“Sensors show enemy mothership weapons charging. These energy readings are off the charts!” said the red-haired woman at the console next to him.
He glanced at her screen. She was right. Hayden looked back out at the enemy mothership. The more Hayden considered it, the worse he felt.
“Show them our starboard and redirect shields to that side!” Hayden shouted. He turned and ran up the steps to the row behind him where Millie stood at her console. “How fast can the ship drop?”
Millie looked at him, her eyes wide. “Don’t let your ego get us all killed.”
“If we don’t do this, we might die anyway. I don’t know how much of a simulation this is right now,” Hayden answered.
“What do you mean?”
“Right now, what I mean is, how fast can the ship accelerate down? Straight down?”
“Fast, but we’ll need to turn up the gravity so everything doesn’t fly to the ceiling. Moving that fast that quick would put too much strain on our inertial dampeners.”
“Get the gravity taken care of and drop on my command.” Hayden turned and shouted, “Navigation, prepare to make an FTL jump on my command! Communications, recall all Mambas now! Everybody else, your only job is to watch that ship for any sign that it’s about to fire!”
Hayden could hear the whispers. He was pulling some stunt—that’s what they thought. But it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Something was wrong and he was the only one who knew it. From the way Captain Ivan was acting, to how many Empire fighters they’d lost, to the way the alien ships looked completely different than anything he’d ever seen, something just wasn’t right. He was following his gut, just like any good captain would.
Hayden rushed down to Captain Ivan, the bridge washed in the red of the planet below. Ivan’s eyes were vacant and he stared straight ahead. “Captain Ivan, come on. Snap out of it. I need your help.”
The captain muttered something under his breath and Hayden missed it. He got closer and Ivan’s hand wrapped itself around his throat.
Hayden jerked back, but it was too late. Captain Ivan had a death grip around his neck, squeezing the air from him. His eyes were a void, and Hayden could tell he had no idea what he was doing. He screamed something, but Hayden couldn’t tell what it was.
Everything got heavier as the artificial gravity went up and Ivan fell to the ground on top of Hayden. Hayden struggled to get back his breath—and the extra gravity wasn’t helping. Two marines came, pulled Captain Ivan off him and sat him in his chair. The captain was unconscious and blood dripped from his head where it’d impacted the ground.
“They’re about to fire!” someone yelled.
The enemy ship had maneuvered to where its port side was facing right at Hayden and the Empire. Two pincher-like sections jutted out from the front of the ship. Between them, a bright light began to glow.
“All the Mambas on board?” Hayden yelled.
“Yes sir!” someone yelled back.
“Millie,” he began, waiting for the glow to brighten. “Drop…” A little brighter. “Right…” Almost blinding. Just a few more seconds. “NOW!”
Chapter Thirteen
All the ship’s engines faced upwards and fired at one hundred percent for a split second. It was enough to drop them well out of the way of the oncoming blast from the enemy ship. The massive white laser soared above them, missing by almost a mile, silent in the vacuum of space.
“Navigation, engage FTL engines!”
“Jumping in three, two, one!”
The ship rumbled, and everything around them seemed to stretch on for miles as if the space around them was being pulled back like a slingshot. The cosmic gods that held the slingshot let go, and the Empire went soaring through space faster than the speed of light.
Hayden sat on the deck, everything around him becoming a bit lighter.
“Artificial gravity back at normal levels,” a cadet announced.
Hayden just sat on the floor in front of Captain Ivan’s chair, staring out the screen. He doubted the rest of the crew realized it, but they’d just encountered the Mortuks for the first time in forty years. He thought he was going to throw up. Everybody and everything swirled around him like a blur. It was as if he was still stuck getting ready to go into FTL, yet everyone else had launched.
“Are you okay?” someone asked.
Millie kneeled next to him. Things got clearer.
“You know what that was, right?” he asked.
Millie sighed, her eyes misting up. “I’m guessing that wasn’t a simulation?”
Hayden nodded his head slightly. “The Mortuks are back.”
“Where are you going?” Millie was practically jogging to keep up with Hayden’s long, fast strides. He was trying his best not to break out into a run.
“I’m checking in on Ben and the rest of the pilots.” Hayden kept his eyes locked on the elevator in front of him.
“Hayden, you should be on the bridge. We should be figuring out what’s going on. You’re the XO, you need to call somebody.”
He reached the elevator and turned to face her. “Ivan is the captain. Have him call somebody.”
“Ivan is still recovering from the shock. He’s in no condition to lead this crew,” she responded.
“Well neither am I, Millie.” Hayden slammed the button to call the elevator. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go see how many cadets I sent to their deaths today.” The doors opened and he stepped in.
Millie stood outside the elevator, looking at Hayden with sad eyes. “It’s not your fault. You thought it was a simulation.”
The doors closed and Hayden was alone for the first time. He waited for the breakdown—for the tears to come. But they didn’t. No matter how badly he wanted it, his body wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a release. He rode the elevator down, his mind replaying the scenes over and over again. The alien ship, the white laser, the ships exploding. The pilots, exploding.
He should’ve known something was up. He shouldn’t have sent the Mambas out. He should’ve realized it wasn’t a simulation. But after a forty-year absence, after hearing about the War Sims his entire life, a Mortuk attack was the last thing he’d expected.
The shock of the Mortuks had broken the Mortukian-Terran Peace Treaty weighed on him. He wondered if the Nivens knew what was going on, though he doubted they would act even if they did, given their legendary neutrality. After the Mortuk War, they’d insisted their space be off limits to the humans and Mortuks—they demanded their privacy. They wanted nothing to do with either race after the bloodshed of that war.
I hope they’re ready to sit back and watch another one.
The elevator opened at the bottom floor. Hayden stepped into chaos. People ran from fighter to fighter, checking damage and effecting repairs. Pilots lay everywhere, medics treating them for burns and scrapes. There weren’t too many major injuries—because everybody who suffered worse was floating through space in pieces a few thousand miles away.
Hayden stood there, feeling more and more empty by the second as he watched the chaos he’d caused. Whether or not he knew it was a simulation, he’d still ordered those men out there. In fact, he’d insisted. If he’d just listened to Captain Ivan, everybody would’ve been on board and they could’ve jumped to safety.
A punch landed on Hayden’s jaw hard, sending him into a metal column. He looked at his attacker, his head spinning. It was Ben. He put out his hand but Ben got another solid punch in.
Hayden braced himself against the cold metal, blood pooling in his mouth. “Ben, wai—”
“You son of a bitch!” He landed another punch on Hayden.
Hayden fell to the ground, spitting blood. He didn’t want to fight, but Ben was giving him no other choice.
Ben kicked at him. Hayden caught his foot and yanked it towards him. Ben slammed to the ground, dazed. Hayden grabbed a large wrench that sat on the ground near him and clambered on top of him, blood dripping from his lip and onto Ben’s u
niform. He held the wrench, one end in each hand, and pressed it against the CAG’s throat. He pinned both his arms down with his knees. “You gonna keep sucker punching me like a little bitch? Or are we going to have a conversation like two Space Fleet officers?”
Ben glowered at Hayden, his eyes filled with hatred. Hayden pressed down on his throat with the handle of the wrench a little harder.
“You killed twelve pilots. They were following your orders, and you got them killed.”
“Don’t pretend as if you have any sympathy, Tillow. You’re just pissed because you could’ve been one of the twelve,” Hayden said.
“Eat shit! You don’t know me, Hayden Key. Don’t pretend you goddamn know me!” Ben shouted, his face turning red, spit flying.
“I know enough to know you’re a shit CAG! You should’ve called them back as soon as the fight started! You shouldn’t have waited for my order!”
Ben struggled against Hayden, trying to escape his grasp, but Hayden wasn’t letting up. He pressed down harder. Ben stopped fighting. He relaxed, his breathing heavy. He gave up. He didn’t want to fight anymore.
“You can’t pass this blame, Key. You can’t pass this onto me. It was your order that sent us out there. It was your order that brought us back after twelve of us had died.”
Hayden’s hands began to shake. Recognition flooded his mind as he realized what he was doing. He had pinned down a fellow officer and yelled in his face for something he didn’t do. He couldn’t imagine what this looked like to everybody else, even if it was someone as universally disliked as Ben Tillows. He looked around, and, to his horror, he realized that a crowd of people had gathered and were watching.
Hayden tossed the wrench aside and backed off of Ben. He stood, his feet wobbly. He reached out a hand to Ben but he slapped it aside and spat at Hayden’s feet.
“Do us a favor and launch yourself out an airlock before you get anyone else killed.” Ben turned and walked away, rubbing the back of his head.
Chapter Fourteen
Hayden marched towards Captain Ivan’s office and he thought he was going to puke. Maybe it had something to do with the three solid punches to the head he’d suffered or maybe it was from the mental breakdown he was certain he was having. The medic in the med-bay wanted to make sure he didn’t have a concussion. But Hayden didn’t have time for that. All he wanted to know was where Captain Ivan was at. He was already on his way before the medic could get any more words out.
So many thoughts shot around his head faster than the Empire was currently traveling. He couldn’t concentrate on any particular one. They flowed through his mind like roaring rapids and he was standing in their midst, drowning.
He reached the door to Ivan’s quarters without remembering how he got there. Hayden swung the door open, giving no thought to Captain Ivan’s privacy.
“The hell are you doing?” Ivan dropped the glass in his hand. The glass shattered and the liquid inside it spilled across the floor.
“Twelve men and women just died at the hands of an enemy we haven’t seen in forty years, and you’re in here loading up on alcohol?” Hayden shouted as he took a step forward.
“It’s water, Cadet.” Ivan showed his teeth and the white pill he held between them. He grabbed another glass from his desk drawer and filled it with water. He took a swig and swallowed his pill.
Hayden crossed the room and yanked the glass from his commanding officer’s hand. He threw it against the wall before grabbing Ivan by his uniform. “You want to explain what just happened? You want to explain why you froze and left the lives of this entire crew in the hands of a cadet?”
Ivan grabbed Hayden by his jacket. He was surprised by the old man’s strength as he picked him up, spun to his right and slammed Hayden up against the wall. “Don’t you lay your hands on me like that again, boy. Next time you touch me like that, I’ll drag you across the floor and clean up this glass with your face. Understood, cadet?”
The look in Ivan’s eyes terrified Hayden. He knew he was telling the truth. Hayden nodded his head, his anger turned to fear.
“SAY YES SIR!” Ivan screamed.
“Yes, sir!” Hayden shouted.
Ivan let go of Hayden’s uniform and took a step back, his chest heaving. His age didn’t show in his strength, but it did in his stamina.
Hayden felt the tears well up behind his eyes but he forced them back down. Why they were deciding to come then? “I’m sorry, sir.” He took a deep breath. “The attack. I had no other choice. I thought it was just a simulation. You said it was a simulation! You reassured me! It wasn’t this whole time, was it?”
Ivan sat down in his chair and shook his head. “It wasn’t a simulation, but it also wasn’t supposed to be a fight. The Fleet had lost contact with the Ricochet. We were the closest ship, so they sent us to check. I didn’t say anything, because I thought it would’ve been the perfect opportunity to get you all warmed up for the rest of the simulations. Clearly, I was wrong. I just saw those Mortukian ships and I froze.” He paused. “Years of shit just came back all at once. How you feel right now? The hopelessness? The shame? The anger—fear? Imagine going through seven years straight of that, followed by forty years of keeping it locked up, and then it exploding all over you all at once.” Ivan’s hands shook. “That’s what happened.”
Hayden didn’t know what to say. He knew Ivan was opening up to him and he should feel grateful for it. Instead, he felt anger biting at him, wanting out. “With all due respect, sir, you don’t get to make excuses for yourself. Not you. You’re a war hero. You’ve been through shit ten times worse than that small battle. You should’ve kept it together!”
“Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t have done!” Ivan stood up from his chair.
“I will! You shouldn’t have lost your cool, you shouldn’t have gone to the Ricochet without letting us know it wasn’t a simulation, and you shouldn’t have gotten twelve of your men killed!”
Ivan took a step towards Hayden. “You just don’t know when to shut your mouth, do you?”
“And you don’t know when yours should be open, giving out orders. Not staring out a window shitting your pants like a baby,” Hayden said.
“Angelica, send me two marines,” Ivan said.
“Yes sir,” a voice from the ceiling said.
“You got those men killed. Not me. You don’t get to give excuses,” Hayden continued, pretending he didn’t hear Ivan ask for backup.
“You don’t deserve that name,” Ivan shouted at Hayden.
Hayden shook his head at Ivan. “What the hell are you talking about.”
“You don’t deserve the name Hayden. You’re not even half the man he was.” Ivan took another step towards him.
“Sir?” one of the marines said as they stepped through the doorway.
Ivan turned and faced them. “Take Cadet Key to the brig.” He turned to Hayden. “You’re being jailed for insubordination and are hereby relieved of duty as executive officer of this vessel.”
Hayden grasped for the right words to say. “You’re not actually doing this, are you? This is career suicide.”
“No, cadet. Career suicide was when I decided to be friends with your father.” He turned to the marines. “Take him to the brig.”
They looked at Hayden, hesitating. Hayden stood defiant, trying to decide whether or not he would go down without a fight.
“Marine, what are you waiting for? A captain in the Space Fleet gave you a direct order,” Ivan said.
One of them sighed and wrapped his hand around the grip of his laser assault rifle—or LZAR, as it was more commonly known. The other one stepped forward and produced a pair of handcuffs.
Hayden wanted to fight but he knew that would be foolish. It would be three against one Even if he won, what would he do after that? “You’re a fool, Ivan. If it wasn’t for me picking up your slack, everyone on this ship would be dead.”
Ivan looked away and motioned for the marines to take Hayden aw
ay.
Chapter Fifteen
The door shut and Ivan collapsed into his chair. Thoughts flew around his mind and he buried his head in his hands as if to keep them from escaping. He did his best to keep his breathing slow and steady. He did the exercises he thought he wouldn’t ever have to do again. He’d considered sharing his techniques with Hayden but decided against it. The first time he’d had a taste of battle they did nothing anyway.
He said he was putting Hayden in the brig for insubordination but that wasn’t the complete truth. Sure, the young Key had pissed him off and he meant what he said about his name. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. Some time alone in the brig is just what he needed. The cadet needed to be alone to think through what he’d just seen and done. Otherwise, Ivan knew he’d be on a warpath. He’d just be putting himself in danger.
Ivan reached down to pick up the pieces of glass off the floor. They’d exploded everywhere, just like the Empire’s Mamba’s. He couldn’t help but think how differently things would’ve gone had he not been so shocked—had he not lost it. It pained him to think about how he’d attacked Hayden on the bridge. He could’ve sworn he was a Mortuk though. It was no excuse, of course. He’d made himself to be a fool in front of his entire crew. He was just thankful that Hayden seemed too upset to bring that up. It wouldn’t take him long in the brig for his memory to be jogged, in which case he’d be even more pissed when he got out.
Ivan tossed the large chunks of glass into the trash and sighed. Really messed this one up, Joshua. He’d get a WorkerBot to come by and vacuum up the rest later. For now, he had bigger things to worry about.
He picked up his tablet and stared at the screen. He knew what he had to do, but somehow that seemed even scarier than facing the Mortuks. Of course, the attack needed to be reported. It was who he needed to report it to.
Empire (Empire, Book One) Page 6