The Denver jumped to one of the eight corners that bounded the site of the exercise. He whipped the ship round sideways and kept it five hundred yards out from the boundary. The only way a ship could attack was to come at them from directly ahead. The bow and tail blasters were launching barrages of weak training pulses out preventing a ship from coming in from the sides. The only open channel was directly in front of the huge warship.
Jillian ignored the ship’s status and focused on any Jukeboxes moving toward them. She kept the other seven corners of the operational area in her helmet and locked in the coordinates. Three of them were still empty of ships. She saw a Jukebox dive away from an attacker and turn toward the Denver, “Launch barrage in two, one, now!” The barrage left at light speed and moved toward the incoming warship. She saw that it would meet the ship outside the effective range of the attacker’s blasters. She heard Lt. McAfee say over the tactical channel, “You have your assigned zones; hit that ship as soon as it moves around the barrage.”
Jillian watched and saw two ships turn and move toward the ship moving in to attack and knew the attacker saw them as well. She used her visor to read the distance between them and knew the attacker saw that he could get off a volley at the Denver and jump before the other two ships could arrive. Ummm, what would those two ships do if the ship they attacked didn’t reappear on their displays? She decided to wait until the Denver was endangered by more than three ships before she jumped away. She prayed she was making the right decision.
The attacker came over the top of the barrage and was immediately hit by a broadside of eighty blasters. It immediately disappeared as the computer determined it was out of the competition. Jillian yelled, “Launch another barrage, now!”
The barrage moved out from the Denver and Jillian saw that the two attackers would arrive inside the range of their blasters. She used the helmet to determine that they would need two tenths of a second to lock on the Denver. She decided she would know if the theory of multiple blasters hitting a ship would block the beams they fired. She knew McAfee’s crews had worked hard on targeting all zones around the barrage and hoped their hard work paid off. If she jumped away, it would tell them she didn’t trust them. She stared at the tactical as the two Jukeboxes came over the barrage. The two attackers were instantly hit by twenty blasters each and more piled on. The two ships disappeared as they were knocked out of the competition. “That’s using excellent patience, Lieutenant. Great shooting, weapons!”
“We have another ship coming in; launch barrage in four, three, two, one…”
Jillian kept the Denver up against the barrier for thirty minutes and more than fifty attackers were eliminated. It became known that the ship in the corner was dangerous. Twenty ships banded together and charged in on the Denver. Jillian launched a barrage and immediately jumped the ship to the bottom portside corner of the exercise. The twenty ships came around the barrage and discovered their target had jumped away. Fifty ships came roaring in on them from the rear and twelve of the twenty were knocked out of the exercise. The other eight forgot about going after the ship in the corner.
• • •
The Denver arrived in the corner and Jillian was barely able to stop it three feet from crossing the barrier. She had applied full port thrusters and then had to use the starboard thrusters to stop the Denver ten yards from the boundary. She swore and knew they had almost been knocked out of the competition due to poor piloting. She heard Mark say, “I don’t know if I could have stopped us, Lieutenant. Great job.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Mark looked at the tactical and saw two ships coming in at the very bottom of the boundary attempting to hit the bow of the Denver. “Stop bow barrages, launch two penetrators, then start barrages after the launch.”
The two Jukeboxes skimming the boundary flew under the barrage and found a penetrator flying in too fast to avoid. They dove under them and crossed the boundary and were knocked out of the competition. Mark shook his head. Ships weren’t supposed to work together but his ship was being attacked by multiple ships. It made him angry as ten ships flew in at top speed. “Launch barrage in three, two, one, now! Weapons, we have ten coming in. Cover your zones!”
Lt. McAfee knew trying to give orders was useless. The blaster teams were going to have to maintain their discipline or it would be over in a moment. He saw the ten ships come over and under the barrage and he closed his eyes. A moment later he opened them and saw the Denver was still fighting. The Captain flew the ship behind a forward barrage and the blaster teams were covering their standard zones in less than half a second. The Denver followed the barrage and the blaster teams knocked out twenty more ships before the Captain jumped back to the original corner they fought in. Jillian took over tactical as the Captain maintained the ship’s position.
• • •
“Sir, I think you need to see this.”
Dizzy looked at her XO, “What is it?” A recording appeared on her display and she saw the Denver knock out ten ships attacking it. She then watched the Denver accelerate away from the boundary and knock out twenty more. It jumped away and Dizzy yelled, “Keep that ship on my display.”
• • •
Jillian stared at her visor and said, “Computer, status?”
“Two thirds of the starting ships have been eliminated from the exercise. Six thousand ships are still active.”
Mark said, “I heard that, Lieutenant. We still play defense until the odds are better.”
“Yes Sir, three ships coming in. Launch barrage in four, three, two, one, now! Weapons are clear.”
• • •
Dizzy stared at the Denver and shook her head, “Where did they come up with those tactics?”
“I don’t know, Sir, but they’re knocking ships out at twice the normal range of blasters.”
Dizzy stared at the display as three more ships were knocked out of the exercise, “Computer, what approach would allow a shot at that ship?”
“There is no approach they don’t have covered, Sir.”
“So how does one take that ship out of action?”
“The only way is to overwhelm its defenses.”
“Sir, forty ships are banding together to attack.”
Dizzy looked at her display and wondered what the Denver was going to do about the coming attack.
• • •
“Sir, I have forty ships moving on us from all approaches.”
“How many are coming from the sides?”
“Ten on each side.”
“I’m taking the ship; I want you to accelerate us toward the thirty that are attacking us from head on. Weapons, I want a double barrage launched in ten seconds; we will follow that barrage into the formation moving at us and you will fire on the ships as they fly over and under us. Lieutenant, if any of them detect what we’re doing, jump us away. Barrage in….three, two, one, now! Hit em hard!”
• • •
Dizzy watched as the Denver suddenly fired a double barrage ahead of it and accelerated toward the incoming ships. She stood up and shook her head; the Denver was flying broadside into the oncoming ships. She jerked her head and yelled, “How fast is the Denver moving?”
“It is ten miles an hour slower than maximum speed, Sir.”
“How is that possible?”
Dizzy saw the Denver blow by the thirty ships that were unable to see the giant ship behind the barrage it was following. Ships began disappearing as they were knocked out of the exercise and the last ten ships flew vertical to see what was happening behind the barrage. The Denver immediately disappeared and entered normal space in another corner of the boundary. Dizzy started smiling. She sat back and had to give the ship credit. This was amazing.
Chapter Eleven
The three Jukeboxes appeared in normal space and surrounded the dark Blue Warship. Dat pushed his panel and said, “Did you find our revelation informative?”
The Third leaned back and forth showing his amusement, �
�We were surprised you did it. However, the one we sent here to communicate with you says you offered to assist us.”
“In what way do you need assistance?”
“There are numerous probes in our galaxy and we don’t know who is sending them. Could you determine where they originate?”
Dat paused and looked at Angel before saying, “You know it will require sending ships into your galaxy.”
“How many?
“How many probes are there?”
The Third looked at his Ship Leader who could only shrug, “We really don’t know. We’ve only seen several and that was due to them blocking light from a star.”
“We’ll need to send in a thousand unmanned probes initially.”
“Why so many?”
“If there is a large number of them, they will be gathered around your major planets.”
The Ship Leader stood up and looked at the Third. The Third stood up on his central leg and said, “How did you know we have a thousand major planets?”
“We sent probes in eighteen years ago when you sent probes into our galaxy. We’ve pretty much mapped your galaxy and know where your major planets are located.”
“Why are you telling me this; you know that will cause deep suspicion from our Leadership?”
“And you sending probes into our galaxy wouldn’t do the same thing? We assumed that if you wanted to come take a look at us, you were inviting us to do the same. However, that’s not the real reason I’m telling you this.”
“Then why?”
“You need to know that we aren’t going to see anything we don’t already know. If you want to know the full extent of the strange probes, we’ll need to find them all.”
The Ship Leader tilted his body right and the Third nodded for him to speak, “You’re going to try and bait the ones that sent them to send a ship.”
Dat was impressed, “Very good. Just finding probes in your galaxy won’t tell us where they came from. We’re going to have to cover every probe with a field that prevents them from communicating. That should cause the ones that sent them to send a ship to investigate. We’ll have probes around your galaxy and we will find that ship and follow it back to where it came from.”
The Third stared at the Ship Leader for a long moment and said, “Why are you willing to help us find them? I would expect you to hope they will attack us and weaken our defenses.”
“We’ve thought about that but there’s too much unknown to hope that will happen.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
“If someone has sent probes to spy on you, they must not be too frightened of your capabilities. If that’s the case, would they then come after us once they disposed of you? We need to know just as much as you do.” The Third was silent for a moment and Dat said, “You’ll know if you’re being set up for an attack by the number of probes they have in your galaxy.”
The Ship Leader leaned slightly back, “He’s right; if there are thousands of probes in our galaxy, they’re planning an invasion.”
The Third looked down at his communication panel and saw the Masters standing around the table. They had listened in on the exchange and the Lead Master said, “How do we know you don’t have probes in our galaxy as well?”
Dat heard the new voice and tilted his head, “Actually, you don’t. However, we removed all of our probes when you sent the new probes to our galaxy. Currently, we don’t have any probes or ships in your galaxy. Now I’d be remiss in not telling you that we were planning to launch a huge number but your last visit made us pause.”
The Third looked at the Ship Leader and turned light yellow, indicating a smile. He looked at the Lead Master and waited for him to respond. “You may send your probes and ships to find the probes here. I request that you keep the one there with you informed of your progress. He will give you a frequency where he can be contacted.”
“Are you planning an invasion of my galaxy?”
The Lead Master paused and said, “We were planning to do just that but your behavior has us confused. Your willingness to assist us and your blunt honesty needs to be evaluated. However, you are right about one thing. Before we attack each other, we need to see who is spying on us. I suspect they know about you.”
“If their probes are worth anything, they would see your trips here.”
Angel looked at Dat and whispered, “There is a probe a thousand miles out from that Blue Ship.”
Dat muted the communicator, “Have a probe scan it down to the smallest molecule and then destroy it.”
Dat unmuted the microphone and said, “Don’t get alarmed but we’re going to fire a beam in a moment.”
The Ship Leader moved quickly into his Command Chair and started to activate the ship’s force field but saw a blast a thousand miles away. He looked at the Third and said, “We were followed.”
Dat said, “We’re changing the number of probes we’re sending to fifty thousand.”
The Lead Master understood the significance of the Third Master being followed by one of the strange probes. There had to be large numbers in order to send one to follow a ship leaving the galaxy. “You may send small ships and probes; do not send your major warships.”
Dat’s nodded, “We’ll do as you request. I’m ordering them to launch within a day. Send me the frequency to stay in contact.”
The Ship Leader pressed his panel and nodded. The Third said, “I just sent it to you.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as we jump in.”
“Do you think that probe heard our discussion?”
“I’m sure it did. However, my probes did not detect it broadcasting. It was probably programmed to record and send the data later. I suspect the ones that sent it will soon be warned that their probes can be seen when this one doesn’t report in. We need to start moving quickly.”
“I’ll be waiting or your update.”
Dat watched the Blue Battleship jump away and said, “Just when you think the universe is a safe place, BAM! Two new adversaries appear.” Dat turned to Angel, “You need to get back to your competition. I’ll handle the probes with Admiral Hull.”
Angel nodded and said, “We’re jumping back to our fleet competition in five, four, three, two, one, and now.”
• • •
The three Flagships arrived back at the competition to discover it was over. Dizzy appeared on Angel’s display and said, “Admiral, I wonder if you would mind helping us.”
Angel saw something in Dizzy’s expression, “What do you want me to do?”
“The ship that won the competition has been ordered to remain inside the exercise’s boundaries and I was hoping you and your two brothers would go in teach them some humility.”
Angle looked at Bret and saw him smile. “Don’t you think just one of us could do it?”
“Well, actually, I don’t think all three of you can do it but I think you’ll learn a lot from the effort.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed, “Are you serious?”
“As a skunk in Rover.”
Angel lowered her visor and saw the Jukebox in the center of the exercise area. “Arve, Grest, did you hear what Admiral Banks just asked?”
“I did and let’s have at it.”
Grest said, “I did as well and look forward to the challenge.”
Angel smiled and pressed the blue button sending all hands to battle stations. She saw everyone report in and said over the ship’s intercom, “All weapons will be changed to training mode. We will be participating in a pursuit momentarily. Make us proud.” She looked at the microphone on her visor and activated Dizzy’s frequency, “Call it out, Admiral.”
“Admiral Arvolo, please move your three ships inside the boundary of the exercise and prepare to start in one minute.”
• • •
Mark looked at Jillian and tilted his head, “The Arvolo Triplets are the best pilots in the Fleet.”
“They could be the best in the universe and still n
ot defeat our tactics, Sir. How do you want to handle this?”
“Play it straight; we’ll flee and have them give chase. Admiral Banks didn’t warn them about what we’re doing so it should work against them.”
“I’ve seen the videos of their training exercises. I suspect one of them will jump ahead of us as the others push us toward them.”
“Let’s play it straight. The Admirals need to see what we’ve developed. We won’t pull any special jumps to set them up.”
“Yes Sir, who has tactical?”
Mark smiled, “Lieutenant, show them your stuff.” Jillian smiled and grabbed the wheel and watched the countdown reach zero. She accelerated away at full speed and then made a hard right turn. The Arvolo’s cut the corner and moved in quickly on the Denver. Jillian watched them move in and turned directly away from them, “Rear blasters, launch a barrage.” The barrage left the ship and Jillian whipped the Denver around and went to full power on the starboard thrusters.”
Angel said, “Arve, jump ahead.” The Melbourne disappeared as the Wellington went over the barrage and the Haven went under. Both ships were immediately hit by eighty training beams each and their computers announced they were out of the competition. Angel saw the Denver flying sideways in front of her and saw the ship was still out of range of her blasters. How was that ship flying sideways?
• • •
Arve jumped in ahead of the Denver and saw a massive barrage moving toward him. How the heck had they managed to fire that large of a barrage from the bow blasters? He had no choice but to immediately go vertical and his computer recorded a hundred training beam strikes and fifteen training penetrator hits. The exercise was over in less than three minutes after it started. Angel activated her communicator, “Dizzy, what just happened?”
“Don’t feel bad, Sir. The last five hundred and fifty ships in the competition ganged up together to take out the Denver and all of them were defeated. It appears that ship has developed a new tactic in using their Jukebox. They can hit ships before they can move into range to fire on and knock them out.”
“How does that happen?”
Star Rover-Chosen to Die (Lens of Time) Page 15