"Yes sir," said the Colonel.
"See if he has any heavy weapons. Appropriate anything you think you can use. I'm thinking along the line of Meson Blasters in the airlock a Cruiser is about to try to dock with. Heavier if it's available. Do whatever you can think of to defend the station."
"I think we can come up with something along those lines. BA?"
"Sir?"
"Combat suits off Gunbus please. Find somewhere we can use as an armoury."
"Colonel?" I got her attention again.
"Sir?"
"Leave Jane's and mine, but if the 'tool man' has any spare suits, have Janet take control of them. Leave our guns in the Armoury, but take the rest. If you need to arm civilians, they'll need something to be armed with."
"Yes sir. Let's move out people!"
While the others bustled about moving their gear to the station, I headed back up to the Bridge.
I found a reply from Miriam, which simply said, "You didn't supply any music." I dug out a number of appropriate songs and sent them to her.
Emails kept me busy until George came onto the Bridge, followed by Amanda, Aleesha and Eric.
"We're ready to go sir," said George. "The rest of the team and their gear are on the station, and the Cargo Bay is sealed."
"You're all coming with me?"
They voiced their ascent.
"As long as you don’t strand us again," said Amanda forcefully.
"Don’t wonder off without letting me know, and I won't."
I received 'the nod' in return.
"Jane, move us out please. We need to be at Atlantis Orbital as fast as we can get there."
Gunbus backed away from her dock, spun on her axis and sped off towards the jump point into Atlantis.
With nothing to do on the Bridge, the others drifted away. I remained, wading through the endless emails.
About half an hour after we left, an email came in from Miriam. It was encrypted. That rang a bell, but I didn’t know what for. I had to give it to Jane to decrypt. She laughed as she sent it back to me.
"Miriam obviously had my clone encrypt it with something that only I could decrypt," she said. "It’s a vid."
I threw it to the side screen. The opening notes of 'You can leave your hat on' began, with Miriam standing in front of her pilot's chair, in full uniform, with cap on. She proceeded to do an incredibly erotic strip tease, in time to the song, ending with her saluting me stark naked, except for the cap.
Once before, my blush override had broken. The error message reporting it ceasing to function popped up again. I went bright red.
I'd just removed the image from the screen when Amanda looked in.
"What was that music?" she asked. She looked at me. "More interestingly, what have you been up to?" She grinned at me.
"Miriam sent me an email."
"Must have been some email."
"It was."
"Do share."
"Oh, no." I said with a laugh and a shake of the head.
She laughed with me, and headed downstairs again.
I hunted through my database of sound effects, and sent Miriam the sound of a stadium full of people cheering.
A short time later, she sent back, "Where's mine?"
Twenty Five
On the Atlantis side of the jump point, waited ten Bounty Hunters. Two of them immediately locked me up and fired missiles. Gunbus blew through the middle of them and left them behind.
I opened a channel to all of them.
"Sorry people, I don’t have time to kill you all just now. Raincheck?"
"Raincheck," responded one of the ones who had fired on me.
The missiles didn't even get close before the turrets picked them off.
"Listen people, if you want some sport, head for the Azgard system. Midgard is expected to send squadrons of Talon's in there any time now. Sci-Fi sector have bounties out on killing them once they jump in. Don’t go into Midgard, it’s a blackout zone."
"How do you know that?"
"Just came from there. The Midgard fleets have been two squadrons of Talons. Plenty of turkeys for you guys to shoot. Just leave my assets following along behind me alone. The commander doesn’t have my forgiving nature."
"Azgard is a ways away. How do we know it won't be over when we get there?"
"If you hustle, you should get there in time. I'm surprised you guys hadn't heard the news already."
"We heard a rumour, but why go all that way on a rumour?"
"It's no rumour. The Americans were ambushed in Midgard a few days ago and lost fifty five fighters. That’s why you don’t go in there. But ships in down jump into Azgard will be a turkey shoot for sure."
"Why aren't you still there?"
"I'm Paul Revere."
"What? No you're not. Who's this Revere guy?"
"Ancient history. I'm the one briefing each system government on what's going on. I'm stopping at Atlantis, then heading for Avon. The ships behind me are going there for refits, after which I'll be back."
"Okay. We'll head there. You better be right, or we WILL hunt your arse instead."
"Enjoy." I closed the channel.
I'd buttered it a bit thickly, but another ten combat ships might make a difference somewhere. And since some of them had me on their collect list, it would be nice if I didn’t have to deal with them myself.
MEOW!
I went looking for the meow.
Angel was perched on the top of her kitty castle. We spent a while playing.
With an hour or so to go before arriving at Atlantis Orbital, I went down for an early dinner. I figured once I arrived, there would be no chance for eating. The others joined me and we talked about what might be coming. I suggested if they wanted something to do, they should talk to Jane about how to build a hollo simulator here in the common room, with three positions. The idea being that us three pilots could fight Jane in a series of simulations of how the fighter drones would handle as a group, and as a cluster.
I left them talking about how to do that, and went upstairs to freshen up. I found I still had my boxers and t-shirt on from the night before. I'd completely forgotten to change this morning.
On a whim, I locked the door, set my suit back to American fatigues, and to appropriate music, recorded a vid of the suit rolling back slowly, me shucking my t-shirt and boxers, and walking into the shower.
Back in American fatigues, I headed for the Bridge. I used the same encryption that Miriam had used and sent her the vid.
Docking was routine. I left George in command of the ship, and Jane and I stepped out the airlock.
Arrayed around the dock area was a platoon of soldiers. At the base of the ramp was a two star General. The soldiers formed up around us, and we moved off.
The conference was much the same as on Cobol. I took them through the battle data. They asked questions, I gave answers.
At one thirty the following morning, after six odd hours of non-stop interrogation, Jane and I returned to Gunbus. We undocked, and set off for the Avon jump point.
This time, no-one was left behind.
George was asleep in the captain's chair on the Bridge. I woke him up and told him to go to bed. Bed was a good idea, so I followed my own instructions.
I dreamt of Miriam doing a strip tease on a golden beach. Amanda and Aleesha gave her a nine. George gave her a nine point five, and Eric a ten. We danced on the beach to the theme of 'Who', while silver forms rusted in the water. We made love under the stars. Amanda gave us a nine. Aleesha gave us a nine point two. We went to dinner in a cold place. Inside the restaurant, Miriam slipped off her fur coat and threw it over me.
I woke with fur in my mouth. Angel was stretched over my face. I plucked her off, set her down beside my pillow, explained that my face was a no sleep zone, and padded into the bathroom.
I'd had just under three hours sleep.
"Jump point in five minutes Jon," said Jane quietly.
Dressed in American fatigues,
I was on the Bridge for the jump. The station was now three hours behind us.
There was only one ship visible in the Avon system, but it was huge. And old. And way too close for comfort. Her ID read 'Warspite'. I stopped Gunbus away from the jump point, nearby this behemoth. I looked her up. Queen Elizabeth class Battleship. First commissioned in the Glasgow yards two hundred and eight years before. She was a long way from where she was born. But she upheld a proud tradition. The name went all the way back to sixteen hundred.
I opened a channel.
"Gunbus to Warspite. Aren't you a little close to the jump point for safety?"
"Warspite to Gunbus, hold for the Admiral please."
I waited. And waited. Then waited some more.
Eventually, a face, with Rear Admiral (Lower Half) insignia nearby, graced the screen.
"What's this about being too close to the jump point? And what business is it of yours?"
"Admiral, I have a station and a fleet of Cruisers due in here later today. The Cruisers might just manage not to hit you, but if you don't move that ship to a safer distance, I can guarantee before the day ends, there will be a large mess here instead of your ship."
It was 4.30am. My tact and diplomacy were still asleep.
He went purple.
"Don’t talk nonsense. A station can't be jumped."
I sent Warspite the feed of the station jumping out of Pompeii and into Miami.
"Oh my giddy aunt," said the Admiral.
He started giving orders. Warspite moved, almost mowing Gunbus down in the process. Jane moved us clear before I could take control.
I closed the channel. Jane put us on course for the planet Avon.
Before going back to bed, I checked emails for urgent ones. The only one that mattered was from Bob, with more specifications. It had arrived before I went to bed, but I'd been too tired to check. I forwarded them to Avon Shipyards.
Miriam had sent two words. "Cute butt."
Angel was asleep on my pillow. I changed the suit back to a belt, and went back to sleep.
"Jon."
"Ugggggggggggg." I woke so abruptly, I fell out of bed. My left side began to throb.
"What?" I asked from the floor.
"Five minutes to dock," said Jane.
"Dock us, but leave us buttoned up. I'll be in the shower."
"Confirmed."
Angel was still asleep.
I'd barely stepped under the water, when Jane spoke again.
"There are people waiting for us. One looks like a senior officer."
"Meet them with your Avatar, let them in and seat them in the common room. I'll be down as soon as I can."
"Confirmed."
I hurried my shower. Changed and in American fatigues, I ran to the staircase and fell over the cat wall, sliding down to the next floor on my left side. I managed not to curse. At least not aloud.
I limped the rest of the way.
There were four people at the dining table. They rose to meet me.
The first was a woman in her late thirties with three stars on her shoulders. The second was a woman in her late fifties, dressed in civvies. The third was a full Commander. The last was a man in his forties.
"Welcome Admiral Hunter, I'm General Wellington," said three stars. She motioned to the second woman. "This is Prime Minister Vantigo. Commander Alsop. Chief Engineer McLauchlan."
We all shook, and I took a seat.
"Admiral," said the General, "your station and fleet jumped into Avon not long ago. I thought you might like to know. Warspite was sufficiently far away to not pose any problems. When I heard what you said earlier this morning, I kicked some butt on your behalf. Did you get much sleep?"
The question threw me for a moment.
"Two lots of about three hours each."
"So we managed about the same. Mine was all in one go, and ended about the time yours started. I arrived here about the time you jumped into the system." She changed gears on me again. "We've a conference to go to. I wanted you to meet these people, and we have a small task to complete before we go. Do you have crew, other than your ship's Avatar?" I nodded. "Call them in please."
"Jane."
"Confirmed."
"I wanted to have a quick word with you before the conference Admiral," said McLauchlan. "James McLauchlan, Chief Engineer for Avon Shipyards. I've reviewed all the specifications you sent. I admire Bob Derr's work. I'd always hoped one day we could collaborate on a project. I've some suggestions to make on improving the designs, and one or two questions which might help to clarify several of the things you've done. Any idea when we can expect the ships?"
"Early afternoon I would say."
"Good. We have enclosed repair docks ready for all your ships. We'll work on them simultaneously. We can talk on the way to the conference. Hopefully I can get my people to make the changes I think need to be made while the conference is in progress, and we'll be ready when the ships arrive."
"Have you managed to collect enough of what they need?"
"Don’t concern yourself with that. Avon is the main shipyard for the sector, and we always carry large quantities of everything. All military repairs and refits are done here. If you wanted to put Battleship guns on your Cruisers, we have them in stock." He was joking I could tell. The thought echoed in my mind for a bit.
It was a relief to know they had what was needed.
Amanda and Aleesha came in from the barracks. A minute later George came up from the hanger. He was obviously still sleeping on Excalibur. Another minute and Eric came down the staircase.
I introduced everyone.
"Captain Hunter, front and center please," said the Commander.
I moved in front of the General, as senior officer present.
"Attention to Orders," said the Commander loudly. Everyone braced to attention.
Not again, I thought. Now what?
"Captain Hunter," said the General, "by order of Sci-Fi Space Force Command, you are hereby offered a commission in the Sci-Fi Space Force, with the rank of Rear Admiral. Do you accept this commission?"
My mouth fell open. I closed it.
"I accept," I said, frog firmly stuck in throat.
The Commander handed a box to the General. The General handed it to me.
"Congratulations Admiral." We shook hands.
There were woops of excitement from the girls, quickly silenced.
A pulse came in from the Commander. It was a scan of SFSF fatigues. I opened the box, and saw not the insignia of the Rear-Admiral (Lower Half) I'd expected, but the insignia of a full Rear Admiral, the equivalent of a two star General. I looked at the General in surprise.
"There are good reasons for that," she said. "For one thing, you bring a fleet to the table. For another, well you met him this morning."
I nodded. It made sense that a fleet commander must be at least the lowest level of Admiral. But it seemed they wanted the local Admiral under my command without him getting upset about time in service issues, which would happen if we were the same rank, and he was placed under my command.
I scanned the insignia, made up a record for the SFSF in my suit files, and linked the Admiral insignia to the SFSF epaulettes. I activated the new uniform.
Most of those present cheered, and we spent a few minutes in congratulations. In the girl's case, it was hugs.
The Commander suddenly glazed over, and went rigid.
"What news Commander?" asked the General.
"It's begun," he said. "They hit the Azgard jump point with six Missile Cruisers and fifteen squadrons of Talons, about half an hour ago. Rear Admiral Woolsey is dead, as is most of his command. The news was spread by a few Bounty Hunters. Those who survived, have fallen back to Azgard itself." He turned to me. "You were correct, they're headed for the planet Azgard, not the Cobol jump point."
Twenty Six
On the way to the conference, James McLauchlan peppered me with questions about what I wanted to achieve with my drone ideas, and w
hy we had designed things certain ways. He pointed out a few things that wouldn’t work, and some I'd not considered.
I asked him about the Battleship guns. Would it actually be feasible to mount a turret of three on the top of each Cruiser and convert them into Pocket Battleships? The question left him speechless for a minute. The Pocket Battleship was something done in the early nineteen hundreds to avoid ship size restrictions placed after the end of a war. By mounting Battleship guns on a smaller hull, you ended up with a faster more heavily armed ship than was normally feasible. In the centuries since, it had only been done a hand full of times. Although technically, I mused, they might be a Monitor class ship, since the Monitor ships had only a single Battleship turret on them. Nah, I thought on, Pocket Battleship sounds much sexier.
He came back with reasons why it wouldn’t work, all of which he contradicted himself, without giving me the chance to say anything. He promised to look into it. I suggested removing the Bridge area completely, using it as a turret site, and giving the turret its own power plant. He gaped at me, missed the next turn in the corridor, and walked solidly into the wall. As he picked himself up, his mind was going at full speed and I don’t think he even felt any pain. I told him it was a secondary priority, after the rest of the work was done. He told me it wasn’t that simple. The specifications would need to be redone.
He begged off the conference, and left in a hurry.
The actual conference was a repeat of the two previous ones. With the exception that immediately after the introductions, a late breakfast was served. Given the way General Wellington ate, I suspected she hadn't eaten since the night before, the same as I hadn't.
We were interrupted just after eleven with the news that Azgard Orbital station was under assault.
Barely had we finished the battle feeds, when lunch was served. Discussion raged up and down the table while we were eating.
Just after one, the news that the Azgard Orbital station had fallen to the enemy arrived. While not unexpected, it seemed to have a huge depressing effect on most of those at the conference. The General calmed people down, and set them back on track.
She looked at me, and motioned towards the door. We both stood, and headed out, her aide, and Jane, following. A short time later, we were seated in her office.
Send in the Hero (The Hunter Legacy Book 3) Page 17