by T. J. Jones
“Right, so we’ve studied the nebula and we think we can rig up a booster system for the shuttles to use their ramscoops with a boosted magnetic field for projection amplification to essentially spread the field out. It will take Tia some time to fabricate the boosters and modifications to the shuttles after she’s done rigging the enemy shuttles. We think this boost in performance coupled with the ship’s own systems should be able to expand the perimeter of the nebula by a substantial amount.”
Mary Jo entered a few commands on the console and a dashed yellow line billowed out from the edge of the nebula to indicate the projected new boundaries. “From here to here.”
Adrian nodded. “Great, and now what about the mass teleport problem?” He was pretty impressed.
Mary Jo shifted. “There’s a solution, I think. But, it’s kind of extreme and I’m not sure how much you’re going to like it.”
Adrian placed both hands on her shoulders. “Right now I need anything you’ve got. Any options are better than none. I can’t risk the crew for a boarding action. So tell me what you’ve got.”
She nodded and took a deep breath, and then she called up a graphic of a series of shuttles between the ship and the enemies’ diamond-shaped vessel. “Right, so it’s possible to daisy chain the teleport stream. But in order to maintain field integrity through nebula interference, we need a substantial boost in energy.”
“Tap into the warp core directly?”
“We considered that, but the results weren’t nearly potent enough,” Jarod interjected.
“I need the QT Drive.”
Then her plan clicked into place for him. It made sense now. Use the power and the enhanced GN particle saturation rates to augment the teleportation systems output, grab their folks and tight wave QT them back to the ship using the shuttles as point-to-point amplifier beacons.
“Mary Jo, you’re a genius. How long to make this all ready?”
She shrugged. “Well, Tia said the QT drive should be ready within an hour. Maybe two.”
Adrian turned back to the graphic. “Those shuttles will be sitting ducks out there. We’ll need to make sure we buy them plenty of time with the fighters and bombers. One shuttle down will break that chain and we risk losing everything.”
“Good work, guys. We needed this.” He patted Mary Jo and Jarod both on the backs. “Carry on.” He trotted out of the lab and beelined for the fighter hangar. It was a flurry of activity as Ben was directing ordnance loading and munition transports for the Bombers. The fighters were currently undergoing maintenance.
“Commander,” Ben greeted him as he trotted over. “What can I do for you?”
Adrian glanced around. “I need you to prep one of the birds for me.”
“Sir?”
“I need one of your birds for the strike.”
“You’re planning to sortie with us?”
“Commander, can I have a word with you in private?” Jarod asked. Adrian flinched. Did Jarod follow him?
Adrian rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back.” He turned and followed Jarod to a corner. “Commander, did I just hear you right?”
“Yep.”
“Need I remind you of Regulation Nineteen dash One?”
“Nope.”
“Yet you still intend to go?”
“Well, technically I’m not actually the ship’s captain. That rule would apply to Captain Garrett, not me.”
Jarod did not look amused. “As the next senior-most ranking officer in the senior staff, it’s my duty to ensure you are able to perform your duties as senior officer safely. Risking your life needlessly by flying in this mission runs counter to the regulation and to common sense.”
“What do you want me to do, Jarod? Sit on my ass? I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m just running on my gut. Doing what feels right. The ship needs someone who knows what he’s doing. That’s you. I need you here to watch over them.” Adrian watched Jarod mentally chew on his words, giving them consideration.
“What is your plan?”
“How’d you know I had one?”
“One does not quote Sun Tzu in his mission brief and not have a plan.”
“Heh, fair ‘nuff. Alright, so I was speaking to Dekav, and it sounds like we could get some inside help. But he needs access to their ship. So he and I will be taking a two-seater Hornet out and help those bombers punch a hole in their hull for the shuttles to beam our folks out.”
“And?”
“While that’s going on, he and I are going to board their ship, access their quantum communication network, and radio his allies.”
“You intend to shift the balance in our favor?”
“Absolutely. If his people show up, we can force these guys to back down and leave. Make them deal with his people and leave us alone.”
Jarod’s jaw set firmly. Adrian could tell he wasn’t a fan of his plan but he understood it greatly helped their chances out. “Very well. I won’t object. One other thing, if I may.”
Adrian shrugged. “Anything.”
“If you can in some way disrupt their ship from the inside, it would provide us with an opportune moment tactically to take the upper hand.”
“I knew I liked the way you think.”
Jarod turned and exited the hangar, leaving Adrian to link back up with Ben. “Alright, now here’s what I need.” Adrian laid out his plan for the fighter and Ben gestured to one of the heavy interceptors. “Sure, take that one over there. She’ll do all you need and more.”
“Thanks, Ben, I owe ya.”
“Just get us home and I’ll call it even.”
“Deal.”
With that sorted, all Adrian had to do now was go fetch Dekav and brief him. Things were progressing along smoothly now. He wanted to get the mission underway as soon as they could. While he was enjoying the ambiance of the nebula outside their windows and so on, he dreaded what was lying beyond it.
“I want you to join me on this,” Adrian finished. He’d just pitched his idea to invade the alien ship and call for help from his people using the enemy’s comm grid. It was risky, but if they answered, it wouldn’t matter. Dekav was seated on the floor with his legs crossed, running a hand softly over the plush carpeting of the lounge.
“It’s so smooth in here. It’s a sensation I am unused to. On the Truth and Jubilation, everything is hard, polished and cold. But this vessel is different. Comfortable.” He stood up with his white battle staff. “I would be honored to join you in battle.”
Adrian grinned. “Good. We may even find out how good a shot you are. Meet me down at the hangar in an hour and we’ll make our final preparations to stage the attack on the enemy ship. If we can pull this off, we’ll not only get our people back but put your people in a good position to hit those assholes where it counts — nice and hard.”
Dekav shook his head. “We can go now.”
Adrian nodded. “Good to hear.”
After a quick tutorial on how to handle the weapons controls of the fighter, Adrian taught Dekav how to don their flight suits. He collapsed his battle staff down and tucked it into a thigh holster and Adrian stuffed a phased pistol into his own. He gave Ben, who was loading into his own fighter, a thumbs up.
“This is Commander Rain. Ready down here.”
“Lt. Tiaahl on the bridge. All the pieces are ready.”
“Alright, Bridge, let’s get underway.”
The hangar’s hard doors peeled away revealing the shimmering blue force field keeping the hangar atmosphere inside. The fighters and interceptors lifted up first and pushed through, followed by the bombers, then shortly after by the shuttles that had been retrofitted, and then by the enemy shuttles that had been commandeered.
“Initiate stage two,” Tiaahl said over the comm.
The Odyssey’s ramscoops began shoving massive amounts of the dense nebula gasses outward into the black void of space, creating a small trail of the nebula extending outward and covering the advance of the small fleet of craft l
ike a rolling fog. As the Odyssey began to push the gasses forward, so too did all the modified shuttles, generating a considerable sized bubble of the nebula that was extending the cover. The visual cover was only part of it. If they needed the offensive punch, they could detonate the nebula gasses and cause immense kinetic damage to the enemy ship, potentially even destroying it if they were able to get the right hit.
“Alright, Star Lancers, let’s get to work,” Ben said over the comm. The sleek silver frames of the Hornets fell into formation ahead of the boxier shuttles. The B-1 class bombers fell in behind the fighters and in front of the shuttles. Adrian noted the first shuttle was already setting up in position.
“Link 1 in position. Going live.”
“Confirmed,” Jarod Tiaahl announced from the bridge of the Odyssey.
He glanced over to Dekav who was seated stationary watching. “You ready?”
Dekav turned back to him. “I am, yes.” His teal feline like eyes shimmered against his pale silver skin.
“Alright, then hang on,” Adrian said with a grin.
The Hornets swooped down onto the massive diamond-shaped ship and let loose several volleys of Kestrel missiles. Some even used their phased autocannons. Adrian’s bird was the last of the formation and delivered its payload square on the mark and veered about to make another run, passing the bombers by as he did so.
Dekav checked the sensor read out. “Your attacks are meeting with success. The docent has been either unable or unwilling to devise a counter strategy for your small craft.”
“Yeah, it’s a painful lesson humanity learned in the middle of our own twentieth century. Smaller craft can often hit you harder than the bigger vessels if you aren’t careful.” He glanced back noting the massive hole the bombers had carved out glowing orange hot on the edges. “Besides, it’s the only ace card I’ve got for now.”
“One you have wisely exploited. It also looks as though your attack was focused near the subjugate holding pens.”
Adrian grinned. “Right again.”
“You intend to free your crew? I had suspected as much when you approached me.”
He shrugged uncertainly. “If we can. I’m still hoping we’ve got a little-unused luck on our side because this is going to be one hell of a gamble.”
He wasn’t sure if he could remember any time anyone else had tried this in Alliance history. The Odyssey’s teleporter was rigged for optimum use at about one hundred sixty to two thousand klicks. Its position in the nebula to the diamond ship was about ten thousand plus. So they needed some way of boosting that range.
The Star Lancers made another pass delivering another series of ordnance into the face of the diamond ship.
“Link 2 up and live.”
“Link 3 in position.”
All vessels were in position. “All ships, all ships. Proceed to phase three of the mission,” Jarod Tiaahl announced. Adrian looked intently deep into the nebula and could see a bright green glow start to shine through. The QT drive was spinning up. Now it fell to the shuttles to channel and boost the signal.
“Transport 1, we are full. Returning to base”
He exhaled deeply and there was cheering across the battlenet. He slapped Dekav on the shoulder. “Ya ready, big guy?”
“Yes.”
His fighter broke formation and wove in and out of the other ships with a delicate grace, Adrian’s hands smoothly working the controls and the fighter responding to him.
Dekav smiled. “You miss this don’t you?”
Adrian shrugged. “Sort of. I mean. I think? That wasn’t really an answer was it?” He laughed.
He tipped his wing to the returning transport with a wave. “I do miss it. Though I’m starting to accept where I am. I’m just glad I could do this.”
His thoughts were interrupted by a stream of charged energy lancing outward from the enemy ship. He straightened up and caught against his harness. “Look alive, Lancers. The enemy is returning fire. They must be onto us.”
It was a pretty wild fire, like they were just pointing and shooting blindly. The sleek hornet frames all tightened up their formations. The bulkier bombers had all gone back to the ship to rearm. Their primary mission over, they would return with more munitions and just attack with prejudice, trying to wound the enemy as deeply as possible.
“Alright, I think it’s time we get in there.”
“Agreed,” Dekav added.
Adrian’s Hornet fell out of formation and made for a direct approach. He ducked and weaved around the empire’s beam weapon attacks. Finally, he took the fighter in for a landing. The fighter jolted when the mag locks gripped the enemy hull. “We’re fixed. Alright. We’ve only got one shot at this so let’s make it count.”
He activated the fighter’s own emergency teleporter and they materialized inside the enemy ship. “Alright, how long before we’re detected?”
Dekav pursed his lips in thought. “Difficult to say. The battle outside should keep them squarely occupied.”
“Alright, then let’s get moving. You take the point, and I’ll watch your back.”
Dekav nodded and his pearl white staff telescoped to full length and the large end opened up into a three-pronged weapon barrel. Some kind of energized gauss system, if Adrian were to guess.
“Sweet.”
Dekav smiled. “It is rather impressive. I confess.”
Chapter Twelve
Truth and Jubilation
Adrian and Dekav slowly crept through the corridors of the Holy White Empire capital ship Truth and Jubilation. The ship rocked steadily from warhead strikes care of Ben’s attack squadron and by Adrian’s chrono, the bombers should be back for a second helping of “Fuck You, Bad Guys.” Dekav pushed them both back behind a corner and held a finger to his lips to hush Adrian.
A security patrol marched by the two invaders. They both watched it pass them by silently. Four elites like Dekav but dressed differently. Adrian glanced to Dekav questioningly. Would they join us? Dekav shook his head unsure. Once the troops were out of earshot Dekav whispered to him, “This is the Truth and Jubilation. The flagship of the empire. Any elites siding with you here would risk being put down on the spot without sufficient aid.”
“That’s why we’re going to send your message?”
Dekav nodded to him. “Exactly. My people need to know there is another way. A new dawn on the horizon for the empire.”
“Aren’t you some kind of religious figure? Wouldn’t that give you some extra weight to your message?”
“It will, but it has to be heard by all. My people have felt the oppressive weight of the false prophets for some time now. We have all been thinking it but few have been brave enough to speak out.”
Adrian clapped Dekav on his black tunic. It kind of reminded Adrian of almost a fancy looking version of an old western duster, cinched up at the waist by a belt. Two large metal cups protected his shoulders. Apparently whatever kind of monk he was, they were also no strangers to fighting. Good. Adrian could use that now.
When they rounded a corner, they turned smack into a group of Loerian soldiers. These looked more like humanoid insects compared to the pale skinned elites like Dekav. He and Dekav exchanged glances and the Loerians looked equally confused. Adrian gave Dekav a nod. Fight! The two reared back and struck the nearest Loerians in the face. They reeled back and two others stepped forward.
“Halt!” one shouted reaching for his sidearm. Adrian reached out grabbing his wrist while sidestepping the weapon. Another Loerian was now in his opponent’s field of fire. Adrian struck him in the throat while twisting his wrist, and the weapon was wrenched free. The Loerian was thrown over his shoulder immediately after toppling two more.
“Commander, I had no idea you were so adept at hand-to-hand combat.”
Adrian grinned. “Let’s just say,” he paused to side step several blows from the first insectoid he’d punched, “that I used to get into my fair share of bar fights.”
“What is a
bar?”
“It’s a place where folks go to socialize and kill brain cells.” Adrian torqued another antenna head down and kneed him in what should have been a rib cage for a human. He felt a crack. Good enough for government work. He dropped the wounded Loerian to the ground as Dekav scooped up their comm devices. As they left the pile behind in the corridor Dekav smirked. “You’ll have to have to take me to this ‘bar’ someday.”
Adrian forced himself to laugh silently. They were nearing the first waypoint. He took a knee and checked in. “Commander Rain to Odyssey. Strike Team at waypoint 1. Proceeding with a mission. How copy?”
“Waypoint 1 reached, proceeding with the mission,” Jarod Tiaahl repeated his report.
“Ship status?”
“As anticipated, we were unable to teleport the entire crew complement out in one sitting. Our solution has been to grab groups large enough to fill up the transport shuttles and run them in loops, emptying the shuttles and filling them up in cycles. We’ve recovered a third of the missing complement.”
“Great work, Jarod, keep it up. Rain out.”
“Let’s finish our mission and be gone from here with haste.”
“Agreed.” Adrian stood up and glanced around gesturing for Dekav to take the lead.
The duo lightly trotted down a long stretch of the corridor and then ducked into a comms chamber. There were too many crew in here to take out quietly. That meant a shootout. Adrian sighed. He was hoping to make this a clean in and out. One of the enemy crewmen tried to be Fast Hands Andy but took a high energy round to the chest from Dekav’s staff.
The air hung with morbid anticipation as the remainder of the crew weighed their options. A few ducked behind consoles while the remainder drew their weapons and fired at him and Dekav. The two bunkered down behind a console as sparks showered down on them from weapon strikes. Adrian held his pistol resolute while Dekav seemed to be just as placid. He wondered how much combat one has to see before he becomes serene about it.
“I’m just as scared as you are, Commander, but like you, I’ve learned to put that fear in another place. To respect it.”