
The lieutenant grew red-faced. “But I don’t think I’ll repeat it. I’ll log it, sir. If you wish to hear it, you can do so later at your leisure.”
Maddox wanted to threaten Lord Drakos. He wanted to assure the bastard that he would kill him soon enough. But Maddox hated to threaten anyone, and he dearly didn’t want to do it when an enemy had just gotten the better of him.
He half suspected that Drakos had agreed to the accord several minutes ago. There was a power struggle going on among the New Men, and maybe this political maneuver had something to do with it.
Maddox sighed. Star Watch was about to invade the Bosk homeworld. That would cut off that avenue for infiltrating enemy agents into the Commonwealth.
But what was he going to do to restore the brigadier to her post? At the moment, Maddox didn’t know. But he silently vowed that he would find a way to help his—his former superior in Star Watch Intelligence.
“I’m ready to jump again, sir,” Keith said.
Maddox nodded. “Get us out of here, Helm. I’m sick of the Throne World company we’ve been keeping.”
-115-
Several weeks later, across the entire length of Human Space and then deeper into the Beyond, Admiral Fletcher led the bulk of the Grand Fleet. He had been using Laumer Point jumps for some time now.
Ever since Fletcher had received his orders via the Builder communication device on the bridge, the Grand Fleet had raced with grim purpose.
It was difficult for Fletcher to credit what the Lord High Admiral had told him. On two separate occasions, Fletcher had used the Builder comm device to call Cook. Each time, Fletcher had asked for conformation of the kill order.
If anything, Cook had become even more adamant than the first time.
Now, the van of the Grand Fleet intercepted Spacer vessels in the oddly named Terser System. The Spacer commander warned Fletcher to leave this section of the Beyond. According to the enemy commander, this was Spacer territory. If the Star Watch fleet did not leave within seven hours, there would be war.
For the third time since he’d received the kill order, Fletcher used the Builder comm device.
“Yes?” Cook said shortly across hundreds of light-years.
Fletcher told the Lord High Admiral about the Spacer ultimatum.
“Admiral,” Cook said, “I want you to listen to me closely. Are you listening?”
“I am, Admiral,” Fletcher said, with many of his staff officers around him waiting with bated breath.
“The world the Grand Fleet is seeking is called the Forbidden Planet. The place holds an Old One.”
“A what, sir?” asked Fletcher as he glanced at his chief staff officer.
“An Old One—an alien of terrible evil and even worse power,” Cook said. “You must not waver in this. Destroy any Spacer vessels that threaten you. If they want war with us, we will give them war. Tell them that. Tell them I said that.”
“Sir?” Fletcher asked.
“If you question me one more time, Admiral,” Cook said. “I will relieve you of duty. You used to be my fighting admiral. Well, I need that Fletcher more than ever. Humanity needs that Fletcher. Is he still there?”
Fletcher gulped. In truth, he wasn’t as bloodthirsty as he used to be. But he knew how to follow orders.
“If this alien is as bad as you say…”
“Captain Maddox says he’s that bad,” Cook said.
“Maddox?” asked Fletcher. “What does Maddox have to do with this?”
“Everything,” Cook said with emotion. “The captain has performed wonderfully. He saved the human race several weeks ago. It cost him hard, too. But you have to finish this, Fletch. This planet, it’s housing a devil’s brood. Burn it down, and then blow it over again with hell-burners. This planet must be dead once you leave. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Admiral,” Fletcher said.
“Good. Then do it.”
***
The Spacers warned again. Fletcher told his lead squadrons to warn the Spacers once. After that, they were to open fire and destroy every Spacer vessel that came within range.
The squadron commanders did as ordered. Afterward, eleven saucer-shaped vessels were destroyed before the Spacers quit warning the Grand Fleet and fled for their lives.
Six days later, the fleet reached the system of the Forbidden Planet. That was when the Spacers attacked like kamikazes with half the number of warships as in the Grand Fleet. Those saucer-shaped ships were no match for the newer battleships. But then, awful beams rose up from the Forbidden Planet, and they were ship-killing beams of tremendous power.
Incredibly, to Fletcher and his staff, the battle began to turn against Star Watch. When three of his newest battleships blew up like firecrackers to the planetary beams, some of the old fighting fire returned to the admiral.
Fletcher asked for volunteers, and he got them. Thirteen crews of star-drive jump-capable cruisers agreed to the plan.
As even more planetary beams reached up from the surface of this Forbidden Planet, the cruisers used their star drives, appeared behind the awful world and came low into orbital space, curving around to do battle. From low orbit, the cruisers launched antimatter missiles at the sandy surface. Only one in ten of those reached their targets, but those detonated and took out enemy primary beam batteries.
That meant the surface batteries turned on the cruisers. Only three of the thirteen survived the planetary run.
After that, Fletcher sent another wave, and they took out more of the deadly primary beams.
The battle shifted decisively in Star Watch’s favor after that.
The surviving half of the Grand Fleet annihilated the remaining Spacers. The last few surviving Spacer ships forgot their valor and fled.
Fletcher ordered his battleships to continue firing at the enemy. Only a handful of the original Spacer ships escaped intact.
Later, the approach to the planet went like clockwork. Enem
y, heavy primary beams killed another five battleships. Then, the hell-burners and thermonuclear bombs rained on the Forbidden Planet.
After two hours of saturation bombing, no more enemy beams struck the battered Grand Fleet.
Now, strikefighters flew low, pinpointing targets. For the next three days, heavy orbital beams lanced the surface.
Then, more hell-burners exploded on the Forbidden Planet.
Yes, the rumors were true; Fletcher wept over his losses, but he also got innovative. His battleships went out and began towing small asteroids. For three weeks, they brought all kinds of asteroids near the hated planet. Then, the asteroids and meteors rained down on the doomed world, creating tectonic havoc.
The Grand Fleet did not leave the Forbidden Planet until massive earthquakes had caused huge cracks to appear across the continents. Seas of lava flowed where the heaviest asteroids had broken the continental crust.
Admiral Fletcher wasn’t sure how anything could have survived down there. The Forbidden Planet had become the Molten Planet. Was the Old One dead?
There was no way for Fletcher to check. This much had cost Star Watch dearly, with half the Grand Fleet destroyed or too heavily damaged to leave for the trip back to the Commonwealth.
Thus, the crowning signature of the terrible contest was Fletcher sending his worst ships screaming down to the seas of lava to die—after the crews had transported to other ships.
He had done his damnedest against the alien Old One. Now, he would go home and retire from the service. This last fight had taken all the fire he had left. Now, he just wanted to live in peace for the rest of his life.
-116-
In the course of time, Starship Victory returned to Earth. There in Geneva at Star Watch Headquarters, Maddox gave his report to the Lord High Admiral.
“I’d rather you’d captured Lord Drakos,” Cook told Maddox after the briefing.
They met in the Lord High Admiral’s office. It was much starker than Brigadier O’Hara’s office had been.
“I know, sir,” Maddox said.
Cook studied the captain while drumming his fingers on the large desk.
Maddox kept quiet, waiting.
The Lost Star Gate (Lost Starship Series Book 9) Page 54