"Confirmed hit! Target destroyed," Accari nearly shouted. The excitement of drawing first blood in the battle had people on the bridge cheering quietly, but Jackson just frowned.
"Put the optical data on the main screen," he said. Lieutenant Hori executed his order without prompting so Accari wouldn't lose his situational awareness outside the ship. Jackson watched the heavily enhanced video of the Darshik cruiser exploding.
"Again," he ordered. "Half-speed."
"What are you looking for, sir?" Chambliss asked quietly.
"Two Shrikes with H.E. warheads took out a Darshik cruiser so easily?" Jackson asked him. "You don't find that odd?"
Chambliss was now frowning as he also watched the small video clip repeat a few times. While the drone was too far away to pick up the ship very clearly or the missiles at all, it was obvious when the first Shrike impacted the prow by the small flash. The rest of the video showed the hull of the cruiser undulating and breaking apart as the high-explosive warhead detonated and set off a series of secondary explosions that were fatal.
"That was far too easy for—"
"Captain Barrett has targeted three more cruisers and authorized missile launches, sir," Hori said.
"The Aludra Star is advising us that they're out of position to intercept the ESA frigate," Makers said. "Captain Barrett wants to know if you wish him to pursue anyway or continue on his original course."
"He can't catch it. Tell him to continue down towards the third planet," Jackson said. "The element of surprise is lost so inform him he's free to tighten his arc and get down there quicker. OPS! What's the range on the fleeing ESA ship?"
"One point zero seven billion kilometers, sir," Hori said.
"It's heading to some unknown jump point," Jackson said. "Look at the direct route it’s taking. We can't catch it either even at full emergency acceleration."
"And there aren't any missile sleds on that side of the system at all," Chambliss noted. "Looks like it'll get away clean."
"Maybe not," Jackson said, bracing himself for the order he was about to give. "Cube, calculate an intrasystem warp jump that puts the Nemesis dead astern of the fleeing ESA frigate."
"Stand by," the Cube said calmly. "Parameters set … warp drive available and ready. Shall I execute?"
Jackson exchanged a meaningful look with his XO before answering as everyone on the bridge seemed to be holding their breath.
"Execute," he ordered.
He wasn't sure what he expected. Perhaps a building whine of the drive emitters, maybe a sharp bang as the destroyer was tossed about by the gravimetric distortion fields, but there was none of that. They felt a gentle lurch and there were a few warnings on the main display as some systems were confused about the loss of telemetry from the other Federation ships in the system, but other than that the event was, well, uneventful.
"ESA frigate bearing to starboard dead ahead … range is three hundred and forty thousand kilometers," Accari said.
"Helm, you're clear for free flight … pursue and close on that ship," Jackson ordered. "Tactical, do you think you can disable the engines without destroying the ship?"
"Yes, sir," Accari said confidently. "She's got two MPDs on pylons hanging off either side. I can easily target those once we close within one hundred and fifty thousand kilometers."
"Get ready and watch any missiles it spits out at us," Jackson said before keying the intercom. "Major Baer and Commander Essa … prepare your men for boarding of an enemy ship. I want you in the hangar bay within the next forty-five minutes."
"We're going to board her … sir?" Chambliss asked.
"Just obliterating that ship is pointless," Jackson said. "We need to know why the hell they're here."
"Captain, I believe I can be of assistance in this regard," the Cube spoke up. "If the boarding party takes a standard network node transceiver with them and connects it to any system on that ship, I should be able to disable any automated defenses they have."
"Make it happen," Jackson said. "Talk to Hawkins in CIC and let him know what equipment you need the team to carry."
"Captain, I have to admit that I'm less than enthusiastic about this plan," Chambliss said quietly.
"That's your right, XO," Jackson said calmly as the Nemesis closed the gap quickly without drawing any enemy fire yet. "If you'd like, you may file an official protest in the ship's log."
"No, sir," Chambliss said firmly. "I feel it's my job to point out when I disagree with you, but I'll back your decisions all the way and to hell with what some CENTCOM after-action team says."
Jackson glanced at his XO, his already high estimation of the man ticking up a few notches. He would make a hell of a captain if given the chance.
"They're taking evasive action!" Hori cried.
"I bet they thought we were a Darshik ship at first with the warp hop," Chambliss said. "Helm, maintain pursuit."
"Can you still make the shot, Tactical?" Jackson asked.
"No problem, sir."
"Weapons free, Lieutenant Commander," Jackson ordered. "Cut her legs out from under her."
"Stand by … firing," Accari said calmly. On the main display the computer put up four overlapping blue lines that connected the two ships. Accari's careful targeting script used four cannons from the starboard fore bank at moderate power aimed directly into the thrust nozzles of the fleeing ship. Within ten seconds the beams overheated the magnetic constrictors and errant streams of plasma could be seen belching out the rear, until the damage was so great that the emergency overrides kicked in and vented all the drive plasma into space to spare the MPD, effectively disabling the ship.
As Accari upped the power of his beams and began permanently disabling the now-dormant engines, the Nemesis was rocked and a slew of alarms went off at various stations.
"Incoming laser fire," Hori reported. "Moderate damage to secondary com array and—." She was cut off by another bout of incoming laser fire that peppered the dorsal hull plates, scorching some and warping others from the heat.
"Tactical!" Jackson barked.
"Targeting all aft weapons emplacements," Accari responded. "Firing!"
The two ships exchanged laser fire for the next five seconds, the frigate's becoming more sparse and less directed as the Nemesis's much more powerful forward cannons turned their projectors to slag. After ten more seconds the aft end of the ESA ship was scorched and pockmarked and there was no more incoming fire.
"The computer identified and destroyed four missile ports as well, but no guarantees there aren't more surprises, sir," Accari said.
"Is my boarding party down in Flight OPS yet?" Jackson asked.
"Both teams report ready, Captain," Hori said. "They've already boarded the two assault shuttles and are awaiting approval to launch."
"Tell them to launch and then get behind the Nemesis," Jackson said. "We'll make one lateral run as we pass their port flank and identify their breaching points. Cube! That's your job. Where's the best place to punch a hole?"
"I've identified four likely locations based on the assumed hull design," the Cube answered. "The first two are where the hull will likely be thinnest; the second two are where they will be less likely to encounter heavy initial resistance."
"Do you think the armor at your second set of points is thin enough for our assault shuttles to cut through?" Jackson asked.
"Based on the damage caused by our lasers on the rear quadrant, I believe it is," the Cube said.
"Send the second set to the shuttle pilots," Jackson said. "Coms! Patch me through to the boarding teams."
"Channel open, sir."
"Marines, NOVAs," Jackson said. "This will be a risky op and we haven't had near the time to prepare for it properly, but I need that ship subdued. The amount of intel on both the ESA and the Darshik that has to be aboard is incredibly valuable … I wouldn't put you at risk if it wasn't important."
"We're good to go, Captain!" Major Baer had to shout over the sound of the shuttles’
engines.
"We live for this shit, sir!" Commander Essa called from their shuttle. "We'll get it done!"
"Flight OPS reports shuttles are clear and they're closing the hangar bay outer hatches," Hori said.
"Helm, take us down the port flank," Jackson ordered. "Tactical, get ready to soften her up … I don't want to lose a single Marine or NOVA before they've even boarded."
"Targeting scripts locked in, sir," Accari said.
"Here we go," Chambliss whispered from beside him as the Nemesis surged forward to overtake the drifting frigate.
"Here we go indeed," Jackson muttered. He obviously didn't want to lose a single member of his crew on this mission, but with a boarding action that seemed increasingly unlikely.
"Is this data correct?!" Barrett demanded, staring at the main screen. The Nemesis had just disappeared from sensors while simultaneously appearing right behind the fleeting ESA ship.
"Link data confirms, sir," Lieutenant Dole said from OPS. "The Nemesis performed the same sort of warp hop the Darshik ships do … but the transition flash was nearly non-existent."
"Crafty old dog," Barrett chuckled, not able to believe that Wolfe had been able to keep the fact his ship could perform that maneuver a secret.
"Two more Darshik cruisers destroyed, sir!" Lieutenant Commander Adler cried. "It's like they're not even trying to get away."
"Indeed," Barrett said, frowning. "Have any of the ships even tried to knock down our missiles?"
"Yes, sir," Adler said. "Two were able to get one each, but so far every ship targeted has been destroyed or critically disabled."
"This is a massacre," Commander Simmons said. "Why aren't they fighting harder to protect their home planet?"
"How many ships have we destroyed?" Barrett asked.
"Six including the ship Captain Wolfe destroyed, sir," Dole said.
"How do the remaining ships look? What are their engine outputs and acceleration numbers like?" Barrett asked.
"Erratic, sir," Dole said as he pored through the sensor data. "Two of the ship are barely able to break orbit and five of them are leaking radiation."
"Interesting," Barrett said. "What about that planet? Any detected weapons emplacements or large population pockets?"
"Stand by, sir," Dole said and pulled his headset all the way on.
"What are your thoughts, sir?" Simmons asked.
Barrett held a hand up as Dole looked back up.
"CIC reports that spectral analysis indicates the planet is incapable of sustaining Ushin life," the OPS officer said. "They say what we're reading now conflicts with the data the Icarus brought back when you and Captain Wright were here the first time. There are also indications of high levels of radiation in the upper atmosphere that weren't there before."
"Cease fire!" Barrett barked. "Detonate any missiles that are on their way to a target and stand down."
"Sir?" Simmons asked as Adler frantically sent self-destruct codes to all the missiles she'd already launched.
"This isn't the Darshik's last stronghold," Barrett said. "This is a collection of damaged ships limping around in orbit over a poisoned planet. We're not here to annihilate a group of beings who can't even attempt to defend themselves."
"If I may respectfully disagree—"
"You may not, XO," Barrett cut Simmons off. "We're here to support Captain Wolfe as he hunts a ship that appears to not be in this system. These cruisers are no threat to us or the Nemesis. Hell, I doubt if any of them even have a working warp drive."
"Understood, sir," Simmons said.
"Tactical?" Barrett asked.
"All in-flight munitions successfully diverted or detonated," Adler said. "All remaining enemy ships are bunching up into formation over the fourth planet … there are two stragglers that appear too damaged to make it."
"Understood," Barrett said. He knew that the Darshik were actually Ushin and not their own unique species, but they were their own unique society. If he hadn't stopped firing he had a feeling he would have eradicated every living Darshik in the system. As a lowly starship captain those types of choices weren't his to make. He had successfully stopped the threat in the system … the fate of the poor bastards on those remaining death traps would be left up to someone else.
"Inform Flight OPS we're redeploying the sleds," he said to his com officer. "I want everything heading back uphill to form a defensive spread around where the Nemesis is operating. We need to watch Captain Wolfe's back … the Specter could still be out there somewhere."
"Nemesis reports they've disabled the ESA frigate and are preparing to board," the coms officer said. "A NOVA team and part of their Marine detachment are en route now."
"Very good," Barrett said. "Tell Captain Wolfe that we're sending all our missile sleds up to him as a bulwark in case the Specter shows up while their boarding party is away. OPS, get us a course that follows … we’re done down here."
"Aye aye, sir."
23
"Damn," Jackson murmured as he read over the report that Barrett had sent over the Link.
"Sir?" Chambliss asked.
"Just impressed with the type of captain my former tactical officer has become," Jackson said, using a flicking motion with his hand to send the report over to Chambliss's terminal. As his XO read, Jackson reflected on what Barrett had done.
Being a cunning warrior and tactician were critical skills a warship captain needed, but knowing when to be merciful was equally important. When it became obvious that the Darshik in this system were not a threat and were, in fact, hanging onto survival by a thread, he had made the decision not to slaughter a defenseless group of beings despite the horrors they'd heaped upon humanity. Commander Chambliss had a more pragmatic take on the report.
"What could have destroyed the planet's ability to sustain life so thoroughly in such a short span?" he asked. "We've never fired on the planet, the Ushin don't have a military to speak of … what the hell happened here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Jackson asked. "The Specter did this. Like a retreating army burning the crops behind them to slow the advance of their pursuers, he tried to kill off the last of his people in what was likely an effort to cover his escape. He knew we'd come here eventually."
"Unbelievable," Chambliss said with awe. "There were tens of millions on that planet according to our best estimates.”
"It also means the ship we're after isn't here and won't be coming at all," Jackson said sourly. "Back to square one."
"Captain, the shuttles are grappled on and both teams are getting ready to breach and board," Hori said, interrupting any further speculation about where their quarry might have fled to.
"Have CIC monitor the feed and alert me if anything goes wrong," Jackson said. He'd like nothing more than to watch the live feed from his teams, but his job was to make sure the Nemesis was alert and ready to fend off any enemy that might try to come in and retake or destroy the frigate. An ESA destroyer coming into the system during boarding ops would be less than ideal.
"Aye, sir," Hori said. "Shuttle One reports they're through the hull and making entry.”
"That's the NOVA team," Chambliss grunted. Jackson just nodded. As far as he knew, this was the first time a Terran ship had been boarded by another hostile Terran party. Another dubious distinction for his career in the history books.
"Tell both teams to watch their backs and exfil if things get too hot," he said, almost wishing he was over there with them.
"Go! Go! GO!!"
At Amiri Essa's shouted command, the NOVA team sprinted through the still-glowing hole the assault shuttle's breacher had cut into the frigate's hull. There was a hiss as the locking collar wasn't able to achieve a perfect seal, but it worked out in their favor as the smoke was drawn out the gaps instead of lingering in the service bay they'd just cut their way into.
"There! Put the network repeater there," Essa said, pointing to a monitoring station with exposed cables. One of the team's tech specialists, Rat, ran to
the terminal and skillfully spliced the device into the data cables. The unit was self-powered, so once he had made a good connection the lights on the box winked from red to amber and then finally a blinking green to let them know the Cube was happy with the link.
"Vulture, Nemesis … Bulldog has made entry and reports no resistance."
"Copy, Nemesis," Essa said, pressing his throat mic out of habit. "We're moving out. The network repeater is installed and shows green."
"The Cube reports a good connection, Vulture. Nemesis out."
"Let's move!" Essa said. "Keep your gaps and keep your eyes open. Don't assume our computer friend will be able to knock out any automated defenses we might run into, so heads on a swivel. Pitch, you and Joker take point and try not to shoot any of Major Baer's Marines."
"Yes, sir," Joker said and moved quickly to open the hatch but found that he needed help due to the lower pressure on their side. Once it opened with a whoosh, the pressure normalized in the chamber and the team was able to move out into the corridor.
Red lights strobed along the upper edges of the bulkheads and four different alarms could be heard blaring throughout the ship, but there were no ESA spacers anywhere. They had to move twenty-five meters forward to where Major Baer's team was making entry and then they'd split off again with the NOVAs moving forward to capture the bridge and the Marines pressing to Engineering to make sure nobody tried anything stupid like scuttling the ship with them all aboard.
"I have eyes on Bulldog," Pitch called back over his shoulder. Essa raised a hand to acknowledge him and moved forward to meet Major Baer's lead element.
"Sergeant Castillo," Essa nodded to the Marine NCO. "Everyone make it?"
"Yes, sir," Castillo said. "We're all aboard. We had to use a few emergency patches … the collar was leaking air so badly people were getting lightheaded."
"We're not going to wait," Essa said. "Tell Major Baer we're pressing forward and will try to take the bridge by the time you have Engineering."
Destroyer (Expansion Wars Trilogy, Book 3) Page 21