by John Ricks
“What? Why?”
“Millions have applied for colonization, Sergeant, and they’re trying to discourage some of them.”
“I have competition, then.”
“Big time. But I don’t think anyone is going to be colonizing anything until the heads of Earth can figure out how to control it.”
“Control it?”
“The colonization and the people that colonize. They are working on who is going to be in charge, who they report to, etc. Believe me; it would come to war if it wasn’t for the United States being so far ahead of everyone else that they would not stand a chance—and they know it. The president of the United States has stated that she cannot trust others and that they have proven this many times in the last year. Only members of the Earth force will populate these planets and be in charge. The entire world is in an uproar. England, Canada, and Mexico have petitioned to join the Earth force. Still, many others are extremely upset.”
“You’d think they’d put away their petty political crap and jump on the bandwagon.”
“You’d think. I’m down in four, three, two, one.”
“You have the PAADs with you?”
“I have an AD on the shuttle and five PAADs with medical personnel to handle them.”
“Thank the gods. Everyone here is sick as a dog. Eight have died, and others are not expected to live through the night. An escort is there to meet you. Be careful of the dragons.”
“Dragons?”
“Yeah. We have dragons. They are the intelligent life on this planet. Any idea why the Sycloyeds didn’t sanitize this planet?”
“No, none at all.”
Gray said, “ES Champion. Another ship we did not know about.”
Blue said, “They did not lose their war.”
Green asked, “Did we not decide to leave the Sycloyeds alone? What was the reasoning behind that decision?”
Gray looked embarrassed. “We are already fighting two other wars.”
Blue asked, “What were our thoughts on a war with the Sycloyeds?”
Gray said, “We would destroy them without problem, but it would spread us thin. With the undead and machines on our flank, it would not be a good choice.”
Green said, “The choice is being removed. Listen to this.”
Chapter 11
Change of Plan
“Admiral Lasen, we are receiving a report from one of our scouts, the Maco Five. They’ve found something. Something big.”
“Put it on the overhead, Comms.”
An excited but scared voice came on the overhead. “I can’t believe the size of this thing. Is anyone hearing this? My scanners say it’s—just a second. Verified. The thing is over twenty-four kilometers in diameter. Crap, I wish Anderson would have programmed these things for miles! I have no idea how big that is.”
A teasing female voice came on. “You Irish idiot. Dr. Anderson did. Just a second, and I’ll adjust it for you. How’s that?”
“Fifteen miles! Wow! That thing is fifteen miles in diameter.”
Admiral Lasen asked, “Comms, who is running that ship?”
“Lieutenant Junior Grade Ryan O’Connor, sir.”
“Comms, put it on the two-way.”
“Aye aye, sir. You have two-way, sir.”
“Lieutenant O’Connor, this is Admiral Lasen.”
“What the—? Look here, fool. I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to report—”
“O’Connor!” the female voice yelled. “That signal carries the friend-or-foe signal of the ES Insight!”
“Um … crap. There goes my promotion. Hello, Admiral Lasen. It’s nice to hear from you, sir.”
“Report! You have something out there that’s fifteen miles in diameter, Lieutenant? What is it?”
“It’s a ship, sir. Actually, we have several ships. I would guess to say an entire fleet.”
“Sycloyeds?”
“What?”
The female whispered, “Bug ships, you fool. Bug ships. And stop shaking. I can’t believe you. You attack ships ten times our size without a thought and shake at the sound of the admiral’s voice.”
The admiral gave the voice-cut-off signal, and communications acknowledged. “Communications, who is the female on that ship?”
Communications anticipated the request and had it on her screen. “It’s a three-man crew, Admiral. The female is Master Chief Gunner’s Mate Julia Jones. She was placed onboard to keep Lieutenant O’Connor and Fire Technician Petty Officer First Class Bob Norman in line.”
Admiral Lasen said, “Two-way communication, please.” As soon as communications gave the signal, the admiral took over. “Master Chief, report!”
“Aye aye, sir. There are fourteen of the large colonization ships, eight of the carriers, and they appear to have full complement. There are twenty-six of the smaller battleships and eighty-one destroyer escorts. The large ship is protected by the rest. She appears to be heading toward a planet fourth out from this sun. Several of the fighters are already attacking the surface. It seems like they already know exactly where to strike.”
“What’s that?” asked the petty officer.
Admiral Lasen turned to the captain and said, “Get me a dead reckoning on that ship, and turn the fleet to that course at all speed. Notify Admiral Penn. Continue, Master Chief.”
“Admiral, the planet is defending. Over a thousand missiles just left the planet’s surface, and they are slowly heading out toward the Sycloyeds. Admiral, those missiles will never hit. It’s late-twentieth-century technology, at best. The planet is doomed, if that’s the best they have.”
“Master Chief, we have your position, and the fleet is under way. You lie low, and report until further orders.” Admiral Lasen turned his attention to the quarterdeck. “Captain, what’s our estimated time of arrival?”
“Three two minutes—that’s thirty-two minutes, Admiral.”
“Captain, that planet may not have thirty-two minutes. They know our tactics and speeds now. They have just enough time to destroy the planet and leave before we get there. There must be something important about the planet.”
“Any faster, sir, and we leave the rest of the fleet behind. As it is, we’re dragging many of the slower ships with us.”
The operations officer interjected, “I’ve been thinking about that, sir. We could bring in several of the larger ships and carry them with us, using the tractor beams. We’d be taking a chance, but they would never believe that we can bring most of the fleet to bear that fast. We may not be able to save that planet, but they won’t have time to disperse and disappear.”
The captain said thoughtfully, “That may work, and we could be there in eight minutes.”
Admiral Lasen ordered, “Do it. But go past, and come in from the other side of the sun. And sound general quarters.”
Six minutes later, Maco Five reported, “Admiral, this is Maco Five. The big ship has stationed itself in high orbit, and the smaller ships have scattered. Something’s happening. My God!” There was a long pause.
“Maco Five? Master Chief, report!”
“One shot, Admiral. That’s all it took. One shot, and the entire surface of the planet is on fire, water and all. There is steam billowing up from the oceans, but the fire is not going out. It looks like the mother ship is powering up again. She is turning toward the outward planets like she is waiting for something. The other ships are hiding behind—”
Only the sad, lonely sound of static came from the intercom.
Communications said, “Maco Five, Maco Five … come in, Maco Five.” Nothing. No answer.
Admiral Penn entered the quarterdeck.
“Admiral on deck!”
“Carry on.” Admiral Penn placed a hand on Lasen’s shoulder. “I’ve been listening. That was a brave crew and a great loss. Either they w
ere running without shields to minimize the chance of discovery, or the enemy has a new weapon.”
The captain said, “Standard operation procedure, Admiral. Shields up at all times.”
“Then let’s consider it a new weapon. Warn the fleet. Tactics are to change to 2B immediately.”
“Aye aye, Admiral. We are out of light speed in thirty seconds. You’re on communications and open to the entire fleet. Orders, sir?”
“Stay back from that mother ship. Hide behind planets, and spread out the moment we arrive so she doesn’t have an easy group of targets. Take out her protection first, and then we will destroy her from a distance and behind cover.”
They dropped out on the sun side of the mother ship. It was apparent they surprised the Sycloyed mother ship, as she and all her escorts were easy targets, hiding on the wrong side of the planets as they were. It was almost like they were framed for the fleet. Half her escorts were destroyed before she could turn around to fire her planet-destroying weapon; however, she had no targets as the fleet hid behind other planets. She fired anyway, and another planet was set on fire. Two of Earth’s smaller ships were on the other side and too close. The shields could not hold up to the sun’s intensity of the fire with which they were now surrounded. Their shields collapsed, and the two ships were destroyed.
Admiral Penn quickly warned, “Stay back from the planets.” The warning was not necessary, as the scanners showed that the ships were destroyed, and the entire fleet knew. One of the special children collapsed when over six hundred brave sailors instantly died. After that, the mother ship was never given another target.
The fighters had a difficult time, as the weapons on the larger Sycloyed ships could weaken and eventually destroy their smaller shields. Six or seven of Earth’s fighters, however, could quickly take out the destroyers and did so until only the carriers and the mother ship were left.
The carriers encircled the mother ship, protecting her. Their fighters swarmed around the mother ship, keeping all missiles from hitting. The Insight fired missile after missile, and each one was met by a fighter. The problem was that they had more fighters than the Insight had missiles. In addition, the carriers would find a target and fire their new weapon, which did not destroy but somehow removed the shields. The next shot, if you were foolish enough to stick around, would penetrate the hull. There also was the mother ship to contend with. She systematically shot every planet, so the Insight would have less room to hide.
Admiral Penn said, “Looks like the clairvoyants were correct. They’ve developed a way to destroy us.”
Admiral Lasen smiled and said, “Dr. Anderson’s new toy?”
“I think it’s time. Don’t you?”
“Yes, sir.” Admiral Lasen turned to the captain and said, “Power up the antigravity guns, and prepare the fleet to fire all missiles.”
The orders went out, and everyone waited in anticipation. Admiral Lasen said, “Good. The mother ship is pointing away from us. Captain, bring us out, and point us toward the mother ship.”
“Aye aye, Admiral.”
The ES Insight moved smoothly out toward the mother ship. Admiral Lasen ordered, “Fire all missiles.” The screens displayed a hundred missiles heading toward the mother ship. Admiral Lasen saw the gunner’s hand move toward the firing button. “Wait for it! Wait for it. Wait … for … it …”
Enemy fighters were now moving away from the mother ship toward the missiles, one suicide fighter for each missile.
Admiral Penn said, “You have to respect their loyalty.”
Admiral Lasen said, “Wait for it … now!”
The gunner hit the button, and a wide beam shot out from the Insight, striking all enemy ships. Instantly the fighters broke off like their navigation equipment had stopped working. The carriers and the mother ship started drifting, and the enemy escorts were drifting, which opened great holes in the mother ship’s protection. The missiles were locked on to the mother ship so they swerved around the now-drifting ships and struck the mother ship full on. She blew apart in a tremendous fireball that took out the rest of the enemy fleet and would have taken out several of Earth’s ships, if not for the pilots’ quick reflexes.
Admiral Penn said, “Captain, send out messages to the rest of the fleet. Let them know what happened here and the tactics to fight this new situation. Let them know that this may have been the only group with the new technology, but don’t count on it. Be prepared and ready for ambushes. Then meet me and Admiral Lasen in the ready room. We need to discuss new tactics.”
Gray said, “They did not use that weapon against us.”
Blue said, “We have not met their carrier yet.”
Gray said, “We are more powerful. I am not worried. We will met this new threat and destroy it easily.”
Yellows and Blue looked at Gray, wondering if he was telling the truth. Gray motioned for another Gray to attend him. He whispered, “I want those reinforcements, now!”
Little Yellows asked me, “Are we in trouble, little one?”
I smiled and said, “We never give up.”
Chapter 12
Ambushed
Ensign Johnny Wearon scrambled into the pilothouse of the tiny scout ship, the Thresher Eight. “I rigged the communications system to at least receive, sir. We still cannot transmit. We have a message from Admiral Penn, sir.”
“I’m busy!”
Another hit rocked the ship as it fled at breakneck speed through the asteroid cluster.
“Captain, shields are down to 33 percent.”
“Great! Take energy from anything—life support, weapons, communications, and medical; anything except forward scanners and engines. It won’t get us much, but it may buy us some time.”
“Aye aye, Captain.”
“What’s the message, Johnny?”
“The admiral has encountered the enemy and they … sir, there’s a lot of tactical information here, but it comes down to this: the enemy has new weapons, and we are to watch out for ambushes.”
“Oh, wonderful! Day late and dollar short, Admiral. We have over twenty fighters and two destroyers on our tail. Anything in there that could help in our current”—the shipped rocked with another blast—“situation?”
Tentatively, he said, “We could turn and fight, sir.”
“With what, Ensign? We are out of missiles, and our energy weapons have been diverted to the shields.”
The petty officer in the science seat said enthusiastically, “Yes, but our shields are now up to 100 percent, sir.” In a less enthusiastic tone, he added, “Temporarily.”
The captain said, “We need to do something quick. We’re running out of asteroids to hide in.”
The petty officer said, “Ram them.”
“What?”
“Ram them, sir. With our shields at full, we could take out at least one.”
The captain thought quickly. “Great idea! But not like you think. We ram the weapons on the destroyer so it cannot penetrate our shields. If we live through that, we run like hell and warn the fleet.”
“Sir!”
“Strap in! I want all energy except engines to the shields, including gravity.”
“Yes, sir!” Both the ensign and the petty officer strapped in. “Ready, sir.”
“Great. Here we go.”
The captain slingshot the ship around a large asteroid, picking up as much speed as possible from the asteroids’ little gravity. The ship was now on a collision course with the larger of the two destroyers. The fighters tried to get in the way, but the captain maneuvered the ship, expertly dodging and ducking constantly, until the only thing between the destroyer and his ship was the debris from the asteroids they destroyed to get to him.
To the crew’s surprise, the destroyers fired frantically, not allowing their weapon to fully charge; therefore, they had no effect on the shield
s.
“Captain! We’re moving in too fast!”
“No, we are not! We just need to—”
Both the others threw their arms up and covered their heads as the Thresher slid sideways, ramming into the weapon on the front of the destroyer, and then shot off in another direction.
A wave of intense energy hit them from the back, so the captain flipped the ship around and was stunned to see that the destroyer they had just hit was missing its entire front section.
The ensign exclaimed, “You see that!”
The captain said, “Yes. It seems their weapon has a weakness.”
“Captain, the other destroyer is pulling off and taking the fighters with him. Shall we pursue?”
“No. We need to get this information back to the fleet. Set course for the rendezvous point at Damien. Full speed.”
The ensign said, “We may not make it, Captain.”
“Plotted and set,” the petty officer informed.
“We’ll make it, Ensign. We have to. Engage.”
Blue said, “They are brave.”
Gray said, “To the point of suicide, when needed. They are hardened warriors.”
Blue said, “I say again that they would make great allies. They would do well in the undead wars.”
Gray looked pleased with himself and very confident. He said, “We shall see. I think they will be surprised at the power we can bring to them. I think they will bow down to us and fight for us.”
Blue said, “I do not think they will fight for anyone except themselves.”
I said to Little Yellows, “I am confused my friend. Are the Grays your wayward children? It seems they have a lot of growing up to do. Our children who start out as bullies tend to act the same way until someone smacks them down hard. Then they grow up.”
Little Yellows said, “Quickly, pen mate. Take over.”
Big Yellows took hold of me, and Little Yellows sat on the floor, laughing so hard they were both in tears. Big Yellows was smiling and asked, “What?”