by Saxon Andrew
Tal smiled and calmly ordered, “Activate the first positional-beacon we launched.”
Jan activated the beacon and reminded Tal, “You know the aliens will detect that beacon.”
Tal nodded and picked up his communicator, “Admiral Ward.”
Greg appeared on the monitor, “We’re leaving the freighter now, Sir. I’ve detected the beacon.”
“Good. Follow your orders, Admiral.”
Tal saw Rachael’s mouth was a tight line except for the left corner being raised. He smiled at her, as she asked, “Inquiring minds want to know.”
“Let’s see if you can figure it out, Rachael.”
Rachael snorted, and Jan glared at Tal with a concerned expression. Tal smiled and ordered, “Jan, drop a beacon.”
“Where?”
Tal’s eyebrows went up, “Directly under the ship, of course.”
Jan rolled her eyes and ejected another beacon. “Don’t activate it until I say so.” Jan nodded slightly as she listened intently as the alien’s communications were growing louder. What was going on?!
• • •
Dan, Mila, and Meghan watched the Epys leave the freighter and Mila sighed, “I wish we were going with them.”
Dan raised a shoulder, “I asked Admiral Talent if we could be assigned to other ships to help out. He turned me down. He told me that he wasn’t going to risk a crew for convenience. We need to be patient; a ship will be brought out to us eventually and we’ll get back in the fight.” They stared out of the freighter’s viewport until the Epys disappeared toward the galaxy below them.
• • •
Greg activated the general frequency, “Three ships will fall in on my portside and the other three will fall in on my starboard side. You will maintain that position until ordered otherwise. Commanders, acknowledge receipt of your orders.” Greg heard the Epy Commanders report in, as he turned the True Blue toward the distant beacon far below in the LMC. He went to full-speed and prayed Tal knew what he was doing. They flashed toward the center of the small galaxy and would arrive in another day. Twelve hours later, Greg heard Joe announce, “Sir. I’m starting to pick up alien communications.”
Greg nodded, “Keep me informed.” Jose turned back to his panel and wasn’t sure what was happening.
• • •
The crews on the Epys rested as much as possible but sleep didn’t come easy. The seven ships arrived at the beacon and Greg turned to Hashura, “Destroy the beacon.” Hashura turned a pulse cannon and exploded it. Greg announced, “All ships start scanning the incoming alien ships and determine if they are using gravity scanners.” Greg forced himself to remain calm and kept his expression neutral. An hour later, Jeremy announced over the wall-speaker, “Sir, I’ve detected twenty-gravity-scanners in the alien fleet. I have no doubt they’ve detected us.”
“All ships will turn and hold position next to my ship. Any ships that break formation will be destroyed! I’m not kidding about this! You will match my speed and not vary, acknowledge receipt of your orders!” The commanders reported in and were stunned when the True Blue flew away from the alien fleet at three-quarters-speed. Greg opened a communication channel to the ShaKa and announced, “Admiral, they have gravity scanners and we’re turning away from them now.”
Tal looked over at Jan, “Activate the beacon under our ship.” Jan pressed a button activating the beacon, then nodded to Tal. Tal focused on the front monitor and heard Greg say, “I have your beacon, Sir.”
“Follow your orders, Admiral.” Tal turned the ShaKa and went to full speed. His eyes were fixed on the monitor and he saw the alien fleet moving closer to the seven Epy warships fleeing from their approach. He also saw the Epys moving in closer to the ShaKa.
• • •
The new alien Supreme Fleet Commander saw the small ships appear on his main-monitor. “Go to maximum-speed!” He immediately ordered. Staring at the monitor, he asked, “What can you tell me about those ships?”
“They’re the same ships we chased before the last attack, Supremacy.”
“Are you certain of that?”
“I am, Supremacy.”
“Is this all the warships this civilization has in this galaxy?”
“I have no way of knowing, Supremacy. But no other ships are inside our detection range.” The Supreme Commander sat back in his chair and saw his fleet was gaining on the small ships. It was only a matter of time now.
• • •
Captain Park appeared on Greg’s monitor shouting, “THIS IS SUICIDE! WE MUST GO TO FULL-SPEED NOW!!”
Greg’s eyes narrowed, as he replied over the general frequency, “Captain Park, if you choose to disobey my orders, I invite you to self-destruct your vessel immediately.”
Park’s anger was immediate, and he reached for the thruster handle, “Sir, I wouldn’t do that.” Park turned to Lt. Crandon. “Four of the True Blue’s pulse cannons have been targeted on our ship and I think the Old-Man is serious.”
Park slammed his fists on the arm of his chair, put his hand on the thruster handle, and turned to Lt, Crandon, “Activate the force field now!”
Tommy’s expression turned angry, “Sir, if I activate the force field this close to the ships next to us, it could kick them out of their phase fields leaving them vulnerable to the alien warships in pursuit. I will not activate the force field and endanger them.”
“I am giving you a direct order, Lieutenant!!”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I will not follow that order.”
Park glared at Tommy, “I will have you up on charges for mutiny!”
Tommy shrugged, “Do what you have to do, Captain! However, I will not put other ships in danger due to your cowardice.” Park took his hand off the thruster handle and screamed his frustration.
Kim looked up from her console, “Sir, the Admiral’s ShaKa is directly ahead of us and we’re going to pass him just before the aliens move into firing range.”
Park’s eyes widened, and Crandon smiled, “I think it would be in our best interests for you to obey your orders, Sir.” Park fell back in his chair and gripped the arms in a death grip.
The other crews heard the exchange and Jeremy announced over the frequency, “You know the Admiral. There’s a reason for this and though we die, the price will be worth it. Do as you’re been ordered!”
• • •
Tal saw the Epys flashing toward the ShaKa and Rachael turned around, “Why did you choose this distance from the Epys, Sir?”
“To make sure they passed us, Lieutenant,” Tal answered.
Rachael rolled her eyes, “Oh! I thought I was missing something!” Tal chuckled, as Rachael pulled the faceplate down on her helmet.
Greg appeared on the ShaKa’s monitor, “Sir. Joe tells me that your ship will be inside the range of the front alien ships in less than three minutes. We’ll pass you in two minutes, thirty seconds. Please allow us to slow them down!!”
“Negative, Admiral. Follow your orders!” Greg lowered his eyes and disappeared from the ShaKa’s monitor.
“Sir!” Greg looked up at Joe. “We’re going to pass a small group of asteroids in less than three minutes.” Greg nodded and glanced at the thruster handle. He exhaled sharply and maintained three-quarter-speed.
The Epys blew by the ShaKa and flashed through a large gap in the asteroids. The ShaKa approached the asteroids and a brilliant blaster beam flashed by the ShaKa’s portside. The alien’s lead ships were now in range and were starting to target the ShaKa. The ShaKa flashed in on the asteroids and Tal shouted, as Rachael reached for her console, “HOLD YOUR FIRE, LIEUTENANT!” Rachael jerked her hands away from her console. She had three-alien-warships locked in her targeting system. She held her breath and knew it was hopeless.
The ShaKa blew past the four-large asteroids and Jan’s console started a loud repetitive pinging. Jan jerked her head to her console and fell back in her chair, as she said, “OH…MY…GOD!!”
Rachael heard her and looked in
her targeting helmet. She jerked her eyes to the top left of her faceplate and smiled. The pinging sound was coming from transponders used on Earth’s warships.
• • •
The alien fleet roared in at maximum speed and suddenly, four-giant-ships rose above the largest asteroids. They opened fire on the incoming alien warships and the beams leaving them were incredible. The four-Alpha-Warships had three-hundred heavy blasters on their hulls and the energy pulses fired from them weren’t balls of energy like most pulse cannons. They were a mile long and brighter than the monitors could handle. The pulses were separated by a small distance between them and they ripped into the front of the alien fleet. The beams instantly demolished the alien’s phase fields and hit the ships inside them causing massive explosions.
Tal activated the communicator, “Admiral Ward, send half your ships over the top and the others under the alien fleet. Attack any enemy warships attempting to evade.”
“YES, SIR!”
• • •
The Supreme Fleet Commander was in the third layer behind the front lines. He watched the ships in front of his flagship being decimated and he wondered if his time commanding a fleet would be the shortest in the military’s history. He didn’t have long to wonder. He died twelve days after he assumed command of the alien fleet.
The Alphas fired a withering barrage of pulses at the alien fleet and the rear ranks of the alien formation turned and fled back toward the Pinwheel Galaxy. Admiral Kohl appeared on Tal’s monitor, “Sir, the alien’s ships are retreating. Do you want us to give pursuit?”
“No, Admiral. Let them go.”
“Large numbers of their warships aren’t completely destroyed. Do you want my ships to finish them?”
“No, Admiral; call off your attack and move your Alphas to the freighter to resupply your vessels.”
“Sir, we didn’t use any missiles during this attack and we do not need to be resupplied,” Admiral Kohl responded.
“Take your ships to the freighter and wait for me there.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Tal watched the four-Alpha-Warships turn and disappear in an instant. Tal couldn’t take his off his monitor showing the vast field of dead and dying alien warships. He lifted his communicator, “Admiral Ward, call off your ships and return to the freighter.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Tal remained staring at his monitor for thirty minutes and wondered how many had died in the alien fleet. He finally exhaled sharply, turned the ShaKa, and left the carnage behind.
Chapter Twenty
The ShaKa landed in the freighter’s landing bay and saw the four Alphas surrounding it. Tal shut the generators down and said over his shoulder, “Jan, order Captain Park to report to my ship immediately.”
Rachael looked up from her console and said, “Uh-oh.”
Tal turned to her, “You may leave if you’d like.”
Rachael shook her head, “Oh-no! I wouldn’t miss this.” Tal rolled his eyes slightly and Jan kept her seat; she wanted to see this as well.
Park walked across the landing bay and saw the other Epy crews staring at him in silence. It was clear the confrontation he had with his crew had been heard by the others. He ignored them and walked in silence toward the Admiral’s ship. It was the Admiral’s fault! He should have been informed about the ambush and he wouldn’t have been placed in this situation. He entered the ShaKa’s open bay door and walked to the bridge. The Admiral had his chair turned around and was staring at him as he entered. Park walked to the center of the bridge and saw a chair in front of the Admiral. He started to go to attention and Tal said, “Take a seat, Captain!”
Park lowered his hand from making a salute and sat down in the chair. The Admiral was leaning back in his chair with his hands resting on his stomach. He raised his right hand and extended his index finger. Jan activated the large front monitor behind Tal. Park turned his attention to it and he saw himself in the confrontation with his crew. His eyes narrowed, and his entire body stiffened up. Tal stared at Park in silence and Jan froze the recording at the precise moment Lt. Crandon refused to follow Park’s-second-order to activate the force field. Park noticed his left hand was still on the thruster controls. Tal continued to stare at him in silence and Park said stiffly, “This wouldn’t have happened if you had told us about the ambush!!”
Tal nodded, “That’s true.”
“There was no reason for you to have kept that information from us! You placed me in an untenable position!”
Tal sat up straight and fixed his eyes on Park’s face. “Captain, if any of the ships fleeing the alien’s fleet had changed course, even slightly, the aliens would have spread out to cut our ships off from escaping. The officers commanding the Epys under my command are aggressive and will jump into an attack at the first opportunity. If any of them knew the Alphas were at the asteroids, some of them would have changed course to reenter the fight. The alien warships in their ranks would have seen them and spread out their formations. I couldn’t afford to run that risk and I made the decision not to tell my officers about the Alpha ambush.
Park stared at Tal in silence and Tal lowered his chin, “I’m explaining this to you to make sure you understand that there is no situation you’re placed in that relieves you of your responsibility to follow your orders. You have demonstrated that you are a coward and have no regard for the safety of the crews you serve with. You would have willingly activated your force field, even if it led to other ships in your formation being destroyed, simply to save yourself.”
Park looked at the monitor and saw his hand still on the thruster handle. His eyes narrowed, and he almost decided to challenge the admiral on his decisions…but…then he remembered that the Admiral was one of highest ranked assassins in the colonies. He deflated and looked into the admiral’s face, “I lost it under pressure, Sir.”
Tal was surprised at Park’s response. He saw the Captain was going to challenge him but backed off. He wondered why but decided not to string this out any longer. “Yes, you did, Captain. I am relieving you of your command and I’m going to offer you two options. You may choose either and will be responsible for the consequences of your choice.”
Rachael glanced at Jan and raised her eye brows. This sounded very familiar.
“What are they, Sir?”
“Option number one is that you will keep your rank and I will put a note in your file that you never be given command of a warship again. I will not include the reason I chose to do this in your file, and this recording will remain a secret.”
“What’s the second option.”
“You challenge my decision and refuse to accept the entry into your file.”
“What happens if I do that, Sir?”
“I will have you arrested immediately, thrown in the brig, and call for a court martial when you return to Earth. You will be accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy, treason, mutiny, and deliberately endangering the lives of the sailors serving with you.” Tal paused and pointed at the monitor over his shoulder with his thumb, “The recording we’ve just seen will be exhibit A in your prosecution.”
Park was shaken, and he asked, “Why are you giving me an option?”
Tal leaned back in his chair, “If I show this recording of your actions to a board-of-inquiry, they are going to find you guilty and it might cost you your life. However, they will also see your weapons officer refusing, two times, to follow a direct order. Your trial will cause him to be stripped of his commission and kicked out of the Navy. Even though he did the right thing, he broke discipline to prevent you from causing massive harm to the ships around you.” Tal leaned forward, and his eyes bore into Park’s, “If I could make you pay for your actions, I would gladly do it! But not at the cost of punishing an officer for doing the right thing. What’s your decision?!”
“I chose option one, Sir.”
Tal nodded, “You’re dismissed, Captain. Report with your crew to Captain Sager and ask if there are any d
uties you can help with on this ship.” Park stood up and walked out of the ShaKa’s bridge. Tal watched him leave and heard Rachael comment, “I’d have fried him!!”
Tal shook his head, as he exhaled and said calmly, “It would have sent the wrong message.”
“How do you come up with that, Sir?”
“Rachael, if I prosecuted Park, it would have sent a clear message that no officer under my command could ever fail to follow their orders for fear to retaliation.”
Rachael’s mouth pursed and then she retorted “I would think that’s exactly what you’d want.”
“I don’t want my officer’s wisdom and experience taken away from them by removing their ability to make good command decisions, Rachel. How many times in history has someone that committed outrageous crimes used the defense, ‘I was simply following my orders’?”
“Tal, you can’t have it both ways.”
“I recognize that, Rachael. Being forced to follow orders is the backbone of military structure. But just as Lt. Crandon discovered, sometimes you have to disobey them.”
“He’d be crucified either way, Sir.”
“That’s the price of being a soldier, sailor, or warrior, Rachael. Those commanding our warriors need to keep in mind the fine line they’re forced to walk and try to keep them out of trouble.”
“So, you don’t punish one who deserves it to prevent punishing one who doesn’t?” Rachael asked.
“If you think Park is walking out of this unblemished, you’re wrong. I won’t put anything in his file about this event, but the other crews he endangered will get the word out on who he is. I suspect he won’t remain in the service much longer. He certainly won’t make it his career.”
Rachael stared at Tal and sat back, before affirming, “The same thing would have happened to me if I had chosen option one you offered me.” Tal nodded. Rachael took a deep breath, blew it out slowly, and turned around to her console. She thought about what had just happened and knew she still had some more growing to do.
“Do you have a moment, Sir?”