Hawk Seven (Flight of the Hawk)

by Little, Robert

  I maintained one eye on that battle and the other on the swarm of missiles coming at us. At that moment I saw the two battle cruisers and their destroyers and fighters turn their energy weapons on our fast-approaching missiles. Those from the Gamma were only five minutes behind.

  Unfortunately, even as their energy weapons took the first flight of -67’s under fire, they continued to fire their own missiles at us. Just as Elian predicted, they got off another three launches before our missiles reached them. We saw a jagged line of explosions emerge, leading up to the position of the battle cruiser our Dresdens had targeted, which sustained repeated hits before finally exploding. The second BC continued to launch, while simultaneously retargeting its defenses on the Gamma flight of incoming missiles.

  The fighters supporting the BC began to weave around with a lack of order or coordination as if they didn’t know what to do. Not for the first time, it occurred to me that this race seemed to function much differently than ours.

  Our second group of fighters turned and went to max acceleration in an attempt to match velocities with the oncoming bugs from the second group. They began firing even before the bugs were within range, but the bugs were doing the same thing. I saw fighters on both sides explode as the two groups merged. For a few moments I couldn’t tell what was happening, then out of the fracas swept seven fighters with ours right behind. It became a stern chase, and once again the bug fighters were temporarily clear of defenders. The carrier broadcast a warning and began launching anti-missile missiles from a relatively long range.

  By now, the distance separating the bugs from our carrier was down to five hundred thousand kilometers. It looked to me as if our fighters should be able to make up the velocity differential in enough time to allow them to target and destroy the bugs, but it was going to be a close thing.

  Meanwhile, on command, our two Dresdens made a sharp turn to unmask our energy weapons, which immediately began firing at the incoming missiles. We had slaved the Lee’s energy weapons to our sensors, even though it would result in a lower accuracy for their lasers.

  Our tactic worked fairly well, of the two missiles targeted by all ten lasers, one was destroyed at a distance of one hundred twenty thousand kilometers, which was very good shooting.

  Our lasers cycled every five seconds, and they hit one or both of the missiles they targeted, but we had over two hundred fifty missiles to deal with. At one hundred thousand kilometers we began assigning individual targets to five weapon mounts.

  Our weapons officer reported, “Sir, we’ve got a total of twenty two Dash 15 missiles loaded and ready to shoot. The Lee has an additional eighteen.” I told her, “Shoot them now. Target the fourth flight of missiles.” Moments later, the ship shuddered as we began launching our own missiles.

  Elian said, “Robert, if even one of those fighters gets through to hit the Brezhnev, it’s going to be very ugly.” I nodded my head at his image and said, “Yeah, but right now I’m more worried about our own prospects.” He smiled at me and said, ‘Robert, if you screw the pooch on this one, let me just say that it has been a pleasure teaching you everything you know.” I stared at his smiling visage and grinned back, “Yeah, well, you still owe me twenty credits, so don’t go and get yourself dead.”

  By this time, all forty missiles had launched from our two ships and were streaking back towards the incoming missiles. Our lasers were now beginning to destroy three or four out of every five targeted. Soon, we would begin targeting the incoming missiles individually, meaning we could potentially hit ten every five seconds. In one minute that would be one hundred twenty. We had four minutes before they could reach us. We might just make it.

  I watched as the missiles closed to within ninety thousand kilometers. We went to individual targets and I began to see more explosions, but we weren’t hitting all of them every time, or we weren’t hitting them hard enough.

  Elian commed me and said, ‘Robert, we’ve repaired the problem and are rebooting the targeting system, but we’ve got about five more minutes before we get on line.” He knew that it would be over in four minutes, but he didn’t say it. Our counter-missiles destroyed thirty-two incoming missiles in just a couple of seconds’ time.

  Admiral Lee was pretty busy himself, but he took the time to comm me and asked, “Captain Padilla, what’s your status?” I told him, “The Lee’s targeting systems are coming back on line, and we now have a little over two hundred missiles inbound. I’ve made a turn to unmask our energy weapons, and I’ll let you know in about five minutes whether or not we’re doing well, sir.” He smiled at me and said, “You’ve always had good luck, let’s hope you get some now.” I smiled back and said, “Same to you, sir.”

  The seven remaining fighters in group two had been whittled down to just three by now, but those three were within seventy thousand kilometers of the Brezhnev and accelerating as hard as possible. Our fighters continued to chase them down, even though they ran the real risk of getting hit by our own missiles, which were now just a few seconds from their targets.

  At sixty thousand kilometers our energy weapons began to hit eight or nine out of every ten missile targeted, which was very good shooting. We had destroyed over eighty missiles by now, and had about one hundred fifty left.

  I quietly told my helm officer, “Come left two degrees so that we completely shield the Lee.” He nodded his head and adjusted our position gently, not wanting to throw off our energy weapons. In the next two minutes we hit an amazing one hundred missiles, leaving us with fifty-three. They were now down to forty thousand kilometers.

  Elian reported, “Robert, the Brezhnev just destroyed the last three bugs. Unfortunately, one of our own fighters got hit as well.”

  I didn’t reply, not wanting to take my eyes off the plot, which showed another nine missiles destroyed. Seconds later, another eight disappeared and they were down to twenty thousand kilometers, still driving in. I calculated that we had time for just three more shots, and we had over thirty targets. I didn’t think we were going to make it. I said over the intercom, “Brace yourselves for impact.”

  Our lasers hit all thirty missiles they targeted, leaving just two. One exploded at sixteen kilometers, the other one went off much closer.

  The Grant staggered from the massive detonation. Virtually every system on the ship went off line, leaving us in the dark for a moment before emergency lighting came back up. Dust particles floated in the dim lighting, as did everything else, as the gravity system was also down. I found myself floating near the deck tucked in a corner of the bridge. I tried to push off of a bulkhead, discovering in the process that my left arm was broken.

  With my one remaining good hand I helped my helmsman back to her couch. She was a little shocky but told me she was able to function. I quietly ordered her, ‘Get me a report of our status as quickly as possible.” Duh.

  While she began struggling to get our systems back on line I checked the other three people on the bridge. One of them had a broken neck and was dead. Another was unconscious, although he seemed to suffer no serious injuries. I let him be for the moment. The third person, our navigator, was groaning over in a corner, so at least he was alive. I realized that if or when we got power back anyone floating off the deck might get hurt.

  We began to get reports from the engine room and other stations. We lost all power when the explosion hit us, but not one single compartment of our ship was open to space, so her structural integrity was good. Chief Kana commed me, “Sir, it’s going to take us a little time to get all our circuits back up. Our mag bottles seem to be in good shape. I know that statement to be factual because we’re still alive. I’ve got one crew working on getting our engines back up, and another on our energy weapons. Last I recalled, we might still have a few bug fighters in the general vicinity. I’ve got one Etech working on getting our radar and guidance systems back up. We’ll probably have to manually replace most of the circuit breakers, so it’ll take perhaps ten to fifteen minutes to get us
some juice”

  I thanked him and reminded him that he needed to bring the artificial gravity system on line gradually. He said, “Thank you sir, I hadn’t thought about that.”

  I asked my single remaining functioning person on the bridge to use an emergency radio to comm the Lee. I was worried sick that she had gotten hit.

  My helmsman pointed to the panel in front of me and said, “Sir, I’ve got the Lee, voice only.” I hit the talk switch and asked, “Elian, what’s your status?” I heard his voice, thrilling me, “Robert, we’re fine. Your maneuver placed us in your shadow, otherwise we’d be dead right now. We’re moving in for a look at you, but I don’t see any visible damage, save for the fact that you’re tumbling a little. We’ve got our energy weapons on line and it’s a good thing, as those remaining bug fighters are coming our way. Can you get your engines back on line, and if so, how long will it take?”

  I said, “Fifteen minutes. We’ve got some dead and injured, mostly due to getting thrown around. We’re working now to replace most of the circuit breakers, so it will take a little time.” Elian asked, “Why do you have to replace them?” I said, “I suspect that the modifications we made to the power systems overwhelmed the original power distribution system.”

  Elian said, “Robert, concentrate on your engines. The sooner you can get them back up the better, ‘cause those fighters are closing fast. Comm me as soon as you’re good to go. I can give you navigation, at least enough to get you on the right heading.”

  I acknowledge his report and spoke to the chief. “Chief Kana, just as you suspected we’ve got some bug fighters inbound. Can you estimate how long it will take to restore power to our engines?” He came back, “We’re replacing those breakers as fast as possible sir. We’ve got a lot of injuries down here and I don’t have as many personnel as I’d like. Can you send some down to us?”

  I mentally cursed myself for not thinking of that. I turned to my helmsman and she said, “Sir, we’ve got four reported deaths, and twenty seven serious injuries, not counting you.” I nodded and told her, “Order the energy weapons crews to report to Chief Kana in the engine room. We’ve got to get under way as soon as possible.”

  She relayed my order and I told the chief “Kana, you’re getting some help in just a few moments. Let me know if there is anything we can do from up here.” The chief said, “Sir, we’re not going to have power to navigation for a bit, so we’ll need some help from the Lee, but we should have power to the engines in ten minutes.” I said, “Thank you chief.” I didn’t tell him we were still in danger, or ask him to work faster.

  Elian reported that the remaining bug fighters began accelerating towards our position when they saw us get hit. By now we had destroyed all their larger ships, except for twelve destroyers, who were milling around in the vicinity of the remains of their mother ship. I made a mental note of that fact.

  The fighters probably decided that as long as they were going to die, they may as well do something with the time left to them. Elian said, repeating himself it seemed to me, ‘Robert, recommend that your first priority is your engines; if you can get underway within five minutes, we should be able to get close enough to the Brezhnev to get some help from her fighters. Right now they’re busy reloading their missiles to finish off the three bug destroyers left from second group, all of which are making best possible speed towards the carrier.”

  Within the ten minutes promised by Chief Kana, he called back, “Sir, we’ve restored power to the engines. I’m going to first restore artificial gravity and then power up the main engines slowly from the engine room, as the control runs to the bridge are still out. We will have only partial power available. Nav has a long way to go – apparently some of the junction boxes got badly fused when we got hit. Weapons should be up momentarily, but it will take us a little longer to get radar back up. Five minutes more, possibly ten and we’ll be able to defend ourselves.”

  As we talked I felt the gradual tug of gravity, and everything began settling to the deck. That hurt. My arm was broken, and the restored weight alerted me that my body was generally pretty well beat up.

  I thanked him and commed Elian. We were still on an emergency circuit. I told him, “We’re getting underway.” Elian said, “And not a moment too soon. Um, for now, just go to your best acceleration possible. You’re pointing in the right general direction. I’ll give you course corrections as necessary. You’ve got to get underway immediately.”

  I commed the chief but he was already putting power to the engines. He said, ‘We’ve still got some problems down here, but I can give you ten G’s I think, maybe a little less. We’ll know in a moment sir.” I assumed by ‘problems’ he meant major stuff.

  Elian gave me some course corrections that I passed on to the chief. I was beginning to suffer from quite a bit of pain by now, but I wasn’t about to relinquish my post when we were still in danger. The ship medical systems maintained a direct link to my medical implants, and had released some painkillers, while allowing me to remain alert enough to fight my ship. This meant I was in extreme pain, yet able to function.

  A corpsman appeared on the bridge and started towards me. I waved her off and pointed to the still unconscious ETech. Another corpsman appeared and I waved him over to the last remaining injured, a ComTech who was now conscious, but still groaning.

  Within moments two more corpsmen appeared and after carefully checking the other two, they gently placed them on stretchers and left the bridge. Five minutes later one of them reappeared and I consented to sit down while she checked out my arm. Despite the dead and injured she was smiling and I said to her, “You seem pretty upbeat.” She said, “Sir, we knew from your reports that if we got hit by one of those bug missiles we’d be toast, very crispy toast. In fact, we got hit by two of them, I’m told, and yet, here we are, still alive and kicking. This is one time I’m delighted that you were wrong.”

  I smiled at the top of her head, while she concentrated on immobilizing my arm. “Well, corpsman so am I”. She finished wrapping my arm and looked up at me with a smile, “Sir, you’re going to have to be careful. I’ve given you a strong local anesthetic, which shouldn’t affect your ability to make decisions. As soon as possible, please report to sick bay so we can set your bones.” I nodded my head, grateful for the relief her pain killer was giving me. My implants were only able to provide general medications.

  Elian reported, “Robert, you’re making about nine G’s, which might give us enough acceleration to get within the protection of the Brezhnev before those bugs can hurt us. Both Alpha and Beta are now with her, and two Dresdens are heading our way, along with some Hawks. Figure, thirty minutes until the bug fighters get to within energy weapons range, and one hour until we can get under the Brezhnev’s umbrella. I don’t think we have much to worry about. Those fighters can launch approximately twenty missiles; if that is, they are carrying missiles. They’re well within launch range now, and they haven’t yet, so we probably only have their energy weapons to worry about. If you haven’t got your weapons system back up within twenty minutes, comm me.”

  I remained on the bridge and over the next twenty minutes our ship slowly came back to life. We regained power to our weapons and radar within fifteen minutes and five minutes later we were fully functional, albeit, at reduced power levels.

  With all our systems back on line, Elian practically ordered me to get my arm set. I don’t know how he learned that I had been injured. As we spoke two corpsmen appeared on the bridge and I stated flatly, “Set my arm here. I can’t leave the bridge.”

  They both nodded their assent and asked me to lie down on the deck while they worked.

  I asked them about sickbay and they told me it was full to capacity with additional injured lying on stretchers in the passageway. Nearly all of them had been hurt the same way I had, by being thrown against a bulkhead or other immovable object.

  I lay down and one of them sat down on my chest while the other reset the bones back
together. Despite the local, that hurt and I lost consciousness for a moment. My corpsman, a young woman who looked to be fifteen said, “Sir, both your bones were broken about two inches above the wrist, but they reset nicely and should heal properly with no permanent damage. We should have you back on your feet in just a few minutes. How is the battle going?”

  I looked at her blankly for a second, still in a haze of pain, and realized that I hadn’t reported our status to the crew since we got hit. I said, “Can you get me on the comm system?” She nodded pertly and presently told me, “Go ahead sir, you’re live.”

  I said, “This is your captain. As you probably know by now we destroyed all but two of the inbound missiles. One detonated at approximately sixteen kilometers, too far out to do much damage, but the second one went off very close, five kilometers or less, causing all the damage you’re presently trying to fix. We are now back under way, heading towards the Brezhnev, who is sending some help our way. We have about fifty fighters closing on us and they will be within energy range in thirty to forty minutes. We have all our energy weapons back on line, and the Lee is undamaged, right next to us, so we’re in pretty good shape, considering. I’m sorry to report that we have four dead, and approximately thirty injured. I’d like all energy weapons personnel to return to their battle stations ASAP and begin running diagnostics as we still have some fighting ahead of us. Report any problems to the weapons officer. I would like the missile techs to report to the galley and prepare some sandwiches for the crew, although you’ll have to eat at your stations. That’s all.”