“Admiral Ti, I’ve witnessed, first-hand, the destruction these battle droids are capable of inflicting. I suspect that once they have completed their objective—destroy The Lilly, as well as yours truly, and maybe attempt then to destroy the Minian … they will self-destruct. But if you fire on them, or if any other vessel does, they will engage you as an enemy and quite possibly destroy you. I cannot allow that. Cannot allow any more casualties. One way or another, the battle, the war, ends with me.”
“I understand, Captain. I wish you well, then. You will be remembered, and honored, among our people. Goodbye.” Her connection terminated. The logistics segment expanded out as Ti’s new vessel, the Assailant, moved away. Within seconds, there were no other ships present in local space.
Jason kept a steady eye on the two enemy battle droids and Ricket’s Defender. Over the past few minutes there was little direct confrontation. Not unlike a cat and mouse game, the three droids were moving about in space—darting one way then another—but not actually engaging each other.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Ot-Mul’s droids are finding it difficult to maneuver around Destroyer, Captain. I had little time to integrate new technology, but one thing I could add was the droid’s ability to phase-shift short distances. As you can see, it has the other two battle droids perplexed—they’re not finding a way to approach The Lilly.”
“Well, in the meantime, let’s take advantage of that. We have one functional plasma cannon and one partially-working rail gun … let’s give them something else to think about.”
“The Lilly has no shields, Captain; those droids will return fire.”
“Well, this waiting around is driving me crazy. Better to engage them with what we’ve got.”
The Lilly’s one remaining plasma cannon came alive, targeting the two battle droids. Even though both returned fire on The Lilly, Jason still knew it was the right course of action. Destroyer was moving in—attacking one of the battle droids. In a flurry of spinning reflective blades, the two combating battle droids fought with a combination of weapons fire from their turret heads, along with driving their mechanical arms and fists into each other. Unfortunately, they were so mutually engaged, the other battle droid was clearly making progress approaching The Lilly.
“What’s that sound, Ricket?” Jason asked.
“The rail gun just came online. We have approximately thirty seconds of non-explosive projectiles available,” Ricket said.
Jason watched as the approaching battle droid slowed, its own phase-shields beginning to heat up and turn red. “I think the rail gun’s getting to it.”
“The battle droid’s shields just went down, Captain.”
Ten more seconds and the rail gun expended all its munitions. The gun went quiet, but there was nothing left of the battle droid—it was completely destroyed. Jason smiled at Ricket and gave him a big thumbs up. “We might just make it out of this mess, after all.”
But he’d spoken too soon. Destroyer was no longer faring well. Its reflective, razor-sharp blades were no longer spinning, and at least half were missing—pieces could be seen floating off in space. Ricket ceased firing the plasma cannon. The way the two droids were constantly turning, in such close proximity to each other, it was just as likely Destroyer would be hit by friendly fire and not the enemy battle droid.
“Any ideas?” Jason asked.
“Initiate the self-destruct process on Destroyer … it may produce a sufficient blast to take them both out.”
“Do it … what do we have to lose?”
Ricket brought up his virtual notepad and quickly input something.
Defender was no longer fighting back. Instead, the battered droid was using its two claw-like hands to grab on to the other droid. The enemy battle droid seemed to understand what was going on, and its struggle intensified—becoming almost frantic in its attempt to escape.
“Ten more seconds, Captain, and Destroyer’s power system will go critical and blow.”
Five seconds later, Destroyer, missing both arms, was careening off into space by itself, the result of a substantial final kick from Ot-Mul’s battle droid. In the distance, Destroyer imploded.
Ricket brought their remaining weapon back online. Plasma bolts hammered the droid’s phase-shielding. Although it probably underwent damage in its fight with Destroyer, Jason couldn’t see any. The battle droid was darting left, then right, then right again. Slowly, it was progressing forward, towards its single-minded, pre-programmed destination.
* * *
Admiral Reynolds stood with his hands on his hips as he yelled up to the chief of Engineering, three decks above him, standing on a catwalk. The admiral had opted to see what was happening first hand in bringing the Minian’s propulsion system back online. Just minutes earlier, he’d been sitting on the bridge—waiting, having far too much time to think about the ensuing battle The Lilly was presently engaged in. Reports, coming in from The Lilly’s crew earlier ordered to abandon ship, along with the ship’s long-range sensors, were painting a dire picture. The Lilly was down for the count. Jason and Ricket had opted to stay behind. Of course they would. He’d have done the same. But that didn’t mean he had to sit uselessly by and wait for the inevitable to happen. He was optimistic the Minian could destroy that battle droid.
“Chief, save me the technical bullshit … what’s the timeframe?”
The bald-headed Engineering chief leaned over the railing above. “Drives are still an hour out from going online. If I can expedite things within that time-frame, you’ll be the first to know.”
“You said that an hour ago, damn it!”
“Yeah … well, that was before I knew the true extent of our damage. You’re welcome to come up here and fix it yourself, Admiral. We need to extricate a section of scrap metal … probably enemy fuselage, from an antimatter containment chamber. We screw this up and we’ll all go poof … so, please, let me get back to work.”
The admiral didn’t bother answering him. He was already strutting toward the Minian’s onboard Zip Farm. He hurried in the direction of the closest DeckPort, wondering if the Minian, too, might have been destroyed by that battle droid if the droid hadn’t abruptly left the battle. The damage they’d withstood previously, from hundreds of Drac-Vin warships, was substantial—in all likelihood, the battle droid would have finished them off. As it was, not one of his fighters was in condition to phase-shift to The Lilly’s present coordinates. He considered sending a shuttle, or several shuttles, but he’d be sending them to their death. A shuttle was no match for a battle droid. He’d already deployed several cruisers—they’d reach The Lilly soon, within the hour, perhaps. Again, they’d be no match for the droid, and, most likely, even more lives would be lost attempting to engage it in battle.
The admiral entered the Zip Farm. Row after row of ten-foot-high by thirty-foot-long huge pieces of equipment occupied every inch of five separate compartments. He continued down one row, then up another. Black, heavy looking, and somewhat greasy to the touch, the Zip accelerators looked similar to early nineteenth-century locomotives. He’d been told their technology was developed on Alurian, a planet in the Corian Nez constellation system, one hundred-and-thirty light years from Earth. Caldurians uncovered this technology about ninety years ago and it changed everything. It was the reason why the Caldurians, for the most part, packed up and left this present reality for distant parts unknown, into the multiverse. With the Minian’s drive propulsion down, and the phase-shift system offline, the capabilities offered up by the Zip Farm could be their best opportunity for any kind of space travel.
The admiral found the tall Caldurian standing with two other crewmembers. They stood at a bank of mounted controls that took up an entire bulkhead. More Alurian technology was in here, also heavy and black—greasy-looking.
Granger looked up as the admiral approached. “It doesn’t seem to be damaged, Admiral. Accelerators are all functioning fine.”
“Excellent,
then we can make use of—”
“Admiral, it’s no different than what we did back at the Orange Corridor, months ago. But then we had some propulsion capability. Heading into the multiverse isn’t your answer … you need to get the Minian’s drives back online.”
“That’s an hour of time The Lilly doesn’t have,” the admiral said. An hour of time my son doesn’t have to survive …
Chapter 44
They had just reached the armory when The Lilly violently shifted beneath their feet. Both Jason and Ricket went down hard on the deck. Immediately, the alarm klaxon blared. Lights flickered and the AI’s voice crackled to life: “Attention, there has been a hull breach … Attention, there has been a hull breach.”
“What’s happening, AI?”
“Hull breach and enemy incursion on Deck 5. Environmental conditions have been compromised. Atmosphere is venting to space.”
It was no surprise; the battle droid had breached the ship. “AI, I want constant video feeds of the battle droid’s position continuously updated on my HUD.”
“Yes, Captain Reynolds. The battle droid is currently ripping through inter-deck plating … I believe it has locked on to your position.”
Of course it has, Jason thought. That thing’s never going to stop tracking me. Me … The Lilly and the Minian are in its cross-hairs. That won’t ever change. Anyone else around me will be collateral damage. This technological assassin must be destroyed now. But the truth was, he and Ricket were ill equipped to do that on their own. Almost tenderly, Jason placed an open palm on the closest bulkhead. Sadness and regret weighed heavy on his heart. Jason knew what had to be done. Ricket was watching him. Although the words remained unspoken, both knew what had to be done.
“Listen … we need to slow it down. Whatever security droids, maintenance Bots, anything … put them in its way.”
“Yes, Captain Reynolds.”
Ricket, already on his feet, disappeared into the armory as Jason scrambled after him. Ricket held out a multi-gun for him and took one off the rack for himself. Jason watched his HUD, now focused on Deck 5, as three hovering security droids fired on the battle droid. There was movement behind it, a flight deck maintenance droid holding what looked like a wrench.
“We need to get to Engineering before that battle droid gets in front of us.”
Ricket filled a satchel with a selection of odds and ends, including spare multi-gun power packs, explosive ordnances, and two plasma pistols. Jason grabbed the strap of the satchel and headed out of the armory.
Ricket, close on Jason’s heels, caught up to him at the DeckPort. “Captain, we’ll want to enter Engineering on Deck 1 … I can directly access the reactor … misalign the collider beams.”
They entered the DeckPort together, immediately exiting onto Deck 1. The noise emanating from the deck above them was incredible. It only highlighted what he was viewing on his HUD feed.
Engineering was accessible from all decks, since the massive drive system spanned the full height of the entire ship. Ricket and Jason entered the Engineering access hatch at a dead run. What Jason hadn’t expected was the silence. The Lilly’s dual drive system was always humming along, a constant drone that filled the large, expansive space. Right now, though, there was no sound … no hum.
“Ricket, should I be worried? I mean, other than the battle droid? I don’t hear anything.”
“That’s to be expected, Captain. The drives are down. That’s not a problem, in itself. The reactor may still be … for no better term … reactive.” Ricket reached a narrow metal ladder and began to climb the rungs as fast as his little hands and feet could move. Jason followed, and asked, “Why not phase-shift where we want to go?”
“We don’t want to be phase-shifting this close to the reactor.”
Above him, Ricket scrambled onto a catwalk and sprinted to an inset, cubbyhole-like area. Easily ten feet high, and just as wide, the bulkhead before them was filled with transparent tubular containers. Each, depending on its placement, glowed like a neon sign: different hues of greens, blues, reds, and yellows.
“What is this?”
“These are the exposed ends of the collider tubes. I wasn’t completely sure they were still activated. But they are.”
“That’s a good thing?”
“Most definitely, Captain. Now … if we put enough of them out of phase, misdirect the collider beams … the reactor will go critical. We’ll want to be far away from here when that happens.”
“How much time will we have?”
“I can only guess, Captain. Somewhere between five and fifteen minutes.”
The sound of distant plasma fire abruptly ceased.
“You better get to it, then. Looks like we’re going to have company soon.”
Ricket moved closer to a group of tubes at the far right side of the bulkhead. “You stand over there, on the other side. We need to do this in unison. We need to manage the instability so it is at least somewhat synchronized.”
“Okay, sure … just tell me what to do.”
Ricket pointed to a set of four small knobs beneath each tube that Jason hadn’t noticed.
“These are the manual alignment adjusts … used to get the tubes into rough alignment when the ship was first built, before the AI had made the necessary micro-adjustments.”
“Can’t we simply ask the AI to commence a self-destruct procedure or something?”
“No, Captain … this is not a battle droid. No, the Caldurians did not include such a procedure for an entire ship. That would not coincide with their—”
“Whatever, Ricket! I don’t care … just tell me what to do!”
“Start turning them … all of them along that side. We’ll know when we’ve turned them enough.”
Jason watched Ricket turn the knobs in no particular order and did the same on his side.
He saw that the battle droid had penetrated down into Deck 2, and was rapidly moving toward Engineering.
“We have to get out of here, Ricket.”
“Not yet … it’s still not unstable enough.”
Jason kept turning the knobs. He reached over his head for yet another set of knobs and heard something on the far side of the bulkhead. “I think the droid’s here.”
They both listened. It was a whirling, whining sound—and it was getting louder. “What you are hearing is the reactor complaining … it’s very unhappy … we should leave the ship now, Captain.”
“We do that and the battle droid will just follow us out. Track us, until it finds us and kills us. Nope, that thing gets destroyed along with The Lilly. We just need to keep it occupied for a few more minutes.”
The AI was now repeating a new warning. “Alert, reactor containment is no longer stable … Alert, reactor containment is no longer stable …”
Jason was halfway back along the catwalk and running for the ladder when the battle droid crashed into Engineering above him.
He heard Ricket’s voice over his comms, “The droid can disrupt the auxiliary power going to the reactor … we need to get it out of Engineering!”
In a flash, Jason found himself and Ricket in the corridor outside Engineering, on Deck 1. “I thought you said not to phase-shift in here?”
Ricket didn’t answer, quickly running down the corridor. Jason had taken three steps when the Deck 2 bulkhead tore open behind him. He turned, taking three plasma strikes directly to his visor; blackened scorch marks made visibility pretty much non-existent. Worse, his HUD was gone. There’d be no way to phase-shift now. Plasma fire was still coming, from in front and behind. Ricket was firing back at the battle droid. In his two tightly gripped fists, Jason physically pried open his helmet’s visor—hell, if he couldn’t see he was as good as dead anyway.
With the battle droid far closer now than Jason expected, he leveled his multi-gun and fired. He aimed for the small gun-turret head and hoped to disrupt its ability to fire back. It wasn’t working. Jason felt his body racked with multiple white-hot plasm
a blasts. Pain enveloped his torso … his chest. All it would take now was one shot to his head and it would all be over. He began weaving—darting unpredictably, from side to side. Another blast caught him in the side … more pain … excruciating pain. He didn’t want to look down at his ravaged battle suit—afraid of what he’d see.
He continued to fire while progressing backward as quickly as his legs could take him. Where was Ricket’s weapon fire? With a quick glance over his shoulder he had his answer. Ricket was gone. Had he been shot? Was he hiding behind a hatchway, somewhere along the corridor? The battle droid was gaining on him. Its mirror-like blades spun, and at times Jason could almost make out his own reflection.
Jason stumbled and nearly fell. He needed to get off this corridor, out of the field of fire. He continued to fire at the battle droid … it was slowing, but still gaining.
A new noise eclipsed those coming from their weapons—the whirling-whining of the anti-matter reactor … Oh God … it was going to blow!
* * *
Dira and the others on board the Perilous stood at the starboard observation windows and watched The Lilly. The ship rescued twenty crewmembers and virtually every inch of the cabin was filled. Billy and Rizzo, outside the hull, had given up their seats so others could sit as they waited for the Minian to arrive. They kept giving assurances they had plenty of oxygen. Dira could see them suspended outside the Perilous; she’d almost be able to touch Billy, if it weren’t for the bulkhead. He turned and waved, as though able to read her mind. Her eyes moved back to The Lilly, feeling a deep sadness within her at the ship’s battered condition—her sleek black hull now pocked and cratered from weapon fire. The Lilly drifted lifelessly in space now and Dira wondered if she could, somehow, be brought back to her—
The explosion was immense. Spectacular. The flash was so brilliant that everything turned white, then blue, then, only the blackness of space remained. The Lilly was gone. Dira continued to stare at the spot where the ship had been only seconds earlier, and, standing there, she knew Jason was no longer alive. He was gone and she knew it without a single doubt.
Scrapyard Ship 7: Call to Battle Page 23