by T. J. Jones
Adrian watched as the missiles struck the shields and then ejected the warhead behind the shield screen into the hull. Like an old sabot round.
“Penetrator rounds have all made contact. Enemy ship has several hull breaches. Still pushing its attack, however,” Tiaahl reported.
“Damn, what can we do to get them to back off?”
The ship lurched violently, slowing down to a near crawl. “Direct hit to subluminal drives,” Tiaahl announced.
“That’s gonna piss off Tia something fierce,” Adrian said.
The ship rocked a few more times and main power fell. “Offensive and defensive systems are down. Main power is offline. Switching to reserves. Ma’am, we’re dead in the water and I’m reading small vessels approaching.”
“Boarding parties,” Solamen said. “I’ll go make sure we have a security detail and marines posted on every deck and make sure we put the civilian rings on lock down.”
“Do it,” Lara ordered.
He nodded and left the bridge at once.
Adrian made his way to the weapons locker and opened it up. He began to remove pistols and load them with battery caps. “There’s a strong chance they’ll make a move for the bridge. Try and take us out of the equation.” He handed a pistol to Tiaahl. “Here. We’ll probably need these.”
It still felt awkward arming him, but they trusted the ship to him and he had done an exceptional job so far despite the overwhelmingly powerful nature of the enemy ship. He went on the bridge handing out weapons and fell back in next to Lara’s side.
“Now all we can do is wait for hell to come for us.”
Lara looked at him. He could tell she was feeling as lost and clueless as he was. She glanced over to Mary Jo. “Can you get anything about the enemy on those ships? Anything we can use?”
She nodded. “I can try and route some remaining backup power through to bring the sensor grids up. I won’t need much.”
“Do it.”
“Captain Garrett to sick bay.”
“Doctor Dorren here. What do you need, Captain?”
“We’re expecting uninvited guests, Doctor. I’d suggest you do something to bunker down.”
“Understood, thanks for the heads up, Captain. Doctor Dorren out.”
Lara rounded the tactical station and input her command access code. “Computer, initiate security lockdown.”
The computer chirped and replied, “Command code accepted. Security lockdown in effect. Only authorized personnel will have access to the lifts and corridors. All quarters and entry points will have level three force fields activated.”
Lara nodded and looked at the main screen. “There, that should slow them down. Give our people a fighting chance.” She stepped back around to the front of the bridge and turned to face them all. There were many worried faces in her staff. All save Adrian. He wore his concern differently. The calm in the storm.
“I know this mission was supposed to turn out a lot different. We were supposed to be at Deep Space 1 hours ago. However, here we are. In the ass end of space with a broken engine. Facing down an assault from a hostile and better-armed enemy force. They intend to board this ship. Engage us at close proximity. We are staring down a shitstorm, folks. I don’t intend to lay down and take it, though. Mary Jo, as soon as you have something useful, I want to know. Trident see what you can do with the maneuvering thrusters. Buy the ship as much time as you can. Jarod, get the fighters on those boarding craft. See if they can give us some breathing space too. Have the bombers load up with capital ship strike packages and get them back out there. We’re still in this fight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Seven
The Truth and Jubilation
Command Deck
Docent Vay was pacing his command position to prevent himself from collapsing into an uncontrollable rage. The subjugate ship was proving far more difficult to stop than he had expected. They were making him look like a fool. That was intolerable. Once his slavers returned with them, he would make examples of them for those already in the pens. His mercy had run its extent.
“Hull damage at twenty-four percent. Damage control teams have already been dispatched,” one of the bridge staff announced.
He waved the verbal report off and went back to fuming about the situation. How had these pink skinned subjugates amassed such technology? The subjugate worlds were all kept in technological dark zones to stagnate their growth and keep them servile. If they had access to their own technology, they would start thinking of sedition, rebellion and insurrection. That was intolerable for the empire. They protected subjugates, provided for them. Throwing that away would be a disgrace to the gesture of solidarity the empire made to them. For their service, they treated them to some of the benefits of membership in the empire. One could try to rise through the castes. It was rare but still possible provided a caste member displayed favorable qualities.
The fact that this vessel before his own was not only on almost the same level technologically but also as immense as it was concerned him greatly. Was there some sector the empire had not reached? Were there non-subjugated traversing the stars free of empire membership? Vay intended to rectify the situation with haste.
“Tacent Cor. How goes the operation?”
The tacent hesitated before speaking. “There’s been some delay due to the inherent strength of the enemy vessel, Your Holiness. We hadn’t anticipated it being as capable or formidable as it is.”
The docent nodded. He assumed as much.
“We have, however, finally crippled their vessel. It won’t be long now before the first shuttles of slavers begin to return.”
Vay bowed his head and the tacent returned to his duties. The tacent was very dedicated to his service. He may even one day become a docent himself once Vay earned his next position. Such an honor would befit the tacent.
Speaking of honor, where was the honor less dog? “Tacent, where is Acolyte Dekav?”
“He requested assignment to the boarding parties, Your Holiness. He wanted to see the pink skins up close and be the first to greet them to the empire on our behalf.”
The docent fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Fine. It got him off my command center at least.”
“Yes, it did, Your Holiness.” Tacent Cor acknowledged and returned to leading the combat efforts.
Acolyte Dekav sat silently on the crew bench of the slaver shuttle as it rocked back and forth. The enemy fighters were no doubt doing strafing runs trying to prevent the slaving ships from reaching their vessel. He could hear the pilots frantically calling for help from the Truth and Jubilation. Many went unanswered. His own shuttle’s shields were holding well. The pilots were using the enemies’ own vessel as a barrier.
“Activating mag clamps. And we’re fixed,” the pilot declared. He rose slowly as the troops stood up and waited for the breaching device to cut through the enemy ship’s bulkhead.
The officer at the front waited with his hands up. “Clean breach.” He gestured forward and the troops filed through behind the officer. Dekav hopped out onto the deck himself. The air was clean, breathable. The corridors were tans and scarlet with gray on the floor. It was comfortable, soft, and cushioned under his feet. Peculiar. He had never known a vessel to be so accommodating. Chaos filled the alien ship’s corridors as imperial slavers and assault marines attacked. Energy rounds churned the air into superheated ozone.
The smell of the bulkhead plating scorched by missed shots, and injured or dead troops littering the corridors lent a smell of burnt flesh that clung to the acrid odor burning the sinuses. Panicked shouts echoed under the sound of weapons fire up and down the corridors.
He sensed a great amount of fear and unease on the ship. These people were frightened. Rightfully so as well. He had enough of the empire’s war mongering. Enough of the false prophets. He responded to the will of the gods alone.
“K’Tamhun Goddess of Hunters, bless that my hands be steady, my will be true, and my feet
be swift. Should the worse come to pass, grant me forgiveness.”
The first intersection he stepped into he saw a squad of Holy White Empire troops firing on the defenders of the ship. He stepped up behind the nearest soldier and smashed his helmeted head into the bulkhead. The soldier crumpled. He used his staff to knock one off his feet then smashed his staff down onto the soldier’s torso incapacitating him. I do this for the gods, he reminded himself.
The defenders took out two more soldiers leaving just the officer leading them. He resisted Dekav’s attack for a few strikes, but eventually the elite acolyte took him down. When the dust settled, he turned to the defenders who all looked as confused as they felt and nodded to them. Placing his staff on the ground, he knelt down and bowed his forehead to the floor. One of them approached with some type of weapon pointed to him.
Give me your blessing K’Tamhun.
He looked up and saw the boots of the man before him. Dekav rose. His skin was a mix of olive and pink. His eyes were dark, as well as his hair and he had an unusual cranial formation below his epidermis. It made Dekav thankful the man had not head butt him.
“Thanks for the assist. I’m Lt. Solamen Kaine. Chief of security aboard this ship. I’m going to assume by your show of force you’re not a hostile.”
“Greetings, Lt. Solamen Kaine. I am Acolyte Dekav. A former patriot of the Holy White Empire and a speaker of the gods’ will. I’ve come to seek asylum aboard your vessel. I can provide your command with tactical expertise and insight into the Empire.”
Sol blinked. “Right. Well if you are willing to help, I’ll get you to the bridge. I’m sure the captain would welcome any help she can get about now.”
Dekav bowed to Sol. “As you wish.”
“This way.” Sol led the elite through a series of winding corridors, keyed in a code and the lift doors opened. “In here. It’ll take us up to the bridge.”
As the lift rose, Dekav casually examined Kaine in closer detail.
“Your cranial formation, is that bone?”
“Yeah.”
Dekav nodded. The gods created such fascinating wonders. It would be a disservice to them if the Docent were to ruin their creation by subjugating them. Dekav laid the blame for that solely at the feet of the prophets.
The doors parted and Kaine emerged first. “I found us a friend. He’s one of them. Sort of.” He stepped aside and allowed Dekav to see their leader.
Dekav bowed respectfully. “Greetings. I am Acolyte Dekav, former elite of the White Empire and speaker for the gods.”
“I’m Captain Lara Garrett of the United Stellar Alliance and commanding officer of the USS Odyssey. Thank you for coming forward. We desperately need any information or help you can provide.”
Dekav’s smile was honest and welcoming. “Of course. Where can I start?”
“Your weapons, technology, people, and any kind of weaknesses we might be able to exploit. Anything we can do to buy ourselves some time to repair our ship and escape.”
Dekav’s smile faded. He shook his head and the reality of the situation was sinking in for the defenders. “I’m sorry. The Truth and Jubilation is upon your vessel now. None has stood against it. While the religious cast in our military are capable, my skills only go so far, as did my reach and experience. But I can tell you what I do know.”
“We’ll take anything you’ve got,” Adrian said who was standing next to Lara. “Please.”
Dekav bowed. “Of course. The Holy White Empire is comprised of a variety of races. Many of whom are subjugated. They are the absolute bottom caste. Possession of technology is forbidden to subjugates. It keeps the servant races disarmed. The higher castes usually serve in the military. Seeking out and conquering others. Adding to the subjugate caste. The commander of this vessel, the Truth and Jubilation is Docent Vay. His arrogance is matched only by his ambition. He fancies himself as a potential herald of the gods, but he is a false prophet. Full of self-greed and grandeur.”
“What about their technology?”
“The Truth and Jubilation is a Deacon Class command dreadnaught. Armed with a Tachyon cannon to punch down shields and make boarding easier for the shuttles. Right now you are in the second phase of a typical White Empire skirmish.”
“Second phase, so what’s next?”
“The slavers capture your crew and migrate them back to the Truth and Jubilation.”
“Yeah, we’re trying to prevent that.”
Dekav nodded, understanding the man’s sense of urgency. “There may be a way, but I am uncertain of how effective it will be.”
“Please, Dekav, anything you have,” the captain pleaded.
“A Nadion pulse. Nadion energy is a type of radiation that reacts violently with our technology. It would have to be a particularly powerful pulse to overwhelm the natural shielding on all the soldiers’ gear, but it would render them unconscious or subject them to immense pain.”
“Certainly would make them think twice before continuing this operation,” the man next to the captain said. She nodded to him.
“Ok, Mary Jo, get with Lt. Axoi and start figuring out how you can make that happen ship wide. Everyone else, I think it’s time you made your way to the secondary bridge.”
“Ma’am?” Adrian asked, worry spelled out across his face.
“This is the command center; they’ll be coming to storm this position. It’s doctrinal,” Dekav verified.
“I’ll stay behind and keep them occupied. You guys get to the secondary bridge and resume operations from there. I’ll rejoin you when I can.”
“Ma’am, I strongly disagree with this decision.”
“Relax, Mr. Rain. I trust you to keep the ship running while I play decoy.”
Rain set his jaw in protest but accepted her desires. “Alright, but I’m going on the record against this idea.”
She nodded. “I know, I know. File a report about it later. For now, let’s get our work done.”
Rain approached Dekav and held out his hand. “I’m Commander Adrian Rain. Adrian is fine. C’mon, I’ll show ya down to the battle bridge.”
Dekav bowed with a smile to greet the man and nodded, gesturing for him to lead the way. “Of course, Commander Rain. Please lead the way.”
“Alright folks, let’s get moving. We don’t want to get caught moving around the corridors.”
Solamen input a series of commands on his terminal. “I’ve fortified a route of travel for you. Should be a straight shot there.”
The crew piled into the lift car with Dekav in the back. Before the lift could go, Adrian left it to speak to the captain quietly. He was concerned about her — afraid of what might happen. Dekav noted he disliked not being able to have more control over the situation. It was a shared sentiment among the crew. They spoke briefly then he returned looking as displeased about the situation.
“Battle bridge,” Commander Rain said. The car went into motion. When the doors parted, revealing hell on the ship.
Chapter Eight
“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
USS Odyssey
Time: 15 minutes after first contact with the Truth and Jubilation
Adrian still wasn’t happy about the idea of leaving the captain on the bridge. Just what exactly was she thinking? Still, he had his orders to get the rest of the crew to the battle bridge. As he thought about it, he knew where it was located but realized he hadn’t actually been to it. During the design phase of the Odyssey, Her design included more features than just her QT drive. The Battle bridge was set deeper into the vessel behind an armored block on the secondary hull. In extreme combat situations, the secondary hull could detach from the main hull to serve as a smaller unencumbered assault craft. This design included the families and scientific personnel on board in consideration. The primary or secondary hull could serve as a massive lifeboat while the combat portion went to work.
He just never expected the
y would need to use it so soon into the ship’s voyage or in this fashion. Now, they had an enemy force in their corridors fighting off security and the marines. Bolts of charged energy were flying around as though the old wars of the mid-twentieth century had come for a visit personally. He drew his pistol and led the bridge staff from the front with their alien guest Dekav, the religious turncoat from the White Empire, bringing up their rear.
He fired rounds whenever he thought he had a clear shot but kept his focus on moving the bridge staff. He was so focused on pushing through the chaos; he didn’t notice a team of slavers hiding around a corner until they had reached out to grab Trident. She yelped and tried to fight back.
“Lt.!” Adrian shouted and rushed backward through the team to help before crumpling into a heap on the ground. Dekav caught him in the stomach with a vicious strike with his pearl white staff. He was shaking his head and pushing Adrian along, away from the slavers. Once they had rounded a corner, Adrian slammed Dekav against the wall, the muzzle of his phased pistol against Dekav’s temple.
“Whose side are you on?” Adrian growled.
“Yours,” the alien replied calmly.
“Then why did you stop me? We could have saved her!”
“No. You could not have, and your crew would be less their commander. Your captain is counting on you.”
“Yeah! To get my crew where we need to be. Now I’ve failed. Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to me, I’ve stopped this endeavor from becoming a futile waste. Imagine your failure had you let yourself be captured as well?”
He didn’t realize it but he was trembling. Was he angry with Dekav for stopping him? Or angry with himself for being caught flat footed? He snapped his fist into the bulkhead next to Dekav’s head then paced angrily in a circle.