by Ryk Brown
“One kilometer!”
“Direct hits!” Lieutenant Commander Kono reported. “Her forward shields are down to twenty percent!”
“Spreader is away!” the tactical officer shouted. “She’s clear the bow, deploying anti-matter mines!”
“Comm-drone away!” the comm officer announced.
“Pitch us down now!” Cameron ordered.
“Frigate two has gone to FTL!”
“Pitching down, aye!”
“Mines are out!” the tactical officer announced.
“Frigate three is also spinning up for FTL!”
“Clear jump line!” the navigator reported.
“Detonate the mines!” Cameron ordered. “Execute escape jump on my mark!”
“Detonating mines!”
“Jump!”
The blue-white jump flash lit up the interior of the Aurora’s bridge, as she slipped away, jumping to safety a full light minute behind the enemy battleship. A sudden calm came over the bridge now that they were momentarily out of harm’s way.
“Bring us hard about, and prepare to jump back to the targets,” Cameron instructed.
“Coming about, aye,” Lieutenant Dinev acknowledged.
“I don’t remember that little trick in the tactical manual,” Lieutenant Commander Vidmar commented.
Cameron smiled, remembering the last time the Aurora had jumped away from an antimatter explosion. It was on the Aurora’s second jump ever, and Cameron had been a young ensign fresh out of the academy, serving as the ship’s navigator. The energy from the antimatter explosion had thrown them nearly a thousand light years, and put them in the middle of a battle between peoples they hadn’t even known existed. It was a turning point in the history of humanity, one that had led to the very Alliance in which they now served.
“Turn complete,” Lieutenant Dinev reported.
“Prepare a jump,” Cameron began. “Put us astern of the targets, five up, five out, and five behind.”
“Five by five by five, aye,” the navigator replied.
“Be ready on all weapons,” Cameron instructed. “And have another spread of jump missiles ready with nukes, just in case.”
“Aye, sir,” the tactical officer replied.
Cameron turned toward her sensor officer. “You didn’t happen to pick up any trace of those other four ships during all that, did you?”
“No, sir, sorry.”
“Jump plotted and ready,” the navigator reported.
“All weapons ready, and jump nukes loaded,” Lieutenant Commander Vidmar added.
“Execute your jump,” Cameron ordered.
“Jumping in three……two……one……jumping.”
The jump flash washed over the bridge.
“Jump complete.”
Cameron looked toward her sensor officer again.
“No targets!” Lieutenant Commander Kono reported. “Just a lot of debris…and the Cape Town!”
“With a big smile on her face, no doubt,” Cameron said.
“Incoming message from the Cape Town, Captain,” Ensign deBanco reported from the comm station. “The battleship has been destroyed. And the second frigate. The third frigate escaped into FTL. Also, command reports new contacts on the opposite side of the Sol system. The Jar-Benakh and the Tanna are moving to intercept.”
“Are we to join them?” Cameron wondered.
“No, sir,” the ensign replied. “We’re ordered to locate and destroy frigate three. The Cape Town is being ordered back to Earth for now.”
“Very well,” Cameron replied. “Stand down from general quarters. Lieutenant Commander Kono, plot that frigate’s course based on her last course and speed.”
“She was maneuvering when we jumped away, sir,” the lieutenant commander warned her.
“Give it your best guess, Lieutenant Commander,” Cameron replied. “We’ve got to start somewhere.”
* * *
“Mister President, with all due respect, we have multiple sightings all around the outer boundaries of our system. If this is not a clear act of aggression from the Jung, then please, tell me what is?” Admiral Galiardi begged from the view screen in the President’s office.
“You’re talking about a strike against civilian populations, Admiral,” President Scott reminded him. “You don’t think that has the potential to escalate the situation even further?”
“Mister President,” the admiral began calmly, “the Jung have invaded the Pentaurus cluster, one of our allies, and using jump technology, no less. Possession of jump technology explains why we were unable to detect them before they penetrated so deeply into our territory. If they do possess jump technology, then they could appear anywhere, at any moment. Outside our system, or deep within it. If they were to suddenly appear in orbit over the Earth, they could unleash enough ordnance to destroy all life on the surface before we would be able to stop them, as our defenses are primarily designed to attack targets that are much further away.”
“But if the Jung have jump drive technology, why are they running around this sector using traditional, linear FTL systems?” Mister Lovecchio, the president’s security advisor, challenged.
“I believe the Jung did not expect us to become aware of their invasion of the Pentaurus cluster so quickly,” Admiral Galiardi explained. “According to the data sent by General Telles, the Jung’s capture of the Pentaurus cluster was swift and sure. Had it not been for the Ranni jump comm-drone, we would still be unaware of the situation in the cluster, and that the Jung possessed jump drive technology. They are using linear FTL in our presence, but are using jump drives to penetrate deep into our territory.”
“That’s ludicrous!” Mister Lovecchio protested. “That would mean they purposefully sacrificed their ships and crews, when use of their jump drives during battle would have prevented it! Besides, why wouldn’t they just jump all their ships in and strike?”
“Because they are testing us,” the admiral responded. “They are calling our bluff!”
“But we aren’t bluffing,” President Scott reminded the admiral. “We have the super KKVs, and we can fire them at any time.”
“The Jung obviously have reason to believe otherwise,” the admiral argued. “Otherwise I doubt they would be engaging us in such a way.”
“And you believe that we need to show them that we are not bluffing,” the president surmised.
“Precisely.”
“Isn’t it also possible that the Jung are just trying to keep us busy so that we won’t send ships to the Pentaurus sector?” Mister Lovecchio postulated.
“That is a possibility as well,” the admiral agreed. “However, the two are not mutually exclusive. Either way, the Jung need to be sent a message…and a strong one. We must launch a KKV strike, and we must launch it now, before this progresses any further.”
President Scott sighed. “Admiral, I’m not convinced that such a strike will have the desired effect. If the Jung have jump drive technology, then there is nothing to stop the ships that are already so equipped, from immediately jumping to Sol to attack. I fear that launching such a strike may precipitate just such a reaction.”
“And that is exactly what the Jung would expect you to fear,” the admiral replied. “That is why they are testing us. If you do not retaliate in the very way that they most fear, they will continue to escalate testing our resolve. As of yet, we have not lost any ships or men. I do not know if that is due to our defensive abilities, or by Jung design, although, if they have jump drive technology, then I strongly suspect the latter. What I do know is that if we do not strike, they will continue their attacks, and those attacks will become more severe. Men will die. Ships will be lost. Ships we cannot afford to lose. And in the end, we will still have to launch a full strike. The only difference will be that the strike will be too late, and its purpose will be vengeance rather than protection, as by then, there may not be anything left to protect.”
President Scott sighed again. At eighty years old,
he was still healthier than most men his age, but the burdens he had carried for the last nine years were taking their toll. For the first time in his life, he was ready to throw up his hands and walk away.
He looked at his security advisor. “Mister Lovecchio?”
Mister Lovecchio also sighed. “The admiral makes logical arguments, Mister President. I’m afraid that either way, we are once again looking at destruction on a massive scale. The question is, whose shall it be? Theirs or ours?”
The president leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling as he took in a long breath, then let it out slowly. “I cannot in good conscience kill billions of innocent people just to demonstrate our resolve. I shall, however, authorize an immediate strike against all high-value Jung military assets.”
“Mister President, we must also strike the infrastructure that supports those assets, or…”
“Let us first see how the Jung react to our first strike,” the president said, cutting the admiral off. “If, as you suspect, the Jung do not believe we are willing, and able to conduct such strikes, then this first strike should be enough to convince them otherwise. If it doesn’t, then we will strike their infrastructure.”
“And if that is not enough?” Mister Lovecchio wondered.
“Then God have mercy on their populations,” the president said, “for they will be the only asset left to target.”
* * *
“Incoming flash traffic,” the communications officer announced.
Commander Tusel pressed the button on the overhead intercom. “Captain to the bridge,” he called calmly. “Threat board?” he asked, after removing his finger from the intercom button.
“Threat board is clear!” the ship’s tactical officer replied from the far side of the cramped compartment.
“Mister Baskin, how long until our next launch cycle?”
“Four hours, twenty-eight minutes, sir.”
The communications officer handed the message pad to the commander.
“You triple authenticated this message?” the commander asked, looking at the young ensign.
The ensign’s eyes were wide, and his face was pale. “Yes, sir. Triple authenticated, did it a fourth time, in fact. The message is valid, sir.”
The XO looked at the young ensign. “It’s okay to be scared, son. This is scary shit,” he added, holding up the message pad.
“Captain on the bridge!”
The captain stepped up to the commander and the communications officer. “What’s up, Commander?”
“Flash traffic, Captain,” the commander replied, handing the message pad to the captain. “Fully authenticated.”
The captain looked at the message, then at the frightened young ensign. “Take it easy, Mister Kyle. It’s not the end of our world. It’s the end of theirs.” The captain handed the message pad back to the ensign, and looked at his XO. “Let’s do what we’re paid for, Commander.”
“Yes, sir,” the commander replied. “Mister Dormand, sound general quarters.”
“General quarters, aye!”
The commander pressed the button on the overhead intercom again. “Weapons, Bridge, spin up all SKKVs and prepare to receive targeting packages. This is not a drill.” He turned to the captain. “Captain, please insert your launch card.”
Captain Anderson pulled the small plastic card out of his shirt pocket and inserted it into the slot on the red box on the port bulkhead. “Commander, please insert your launch card.”
Commander Tusel pulled his own launch card out, inserting it in the slot below the captain’s card.
“Bridge, Weapons. Launch cards verified. Loading targeting packages. SKKVs will be ready to launch in five minutes.”
“God help whoever those things are about to hit,” the commander said under his breath.
“Well, at least it will be over for them quickly,” the captain replied.
* * *
“I’m telling you, Cap’n, nothin’ is movin’,” Marcus insisted. “The Jung have the entire cluster locked down now. Not even the linear FTL ships are willing to take runs. Even worse, no one is askin’. No one wants to risk losing their cargo, and no passengers wanna risk being detained by the Jung. Everyone is layin’ low, waitin’ to see what happens next.”
“But surely there are runs available outside the cluster?” Dalen suggested. “I mean, doesn’t anybody want to get further away from the Jung?”
“Probably, but most people are probably waiting to see what happens,” Captain Tuplo said. “Besides, if no one is flying into the cluster, then that means there will be more ships competing for runs outside of the cluster. When people do start migrating further out, the competition will be greater.”
“But so will the demand, right?” Neli asked.
“Perhaps,” the captain agreed. “But it’s all a bunch of ifs, nothing solid.” The captain sighed, considering their situation. “I don’t see how we have any choice but to sit and wait it out, just like everyone else.”
“We’ve got enough propellant left to get off this rock, and land somewhere else, don’t we?”
“Yup,” Josh replied. “Maybe even two depart and landing cycles, if we jump out quick and jump in low, both cycles.”
“And if we don’t, we end up stranded elsewhere.”
“Then we jump to someplace that likely has runs available,” Marcus suggested.
“Great solution, Taggart,” Captain Tuplo agreed sarcastically. “I don’t suppose you know where that somewhere is? Because if you don’t, if we’re not sure that runs will be available where we jump to, then we’ll most likely be stuck there.” Captain Tuplo shook his head. “No, I’m not risking it. Haven may be a dusty, shit-hole of a world, but such as we are, the known is better than the unknown. We stay put for now. Sooner or later, either things will start moving, and we’ll pick up a run so we can get off this rock and move further out, or the Jung will start expanding their territory beyond the cluster, and we’ll have no choice in the matter.”
“Surprise, surprise. You’re playing it safe again,” Neli muttered.
“No one is forcing you to stay on, Neli,” Captain Tuplo said. “If you don’t want to be here, I’d be happy to have Marcus drive you back to town.”
Marcus cast Neli a stern look.
“Sorry, Connor,” Neli apologized.
“It’s all right, Neli,” the captain replied. “We’re all on edge right now.”
“Maybe we could jump back to Ladila,” Dalen suggested. “I heard they were planning to hire ships for full time round-trips.”
Captain Tuplo got up from his seat and walked over to the counter in the Seiiki’s galley. “What makes you think people are going to vacation on Ladila now?”
“It’s outside the cluster, ain’t it?”
“No one’s gonna be wastin’ their money going to some overpriced resort world,” Marcus told him. “Not when the Jung might invade their homeworld while they’re gone.”
“Well, let’s size up the situation, shall we?” the captain said, as he poured himself a cup of tea. “Neli?”
“Food and water for a week, maybe two. But like we talked about, the long nights will start next week, and that should bring plenty of rain. And if we start harvesting all the wild molo around here sooner rather than later, I can probably have enough cleaned up and cured before our regular food runs out.”
“Dalen, did you find anything of value in that wreckage?”
“There might be a few things we could swap, but they’re gonna take a lot of cleanin’, and we ain’t gonna get much for them.”
“Anything we can use to fix the ship?”
“Other than scrap metal to help reinforce the cargo ramp, no.”
“So,” the captain summarized, “our options are bad, worse, and worse still.” The captain took a sip of his tea.
“And we’re about out of tea as well, Captain,” Neli said. “So we’d better start reusing the leaves we’ve got left for as long as we can squeeze some t
aste out of them.”
“So, we conserve everything, go on diets, drink less tea, and hope the runs start coming in before the Jung show up,” the captain said.
A distant clap of thunder erupted from outside the Seiiki.
“What the hell was that?” Dalen wondered.
“Thunderstorms?”
An alarm sounded from the cockpit.
“That’s the sensors,” Josh realized. “That wasn’t thunder,” he said, jumping up from his seat. “That was someone jumpin’ in, right on top of us.”
Everyone ran out of the galley and headed aft. Dalen glanced upward as they passed through the main passenger compartment, just in time to see a shuttle pass over them. “We just got overflown by a shuttle!” he yelled as he followed them through the hatch and into the cargo bay.
Captain Tuplo jumped down from the landing to the cargo deck, followed by Josh and Marcus. They ran toward the back, their weapons drawn, but before they could get to the edge of the cargo ramp, a dust cloud blew up the ramp and into their faces, stopping their progress.
Captain Tuplo closed his eyes and turned his head away to avoid the cloud of dust, cringing at the scream of the visiting shuttle’s engines as it touched down outside. Within a few seconds, the engines began to wind down, and the thrust wash that was blasting them began to subside.
As the dust settled, four men in full combat armor came walking toward them.
“This don’t look promisin’,” Marcus grumbled.
“They look like Ghatazhak,” Josh commented.
“Not the way I remember them,” Marcus disagreed.
“Ybarran, maybe?”
“We might wanna holster our weapons, Cap’n,” Marcus suggested.
“What the hell would the Ybarrans want with us?” Captain Tuplo wondered. “Or the Ghatazhak, for that matter.”
“I dunno, but both are pretty quick on the trigger,” Marcus replied as he put his weapon away.
Josh did the same, as did Captain Tuplo.
“We best act friendly,” Marcus said, as he started cautiously down the ramp.
Captain Tuplo and Josh followed suit, the three of them walking down the ramp, side by side, with Dalen and Neli following behind.