I said." We need breathing space to sort it all out, get this tub going as fast as you can!"
"Yes I will do that!"
None of the controls of the seat responded and a Computronic voice said." You are not registered or authorized! Alex stumbled to his feet, frozen blood across his face." System recognize Alex Enroe. I give full command authority to Eric Olafson!" then he collapsed again!
The controls lit up and a bank of screens lowered around me. "Command authority granted!"
"Activate all available shields, reroute spare energy to aft shield generators!"
"Acknowledged!"
The Helm Officer turned." We are gaining ground Sir, but we have only one ISAH pod left, it seems we are still faster than that Dai Battle Ship!"
"Don't turn around! Keep your eyes on the controls when you talk!"
I looked down to find the right contact for ship wide." This is Eric Olafson temporary in command of this vessel. All Departments report! Damage and status! Medical emergency on the bridge!"
"Engineering here. We have still full power but only one ISAH pod, we lost the other three. Several Hull breeches, sealed with Nanite foam. Main power generators at 100 percent and not damaged. Primary shields gone. Secondary shields holding."
"Engineering shut down every nonessential system. Concentrate on repairing the shield generators."
"We do our best!"
"Medical reporting. We have 67 casualties, 19 reported fatal."
"Triage and prioritize. Bridge crew first!"
"We send medics and bots!"
"Tactical, do we have tactical? Communications?"
There was no response and then the Computronic replied." Tactical and Communication stations are not replying!"
"Computronic open all Communication channels on all available com equipment."
"Open!"
"This is the American Spirit, Enroe Industries private Yacht. Eric Olafson speaking. We are under attack! Dai Than Battle ship in pursuit. We are damaged and there are heavy casualties! Need assistance urgent!" I then told the Helm Officer to transmit our coordinates and whereabouts!"
"We are being hailed!" The Computronic reported
"Put it on!"
"Hello American Spirit! I am Ima Win-Do, patriarch of the once glorious Dai Than Ima Tribe. I have lost my honor and everyone in our Dai Mother! I will cause mayhem and destruction! I see you are but a boy; your officers are dead or gone! Surrender and I shall be merciful! Your hail for help will be heard, I have no doubt but all help will come too late for you! Surrender and I shall not launch fighters! I will kill you all quickly and painless. Deny me and I shall board and skin you alive!"
I looked down again to identify the correct contacts for tactical. Then I responded." This is Eric Olafson, temporarily in command of this Vessel. You are in Union space and have committed acts of piracy and murder!" While I talked my fingers activated weapons." I will not let my crew down and I will fight you to the last breath. Bring it on Sun burn face and learn that Neo Vikings do not surrender, ever!" The tactical screen showed his vessel just barely within reach for Loki Torpedoes, the American Spirit had only two tubes. I saw big doors opening in the hull of the Dai Ship, displayed on the screen that showed a magnified view of our pursuer, no doubt Fighter bay doors!
I cut the link and yelled." Helm reverse thrust full reverse!"
"What?"
I overrode his station and did it myself and cursed." If this is over I am going to kick you from here to Andromeda and back!"
The battered and damaged luxury-yacht's mass inertia compensators could not cope completely with the sudden reversal of thrust, and the Medics just coming on the bridge were thrown off their feet and I was pushed hard into the restrains. The Dai Battle ship in full pursuit rushed close in a few heartbeats and the distance between the two ships shrunk fast, I hammered my fist on the Torpedo release and both tubes launched, aiming at the open doors. At the same time I fired every available FTL and weapon.
The Dai Crew was good and its Computronic reacted faster than its crew several of the Dai Cannons fired and the American Spirit shuddered hard, but I saw with satisfaction as one of the two torpedoes slipped right past the open doors I had aimed at! The other was intercepted by Point defense guns" I maintained backwards thrust. Two more shots peppered our bow and our shields collapsed completely. The Dai Battle ship was at least eight times the size of the American Spirit and a huge explosion ripped through its hull! Two round objects released from the doomed Battle ship. The Spherical objects followed us. They were some kind of armed life boats and while their weapons were small we had no shields and their fire caused damage. Again I reversed thrust and went past red line, hitting one of the spheres head on and fired with the remaining FTL cannon at the other sphere!
The tactical screen and the remaining functioning sensors showed both spheres destroyed and no life signs aboard the remaining fragments of the battle ship.
I took time to wipe the sweat of my brow and said." All hands damage control!"
Twenty minutes later we were hailed by a fleet of Enroe Combat units.
Interlude: Captain Harris
Captain Harris called his friend and superior who was in his quarters. "Admiral we received a distress call from the private Yacht of Alex Enroe. They are under attack of a Dai Battle ship!"
"Launch long range fighters and send the Moscow and the Tel Aviv to assist. We are still tied up here!" Stahl leaned forward." He is a rich man and his Yacht must be fast. It is likely armed and has a well-trained crew with experienced officers. Enroe Industries manufactures the Loki torpedoes, but I can't imagine he has twenty or more of those aboard and that is pretty much what you need in torpedoes to defeat a Dai Battle ship."
"Details just coming in. The Yacht was based on an Ocelot class Super cruiser. Six FTL's and two one shot Torpedo tubes. The Dai on the other hand is a full size Be-Tha-Ra class."
Stahl had a concerned expression on his face." Send the Enroe Corporation our condolences and we will divert two battle ships and a Med Cruiser to secure the area and help finding the remains."
Captain Harris eyes widened." The Yacht is heavily damaged but won the battle!"
"An Ocelot with two torpedoes and six FTL's defeated a Be-Tha-Ra? You can't be serious!"
Harris responded."Enroe Security Ships and the USS Petersburg who was the closest of ours are there and confirming it. A sixteen year old passenger took command after the bridge had a hull breach and killing and wounding most of the bridge crew and he destroyed the Dai Battle ship. I think this will peak your interest."
"It certainly does! I want all details of that fight, log entries and such. If Enroe trains their Cadets that well we might need to talk to them."
"Citizen Data identifies the young man as pre entry Candidate to the Academy, Eric Olafson of Nilfeheim."
Stahl's eyebrows shot up." The one who flew a Submarine against a space bus?"
Now it was Harris turn to look perplexed." Sir I am not sure what you are talking about."
"I send you the File, you be amazed old friend!"
After the Enroe ships and a Union Battle ship had arrived. Everything happened fast. The wounded were evacuated. I had stepped down from the Command chair and felt myself ignored as robots and help crews rushed back and forth. I simply sat back down and waited for whatever would happen next. The heat of the battle was over. While it was happening I was neither afraid nor did I have any doubts, but now I wasn't so sure anymore. Should I have tried to escape and not stay and fight? Was I responsible for the whole mess in the first time for sitting in the Togar woman's chair?
Then a tall man in Enroe Uniform looked around the now empty bridge and snarled." Who are you? I don't see you on the Manifest."
"I am Eric Olafson."
"What are you doing up here? Passengers are not allowed on the bridge. Are you hurt?"
"No I am not hurt."
"Then get your ass of the bridge. I still like to know who you are
. You are not mentioned in the manifest. Are you a Stowaway?"
"No he is my personal guest and he saved our lives!" Axel Enroe stood in the door." I was looking for you, Eric. The Union Captain and I just watched the Bridge recordings and we must talk in a little while!" I saw he had tears in his eyes. I learned that all of the bridge crew, except the tactical specialist who had been sucked out, had survived.
In an empty cargo bay the crew and a delegation of the Union ship had assembled. The American Dream Crew had twenty two fatalities among them the Chief engineer and the man servant butler. Alex had cried open tears and he didn't seem to be ashamed of them and addressed us standing behind the row of elongated Cargo boxes, now used as coffins." I am deeply sorrowed about the losses in my crew, but Finlay Pearson was much more than a Butler and employee. He was a good friend! War has been avoided and while tensions are high, peace has been restored; this brief period of violence was not without suffering, injury and death. We stand before the remains of twenty two of our co-workers, employees, crew members and friends. The reason we stand here and do not share the same fate as them is thanks to a young and new friend of mine, Eric Olafson! Let us pledge in the memory of our friends to be more vigilant at all times and do our outmost to prevent such tragedies in the future."
Three of the Coffins were released into space; the rest so I learned would be delivered to their families.
In a debriefing before the Union Officers, the Togar Captain and Alex in a conference room I was shown the bridge recording and every word I had spoken. After the recording was done one of the Union Officers asked." How did you come to the decision to reverse thrust?"
"The Dai threatened to release Fighters, he had to open bay doors for that and lower shields to launch fighters. I could not allow that. Fighters would have meant our certain doom"
"It was a brilliant tactical decision."
The other officer looked onto his PDD." If you want we can take you straight to Arsenal!"
I wanted to say yes, but Axel stood." I make sure he will be there on time, but I think I owe the man for saving my life!"
"You owe me nothing sir!"
"Please give me a chance to at least finish that coffee we had started earlier today."
Interlude:Back on Sin
Faria could not believe the size of the Black Sirius. It somehow reminded her of a very elegant and very fast bird with half-moon shaped forward spread wings a long neck and slender body. It was shiny black with silver accents. Rex Schwartz had casually called it his home, away from home. The inside was very subdued luxury of the finest, black marble floors, wide sweeping stair cases, glass and chrome elevators and huge view ports. She followed him like in trance and more than a little afraid of the man. He was nothing but kind and gentle to her in the most attentive way but realizing who he was and the power he held was not easy to accept. Her intellect was quite capable of analyzing and understanding who and what he was. Even on Sin 4 she had heard many stories about Schwartz Industries and about the absolute ruthless way they did business. It was no secret that even the criminal cartels and organizations were afraid of SII.
He led her into a warm and comfortable furnished living room with a large leather seating group around a glass table. Nothing here screamed high tech or uber-lux but she was certain the finest technology was still there, just well hidden. A beautiful tall blonde looking like a sister to the girl he had introduced as his daughter, wearing a tasteful, very feminine black pant suit. Rex kissed her and said." Wetmouth this is my wife Linda. Linda meet Wetmouth."
Faria blushed under her mask. Even though it was not unheard off, but still usual that a man would introduce a Sojo Prostitute to his wife, but the woman greeted her friendly as if she was just a friend. Sojonit Sisters had an unequaled reputation, but they were still prostitutes and many called them whores and even less flattering names. Selling sex and sexual pleasures had an immoral and unethical aspect she was very well aware of. "Welcome Wetmouth, can I get you something to eat or drink?"
Wetmouth shook her head, even though she still only had a cup of coffee and was very hungry. She asked. "Where are we actually going, Sir?"
He turned and smiled at her." To Sin 4 so we can talk to your Mother Superior and I can adopt you."
Faria looked around." Sir, you are going to Sin 4 in this?"
"Yes I was planning to, but if you don't like it we can get something else."
"Mr. Schwartz, Sin 4 is in Free Space. I know your corporation maintains a business there, but every pirate in the sector will try to capture this ship and you, Sir."
"No worries Wetmouth, this ship is not without teeth and I am almost certain no pirate could keep up with us. The Black Sirius is quite fast."
Linda said," This and the fact two very large Schwartz Security Ships are close behind us. You will be quite safe. If you want I show you to your rooms so you can freshen up and if you like you can join us for dinner. I am making good old fashioned Pork chops tonight. You eat meat yes?"
The Sojoinit girl simply nodded and was glad she could bathe and a marvelous auto dresser restored her outfit.
Faria was very surprised to find that the Schwartz Family did not use servants and that Linda cooked the meal herself using very little robotic help.
On their way to Sin 4 he introduced her to a game called chess and she easily understood the concept and found the game that was not based on any luck or chance but on pure logic and mathematical understanding, very entertaining. After a while she analyzed his game and noticed he let her win. She did ask him to play for real and she began to test him with mathematical problems and she soon discovered that his intellect was at least equal to hers. To finally talk to someone who really understood her with a deep knowledge in a wide area of scientific areas was perhaps the greatest discovery of her life so far and a true joy.
***
Only a little while ago she thought she would never see Sin 4 again and be lost on a cold impersonal space port and now she had returned to Sojo Island inside a massive heavily armored limousine. None of the crocks and enforcers came near the Black Sirius or the two Corporate Battle ships sitting to each side of it. No one interfered with the flight of the flyer to the island. Mother Superior was surprised to see her, but she recognized Rex right away." Mr. Schwartz, what an honor! I will of course personally serve you if you like! "
Then she turned to Wetmouth. "Bringing such an esteemed customer is quite an accomplishment young Sojo, but I hoped you would be in school by now!"
The temple was abuzz about the famous visitor and Mother superior took her guest and Wetmouth in one of the finest Love chambers the temple had. She closed the door and then to Wetmouth's surprise hugged the big man in a very uncharacteristic fashion, more like a sister or a dear friend, not like a Sojonit! "I certainly have not expected you here. Still married to Linda?"
"And happily so!"
Mother superior said to Wetmouth. "This man is married to the same woman for 2500 years. There are empires that don't last that long! "
The Highest Sojonit offered him a seat and he took it and then asked." What brings you here? It has to do with my pupil?"
"Yes I found her stranded at Checkpoint 96. She had a rough time on Alvor's Cove and lost her means to travel and according to Port control bio scanners she is a year too young to apply for citizenship. Besides she would need to reveal her identity and all that."
The First Sojonit sounded angry and apologetic at the same time." I was so certain you were old enough and why did the sisters at Alvor's Cove not pick you up from the transport?"
"No one was there! The temple on Alvor's Cove was empty!"
"Rex I could use one of your Security ships to get a group of Vengeance Angels to Alvor's Cove and If possible two or three of these marvelous Extra Reach Gal Coms your Security teams use."
"You are as informed as always old friend! I let the Captain of the ISS Stuyvesant know that he is to accept your orders. I am sure he has whatever you need aboard. "
"The ER-Gal Coms will help a lot and the Sojonit Order and I owe you a big favor. Now I know you have a soft spot under that ice block of your heart, but flying with the Black Sirius all the way to Sin 4 to bring me a lost Sojo back? I suspect there is more to this!"
"I would like to adopt her. I can then make her a citizen, her identity remains secret under the VIP protection act and I can send her to Oxford, Stanford or Heidelberg, but she must for a brief moment drop her mask and wig and I would not ask this of her without your approval!"
Mother superior actually sniffed." Oh how beautiful! Wetmouth I give you my permission! I can assure you, you could not have found a better solution. I am not sure if you noticed but Rex has a mind at least equal to yours and he has the means of open all the doors and the finest education for you and be a great father and mentor. That you never have to worry about anything material comes as a bonus."
She padded his knee. "A Skath girl form the worst slums in the Universe will rise to become a princess on the court of the Union's secret emperor! That is poetic justice old friend! And after all those millennia you are still a sucker for girl tears!"
Rex shrugged." I know the difference between crocodile tears and real ones. I fathered twenty eight daughters and adopted eleven. I consider myself an expert on girl tears!" Then looked at Wetmouth with a smile." You see you won't be the first daughter I raised; actually with you it will be an even 40. "Then he smirked." She is right you know. I still can't ignore a girl crying."
Faria said shyly." Am I no longer a Sojonit?"
"You will always be a Sojonit, but you will wear the Veil of abstinence for a long time. If you feel you reached the point where you want to drop the veil you can return here and I will take you to the Rainbow Palace on our secret world and make you a higher sister!"
Rex said." Now that is a place I would like to see."
"No man can ever go there, but I will show you some visuals one of these days!"
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 224