The Awakening: Book 1 of Warner's World

by Dave O'Connor

  Dakota Bridgewater was sitting back. Her quanto was between her knees and she was thinking of the last time she had been all kitted up for an assault. A pang of pain hit her as she recalled seeing her Brian in the chair next to her. But there was no Brian Riley to crack jokes with this time. God, how she missed him! And it had all been in vain. He died killing an enemy that was now our ally. But regardless she was going to kick some butt tonight.

  The four others opposite were all new chums and this would be their first time in action. Buster sat back letting Dai finish off the charge settings. He looked at these new guys and wondered how they would hold up in what was sure to be a close action. As Whisky 1 launched out into the night Buster called out “Now listen up everyone. Dai will set the charge. It will implode inwards. I will throw in a sensor drone. If this detects any life, then I’ll follow that with a flash bang. Once it goes off, Dakota you’re in first, with your quanto up and blazing, break left. I’m next breaking right. Then Dai and the rest of you alternating left and right. Mr Kiralenko you come in last. Once we’re in Sir, you give the signal for Parinya to pull away and Whisky 2 locks on and unloads.”

  “Once the second team is in, I’ll direct from there” said Ivan. “Our aim is to sweep the ship clear. We crush all resistance but don’t kill if they’re surrendering. It’s important to capture an enemy alive.”

  “But not at the expense of your own life. Remember that” added Buster.

  “It’s vital we stay tight. No stupid heroics. The only things I want to see coming out in body bags are these enemy. Is that understood?” demanded Ivan.

  They all nodded. Who was going to argue with that advice?

  “Whiskys form column on me. Whisky 2 then 3 and 4. Separation 1km” ordered Parinya. The four warthogs manoeuvred into column formation. “Moving to 10kms.” Still no reaction from the enemy. “Moving to 3kms.” No reaction. “Sir, we’re at final release and good to go.”

  “Go!” is all Warner replied.

  “Whisky 3 to forward section. Whisky 1 to aft. Move.” Parinya was all concentration now. Alain Favre rotated his turret as the warthog went in for an angled approach drawing alongside the aft section of the enemy hull. Parinya drew up parallel to the enemy ship and used the landing thrusters to edge closer until the craft made contact with an audible clang echoing through the cabin.

  “Wait one. Need to adjust” she advised. Another very short burst of the thrusters and the warthog scraped upwards over the enemy hull as Parinya adjusted to position the hatch over a section without any discernible superstructure behind it. She was using the x-ray scanner to ID the superstructure. When she was satisfied that they would blow into a cavity space she applied the magnetic clamps. “Clamping now. Whisky 3 we are right to go. Report status.”

  “Whisky 1 we’re having problems getting a clear space. Wait.” There was palpable tension in the cabin of Whisky 1. It was important to sync the entries and maximise the shock effect.

  Parinya was exercising all her self-discipline to stay composed. She knew that they were extremely vulnerable at the moment. Ivan behind her was starting to get worried. He knew it would be his call to abort the forward entry. He tapped Parinya on the shoulder.

  “Whisky 3 status?” asked Parinya.

  “No go. Scanners indicate no area nearby suitable for entry.”

  Parinya looked to Ivan. “OK, we go with one breach only” he said. “Whisky 3 pull back and come in after Whisky 2.”

  “Roger.”

  “Suit up” he ordered and everyone fasted their helmets and tested their suits. “Any problems?’ he asked and looked around the cabin but found all was good.

  “Release hatches” Buster moved to the hatch and hit the release. He gave Ivan the thumbs up as he read the display next to the hatch control indicating a solid lock.

  “Set charges” ordered Ivan.

  Dai moved to the hatch and began applying the plastic explosive. She then inserted a series of charges. Each had its own firing device and when she hit the trigger on her firing handle each would fire in rapid succession. She backed away inside and hit the door release. The hatch closed. Its armour would provide protection for the team while the series of small explosions cut through the hull. Dai gave Ivan the thumbs up.

  “Fire charges.”

  All they heard in the warthog was a series of muffled thuds.

  “Launch drone.”

  Buster hit the hatch release, checked to see there was no immediate obstruction and rolled in a small globe shaped device, the size of his hand. He then hit a button on a small hand held controller and tiny thrusters on the probe fired. He used the roll ball to navigate the flying probe through the corridor it found itself in. There were no lights, so the tiny display on the controller was still pitch black. He switched to thermals. Nothing but clear space ahead. He moved the probe forward slowly. Nothing. Ahead was a hatch shut. He reversed and went back past the breach to another closed hatch.

  “Breach is into an empty corridor. Closed hatches left and right several metres in. All clear.”

  “Dakota are you ready?”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “No need to blaze away just yet. OK go.”

  Dakota entered breaking left. The first thing she noticed as she scanned the space was just how high the ceiling was. The hatch ahead must have been 3m high. Buster was in right behind her breaking right. He noticed the same thing. “If that hatch is anything to go by then these dudes are tall. We still have a weak gravity field. No atmosphere.”

  The rest of the team came through without incident. When Ivan stepped through he hailed Parinya to shut the hatch and pull back for Whisky 2. Ivan was going to wait till he had Bravo Team on board before pushing further. As Whisky 1 pulled away Ivan was staring out the breach. He couldn’t really make out the warthogs that were just 3kms away but he knew they were there and that was some comfort. He felt a moment’s fear and foreboding but then he shook himself out of that. He knew he had to stay focussed.

  “Parinya tell Sunray we’re in. No opposition so far. No sign of life. Will proceed once Bravo Team is on board.”

  “Will do” replied Parinya.

  Whisky 2 came in and after a few minutes was clamped and Bravo Team squeezed into the corridor with Alpha Team. “Listen up” said Ivan. “Alpha Team will lead forward. Bravo Team you will stay here and secure the breach. Once Charlie Team arrives send them aft and send DeltaTeam forward.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “Buster can you work the hatch?”

  “I reckon it’s this panel here. Just give me the word.”

  “Do it” and Buster hit the panel and the hatch indeed opened. Buster moved the drone through the hatch. “All clear” he called. “We must be in their crumple compartments.”

  That made sense to Ivan. “Yeh probably. Let’s push on.” Buster was next to the next hatch ready to open it. Dakota was in front of the hatch ready to open up if need be. Ivan was just behind and to her right. He nodded to Buster who opened the hatch. He was too focussed on moving the drone through to notice the shock on Dakota’s face. But then he saw it on the little display in front of him. He didn’t know what to make of it.

  Ivan could see that Dakota was frozen in front so he moved passed her to see for himself. There on the ground were these… well… bodies.

  “All clear I think” said Buster. “Nothing living anyway” he added. “Dakota snap out of it” he ordered.

  Dakota heard but it took her a few seconds to actually take a pace forward. She looked down in front of her feet. The dark suited body was without a helmet. “They must have suffocated” was all she could utter. She was taking in their size. “Big buggers” she announced. “At least 2.5 metres but skinny…two legs…two arms…one head you will be pleased to know…but this won’t please you. Their head is covered in scales, I think…like a snake…two eyes…mouth but can’t see a nose or ears.”

  “OK enough of the descriptions for now. How many?” asked Ivan.
>
  Dakota stepped over the body in front and moved into a large room. She scanned from left to right. “I count eight bodies.”

  “Keep moving. Don’t touch anything.”

  “There’s another hatch over here” advised Dakota.

  “I’m on it” said Buster.

  “Parinya, advise Sunray we have reached what looks like crew quarters. Found eight dead enemy. Looks like they suffocated.”

  “Will do.”

  “Bravo Team, is Charlie Team on board yet?”

  “Yes Sir. Do you still want them aft?”

  “Yes. Go ahead.”

  As each of the remaining members of Alpha Team entered they all stopped and stared at the enemy bodies. Ivan knew they had to keep going. “Come on stay focussed people. Buster, are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hit it.”

  Buster did so, and pushed the drone through. “Empty corridor.”

  “After you Dakota” said Ivan.

  “Mike Sunray this is Charlie Team. We have entered what I think is their engineering section and found three dead… things. Otherwise all clear and there’s nothing further back here other than the engines themselves.”

  “Roger that” said Ivan. “Make your way back to the breach. Relieve Bravo Team there and have them come forward.”

  “Roger.”

  “We’re ready Sir” said Buster. He was standing by the next hatch.

  Ivan nodded and they repeated the same procedure. This time they had entered the ship’s missile banks. It had five launchers. They couldn’t go any further beyond that. “Did anyone see an elevator or stairs? There must be another deck on top” asked Ivan.

  “Yes Sir.” replied Dai “Back with all the dead bodies.”

  “OK Dai lead the way.” They back tracked to the crew quarters area and Dai pointed to what looked like doors off to the right. There were several bodies piled up against it.

  “Poor bastards” commented Dai “they must have tried to get to the elevator but didn’t make it.”

  “Well they’re not getting any sympathy from me” said Dakota and to prove it she kicked one of the bodies, forcing it to move a little.

  “Enough!” ordered Ivan. “Clear away these bodies. Over there. And try not to dismember them OK.” He gave a stern look to Dakota who just shrugged her shoulders.

  As the last body was cleared away, Bravo Team arrived and went through the same reactions of stopping and gawking. “OK you guys secure this area and be ready to support us up top if I call. Once Delta Team gets here send them up.”

  “OK Sir.”

  Buster activated the elevator. It had to descend from above. When the doors opened there were another two bodies. “Clear them away” ordered Ivan. He was staring at the glyphs on the panel inside the elevator. They didn’t resemble anything he had seen before. The elevator was huge so all of Alpha Team crammed in. The doors opened automatically on arrival at what appeared to be the only other deck. Another body was on the ground in front.

  Buster let lose the drone and announced the “All clear!” after a full minute. “Big space. Looks like their command centre.”

  Dakota stepped out in front, over the dead body and the others followed. This time they were in a large open space with what looked like terminals in banks along each wall. They counted ten bodies. There were hatches leading forward and aft.

  “Bravo Team come up here” ordered Ivan.

  “We’re on our way.”

  “Delta Team are you on board?” Ivan requested.

  “Yes Sir.”

  “Make your way forward to where you’ll find an elevator. Come on up.”

  “Roger Sir.”

  When Bravo Team arrived Ivan ordered them to clear forward and when Delta Team arrived he had them clear aft.

  “Sir the starboard side of the ship back here has been ripped apart. We can’t go any further” reported Delta Team.

  “Any more bodies?”

  “No Sir. Everything’s been sucked out on impact I’d say.”

  “OK come back here.”

  “All clear forward” reported Bravo Team.

  “Good work everyone” said Ivan. “Parinya, patch me through to Sunray?”

  “You’re through now”

  “Sir, we have secured the enemy ship.”

  “Well done Ivan. Any losses?”

  “No Sir. The enemy are all dead. Looks like it their ship lost compression and atmosphere when hit. Everyone looks like they suffocated. We count 23 bodies. I’m uploading images now.”

  “Thanks Ivan. Leave Delta Team on board and have the rest RTB. I’ll send over Chief Rapperberg and a tech team to see what can be done.”

  “Roger that.” The adrenalin had all but drained away and Ivan felt very tired. “Looking forward to a rest Sir.”

  “Yes you’ve earned it. If the truth be told we all have. It’s been a busy day indeed.”

  Chapter 21. Klaster 2130, 23 May.

  Rihan was waiting for Warner at the dock. He came through, not the triumphant hero of a space battle but the weary warrior in need of deep sleep. There would be no applause, nor any big speeches. While this round had been won, it was by no means decisive. Everyone knew that there was more conflict ahead. They were grateful for the reprieve that had been gained but under no illusion about the danger that lay ahead.

  Rihan approached Warner, took his back pack and placed her arm around his shoulder. He gave her a weary smile and she pecked him on the cheek.

  Commodore Pious was there too and he was keen to get a full briefing. He could see the fatigue on Warner and his crew but some things - had to wait and right now sleep was one of them. “Captain, Commander we need to talk now.”

  Rihan gave him a disapproving look but Warner said “Of course Sir. Can we use your office, darling?”

  She knew it was pointless arguing. “Sure.”

  There was now a marine guard posted outside her office. Her aide was still busy marshalling resources to repair the Sydney and now the Hermes. The Commodore closed the door behind him.

  “Congratulations Captain. A fine day’s work indeed.”

  “Thank you Sir.”

  “I won’t detain you here for long. I can pour over the logs to gain a better appreciation of what happened. What I do want to know is the status of your ships, your assessment of the enemy strengths and weaknesses, your opinion on the enemy’s next move and what you need in the way of support.”

  “Sydney took a beam attack. It’s sustained enough damage to RTB. I spoke with Herb Debeck just a few minutes ago. He tells me he needs serious repairs before he can be combat ready. They are going to be working through the night to see if he can get more power out of his thrusters. He suffered five casualties, including two KIAs (killed in action).”

  Warner continued “The Hermes took a missile hit but our shields held. We should be good to go by 1000 tomorrow. The Washington escaped undamaged. It’s currently on CAP and has a marine team and a tech team on the enemy light ship we captured. The Hermes will replace her on CAP tomorrow after we’ve finished our repairs.”

  “So the Sydney needs to return to a major base facility?”

  “Correct.”

  “That’s going to leave the defences here a bit light. But there’s nothing for it. I’ll make the necessary arrangements. It will have to be Polaris.”

  “Yes, but I would like to press-gang its marines to reinforce the base here. Well at least two teams.”

  “Agreed” said the Commodore. “They surprised us with that capital ship. They must either have a significant base facility on Chelora or they can cruise further than our ships.”

  “Could be either, Sir. We haven’t analysed their drive systems but that enemy cap accelerated at a phenomenal speed to close within beam range. I’ve got my chief engineer on board the enemy light ship now and I hope we can have a better idea tomorrow.”

  “Good. What’s your assessment of their fighting capabilities?”

&n
bsp; “Well they don’t want for courage. That’s for sure and they are pretty smart on the tactics front too. From what we saw today their light ships are certainly not as powerful as our frigates. They’re really a big corvette. They have a salvo limit of just five missiles and we knocked out their second light ship with just a few hits, though we could have been lucky.”

  “What about their capital ship?”

  “Our calculations put its missile capacity at 100. It sustained significant hits and still was able to warp away. And it was able to project an effective beam out to what we estimate was 1500 kms. That’s one hell of a beam weapon. Better than anything we have.”

  “1500 kms are you sure?”

  “That’s what Chase Hanlon advised after he reviewed the plots. It must have one hell of a power source.”

  “Yes it must. Anything else?”

  “Their missiles aren’t as effective as ours. They’re shorter ranged, weren’t able to intercept other missiles as well as ours and the one of theirs that did hit us wasn’t as lethal. We were able to stand off at just inside 8,000 kms.”

  “That’s very important intel. We need to get this to both Alliance and Fleet HQs asap. I’ll send a signal directly to the commander of the Wasp Group. So what do you think their next move will be?”

  “That depends on what else they have on Chelora. We really need to find that out” said Warner.

  “It will be ten days before we get that intel. The Alliance advise they will be sending in two of their best frigates. In the meantime we need to make some calculated guesses.”

  “If they don’t have a force greater than what they sent in today, then they will probably wait for reinforcements. Otherwise, we can expect an even bigger force come knocking tomorrow.”

  “I concur. If they do send a bigger force, then it’s unlikely you will be able to prevail like you have today.” Warner nodded. “The Wasp Group won’t be on Alpha Phi till the day after tomorrow and then it’ll need the best part of another day to warp here.”

  “Sir, I think our earlier contingency planning still holds. If that occurs we delay until the base force warps away and we follow it to Alpha Phi.”