HADRON Chaos

by Stephen Arseneault

  HADRON

  (Vol. 6)

  Chaos

  By: Stephen Arseneault

  “Once we have a war there is only one thing to do. It must be won. For defeat brings worse things than any that can ever happen in war.”

  Ernest Hemingway

  View the author’s website at www.arsenex.com

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  Read Stephen’s bio here

  Image on cover from www.RolfMohr.com

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  Copyright 2016 Stephen Arseneault. All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  HADRON Chaos (Vol. 6)

  Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

  Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

  Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9

  Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

  Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15

  Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18

  Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21

  Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24

  Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27

  What’s Next Books

  Chapter 1

  *

  Jenny rolled over on the blanket. “You’ve got moss all over your back.”

  Mace lay on his belly, hands up under his chin, gazing at the rushing stream that roiled and dove over round rocks on its way down the mountain.

  “Moss doesn’t grow on a rolling stone.”

  Jenny rolled him over, pulling herself over atop him for a kiss. Several long, joyous seconds of passion were interrupted by the chime of a comm device.

  Jenny sighed as she reached for it. “It’s Johnny this time.”

  “Don’t answer it.”

  Jenny smiled. “He looks concerned.”

  Mace let out a deep breath before sitting up and gesturing. “Hand it to me.”

  Johnny’s image floated over the device. “Sorry to disturb the party, but Jasper says he’s been trying to reach you for twenty minutes.”

  “What’s he need?”

  “There’s been activity at the Karthian rift.”

  Mace frowned. “What kind of activity?”

  Johnny chuckled. “Well, I would suppose it’s the bad kind. He didn’t say, but he looked unhappy.”

  Mace nodded. “Thanks. I’ll comm him.”

  Jane stuck her head around Johnny and grinned. “Hey, Jenny.”

  Jenny smiled. “Hey, Jane.”

  Mace closed the comm.

  Jenny laughed. “They are the nosiest people.”

  Mace placed a comm to the Rogers.

  A new face answered. “Lieutenant French. How can I assist, Mr. Hardy?”

  “What happened to Clive?”

  The lieutenant answered, “Clive decided to move to London, sir. I’m his replacement.”

  Mace stood. “When did that happen? Oh never mind. I need you to open a wormhole comm to King Collins for me.”

  The lieutenant replied, “He’s been trying to contact you for a while now, sir.”

  Mace nodded. “So I hear. And please stop calling me ‘sir.’ Mace or Mr. Hardy is fine.”

  The lieutenant smiled. “Yes, Mr. Hardy. Comm is coming through now.”

  An image of Jasper Collins in his black battlesuit hovered in the air as Jenny brushed moss from Mace’s back.

  “Trouble at the rift?”

  Jasper scowled. “It’s those dumbass Union members. They’ve been busy building cruisers and nuke ships. My spies were watching, but they somehow missed the numbers they were putting together. A fleet of fifteen hundred ships just showed up at the rift. We think they’re waiting for several hundred more, after which they plan to attack.”

  Mace winced. “In those cruisers? They’ll get slaughtered.”

  Jasper nodded. “Exactly. I’ve attempted to hail their command ships, but they aren’t returning my calls.”

  “Well, if they go in and get their asses kicked, it shouldn’t affect us.”

  Jasper shook his head. “Not necessarily true. If the Karthians sense an overwhelming victory, they might think they have a clear shot at the colonies over here. This could bring them through before I have my new fleet at any kind of decent strength.”

  “How’s the buildup coming?”

  “We’ll be at sixty-eight by the end of this week. Fifty-six have been flight tested and crewed. I think they can hold their own against the Karthian ships, but not against that station and whatever that green energy beam is.”

  Mace said, “Well, at least they have to leave that station on the other side.”

  Jasper scowled. “I’m just concerned they’ll figure out how to package that in something smaller that will fit through there.”

  “Well, we haven’t seen any evidence of that yet. What exactly would you like me to do about the situation?”

  Jasper leaned his head to one side. “I don’t know, maybe get your fanny in gear and come out to support us? I know you’re busy with the little lady and all, but I think this needs your attention.”

  Mace nodded. “Fine. I’ll assemble a crew and we’ll head your way. You want us to meet you there or at the rift?”

  “I’m at the rift. Come here directly when you’re ready.”

  “Got it. Will probably need a couple hours to call everyone in.”

  Jasper leaned toward the comm camera. “Do it fast. We may not have a couple hours.”

  The comms went out to the crew of the Rogers. Liam Hobbs was the last to arrive, having to come by skybus from the community center in London. Mace sat in his command chair on the bridge as his senior staff took to their consoles or stood waiting.

  “It seems the old Galactic Union members have assembled a sizable fleet. They’re taking up position at the Karthian rift, massing for an invasion. Our problem is we don’t think they will win. And with the resounding beating that will be coming their way, Jasper and I presume the Karthians may decide to come through the rift, believing they now hold the upper hand.

  “The Targarians have just over five hundred ships now, including about sixty of the Collins class—not nearly as much as we want. So what are we doing with the Rogers, you ask? We’re going to offer whatever assistance we can if the Karthians do decide to come through. If we muster enough ships, we might just dissuade them from following up with an invasion of our space.

  “So I hope you’ve all said goodbye to your spouses and children. This could be a false alarm, or it could be all-out fighting for our survival.”

  The staff of the second and third shifts left the bridge.

  Mace looked around. “Good to see you all here. Wish it was under better circumstances. I hope you all remember how to work those stations. I know it’s been several months for a number of you.”

  Hans replied, “We’ll do our best, Mr. Hardy. Our lives count on it too.”

  Mace gave a nod. “Mr. Hobbs, jump us to the rift. Mr. Mallot, prepare for a full scan. Mr. Mueller, make sure all weapons are charged and ready to fire.”

  Johnny chu
ckled. “What about me?”

  “I don’t know… make sure you’re ready to talk?”

  Johnny grinned. “Always ready to talk.”

  Seconds later, the Rogers moved into the area of the rift. A ten minute ride had them within comm range of the Organ Cave.

  Mace asked, “Anything different since we talked?”

  Jasper shook his head. “They haven’t moved. Another two hundred ships have joined up.”

  “Wait. I thought you took all their wormhole generators.”

  Jasper sighed. “I did. Looks as though someone held out. Wouldn’t be the first time with this lot.”

  “Any scans through the rift?”

  Jasper nodded. “Twelve hundred ships at least, from what we can detect.”

  “If they have that many ships at the ready, the Union members might have just done us a favor.”

  “How so?”

  Mace stroked his goatee. “We now know they have at least that. They could invade with that force alone and I’m not sure we could stop them.”

  Jasper turned to one of his aides. “Another two hundred ships are on their way in. The others look to be moving into a formation for attack.”

  Johnny shook his head. “Suicide. They think they’re gonna march that column right past that station? Fat chance.”

  Jane came onto the bridge. “When’s this show getting started?”

  Mace asked, “You got a cake in the oven or what?”

  Jane laughed. “I might. Just wanted to report the reactors are all working at optimum. No maintenance issues to report, which is a first. As far as power goes, this ship is as ready as it could be.”

  Jenny came over the comm. “Drives all at 100 percent.”

  “Sensors are all reporting,” said Humphrey. “No anomalies.”

  Hans finished the report: “Storage wells are all charged and circuits functional.”

  Mace drew a deep breath. “I just want to say that no ship could have a finer crew. And no crew could have a finer ship. If we do go into action, I’m glad you are all on my team.”

  Johnny said, “So you want to take us down with you, is that what you’re saying?”

  Mace nodded as he smiled. “Well, some of you.”

  Jasper said, “Another hundred ships coming in. This gives them two thousand even. Hmm.”

  “What is it?”

  “These latest ships, they don’t look like any of the others. I’ve never seen any like them.”

  Humphrey pushed a visual image to the main display.

  Johnny said, “What do you think that dome on the front is?”

  Mace shook his head. “Haven’t a clue. Jeff? Opinion?”

  Jeff shrugged. “Looks like a big radar dome. Although I don’t know what purpose that would serve.”

  Humphrey said, “The sensors are reporting strange energy readings, Mr. Hardy. It’s like nothing I’ve seen.”

  Humphrey passed another image to the main display. “This is the energy profile for the space surrounding one of those ships. The gravity drives and the remainder of the ship look normal, but that dome is putting out some serious spikes.”

  Jeff nodded. “Some type of shield?”

  Jasper said, “They’re moving to the front of that column. This may be it.”

  Jasper turned to one of his officers. “Admiral Bellok, pass word for all ships to be ready. If anything Karthian comes through that rift, I want it taken out. If the Union pukes want to kill themselves they are welcome. We don’t want the Karthians thinking we are weakened in any way, so we’ll take up the fight on this side.”

  Humphrey said, “The dome ships are in position. The entire column is moving toward the rift. First ships will be passing through in approximately three minutes.”

  Gnaga came onto the bridge. “I believe I know what that is.”

  “Tell us,” said Mace.

  Gnaga zoomed the display in on one of the domes. “I had heard rumors of experiments with dark matter. To date, its only use was to be combined with gatrellium during the formation of wormholes, or in the amplifier plates of gravity drives. Since experimentation other than at Galactic Union labs was prohibited, our scientists conducted all of their work using theoretical properties and formulas. One such theory promised an energy reflector. This may be a result of that.”

  “Aren’t the dampening fields energy reflectors?”

  Gnaga shook his head. “Not at all. The inertial dampening field absorbs energy, dissipating it across the entirety of the field. If this is what I believe it to be, energy weapons—including that green monstrosity coming from the Karthian station—would be reflected back at the source.”

  Johnny smiled. “Now this I wanna see.”

  As the Union fleet approached the rift, several dozen plasma rounds shot through the opening. Bright, fierce looking bolts of lightning shot out from the domes as the plasma made contact. With part of the plasma energy annihilated, the remainder returned toward the firing ships. Without the gravitational containment that held the plasma in a tight sphere, electricity sloughed away from the receding plasma rounds, reducing their power and rendering them inert.

  Johnny raised an eyebrow. “That is one spectacular lightshow.”

  Seconds later, the plasma rounds began to come through in a steady stream. All were reflected, and the heavens were lit with a continuous show of lightning flashes as the Union ships moved forward, the lightning itself seemingly traveling toward the edges of the rift.

  As the first of the domed ships reached the opening, the green energy wave from the Karthian station ripped into the front ships. The green energy turned into bright orange lighting as the majority of the wave was reflected back. Two dozen Karthian cruisers moved forward, holding their weapons fire as they raced toward the domed ships. Hundreds of Union ships opened up at once, first overwhelming the Karthians’ shields and then shredding their hulls. The attacking Karthian ships were obliterated before firing a shot.

  Johnny said, “This is going a bit differently than I imagined.”

  Mace replied, “Give it time. The Karthians just have to figure out a way past those domes.”

  Fifty Karthian cruisers and a dozen dreadnoughts moved into the path of the oncoming column. A thousand small fighter craft were released at once. A gray cloud of fighters moved to intercept the Union vessels. Hundreds of Union ships fired at once, decimating the fighter assault but failing to slow it.

  The fighters reached the Union column just as the second and third row of ships began passing through the rift. The fighters circled in and around the domed ships, attacking at will. Most of a minute passed before the first of the domed ships exploded. Then another set of Karthian ships advanced, releasing another tranche of the small fighter craft. Energy bolts and impact flashes burned brighter than the nearest star as the column pushed forward through the rift.

  Jasper came over the comm. “No fireworks display I’ve ever seen could do this justice. Watching this is both thrilling and terrifying.”

  As the column reached a third of the way through, the Union cruisers following the domes dispersed, engaging the enemy fully. Karthian and Union ships circled each other in a relentless exchange of plasma and laser fire. Because of the close interaction, the great green energy weapon of the Karthians could not be used.

  Humphrey said, “I’m detecting shuttle launches, Mr. Hardy. It seems they’ve adopted our boarding party technique. I count seventy-five Karthian ships already with shuttles attached.”

  Mace sat in awe with his mouth open. “I almost want to join in, but I have a bad feeling about what’s coming. The Karthians have yet to commit all their ships.”

  Jasper said, “Hang tight. We’re moving in for a closer look.”

  “I wouldn’t advise that.”

  Jasper smiled. “Well, you aren’t the king, so you don’t get the final decision.”

  The Organ Cave zipped away, closing rapidly on the tail end of the Union column. Just on the other side, half the known Kar
thian fleet were fighting for their lives. As Jasper and his flagship flew closer, the Karthian station blasted out a green energy wave. The bright blue Collins class vessel attempted to evade but was unsuccessful. The energy wave impacted the dampening field, frying the transducers and blistering their gatrellium skin.

  “Crap,” said Jasper. “Admiral! Take us home!”

  Mace yelled, “Mr. Hobbs! Take us in! Draw fire from that weapon! They can’t take another hit!”

  The Rogers shot forward as the Organ Cave came back their way.

  Jasper said, “Mace, we’ve got a problem. Our wormhole generator took damage. We can’t jump… or turn… or accelerate or decelerate. Our inertial dampening field is non-existent.”

  Mace said, “Just keep coming. Mr. Hobbs, slip us in behind them and open a wormhole to Divinia.”

  Jeff winced. “What about the green wave?”

  “If it comes, we’ll just have to suck it up. Have everyone move in from the outer compartments.”

  Jeff nodded. “On it.”

  “Mr. Hobbs, what’s our ETA?”

  Liam replied, “Twenty seconds.”

  Humphrey yelled, “Detecting an energy buildup! That station is about to fire!”

  Mace squeezed the armrest of his command chair. “Come on! Get us there!”

  An eternity seemingly passed as the ships closed. A bright green ball of energy blasted from the Karthian station on the other side of the rift. The Rogers spun, slowing at first, and then matching and surpassing the speed of the Organ Cave.

  Mace yelled, “Open a wormhole to Divinia! Now!”

  The generator engaged. A tiny tear in space-time opened. The Targarian flagship slipped through just as the green wave caught up to the Rogers. The hull jerked and rumbled, displays flashed and sparked. Power flashed on and off before restarting. The wave dissipated as it moved across the retreating ship.

  Humphrey said, “We have damage reports coming in… and casualties. Gravity drives are at 30 percent. Sixty percent of our reactors are showing instabilities and are shutting down. Dampening field has held, but the wormhole generator is gone.”